The scene played on, Danielle readying herself to die, knowing full well that to challenge two Blackhearts at once was more than she could hope for. There would be ‘that’ move she could pull, just to buy the others time to escape. Surely Raven and William could-
And then it was, the most obvious smog appearing. All parties in the area would react of course. A wide eyed Danielle who would IMMEDIATELY recognize this with true and utter shock- for she had memories of various meetings with who this was in various timelines all due to the Hanteigan she once possessed. For the two youths, William and Raven, it was more of a ‘whaaaa-’ sort of reaction as both were zoned out and drained and not at all familiar with whatever this was.
For Reise, well, she would stop attacking for one if she even had begun to move. A slight stagger to her move set not knowing if this was an last minute counter or something from the realm or some newcomer entirely. This was an unknown for her; but not for her partner who looked out from above. His gaze twitched ever so, as he also could tell the who from various encounters, and was indeed surprised but would not allow his reaction to show.
The shift caught them all off balance just a bit, the trio moreso than the two Blackhearts. For the twins it was a genuine shock that practically dropped them but not yet as that would come soon after. For Danielle it all but confirmed what she thought though this body having been changed would not be accustomed to this since that day. And as to be expected by now the two Blackhearts barely showed much reaction, Reise a couple twitches but nothing more to note.
Such an aura-farming entrance in truth.
All watched as Shoshanna bled into this battle from the floor like some sort of Orochimaru nightmare fuel of the past. It wasn’t until those eyes opened that someone did shift- that being Reise. Teeth grit behind her lips and eyes sharpening as her amethyst met the crimson. She had no clue what this was that came before her and she was getting a full on experience as a result.
Then the step, the flash of pressure. The Frost Twins dropped because of course they did. Their lack of experience and being but teens yet without much combat experience or ability.
Danielle quivered and did slump a bit, bending a knee one might say. While only a flare it did carry the weight and if allowed to strike at full or to repeat it would bat her down as it did her allies. Her face slightly contorted into that of someone exuding strength against a heavy object. She was trying to withstand this flash of pressure as her new body was not yet accustomed to this kind of aura.
For Reise it was like a wall facing the winds. She HAD the experience and would definitely hold up to it for this was nothing new to her. Still winds were strong and temporary flare or not it definitely got her a little on edge. Her weapon would remain primed to attack as her body tightened up.
For the fifth, well, he barely batted an eye. While it was a storm before Reise it was no more than a simple breeze to him. For Reise while she had experience this was still something piercing. For the man though… it barely phased him as if something did set him apart from his partner when coming up against this type of enemy.
The tension would be broken for better or worse by the question of Shoshanna directed at them all. This would snap Danielle back to reality and cause a tinge of uncertainty in Reise. For the man it was simply a sharpening of focus. He would act before allowing this to spiral in any direction, already knowing what was likely to come out of this and not wishing to mince time over it.
“Reise. That’ll do,” he called out in a low calm voice, almost absent of care or even authority despite him clearly being the superior here.
She would comply. Taking her scythe into both hands by the snath but not pressing. Instead her tension and combat stance would recede. With her stance softening she would become docile and allow for her partner to take over whatever this was.
Danielle would still be at a loss as would the other two; though they were far more out of it. Dani herself would finally take note of the man watching over them. Her eyes twitched, widening. The sight of him holding the unmoving body in hand.
“Almec!” she called out without thinking.
It was a given knee jerk reaction. What came next though, well. The body of the unconscious man would slide forward. The fifth’s arm flung half-heartedly with enough strength to send the body tumbling off of the raised position.
A thump echoed as Almec’s body hit the pile of ruin beneath the hole. Horror filled her. No visible wounds on his body but also no signs of life. Sho would of course be able to tell that he was still VERY much alive and obviously out of it.
The two big players here were without a doubt now the white haired ghost and the smog monster who came from beneath. And as no doubt her firey crimson met his cold magenta… well, it was already set.
“It is unsurprising to see you here Shoshanna,” he would say, it being unexpected but making genuine sense given Danielle’s aura flares earlier and this being Dani, “You have stumbled upon some matters of the Blackheart Family. I have been tasked with eliminating Mersella for interfering in our affairs one time too many.”
He kept it straight. There wasn’t much else to really say. He knew better. With Shoshanna there was no mincing words and there likely would be no easy resolution.
And that is where it lay-
A prepared man. A docile attacker. Three stunned children. An outcold mentor. And now- one of the forms of Death itself.
