Moments of Epsilon

[Creator_Drake]

Drake's eye opened wide as Mary's fear came throught the bond like a tidal wave, sweeping him off as a feminine voice rumbled like thunder. Never before had he felt fear in this fashion, but if Drake was anything he was tenatious and one of the most stubborn bastards alive. With Herculean effort that felt like an eternity he pushed the fear aside, only one thing thing on his mind: get Mary to safety. That was all that mattered in his mind.

He was glad for calling his power ahead of time, it helped shape his focus if only somewhat. His own fear and that from Mary was drowning out his partners, but he was still aware of their presences, and that was all he needed.

In an explosion of emerald green flames, Drake stood from the ground, cradling Mary as she cried, her mind consumed by her fear. Before anything else could happen Drake disappeared, Mary in hand. He moved as fast as he could, fueled by desperation and the single minded prupose of getting Mary away. They had to get away, they WOULD get away, he would make sure of it.

He didn't look back, only forward as the landscape blurred beneath him. He could still feel their foul presence behind him and still he blurred ahead with purpose. Yes he ran, he ran in fear and desperation; but not for himself. It was all for the woman in his arms.

[Fanfic Fetishist]

Typhonna simply held out her hand, her demonic eyes glowing. To Drake, it seemed as if he were moving absurdly fast, but in reality, he was simply running in place, Typhonna's poisonous presence playing with his perceptions, the sheer spiritual pressure of just being near her alone, to say nothing of what her Titan sisters added.

"So very small you are," Typhonna said directly into Drake's head, the voice like poison. "It will be entertaining to see you suffer..."

So toxic was Typhonna's presence that it began to seep into Kurogame's spirit world, the sky filling with clouds and the water starting to turn acidic...

"Give him to me, sister," Monolitite declared. "He will serve as a fine guardian once my Conversion Factories are done with him!"

"No," Infernus growled. "I want to see him BURN! I want to make the angel-bitch watch as his flesh melts off his body!"

"No..." Typhonna hissed, grinning viciously. "He is something new... I want to test him..."

[Creator_Drake]

Drake stopped moving suddenly, looking at his surroundings in confusion. Slowly turning with the still crying Mary clinging to him, his eyes grew wider and more incredulous as his gaze filled with more of the Titan's forms. Gulping deeply, his breath was deep and quick as his gaze shifted between the different Titans staring down at him. His heart thundered in his chest as he tried to keep focus, but things were taking it's toll.

Sure, that one time he encountered Cthulhu he lived to get out of there; he didn't know how, though he figured it was by luck. There were many things different here of course. One, what he was facing he could tell was awake and acknowledging that he was there. Two, he was facing more than just one being. Three, he wasn't alone; Mary was with him and bonded as they were her own feelings of fear and terror was bleeding over to him. They had been together for less than even 10 hours, nowhere near enough time to come up with any way to block her emotions from coming over. He'd never had anything like this happen, so it was no surprise he was having a good amount of trouble dealing.

Four, what he was sensing past Mary's fear, and his own, was something he knew all too well, something that made him frown as a bead of sweat ran down his face; Chaos. It was something that gave him trouble, no matter where he went. It was especially bad when he was in the 40K; Chaos Marines were by far the easiest of their ilk and were still sons of bitchs to deal with. Drake would admit without shame that he'd rather deal with Tryanids over the forces of Chaos any day, something about the energy itself screwed with his ability to adapt. It wasn't the same as something that corrupted, that he could deal with no problem given enough time but chaos, it made his ability work less than half the time, almost randomly at times, made all the worse with the current situation which brought him to the 5th difference.

That difference was that he was currently in the past of this realm. Time magic and anything similar ALWAYS fucked with his ability to adapt without fail; it was something he could never adapt to, his ability acting as if something was wrong when there wasn't any problem at all. As if trying to find something that wasn't there, so it always failed to work. Mix that with what he was feeling right now from what was clearly Typhonna standing before and above him, things were far beyond FUBAR.

