Keeping the Peace (by Waging War)

Gabriel cackled into the wind as the Abyssal Fleet sloop soared through the air. The bluette stood upon the prow. Every so often one of the crew would grab his belt yanking him back onto the planks. Each time, the insane captain pouted at them. They always ignored him. The crew of the Lightning Strike had gotten used to their strange captain. He'd stolen the ship from the Abyssal Fleet with a daring that impressed them all. Gabriel had kept them on their toes ever since.

The current mission was a good example. Gabriel felt that Earthland needed a war. They needed a cleansing for the thousands of idiots and an awakening for others. The potential war brewing between the countries of Pergrande and Bellum threatened to drag the world into carnage. Gabriel felt a thrill of battle in his veins at the mere thought. Unfortunately, Bellum had a movement towards peace. Even with the recent Joya incident, people promoted peace. At the head of this idiotic thing stood Councilor Harper. The man didn't know when to shut his mouth. Gabriel found out the man wasn't stupid either. He had a security detail surrounding him at all times. That wouldn't stop the bluette from assassinating Harper to plunge Ishgar into devastation. The peace protection parade would fall apart without their leader. Especially if they thought he'd been murdered by Pergrande sponsored mercenaries.

A smile slid across Gabriel's face. Let the security detail repel cannon fire. Hopefully Harper carried around a few valuables as well. Otherwise, the bluette might savage a bank on the return journey. Gabriel glanced over his shoulder. He'd kidnapped a member of Abyssal Fleet to come along. It made the whole thing feel more official. Cap e tan Gabriel taking his crew on a lightning strike to take out a target. In the name of Abyssal Fleet, it shall be done! They needed some experience anyways. Right? He didn't keep enough track of his guildmates.

"Alright, mateys! Our quarry lays on the horizon! Run out the guns! Thunder and Shield mages on deck! Boarding party to the prow!" The crew scrambled to comply. Gabriel sauntered over to his guildmate. "You harpin for some blood, mate? We'll slick the streets with the blood of Councilor Harper and his men!" A smaller city of Bellum without a name worth mentioning came rapidly into view underneath them. Gabriel smiled crazily. This hunt would be a joy. "Run up the colors!" Wide Pergrande flags were hoisted into the air. The trap was set. Bellum would blame the anti magic country 100%. Gabriel didn't have a doubt in his mind.

"Lower the ropes and prepare for broadside!" Gabriel shouted once the Councilor's house was in view. The cannons roared moments later. Magic erupted across the deck. Gabriel could feel the rumble of the deck as the security team responded. He started laughing as he turned to his guildmate. "Alrighty guild mate! Down the ropes, go go go! Kill Councilor Harper! For war!"

WC: 501

Odilia had been brought with on what she could only presume was a job based on the fact she was on a ship toward belem. A very eccentric man whom she didn't even know his name had made her come with...made is a way of putting it. She would have came if asked the fact that she was kidnapped only reaffirmed her decision. Plus she was smart enough to know he was stronger then she was currently and resisting with no plan was foolish. Assuming strength ment authority in this pirate guild she assumed he had rank in the guild thus all things lead to her going with things for now. As the cannons boomed over Belem he turn to her as she was standing behind him observing the man her usual smile on her face as he walked over telling her about council man Harper. Based on the fact he said his blood would coat the streets she guessed he was why they were here. She said nothing but giggled slightly. If nothing else this captain was amusing to her. Then they arrived over the Council members home. The order was given that she was to kill Councilman Harper. That's all she needed to her. She nodded " aye aye" lshe said with a giggled as a Cannon made a hole in a wall, made her entrance.

She ignored the ropes jumping off the ship diving off the hole. She didn't much care about war or not, just her orders. As she sky dived towards the hole two guards appeared weapons draw to stop her. She smiled putting a hand on her blade. The hole was on the fourth story, a long fall for sure if she missed. However she never does anything without thinking. She wasn't exactly going to hit the hole, but she activated her blades abilities turning into a swarm of Butterflies Fluttering towards the hole. As the fluttered past the guards who threw there arms up in front of them Odiela then formed behind them swinging her sword slashing them both in the backs. As they were stunned by sudden pain she shoved them out the hole so they would plumet to there deaths. She didn't stick around to confirm the kill, she didn't want to see it she wasn't a monster, she'd get no pleasure from it. With a smile on her face she started down a hallway starting her way through the house, the crew would be a good decoy as she searched for Harper. She wondered briefly what the eccentric man would be doing during this all, if he stole her kill and would be using her as a decoy would make her quite upset. Choosing not to think about it she focused on her tasked ready to kill anyone in her path.

