I can hear you. I have served my purpose. Now please serve yours. The sword you hold in your hand, isn't just another sword. Nobody but I was supposed to hold that sword. Whosoever touches that sword in an attempt to wield it dies on the spot. All except you. The higher council looked carefully over you Tamrissa, and it was my job to see that you suceeded in your mission. My mission was to keep you alive. That was a direct ordered vote that I had to commit to, from the higher council. I am still alive. My body has been destroyed, but I still live. I will always be here, looking over you, and the others..............I promise that. It was a pleasure meeting you maddam. A shame I couldn't have told you sooner. Please Forgive me................

*The light in the Gem fades, along with Sabre's words, but his presence can still be felt, as the gem still glows faintly, with a swirling light from within.*

Soul Reaver's cry comes too late... Sabre Soldier's magic has already obliterated his physical form. But Soul Reaver has no time to contemplate his companions disappearance... he is forced to leap aside as a volley of missiles slams into the ground he was standing on.

Damn you, Sabre! Why destroy your physical form now? We could have done with some more material aid...

Suppressiong his remorse at the loss of his companion, Soul Reaver fights on tirelessly, but his body is covered with numerous wounds. Normally, this would pose little problem to the warrior... but his constant expediture of energy is putting stress even on his formidable regenerative abilities, and the wounds do not close as quickly as they otherwise might. Blood flows down his sword arm and over Blooddrinker... but it does not drip to the ground. The sword is feeding even now.

Soul Reaver hears Tamrissa's warning cry as a laser blast sizzles through the air where he had been a moment ago.

"I cannot retreat now. If we turn our backs to them, they will follow us and annihilate us. No, I will fight them for as long as warm blood courses through these veins."

A blast of magic from Soul Reaver's hands blasts an UnTriton to pieces.

"We have no right to ask Kelvack for help. We abandoned him to fight our own battle alone for three long years. He has done more than could be expected of any man."

With that, Soul Reaver launches himself at the UnTritons with renewed fury. As his sword swishes through the air, he speaks the words of magic... and dark clouds gather over the battlefield. Soon, bursts of crimson lightning lash down from the heavens among the fighters... and begin to strike the UnTritons.

The magical lighting works to devestating effect, exploding many of the infernal machines... but their numbers are vast, and even this attack only seems to slow them down.

Amongst the raging magical storm, the battle continues...

--To fight is to live. And my battle is eternal.--

"Saa, mu ni kaerou!"

The light blasts forth, rending metal from metal in a white hot blaze. Emerging from the wreckage of several UnTritons is Poiupp X, the remnants of a warp portal closing completly behind him. In seconds, he flies to Soul's position.

"Seems like you could use a little help."

He pauses to lob a few small energy shots into a crowd of the mechanical beasts. They detonate, eliminating a few more of the enemy.

"This seems almost too familiar... mind if I ask who or what did all this?"

{OOC: Took me long enough to finally join, eh Soul? ^_~}

"My God..."

--Jihon you bastard!--

*Kelvack takes out his remote and punches several bottons on it. Hidden fox holes spew out men in machines similar to Kelvack's. They are a bit smaller but they are colored the same. They each have unique weapons on them. The platoons charge into the battle and begin blasting the Untritons.*

"Damnit! Just when I get a rest Jihon sends all the heavy artillery."

*Kelvack's machine comes into view and he jumps into it. He starts attacking the nearest Untritons.*

Show no mercy men!

"Are you ok guys? Where the hell is Sabre?"

*Kelvack's machine rips through another Untriton.*

"Just stay alive!"

"This will be all from Jihon today if not forever. Next time he will send much more advanced machines to attack us."

*He looks at Kelvack and smiles*

"I suggest you send these men home... We need to take on Jihon by ourselves. He knows us and his inner spirit will not allow us to be harmed all that bad. But in his state he will have no mercy for these men."

*Thisias looks at the ground.*

"I fear that Jihons deed will not be forgiven. If they are he will never be the same. *Looks at Tonberry and gabriel* Hey can you lead us to Jihons fortress? If so we should move out now with out delay."

Tonberry: Thisias... He has a whole city named after himself. It is the old North City....

