36 Labyrinth of Bloodshed

Around one of the upper corridors of Skyworld castle; Solitaire had decided to go exploring on her own. She figured she could look for breaches in the templar elsewhere than the crowd from Eclipse's instructions. "(I bet I can find better rubbish on the templar my own way. No sense eavesdropping on some daft gossip.)" She thought to herself, in an almost arrogant manner.

As she was walking, Solitaire came across a partially ajar door. There was nothing but darkness visible from the small opening. Solitaire decided to approach it, gently pushing against the creaking door, as it slowly opened. Only the light from behind her seemed to illuminate the black room, until she noticed a window where the twin waning moons was visibly casting light inside.

However she also took notice of a small figure, cloaked in the enveloping darkness. They seemed to be staring out at the moons, but Solitaire accidentally took a step back, bumping the door. As it creaked again, the childlike figure slowly cranked their head her way, with a wide grin. "Daddy will be angry if he knew you found me." The boyish voice came from the figure.

Chills rushed up Solitaire's spine, as she saw the little boy's unnerving face. The glimpse of his shadowed over expression reminded her of a spider. The sight of this child was so terrifying, it literally froze Solitaire in place.

"Why so quiet? Hee hee hee.... " The boy giggled, before he turned his body, to face her. Small wings stretched out, as the boy suddenly lunged at her like a savage beast. "Come on! Don't you want to play?!" He called out, in a terrifying manner, as he dove her way.

"EEEEEKKKKK!!?" Solitaire let out a brief scream, as she urgently retreated the room, and quickly slammed the door shut behind her.

There was a loud thud as the boy hit the door, causing Solitaire to flinch anxiously. Her heart was racing, but she heard the clawed footsteps of the child creep away from the door. She eventually slid down to to her knees as she panted to catch her breath. She let her head sink down to lean against the tops of her legs, closing her eyes for a moment.

The clopping of hooves approached her, causing Solitaire to gaze up in worry. Standing there was Max, but he seemed to be giving her a strange look. "Whatcha doing fossiking around up here mate?"

"I... I was just taking a bloody gander, not like I'm gallivanting around for shites and giggles. I thought I could get better rubbish on the Templar up here was all." She frantically tried to explain herself, without letting him know she had been spooked by whatever was behind that closed door.

Max gave her a suspicious look, before glancing to the closed door. "Cricky..."

Solitaire took notice, and stammered to get the words out. "Before you ask, there's a-"

"Found that tall poppy's secret, eh? Well good onya, actually bloody hard yakka. I bet Eclipse will wanna yabber with you on that. Pretty tinny I found you though, there's actually been a change of plans. I'll fill you in on the way there. Come on mate, let's get a move on it." Max interrupted her, but seemed more concerned about getting to the ballroom.

"Bollocks, really? Alright then." Solitaire groaned, as she followed after the stallion.

Elsewhere at the same moment, the event with Miles in the dank and eerie chambers of torture, resumed. "NOOOO!!!! AHHHH!! SOMEONE! Please!! Huhuhhuh... H-H-Help!!" Miles had pleaded desperately in tears, as he cried for help. Dimitri could only grin in pleasure at his traumatized prisoner, while enjoying every moment of his suffering. Dimitri's nibble fingers picked up Miles' removed digits and turned to place them in a glass jar on the shelf behind him.

Miles' panic was worsening, causing him to take this moment to get up. However, before he was able to flee, Dimitri had caught him by the throat. The mage's grin quickly faded, as he clutched Miles' collared neck. "And where might you think you're going?" The intimidating man asked, as he eerily leered at the feline.

With his free hand, Dimitri grabbed Miles' right wrist. The feline grew worrisome, realizing what this madman could do to this hand as well. He shifted quickly in hopes of escaping Dimitri's grasps, only to knock the deceased body onto the ground in puddle of their own blood. Miles immediately felt his back roughly shoved against the cold and sticky wooden table, forcing blood to come out his nostrils. The chain of his collar suddenly locked his back in place on the torture table.

