Battle for Croft Part I

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Calliope Ariandal has decided to tighten her reign on Croft after the Anti-New Militia Movement has begun to cause troubles to the operations of the Capita. Summoning her power and influence, infernals and soul beasts from all over Croft have begun to leave the slums, and join her ranks. New Militia officers have begun invading the slums, forcing mages and civilians alike to join the New Militia or die. Darkstar must act now before it is too late.


Premise

Sam and Jason slay a pack of soul beasts and infernals that had managed to invade the slums, rescuing several civilians. However, before Sam can finish them off, the creatures suddenly stand upright. Their actions strangely coordinated. The creatures leave, and head to the Capita borders, leaving the two confused.

The two return to the hideout, when something catches Jason's eye. Jason's eyes widen, rushing forward. Reya and Tob try to calm Jason down, but Jason pushes them out of the way. Sam asks what's wrong, and Reya tells Sam that Amana and Trill were suddenly acting really strange, as if they were being possessed. Sam enters the infirmary, where Lazarus is trying his best, but to no avail. Sam becomes horrified. Amana, writhing in her bed, tied down by several straps. Amana's usually orange eyes now glowing red orbs, and her skin, cracked in several areas, glowing red too as if a glowing celestial monster was trying to escape her body, tearing it apart. Amana screams, and Jason tries to calm her down, but Amana headbutts the mage with incredible strength, sending Jason flying an impossible distance. Trill isn't doing any better, the same glowing eyes, and cracks on his skin but blue. His back has sprouted wings, like he did when he was in his Avatar state, but instead of the burning orange, it burned blue.

Jason asks the team what the hell happened. Junon tells Jason that they were acting normal in the morning, but suddenly, they dropped everything they were doing, and started acting like they were being possessed. Sam suddenly tells Jason that the creatures they fought this morning were acting strange too. Amana bolts upright, snapping all the restraints, and turns to Lazarus.

The possessed Amana's voice has also changed, tripled as if three Amana's were talking at the same time. Amana regards Lazarus, and then glares at the team, telling them that they should be happy to know that their exploits and this "Anti-New Militia Movement" has started to get on her nerves. The movement has caused riots and vandalism over the Capita, disrupting her operations. Jason realizes that Calliope is talking through Amana's body. Jason roars in rage, and unsheathes his katana, growling at Calliope asking what she wants. Calliope-Amana looks at Jason, amused, and tells him that he hasn't changed since The Academy. Still reckless. Still foolish. He can attack her all he wants, he will just kill her girlfriend. Lazarus puts his hand over Jason, calming him down. Lazarus tells Calliope to stop. The people of Croft just want a better future, not one ruled by Corruption and Infernals. Not one ruled by Avatars. Calliope asks Lazarus if Jason has rubbed off on him. He doesn't see the big picture. It was Corruption, that ended the war against the Infernals. The Infernals are under their command. Calliope asks Lazarus if he still has feelings for her. Lazarus is quiet, causing Calliope to laugh. Calliope tells Lazarus he can continue to be weakened by these feelings, and be killed by them. As they speak, New Militia officers have begun to raid the slums, giving them the chance to surrender or die. The people are resisting, but the effort is fruitless. She will wipe out any enemy of The New Militia, even if it means death. Darkstar has two options, let the people get taken, which will no doubt end the movement, or to fight a hopelessly outnumbered fight, which will also end the team for good, ending the movement. Calliope looks at Jason, telling him that since Amana is a half-infernal, and Trill is a half-avatar, they will soon become her puppets. It is only a matter of time.

Tob tells Calliope that she is insane for thinking that they're going to let her get away with this. Calliope rebukes the young demigod, and tells him that she is in fact getting away with this. It's a shame that their leader and head tactician was basically destined to serve the New Militia, against her will. Calliope looks at Sam, and tells him that he may have inherited Sentry, but he is no Black Jason. Suddenly, Amana goes slack, and falls back in her bed. No longer writhing, but her appearance still very celestial and scary. Trill is in the same state.

Jason yells, and punches the wall. Junon tells Jason that she and Darkstar will do their best to evacuate the people of The New Militia. Lazarus tells Jason that there is still a chance to save Amana and Trill. However, the place he is considering is the last place he will want to go. For Jason's sake, he will do it. Before Lazarus can finish his sentence, Jason brings him into a hug, telling him that he is thankful for everything, leading Darkstar, helping the members, and being by his side so long ago. Lazarus smiles and pats his shoulder, telling him that's what friends do. Ferris hugs Jason too, telling him that just because he's some super samurai badass doesn't mean he can't let the emotions come out once in a while. Ferris tells Jason that he will help evacuate the people.

