Soulsteel screeched against tainted Soulsteel, kicking up sprays of abyssal sparks. Black Hole Sun flickered in an out of existence, randomly generating hologram duplicates as he pummeled at Esone. The Scourge in turn answered screaming sword strike with reality-snarling punch, the explosions engulfing Sun in brief flashes of crimson light. Neither was making much progress in harming the other - Sun's armor drew motes from the world around it like a vampire in order to negate damage, while Esone evaded in swirls of bloodless murk. The floor was littered with illusionary Esone corpses -which Sun was<span style="font-style: italic">still</span>periodically trying to raise- and the area for fifty yards around was rapidly becoming a Shadowland.<br/><br/>"I am eternal / Death will never capture me / My skills exceed his." Sun hissed, appearing in a crouch as Esone punched through another hologram. Esone cursed, reaching into his rapidly depleting mote reserve for another perfect defense. Fortunately, the slash Sun delivered was interrupted by an oxygen tank slamming into the Abyssal's face. The shot decked Sun, weakening his slash so that it bounced off Rare Earth. The Lieutenant paused to shoot his commander a quick salute before resuming the flashy stalemate.<br/><br/>"Thanks boss!"<br/><br/>"I have arisen / You will regret harming me / My vengeance at hand."<br/><span style="color: #000000">Make it stoooooooooooop.</span><br/><br/>"Alright, you are<span style="font-style: italic">forbidden</span>from speaking in Haikus." The Lieutenant snarled, channeling the Essence of She Who Lives In Her Name. Every time someone spoke a Haiku for the rest of the fight, Esone would gain motes.<br/><br/><span style="color: #000000">Of course, now you can't speak in Haikus or you'll lose motes.</span><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Right, because I do</span>so<span style="font-style: italic">love to use them.</span><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">-Awww, I thought they were cute...-</span><br/><span style="color: #000000">I can tell that this is the start of a long and tedious partnership.</span><br/><br/>"And I disappear / A ghost amidst the combat / Preparing to strike."<br/><br/>Black Hole Sun barreled over the shattered arena floor, dozens of holographic duplicates manifesting around him. As the horde bore down on Esone, the Lieutenant began to punch the air.<br/><br/>"Eat lead!"<br/><br/>A wall of shotgun shrapnel whistled through the holograms, rattling off of the one real enemy. Esone grinned, and ducking beneath Sun's cut and knocking the Deathknight's legs out from under him. Snatching the falling Abyssal up by the ankles, the Scourge sprinted to where 042 and Weeping Raiton dueled.<br/><br/>The Alchemical was holding his own against Raiton, although the lithe Moonshadow was too quick for him to land any significant hits on. His turret and wrist guns were excellent for strafing her, but anything that did come into contact just left unbleeding holes. Distracted by a backflip to avoid a spray from the turret, Raiton didn't see Esone heft Black Hole Sun at her like a hammer until it was too late. She went flying, whistling between Weather Report and Marina. Esone could almost see little birds flapping in circles around her head.<br/><br/>"Alright Ghostbot, you lay down suppressive fire for Del Pilar! I'll try and corral Raiton together with Weather Report."<br/>The Lieutenant patted the Geth on the shoulder, swinging Sun haphazardly with one hand to keep the Abyssal disoriented.<br/><br/>"Try not to die, neh?"<br/><br/>---I won't die today / Not while I still have ammo / I am a badass.---<br/><br/>"NOT YOU TOO!"<br/><br/>The Geth shrugged, raising it's arms towards Raiton while it's turret swiveled to face the Maiden. Esone kicked off in the direction of the former, Sun drawn back to deliver a bone-breaking blow. The crack of the lighting was splitting the ground, thunder sounding, artillery pounding. At this rate, the whole complex was going to come down on their heads. Esone began to expand, taking on the stance of Infernal Monster Form. Madness began to spew from his lips, insane ravings of a barbaric science experiment.<br/><br/>"Over here, my sweet meats, your prince of justice and genocide has something to say: Gone are the days of the tentacle and the age of the gods and mercy is far away... We are the fighters of the middle, the second act in the three-part MEAT play, AND I WILL WIN BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR!"