Dragonball M, Chapter 3: In Blood, Bone, and Ash! The Way Forward Unlocked!

[Tami]

One of the ships (the third one) above still holds the nexus, apparently. No other attacks punch through their shields however.

Wintery mist and fog permeates the area, the air growing chilled for thousands of feet around the group. Ki senses suddenly turn blind in the cold and mist, sound is displaced, and even magic senses aren’t working well.

A soft, throaty chuckle can be heard all around them.

“My my......how scrumptious you all look. A tasty morsel or two, glorious. The Doctor said you would be knocking upon my door soon, and lo you are here. Some few of you might even last me a night or two.”

Another chuckle. Her voice is seductive, dripping with want and hunger. It’s Ishtar’s voice too, so the dichotomy of the situation is troubling.

The air grows painfully cold, breathing equally painful. Any attempting to fly would find the cold somehow keeping them bound to the ground, not unlike Ochazuke and Zaofan’s Spider technique.

She could feel the effects, perhaps more so than the others, yet she stood her ground. Not sure there was much she could do, there was one thing Cyanna could try. Placing her staff between both hands, she concentrated on it. As she did, she sought to release a swarm of her butterflies into the air around them. Her hope, once released they could scout out the area, seek out this Marduk, and get a closer look at this evil Isthar.

[MrSandman]

One of the ships (the third one) above still holds the nexus, apparently. No other attacks punch through their shields however.

Wintery mist and fog permeates the area, the air growing chilled for thousands of feet around the group. Ki senses suddenly turn blind in the cold and mist, sound is displaced, and even magic senses aren’t working well.

A soft, throaty chuckle can be heard all around them.

“My my......how scrumptious you all look. A tasty morsel or two, glorious. The Doctor said you would be knocking upon my door soon, and lo you are here. Some few of you might even last me a night or two.”

Another chuckle. Her voice is seductive, dripping with want and hunger. It’s Ishtar’s voice too, so the dichotomy of the situation is troubling.

The air grows painfully cold, breathing equally painful. Any attempting to fly would find the cold somehow keeping them bound to the ground, not unlike Ochazuke and Zaofan’s Spider technique.

"Pah..." Etrina muttered under her breath, producing a puff of steam in the superchilled air. Cold was her element, to think she would be cowed by a little bit of a chill in the air was as laughable as Alt Ishtars attitude. Sounded like a violent, sex starved dominatrix.....honestly.....

Suppressing the urge to violently punch the closest target, Etrina instead focused on her own Cyromancy. Expanding a shell around her body and then gentle pushing it outwards several feet....testing the water so to speak to see if she could counter the more magical aspects of this field of cold.

[Sub-Zero MKA]

Sarada would have responded, but a bitterly cold fog rolled through. A chill went up her spine, and not because of the mist that suddenly not only stifled her ki sense, but also prevented her from flying. A voice echoed from within the mist; Ishtar's voice. But it sounded wrong, perverted. Lustful and hungry, and not in the ways her Ishtar had been lustful and hungry.

She does know vitalmancy, Sarada realized. She had seen the effect Vitalmancy had on a person first hand, with Etrina's alternate in the very first timeline they traveled to. She was hungry for human energy and didn't care what she had to do to obtain it. That one was stymied by a simple barrier; Ishtar would be much more difficult.

Sarada noticed Ishtar taking a step forward and wanted to back her up. "You'll be going hungry today, Ishtar," Sarada said to the alternate.

Meanwhile, Parsley braved the bitter cold. Breathing was painful, and without the ability to fly or sense ki, she had no way of getting on that ship. It was definitely on one of the ships that was still afloat.

This mist had to go. Before her senses went blank, she tasted magic. She wasn't sure what kind, but if she had to guess, she would posit that it was Cryomancy. Regardless, it was too powerful for her to dispel, and weakening it would only have a negligible effect. She only had one recourse, and she wasn't sure if it was going to work.

Only one way to find out.

She breathed in deeply, which felt like she was sucking down a ball of actual fire, and spread her hands apart. "Za Warudo, she spoke, attempting to reverse the effects of the mist from her and onto Alt Ishtar.

Last post curse

[Cleric of Hell’s Brigade]

Wilhelm and Ochazuke land at Capsule Corp shortly after leaving The Doctor’s timeline.