"W-What!?" Miles gasped in panic, reaching his blood covered free hand to clutch the collar the best he could. Without two of his digits it was near impossibly to get a hold of it.

"How about you to tell me where you took The Grand Master's pet, before I REALLY start wounding you." Dimitri stated, in a cold tone.

Miles gasped, trying to pull his wrist away from the mage, only to have it placed into a restraint. "I-I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!!!" Miles cried out, struggling more.

The scalpel suddenly slammed down next to Miles's head, puncturing his left earlobe. Immediately, Miles' eyes teared up again as he felt the blade pull harshly away from him; ripping open his ear.

"Akkk!!!" Miles gasped, scrambling around his feet in attempt of getting loose.

Dimitri however was getting annoyed, using a magic spell to force his legs down. Restraints immediately snapped shut, as Miles was locked into this contraption without a way to get free; all this while his left hand was bleeding heavily to the grimy stone floor.

"Now, now. Let's not have any more of that, shall we?" Dimitri took the scalpel again, rubbing it softly against Miles' throat. "I'm still waiting for my answer, vermin." He said with the cold gaze still locked onto the trembling feline.

"I...I told you... I don't know..." Miles replied, softly in between heavy breaths.

"I can't say I believe you." Dimitri scoffed. "You're much like that hare, you Leashed leave little to the imagination, it's rather pathetic really. Nevertheless, I WILL get my answer out of you yet. Now hold still!" Dimitri took the blade, cutting into Miles' right petrol muscle.

"AIIIIIIIEEEEEE!!!!! I-I TOLD YOU- I DON'T KNOOOOOOOOWW!!!!" Miles screamed in pain.

A swift smack collided with Miles' face, as Dimitri backhanded him. Fearfully the feline quieted down to a whimper, his eye and cheek now blacked from the physical contact.

"It-It was that rabbit.... I didn't...." Miles' voice cracked, cowering as Dimitri rose his hand at him again.

"Rabbit you say?... Hige.... That little traitor..." Dimitri lowered his palm, as he turned from Miles to held his chin. "Hmmm.... Oh whatever shall I do with him... Clearly he has not learned his lesson since the last incident. I suppose I'll have to remove a bit more than just a set of testicles then."

"W-What?" Miles gasped in a shaken tone. "(He castrated him?! Is-Is he planning to do THAT to ME TOO!?)"

Dimitri turned boredly to gaze upon the battered feline. "Oh? Didn't he tell you? Perhaps he was too ashamed to mention just what I put him through." Dimitri gestured to Miles, with a subtle smirk crossing his lips. "This? This is nothing in comparison to what amount of torture that hare endured by my hand. I estimated that he had changed his tune after that endeavor; even the aftermath of the position I placed him in, that inevitably lead to his friend's utter death. No matter how dire the consciences, you selfish vermin just don't learn, it seems. I just may have to cut out that thieving heart of his, well, after I'm through with you that is." Dimitri stated, as he began to approach Miles once again.

"B-But I...." Miles fearfully whimpered.

Neither had noticed yet, but from the outer hallway, Ashewyn had finally located them. He peered inside, as cautiously as he could with a serious gaze. It was clear, however, that he was sickened by what he had seen and just heard. "(I have to do something.)" He thought.

Steam began to envelop the room, and the thick fog was making it impossible to see. "Don't even think of moving an inch, I'm not finished with you yet." Dimitri grew annoyed, setting down his tools before approaching the staircase. "I swear this better not be some shenanigan that Merric is pulling." He muttered under his breath, before ascending to the main corridor. Miles could barely see anything, as he heard Dimitri walk away from the entrance to investigate.

Another set of footsteps seemed to approach him, the sound was certainly not Dimitri's. Miles tried to shift, but he was growing a bit weary from the loss of blood. "...Someone.... P-Please....." He stammered in desperation.

"...What did that guy do to you?" Ashewyn's voice asked, as he came into view.

"Red?" Miles asked, almost in disbelief.

"Yeah, it's me. Damn..." Ashewyn was looking over Miles' condition. "You really shouldn't have gone against my plan... Not that we can change that now." He stated, in concern.

