I had honestly missed that the other paths were still lacking pre-reqs.
Of them, I like Paragon a bit more and damage reduction is always welcome.
[X] EXP Plan Formidable Defenses and Spells (1660)
I had honestly missed that the other paths were still lacking pre-reqs.
Of them, I like Paragon a bit more and damage reduction is always welcome.
[X] EXP Plan Formidable Defenses and Spells (1660)
- Location
- UTC -6
- Location
- Ekaterinburg, Russia
So what differences does it have beyond visuals and faster actions? I mean, it's not like Summit cannot switch in the middle of battle?
And if we read further into it, it seems like the former is leaning into Grey's advice and having previously noted detriments of having less situational awareness due to blurry vision. Also it's decidedly overkill against non-champions.
Edit: differences explained below.
[X] Have your Panoply outstretched and leveraged for faster actions
[X] EXP Plan Formidable Defenses and Spells (1660)
-[X] Upgrade Aegis Field to level 25 (1100 EXP)
-[X] Purchase Formidable Defenses (210 EXP)
-[X] Purchase Tool-Assisted Spellcasting (350 EXP)
P.S. Hmmm. 3400*45=1700*90=153k, Summit is now capable of operating in the Really Big Leagues.
17800*18=320k, both in melee, and in Anti-Air roles. Her air-to-surface game is not as impressive but teleportation makes it a matter of melee combat if necessary.
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Jonen C
F.M.D.G.
- Location
- Lincopense, Ostrogothia, Suecia
One step closer to attaining sufficient velocity.
- Location
- Ekaterinburg, Russia
Since we got like 200+ exp prior to meeting Ialemus, and we will still have at least 230 exp remaining, and Slayers cost 420, I think we will be fine.
Also since people seem to be very hesitant to vote on appearance and kelllogo has yet to reply to me asking for details, here are the relevant quotes:
Also since people seem to be very hesitant to vote on appearance and kelllogo has yet to reply to me asking for details, here are the relevant quotes:
Or he intentionally gives us just barely not enough so we can't cheese a fight
- Location
- Ekaterinburg, Russia
Yeah, can't cheese the fight. Truly that is exactly what happened this time.Or he intentionally gives us just barely not enough so we can't cheese a fight
[X] EXP Plan Warrior and Magic (1600 EXP)
-[X] Upgrade Ceaseless Warrior to level 25 (900 EXP)
-[X] Purchase Devour Magic (350 EXP)
-[X] Purchase Tool-Assisted Spellcasting (350 EXP)
I want Abomination. It feels more appropiate with how we're twisting our Panoply's arm to make it work the way we did as well.
-[X] Upgrade Ceaseless Warrior to level 25 (900 EXP)
-[X] Purchase Devour Magic (350 EXP)
-[X] Purchase Tool-Assisted Spellcasting (350 EXP)
I want Abomination. It feels more appropiate with how we're twisting our Panoply's arm to make it work the way we did as well.
- Location
- UTC -6
Minimum differences beyond aesthetics. Even the "open' form keeps enough small pieces in contact to block any attack with a wall of light.
Do you want to be a veteran Magical Girl with a gun/sword halo or a frightening liquid weapon? (Bear in mind that veteran magical girls are also damn scary in this setting)
- Location
- Ekaterinburg, Russia
Hmmm. Visually impressive or disquieting... Now, add some (lots) of glowing orange lines on the thing, which can switch over to brilliant white or gentle light blue even as it devastates enemies?
Okay, Halo gets my vote. Editing it in in my vote post.
Edit:
Summit currently has 14500 health, of which 4000 comes from Aegis Field 20, and 10500 from Ceaseless Warrior 21.
Getting AF to 25 only adds 1000 health, further +2500 is granted by Formidable Defenses, for a total of 18000. This means Summit can usually weather an Unstoppable attack of 45000 damage, 90000 if it comes against Directed Countermeasures, and 180k/270k/360k if it comes from a Myth, Legend or Epic. Actually a question here - can Directed Countermeasures be tuned to a Growth Affinity? Something to ask. So I asked on Discord, results pending, but preliminary guess is there is no reason it should not.
Going against attacks that aren't equipped with Unstoppable, and especially aren't equipped with any of the AP-line, Summit is far more durable. Turning that 45k hit into a 60k hit will not kill her.
And also, Let's not forget the increase in Resilience and its impact on the survivabilty. Summit currently has Resilience 1000, and can raise it by 250+250, 500. At that point she will need to be hit with 2000+ damage to even scratch her.
Getting AF to 25 only adds 1000 health, further +2500 is granted by Formidable Defenses, for a total of 18000. This means Summit can usually weather an Unstoppable attack of 45000 damage, 90000 if it comes against Directed Countermeasures, and 180k/270k/360k if it comes from a Myth, Legend or Epic. Actually a question here - can Directed Countermeasures be tuned to a Growth Affinity? Something to ask. So I asked on Discord, results pending, but preliminary guess is there is no reason it should not.
Going against attacks that aren't equipped with Unstoppable, and especially aren't equipped with any of the AP-line, Summit is far more durable. Turning that 45k hit into a 60k hit will not kill her.
And also, Let's not forget the increase in Resilience and its impact on the survivabilty. Summit currently has Resilience 1000, and can raise it by 250+250, 500. At that point she will need to be hit with 2000+ damage to even scratch her.
Since Paragon plan seems to be winning, a moment to calculate experience-to-Shiny ratio.
Getting Paragon will require:
3500 for Paragon
1350 for upgrading Aegis Field from 25 to 30 (is a prerequisite)
210 for another tier of Formidable Defenses (is a low hanging fruit that also gives +3000 health and +300 resilience to Summit)
5060 EXP total
Getting SuperSlayer will require:
2100 to upgrade Panoply from 40 to 45 (round numbers)
1380 to upgrade Panoply from 45 to 48 (additional APT)
970 to upgrade Panoply from 48 to 50 (prerequisite)
1680 for 4x more Slayers
35 for Unmake itself
3480 to next APT, then 2685 to get the SuperSlayer.
6165 total which actually is about as much as it would have cost to get Paragon if we count the 1310 spent on it in this plan.
Getting Paragon will require:
3500 for Paragon
1350 for upgrading Aegis Field from 25 to 30 (is a prerequisite)
210 for another tier of Formidable Defenses (is a low hanging fruit that also gives +3000 health and +300 resilience to Summit)
5060 EXP total
Getting SuperSlayer will require:
2100 to upgrade Panoply from 40 to 45 (round numbers)
1380 to upgrade Panoply from 45 to 48 (additional APT)
970 to upgrade Panoply from 48 to 50 (prerequisite)
1680 for 4x more Slayers
35 for Unmake itself
3480 to next APT, then 2685 to get the SuperSlayer.
6165 total which actually is about as much as it would have cost to get Paragon if we count the 1310 spent on it in this plan.
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[X] Have your Panoply outstretched and leveraged for faster actions
[X] EXP Plan Formidable Defenses and Spells (1660)
-[X] Upgrade Aegis Field to level 25 (1100 EXP)
-[X] Purchase Formidable Defenses (210 EXP)
-[X] Purchase Tool-Assisted Spellcasting (350 EXP)
[X] EXP Plan Formidable Defenses and Spells (1660)
-[X] Upgrade Aegis Field to level 25 (1100 EXP)
-[X] Purchase Formidable Defenses (210 EXP)
-[X] Purchase Tool-Assisted Spellcasting (350 EXP)
- Location
- Central Standard Time
I like Paragon better, TBH.
