Welcome to Gaia! ::

Jacob just gave a mental shrug to Rosemary in response, realizing that was a silly thing to have to ask about. The more help, the better usually...

(Fal'Jenul) "That would be a good idea, I think, Sephiroth. It would allow us to test many things."

Later in the hologamer, Fal'Jenul had easily merged into Sephiroth's body... he noticed that she seemed to try to respect boundaries in his mind that she felt were private in one way or another. Possibly memories and thoughts involving Abigail and other such things. Once merged, he was suddenly aware of many more things, including the fact that his mother seemed to be acting like a filter so he wasn't overwhelmed. Senses were heightened greatly, and he could literally sense life energies almost like a vampire would be able to sense blood pumping in a living organisim.

With Fal'Jenul merged into him and assisting his natural and angelic abilities, it was like everything was enhanced quite a bit more than expected. It seemed to take at least half the amount of energy than they thought it would, and the shield was at least three or so times stronger than usual.

With their strongest shield, they tested it against the streamed of the damned with his wings out, and found that they could last for about ten to fiften seconds with it going at them full blast before the shield would start to falter. It lasted nearly twenty-five before the shield gave out completely. Considering the strength of the dark spell, that was rather impressive.

Also testing other things, they found that they were able to heal normally from various wounds and injuries much faster, and reflexes were enhanced as well. With Fal'Jenul within him, he could also more easily focus various sorts of holy energy attacks too.

The fateful day finally arrived. A group was gathered in the main living area of the house. Those who would be going to the realm of the Niearcim, Ni'Jitogrimiz, included:

Jacob, Rosemary, Veni, Muerte, Sephiroth, Fal'Jenul, Milaku and Thas.

Others wanted to go along, but either had very important matters to attend to, would not be strong enough for the mission ahead, or considered too valuable to loose. There was also the fact that the house and it's residents needed to be protected, and that too many people going to Ni'Jitogrimiz at once would arouse suspicion. They were risking too many as it currently was.

Currently, those who would be staying behind were wishing the group luck and saying their farewells. Dieamos and Galantros had expressed their wishes to go with them, but Dieamos was seen as a rare resource to the Niearcim, and they would go after him in hordes of mages just to get at him... While Galantros seemed to hesitate and linger, most likely realizing that he didn't want to leave Black alone in case anything happened.

Dieamos hugged Milaku to him tightly for a moment.

"Be careful in that dreadful world, daughter. I do not wish to lose my kin to the horrors there."

Galantros and Black gave hugs to Rosemary and the rest, also helping them with their last minute organization of supplies.

Githar and his sort of family was there to see them off, having heard of their plan. He sorely wanted to go, not wanting his friends to have to face the dreaded "Second Hell" without his help...

Muerte was just finishing up his promise to Dan and Daisy that he would return with the others well protected in his care.

With everything ready to go, and farewells said, they took their trip to Ni'Jitogrimiz.

- - - - -

It was more horrid then they even remembered it, a terrible rotting stench in the air and the horrible feeling of fear and anguish all around them so strong, it took Fal'Jenul and the collection of angels strengths, prayers, and energies to keep it from overtaking them all. They felt this once before, on a lesser scale, some time ago... Back when Jiluzix physically manifested part of himself into Gaia Earth. They had transported into a rather decent, if rickety shelter of collapsed ancient structures and ruins, and way off in the distance, they could see (some much better than others) a enormously massive sluggish creature... eyes, mouths, teeth, claws, hands, limbs, tendrils all haphazardly jutting out everywhere, in various shapes and sizes. It extended itself out of what looked like a fairly large portal out of the ground, though it was receding, along with a fair amount of Niearcim mages.

Using Rosemary with some boosting help from the angels and Fal'Jenul to communicate silently in thoughts to one another, Jacob's eyes were wide in fear as a simple sentence came to mind.

Oh s**t, Jiluzix... shitshitshitshit!!!

They dared not move a muscle or make a single sound, until that horrible blasphemy against all things holy completely vanished into the portal, the distant wails of agony and torment of the corpses that covered the skin and insides of it's demonic fleshy hide travelling along the winds. Once Jiluzix and the mages themselves were gone, they waited at least a good ten or so minutes before anyone even breathed normally. All were most likely shaken from being in that beast's presence, the feelings of absolute terror slowly going away. Along with that, Jacob was completely confused.

Too damn close... What the hell?! I've NEVER seen him outside of the city, or even outside of his precious temple structure. I've barely seen him in person at all...

If at all possible, keep them hidden within you as much as you can.

Muerte had never really felt fear in his entire life or after life, except for when he was a very young child captured by his military initially. What he had experienced now, was over a thousand times worse. It made him cringe inside his soul housing, unintentionally calling out for "mother Rosemary".

Milaku shuddered at the familar sensations, amplified by Jiluzix nearby presence. She hugged herself, demonic-angel hybrid wings bunched closed to her back.

Thas had prayed furiously, VERY furiously to God above for strength and protection. He had bit his lip to keep them from being whispered aloud as not to be heard, but fortunately God had granted them all the ability to remain hidden and unheard.

Just as some were about to relax possibly from the absence of Jiluzix and his mage minions, Jacob and Milaku readily reminded the rest that Ni'Jitogrimiz was a realm that you could never relax in. Glancing around for a moment, Milaku gestured towards a long stone bridge that was amazingly still in mostly one piece and standing. Just a few pieces here and there were missing, with some sizable gaps in the walkway that could be traversed around.

(Milaku) "The quickest route is through that. Quickest here usually means safest, though being wary is highly suggested."

Jacob simply nodded his agreement.

Now normally, the angelics amongst the group would be able to detect certain types of demonic evil. However, with the realm so fully corrupted, it was like trying to single out a specific needle in a haystack of needles. So it was inevitable that they were ambushed by black, liquid substance like demons with no pulse that were shape shifters as well. They oozed swiftly out of the gapes and sides of the bridges, coming in through the cracks as well. Quickly they took a variety of shapes, tendrils with sharp, razor like blades and stingers, humanoid shapes that took to fighting them in one on one combat, and vaguely animalistic shapes with many claws and teeth.

(Some needles have red tips, some have white ones, others have yellow ones razz )

Sephiroth did as he was told, but wasn't really going to care much for that since he's been discovering how useful they are and have been integrating it in his combat style. They also made it easier to do certain things like vanishing. Unlike Thas who popped out instantly, Sephiroth sort of faded out for a second without them. All this left only Milaku on Jacob visually visible in their disguises.

With only two visible it really wasn't one on one combat. Sadly for the shape shifter's Sephiroth recognized what they were at once and remembered how Gerix met her end and told the other hidden ones to wait for him to do something first. He started to target the ones he could see in the close vicinity of Jacob and Milaku.

They still had to fend them off while he took his time and probably when they began to think someone hurry up and do something, a spell was cast in a circular shape around the two and all the humaniod shapes and even the ground closest to them froze as Sephiroth reappeared and quickly gave his weapon a sort of frost property. He wasn't able to cast most spells and remain hidden as he was in his current state.

Sephiroth did the usual defense spells: shield and the one that allowed them either move or to run away very fast...as the demon appeared. As the others resurrected, he tried his technique of slashing his sword to release bursts of energy, that in the past has sliced through thick metal like a warm knife to butter, at the demons blocking the new large threat from them as it spewed fire at some invisible member.