The heat and soreness had made her drowsy. Alys had fallen asleep after losing track of time while she laid curled up on the cage's floor, her shackled hands held protectively against her bandaged chest. The brothers Smisse kept to themselves after the mysterious woman in the Shushu cage grew silent, whispering to each other to plot their escape like they had done every single day of their captivity. They overheard Qilby's plan to help Rushu invade the World of Twelve and it was their only chance to leave this dimension. They would take the opportunity with all they had, no matter the risk; they needed to get out.
The bubbling of the lava and soft whispering was drowned out by an urging voice, a tinge of panic tied to it while many footsteps could be heard coming from the dark hallway," wake up! Wake up!" Alys shook awake when the Shushu she was kept in shouted at her, the Shushu's eye glaring down at her with deep distaste," rise and shine, little pest. They're coming for you." An eerie chuckle could be heard after Alys brought herself up on hands and knees to witness a wave of excited sounding Shushus enter the underground cavern, scattering about and cackling menacingly.
Remington and Grany kept their eyes on the large archway and the entering Shushus, their planning brought to a pause. Something big was going to happen by the looks of it, or it was just Rushu aching for another massage, a mockery to the male rogue and his feline brother as they had to endure the Shushu king's petty needs and desires to be entertained. Remington brought himself to a standing when a few Shushus came his way while the others crowded around Alys' cage, the heavy metal shackle around his ankle slowing him down while the thick chain attached to it weakly rattled with his movement.
"Release slave," one of the Shushu said with a shrieking voice, stepping aside to allow another to pass with a heavy looking corroded key, struggling with the weight but too dumb and excited to be aware of the struggle. Several smaller Shushu leaped at the key to pull or chew on it, all of them eager to undo the shackle around Remington's ankle. It was like anything would get them going, as long as it was rewarding in the slightest. "The king requires refreshthings," one of the Shushu said once the metal contraption snapped open with the turning of the key and clattered onto the floor," hurry, go! King is waiting!"
"Alright, alright," Remington muttered as he rose his hands to show he would give in, sighing with a look upon his face that expressed the joy he felt to once more be Rushu's little lackey. The joy he felt was minimal to nonexistent, rightfully so as it was no pleasure to be a victim to Rushu's odd tastes.
The Shushus that unshackled him spun around when a commotion erupted by the cage, looking confused but intrigued when a gerbil sized Shushu suddenly flew over head with a high pitched shriek. They watched it fly over, their mouths agape in awe before they cackled in glee and began to scramble over towards the crowd gathered around the female Eliatrope, leaving a freed Remington behind without much thought.
Alys' foot connected with the head of another small Shushu as she fended for herself, kicking the demon back against its comrades before the crowd retaliated by leaping at her with a larger and impatient force, all trying to stuff themselves into the cage Alys was using as protection. She refused to come out and tried to put up a frantic fight against the Shushus that were clawing at her to drag her out, the cage's complaints falling on deaf ears. It was a chaotic mess. The small minions laughed and chattered while their attempts to retrieve the Eliatrope were fruitless, until a much larger Shushu pushed itself through the crowd with a shoving of its arms and belly. It was round in size with thick arms and a small head, its size, weight and pushing crushing a few smaller Shushus before it reached into the cage with a slimy claw.
A disgusted shudder riddled her skin with goosebumps after chilling but slimy fingers wrapped around her ankle before the Shushu yanked at her leg. He swung her out of the cage by her ankle before she was held upside down over the cheering crowd like some price, the struggle she put up hardly noticed or cared for. Her eyes fell on Remington after she looked around in panic, the rogue hiding away behind the altar to not be seen by the many Shushus who had forgotten about him in their excitement. Their eyes met but her pleading and frightened gaze was coldheartedly ignored by the rogue. He wasn't going to take the risk.
