Crystalwatcher
(Verified GM)
- Location
- Limbo
Voting is closed. Train and Talking wins, and EXP is being saved.
Crystalwatcher's Magical Girl Quest!
- Thread starter Crystalwatcher
- Start date
- Original
- Location
- madison
I'm not saying it's not magical, I'm saying an affinity with a MM modifier of +0 is literally doing nothing but adding a keyword tag. Shooting a goo monster with a gun with a holy affinity rather than no affinity will do no extra damage if it's MM modifier is 0. Also star shine adds it's MM roll to its damage, like all spells.
That wasn't my point.
My point was that if you're attacking something like a slime monster, a mundane bullet isn't going to do crap to it.
It would look something like this.
Mundane Gun: 100 Base Dmaage, No Dice = 100 Total Damage
Slime: 10 Base Resilience, +10 Dice, +90 What's a stab wound to a slime? = 110 Damage Reduction
Attack ineffective!
Magic Gun: 100 Base Damage, No Dice = 100 Total Damage
Slime: 10 Base Reslience, +10 Dice = 20 Damage Reduction
80 Total End Damage
Despite neither one having a magic modifier, the magic gun works better because there's a slight conceptual component to its damage, so it doesn't need to 100% obey pure physics.
LostDeviljho
Flame Dragon Princess
- Location
- The glorious Pacific Northwest
- Pronouns
- Any
hard to do with no MM.
- Location
- madison
and you're basing this on? I don't think we've seen anything to indicate that having an affinity would actually help in that situation. Not to mention I think that everything has an affinity magic or not, a rock would have a stone affinity and a gun would probably have something like steel or technology.
you are correct, it looks like it does not get dice. That said, it's a spell so it's entirely doing magic damage. a mundane weapon used by someone with no MM would not hit any harder simply by being given a concept. There would be an added metaphysical weight to it of zero.
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- Location
- Ekaterinburg, Russia
Just as a clarification, about Grand Dispel that disallows magic in the area for a turn. Is the following correct?
If Oblivion Awaits is already cast and meets a Grand Dispel spell head on, it will still go through it. However, no more Oblivion Awaits could be cast for the rest of the turn.
My understanding is that if the Grand Dispel also passes the DC for Power Negation, that is indeed what happens.
- Location
- Ekaterinburg, Russia
Okay, this just bugs me. Can someone please give me a few good examples of the following abilities proccing and how it would change damage calculation, all other things being equal?
Vorpal's second half is "if the attack exceeds a 3-1 ratio against damage reduction, negates the opponent's reduction."
1) Does this apply to all attacks, as opposed to intercepts only?
2) If it does apply to all attacks, is this the correct way to calculate it for usual attacks?
(Vorpal Blade: 600 Base Damage, No Dice = 600 Total Damage
Vorpal Blade: 600 Base Damage, No Dice = 600 Total Damage
Vorpal Knight spreads her two hits!
Tough Victim: 250 Base Resilience, No Dice = 250 Damage Reduction
350 Final End Damage
Weak Victim: 150 Base Resilience, No Dice = 150 Damage Reduction Vorpal!
600 Final End Damage)
3) If it applies to Intercepts, is it also capable of negating the damage from their Intercepts?
(Vorpal Blade: 600 Base Damage, No Dice = 600 Total Damage
Intercept!
Vorpal Blade Damage Increases to 780 Total Damage!
Tough Fist: 250 Base Damage, No Dice = 250 Total Damage Vorpal!
780 Difference, Vorpal Blade wins
Vorpal Blade: 780 Intercept Damage, No Dice = 780 Total Damage
Tough Victim: 250 Base Resilience, No Dice = 250 Damage Reduction Vorpal!
780 Final End Damage)
About Size Shift, I'd like an explanation for what's the APT-to-Damage conversion ratio.
For example, is it "divide number of APT by 3, multiply Damage by 3" - as if it was a Crush ability, so it also multiplies damage from situational modifiers as well as the magic modifier roll?
Or is it "Reduce number of APT by 1-2-3-4, add 100-200-300-400% to base damage" - this will affect Rain of Blows, but won't multiply the other components of offensive string?
Or does it add damage as stacks of extra damage (so it doesn't affect Rain of Blows, for example)?
Naturally, I'd also like to know the conversion ratio where damage is reduced to increase APT.
About Critical Strike/Catastrophic Damage, I'd like to know the extent of resulting damage. Does it work as "if you hit someone with a staff, a staff with neither will bruise, a staff with Critical Strike will break an arm, a staff with Catastrophic Damage will pulp the entire side of the body"? And if so, what, if any, is the difference in damage output (no change, damage boost based on their HP for targeting a weak spot, or something else)?
Also, I'd like to know a possible soft mechanics method of imitating them (beyond the likely "aim at their wrist to cut off the hand, or slice an unarmored side to make them bleed out" and "use a chainsaw to carve them open, or a drill to make it really hurt while you're stabbing them" for Critical Strike/Catastrophic Damage respectively).
Vorpal's second half is "if the attack exceeds a 3-1 ratio against damage reduction, negates the opponent's reduction."
1) Does this apply to all attacks, as opposed to intercepts only?
2) If it does apply to all attacks, is this the correct way to calculate it for usual attacks?
(Vorpal Blade: 600 Base Damage, No Dice = 600 Total Damage
Vorpal Blade: 600 Base Damage, No Dice = 600 Total Damage
Vorpal Knight spreads her two hits!
Tough Victim: 250 Base Resilience, No Dice = 250 Damage Reduction
350 Final End Damage
600 Final End Damage)
3) If it applies to Intercepts, is it also capable of negating the damage from their Intercepts?
(Vorpal Blade: 600 Base Damage, No Dice = 600 Total Damage
Intercept!
Vorpal Blade Damage Increases to 780 Total Damage!
780 Difference, Vorpal Blade wins
Vorpal Blade: 780 Intercept Damage, No Dice = 780 Total Damage
780 Final End Damage)
About Size Shift, I'd like an explanation for what's the APT-to-Damage conversion ratio.
For example, is it "divide number of APT by 3, multiply Damage by 3" - as if it was a Crush ability, so it also multiplies damage from situational modifiers as well as the magic modifier roll?
Or is it "Reduce number of APT by 1-2-3-4, add 100-200-300-400% to base damage" - this will affect Rain of Blows, but won't multiply the other components of offensive string?
Or does it add damage as stacks of extra damage (so it doesn't affect Rain of Blows, for example)?
Naturally, I'd also like to know the conversion ratio where damage is reduced to increase APT.
About Critical Strike/Catastrophic Damage, I'd like to know the extent of resulting damage. Does it work as "if you hit someone with a staff, a staff with neither will bruise, a staff with Critical Strike will break an arm, a staff with Catastrophic Damage will pulp the entire side of the body"? And if so, what, if any, is the difference in damage output (no change, damage boost based on their HP for targeting a weak spot, or something else)?
Also, I'd like to know a possible soft mechanics method of imitating them (beyond the likely "aim at their wrist to cut off the hand, or slice an unarmored side to make them bleed out" and "use a chainsaw to carve them open, or a drill to make it really hurt while you're stabbing them" for Critical Strike/Catastrophic Damage respectively).
Pretty sure that Vorpal's second effect only triggers during Intercept conflicts, because its a single sentence. A structure of "If A, then do B, and then if C, also do D".
I think it would vary on a case by case basis, depending on the weapon in question, but previous discussions have indicated that its the "halve your base damage to double your APT or double your base damage by halving your APT" method, with soft mechanics limitations on how high your APT can go.
Those two abilities are pretty soft mechanics heavy to begin with. Its basically a "Is it theoretically possible for this attack to injure the target (separate from its ability to deal damage)? Yes? Ok, increase the odds of that happening".
LostDeviljho
Flame Dragon Princess
- Location
- The glorious Pacific Northwest
- Pronouns
- Any
- No
- See above
- Yes
Yes.
Pretty much the inverse, though there are soft mechanics limits on how high you can go depending on your relative skill and/or the nature of your weapon.
Pretty much what Justin said.
- Location
- Ekaterinburg, Russia
Out of curiosity, did we ever get the build of anti-Goddess Red magical girl?
Because I can't help but think that, so long as her standing army can be dealt with, a combination of Curse status effect and a personal ability that doubles the effectiveness of Curse, would shut Goddess Red down hard.
I mean, Curse halves all MM rolls of the afflicted, so double effectiveness would shut them down altogether - stripping her of any ability to summon more troops for the Army of the Apocalypse.
And after that, Ni's standing army is all that remains.
...Ironically, that's not at all what I intended when playing around with that power fantasy concept...
Because I can't help but think that, so long as her standing army can be dealt with, a combination of Curse status effect and a personal ability that doubles the effectiveness of Curse, would shut Goddess Red down hard.
I mean, Curse halves all MM rolls of the afflicted, so double effectiveness would shut them down altogether - stripping her of any ability to summon more troops for the Army of the Apocalypse.
And after that, Ni's standing army is all that remains.
...Ironically, that's not at all what I intended when playing around with that power fantasy concept...
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LostDeviljho
Flame Dragon Princess
- Location
- The glorious Pacific Northwest
- Pronouns
- Any
Which one?
- Location
- Ekaterinburg, Russia
There's more than one?
The only one I knew of was the incomplete Mantle-bearer (the girl who would have had a creatively reinterpreted version of Dark Lord's Mantle, to transfer all the powers to the inheritors of the Mantle to eventually grow to overcome Goddess Red).
Well, there's also foils and counterparts like Madama Morte, but my original meaning was "someone theoretically capable of/designed to explicitly serve as a hard counter to Goddess Red".
That said, is the combination I described (Curse and a personal ability to enhance said Curse to completely shut down MM rolls) a viable option against Goddess Red's Summoning?
The design I was originally going for was a part of Shapeshift-Protean weapon traits for which I was asking for clarification above.
It would have had (as side-grades, not as primary line)
Critical Strike (10) - Murder (20) - Catastrophic Damage (30) ability tree,
Drain (10) - Curse (20) - Mana Steal (30) ability tree,
and two semi-capstones (both at level 40 of the weapon):
Devastation
Attacks with Catastrophic Damage also gain Juggernaut. Attacks with Mana Steal also gain Judgement.
Damnation
Double the effectiveness of Curse and Murder abilities. Opponents that are afflicted by both Curse and Murder cannot increase their current health by any means so long as the status effects persist.
Oh, it's certainly powerful, but it would have cost 7800 EXP just to get the weapon 40, 1000 EXP each for Devastation and Damnation, and 600 EXP each (100-200-300) to purchase those ability trees.
The primary line would have had given us Splinter (and Combine) as levelup upgrades, and Size Shift and Super Ability as purchases. Super Ability would have modified Splinter and Combine to gain stacks of extra damage (100% per stack) for every time Combine is used, and for Splinter to only negate this extra damage no matter how many times it's used (i.e. even after 30 uses of Splinter it still deals 100% base damage, but even after 1 use of Splinter it deals 0% extra damage). Combine would also return the extra damage to where it was, so the combat turn would be (base damage + EXTRA x Stack), some 100+ attacks at (base damage) via Splinter, and finished by (base damage x2 + EXTRAx2 x (Stack+1)) via Combine... With weapon's level being the limit for stack number.
