Scene Listing || Scene Schedule || Scene Schedule RSS
Owner Pose
Nero      The time has come.

     The lands of the New Imperial Roman Republic are afire with rousing festivities! The streets decorated with all manner of flowers and flags, musicians playing in the streets, performers dancing and singing, and all manner of food and drink to be partaken in. This was the Nero Festival, and it has since started off with a bang, and not died down one bit.

     But the streets are not where one should be at this moment. Right now, the real festivities are taking place at the grand colosseum! The deafening roars of the crowds, the clashing of steel, the scuffing of dirt. All here at this location.

     The call had been put out for any and all who wished to test their mettle against the strongest of heroes to step forward and meet this challenge head on. but it would not be for nothing, no, for there were FABULOUS PRIZES awaiting were victory to be claimed!

     And thus, here they are, with the roaring crowd filling the colosseum. And up above, straight ahead at one looks to be the ruler's viewing platform, stands Nero herself. Dressed in her usual red and white getup, she has a golden mic in one hand while waving out with her other arm. The one actually sitting in the throne however, is Hakuno Kishinami. A rather plain looking brunette girl. Currently, she's wearing a white gown with a red trim, looking awfully apprehensive about all of this.

     "Welcome one, and all! To the opening match of this Nero Festival!" The blonde voice echoes across the colosseum flameboyantly, a big smile on her face. "I am aware that you all have been waiting for this day with bated breath! Whispers of glory and honor spoken of on the winds of prophecy!"

     Nero spreads her arms. "But that wait is finally over! For now, the time to write a new legend in the pages of history has come!" And so the crowd goes wild again! And Nero can only smirk in that self satisfied way. "Mhmhmhmhm! I know you are eager to see heroes clash against one another, to see steel red steel! But first! A word from our illustrious ruler! My very own Praetor! The radiant Hakuno Kishinami!" She thrusts the mic towards her Master, and the girl just buries her face in her hands, mumbling 'Oh god please stop' to herself. But it's not going to stop.

     The brunette sighs, raises her head, and looks down into the arena while smiling sheepishly. "Um... well, everyone do your best. And I hope you all enjoy yourselves?" Nero pulls the mic back to herself and points down at the arena as well. "You heard her! And now, let us get started!"
Nyrinel Nyrinel has had the worst week. Judging by the fact that this isn't even the world she's expected to be on, and it's full of some kind of... huge... festival...

...

...well, maybe things could be worse, right?

Loud, boistrous and extremely questionably helpful passer-by's direct her to the 'place she definitely needs to be,' which turned out to be the interior of the Coliseum. Apparently, someone thought it would be funny to get the clueless girl to sign up for something gladiatorial. Right now, she's standing in the sands, turning slowly in circles and peering out from under the hood of her dusty, off-white robes to look up and around in clear wonder.

Well, that's nothing to be surprised about. It /is/ Nero Fest. It would be nice if she looked like a competitor instead of an NPC, though...
Sanary Rondel      What was the point of this sort of festival? Didn't people ever get tired of contests of strength and showing off?

     Apparently not, and Sanary's certainly not one to turn down a chance to do just those things. She's got a certain pride in her own strength, and contests of strength usually involve people getting hurt! If nothing else, she'd get plenty of opportunities to show off with her healing prowess as well.

     THe fact that this whole thing is being orchestrated by Nero specifically is just icing. There's a fire in her eye as she steps up among the crowd of challengers, pointing at Nero with her coat flapping dramatically in the wind/somebody else's face. "Nero! I'm not the same person I was last time we fought, so you better watch closely!" She shouts out with great conviction, grinning confidently while trying to ignore the fact that her master is...

     ... Someone Sanary doesn't recognize. This /is/ the same Nero, right? She's really hoping that's the case. Otherwise, that'd just make things awkward.
Krusty     Standing amidst the collection of heroes at the colosseum's ground is someone who both does and doesn't look like he belongs. His rather intimidating large armour certainly seems to fit the bill. Though it is more suited for stories of medieval knights rather than of Roman gladiators. The massive two-handed axe on his back is also not what sets him out. No, it is his rather apparent slim build that seem off. Especially combined with the large armour which is almost comically oversized for him. The glasses on his charming face also scream intellectual.

    Of course, those who actually know Krusty are aware of just how much of a deadly mistake it is to underestimate him. Two such people are amongst the crowd, though neither is participating in the enthusiastic cheering as the contest is announced. The blonde Sorcerer, Rieze, asks of the woman next to her, "What do you think his chances are?"

    The blue-haired Bard, Misa, responds, "It depends. Straight out combat is not his greatest strength. But if he can find a way to..." Misa trails off as she watches Krusty, before planting her face in her hands. Rieze just watches on with a small amused smile.

    Krusty swings his axe around and plants the head into the ground, dropping down to one knee towards the ruler's platform. With one hand to his chest, he calls out, "Thank you for your kind words, Praetor. I, Krusty, representative of the Round Table Alliance, will do my utmost to show you the strength of an Adventurer of Akihabara!"
Riva Banari ROOOOOOOOOME!

No, wait. Riva hasn't been there before. She did visit Paris though. Still, now she's here in the middle of a festival! Riva looks about the colosseum, enjoying the energy and leaning back with food and drink, watching the opening and leaning forward in interest. "Mmm... This feels like Nero, all right." Riva says to herself immediately. "Even Gilgamesh doesn't talk themselves up like that." Nero's more theatric.

Her eyes flick to the Master. "Oho. Poor girl." She chuckles to herself, kicking back again. "Anyone know what the deal is with the festival?" She asks someone at random. "Just bloodsport, or what?"
Seifer Almasy      Speaking of starting off with a bang and not looking like an NPC.

     There's a loud roaring sound from outside the Colosseum's walls. It's the sound of hot blood, of fire and soul. It's the sound of a man's romance, of passion and chivalry of the modern era. It's the sound of a knight's charger, a proud and loud and noble thing.

     But mostly it's the sound of a motorcycle.

     The motorcycle jumps. It jumps off the roof of a nearby building, casting a shadow on a few dancing performers as it passes. With mad recklessness it, and its rider, go right through one of the slits in the walls of the Colosseum, emerging in the midst of the crowd. The bike roars down the stairs with all the thunder and all the flame it can muster. Pedestrians and spectators scrabble to get out of the way, get to seats, and avoid being run over. The bike goes bumping down the marble steps until it hits the bottom; it hits hard enough to flip over.

     It flips over the stone balcony. Its rider discharges from it in the middle of its arc, landing on the middle of the gladiatorial floor. As the motorbike collides against the viewing platform and shatters, the rider rises, levelling a long, strange, thin weapon at Nero. The smoke and flames of the crashed motorbike flicker.

     "Yo!"

     "Red Saber!"

     The young man - he can't be older than twenty - is dressed in a white trenchcoat. A red cross decorates the back of it, the image of a crusader. He's wearing a blue-and-white shirt, black pants, and black boots. He's got a sharp blonde haircut, a scar across his face, bright green eyes, and a smile that's one part ego and one part flash. Around his neck is a dangling chain, at the end of which is a fox-head symbol.

     "Listen up! And your cute little Praetor can listen up too!" He shoulders the bizarre weapon, a long thin blade with the grip of a pistol, cocking his head as he strolls forward.

     "My name is Seifer Almasy!" He jerks his thumb at himself. "Husband and Knight of the Fox-Tailed Caster! I'm here in her name! But even more than that!"

     His finger swings out to point directly at Nero's face. "I'm here to give you a message from my lady to you! So listen up!"

     Seifer's lips split in a wide grin as he locks eyes with the Empress. "My fox-eared bride's message is: 'I'll always, and forever, be better than you, Red Saber.'"

     "And as her Knight, and her husband, I'm here to prove it. Every win I make, every victory I make, is dedicated to her, and every ribbon in her hair is dedicated to her shining just a little bit brighter than you!"