Especially with the sixth reason, which was that he was feeling an intense wrongness within his very soul, putting him even further on edge.

'Kurogame, PLEASE tell me SOME form of good news?' What comforting feeling Drake felt from his partners calm precence vanished almost as soon as the spirit spoke.

'I'm sorry to say but neither of us don't. Whatever this being is it's aura is of a corrupting nature...your soul-scape is changing, slowly but its changing. The clouds are darkening and the waters appear to be bubbling slightly.' His voice was calm but held a grim tone mixed with something that he really didn't like.

'That...is not good.' Drake's face became further grim as his grip tightened on Mary's hysterical form.

'Indeed, we don't know what effect this have either us or your power... but we shall give you all we can in this, regardless of how long we last.' Never before had Drake felt such a tone of finality from his partner, and that scared him more than anything. He had dealt with horror, terrors and his own personal demons many times before, but a situation like this? With the stakes this stacked against him? He didn't know what might happen.

But that didn't mean he was going to let these overgrown bitches get the satisfaction they wanted from him. Looking up at them Drake held a grim determination as he had ever felt, despite his knees shaking and the errant twitch of his fingers. Knowing his luck though, they could probably feel or sense what he was feeling. But he didn't care, if he was going out he was going to be the most annoying son of a bitch they'd ever killed; he'd MAKE them remember him for as long as they continued to live. For Mary, and the rest of his girls. A stray tear fell from the thought

"You wanna test me? Fine, I'll play your game. Just don't get upset when I last longer than you feel I should. So come on, show me what you got bitch!" He knew he was shouting bravado but could anyone blame him? He held the smallest of smirks, the merest upturn of his lips really, that held no humour. At least he'd die knowing this bitch would too later on, thanks to Sukube's sacrifice. And hey, HE had only spoken about keeping his power sealed for feaar of not knowing what it could wrought, here though, he technically wasn't under such a restriction since the abomination was alive and kicking. He felt the power course through him, ready to undo the seal and give everything he had; he'd make Typhonna earnthis kill.

If anything did save them though, as low as the odds seemed, he'd owe them a life debt he didn't know how he'd repay but he would. Hell he didn't care if he had to give one of the Primes a strip-tease followed by the best full-tilt eat out session they'd ever experienced.

He snorted; as if that would ever happen.

[Fanfic Fetishist]

"Noisy, isn't he?" Frigida said, the merest trace of her breath like the deepest arctic winter.

"Not as much as the angel bitch," cackled Infernus, the merest trace of her breath like the core of the sun. "Doesn't she remind you of that bigger one Big Sister played with earlier this week?"

"She does!" laughed Monolitite, her voice echoing like a steel on steel. "Oh, how delightful! We get to torture a daughter as well as the mother!"

"Indeed," Typhonna said, visibly unimpressed by Drake's bravado, placing he and the sobbing, terrified Mary on her hand, the feel of it unnatural and WRONG... and familiar, similar to Abyss's skin. Typhonna could feel the seals inside of him starting to unravel, and grinned, tendrils of her own corroding power flicking at those seals. "Oh girls, I think we may have a superhero on our hands! I sense seals inside his body, ready to unleash!"

"Ki powers, perhaps?" Gaia said, stroking her chin. "I can sense a trace of adaptive ability also, as well as the presence of other spirits connected to him, possibly manifestations of his being... Well, whatever. There's not a creature alive or dead that you can't agonizingly void out of existence."

"Indeed," Typhonna said. "Let's see what happens when I strip him of his powers..." Her unnatural power began to dig away at the seals to Drake's power, eating away at both seals and powers like acid. In the soulscape, Kurogame would be able to see a crack in the sky, Typhonna's fingers snaking in to try and break in and devour everything...

But before she could complete her work, Chronos appeared, picking up both Drake and Mary in one arm and throwing them over her shoulders. She saluted Typhonna sardonically and vanished with them both, leaving a septet of confused Titans.

Typhonna clutched at the air for a moment, frowning, and shook her head. "Time travellers... Bah," she said.

