Okami rushed through the left-hand door, Rarhyx the middle door, and Sniff the one on the right. Hot on their heels were the Children of Zeref.
'Take Over: Velociraptor,' uttered the quiet man, transforming himself into a feathery dinosaur with sharp pointy teeth. He charged after Sniff running with great speed. Sniff was already in the next room - another plain, square one with doorways to the left and up ahead - when he heard the fast-moving steps behind him. He dived to the floor just in time to narrowly avoid the sharp teeth that leaped at him. In one fluid action he rolled, got up and turned to face this enemy.
'Another Take Over Mage,' Sniff noted preparing to do battle.
'Take Over: Blue Roo!' he declared, transforming into a blue kangaroo. He began bouncing on the balls of his feet, his fists raised like a boxer, awaiting his opponent's attack.
Two balls of light flew past the other Children of Zeref and headed into the left-hand room where Okami was. She was in a room that looked identical to a mirror image of the one Sniff was in; there was a doorway in front and another to the right.
'Looks like Ari's gone after the Dragon Slayer that way,' commented the Speed Mage.
'Then let's go this way!' shouted the Sun Mage. 'Come on, Naru!' she said, rushing through the middle doorway.
'You coming, Footsoul?' the Speed Mage asked of the blond-haired man, who was looking back outside the ruins' entrance.
'Nah,' said the blond-haired man with a smile. 'I'll stay here.'
Naru nodded, grinned, and disappeared, also heading down the middle corridor.
Terry was also in a plain, stone room; there were doors in the walls to his left and right, and a third straight ahead. Before he could make his choice, Naru appeared in front of him, having charged past him at an incredible speed. The young man chuckled cockily and stood in front of the central door.
'Slow down there, buddy,' he said. 'Me and Kiri here want some fun with you.'
'Heeehee, this is gonna be fu-un!' said a wicked voice from behind Terry. Over his shoulder he could see the Sun Mage, Kiri, approaching slowly.
Back in the entrance hall, Footsoul saw the approaching Dante and prepared to strike. He held out his palm, and a ball of magic appeared there. He dropped it, and with a powerful kick, sent it flying towards the oncoming Wild Hunt Mage.
'You are Athena Ganlander, are you not?' said the robed man cooly as he looked down at the woman.
'That's right,' Athena replied, not at all intimidated. 'And you're some nobody who's stolen my friend's sister.'
'Wrong on both counts. Ari founded the Children of Zeref, as you know. She recruited me.' His tone had changed from cool to mocking. 'Nor am I a nobody. My name is Karrosil Benheart. Perhaps that rings a bell?'
'No,' Athena said boldly. 'Neptune, attack!'
The still-seething Celestial Spirit roared and stabbed his trident into the earth. It cracked, and from those cracks burst forth jets of water that shot upwards at Karrosil. As they flew through the air they changed shape, becoming horse-like, and charged up the slope towards their target.