Sam asks where they are evacuating them to, and Junon asks if he is dumb. They're going to evacuate them to Corinth, more precisely, Kyrael's Inquisition. Tob asks how they are going to evacuate an entire freaking city, when Trill is in this condition. Lazarus tells them that he hasn't been slacking off while everybody has been training. He's mastered spatial magic. However, the evacuation will take some time. In this case, he will need members of Darkstar to draw off the forces while also avoid capture.

Lazarus tasks Junon and Reya with broadcasting the evacuation command to everybody in the slums. Ferris and Jason will take Amana and Trill to the portal too. Dennis, Sam, and Tob will deal with the officers. Lazarus tells the team that this is what they have been training for, and what the team was initially created for. In the dark of the tunnel will be a light. This light will be Darkstar, which is pretty ironic. The members of Darkstar give Lazarus a grim look of approval.


Exodus

Lazarus creates a massive portal from the other end of the slums. Reya uses her sound powers to announce the exodus, with Junon amplifying the signal to all over the slums.

Ferris carries Trill while Jason carries Amana. Every groan from Amana causes Jason's heart to twist. People have begun entering the portal. Kyrael's forces emerge from the portal and asks for the meaning of this, when suddenly, they recognize Jason. Jason tells them that the people of the slums seek refuge, as Ariandal has decided to draft them to her army and wipe them out. Kyrael also emerges, and sees Amana. Kyrael orders a medic team to carry the two. Kyrael asks if she can send her forces to assist in the extraction, and Lazarus tells her to send the fastest, as they cannot risk having anybody captured by Ariandal.

Sam flies to the skies, and slams on a squad of officers, destroying their tanks. The army faces Blackflame, and prepares their spells. However, Blackflame powers up to Form 2, and sends a powerful chop, which destroys everybody in an arc of dark fire and wind pressure. The chop causes mass destruction. Lupine appears, at 25%, fending off the officers detaining civilians while Joust activates his time dilation, speeding through and extracting civilians left and right, blasting fallen debris with small force blasts.

Suddenly, a powerful monster emerges, snake like in appearance. Plyth slithers, destroying everything in sight and killing civilians. Sam's eyes widen, and Tob asks how he managed to get here. Sam curses, Ariandal must have contracted the Serpent King. Sam powers up as Form 2 and engages Plyth, but his attacks deal no damage. Plyth has been amplified by the Corruption, and swipes at Sam, smashing him into a building. Tob powers up to 28% and charges the serpent, wolf vs. snake, but is also overwhelmed. Sam emerges from the rubble, and tells Dennis to keep saving civilians. Sam stands up and yells at the sky, the sound booming across the entire slums. The yell becomes a roar, and his white lightning begins flashing red. Sam's hair lengthens and becomes spiker, turning black and magenta. Flames changing into a ferocious red. Sam shoots forward, Form 3, and manifests a massive claw that segments Plyth into three pieces. Plyth stares at Sam, recognizing him as a Paladin Reincarnate. His face saying "seriously?". Sam opens his hand and Plyth is swallowed by a black explosion with red lightning. Sam exits Form 3.

Dennis's time dilation is starting to weaken from overuse. More and more civilians are being captured by mages until an arrow sprouts from one of the officers. Dennis turns around and sees Inquisition soldiers. They tell him that they have been sent by Kyrael and Lazarus to aid in extraction. Dennis tells Sam to scan for civilians buried in rubble. Sam puts on his goggles and activates Hunter's Eye. Sam tells Dennis that the civilians are trapped under rubble but is too heavy for the soldiers to lift. Steel suddenly appears, telling him that won't be a problem. Sam grins.

The group continues to rescue the civilians, and soon most of them have made it to the portal. Sam activates Hunter's Eye again to make sure no one was forgotten. Dennis tells everybody to fall back. However, Sam wants to rescue the civilians who were arrested and being taken to the Capita, but Tob tells him that it's too late. They need to go, they can come back to rescue them once they've reached The Fortress. Tob is suddenly cut off by a blinding radiant light. The light fades and Sam looks up in the sky to see a silhouette of a woman with the wings of an angel. Battle armour decorated by arcane lines. An expressionless face, devoid of emotion, eyes, silver, marking a soul link.

The woman suddenly zips to the ground, causing a massive shockwave of wind pressure of gold embers. Sam activates Form 2, and faces Calliope Ariandal.


Blackflame and Lupine vs. Calliope Ariandal

Ariandal tells them that it doesn't matter where they evacuate the civilians, her minions will reach Corinth and take them, and will crush anyone that gets in the way of the New Militia. Sam tells Ariandal that they will stop at nothing to defeat her and give the people a bright future. Ariandal regards the boy, telling him he has evolved in battle. Sam tells Tob to go into his Lupine form take Dennis and the others to the portal. Tob tells Dennis and the others to go. Tob refuses to leave Sam alone. Sam asks if he's going to go all out, and Tob says he might as well, even if he goes feral, it'll all be directed to Ariandal anyway.