It would have had (as side-grades, not as primary line)
Critical Strike (10) - Murder (20) - Catastrophic Damage (30) ability tree,
Drain (10) - Curse (20) - Mana Steal (30) ability tree,
and two semi-capstones (both at level 40 of the weapon):
Devastation
Attacks with Catastrophic Damage also gain Juggernaut. Attacks with Mana Steal also gain Judgement.
Damnation
Double the effectiveness of Curse and Murder abilities. Opponents that are afflicted by both Curse and Murder cannot increase their current health by any means so long as the status effects persist.
Oh, it's certainly powerful, but it would have cost 7800 EXP just to get the weapon 40, 1000 EXP each for Devastation and Damnation, and 600 EXP each (100-200-300) to purchase those ability trees.
The primary line would have had given us Splinter (and Combine) as levelup upgrades, and Size Shift and Super Ability as purchases. Super Ability would have modified Splinter and Combine to gain stacks of extra damage (100% per stack) for every time Combine is used, and for Splinter to only negate this extra damage no matter how many times it's used (i.e. even after 30 uses of Splinter it still deals 100% base damage, but even after 1 use of Splinter it deals 0% extra damage). Combine would also return the extra damage to where it was, so the combat turn would be (base damage + EXTRA x Stack), some 100+ attacks at (base damage) via Splinter, and finished by (base damage x2 + EXTRAx2 x (Stack+1)) via Combine... With weapon's level being the limit for stack number.
LostDeviljho
Flame Dragon Princess
- Location
- The glorious Pacific Northwest
- Pronouns
- Any
There's at least three knockoff Goddess Reds, Madama Morte can literally oneshot her army given some levels, and there are a few MGs who just kinda invalidate the meatshield tactic Red depends on in its entirety.There's more than one?
The only one I knew of was the incomplete Mantle-bearer (the girl who would have had a creatively reinterpreted version of Dark Lord's Mantle, to transfer all the powers to the inheritors of the Mantle to eventually grow to overcome Goddess Red).
Well, there's also foils and counterparts like Madama Morte, but my original meaning was "someone theoretically capable of/designed to explicitly serve as a hard counter to Goddess Red".
LDj's Explanation Corner: False Abilities
LostDeviljho
Flame Dragon Princess
- Location
- The glorious Pacific Northwest
- Pronouns
- Any
LDj's Explanation Corner: False Abilities
Alright folks, today I want to talk about a subject that many of you know of, but comparatively few understand. Now this subject has been talked about before, but some people haven't really found it helpful, and some may have missed it entirely. Thus I'm going to try to explain them in plain language as best I can.
What are False Abilities?
Now, I'm sure most of you know that the CMGQ system has two halves: the Hard Mechanics, and the Soft Mechanics. False Abilities are basically the middle ground between these two. They're not the nebulous wibbly-wobbly blob of stuff that is Soft Mechanics, nor are they the codified and defined Hard Mechanics abilities. They borrow names and structure from the "True" abilities, and in doing so give comparison and points of reference to the otherwise somewhat opaque Soft side of things.
What's the difference?
The difference between a True ability and a False one is, essentially, that the former is a trait, and the latter is an application. A True ability is something a weapon does, something backed by magic or reality to make that effect something inherent. A False ability is something the weapon is used for, something that arises from the way it applied in the situation that emulates a true ability even though it does not possess that ability itself.
For instance, a blade enchanted to strike weak points or specially shaped to deal greater wounds might posses the ability Critical Strike. Your average box cutter, though, would not. However, if you were to take that box cutter and shove it in Demon Mook #149204's eyeball, it would still deal a pretty nasty wound, and potentially Falsify Critical Strike.
Or perhaps a Magical Girl has a weapon that's basically a blob of liquid, its only inherent ability being that it can change its shape. Now sure, she could just hurl it at people and bludgeon them with it, but what if she formed it into a spike first? Well, if she did that she could falsify Armor Pierce, and potentially even stronger versions thereof as she refined her methods of making liquid stabby.
For instance, a blade enchanted to strike weak points or specially shaped to deal greater wounds might posses the ability Critical Strike. Your average box cutter, though, would not. However, if you were to take that box cutter and shove it in Demon Mook #149204's eyeball, it would still deal a pretty nasty wound, and potentially Falsify Critical Strike.
Or perhaps a Magical Girl has a weapon that's basically a blob of liquid, its only inherent ability being that it can change its shape. Now sure, she could just hurl it at people and bludgeon them with it, but what if she formed it into a spike first? Well, if she did that she could falsify Armor Pierce, and potentially even stronger versions thereof as she refined her methods of making liquid stabby.
But is there a mechanical difference?
Well of course, otherwise what would be the point of classing False abilities separately? False abilities, being applications rather than inherent properties, lack some of the oomph that their True counterparts have. True abilities are usually backed by reality, by magic, or in many cases both. False abilities... well they don't get as much backing. False abilities are somehow degraded in comparison to their True counterpart, and the difference only becomes more apparent the more powerful and/or esoteric the abilities are.
For instance, the above girl who falsified Armor Pierce could, as she refined her method and increased her skill in falsifying it, eventually emulate it at 90% efficiency (and thus reduce enemy resilience by 22%). She could then move on to working out how to falsify Juggernaut, which would take skill to reach maximum efficiency in emulation just like Armor Pierce did. However, the amount of skill required to improve would increase drastically in comparison to doing the same with Armor Pierce, and in the end she would only ever be able to emulate it at about 75% efficiency. Upon achieving that cap, she could attempt to falsify Unstoppable, which would have yet another jump in the skill required to emulate it, and would ultimately reach its limit at just 50% emulation efficiency.
It should be noted, though, that Magical Girls with sufficiently high Existence Bonii (Epic or Divinity) can falsify abilities better than other people, because their own existence can substitute for the lack of inherent metaphysical backing to some extent. Additionally, False Abilities can be stacked in way their True counterparts simply can't, such as both Armor Pierce (False) and Unstoppable (False) appearing on the same attack. As such, it's possible for a sufficiently strong or skilled combatant to compensate for the deficiencies of False Abilities in comparison to their counterparts.
For instance, the above girl who falsified Armor Pierce could, as she refined her method and increased her skill in falsifying it, eventually emulate it at 90% efficiency (and thus reduce enemy resilience by 22%). She could then move on to working out how to falsify Juggernaut, which would take skill to reach maximum efficiency in emulation just like Armor Pierce did. However, the amount of skill required to improve would increase drastically in comparison to doing the same with Armor Pierce, and in the end she would only ever be able to emulate it at about 75% efficiency. Upon achieving that cap, she could attempt to falsify Unstoppable, which would have yet another jump in the skill required to emulate it, and would ultimately reach its limit at just 50% emulation efficiency.
It should be noted, though, that Magical Girls with sufficiently high Existence Bonii (Epic or Divinity) can falsify abilities better than other people, because their own existence can substitute for the lack of inherent metaphysical backing to some extent. Additionally, False Abilities can be stacked in way their True counterparts simply can't, such as both Armor Pierce (False) and Unstoppable (False) appearing on the same attack. As such, it's possible for a sufficiently strong or skilled combatant to compensate for the deficiencies of False Abilities in comparison to their counterparts.
Why have these inferior copies of abilities?
Because it's neater this way. Without False abilities, we would have to write out full, explicit abilities to cover every possible application of any weapon or attack, and put them on every character sheet with any possibility of doing X or Y or Z, even theoretically. And that way lies madness.
Wait, False Abilities don't go on sheets?
They do not, no. At the end of the day, False Abilities are more Soft mechanics than Hard, and those don't go on character sheets. Additionally, as stated before, False abilities are something contrived, not something inherent; they aren't consistent enough to go on a sheet, because while a True can apply every time, a False one cannot.
Why not just use Situational Modifiers?
False Abilities essentially are situational modifiers. Theoretically we could make custom modifiers for every situation where circumstances would emulate the effects of one ability or other, but False Abilities are both more universally applicable, and as mentioned before provide a point of reference to make the normally enigmatic and ill-defined Soft Mechanics side of things somewhat more comprehensible.
Do all abilities have False versions?
No. Some abilities (such as Primordia, or all conceptual abilities) cannot be falsified because it is simply impossible to contrive a situation in which that would happen. Others can't be falsified simply because it would transform into the true version on its own. (Poison is poison, after all.)
Is there a list of all the False Abilities and what they do?
No, but there is a list of normal (True) abilities, and you can probably guess what each one does from that, as many will follow a similar pattern to Armor Pierce, or simply halve in effectiveness compared to the original.
Are there any specific False Abilities that are important to know about?
Intercept (False) and High Speed Combat (False).
Intercept (False) is much like regular Intercept, but if your damage is higher than the incoming attack it simply negates the attack, rather than spilling over and retaliating. Why is this important? Because False Intercept is how you block.
True intercept is the equivalent of a Beam Struggle; two opposing forces clashing, each trying to overcome the other, with the stronger of the two overwhelming the weaker and breaking through to damage the opponent. False Intercept is a force attacking and being met with one's own strength in an attempt to negate or mitigate it.
It may be somewhat weaker than the True version, and less broadly applicable (hard to block a fireball or hail of bullets using a sword if you don't have some kind of magical backing), but is one of, if not the, most commonly falsified ability due to how intuitive it is to do.
High Speed Combat (False) is one of the only personal abilities to have a False version, as opposed to weapon abilities. Veteran Magical Girls (and other combatants) can, with sufficient time and experience, develop a kind of sixth sense for what their opponent(s) will do and how the battle is going to progress, and in doing so allow them to fake much higher speed and reactions than they would nominally possess. The difference lies in that while False HSC can allow you to know exactly when and where the bullet will be, is doesn't let you actually watch it make its way there as sufficient levels of the True version would.
What's with the parentheses around "False"?Intercept (False) is much like regular Intercept, but if your damage is higher than the incoming attack it simply negates the attack, rather than spilling over and retaliating. Why is this important? Because False Intercept is how you block.
True intercept is the equivalent of a Beam Struggle; two opposing forces clashing, each trying to overcome the other, with the stronger of the two overwhelming the weaker and breaking through to damage the opponent. False Intercept is a force attacking and being met with one's own strength in an attempt to negate or mitigate it.
It may be somewhat weaker than the True version, and less broadly applicable (hard to block a fireball or hail of bullets using a sword if you don't have some kind of magical backing), but is one of, if not the, most commonly falsified ability due to how intuitive it is to do.
High Speed Combat (False) is one of the only personal abilities to have a False version, as opposed to weapon abilities. Veteran Magical Girls (and other combatants) can, with sufficient time and experience, develop a kind of sixth sense for what their opponent(s) will do and how the battle is going to progress, and in doing so allow them to fake much higher speed and reactions than they would nominally possess. The difference lies in that while False HSC can allow you to know exactly when and where the bullet will be, is doesn't let you actually watch it make its way there as sufficient levels of the True version would.
That's how False Ability names are written when they appear in a combat string or are otherwise explicitly noted. For discussion purposes just saying "False X" should be fine, but "[Ability Name] (False)" is the official format.
Aaand that should cover most of the pertinent stuff. If anyone has other questions they feel should be added to this post, let me know.
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Crystalwatcher
(Verified GM)
- Location
- Limbo
They don't due to lack of magical backing.
