67.) Phoenix Distress Call!!!

A battle had ensued between Joelli and Li'Ricio that resulted in the loss of an eye, and Li'Ricio's chest being pierced. Merilizette was close in vicinity thanks to a tip from Jollister. She healed his chest in a near instant to sage him from the fatalities of a pierced lung. Joelli had slipped away during her efforts and headed towards a rendezvous point. Merilizette tried desperately to fix his right eye, but it was to no avail. Even actually sending a large amount of her essence into his eye couldn't break the seal.

"My apologies, sire. I can't seem to heal your split eye." Merilizette muttered in a defeated voice. Holding the king in her arms as he summons some blood and forms an eyepatch around his wounded eye. "It's quite alright, he told me you wouldn't be able to heal this." Li'Ricio says as he gets up. They both stand up and look in the direction Joelli had flown in.

Merilizette: "I can catch him sire!"

Li'Ricio: *Grip* "No… we're going back to the others. That takes priority here!"

Merilizette: "Mhm… sound logic sire. But I can tell its because you know I can't win, right?"

Li'Ricio gives off a solemn look and turns away to fly in the direction of his son. Muttering "Just come along" as they fly off ahead. Meanwhile… Joelli makes his way to the outskirts of the clan. He had to meet Uriyah and Nekrs at their rendezvous point. The only goal left was to simply deliver themselves to Jollister. Speaking of which… he seemed to be very wary of some trouble stirring. His anticipation for the arrival of Shii, Gaia and the others… put him on edge. STRIFE was just that much of a threat to their plan and short goal. Retrieving the Key from the Phoenix Empire. A mission that had a few bumps in the road along the way, actually… even now.

Slith: "AIYAMAAAA!!!!" *yelling and screaming about with a crazed look on his face*

Aiyama: "Bleh!! Imagine That: Pyro-Lily Garden; EMERGENCE!!!"

Jabreeze: "TCH! Slith… I hope you can handle him on your own."

A huge plain of flowers bloomed by the boatload, creating a sea of lilies for more than five hundred thousand miles in every direction. The lilys emitted a heat that can be naturally absorbed by phoenix and fire element natives. Moreso, fire elementals and those who have embodied its gracefulness in totality. It heals them and gives a constant boost to their essence levels and stats. Which will be needed if Demetri and Yolmi hope to survive Jabreeze.

"I'll make sure of it, but… my old friend isn't called The Morg for nothing Jabreeze. In all our years of history… I've never once beaten thisss man. So hurry it up and capture that brat. Kill the girl!" , ordered Slith right before dashing forward, and attempting to blitz Aiyama. But it would seem Demetri and Yolmi are keen to strategy and trip Slith up before blitzing Jabreeze. Slith stumbles slightly from the two kicks to the back of his head. Aiyama is not one to waste valuable opportunities and strikes in a swift nature. For he too, was a man of strategy and boosts his fellows with a streamline of fire that hits literally everyone in a line.

Jabreeze: "Meh… *FWIP* *SWISH* Rainstorm Veil!!!"

An orb of water, thunder level soundwaves and lightning. He used it as a barrier against the flames of Aiyama. The clash created a huge cloud of smoke that enveloped the field and masked everyone's vision. Barely seeing silhouettes thanks to the light emitted from the flowers. Jabreeze used that as coverage and smacked both Yolmi and Demetri with water whips. *SMACK* *SMACK*

Jabreeze: "Mhm… seems it'll take more than just having the water element handy."

Demetri: "Hmph."

Yolmi: *FWIP* "Inertia + Heavy Gravity!!!"