WC:471
TWC: 902

Gabriel watched his guild mate jump from the side of the ship. He whistled in appreciation. "That looks like fun! See ya down there boys! Secure the area beneath the ship!" Despite a few protests, Gabriel saluted his crew before falling backwards over the railing. Laughter tore from his mouth as the wind clawed at him. Deep purple armor closed around him meters from the ground. As the slayer struck, he went down on his knee with one fist planted on the ground. A hero landing for a hero of Time.

Spells pinged off the armor. They couldn't even give him time to appreciate his awesome landing. Getting to his feet, Gabriel let the corruption in his soul flare. Purple lightning and fire coated his limbs. The attacking mages didn't let up. "You didn't even let me monologue!" Gabriel growled. The corruption essence gathered into spears over his arms. A flick of his wrist and the mages opposing him died. Some of them did anyways. Others threw up shields, stepping forward to intercept the missiles. Harper hadn't slouched in getting himself a security team. Now where had his guild mate gotten off to? He needed the Robin to his Batman. Wait... what was a Batman? No, not now. Thoughts for later.

These insects were starting to get on his nerves. Two mage teams were advancing toward the landing area. One mage shielded while the other attacked. Gabriel's crew would be slaughtered if they landed now. His eyes narrowed. Nothing and no one hurt what was his. The magic surged forth within his body. Ghostly apparitions stepped forth from clock towers. They appeared to be different versions of Gabriel. "Kill them all" The original snarled. The ghosts let out a piercing scream before they leapt into battle. The fighters were distracted. Now to prepare the landing area. Gabriel snapped his fingers, reverting parts of the cobblestone into large blocks of stone. A large ring of waist to chest high stones now stood about the landing area. Gabriel smiled in admiration. He did good work.

The bluette turned toward a nearby building. It towered over the street and a few holes from cannonball fire smoked lightly in the sides. Harper should be holed up in that building. Had his guildie gone in there ahead of him? Excellent. "Wait for me, Kid Flash! I'll be there in a jiff!" Gabriel accelerated his own time. To anyone observing him, the bluette would appear as a blue lightning streak. He whistled cheerily, walking into the building. It didn't take long to find his guild mate. At least, to everyone else, it didn't appear to take long.

Harper's security team had gotten a few people into the room. His guild mate appeared to be outnumbered. Gabriel stopped in the center of the circle of men. A Old West tune started to sound through the air. Gabriel suddenly wore a cowboy hat and chewed on some straw. His armor had mystically vanished. "Never tell me the odds." He shouted, pointing twin finger guns at the mages. They looked about in confusion. "Pew, pew, pew, pew." Gabriel said as bolts of corruption fired from the ends of his fingers. The mages went down without much of a fight. The cowboy mage blew on his fingers. "They call me Gabe. Gabriel Caimilier. But you, little missy? You can call me Slick."

WC: 562/1063
TWC: 1464

Odiela would be making her way down the hallway running, she wasn't really a mage she didn't have any fancy spell that would get her what she needed to be efficiently. She made up for that though in her athletic prowess. Ashley van she would turn the corner to see a group of his guards suddenly surround her. She was outnumbered however she felt she could handle the situation as she readies her blade. That would seem that was unnecessary. As she was about ready to strike at her first Target of blue flash with would come bolting down the hallway and appearing in the Middle with her. It was the captain that had brought her on this machine to begin with. With a sudden instance in another few blue flashes he will disperse all the people she wasn't really paying attention to what he had to say. By the time you finish talking and looking where she was she was already running back down the hallway. She wasn't given any orders to the contrary to stop and she wanted to get this done and over with. She would make her comments after the target was killed. A few people down the hallway ready to stop her those who keep going straight down the middle dodging any attacks they gave in delivering a swift sword strike to each one of them two kill each one as she passed them. Making sure they didn't suffer. She was efficient enough to at least give them a quick and painless death.

She had no doubt that any moment now the captain would have thee join her either in a flasher catching up behind her. Which would work out because in front of her stood up a pair of double doors which he only resumed was the targets office. She wondered if you would so full of shit to still be in his office during all this chaos happening. Maybe he felt safe in there who knows. But with one swift kick she broke down the doors to see what was inside do you at least do that much before her Captain showed up again.

WC 363
Twc: 1827

Gabriel giggled madly as his guildmate ran away. Efficient this one was. She didn't waste any time on idle chit chat. Gabriel couldn't be sure if he liked that or not. For now, the bluette would say he liked it. A little bit anyway. It came across as amusing at least. The slayer sprang after his guildmate within moments of her vanishing. To keep things interesting, the bluette ran at the woman's speed. What fun could a chase be without a little chase? Mad giggles tumbled from his mouth as the pirate ran.

He arrived in time to see his guildmate kick the door open. Right onto a squad of Crusader Knights and the Arcanos Cleric at their head. A trap set to capture the foolish invading Pergrande? Gabriel doubted that. His giggling cut off in the face of a serious threat. How would his guildmate handle these foes. They weren't the average combatant. An elite squad of the Bellum army was made of Crusader Knights. Arcanos Clerics tended to be the best of the Crusader Knights. Another squad of Crusader Knights sans an cleric trotted up behind them. Gabriel tapped a finger against his chin.

