Mickey rolled out of the way of the mow electrified water attack, wincing. Shit she wasn't good with close combat. She gathered fire whips in her hands, glaring Sophie down who only smirked.

Justine danced her way out of the mist that Charlotte had called out. She could feel her control over water slipping away. She counter away the knife that was shot at her, barely missing it. Damn, that knife was sharp.

Mickey lashed out with the whips and Sophie ducked, stabbing at Mickey, who skittered back. Sophie slammed water into Mickey, whose whips fizzled and disappeared.

Sophie's water died away and Mickey struggled to her feet, coughing and retching up water. She pushed her sopping hair back from her face and glared at Sophie, who smiled back.

(ILD we're waiting on you)

Xhort ascended into the portal with a crooked grin. His gaze cast down upon Noctixmo who glared as he left the battlefield. Noctixmo slowly stood up, his joints cramped from tiring. He looked at the other adversaries still present, then to the dragon that had appeared. Was that Galvin? He turned his attention to Mickey, who seemed to be struggling the most. Pulling his blade out of the ground and clutching his shoulder, he launched a small ball of fire towards the trident-bearing woman, hoping to divert her attention.

Zadyn continued to observe the fight, looking over his shoulder with a raise of his brow as the elderly man he had been acquainted with emerged from a portal behind him, "How was it down there?" He asked, hands behind his back.

"The boy is potent, but I held back. Tell me, Zadyn - why do you seek 'fun' here over efficiency?"

"You strike me as a man who strives for knowledge, Xhort. A common trait between you and I." Zadyn outstretched a hand and gestured slowly, pointing across the horizon in front of them, "Do you not see what I see? A rich pool of resourceful insight - that we might take home with us."

Xhort smirked, "Heh. But I am perhaps not as studious. I possess the knowledge necessary to fulfill my goals - I simply seek now to return home and realise them. Next time, I will be expecting you to assist us." 

Zadyn's lip curled into a smirk, turning his head back to look ahead, "Very well, then. I'll indulge your thirst for conflict." 

Xhort nodded, quietly cynical of the remark. He watched through the portal as the others fought.

With a powerful roar, Gadar-Voljin swung a massive front foot at Gigginox, who portaled away from it onto the ridge again. Noteworthy, Voljin's claws hit the portal and stopped his foot completely. Gigginox, from atop the ridge, opened up several portals around Voljin and began thrusting his sword through the portals, chipping at the scales of the great green beast at incredible speeds.

Mickey nodded at Noctixmo in thanks. Her fire collided with the water, steam rising into the air.

Sophie growled. Why had Xhort retreated? Were they all supposed to?

Voljin roared from the rapid blows, and unleashed a miasma towards Gigginox, who opened up a portal to suck it in. Another portal opened up right by Noctixmo, spraying the incredibly toxic gas towards him. Voljin spit on his front claws, and charged at Gigginox.

(reported for grief)

Noctixmo flinched briefly before realising that the bubble had protected him. He looked to Mickey as if to say thanks before warping out of the bubble and towards Sophie. He twirled his blade a couple times as he started to run towards her before leaping, poised to cut downwards.

A portal opened underneath Sophie and Charlotte both, dropping them behind Gigginox as the dragon rushed towards them. He used portals like shields, rapidly blocking the incredibly fast claw swings. He rushed toward the dragon, portal opening as he moved forward to prevent any strikes at him. In an unseen instant, a portal opened in front of him. Another opened behind Justine, as Gigginox popped through it, bringing down a downwards slash at Justine's back.

As soon as he missed, he jumped back through the portal. Voljin turned and shoved his right front foot towards Gigginox, but the portal closed before he could hit him. Unnoticed by Voljin, the tip of his claw had entered the portal, and when it closed, it took that tip clean off. Gigginox appeared atop Voljin, and tore off a scale with his armored hand before stabbing into the flesh below. Voljin issued a roar, and began seeping that same green mist from his back. Gigginox portaled away from it immediately, coming out behind Voljin.