*Thisias gets a look of fear and greef. He looks at the flags that lie on the ground from battles of the Past. He sees the name Jihon on all of the Tritons. Many of the flags are Familliar to him. The Gorg 6, Zanzar elite, and Cenzarian armed Forces. All of which he was once a part of in some way. He looks at the others with a great fear in his voice.*

"Jihon... He has destroyed whole armys here in this very area... All of which were elite. Immagin what... What...what power he has."

*Kelvack's machine's power source shuts off and Kelvack jumps out. One of his men gets out of his smaller machine and climbs into Kelvack's machine and turns it back on. The smaller machine and Kelvack's walk back along with the other pilots. Kelvack walks towards Thisias and taps him on the shoulder.*

"Hey, we gotta stop Jihon very soon. This planet and its people can't take much more abuse."

*Sabin glides down and lands on Kelvack's shoulder.*

"Lets check on the others first but then we must move out."

"We must use all the force we can. Cerberis will leave Jihons body if he becomes useless. The problem we must solve is how do we enter Old North City, currently known as Jihon, with out detection. Only death will come if we fail. Death is something I do not fear, yet I do not long for it as Jihon has. As I was Saying we mus'nt kill him. Only weaken him. Jihons inmortality is weakened by Cerberis... God to immagine Jihon fighting all that time to get free of cerberises grasp... It makes me sick."

*Thisias looks at the group standing around. Then he looks at The new warrior.*

"I Sence that Jihon knows you and you know him."

*He looks back at the depressed being which was once Tamrissa.*

"Sabre Soldier was a good man. I am shure he has faught for almost endless years as I have... He simply needs to rest. Without rest a warrior can go insane! He will return someday in a physical form and join our side again, as for now we must concentrate apon this planet. He will shurely make it and its people suffer. Before he finally kills them all."

*The night falls apon the battle feild like a deep sleep. None of the warriors sleep for the sound of distant battles is too great for them to handel. While they converse Jihon sits apon his bone throne among his city.*

Jihon: Get over here woman!!!

*Jihon has a beutifull woman on a rope tied to his throne. She is nude.*

Jihon: It has been so long since I had a woman and you will be the one I have!!!! You should be honored bitch!!!

*Jihon pulls the rope forcing the woman to come towards him*

Woman: I will not give myself to you!!! You killed my family!! My brothers my mother and my father!!!

Jihon: Hahahahahahahahahaha!!!! Give!! GIVE!!! No one gives me anything I *Pulls on rope and woman is pulled on top of him* TAKE IT!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

*Suddenly a man breaks in the room while Jihon is raping the woman.*

Man: Sire forgive me...

Jihon: Such ignorance will not go unnoticed!!!

*Jihon picks up his sword and cuts off the mans arm.*

Jihon: Now... What is it you want?!

Man: Sire... *cough cough.* The army of lideas has been wiped out.

Jihon: Why thank you!

*Jihon cuts off the mans head and holds it by the hair in his hand. He looks at the nude woman sitting on him.*

Jihon: I will baptise you in my own blood when we are through here! You will be my Bride! I should not provide such an honor to a bitch!!!

*Jihon continues raping the woman.*

"My friend... it is good to see you again. Indeed, your help is appreciated here.

We were on a quest to destroy the Antedeluvians... but during the last battle, the Antedeluvian Cerberis struck Jihon a terrible blow, possessing his immortal body. He resides now within Jihon's mind, using him as a puppet for his dark purposes.

I have taken an oath to take a fitting revenge on Cerberis for his terrible deeds. He will suffer as only an immortal can."

Soul Reaver coldly turns to look to the horizon.

"We will move against him at the break of dawn."

“I know Sabre will be back. He is still with us…he has explained to me,” she sighs and looks up, sliding the sword underneath her belt, a makeshift sheath for now. “And Jihon will suffer for his deeds, the Council will see to it, as will I.”

*She looks over the group of battle-wearied warriors and suddenly feels the exhaustion that seems to have set into all of them. The side of an UnTriton serves well for a backrest as she slides to the dusty ground. Her shirt is torn in many places, one sleeve almost completely ripped off. The laces of the tight leather bodice clinging to her small form are undone, allowing a good portion of her upper chest to be exposed. She leans over and looks at a puncture wound on the side of her thigh, wincing as she touches it.*

“Who is this?” she glances up at Poiupp X as after examining the wound, and then looks to the others.

