Spire Alpha and Hellgate (The Gorge Fortress) [Destroyed]

With a sudden rush of insurmountable energy, a huge towering stone structure burst from the ground.
 

 
The eerie blue/green runes pulsed with unholy power, and immediately the spire burst forth and coalesced a beam of power from it's apex at the ground a few dozen meters from it's base. The beam produced the first of many hellgates in the area.
 

 
Once the portal had been established, within moments, legions upon legions of monsters and horrors of every shape, size and type into this dimension....

Darkstorm Zero wrote:With a sudden rush of insurmountable energy, a huge towering stone structure burst from the ground.



The eerie blue/green runes pulsed with unholy power, and immediately the spire burst forth and coalesced a beam of power from it's apex at the ground a few dozen meters from it's base. The beam produced the first of many hellgates in the area.



Once the portal had been established, within moments, legions upon legions of monsters and horrors of every shape, size and type into this dimension....

Yoko was traveling up the beaten path that lead further into the Gorge when she paused. She could feel something, something rumbling beneath her feet. Looking down, she watched as pebbles and rocks were bouncing off the surface of the dried earth. She bit her lower lip when the ground to the east of her, perhaps only a foot ball field away erupts with an explosive force. The earth gives way at her feet, and the startled Gunslinger screams as the earth pulls around her and she is engulfed by a cloud of sand and dirt. After a couple of minutes the dust fades and Yoko lies in a small alcove surrounded by monoliths and boulders. She coughs into the right sleeve of her duster before pulling herself up. There was a large opening in the earth above her and she climbs up to the surface once again. "What the hell was that? This wasn't no earthquake I've ever been in before..." she thinks, pulling herself out of the sinkhole. It is then that she notices the tall spiraling tower and she is left almost speechless...only 'almost' since she did say: "Holy fuck..."  

The tower was immense, and not only that, a large beam streams into the heavens. She was sure that people in Beijio, the other side of this continent, would be able to see this...monstrosities light! She stands up in a hunched over manner, unbuttoning her duster so that her 'girls' could get some fresh air. They bounced in the white bikini she wore, and jiggled as she then makes her way towards the tall edifice, rifle unslung from her shoulder and then crouched behind some uprooted boulders.

Once Yoko reached the lip of the valley, she could see into the flatlands below. At the foot of the monolithic spire was a portal of stone flame and blood. and monsters, demons, undead and cybernetic monstrosities of every kind in their thousands were amassing, emerging from the portal by the dozens.

A very large monster wearing smooth and jagged jet black armor standing close to 30 feet in height and carrying what would look like a massive rotary artillery piece was barking orders in a language she would not understand, and with a tone that was authorative and demanding.

"Get this rabble forming ranks immediately. This is a new dimension, virgin territory ripe for plundering! Get everyone ordered up!"

Immediately the lesser captains got the rest of this horde ordered up in a rapid pace.

The head captain was scanning this new world with immortal eyes.

He singled out a group of smaller monsters, short, lithe and fast, and with a single motion of his hand, they scattered, moving towards the lands beyond the valley with inhuman speed and precision. Scouts.

the rest were either setting up some sort of base camp and fortifications, or separated into groups and lined up for assignment. it all looked militaristic, and very well planned by trained and disciplined troops. Except these troops were of horrendous monsters from the stuff of nightmares.

Darkstorm Zero wrote:Once Yoko reached the lip of the valley, she could see into the flatlands below. At the foot of the monolithic spire was a portal of stone flame and blood. and monsters, demons, undead and cybernetic monstrosities of every kind in their thousands were amassing, emerging from the portal by the dozens.

A very large monster wearing smooth and jagged jet black armor standing close to 30 feet in height and carrying what would look like a massive rotary artillery piece was barking orders in a language she would not understand, and with a tone that was authorative and demanding.

"Get this rabble forming ranks immediately. This is a new dimension, virgin territory ripe for plundering! Get everyone ordered up!"

Immediately the lesser captains got the rest of this horde ordered up in a rapid pace.

The head captain was scanning this new world with immortal eyes.

He singled out a group of smaller monsters, short, lithe and fast, and with a single motion of his hand, they scattered, moving towards the lands beyond the valley with inhuman speed and precision. Scouts.

the rest were either setting up some sort of base camp and fortifications, or separated into groups and lined up for assignment. it all looked militaristic, and very well planned by trained and disciplined troops. Except these troops were of horrendous monsters from the stuff of nightmares.

