Divine Intervention [Conquest AT]

The show had now truly begun, Nero seeing it as a form of liberation from nonsense talk being made by the two invaders. That said, the battle was still a battle, and it needed to be taken as seriously as possible. Perhaps even the kickback made by those defending Namek could in some way resonate and make a point talking could not. There was always something to be said about the tenacity to protect, less could be said about the capacity to destroy— at least that was what Nero thought.

Weaving around Ward’s massive aura arms— only just barely at that— Nero smirked, seeing the effect of his comparatively measly attack; truly the Makankōsappō was something else and definitely something that should be honed. Even Pankaa pitched in, and in any other situation Nero would have erupted into laughter at his brother’s one-liner, but instead he held his smirk and gave Pankaa a quick thumbs up.

Though it was an explosive opening to proceedings, Erebos weathered the first of many storms to come, his focus squarely on the primary threat who was currently going through a twitching frenzy; Nero cringed at that, as most with a set of bones might do in response but his expression became deathly serious once a foul beast emerged from a completely opposite shell.

Surely not even Ward, who had just telepathically howled at everyone, could justify it, though Nero wouldn’t be surprised if the Shinjin tried. Nero responded with a hail of white noise static and a telepathic shout of his own directed at Ward alone. ’SHUT UP AND OPEN YOUR EYES, YOU BLITHERING IDIOT.’ It was rude, sure, but it was also blunt and direct.

Thusly the storms to follow the first came to be, the grotesque form of ‘Phakk’ in particular; it attacked Crotona, though to little effect as the Konatsian mitigated what was potentially the worst of whatever it tried to do; a new power even had awoken in Crotona in response!

When the creature made its way toward Nero and Pankaa, Nero took a protective stance; Tiamat and Crotona also assisted in slowing it’s approach, and when it ‘spoke’ out and Pankaa understandably showed fear, Nero was firm in his determination. Despair, it said? As if. “Not even in your distorted dreams, you mangled freak.” Nero’s aura flared to life shooting a basic ki blast at the creature, though it still managed to reach Pankaa, causing some adverse effects as the Avali panicked. Pankaa was infinitely more important than whatever paltry attempt at demoralizing this monster made.

On a dime, as soon as Pankaa even let go, Nero was flying after him and then passed him to get enough momentum to fly back up and catch him safely, and even in his panic and obvious suffering, Pankaa was one hell of a fighter, even firing off a technique at Ward. When Pankaa reached out to Nero briefly with his telepathy, the older brother quickly tried to make sense of what was happening as he caught the little Avali. In a snap decision through all he could gather, Nero also held onto Pankaa telepathically, the pure and true part of him alone to keep him safe where the youngster could not do for himself in his currently terrified emotional state. Nero knew Pankaa better than anyone; the Avali had retreated into himself like this several times before when he got intensely emotional wherein he couldn’t reach out on his own; and Nero was going to protect him, make things right like he always did.

Seeing what was done to him however, understandably had him seething which only emboldened his determination and protective telepathic link to Pankaa from his side.

Those two poor excuses for ‘Shinjin’ were to blame for all of this. Their bumbling incompetence, selfishness, and inability to truly empathise, it all lead to this. They didn’t understand the scope of their actions and from Nero, they would never again receive any niceties.

Ward, who acted as though he was above others, untouchable and having all the answers was already grating enough, but now? As far as Nero was concerned, Ward’s ‘balance’ was a lie, it was bias. Perhaps it was twisted, but Nero hoped Ward would live for a long time, so that he could suffer agonising guilt if he was even capable of it.

Phakk was now and for all time, in her entirety— no matter the form she took—less than nothing to Nero. In his eyes, she was a non-entity destined to perpetuate her own ignorant misery and fester in it for what she had done, to be denied all of her desires for as long as she lived.

An echoing thundercrack boomed, sounding like the howl of a hundred wolves and the hollering of a hundred monkeys simultaneously as a small yet bright pierced the inky darkness. Nero’s inner power had burst forth. The brilliance of it’s light may have been fleeting and this strength not much in comparison to others present, but it made a statement nonetheless.

Upon his nimbus, holding his dear brother in his arms, Nero had transformed. He had grown noticeably in size, though by only a few feet, he had also become hairier and even more wild looking with searing white hot glowing eyes. Yet still, there was an odd tranquillity to it all, a great deal of focus and discipline.

The ferocious instinct of a wolf, the wild strength of an ape and the determined heart of a man all in equal measure. His mind was set, his goal was clear, Nero raised an arm and poured energy into it until it crackled violently in his hand before he reared it back and shot a compressed kiai wave forward in Phakk’s direction barely giving her a glance in the process. He saw where she was, and that was all he needed, she wasn’t getting away from his chance at retribution, Nero would make sure of it.

Nero’s blazing gaze fell on Erebos, and a telepathic blip would be transmitted to the shadowmancer; a simple instruction— ’If you see moonlight in its wake, follow it.’