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EVERWINTER
Episode 13

Episode 13

The Night Before the day of the Coliseum

Las Heladas. A casino owned by Fortuna Enterprises and managed by Everett Nazo, serving as Fortuna's main base of operations.

Although a mere casino, I see it for what it really is. This no house of sin, but a white palace of lies. Behind the lights and slot machines that chains addiction, a secret upper floor existed, reserved for only the ten members of Fortuna.

A melody traveled through the night sky, a tune of a beautiful voice calling those to the source. At the heart of it was a Hulder with an owl-like fashion. Her night-green hair and skin as amber-colored horns jutted from her forehead. Once, her eyes might have been just as beautiful, but they had been long cut out, permanently closed. Despite this, she her face still possesses a beauty all would want, her voice acting as a siren's call to the chosen few. She was perched upon the grand meeting table, her song summoning the others. Mara, the Wildcard.

The first to arrive was a woman with ashen-black hair and amber eyes. Her eyes flicked toward the girl singing briefly, a slight nod of acknowledgment, before she took her seat. Amaterasu, the Prodigy.

"I see the night still belongs to you, Mara."

"Of course, Amaterasu."

A door slid open, and a professor stepped in next. His mask covered most of his face, wearing a steril, almost clinical outfit with his gloved hands. Professor Garmr, the Luminary.

"I always hear this pestering call only when I'm busy," the Professor said. "I assume this isn't just some social call."

Next to enter was someone with tied black hair, with glasses hovering over his animalistic green-eyes. Unlike the others, his demeanor was professional. Alessio, the Overseer.

"I'm assuming this is about the heist." He offered a small, polite smile to Amaterasu, but there was no warmth in his gaze. Amaterasu knew what truly lied behind those eyes and did not choose to reciprocate.

A teenage boy entered, having white hair and electrifying yellow eyes making him stand out instantly. His steps were confident, almost too confident. He gave the group a bright smile, but there was a sharpness beneath it, the kind of sharpness that suggested he’d seen too many battles and yet still relished each one.

“Hope I didn't keep you all waiting too long.” Karna's tone was teasing, but he wasted no time taking his seat. Mikhail, codename Karna. The Heroic

Amaterasu leaned back slightly, her arms crossing. "You always like to make an entrance, don't you?"

Karna grinned. "Someone's got to."

The atmosphere shifted as all their eyes turned to Cerberus entering, his charred skin and white hair. He slouched against the wall, keeping a distance from the group.

"Good to see you too, Cerberus,"

Mara commented, not bothering to hide her amusement at Cerberus' ever-present sour expression. All he did was glare before turning his head away. He would've insulted anyone else.

Finally, the door opened once more, and the last of the group called arrived. A tall man with a commanding presence stepped in, the room quieting in his wake. He wears a helmet that completely shadows his face, and wears gauntlets with claws.

To the public, he was known as the most brave, righteous, and powerful man alive. He is the invincible. An Immovable Force. The strongest member of Fortuna -- no, the strongest known in the world.

Silva, the Warden.

His gaze swept over the table, stopping on each other member to acknowledge their presence.

The others stiffened slightly at his presence, even those like Cerberus, who was rarely fazed by anyone. Silva's reputation preceded him, and while he said nothing at first, his mere arrival spoke volumes. Finally, he took his seat, and spoke.

"Avalon Arsenal is known to be the world's most impenetrable fortress. We will have to commit to each of our roles, and make sure it is effective as possible."

"Effective? Oh, it'll be more than that," Karna grinned, his voice clearly seasoned with excitement. "The Arsenal will be a sight to behold. I can't wait to see how it all plays out!"

Amaterasu turns her gaze Karna, giving him a glance sharper than knives as her voice rose. "This isn't a game, Karna."

"Isn't it?" he teased, though her intense gaze quickly softened his grin. It was best to listen to the on-field expert. "Fine, fine, I'll behave."

"There is a time," a voice echoed from the darkness, "when even the cosmos bend to to the will of the wise."

Slow steps began to approach the table as the moonlight began to reveal his appearance. The old man was dressed in his signature dark star purple aesthetic, his predominantly black attire making him seem like a living shadow. The Second-In-Command of Fortuna, Everett "Surtr" Nazo. The one man everyone in Fortuna holds to high regard.

"And so too shall we bend the will of fate."

His eyes were filled with life-long purpose despite his age, settling on Karna.

