With the next combination of attacks that Valdis made, culminating in a cyclone of fire, the stone youma that was facing off against Valdis begins to slow, weaken and then when the cyclone subsides, falls over defeated, but barely alive: a testament to it's impressive resilience. The other youma whom had once considered Valdis a tasty treat in succession begin to step back and retreat, intimidated by Valdis' show of power.

The man with the skull mask crosses his arms and steps forward once the battle had ceased, standing twenty feet from Valdis, an amused smile on his face.

"Heh" the likely familiar gruff laugh would exhale. "You know, you got a lot of juice behind ya. I wonder where exactly you got it: one with that kind of potential would be on Virgo's eye of interest, possibly even to fill in the hole left by Scorpio's death." he says, as he then withdraws his revolver from the magical space it was kept in, aiming it at Valdis' head.

"...Of course. There are also the magical kids that killed him. You don't look like them, but if you aren't one of us, then where exactly do you fall in this? Should I just put you down now and save myself the trouble of worrying about you later?" he says with a cold killer's expression.

Valdis slowed; and slowly the cyclone of fire dissipated. She stopped and stared down at her defeated opponent. Purple flames still surrounded her and arched off her body like wings; but they to disappeared as the cyclone ended. Valdis turned her attention to her on lookers, her head tilted back as a small grin spread across her face. Her tongue slid over her lips; impression was everything after all and as a performer she knew how to set the mood. This place was like elementary school, someone picks on you...you beat the shit out of them and establish your dominance.

When the man who seemed content to watch and figure out what to make of her spoke she turned her maroon gaze towards him. It had been amusing how he hadn't even batted an eye as she had used him as a human shield then as a spring board. But amusement did not last long before once more the gun was pointed towards her head causing her to sigh.

"To be fair my powers were suppressed until that fight with the bug man; so really I would have only been on the radar for a couple of weeks now....and even then this is my first time really exploring the use of these abilities. So that fight was refreshing. As for where I got all this 'Juice' as you call it I would like to know the answer to that question myself"

Now that would add insult to injury for the other youma; she had only been at this for a short while with little practice and still whooped their butts. Valdis slowly walked forward, closing the space between her and the man. A smile on her lips as she calmly pushed the gun off to the side.

"I think I intrigue you too much to do away with me now; you were obviously gauging my potential it would be a waste if you wish to be rid of me now."

"Hmph...my gut says I should just put you down now. But you could be...useful." he says as he lowers the handgun. Whether that was another test of a legitimate question of whether he should kill Valdis remained to be seen. When he tucked his other hand in his pocket, he begins to walk away.

"When Scorpio died it broke a link in the chain of power. As a result the collective outside of the top tier became weaker, and human forces were able to inflict more damage than usual on many war fronts. It's infuriating to Virgo when she has to use considerable energy to revive the ones that are considered useful. I suppose it really cuts the chaff and the worthless from the ranks. It will make resources more efficient to use." he says with a grim chuckle revealing the tactical and practical mindset beneath.

"...Impress Virgo and you may be able to fill that vacant role. Of course, this would result in an advancement for me. Would be nice to one up the uppity 'Four Generals'. Well, I suppose three now." he says with a dull 'heh heh heh' muttered under his breath. He pauses and turns back to where Valdis was, frowning a bit.

"But you're still not there yet...you might have potential and room to fill in even more ability, but your energy is still far too low for the high rank...plus there's the issue of your allegiance, which I'm not entirely sold on yet." he says, with a slight grin manifesting on the skeletal face, as he extends a hand out.

"However, if you prove yourself, I will train you...and you will reach an apex of supremacy you never would have dreamed of.." he states, as the dark wind blows his hair and garments around. The rock youma begins to stand up, but the figure without turning his expression off Valdis raises his revolver and aims it at the youma in question. A moment later, a single shot rings out, as the bullet curves around Valdis and past several others, straight into the head of the creature. A glyph manifests on the creature's body, spreading like veins and webs along all of it's body before it dissolves in a burst of purple and black particles.