LostDeviljho
Flame Dragon Princess
- Location
- The glorious Pacific Northwest
- Pronouns
- Any
Not at all. The difference between EotMs is that False is something you're born with, and True is purely a product of experience
The difference between False and True HSC is that the former is prediction and the latter observation. False HSC is pretty much True EotM, but True HSC is more like accelerated perception.
I thought that was fairly clear from what was said in the info post?
Pretty clear, but just wanted to check if an external frame of reference was valid, since I noticed that False HSC and True EotM seemed the same.
LostDeviljho
Flame Dragon Princess
- Location
- The glorious Pacific Northwest
- Pronouns
- Any
She can and has. During the graveyard bad end, she raised her Panzer Blade in an attempt to block. Of course it didn't show up as a False Intercept because Ni's Black Knight has an ability that triggers an Intercept if the attack is caught, which overrode Nepgear's False version.
Crystalwatcher
(Verified GM)
- Location
- Limbo
Update is in the shack for beta.
KNIGHT DRIVE
Crystalwatcher
(Verified GM)
- Location
- Limbo
The 'Command Tent' is no longer a tent. Instead, it's been replaced by a squat building overnight. A small forest of what you think might be antennas on the new roof with thick walls and a heavy door that sits open.
"Hey Maria. Anything new today?" Your... adjutant? you're not sure of the official terminology, turns around as you greet her.
"Morning Anastasia, I've been going through data feeds all morning. As for your question... yeah. There's a lot going on right now." Her new office is still a bit bare. A concrete floor with no carpet, the folding tables from her previous set up instead of actual tables, and the table with the holo-tank ripoff is still showing an outline of the base. What is new though is a larger screen set up right above it, listing several news articles along with a small window from ToHO. "Right now you're lucky. As far as we can tell, the Unified Darkness is still mostly ignorant of you're existence. Thing is, we're expecting your previous mission to blow that. News of the entire Old Guard being revived and recovered from the Darkness is already spreading like wild fire. Grey Champion has re-activated her Throne of Heroes account and is actively catching up on what's happened, and that's not helping at all. As it stands, we're looking at a week at most before they try something."
(News of the Old Guard's return has caused morale to explode across the entire front. Each mission against the Unified Darkness will now have a 33% chance of having a dedicated Kill-Team deployed against Team GEAR.)
"And that's not even getting into the news that the Three Drives are back in action."
(Never mind, thanks to news of the return of the Three Drives as well, morale among the Unified Light is at an all-time high. Each mission against the Unified Darkness will now have a 33% chance of having a dedicated Extermination Team lead by Goddess Grey being deployed against Team GEAR. Chances of her showing up will increase by 5% for each Fragment of Peace on the same mission.)
"It's been a bit of work, but so far very few people know who it was specifically that brought the lot of them back into the fold. We're trying to keep that as much on the down low as we can until Goddess Gold finds a way to deal with Goddess Grey. If you do run into her, standing orders are to run like hell and hope she doesn't follow." She moves to the laptop in the center of her setup, manipulating the mouse. The ToHO window and several news bulletins minimize on the large screen.
"Also thanks to the return of Goddess White, the higher ups have decided we've got enough spare power that we can stop playing defense a little. Some of your missions on the roster are still relevant, but a few aren't as high-priority as they were. For example, Milidia has already reported a drop off in pressure while the fighting in Valhalla has kicked up some: you're likely to see some raid missions added to the tank. Planners are already scrying for hot targets in Hell, and even the Far Reaches to start hitting. If possible, they're also hoping to hit the Night Lands, but don't hold your breath."
(New Mission types will start showing up: Raids, Hit and Runs, Smash and Grabs. Assaults on important staging grounds for the Unified Darkness, supply dumps, or even spawned grounds.)
"Aside from that, I managed to get some more data from the planners for what missions are currently in the tank, as well as a schedule. They're going to be calling in Magical Girls that signed onto the Counter Force for several dozen different things from planning sessions to force analysis. Those days you won't be able to take missions, but your team might. So give them a heads up."
You nod, "Thanks a lot Maria. I've got some stuff to do this morning, so no missions until later, but you mind if I look at that info?"
"Sure, let me put it up on the big screen..."
[Not Yet Available] Operation Answerer:
Difficulty: Absurd. Even if you're here there's still a chance it'll fail.
Launch Date: Day 40
Known Allies: Everyone
Known Enemies: Everything
Possible Combatants: Everyone is in on this. If they're not dead, they're fighting.
The Road to Elysium (Operation: Charon)
Difficulty: Low. No foreseen problems cropping up.
Launch Date: Day 26
Known Allies: Crimson Hood, Flawless Paladin, Sumire Saber, Sakura Saber, Madama Morte
Confirmed Enemies: Hell's Seventh Legion
Possible Combatants: Army of the Apocalypse
The Reluxus Super Gate (Operation: High Tide)
Difficulty: Extreme. Do you even have to ask?
Launch Date: Day 40
Known Allies: Variable. (Currently: Carnage, White Knight, Goddess White)
Known Enemies: Hell's Second Legion, Hell's Third Legion, Hell's Fourth Legion, The Fortress of Tears
Possible Combatants: ????
The Pale Light of The Moon (Operation: Artemis)
Difficulty: Low. Unlikely anything is going to go wrong.
Launch Date: Day 25
Known Allies: The Four Horse(wo)men
Confirmed Enemies: ????
Possible Combatants: Gaia's WEAPONs, Maidens of the Apocalypse
In Russia... (Operation: Fire Fighter)
Difficulty: Low
Launch Date: Day 25
Known Allies: ????
Confirmed Enemies: Rioters?
Possible Combatants: Civilians
Pits of Hell (Operation: Murder Face)
Difficulty: Medium - High
Launch Date: Day N/A
Known Allies: Fairy Death Squads, Variable
Confirmed Enemies: Demons. Lots of demons.
Possible Combatants: Arc Demons, Goddess Red, Goddess Grey, the Dark Lord himself... lots of other Dark Magical Girls.
"Alright. Thanks again Maria." You smile at her as she closes the file. "Depending on how the morning goes, I might be back to do a mission..."
"I'll keep my ears open then, just in case anything else comes up."
"Right. I'm off."
-/LINE BREAK IDENTIFIED\-
You have time, and it's still early. Quickly, you pull your datamine from its holster on your thigh and pull up the still mostly barren contacts menu. From there, it's a short few seconds to type out a quick text and send it to Kathrine:
A ding.
That's... three hours. It'll cut into the time you wanted to spend training with Sega, Rev, and Uni, but friends are important! Especially if they ask you for help. Your thumbs dance across the screen again.
Another ding.
You change recipients and send out one more text.
You nod. Might as well be polite and not bring anyone yourself. The datamine slips back under the edge of your skirt and into its holster. "Got some time to spare still. Didn't Maria mention how there's a bunch of new Magical Girls on base?"
-/LINE BREAK IDENTIFIED\-
"... You're not a Magical Girl."
"What was your first clue lass? My name is ▅▅▅▅▅ Thorn Warden." You flinch as the... sound that precedes his 'name' cuts through your hearing. "Ah. Sorry about that. I've been told that saying my title tends to cause a kind of perception error for the listener. I'm not actually a Magical Girl, but you can already see that. Sorry. You are...?"
You never actually told him your name did you? "Ah, my name is Anastasia. Also known as Magical Girl Solid Core. Nice to meet you... and sorry for such a rude greeting." You grimace.
"Oh, no worries lass. And are you sure you want to be giving away your civilian name like that?"
"It's alright." You smile. "I'm part of the Counter Force actually. My parents died some time ago, and my sister is a Magical Girl herself. So no real reason to keep them separate."
He nods at you. "Ah, my condolences. Anyway, I'm looking for my friend and his sister. They should both still be transformed right now, meaning they got green hair. You've seen them at all?"
"Um..." Reflexively, you swing your head around quickly taking a look at your surroundings. "No? I only know one person with green hair, but she dyes it blonde."
"Ah, thank you anyway." He nods. "Being part of the Counter Force, I assume you're one of the girls they pulled in for this rumored 'offensive'?"
"Actually..." You pout. "I was stationed here when it was still a firebase. I'll likely be in it regardless. What about you though? Planning on joining the Offensive as well?"
He nods. "You'd be right. My Team and I are pitching in. There's been a general call sent out to all Independents for volunteers. Though, with how important it is, details are understandably scarce. My friend as his sister agreed to at least come for information rather than simply ignoring it. I came with while our last member remained behind to keep an eye on our territory. Say, being part of the Counter Force, you'd have more information about what this Offensive actually is, wouldn't you?" He poses, shooting off a 'charming' smile. It comes off cheesier than he probably intended it to. "Would you be willing to help a guy out and share? I can make it work your wile."
You smile back awkwardly, scratching at your cheek. "Hehe... um, actually I'm not sure what all I'm allowed to say about it, aside from it being capital-B Big. The Empire, Home Realms, and False Heaven are all getting in on it as well to the point of actively leaving sections of their territory unguarded from other factions not involved in the war." You shift your weight and the awkwardness leaves your smile. "There's a ton of supplementary work still to do though. I'm pretty sure you can guess more information about it simply from the nature of the high-priority missions in the Command Tent."
"Ah. Thank you regardless lass. I'll head there next then. If you see either my friend, or his sister, would you send them that way for me? He's roughly the same age I am, and she looks rather young. Younger than she actually is at any rate. They have green hair, so it'd be a bit hard to miss them."
You nod. "Un, I'll keep an eye out for them. Though... I do suggest you work on your Prince Charming act. You suck at it."
He laughs, "I'll take that under advisement dear!" He turns and walks away, "See 'ya later Solid Core."
"Later Thorn Warden."
-/LINE BREAK IDENTIFIED\-
The next person you run across on your list of 'people to visit' is a Magical Girl known as Warped Mirror.
This girl actually comes pre-packaged with a reputation. Namely, one for hunting down Dark Magical Girls like some kind of hit man. Her actual full powers are something of a wide question on ToHO, but it's widely agreed that they are likely dedicated completely to Anti-Magical Girl combat.
She's also something of an anti-social considering how heavily she's glaring at you.
"Um... hi?"
Her glare intensifies.
"I'm Anastasia, also known as Magical Girl Solid Core... I kind of have the habit of greeting Magical Girls that arrive here when I get the chance. Its... nice to meet you?"
Wordlessly, she turns and walks away, leaving you to awkwardly stare after her.
"Don't worry about her. Miku's not much of one for socialization." You turn around.
In his armor, he stands close to seven feet tall, his masked face hovering far enough above you that you have to physically lean back to look him in the eye.
"My names Antonio, but you can just call me Tony. You could say I'm Miku's caretaker. Officially, I'm the last surviving member of her support team." He stick his armored gauntlet out.
You blink at it for a moment, before catching on. "Oh, I'm Anastasia. Also known as Solid Core. It's nice to meet you." You give his hand a firm shake before letting go.
"It's relieving to see some Magical Girls aren't jaded... is your own support team still...?"
You lower your eyes and scratch the back of your head. "Um..."
"Ah... never mind. It is insensitive of my to ask such a thing. I've... lost many comrades over the years. It's hard for me to remember that not everyone has been able to move on like I have."
You shake your head. "It's alright... It's just difficult to talk about. I can see why you'd want to talk to others about it after a while. Thank for trying at least... um. If you want, I'm open to hanging out later. Otherwise my team tends to wander the base. If you want to talk, they might be up to it. But don't quote me on that."