The crowd of Shushus began to make their way to the surface after Alys was apprehended, the Eliatrope dangling by a leg while the warm glow of lava made way for darkness. She swung from side to side while hanging upside down, once more attempting do undo her wooden bindings by trying to wring her hands free while biting on the inside of her cheek to remain calm. She had hoped for a form of help from Remington, but it seemed she was on her own after all while she was taken away to somewhere unknown by a group of demons.
"This is our chance, Remy. Get me out of here," urged Grany with a hiss when the cavern grew quiet and empty, his older brother grinning as he came out of hiding and eyed the cage the bow meow was locked away in. He would have his cursed brother out in no time now that he was free and no longer supervised, all thanks to the female prisoner. He felt no remorse for not coming to her aid, having seized the opportunity given to him with both hands. They had been for long enough within Shukrute; it was time to leave.
Up in the castle's courtyard was an unfinished rune, large in size and carved carefully and precise into the dead soil. Qilby stood by it while examining it with his hands resting on his sides, his work almost done. All he needed was Alys to help him with the creation of the large portal he was planning to make and speaking of her… He looked back over a shoulder when he heard a commotion from behind the pillars which formed the many archways connected to the courtyard, the demands to be released echoing across the castle's premises. Mad cackling and rambling accompanied the fevered requests, the group of Shushus that went into the belly of the castle to retrieve the female Eliatrope resurfacing and droning into the courtyard. He was pleased to see she was still bound with the bindings the Sadida guards shackled her with, the vines limiting her while increasing his chances to have her cooperate.
"Had a good rest, Alys?" he asked as he bent to the side to look at Alys' upside down visage, the large Shushu that carried her still holding her by her ankle as if uncertain what to do with her. She swayed a little as she narrowed her eyes at Qilby, spitefully giving him the silent treatment. "Suit yourself... Let her go," Qilby said while he turned to the large rune and wove a hand to indicate for the Shushu to drop Alys, hearing her hit the ground with a thud and a wince.
She coughed after she rolled over onto her side, having made a painful landing after she hit the ground on her shoulders and the back of her head. She managed to get up on her feet and take in the surroundings after she wildly shook her head to regain clarity and wobbled to a standing, until her eyes fell upon the rune Qilby continued working on. The wonder about its purpose crept up on her, though she kept the question to herself.
Her so called king returned to finishing the rune after she didn't indulge him, carving the dark sand with a clawed glowing finger while not paying Alys any heed. She was no threat to Qilby and therefore he wasn't all too concerned. The other king, Rushu, sat upon his throne with a bored demeanor, picking his nails while what ever happened in the courtyard intentionally passed him. As long as the massive rune wasn't complete and Qilby's plan wasn't set into motion, nothing of interest would happen.
Alys lowered her shoulders as she took in the gathered crowd of Shushus, all eagerly awaiting the completion of the rune. The walls of the courtyard and the many benches and stands alongside it were filled with demons of various sizes, the crowd looking like the base of an active volcano after eruption. She felt small among them, knowing she had no allies in this place with Qilby as her only way out. The lonely feeling intensified when something large came into her view from the corner of her eye, leaping and rumbling along the castle wall. She looked over to see what exactly the giant figure was, only to have her heart stop at the sight.
"Adamaï!" she yelled in shock as she gazed upon the white and blue dragon perched on the castle's wall, his many eyes twitching and the slit pupils trembling as they flitted about to take everything in. A few focused on Alys after her voice attracted their attention, the female Eliatrope slowly shaking her head as she couldn't believe what she saw. The young dragon's form had twisted into a brute force which oozed black saliva from between his massive and sharp teeth, muscular and menacing in appearance. "Qilby!" she turned to the Eliatrope sitting knelt in the center of the courtyard while he drew a few more lines in the infertile soil," how could you let them do this to him?"
"All part of the plan, Alys," Qilby said while a claw of his artificial hand carved through the sand, leaving a trail of Wakfu to form a symbol among the smaller runes he had already drawn out," he is of much better use to us like this, trust me." He looked smug while he divided his focus between the large rune he was creating and the Eliatrope behind him. He did expect her to make a scene about the Shushu possessed dragon. It was predictable and it amused him to know that there was nothing Alys could do to stop him. She was outnumbered and she didn't have the guts to confront him; she never had.