She could hear that some sort of conversation was being made between these grotesque and obscenely strange looking creatures. Through looking her scope, though, it made the scene look a lot like a military expedition...an invasion. "What the hell...what the hell is going on!" her mind cried, adjusting the scope and zooming in a little more-eyeing the large 30' creature in particularly. "This is bad...bad news...War Gods preserve me...this is bad." she calmly said aloud. The large creature seemed to be these smaller creatures leaders, and though a Gunslinger was trained to be a one manned army; this was still out of her league. She needed to get in touch with the Association, the ADN...anyone and fast!

Yoko Hinomoto wrote:She could hear that some sort of conversation was being made between these grotesque and obscenely strange looking creatures. Through looking her scope, though, it made the scene look a lot like a military expedition...an invasion. "What the hell...what the hell is going on!" her mind cried, adjusting the scope and zooming in a little more-eyeing the large 30' creature in particularly.  "This is bad...bad news...War Gods preserve me...this is bad." she calmly said aloud. The large creature seemed to be these smaller creatures leaders, and though a Gunslinger was trained to be a one manned army; this was still out of her league. She needed to get in touch with the Association, the ADN...anyone and fast!

The large leader's nasal cavity twitched, and it's baleful glowing crimson eyes narrowed. The creature's head turned slowly, scanning the terrain. He could sense it, he could feel it. Sentient life was close by, fresh prey.



The creatures head continued to turn, until it stopped, and it seemed to be looking right at Yoko!

Slowly, what was supposed to be a grin, ended up looking like a razor filled smile filled her scope view. And with another gesture of it's massive clawed hand. half a dozen huge floating crimson head looking things floated out of the group, followed by what looked like 3 anti gravity recon vehicles being piloted by "lizard-like" men headed straight towards Yoko's position.

Darkstorm Zero wrote:

Yoko Hinomoto wrote:She could hear that some sort of conversation was being made between these grotesque and obscenely strange looking creatures. Through looking her scope, though, it made the scene look a lot like a military expedition...an invasion. "What the hell...what the hell is going on!" her mind cried, adjusting the scope and zooming in a little more-eyeing the large 30' creature in particularly.  "This is bad...bad news...War Gods preserve me...this is bad." she calmly said aloud. The large creature seemed to be these smaller creatures leaders, and though a Gunslinger was trained to be a one manned army; this was still out of her league. She needed to get in touch with the Association, the ADN...anyone and fast!

The large leader's nasal cavity twitched, and it's baleful glowing crimson eyes narrowed. The creature's head turned slowly, scanning the terrain. He could sense it, he could feel it. Sentient life was close by, fresh prey.



The creatures head continued to turn, until it stopped, and it seemed to be looking right at Yoko!

Slowly, what was supposed to be a grin, ended up looking like a razor filled smile filled her scope view. And with another gesture of it's massive clawed hand. half a dozen huge floating crimson head looking things floated out of the group, followed by what looked like 3 anti gravity recon vehicles being piloted by "lizard-like" men headed straight towards Yoko's position.

Her Gunslinger teachings always stated when confronted with opposition stand your ground, and she gladly would if it were not for the simple concept of: "If I die here, then no alarm will be risen and no effort to stop what looks like the starts of some ''alien'' infestation." she froze when she saw the razor filled grin fill her scope's sights and then these 'lizard people' advancing towards her! She decided it was best to turn tail and head to Ithteca, get herself into an ADN HQ and warn them of this attack.

She quickly took off from the boulder, the creature's smile still stuck in her mind. "That thing..it grinned...it knew I was watching...but how?!" she thought, the gun in her hands cocked and ready to fire in case one of the lizard people got within range to become a real threat.

Yoko Hinomoto wrote:Her Gunslinger teachings always stated when confronted with opposition stand your ground, and she gladly would if it were not for the simple concept of: "If I die here, then no alarm will be risen and no effort to stop what looks like the starts of some ''alien'' infestation." she froze when she saw the razor filled grin fill her scope's sights and then these 'lizard people' advancing towards her! She decided it was best to turn tail and head to Ithteca, get herself into an ADN HQ and warn them of this attack.

She quickly took off from the boulder, the creature's smile still stuck in her mind. "That thing..it grinned...it knew I was watching...but how?!" she thought, the gun in her hands cocked and ready to fire in case one of the lizard people got within range to become a real threat.

The 'Lizard-men' on what appeared to be small one person fighter craft, reached her first, their twin energy pulse miniguns already raking the boulder she was perched on and had reduced it to molten slag and ash.



The floating head-like things floated over slower, and belched what looked like electrical spheres from their gaping fang filled maws at her.

