[Action near Tartarus' guild hall]

[warring_triad]

It had been a little while since Kefka taunted Zeref with a potential attack. However, he figured they'd had enough time to stew. It was time to attempt to take Zeref and his guild's powers for himself. After all, a wizard with dominion over death magic would make such a lovely crystal.

The relative peace of the day in Everglade was shattered when a large portal opened up near the Tartarus guild hall. The first through its shimmering ring was a massive Behemoth that announced the attack with a bellowing roar while smaller monsters flooded out around it. Metal Hitmen and Vector Lythos made up the bulk of the attack force, though there were a couple Great Malboro among the number as well.

Comments

[ Pre-Battle - Inside Tartaros' Headquarters ]

[deathsought]

{ As promised, Zeref reappeared inside the Tartaros headquarters, in the central corridor. His eyes had shifted back to their usual color for now, as Zeref attempted to calm himself down. They needed a plan. The irony of fighting alongside the very demons he created to kill him wasn't lost on him, but now was not the time to contemplate that. Kefka had declared war on himself, and on Tartaros. Marde Guille would not respond lightly to that, and frankly, Zeref was getting pretty sick of Kefka, too. It had been a long time since Zeref had done anything quite like this, but he knew full well how the game was played. He'd learned that a few centuries ago.

The headquarters of the guild was located far beneath the Lowerarchy, connected to its basement by a series of labyrinthine underground tunnels, magically isolated from the rest of the city's sewer systems. Created by the Celestial Spirit Virgo as a favor to Zeref, it was by no means as impressive as Cube, but it was a highly defensible position that would bottleneck many of those monsters into an underground choke point in order to reach them. Unfortunately, Zeref was worried about what this meant for the Lowerarchy's patrons.

When Marde Guille, Sayla, and possibly Suigintou would join him, he would begin laying out his plan. }

Kefka has declared war on us. All of us. { Zeref himself was not a member of Tartaros, but in a way, they were the closest thing he had to family, here. That's why he had chosen to live with them. } We can't ignore the threat he poses to us any longer. I'm sure you can feel the magical presence of the portal overhead, too. His insistence on making a show of this will be his undoing. Monsters running through the streets of Everglade will assuredly draw the attention of Everglade's Guardian. That will buy us enough time to set up a trap.

When the monsters make it into the sewers, I will use Nemesis to act as bait to lure them into the central chokepoint leading to our home. Once they're in position - { Zeref paused, turning to Marde Guille } - Marde Guille knows what to do. After that, we will head to the surface and mop up any stragglers. Kefka specifically identified us as his target. I doubt he cares about the rest of Everglade.

In the worst case scenario, Suigintou can take us into the N-Field. It's... a rather surreal experience, but we can get to Fayren from there. { He knows the Etherious have no idea what the "N-Field" is, but after Suigintou took him into there when he became her Medium, it was... kinda trippy. Whoever this 'Rozen' guy is, he truly is a genius in the art of magic. Someone even Zeref found worthy of respect. } I'm not suggesting we retreat. I would never give Kefka the pleasure of seeing us do so, but he cannot be allowed to lay one finger on E.N.D.'s Book. I shudder to think of what that lunatic would do with it.

[ Pre-Battle - Inside Tartaros' Headquarters ]

[firstrose]

Suigintou was still not happy to have been dragged into this stupid battle. But she'd gotten used to the Tartaros' Headquarters and she would be pissed if they got destroyed. Of course, she couldn't let her Medium get killed.

"For some reason, I always end of being the worst case scenario." She smirked as she said that, and she looked kinda smug. Then she shrugged at Zeref's comment about the N-Field. "Of course, it is surreal, that's the entire point. But if you stay close to me, nothing should happen to you." Should being the operative word. Then again, they were demons and a wizard they should be able to handle a dream world as the N-Field.

[ Pre-Battle - Inside Tartaros' Headquarters ]

[kingofhades]

"E.N.D.'s Book shall not be touched. Marde Guill will maintain that promise."

The King of Hades mused, walking slowly up to the gathering. His eyes glowing with irritation. He was done with his task. He was ready to fight and with his powers, he was extremely powerful. Using his thorns and Alegra, would be no problem for him. He could utilize the lack of space to his advantage. He touched the last of the tunnels with his hand before standing beside Zeref, though not paying much heed for the girl.

Zeref contracted her help, and Marde Guille didn't seem to care either way. As long as she didn't get in his way. She wasn't human, but he didn't particularly find her interesting. He was never around to see her to be honest. He just knew she was around.

"Such foolishness shall be punished. He will regret making an enemy of Tartaros."

[ Pre-Battle - Inside Tartaros' Headquarters ]

[bookishdemoness]

Sayla stayed close to Zeref. Marde Guille was their avant-garde and it would do no good to be in his way.

"This story shall show what happens to false gods."

She was ready to fight, eager even. Zeref's demons had it in them. Even Sayla, who was less belligerent than other members of Tartaros, knew it: they were meant to fight. To kill. That's part of why it felt weird for Sayla to use her curse on Zeref to prevent him from being too dangerous... Yet she'd agreed to it. Because her obedience to Zeref was stronger than anything else.

"This story shall also show why people fear Zeref and the Nine Demon Gates."

Kefka's end was already written.

[ Pre-Battle - Inside Tartaros' Headquarters ]

[deathsought]

Even if, technically speaking, Sayla was now the only member of the Nine Demon Gates present, it was true. Sayla was as powerful as any of the other demons he created, Marde Guille and E.N.D. notwithstanding. "Then let us get ready. Sayla and I will wait near the entrance. Once the bait is in place, Marde Guille will ready Alegria. We will then move to kill any survivors on the surface afterward."

He was hoping that Yuna could hold out long enough for Tartaros to deal with the monsters below the surface. Zeref didn't know what she was capable of, but he knew that she wouldn't have volunteered for the position of Guardian if she didn't think she could handle it.

"Kefka claims to be God, but I know that war is hell. Let's show him why those in hell come to fear demons."

And with that, Zeref makes his way for the entrance, expecting Sayla to follow. The two of them would be more than a match for any of Kefka's monsters that survive Alegria.