"Thank you, Solid Core."
You smile at him again, "You're welcome Tony. You and Miku take care, alright?"
"We will." You blink and look past the soldier. The purple Magical girl is looking at you, having been drawn back by the conversation. "Your disposition... it's not fake. Nor is it naive past the surface. I was wrong about you."
You smile at her, it is a calm thing, warm but not over bearing. "I'm sorry if I gave you that impression."
She nods back, though she doesn't say anything you get the feeling she acknowledges your apology. It seems like Warped Mirror is a girl of few words... you wonder though. How did she and Tony loose the rest of their team? Was is bad luck? Or did one of them make a mistake?
... Regardless, even if you want to know it would be a tactless thing to ask. Especially with how Richard and Jessica died on you. If someone asked you what caused their death you wouldn't be very forgiving.
You watch the two walk away, contemplating the weight of those memories.
-/LINE BREAK IDENTIFIED\-
You find Hero WEAPON next. The blonde girl is at the base PX, collecting several bags of popcorn while the multi-colored hair of Gaia's avatar bobs around the candy isle.
You blink once that last part registers. "Do I want to know?"
Hero shoots a look over her shoulder as she finishes paying for the popcorn. "She likes Twizzlers. Don't ask me why, because I don't have a clue. I'm already paying for all the ones they have on the shelf." The girl at the cash register nods awkwardly in confirmation.
You look back to Gaia. "I sense a story there. Would you care to share at all?"
Hero chuckles, "It's a bit of a long one. You sure you want to hear it?" You nod firmly in confirmation, even as the cashier finishes placing Hero's purchases into a bag and passes them to the magical girl.
The older girl picks up the now-bagged candies. "Well... the first thing you need to know is that Mother loves us. No matter what it is, she is fascinated by all that Humanity has to offer. Though she has different morals than we understand as normal and can sometimes come off as callous or even cruel."
You and Hero walk a few steps to the side, away from the cashier. Gaia's avatar drifting away from the candy isle towards the pastries. Hero herself comes to a stop next to a vending machine, ruffling through her pockets for loose change. "If she can be so cruel, then why become a WEAPON?" Hero looks inquiringly at you. Blushing, you continue. "I mean... what would the point be? Wouldn't she force those morals onto you?"
Hero smiles. "It's actually because she's cruel I decided to become a WEAPON, something we each made a choice for. You see, I lost my original family in a fire that was started by one of her thunder storms. She could have saved them, but she didn't because the event awoke my Magical Girl powers. I hated her over that for a time... but I eventually learned that she did not do it out of malice, or to torture me. She let them die, because she did not see a reason to save them. Their deaths, despite being caused by her actions, were a natural thing. Or that is how she sees it. Which is why I eventually agreed to my post as a WEAPON." The vending machine rumbles, spitting out a Doctor P. Hero crouches down to fish it out of the dispenser. "Angel became a WEAPON because she agrees with Mother's plans for Humanity. To uplift them. Sin became a WEAPON because she wants to protect our world. I became a WEAPON in order to help Gaia understand her connection to us Humans better. To keep things such as what happened to me from repeating itself."
"That makes a bit of sense." You reply as she stands up. "How long have you been at it? Make any progress?"
Turning to you, Hero waves her soda towards Gaia's avatar. "Two years, I've been able to help Mother understand. The amount of tragedies caused by her Apathetic Love have decreased from a common occurrence to a rare thing. She does not understand, not truly, but she tries. Her Table Top sessions have been helping, but it's still a long road."
You look from Hero to Gaia, raising a pointed eyebrow. "Do you think she'll ever fully understand?"
Hero shakes her head. "I doubt it. As much as I love Mother, she is too far beyond a Human perspective to ever truly value individual humans she's never bothered to directly interact with. She sees time as it's described by the movement of the Tectonic Plates. We are far too fleeting to ever have any real meaning when measured against that. All of our history, recorded or otherwise, doesn't even amount to a blink to her." Hero trails off as the ambient light surrounding the two of you suddenly shifts.
Gaia's glowing avatar -literally glowing- comes out of the isle with her artificial shirt ("Flat Is Justice!") wrapped around a payload of more candy in a makeshift carry bag. "Hello Nepgear." She grins, causing the mouthful of candy sticking out to fan up in front of her face. "It's been a while."
"Hello Gaia. I'm visiting Magical Girls on Base, and well... I heard you and Hero were sticking around for a while so I thought..."
"Ah. That makes sense. I've actually been a little interested in you." She throws an arm over your shoulder and swallows her candy with a slurp. "We could sit down and talk to each other for a while..." She leans in, "get to know one another a bit better..."
You swallow, uncomfortably aware of how her artificial body is pressing up against you. "I... need an adult?"
She smiles, breathing across your cheek, "I am an adul-"
Hero's Doctor Pepper hisses as it's opened right next to your faces and both of you squeak in surprise. She gives Gaia a flat stare, looking less then impressed. "Mother, you're being weird again. Stop that." She pops the soda's lid off and takes a drink.
Gaia pouts, suddenly looking a lot less mature than she had a few moments ago, "I am not! Take that back!"
Hero rolls her eyes and walks out of the PX without a word. "Hey! I'm not done with you! Get back here!" Still pouting Gaia looks at you. "You see what I have to work with? Claims to love me like a mother, and she goes and does this to me. I am so unloved!"
You fidget awkwardly, "Uhm... don't worry? I still love you." Gaia looks at you looking slightly stumped for a moment. You fidget some more.
Then she squeals and physically leaps at you shouting something along the lines of 'imotou aura' and 'sister cancer'. Hero makes her escape in the chaos.
-/LINE BREAK IDENTIFIED\-
"Oh god, why?" you mumble into your knees. Why did it seem like everyone wanted you as their little sister? Didn't Sega already have dibs on that? Maybe you should ask her.
"Are you alright?" You look up from your self-pity party to see the last girl you had been hoping to see.
Fable Heart is the special kind of cute. The kind of easy innocence that makes it virtually impossible to think of her as anything other than innocent. So long as you ignored the fifteen foot tall statue of MALICE that stood behind her like the monster under your bed waiting to eat you. Still cute despite it though.
"Yeah... I'm okay. Just... awkward run in. Sorry." You stand up, dusting off your skirt. "I'm Anastasia. Also known as Solid Core. I've been going around the base greeting Magical Girls. It's nice to meet you."
Fable's smile is radiant. "Awesome! It's great to meet you too! I am the Guardian of Fairy Tales!" She jumps back a step and does a little twirl, transitioning into a picture perfect curtsy before throwing out a victory sign with her fingers. "Magical Girl Fable Heart! My Jabberwocky will crush evil no matter where it is found!"
You glance up... then stare as the creature of MALICE takes a body builder pose and flexes it's muscles.
Fable giggles at your expression. "Cute, isn't he? Do you have an introduction?"
You tear your gaze away from the posing monster to look back to Fable Heart. "... I think my transformation phrase is all I really need." You spread your feet and throw a first out. "Kneel in the Darkness, and Burn in the Light! I am Magical Girl Solid Core!" You grin at her. "How's that?"
Fable giggles. "Great line, but your heroic pose needs some work." The Jabberwocky moonwalks off to the side. "I think the rest of my team would like you."
You try very hard not to stare after the weirdest monster you've ever seen and focus on your new acquaintance. "Really? Are you with the Counter Force as well?"
She shakes her head. "Nope. Me and my friends are an independent Magical Girl Team!" She puffs up in preteen pride. "We're Team HEART! We defend the weak, and seek justice no matter where we go! We've been a bit split up recently due to our families moving about, but when the Counter Force put out the bulletin asking for volunteers, we decided to help out! There's me, Dream Heart, Wild Heart, and our Leader Candy Heart-" You feel your world almost physically crack when she says the name of the girl that saved you... and died twice for you. "-there's also Raging Heart, but she joined a different team!"
Unknowing of your internal agony, Fable Heart smiles up at you, "I think Candy Heart would like you!" Another nail into your heart. "Not many other Magical Girls would join in on our posing! We need to live up to the stereotype, you know? It's part of the culture!" She waves her hands excitedly, "But now that I know you're here, I can introduce you when she arrives!" The warm feeling of happiness that has stuck with you all morning is gone now. A new, familiar, cold feeling curling in your gut. "Though I don't think she'll be here for a while! Her town got hit by a demon not long ago, and was destroyed." Another nail. "So she's probably tied up moving again! Aw well. Dream hasn't contacted the rest of us recently either, and Wild says she's worried, but I don't see why."
Fable is still smiling, unaware of your pain.
"But when we're all together, I can introduce you to them, and then we can all hang out and practice posing with one another!" She blinks and looks at you. "Are you okay?"
Your eyes are shadowed by your hair, though it does nothing to hide the tear tracks that run down your cheeks. "Um... I..." Carefully you look up, trying to force yourself to look Fable in the eye. "Candy Heart... isn't going to make it here." The younger girl blinks in confusion and tilts her head.
"Why do you think that? Candy Heart's really punctual on stuff like this!" She nods fiercely as a kitten. "There's no way she'd miss a meet up like this!"
Your firsts clench over your heart as you try to hold back the flood of tears. "It's... because she saved me." That brought Fable up short. "You see... when the monster was destroying the town, it would have killed me. But she distracted it in order to save me and..." You squeeze your eyes shut so you don't have to see Fable's look of dawning comprehension. "My own powers woke up in the aftermath. But even then it wasn't fast enough to save her... I... I'm sorry!"
"N... no!" The crack in her voice is heart wrenching. "You're lying! Candy couldn't have died! She's too strong! She..." The girl turns and sprints away, the MALICE swiftly following her.
"W-wait! Fable-!" She ignores your call after her as she sprints away. Quietly, you grimace as she vanishes into the distance, around the ordered construction of Ataraxia. You are uncertain if she'll likely ever talk to you after this, considering you're the one to tell her of Candy Heart's death.
If what she had been telling you was accurate at all, it is likely Candy Heart means more to Fable Heart and her team then she probably ever did to you.
But that raises a quiet question in the back of your mind.
From what little you actually did know of Candy Heart - the few posts of hers from ToHO as well as the still-clear memory of her leaping to your rescue- she had been... an upholder. Of the ideals that the core concept of Magical Girls had been built upon. She had been a follower in Goddess White's and Grey's footsteps, ones who worked their gifted powers in an effort to make the world a better place. You remembered the little "Counseling Thread" she had run in the general chat section of ToHO, dispensing advice to everyone that asked.
Even at the end, when faced with an opponent she had to have known would far and again outmatch her, she had tried to protect someone. You.
Standing here, it is the memory of her barring the Spawn of Mayhem's path in an effort to protect you that stands out the most as that tiny question reverberates through your mind. When the chips were down, and the only thing standing between an enemy you wouldn't be able to beat and however many innocents it was after was you...
Could you lay down your life? Or would you flee, leaving those that relied on you to perish?
It was a question you dreaded answering.
-/LINE BREAK IDENTIFIED\-
"Hey! Nepgear! Over here!" You raise you listless gaze from the blank screen of your datamine at Sega's voice. "We've been waiting for you for almost half an hour... what took you so down?" She notices the redness of your eyes, "Ana, what happened?"