Jabreeze: "Hmrh!?! *He turns around and sees Yolmi with her hand out*

The water whips were evaporated on contact and a counter was made. Jabreese was stuck in place from the inertia and heavy amounts of gravitational force. Easily more than one hundred thousand times Earth's own gravity levels. On the other hand, Slith was slowly losing ground to Aiyama in a close quarters exchange. Attempting to use his fluid and lose limbs to whip at and strangle Aiyama. But all attacks were blocked and countered flawlessly. Slith was able to block a few quick, four-hit burst combos. Two jabs and a double roundhouse kick, four hit jab flurry and a jumping, flaming bicycle kick. Each getting stronger as Aiyama absorbed the heat from the flowers. Before Slith knew it, Aiyama's blows were heavy enough to break through his guard. And a heavy, overhead right sends him flying.

"Nrgh!!! This… heat can be useful to me as well. I've felt enough of it to…" Slith extends his left arm out after sliding for a literal mile. Aiyama begins to sweat and ups his guard. "Manipulation: Heat Verse; Extraction!!!!" Aiyama was caught off guard by the technique and had a large amount of his heat pressure stolen then…

Aiyama: "Hya. I can just take it back- huh?"

Slith: *FWIP* "DOMINATE!!!"

The large ball of heat that was extracted from Aiyama was completely decimated by Slith. Aiyama is slightly befuddled by this development. The two rush each other once more and can quickly deduce they were back at square one. Both flailing and throwing their limbs at speeds well beyond that off light. It was an incredible spectacle to behold. In the meantime… Jabreeze still found himself stuck under the weight of Yolmi's technique.

Demetri: "Now then… (I need to figure out a weakness in order to level the playing field.) *SWISH* UNLOCK!!!"

Jabreeze: (I don't think so, kid!) "N-N-N-NRRAAUGHH!!!!" *BWISSSSHHuuu*

Jabreeze uses sheer force and power to break free of Yolmi's technique. Upping his essence levels above hers ever so slightly. He flashes out of their sight and blitzes Demetri from the rear. He elbows him directly in the middle of his back and digs in deeply. Demetri spits up blood, but was saved from taking a trip over yonder. Yolmi bashes her head into Jabreeze's temple and summons a flaming wing over her arm.

"Viridian Wingbeat!!!" *pewTOOOOUUWW* She proceeds to flap the wing and send a literal radiant heat wave that vibrates at speeds five times as great as sound. It rattles through Jabreeze's whole body while sending him flying.

Demetri: "Thanks for the save. Best we don't let up! Key Flames: Oblivious Burst!"

Jabreeze: "As if! Pyro Wall!"

The attacks clash, but… Demetri's attack passes straight through the wall. Gunning for Jabreeze at an even greater size and far more speed. Jabreeze attempted to guard, but the burst of essence shot straight through his defenses and sent him flying.

Demetri: "Nice… it worked!"

Yolmi: "A technique that can absorb and assimilate matter with the same signature. With the odd ability of literally ignoring any and all forms of conventional defense and durability."

Jabreeze: "Nice indeed, but you're out of your league."

Yolmi & Demetri:"Hmrh!!?"

Jabreeze bursts through the combined techniques with no damage received at all. Both Yolmi and Demetri get ready for Jabreeze who vanishes out of their sight. They look around, searching frantically for Jabreeze. *PRCH* *POW* In the midst of their searching, he blitzes the both of them and punches Demetri in the back of the head while Yolmi takes a kick to the stomach and is sent flying.

Slith: "Hehe! Seemsss your two pushoversss are being pushed over."

Aiyama: "Gah… that… was just terrible. *Prch* You definitely deserve that punch to the face ya jackass."

Slith: "Hmm! Manipulate!"

Aiyama: "Huh? *his left hand starts to shake in a spasm sort of manner* *Prch* Ow…"

Slith: "Paybacksss a bitch. Now for the real part. *CLAP* Domin- DOMIN-

Two great forces come to the side of Aiyama and push him from both ends. Squishing him as the pressure steadily grows every second.

Slith: "DOMINATION!!!"

