[X] All-out offense. This is the strongest enemy you've ever faced, don't give it a chance to strike back.
You thrust and thrust and thrust, the Lingering Will parrying every blow with its katana. This is without a doubt the strongest enemy you've ever faced, and you don't want to give it a chance to strike back. Leo runs around the enemy, occasionally biting at it, trying to find purchase with his teeth. The lower parts of its black cloak-like body kick the Tibetan Mastiff away every time before he can really dig his teeth in. You want to glance and see how Tessa and Ian are doing, but you know that if your attention wavers from your enemy for even a second, it might strike.
"Rooster! It's readying a spell!" you hear Tessa shout.
Sure enough, you see a hand-like fold of the Lingering Will's body glowing red. You jump back, readying your Draw.
Your jaw drops. Raising its cloak-like fold, it unleashes a massive firestorm at you! Yes! This is just what you needed! You raise your hand, the flames hitting you but only getting drawn and sucked into your body. A manic grin hits your face, your ear flicking and tail swaying mischievously as you feel the sheer magical power of the massive firestorm spell flowing through you. This... This power! So much magic packed into one spell! So much destructive fire! It's just a shame the Lingering Will is probably too smart to cast this spell again after seeing what you can do with its power!
You grin as the Lingering Will seems to be faltering. Could it be shocked you were so unaffected by its spell? "Tu fui, ego eris... Relay!" you shout.
Immediately, your body lights aflame. Your armor, your hands, your feet, your weapon. It's all a raging inferno. Your eyes glow red with the flaming magic, and just like that, you charge forward, thrusting your burning, white-hot spear into the Lingering Will's chest. Time to end this!
You withdraw your spear and grin up at the Lingering Will... Only for the hole in the sheet of shadow to close itself up and the Lingering Will to slash its sword at you. You block with your buckler, only for the blade to shatter right through the small shield. You reflexively withdraw your hand before the sword can chop right through and jump back.
"But... But I struck its core!"
"Rooster! My Scan just figured it out! It's core isn't in its chest! Not always! It... It can move its core around within itself! But it can't get rid of it! No matter where it is, there's always a weak spot!" Tessa calls to you.
"Where is it now?" you bark back at her.
"Lowest portion of the Lingering Will, on the right corner! Your right!"
You charge right for it, but the Lingering Will deflects your burning spear with its katana. Damn, you need an opening! You continue trading blows with the Lingering Will, but it seems to be toying with you. Every blow that gets through only sunders your armor. Your helmet falls away in pieces, your right gauntlet and left greave shatter to bits. You almost feel like it's unwrapping a present for its sacrificial consumption.
Finally, you have your chance. Leo bites onto the end of its sheet-like body and his fangs find purchase.
"Head!"
With a roar, you thrust your flaming spear at the Lingering Will's head, and with relief, you hear a shatter from its Magic Stone core.
You jump away along with Leo, sighing in relief as the Lingering Will flutters to the ground, still clutching its katana. You still have a lot of firepower left in you from that Draw, so you best work it out before-
That sound... That wheeze-hiss... No! You turn around to see the Lingering Will rising again. But... you struck its core! That's instant death for any Monster!
"Rooster, it... Its core! It regenerated!" Tessa gasps.
"What? That's not possible!" Leo exclaims. Growling, he runs forward, but skids to a stop to avoid a swipe from the Lingering Will's sword.
"Tessa... Keep your Scan going! Dig deeper! We... We need to figure out what's going on with this thing!"
Tessa nods, while you turn to the Lingering Will and point your spear at him.
"Tu fui, ego eris! Relay!" You begin firing fireballs at the enemy, trying to keep it occupied and on its toes. You keep the fireballs small and weak to conserve your Draw. You're only running covering fire while Tessa works. You need to save the major power you Drew for your melee combat.
"Wait, that's it! Rooster, its sword!"
"What about it?" You grunt, firing another fireball at the Lingering Will.
"Its true power is in its sword! That sword is the medium keeping the Lingering Will sustained, and so long as it exists, it can regenerate its core!"
You glance at the Gem-Sho. It's a good weapon, but it can't shatter that katana... You glance over at Ian. He's sweating, eyes closed, his skin turning red. His Bide is growing... If he charges long enough, he can probably shatter the Lingering Will's sword. You just need to buy him time, and get him an opening.