"Just remember. There is no room for the weak...those who aren't willing to do what it takes to achieve the end goals.."

Valdis tilted her head to the side; her maroon gaze shimmering back to violet. Her snowy white hair melted into purple. She was quiet throughout his little speech, her only reaction was a thoughtful expression upon her delicate features. Her expression gave nothing away even when he offered the golden apple of replacing mr squid man. She paused him with a raise of her hand at the mention of her loyalty.

"If there are only three wouldn't that mean you have already risen in the ranks due to Scorpios death? How would my joining of the ranks as you call them increase your odds any more than his death, other than the fact there would be less eyes on you waiting for you to fail as Scorpio had? That is going off the assumption Mr bug man was a higher rank then you."

She began to fallow him, the conversation was just that a conversation after all. Why end it here and now.

"From what you said to what I have observed I wonder how was it Scorpio was ahead of you in rank, did his tank and spank style out shine your more subtle mind set? Or is a first come first serve basis?"

She walked with her hands clasped behind her back, her eyes still scanning the area around her.

"As for the dark queen I am not aiming to impress her. I dislike bowing to anyone unless there is a direct purpose it serves. As for my loyalties....well my loyalties are to myself. The covenant defaced my mother's funeral, massacred my village and killed everything left that I had held dear. I still wake up in the middle of night seeing the glassy eyes of a child looking up at me.......my mother's frozen in death among the bloody gore....I have plenty of reasons to turn away from the covenant for all the good it had done me."

She placed her hands over her heart.

"But from that pain blooms a gift, the fire in my heart which now blooms at my finger tips"

Purple wisps fizzled around her finger tips, spreading out from her chest; the wisps branched out before they faded into nothing as she dropped her hands by her side.

"...The covenant has given me plenty of reason to turn my allegiance away from them; however the world that exist now holds no place for me. I am classified as a monster and ranked in amongst you whether it is my choice or not. I was told I was born with this power; it is my birth right to use it. Yet I am told I need to suppress this part of me. Suppress and conceal don't let them see the broken child you weren't meant to be...To sum things up, my allegiance is to myself...but if you think about it...isn't anyone with half a brain the same?"

A grace of a smile spread on her face; it was an honest answer one that was sound and could not be argued with. After all most who joined the covenant were cowards who were afraid to meet their end. It was obvious fear would not persuade her or rule over her. She refused to let fear cripple her as it had in the long past and no longer would it ever rule over her again. An eyebrow rose as the hand was extended.....She looked around before bending down and picking up a stone from the ground and plopping it in his hand. ....It was extended after all might as well put something in it. Ignoring her social awkwardness she watched as the youma she had defeated was finished off by one of those bullets. She slowly turned her gaze back to the skulled man.

"The weak are controlled by fear"

She motioned towards the others who stood back cowering.

"Fear is not enough to cripple me; as I have mentioned my allegiance is to myself. My goals are my own...While the temptation and the prospect of challenging myself to reach my limits interest me I wonder if the end justifies the means. What may I ask are your personal reasons for joining the covenant; because even with my scarce observations the Zodiac are not the brainwashed souls or the cowards that flock to the lower ranks. After all it seems to me Virgo needs her top underlings in full control of themselves....which leads to the conclusion she has offered you all something."

"The Four Generals are the old ones. They are not human, but rather something else entirely...some nonsense about a world before recorded history where magic was rampant, I kinda fell asleep during that part of the history lesson." he says, rubbing his skeletal chin nonchalantly with a white gloved finger, before exhaling a little.

"Scorpio really was more of a manipulator than a combatant, he didn't know how to use his power properly, he sucked up like five times more than he really needed when he fought the short skirt squad...Virgo was pissed at the result." he says, seemingly almost amused at the memory playing out in his head at that moment.