"Trust you...?" Alys asked perplexed and stepped over to Qilby before she lingered a little behind him and pointed with her bound arms and hands to the possessed dragon," you are using your own people to reach your perverted goal! How can you possibly expect any trust to be given to you, let alone dare ask for it?"
"If you and Adamaï weren't so stubborn and joined me when I asked you to, I wouldn't have needed to resort to such drastic measures. Alas…" He shrugged and rose to a standing before saying with a tilt of his head," sacrifices must be made. Anathar will prove very useful with Adamaï in his possession. You on the other hand…" He tutted under his breath and reached out to grab for Alys' chin to bring her closer, his fingers pressing into her cheeks as he spoke with a lowered threatening voice," I had to convince Rushu with all my might to not have any of these imbeciles possess you. I need your mind clear. You would do best to show some gratitude for sparing you the humiliation of having someone else control you."
"Qilby!"
The fake king of the Eliatrope sighed and rolled his eyes when his name was loudly grumbled by the Shushu lord and nodded resentfully while showing he would respond. He avoided the hateful look Alys gave him after he released her face and turned to the horned giant overlooking the courtyard from his throne," I am listening."
"Little flower," Rushu cooed while placing his fingers together with a certain anticipation, the tone in his voice swiftly becoming more rough as a restlessness grew within him," while your little reunion makes me delightfully sick, how much longer are you going to let us wait? You promised my followers carnage and they are growing impatient."
Impatient was an understatement. The gathered Shushus were loud and obnoxious, chanting and cheering while some gnawed on limbs to contain their antsyness. The courtyard, the walls, the roofs and the rows of stone benches upon the walls were filled with Shushus of all shapes and sizes, awaiting the finishing of the portal Qilby was putting together. "Invasion!" one of them shrieked, its big head twitching while its tiny body quivered uncontrollably and soon a large part of the gathered Shushu joined in, shouting the word in unison and their voices echoing over the surrounding barren landscape.
Alys slowly turned on the spot to gaze at the growing excitement, her stomach turning as she got a taste of the demons' hunger. Qilby's plan started to become clearer the more the Shushus urged themselves on in their crazed excitement. A full scale invasion on the World of Twelve with the aid of the Shushus... While the reason behind it wasn't in her grasp, she knew enough to know that it would be catastrophic if this were to pass. "Adamaï, wake up!" she shouted out towards the possessed dragon, her voice drowning in the overwhelming cheering," fight it!"
Anathar remained unfazed by her weak attempt to reach the young dragon within and stared down at her with mock as if taunting her. What could she possibly do? She was but a fly in comparison to him. He could swat at her with but a finger and pulverize every bone in her body if he so desired.
She stood frozen for a moment after there was no response to her desperate calling, thinking and weighing her options. The one in charge was Qilby, no matter that the ruler of this dimension was present. Qilby held the key to this invasion and it made him the weak link. She ran at him with that thought pressing down onto her mind and steeling her nerves, charging while she rose her bound hands overhead to attack Qilby from behind and distract him... only to miss and hit nothing but thin air. Qilby sidestepped away as if he had anticipated her move, his movement rather fluid. She spun around to make another attempt to club Qilby with her wood shackles while Rushu's rumbling laughter sounded over the courtyard, her attempt surely looking measly towards a powerful giant like him.
Qilby sidestepped once more, an eyebrow raised as he watched Alys come at him and asked with a tilt of his head after he leaned to the side to easily dodge her clenched fists," what are you trying to achieve, Alys?" He was nimble compared to her, parrying her with absolute freedom while she struggled with the limits put on her. She refused to give up in her attempts to stop him however, set on doing it this way for it was the only way. Qilby rolled his eyes at the pathetic display and said strict with a raising of his glowing talons after his impatience met its peak," enough of this." He lashed out at her with a swift strike, the sharp claws made out of Wakfu and the Eliacube slicing through the air.