Ariandal smiles, and tells the boy to come. Sam's aura turns red and black, his facial structure changing, and assumes Form 3. Tob growls, growing in appearance until he reaches 100%. The two charge at the mage, with astonishing speed, and Ariandal deflects their attacks, causing a massive tornado of wind pressure, dark fire, celestial dust, and wolf energy.

Dennis, Steel and the others make a break to the portal. Ariandal flies in the air, and Sam shoots upward to meet her. Tob powers up his paws, and claws the air, gaining traction, joining the fray. Sam bombards Ariandal with chops, and Ariandal summons a golden overmold over her arm, punching Sam in the face. Sam moves his head, eyeing the mage, who's eyes widen. Sam punches her in the stomach, and bombards a series of a chops and strikes to her face. Blackflame launches a powerful kick sending the mage upwards. Lupine appears and roars, slashing Ariandal, sending her to the ground.

Blackflame flies in and unloads a Kesi Giri chop, but Ariandal catches his wrist. Her armor now cracked, and her face scuffed. Sam doesn't understand, and Ariandal calls him a fool, asking if he really thought that transforming into some mere Paladin could pose a challenge against the strongest mage of all time. Calliope swipes at Sam with her wing, causing him to slide backwards to Tob. Calliope tells Sam that Form 3 may have been too much to handle if she was the same mage from the Academy, or if she was at 220% power. However, as it stands, Form 3 is inferior to Calliope at 500% of Seraphim's Soul link. Sentry is shocked, and Bridget asks what's wrong. Sentry exclaims that no one is able to draw out so much of their Soul Link. By this logic, Calliope is consistently breaking past her limits, using five times the maximum of Seraphim's power. Seraphim emerges from Calliope. A huge hulking angel with spectral armor. Lupine rushes forward, hoping to deal a 100% bite on the hide, but is unable to scratch the armor. Seraphim looks at the demigod and Calliope tells Tob that Seraphim is no Therakiel. Seraphim is the elite of the elite. To him, Therakiel is mere fodder. Seraphim backhands Tob, causing him to leave his form, sending him all the way back to the other side of town, landing at the portal with the others.


Prepare for War

Calliope closes in on Blackflame and punches him in the gut. The shockwave ripples through his body, causing his jacket and part of his tank top to be completely torn off. Sam vomits out blood, and exits Form 3. Sam is unable to stand and falls on his knees, clutching his midsection. Calliope acknowledges Sam and Tob for their strength, as she has rarely ever needed to go beyond 300%, and they pushed her to use 500%. Sam croaks and asks Calliope what she hopes to gain. She had everything, a lover, a friend, people who love her. Calliope kicks Sam, causing him to slide several feet. Calliope yells at Sam to not pretend that he knows her. He has no idea what she went through. He had his powers given to him. She had everything taken from her. Calliope grabs a barely conscious Sam and flies to the portal, where Reya, Junon, and Lazarus finish up evacuating the portal, waiting on Sam.

Junon sees Sam and screams his name. Lazarus begs Calliope to let him go. A piece of Sam's jacket falls on the ground at Junon's feet. She picks it up. Calliope tells her former lover that he can do all he wants, but she will stop at nothing to fulfill her destiny for the New Militia. Calliope regards Kyrael, and asks her if her inquisition is ready for war. Kyrael glares at Calliope and tells her that she has fought worse. Calliope laughs and tells her that she couldn't be more wrong. Calliope sees Junon tearing up, and tells her not to cry. Once she is done with this world, her master will remodel it for a new purpose. The portal begins to close, and everybody begins to file in, entering the portal. The only ones left are Lazarus and Junon.

Sam manages to lift his head and tells the two to go, but Junon, in tears, tells Sam that they aren't going to leave without him. Junon rifles through her bag, and pulls out the bear that Sam had given her. Junon tells Sam that whenever she felt sad, or down, she would always cuddle the bear, remembering how Sam was there for her and helped her through despite how badly and indifferent she treated him. Sam looks at Junon with sorrow. Extending his hand, he tells Lazarus to look after Bridget, and the little girl manifests. Bridget screaming at Sentry and Sam to not go. Lazarus hold his hand out and takes Bridget. A ritual. Junon, now sobbing, asks who the little girl is. Lazarus holds back tears and tells Junon that the little girl was an orphaned ghost, who Sam took in with compassion because she didn't have any friends. Bridget screams at Sam to come back, and Sam terminates the soul link, freeing Bridget from his consciousness. Bridget dissipates into Lazarus' ritual gem.

Ariandal laughs and comments on the tragedy. She tells the two to prepare for war, and impales Sam with a spear of light, killing him. Junon screams, and Lazarus falls to his knees in disbelief. Ariandal throws Sam's body to the side and launches the two through the portal, closing it.