You wrap your arms around you sister, hugging her tightly. "... Nothing. Just... when you died there was this Magical Girl that saved me from the monster." Revolution and Unification both come up to stand behind Sega as she tightens her own grip on you. "It... cost her everything. But it was enough for me to survive. Then later... she was revived and... I had to..." Your throat closes up and you squeeze your eyes shut in remembered pain.
"Oh... Ana... I am so, so sorry." Sega nods at Rev, and she pulls her sister to the side to give you a bit of privacy. "I... shouldn't have left you like I did. Dying isn't enough of an excuse."
You shake your head, "You didn't have a choice..." Sega presses her face into your hair, quieting you. The both of you stand there, for how long you don't know, with your sister simply holding you as you cry silently into her shoulder.
It's nice. To be held like this again, after all the pain and all the terror you've been through without her.
"Tell you what. I'll make you some lasagna tonight. Even if I have to mug the cafeteria for their stove." You giggle at the idle threat.
"I'd love some lasagna. Even if it's burnt." Your sister scoffs in mock offense, an old ritual between the both of you.
"Come on." Sega pulls at you, guiding you towards the training ground. "Lets get our minds off this with some good old fashioned beating each other sweaty. You said there was some things you wanted to try." You nod as Rev and Uni rejoin the two of you.
The training grounds themselves are already partially occupied. Several Magical Girls are sparring lightly off to one side, while Aquila is in the opposite direction of them giving other Magical Girls in their own Civilian forms pointers for hand to hand combat. One of them you recognize vaguely as Brilliant Key.
Sega grins, falling into several squats reminiscent of that one video game she used to play into the ground. Rev huffs in exasperation and turns to you as Uni goes a bit further. "Alright Anastasia. What did you have your annoying sibling gather the two of us together for?"
You wipe at your eyes, still recovering from Fable Heart's barrage, "I... um... was thinking over Starborn last night, while taking a shower and it occurred to me that the four of us are likely going to end up fighting together again sooner or later. So... I want us to explain our abilities to one another, so we know what to expect when fighting together. For example I've been focusing my own power into my defenses to... great effect."
"'Great Effect' she says." You sister cracks. "This coming from the Girl that tanked Alex's spear five separate times. One of which she was literally standing in place for. Just admit it Neppers, you're the next best thing to indestructible."
"Four." Rev and Uni both blanch and give you a pair of identical stares. "She only hit me four time-"
"SHE WHAT?!" Uni grabs you by the shoulders. "HOW ARE YOU STILL ALIVE?!?!" And then your would turns into a spinning mess as the other girl starts shaking you like a maraca. Anything else dissolves into an incoherent jumble as your brain rattles into uselessness.
"Welcome to Tagmension! Where we all go to highschool and fight zombie dogoos! Blurg..."
"Aaaand now she's not making any more sense. You want to try shaking my sister a little more Uni? I don't think you did enough damage last time. She's still speaking English."
"I said I was sorry..."
A hand slaps across your cheek, snapping the world back into focus. "There we go." Rev drops you. "It should tell us all we need to know that we can reboot her the same way I can reboot you. You definitely are sisters."
"Thanks Rev!" Sega chirps. You groan and glare at her from the ground. "Come on, up and at 'em Nepgear. Anyway, I used to focus mostly on density and dodging. But if my magic is anything like yours, I obviously didn't go far enough on my defenses before focusing on my speed. How do you do that anyway?"
You pout at her. "It's hard to describe. Whenever I transform, it feels like there's something else there, so I... thinned?—I think that's the word—myself over it, so they're more hitting it than they're hitting me...? Does that make any sense?"
"I... think so. I'll consider it. In the meantime though, I'll keep up my dodging practice. Rev?"
Rev shrugs. "I usually stand back and fling spells as needed. Nothing much besides that. We tended to keep our strategies simple. Fewer points of failure that way."
Uni clenches a fist over her collarbone, "I just point and shoot. So long as you don't stand in front of me, we're good. I could use some more practice with firing on the go, but otherwise I'm rather effective as a mostly immobile cannon."
You blink. "That's... kind of a lot simpler than I was expecting. Um..." Frowning you scratch at the top of your head. "I'm going to have to think more on this."
Rev sighs. "Five minutes, and you're already more reliable than your older sister. Sega, you should be ashamed." Said Super Slacker simply grins and sticks her tongue out at her girlfriend in a show of her maturity.
Uni snorts as Rev facepalms.
You grin awkwardly. "Well... aside from that I noticed in the fighting yesterday that you and Sega had some kind of synergy. I'm wondering how you two pulled that off, and if possible figure out how me and Uni might be able to do similar."
Rev shrugs. "That? It actually kinda comes naturally. After we spent enough time around each other, me, your sister, and Alex started to just naturally grow stronger while fighting alongside the others. Like some sort of friendship bond or something. I'm not sure how we unlocked it, or if you and Uni even have anything similar, so you'll have to just spend some time together and see if that works."
You sigh, "Darn it. Well, at least that gives me a good reason to extend my last request. That we simply spend some time together and work out how best to work with one another."
"That's rather simple." Sega speaks up, "Though... kind of awkward. Maybe we can just hang out and test our powers a little? I know I've grown stronger recently, so I want to at least look into what's changed on that front."
Uni smiles, "Sounds like fun." Grinning the shorter of the two Sort siblings wordlessly transforms, "Want to make a competition out of it?"
Rev wordlessly transforms as well, a smug grin on her face. "Oh, you're on! Most damage to the far side of the training ground wins?"
"How do you two do that?" Sega whines. "I still need to do my whole transformation phrase and everything before I can take my Magical Girl form!" Rev sticks her tongue out at your sister, who shakes her head and shrugs. "Whatever... Around the Engine, I become an armor of Light. I am Magical Girl Solid Drive!"
Giggling, you throw out a hand and do a little twirl.
It's the least you could do for her memory.
"Kneel in the Darkness, and Burn in the Light! I am Magical Girl Solid Core!" A moment of light, and you're transformed as well. The light show doesn't pass without notice either as the sparring girls off to the side come to a stop and Aquila pauses in her instruction. "So, what first?"
"Well..." Sega drawls. "Me and Rev likely grew the least. So, how about the two of us fire off a few spells to get a feel of our increased power, then you and Uni let loose a little on the surroundings?"
"Make sure not to throw out your back or anything old lady," Uni snipes.
"Hey!" Rev gripes back, "I'll have you know I age like fine wine! Unlike Sega. She ages like milk." She smirks at you sister who merely grins back.
"You mean not having a chance to age since everyone drinks me right up? How kind of you." Rev blushes and your sister devolves into a giggling fit. Sighing, you look to your fellow little sister. She gives a comradely nod, and you two bask for a moment in shared embarrassment. Then Sega and Rev straight up, and float a few feet off the ground. Likely readying themselves to fire off some of their larger spells.
"Remember to aim away from the base!"
"I know Rev!"
The two lights brighten, the morning light dimming some as purple and white brightens in the sky. Power rises in the air, almost suffocating.
As one, they both cry out— "SWORD BEAM!"
Twin pillars of power carve a path outward through the air, roaring vacuums of displaced atmosphere racing in behind them. The two attacks travel nearly as far as your Celestial Severance before finally petering out. "Hehe! Hey Rev, my Sword Beam was stronger!"
Uni's sister rolls her eyes and scoffs loudly. "Of course it was. I haven't kept up on keeping my Sword Beam strengthened. Watch and learn Sega." She floats forwards, power once again building up as the morning sun darkens slightly. "DROP SLASH!" And for a moment—
A sphere of distorted space forms in front of Rev as her spell hits all at once. Trails of light from the refracted sword swing dance through the bubble like scratches on a disk, while everything within is reduced to dust and fragments.
Sega slumps as Rev preens. "See? I've still got it. If we activated our Drive Ignitions they'd have been stronger, but this is fine."
"No fair." Sega pouts as they drift back to the ground where you and Uni are still standing. "Can't really think of anything that'd really survive standing inside that when you set it off... But anyway, can you shrink the blast radius? Not something to use in doors."
"Probably. But I'd have to work on it over the next few days." She looks to the two of you. "Uni, you're up next. Remember, biggest attack you can, aimed away from the base. Don't worry about control yet."
She nods. "Got it Sis!" The younger of the two promptly takes off into the air, as Sega comes to stand beside you.
Uni comes to a rest slightly above were Rev and Sega fired off their own spells, centered over the new crater. "Core Purge!" Her black 'armor' shatters, making way for her internal light to bathe the surroundings brighter than either of your sisters had been. From there, she adjusts her grip on the massive cannon she calls a weapon, and fires randomly into the ground, spinning it up to it's theoretical maximum before raising the maw of the destroyer towards the distance.
(The End Maw of Oblivion: 663,135 Base Damage, +666 Dice, +663,135 Rain of Light, +663,135 Rain of Light, +663,135 Rain of Light, +663,135 Rain of Light, +663,135 Rain of Light, +663,135 Rain of Light, +663,135 Rain of Light, +663,135 Rain of Light, +663,135 Rain of Light, +663,135 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +7,597 Rain of Light, +5,000 Divine Power, x10 Core Boost = 76,800,010 Total Damage
Burst Stream of Obliteration Triggers!
No Mercy Triggers!
1,005,734,520 Total End Damage)
"Holy shit." Aquila's voice is tiny, but you latch onto it. "And that's... holy shit."
"Uh... should I... Sega?" Your sister turns round eyes to you in confusion. "Still go... I mean." She looks up from you, gazing once again on the... remade field. Someone's going to need to flatten that out, the slightly manic thought manages to pierce through the haze of confusion.
"Yeah... you should. Better to learn what happens now instead of somewhere with something important you need to keep in one peace, yes?" She runs a hand through her hair, adjusting one of her braids, "C'mon, I'll help Rev get Uni out of the way." You nod and follow.
"Hey, Rev? Do you two need help?" Revolution looks up at Sega's words. "And think of it this way, at least you learned how much damage you can do here, instead of in the middle of a fight, yeah?"
"Thanks Sega, but you suck at comforting." Sega gives Uni a cheeky grin.
"Wouldn't be me if I didn't suck at most of everything, eh? Anyway, Anastasia still needs to go as well."
Uni's gaze shifts from Sega to you, and you find yourself fidgeting under it. "... Right." She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. "Sis? Can you help me up?" It's immediately obvious that Uni isn't as steady on her feet as she normally is. Though whether that's because of the exertion of firing off the Maw, or if it is from the impact of launching such an attack you can't tell.
Once they're clear though, Sega gives you a thumbs up. "Your turn. Just remember to aim directly away from the base."
You sigh. "I know. Thanks Sega." She grins at you, though you know her well enough to see the worry in her eyes. All you can do is smile back as she makes distance.
You rise into the air, turning away from Ataraxia to gaze upon the ruined field that Uni had called [PEACE] down upon. The riveted mirror-surface of the field somehow glitters like glass, the surfaces are so impossibly smooth. The Purifier Beam rests heavily in your had.
You shake your head. This isn't the time to think too hard about this. What you need to do is what Uni did. The biggest, baddest, attack you can fire off. Time to focus.
"Core Purge!"
Light spills forth from the shattering of your armor, much like Unification. Your voice echoing out much like hers had. From where you shine above, you feel instead of see those spectating take several unconscious steps back, knowing what is to come will be of similar scale of what came before.
You hold the Purifier Beam up to the sky and feel your power rush to it.