Alys took the attack head on instead of avoiding it, her eyes clenching shut while she hid away behind her bound arms after she brought them up like a shield. Qilby's disgruntled expression twisted into a look of horror when his claws raked through the vines that were kept around her wrists and hands with Sadida magic, the sound of splintering wood a sound she never thought she would be happy to hear. Her eyes snapped open with a determined glint sparking to life after the tightness of her broken shackles dispersed, a glint which made Qilby's face distort in vexation as a part of his plan dissolved by his own actions.
His blue lips curled downwards into a snarl before he merged the two Zaaps he rapidly summoned overhead and sent a beam of Wakfu at Alys, only to have it returned to him as she swung her bruised arms up to create her own portal. The shot bounced in between them like a boufball, deflected with the opening and closing of several small portals from the two Eliatropes to not get hit while they partook in a sudden dance of victory or defeat. Qilby's counters seemed effortless as he used only one hand to create the required Zaaps while Alys had to use both her hands and needed to twist and turn her whole body to create portals behind or beside her.
The Shushus which had gathered to watch Qilby work on the Zaap rune needed for the invasion of the World of Twelve began to scatter, dodging the blasts of Wakfu that kept getting knocked back and forth while scrambling to safety. Rushu on the other hand remained seated on his throne, looking baffled at the sudden display of two Eliatropes duking it out. Wherever did that come from?
"Shall I intervene, master?" Anathar asked with a heavy breath as he stood next to the enormous throne of his lord, gazing down to the courtyard. The possession of Adamaï's body had given him a taste of raw power and he was eager to test it out, his muscles rippling underneath the pale scales.
Rushu propped his head onto his knuckles, a look of disinterest forming on his face before he grunted and said while watching a few of his minions trying to claw up the walls to get out of harm's way," let them play, for now. This is a good opportunity to witness what those grasshoppers are capable of. Qilby talks big, but he hasn't proven much as of yet. I'll end it myself if it drags on for too long." The horned giant shifted in his throne to cross one leg over the other, shouting out as several more portals appeared over the courtyard like a makeshift dome and began to rain down a hail of Wakfu," someone fetch me a drink!"
The courtyard had turned into an arena. Dust rose after it rained strong shots of Wakfu from the portals above, mercilessly hailing down upon one single target that ran across one part of the courtyard. Alys moved and dodged, needing to be swift while keeping a solid grasp on her powers and beyond, jumping to the side or screeching to a halt to not get hit by the blasts Qilby sent down at her. He was agitated, it was easy to tell by how full out he was going... and it only made it more difficult for her. The ground was riddled with small holes and ditches from where his attacks landed and missed the female Eliatrope, his powers far superior to hers.
"You can't dodge forever, Alys!" Qilby called out after he sized up the impatient looking Rushu from the corner of his eyes and wove a hand across the sky above, the Zaaps floating high above simultaneously glowing brighter.
Alys slid to a stop and gasped when the red sky above turned white and the many portals gaped open to release short and rapid bursts of energy, not allowing her to have any respite or anywhere to go. More dust kicked up and the earth shook when the bursts of Wakfu drilled into the ground with a tremendous force until Qilby abruptly ceased his attack with a dropping of his arm. The dust began to settle once the hail of Wakfu stopped, revealing the remainders of a battlefield… but no sign of Alys. Qilby narrowed his eyes before he casually tilted his long chin upwards to look at the empty sky, seeing two small Zaaps glimmering high above. His adversary soon showed herself, jumping out of one of the portals she made to escape his heavy fire.
