The Puppeteer's Challenge

Five minutes before midnight, a blue dimensional portal was in front of them. At the end of the road, they would be placed on one of the most unknown places of the world - the Bermuda Triangle. Anxiously awaiting for the time to come, this was the only mission request like it - one that asked for a duel. One where even if they failed, they would still be rewarded. Sounded like a farfetched mission to take on, but somebody had to take it. Luckily, it was a mission asked for five people at maximum, so for the time being, the battle would be likely in their favor. The five that dared to venture out into the mysterious area on the Atlantic Ocean were Aethra, Cyth, Brailynn, Kimply, and Noa. All five were different in their own way, but this time, it was a battle to be united within if they had any chances of winning. There wasn't any other way to do it. Pacing back and forth in front of the transportation system that as set to suck them a few seconds before midnight to guarantee them to make it there in time, with her claymore in hand, Aethra looked to the ground, wondering how this was going to work. They had five minutes to discuss a plan as quickly as possible, or so she thought. Time just didn't seem to be enough nowadays. Before she knew it, a suction of wind pulled her in, with the speed of light, straight onto the shore of the Bermuda. Wait... shore? Was this unknown place really just an island? Looking onto the ground, and grasping her hands and blade, just to make sure everything was alright, the Spring felt the raspy feel of sand and its rough texture. Heh, they said a monster or something lived here. Suuuuuure, this seemed like a very normal island for the time-being. However, it wasn't a good time to underestimate a place that was chosen for a duel so late at night.

Tilting her head up to see whether or not the sky was still visible, considering that apparently, twisters raged around the island and destroying everything that came by, only to see that the moon was shining brightly and the stars were glittering across the sky as clearly as the students could see them back home. That was strange. However, when she turned to find her sword, it was already missing. Aethra, confused, remembering that she had landed with it when they were spat out onto the triangle's territory. Really, this place seemed harmless, unless they counted if Atlantis' so-called leftover technology counted. When she turned around, a doll that was a miniature version of herself appeared, holding her now-shrunk sword. The puppet pointed the sword at her throat before attempting to slash at her. Ducking to avoid it, only to be swung at again, the kitsune-like girl jumped back a feet or two before realizing that this must be the Marionette Master's work. Why else would their be a floating doll? When lost in thought, or supposedly, the marionette swung again, this time, the attack being blocked by grabbing the hilt. A voice called in the distance and the toy withdrew back, to the direction where the sound came from. With her sword in her hand once again, it enlargened back to its normal size before the girl turned around to follow the doll's path, only to see a young girl around sixteen carrying a book.

If observed carefully, a group of about twenty to thirty puppets were behind her, five of them resembling the five challengers, including Aethra's miniature self. Why, this girl only seemed to look like a student, if anything. What was she doing on the Bermuda Triangle? Before she could ask anything, her response was given, "I am a ghost wandering the world. I am the monster of the Bermuda Triangle that struck down the ships and planes that travelled by with my army. You must be the ones who accepted my invitation. Welcome." Man, she sounded cold and bitter... And lonely. Awfully lonely and in pain. Why? Oh right... she was a ghost that was doomed to wander over the world for all eternity. Throwing her sword on the ground, the student couldn't help, but feel pity for the girl. Not to be able to rest in peace.

The girl's appearance was that with the body of a teenager, a little over midway, silky soft and short blonde hair with hollow blue eyes. Red ribbons adorned her outfit and a red headband accompanied that. Consider her outfit that of a modern Snow white without the yellow. Strangely, although she was a master of puppets, no strings were visible, which could only mean that her hands were free and that the marionettes followed her without the need to be manipulated. It was a true master and student relationship. In her hands was a majestic book filled with crimson red locks and strange symbols on the cover. However, the source disappeared quickly and was replaced by two light filled chakrams that glowed with an astral feeling. This was going to be an interesting fight, no?

Getting into a battle stance, Aethra placed both hands on her claymore, her current outfit vanishing into a new outfit {black one} and her tails and ears hidden. This was for the sake of blending into the dark to dodge attacks more easily, but that was a high doubt at this point considering that these were artificial beings that could live and think on their own, battle with their own capabilities. And they were all loyal to their master in every way possible for their master was the one who made them from her extraterrestrial powers as a ghost. She must've been a puppeteer master when she was alive though, but... how long did has the girl been here all alone with only her dolls to keep her company?

"Five... four... three... two... one... Start."