Darkstorm Zero wrote:

Yoko Hinomoto wrote:Her Gunslinger teachings always stated when confronted with opposition stand your ground, and she gladly would if it were not for the simple concept of: "If I die here, then no alarm will be risen and no effort to stop what looks like the starts of some ''alien'' infestation." she froze when she saw the razor filled grin fill her scope's sights and then these 'lizard people' advancing towards her! She decided it was best to turn tail and head to Ithteca, get herself into an ADN HQ and warn them of this attack.

She quickly took off from the boulder, the creature's smile still stuck in her mind. "That thing..it grinned...it knew I was watching...but how?!" she thought, the gun in her hands cocked and ready to fire in case one of the lizard people got within range to become a real threat.

The 'Lizard-men' on what appeared to be small one person fighter craft, reached her first, their twin energy pulse miniguns already raking the boulder she was perched on and had reduced it to molten slag and ash.



The floating head-like things floated over slower, and belched what looked like electrical spheres from their gaping fang filled maws at her.

She looked back casually at the creature on the vehicle that was firing it's craft's weaponry at her direction. She jumped a ledge and twisted in mid air, swinging her weapon with ease and lined up the barrel of her rifle to the face of the lizard looking alien. She pulls the trigger, and the force of the shell being discharged sends her flying back further while the .50 round soared into the pilot's face.

Tumbling in mid air, Yoko narrowly avoids a series of electrical blasts that were being belched out of the large red head things with large pointy fangs. She rolls in the air, landing onto her feet and skids across the rocky earth, her bolt-action weapon already primed for the next shot as she then quickly takes aim through her scope and fires another fifty-cal into one of the floating heads this time. Despite her size, she was quite capable with the powerful weapon.

Yoko Hinomoto wrote:She looked back casually at the creature on the vehicle that was firing it's craft's weaponry at her direction. She jumped a ledge and twisted in mid air, swinging her weapon with ease and lined up the barrel of her rifle to the face of the lizard looking alien. She pulls the trigger, and the force of the shell being discharged sends her flying back further while the .50 round soared into the pilot's face.

Tumbling in mid air, Yoko narrowly avoids a series of electrical blasts that were being belched out of the large red head things with large pointy fangs. She rolls in the air, landing onto her feet and skids across the rocky earth, her bolt-action weapon already primed for the next shot as she then quickly takes aim through her scope and fires another fifty-cal into one of the floating heads this time. Despite her size, she was quite capable with the powerful weapon.

The first bullet splashed against the crafts forward repulsor shields, causing a red forward facing dome to appear briefly.

"You didn't think it would be that easy, did you mortal?" the creature said as it passed over her position. One of the following recon craft took aim, and fired 3 proton rockets from an underslung tri-barrelled concussion rocket launcher.

Meanwhile, the Cacodemon, which was certainly not shielded, took the brunt of the .50 BMR, that peeled into the thick leathery skin on it's right flank, the wound oozed a viscous dark blue liquid. The creature let out an angry yet pained hissing sound, even as it began belching yet more lightning balls at Yoko.

As yet another distraction, a voice entered Yoko's mind.

"Ah, well, if it isn't our little eaves dropper. Yoko Hinomoto was it? Yessss.... Well, why didn't you come and say hello? Welcome us to your dimension and all that? Did you really think to escape unnoticed?"

Darkstorm Zero wrote:
The first bullet splashed against the crafts forward repulsor shields, causing a red forward facing dome to appear briefly.

"You didn't think it would be that easy, did you mortal?" the creature said as it passed over her position. One of the following recon craft took aim, and fired 3 proton rockets from an underslung tri-barrelled concussion rocket launcher.

Meanwhile, the Cacodemon, which was certainly not shielded, took the brunt of the .50 BMR, that peeled into the thick leathery skin on it's right flank, the wound oozed a viscous dark blue liquid. The creature let out an angry yet pained hissing sound, even as it began belching yet more lightning balls at Yoko.

As yet another distraction, a voice entered Yoko's mind.

"Ah, well, if it isn't our little eaves dropper. Yoko Hinomoto was it? Yessss.... Well, why didn't you come and say hello? Welcome us to your dimension and all that? Did you really think to escape unnoticed?"

Her eyes widened with shock. "A shield?!" She suddenly saw the oncoming rockets, immediately dropping the light rifle and quick drawing her sidearm which she fires at the oncoming rockets to make them explode before they could get too far. She then kicks up her rifle again, grabs it with her left hand and continues to run again. She casually fires her revolver's remaining three bullets towards the floating head before sliding the gun back into her holster. She pulls back the bolt, reading another round for her rifle when she hears the sound echoing in her head. She grits her teeth. "Fuck, these things are psychic as well? What else worse can happen?!" she exclaimed between dodging energy blasts and trying to flee the marauders.