As she flipped through the air from one portal to the other and saw Qilby below, she knew she was outmatched by him. His confidence shone, his artificial arm a painful reminder that he had the Eliacube on his side. The lack of knowledge, memories and experience, along with fatigue, were her weaknesses. Their eyes met before she disappeared from sight and her portal sealed behind her, locking her within a white void before she tore a rift through it and reappeared among the benches atop the courtyards fortified walls. She landed among the Shushus that were watching the fight, the demons hissing and taunting her after she straightened up and gazed down at Qilby with a strident look in her eyes. No matter weaker, outmatched and scared, she was done being the victim. Justice had to be met for all Qilby had done and what planning, and she couldn't afford to lose...
Qilby brushed himself off as he looked to Alys from under his eyebrows and the rim of his hood, asking while setting his hands on his hips," you are aware you are causing a delay, aren't you?"
"I am..."
Her short answer and demeanor were unlike what he experienced from her before, at least after he left the White Dimension. The judgmental but scared look she gave him was one he witnessed before in different lives, a long time ago... "Seems we'll be getting some fun out of you after all," Qilby smirked and diagonally cut the air with his artificial arm, his claws extending with the motion till an elongated shape formed before him. Qilby grabbed for the Wakfu which began to materialize, soon twirling a scythe-like weapon overhead which hummed as it spun. He couldn't contain a mad cackle when his new arm twisted and grew in length before it whipped across the Shushu audience Alys stood amidst, the scythe tearing through the benches. He used his new weapon with great efficiency, slicing through any Shushu that were too slow to flee or duck while Alys sprinted forward to leap off the wall and avoid the incoming attack. The curved blade of Wakfu followed her before it hacked deep into the earth, right where she landed before she rolled forward to cushion the fall. She stared with large frightful eyes at the shimmering scythe while she scrambled up, the weapon tearing through the dead soil as Qilby retracted it with the shrinking of his elongated arm.
Rushu blinked at the devastation caused on the other side of the courtyard, the brickwork on the top of the wall torn apart by what looked like a toothpick of a weapon. He wasn't phased by the losses he endured during that one single attack, more impressed than anything else by the sheer force of it. This was more than he got to see when that Eliatrope child was here with that traitor Rubilax and his pathetic guardian. He truly didn't expect Qilby to be more than pretty words.
"Excuse the mess while I teach my pet her place, Rushu," the white and dark blue Eliatrope said after retaking a hold on his scythe," I will return to keeping my promise once she is disciplined." Not waiting for a response, Qilby propelled himself forward at Alys while heaving the scythe upwards to lash out at her.
He was unexpectedly fast, the sharp edge of his weapon ripping through the blue fabrics of Alys' attire after she jumped away to dodge him, the weapon biting into the stone wall she was backed up against. She was too slow in her responses, her cheek meeting the back of Qilby's fist when he struck her the moment he got close enough. He tore his scythe free from the wall when she stumbled and twirled it before raising his weapon to bring it down upon a disorientated Alys. He did it again and again to put a stop to her resistance as she backed up, just able to lean away whenever the scythe cut the air and dug into the ground before her feet. She was becoming tired. She won't be able to dodge for much longer, but she had to try. She had enough resistance left in her to keep going, refusal ruling within. She was the only one who could put a stop to this invasion Qilby had promised the Shushus and that alone was enough to keep going until she couldn't anymore.
"You having fun, Alys?" Qilby asked when he took his scythe in his original hand and the Eliacube gifted one grew into a menacing claw, before swiping at her. He blocked her attempted escape with the crooked blade of his scythe after the feigned swipe made her react exactly like he wanted to, herding her into position before he knocked her back and against the wall with a calculated slam of his artificial arm. "I definitely hope not." She slid down the wall after getting temporarily incapacitated, though got pinned by the cyan glowing claw like a snake lashing out before Qilby brought the curved blade of his scythe dangerously close to her throat. "It is time to give up, my dear. You cannot defeat me or stop this invasion from happening. Surrender to me."
She kept still, panting while held against the wall. Her clothes were damaged wherever the scythe had torn through the fabrics. Her skin had cuts where the blade nicked her. Her wrists were bruised while blood stained the corner of her mouth. She was losing the fight, the Eliacube far too strong... There had to be something she could do to gain the upperhand. Running and using her portals to escape or deflect attacks wasn't going to cut it in the long run. What more was she capable of? What had she forgotten?