     Seifer lowers his hand, flashing a wide grin at Nero. "So there you go. Message delivered. You wanna see a show? I'll give you a show you won't be able to forget, babe."

     Seifer holds out his hands at the crowd. "You folks wanna see a show?!" He roars, "Then let's make this show unforgettable!"
Lyria Mason Lyria Mason had not been sure what was up with Nero for some time, the Levitani had started to wonder if she'd wandered off to elsewhere in the Multiverse maybe she found a world where Rome never fell? This does not seem to be the case at all. She was happy to get out and maybe get some fame here also she could totally make it look good or she thought. It would also be a good deal of fun. She also takes a look at Nero's master for a moment the lady looks like she does not want to be up on stage. Well, she should have some fun with it still thinking about public speaking back in school? Given that the professor didn't throw tomatoes but bolts of fire or ice depending on their mood.

"So this is Rome?"

She got Rome seemed to be a foundation of civilization on many Earths but she had never visited any iteration of it before.

Then comes the Seifer who pulls a stunt she totally approves of hell she has heart bubbles almost in her eyes for a moment at an entry stunt like that.

"Now THAT'S HOW YOU ENTER!"

Seifer may indeed have a fan here if this is a good or bad thing? Only time will tell how that will play out.
Touta Konoe      When Touta heard there was going to be festivities in the Moon Cell he had to come check it out. Though unlike his usual trips he's not going to the Millenium Capital. Quite the contrary, instead of a more traditional Japanese setting the one before Touta is much more European in construction. While he's definitely more use to the tranquil feeling of the capital, the lively feeling of the dancing and singing that fills the streets of this part of the Moon Cell was a nice change of pace. Heck, he even tried doing some of the dance moves they were doing, and singing along with some of the people in the streets. It was a festival after all, so why not enjoy the livelihood? And without a doubt he'd have to try out the food. He'll definitely need to write down some recipes before he leaves today. Still, he's surprised he hasn't done this before. He's heard rumors about this part of the Moon Cell but he's never really taken the time to check it out for himself. So when he heard about this 'Nero Festival' of course he had to check out this side of the moon!

     But the moment he hears about the colosseum he figures he's definitely got to check out that. What better way to experience the colosseum though then by joining in first hand? When he asks for directions to the colosseum, the people he ask think that he's just their to spectate, so brows are raised when he says he intends to enter. While he was carrying a weapon at the time... Touta, was a boy who looks no older than his early teens. His attire mostly adorned in a black gakuran and pants. Even his katana was jet-black in color. Though his t-shirt did add a tint of red which definitely does match the color scheme of these festivities! Speaking of festivities though, even with him being in the colosseum the young man finds himself getting caught up in the cheering of the crowds.

     He even starts cheering for Seifer as he comes in on his motorcycle and make his declaration. Of course now that he's here, Touta figures he should greet the guy. He gives him a good old pat on the back, cause why not?

     "Seifer, I didn't know you were gonna show up here. You come to meet Saber and her master?" It'd make sense. After all he was a master now. They all do tend to meet up and fight

     Touta doesn't wait for a response from Seifer though, instead he looks up at the two hosting the event. The Red Saber sorta reminds him of caster in the proud way she holds herself, if not a bit more outgoing. That wasn't a bad thing though, and Hakuno's more mild demeanor reminded him of a mouse-like master he once knew. Still as he gets a better look at the two he gives a smile and wave from the colosseum floor. "Oi! This festival you guys are running is awesome! name's Touta! I'm at the Moon Cell a lot but never been to this part before! It's like a whole different world! Anyway, looking forward to this!"
Nero      Nero's eyes meet Sanary's... one. And at first, there's no reaction. She just stares quietly while the crowd chatters in anticipation. Hakuno blinks, staring down at Sanary as well before looking back to her Servant. "A friend of yours?" She asks, pointing down towards the arena grounds.

     At that, however, Nero's placid look grows into a smirk and she points back down at Sanary. "Sanary Rondel! Truly it has been a long time! Very well! Show me that you have changed! Show me that you have what it takes to-"

     VROOOM!

     Suddenly, before the blonde rattle off more dramatic statements, a loud engine roar cuts through the air, and then HERE COMES A GOD DAMN MOTORCYCLE blazing down the stairs, rolling onto its side, and then some fool leaps off and lands close by. "-Well." She mumbles into the mic, at a loss for words for just a moment as she and Hakuno just kind of stare at this young man in the white coat. And then he starts talking.

     And Nero's face takes on the most incredulous expression she can manage. "Hold a moment, husband? Knight? Of that insufferable fox!?" Well, that message seems to have worked, because the red clad servant's face clouds up in irritation. "Why that wily- even when she is not even here!" But even through all of that, Hakuno just... she just facepalms. Her face might be red right now, but mostly, she's facepalming because of this ridiculousness. "Nero... just... just start the match. Please." And then, she looks down at Touta, smiling and giving him a polite wave in return to his words.

     Predictably, the crowd eats up Seifer's showboating, because a fresh wave of roaring cheers starts up. Nero regains her composure and grins in turn. "Hmph! Very well then! Seifer Almasy! If you believe yourself capable of the task, then..." She whips her arm out towards the opposite, currently gated entrance of the colosseum. "-LET THE FESTIVITIES BEGIN!"

     KCHUNK!

     The gates unlock, and then raise up. Seconds after, a THUMP... THUMP.... THUMP... can be heard, as something... someone steps out.

     He's a hulking giant of a man, half naked and lightly armored below. With a lion's mane in ebony hue, carrying a vicious looking axe sword in one hand. His piercing eyes settle onto the group of challengers on the other side of the arena and then his teeth grit in unrestrained fury.

     "OISJHDBSKNFJSHGJVHJSBHKJDSKHFBGJSHJF!!!!!!!"

     A deafening, enraged cry bellows out from his form, and silences the entire colosseum. In that space of time, Nero takes up the mic again. "And so! I present to you your challenge of the day! Bear witness to the man! The myth! The legend himself! The greatest of heroes after myself! The child of the gods! The master of the art of combat! HERACLES!"

     Suddenly, the crowd is going wild all over again. Hakuno meanwhile just sighs and shakes her head, fighting off her embarrassment for now. It's her job not to look away from this. So she will watch.

     Nero sweeps her arm out and finally says. "Match one of the Nero Festival Challenge.... BEGIN!"

     And then, Heracles is tromping across the arena with unsettling speed.

     It's time.
Sanary Rondel      Bullet dodged! It is indeed the same Nero, and that's actually something of a relief for Sanary. One that fires her up at the same time, for sure, but also a relief!

     Largely because she won't have to worry about any awkward confusion. Or about fighting her doppelganger (for now). Instead, she has to worry about fighting this giant gray guy! At least there's a good amount of people to help weather this festival thing. Krusty in particular gets an approving nod, no doubt due mostly to the axe and the beefy armor, but Seifer's ability to actually get that sort of reaction out of Nero is...

     She's not sure how to feel about that one, actually. Instead of dwelling too much on that, however, she refocuses herself on the giant with the oddly-shaped slab while drawing her own axe from her back. "Aghmbaghm to you, too!" She shouts out in return, an excited smirk coming across her face as she breaks into a run. She may not have gotten stronger since her last meeting with Nero, and she might not have gotten faster, but skillw-ise?

     Sanary's pretty sure that's improved, at the very least. Digging her feet into the ground, the healer suddenly springs into the air with a massive jump several/three times her own height with the axe in tow. She grips it tightly in both hands as she bellows out a MIGHTY WAR CRY of her own, aiming a big downwards chop right at the furious hero!
Seifer Almasy      Seifer gets a pat on the back from Touta. Man, this kid is fucking *following* him. He hears somebody cheering for him, he basks in the crowd's roaring joy, and he laughs when Nero gets mad. He's that kind of guy, the kind of guy who's giving a hundred and ten percent all the time forever, the kind of guy who's always living as large as impossible. So when Nero asks if he's up to the task, the only response he has is,

     "Hell yes I am."

