Chapter CCCXCI: Addition, Acquisition and Division ~Multehx

The rusty, aged gates of the large mansion swung open, their own creaking masked by the howling wind that made the trees near bow and caused several of the smaller demonic creatures have to fight to hold their ground, on land and more so in the air. The four figures walked out between the aged iron structures, which swung shut with a crash behind them the moment they had all passed through.

Baron Holograntis smirked as he tapped the butt of his staff upon the ground; the odd, upside-down pyramidal figure comprised by linking bars at its head glowed for a moment. He inhaled deeply, breathing out with a grin. "That," he said to the others, fanning his arms out, "is what air is meant to smell like!" He inhaled as deeply a bit more, nodding.

A similar sound came from behind the blue mask upon Malus’ face. "Yes," he sneered, "totally saturated with it; the scent of pure evil. The master undoubtedly stirs here."

The other sorcerer nodded, taking a few steps forward and peering down the street ahead of them. His cane tapped restlessly against the cobblestones as he stood there.

Alfred snickered, tightening his gloves with either hand. "I think our resident fire manipulator is a bit restless." A few sparks flew between the professor’s wild locks. "So am I." He snickered again, glancing to the others. "What do you gents say we–"

"–Same as the old days," interrupted Malus, nodding. A grin spread over his face in quite sinister fashion. "I liked the old days."

Alfred smirked. "I told you to stop doing that when I'm speaking or I really will hit you, some day."

The sorcerer shrugged, giving a single chuckle. "Old habits–"

"–are hard to break." Nsvem completed, sneering, hair a glow with electricity. "But those who oppose the master’s way are not."

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Kenzo growled, his giant axe cleaving yet another beast in twain; in a puddle of putrid green its remains collapsed to the ground like those before it. He grinned briefly, before yelling in agony as he was grabbed in a bear-hug by a titan of blue energy. He writhed in its unrelentingly strong grasp. He yelled in continued pain, struggling wildly until he finally broke free.

The mechna knight stumbled back, gripping his axe handle tightly in his one hand, perplexed why his captor had released him. The Electrophorm seemed to glow less brilliantly, wavering upon its feet for a moment before collapsing to its knees wearily. Its crackling form suddenly seemed to be literally sucked out of existence and into the double barrel of a pistol at its back. Omega grinned, pointing his Quicksilver sky high and firing off a tremendous bolt of red and blue energy that vanished after piercing through the thick clouds above. "Man I love this thing."

As he turned about his cheery expression was instantly wiped and he glared deeply. Upon his cane rested the highly electrified genius himself. "Yes, fine bit of work, isn't it?" He grinned, standing up straight, resting one hand upon the end of the straight cane. "I was on that project, you know; fine bit of work, if I do say so myself."

Omega growled deeply, Kenzo frowning as he joined the robot, brandishing his weapon. The spheredroid deftly replaced his pistol in his side and removed his sword hilt from its container in his leg, flicking it active with a thumb. "Nsvem," he coldly growled.

The professor snickered, shouldering his cane. "That any way to greet an old friend?"

Waving a hand, Omega would have spat to the side if he had a mouth. "Cut the crap; where is it?"

Kenzo raised a brow, glancing curiously out of the side of his eye at his friend. "Where's what?" he whispered.

A snicker was the blond's response. "Safe and sound, where it belongs; where you'll never get to it."

The robot maintained his glare, taking a more aggressive stance. "Where is it?!"

Alfred snickered, forming a crackling sphere of electricity in his hand. "And they say we talk too much," he grinned as he muttered. He pointed his cane at the droid. "Enough talk, robot, down to business."

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Rainy, D'Nel, and company walked down the street. "This is the way towards the focus," the light-blue Yoshi whispered, careful not to alert any of the roaming monstrosities to their position. "Just a bit further down this st–" he began, coming to a dead stop.

There, the road ended quite seamlessly at a brick wall, spanning from either wall that lined the pathway.

Rainstorm frowned. "...Must have taken a wrong turn..." he muttered, the group turning about.

They followed their leader down the street in the opposite direction, passing a side alley lined with rubble of a fallen dwelling and trying to go out and around. Again, they were stopped by another wall. Rainy frowned, muttering as they set back to try the alley.

From a rooftop above them, against a chimney leaned a tall, lanky figure. He snickered, tapping the top of his cane to his brow again. His pupils seemed to blur and waver for a moment, before returning to their normal hue. "Run the maze, little rodents. The cats are out and about, and looks like you're going to encounter quite a few on the way to the cheese." He snickered, watching as the group stopped in the middle of another street beyond the alley, and proceeded down another way.

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Ratch and Redaz fared no better. They frowned as the only way out of the courtyard not blocked by the seemingly infinite number of knights was blocked by two men; one tall and thin, donning blue robes and an unusual blue mask, the other short and wider, wearing red. Both held ornate golden canes in their gloved hands, and the red one tapped his slightly impatiently against the cobble stones.

Malus snickered, stepping forth. "Well now, how shall we go about this little foray?" He tilted his head, smirking. "Do you wish to die together, or each on their own?"

Spiite smirked slightly, tightening his grip on his staff. He secretly hoped they'd opt for the second; he didn't want Malus getting most of the fun as usual.