TWTNW Raid: Phantom

~♥ Welcome to the raid, kupo! Here is some information you need to know before you start posting. There is a limit to the number of times a character can post. This is so a fight won't go on and on, kupo. For these particular raids the limit is 10. On the last post, characters will need to prepare themselves for the end of the battle whether that be by retreating, setting up final defenses, sacrifices, etc. A warning will be given on the last post to remind you. That's all and have fun, kupo! ♥~

The World That Never Was, a place that once been a land of an endless void had ironically become a great universal hub. The Darksons had made it one of their main bases of operation and from there the world continued to grow. TWTNW was in a rather unique situation compared to its neighbors, resting in a space that set it very close to the Realm of Darkness. Because of this, Heartless seemed to spawn here more often than any other place—even during the time of peace. However, this was just a tiny detail to the people who lived there. There was protection all around them, yes, but the Darksons would not allow them to be completely numb to the dangers that lurked within the shadows. Everyone was aware of the risk of Heartless posed and stayed alert.

Regardless of their vigilance, that did not prevent a certain creature from manifesting within the city’s borders. It was a normal night with the streets lit up with neon lights. A light drizzle of rain fell from the sky, but that didn’t appear to hamper anyone’s mood. There were many people out that particular evening on their way to their favorite bar, hangout, or dance club. No one suspected what stirred in the darkness, deep in the backstreets where shady business took place. A cloaked figure moved silently through the alley, emerging from the darkness as it entered into a crowd of people. The man turned a few heads, but such attire was nothing out of the ordinary in TWTNW. The hooded man came to a stop when he reached the stairs of the world’s landmark and a familiar symbol manifested on his back.

Suddenly, the colored neon signs began to spark and breakdown, several of which landed on innocent bystanders. It looked like it was just a freak accident at first, but the disaster continued as a horde of Shadows and Neo Shadows appeared to prey upon the injured. They came in droves, chasing and pouncing upon anyone they could get their claws on. In the chaos, the cloaked figured rose into the sky, finally revealing what lay underneath, a glowing heart. The Phantom hovered above the buildings, reached out its dark hands to draw the hearts its minions had captured to take for itself.

What a nuisance, to be back in this dark city after his failed quest twenty years ago. But, he had an objective in mind, one involving the growing threat that’s recently overtaken a few of the nearby worlds. The Sultan has to make contact with the Darkson’s current ruler. Though every fiber of his being wants to keep them as a neutral party, the Ruler of the Sands realizes that even he wouldn't be enough to quell the rising tide of heartless. Allying with Ophelia would play a major role, but the Queen had limits of her own. In fact, even some temporary alliance with Morgan might still leave them weak against this threat. A troublesome situation indeed.

Wanting to keep a low profile, the Sultan traveled in his civilian attire, one he hadn’t worn since his days living on park benches  A grey hooded coat along with his black pants and boots, a welcome reprieve from the clothes he was forced to wear during his time with his peers back home. Such stuffy clothing could choke a man to death should they be so inclined. And so, with a yawn, Eno opens his bottle and makes his way out of the convenience store he’d been shopping in.

Rude ass employees though, they gawked at his gold coins and couldn’t even put his things in the bags! In spite of that though, everything was moving the way it should have been. The ex-knight managed to get some light snacks and a drink, no one was gawking at him, and the streets were rather peaceful, if not full of energy. Something that always did his heart good whenever he saw it, regardless of reason.

Sadly, there are creatures that exist to disrupt the temporary peace life allows the citizens to have.

A loud crash shook Eno from his stupor, having ignored the lingering darkness that grips the area around the skyscraper like a snake around its prey. A figure had been making its way through the crowd, one whom had its features hidden by a cloak and shadows,  A man who was anything but. The slender individual standing at the stairs of one of the tallest structures in the world,  rose above the heads of the people around, and as he did so Shadows and Neo Shadows erupt from the dark areas of the city, unleashing their claws upon the citizens.

Twisting his cap back on his soda, Eno places it back in his bag. With a grunt he leaps to the roof a building, the one closest to the heartless in question. He’s certain his obvious movements caught the attention of the black creature hovering in the sky. However, the aura Eno exudes would certainly mitigate its status as a viable threat. Like releasing a breath being held for an eternity, the Sultan exhales.

The particles of Eno’s life force expands their reach rapidly from him, encompassing a wide area, one that grew exponentially due to both heartless and somebodies occupying the space. Within a few seconds, the city block they were in was completely consumed in a silver light. With the sheer volume of people roaming the streets today, it wouldn’t be a surprise if a third of the city wouldn’t be protected within moments. That, and the Phantom’s influence was sure to add more bodies in turn throwing wood on their funeral pyre.

“You need to fuck off, you’re ruining my day,” Eno says, his tone void of emotion. Silver fire would then erupt upon the bodies of any and all heartless unfortunate enough to be trapped within the confines of his aura. Their pain would in turn be the nourishment the injured civilians would certainly need in order to evacuate the area.

As the Heartless wailed and screeched in agony, their victims on the ground suddenly found the strength they needed to rise to their feet and escape. They didn’t take the time to gaze in awe at the silver glow surrounding them, and booked it as far and fast as they could away from the general area. This caught the attention of the Phantom, however, it was much more concerned as to why he and his brethren had been suddenly wracked with pain. For one brief moment its heart had been revealed, surrounded by a glowing red orb to keep it safe. That was one of the weaknesses of the fiend, and one it knew took great care to protect. It vanished a second later.