     And then Berserker is released. The thundering roar shakes the ground around him. It's an intimidating scene, and Seifer'd be lying if he said he wasn't just a little bit shocked. People aren't supposed to be that big. Servants, he'd thought, were still *people*. This is a monster.

     Child of the gods. Greatest of heroes.

     Ordinary people would be scared shitless. And, really, there is fear here. Seifer can feel it up his spine, augmented as Caster talks to him over their connection. A swing that can kill somebody in one hit. A powerful, dangerous, horrifying opponent.

     But Seifer Almasy is a man who turns fear into a weapon. Seifer Almasy is a man who lives on the edge. Seifer Almasy is a man who looks at Herakles and grins and points his gunblade at the big guy.

     "That's what I'm talkin' about!"

     "Child of the gods, huh?! That's great! That's real good! You give me more like this, and I'll be carved into the Holy Grail in no time! You're lookin' at a hero who'll rewrite his fox-eared wife's legend with a love story beyond time, a knight who'll stand so tall even the Holy Grail won't be able to turn away! Child of the gods! You're gonna feed my legend even more!"

     "I'm Seifer Almasy, big guy. You're the child of the gods?"

     "Me, I'm the guy who kills 'em."

     Seifer does not wait for Herakles to make the first move. He's in there immediately. That strange, long weapon of his moves with unparalleled, unbelievable skill, flashing and slashing and moving like something unnatural. This is a surpassing technique, a skill that broaches the realm of the Divine, a skill that turns a mere blade into a tool that can cut through a sure-kill attack and turn it back on its master. At each swing the gunblade flashes as Seifer moves around him, the trigger pulled, the bizarre weapon vibrating with furious intensity.
Krusty     Krusty stands once more. His eyes glance over the other combatants that have gathered here to fight. Most of them he doesn't recognise, which is a little troublesome but he'll adapt. Seifer's antics only draw a quick glance from Krusty. He doesn't seem anywhere near as impressed by the man's flashy showboating as the more easily amused crowd. Sanary's nod does receive one in return as a sign of respect.

    The sound of the gates opening draws Krusty's attention. His armor clinks together as he turns to face them, eyes narrowing on the large hulking figure that emerges from within. Krusty is clearly unphased by the Berserker's size, having faced much larger, much more intimidating monsters on numerous occasions. That's not to say he doesn't respect the hero's strength though. Evidenced by the fact that he doesn't charge straight in like the others.

    Indeed, Krusty plants his axe into the ground once more, this time in front of him. He then holds his ground, letting the more 'aggressive' fighters start the opening act. Revealing both the Berserker's abilities and their own. All the while Krusty watches it all with keen eyes.
Nyrinel Child of the gods. Greatest of heroes.

Nyrinel isn't scared /shitless/, precisely, but she takes a sudden and definite step backwards.

She expected some kind of exhibition match, once she figured out what was going on. This sort of bloodsport isn't really a thing that happens in the city she hails from, at least not on this /scale/, and certainly not with an opponent billed as something quite so mighty. She briefly thinks she might have the edge if he's just a big, lumbering ox of a man, but then she thinks a second time, realizing that it's very likely his wrist is thicker than her waist. She has precisely zero desire to get up close.

But it looks like she isn't the only one. The hooded, robed figure sidles on over to Krusty, addressing him in a low voice in a language made up of short, clipped words without overlapping sounds. It doesn't sound local whatsoever. Fortunately, the Multiverse doesn't care what you speak so long as other people can listen.

"You seem like the tactical type, if you aren't already up close," Nyrinel asides to him. Her red eyes track the fight, and she tries to look relaxed, but she's tense as a coiled spring. "Do you have any idea how to fight this one?"
Touta Konoe      As he receives that brief acknowledgement he gives a smile. Yeah, that Master definitely reminded him of another one. Well maybe she was a bit less shy than the one he knew but even still, just one look and he could tell that she was probably a nice person. There's definitely no time to waste as the Challenge begins and the first challenger is none other than Heracles, /THE/ Heracles.

     Touta's seen plenty of Servants in the Multiverse. Some he's known from his own world and some that were just...Foreign. But when the giant of a man lets out his monsterous battlecry even he can't help but lose himself for a moment. Actually, the fact that 'someone' like Touta is still feeling some sort of fear when in the presence of Heracles spoke volumes of just how powerful he truly was. Even his aura was dangerous!

     The goliath charges at the group all at once, apparently making no differentiation on who his target will be first from out of the group with that speed. And in kind the others are charging right back at him,

    "Alright, big guy let's go!"

    Touta wants to see just how squares up with a legend like Herc. Not to the degree Seifer does, and definitely not for the same reasons. But he does want to prove something. But more for himself. So as the Monster Man that towers over all of the contenders darts forth towards all of them with his unsettling speed, Touta the runt of the group is gonna intend to match him with unsettling power! As he charges along with the others he readies his blade preparing for an overhead slash intended to cross blades with Herc to see just how strong this Hero was.

     "TWO-THOUSAND FOLD!"

     The boy shouts and with it his sword will make contact. Though if anyone thought that a little kid like Touta running head first into a goliath like Heracles with such a small sword was a suicide request, well...They might be right, but they might also be surprised. While there was no comparison between Touta's black katana and Heracles Axe-blade in terms of size, when it came to whose weapon was able to hit harder that could be anyone's guess as it held the ability to amplify its weight. So when Touta makes his strike he plans to bring the force of a heavy utility truck all packed into a single blade to crash down on this brute!
Lyria Mason Lyria Mason looks to Seifer for a moment then to Nero? Husband Knight what? Her line of thought doesn't last too long as the festivities are started and she looks at the gate. She hears something coming. She hears the bellow, the rage. She goe silent and she looks up at a huge slab of meat that is in the form of a man, she'd have to crane her neck to look up and she just stares for a moment. She then snaps out of it as the fight is about to start.

"The child of a heathen god? Well now, this just got interesting."

She will have in one hand one pistol and in the other, a cutlass and she grins.

"Heracles? I Lyria Mason do issue you challenge."

She looks to Seifer and Krusty for a moment they look like the sorts to be able to be front liners and she'll snap off a few shots as she gets moving. She then pauses looks to Krusty and fals in with the big guy in the armour. She'll be letting the other close combat types get the attention of Herc, She knows she'd go squish if he looked at her funny...
Riva Banari Riva watches all the entrants with a confused expression. "Wow, lots of multiversals here. Wonder what the plan is." She survays the participants and cackles at the challenge from Seifer. "Well, that's gonna be a rivalry." She comments to no one in particular.

When the gates open, the colossal bellow of the massive Heracles resounding through the area as the Berserker enters. "Whoooooa. That's huge!" She says, pointing at the massive murder machine. "That thing looks like it's going to tear them all up!"

She chuckles, and takes a bite out of her sandwich. "This is gonna be great." She leans forward in anticipation as she watches the murder unfold.
Nero      Sanary... Oh Sanary, you sweet, summer child. Did you really think that you could crit Heracles of all people right from the start? Let know one say that Sanary Rondel did not have balls though. Proverbial ones.

     But unfortunately, fate has other plans for her. She comes down onto the greek hero axe to bear, and he simply raises his arm, catches that axe blade with his bare hand, and halts her completely. The shallowest of wounds forms in his palm, but he doesn't even flinch. ".....HMMMMHH!!!!" His eyes gleam red, and then the giant tosses the one eyed lady aside as if he were discarding garbage.