"I think we need a little more... space" Gabriel snapped his fingers. The building crumbled around them, only the floor staying sturdy. The crusader knights shifted uneasily as the walls vanished around them. Gabriel smiled slowly, his madness now but a twinkle in his eye. "Steady men! These mercenaries of Pergrande will not take Councilor Harper!" The cleric shouted. That woman's faith truly filled the bluette with inspiration. His fingers snapped again. Ghosts blossomed around the house. A ghastly orchestra to accompany their battle with music. Gabriel bowed to his opponents. The first crusader tried to take his head off.

Rude! Guildy take the cleric squad, these rude assholes are mine!" Black lightning flashed between Gabriel's fingers. It coalesced into a dark spear. The spear crackled menacingly whenever Gabriel swung the weapon. "Don't underestimate my power. The Dark Path leads to many things others might consider unnatural. They had cookies though so I'm all set!" Gabriel's mood switched rapidly from sarcasm to serious to deliriously happy. Once again, the crusader knights eyed each other. Was this madman any serious threat despite his powerful magic?

WC:380/1443
TWC: 2207

Odilia would look around as the scenery collapsed around them as watching the ghost and there ghastly wails as they were looking around as one of the knights tried to take his head off. Hearing him say to take down the clerics she took a deep breath faxing them, a smile never leaving her face as she focused herself. This eccentric madman he was with clearly had a knack for flare and whatever power that he possessed would be something she would never understand. Her attention would return as she spoke in a calm voice. "Breathing Technique of the Striking Wind." She said exhaling as on of the clerics came to strike down Odelia.

She would side step such a slow strike and her blade would move at incredible speeds slicing diagonally upward covering move there chest and the right half there neck making them die instantly with her precise strike. As she looked at the other clerics and stepped towards them beams of holy magic where shot at her. As they would make contact she disappeared in a swarm of purple butterfly scattering around the area. As they did Odeila would appear behind two of them. "I'm over here" She said with a sweet smile stabbing through one in the back Piercing through the heart. Before the one next to him could react she would twist her blade and slash out and aimed upward decapitating the other one as she turn flicking her blade making the blood make an arcing pattern on the ground.

She took a moment to look at the madman presuming he was making short work of his people assuming he wasn't one of those who enjoyed dragging it out. The three that were left would use that time to do a unison attack and fuse three holy beams of light fighting at her. She took a deeply calm breath. "Breathing Technique of the Inner Soul" she said as she exhaled and as her blade hit it and she spun with it the holy energy traveling with her as she fully spun and slashed sending to back at them catching them off guard as they exploded in holy energy. She looked over at her companion to see where to go next and if he required assistance.

WC:380
TWC:2587

Gabriel danced with the crusader knights. In the confines of the house, they would have been restricted in their attempt to attack. Now, with the house gone, they unleashed a fury. Gabriel turned the frenzied strikes aside with his Dark Spear. The holy magic imbuing their weapons ate away at the spear's integrity. Once one blow nearly sheared through both the haft of the spear and his arm. The bluette grimaced. Playtime it seemed was over. Corruption erupted from his body, four streaks of lightning constantly crashing around him.

One of the knights made the mistake of stepping in to strike. Black lightning poked holes into his armor and body. The corpse collapsed in a smoking heap. Gabriel stepped forward for the first time in the battle. The smile had vanished. The laughter had disappeared. The vibrant blue fighter appeared to be serious for the first time. "Time bends to my will" He murmured, stepping again. The lightning crashed, forcing the knights to dodge. Gabriel gestured lazily. Energy flew into one of the knights. He rapidly grew older, screaming loudly. Before the slayer even took another step, the man had crumbled to dust. His armor clanged against the floor before falling to the ground below.

The remaining Crusaders tried to flee. Gabriel tsked loudly. Black bolts flew into their retreating backs. They tore at their armor, howling for mercy. The slayer finally chuckled. That spell happened to be fairly nasty. Obsidian veins would be crawling through their bodies. Slowly, ever so slowly, each crusader knight would be dying. The veins would allow Gabriel to control their corpses. As the bodies fell, Gabriel walked over. Kneeling down, he tapped the head of a newborn zombie. "Johnny, johnny, tell me where Councilor Harper is hiding?" The corpse rattled of a location before all intelligence died in its eyes. Gabriel got up, straightening his coat. "Cause havoc, my undead. Kill those you come across."

