Operation Rose Pruning (Nox Animus Guild event)

Fancy Mel enjoyed her day off just fine. That was until the chaos happened. She looked up to see a ship and she shook her head. "What a hot mess..." Mel said as she got out of her bath and got dressed in the explosions. Mel closed her eyes as she walked out of her door and down the halls. She worked her way through. The evacuations had already begun.

"Fourth Chair," a rune knight said running down the street he stood there stressed with a look on his face. "You have to get out of here. The town is falling to pieces." Mel nodded as she followed the knight. "Nox Animus has used a bomb that makes it so that we cannot use magic. You will be unable to as well."

Mel nodded. "Then we have to find a way to the docks. We will find a boat out of here..." Mel said then the knight shook his head. "That bad, huh... Let's take to the sewers then." Mel said stopping over a manhole. The knight looked at her and nodded. "Our goal is to keep me hidden from Nox Animus. As long as we can endure through this, we can get back to Era in one piece." Mel put a hand on the manhole, but her hand came back burned. "This isn't good. There's no escape."

The knight looked around stressed beyond all belief. They were in the center of the town. No where near the shopping district and they still have yet to run into anyone else. "Ma'am... What are we going to do?"

Mel sighed as she looked up. "What do we value most, Knight?"

"Life... You trained us to value our lives and the joy of magic. Without life the joy of magic is meaningless."

Mel nodded and smiled. Her blue eyes softened as she looked up at the ship. "Then we must get these guys to stand down with a bargain. This loss of life is unreasonable." She looked at her burnt hand that had second degree burns. It was already healed. She sighed. And it looks like they lack the capability to kill me as well. Magic sucking bombs does not affect potions. She turned to the knight. "Go to the other bodyguards. Guide them to safety. I will be fine." The guard nodded and ran in the opposite direction.

Mel sighed as she looked up at the rooftops. There had to be a way to the top where she can announce to Nox Animus that she was there and to stand down. She saw an officer helping with evacuations. Mel made her way through the crowd and stopped in front of him. Perfect he was holding a megaphone and it was still working. "I am Melissa Sewelle, fourth chair of the magic council. I am commandeering that megaphone." She said, grabbing it from his hand. She walked around to find a building she could use to climb up the rubble to the top of a building. She climbed to the top to see what was going on. Mel made a sad look. If there was anything, she could hear her name be repeated several times by the innocents screaming that she come out. Without her magic, Mel was just a useless person. Mel pressed the button on the megaphone and screamed into it so that all of Nox Animus could hear her.

"NOX ANIMUS! THIS IS MELISSA SEWELLE, FOURTH CHAIR OF MILITARY POLICE! CEASE THIS USELESS BLOODSHED AT ONCE! I HAVE GIVEN MYSELF UP! DO NOT LIFT ANOTHER FINGER! I WANT THE GUILDMASTER HERE!" She fell to her knees. The rabbit ears on her hat slumped as she dropped her head looking down at the ground showing her surrender. She closed her eyes to await those that would come to gather her useless self. She smiled. Daemon, do not think that this is your fault... She thought then screamed one more time into the megaphone before dropping it. "KNIGHTS I WANT YOU TO HELP THE CITIZENS THEN DEAL WITH THOSE OF THE GUILD NOX ANIMUS! LIFE IS TO BE VALUED OVER ANYTHING ELSE! DO NOT WORRY ABOUT ME!" Mel had briefed the knights before when she was on her off duty days that she could recover from just about anything really fast. This was one of those orders where they did not question her.

Immediately, all of the Rune Knights backed down and started helping the civilians instead of fighting due to Mel's surrender.