     And then Seifer comes into range like a madman. Heracles says nothing. Because Mad Enhancement simply does not allow him to do so. He is an angry, insanely powerful, and insanely skilled terror of a man. And Seifer would find that out when the hero moves his arm and lashes out to meet that strange weapon. The white coated knight of Tamamo's is skilled. Skill that reaches almost into divinity. But Heracles' legend wasn't a legend for nothing. Gunblade meets axe sword in a blur that's too fast for the average eye to follow. All the people in the stands from all around see is wind force whipping up as both fighters take swings at one another. But as it turns out, while normal swings of that weapon just bounce right off of his skin, when the trigger is pulled... Seifer would notice that he can actually cut into flesh.

     But The greek hero won't give him the opportunity to capitalize. Berserker though he may be, his martial skill is still there. Running on pure instinct, the giant of a man lurches backward, letting one of Seifer's vibrating swings just sail past his face... and then he follows the momentum into a turn that brings one his hulking legs speeding right towards the side of Caster's husband. If that connects, then Seifer is going to find himself sailing right over to join Sanary in a crashing heap.

     Staying out of melee range seems like it's a good idea for now. Let the crazier ones handle the frontline combat, huh? It's fine thought that Krusty and Nyrinel have. That is, if the others can hold him back.

     Maybe Touta is up to the challenge with that sword of his. As soon as Heracles sends that kick Seifer's way, his arm is coming up to bring his axe blade to bear against the weighted weapon. They clash, and the sands shift violently for a moment. But after, it becomes clear that two thousand fold isn't going to be nearly enough to stop this legend. "HRRMMMMGHHHH!!!!" A gutteral growl of rage follows and the giant lurches forward into the clash and strikes forward, aiming to send Touta flying backwards, and right for the group of Lyria, Krusty, and Nyrinel, who seem to think that they'd be safe if they just stood back.

     That's a nice joke.

     "Would you look at this! Such rousing melee already taking place! Indeed! This is what the Grand Colosseum is all about! Truly, I have outdone myself this day! Ah ha ha ha! But no! Let us watch onwards! People of the colosseum, keep your eyes peeled and bear witness as these challengers reenact the legend!"

     Hakuno meanwhile heaves out a sigh and looks over the crowds. There... is a lot of people here. Probably with bets placed too. "Sending out servants to fight people, I'm still amazed at your audacity." The brunette mumbles as she rubs her forehead. But Nero just lowers the mic and laughs. "Ah ha ha ha! Have no fear, Praetor! Just look at the turnout! We are doing just fine!"

     So she says anyway.
Krusty     Krusty watches with a critical eye as each of the fighters show their stuff. An axe-wielder like himself, with the power behind it. A flashy loudmouth, though his skills aren't lacking. A more ordinary looking type. Though that weapon was odd, looking to hit harder than one might expect. An enchantment?

    As Nyrinel slides up to him, Krusty glances over her for a moment before responding, "Perhaps." He looks back as the opening act plays out and muses his thoughts out loud, "His speed defies his size, though his strength is to be expected." There's a glint of recognition in Krusty's eyes as he sees one of Seifer's strikes actually do some level of damage. Krusty continues, "He seems like an impossible foe. But he must have a weakness. We need to identify it."

    Krusty effortlessly lifts his axe once more, turning to the side to avoid a thrown Touta. He then raises his voice so all the heroes can hear him, switching into command mode, "Focus for now on hit and run attacks. Get in and out. Do not overcommit, or he's likely to wreck you in one blow. Alternate your attack types and locations." The large blade of Krusty's axe begins to glow as he raises it over his head, finishing with, "Find his weakness!"

    Krusty swings his axe down, a trail of light following it. However he's no where near Berserker right now. His intentions become clear though after his blade strikes the sandy ground. A fissure opens up at the impact point, quickly spreading towards Berserker's location, growing wider as it does. As it reaches the servant, it's easily big enough to completely drop him down. It's not a big drop, probably only a third of the large servant's height. But the fissure only lasts for a few moments, before the displaced sand rushes back in. Krusty's intention is to immobilize the giant, if only for a few moments, to give the others a better chance of landing their strikes.
Lyria Mason Lyria Mason is going to have to be smart about this, oh Bismark, she was going to have a time of it even with some seriously good support from the people here. She'll be trying to track her shots now as there's a number of melee people in the mix here she doe snot want to catch her allies. Oh dear there goes Touta right at them she's going to have to move. She gets an idea she'll plat her feet on the ground and mutter something, the ground of the area creeks and groans as she manipulates it a tamp to help slow Touta's flight it might not be perfect but it will help him ditch some of his speed so the impact isn't as bad as it would be otherwise.

"I can do some terrain editing if you need it!"

She calls to Krusty, she'll have to keep moving given how Herc is. She'll take a few pot shots but she's yet to get rolling her main focus was to catch Touta after all.

"I can turn this arena into a weapon if I have to."
Seifer Almasy      Seifer's a godlike blade artisan but he is nowhere /near/ as strong as Berserker is. Each cut is something he has to appreciate and test for, each strike something he has to dole out sparingly. A single good hit from Berserker won't just knock him back or out - it'll outright kill him. That axe, that skill, is too much for Seifer to tank. A single hit would open him to more hits, and that would be the end of Seifer Almasy.

     That means he has to win this without taking even one hit.

     Berserker's huge comes around. Seifer, mid-followthrough, *in mid air*, does the impossible. It's hard to follow, hard to /watch/, hard to *process*, even for a skilled swordsman.

     He blocks.

     Well, block is a difficult term. 'Blocking' something like Berserker is really just kind of mitigating it. It's an insane, impossible, incredible defense, as the gunblade goes from midway through a miss into a parry against an iron kick. It's just...

     It's just he's blocking /Herakles/.

     So the block still sends him skidding, digging into the sand of the Colosseum. The kick is still strong enough that he can feel his arm crack, can feel his bones break, can feel his body trying to compensate for being hit with an unstoppable force and unfortunately not being an immovable enough object. That he didn't lose his footing or break his arm is a miracle. That all his broke was a few bones in his arm is ridiculous. That he even managed it at all is a testament to how stupid good he is with that blade in his hand.

     But that's all it takes.

     Seifer flicks his eyes at Krusty. "He doesn't have any."

     It's not a statement of uncertainty, or a panicked one. It's a statement of the certainty that can only come from a highly-trained master of the art. "He's strong. Overwhelmingly strong. Blocking's not an option, not for long. He'll wear through it. He's fast, overwhelmingly fast. Attacking's an option but as soon as he sees through it it's over. He's tough. Overwhelming force won't work, because he can push through that, too."

     "There aren't any weaknesses here."

     Seifer licks his lips.

     "Just the way I like it."

     And then he's racing back in, a wild grin on his lips, a wild look in his eyes. He's back to trading blows with the axe, going for the eyes, going for the ears, going for the nose. His goal is to cut through Berserker's senses, to dismantle them one by one, and to do that he's going to have to take some damned stupid risks and hope somebody else has his back.
Sanary Rondel      Sanary's expression goes from confident aggression to a completely dull "oh." stare in the span of about one second as Heracles stops her in midair. She's already bracing for impact as he tosses her and her axe aside, bouncing off the ground a few times and skidding slightly before finally coming to a stop from the force of the hero's throw.

     It was worth a shot! It wasn't a particularly smart shot in retrospect, but at least Sanary's more aware of what she's dealing with now. Everyone seems to be, even, as Heracles displays his amazing speed and skill in the face of multiple opponents.

     "Al... Alright! Plan B. If he's gonna suck at something, it's gotta be... Uh." Long-range combat? Not if he's as fast as he is strong, and he's certainly faster than Sanary. Fighting at extremely close ranges? Not with that hulking body. Maintaining his balance?

     That seems to be as good of a shot as any with Krusty and Lyria working on screwing with the terrain. While they focus on that, the healer does what she does best: Puking out healing clouds to give her allies in a war of attrition!