They reappeared in the time they had left, Chronos roughly dropping them on the floor and falling to her knees to catch her breath. Elohim hugged Mary tightly, their wings curled around each other, their halos dim as they sobbed into each others arms...

[Creator_Drake]

Pain. Agony. Eyes wide and unfocused as his body thrashed about, mouth agape with a silent scream. His partners may have been blocking the pain from going through the bond, saving Mary from it, but it came at the cost of Drake going through it alone.

His mind was adrift as the pain lashed through his veins and his very soul. The seal upon his chest flashed sporatically from underneath his vest, fighting to keep his power checked. His eyes flashed even faster, doing all he could to heal the damage that had been done, but it was a slow process.

Myriad's shell soon crested over the nearby balcony, opening to allow her passengers to step onto the solid floor. Niri gazed about worriedly at the scene.

"Mary! What happen-" She then caught site of him.

"DRAKE!!" Her shriek could have been considered an attack in its own right. She was by his side in an instant, struggling to hold his thrashing form down and failing to hold back her tears. To her own mounting fear, she couldn't feel him at all. The bond was still there and she could feel that, but all she could feel through it was the presence of his partners; they were blocking their master from the connection. Seeing the agonized look on his face she understood why and despite the situation the smallest of smiles appeared on her quivering lips.

'Oh Master...' Eyes trailing lower she caught site of the flashing seal, and her face paled.

"Oh no-MYRIAD! GET OVER HERE!"

[Fanfic Fetishist]

Myriad let out Natsume and Yumiko, quickly dispelling her shield and flying over to Niri. She too felt the blocking of her Delta bond, and when she saw Drake, a cold sheen of ectoplasmic sweat broke out on her body.

"Omigod, DRAKE!" she said, helping Niri hold him down. Then she noticed the flashing seal. "What... what's happening to him?!"

Nearby, Mary and Elohim cradled each other, mother and child giving comfort to one another. But as her fear slowly ebbed away, she started to notice Drake's distress.

And Chronos, who was on all fours struggling to catch her breath, waved to a centauric figure in the shadows, bidding her come forward.

[Creator_Drake]

Niri grit her teeth as a particulatily strong spasm nearly threw her off, she wrapped her own legs around Drake's own in order to free a hand. Wiping away the tears she cleared her vision as best she could in order to gaze at the seal.

"I don't know exactly, but whatever it was, his Zampo-Zimpa-GAH-Fuck it, his swords are blocking him from us, likely to save us from experiencing the same pain he's in. As for the seal, somethings made it erode, rust to what it is now, and that isn't a good thing, for us I mean. Th-" She stopped as another spasm erupted, Drake arching his back despite the pair of Ultramaidens holding him down. Niri noticed and smelled the tang of blood and once the spasm subsided she saw why. The edge of his left cheek had split open, the wound an inch long and bleeding profusely. With another quick flash of his eyes however, the wound closed itself with a hiss, flesh knotting itself together within seconds.

The blood remained however; Niri cleaned his face as best she could with a hand, wiping the blood on her leg.

"Well, that's SOME good news at least; his Adaptation is still working, even in overdrive. That's one sign he told me when explaining his ability about 3 months ago. If it should ever stop working, then we can start worrying. It's happened only once and it was before I met him, but from what he-grh-told me, it happened when he found one of the few things he could never adapt. It was bad enough that he was-gahdammit!- incapacitated for over a year, having to heal naturally, no Adaptation."

[Fanfic Fetishist]

"Is there any way to... NGH!" Myriad said, wincing as another thrash nearly threw her away. "To keep the seal from breaking?"

The centauric figure stepped out of the shadows, revealing the massive form of a Legendary Prime. "For starters," she hissed, "You can let me take over. Incidentally, thanks for that little bit of exposition. Saves me a step."

Natsume bowed upon seeing recognizing the Legendary. Yumiko gaped. "Holy shit..." she said, unconsciously taking a few steps away.

Myriad had only seen this particular Legendary once. That was more than enough.