Gabriel looked around for his guildmate. She had handled herself well it seemed. He smiled widely at her. "Good job, guildy. It seems the Councilor is on an escape route. The Bellum clerics are sending all forces to eliminate us. It's quite exciting. I'm tempted to unleash my full powers." Gabriel wasn't as strong here as he might have been. However, he relished the challenge. The wild card here happened to be his guildmate. Gabriel didn't want to unintentionally eliminate a promising up and coming. "Shall we stand and fight or run after the Councilor?" He opened up two portals. One showed a fleeing armored wagon with an escort of several crusader knights and clerics of Arcanos. The other showed three floating warships with a complement of flying mages. "Choose."

WC: 452/1895
TWC:3039

Odila looked between the portals, these are often look particularly well-suited either way they're going to be fighting more Clerics and Knights, he's also willing to bet that the ones actually guarding him we're a lot stronger than the one she just thought I took her a lot of her effort. She thought on it for a moment what Harper was the Target and that's who she needs to focus on for now it may be less fun for him but it wasn't her idea of time. She looked up at the blue haired man before speaking. "I'm going to go after Harper, I would like to focus him, please use you're amazing powers to protect me from the knights and clerics, I'll be counting on you." She spoke in a sweet Charming tone while giving him a nice smile before jumping into the portal.

It would appear the armored wagon as she would be descending it would be moving out of that pit paste he's being pulled by some Beast of Burden, she wanted to make an infection on the captain be needed to get in good with this Guild so with that in mind she pokes her breathing decided to use a technique that would hopefully impress him in order to stop the wagon. As she landed she focused on her breathing her other techniques still active focusing on a Target destination. "Secret Technique of the Moon Clan…Lunar Eclipse~" She said as her feet touch the the forward she moved almost to quick to be preserved past all the security. As she dashed forward she smiled "Second Form: Lunar Wave~" she said as she reach the armored beast pulling the pulling the wagon, her strike rang true as she sliced into the beast through its armor killing it and cutting its reins. As she skidded to a stop she saw the wagon crash and the knights and clerics surrounding it. She took a breath as that took a lot out of her getting in a combat stance, hoping her Captain came through to deal with these clerics and knights.

WC:351
TWC:2981

Gabriel grinned at the praise given his abilities. The praise clearly due to him though. Who else had the power over space and time? Who had invaded multiple timelines to secure the fabric of time? The praise due to him had been a long time coming. Why not get it in this timeline where he planned to stay a little while? The slayer stepped through the portal to the other side.

His guildie seemed to have a plan. Gabriel floated in the air above, waiting for her to finish whatever that might be. He couldn't get in the way of potential greatness. Not quite as great as Gabriel but no one could catch up to him. She slaughtered the beast of burden with a quick move through the security measures. An interesting strategy that Gabriel couldn't quite make sense of.

The Knights moved to attack. Clerics appeared to be working a few spells. Gabriel frowned. Could his Guildie's plan include himself? Gabriel shrugged dropping down among the crusaders. A flick of his wrist bisected the first one along with the horse. The others immediately turned from his guildie. They had a good danger sense. Attacking the more powerful opponent first was sound strategy. Gabriel chuckled, raising his empty hands. Swords dropped, moving to kill him. They passed harmlessly through his body. "Aw, it seems your swords aren't working. Try mine." Portals opened above each knight. Gabriel moved his hand down. A cascade of swords fell impaling the Knights.

"Kill the representative, guildie." Gabriel said checking each of his opponents. Some were still breathing. He'd allow that for now. The clerics needed to be handled first. "He needs to die." Gabriel blew out slowly. The breath solidified as time stopped for it. The particles turned into deadly projectiles that slammed into a nearby cleric. The bluette smiled slowly. It could be fun to play with these idiots.

WC: 317/2212
TWC: 3298

Odeila saw her opening as he heard the order to kill the representative.  She really didn't need to be told that...she was going to do it anyway.  She hurried before she felt drained from her rush dodging and weaving around anyone that he didn't kill already. As she was approaching the cart she saw one of the guards that was guarding the door.  She wasn't as fast this time around due to using her secret so she needed to strike him down quickly she took in a breath  "Second Form: Lunar Wave." The  said as she cut through the gaur who only noticed her at the last minute. As you gaurd fell she approched the cart she looked back at the chaos before slicing at the handle and opening and opening it.  Inside there was a man trembling reaching for a lacrima pistol.  As he raised it she quickly did a slash with her sword destroying it.  She quickly leveled her sword.  "Stop and accept your death with grace. If you don't move I promise to make it quicker then what my associate outside will." She said with a genuine smile on her face.  The man trembled "w why are you d doing this..." he asked, all I want to do I make life better...:  Odeila sighed a little. "I know your message is eight and true...you just bother the wrong people...I will ensure your message won't die with you."  She says raising her sword before decapitating the man clean making it as quick and painless as possible. She didn't enjoy drawing things out like associate. She preferred to be quick and precise with her killing..  She stop and did a small prayer before exiting the cart to see how his blue haired associate was doing.

WC:296
TWC: 3594