[X] Have your Panoply outstretched and leveraged for faster actions
[X] EXP Plan Formidable Defenses and Spells (1660)
-[X] Upgrade Aegis Field to level 25 (1100 EXP)
-[X] Purchase Formidable Defenses (210 EXP)
-[X] Purchase Tool-Assisted Spellcasting (350 EXP)
[X] Have your Panoply outstretched and leveraged for faster actions
[X] EXP Plan Formidable Defenses and Spells (1660)
-[X] Upgrade Aegis Field to level 25 (1100 EXP)
-[X] Purchase Formidable Defenses (210 EXP)
-[X] Purchase Tool-Assisted Spellcasting (350 EXP)
- Location
- Ekaterinburg, Russia
I think it is time to revisit my first reaction about this. On the surface of it, Cold Considerations are a clear downgrade as we can pack a lot more negations with Inhuman Skill, and cheaper evasion doesn't really help. Except we have this:
The primary benefit of Dodge is ability to negate spells, which teleportation helps with - and rapid relocation also helps with breaking combos and preventing the need to negate multiple attacks in a row.
The primary benefit of Skilled-line is that it can be used on behalf of others. Which is something Summit was known for, and which cost actions... Until we got Prayer of Blades to make those negations a free action.
I am somewhat sorry I didn't make due note of this at the time we got PoB.
My revised opinion on Cold Considerations is - this is, after PoB, a viable side-grade after all. Assuming no narrative trip-ups.
EternalObserver
eYe Gaze baCk
- Location
- The Void
[X] Have your Panoply outstretched and leveraged for faster actions
[X] EXP Plan Warrior and Magic (1600 EXP)
[X] EXP Plan Warrior and Magic (1600 EXP)
LostDeviljho
Flame Dragon Princess
- Location
- The glorious Pacific Northwest
- Pronouns
- Any
[X] EXP Plan Formidable Defenses and Spells (1660)
Crossworlds 24 (The Rising Tide)
- Location
- UTC -6
[X] Have your Panoply outstretched and leveraged for faster actions
----
One could not say that the Elven Supergate had been reduced to the point where no stone lay atop another. It looked like a group had gotten tired of stepping over the broken stones and placed them in loose piles as they were dismantling. There are still some notable features in spite of the demolitions, two black stones near the edges are each big enough to hold three locomotives side-by-side, the edges have been hacked at and the top surface pulverized but they are still largely intact. Also of note is a group of bright steel pillars (Steel) that are growing out of the ground in a hex pattern.
Several of the steel pillars have been shortened, you detect the lingering traces of triggered magic.
"I made sure all the traps were deactivated." Solid Drive says.
"With her face. Your younger sister is a bad influence." Judgement Drive says.
Your younger sister? "My younger sister?"
"My younger sister!" Solid Drive clarifies.
"Bah-dum tish!" Goddess White says.
Aquila runs a hand over the visor of her helmet. Gabriel stands up a bit straighter.
"I heard what Judgement Drive was trying to do." she points at the two large black stones, "Make a connection between the center of those rocks with any method you can. If it's upside down on their end we can just switch the direction."
"Since you are such a perfect fit Judgement Drive gave up and decided to wait for you to do it." Goddess White adds.
"Hey!"
The early morning is washed over with harsh light as Judgement Core fires upon something from the air.
Aquila speaks up, "A fair description. You tried to get me to send a signal instead of persevering yourself."
Judgement Drive shakes her head, "Ugh. There's something wrong with this place and I couldn't figure out why my… why I couldn't make it work. Since you have, in your words, 'outside' with you, I hoped you could tell what was wrong."
You fly to one of the stones and perch near the center. Your lab coat flutters in the breeze as you hold yourself up far enough to avoid touching the ground. A moment's thought and flex of magic generates a glowing sphere portal. Something is off, it feels like it slipped right as you opened it.
A wing of your Panoply stretches out further than is practical to retrieve a loose rock. Whatever is happening to your portal itches in a dangerous way.
"Still no signal." Judgment Drive says, holding a gizmo in her hand that practically drips with magic.
You toss your test stone into the portal. A loud bang erupts from the destination as the stone turns into a cloud of dust.
"Something is definitely interfering." you say.
Space slides back into place as you let your portal diminish to nothing. You crystallise a corridor of space between the notable rocks. Or you try at least. There's an outright absurd volume of potential space tethered between the stones. More and more of it appears when you try to isolate them.
Judgement Drive looks up, "Almost. You're making the readings drop below ambient."
You switch tacks. A bit of reworking leaves a tube around the rocks with the openings on each end as small as you can get them before space starts distorting. With space now either frozen or monitored you carefully start making a very small portal inside the tube.
Something slides in through the opening and coils an effect into your portal. You curse yourself for having missed it the first time around. There's another link layered atop yours and an obscuring effect that makes anything passing through uncertain.
Did something just force a double-slit interference effect while it travels through your portal? Except only to a negative outcome, bad example.
"That's funny." Judgement Drive fiddles with her gizmo.
A few rapid-fire portals, then clamping down on local space lets you grip the interfering effect and pull. It shimmers slightly before evaporating (Horror, Damnation, Space, Despair).
"It's spiking all over the place." Judgement Drive looks up at you.
Goddess White stares at where the shimmer of magic had appeared, "Shit!"
"I think there's an infestation." you begin.
More of the odd strands of space start reaching around. Too far removed to see, just felt through your Panoply.
"It's being guarded!" White shouts while running at you. Aquila starts sprinting to catch up to White.
A purple glow suffused your weapon as you altered it to support rapid spellcasting. Five more sections to isolate and refresh the most strenuous use of your magic output.
"Wave Force!"
The bolt of orange lightning and baleful magic struck at the closest strand. The effect spreads out from the first strand, and then back to all the others. The glowing sparks that usually appear are instead motes of blackness. There's enough bleedthrough that you can start to make out what's been interfering with you.
And it's more than enough to wish you hadn't. Instead of an infestation you're staring at something vast, bigger than you can conceive. No, that's not right. Even this being isn't the smallest gnat compared to Gaia, which flips back around to being on the wrong side of a mountain-sized Nightmare.
Orange lighting erupts from the two large stones. Some passes through you to no effect. Odd. You move out of the affected area.
The strands are shifting. It brings to mind whiskers preceding a hungry jaw. You have your Panoply cover you with a ready chunk of magic and start flying higher up to continue your spells.
Judgement Drive is already flying away at high speed. Gabriel has her sword out and is spinning in place to check her surroundings. Solid Drive charges sword-first through a cluster to no apparent effect.
"Anna! To me!" Goddess White yells.
Your Panoply flaps around and grabs the ground to pull you back. Anything you try to do will go better if you bring one of the Goddess Four along.
Wait. How does she know your name? Something to worry about later. Rubble flies as you drag a wing of your Panoply on the ground to stop next to her.
"Where to?" you say.