"But remember," Nazo continued, "the strongest fortresses are built not of stone, but of minds honed by purpose. Each of you is a piece on this board. The cold is coming. Like winter, the mercilessness spares none who are unprepared. Play your roles well... or the consequences will be far greater than mere defeat."

Back to the Present.

As soon as the chaos began, Lorin wasted no time flipping the firearms out of their resting place and into his grasp. Beginning his own move, he didn't have a shroud of mercy as he immediately eliminated the nearest contestant, firing from his gun in rapid succession. Each shot tore through his opponent's body, marring the sand below in red.

Lorin took a step back, careful not to let a single speck of sand or blood mar his pristine white outfit that he wore for this event. He examined the chaos around him, seeing the gathering of humanity fighting against eachother.

This was humanity's true nature, laid bare in all its honesty, brutal as it may be. Are these animals the ones you aim to save, Helios? Is this truly the world you desire to rule?

"The world... is my birthright."

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The gunfire continued, with Lorin shooting in multiple directions, deciding to play along in the game of puppets. His deadly dance continued as he navigated through the ones attempting to attack him, filling the colosseum with screams as he painted the sand red with each pull of the trigger with his ultra-violet bullets.

Zero walked his own path, embracing the chaos immediately as his flames had already met multiple participants.

As he continued to fight, the opponents he faced got tougher and tougher, and so did his flames get Zero wiped the blood off his face as he finished fighting one last person before being able to finally take a quick break, breathing slowly.

"I love organized chaos."

Without a moment of hesitation, Apollo rushes Helios leaving a trail of dust as he slashes his sword at Helios who effortlessly dodges it.

Apollo speeds up his slashes cutting the wind with each sharp movement of his blade, Helios hops back before shooting a beam of light towards Apollo smirking thinking that he got him before he watches as Apollo slashes upward reflecting the light making it fizzle out.

"That's a new one."

"Heh…you gotta be more creative than that. Your simple light attacks will be countered by most elites if you're not putting all your effort in it."

Apollo points at Helios as Selene & Eris wait to make their move.

"Stop holding back, we can take it."

Helios stands there before nodding as he contemplates what to do next before smiling.

"Alright guys, don't let me down."

As Helios says this he lifts his arm up in the air snapping his fingers as a shadow looms over the other fighters.

Eris looks up noticing multiple Savage Dawns falling towards them.

Eris activates her ability copying Apollo's & Selene's before finally using Helios's Light Manipulation, she turns her attention towards the others.

"Selene, you & I gotta bulk up the defenses of everyone else. Forget the fact that he's going to literally nuke us before we can even get started. Apollo & Zero, you attack Helios keeping him distracted from creating more of those balls of literal fire."

Selene & Apollo nod as Eris closes her hands together before expanding them using Light Manipulation forging a blade of light as she stares at the falling Savage Dawns with a stoic look. She sneaks a glance at Helios.

He's looking to drain our mana quickly.

Zero's hand flare up as he activates his ability, the heat from the flames matching the heat from the Savage Dawns as Zero sped towards Helios, leaving behind a trail of flames as he closed the distance between the two, getting closer and closer, he started smiling as he was already enjoying the rush he was getting even if the battle just started.

"Alright, Sun God. Don't be cheap and drop nukes all of the sudden. You aren't Victor!"

Helios smirks as he watches Eris finally getting involved using everyone around her to her advantage. She has all four of our abilities. I gotta take her out first. Zero picks off a sword from the ground and clashes with Helios, sending him back, though Zero's sword instantly shatters.

"You're faster than before!"

As Helios says this Apollo approaches from above coming down with his own blade, Helios launches himself out of the way using his light beams to avoid the near fatal blow as Apollo lands a few seconds later.

His eyes scans the area: Apollo & Zero are working as a tandem while Selene is providing support…but where the hell is Eris?

He closes his eyes focusing on the people in his range: abnormally high body temperature and two normal ones…but not a third.

Where the hell is she? I won't be able to focus if she’s missing…

Apollo grunts dissatisfied after nearly missing Helios from his strike as he jumps back towards Zero.

"Before you attacked, Eris told me that we should strike on opposite sides leaving him vulnerable from behind. Selene will drag us back with her shadows if he attempts to end in one shot. You ready?"

Eris watching from a far thankfully glad that Helios' range is the same size as hers since she can still sense the others but Helios, she watches as Apollo relays the plan towards Zero with Selene concentrated on her own business.