Wilhelm nods to a beautiful red haired women currently standing outside CC, hands on hips as she directs a few more scientists.

“That’s her.”

[bruceleegreyhulk]

Praxat arrives at Capsule Corp and spots Wilhelm, Ochazuke, a beautiful red-haired woman, and a couple of more scientists." Don't mind me I'm just here to pick up some books for research purposes. I'm in the middle of working on a project, "Praxat said.

[Sion Reaver]

One of the ships (the third one) above still holds the nexus, apparently. No other attacks punch through their shields however.

Wintery mist and fog permeates the area, the air growing chilled for thousands of feet around the group. Ki senses suddenly turn blind in the cold and mist, sound is displaced, and even magic senses aren’t working well.

A soft, throaty chuckle can be heard all around them.

“My my......how scrumptious you all look. A tasty morsel or two, glorious. The Doctor said you would be knocking upon my door soon, and lo you are here. Some few of you might even last me a night or two.”

Another chuckle. Her voice is seductive, dripping with want and hunger. It’s Ishtar’s voice too, so the dichotomy of the situation is troubling.

The air grows painfully cold, breathing equally painful. Any attempting to fly would find the cold somehow keeping them bound to the ground, not unlike Ochazuke and Zaofan’s Spider technique.

As the air chilled and the senses dulled, there was one word that can to mind instantly as it was obvious: dangerous. Like a predator closing in all too confidently.

Her allies were here and were ready for the confrontation but she knew this was not going to be an easy feat to topple opponent like this. To make matters worse, she could not fly to get out of the cold which chilled her more then she wanted to admit. Charging is dumb as is and I have no idea what they're fully capable of..

Sarada noticed Ishtar taking a step forward and wanted to back her up. "You'll be going hungry today, Ishtar," Sarada said to the alternate.

Aleka took a step to help Sarada and her mate, calming her nerves. "If you came for a full course meal you came at the wrong time. I got your back."

One of the ships (the third one) above still holds the nexus, apparently. No other attacks punch through their shields however.

Wintery mist and fog permeates the area, the air growing chilled for thousands of feet around the group. Ki senses suddenly turn blind in the cold and mist, sound is displaced, and even magic senses aren’t working well.

A soft, throaty chuckle can be heard all around them.

“My my......how scrumptious you all look. A tasty morsel or two, glorious. The Doctor said you would be knocking upon my door soon, and lo you are here. Some few of you might even last me a night or two.”

Another chuckle. Her voice is seductive, dripping with want and hunger. It’s Ishtar’s voice too, so the dichotomy of the situation is troubling.

The air grows painfully cold, breathing equally painful. Any attempting to fly would find the cold somehow keeping them bound to the ground, not unlike Ochazuke and Zaofan’s Spider technique.

The Nosferartu in Karine was insulted this mockery of a creature that happened to look like her friend.

It was true her kind didn't have the hard, seemingly genetic quirk of pride Sayains had but it be a mistake it didn't exist in any form. They did not take to being cowed and bullied, though as loathe as she was to admit the alternate Ishtar greatly surpassed her in every way when it came to raw power. She knew of course knowing in from what she knew but it was a completely other story to sense something for yourself and witness it.

But it didn't matter. She had no intention of dying here if she could help it. Too many things to do and too many people she needed to protect.

Sarada would have responded, but a bitterly cold fog rolled through. A chill went up her spine, and not because of the mist that suddenly not only stifled her ki sense, but also prevented her from flying. A voice echoed from within the mist; Ishtar's voice. But it sounded wrong, perverted. Lustful and hungry, and not in the ways her Ishtar had been lustful and hungry.

She does know vitalmancy, Sarada realized. She had seen the effect Vitalmancy had on a person first hand, with Etrina's alternate in the very first timeline they traveled to. She was hungry for human energy and didn't care what she had to do to obtain it. That one was stymied by a simple barrier; Ishtar would be much more difficult.

Sarada noticed Ishtar taking a step forward and wanted to back her up. "You'll be going hungry today, Ishtar," Sarada said to the alternate.

Karine planned to stick with the others, it was their only Real chance of keeping themselves from being slaughtered as is. "It's not much, but if we need to I'll have the link ready." Sarada and Ishtar would know she of course meant mental links by her telapathy. It was best to give them a heads up and coordinate then simply do it anyway and catch them off guard. In a situation like this, that short second of distraction could very well be your last.