Goddess gestures to the ground while holding her sword in both hands, "Right here. I'm going to count down from 10. After I hit 1 cast your biggest spell right at this thing. You too elf."
"Understood." Aquila states, readying an arrow.
"I just made it mad. And I can't reach it from here." you protest.
Solid Drive spins in place and tries to cut apart a glowing strand of the looming monster. To no effect whatsoever besides a lightshow. The false lightning between the key rocks starts spinning and moving chaotically as more space is shoved against itself in the twisted mess your spell left behind.
"Ten! Your spell touched it! Nine!." White says.
"Have faith." Aquila says softly, watching you closely.
"Eight!"
The Exile in Waiting announces itself. You feel a dread knowing gnaw at your mind. Primal fear reacts to dread conclusions. Or tries to, you notice quickly that the sensation arrived without perception.
It's copying something. Presenting a wound in the universe and then pretending to inflict the aftereffects of something else. You hope you never find yourself facing a true example of furious knowledge, how would you not absorb it?
The crackling orange lightning draws the floating motes of darkness in. A tube of vast, compressed distance goes red and blackens as you watch.
"Seven!" Goddess White lets go of her sword with one hand to grab on to you.
You can't see Aquila's expression while she wears her advanced armor. What you can tell is that she is much less attentive than she was a moment ago.
The distance opens up. A streak of utter darkness erupts into the sky further than you can see. Against the early morning it stands out, like the sky itself is broken. Everything in its view goes dim.
The Exile in Waiting isn't here, not really. It is waiting past where flight can carry you, standing beyond transitions through realms. A somewhere that sits atop the supergate and forces it closed. A genius loci in exile that you irritated by pelting it with your spell.
Maybe. A lot of that was slapped into your brain by a magically-backed big fat lie. You do think it's trying to smash you for finding it.
You pull chunks of space taunt through and around the gate to nowhere. It falls apart easily to your interference, but there's enough of it to make the effort pointless. Since it rises up out of sight.
"Six!"
She's speeding up her count.
Solid Drive accelerates to her top speed. And stays put, somehow not moving while having high velocity.
"Five!"
Aquila begins screaming. Gabriel slashes about with both of her swords, stuck a meter in the air from her rush back to the other Magical Girls.
Falling isn't quite the word to explain the attack. It does convey the feeling. The pillar of utter darkness falls and spills out into the places touched by Wave Force. You can't Shift away from the connection and try to wring space to its limits to keep the flow away. At least not while connected to Goddess White.
"Four!"
The dam of blocked space fails. Your Panoply drips out darkness and it covers you.
(Gate to Nothingness: 750000 Damage (Reduced by choice of target!), No Dice = 750000 Damage
Lost and Forgotten: Summit is carrying a place she resided in with her??? Close Enough. Tiggers!
Magical Girl Summit: Auto-Kill)
Sensation fades and you experience a pressure pushing out your very soul. The place you have passed into is impossible for you to live within. Only the feeling of your compromised interior space and protective barrier remains.
You could flail and try to escape. It just seems utterly pointless, any action that doesn't lead to escape will speed your death. A future that seems unlikely to change. Just cling on to life for its own sake.
(Magical Girl Summit: But it Refused
Armor of the Time Lord Activates!)
Goddess White slams you into the ground by her grip on you. Up until it happened you thought she wasn't in contact with you anymore. A blob of darkness consumes itself where you had been.
"Three!"
When things changed from dying in impossible space to being thrown around by one of the Goddess Four eludes you.
The collapsing magic hadn't stopped collapsing. Wind screams around you, faster than anything should be able to force air to move. White braces her feet against the suction. You grab Aquila before she flies in and anchor yourself into the ground.
Small rocks pelt against you in an aerial whirlpool. Larger stones tumble along the ground.
"Two!" you see White shout.
Solid Drive is moving at high speed away from the points of collapse, yet still getting closer. Gabriel is being dragged backwards as she tries to stab into the ground with her sword.
"One!"
No more time for thought.
WEDXATEEVNADEETDH WFROAOTFHR OTCFH EGEO !DWDIESLSL!!
Every void erupts with trees of white spikes. You're engulfed in the energies erupting from the adjacent spot. For all of that…
"It's still alive." you say.
"The jackass was running away as soon as we started. It still has another hole to remember me by."
"What happened?" Aquila taps on your Panoply.
You set her down.
All around you the wind has torn up the landscape. Ripped up dirt drifts to the ground. The steel spikes were ripped away, but the pieces still buried in the ground are emitting showers of white sparks into the air.
"Mental attack. You weren't in your right mind, or left mind even." White says.
Being in the lightning feels warm, but harmless. At least for now.
Solid Drive zips away without a backwards glance.
"Summit? How do you feel?" Goddess White looks you in the eyes.
"I'm fine." you take stock, "I need to pee."
Aquila twists one of her feet, "And I need to rinse off my legs."
White lets go of your shoulder and shrugs, "If that's your pressing concern I shouldn't have anything to worry about. Come back soon please."
Judgement Drive rushes in and stops above you, brandishing her scanner "That was backwards. Do it again the other way."
Goddess White flips her off.
----
By the time you return, and after borrowing a water purification tablet from Insight so Aquila could clean her armor at a pond, Judgement Drive has kickstarted several portals. Fairy crews flitter around reshaping the earth while a stream of Elves and wagons march out of the single active portal with a ramp. The earthwork and enchanted beams stretch out over 200 meters in every direction. Almost to where Goddess Grey had pitched her tent.
The dawn is still dim, and Solid Core still unleashes the occasional blast of violet light in the distance. The cascade of sparks still falling from the aftershocks of the combined spells provides more than enough illumination for the Elven pioneers to set up row after row of shelters. A bit further away a circle of Elves is doing something with a red-hot, levitating chunk of stone. That must have something to do with the mana tap. You start flying over to them to offer aid, your portals would probably help, if nothing else.
Solid Drive rushes to shadow you and signals that she wants to talk. Dropping to a speed that makes the wind in your ears less deafening lets her talk to you, "Goddess White said she needs you to talk with her!"
"About what?"
"How should I know?" Solid Drive shrugs before she shoots off at high speed towards Solid Core.
You pull yourself to a stop, wings seizing onto the air around you, and take a deep breath. It's no less than you've done before, if you think about it. Delivering a quick message and running off without a care.
Something is off. Something about your powers is crawling in an unfamiliar way. You hate it. Whatever it is, you can't quite catch how it flows over anything when you try to pay attention. And the circumstances of being watched by The Exile in Waiting, probably dooming you to be trapped in this dimension until you die or it finds something else to focus on.
White is sitting in a gazebo, which is centered on a pillar of flame and surrounded by a glossy black freshly-created rock surface. Groups of Elves pass the building on one side. Red Rose, Insight, Maiden of the West, her daughter, and the Radiances are also situated there. The giant snake that Lunar Radiance has assumed for her huge form coils around the pillar of flame.
You fly over at a comparative snail's pace. Gabriel glides in before you. Weapon-as-wings flap quietly when you touch ground. A dozen huge heads of the Horror snake turn to glare at you.
White stops talking with Gabriel, "Hey! None of that!"
"Settle down Lu." Red Rose says, exasperation clearly shining through her words.