Ethan had taken his time mowing through the masses in his onslaught. It's what they expected of him after all and in all honesty he was probably enjoying it a bit more then he was supposed to. Even if he missed a person as he passed by the things that fell apart in his wake took care of them for him. To anyone watching him he would seem like nothing but a mindless killer without a particular purpose but he had a very certain spot in mind and was meaning to get there as soon as possible without raising too much suspicion. He was soon helped in this endeavor as a voice was heard throughout the streets. It introduced itself as Melissa Sewelle. He knew enough about her to know how important she was. He was more shocked to as how she seemed to surrender to them. He had expected a lot out of this job, but this? He figured he should get his part done already so he can go and check how things turned out on the other ends.

He kept running through the streets and he was quite positive that he was getting close to his goal now. As if to assure him of that his goal came into view as he passed a corner; the main reservoir. The one place which connected all water distribution in the city. He walked towards it slowly and noticed an injured woman caught in the rubble as he went on. He considered if he should perhaps just put an end to her too. She seemed to be in pain as it was so maybe she would consider it a favour. He raised his Venom coated hand which resembled more of a claw now and looked coldly at the lady as he suddenly realised a knight had taken stance next to him with a small rapier. Now that he thought about it, perhaps it would just go faster if he left the woman to her fate with this knight. The council member had stated that she wouldn't tolaerate anymore bloodshed so it should go faster if he just stops and walks right in. With that though cleared in his mind he simply took hold of the thin blade and shattered it before throwing the knight to the side. "Leave" And so he resumed his course towards the main reservoir.

He opened the door and was met by a surprisingly rusty iron chamber with various levers adorning the walls. What stole his attention was a circular valve in the middle of the room which had seemed to rust eyond any hope of ever giving way to anyone or anything. Ethan approached it and got on his knees as he dug his projected claw beneath the valve and pulled hard. It wouldn't give away so easily though and he had to spend a few seconds crouching before it loosened and was ripped from the floor; revealing the clear water hidden underneath. He threw the large valve to the side and bent over the now open valve. "This should do just fine" He then took his Venom coated right hand and stuck it down the clear water which was soon more alike that of oil spill than actual water. The cold water against his skin made him shiver at first as he let it stay in there for a few minutes. He eventually pulled out as he figured he was done. The black oil like substance soon dissipated as it spread out with the water current. There was no visual traits to confirm it's nature now. "I suppose that's enough out of me..." With that he was done and proceeded outside once more to meet the flames and screams but the only thing on his mind was what he should get for dinner later. Though he supposed he should find a way out of the city first.

Yuna walked solemnly down the streets of Rose Garden, her tears long gone. There was nothing to smile or even laugh about to pass the time, not anymore. Her green eyes remained trained on the stampede of terrified survivors running from the bloodthirsty mercenaries of Nox Animus. Their bloodcurdling screams filled the air as they were pounced upon and finally ended after a serious of torturous encounters. The powerful, angry flames slowly engulfed the land giving it a dramatically, horrifying affect to the onslaught occurring.

Her head hung low and her hands trembling in anger and sorrow, she stepped over debris and bodies. The breeze fluttered around her bringing the stench of blood swirling around her, making her sick. There was no escaping the war. She had missed her chance to leave a long time ago. Unlike the people who would soon tell this tale, she knew why Nox Animus had done this terrible deed. Furthermore, she understood and yet she did not blame them in the least. They were but puppets in the bigger picture. Someone was pulling the strings. She stopped in her tracks, did knowing and understanding mean she was okay with this? No, not even in the least; knowing and understanding was entirely different from approving and accepting. It just meant she viewed the bigger picture. Yuna continued on her walk through the bloody streets. This was genocide, a war of none she had ever seen nor did she ever want to see again. Mercenaries? Assassins? Yuna made a tiny fist and placed it over her heart, her nails digging into her skin. She was scared, but not of the guild but of herself. Would this change her? Make her into something she did not want to be?