As the 2nd craft shot overhead, the 3rd and final one began to ascend higher on his own strafing run, gaining altitude rapidly. The reason for this became apparent when several objects were ejected from the rear of the craft, the objects fell only a few feet, before breaking apart into dozens of smaller objects that fell all around Yoko and the surrounding area. The objects all beeped once in unison.

{"Proximity cluster mines have been deployed, the mortal is trapped with nowhere to go"} the last pilot crowed over his comm in the demons native tongue.

The others came around from their sweep and slowed to a hover, all 3 surrounding Yoko from a few hundred feet distance, and several dozen in height, while the Cacodemons hovered over, forming a loose circle closer to the ground, snarling and hissing at her.

"Drop you weapons and surrender, mortal, or die where you are in pointless futility, your choose"

Darkstorm Zero wrote:As the 2nd craft shot overhead, the 3rd and final one began to ascend higher on his own strafing run, gaining altitude rapidly. The reason for this became apparent when several objects were ejected from the rear of the craft, the objects fell only a few feet, before breaking apart into dozens of smaller objects that fell all around Yoko and the surrounding area. The objects all beeped once in unison.

{"Proximity cluster mines have been deployed, the mortal is trapped with nowhere to go"} the last pilot crowed over his comm in the demons native tongue.

The others came around from their sweep and slowed to a hover, all 3 surrounding Yoko from a few hundred feet distance, and several dozen in height, while the Cacodemons hovered over, forming a loose circle closer to the ground, snarling and hissing at her.

"Drop you weapons and surrender, mortal, or die where you are in pointless futility, your choose"

She stood there in the field, and she knew she was surrounded. She was surrounded by mines, and a cliff to her left which had a 150 ft drop into the raging river below that, despite their loud and audible commands, was still roaring loudly up to where she stood. The wind picked up, causing the tail of her duster to rise and blow in the wind. "You guys...have no idea who your messing with." she says aloud, holding her rifle by it's barrel she slams the butt of the weapon against the ground-discharging it. But unlike the other rounds she had fired, this bullet was one of Yoko's own creations. These that she dubbed as her 'Lucky' Bullets, fired up into the air, but in doing so the barrel heated up like a kiln and burnt Yoko's right hand. Bearing through with the pain, she had quickly used the added leverage to hoist herself into the air, and then just as easily she performed the basic gunslinger acrobatic feat called the 'rain of lead' technique, just without a discharge of her side arm which was still in her holster and very much empty. She was able to leap out of reach of the proximity mines, her gun now above her head as she twisted her body and was flying another ten feet over the end of the cliff; but before the enemy had the time to react to this her 'lucky bullet' exploded in the air and sent a rain of nearly a thousand smaller explosives upon the proximity mine field and caused the area to explode! The force of the blast was so powerful that it pushed Yoko further out into the void. She then was descending and about 165 feet later her body splashed into the coarse river below! Under the deep waves, her body was at the mercy of the river, twisting and spiraling deep under the heavy current as it carried her downstream.

The explosion was heard by near by miners who cautiously entered the area where the demons had attempted to surround Yoko. In a humongous dust cloud, the prospectors could still see the remains of one of those floating heads. "What the hell is it?!" The first replied, while the other simply shot at it with his standard pump-action shotgun, not caring to answer back.

From his vantage point, the Battle Lord smiled evilly.

{"Excellent, the mortal thinks she has escaped, but really only did what we predicted, and to boot, only gained a miniscule demonstration of our battle strength as intel. Return to camp now, we are opening a greater gate to bring forth the corrupters and begin production of a Citadel worthy of a primary base."} the creature spoke to it's subordinates.

The lone Cacodemon that had somehow perished disintegrated into hellfire and nothingness, it's essence returned to it's domain for reconstitution, even as the others and the recon fighters returned to base.

The remaining miners, however, were not so fortunate. a volley of Hell-bore Missiles slammed into their position with ruthless efficiency and accuracy, lighting the entire area up in a conflagration of chaos fire. Courtesy of a recently awakened Cyber Demons arm mounted canon.



{"Targets, Terminated..."} intoned the cybernetic monstrosity, even as a greater gate sprang to life between 2 new hell portals.



Now, not only were individual monsters entering, but so to were their largest individuals and massive war machines to boot.

The construction of their Alpha Base and HQ was proceeding with ruthless efficiency.

EDIT:

Darkstorm Zero wrote:The smile from the Empress's face faded, and took a hard, cold edge.