"Lady Pestilence..." she said softly.

She was massive, even for a centaur. Her tauric body was stark white, as was the lab coat she wore, pulled tightly over her ample breasts. Her hair was a dark, chemical green, her eyes black instead of white, with a blood red iris. Her plague bow, her infamous weapon, lay sheathed on her back with her quiver of toxic arrows, her veins pulsing. She looked Drake over as Niri and Myriad held him down.

"Definitely Typhonan Poison," Pestilence said. "Fortunately, I'm immune to it so I can just take it into myself. You did the right thing by calling me, Chronos."

The time traveller, slowly catching her breath, grinned weakly. "I had a feeling," she said.

Myriad frowned. "W-Won't his adaption be enough?"

"Maybe," Pestilence said, "Maybe not. It's a miracle he's lasted this long." She smirked cruelly. "Honestly, it'd be interesting to see the effects. But to business. I was called to help, and I never betray a sister."

She flexed her fingers, long talons with hollow tips growing out of her fingers. "I'll draw it out. This will allow his powers to heal himself without the possibility of the Typhonan Poison adapting to his adaption and repair the seal on his other abilities. Step aside."

[Creator_Drake]

"Nhg!-No problem, just-rng-tell us where you'll inject him to draw it out. We'll-grh-hold him down for yo-"She was cut off by another spam, one bad enough the Niri could feel his arm break, as well as heal as she held him.

"Please hurry!"

[Fanfic Fetishist]

"I don't need your help," Pestilence said. "I'll inject my own personal cocktail of sedatives in him. It'll be toxic to most, but for this one it'll barely make him belch. As for the Typhonan Poison, I'll need to inject him right in his heart. It always goes for the heart. Inject him will make him spasm hard, so let go the moment I bring my claws down."

"ARE YOU TAKING YOUR TIME ON PURPOSE!?" Myriad snapped.

"...Possibly," Pestilence admitted, smirking. "Now MOVE!" The Legendary thrust her claws down, slamming the hollow points into Drake's chest, dark, twisted liquid coming up through the semi-clear tips...

[Creator_Drake]

Niri moved an arm as Pesitilence drove her claws into her master's chest, she didn't like the attitude of this Prime but she'd let it go so long as she healed Drake.

His body arched as his chest was pierced, enough that he pushed the Prime's hand back a couple inches. Niri placed him back back down where she noticed the first change of his facial features. His mouth was still silently agape but his eyes were now shut, dimming the currently present glow. For nearly 5 minutes he thrashed about, the only sounds present were Drake's thrashing form against the floor and the soft grunts from those holding him down.

All of a sudden he stopped, becoming still on the ground. Niri watched as his agonised face turned into one of what looked like mild pain. It tossed from side to side slowly as he groaned, the first real sound she had heard from him since his return to this time. His body was limp, no longer making a twitch aside from the rise and fall of his chest.

Slowly, the Leviathan untangled herself from Drake, ever watchful. Seeing his hand she grasped it, smiling slightly as he grasped back if weakly. She stroked his hair, not caring about the sweat or light specs of blood present. His eyes were still glowing just as before. She gained a curious frown as he moved a little more before belching, loudly.

Blinking a moment Niri descended into a series of giggles, wiping away fresh tears while gazing upon his face. While she still couldn't feel him through the bond and his face still etched with pain, it was markibly less than earlier.

"Thank you, are you drawing the poison out now?" She wiped her eyes on her arm before looking at the legendaries hand, still lodged within his chest.

[Fanfic Fetishist]

Pestilence looked blissful, dark liquid flowing out of Drake's body and disappearing into her hands, visible through her talon syringes. She didn't even notice Niri's question, shivering in pleasure as she drained the poison out of him, along with the physical and metaphysical effects of it, her veins pulsing faster as her body absorbed it without incident.

Mary, slowly recovering from her terror, felt the horrid emptiness that comes with the not being able to feel your Recognition partner. Slowly, she crawled her way over to Niri, clutching into the Leviathan, staring down at Drake worriedly.

