Aria practically crashes into Kerkyon.

He snatches her spear as it comes at him and flings it aside, though, staggering her. In a duel, I guess she would have been decapitated, but fortunately, Kiku's two swords are there to catch his counterstroke in another rain of sparks. Learning from previous mistakes, she doesn't try to directly clash with him this time, but runs with the momentum of her parry, ducking under the diverted great-sword and kicking him in the shin as she goes. It barely does much, but it’s distracting enough that Kaede manages to sneak a Kunai into his left elbow joint. A small dribble of blood indicates it is only skin deep, and he quickly yanks it out, but I guess it is good for morale to see something go through.

In the meantime, I have skirted around the furious fight to the Sage, whom is still on one knee.

"Excuse me! Are you ok?" I shout over the din of clashing metal and ambient buzzing electricity.

The hood looks away from the fierce battle briefly, at me. It's very strange... but even when I stare directly at where the sage's face should be, there appears naught but an empty space in a vacant hood.

So it wasn't just a trick of the light here, you really cannot see anything. Even when Kaede had her hood up, I could tell there was a female there, but here, it is truly nothing. I almost believe for a second it is some clothing golem, without an owner, or other such mystery, but the robe shakes its head.

Pretty disconcerting... and I doubtless have a strange expression, but I've gotta run with it...

"Are you able to make any attacks at all now?"

A nod.

"What about one as powerful as the last one?"

A shake. Bugger and darnation. But, wait...

I pull out the Ghostfruit I stashed away before.

"Will this help at all...?"

The robe cocks its hood, as if pondering. Then tentatively it nods, raising a gloved hand to receive it.

I put the fruit in the palm of the glove, and a bright blue swirl appears to consume it directly.

Man, I kind of want to use Identify Other again to see if that raised MP effect in action, but I still have a headache, which almost gives me the impression that it is on a much longer cool-down than usual due to being blocked before.

The robe cocks its head, and then, suddenly, in my own head, I hear a blank monotone voice.

// You are receiving me, boy? // Good. // I am now able to broadcast thoughts again. // You have my thanks, but it appears useless. // That demon is highly resistant to my blasts. //

I struggle for a moment to think what I want to say. Telepathy talking is pretty cool! Ahem... well... err... Sage... there is a plan. Please start casting the most powerful attack spell you can manage.

// Heh... // How foolish. // You don't even know if that will work. // But I suppose there is little choice. // Very well. // Give me... fift... no... count to twelve in your head, and the immediately shout your warning. // Start now! //

One. Aria's spear swings past Kerkyons visor, just short.

Two. A barrage of Kunai tings uselessly off his chest-plate.

Three. Kiku exchanges blows... she is grimacing and sweating from each, and a trail of blood is running from her forehead, colouring her right green eye red.

Four. I start to see glowing magical text coalesce around the sage’s now outstretched glove, along with small crackles of electricity.

Five. Kaede backflips repeatedly to evade a flurry of terrifying great-sword swings.

Six. Kiku shouts "Nee-chan... fucking... worse... than... this...!" as she interrupts Kerkyon’s vicious flowing attack at Kaede, parrying blows repeatedly from him.

Seven. Aria grazes his right thigh with her latest swing, taking pressure off Kiku, and blowing him backwards with her crazy power.

Eight. Kerkyon cartwheels off the powerful blow, and still glaring in my direction, tries to push towards me and the sage. I think he became aware something’s up...

Nine. Aria leap attacks him, forcing him to change direction, but he kicks her in the gut in the process, making her retch and roll like a ragdoll away. A glowing barrier like thing that protects her from the impact flashes and explodes in shattering light.

Ten. Kaede runs past her and grabs her arm, stopping her from falling off the side, and flings her back onto the platform unceremoniously.

Eleven. Kiku is blown aside as well, coughing blood, and he looks to have a clear charge at me. But...

Twelve.

"Kaede! NOW!" I shout.

She is still crouched from saving Aria, but she throws out a complicated series of rapid hand motions without wasting time.

He is coming at me in slow motion due to my adrenaline again. Still, his cleave will doubtless split the defenceless pair of us like firewood. All of the Sage’s magical circles coalesce around their outstretched palm.

He leaps over the gap between the platforms.

But then a geyser of water magically erupts from below, soaking him to the bone. It doesn't halt his momentum, but it doesn't have to.

A stroke of violet lightning then smashes into the column of water from above, pretty much blinding and deafening me instantly.