*Her eyes stay on the new arrival for a moment, and then she goes about tending to her wounds. She grabs the torn edge of the ripped sleeve and tears it the rest of the way off, frowning at a few more cuts and bruises on her arm that had been hidden. Yet, all of her wounds seem to already be healing themselves, knitting back together very slowly, like watching a flower bloom…never actually seeing it move, but knowing that it is. She ties the fabric around her leg in an effort to stop the bleeding of the deep wound and make it heal faster.*

“So we go to the city at dawn?” she begins removing her blades and laying them beside her on the ground. “Right, I guess we’ll need some rest then, eh?”

*She picks up her belongings and stands, glancing at the others.*

“I’ll take first watch if the rest of you wish to get some sleep,” she frowns. “The gods know I won’t be able to sleep right now.”

*She glances at the battlefield and walks to the other side of the circle of broken pieces of machine that surrounds their small camp.*

This clothing is done for, she mumbles to herself as she drops her weapons and backpack in a pile on the ground. Damn you, Jihon…insane bastard.

*She glances around, making sure none of the others have followed her, then unlaces her bodice. It drops to the ground and she pulls the torn shirt over her head. Sighing, she puts the leather, vest-like garment back on and laces it up against her bare skin. The worthless shirt she stuffs into her backpack. Her eyes wander over their surroundings when she is finished, alert for any movement or sound.*

I hope you are ready for us, Jihon, she whispers as she picks up Sabre’s sword and stares down at it. You’ve destroyed many lives with you’re evil, but you will not destroy any more.

*Tamma’s eyes flash dangerously and she lays the sword across her palms, feeling the power that surges through the weapon.*

Tamrissa whirls around at the sound of Soul Reaver's voice. He stands only one step away from her, to her left.

"...but I do not sleep. I did not mean to walk in on you.

I will keep watch too. I have nothing else to do until the morning."

Soul Reaver's wounds have already healed, and his armour seems to have been largely repaired. He stands there, scanning the area. No emotion crosses his face.

There is an awkward silence for some time. Finally Soul Reaver speaks.

"I know you blame Jihon for what has happened... but he is merely a husk now, a puppet. He is involuntarily being used by Cerberis. All his millenia of existence made his mind vulnerable to Cerberis' assault, and that is why Cerberis posessed him. But you cannot blame Jihon himself for his actions since that fateful day.

I know that the true Jihon is still in there, fighing a lost battle against Cerberis.

I believe the knowledge of what Cerberis has had him do will be more than enough punishment and agony for Jihon. But what I have planned for Cerberis himself..."

Soul Reaver's voice trails off as his expression darkens.

((Jihon... never would have wanted to fight him in any regard. But... did Soul actually say Antediluvian? No wonder it could sway Jihon like that. Must have used Possession... but I thought that could only work for beings who are fully mortal.))

He walks a bit to the side of the group, seating himself on a large rock left with little damage from the battle.

((So... now I'm a part of the Jyhad. This is going to get ugly...))

Poiupp looks back over his shoulder at the rag-tag group of warriors.

((But I... we... will see it through.))

Well Tamrissa.... I'm very sorry for what happened. I Understand what's going through your mind at this moment, for I've been there many times before. We can only learn from this experience. Me, I sacraficed myself to save you, and the others. Better me, than all of you. That attack was meant to kill all of us. The higher council informed me of what was going to happen just moments before they attacked. I did what I though was necessary to save you.

you also hold a new power Tamrissa. The sword you hold in your hand has been damned to me. That sword is the Kurusunami.... The sword of the Vampire. That sword has been quenched in the blood of an Antideluvian. And has been blessed in my blood. Whoever wields that sword obtains a degree of my power. But nobody is able to hold that sword, or they die on the spot. All except you. I now understand why the sword favors you. I gave blood to you, in return for what you've done for me. The sword senses that vitae that courses through you, and in which case will never leave your body, and allows you to wield the Kurusunami. That's the only possible explaination that I can think of.

There are other powers that you have through me. I will teach you these, if you allow me. Do not worry about feeding. The kurusunami and I will take care of you.

*The Kurusunami begins to glow white, filling Tamrissa with an unknown sensation, that surges up her spine.*

“No, it’s all right, I was just thinking,” she sheathes the Kurusunami at her belt and moves a few steps away from the other warrior.