"Don't worry," Myriad said, smiling. "He'll be fine." She cast a dirty look at Pestilence, who ignored him, Drake's body returning to normal as the poison was drawn out of his body, the flow of toxin steadily trickling away. Finally, after twenty minutes of draining, Pestilence slowly withdrew her claws, smirking wickedly.

"For the record?" Chronos said, slowly picking herself up, "Pestilence's sedatives do not cause belching. She adds something extra that triggers the belch. My twisted sister enjoys being a douchebag."

"Oh you BITCH," Myriad said, glaring at her.

Pestilence just smirked.

[Creator_Drake]

"As good as it is that his physical ailment has been removed, now is not the time to celebrate just yet, not all is well." The deep Gravely voice of Kurogame caught everyone by surprise. The black tortoise looked just as Niri, Mary and Myriad remembered but this time there were differeces. Resting on the ground above Drake's head, Kurogame was less than half the size as previously, not only that but his form was partly transparent, easily seen through. Niri tested this as she tried to place a hand on his head only for her fingers to touch nothing by air.

"Wha-what do you mean? With the poison gone he should be fine right?" The leviathan then noticed that Kurogame seemed to be breathing harder than usual.

"Are you alright? And why are you still blocking us from Drake in the bond?" The old tortoise looked at Niri a moment before turning back to Drake's still form.

"While his body is fine with the poison removed, the after effects of the encounter on Drake's soul still remain and are being healed as we speak. As for why we have yet to unblock the bond..." He looked into Niri's horrified eyes with aloofness.

"I doubt you wish to know the feeling of having your soul ripped open while still within your living body."

[Fanfic Fetishist]

"My soul has already been ripped in half," Mary said, shivering. "Without Drake, I am less than what I am." Slowly, she stood up, resisting Elohim's attempts to stop her. "Allow me to give my strength to Drake, Kurogame. I know you mean well..." She sighed. "But I need him. And he needs me. Please..."

Tears began flowing down Elohim's face, Chronos and Pestilence looking uncomfortable as well, all three flashing back to the deaths of Cocooner and Amaterasu's daughters...

[Creator_Drake]

Kurogame stared hard at Mary; he knew how deeply the bond went, being what he was nothing went by within Drake's soul without his notice. He could feel the emotions that ran through the girl but being such a short deal of time he didn't know anything about her resolve, her will. Before he could speak Niri knelt before him.

"Kuro please, even if my bond isn't as deep as Mary's, I need him just as much, you know me..." Her eyes were hard but pleading. After a moment the spirit sighed.

"I know you do, more than you can imagine. But I warn you both, not only will you both recieve the backlash from his pain but also, the might of his power unsealed will flow through you... unless you have a strong enough soul, you may get swept away. The alternative may be far easier, but could prove just as dangerous." Niri's eyes widened at the mention of facing Drake's unsealed power but soon narrowed as her determination hardened.

"What is the alternative, if you don't mind?" The spirit gave the Leviathan a nod.

"The alternative would be to immediately undo the seal, releasing the energy that is has been holding back in full. The sudden influx would fill the gap and speed up the healing process from hours to minutes, however, his energy would flow unrestrained in order to envelop him fully." He took no pleasure in the gasp that came from Niri, nor the look of shock upon her face; he turned to Mary.

"Do note child, with the rate of healing as it is, within 2 hours time enough damage will be mended that we will unblock you 3 from Drake. I know you wish to help him, but will you do so at the undue cost of being forever seperated from him? The bond you share is very deep, and goes both ways and your passing would effect him just as his would affect you. I will not stop you if you choose this path, but I must let you know all possibly choices." He exchanged glances with all 3 girls, Niri, Mary and Myriad, waiting for their answers.

[Fanfic Fetishist]

Mary slowly got to her feet, her expression firm. "Lord Kurogame," she said, her tone respectful but resolute. "I will do whatever it takes. Through my veins flows blood of Legendary proportions. I will bear whatever I have to, if it will lesson Drake's pain."