Miles could only furrow his brows at Ashe, understanding all too well just how stupid his choice of disobeying him was. Ashewyn touched his hands to the restraints, to melt them away with his fire magic. Afterwards he helped Miles up, and noticed his hand, seeming completely shocked.

"Even this is a bit too much karma. Give it here." Ashewyn reaching out his hand.

"... I probably deserved it..." Miles lowered his head, before timidly extending his butchered hand to Ashewyn.

"If you really think that, then I hope you learned your lesson." Ashewyn spoke softly, before he examined Miles' hand. "This is gonna hurt, but it should stop the bleeding."

"That's fine... Not like I can feel my hand now anyways..." Miles replied quietly, trying to crack a joke. He was just relieved that Ashewyn came to save him.

Ashewyn grimaced slightly, as he carefully placed his palm against the open wound. Miles flinched briefly, before Ashe proceeded to cauterize the infliction. This made Miles nearly bite his tongue from the pain, but he seemed to be putting up with it the best he could. As Ashewyn released Miles' hand, the feline took a deep breath. "Oooowww... Okay... That hurt..." Miles winced.

"Warned you. Anyways. We shouldn't linger here too long, who knows when that guy might come back. Let's hurry." Ashewyn turned for the door.

"Right... We still gotta save Nye." Miles nodded, before quickly grabbing his jacket and sword from the corner of the room, where it had been carelessly tossed to sometime before he had regained consciousness.

The two proceeded for the hall, only to walk right into Dimitri's line of sight. Without given warning, Ashewyn was sent flying from a magical attack from the mage's tome. Miles' expression shifted to terror as he saw Ashewyn being blasted off his feet, fearfully shifting his shaken eyes to Dimitri.

"It was only a matter of time for more of you vermin to crawl out of hiding." Dimitri boredly looked to Ashewyn.

Ashe got up from the ground, somewhat bruised fro that attack. He shifted his hand to rub his knuckles under his nose, keeping a serious gaze on Dimitri. "So this was all just a trap, huh?"

"A trap you say? What in Maker's name are you babbling about? Is there something else going on, besides you followers of the Queen of Fiends?" Dimitri grew curious, but it only made him seem more menacing.

"(So Eclipse didn't set us up. Good... I was worried there for a second.)" Ashewyn seemed relieved, as he thought for a moment. "Just talking to myself." Ashewyn finally replied with a scoff, as he rushed Dimitri's way.

Miles nervously scrambled for his sword, but was immobilized by fear as he watched Ashewyn flame up, and engage Dimitri in combat. Flames and light expelled around them as Ashe used his flaming aura to clash with Dimitri's light magic tome. Balls of light began to form behind the mage.

As the book floated above his hand, Dimitri swung his free arm, casting out the several spheres of light in Ashewyn's direction. The barrage of orbs collided where Ashewyn stood, but embers of this created smoke that blocked any line of sight, as each of the spheres exploded on contact. Miles stood in shock, horrified by the sudden deadly strike.

"Ashe?... " Miles whimpered, his eyes trembling.

Flames emerged not far from Dimitri, where it formed back to a physical state. Ashewyn appeared from it, seemingly unscathed from the explosive onslaught. Dimitri took notice of this, as he glanced back see Ashewyn flying his way, with flames trailing behind his wings like a speed boost.

Dimitri smirked at the sight, almost as if he was enjoying this. "You're proving rather annoying. So this is where you die."

The mage held up index and middle finger to point at Ashewyn. Suddenly the tips began to glow, right before a light beam shot Ashewyn's way. Quickly the Amygdala weaved his flight range, just barely dodging the attack.

"What?!" Dimitri appeared shocked that Ashewyn had avoided his attack, seeing the red haired Amygdala come flying into close range. Ashewyn gripped to Dimitri's face with his flame ignited hand, slamming him back hard into the stone floor of the castle.