"GUAAAAAGH!!!!" screamed Aiyama as he's continuously squashed by an invisible sphere of space. It was as if the cosmos itself was trying to make juice out of him. Slith doesn't let up and blitzes the stationed Aiyama. He clenches his right fist as he advances, enveloping it in an orb made of a strange element.

"Say hello to my… VENOM FIST!!!" Slith bursts out as he connects a rousing blow to the top of Aiyama's head. He's sent flying into his own field of lilies and crashes all too spectacularly.

Slith: "You had best be ready to step your game up, Aiyamaaa!"

The fist leaves a green patch on Aiyama's head that starts to eat away at his flesh. He notices immediately and burns the venom away. He looks up towards Slith right after rising back to his feet. Slith smiles and waves at him, not noticing the gigantic anomaly forming behind him. With this in mind… Aiyama smiles greatly.

"Pyro Colossa-Hand!" Aiyama shouts as a hand more than twice the size of Texas, smashes into him head on. Bringing him down and directly into Aiyama, who was charging a fist full of potent fire. Slith couldn't accumulate enough essence to stop it in time and took both blasts head on. *kaBLOOM*

Back over in the open plains…

Yelhana: "Do you feel that Clariece?"

Clariece: "Yes… it feels as though a huge battle has begun."

Yelhana: "Yes and it would seem young Demetri is there with Yolmi. I'll have to call on Amiyama and bring her home."

Clariece: "Please, do so. (This is bad… They don't have much time. And… there's another essence signature heading there.)

A distress call is made to Amiyama, who was deep into a conference for the battle against the Luums. Meanwhile as that was happening, Jollister picked up on the signal passing by. This is what he was waiting for, STRIFE's involvement. For Jollister… was meant to stop this very act.

Within the confines of Luminaria, at the Revolution's Summit.

Amiyama, Shiishii, Gaia, The Lyster Siblings, Dante, The Murdicc Siblings and a few others all converse over the impending attack from the Luums. Dante led the summit and spoke of a few strategies suited for taking out the Luums in a quick and decisive manner. Others began to chime in and add on to his strategies to better help their effectiveness. In the midst of this meeting, Amiyama's essence-communicator sounded an alarm.

Amiyama: "Mhrm… uh, s-sorry about this Dante. Seems I have a…"

Gaia: "Hm?"

Berixan and Aurorin: "Mhm…"

Katrina: "Is everything alright Lady Amiyama?"

Sammy and the rest can be seen with blank expressions on their faces. Focused and honed in on her response.

Shiishii: "Yeah, is everything alright- Wait… is that what I think it is??"

Amiyama: "Yes. . a distress call from Yelhana herself."

Dante: *Sit* "Answer it, mate. It's obviously important."

Amiyama: "Thank you! *CLICK* Hello, Yelhana? What's going on!?"

(Yelhana: "Ah, Lady Amiyama. Good you've finally picked up. We've got trouble here.)

Amiyama: "What sort of trouble?"

The room grew silent as everyone could feel the tension rise. The temperature itself shot up a few degrees, notifying everyone that Amiyama's thinking of the worst already. Her face grew a bit dim and then everyone could hear the news as it's being said.

Yelhana: "Now I need you to listen very closely to what I'm about to say. But… from the readings I'm detecting, Slith and Jabreeze are attacking the Princes and Yolmi. Please hurry back."

(Amiyama: "Don't worry Master, I will. We all know you can't be allowed to fight. You'd destroy the Empire.)

Yelhana: "Alright… I'll be awaiting your arrival."

Amiyama: "Alright, I'll be there shortly." *CLICK*

The room grew even more silent and everyone was held at a still pose. They were frozen by the sudden leap in intensity and heat coming from Amiyama. Her eyes were set ablaze and her rage… silent, easily being the worst rage of them all. She got out of her seat and looked at her Husband and cousin-in-law. "Let's go." Is all that was said as she walked towards the exit. Both Shiishii and Gaia nodded at one another and then at Dante. It was a unanimous agreement and they left, following behind Amiyama. The meeting would continue onward.