Despite her fear for her daughter's life, Elohim couldn't help but feel proud of her in this instance.

Myriad looked uneasy, staring at Drake. "I can't say I understand fully what's going on, but Drake's been good to me. I want to help in whatever way I can."

Pestilence looked thoughtful. "His body is different than most other humans," she said. "Diffusing his pain and the power of his soul through three others could quite possibly work. Granted, the other three might suffer changes because of it..."

Elohim looked alarm. "Such as?!"

"Physical distortions. Skin recolorations, mild mutations to help cope with the power flowing through them, things like that," Pestilence said. "It will probably be more streamlined changes, though. Nothing like exposure to the Chaos Zone does."

"I don't care," Mary said softly, but firmly. "I want to do this."

[Creator_Drake]

Kurogame snorted before turning his transparent head to the quadrapedic Prime.

"Pestilence I presume? The thought of actual physical mutation is unwarrented as this deals with the Spirit and not the physical. As such if there is any discolouration it would be in their energies turning to a similar shade as Drake's own. Granted, each will get a temporary boost in power once all is said and done, as for how much will remain permanent...That I truthfully do not know." He turned back the 3, gazing at their resolute faces in turn before stoping on Mary's.

"If that is your decision then I will not stop you. But I must warn you, as I mentioned to the Prime this is a matter of the Spirit and Soul. I do acknowledge that your body is stronger than many, but the Soul is different. If anything Young Myriad would have the strongest Soul of the 3 of you for actually being a spirit, with Niri as a close second due to remaining in the Master's presence for the past 5 months. I do not mean to say that your Soul is weak by any means child, merely untested. It will all depend on your will power to see this through." He gave them another look before gazing at the head of his wielder. His features seemed to soften, or as much the equivalent for a tortoise could, the upturn of skin below the eyes gave the impression of a small smile.

"I am glad however, for you to be so willing shows how much you care for him. He will be proud of you, despite him feeling you're all taking an unessessary risk. He will also undoubtebly give me an earful for unblocking the bond before the proper time, as he said." Niri blinked a moment as she looked between her master and Kurogame.

"Wait...you mean Drake-he...he ordered you to block the bond?" The tortoise gave her a slow nod without hesitation.

"Yes, it was his last order before the pain and poison fully engulfed him, when Lady Chronos grabbed both him and young Mary. He already knew the dangers of the feed back, more so between himself and Mary than anything. At the price of being disconnected from you 3, Drake made sure only he would shoulder the pain he currently suffers, not wanting any of you to feel the same when he has the power to do so." The leviathan's lips began to quiver once more as she gazed at the prone Drake, his groans quiet as his head had yet to cease turning.

"Oh master...why must you be so stubborn..." Another tear fell, hitting Drake's cheek but did nothing to change his current state.

"It is because he cares deeply for all of you, because it is in his nature to shield others from pain if he can help it, even his own. It is why many of his worst memories were blocked from young Mary the moment the bond formed as deeply as it did. Some secrets aren't meant to be disclosed." He gave Mary a look before turning back to Niri.

"Drake has taught you what you need to know for this, both we and Drake have faith in you." Niri looked uncertain.

"I know but I've never-"

"Even so, you are more than strong enough for this, and you aren't alone in this either. It can be done; Drake has pulled crazier feats before." That brought a small smile for her face, giving the spirit a nod before taking a deep breath. Opening her eyes all doubt was removed, determination shining. Kurogame gave her a firm nod.

"Good, teach the others what they need to know, I will return to his soulscape and direct things from that side. And Lady Chronos?" He turned to the woman who held claim of the bustiest of the Primes and could easily be seen why.

"Whether or not you know it will happen, do forgive Drake when he demolishes a Pillar when he awakens, he won't be too happy with himelf." With nothing more to say the spirit vanished without a trace, as if he had never been there before.

[Fanfic Fetishist]

Chronos waved her hand dismissively. "It was one of the three most likely outcomes of this scenario," she said. "I've already got repair plans in place."