Lunar Radiance puts most of her heads to rest and does a wide, fang-filled yawn with the remaining glaring head. You stare back. Lunar Radiance coils oddly and draws back from you a bit.
Red Rose stands up and slaps the scales of Lunar Radiance. "Oi! And congratulations Summit, that's a rare talent you've developed."
"What do you need, Goddess White?" you say.
Goddess White taps an empty spot on the stone bench, "Take a seat."
You point at the arriving Elves, "I should be assisting their set up." There, short and to the point.
White nods, "I expected this and have prepared a counter-argument. Gabriel?"
A hiss of static erupts from Gabriel's armor.
"James?" White asks.
You can tell that something is being sent through RF, but you can't make heads or tails of it. Encryption is annoying.
Major Robert's voice comes through, "Magical Girl Summit, this is Major Roberts. Remain on standby until further notice. In fact, you should sit down, have a drink, and even take a nap if you need to, we have enough sentries for now."
You squint your eyes closed and sit next to Goddess White, slouching a bit as you rearrange your Panoply, "What do you want?"
"Really? I want to know how you stayed calm when you perceived the Exile. You also seemed a bit stressed."
Gabriel shuffles in place a bit.
You point your closed eyes up at the pink sky above you, "Gaia was much bigger."
White's smile, which had been trying for a gentle appearance, drops away as she raises and then lowers a finger, "When did you see Gaia? And how the heck did you manage to withstand that?"
"I don't know exactly. I had a dream about seeing ...her, and then forgetting about it. She confirmed it later."
"Gaia would, the bitch…." White trails off, "Convenient, at least."
"It didn't make much difference. That thing got away." you say.
And it's going to hunt you down and kill you, you don't say.
"The Exile in Waiting isn't going to hunt you down. I would have killed it already if it held a grudge. You can expect it to try keeping well away from you, it certainly ran away from me quickly."
Maiden of the West speaks up from where she's been running her fingers through the naga girl's hair, "That sounds right. I got into a fight with it months ago and it ran off quickly once we hurt it."
Red Rose harrumphs, "You are a threat to it, Summit is an annoyance."
"In that case she can teleport into its insides and start really hurting the Exile." White says, finishing with a manic grin.
That sounds unhealthy. Still a better plan than waiting for it to dissolve you.
"How did you know my name?"
Lunar Radiance stops being a snake and starts being a girl leaning against Solar Radiance.
"Grey's little Dark Star dropped your name." Solar Radiance says.
"One of Ichi's minions said it." Goddess White says softly into your ear.
Some time passes without anyone speaking, just the march of boots on stone as the legions arrive. Which intensifies when another portal gets a ramp and walkway. There's a tense feeling as some geysers erupt in the distance and a river of magic starts flowing beneath the black stone pathway.
The pillar of fire that the gazebo is built around changes from a simple flame to a complex braid stretching dozens of meters into the air. Goddess White stands up and removes her cuirass, muttering something about the heat. Lunar Radiance whistles and Solar Radiance shoves Lunar in turn.
Gabriel sits next to you, taller seated than you are standing up, and manifests her wings around her.
White sits down and leans against Gabriel, "I have to apologize to you Summit. I imposed on you because I was afraid you might have decided to worship the Exile."
You sit quietly. You don't think you were stricken by anything when you perceived it, or when it shoved a fake concept into your head. In fact, you're rather certain you aren't.
"Staying calm at first encounter can be a sign that your mind is warping. Those people are always annoying." White says after another pause.
"You'd better not be talking about me." Maiden of the West says, raising an eyebrow, "Shiva and Sil aren't anything like that Nightmare."
"Case in point." Goddess White mouths, almost too quiet for you to hear.
Insight opens her mouth, but shuts it again without saying anything.
"The other symptom is, not to be too judgmental, you appeared agitated. Since I owe you for your aid, is there anything I can do to help?"
A bit of shifting turns your own weapon into a back to recline against, "No."
"OK. Did something happen to a friend? Those medals look shiny new."
That's a weird question, "Not really."
Something clicks as you think things over, "You gave Grey the Prison Artifact. No one but me should have it."
"She needed-" Goddess White sighs, "Sorry. Why do you need to have it? I didn't know."
You try to keep your voice steady, "I almost lost everything in that place. My mother, my home, my hopes, my mind, and nearly my life. No one should be able to imprison and torment anyone in that way ever again."
The sound of stamping feet is the only noise for a moment.
Maiden of the West rubs her chin, "That's awful, if you're willing to do a service for Shiva-Sil I could help you destroy the-"
Lunar Radiance glares at West, "Shut up."
"I could introduce you to people that will help without demanding your soul." Red Rose says.
Lunar crosses her arms, "Really?" she asks Red Rose softly.
"I can get the shit beaten out of me without help from a junior Magical Girl." Red Rose says in response.
Goddess White puts a hand over her heart, "When I next meet my older sister Goddess Grey I will tell her to give you that item. This I promise."
Maiden of the West raises an eyebrow, "Will that actually accomplish anything? I wouldn't hand over a pocket dimension that easily."
"I can be very persuasive." White says.
West snorts, "I'm sure you think that."
Red Rose stands up, putting a hand on her bandages, and brandishes her spear.
"This is friendly, really." West says without moving from her seat.
"See that it stays that way." Red Rose sits down carefully.
Space shakes around you as a large portal activates at the supergate. A few seconds later a caravan of trucks bearing Counter Force markings drives out along a raised road. The first two are tugging helicopters, which begin to spin up even as they're being towed. The cable automatically releases when they take off.
West stands up quickly and grabs her shield, "That means they have parasite gates working. Sorry I can't stay with you longer, but something has come up and I need to report back. Goodbye."
"Bye!" the naga girl waves before rushing after her mother.
Red Rose grimaces as she stands back up, Insight carefully follows her, "I'm going to look for a human medic. These bruises are deep."
She strides towards the center of the growing gate complex, Insight sticking close behind. Insight waves as she goes.
Pairs of Fairies start gliding through the sky in expanding patterns. You see teams of War Angels and other warriors of heaven patrol the skies after them. There's rumble from the ground that hums like a very slow motor. The first rays of daylight hit the top of the still-under-construction supergate.
"I need to start making plans to meet Goddess Red." White sighs, "Getting captured has put everything behind schedule."
----
A tall, gaunt figure wrapped in dark gray rags pointed his club at the demon before him, "This is the one who witnessed Ialemus dying."
The hulking, 20-meters-high headless demon leans a bit closer.
Tass grovels, laying himself out on the floor.
The thin nightmare speaks again in its clear baritone, "Tell the commander what you have told the others."
"He didn't last a second! Anna tore him in half with a single blow!"
The headless figure rumbles.
"No my lord. I do not think so. Forbidden information is all the more sought after."
Tass trembles, looking at the ground.
A few more gurgles escape the large figure.
"My lord is satisfied with your answers. If you tell anyone else be sure to mention that Goddess Grey will soon slay Anna for her deeds." the gaunt figure says.
Tass murmurs rapid thank yous and departs at a rapid pace.
"I shall miss Ialemus too." the gaunt figure announces.