     Plus, it means she doesn't have to contend with the terrain herself. "Just don't get your heads cut off!" Swapping her axe for a staff this time around, she channels her own energy into the oddly carved wood as she starts blasting out bursts of healing energy. Seifer and Touta receive the bulk of it what with being the frontline of their impromptu group, mending wounds and (mostly) setting bones back where they should be. Lyria, Krusty, and Nyrinel also get some healing as well, albeit at a lesser intensity for the time being. Her own wounds go ignored for the time being, however, with bruises from the impacts hidden under that coat for now.
Nyrinel "Crippling a man of that size would go a long way towards killing him," Nyrinel tells Krusty, nodding at his assessment. "I do not know if he has any weaknesses, but I think we might be able to make one --"

A flying ally(?) prompts her to twist and jump back and to the side. She makes the dodge look easy and natural, backstepping and turning it into a circling stride that puts her closer to Heracles' rampaging reach. She rolls her sleeves up, pinning them with small needles above her elbows, blue-tinted bonemail-clad arms revealed, and she tugs her hood down, the distinctive bone ridge across her forehead of her people exposed to view. Not that anyone would know what it meant... and not that the people in the crowd will do more than assume the shape is of pointed ears instead.

She moves in, but not too close. Nyrinel stand outside arm and weapon's reach, circling Heracles opposite Seifer's dangerous assault. Knives all but materialize in her hands, between her fingers, and she hurls them towards the backs of the titanic fighter's legs while his senses are under assault. She identifies muscle groups and weak points in the human body reflexively as she does it, letting the narrow blades fly when she has a clear shot to start severing tendons and cutting veins.

Dimly, Nyrinel wonders if demigods have differing anatomy to humans. Deverenians seem close enough, so this one should be too, right...?
Touta Konoe     There's a reason that Hercules is legend. The fighting prowess he displays before everyone here would clearly make for great entertainment. Unless you were on the receiving end of one of his attacks. Which Touta now is! The boy goes flying. While this probably seemed easy when comparing the two's weight classses when one considered the fact Touta was toting a truck in the palm of his hands the fact that he was shot off at such a velocity is honestly just insane. He imagines he's probably going to slam into one of the walls of the colosseum but instead...The floor lifts up? Yeah, that's apparently a thing. While Touta still ends up slamming into the raised ground with immense force, his momentum is reduced quite a bit so he avoids looking like a swatted bug in the colosseum. He's not sure how old you need to be to watch this event but it was definitely not age appropriate to watch that sort of thing occur. As Touta gets back on his feet he looks towards Lyria, she was the one who did that right? That must have worked perfectly cause he doesn't look like he received a scratch at all.

    "Thanks for the save!"

     From there he sees Krusty's attempt to immobilize Herc so that the others can try a hit and run tactic but, Seifer puts Touta's thoughts into words.

    'There aren't any weaknesses here.'

     "He's right. We gotta all hit him at once or nothing's gonna stic- Seifer wait!" Seifer charges in once again alone towards Heracles. Charging in wild like he's been known to do at this point.

     He looks over to Krusty with a serious look on his face,

    "I'm gonna stop his axe! Get everyone to hit him when I do!" It'd probably be at this moment that Sanary's healing comes into play. That said...Seifer's the only one who really looks like he needs to be healed. Meanwhile Touta looks...Unscathed? Didn't he just take a hit from Heracles and crash through the ground? That's odd.

     Touta's way behind Seifer whose trying to lead the charge at this point, so he has to try and make up the distance quickly.

     "GRASP THE EARTH!"

     Before the others eyes, the small boy becomes a blur darting towards the Herc even quicker than how fast he went flying towars them! Using his movement technique Shundo, he bolted towards the monster man intending to be the back-up for Seifer. Even if he didn't want it!

     "Alright, try this! ONE-HUNDRED THOUSAND FOLD!"

     He shifts from an emphasis on speed to power in but a moment as he appears alongside Seifer. Now, while he could try and double team with a combined attack with his gunblade toting buddy, Touta's got something else in mind instead. He swings his blade down but not towards Heracles himself, but at his axe. Touta plans to pin this hero's axe under his blade's weight so that not just Seifer but all the others can simultaneously attack Heracles without concern of counterattack. After all, this was a group effort and they were all gonna need to contribute to win this challenge.
Nero      Nero can't help but smile wide at this grand battle taking place down below. "The might of the child of the gods is nothing to scoff at! at yet even still, our challengers stand firm! Heracles is a terror of a man with nothing resembling what one would call a conventional weakness! How do you put down a legend like this, you ask!? Well then keep watching, my dear guests! We will see with our very eyes what they choose to do! Can they overcome the myth!? Can they reach out and grasp victory through the jaws of adversity!? Show us! Show us that you are more than cattle to be slaughtered! Rise up!"

     It almost sounds like Nero is cheering for them. In fact, the crowds are cheering for the challengers too. Everyone loves a good underdog story, it seems. And against Heracles, what can it be but that?

     Sanary meanwhile does what won't get her killed. She starts to heal everyone. It's not a move that will be called illegal. No, they can use all the magic they want. Even if the Servant winds up smirking. "Sanary Rondel! I see that in the end, you have yet to show me this new self of yours! Where is it!? Where is the birth of a new you that will overcome despair!?"

     But for now, she's safe, because Seifer is moving back in to engage, and the greek hero is there to meet him. Going blow for blow with Berserker is frankly, a stupid idea. Thankfully, that is *not* what Seifer has in mind as he weaves dangerously around those furious axe swings.

     It's Krusty's move that allows what follows next to happen. Sand encasing his legs, Heracles finds himself stopped for just a moment. No way was something like that going to keep him down, but it was just enough time. And then comes a cut to the eye from that vibrating gunblade. One eye is gone. And then another slide sneaks its way in to his nose, cutting that sense off, and then one of his ears.

     "HUUUUURGHGHHHAAAAAA!!!" He roars furiously and with his one good eye, Heracles actually lets Seifer go for his remaining eye. But right when it's about to be sliced, his off hand comes up, and the gunblade pierces through it. He still gets the eye, but...

     That pierced hand clenches around the weapon. Holding it firmly in place, and then the giant's other arm raises, that vicious looking axe blade coming down to bear. Even as Nyrinel sneaks in from the back and aims to slice open his leg tendons and keep him from moving to break out and take a more tactical position.

     It's a good strategy that goes right into Touta's return to the battlefield, having been saved by Lyria's timely intervention. A blur of black comes hurtling in and the sword swung at one hundred thousand fold weight clashes with the axe that was just about to turn the white coated knight into paste.

     Sparks fly and both weapons struggle for dominance. And yet... with everyone's combined efforts...

     Hakuno leans forward in her seat, blinking in surpriose. "They actually stopped Berserker...?"
Lyria Mason With Sanary healing it's welcome, she's at least aware of SSZanary's abilities as a healer. This should give odds to someone here walking out of the arena alive after this. Well hopefully. She's thankful for the healing, and it seems Touta is still in the fight as well.

"Think nothing of it." 5R
She's not got time to say more, for she's going to be turning the arena against the son of Zeus.

She is going to turn the terrain on Herc has not yet attacked her directly and she has time to act she keeps track of her allies and will attempt something that might be seen as underhanded, then again? This is Herc? So it might not be overkill when you get down to it. She shifts her feet she keeps her focus and will start trying to turn some parts of the arena into points her allies can take cover with, or even used to make it so Herc can't just full-on charge without having to go through the formations Lyria has made.

"Make use of the cover I have given you!"

She calls out as she gets on the move once more, legs pumping as she goes. Lyria feels a rush, this is a game of one-sided rocket tag. If Herc gets he she's going to go splat and there are no bones about that at all.
Seifer Almasy      Sanary's healing gets Seifer's arm back into form, but it doesn't change the fundamental fact that getting hit by Berserker is going to be the end of him. Just one hit is all it'd take, just one hit is all-

     He's caught.