A dark mist began to spread around the group, though oddly her allies would be able to see through it but not her supposed enemy..in theory. She wasn't sure how effective it would be far as working on them but anything that helped them survive was more then a boon.

[bruceleegreyhulk]

After picking up books for research from Capsule Corp Praxat heads west Heads back to the Lookout. While heading to the Lookout Praxat gets on her Cellphone and enrolls herself in an intergalactic online university for a Master's and Doctoral program for mechanical engineering. " Ah, my old university it's been a while since I been on this site , and my old password still works, now is as good as time as any to start working on my PHD in mechanical engineering," Praxat said.

[Tami]

" Yes please take me to him," Althena said.

Reimi leads Althena to a quiet section of the Lookout, then opens up a silver hued portal, "If you are sincere, then follow me." She then stepped through and vanished within. The portal will remain open long enough for Althena to follow.

[grampagen]

ZurvanÂ’s voice calls out again.

“Never mind. I just sensed a temporal shift. Ishtar’s alternate was just sent back to her timeline. The Doctor must be sending her to secure the nexus since we have the others.”

Eva nods and looks over her assembled friends and allies.

“The time is now. This fight will be more difficult than anything. Are you all ready?”

Sheriff Zaofan nods and steps forward.

“I’m ready.”

The Black Sphere stirred in response to the swell of temporal energy, a second pulse where it detected two worlds linked across space and time. Once more Zurvan had opened the breach, and the last of the displaced would find their way home.

Ochazuke stood a short distance from those gathered, and as the Sheriff rose to lead them on their odyssey to his home, he turned for a moment to face him. Only a few days ago, the man who would pronounce his lethal sentence and call it justice first made himself known to them. They all had a laugh when Zao fell beside himself, when the Sheriff was the one who had been lying to himself the whole time. How many times had he fought the Destroyer? How much had he sacrificed, bearing the weight of his decisions until the most direct and violent one was also the easiest?

He'd fight ruthlessly, do whatever it took without question. It was the Doctor that saw it in him, no doubt. As long as he was held ransom to that small promise in his heart, it was easy to corner him. How ironic that he would free the rest of the universe by shackling it to the path he had succumbed to himself.

As Sheriff Zaofan rose to continue the fight he left behind, Ochazuke steeled his gaze into his single, living eye and extended him a short nod. His forefinger raised, his thumb drawn back. The seal of the Five Schools held near his heart.

There would be a fight enough ahead for them, but as Zaofan moved to settle his own matters, out of the darkness of the last divergence there was a matter near Ochazuke's mind. As each nexus closed narrowed the distance between them and the Doctor, Ochazuke determined he would return to Capital City with Wilhelm where this had all began. The time would come when they would have to be ready to take the fight to him.

Wilhelm and Ochazuke land at Capsule Corp shortly after leaving The DoctorÂ’s timeline.

Wilhelm nods to a beautiful red haired women currently standing outside CC, hands on hips as she directs a few more scientists.

“That’s her.”

How nostalgic.

He delayed a moment, standing in the side-swept doorframe of Wilhelm's transport. The Capsule Dome stood strong; the weight of the den of insanity he took care to sequester.

One should not know too much about their future. The maddened glaze that fell over Pantaloon's eye as he decrypted the scrawled cipher brought him uncomfortably close to what was stoked in the darkness. One chance meeting was enough to change the moment, and if this was the point of the divergence, he would keep Jinzi from it.

Hidden in plain sight.

Reaching back with barely a strain, Ochazuke lift the larger portion of Wilhelm's equipment from the cargo bay and walked around the craft to meet him.

"Lead the way."

[bruceleegreyhulk]

Praxat then arrives back at the Lookout and heads to her room. She grabs her equipment, puts it in her Jobox ." Okay now that I gather my equipment time to head to Capsule Corp and working on making modifications to my goggles. Also, good thing I'm going to be taking my college classes online, so I can do them at any time I want," Praxat said.

Praxat room is neat and tidy. It has a lot of geeky stuff including a bookshelf filled with a collection of comic books. Praxat checks to make sure everything in her room is organized and nothing is out a place, then heads off to Capsule Corp.