A winged, armored figure descends, "Huwett. I bring ill tidings. The Nightmare fled from its task and the Elves have re-established their supergate while we were blinded. Three other gates are streaming in forces. Grey's liaison is nowhere to be found."
An angry bellow echos off the trees.
"This is most unfortunate. We may have lost our best chance to strike." the gaunt demon says.
"I understood perfectly. What would you have me do?" the messenger bows.
----
[Under the Open Sky Season 2 Epilogue]
----
You jolt awake. When did you fall asleep? You're lying on Gabriel's soft and fluffy wing. Goddess White has her Datamine out (with a privacy effect scrambling your view of the screen). An Elf in gilded armor is standing over you and has just started taking a glowing green sword out of his pack.
That explains the wake up at least.
Goddess White has a finger extended and crackling with spiky white magic. She also has an eyebrow up.
"Let go!" you choke out.
The Elf lets go of the sword like it burned him and shows his empty hands, "My apology hero."
"Care to explain what you were thinking, if anything?" Goddess White asks.
You notice a soft breathing sound from Gabriel. Is her armor holding her upright while she sleeps?
"I am Theodore, when the two-headed beast killed my uncle I took up his sword. As his killer has been slain by another I believe I should no longer carry it and wish to offer it to Magical Girl Summit."
" 'Kay. Summit, you finished a quest, do you want the fancy sword, yes no?"
You shake your head, "I have sufficient weaponry. And little use for a sword."
Theodore bows his head, "Please, I insist you accept it. Even if you only sell Midnight Dawn to someone else I want it to benefit the one who avenged my uncle."
You stand up and hold your hands out. It's simpler to just take it if he wants to make a scene.
Theodore bows his head again and draws out the sword. With exaggerated care he sets it in your hand. You give a slight bow back. He slams a fist to his chest.
"In destroying my uncle's foe, you honored him, his family, and his Empire. I thank you."
"This is a gracious gift. I will put it to good use." you say.
Theodore marches back into the throng of legionnaires. The pathways have grown and expanded during your nap. There are 3 more ramps sorting out traffic from more portals. And an extra wide and heavy structure with water dripping from the sides and small rafts laden by supplies floating down it.
"You're just going to eat that, right?" Goddess White asks.
"Yes." you say, "It would be rude to do so in front of him."
Your Panoply touches the sword and power flows into it as your will forces it to be absorbed. And more power flows. The glow increases in intensity and the effective size wobbles as more and more power enters the sword.
White squints at the gifted sword, "How long does this usually take?"
"Less time."
The intense emerald glow starts to fade as you abandon the attempt to Fuse it directly. You work it into a pocket of your lab coat. Not quite Fused yet, but it should assimilate from there. Just need to let its innate magic fade out and work your own in slowly.
Goddess White gets up to look at your lab coat more closely. After a gesture you push the flap she was interested in over for her to look at. She pokes a hand into the pocket and waggles her fingers on the other side, then does it again in reverse. Satisfied she lets your lab coat drop.
"Pockets must be convenient." she comments as she sits back down and starts poking at her Datamine. "So unfair."
A towel and some water appears out of your storage, you wipe the drool off your chin, "My powers are unfair?"
Goddess White nods, "You can fly, stay transformed indefinitely, sleep in your Magical Girl form, and carry a truckload of stuff with you. So unfair."
Your mind abandons trying to make sense of one of the Goddess Four coveting your own powers. This has been an odd day.
----
Epilogue Actions (Pick 2):
Technically you're assisting Goddess White so she can get around faster. She'll follow you around, so this isn't an issue.
[X] Go watch the equipment being recovered from stasis. How is the Counter Force going about that?
[X] Find Major Roberts and chat with him, figure out what your next mission might be.
[X] Persuade Gabriel to practice against you in a spar. Something to hone your skills and hers…
[X] There's some Elven VIPs hanging around another plaza. See if they can help you figure out some of your Abilities that defend others.
[X] Open portals to nearby Dimensions to freak out Hell's armies. After getting permission, of course.
[X] Glare at people until you know what the weird effect you've unlocked does.
[X] Goddess White mentioned that Lunar Radiance wanted to fight you, but was persuaded by Solar Radiance that she should let Solar fight in her stead in any spar. Sounds like there's some drama there.
-[X] And how do you expect to make a good showing against Solar Radiance? [Write-in]
[X] You have another idea for borrowing strength. The three Drives have Abilities that flow between them and Judgement Drive has a high control over her magic. Ask them to help you by storing some of their power that you can absorb later in a pinch.
[X] There's something you want to try...
-[X] [Write in a combat trick you want codified or an Ability Summit should try to replicate]
----
+200 EXP Routed the Exile (With Goddess White's Help)
+500 EXP The Supergate is Open
+50 EXP Steady-Minded
+5 EXP Waiting for the Next Disaster
244 + 755 = 999 EXP
----
One could not say that the Elven Supergate had been reduced to the point where no stone lay atop another. It looked like a group had gotten tired of stepping over the broken stones and placed them in loose piles as they were dismantling. There are still some notable features in spite of the demolitions, two black stones near the edges are each big enough to hold three locomotives side-by-side, the edges have been hacked at and the top surface pulverized but they are still largely intact. Also of note is a group of bright steel pillars (Steel) that are growing out of the ground in a hex pattern.
Several of the steel pillars have been shortened, you detect the lingering traces of triggered magic.
"I made sure all the traps were deactivated." Solid Drive says.
"With her face. Your younger sister is a bad influence." Judgement Drive says.
Your younger sister? "My younger sister?"
"My younger sister!" Solid Drive clarifies.
"Bah-dum tish!" Goddess White says.
Aquila runs a hand over the visor of her helmet. Gabriel stands up a bit straighter.
"I heard what Judgement Drive was trying to do." she points at the two large black stones, "Make a connection between the center of those rocks with any method you can. If it's upside down on their end we can just switch the direction."
"Since you are such a perfect fit Judgement Drive gave up and decided to wait for you to do it." Goddess White adds.
"Hey!"
The early morning is washed over with harsh light as Judgement Core fires upon something from the air.
Aquila speaks up, "A fair description. You tried to get me to send a signal instead of persevering yourself."
Judgement Drive shakes her head, "Ugh. There's something wrong with this place and I couldn't figure out why my… why I couldn't make it work. Since you have, in your words, 'outside' with you, I hoped you could tell what was wrong."
You fly to one of the stones and perch near the center. Your lab coat flutters in the breeze as you hold yourself up far enough to avoid touching the ground. A moment's thought and flex of magic generates a glowing sphere portal. Something is off, it feels like it slipped right as you opened it.
A wing of your Panoply stretches out further than is practical to retrieve a loose rock. Whatever is happening to your portal itches in a dangerous way.
"Still no signal." Judgment Drive says, holding a gizmo in her hand that practically drips with magic.
You toss your test stone into the portal. A loud bang erupts from the destination as the stone turns into a cloud of dust.
"Something is definitely interfering." you say.
Space slides back into place as you let your portal diminish to nothing. You crystallise a corridor of space between the notable rocks. Or you try at least. There's an outright absurd volume of potential space tethered between the stones. More and more of it appears when you try to isolate them.
Judgement Drive looks up, "Almost. You're making the readings drop below ambient."