She looked past Qilby to the Shushu king upon his enormous throne and the twisted possessed form of Adamaï beside him, the deformed dragon watching intently with a dangerous hunger. She pressed her jaws together at the very thought of what Qilby had done to achieve his selfish goal, the anger she tried to control and ignore to keep her focus flaring up and making her ache. All those innocent lives he was willingly tearing apart… All the people he had knowingly hurt and abused... even killed. "No," she hissed through gritted teeth, letting the anger she felt speak for her and feed her actions," I will never surrender to you, traitor." Her pupils began to glow a bright cyan as she glared at Qilby and the stitched appendages of her dark blue veil perked with the spreading of her Wakfu wings, no longer holding back on her emotions.
Qilby bared his sharp teeth when he sensed the buildup of Wakfu within the female Eliatrope he held pinned against the wall, the sensation surprising him though he acted fast. He retracted his weapon with a wide art to swing it at her in the hopes to interrupt her before it would be too late, though the weapon met something solid before it could sink into Alys' soft flesh. The sound of impact rung through the air, the following weak shockwave and Qilby's agitated surprise forcing him to completely release Alys from his grasp and stare at her in annoyance.
Hidden behind a fluctuating kite shield of Wakfu stood Alys, her left arm holding up the floating shield while her right hand pressed against the inside to retaliate the impact of Qilby's attack. Her pupils kept glowing, a heel pressed against the wall to keep herself standing as she peered over the edge of the shield towards her opponent. She was eerily silent, but there was a spiteful grudge present in the glare she gave Qilby. She was distracted however, her muscles tense and an eyebrow lightly twitching. Her mind was filling with flashing images she couldn't recall having seen before and it confused and scared her. Smiling faces, screams of terror, the wide wing span of a dragon, torrents of Wakfu, a blinding pain, the sensation of the wind blowing through her hair... The images and feelings fluctuated from pleasant to horrifying within split seconds, the sources unknown.
Alys sprung forward like a released spring when a distant male voice called out her name amidst the images of lost memories, using her Wakfu shield as a battering ram after she pushed forward and shouted at the top of her lungs to vent her frustration and the unexplained sadness she felt. She caught Qilby by surprise, forcing him back after she slammed into him and his bare heels dug into the ground to keep himself standing with both arms crossed before him in deflection. "I won't allow you to destroy more of my memories," she said as she pushed against him, her whole body shaking from the strength she had to use," I won't let you!"
The glow in her eyes flickered and wavered when Qilby pushed back against her, his expression bordering on the edge of a glare and a wicked grin. The expression settled on a disappointed scowl when two Zaaps appeared behind Alys and forced Qilby to retreat and avoid the blasts of energy that were released from the portals, lithely skipping backwards while using the scythe to deflect a few shots. He floated to make his movements more fluid, using the years of skill he had to his advantage while the power of the Eliacube coursed through him. No matter the power Alys found in herself, she didn't have the reserves nor the resolve to keep up with him. He would know... He spent enough hours of research on her to learn about her capabilities and peculiar existence before Orgonax came to this world. She was bound to lose this fight, he was certain of it. Alys' rebellious behavior bothered him however. He needed her Wakfu to realize the Zaap he was making for Rushu and here she was, wasting it in a futile attempt to stop him. She was a fool.