     Berserker grabs Hyperion and leaves it right in his eye. That's unbelievable. But worse, he's got his hand around Seifer's own. With one hand Berserker could crush Seifer's own. He's much stronger, he's much bigger, and if he wasn't distracted by Touta pinning his weapon and Krusty and Sanary and Nyrinel he'd be dead. He'd be super dead. And he knows that. And some part of his mind is telling him that he knows he knows that.

     But the rest of his mind is telling him that he won't get a better opportunity.

     "GILGAMESH!"

     The Servants on the field probably don't like hearing that name, but what appears behind Seifer certainly isn't a gleaming golden godling. It's a translucent, red-cloaked grey giant, with three huge grey arms on one side and three...are those cardboard cut-out arms?...on the other, dressed in polka-dot pants. A red cowl masks all its grey face but its blazing white eyes. A pair of horns are crowned by a tuft of hair. In two of his three hands is a blazing blue sphere.

     The third hand is holding a cup of coffee up to his lips.

     This is stupid. This is unbelievably stupid. This is stupid beyond his wildest dreams, stupid beyond anything Seifer has ever dreamed of.

     But by Hyne, it'll make a show.

     The grey giant jams all three spheres of light against Seifer's gunblade. Seifer's eyes flash.

     "THIS IS FOR MY LADY, MY BRIDE! I'VE KILLED GODS BEFORE - YOU'RE JUST THE NEXT ONE ON MY MANTLE!"

                            LIMIT BREAK LEVEL 2                            
                            INTEGRATED ARTILLERY                            

     The gunblade tries to expand. It tries to expand inside Berserker's *head*, tries to expand into a massive artillery cannon that probably sends Seifer flying backwards rather than pierce through Berserker's head. From amidst the crowd, chunks of metal start gathering, pieces of coins or other loose change hovering over to the sword. The change is bent into sharp teeth as a blue light rings the gunblade like a chain. A string and coin dangle from the end; more coins are bent into exhaust pipes.

     Seifer roars, and pulls the string, and pulls the trigger.

     The massive cannon roars, not just vibrating furiously as an artillery shell goes from Seifer's location to the tip located in Berserker's skull, but as what were formerly coins start spinning with brutal, deadly chains. Smog starts pouring out of the makeshift engine as the *massive chainsaw cannon blade* vibrates, roars, and grinds, discharging shot after shot after shot inside itself to shake and cut Berserker with as much raw, overwhelming force as it can muster.

     Because when it wears off - when the limit break dies - the Gunblade shrinks right back down, and Seifer is taken with it, right down into Berserker's killing radius.

     And that was pretty much the best chance he'll get.
Nyrinel He stops.

It takes a lot of effort to get him there. The fact that he looks like he should be dead by any other metric is astounding. Nyrinel actually stops strafing, taking up long knives in both hands made of polished and honed bone. She hesitates, looking at Heracles with an expression that openly wonders, 'did we beat him?' She takes a step closer, hesitantly, knives up and ready to be used... but he's rooted to the spot from all the damage.

"/Ha!/ So much for a 'child of the gods'! He's made of flesh and blood like any other human!" Nyrinel's boastful attitude gets her closer. She takes advantage of the growing terrain adjustments and the clash of steel to slip right on up to him, stowing a blade and shaking out a free hand. She takes a breath and clears her throat, chanting in some archaic tongue. There's a flicker of red around her free hand that grows in an ominous glow, the air shimmering as if full of intense heat while deadly energy concentrates in her grasp.

"Try /this/, big man!" Nyrinel slaps Heracles on the back with a fistful of negative energy, abruptly introducing it into his body in a way that should simply cause massive physical harm to erupt all over him: old wounds returning, blood bursting from cuts, bones cracking... it's intended to just break him down, eating away at his corporeal form. For a human, it's astounding lethal.

For someone with the blood of the gods in their veins, it's not a good time... but it isn't going to be quite as terrible as Nyrinel anticipates. Maybe she should've taken Nero more literally.
Sanary Rondel      If Nero thought Sanary would be so easily led astray just by taunting and goading her about fighting tactically... Well, she's completely right. The healer twitches visibly as her hand reaches back for her axe once more, hesitating for only a moment before she brings her fighting implement forward!

     "... Fine, then! If it's a show you want, then it's a show you'll get!" Unfortunately for her allies, the healer abandons healing as she starts running torwards the front line once more. She should probably be more worried about Heracles still managing to swing that axe around even with the gunblade in his /face/, but...

     Nah. She needs to do something big. She'd never live it down if she didn't! Jumping onto one of Lyria's formations, she uses it as a launch point to leap into the air again. Instead of coming back down at Heracles like earlier, however, she starts going up higher with the aid of her magitech anklets! Sanary's ascent is not quite as fast as she'd like it to be, and it takes a noticeably long time before she finally stops moving upwards at a good ten stories up.

     "Someone big and gray get in my way!" There's an unmistakeable determination in her voice as she starts falling, her descent taking her towards Heracles with the axe trailing above her. Instead of simply falling and holding that stance, however, the healer starts... Spinning? Yes, she's starting to spin forwards to build up MORE POWER into her eventual attack. Her attack is timed just so that her final spin would have the axe land right on top of Heracles if it actually hits!

     Is it timed well? Surprisingly so. Is it aimed well? Arguably. Did she plan out how to land safely even after trying to split her target in half? Nope.
Krusty     Both Seifer and Touta claim that their foe has no weakness. Even one of their hosts suggests as such. And yet, Krusty watches their combined efforts bring the large titan to a halt. Working as a team with little to no instruction, they've combined their impairment abilities to slow the Berserker. It's not likely to last long, but it's an opening. And it's something that Krusty can exploit.

    Krusty begins to walk towards the pinned Heracles, a smirk beginning to form on his face. His weapon also starts to emit a somewhat frightening aura. Were one to look closely at it, they'd start to feel a feeling of dread from it. Krusty brings the large two-handed axe around in front of him, gripping it with both hands. The red glow is reflected off his glasses... Or is it in his eyes?

    Krusty moves at a faster pace, running towards Berserker as he quickly closes the distance. He sweeps his axe out to the side as he calls out moments before reaching his target, "Aura-"

    Krusty practically vanishes as his skill activates, launching him forward at a speed untraceable by the average person. Reaching Heracles his axe swings towards the servant. But the servant will find protecting himself from the weapon practically impossible as it has become intangible. Inflicting its harm through the skill's energy, rather than a physical blade. The skill, designed as it is to bypass an enemy's defense, is one of Krusty's best.

    Krusty reappears on the other side of Berserker, skidding to a halt after the swing of his blade is complete. He finishes, "-Saber."
Touta Konoe      While everyone begins to let loose unto Heracles, Touta gets the less dramatic but just as important job of holding the guy at bay...WHICH IS /REALLY/ HARD. Even at 100,000 Fold, Touta can feel that he's just barely keeping Heracles from unleashing his full force. Touta can't help but give a frustrated smile on his face. He's glad that everyone's lashing out their attacks right now but...

     "HURRY UP!!!"

     While Touta understands some attacks need set-up...Holding this goliath of a man down was not something he could do indefinitely yet Krusty starts his attack by walking over to Berserker... Sanary leaps 10 stories into the air before finally descending! Seifer unleashes an attack that while impressive ends up leaving him in Berserker's attack range if something goes wrong. Probably the safest two people right now are the hooded person trying to punch Heracles from behind as surprising as that is and Lyria who was altering the terrain. But if anyone of them messed up right now there was a chance that someone was gonna feel the rough of it.

     So as the guy whose holding Herc's axe at a stand still he intends to put even more force behind his blade...All of the force.