Crouching a bit to give yourself some build up, you launch forward. "Tu fui, ego eris! Relay!" You light yourself aflame again, thrusting and thrusting, keeping the Lingering Will on the defensive. The few sword strikes it gets through, you feel your other gauntlet and other greave fall away. Leo runs around, barking and trying get a good bite on the enemy's body.
"Partner, any time now!" you shout at your party member.
"Rooster, why are you pressuring him?" Tessa yells to you.
You grin, blocking one of the Lingering Will's slashes with your Gem-Sho. You glance over your shoulder at your Supporter. "The more he suppresses the urge to react to, the stronger his Bide will be!"
Tessa's eyes widen in realization, and she smiles. But... then her smile falters and her eyes widen even further. "Rooster, look out!"
You whip your head around to see the Lingering Will's sword swinging downward toward you. You instinctively raise your left arm to block with your buckler... forgetting you don't have a buckler anymore.
A splatter of blood freckles your face, then you look down to see your hand and arm lying bloodily on the cave floor. Only the pain resistance from your Endurance stat keeps you from screaming. The Lingering Will whirls around and strikes you in the chest with its hilt, sending your flying and shattering your cuirass. You land in a heap on a pile of rocks by the walls, your spear still in your right hand.
Down an arm and unarmored, you grit your teeth through the pain and struggle to your feet, only to fall back against the rocks when you try to lift yourself up with one arm.
Is this all my opponent can give me?
That voice... Hissy, wheezey... The Lingering Will can talk?!
All your moves. All your blows. They speak only of fear.
You watch, trembling, as the Lingering Will floats slowly forward, sword held at the ready.
All your thrusts reek of hesitation. All your strikes stink of worry. Where is your drive? Where is the challenge I sought? Where. Is. Your. Resolve?
You grit your teeth, trying to fight back the tears. Maybe this was a mistake... This thing's clearly out of your league. What can you do? What
should you do?
-o-
You fall to one knee, using the Gem-Sho to support yourself, panting and sweating. Hero's Shade stands opposite you with a magically-constructed sword and shield in hand, looking like he's not tired at all.
"Kid. All I feel in yer magic, is doubt. All I feel in yer blows... is hesitation," he says sternly.
You wheeze and heave, reaching up to adjust your glasses as you lock eyes with your mentor.
"Does th' spider doubt itself whennit consumes th' bug caught in its web? Does th' dog doubt itself whennit defends its master? Does th' cat doubt itself whennit defends its kittens? Does th' tiger doubt itself whennit hunts fer dragons? Does th' dragon doubt itself whennit fights back against th' tiger? No!" he bellows.
"Only us, only we humanoids, question our own actions, our own existence. It's th' animals, th' beasts, who inherently know their purpose in life, who feel no doubt. But... we've somethin' they don't. We have doubt, but th' beasts are neutral. We c'n slide th' scale in th' opposite direction and surpass their neutral instinct. We ain't blind to what's in front a' us, behind us, or beside us. We have willpower. We have courage. We have guts. We have determination. We have ambition! We... in all our things, should have... resolve!"
-o-
With a groan, you pull yourself to your feet. Holding the Gem-Sho in your one remaining hand, you point the blade at the Lingering Will.
"Sorry to have kept you waiting," you say, your voice still and confident. "I've found my... resolve." Your eyes glow green, and like a bullet, you shoot forward.
Despite your one hand, you thrust and thrust at the Lingering Will, and it can barely keep up. It's strange... You feel stronger... tougher... faster... more skillful!
"Tu fui, ego eris! Relay!" You roar, lighting aflame again. And holy shit, your magic is stronger, too! Is this what a little resolve can do?
"Ian! Go for its sword!" you roar, but it looks like Ian's Bide isn't finished yet. You continue to thrust and jab with your red-hot flaming spear, overwhelming the Lingering Will and sending it backing up, losing ground. Leo tries his best to keep up, biting when he can and trying to find purchase. If you can just...
The flame covering your body fizzles out as your run out of Drawn magic, but you keep going. You sweep your spear at the Lingering Will's lower half and it hops to avoid the low blow. Leo takes that moment to bite hard into the enemy, dragging and holding it.