You switch tacks. A bit of reworking leaves a tube around the rocks with the openings on each end as small as you can get them before space starts distorting. With space now either frozen or monitored you carefully start making a very small portal inside the tube.
Something slides in through the opening and coils an effect into your portal. You curse yourself for having missed it the first time around. There's another link layered atop yours and an obscuring effect that makes anything passing through uncertain.
Did something just force a double-slit interference effect while it travels through your portal? Except only to a negative outcome, bad example.
"That's funny." Judgement Drive fiddles with her gizmo.
A few rapid-fire portals, then clamping down on local space lets you grip the interfering effect and pull. It shimmers slightly before evaporating (Horror, Damnation, Space, Despair).
"It's spiking all over the place." Judgement Drive looks up at you.
Goddess White stares at where the shimmer of magic had appeared, "Shit!"
"I think there's an infestation." you begin.
More of the odd strands of space start reaching around. Too far removed to see, just felt through your Panoply.
"It's being guarded!" White shouts while running at you. Aquila starts sprinting to catch up to White.
A purple glow suffused your weapon as you altered it to support rapid spellcasting. Five more sections to isolate and refresh the most strenuous use of your magic output.
"Wave Force!"
The bolt of orange lightning and baleful magic struck at the closest strand. The effect spreads out from the first strand, and then back to all the others. The glowing sparks that usually appear are instead motes of blackness. There's enough bleedthrough that you can start to make out what's been interfering with you.
And it's more than enough to wish you hadn't. Instead of an infestation you're staring at something vast, bigger than you can conceive. No, that's not right. Even this being isn't the smallest gnat compared to Gaia, which flips back around to being on the wrong side of a mountain-sized Nightmare.
Orange lighting erupts from the two large stones. Some passes through you to no effect. Odd. You move out of the affected area.
The strands are shifting. It brings to mind whiskers preceding a hungry jaw. You have your Panoply cover you with a ready chunk of magic and start flying higher up to continue your spells.
Judgement Drive is already flying away at high speed. Gabriel has her sword out and is spinning in place to check her surroundings. Solid Drive charges sword-first through a cluster to no apparent effect.
"Anna! To me!" Goddess White yells.
Your Panoply flaps around and grabs the ground to pull you back. Anything you try to do will go better if you bring one of the Goddess Four along.
Wait. How does she know your name? Something to worry about later. Rubble flies as you drag a wing of your Panoply on the ground to stop next to her.
"Where to?" you say.
Goddess gestures to the ground while holding her sword in both hands, "Right here. I'm going to count down from 10. After I hit 1 cast your biggest spell right at this thing. You too elf."
"Understood." Aquila states, readying an arrow.
"I just made it mad. And I can't reach it from here." you protest.
Solid Drive spins in place and tries to cut apart a glowing strand of the looming monster. To no effect whatsoever besides a lightshow. The false lightning between the key rocks starts spinning and moving chaotically as more space is shoved against itself in the twisted mess your spell left behind.
"Ten! Your spell touched it! Nine!." White says.
"Have faith." Aquila says softly, watching you closely.
"Eight!"
[YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HERE]
The Exile in Waiting announces itself. You feel a dread knowing gnaw at your mind. Primal fear reacts to dread conclusions. Or tries to, you notice quickly that the sensation arrived without perception.
It's copying something. Presenting a wound in the universe and then pretending to inflict the aftereffects of something else. You hope you never find yourself facing a true example of furious knowledge, how would you not absorb it?
The crackling orange lightning draws the floating motes of darkness in. A tube of vast, compressed distance goes red and blackens as you watch.
"Seven!" Goddess White lets go of her sword with one hand to grab on to you.
You can't see Aquila's expression while she wears her advanced armor. What you can tell is that she is much less attentive than she was a moment ago.
The distance opens up. A streak of utter darkness erupts into the sky further than you can see. Against the early morning it stands out, like the sky itself is broken. Everything in its view goes dim.
The Exile in Waiting isn't here, not really. It is waiting past where flight can carry you, standing beyond transitions through realms. A somewhere that sits atop the supergate and forces it closed. A genius loci in exile that you irritated by pelting it with your spell.
Maybe. A lot of that was slapped into your brain by a magically-backed big fat lie. You do think it's trying to smash you for finding it.
You pull chunks of space taunt through and around the gate to nowhere. It falls apart easily to your interference, but there's enough of it to make the effort pointless. Since it rises up out of sight.
"Six!"
She's speeding up her count.
Solid Drive accelerates to her top speed. And stays put, somehow not moving while having high velocity.
"Five!"
Aquila begins screaming. Gabriel slashes about with both of her swords, stuck a meter in the air from her rush back to the other Magical Girls.
Falling isn't quite the word to explain the attack. It does convey the feeling. The pillar of utter darkness falls and spills out into the places touched by Wave Force. You can't Shift away from the connection and try to wring space to its limits to keep the flow away. At least not while connected to Goddess White.
"Four!"
The dam of blocked space fails. Your Panoply drips out darkness and it covers you.
(Gate to Nothingness: 750000 Damage (Reduced by choice of target!), No Dice = 750000 Damage
Lost and Forgotten: Summit is carrying a place she resided in with her??? Close Enough. Tiggers!
Magical Girl Summit: Auto-Kill)
Sensation fades and you experience a pressure pushing out your very soul. The place you have passed into is impossible for you to live within. Only the feeling of your compromised interior space and protective barrier remains.
You could flail and try to escape. It just seems utterly pointless, any action that doesn't lead to escape will speed your death. A future that seems unlikely to change. Just cling on to life for its own sake.
(Magical Girl Summit: But it Refused
Armor of the Time Lord Activates!)
Goddess White slams you into the ground by her grip on you. Up until it happened you thought she wasn't in contact with you anymore. A blob of darkness consumes itself where you had been.
"Three!"
When things changed from dying in impossible space to being thrown around by one of the Goddess Four eludes you.
The collapsing magic hadn't stopped collapsing. Wind screams around you, faster than anything should be able to force air to move. White braces her feet against the suction. You grab Aquila before she flies in and anchor yourself into the ground.
Small rocks pelt against you in an aerial whirlpool. Larger stones tumble along the ground.
"Two!" you see White shout.
Solid Drive is moving at high speed away from the points of collapse, yet still getting closer. Gabriel is being dragged backwards as she tries to stab into the ground with her sword.
"One!"
No more time for thought.
WEDXATEEVNADEETDH WFROAOTFHR OTCFH EGEO !DWDIESLSL!!
Every void erupts with trees of white spikes. You're engulfed in the energies erupting from the adjacent spot. For all of that…
"It's still alive." you say.
"The jackass was running away as soon as we started. It still has another hole to remember me by."
"What happened?" Aquila taps on your Panoply.
You set her down.
All around you the wind has torn up the landscape. Ripped up dirt drifts to the ground. The steel spikes were ripped away, but the pieces still buried in the ground are emitting showers of white sparks into the air.
"Mental attack. You weren't in your right mind, or left mind even." White says.
Being in the lightning feels warm, but harmless. At least for now.
Solid Drive zips away without a backwards glance.
"Summit? How do you feel?" Goddess White looks you in the eyes.
"I'm fine." you take stock, "I need to pee."