Your awareness is subsumed by fact. There is nothing else as the Great Mechanism shifts from within. The universe turns to glass as your gaze pierces the veil called Reality. Good becomes Evil, and visa versa as the universe is split along the lines known as Conflict.
[WAR] leaves upon you a feeling of profound sadness, as if you had seen a dear family member take leave on a long trip. An echoing sense of nostalgia waiting for them to return with tales of their journey. You know for a fact now, that Uni's weariness is from neither shock of her power, nor the exertions to use it, but from that sense of [VOID].
Then it all ends in an instant as the power you called upon leaves you.
(Celestial Severance Symphony of Peace: 3,276,800 Base Damage, +333 Dice, +1,638,400 Supremacy Zone, +22,937,600 Prime Evil Slayer, +5,000 Divine Power, x10 Core Boost = 294,965,330
Celestial Severance Symphony of Peace: 3,276,800 Base Damage, +333 Dice, +1,638,400 Supremacy Zone, +22,937,600 Prime Evil Slayer, +5,000 Divine Power, x10 Core Boost = 294,965,330
Echo: 2 Echo Triggers!
Celestial Severance Symphony of Peace: 3,276,800 Base Damage, +333 Dice, +1,638,400 Supremacy Zone, +22,937,600 Prime Evil Slayer, +5,000 Divine Power, x10 Core Boost = 294,965,330
Celestial Severance Symphony of Peace: 3,276,800 Base Damage, +333 Dice, +1,638,400 Supremacy Zone, +22,937,600 Prime Evil Slayer, +5,000 Divine Power, x10 Core Boost = 294,965,330
Echo: 1 No Echo
Target: 0 Base Resilience = Unstoppable
1,179,861,320 Total End Damage)
... You hope you don't hit anything with that.
-/LINE BREAK IDENTIFIED\-
"No, nonono. What I'm saying is the current economy makes no sense. What happened to all of those national debts? Who's paying for that shit?" The female astronaut ignores her spinning colleague as she double checks the gauges on the oxygen tanks, their third member fiddling with their malfunctioning television as the ranter continues spinning in the middle of the room. "Hell, how are they still funding our trips into space? Wasn't NASA funded by the United States or something?"
She bangs her head against the dials. "Oh... for the love of Christ, SHUT UP ALREADY!" Ranter stops his spinning as FA turns on him. "You've been ranting about this for the last two days! For the love of God, if something doesn't happen in the next two minutes to change the subject I will fucking space your—"
She's cut off as something bright flashes past the view ports of the space station, enveloping everything with it's light. The space structure rattles alarmingly as whatever it is passes close enough that the proximity sensors blare at the top of their electronic lungs.
Silence descends with it's passing.
"Hey, the TV is working again!" Their Russian co-worker calls out as a new episode of CSI Miami flickers onto the screen.
-/LINE BREAK IDENTIFIED\-
Aquila and most of the other spectators leave once it becomes obvious there's not going to be any more large scale blasts being thrown around after your giant Kamehameha. Likely to spread the news around base that nothing was broken or something.
Rev and Uni are both off to the side talking, while you focus on the Purifier Beam itself. Your fiddling draws Sega's attention.
"So, whatch'ya up to sis?"
"Oh, this? Eh, last night I had a weird dream involving dials on my weapon, and it dawned on me that I never actually inspected my Purifier Beam very closely before. I'm trying to see if there's anything I missed."
She tilts her head in confusion. "Okay... Have you found anything?"
"Yup!" You hold up the Purifier Beam, aiming it into the sky and point at the circle on the side of the main body. "Turns out, this is a kind of switch-dial. Not sure what it does yet to be honest, but I'm hoping it can help me deal with my collateral damage issues."
"Should try it then. Got a good target?"
The both of you look around for a moment at the... barren field. "Hmm." Sega jogs out into the base slightly, before physically grabbing and lifting a large half-buried stone from the edge of the training ground and carrying back over. "Here we go. Just shoot this." She places it down in front of you and takes several quick steps away. "Ready when you are!"
"Alright." Looking down to the Purifier Beam, you slap a hand down onto the dial and twist.
A click, and suddenly it changes. The Purifier Beam begins to shrink in your grip, the extra brace-thing that sticks out over the barrel of the weapon retracting, along with the support that extends from the wrist guard. You blink at the suddenly much smaller weapon in your hand.
You look at Sega and she shrugs. Shrugging yourself, you level the Purifier Beam at the rock, aiming at its center of mass, and pull the trigger.
Only then do you realize that Sega put the rock between you and the rest of the base as it bores through the stone like it's thin air.
(Purifier Beam: 6,460 Base Damage, +0 Dice, +500 Divine Power = 6,960 Total Damage
Random Rock: 50 Base Resilience, No Dice, -500 Divine Power = Unstoppable, 500 Extra Damage
7,460 Total End Damage
Random Rock: 700 - 7,460 = -6,760 Health Remaining)
Your hand snaps open like it functioned on pistons, dropping the magical weapon to the ground.
"SEGA, WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO?!"
"IT WASN'T ME!"
Something in the distance explodes and a pillar of multi-colored crystal suddenly sprouts into the sky.
...Today just isn't your day is it?
(Beam Extension has Evolved! New Ability Get!)
-/LINE BREAK IDENTIFIED\-
You stare at the half a tea cup in Rei's hand, the bottom having been cut away in a near-perfect semi-circle, just missing the handle. The Goddess herself contemplating the hole with an air of bewildered amusement.
The pillar of semi-organic crystal that had replaced Samael's workshop (and most of Rei's tent) is decomposing into some kind of strange sludge that is rapidly evaporating under the-closing-on-noon-day sun. Lucky, drenched in said sludge, is releasing a rapid-fire string of high-pitched chimes like a particularly out of tune bell that you recognize as the primary fairy language. She's bouncing in place even as Samael, who is also covered in the same sludge, wipes his face off with a towel provided by the soldiers quarantining the area.
"Specialist Lucky Star. As much as I appreciate your excitement towards finding something so new, I must request that you calm down long enough to provide me an explanation as to what happened in a language I actually know." Commander Mason half-growls in frustration. Likely because Lucky's excited flapping is spraying the rainbow sludge everywhere, including onto him.
Your fairy commando 'eep's, and drops to the ground. "S-sorry Commander. It's just that this is all really exciting. Yesterday on our way back to Ataraxia after the conclusion of our last mission, one of the Magical Girls we had been working with—Insight to be precise—suggested that we look into the magical connection that Magical Girl Solid Core gave to us on Team GEAR as to provide more power. In the past I've looked into utilizing the energy coming through the connection for my own spells, but never actually looked much into the connection itself. Well, as you can see I've discovered that something on the other end of that connection is providing the power. And with a bit of work, we're capable of pulling that something through."
Mason shoots you a look and you duck behind Rei. The Commander turns back to Lucky, "And that something is... what, exactly?"
She jerks a thumb over her shoulder at the decomposing crystal. "This thing. I was only fused with it for a few moments before I managed to separate but while I was still inside of it... well..." Here she looks confused. "It was strange. Like my perception was warped in some way. Like instead of seeing via light, I was seeing through interactions between people. It was strange."
Commander Mason pinches the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes for a moment. "The things I do for this job. Alright. How dangerous would you say this new ability of yours is exactly?"
"Not very... or at least. Not so long as we don't try pulling whatever these things are through in a confined space. I'm positive we have perfect control over these things while fused with them."
"..." Mason frowns in thought. "Right then. Before any of you use them on a mission, I want you all to practice them first. I trust you when you say you believe you'll have control, but it'll be better safe than sorry. Friendly Fire Isn't. Remember that."
"Yes sir. I'll send a message to the rest of Team GEAR."
Rei finally tosses her ruined tea cup to the side and looks at you. "Did you know about these things?"
You shake you head. "Not a clue. I don't even know what they are."
Rei shrugs. "So long as they don't try killing everyone, I think we can let this slide... though I don't think Lucky will."
You follow her gaze to the fairy who's hopping in place again, and flapping her wings excitedly. She's not spouting rapid fae again, but is still talking fast enough in English that what you do catch is more than a little worrying.
"...and when I find out how to summon it on demand, I'm going to learn how it effects my spells, then I'm going to do so many experiments...SCIENCE!"
"I don't now if I should be worried for her or not."
"Lets not and say we did."
"That sounds good."
(Progenitor Golems now Available)
-/LINE BREAK IDENTIFIED\-
Amazingly enough, your little 'training accident' with the Purifier Beam didn't hurt anyone. It didn't even cause all that much damage: the hole in Rei's tea cup coming the closest aside from some injured dignities. And the chaos from Lucky's sudden transformation into a giant Crystal creature was also mostly contained once it was confirmed non-hostile.
It likely said a lot about the soldiers here that they could roll with the punches so easily. Though the panic in the Elf portion of Ataraxia caused a bit more damage. Especially with the fire that started somewhere near their blacksmiths and spread into the Angel portion of the base. If anything, your 'misfire' was lost in the commotion.
The upside though? You weren't late to your little rendezvous with Kathrine. The veteran Magical Girl is in her civilian form, a white blouse with light blue skirt, while talking to a transport pilot, both of them turning to you as you walk up. "Ah, Nepgear. Viktor here agreed to give us a lift to our destination. It'd be a several hour drive, but a lift via Skybound is only a few minutes away..."
"And my Skybound specifically has been set aside to help Independents get around if they're using Ataraxia as a staging ground. So no harm, you girls let me know when you're ready to leave." The pilot climbs into the gunship as Kat turns to you again.
"Um... Nepgear?"
"Yeah?"
The older girl scratches at the back of her head. "I... should probably explain what this is all about, shouldn't I?"
You clench a hand to your chest and shake your head. "Don't worry about it. If you don't want to explain, I'm fine with that. Otherwise... I'm open to listening."
"Thanks Anastasia." Kathrine grins at you. "Well... this whole thing is a bit selfish of me, but before I got engaged I was part of a independent Magical Girl team known as the Three Knights. There was me, Red Knight, and Dark Steel... we were active in Europe together for a time before the London Exclusion Barrier was raised to stop demon incursions after Hope fell. The three of us were great friends, but..." She grimaces. "We... had a bit of a falling out. Margret lost her entire family at Hope, and never really recovered. I tried but..." Kathrine shakes her head. "She eventually dumped me and left. Me and Kate stuck together a bit longer, but she was never the most stable of individuals to begin with, and last I heard of her, she was doing something at Milidia."
You nod. "So what's this excursion for?"
Kathrine smiles, turning to the Skybound and waving you after her. "I want to find Margret. If possible, I'm hoping to convince her to join us on the offensive... and if possible to repair the bridge between us."
"So why bring me along?"
She smiles brightly. "You convinced Goddess White to come back, of course!"
Hmm? What is this? Oh yes, it's your old friend. Dread.
Why do you get the feeling this is going to end with someone dead?
-/LINE BREAK IDENTIFIED\-
The town that the pilot Viktor flies you and Kathrine to is a tiny one. With a single school, a single grocery store, and miles of farmland all around. Its population couldn't be more than five hundred at most. The Skybound sets down just outside of town near the main road that cuts right through the middle of it.
"I'll be right here until you ladies are ready to leave, alright?"
"Alright, thanks Viktor!"