"Now!" You and Tessa roar at the same time.
Ian's eyes shoot open and he dashes forward as fast as a lightning strike. Without you even being able to see his draw, he comes to a stop on the other side of the Lingering Will and sheaths his sword, the enemy's katana falling to shards.
The enemy holds up its shattered hilt, ember eyes staring at it, then tosses it aside. Turning to you, it gives you a respectful nod... then it begins slowly disintegrating into black mist from the bottom up.
Thank you, warrior. You were, indeed, a worthy foe. My soul can rest now...
You nod back, just as its glowing red ember eyes snuff out and its Magic Stone falls to the ground. Then, the blackness consumes your consciousness.
-o-
Tessa runs forward. "Rooster" she cries, running up to tug on her party leader's remaining arm. She doesn't respond. "Rooster?"
She looks at the Cat Person's face to see she's passed out on her feet. "No... Mind Zero? And her arm... We have to get her to Elga before she bleeds out!"
Tessa turns to her older brother, the Werewolf glancing between her, Leo, and Rooster. His face resolute, he nods, stepping forward. He lifts Rooster into his arms bridal style and touches Leo with his tail. Understanding, Tessa steps forward and places her hand on his back. Then, with a raspy and hoarse voice... He says a single word.
"Warp!"
-o-
Screams echo from the Underworld Dormitory. After all, a werewolf just appeared from nowhere, carrying a bloody amputee in his arms, then fell to one knee.
Hades steps out of the kitchen, his eyes widening. "Jersey, get Elga!"
The God runs out into the center of the tavern, ignoring the alarmed and concerned cries of the customers, meeting Tessa halfway there. "Get Elga, please! We have a Mind Down and a Mind Zero!" She begs, tears in her eyes.
"I just sent Jersey for her. She'll be here any-"
"Quit bellyaching! I am coming as fast as I- Sweet merciful mushrooms!"
Elga hurriedly picks the unconscious Rooster up and sets her across a nearby table. She looks her over, concern on her face. "What happened to all of you?"
"We... challenged the Lingering Will," Tessa admits, rubbing at her arm.
Hades takes a step back, recoiling in shock. "What, but... My children, why would you do that?"
"We... wanted to have an adventure..." Leo sighs.
"If we get her patched up right now, she will survive. But... her arm... I think her Adventuring days might just be over..."
"What about the Dian Cecht Familia? Can't they get her an artificial arm like Urist?" Tessa begs.
Hades sighs. "Those are extremely expensive... Urist just gets really cheap, fragile versions, and we just don't have that kind of money," the God of the Underworld explains.
"No... But my family does."
Hades whirls around, a small smile coming to his face at who just walked into the Underworld Dormitory.
"Are you sure, old friend? They won't look kindly on you borrowing money, not when you haven't visited home in so long..." the God says.
"They'll understand when I explain. Besides, I've kept in touch with them via letters. I'll pay for the operation and craftsmanship. Take her to the Dian Cecht Familia immediately. Once they see my name attached to the request, they'll know I'm good for it and proceed right away."
Hades chuckles, crossing his arms and shaking his head. "I don't know what this familia would do without you. Thank you... Morn Rower."
The High Elf vice-captain to the Hades Familia smiles.
-o-
You awaken once again atop Babel in the empty, sunset city of Orario. You pull yourself to your feet and walk to the edge of the tower, sitting with your legs dangling off the side.
"You can come out, now. I know you're here," you say.
Immediately the Elusive Man steps forward to stand at your side. He lifts the brim of his hat and chuckles. "So, I take it you remember now?"
You nod, not looking at him. "I remember everything now..."
"I'm glad. It's high time you did. I suppose now is the time I stopped keeping secrets. You can ask me anything, and I'll give you a straight answer. Promise," he says, smiling that mysterious smile of his.
"Anything?"
"So long as I know the answer... anything."
Reader Choice
[ ] "Who are you?"
[ ] "What are you?"
[ ] "Where am I?"
[ ] "Why am I naked?"
[ ] Write-in.
(
Spoken A/N: My sincerest apologies for this having taken as long as it did. DQ11 has eaten our lives for the last five days.)