"You would be most unwise to try to dictate terms to me little demoness. Like it or not, you, your subjects, and your Underworld all originally came from Hell and are thusly subject to my power and authority by right of the blood of the Fallen, of which I am the last. I am not here to play political games, and I am not here to parlay negotiations. I am here for this entire dimension, as it will be my stepping stone to many others, including the one I seek to claim above all others."

The Empress waked past the Baroness, not looking at her, even as the rest of the assembled Entorage stared disdainfully at the Baroness for perceived insolence.

"One planetary rotation (one day).... You have only one planetary rotation. I know what troubles you my dear. Hunt him down, kill or capture him if you wish. But if you have not returned to me with your decision before this time tomorrow, we will recommence the invasion with, or without you, and make no mistake...." the Empress turned her head so the steel in her eyes could not possibly be missed as they took on a more reptilian form of a slitted pupil. "If you stand against me and betray me, I will crush you, and forcibly assimilate that which belongs to Hell.... Do you understand?"

Upon this declaration, the Demons suddenly stopped pouring from the portals, but the work still continued to build the fortifications and base structures.

Once the orders were received, new demons ceased emerging from the portal, and construction continued.

24 hours later...

The demons primary edifice was completed.



The enormous structure completely enveloped the Spire, and the Hellgates it produced. enhancing and fortifying them, rendering them permanent. The entire structure stood at more than 3,300 feet. Made from Hellforge wrought metals, obsidian stone, immortal bones, flesh and arcane energy, and bound tight with sufficient Hell Magics to render it virtually impregnable to damage.

The gates, now located deep within the bowels of the colossal fortress came alive, and the forces of Hell began to pour into this dimension anew.

Over the mountains of Ithteca, and scrambling down the mountainside on the far side was Edgar, racing like an enraged meteor towards the Guardian's Gorge Hell Spire. Ed's energy aura flared to life around the half-fallen man, and he began his assault.

Rushing at the Hellish tower, he had both hands in front of him, and from them, he began showering the Hell Horde Demons in annihilating energy blasts. Dozens of the immortal monsters where vaporised immediately, sending their essences back to Hell, while others were blown into quivering chunks, more still began firing with wild abandon at this new attacker that they did not recognize yet. But it was for naught, as the determined Edgar wasted no time on the demons on the ground, and plunched his body straight through the obsidian stonework at the base of the massive tower.

A few seconds after punching the hole, it exploded violently, sending shrapnel fragments of hellish stonework scattering hundreds of meters, shredding those unfortunate enough to be too close. The blast wracked the spire with tremors and causing debris to topple...

The demons scrambled to stop the unexpected assault of Edgar Holden. Legions of foul monsters from every corner of the burning hells rushed through the corridors and halls of the massive labyrinthine tower. The portals reactivated, allowing fresh reinforcements to try and capture and incapacitate Holden. But fear began to creep into the monsters. As powerful as they were, he had the blood of the Fallen within him, and it seems like he has learned to master the powers this lineage offered. Even the more powerful demons could not abate the advance of the Fallen son.

Former mortals, cybernetic or mutated, were slain in their thousands, and pure-blooded demons fared little better, as Edgar's energy blasts tore through their ranks as effectively as it blew holes in their structure. And Edgar seemingly showed now signs of slowing down.

Edgar walked the endless corridors hallways and staircases, blasting everything that moved, or any vital support structure he came across. His face had the look of iron determination. "I will not let you monsters destroy another world... Not while I can still do something to prevent it..." was all that seemed to go through his mind. Ribbons of his energy lashed out, cutting entire platoons to quivering chunks, and slashing the walls into rubble.

Even the mightiest opponents such as the Cyberdemons were rendered inconsequential, their reinforced bodies ripped asunder. Edgar ascended the tower floor by floor destroying any opposition with his own energy and physical combat capabilities. Eventually, he ascended to the pinnacle of the spire...

Back where it all started, Yoko approached the battlefield with a heavy heart, yet remained cool and calm as possible. She passed the remains of the two miners whom had bought her time, or what remained of them anyhow, and then crossed into the pocketed landscape where creatures horrifically lay dead or dying. She kept her anti-material rifle at the ready, the .50 BMG rounds loaded with her own special shot as she makes her way to the burning colossal tower ahead of her. There was no sign of the ADN on either side of her, and she felt a slight chill run up her spine. Was what had caused this carnage an enemy? Or would they be a friend? Most scenarios dictate that the enemy of my enemy is my friend; but if this 'friend' could do this level of wanton destruction, who is to say they won't do the same to her, or her people for that matter?

She opted not to dwell over it for now, and instead kept moving; making sure to stay away from those demons whom were still barely clinging to life.