Aquila twists one of her feet, "And I need to rinse off my legs."
White lets go of your shoulder and shrugs, "If that's your pressing concern I shouldn't have anything to worry about. Come back soon please."
Judgement Drive rushes in and stops above you, brandishing her scanner "That was backwards. Do it again the other way."
Goddess White flips her off.
----
By the time you return, and after borrowing a water purification tablet from Insight so Aquila could clean her armor at a pond, Judgement Drive has kickstarted several portals. Fairy crews flitter around reshaping the earth while a stream of Elves and wagons march out of the single active portal with a ramp. The earthwork and enchanted beams stretch out over 200 meters in every direction. Almost to where Goddess Grey had pitched her tent.
The dawn is still dim, and Solid Core still unleashes the occasional blast of violet light in the distance. The cascade of sparks still falling from the aftershocks of the combined spells provides more than enough illumination for the Elven pioneers to set up row after row of shelters. A bit further away a circle of Elves is doing something with a red-hot, levitating chunk of stone. That must have something to do with the mana tap. You start flying over to them to offer aid, your portals would probably help, if nothing else.
Solid Drive rushes to shadow you and signals that she wants to talk. Dropping to a speed that makes the wind in your ears less deafening lets her talk to you, "Goddess White said she needs you to talk with her!"
"About what?"
"How should I know?" Solid Drive shrugs before she shoots off at high speed towards Solid Core.
You pull yourself to a stop, wings seizing onto the air around you, and take a deep breath. It's no less than you've done before, if you think about it. Delivering a quick message and running off without a care.
Something is off. Something about your powers is crawling in an unfamiliar way. You hate it. Whatever it is, you can't quite catch how it flows over anything when you try to pay attention. And the circumstances of being watched by The Exile in Waiting, probably dooming you to be trapped in this dimension until you die or it finds something else to focus on.
White is sitting in a gazebo, which is centered on a pillar of flame and surrounded by a glossy black freshly-created rock surface. Groups of Elves pass the building on one side. Red Rose, Insight, Maiden of the West, her daughter, and the Radiances are also situated there. The giant snake that Lunar Radiance has assumed for her huge form coils around the pillar of flame.
You fly over at a comparative snail's pace. Gabriel glides in before you. Weapon-as-wings flap quietly when you touch ground. A dozen huge heads of the Horror snake turn to glare at you.
White stops talking with Gabriel, "Hey! None of that!"
"Settle down Lu." Red Rose says, exasperation clearly shining through her words.
Lunar Radiance puts most of her heads to rest and does a wide, fang-filled yawn with the remaining glaring head. You stare back. Lunar Radiance coils oddly and draws back from you a bit.
Red Rose stands up and slaps the scales of Lunar Radiance. "Oi! And congratulations Summit, that's a rare talent you've developed."
"What do you need, Goddess White?" you say.
Goddess White taps an empty spot on the stone bench, "Take a seat."
You point at the arriving Elves, "I should be assisting their set up." There, short and to the point.
White nods, "I expected this and have prepared a counter-argument. Gabriel?"
A hiss of static erupts from Gabriel's armor.
"James?" White asks.
You can tell that something is being sent through RF, but you can't make heads or tails of it. Encryption is annoying.
Major Robert's voice comes through, "Magical Girl Summit, this is Major Roberts. Remain on standby until further notice. In fact, you should sit down, have a drink, and even take a nap if you need to, we have enough sentries for now."
You squint your eyes closed and sit next to Goddess White, slouching a bit as you rearrange your Panoply, "What do you want?"
"Really? I want to know how you stayed calm when you perceived the Exile. You also seemed a bit stressed."
Gabriel shuffles in place a bit.
You point your closed eyes up at the pink sky above you, "Gaia was much bigger."
White's smile, which had been trying for a gentle appearance, drops away as she raises and then lowers a finger, "When did you see Gaia? And how the heck did you manage to withstand that?"
"I don't know exactly. I had a dream about seeing ...her, and then forgetting about it. She confirmed it later."
"Gaia would, the bitch…." White trails off, "Convenient, at least."
"It didn't make much difference. That thing got away." you say.
And it's going to hunt you down and kill you, you don't say.
"The Exile in Waiting isn't going to hunt you down. I would have killed it already if it held a grudge. You can expect it to try keeping well away from you, it certainly ran away from me quickly."
Maiden of the West speaks up from where she's been running her fingers through the naga girl's hair, "That sounds right. I got into a fight with it months ago and it ran off quickly once we hurt it."
Red Rose harrumphs, "You are a threat to it, Summit is an annoyance."
"In that case she can teleport into its insides and start really hurting the Exile." White says, finishing with a manic grin.
That sounds unhealthy. Still a better plan than waiting for it to dissolve you.
"How did you know my name?"
Lunar Radiance stops being a snake and starts being a girl leaning against Solar Radiance.
"Grey's little Dark Star dropped your name." Solar Radiance says.
"One of Ichi's minions said it." Goddess White says softly into your ear.
Some time passes without anyone speaking, just the march of boots on stone as the legions arrive. Which intensifies when another portal gets a ramp and walkway. There's a tense feeling as some geysers erupt in the distance and a river of magic starts flowing beneath the black stone pathway.
The pillar of fire that the gazebo is built around changes from a simple flame to a complex braid stretching dozens of meters into the air. Goddess White stands up and removes her cuirass, muttering something about the heat. Lunar Radiance whistles and Solar Radiance shoves Lunar in turn.
Gabriel sits next to you, taller seated than you are standing up, and manifests her wings around her.
White sits down and leans against Gabriel, "I have to apologize to you Summit. I imposed on you because I was afraid you might have decided to worship the Exile."
You sit quietly. You don't think you were stricken by anything when you perceived it, or when it shoved a fake concept into your head. In fact, you're rather certain you aren't.
"Staying calm at first encounter can be a sign that your mind is warping. Those people are always annoying." White says after another pause.
"You'd better not be talking about me." Maiden of the West says, raising an eyebrow, "Shiva and Sil aren't anything like that Nightmare."
"Case in point." Goddess White mouths, almost too quiet for you to hear.
Insight opens her mouth, but shuts it again without saying anything.
"The other symptom is, not to be too judgmental, you appeared agitated. Since I owe you for your aid, is there anything I can do to help?"
A bit of shifting turns your own weapon into a back to recline against, "No."
"OK. Did something happen to a friend? Those medals look shiny new."
That's a weird question, "Not really."
Something clicks as you think things over, "You gave Grey the Prison Artifact. No one but me should have it."
"She needed-" Goddess White sighs, "Sorry. Why do you need to have it? I didn't know."
You try to keep your voice steady, "I almost lost everything in that place. My mother, my home, my hopes, my mind, and nearly my life. No one should be able to imprison and torment anyone in that way ever again."
The sound of stamping feet is the only noise for a moment.
Maiden of the West rubs her chin, "That's awful, if you're willing to do a service for Shiva-Sil I could help you destroy the-"
Lunar Radiance glares at West, "Shut up."
"I could introduce you to people that will help without demanding your soul." Red Rose says.
Lunar crosses her arms, "Really?" she asks Red Rose softly.