He spread his arms to stop himself from floating further back and retook his weapon in both hands, waiting for Alys to come closer before striking. He aimed low to swing his scythe underneath her shield in the attempt to immobilize her, yet Wakfu clashed against Wakfu when the female Eliatrope dropped to her knees and slid forward to protect her legs, the shield's bottom scraping across the ground. The forces of energy crackled and sparked as the scythe's blade was wedged upwards with the counter attack, before Alys scrambled up to her feet and dashed off to bring some distance between herself and Qilby. She ran along the edge of the oval shaped courtyard to use the tall wall as protection for her flank, her eyes kept ahead to watch where she was going and predict anything which would get in her way. Several portals tore open ahead of her, her speed slowing down as she had to skip, hop and jump out of the way to not get swallowed by one of them and get boomeranged back to Qilby. She needed to keep her distance. It was said time and time again that she was no fighter and she agreed, knowing it was true. Still, her body was beginning to grow tired; to keep a distance would prove difficult in the long run.
"Better look up, Alys!"
The sudden warning brought her eyes up upwards in startle before she ground to a halt in a reflex and knelt down as fast as she could while holding her tall kite shield overhead, the sky lighting up once more. Bursts of Wakfu rained down upon her after Qilby unleashed them from several Zaaps he summoned, the weight of the impacts against her fluctuating shield forcing her down and keeping her in place as one rupture followed another in rapid succession. It was a heavy battering, her arms and legs shaking as she tried to keep herself and her shield up to endure the attack. Who would give up first; her shield or Qilby?
Rushu leaned back in his throne and slurped on the comical straw placed in his drink. Qilby's little outburst had been amusing to watch, his followers all in an uproar about the display but the ongoing fight served no purpose to the Shushu king. "Anathar…" The possessed dragon leaned closer to his master after he called for him, breathing heavily while he impatiently awaited what he wanted to hear," deal with this for me. Give our little flower a reminder that he's here on my terms. He can play after he has finished the portal."
"With pleasure," Anathar growled, his many eyes homing in on Alys hiding under her shield before he crouched, his heavy form lowering while his muscles tensed. He forced himself forward on strong hind legs with a massive leap, pouncing into the courtyard with his maw wide open and his claws extended. Qilby was quick to retreat through one of his portals when Anathar's large shadow formed over Alys, leaving the female Eliatrope to herself and the mercy of the Shushu chief commander. The very foundations of the castle shook when the heavy weight of Anathar's deformed body crashed down, the impact raising a cloud of dust and sand upwards along with a shockwave that knocked the front row of Shushus back.
Qilby reappeared by what was left of the rune he had been working on, his eyes narrowed and his brows low as he disapprovingly glared to where the draconic Shushu had landed. He didn't even flinch when a blue shoe hit the ground beside him with a soft clatter, his eyes searching for a sign of his fellow Eliatrope, the one he needed to improve the chances of making this invasion work. He saw her when Anathar turned his massive body around, the female Eliatrope slipping free from a cracked dent in the stone wall she was slammed into after Anathar crashed down on her and smashed her aside like a bug. Her shield flickered and dispersed after she helplessly hit the ground, one shoe missing from her feet while her blue attire was torn up more than before. She was down for the count. Still alive, but unable to fight back the growing darkness and pain that overtook her and made her numb.
"Qilby." Qilby sucked in some air through his teeth while he tried to calm down his frustration before looking towards Rushu, the demon upon his mighty throne demanding his attention," play time is over, little flower. The portal." He motioned with a giant hand towards the unfinished rune and saw Qilby scowl in defiance, the Eliatrope's plan falling apart on the edges. It could still be saved however, it just didn't go as planned.
"I needed her for that," he said disgruntled as he walked over to where Alys had dropped onto the ground," good thing your lackey didn't kill her." He heard Anathar grumble a growl from deep down his throat, but nobody made the attempt to stop Qilby when he grabbed Alys by the back of her neck with his artificial arm and lifted her up from the ground like she weighed nothing. She looked completely battered, her skin bruised and grated from the attacks she endured from both him and Anathar. She had been stronger than he expected, but surely not strong enough. "Let us see how well the cube remembers you, Alys…" His voice had a hint of madness to it, but it sounded somber and dark for the most part.