Yoko Hinomoto wrote:Back where it all started, Yoko approached the battlefield with a heavy heart, yet remained cool and calm as possible. She passed the remains of the two miners whom had bought her time, or what remained of them anyhow, and then crossed into the pocketed landscape where creatures horrifically lay dead or dying. She kept her anti-material rifle at the ready, the .50 BMG rounds loaded with her own special shot as she makes her way to the burning colossal tower ahead of her. There was no sign of the ADN on either side of her, and she felt a slight chill run up her spine. Was what had caused this carnage an enemy? Or would they be a friend? Most scenarios dictate that the enemy of my enemy is my friend; but if this 'friend' could do this level of wanton destruction, who is to say they won't do the same to her, or her people for that matter?

She opted not to dwell over it for now, and instead kept moving; making sure to stay away from those demons whom were still barely clinging to life.

A small gaggle of cybernetic demons were busy trying to come to terms with what just happened. Some trued to resume duties, but the apparent shock of the event had clearly rocked them all.

"Demetricus... we have to retreat... Make our way to other spires... This one lost!" This one was an enforcer class cyborg, a former human.



"You are not going anywhere Niithing... You abandon your post, and Empress will consume you all... Back to work!" came the guttural reply of one foul looking demon.

Darkstorm Zero wrote:

Yoko Hinomoto wrote:Back where it all started, Yoko approached the battlefield with a heavy heart, yet remained cool and calm as possible. She passed the remains of the two miners whom had bought her time, or what remained of them anyhow, and then crossed into the pocketed landscape where creatures horrifically lay dead or dying. She kept her anti-material rifle at the ready, the .50 BMG rounds loaded with her own special shot as she makes her way to the burning colossal tower ahead of her. There was no sign of the ADN on either side of her, and she felt a slight chill run up her spine. Was what had caused this carnage an enemy? Or would they be a friend? Most scenarios dictate that the enemy of my enemy is my friend; but if this 'friend' could do this level of wanton destruction, who is to say they won't do the same to her, or her people for that matter?

She opted not to dwell over it for now, and instead kept moving; making sure to stay away from those demons whom were still barely clinging to life.

A small gaggle of cybernetic demons were busy trying to come to terms with what just happened. Some trued to resume duties, but the apparent shock of the event had clearly rocked them all.

"Demetricus... we have to retreat... Make our way to other spires... This one lost!" This one was an enforcer class cyborg, a former human.



"You are not going anywhere Niithing... You abandon your post, and Empress will consume you all... Back to work!" came the guttural reply of one foul looking demon.

As Yoko got closer, she noted that some of the demonic legions were still in tact. She quickly got behind cover, and unslung her shoulder strap. "Huh, I guess there be some stragglers after all." she whispered, shouldering her rifle. She leveled the large weapon upon two creatures, one human looking, while the other more feral in nature. Through the chaos, she could still make out the fact they were arguing. She lined the crosshairs onto the bald human skull, paying no mind to their banter while explosions still filled the air. She slowly eased back the trigger when a deafening explosion ruptured the air, and took this as an opportunity to shoot the anti-material round. The discharge from her rifle was masked by the godly crash of thunder from that unknown explosion, and she watched as the bullet slammed into the former human's skull, flattening the right side of his face as it laid waste to his head in a bloody spray of blood and gobs of flesh, painting everything to the left side of his body with his organs and brain matter. She hand ejected the single-shot round and went for another when she saw what caused the explosion in the first place making it's way down through the scope of her rifle. Pulling her head away, she looked on with wide eyes as the beast fell downward. "What in the hell!?" she exclaimed, noting the giant beast from her first visit and a man-a large man for human standards, grappling the larger beast on their plummeting journey downward...

The remaining demon troopers were alarmed when the cyborg's head virtually exploded, but their attention was drawn upwards towards the rampaging battle currently about to land right before them.

---

As Ed and the Battlelord tumbled down the steep incline of the tower, their battles grew more and more furious, soon their clashing energies altered their trajectories, as they slowed down the downward momentum, and began to circle around the tower like a pair of angry fireflies. The two orbs of energy clashed repeatedly, causing shockwaves to rip up the loose dirt and throw around debris.

Eventually, Edgar landed a powerful double footed dropkick to the Battlelord's sternum, sending the huge beast flying straight into the mountainside. Edgar hovered at the same altitude right in front of the spire. Without taking the time to recover it's winded form, the Battlelord unleashed a pair of blood red beams from it's crimson eyes. The energy gouged out a pair of furrows into the side of it's own tower. Edgar however had moved to drop quickly. And the beast threw a vicious energy blast from it's burned right hand. Edgar took the brunt of this attack with a cross-guard and remained unscathed. But the smoke was a feint, masking the onrushing Battlelord, who's tremendous bulk slammed Edgar into the side of the tower, planting him in the wall a few inches.