"I can get the shit beaten out of me without help from a junior Magical Girl." Red Rose says in response.
Goddess White puts a hand over her heart, "When I next meet my older sister Goddess Grey I will tell her to give you that item. This I promise."
Maiden of the West raises an eyebrow, "Will that actually accomplish anything? I wouldn't hand over a pocket dimension that easily."
"I can be very persuasive." White says.
West snorts, "I'm sure you think that."
Red Rose stands up, putting a hand on her bandages, and brandishes her spear.
"This is friendly, really." West says without moving from her seat.
"See that it stays that way." Red Rose sits down carefully.
Space shakes around you as a large portal activates at the supergate. A few seconds later a caravan of trucks bearing Counter Force markings drives out along a raised road. The first two are tugging helicopters, which begin to spin up even as they're being towed. The cable automatically releases when they take off.
West stands up quickly and grabs her shield, "That means they have parasite gates working. Sorry I can't stay with you longer, but something has come up and I need to report back. Goodbye."
"Bye!" the naga girl waves before rushing after her mother.
Red Rose grimaces as she stands back up, Insight carefully follows her, "I'm going to look for a human medic. These bruises are deep."
She strides towards the center of the growing gate complex, Insight sticking close behind. Insight waves as she goes.
Pairs of Fairies start gliding through the sky in expanding patterns. You see teams of War Angels and other warriors of heaven patrol the skies after them. There's rumble from the ground that hums like a very slow motor. The first rays of daylight hit the top of the still-under-construction supergate.
"I need to start making plans to meet Goddess Red." White sighs, "Getting captured has put everything behind schedule."
----
A tall, gaunt figure wrapped in dark gray rags pointed his club at the demon before him, "This is the one who witnessed Ialemus dying."
The hulking, 20-meters-high headless demon leans a bit closer.
Tass grovels, laying himself out on the floor.
The thin nightmare speaks again in its clear baritone, "Tell the commander what you have told the others."
"He didn't last a second! Anna tore him in half with a single blow!"
The headless figure rumbles.
"No my lord. I do not think so. Forbidden information is all the more sought after."
Tass trembles, looking at the ground.
A few more gurgles escape the large figure.
"My lord is satisfied with your answers. If you tell anyone else be sure to mention that Goddess Grey will soon slay Anna for her deeds." the gaunt figure says.
Tass murmurs rapid thank yous and departs at a rapid pace.
"I shall miss Ialemus too." the gaunt figure announces.
A winged, armored figure descends, "Huwett. I bring ill tidings. The Nightmare fled from its task and the Elves have re-established their supergate while we were blinded. Three other gates are streaming in forces. Grey's liaison is nowhere to be found."
An angry bellow echos off the trees.
"This is most unfortunate. We may have lost our best chance to strike." the gaunt demon says.
"I understood perfectly. What would you have me do?" the messenger bows.
----
[Under the Open Sky Season 2 Epilogue]
----
You jolt awake. When did you fall asleep? You're lying on Gabriel's soft and fluffy wing. Goddess White has her Datamine out (with a privacy effect scrambling your view of the screen). An Elf in gilded armor is standing over you and has just started taking a glowing green sword out of his pack.
That explains the wake up at least.
Goddess White has a finger extended and crackling with spiky white magic. She also has an eyebrow up.
"Let go!" you choke out.
The Elf lets go of the sword like it burned him and shows his empty hands, "My apology hero."
"Care to explain what you were thinking, if anything?" Goddess White asks.
You notice a soft breathing sound from Gabriel. Is her armor holding her upright while she sleeps?
"I am Theodore, when the two-headed beast killed my uncle I took up his sword. As his killer has been slain by another I believe I should no longer carry it and wish to offer it to Magical Girl Summit."
" 'Kay. Summit, you finished a quest, do you want the fancy sword, yes no?"
You shake your head, "I have sufficient weaponry. And little use for a sword."
Theodore bows his head, "Please, I insist you accept it. Even if you only sell Midnight Dawn to someone else I want it to benefit the one who avenged my uncle."
You stand up and hold your hands out. It's simpler to just take it if he wants to make a scene.
Theodore bows his head again and draws out the sword. With exaggerated care he sets it in your hand. You give a slight bow back. He slams a fist to his chest.
"In destroying my uncle's foe, you honored him, his family, and his Empire. I thank you."
"This is a gracious gift. I will put it to good use." you say.
Theodore marches back into the throng of legionnaires. The pathways have grown and expanded during your nap. There are 3 more ramps sorting out traffic from more portals. And an extra wide and heavy structure with water dripping from the sides and small rafts laden by supplies floating down it.
"You're just going to eat that, right?" Goddess White asks.
"Yes." you say, "It would be rude to do so in front of him."
Your Panoply touches the sword and power flows into it as your will forces it to be absorbed. And more power flows. The glow increases in intensity and the effective size wobbles as more and more power enters the sword.
White squints at the gifted sword, "How long does this usually take?"
"Less time."
The intense emerald glow starts to fade as you abandon the attempt to Fuse it directly. You work it into a pocket of your lab coat. Not quite Fused yet, but it should assimilate from there. Just need to let its innate magic fade out and work your own in slowly.
Goddess White gets up to look at your lab coat more closely. After a gesture you push the flap she was interested in over for her to look at. She pokes a hand into the pocket and waggles her fingers on the other side, then does it again in reverse. Satisfied she lets your lab coat drop.
"Pockets must be convenient." she comments as she sits back down and starts poking at her Datamine. "So unfair."
A towel and some water appears out of your storage, you wipe the drool off your chin, "My powers are unfair?"
Goddess White nods, "You can fly, stay transformed indefinitely, sleep in your Magical Girl form, and carry a truckload of stuff with you. So unfair."
Your mind abandons trying to make sense of one of the Goddess Four coveting your own powers. This has been an odd day.
----
Epilogue Actions (Pick 2):
Technically you're assisting Goddess White so she can get around faster. She'll follow you around, so this isn't an issue.
[X] Go watch the equipment being recovered from stasis. How is the Counter Force going about that?
[X] Find Major Roberts and chat with him, figure out what your next mission might be.
[X] Persuade Gabriel to practice against you in a spar. Something to hone your skills and hers…
[X] There's some Elven VIPs hanging around another plaza. See if they can help you figure out some of your Abilities that defend others.
[X] Open portals to nearby Dimensions to freak out Hell's armies. After getting permission, of course.
[X] Glare at people until you know what the weird effect you've unlocked does.
[X] Goddess White mentioned that Lunar Radiance wanted to fight you, but was persuaded by Solar Radiance that she should let Solar fight in her stead in any spar. Sounds like there's some drama there.
-[X] And how do you expect to make a good showing against Solar Radiance? [Write-in]
[X] You have another idea for borrowing strength. The three Drives have Abilities that flow between them and Judgement Drive has a high control over her magic. Ask them to help you by storing some of their power that you can absorb later in a pinch.
[X] There's something you want to try...
-[X] [Write in a combat trick you want codified or an Ability Summit should try to replicate]
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+200 EXP Routed the Exile (With Goddess White's Help)
+500 EXP The Supergate is Open
+50 EXP Steady-Minded
+5 EXP Waiting for the Next Disaster
244 + 755 = 999 EXP