The pilot waves to you as you and White Knight, now in Magical Girl form move towards the town. "Here we are. Margret hasn't really settled down since Hope, but I was able to track her to this town based on previous movements. She's been generally hostile to everyone, but has always moved to protect Civilians, so if we run into her, we can at least be sure she won't be the one to start the fight... I hope."
"You hope?" You ask Kat with disbelief.
"Oi, I tend to have good instinct on this!"
"... White? Name one mission I've been on that something hasn't gone horrifically wrong."
And awkward moment of silence passes.
"Thank you."
A Tale of Three Knights
Once upon a time, there were three friends who fancied themselves as Legendary Knights in the making... But with the death of Hope, it all came tumbling down...
[] Search the town together. If you run into Red Knight together, Kat might be able to keep things from coming to blows.
[] Split up. It'll be faster to search the town this way, and hopefully you can find her quickly.
Mission is within the Ataraxia Exclusion Zone, no roll check for Unified Darkness strike team.
"Hey Maria. Anything new today?" Your... adjutant? you're not sure of the official terminology, turns around as you greet her.
"Morning Anastasia, I've been going through data feeds all morning. As for your question... yeah. There's a lot going on right now." Her new office is still a bit bare. A concrete floor with no carpet, the folding tables from her previous set up instead of actual tables, and the table with the holo-tank ripoff is still showing an outline of the base. What is new though is a larger screen set up right above it, listing several news articles along with a small window from ToHO. "Right now you're lucky. As far as we can tell, the Unified Darkness is still mostly ignorant of you're existence. Thing is, we're expecting your previous mission to blow that. News of the entire Old Guard being revived and recovered from the Darkness is already spreading like wild fire. Grey Champion has re-activated her Throne of Heroes account and is actively catching up on what's happened, and that's not helping at all. As it stands, we're looking at a week at most before they try something."
(News of the Old Guard's return has caused morale to explode across the entire front. Each mission against the Unified Darkness will now have a 33% chance of having a dedicated Kill-Team deployed against Team GEAR.)
"And that's not even getting into the news that the Three Drives are back in action."
(Never mind, thanks to news of the return of the Three Drives as well, morale among the Unified Light is at an all-time high. Each mission against the Unified Darkness will now have a 33% chance of having a dedicated Extermination Team lead by Goddess Grey being deployed against Team GEAR. Chances of her showing up will increase by 5% for each Fragment of Peace on the same mission.)
"It's been a bit of work, but so far very few people know who it was specifically that brought the lot of them back into the fold. We're trying to keep that as much on the down low as we can until Goddess Gold finds a way to deal with Goddess Grey. If you do run into her, standing orders are to run like hell and hope she doesn't follow." She moves to the laptop in the center of her setup, manipulating the mouse. The ToHO window and several news bulletins minimize on the large screen.
"Also thanks to the return of Goddess White, the higher ups have decided we've got enough spare power that we can stop playing defense a little. Some of your missions on the roster are still relevant, but a few aren't as high-priority as they were. For example, Milidia has already reported a drop off in pressure while the fighting in Valhalla has kicked up some: you're likely to see some raid missions added to the tank. Planners are already scrying for hot targets in Hell, and even the Far Reaches to start hitting. If possible, they're also hoping to hit the Night Lands, but don't hold your breath."
(New Mission types will start showing up: Raids, Hit and Runs, Smash and Grabs. Assaults on important staging grounds for the Unified Darkness, supply dumps, or even spawned grounds.)
"Aside from that, I managed to get some more data from the planners for what missions are currently in the tank, as well as a schedule. They're going to be calling in Magical Girls that signed onto the Counter Force for several dozen different things from planning sessions to force analysis. Those days you won't be able to take missions, but your team might. So give them a heads up."
You nod, "Thanks a lot Maria. I've got some stuff to do this morning, so no missions until later, but you mind if I look at that info?"
"Sure, let me put it up on the big screen..."
Day 25
(Difficulty checks are Word of God.)
The Path to Hope:
Major missions of high importance.
(Difficulty checks are Word of God.)
The Path to Hope:
Major missions of high importance.
[Not Yet Available] Operation Answerer:
"This is it. It's the Last March of the Light. This whole thing will be do or die for us, the Eternal War ends here, win or loose."
Choose this to launch the Final Mission. The Unified Light will throw everything they have and then some in one last assault upon the walls of Elysium. If you fail here, then the Unified Light fails the war. There is no going back.
Launch Date: Day 40
Known Allies: Everyone
Known Enemies: Everything
Possible Combatants: Everyone is in on this. If they're not dead, they're fighting.
"Exactly what it says on the tin. This is the End Game. The End of the Line. Once Answerer launches, there's going to be no going back. No more second chances, no more 'last minute's. It's do or die."
The Road to Elysium (Operation: Charon)
It was the greatest portal Humanity has ever made. A permanently open gateway to Hope, with a two-way highway twenty lanes wide. Thousands moved through it daily, both ways. Rush hour was a bitch, but we didn't care. It was a monument to our future, a symbol of what awaited us all... but now it lays dormant. That cannot stand. The Highway to Elysium needs to be reopened, but doing so presents a risk that we can't reasonably take without proper preparation. We need forces, a lot of forces... and we know exactly where to get them.
The Fairy-Elf Fortress at Milidia has been all that's held Earth's flank ever since Reluxus fell. Forty thousand Elves, Ten Thousand Fairies, and nearly an entire division of Human soldiers hold it against an endless tide of raving demons. But its true strength lies in the more than fifty Magical Girls that man its walls and turrets. It's a concentration of power that has held Hell itself at bay for half a decade now, but we need those Girls if we're going to retake Hope. But we can't leave Milidia undefended, otherwise the Fairy Home Realms will be overwhelmed. So we're going to insert a strike team to close the Hell Gates that feed the Unified Darkness reinforcements and rip their legs out from beneath them in one move. But it's not going to be easy.
Launch Date: Day 26
Known Allies: Crimson Hood, Flawless Paladin, Sumire Saber, Sakura Saber, Madama Morte
Confirmed Enemies: Hell's Seventh Legion
Possible Combatants: Army of the Apocalypse
"Milidia has been under a lot of pressure since Reluxus fell. Constant demon attacks, day in and day out. You couldn't go an hour without needing to blow some demon's head off. It's backing up some, but we're not sure how long that's going to last. If you do manage it though, we'll be able to pull enough forces out of there to build a new choke point when we re-open the Road. A straight line right into Elysium, past whatever defenses are still standing. Thing is, it's a two-way road. Meaning once it's open, they'll be able to come through from their end as well. Hence the need for the Girls at Milidia.
The Reluxus Super Gate (Operation: High Tide)
The Elves' Super Gates create a trans-dimensional super-highway that allows them to move resources and manpower across their kingdom at a rate that is nearly equal to Humanity. The problem is that there are very few of them, and they are nearly prohibitively expensive to build. Reluxus, before it's fall, had the only Super Gate the Elvin Empire had at the battle front. If they are to bring their full might to bear against the Darkness, this Gate must be retaken.
The Elves are unable to build a new Super Gate in time for the Offensive, even with the aid of Humanity. So if they are to help pull this insane plan off, the Reluxus Gate must be reopened. Otherwise, the Unified Light will drown underneath the sheer numbers their enemies can bring to bear in their place.
Launch Date: Day 40
Known Allies: Variable. (Currently: Carnage, White Knight, Goddess White)
Known Enemies: Hell's Second Legion, Hell's Third Legion, Hell's Fourth Legion, The Fortress of Tears
Possible Combatants: ????
"How much do you know about Reluxus? Aside from Gabriel's Last Stand? When the 'Gate closed, she was still on the other side with a hundred War Angels and Valkyries. But before that? It's where first contact between Humanity and the rest of the Local Dimensional Cluster took place. It was also the core staging ground for Humanity during the first years of the war as well. We left billions in war material over there when we retreated. So reclaiming it means more than giving the Empire an easy way to the front: it means almost tripling the amount of available materials we have on hand if the numbers are accurate."
The Memory of Peace
Secondary Missions of little importance that aren't currently relevant.
Secondary Missions of little importance that aren't currently relevant.
The Pale Light of The Moon (Operation: Artemis)
Can you hear the whispers? The voices of the beasts upon the wind? They whisper of hate, and a desire for the end. To be alone in the cosmos with the one they love.
Something is happening between Gaia and Shiva. And no one has a clue what it is. Their last clash would have ended in failure if it wasn't for Team RIOT's intervention, but they were almost killed regardless. The girls of any strength capable of standing amongst these gods are few and far between, but we need someone on the ground, with eyes and ears capable of telling us what's happening.
Launch Date: Day 25
Known Allies: The Four Horse(wo)men
Confirmed Enemies: ????
Possible Combatants: Gaia's WEAPONs, Maidens of the Apocalypse
"Alright, this is a good one. You know Shiva-Sil? How they're currently fighting Gaia? Well, somethings happened that lead to the last sighting of both a WEAPON and Maiden being in the same place having them working together for something. This mission is to investigate what that is. A bunch of fairy seekers looked over the last few sightings of both sides, and came up with the next most likely location they're going to show their faces. We don't know why this location is important, but it's the best chance we've got of finding out what it is that got them working together."
In Russia... (Operation: Fire Fighter)
Whose idea was it to start a riot again? I mean seriously.
A protest in Russia turned violent. The local Counter Force has their hands full, but a Magical Girl got herself involved... on the side of the rioters. They're asking around to see if anyone is available to help.
Launch Date: Day 25
Known Allies: ????
Confirmed Enemies: Rioters?
Possible Combatants: Civilians
"Every now and then you get things like this. As united as Humanity has become in the last decade or so, the Pillar isn't as stable as everyone would like to pretend. But it gets worse when a Magical Girl gets the brilliant idea to 'help', because then things spin out of control. You're likely to get more missions like these to put out fires."
Pits of Hell (Operation: Murder Face)
You ever hear of the Hell Walker? He was the first ever human Super Soldier. Literally. France did some really cool magical experiments during the Crusades, and made one hell of a badass. The guy could punch out a freaking Hell Beast with his bare fists, kinda like a Spartan from that one X-Box game. He died on Hope though. Kinda wrecks the awesome.
The Counter Force is putting together some raiding parties. Everything from bombing Hell to stealing the Dark Lord's favorite chair if they can find it.
Launch Date: Day N/A
Known Allies: Fairy Death Squads, Variable
Confirmed Enemies: Demons. Lots of demons.
Possible Combatants: Arc Demons, Goddess Red, Goddess Grey, the Dark Lord himself... lots of other Dark Magical Girls.
"This is less an actual mission, and more a 'draw objective out of a hat' kind of thing. The Death Squads normally do these things on their own, but there's some Magical Girls that wanted to tag along, then it segued into a kind of joint project between the Unified Light. It really depends on who you saddle yourself with."
WARNING: THESE DAYS NEPGEAR WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR MISSIONS
(Team GEAR may still take optional missions on these days without her.)
DAY 27
DAY 30
DAY 33
DAY 35
(Team GEAR may still take optional missions on these days without her.)
DAY 27
DAY 30
DAY 33
DAY 35
"Alright. Thanks again Maria." You smile at her as she closes the file. "Depending on how the morning goes, I might be back to do a mission..."
"I'll keep my ears open then, just in case anything else comes up."
"Right. I'm off."