After most of the people had fled, the Phantom scanned the area. There was one heart nearby, the same that it had seen jumping around earlier, but it was so weak. Laughably so… or was this some sort of trick? Had this phenomenon come from him? A test could prove this. Calling upon its kin, hundreds of shadows and neo shadows swarmed around the Phantom in a cyclone of darkness. Raising one gnarled finger, it directed them towards the “weak” heart. They went scrambling, spreading out across the buildings to surround Eno. Claws outstretched, they pounced upon him in overwhelming numbers, ripping and shredding whatever they could get their hands on. The Phantom was confident. No mere mortal could possibly survive such an onslaught, but just in case—closing its hand into a tight fist, the Phantom gave the man a death sentence he could not refuse. Four clocks lit up in response around the district, a tiny blue flame burning upon every five minute mark. A sense of foreboding would wash over the Sultan as if his time was counting down, his life now linked to the ticking of the minute hand.

“You would use a trump card like this,” Eno murmurs, his half-lidded eyes scanning the field around him. He made no real move to avoid the shadows that quickly overtook his position. Instead, he opts to let them crawl upon his body. Latching to him in whatever desperate method they saw fit. “I think you’re giving little old me too much credit.” With Eno’s control over life-force boiling down to manipulation of the very particles around him, so long as it took up space in an area, and if it was unfortunate enough to get too close, the world leader can torch it. Not only that, for every body added to the fire, another large section of the city was consumed.

The Phantom thought sheer numbers would work in his favor, instead it only rushes his demise as the flames grow in intensity with the number of monsters in the area. Relying on such an impressive army would seal its fate should it not pay attention. However, Eno knew little as to the significance of the heart within the cloak. Surely it held some manner of resistance against his abilities? Either way, the Sultan believes his raw power should be more than enough to rip through resistance should he need to.

Now, every single heartless burns, their numbers allowing Eno’s aura to reach a staggering mile of influence.

“If I kill you quickly does the spell end?” Eno asks, feeling death’s grip lightly grasp his throat. A bony chill fills the upper portions of the ex-knight, his body shivering from the Phantom’s influence. “I hope so, I haven’t felt this cold in a while." Should the burning sensation cause the heartless to flee, the once dead servant would open his palm and direct it towards the Phantom, sending a large sphere of electrical energy its way.

The Phantom was certain that this problem would have been resolved easily. Swarming their prey was a tactic that was ingrained into their instincts, and it was effective. Many hearts had been claimed from the strategy time and time again. Eno was different. The Neo-Shadows were the first to retreat, leaping back over the buildings until the flames burning within their dark bodies ceased. The simple Shadows on the other hand were a little bit slower to react, and a few even continued to try pummeling the sultan in vain, unknowingly adding to his strength. There was a change in the air that the Phantom quickly took note of, and the more minions it sent after Eno the worse it became. How was this possible? It wasn't intelligent enough to figure out the details, but it knew enough to stay and pull its forces back. The shadows still left behind did so as quickly as possible, phasing into the concrete and scurrying away like a plague of rats. Their orders were to follow after those who had escaped and return to stealing hearts until called upon. The moment this happened, an orb of electricity came flying towards the Phantom, striking the white robed figure directly. You couldn't ask for a better shot, but it seemed to make no difference. The only response that came from the fiend was a flinch as static jumping about its cloak.

The Heartless leader began to put some distance between him and the sultan, moving over to the next district and away from Memory's Skyscrape. The Neo-Shadows lay hidden, the most capable of the Phantom's minions, just in case they were needed. Smoke trailing from its sleeves, the Phantom released seven orbs of dark energy towards its foe. If even one made contact, the magic would try to eat away at Eno's life force, a burning sensation not so different from his own power. As the battle continued, a ring of bells chimed out across the city, all four of the great clocks--North, South, East, and West--let out a chilling toll, a promise of death. The minute hand on the clocks moved, the sound echoing through the streets as it moved from 1 to 2. The blue flame around the 10 blinked twice.

This will be the final boss post, kupo. The Heartless have attained victory. You will be allowed one post to respond. Remember do not continue to fight a hopeless battle. To do so will result in death, but that is up to you. Your fate is in your hands. Sometimes the best tactic is to retreat, Kupo.

The Phantom and the Dark Thorn, pushed on through the battles, forcing heroes into a corner at every turn. The Heartless horde continued across the city, stealing every heart they could get their claws on and adding yet another shadow to their endless numbers. Gradually, the Heartless began to retreat. They were being called somewhere else. Portals opened all over, allowing the dark fiends to make their escape to the Land of Dragons and Wonderland, two worlds that had been overwhelmed by the the darkness. As the last Heartless disappeared, no one cheered. This was no victory. Destruction was seen at every turn. So many soldiers and civilians had been lost. Not to mention the damage that had been done to the city itself. Perhaps they would live another day, or the Heartless would return to deliver the final blow. How could they ever survive a threat like that again? Their confidence had been laid low.

The bright city lights were gone, allowing the stars to stand out since the birth the world. One after another, the stars that were the LoD and Wonderland were snuffed out.