    "FIVE-HUNDRED THOUSAND FOLD!!!"

     As the blades intertwine Herc would feel even more pressure being applied to his weapon, and what would be even more surprising is just as the giant had trying pushing Touta back so early in their struggle, Touta, likely the smallest one there was attempting to push him back with all of the force he could accumulate.

     While it's not glamorous he intends to keep Heracles locked down, to make sure everyone's attacks connect without reprecussion, and if not...Well, he's ready to take whatever this Berserker decides to dish out.
Nero      Nero doesn't bother commentating. She just watches with a wide smile amid the roaring cheers of the colosseun audience, as the challengers all let loose their strongests attacks on the greek hero. Which is what they'll need to do if they want to even damage him in any considerable way.

     Nyrinel laughs and pumps negative energy into Heracles from behind, and he doesn't seem to react at all, even as blood spurts out from his wounds. No, this is small potatoes to him. Instead, that axe continues to bear down against Touta, that struggle becoming more one sided very quickly. But then Krusty lunges forward with his Aura Blade and slices past him, dealing a considerable blow that seems to ignore his godly defense.

     He still does not fall, but it creates just a little more time for the others to strike. Sanary takes Nero's bait and then takes to the air, whirling like some kind of stupid buzzsaw as she descends and slashes right into Heracle's hulking gray form. Leaving a big cleave carved into him. Which is just about when Seifer decides to pull out all the stops and summons Gilgamesh.

     Nero's brow raises for just a moment. ... and then she realizes that this is not a certain golden king, and brings the mic up. "Look at this, people! Our challengers have worked together to stop this legend and unleash all that they have to bear upon him! Truly inspiring! Is victory within their grasp!?"

     Hakuno's brows furrow in worry. As if she knows something that the others done.

     And that's just about when Seifer unleashes his limit break, and the entire upper half of Heracle's body *explodes*. The hulking giant's entire upper body just blows to bits, leaving legs and a waist standing there.

     ".... ...... ...."

     The entire colosseum is silent. Nero is silent. But with a knowing smile on her face.

     THE CROWD ROARS WITH APPLAUSE! THEY WON! THEY WO-

     Suddenly, they're treated to a gruesome sight(moreso than what just happened anyway). The greek hero's waist wriggles as the flesh there rapidly grows and expands, rising up and reforming a torso... arms... a head... hair... a face... And then, that newly reformed body reaches down and picks his axe back up and eyes his opponents all around him. "..... HHHHRRRMMMGGHHAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!"

     God Hand: Twelve Labors.

     Eleven Labors remain.

     Well shit.
Nyrinel "HA-Aaaaa..." Nyrinel deflates visibly when he does not, in fact, explode into gore and leave her with nothing but scattered remains to deal with. She was pretty sure she could do that! Isn't that what it's supposed to do when she does that?

Seifer handles it, even after the onslaught. He explodes, and Nyrinel makes a startled noise more fitting of a surprised young girl (which she is, technically) than a valiant warrior facing a demigod. She ducks, her robes splattered, and slowly rises, peeking at the bost. She relaxes a little, turning and looking around, then stepping away from the remains as the crowd cheers. She makes a little motion at herself and mumbles some literally magic words, and the gore just slides off of her like she was abruptly hydrophobic, leaving her clean again.

Unable to help herself, she quite literally jumps into the air and fistpumps at their victory. "/Yeah!/ Go team!!" She's pretty sure that's what you say. Elves don't have team sports. They have team... human hunts. It's much quieter but about as bloody. After that, she runs over to a spot in the sand nearby and scoops up what is definitely a rib, wiping it off and holding it up to the light to examine it, a look of delight on her face.

He starts to regrow. It's incredibly distressing. Then, her rib-based prize begins to turn into boxes and wink out of existence, which is /even worse/. Nyrinel stares, slack-jawed, making a tiny distressed noise the whole time.

A moment later, she points at Heracles, turns to Nero and Hakuno in their box, and calls out, "WHERE DO I LEARN TO DO THAT??"
Sanary Rondel      With that combined assault, the beast has been defeated! Sanary isn't quite upright enough to gloat about it just yet, but she's very much doing it inwardly even as she lets her healing magic knit herself back together. The whiplash and injuries from stopping so suddenly what with landing flat on the ground is keeping her from getting up right away, but she can tell from the lack of getting crushed and the cheers that things have worked out in the team's favor!

     Eventually, though, she's finally able to pick her head up off the ground. "Hah... There. Told you, Nero! Told you we'd-"

     And then Heracles ups and reforms. She stares at the regenerating Heracles even while standing up slowly, wobbling slightly while using the axe to rebalance herself. She doesn't look angry or frustrated, just impressed. "... Whoa."

     Maybe this guy would be someone worth becoming an apprentice to. "Heracles, right? After we're done here, you... Uh. You gonna be busy?" There's an inquisitive gleam in her eye as she asks that and grips her axe once again, looking like someone that's found new inspiration and also half-dead from landing face-first after a giant fall.

     How many more rounds of this can she even hold out for?
Nyrinel "D, don't flirt with the exploding demi-god, that's disgusting!!" Nyrinel calls at Sanary from just off-camera.
Seifer Almasy      The explosion tears Herakles apart. But more importantly, it frees Seifer from his grasp. Seifer immediately kicks backwards as he hits the ground, dancing out of the way of the torso. He's fought enough weird things in the Multiverse that he's not convinced the danger's over just because half the torso's missing. Could be a bomb, could be an explosion of blood chains (don't ask)...

     ...could be a regenerator.

     Herakles resurrects. Seifer ejects a magazine, slamming a new cartridge of bullets into the hilt of his gunblade. He shoulders the weapon and takes a breath as the giant regrows. He's got a few moments to let himself rest but he just blew his Limit Breaks and he's got nothing else borrowed.

     But there's somebody on the field with something powerful. Because Seifer's a Master. And he's seen Caster's Noble Phantasm. And he's been told that all Servants have something like that. So...

     "Gilgamesh!"

     The grey giant emerges again, but this time, he holds out the lowest, empty hand - the other two are holding a translucent sandwich. Blue light gathers in the lowest hand as sparkles of power are drawn from Nero's form. The light turns into a sphere, and then vanishes, as Seifer kick-slides his way over to Krusty.

     "Nice swing," he says, "You got any more ideas? 'cause I'm a little tapped out, besides whatever Greg just took from my wife's arch-rival."

     Seifer rubs his nose and grins.

     "And I'm gonna be honest with you, I almost totally did that just to piss her off."
Krusty     Krusty's cloak billows out behind him in the wind as he hears the roar of applause from the stands. There's a confident smile on his face as he adjusts his glasses. An interesting challenge, but not too much of a suprise that it fell before the group of heroes.

    The wind dies down, Krusty's cloak going still. The sounds of the crowd cheering follow suit. Krusty's smile also fades as he hears the disturbing flesh sounds from behind him. Krusty spins around to face the sight of flesh reforming itself. During the process he narrows his eyes at the regenerating servant, suggesting to the others, "Fall back."

    Krusty follows his own advice as he leaps away, putting some distance between himself and Hercles. His mind goes into overdrive as he tries to work out a method of putting the monster down for good. But every plan keeps hitting the same wall: He just doesn't have enough information. Is the regeneration limited? Can it be disrupted? Prevented? Too many questions. Maybe if he brought in Rieze and Misa. With their combined abilities, he might be able to work something together. He doubts any of the current group can counter such power...

    ... Wait. Very few would be likely to completely beat such a beast of a warrior. Perhaps that was the intent. This is just a show, after all. Krusty chuckles briefly, musing to himself, "So that's how it is." As Seifer makes his way over in his direction, Krusty responds, "Perhaps."