Edgar did not remain trapped for long, and fired a blast of his own. This time, the Battlelord's chest armour did not save him, and the energy beam punched a hole straight through his chest.

"HURK!!" the creature sputtered before he fell back towards the ground. Slamming before the demons in the burning courtyard. Edgar wasted no time on triumph, and immediately followed up the attack with another blast, vaporising the Battlelord, before firing again into the crowd of assembled minions.

Once they had been terminated or fled. Ed's eyes cast a stern look over the still standing spire, and he seemed to ponder something...

Yoko watched the flurry of blows in awe, turning her head away from the blinding flashes before she was compelled to look back. "The hell..." she took the rifle up again, looking through the scope. The large creature whom had looked upon her form with a twisted leer of hunger was simply gone; she couldn't see the giant anywhere now. Other creatures had become like ash and simply scattered to the wind, leaving only this lone figure clad in black with his back to her. She leveled her scope's cross hairs on the man to garner a better look at his gear. It was ancient stuff, armor that hadn't been used for centuries, but she could surmise that they had been enchanted. Still, the way he carried himself, one could have fingered him as a War God...

She saw one of those pig things again, heading towards the crafts that deflected her anti-materiel round before, and her eyes became narrow slits. She trailed after the beast, finger on the trigger and when it got within range of the vehicle fired the anti-materiel round into the creature's knees, taking out it's left knee and right leg almost clean off, causing it to trip and fall over. It lay there, unable to climb up or reach into the vehicle now it was a foot or so smaller than it had been. She ejected the round, and loaded a fresh one in place, turning her head towards the man in black in the distance. She was out of earshot to yell, but instead rose from the rocky outcrop and stood with one knee bent on the rock. Her tattered Gunslinger Duster was draped around her curvy form with the tails of the long coat dragging in the wind. She held the hand guard of her rifle in her left hand, letting the butt of the rifle to lean against her left thigh which was was the knee bent onto the rock, and her right arm raised high, waving at the man in black. Like her coat, her reddish orange ponytail was somewhat loose, flowing with the coat tails. "Shooting someone in the back, especially after something like this, is just bad taste." she says softly to herself, dropping her arm. She kept a look out for any stragglers whom may want to try and get a shot at her, but for now she looked like she was posing like a heroic statue.

Edgar continued to stare at the obsidian stone tower. It was a black fang of malice among the pale grey of the mountains on either side of the narrow valley, and the very sight of it sickened him, but worse, he knew that if the portal inside of it's base remained active, then the Hell Horde would simply reinfest this place. He had to remove the spire, the portal, and all other traces of Hell in this place to liberate it. He remembered the geography of this place, and he had to aim this blast just right, away from mortal cities and populations. So he circled the tower, until the sea was behind the tower from his position.

When he fine tuned his position psionically, ensuring nobody would be in the path of what he was about to do, his violet aura blazed to life around him, becoming bright red instantly in it's intensity. The very earh quaked, and the air around him was pushed violently away. The horrendous storm clouds that the very tower was generating was being blown apart, revealing bright blue skies of daylight for the first time in weeks, but at the same time, the valley grew darker, as the light of Edgar's energies began to eclipse the daylight and cast forboding shadows in the valley.

The intensity of the energies also began to arch in electrical like streams and flames from Edgar's very skin. The face of the man at the center of the light was locked in fierce concentration, a deep frown formed on his lips, while his eyes blazed with crimson light. His hovering form was hunched over, looking like he was almost trying to hug himself as he seemingly tried to brace his center of gravity. it might have looked strange with him hovering in the air like he was, but the energy discharges made the effect all the more ominous.

The frown became a grimace as Ed summoned more and more of his powers to bear, and after a few more seconds of this, he spread his arms and legs far apart, his arms out wide at his sides. Through the blazing aura and electrical arcs, particles of energy were gathering in alarming swarms into his hands...

His senses detected the lone mortal on the far side of the tower. Yoko... her name is Yoko Hinomoto.

"Gunslinger Yoko, you have to get behind me, as far back as you can. Do it now. This entire area is about to become burned and salted... You do not want to be in front of this attack..." The blunt psionic message echoed into Yoko's mind as orbs of significant power were forming out of the particles gathering in Ed's hands.

Edgar Holden wrote:Edgar continued to stare at the obsidian stone tower. It was a black fang of malice among the pale grey of the mountains on either side of the narrow valley, and the very sight of it sickened him, but worse, he knew that if the portal inside of it's base remained active, then the Hell Horde would simply reinfest this place. He had to remove the spire, the portal, and all other traces of Hell in this place to liberate it. He remembered the geography of this place, and he had to aim this blast just right, away from mortal cities and populations. So he circled the tower, until the sea was behind the tower from his position.