In the meantime Hideaki and the others were finally healed after their close call meeting with Joelli. They were briefing Li'Ricio on all the events leading up to that point. The look on his face as he listened spoke a thousand words. A storm of disappointment within one's self, and the aching and throbbing levels of anger that were slowly creeping up on him. As a result… his sealed right eye begins to glow intensely.

Li'Ricio: "MHM! *His face becomes heavily strained* (Damn Joelli for this… my right eye is killing me! N-Nrrgh! Need to focus and calm myself.)

Merilizette: "Damn Jollister and Joelli. This is completely outrageous."

Li'Ricio: "It's alright… Jollister will fix this soon enough. I just have to make sure I don't let it go beyond this point."

Curti: "What's the seal truly focused on father?"

Merilizette: "I can sum it up better than the victim himself can. Using your Mental Zenchi, you can see that the eye is only a conduit to the seal. The seal itself is meant to spread through his body and use his own essence as a fuel to seal… his essence. He'd… be nothing more than a… long lasting mortal!"

Li'Ricio: "Mhmph! I knew it. Well… that's just something I won't allow to happen. I can't be dormant with so many things happening in the Colossaverse."

Vashjai: "What do you mean?"

Ebon: "I'm curious as well."

Hideaki: "He's referring to the mass amount of strange happenings within all 20 clans. Funny how they all started when Shiishii made his return."

Curti: "That's… pretty wild actually."

Hideaki: "Yeah it's all-"

(Shiishii: "STRIFErs!!!)

Shiishii had called out to everyone that was currently in STRIFE to see if they could help with what's to go down soon. People ranging from Thermias within the Beast Clan, Uriyah's younger sibling. Kishin, ZeeShift and ZeeArc decide to give a hand as well. Following behind Shii and the others was Dante and the Murdicc brothers as well. This small battalion was making their way to rendezvous in Gahwardia. But the issue is…

Jollister: "It's about time you hacks made it, mayne. Glad to see you two were successful- huh? Nekros… *sigh* Death to Injury!"

Jollister heals the severe injuries placed upon Nekros. Right after this occurs, Jollister leaves a skull made of blackened, red essence on Joelli's chest. He then looks him in the eye and says, "All death gods are linked in a way… which is why I can." He smiles sadistically and vanishes from their presence.

Back over in Embodi-Mozan…

Hideaki: "You guys… this message from Shii, did you get it!?"

Vashjai: S-S-S-S… SLITH!!!" *He was full of rage*

Curti: "I'll be going father."

Li'Ricio: "If Gaia is going to be there, I have no qualms. Go on, my son."

Curti: *Nod*

Ebon: "So, are we going or what?"

Jollister: "Of course you guys are… mayne."

Everyone: "WHAT!?!?"

Jollister: "Sorry Meri and Reese, but I'll be taking these four with me, mayne. See ya!" *FWIP*

Merilizette: "Jollister, WAIT!!!"

Jollister had vanished with Ebon, Vashjai, Curti and Hideaki. Taking them to the exact spot where the rendezvous was marked. Joelli was sent there with the skull left on his chest so that Jollister could come right back. Using a technique called Death Tracer, which allows users of death to be able to appear before ANY location, person or thing that has traces of death essence or particles within it. As well as FWIP*

Jollister: "And we're here!"

Hideaki: "Doh! *He turns around in an enraged state* What the fuck, Jollister!? What's the meaning of this!!?"

Jollister: "You bastards won't be stopping our plan. The Key will be ours, mayne. *grin*

Back in the Phoenix Empire, the battles heat up, but for Demetri and Yolmi. They were losing ground quite quickly. None of their blows were able to touch Jabreeze. His manifested Golems made from his Birthright and Study mixing. Turning forms of intangible nature into one's of physical nature by filling their empty space with 'something'. Then holsting the form together to keep from making something not apart of the original image.

