Divide and Conquer

With the time for stealth being all but over, a simple cloak was sufficient to disguise Ahsch as his group made their way to the assassin organization's HQ. Since they were supposed to be some sort of super-secret, doesn't-actually-exist organization that was essentially invite-only for patrons, they didn't have an actual name, which frustrated Ahsch a little. Though when he had shared that with the others, Avery had just shrugged. "Won't matter soon, what with them all about to be dead."

The hrafthi had to admit, she made a good point.

It was an overcast, drizzling day, which meant that Ahsch didn't stand out, because everyone was wearing a cloak with the hood pulled up, even - much to her annoyance - Ariin; though the Dominant Mage doubted that would last much past starting the attack. All in all, it seemed the perfect day for such an event, not quite miserable but definitely not sunny and bright.

It was a few hours before noon when they were in position, and the order went out. Ariin went first, as Exhibitive Creation granted her insane defensive capabilities, making her the idea vanguard for the assault. Avery was behind her, followed by the angels, and then Ahsch and Mahat brought up the rear. The fight started pretty spectacularly, as Ariin surged forward, somehow accelerating through the air towards one of the bruisers outside the front building. Her spear took him in the chest, and her momentum brought both her and her target through the wall, all for her to literally slide on him like a sled, her cloak floating off behind her.

His companion barely even had time to turn and gape before Avery all but teleported beside him, her rapier slipping through his temple and dropping him like a sack of bricks. The shaid then stalked into the building through the hole made by Ariin, a casual flick of her weapon making a small streak of blood on the ground.

As a seemingly innate capability, Aena, Nyrin, and Sifthi summoned pure white weapons - Aena a longsword, Nyrin a pair of shortswords, and Sifthi a spear. Much like clothing, they could simply manipulate the Mana they were formed from to create such tools of death. Somewhat slower than his wife, Ahsch's angels filed into the building, and Ahsch followed close behind.

There were already a half-dozen corpses, though the dozen-odd individuals who yet lived were putting up a solid fight, the element of surprise having worn off. Ariin spun and lashed out with her spear, keeping up a deadly barrage of strikes. Avery seemed to slip out of perception, literally walking up to distracted enemies before 'reappearing' and ending them with her blade. Of the six women, the angels contributed the least, their movements technically sound, yet lacking any imagination or individuality, making them easy to predict - though not necessarily easy to beat, given their enhanced bodies. Mahat stayed by her Master, eager to partake in the bloodshed, but not more than she wanted to keep Ahsch safe - her role would be to stay with him and protect him, not to engage on her own.

Ahsch strode in, his magic boosted by an extended orgy similar to what they'd done prior to Phashim's second test. He'd also spent the time to fuck the angels, as well as have any of the inner circle who were willing fuck them so they could learn more Innate Spells. By literally just looking, the Dominant Mage sent quick volleys of Heart Pierces sailing into foes. Some had defenses in place, but none strong enough or thorough enough to be much more than an inconvenience for his spells, which penetrated shields and wards with almost 100% efficiency. Pierce was putting in work, beyond tickling Mystical Calamities.

The first room was cleared in barely a minute, but the group could hear more preparing deeper in the building. Glancing at each other and nodding, the broke into three groups - Ariin and Nyrin, Avery and Sifthi, and Ahsch, Mahat and Aena - and split up to sweep the rest of the building. Ahsch and his familiar and first angel went back outside; in a few moments, Float and Spirit String were active on the hrafthi, while the angel sprouted wings and took to the air; Mahat literally just climbed up the side of the building. They were starting at the top, while Ariin and Avery would comb up from the bottom. Neither his sister nor wife liked Ahsch being separated, but given the assassins wouldn't expect an airborn attack after the ruckus they had just caused on the ground floor, and his next reincarnation had already been bound to his sister yet again, they mostly argued on principle - after all, as hyped-up on Sexual Amplification as he was, Ahsch doubted many - if any - of the assassins could pose a proper threat to him at this point.

Targets two through five, eight, ten, and fourteen have been secured, Dorin informed everyone. Ahsch nodded. There were sixteen targets, so already having almost half done meant the rest would fall in short order, as the troops redeployed to assist in ongoing fights.

There wasn't any sort of roof access, so Ahsch took a page out of his sister's book and had Aena make an entrance for him: the angel dove through the highest window and immediately began fighting with whoever was inside. Ahsch floated in, cut his spells, then peppered a retreating assassin in the back with a barrage of Heart Pierces while Aena's sword refused to be stained in the blood seeping from the hole she had just made in her foe's heart.

Glancing around and nodding, Ahsch had his angel take point and they began to work their way down. Despite being somewhat anxious before they began, the hrafthi found himself... oddly calm. A part of him was disgusted by his own actions, what he was doing - they were killing dozens, hundreds of people. Another part of him recalled a common complaint of Avery's, as well as a condemnation of Phashim's: he was too soft.

I don't want to become heartless, he thought to himself as he watched Aena cut down another enemy. But I don't want to allow beasts like Byrdrek and Fauna to get away with their sins. So I'll walk the line: any who do not cross me, who do not earn my wrath, I will treat 'softly,' with kindness and openness, as much as I can.

A pair of assassins broke some kind of stealth spell and dropped down from above - Ahsch had already detected them through their bonded intent to kill him. Mahat leapt up, her jaws closing around the neck of one, while Ahsch spun, his staff-spear rocketing out and skewering the other.

_But those who dare to harm me or mine, who threaten innocents or that which I care about, will bring down the wrath of Enochiel.- - - - - -

_

In all, it took the group just over an hour to eliminate all sixteen targets. None of Ahsch's group received more than scratches or bruises, though two Odestag Troops had fallen, and a half-dozen more had been injured, though none fatally. Ahsch had already asked Dorin to get the names of the two slain troops, and made a mental note to do... something for them.

Avery cast a sidelong glance at her husband as their party of seven made their way back to R'sath. If you insist on remembering the names of everyone who dies by your command, you'll eventually run out of rooms for anything else.

Ahsch nodded solemnly. I know. And maybe, at some point, I'll give up. But... they were the first.

Avery just gazed at him for a few moments more before nodding and turning her attention back to the front. Ahsch reached out to the others. Are we ready for the next stage?