When he fine tuned his position psionically, ensuring nobody would be in the path of what he was about to do, his violet aura blazed to life around him, becoming bright red instantly in it's intensity. The very earh quaked, and the air around him was pushed violently away. The horrendous storm clouds that the very tower was generating was being blown apart, revealing bright blue skies of daylight for the first time in weeks, but at the same time, the valley grew darker, as the light of Edgar's energies began to eclipse the daylight and cast forboding shadows in the valley.

The intensity of the energies also began to arch in electrical like streams and flames from Edgar's very skin. The face of the man at the center of the light was locked in fierce concentration, a deep frown formed on his lips, while his eyes blazed with crimson light. His hovering form was hunched over, looking like he was almost trying to hug himself as he seemingly tried to brace his center of gravity. it might have looked strange with him hovering in the air like he was, but the energy discharges made the effect all the more ominous.

The frown became a grimace as Ed summoned more and more of his powers to bear, and after a few more seconds of this, he spread his arms and legs far apart, his arms out wide at his sides. Through the blazing aura and electrical arcs, particles of energy were gathering in alarming swarms into his hands...

His senses detected the lone mortal on the far side of the tower. Yoko... her name is Yoko Hinomoto.

"Gunslinger Yoko, you have to get behind me, as far back as you can. Do it now. This entire area is about to become burned and salted... You do not want to be in front of this attack..." The blunt psionic message echoed into Yoko's mind as orbs of significant power were forming out of the particles gathering in Ed's hands.

What she saw him do made her body freeze. The environment seemed to dim, and darken. It was like watching the life drain away from the land, and it gave her an eerie feeling. It was then that Yoko blinked, looking about her for the sign of the voice that told her to move, when she noticed the man channeling energy into an orb like he had against the other demons, but it was larger. More importantly, if it was what she thought it was, she was in it's direct path! "Oh Gods!" she exclaimed, wide eyed, and broke out into a full body sweat, shouldering the rifle and began running towards the man, making a dash for the cliffs and bluffs behind him. She had to run like hell, because she didn't know how long he'd be able to concentrate on such a powerful source of energy for so long!

Yoko Hinomoto wrote:What she saw him do made her body freeze. The environment seemed to dim, and darken. It was like watching the life drain away from the land, and it gave her an eerie feeling. It was then that Yoko blinked, looking about her for the sign of the voice that told her to move, when she noticed the man channeling energy into an orb like he had against the other demons, but it was larger. More importantly, if it was what she thought it was, she was in it's direct path! "Oh Gods!" she exclaimed, wide eyed, and broke out into a full body sweat, shouldering the rifle and began running towards the man, making a dash for the cliffs and bluffs behind him. She had to run like hell, because she didn't know how long he'd be able to concentrate on such a powerful source of energy for so long!

Edgar held his position, building the energies in his hands, to the size of baseballs, then grapefruits, basketballs, and finally massive beach ball sized spheres of energy were sparking and pulsing in his hands. He held on, waiting for Yoko to get back far enough away behind him. His aura flaring almost unstably. But when Yoko dove in behind some rocky outcroppings some distance behind him and stopped moving away, he grunted and his aura flashed. Bringing his two hands together in front of him, forming a fan with his fingers, and merging the two collected spheres of energy, the crackling result was one huge ball of energy, ready for the attack.

With a roar, Edgar unleashed the largest attack he had used in 13 years. The ball, now a beam of energy crashed into the side of the Spire, and continued to grow. The intense beam of light disintegrated the spire, everything in it, and everything around it. The width of the blast grew tremendously, vapoursing furrows into the mountainsides on either side of the gorge, eventually widening until it eclipsed even the mountains in sheer size. The immense energy wave completely blasted out of the gorge and streaked into the sea. Not following the curvature of the planet, it eventually escaped the atmosphere, and streaked off into space, heading towards it's true intended destination, the great  Supergate the Horde had deployed in space. The shockwaves and shuddering earthquakes were felt planet wide, not to mention the immense size and light visibility would ensure that everyone on the planet knew something had happened here...

The charred, smoking remnants of the Guardian's Gorge were a testament to the immense devastation Ed had unleashed here, and one could only guess as to how much more damage could have been wrought had such an attack exploded on the ground, or within the atmosphere.

Once the attack had been completed. Edgar's aura faded, and he slowly descended to the smoking ground, where he fell to his knees, winded, exhausted, and breathing raggedly.