Alys shook when she tried to raise her head and open her eyes to look at Qilby while she was kept up by the back of her neck, her feet dragging over the dead soil when he pulled her closer. She had gone beyond her limits and strengths to try and beat him, but Anathar's sudden interference and brute strength broke her, the spark that was awoken within having died at his hand. She wheezed and glowered at him with one eye closed while her cracked lips parted in the attempt to speak, but Qilby cut in to not hear her pleads or insults, the glowing claws digging deep into the sides of her neck.
She felt it spreading through the puncture wounds, slow at first as if the burning sensation was exploring her carefully before it became bold and struck her like lightning. The surge of power was immense and oddly familiar, literally numbing her as it traveled from one limb to another. Her veins became visible like cyan colored lines underneath her skin and her mouth parted wide to let out a silent scream as the unbearable heat built up the more Qilby allowed the Eliacube to seize her. Something was prodding in the back of her mind, the fear of knowing making her quake deep within. She experienced this before. The Eliacube remembered her. It robbed her memories from her during the last time it claimed her, a decade long unsatiable hunger that rampaged through her... Though it felt different this time, more controlled and much faster with a cutting precision. The surge of power that only lasted for a few seconds suddenly turned into a sucking vortex which tore at her from within and ripped at her core. The Eliacube swiftly deprived her from her Wakfu while she dangled in its grasp, her body twitching and jerking as she was powerless to stop it. There was only so much of a beating she could take and she was beyond her limit.
"A pity you wasted some of your energy to try and fight me... I did tell you it was in vain," Qilby said after he felt there was hardly anything left to tap from, feeling the newly gained energy surge and pulse through his artificial arm. It was enough of a boost needed to create a long lasting portal of massive scale for the Shushus. He tossed Alys aside before the Eliacube could completely deplete her, the immobilized Eliatrope rolling across the ground till she came to a slow pathetic stop on her back, looking paler than she did before. Her breathing was nearly nonexistent, but she was still alive. Qilby allowed her to be for an unknown purpose.
The Shushus that were hiding came streaming back into the courtyard like a wave of oil when the fake king of the Eliatropes returned to the rune, the large symbol having suffered some damage from the fight. The demons' reluctance made way for excitement once more when it became apparent the invasion was close at hand, their cheering and chanting filling the air. Some stopped to inspect the fallen Eliatrope, poking her and jumping on her to receive a reaction but all they got was silence and that was of no interest to them.
Rushu finally showed a grin after things began to pick up again, the rune Qilby was working on emitting a stronger gleam than it did before and lit up the courtyard with a cyan glow while his subjects became louder, restless and more obnoxious. The king of the Shushus laughed in anticipation for the carnage and destruction he would soon cast upon the World of Twelve, growing so very eager. Finally, vengeance.
Alys was forgotten about when the ritual worked towards its finish, all focus on the male Eliatrope and the portal he was conjuring. The discussion he had with Rushu and Anathar about the invasion slipped past her like a very distant dream, but it was the crunching sound of gravel next to her ear which made her still expression distort ever so slightly. She tried to open one of her eyes enough to be able to see, her vision blurry while any source of light, no matter dim, burned. She couldn't make out the black long pointy shoe placed beside her head but she did hear an intrigued sounding meow, a strange misplaced sound amidst the shrieking and cackling of the Shushus.
Standing over her in the cover of a stone pillar stood Remington, disguised with pieces of bone and old armor to hide in plain sight among the distracted Shushus, his brother Grany hiding within the large dented helmet they managed to find. He glanced down at the wounded Eliatrope who struggled to remain awake, the corners of his mouth pulling down into a grimace. "I am sorry, cheri, but I am not staying for anyone this time," the rogue hushed from under his mask, planning to use the portal and the chaos it would cause to escape Shukrute and return to the World of Twelve with his cursed brother. A light twitch made Remington aware Alys had heard him before he backed away into the shadows to no longer linger by her, not wishing to blow his cover.
The cheering increased in volume and numbers like a maddening chorus when the finished rune lit up and created a cascade of blinding light that swept over the courtyard, the invasion coming to a roaring start.
It had begun.
To be continued