Entering the Castle of Death

[Everto Ferox]

"I'm a bull am I?" Everto said, the red aura around him began to have a tint of white on the edges. "Then I will make sure to stomp my hooves on this tiny little butterfly before me!"

He lifted his hammer and slammed his on the ground, a ray of energy shot out toward Akuma. Sailing right forward him....until a purple flame shot out of nowhere and dispelled Everto's attack.

"What?!" he yelled, turning around.

[Zelos Shinigami-Mezmillion]

Zelos stood at the large hole Everto made in his attacks to crumble his castle, he could tell what was happening all within five seconds. He could feel Elexa slinking in the shadows of the castle, and Akuma was battling this strange armored man.

"Let me guess.... you are a Saint? I've met two of you before..." he narrowed his eyes. "And I would guess your name would be 'Everto Ferox', the Fierce Diety."

[Everto Ferox]

Everto stared at Zelos a bit before bursting into laughter, "You are well informed! I would assume you mean A.B.A and Van. I heard they were heading to Guasto...how funny, you are the lord of death...and the god of life: Eden."

He grinned as he readied his sword, "My master Kain Angelo needs to Gods of Crepusculum. Now, I will give him the God of Life. Eden."

[Akuma Shuen]

Akuma took a step forward with his longsword in hand "You plan not only to fight the strongest vampire still alive, but Zelos Shinigami and myself?" he said shaking his head "It appears you are nought but a bull without a brain" he took an offensive stance "Clearly you have no idea what it is you are fighting"

[Everto Ferox]

(Have to play as Zelos here for this post to work)

"The boy raises a point," Zelos narrowed his eyes. "You are best to retreat-"

He stopped because a massive surge of power pulsed from Everto's body, the red aura turned completely white and Everto pulsed with a power that Zelos didn't detect until now.

(Playing: Challenge - Nobuo Uematsu, Masashi Hamauzu, Final Fantasy X OST)

"What is..." Zelos spoke before Everto cut him off.

"I think...you three shouldn't underestimate me." he said as the top half of the castle shattered before his might. Storm clouds grew over Guasto, red storm clouds. "It was your mistake fighting me as you did, for now my powers have come to be revealed."

Zelos drew his sword and rushed up to strike him, Everto raised his blade and swung it down. Although it was a tiny swing the pure power behind it sent Zelos to the ground. The Lord of Death landed on his feet.

"Be prepared," he turned to Akuma and readied himself."He's stronger than we guessed...."

"Let's have some fun!" Everto laughed, landing on the ground and slamming his sword down, a red mist descending upon Zelos and Akuma. The mist bearing intentions of lowering their attack power.

[Akuma Shuen]

The mist cut off Akuma's view and he growled in irritation "Toppu!" he roared and a large black wave launched outwards from beneath his feet spreading the Mist away from him in a large circle "I think..." he said his longsword appearing in his hand "I have been underestimated myself" he stood up straight, a dark black aura surrounding him, his eyes now a dark solid red.

He did not move forwards to attack Everto, he saw no point, he could see the man would simply bat him away yet with all of his power which he had foolishly released he could in his mind crush the man, yet that was not what Akuma wanted he could not get answers from a dead man. "Who are you..?" he asked casually.

[Everto Ferox]

Everto smiled as he slammed his sword into the ground, the flail came loose and traveled through the castle.

"You're undertaker." he casually responded, the flail traveled to his position and launched from under. Making the ground unstable, in seconds it would cave in around Akuma. The flail retreated back to Everto as he swung at Zelos.

Zelos dodged the flail and fired a more powerful spell at him, the spell did nothing but simply push Everto back.

Power is not going to defeat this man, Zelos thought, This man's power reminds me of Xisa's, a beserk power. If that is the case then no amount of attacks will be able to hurt him, there must be a way to defeat him though.

[Akuma Shuen]

Akuma seemed to dissapear for a moment before reappearing beside Zelos "I wonder... Will he tire?" he said closing his eyes for a moment before shaking his head "Either way, we are not going to defeat him while he is in this state" He clenched his free hand into a fist

[Everto Ferox]

Tire...? Zelos thought, recalling some of the times where Xisa lost his powers in a fight.

"You catch on quickly," Zelos remarked, "We don't need to tire him completely, just waste a good amount and I'll get rid of him."

Zelos knew just what attack to use too, however their conversation was cut short by Everto who took ran up next to them and slammed his sword/hammer down and caused an eruption of energy to blast them. Zelos normally could dodge the attack, but he wasn't expecting a man with all that armor to move so quickly. He used a spell around his hands to cut back some of the energy damage from the wall.

This form must increase his speed too, it's not much but it's very noticable.

[Akuma Shuen]

Akuma brought up both of his arms, both of them pulsating with dark energy which shielded him somewhat, leaping back he looked at the man "Tire him..." he muttered before smiling to himself "Shishi Gun" he said and with that the large shadows in the hallway erupted into the shape of a large wolf which padded towards Akuma who simply patted it's head "Go get him..." he said with a dark smile. It may not kill the man but his beast swarm would constantly send these shadow wolves at Everto and while they were not difficult to kill each one would require some energy.

[Lady Elexa B'Shera]

Suddenly, Elexa burst out of the shadows in a coordinated attack, slicing downwrds with her scythe into Ferox's back. She had been preparing an ace in the hole to use if it became necessary; she would not fail this time.

"It is good to see you have joined us, Zelos," she spoke, her usual smile widening slightly. "What do you think of us showing this trespasser the door?"

[Everto Ferox]

Akuma's wolves kept Everto busy, he slammed his hammer down and had mounds of Earth spike the wolves from under. Elexa's slice flew in...and cut through a few layers of his armor. Zelos' eyes widened as Everto made a laugh.

"Elexa NO!" he shouted, she was too close to Everto. The knight was preparing to capitalize on her close range attack, swinging his hammer at her. Zelos vanished and reappeared next to her, pushing her aside. Zelos used his sword to block the hammer swing, but his own blade received a crack in it. He dodged Everto's next strike and was trying to recover to a safe distance.

"You cannot escape!" Everto laughed, shooting his sword into the ground. The sword moved snake-like to Zelos and launched itself from the ground, running through the King of Death's side.

Damn Zelos growled, clutching his now bleeding side. He lifted his hand and fired a spell at Everto, holding the knight away from him.

[Lady Elexa B'Shera]

"Zelos!" she shouted, shocked.

He'd put himself in harm's way for her.

That man... She turned toward him, her scythe glowing with dark light. She'd been careless. Zelos had been hurt because of it. She wouldn't be so careless again. Her eyes lost their humanity and bacame glowing, purple orbs of light, and she gripped her scythe tight. She would wait for the opportune moment to counterstrike.

[Everto Ferox]

Everto pulled his blade back and let it become a flail, swinging at Zelos the flail caught him at his side. Letting the King of Death fly through the air.

Something's not right, what's happening to my powers... Zelos grimaced as he hit the wall. The large knight turning to Elexa.

"Was that distress I hear? How very unbecoming for a vampire queen, to care for mortal life. Or perhaps you fancy a night with a god? You would do well then to stand by his side so."