For a second, the Zodiac Stone sparkeled with a bright light, and a deep montrous voice from the stone seemed to groan.
Skan pulled the stone down to his face, examining it. Nothing. Just a pretty blueish green stone, perfectly spherical and a flawless texture. Even the Aquarius sign didn't feel like it was marked or chizeled.
Skan shrugged. He might have imagined it. He placed the stone in his coat and turned to everyone else. They were all down at their Gears, already waiting for him.
Skan grinned as he made his way down the dais. He had found the fabled Zodiac Stone! Not to mention an anima relic! As he finished the last few steps, Skan pulled his stone out from his coat to show it to everyone.
They all shared his smile, but only for a second. Their Gears, still laying down, began to light up and emit a howling noise. Even Skan's new Omnigear.
Skan tucked the stone in his coat, and the Gears shut down.
"Oh my god!" said Skan. "Did you all see that?? You know, I think I read something about-"
Teron cut him off. "Yeah, that's great, but how are we going to get back?"
"Well," said Thom, "we could accompany Skan back, drop off the stone, and come get the Gears!"
"I agree," said Nisemeisho. "Besides, we may also be able to bring back some mechanics to fix the Gears. We can't carry them back this way, I don't think. It's not as if we have any time to lose!"
"Well, if that's the case, then let's go!" said Skan. He made a wide turn to avoid coming near the Gears as he made his way down the hallway back to the Sea Serpent.
Nisemeisho suddenly tensed. "Be careful," he said. "I just heard something..."
Skan grabbed his whips out and made sure he had both his gythka and his gun in ready to grab positions. Thom pulled out his spear and began rubbing a cloth on it with a green thick liquid being smeared all over it, his poison. Skan knew it was highly lethal. Nisemeisho pulled on is artificial claws and began attaching them firmly with a series of belt like buckles. In the other hand, he hefted the naginated by the fron of the long shaft, right behind the sword like blade. Teron grabbed a gunblade-a powerful weapon like a bayonet, but with the blade being far longer and thicker. Skan knew that they were all ready for battle, but if it was another Balrog, they would just as soon run or freeze.
Skan walked very slowly down the long corrisor, with Thom at his side and Nisemisho and Teron flanking them. Finally, halfway down the hallway, Skan turned to Nisemeisho.
"Nise, are you SURE that-" that was all Skan got out before a man dropped from above and wrapped a thin cord around Skan's neck, squeezing.
Skan's eyes bulged and his face turned red, but he only endured a second of pain before Thom instintcively shoved his spear through the mans rib. The spear point left the mans other side, but the poison had killed him just as fast.
The man fell dead, and Skan doubled over, gasping for breath. Then, dozens more men seemed to spring from nowhere, all without weapons but with a look on their faces that said they didn't need any.
Everyone fought with different styles. Nisemeisho moved in a blur of flips and twists. His claws slashed, his naginata pierced. Where he moved, people died.
Teron, however, stood a distance, picking people off cooly, with seeming to aim, with the gunblade. When enemies got to close, a fash of the sword on the gun took them out just as skillfully.
Thom and Skan, however, are not people who fight a lot. But they both used to be soldiers, and therefore knew how to react. Thom's spear was a near blur, slashing and striking, and all it took was a mere scratch for the poison to take effect. Skan moved almost as quikcly as Nisemeisho, though without the jumps and flips, twisting through enemies, one swinging whip in each hand. he whips would either create a welt on someone or knock them unconsious, or maybe even wrap around a man and send him flying.
Despite their skill, the party was soon defeated. Skan recognized-now that the battle was over-that everyone had the gray and green on of Bart's Company.
Skan had his whips-and only his whips-taken away. Everyone else also had their weapons removed. Thom gave Skan a quick glance. He knew Skan had two lethal weapons, but was sure Skan wouldn't use them. They would need it.

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