Hm. Unei, then. You remind me of her in some manner.

Well... aren't you a curious specimen. What do I call you?

My thanks.

And give you the satisfaction? No.

I care not for your dislike. Nor any other feelings you have towards me.

If that was meant to terrify me, it will take more than that.

[He has returned from goo-death]

// next time on Allagan Ball Z....

Xande will be quiet for some time, he's got some shit to work out of his system :)

eyes snapped open, glowing sickly white as he reached for Olwen. His body seemingly moving more like a machine than a man. The ooze slowly coated his body as the Rot began to fester.

The moment the lights snapped back on, Xande's hand had came to a stop barely an ilm away from Olwen.

the very arena they stood in. His body began lock up and freeze as the ooze continued to seep from his wound.

It wasn't long before he stopped moving entirely, yet the pink light continued to flicker at an alarming rate. Just as the light shut off, and the area was plunged into darkness, Xande's+

Black oozes from his chest and mouth. He laughs, as if he hadn't just been impaled. It was as she worked to drive the impalement deeper that the pink light flickered.

"You still do not get it, do you?"

Xande grunted, the black splattering down his chest.

"I CANNOT BE KILLED!"

His voice shook+

"Oh good. You've come to add to my collection have you??"

He bent down, picking Zenos up by his remaining arm. He held him over the edge of the platform he stood on, blood splattered onto the floor below.

"Perhaps I'll remove the other!"

His laughter echoed around the Pit.

She would encounter Xande first, as he was closer.

He looked like a maddened dog, staring at her with wild eyes. His pupils were blown wide with excitement as he locked his gaze onto Olwen.

That same mechanical arm that removed Zenos's arms just a few minutes earlier suddenly swung wildly at her.+

and Olwen inside, her scythe ready to fight if needed.

Finally, Levas was able to override the arm band. Or rather, it glowed with a soft pink before unlocking itself, finally releasing Olwen from its binding suppression.

no one in particular.

Behind him, Salina slammed her fist against the door of the lift. After a few agonizing moments, it opened into a hallway filled with the bodies of those killed not long ago. The light here was brighter pink than the rest, a welcomed sign as any.

Salina dragged both Levas+

in combination with those eyes...yes, they will prove useful." He turned away, leaving Zenos to lay on the floor unconscious.

------------

Levas looked as if he was going to be sick.

His hands shook, as he attempted to override the lock on the arm band. "I can't get this off-" he cursed to+

"No, boy. It is you who is savage and primitive. To become one with a lesser species is proof of such."

Xande wiped his cheek, staring down at Zenos with sickening satisfaction. "I must thank you for this precious research gift." He picked up Zenos's arm, holding it up like a sick trophy.

"This,+

with him for a time before he grew bored. Three nodes shot out, similar in design to the restraints Omega had employed years ago to restrain Shinryu originally.

He barely shifted from the sudden slam.

"Weak. Pathetic. Easily subjucated, just like the rest of your kin."

Xande looked down at Zenos, assuming he was a true dragon, and not a man projecting as one. He lifted his hand, and the machine below him raised its mechanical arm in turn.

He grappled+

heart dropped.

Below them, she watched as the Shinryu-class dragon slammed itself into a large vehicle carrying Xande.

"Levas, are you positive one of the cloned Shinryu-class broke out? It's mane is different, and..." She had to turn away.

The moment the lift doors shut, it lurched upwards, already going to where it needed to go, as if being drawn.

"Up." Levas said, looking at Olwen.

"The Encephalon has 2 entrances. A teleporter that connects from Syrcus Tower, and this lift." Salina turned to look out the window. "Oh no..." Her+

suddenly expanding from somewhere in her sleeve. She slashed at one of the soldiers waiting for them.

“You don’t think..?” Levas readied his gunaxe just in case there was something waiting for them on the other side of the lift they needed.

“I do.” Salina looked at the pink lights, fear showing.

“Black-green scales with a mane of gold. One of the ‘Shinryu’ class dragons.” Levas explained as he lead the way.

The lights all suddenly flickered off. When they came back on a moment later, they were a solid pink.

“Levas, was there anything in the Encephalon?” Salina darted forward, her scythe+

that broke out of containment.”

Levas and Salina exchanged looks, before looking to Olwen.

“It is the control nexus, heavily guarded and fortified. I can remove that band if we can make it there safely.”

Salina gestured to the band on Olwen’s arm.

Salina looked back at Olwen, worry written clear as day.

“Something is not right.”

Just as she finished speaking, Levas rounded the corner looking terrified. Another wave of pink, 4 second this time.

“There you are! Come, we must make for the Encephalon. Xande is otherwise occupied with a dragon+

the first true birth within these confines in over three hundred years.”

She easily guided Olwen through the maze-like expanse, straight to the heart of the ship.

Another flicker of pink, though this time it lasted two seconds before fading. Salina stopped, listening down a corridor.

“Olwen.”+

“Father really only cares for one thing, and that’s reclaiming what is rightfully his. The true heir, and her son.”

Salina’s expression fell.

“It was never enough that he could simply make the perfect heir. No, he needed fresh material, nothing from Saronia’s stagnant cloned existence. Hers was+

until our fates are sealed. It doesn’t help that Xande has been using more and more power to locate my daughter since she awoke.”

Salina moved away from the wall, where another flicker of pink surged.

stopped as the usual blue glow of the lights briefly flickered pink.

Her hand pressed against the wall, as if trying to feel something. But when she pulled her hand away, she frowned.

“Powder surges have become commonplace as the fuel cells degrade. Levas estimates we have about 2300 cycles left+

the door and into the cold hallway of the cell block.

“I hate him.” She finally said, once the door behind them was secured. “All he cares about is protecting the clones. He would do whatever was asked of him, if it meant Xande would leave them alone.”

As she walked down the hall, she suddenly+