Pestilence just quirked an eyebrow. "The spirit and soul can affect the genetics of a Pokegirl, Kurogame. Father made us that way," she said as he vanished. "But we'll see. It may just be Mary that the physical changes happen to." She grinned wickedly. "Either way, it should be an interesting experiment."

Elohim's glare at her sister would have shattered adamantium. Pestilence, long used to raging siblings, ignored it.

Mary sat with Myriad and Niri. Myriad shivered softly, Mary clutching her hand and smiling at her.

Yumiko looked worriedly at the exchange. "Milady?" she said. "Should we be here?"

Chronos quirked an eyebrow. "This is important for young Natsume. And I have already taken measures to ensure that you won't be hurt by wants to come. For instance, having you two stand there."

Yumiko's eyes widened, Natsume reflexively moving herself in front of her.

Chronos chuckled.

Mary took a deep breath, grabbing Niri's hand as well. "We are ready. What must we do?"

[Creator_Drake]

Taking a deep breath Niri calmed her shaking hands. Giving Mary's a sqeeze, Niri smiled at the Demi-Elohim before letting go.

"Alright, what's going to happen is that I'll cast the technique while you both will help me with the focus. Myriad, we each need to be actually touching Drake in order for this to work and you'll need all the concentration you can muster. So either ditch the shell or if its easier have them form a ring around us, whichever is easier for you to do. And Miss Elohim?" She turned to Mary's mother as she moved to sit above Drake's crotch, straddling him but not sitting completely on him. Her tail rested between Drake's feet, no movement aside from straightening out.

"If you could summon and maintain any and all of your strongest Spiritual barriers around us it would be greatly appreciated; 3 barriers would be the lowest number and still provide you all with relative safety, more so for Natsume, her sister Yumiko and her unborn children." She turned back to Mary and Myriad, eyes resolute. The look seemed increadibly familiar to the pair but couldn't be placed; Niri's voice centered their attention.

"Now, we need to sit in as close to a perfect triangle as possible, close enough that every inch of our hands is touching some part of his chest." Folding back the vest she revealed more of Drake's chest, and the seal that flashed on his skin. Like she had mentioned earlier the chains of the tattoo/seal appeared frayed and weak, small sections missing but still holding, like an old and rusted chain. It glowed a firery red as it flashed sporatically, unchanged from the moment Drake had reappeared in this time.

"The good thing about this technique is that it doesn't require our energy in anyway, we''ll be using Master's own reserves. We direct the energy to where it needs to go and the Spirits within him will take it from there. Our focus will be split however, since we're basically letting his soul 'piggy-back' on ours, we'll be taking on a portion of his pain. This spell makes us channelers for the healing process, that's what Kurogame meant by us possibly being swept away. That's also why I said we need every bit of concentration we've got Myriad; shouldering someone elses pain AND directing a vast amount of energy is difficult no matter who you are. No offence to anyone present." She gave a quick look of acknowledgement to all those present before turning back.

"Also, while it would better if we all knew this technique we don't have the time for me to teach it to you proper, but I can show you a focus techinique that'll help. I'll explain it as close as how Drake explained it to me before he taught me this technique...spell...whatever."

[Fanfic Fetishist]

Chronos sat back against a pillar, sighing. She then blinked, looked up at the pillar, and moved herself to a different one. Pestilence moved to join her as Elohim's halo flared, an angelic aura dome forming around the group of them. A second shield appeared, in the form of several angelic centurions holding Spartan shields in a tight ring. A third formed, invisible save for the spinning feathers that signified its presence.

Natsume gulped, clutching her sword and standing in front of a nervous, but interested Yumiko, who had sat down to relieve the pressure on her back.

Myriad had already dispelled her shell, staying at Drake's arm, Mary sitting exactly opposite her at Drake's other arm. They both reached down and touched Drake's chest. The look in Niri's eyes did seem familiar, but their focus was on helping Drake so they dismissed the feeling.

"We await your instruction," Mary said, nodding.