::The Champion's Walk:: [Floor 333]

[Arena Emperor]

~::The Tower of Babel - Champion's Walk [Floor 333]::~

Throughout the Tower of Babel rest floors which reflect the darkness inside of humanity...when humans venture within, their shadows come out to play, changing the very face of certain levels within into the dungeon of their nightmares, putting on display that which they don't want others to see. But for those whose shadows have already taken control, whose darkness rules and acts according to its own design, there are unique floors entirely under their command, bending to their will as they seek to ascend to the top of the Tower.

Floor 333 is known as the Champion's Walk and stands as a bulwark against the progress of the Investigation Team and other forces of good, preventing them from achieving higher levels in search of Shadow Soji and the Black Messiahs. It is a level built by and for the Shadow Champion Teros, whose vast strength makes him a formidable barricade against those who would seek to go further into Babel. Low-level Messiahs spend most of their time on this level, unless they are summoned to the Heretic's Throne for orders from their master...

...

Here is the Champion's Walk, where the darkness pushes back the light. Do not enter if you are not ready to claim a difficult victory in the name of the light...

 

[Zorc James]

Ѧҡдɪϯѻ Ϻӫɗѻҡʊ

"How very intriguing..." a slender tanned-skin man stated as he had walked quietly around the edge of what was the walkway up to the Champion's walk. He had heard from other associates that this was made for one of the elite soldiers named Teros. He had heard of his strength before, and was curious of just how strong that was. So, he took samples of the walk under him, putting them in test tubes to analyze and survey later on. But for right now, being within the aura of the Champion's Walk made him feel like he belonged here. Then, a wide smile and small chuckle spread for a short moment.  

[Arena Emperor]

Soji Seta's Shadow, The Black Messiah
"...The realm of gods and devils, where no man dares; above it all I sit as King..."

He hated that he had even wasted the time to come so far down the Tower when his destination was in the other direction; the snake's treachery demanded the most severe of responses. He had to make his intentions as clear as possible, demonstrate that he would brook no challenger to the Heretic's Throne, nor the Throne that waited at the top of this Tower of Vanity. The shadow held no illusions that this would be the last time that Hetero tried to flex his muscle and work some treasonous game against he and the Messiahs, but with one ruthless strike he had made it plain what the result of such actions would be. This time, every time...and so he had stricken down the monster's forgery, returning to the Champion's Walk en route to the Throne further up. Here, however, he paused and waited...summoning to meet him his servants to impart instructions and demonstrate his benevolence to those who had pledged their very lives to him. Sano, his Shadow Lord, had already sent a message using the boon that he had received, but that was just the beginning. Night's advent had but delayed the Tournament...soon, it would begin again and with it, the harbingers of death would pose yet another renewed threat to the Investigation Team.

Before the Shadow Messiah stood one of his newest servants, but no less a threat than so many who had come before him. This one had...potential, like the Arbiter and Champion before him...perhaps not yet as proven as the Lord, but soon, he was certain, his worth would be demonstrated most emphatically. That was why he stood here now...golden eyes flashing in the dark, a dark power flaming dangerously about his hand as he loomed before Minohiko Tsuneshi as if in wait to pluck the very life from his chest. His fingers curled...was he...?

"You're quite impressive, Mino. To defeat that team's Snow Black in the second round of the Tournament shows that you have skills the like of which I haven't seen since the Shadow Lord...if not the Champion before him. This fragment is wasted on you," his hand thrust forward suddenly and seized something from within the boy...the Trapezohedron...and within his palm he crushed the shard and let the dust scatter to the wind, drifting through the Tower and away back towards the source like the others...in its place a sudden, obsidian core nestled itself at his chest and then tendrils like creeping corruption latched out and took root at his shoulders and his hips, expanding...enveloping...growing and hardening and forming into an armor that well-suited him, "You deserve something much more complete. The Shadow Joker...Minohiko. Your power is much different from my other servants...I look forward to seeing just what kind of chaos you can wreak with it."

Withdrawing his hand back to his side, he watched as the shadows spread and stretched and formed up into the armor...the gauntlets...the leggings of the Shadow Joker's Armor...but suspiciously, no helm or hat took shape. It was as though that part of the armor was left open for something else...but what?

"I will ascend back to the Heretic's Throne," the golden-eyed Messiah smirked coolly at his followers and turned his back to them, moving easily towards the lift up the Tower without a consideration in the world for the rest of them...not the doctor or any of the others, "When I see you all again, I expect a much better result..."

Quote:

Shadow Soji's Dark Gift Awakens!

With a dearth of Champions, a forgotten boon given to a promising soldier awakens to its dark potential; Minohiko Tsuneshi, inherits a terrible power to confound those beyond the Tower that would seek to thwart his master and avoid his judgment. He has become the mystery, the dark laugh...the Shadow Joker Mino!

Mino Receives:

S. Joker's Coat - Summon up to 2 Bronze Dice shadows of a Medium-strength level to fight alongside the Joker every other turn. Each may only cast one elemental Dyne spell, Power Charge, Last Resort, attack physically, and cast Dia.
S. Joker's Cloak - Cast 'Black Waltz': Increases Magic/Ailment Boost/Evasion greatly. Armor changes color each time the spell is cast, significantly reduce one elemental type of damage. Place non-elemental magic on weapon of choice.
S. Joker's Trick Rose - Beautiful rose worn on the Joker's luxurious coat; contains a surprise for those who decide they want to stop and smell the flower... Spray a toxic poison or blinding gas into the eyes of a nearby enemy to inflict Toxic and/or Blind/Panic on an enemy (1/6 odds).

...

Mino, the Shadow Joker, Has Been Reborn!

Quote:

Mino's Trapezohedron has been removed!