The dust from the rubble began to clear after the impact, as Ashewyn stood up to his feet. Miles came running his way, peering from behind Ashewyn to where Dimitri laid. The silver haired Rhyme's face had been burned pretty badly from that attack, but Miles wasn't sure if he was even breathing.

"Is he... dead?" Miles asked, his ears fixed backwards.

Ashewyn shook his head. "I don't think so, he's probably just unconscious..." Ashewyn replied, crouching down to grip to Dimitri's collar. "He's too dangerous to leave alive though. I'll finish this."

Ashewyn pulled back his arm, as he shifted his fingers together like the end of a blade. He prepared to jab his arm at Dimitri's body, when out of no where, something clamped down on his arm while it sent him and the attacker tumbling far off from Dimitri. It happened all too fast, but as Miles turned to see what had happened, he realized that Ashewyn had been pinned to the ground, with Phish biting into his arm violently.

"What the!? Get off me!!" Ashewyn demanded, struggling to pull his arm from the feline Lupis.

Phish only bit down harder, using her clawed feet to rapidly kick into his chest. The cloth where the impacts occurred had became shredded down to the skin, with blood flowing from the instant wounds. Ashewyn flinched, gripping to her face to pry her mouth from his thrashed arm.

"Keep your paws off him! Only Dimitri can treat you criminals like toys!! You're gonna pay for touching him, you monster!!" Phish hissed, behind her locked jaw on his arm.

"I think you got it backwards!" Ashewyn kicked her off him.

Phish went flying before she flipped backwards in a somersault motion, moments before landing onto all fours. Her eyes only leered at Ashewyn as she growled angrily, with her tail flicking around, and claws digging into the ground. Swiftly Phish leapt at Ashewyn, with rapid slashes of her claws. She was so quick, almost like a hurricane with one attack after the other. Ashewyn was struggling to weave between her attacks, continuously taking blows he couldn't dodge.

Miles was stunned by her speed, but he needed to intervene to help Ashewyn. He pulled to the hilt of his sword, but he struggled to grip if from the blood coating hand. Before he could reach them, Phish round house kicked Ashewyn backwards through a wall, crumbling it instantly.

Miles needed to act, and his body moved on it's own as he came rushing at Phish with katana in tow. The blade came swinging Phish's way, but Miles stumbled without the aid of his other hand. In turn, the sword grazed Phish's back, only barely cutting her and clipping off some of her fur. She turned around quick in response, thrusting her foot at Miles' chest to knock him back, before leaping up to swing her other leg against his side. Miles immediately crashed to the ground, with a firm paw stomping down on top of the palm that held his sword.

"Urgh..." Miles winced, seeing that tall anthropomorphic feline glaring down boredly a him.

"Don't get in my way." Phish scoffed, before she turned off from him. She brushed passed Miles, as she rushed for Dimitri's side. "Dimitri?...Ohh you're poor face... Look what that beast did to you." She called, pulling him into her arms. "...Please wake up... You can't leave me... " She pleaded softly, as she nuzzled her cheek against his.

Flames suddenly ignited from the rubble, with armor forming over Ashewyn's wounded body. Blood was dripping through the metal plates briefly, but steam came from the source before it stopped leaking out. "Don't count me out yet..." Ashewyn panted, in slight fatigue.

Miles appeared relieved, trying to push himself off the ground with his mostly unscathed right hand. However he soon realized that Phish gently placed Dimitri down, before turning to face Ashewyn. This battle was only just getting started, and with another moment the two were rushing at the other with sword and claws at ready. Ashewyn came in with his sword, slashing roughly at the feline, who easily avoided each of his slow strikes.

Phish continued to dodge all of Ashewyn's sword play, before side kicking Ashewyn into the air. Her razor sharp claws began to savagely slash at him with great ferocity. Ashewyn's armors continuously took the damage, getting indents and scuffs from each strike, before Phish finally kicked him back down to the ground. Ashewyn seemed to have taken less damage wearing that armor, but his existing wounds seemed to be slowing him down.