I'm glad he didn't bother looking around, his passive not only gives him thermal vision but perfect vision like Selene. Speaking of her, I know it's a free for all but…I'm surprised how she hasn't attacked yet.

Eris watches as the pair of Apollo & Zero rush towards Helios on opposite sides as she waits for an opening. Selene decides now is the time as she summons a shadow tendril and wraps it around both Apollo's & Zero's ankles before lifting them in the air and slamming them hard in the ground shocking both Helios & Eris.

"...It is a free for all, right Aimi?"

Selene looks towards Eris' direction prompting her brother to look and smirk. Eris forgot that these two somehow strengthen their bond to the point they can communicate without speaking.

"…Touché."

Eris appears in front of them as Apollo & Zero are recovering as she faces down the twins. Individually she can take them down but as a pair? Only a few can even handle Daystar's Double Trouble. She has to stall until they're okay.

Apollo gets up thanks to Zero's help as he dust himself and wiping his hand across his face wiping off blood as he smirks.

His eyes wander over to the battlefield watching Helios & Selene keep Eris at bay combining their moves effortlessly without talking only relying on signals. He turns to Zero who's waiting for another chance to attack Double Trouble, his grip tightens around his blade.

"It is a free for all…I'll attack Double Trouble using my Speed form giving Eris a chance to escape."

Apollo closes his eyes changing forms as his legs begin to glow brightly before becoming a blur running across the battlefield sending dust in the air from his sheer speed colliding with everyone on the field except Zero sending them flying.

Helios keeps himself in the air with his light, Selene slides across the ground, Eris manages to flip in the air using the momentum from the kick as she lands on her feet glaring daggers at her younger brother.

Eris runs a hand through her hair looking at everyone as they've all been hit at least once, she thankfully has the advantage since she has all of their abilities and can combine them…however she also gains their weakness and she knows they're all smart enough to pick up on that.

Eris scans the battlefield once more gauging each amount of aura surrounding the fighters: Zero & Apollo are evenly matched, if they still somehow continue to team up they'll be an issue. Apollo can easily covers Zero's weakness in defense while Zero can help Apollo gain more fire power.

She looks over to the Daystar Twins, something about the two makes her feel sick…probably because those two actually resemble something she desires the most: a family, even if dysfunctional.

Helios & Selene were onces the royals that lead the school for 2 1/2 years before Selene relinquished her Queen role and left her older brother to deal with the school. He covers the damage & speed for the pair while she does healing & defense…and their range will be an issue for any high tier to deal with.

"I've faced the odds before, I'll defeat every single one of you."

Zero thought about who to attack, Eris maybe? No... he doesn't know much about Eris. Something about her just screams that she'll be harder to deal with than Selene and Helios. He thinks about going after Apollo, but remembers that Apollo's speed might be on par with his own. Selene's ability using her Shadows... It must require focus to do things with it right? Zero thought as he took a deep breath as his entire body lit up in bright, hot, aggressive flames. He then changed his gaze towards Selene smirking as he started to move forward.

"Let's see how you fare against me Selene!"

Before that Zero was gone in the flash, his flames giving him a boost as he left a trail behind him, the ground engulfing in flames while he ran towards Selene as he held his fist back he threw it forward then stopped right infront of her face. The hot air blowing past her as Zero looked Selene dead in her eyes and chuckled before pushing two fingers into her chest, sending her flying.

"I'm having fun now!"

Selene skids back a bit as her feet dig into the ground, she shakes off the burning feeling she has near her chest as she stares at Zero before smiling.

"Come on Kenzo, you gotta hit me harder than that!"

As Selene says this, Eris appears out of nowhere roundhouse kicking the Dead Princess in the face before launching her towards Helios who watches helplessly as he glares at her.

Eris doesn't give them time to recover as she rushes everyone at once, slamming her fist into Helios' cheek at such a velocity you can hear his jaw cracking from the sudden impact of her fist, her eyes fall on Apollo & Zero before rushing them as well.

Eris & Apollo go blow for blow before she strikes him in his lower ribs, Apollo coughs up blood as she once again continues the assault slamming fist after fist shattering his Defensive Form as he collapses to his knees.

Eris stands over her younger brother as she places her hand on his shoulder, he looks up at her only to see her red eyes glaring at him.

"You're still too weak Atlas. Think of this as a learning assignment."

Eris jumps in the air before delivering a crushing axe kick on Apollo's skull as his eyes go clear as he collapses to the ground, her eyes remain on the remaining opponents.

"Who's next?"