After Valdis' long speech about loyalty, fear, and where she stood on it all, culminating in a subtle hint of 'what's in it for me', he crossed his arms, dropping the rock as he did.

"Everyone who has the potential to offer will have their greatest wish fulfilled. Mine? It was to save those closest to me...ironic how this kind of shit plays out." he says with narrow eyes.

"There are many in this world who's blood ties back to the old ones...the predecessors of modern civilization. Those with a greater potential can attain the special powers that one requires to be renowned within the Covenant. It is those who can reach the apex of their potential whom are rewarded for the highest ranks and the highest responsibility. It is the Zodiac who will have domain over the world once it is reborn. There are many who join the Covenant because they wish to be on the side that doesn't end up slaves or primordial ooze." he says with a grim exhaled chuckle.

"Do you get it? Virgo's going to recycle this hunk of rock, to remove the weak from the equation and rebuild the utopia that once was. The societies that were before simply wish to bicker and fight each other, never cooperating for greater collective achievement or taking care of their own.." that last bit with a little more emphasis and belief than the first half.

"Judgment day draws near...you can choose your side as you like, but in the end only those who serve Virgo will have any semblance of free will or even their own minds. What more do you want? What goal is it that you wish to be achieved...prove yourself and Virgo will make it happen." he says with a darkened sincerity, almost a 'deal with a devil' tone.

"...Once you get over the dark energy and the other negative things, you will find that it is simply choosing the side that will win. History itself was made from war and victory on the field of battle, what really makes this different other than the fact that unnatural powers are involved now that normal people fear and reject?"

This much she knew; but she feigned interest; after all it was always good to hear it from another's perspective. However a laugh erupted from her throat at his choice of words on describing the senshi.

"I do imagine those skirts are drafty in such weather. However a manipulator has its place if done correctly. However if the puppet master is so easily taken down then it would be all for naught now wouldn't it."

Her eyes fallowed the rock as he dropped it on the ground. A cute pout formed on her face as her eyes flicked back up to the masked man.

"You dropped the rock of friendship, I'm hurt"

A mock lip quiver was thrown in there. It was lost however when he gave a honest but vague answer to why he had joined. Her eyebrow arched up in a silent question but did not push it further. She wouldn't pry...yet. Valdis waited until he finished his speech, her expression a thoughtful one.

"Scorpio pushed me to accept the use of the chaotic powers; I'm past that I believe if a tool is presented to you, you should use it. Honestly that is not the issue for me..However you believe I have the potential to reach this renowned status...and Virgo will give me anything I wish in return for my loyalty?"

She bit her lip...her arms crossed over her chest as she wrestled with a moral decision.

"You said you joined to save the person closest to you; if I take this deal she will do the same for me yes?...If so you have my interest...I have someone I need to protect."

She held out her hand; rock free this time.

"Teach me how to impress your dark queen"

"Sure, but only if you prove yourself to be exceptionally valuable. I'm sure we can make that happen." the skull masked man says with the mouth of the skull contorting to a grin."[/b] he says, and when Valdis extends her hand to shake that of the other's, contact would create a burning sensation on her palm. When Valdis would likely jerk back and look, she will notice the mark of Gemini on her palm.

The man puts his hands on his waist and chuckles a little, amused at whatever reaction Valdis will give him. This one might be amusing after all.

"It is the mark of Gemini, it is a token that shows you are under my protection and eye and the lower ranked will at least be less likely to target you. Of course, you don't want to piss off any other Zodiac level types while I teach you how to embrace it. Further, it will allow me to scan your soul, and figure out exactly where your talents lie so that they can be maximized." he says then waving Valdis off.

"But for now, I'm done with you. I need time to build your training regiment and you need to go back home for a bit before you're noticed missing. You are more useful intact in the world as you are than just a lost soul in the dark here." he says then making motions with his hands for Valdis to scurry off.

Within Valdis' mind, she would hear a darkened, feminine laugh, with only one phrase audible to the young woman.

"we're going to have so much fun..."