Far off, she noticed a damaged rune knight lurking from behind the shadows ready to strike her ally and friend. Without thinking, she grabbed a fistful of earth she always carried on herself, ran closer them, and ate. Instantaneously, she was filled with the rush of the Demon Force. Upon reaching her proximity, she stomped her foot, causing the Earth to rise in jagged spikes around her. She was unsure of what her decision would cost her, but she wanted to save her friend. The earth rose and, as she had hoped, hit the knight knocking him out. She sighed thankfully and sank to her knees. She weakly put her hands to the ground and put the spikes back. Yuna slowly raised her head to inspect the damage she had caused. No one except the knight had been hurt by the spikes and for that she was thankful. She noticed her team leader, Ethan, make his way towards the water systems. She tried to stand up, but she was weak; even with the hum of the demon force running through her veins. She scanned the area and knew that he, Ethan, was safe. Nothing and no one would be getting in his way, Ethan had chosen the perfect time to poison.

Not far from where she was, she saw Codemaster walking towards her. His hands rose up in a warm greeting. "C-Codemaster..!" She cried, struggling to get up and run to embrace her dear friend in a hug. What she had not foreseen was that her spikes had caused a nearby lamp post to wobble. As fate would have it, a rune knight was slammed against the post by one of team. The extra force caused the post to come crashing down. "CODEMASTER!" She yelled in an ear splitting scream. She watched helplessly as the post took out her dear friend in a single swoop. In her mind, the scene replayed and replayed. Cursing her and mocking her for not being able to do a thing. Newfound energy found its way to her, and she shot up from the ground. She ran towards the lifeless body of Codemaster and fell besides him, weeping. It seemed like an eternity before she was able to look at her friend again. She brushed her newfound tears away with her dirtied arm and inspected the scene. The post had caused the android’s system to crack and shut down. His body was damaged beyond repair. She tugged at the android’s arm, but no amount of strength would cause him to budge. Instead, she crawled atop the lamp post and delicately opened the android’s chest area and looked inside. Wires and chips decorated the inside; things that would never work again. Yuna plunged her hand deep inside the opening and took out the main chip. “…Codemaster… you’ll be back..! I p-promise..!” The nature spirit placed the treasured chip in her pocket; she would find a way to bring him back. Yuna knew that the chip contained all of the data Codemaster had acquired, he had told her not so long ago. She climbed off and noticed a shard in Codemaster’s hand; a shard from the explosion, the bomb. She struggled to open the closed hand and took the shard. It would serve as a memory. A memory of what Nox Animus, and she, had done.

Daemon turned to Saranade and growled incoherently trying desperately to try to communicate with her. Please.... stop... the... noise ..... it ... hurts .... so ..... much " Were the only word he was able to utter as he grabbed his head in pain and screamed in agony as the shadows around in the city square began to coil around Demon like a protective shell as his body began to shift from his human form into his true demonic form. As Daemon slowly stood up right amongst the swirling shadows he swung his left hand forward causing the surrounding shadows to launch into sky into a onyx twister of spiraling energy causing every low level mage and civilian to be sent flying and land on the hard stone ground with a sickening splat .

Daemon sighed and lightly cracked his neck as the scent of blood filled his nostrils. with a long forked tongue he licked his lips and turned to Saranade. At least the screams have quieted down " He said with a slight smirk before walking over to Sara and caresses her cheek before folding his wings around her and kisses her deeply as the shadows surrounding Mel quickly formed a set of thick chains around her body.

As Daemon pulled away and turned to Mel. I promise to try and make this as painlessly as possible out of respect for my father and your ties to him." He said calmly as he walked over and lifted Mel onto his right shoulder while accidently knocking off the Maiden's hat obviously noticing what she keeps hidden underneath. With a slight smirk Daemon whispered to her about he found her secret to make her look cute And As he walked off he took control of the hat's shadows and created a small tentacle that hoot out of the shadow and sent itself to it's master. Daemon smiled and caught the hat with his left hand and placed the hat back onto it's owner' head as the two walked towards a wall with a shadow cascading over it due to one of the large buildings.

With A single thought from Daemon he created a portal with the shadows and carried the young leader of the Rk through it effectively allowing the two safe passage out of the battlefield and successfully capturing Fancy Mel for Nox Aminus.