Titans of the Current: Hands of God Edition

Part 2:1:3

Bell's log: entry 5729, Luciere is into her 5th consecutive hour of fighting Oragnik. The process has been static: they fight, she wins, he resurrects himself. Luciere's energy is running low, reach dip into the spirit world not only returns Oragnik's power and body.. But he seems stronger each time.

His runes he used to open the gateway are scattered throughout the field. Marking each section he was slain in. However, it seems there is much more here than a fight. The chains link together to make a symbol of sorts. I should probably note it to her, but she should never hear my voice over her own arrogance. It looks as though he has only a single length of chain left. Luciere?! What are you doing? That gold aura means only one thing. She's using her power.

"Let me guess? Your gonna kill me with your full power? That's sweet! But this kitty's got one more life."

It's time to put this damn fool into the ground!

"Please oh mighty hand puppet of Lucifer! Tell me what your gonna do to me!"

"I'm nobody's puppet! This power proves it! My power is to manipulate lightning!"

"Oh how shocking! Fortunately the Greek left this world already or I'd call you a rip!"

I know the others can't hear me. To them my power is a mystery. It's best to stay that way. But this scum shall know just what I can do!

"DIE DAMNIT!!!"

I feel my body change as I turn my form into lightning. I can see everything... So anything... At the speed of light...

But.. How can he move?

Oragnik is clearly in full negation of my manipulation.

"Ha confused? Well let me tell you a little secret. Metal conducts! The shape of the chains links created yet another portal to the spirit realm.. One you were, grounded to... I'm this realm the energy of your world has little affect. Plus your current physical constitution is not suited for this world. I give you a minute before you dissipate into nothing."

Shit! These odds aren't favorable. Even with all my power I was tricked and cornered. The souls of all the Valkyries we slew are here now, descending on me. To finish me.

I won't let them!

I always thought Levy a fool for creating the saying "hope and death" but now I see where she gets off saying it. But Etrius, his words are powerful...

.... Victory... If Etrius came to me earlier... I'd know what that meant.

"You haven't won yet! I'll be back to admire you where you stand!"

"Please come again"

I revert to my physical form as I hear the taunting laughter of the Nightshade Valkyrie.... Those with the power to pull the souls of gods into the void... What would they want with Etrius? Do they work for Tamiel?

Regardless, I feel my flesh return to my body as I descend to the ground. Where Etrius awaited me...

"I didn't kill him. My insolence has costed us the day.. They all escaped"

He looks at me warmly... As though I had satisfied him... "On the contrary Luciere, you have done exactly as I requested."

Ba-al interjects "but what of their escape?"

"What escape? Something you need to learn. Sometimes, your strategy for victory, is also your opponents."

Etrius glides to the rune mark as he finally outstretches his hand. The rune shimmers with light as a torrent of wind picks up. Screams could be heard from the wall of light that shot into the night sky.

The souls trapped within were pulled into the top of the pillar. Once there they were pulled together. As the screaming silence, Oragnik in spirit form could be seen resisting the pull into the spiritual light.

"Damn you Etrius! I hope you choke on that bitch's body! You always did like impressing the ladies! Isn't that right! If you wanted her that badly you could've asked!"

Oragnik's power was fully extent, as the earth quaked at his screams of resistance. "NO DAMNIT! IT SHOULD'VE BEEN THERE! NEXT TIME BITCH.... NEXT TIME YOU SEE ME.... LOOK ME AND THE EYE AND TELL ME YOUR NO ONES PUPPET!!"

Etrius wore a calm expression, "you have lost. you have no place in this world...." He turns away and walks to the fortress.

Oragnik is swept into the light as the portal closes up. And like that, thousands of souls merely left this world. With a blink of light. 

Jazz has been gone for at least an hour now. Time to check my mail.

The valkyrie truly reaped a bounty this harvest. The soul catcher whirs violently, and shutters as it disperses a single pure-white stone into the palm of my hand.

The soul trap, a machine I devised to compress the energy of souls into solid matter! The stones I can generate contain more energy in every cubic centimeter than the average detonation of a hydrogen bomb! And this one looks almost 4 decameters ! Ha they did it it except...

.. The hue of the stone is still white just like the experiments prior to this one... Damnit! They didn't get Luciere!

.... Only with time... Bring yourselves to me if I can't have you now ....

Etrius is walking up to his quarters as I pass him... As much as I fear to... I have to stop him..

I grab his shoulder "what just happened out there? What did we just see?"

"It's simple Jack, the Nightshade Valkyries came to take Luciere's soul.. But they failed... They failed.... Get some rest, Jack. Tomorrow you seven begin tasking."

"Seven?"

Or conversation of cut short by the footsteps at the end of the hall.

The hat was unmistakable, Jazz... But something seemed different..

I looked at his mouth, where row after row of stitching tethered his lips together. Despite all this, I can hear his voice clearly as he speaks to me.

Yes Jack... Seven...