Jabreeze made these fight in his stead by feeding them his essence whenever they're running low or damaged. Yolmi and Demetri had managed to smash over a hundred worth. But each of the four kept regenerating as they were put down. They were tired and at their wits end.

Demetri: "Damn… what are we to do!?"

Yolmi: "No idea… never knew such an annoying combo of abilities would exist outside of anime and comics. This is total blasphemy and Aiyama is actually being matched by Slith. We're stuck."

Demetri: "Tch! Fuck this noise!" *PEW*

Yolmi: "Demetri, NO!!"

Demetri rushes in on Jabreeze, passing every golem on his way. A raging Phoenix talon was stopped by Jabreeze with just two fingers. Demetri does a left axe kick that's dodged with ease. Then transitions into a jumping, spinning back kick that Jabreeze weaves out the way of. A left handed backhand follows closely behind, but that is weaved as well. A quick uppercut hits Demetri as a counter, causing him to tread back a few steps. He stops holding his stomach and blitzes Jabreeze from his six. Their elbows meet and a shockwave is summoned. Demetri is sent flying back due to his inferior force and power.

"GYAAAAUUH!!!" , he yells right before having his face grabbed, disrespectfully of course. He's mushed into the field of lilies, but makes a great attempt at countering and wraps his legs around Jabreeze's arm. He raises his legs as he pushed his hands into the floor, and forced Jabreeze to fall over him as they slid. Jabreeze rebounds using his hands as a spring and landing on his feet, sliding for at least 20 yards.

Jabreeze: "Pretty good kid, but now… I'm on the offensive!" *Fwip*

Demetri: "Huh!?" *PRCH*

Demetri is punched in the face with a heavy right hook. Then immediately tripped afterwards, but the boy is crafty and kicks with his right leg. Aiming for Jabreeze's neck while smashing his hand into the floor for better force and leverage. The ground shakes from the impact, and then Jabreeze counters with a harsh uppercut to his gut. Followed by a heavy right kick that sends Demetri spinning over Jabreeze's head which leads to 3 kick combos that are blocked by Jabreeze with just a single arm. He grabs Demetri's leg before he can rebound and slams him into the floor. *CRASH*

Demetri: "GUACK- *SMASH* GUAAAAAHHH!!!"

Yolmi: *Prch* *PRCH* "DEMETRI!!!"

Demetri has his chest stepped on and nearly caved in by the impact. Demetri lifts his hand in the direction of Yolmi while watching Demetri desperately try and get his foot off, but it was to no avail. The golems kept her at bay as a beam of essence charged.

Jabreeze: "The girl isn't needed so she'll be dying now." *Grin*

Demetri: "You… s-son of a… biiiiitch!" *he could barely talk*

Jabreeze: "Bye-bye bit-"

???: "Anti-God Demolition!!!"

Jabreeze: "What!?"

*kaBLOOOOOOOOOOOOM* A huge explosion is set off and Jabreeze is sent flying into the floor with yet another massive, atomic-bomb style explosion being set off. Slith was able to throttle Aiyama back a bit only to realize a new threat had shown itself. A familiar figure for the treacherous serpent.

Slith: "Wh-Who the hell are you!?"

???: "Oh… you don't remember!? You don't remember the girl you once framed for the death of her God!?!"

Aiyama: (I know this voice!)

???: "You took someone's loving sister away, and that person deserves your head…

Amir: "Mhm..!"

???: "You will pay for every bit of your treachery… you Biiiiiittch!!! SLIIIIITTHHHH!!!" *FWUEEEERRSSSHHH*

Slith: "Oh… this pressure and forccce. I know exactly who you are. You're… Kimchi the Godslayer, ah as we meet again. Hehehe…!"

A signal for help has been sent out and STRIFE is on its way to help. And in the midst of a battle with such high stakes, a reunion of unbound proportions had occurred. The battle heats up as the mission for the Key… continues.

Next Chapter: You Won't Get Past Me!