    Krusty turns from Berserker and the rest of the group to face the viewing platform that Nero and Hakuno watch from. He calls out so he can be heard by them, "Praetor! Your champion's power is undeniable. An opponent whom's strength is equal to few I've encountered before. And even those required dozens at my side in order to defeat." Krusty plants the staff end of his axe into the ground and finishes, "I bow to him. And to you." Krusty does just that, placing his free hand against his chest as he bows in Hakuno's direction.
Seifer Almasy      Seifer's hand goes to his face. "I meant an actual idea, dammit."
Touta Konoe     Touta held out. Thank the gods, demigods, or legends or whoever it is that he should be thanking for being able to take down a Pantheon hero. While it wasn't a single-handed win he can take appreciation in the fact that he was able to contribute to a group victory. Though one day he'd like to try and take on Heracles 1 vs 1. He's definitely not at the point where he wants to be at. While he comes out of the battle mostly unscathed, the moment the doesn't have to cross blades with that demi-god anylonger he falls to his feet.

     "Jeeeeeez. Wonder what kind of work out that guy does..." Seemed like everyone at this point was enjoying the victory. Those who weren't dead exhausted were flaunting their contributions to the victory it seemed. Not like Touta was gonna complain one way or another. They all worked hard to take down Heracles. That should have been worthy enough to get them a legend or two right?

     Its at this point he looks towards Nero and Hakuno,he wanted to talk to them a bit more but as he does he realizes something. This was the first time Nero doesn't say anything. Touta had been launched as a projectile, and had to go face to face with one of the greatest legends that known to man, yet when he sees Nero's smile...It's probably the most concerning thing he's seen all day. That is until he sees Heracles body begin to reform immortal style. Krusty calls for retreat but it seems Seifer and Touta feel the same way about that...

     "What are you talking about?! I'm just getting started." Touta starts winding up one of his arms as he starts heading towards Heracles...Apparently he hasn't decided to give up yet.

     "Listen if you guys are still in this so am I. You guys take a breather and see if you can figure out a way to deal with him, I'll try to hold him off till then." From there he looks ahead towards the humongous gray man, no humongous gray monster once more and gives a cocky-smile.

     "Looks like it's just gonna be you and me for round 2..."

     At that moment something happens to Touta. A black miasma begins to protrude form his body. A look alone gives off the sensation that whatever Touta was doing was probably not safe. The look of this black miasma probably brought one word to any of those familiar with magic, 'Evil'. Once the black miasma fully enveloped the entirety of Touta's arms they no longer appeared the same. Rather than being the hands of a young man, now they were tainted black. Their appearence resembling more of a pair of demonic gauntlets than a pair of actual hands. Though everything else about Touta seemed the same. Even the smile he was giving towards the goliath before him as he continued to speak

     "Let's go, monster versus monster!"
Nero      Hakuno blinks at Nyrinel. "... How do you learn to do what?"

     Nero just... just stares as Sanary *flirts* with Berserker. Like, really? Really? The dude can't even express intelligible thought! Which makes it a good thing when Nero thrusts an arm forward. "And stop! That will be all for today's match." She smiles sweetly at that. "Indeed, while I could have you face down Heracles twelve times, I believe that-"

     And then suddenly, Nero feels something being drawn out of her. "What manner of devilry- You!" She points down to Seifer, who's acting all casual about it. "You really must be Caster's man! You are as incorrigible as she is! I swear were this not a place of glory and honor, then I would have words for you!"

     Hakuno meanwhile just sighs and raises a hand. "Nero. Calm down." She says, barely managing to resist facepalming. She smiles and looks down at Krusty. "Your forfeit is accepted. This round will be your loss, but you're all welcome to return." An idle gesture follows as the brunette girl speaks. "As a consolation prize, we have a banquet for the fighters prepared in the private hall, so please feel free to visit at your leisure."

     Nero huffs and brushes herself off despite not needing to. "Hmph! Very well then! The winner is... HERACLES!" She announces as she points to the giant. Heracles calms down, and then turns around and tromps back off towards the entrance he came out of.

     He completely ignores Sanary too.

     Senpai will not notice you. Sorry. Maybe in another life.

     That also goes for Touta sporting that Magia Erebea. Berserker is checking out. Maybe you can find him somewhere in Moon Cell if you want that rematch.
Nero      Nero smiles.

     "If you wish to claim victory that badly, then come try again for the second round!"
Lyria Mason she's fighting alongside some serious heavyweights it looks like they have done it they are almost there and Hercules goes down he explodes into bits and she just stares for a moment. Holy crap did they actually just kill...? Wait Lyria's eyes see something, insane he regenerates, Herc just freaking regenerates. She gapes her mouth opens wide to say something and no words come out. She tries to regain her composure and after a moment she does she looks to the crowd she bows and looks to Herc for a long moment.

"You lived up to your reputation."
Seifer Almasy      "Fuck you," Seifer shouts at Touta as he starts walking forward, "You think it's just gonna be you who gets all the glory?"

     "Motherfucker, I'm doing this for Caster, you think I'm gonna walk away and let you take credit? You think just 'cause I'm tapped out I'm gonna give up?"

     "Like hell! Not meant to be beaten..."

     Seifer unslings his gunblade.

     "Is bullshit! Anything can be killed! And nothing's gonna stop me from getting Caster that victory!"

     When Nero declares Herakles the winner, Seifer spits on the ground. "Caster was right about you. Can't win unless you cheat, huh? 'One guy surrenders means the team surrenders'?"

     Seifer points his thumb at the ground. "Then next time, I'm fighting alone."

     He rounds on Krusty and points at him. "You cost us the match. Next time have some god damned willpower."

     And then he walks out, gunblade slung over his shoulder, a look of absolute fury on his face.
Krusty     Krusty straightens once more, pointedly ignoring Touta and Seifer's attempts at machoness and in the case of the latter, his childishness. Krusty has known people like them. They often fail to see the greater picture. Krusty meanwhile, is satisfied with how the events of this contest have unfolded. While the fighter in him is disappointed at the loss, the bout itself was only a bonus for him. To make an impression on this realm's leader was more important. And he appears to have a made an acceptable start in that direction.

    Krusty calmly makes his way out of the colosseum, making note to nod in respect to the others for a well fought battle. Except Seifer, of course.
Nyrinel "To -- to --" Nyrinel pantomimes exploding, slouching, then slowly drawing herself back up. The explosion noises she makes with her mouth are almost definitely lost from the distance.

She looks between Seifer and Touta and Krusty, a bit hesitantly. Slowly, she picks her way back towards Heracles. Carefully, she retrieves her fallen weaponry, wiping her knives off on her sleeve and secreting them away somewhere. She looks pretty nervous to be near him, but fortunately he wanders off about when the angry Seifer does.

The feast sounds pretty good. But so does not being in the middle of a place with crazy humans yelling at one another. HMMMMM.
Touta Konoe      There's surprise when Seifer steps back up beside Touta. He wasn't really expecting to pick himself back up after all that. Touta lets out a sigh as he complains about Touta getting all the glory. But it's too late now. The match has been called and with it, the team has taken an L apparently. Even Touta who was getting pretty eager to try going a round mono a mono with Heracles. Maybe he can ask Nero to set that up another time...For now though, he looks towards Seifer whose already walking away. He doesn't say it to directly cause he knows the guy would just lash out at this point but...

     "I think Hime-chan would care more about you than the victory. Besides...If you got beat up again, she'd probably scold ya." He lets another sigh as the black miasma enveloping his arms dissipates. At this point he figures everyone else is already leaving so he waves them off as well. "Nice fight guys! We'll get him next time!"

     Well...There's only one more thing to do now. Touta looks back at Hakuno and Nero from the colosseum floor and then...He leaps far into the air...Towards the balcony Nero and Hakuno are at! He gives a smile to the two of them before he speaks again. "So, where's this feast you guys were talking about before? I could totally eat."

     Touta attempts to make new friends in high places!