xinoehp512

Rotcennoc grunted and cast a shadow in the path of the staff, blocking it. He scrambled to his feet.

Their parents had been equally creative. Their grandparents, however, had not been.

Bob yawned before realizing that the yawn monster was gone.

A new character appeared.

Kate slumped as the power flew out of her. Had she ever used that much power before? Had anyone? She had probably set some sort of record. It looked like most of the shadowbirds were dead, and the rest were unled. Perhaps...? She felt a tug. Her last hopes vanished. With all she had used, she would have no strength to resist it. But... She straightened up and began gathering her power for one more strike. If she was going down, she was taking this island with her. ~~~~~~~ Nogard felt the pain hit him again, just the same as it had the first time. He fell to his knees, but kept the stream of Investiture going, without thought. ~~~~~~~ Rotcennoc felt the island begin creating a gemheart and began to panic. He had to get out of this standoff- and fast. With an effort, he brought up his ungloved hand. He concentrated for a moment, then released shadow directly at Nogard. ~~~~~~~ Nogard felt the shadow hit, dissipating his bolt. He slumped to the ground, energy expended. ~~~~~~~ At that moment, Damaya caught Rotcennoc with her staff, flinging him against the wall.

Some of the Voidapplebringers began selling apples with the official #Voidapple sticker on them.

The man gave no more than a cursory glance to Sebastian, then turned back to observation.

The Neverstorm awoke the Voidapplebringers.

Inside the box was a stack of index cards with writing on them. On the top one was written Hello, Lena. So it's going to be you that opens the box, huh? Wonder how that happened. Hmm... oh. That's unfortunate. Hey, can you help with something? Turn the card over if yes. Otherwise, just chuck it into the water.

A man watched from somewhere, unseen and unnoticed.

Which, of course, were sold on the gray market.

A box suddenly appeared out of thin air and fell at her feet, along with a spent Tia card.

I stand in a corner, feeling left out. So I read a book.

A new force steps into the fray and says, "You know what? 'Ghanderflaffle' has always made me think of a giraffe."

Kate felt her anger rise. This island had allied with the shadowbirds. More than that, she had used them, sending them out to achieve her own selfish goal. How many storms had fallen to the birds? How many islands? The birds were evil, destructive parasites that cared nothing for the countless lives that they stole. They deserved to be destroyed, every last one of them. Along with any who allied with them. Her father and mother had fallen to these birds. So had her brother. And so was she, if things continued the way they were going. But before then, the island would pay. The charge inside of her reached a level she had never before felt in her entire existence. She let out a long, dark laugh. Then she released the charge. ~~~~~~~ Rotcennoc laughed. "Talk? About what? You have no bargaining power. Just stay out of my way, and you'll get through this alive." He turned away, ready for the final part of his job. And then... ~~~~~~~ Nogard closed his eyes and brought his hands together. Then he released a beam of Investiture directly at Rotcennoc. ~~~~~~~ All of a sudden, Rotcennoc felt a tug at his mind. A warning. He spun around in time to see a Nogard's attack. Instinctively, he shot a beam of shadow to match it. He cried out as the beams collided in midair, the force of Nogard's attack repelling his power. He gritted his teeth and repulsed back, forcing the shadow down the glowing line of light that connected them. He had paid for this power. A dear price; but it was worth it to achieve his goal. He could not let himself get defeated now. And then all of a sudden, lightning struck ~~~~~~~ The lightning jumped from bird to bird at literal lightning speed, destroying with merely a touch. Dozens and dozens of birds fell in an instant, their life expended. But despite the hundreds felled, only one truly mattered... ~~~~~~~ Rotcennoc blinked and shook his head, dispelling the ringing in his ears. As his hearing returned, he took in the sound of hundreds of birds cawing loudly. He frowned. That shouldn't happen. Unless... unless they were no longer being led. With a sinking feeling, he realized that the queen had died.

Rotcennoc shaped the shadow, forming the patterns of destruction with his mind using the power of the glove. He had paid dearly for this power. But any price was worth the future that he envisioned, even if the others were too shortsighted to see it. He hesitated for a moment. It was a pity that these islands had to die, indeed. But he squashed the regret. The power from four gemhearts would be incredible. Easily enough to accomplish his goal. So with determination, he released death upon the gemheart, destroying his connection along with whatever bits of soul resided within. @Sorana @#Voidapple @Archer

Kate fell silent in horror. The island dared do that? Electric charge began to intensify as her anger begin to rise . This island would pay. ~~~~~~~ The new gemheart awoke to a world of chaos. It reached out in fear and bound itself tightly to the being holding it. ~~~~~~~ Rotcennoc stood up, woozy from the fall. He felt a warning from the island and stepped to the side, dodging the birds that slammed into where he had been. He reached out his gloved hand and shot a burst of silver light at the gemheart, connecting them. He closed his eyes and pictured the pattern of power that would wipe it clean. ~~~~~~~ Nogard felt a release from the pain. He struggled to his knees, water running down his face. Through the rain he could see Rotcennoc, preparing to kill. Again. Nogard knew he couldn't let that happen. He raised his hands, clarity beginning to return.

Just make a giant leecher globe. That'll get rid of Investiture.

I'm in.

Michael felt the pull with horror. This couldn't be happening. What was this island thinking? Stop! he cried, struggling to resist the pull while also keeping out the birds No response. Please! he begged, as he felt his resistance begin to give way. No answer. With a shriek of triumph, the birds breached his eyewall. Unable to fight both the birds and the island, Michael succumbed to the pull of the gemheart. Goodbye, Sister, he whispered as he fell. ~~~~~~~ In the air, the birds split into two groups. The first began spitting small drops shadow-acid at Araha, a black liquid that annihilated with whatever it touched. The other half descended upon Damaya, attempting to wrest the gemheart from her grasp.

Rotcennoc yelped and pulled the gemheart away. Damaya crashed into him, knocking him down and sending the gemheart flying. It clattered against the floor. Meanwhile, forty of the birds reversed direction and shot down on the people below.

"No!" cried Nogard. "N..." He fell to his knees and screamed as pain shot through his soul. Pain. So much pain. ~~~~~~~ Rotcennoc felt the island pull, creating a new gemheart. He cupped his hands, ready to catch the new gemheart. Up above, the storm felt a tug... A glimmer formed in his hands.

I stood where Nekorb had been standing when the bomb had gone off. There was nothing there but ash. Or was there? I stopped down and picked up a rock that had somehow avoided being pulverized. I brushed off the soot from the surface and found a strange pattern on it. I held it up for closer inspection. Then I smiled. He was still hanging on, wasn't he? An unexpected benefit to his ability. It looked like there was still a thread, too. Suddenly, an idea came to me. I thought about it for a moment. Would it work? I shrugged. Oh well. Better just go with it. The air shimmered...