And the battle begun. Aethra starting off with a high jump as about four or so dolls followed her, including her miniature self, now bearing their own weapons varying from as they slashed away. The other dolls, especially the ones that resembled the other challenges, lead the other groups towards the other challengers. Parrying every attack she possibly could in the air on her mirage platform, the mirage inducer tried to slash away, noticing that the Marionette Master stood in the back, doing nothing. That wasn't right... Wait. As she looked closely, a glow of magic appeared beneath her as she chanted a spell quietly, but whatever it was, Aethra couldn't here. Great... if that spell is cast, this could be their end for sure.

This battle has not even truly begun yet, and there were already struggles. What was to be with them as the monster of the Bermuda did away with them?

"I can't die here... No, not now."

OOC;; The Monster of the Bermuda/Marionette Master

The night was warm and humid, and Kimply pulled her hair up into a ponytail before it stuck to her neck. She wasn't used to the humidity, especially in the winter, so upon arrive to Bermuda she had been a bit surprised, to say the least. She had quickly shed her jackets for a skirt and white button up. Her bow hung across her back, the quiver full of bows just waiting to be used.
Why was she here again? Oh yeah, like usual, to get away from Beata. To get away from comas and daddy issues and everything that seemed to follow her around these days. Honestly, what Kimply needed was some physical therapy. And by physical therapy, she meant shooting an arrow from some porcelain dolls eye, or some stuck up witch lady's heart.
Out of the corner of her eye, Kimply noticed Aethra fighting with something. Actually, she was fighting with a small version of herself. Instantly on guard, she grabbed her bow, and strung an arrow, checking behind her to make sure nothing was about to attack. Whenever she faced forward once more, all she could see was something hurtling towards her face. "Oh- shit!" She cried out, jumping out of the way. A miniature arrow hit the sand a few feet back, and she looked forward to find the owner. A little pink haired doll identical to her. She grit her teeth and sent an arrow through it's face before it could move, watching in satisfaction as the glass shattered. That was when more began to arrive.
She alternated from swatting them away and shooting them down before noticing the ghost chanting something. She was the cause of all of this. Kimply knew it was stupid, and things like this never worked, that it could never be that easy. However, she quickly decided, "Fuck it." and strung her arrow before shooting it straight at the girl's heart.

Honestly, if the sudden change of weather wasn't bad enough, the whole - sudden vortex or terror - was pretty shitty in itself. Brailynn found herself hutched over, hands on her knees as she took a minute to catch her breath and try and ease her stomach, completely oblivious to the small dolls around them and terrorizing nearby. "God damn." It was hot. The girl slid out of her jacket, dropping it on the sand, leaving her in her tank-top. She was more comfortable like this anyways.
She didn't snap out of it until she heard Kimply cry out, finally pulled into the moment. The blonde saw a small, strangely familiar (and extremely attractive, if she did say so herself) doll come flying out at her from the corner of her eye. "Woah!" Lynn shouted in surprise, her first instinct to dart of the puppet's way. The young woman turned on her heal, facing the small creature and bringing up her fist - her heart already pounding. Killer dolls chasing after them - they were creepy as fuck, but she still couldn't help but find herself smiling. Her first mission and the action already begun.
The Spring narrowed her eyes, clenching her fists. Tight leather gloves covered her hands, a plate of metal with sharp barbs over the knuckles. She's tried her hand at bow and sword and club, but none of those seemed to fit her right. What did come natural to her was when she narrowed her eyes, focusing her attention on the porcelain clone. With a quick jab of her fist, the struck the doll on the side of it's face, hearing a satisfying break. She was about to strike again when the doll made a retreat for it's master, to her disappointment. Luckily, though, the girl hadn't had to wait long.
"Bring it!" Brailynn shouted happily as several of the creatures came flying back. She leaped forward, jumping straight at them and swung her fist at the closest puppet she saw.

Cyth swiftly dodged out of the way of one of the puppets, giving it a cold stare as she raised her sword, impaling another. A fireball grew in her unoccupied hand, and she started fighting the puppets quickly, one-by-one taking them down. She was beginning to get tired rather quickly though, as she was firing several fireballs in a minute and slashing the puppets nonstop- there was far too many of them. Perhaps it'd be easier if they all regrouped and fought them together? She went for the nearest person, which so happened to be Noa. "We should regroup, fight them together-- come on," she yelled to her, fighting the whole way, heading for the next nearest person.