*The awkward silence stretches on as she shifts her weight from one foot to another and crosses her arms beneath her chest. When he speaks again, she tenses up at his words.*

“Oh, I know Cerberis is part to blame for what has happened, but Jihon is not just the puppet you think he is,” she turns and looks at him. “He is not right up here.” She taps the side of her forehead as she says the latter. “The Council knows he is unstable and that it did not take much for Cerberis to overtake him. They will have him punished for his deeds. They may not take his life, but they will have to appease the cries of his victims. Someone must answer for the harm done.”

*She turns back to look out into the distance and continues on.*

“And, yes, I do blame Jihon for what has happened…to me, to Sabre, to all of you,” she looks over her shoulder. “But I am just as much to blame I suppose. I helped to drive him to it with my words, therefore making it easier for Cerberis to control him. That is why I will probably be punished right along with him.”

*Her eyes lower and she takes a breath.*

“But he will be stopped and, as you say, Cerberis will die. My mission was to aid Jihon and to help him to defeat each and every one of the antedeluvions…and it will be done.”

*She looks back up at him and then turns away, walking slowly.*

“I am going to walk around and make sure all is well on the other side,” she disappears around the corner of one of the damaged machines.

*As she stands on the opposite side, she opens herself to the spiritual bond and listens to Sabre’s voice.*

Do not apologize; I am willing to try and accept these changes. If you will teach me, I will learn to wield Kurusunami and the other powers you speak of, she closes her eyes as she mind speaks. And I do appreciate that I will not have to feed. That, I believe, was my biggest fear.

*She shakes off the memory of drinking the blood and enjoying it. As the sword radiates with power, she tilts her head back, feeling the surge of power. Her lips part in a silent sigh and an invisible wind stirs the air around her. The amulet swirls brightly.*

Tamrissa, it shouldn't be feeding that you are worried about. If anything, it's the greatest power you possess. It can make any person adore you, or give them the most peaceful death. It's not what you think it is. When you feed, it gives the victim the greatest pleasure imaginable. that's why it is so powerful. It's more to them than you think of. There are people that walk around in search for vampires to recieve the kiss. ((The Kiss is the slang term for feeding)) It also gives the vampire a great pleasure themselves. Not only to savor the taste, but you learn something about the person you feed off of. And you need not to kill the victim. Sometimes you may wish you had, because many times they will fall deeply in love with you. Again, this can be good and bad. This is just one of the powers that you have. Please do not be afraid to use it. Why do you think you became so relaxed when I fed off of you? Now you can give others the same feeling you went through. You do not need to feed yet, for I am still here. But when the time comes for me to leave, then you have to feed for yourself.

I am about to show you the most basic of vampire powers, besides the kiss. This is the ability to use blood in a way to cause immediate supernatural effects. One effect would be to increase your speed. Depending on how much you meditate , the faster or slower you will become. You can do this with your strength, and your endurance as well. A master, as I, am able to catch machine gun fire. I hope you will be able to as well. Please, now that you are relaxed, meditate on these powers. I will help you.

*Tamrissa levitates 4' ft. into the air. A swirling blue field of energy encases her very relaxed body, showing her how to use these very basic vampiric powers. As if they are in space, her clothes flow like water, and the amulet glows brightly as it hangs above Tamrissa's neck, as she floats, half horizontal, as her arms drape down as if she was sleeping on air.*

*Thisias steps from within the shaddows and walks to souls side.*

"When I was a monk for all those years I was taught that there were 5 elements that could make a man weak. Sorrow, Pain, shame, Love, and anger. When I was a boy I defeated Jihon in battle... A mere infant! I was the only living peice of the woman he once loved so much. I beleive that you killed my father not too long ago... I thank you. I have an ability that may just save the people of this time... I can go back and stop it from happening. The problem is that first we must free this dimension... I am dieing... Slowly but I feel it. My human side is coming through and I am dieing. I wear this blasted clak and hat to hide my appearence."

*Thisias holding the demon blade sighs and looks at the sky. He places the sword on his back and it absorbs into his skin. He then pulls out an amulet with an ancient insignia apon it.*

"If I would not happen to live through the battle I want you to give this to Jihon. Only he can read the insignia apon it... It was given to me by my mother."

*He hands the amulet to Soul and walks away. His demon tail drags behind him.*