She calls out the larger ghost again, and it charges into one of the big monsters. They seem an even match for strength. The others she sets to the task of killing the unoccupied monster, which is not of inconsequential difficulty. It is stubbornly resilient, and continues its advance even as its flesh sags, melts, and vaporizes under the onslaught until it finally collapses, broken horns hitting the ground less than a yard from her feet. The other has by this time lost an arm and half a leg, but fights still, until the additional attention puts it to rest as well.

"Have you finished yet?"

"Yes; can you make your own way up?"

In answer to that, she swaps out the large ghost for one that surrounds her in a soft yellow nimbus and begins rising through the air, up the shaft.

She smiles and jumps to start running up the walls, bouncing to the other side of the rough tunnel when she meets an inconvenient bump - she's ahead of the other woman, but not running at full tilt.

Seeing that she won't need to lift her, she speeds up, making it to the top in a leisurely fifteen seconds. She sets down on the- mountainside, apparently, at the surface. It's late afternoon. To the south, a sea glitters in the rays. The land is rocky and jagged, meeting the shore in a line of uneven cliffs.

"This place is pretty," she says, looking out over the sea. Then, with a grin, she looks back to the other woman. "I don't think you ever introduced yourself, you know."

"We are the Keres," she says in her chorus. "Harvesters of the slain."

"Fun! I haven't picked up any fancy titles yet. That I know of. They probably used to call me something uninspired back home. I swear, there's fifty different 'Demon of So-and-So' running around... Perhaps I should select something to introduce myself by, now that I'm going new places."

"We find a cultivated reputation is useful in winnowing out those not worth our time," she says.

"Definitely - though my name was enough of a reputation, last world."

"It seems we both must rebuild. And an opportunity to do so presents itself." She points to the east, where a party of twenty or so can be seen making its way over to their position.

"Let one or two go to spread the word, shall we?"

"That is most effective." She changes her lineup of ghosts once again and a creeping darkness begins spreading from one of them, carrying with it an aura of dread.

As the party gets closer, it becomes apparent they are lead by the three in front, a dark-haired man and two shorter, blond men. One of the blonds unlimbers the massive crossbow from his back and says something indistinct to the others. The tall one barks a laugh and flips the staff he carries into a fighting position. The crystal at the top begins glowing. The remaining member of the leadership falls back, angrily gesturing at the other party members, who hurriedly get their own weapons ready.

She tries to catch the gaze of one of the lead three - she's no Itachi, but even at this distance Hisame can drive someone into the Tsukiyomi. And most minds break so easily.

Whoever she catches is going to collapse, screaming or silently - hopefully screaming.

(She's expecting to catch the one with the crystal, or else the one gesturing to the others.)

She gets Staff, and he falls down screaming. "Hawke!" Crossbow shouts and fires a hail of bolts-

-which halt in midair as one of the ghosts holds its hands up, then reverse themselves to rain down among the company. At the same time, two ghosts charge in to engage at close range. One has a massive sword with a cannon attached, the other simply uses its fists but is no less effective for that.

She pulls a out a dagger - it's not the best design for stabbing, but it creates a musical whistle when she swings it, which combined with a wonderful little trick she learned in Hidden Sound...

She darts forward, and starts to dance among the crowd, a sound like a mad flute building around her, casting phantasms dancing about her and among the people - that overlay allies and fade like mist when swung through.

Fear and panic spread rapidly amongst the enemy, helped along by random blazes of fire and the way the ground seems to be coming alive to fight against them as well.

There is one man who seems mostly immune to the panic, with a scruffy beard and ragged ponytail. He also seems able to counter the illusions and seize control of the flames.

Not her usual type, but he seems more fun than these others at least.

She closes with him, drawing her short sword.

He pushes her back with a shock of concussive force and a blast of ice reaches up to freeze her in place.

Delightful!

She switches places with him.

His eyes begin glowing, and he growls in fashion best described as demonic. Cracks of light spiderweb across his body as though he's coming apart.

She rushes him, sword sheathed in lightning.

He bats it aside as though it's nothing more than a stick. His strikes are magically enhanced in speed and strength.

She laughs.

"You're good!"

And black fire lances for him.