Ashewyn struggled to get up, but as finally got to his feet, a swift beam of light blasted at his heels, knocking him further backwards. Miles' heart sank again, turning quickly to notice Dimitri had regained consciousness. "Shit.... We're not gonna get outta this mess...." Miles murmured, with deep concern.

"Dimitri?" Phish turned to his with intense relief.

"Phish. Help me up." Dimitri winced, holding his burned face, painfully.

Phish eagerly went to his aid, using her body to hoist him back to his feet, with her arm around him. "How's your wounds? You gonna be alright?" She asked, as she cupped his face, to gently lick his facial wound.

"Hmph, as soon as these two meet their end I'll be adequate enough." Dimitri grunted with hostility, as he gripped to the wall to hold himself up. "Deal with them as I gather myself." He asked of her, holding his head more.

"I am at your beck and call. You can can count of me, Dimitri." Phish grinned, eagerly hoping to please the mage. She released him, posturing her claws to her sides, before she made a mad dash in Miles' path.

Miles was unable to avoid flinching, however right as she came into range, as wall of fire shot up from the floor, blockading her pathway. Ashewyn stumbled up to his feet, with heavy damage done to his armor. His gaze focused on the flaming wall the divided the two parties.

"Miles, we need to hurry and get Nye, so we can get out of here. We're in over our heads with these guys. They're just too strong." Ashe held his arm, as he looked to Miles.

"No kidding, I don't wanna die here." Miles nodded.

"Don't even think about running away, vermin!" Dimitri snapped, preparing another spell.

"Hurry up!" Ashewyn insisted, as the two of them hurried for an escape route from the hall.

"Phish! Don't let them escape! Alert the guards, NOW!!" Dimitri shouted, barely able to stand.

Ashewyn and Miles quickly rounded the corner, with Ashe's armor evaporating into the air, as he used more energy to keep the pace.

"Dude, are you gonna be able to make it like that?" Miles inquired, urgently.

"I could ask the same about you. Just keep moving." Ashewyn urged the feline as they progressed further into the castle.

Meanwhile, rushing through another corridor of the castle, was Jackyn. The Angel of Death was managing decently on his prosthetic limb for the moment. Many templar were on the defensive through the halls, combating solely against one Dream Weaver with a rage of a ruthless killer. His blades danced like a song of death, as he leapt through the pockets of templar occupying the pathway. Midair, he slashed his knives along some of their throats, letting their blood fly behind him almost like ripples of water. He landed a brief distance where the corpses dropped, fumbling on his leg momentarily before he caught his balance.

He didn't falter, continuing on his set path, butchering any soul who got in his way. Between slashing of blades and blood magic strikes, Jackyn continued to trek on. The halls were lining up with dead bodies by now, which only caused more commotion to be drawn to him. He clearly wasn't thinking, only the thought of saving Nye occupied his mind. This invasion was his desperation taking over, and he wasn't going to let anyone stop him.

Then standing there as if blocking his pathway was the ginger haired Rhyme, Kloud, from many battles beforehand. Jackyn came rushing wildly at the swordsman, but their blades clashed, holding each other back.

"After seeing the vast amounts of piling corpses, it was a conceivable deduction that you were the source of this transgression. This occasion however, there won't be room for escape." Kloud firmly stated, his confidence showing more brightly than before.

"You're going to regret getting in my way." Jackyn growled, as he knocked Kloud's swords backwards before enchanting nearby puddles of blood to thrust Kloud's way.

Quickly the ginger haired Rhyme slashed the incoming blood magic, forcing it to splash to either side of him. "You may yet carry the same moxie as prior, however your abilities have grown far more precarious." Kloud remarked, before spinning his blade in Jackyn's direction.

As the samurai-styled blade came flying his way, elemental lightning sparked in a trailing motion. Jackyn took the blunt force of the attack, as he was sent flying. Briefly lightning trailed along his body, halting his motion. Clearly the previous encounters with Kloud, this Rhyme was holding back his full strength, either that or he's gotten stronger since the last time. That was what crossed Jackyn's mind for a moment, before he regained mobility, forcing a waves of blood to rise from the floor around them.