[bruceleegreyhulk]

Reimi leads Althena to a quiet section of the Lookout, then opens up a silver hued portal, "If you are sincere, then follow me." She then stepped through and vanished within. The portal will remain open long enough for Althena to follow.

Althena follows Reimi through the portal.

[Cleric of Hell’s Brigade]

The corner of Ishtar's mouth turned up in a smile. "I know."



Ishtar stood, and stared into the mist.

The cold didn't matter, in the moment ... nor did the fact that her senses were stifled by it. She heard her voice, and what could be felt within it -- lust, and hunger -- was unsettling to say the least; and among other things it spoke to just how 'wrong' this version of herself was. To say nothing, perhaps, of just how out of her depth she was. And for as many times in as many minutes ... Ishtar couldn't help but think that this was not a task that should have been asked of them.

Yet here they were ... here she was, all the same. May as well make the best of it, and hope survival was possible long enough for Parsley and her group to get after what they'd come for.

"We share the same voice ..." the golden-eyed Oni started, slowly. "Is there anything else, I wonder ?"

As Ishtar spoke, the ground rippled beneath her, as she took slow, deliberate 'breaths', the Ki she had been filtering allowing her to map the immediate area even though she could not see it clearly. "Though I suppose the better question to ask would be ... who was it that died. Sekhmet ? Someone else ?" Once a perimeter was established -- hopefully allowing her to sense and react incoming attacks from her Alter at least enough to prevent herself or others dying from Hakai being levied against them -- Ishtar stepped forward slightly into the mist.

"Well ? I am waiting ?"

A beat, then Ishtar finds herself held aloft by her throat, an arm cold to the touch gripping it. Following along the arm is a beautiful Oni, golden eyes the same as Ishtar’s. Her body was different, but the voice and eyes were the same.

“Do not speak her name. I am here, Ishtar.” The voice is cold, the smile on her face dark and twisted.

“Shall we dance?”

Real Ishtar’s throat and body begin to be drained via Vitalmancy as the Ruination Goddess grips her.

[Cleric of Hell’s Brigade]

Sarada would have responded, but a bitterly cold fog rolled through. A chill went up her spine, and not because of the mist that suddenly not only stifled her ki sense, but also prevented her from flying. A voice echoed from within the mist; Ishtar's voice. But it sounded wrong, perverted. Lustful and hungry, and not in the ways her Ishtar had been lustful and hungry.

She does know vitalmancy, Sarada realized. She had seen the effect Vitalmancy had on a person first hand, with Etrina's alternate in the very first timeline they traveled to. She was hungry for human energy and didn't care what she had to do to obtain it. That one was stymied by a simple barrier; Ishtar would be much more difficult.

Sarada noticed Ishtar taking a step forward and wanted to back her up. "You'll be going hungry today, Ishtar," Sarada said to the alternate.

“What is this? A saiyan? How delightful.”

Ishtar’s voice echoes across the cold, caressing Sarada’s cheek.

“Hmm, what’s your name child?”

[Cleric of Hell’s Brigade]

Meanwhile, Parsley braved the bitter cold. Breathing was painful, and without the ability to fly or sense ki, she had no way of getting on that ship. It was definitely on one of the ships that was still afloat.

This mist had to go. Before her senses went blank, she tasted magic. She wasn't sure what kind, but if she had to guess, she would posit that it was Cryomancy. Regardless, it was too powerful for her to dispel, and weakening it would only have a negligible effect. She only had one recourse, and she wasn't sure if it was going to work.

Only one way to find out.

She breathed in deeply, which felt like she was sucking down a ball of actual fire, and spread her hands apart. "Za Warudo, she spoke, attempting to reverse the effects of the mist from her and onto Alt Ishtar.

Before she can, a form strikes her back with pressure points, paralyzing Parsley and dropping her to her knees, unable to breathe. She briefly sees a male Oni disappear back into the freezing mist.

[Cleric of Hell’s Brigade]

She could feel the effects, perhaps more so than the others, yet she stood her ground. Not sure there was much she could do, there was one thing Cyanna could try. Placing her staff between both hands, she concentrated on it. As she did, she sought to release a swarm of her butterflies into the air around them. Her hope, once released they could scout out the area, seek out this Marduk, and get a closer look at this evil Isthar.

Her butterflies are Parsley go down, and a moving male Oni form darting towards her and Deputy Charco at high speeds amidst the mist.