It splashed down upon them, but as it leveled like a reclining wave in the ocean, Jackyn fumbled back to his feet, preparing yet another strike. This time Kloud was distracted, and Jackyn managed to maneuver close enough to undercut him. Kloud took the blow, leaping back to a distance.

"You're truly a force to be reckoned with, as most villains are." Kloud stated, as he raised his second blade up as if to point a gun at his opponent. With a click of his finger, a bullet shot out of his gun-edge, blasting Jackyn's way.

The Angel of Death grew stunned for a moment, before rolling out of the blast range. Jackyn's breath was starting to grow heavy after all this combat; when he was still recovering from the events of before. He was beginning to realize just how reckless this was, but there wasn't any backing out now, be had to rescue Nye before anything vile could befall her. Suddenly, a bullet came flying from virtually no where, grazing passed his shoulder. Blood began to trail from the infliction, as Jackyn turned to notice another Templar.

"Well, look what we have here? I wasn't expecting a wanted felon to be lurking the castle's halls." Trigger stood there, extending her pistol again at him. "I've got you now, Angel of Death. That bounty of yours is gonna be mine!!"

"Trigger, don't obstruct this engagement. You know what happened last time you took command. This is for your own safety." Kloud stated, instantly.

"I am well aware of my abilities, stay out of this Kloud. One monster is nothing compared to what endeavors I survived through." Trigger retorted, whipping out her blade as she rushed for Jackyn.

"Trig!! Don't be careless!" Kloud snapped, obstructing her path, only to be struck by Jackyn's incoming attack. The Knife sunk into his back, causing Kloud to cry out in pain. "Arghhh!!" He yelped, before crashing down to his knees.

Trigger looked terror stricken at the sudden blow, and collapse of her ally. "... How did he....?" She sunk back, watching Kloud huddle there in pain. "This wasn't my fault...." She stammered fearfully.

"You should of listened to your friend." Jackyn scoffed, preparing to rush through them with another attack.

However right as he dashed her way, his knife was sent flying, crashing in the distance. It crashed into the ground, getting stuck like a dart. Jackyn was startled, starting at the massive wolfman that blocked him from inflicting further damage to both Kloud and Trigger. His second knife was lodged into Flint's chest, but the wolf seemed completely unphased by this.

"You're really going to have a bad time if you keep this up, pal." Flint growled, his tone low and menacing. "Surrender now, and the Grand Master may show you mercy."

"(I don't have time to deal with this...)" Jackyn thought, knowing he was getting far too tired to keep this up. He quickly decided that retreating was his only option, and turned off fast to rush back the way he came, scooping up his other knife as he made a run for it, stumbling briefly as he got out of sight.

"He's getting away!!!" Trigger gasped, but Flint held her back. "We have to go after him!"

"It's not safe. Get Stormy her to Ayame, he needs to be patched up. I'll deal with the Angel of Death, got it?" Flint grunted, as he gripped her shoulder.

"Stop protecting me. You make it difficult to loathe you." Trigger averted her eyes.

Escaping the area, Jackyn continued through an alternative route in the direction he was hoping to find Nye. As he stormed through the halls however, Ashewyn and Miles were coming from an entry to his left. He blew right passed them, as he leapt down an indoor balcony to the bottom floor, fumbling at the bottom.

"Jackyn!" Ashewyn called, as the duo rushed to the ledge, however the Angel of Death had already slipped out of sight.

"Where's he going!?" Miles gawked.

Ashewyn motioned to the remains of deceased templar lining the hall that Jackyn had emerged from. "Clearly he's leaving a trail of corpses. He's getting reckless. Dammit. We gotta follow him before he does something stupid." Ashewyn stated, quickly following after Jackyn, with Miles not too far behind him.

"Jeez, he's sure running fast for a dude who lost his leg. Man... What the hell is he thinking?" Miles blurted out, as he hurried after Ashe.

"I don't think he is. Clearly his determination is getting Nye out of here. We should hurry." Ashewyn replied, as both of them attempted to follow Jackyn's trail.