-/LINE BREAK IDENTIFIED\-
You have time, and it's still early. Quickly, you pull your datamine from its holster on your thigh and pull up the still mostly barren contacts menu. From there, it's a short few seconds to type out a quick text and send it to Kathrine:
Article: Kat, u still doing that errand today?
A ding.
Article: Yes, meet at airfield, 9.
That's... three hours. It'll cut into the time you wanted to spend training with Sega, Rev, and Uni, but friends are important! Especially if they ask you for help. Your thumbs dance across the screen again.
Article: K, will be there. Just us?
Another ding.
Article: Yes. Will be a short trip.
You change recipients and send out one more text.
Article: S, A here!
Grab U and R, mt at train g in an hr
Want try st
Article: guh, 2 erly but kk
You nod. Might as well be polite and not bring anyone yourself. The datamine slips back under the edge of your skirt and into its holster. "Got some time to spare still. Didn't Maria mention how there's a bunch of new Magical Girls on base?"
-/LINE BREAK IDENTIFIED\-
"... You're not a Magical Girl."
"What was your first clue lass? My name is ▅▅▅▅▅ Thorn Warden." You flinch as the... sound that precedes his 'name' cuts through your hearing. "Ah. Sorry about that. I've been told that saying my title tends to cause a kind of perception error for the listener. I'm not actually a Magical Girl, but you can already see that. Sorry. You are...?"
You never actually told him your name did you? "Ah, my name is Anastasia. Also known as Magical Girl Solid Core. Nice to meet you... and sorry for such a rude greeting." You grimace.
"Oh, no worries lass. And are you sure you want to be giving away your civilian name like that?"
"It's alright." You smile. "I'm part of the Counter Force actually. My parents died some time ago, and my sister is a Magical Girl herself. So no real reason to keep them separate."
He nods at you. "Ah, my condolences. Anyway, I'm looking for my friend and his sister. They should both still be transformed right now, meaning they got green hair. You've seen them at all?"
"Um..." Reflexively, you swing your head around quickly taking a look at your surroundings. "No? I only know one person with green hair, but she dyes it blonde."
"Ah, thank you anyway." He nods. "Being part of the Counter Force, I assume you're one of the girls they pulled in for this rumored 'offensive'?"
"Actually..." You pout. "I was stationed here when it was still a firebase. I'll likely be in it regardless. What about you though? Planning on joining the Offensive as well?"
He nods. "You'd be right. My Team and I are pitching in. There's been a general call sent out to all Independents for volunteers. Though, with how important it is, details are understandably scarce. My friend as his sister agreed to at least come for information rather than simply ignoring it. I came with while our last member remained behind to keep an eye on our territory. Say, being part of the Counter Force, you'd have more information about what this Offensive actually is, wouldn't you?" He poses, shooting off a 'charming' smile. It comes off cheesier than he probably intended it to. "Would you be willing to help a guy out and share? I can make it work your wile."
You smile back awkwardly, scratching at your cheek. "Hehe... um, actually I'm not sure what all I'm allowed to say about it, aside from it being capital-B Big. The Empire, Home Realms, and False Heaven are all getting in on it as well to the point of actively leaving sections of their territory unguarded from other factions not involved in the war." You shift your weight and the awkwardness leaves your smile. "There's a ton of supplementary work still to do though. I'm pretty sure you can guess more information about it simply from the nature of the high-priority missions in the Command Tent."
"Ah. Thank you regardless lass. I'll head there next then. If you see either my friend, or his sister, would you send them that way for me? He's roughly the same age I am, and she looks rather young. Younger than she actually is at any rate. They have green hair, so it'd be a bit hard to miss them."
You nod. "Un, I'll keep an eye out for them. Though... I do suggest you work on your Prince Charming act. You suck at it."
He laughs, "I'll take that under advisement dear!" He turns and walks away, "See 'ya later Solid Core."
"Later Thorn Warden."
-/LINE BREAK IDENTIFIED\-
The next person you run across on your list of 'people to visit' is a Magical Girl known as Warped Mirror.
This girl actually comes pre-packaged with a reputation. Namely, one for hunting down Dark Magical Girls like some kind of hit man. Her actual full powers are something of a wide question on ToHO, but it's widely agreed that they are likely dedicated completely to Anti-Magical Girl combat.
She's also something of an anti-social considering how heavily she's glaring at you.
"Um... hi?"
Her glare intensifies.
"I'm Anastasia, also known as Magical Girl Solid Core... I kind of have the habit of greeting Magical Girls that arrive here when I get the chance. Its... nice to meet you?"
Wordlessly, she turns and walks away, leaving you to awkwardly stare after her.
"Don't worry about her. Miku's not much of one for socialization." You turn around.
In his armor, he stands close to seven feet tall, his masked face hovering far enough above you that you have to physically lean back to look him in the eye.
"My names Antonio, but you can just call me Tony. You could say I'm Miku's caretaker. Officially, I'm the last surviving member of her support team." He stick his armored gauntlet out.
You blink at it for a moment, before catching on. "Oh, I'm Anastasia. Also known as Solid Core. It's nice to meet you." You give his hand a firm shake before letting go.
"It's relieving to see some Magical Girls aren't jaded... is your own support team still...?"
You lower your eyes and scratch the back of your head. "Um..."
"Ah... never mind. It is insensitive of my to ask such a thing. I've... lost many comrades over the years. It's hard for me to remember that not everyone has been able to move on like I have."
You shake your head. "It's alright... It's just difficult to talk about. I can see why you'd want to talk to others about it after a while. Thank for trying at least... um. If you want, I'm open to hanging out later. Otherwise my team tends to wander the base. If you want to talk, they might be up to it. But don't quote me on that."
"Thank you, Solid Core."
You smile at him again, "You're welcome Tony. You and Miku take care, alright?"
"We will." You blink and look past the soldier. The purple Magical girl is looking at you, having been drawn back by the conversation. "Your disposition... it's not fake. Nor is it naive past the surface. I was wrong about you."
You smile at her, it is a calm thing, warm but not over bearing. "I'm sorry if I gave you that impression."
She nods back, though she doesn't say anything you get the feeling she acknowledges your apology. It seems like Warped Mirror is a girl of few words... you wonder though. How did she and Tony loose the rest of their team? Was is bad luck? Or did one of them make a mistake?
... Regardless, even if you want to know it would be a tactless thing to ask. Especially with how Richard and Jessica died on you. If someone asked you what caused their death you wouldn't be very forgiving.
You watch the two walk away, contemplating the weight of those memories.
-/LINE BREAK IDENTIFIED\-
You find Hero WEAPON next. The blonde girl is at the base PX, collecting several bags of popcorn while the multi-colored hair of Gaia's avatar bobs around the candy isle.
You blink once that last part registers. "Do I want to know?"
Hero shoots a look over her shoulder as she finishes paying for the popcorn. "She likes Twizzlers. Don't ask me why, because I don't have a clue. I'm already paying for all the ones they have on the shelf." The girl at the cash register nods awkwardly in confirmation.
You look back to Gaia. "I sense a story there. Would you care to share at all?"
Hero chuckles, "It's a bit of a long one. You sure you want to hear it?" You nod firmly in confirmation, even as the cashier finishes placing Hero's purchases into a bag and passes them to the magical girl.
The older girl picks up the now-bagged candies. "Well... the first thing you need to know is that Mother loves us. No matter what it is, she is fascinated by all that Humanity has to offer. Though she has different morals than we understand as normal and can sometimes come off as callous or even cruel."
You and Hero walk a few steps to the side, away from the cashier. Gaia's avatar drifting away from the candy isle towards the pastries. Hero herself comes to a stop next to a vending machine, ruffling through her pockets for loose change. "If she can be so cruel, then why become a WEAPON?" Hero looks inquiringly at you. Blushing, you continue. "I mean... what would the point be? Wouldn't she force those morals onto you?"
Hero smiles. "It's actually because she's cruel I decided to become a WEAPON, something we each made a choice for. You see, I lost my original family in a fire that was started by one of her thunder storms. She could have saved them, but she didn't because the event awoke my Magical Girl powers. I hated her over that for a time... but I eventually learned that she did not do it out of malice, or to torture me. She let them die, because she did not see a reason to save them. Their deaths, despite being caused by her actions, were a natural thing. Or that is how she sees it. Which is why I eventually agreed to my post as a WEAPON." The vending machine rumbles, spitting out a Doctor P. Hero crouches down to fish it out of the dispenser. "Angel became a WEAPON because she agrees with Mother's plans for Humanity. To uplift them. Sin became a WEAPON because she wants to protect our world. I became a WEAPON in order to help Gaia understand her connection to us Humans better. To keep things such as what happened to me from repeating itself."
"That makes a bit of sense." You reply as she stands up. "How long have you been at it? Make any progress?"
Turning to you, Hero waves her soda towards Gaia's avatar. "Two years, I've been able to help Mother understand. The amount of tragedies caused by her Apathetic Love have decreased from a common occurrence to a rare thing. She does not understand, not truly, but she tries. Her Table Top sessions have been helping, but it's still a long road."
You look from Hero to Gaia, raising a pointed eyebrow. "Do you think she'll ever fully understand?"
Hero shakes her head. "I doubt it. As much as I love Mother, she is too far beyond a Human perspective to ever truly value individual humans she's never bothered to directly interact with. She sees time as it's described by the movement of the Tectonic Plates. We are far too fleeting to ever have any real meaning when measured against that. All of our history, recorded or otherwise, doesn't even amount to a blink to her." Hero trails off as the ambient light surrounding the two of you suddenly shifts.
Gaia's glowing avatar -literally glowing- comes out of the isle with her artificial shirt ("Flat Is Justice!") wrapped around a payload of more candy in a makeshift carry bag. "Hello Nepgear." She grins, causing the mouthful of candy sticking out to fan up in front of her face. "It's been a while."
"Hello Gaia. I'm visiting Magical Girls on Base, and well... I heard you and Hero were sticking around for a while so I thought..."
"Ah. That makes sense. I've actually been a little interested in you." She throws an arm over your shoulder and swallows her candy with a slurp. "We could sit down and talk to each other for a while..." She leans in, "get to know one another a bit better..."
You swallow, uncomfortably aware of how her artificial body is pressing up against you. "I... need an adult?"
She smiles, breathing across your cheek, "I am an adul-"
Hero's Doctor Pepper hisses as it's opened right next to your faces and both of you squeak in surprise. She gives Gaia a flat stare, looking less then impressed. "Mother, you're being weird again. Stop that." She pops the soda's lid off and takes a drink.
Gaia pouts, suddenly looking a lot less mature than she had a few moments ago, "I am not! Take that back!"
Hero rolls her eyes and walks out of the PX without a word. "Hey! I'm not done with you! Get back here!" Still pouting Gaia looks at you. "You see what I have to work with? Claims to love me like a mother, and she goes and does this to me. I am so unloved!"
You fidget awkwardly, "Uhm... don't worry? I still love you." Gaia looks at you looking slightly stumped for a moment. You fidget some more.
Then she squeals and physically leaps at you shouting something along the lines of 'imotou aura' and 'sister cancer'. Hero makes her escape in the chaos.
-/LINE BREAK IDENTIFIED\-
"Oh god, why?" you mumble into your knees. Why did it seem like everyone wanted you as their little sister? Didn't Sega already have dibs on that? Maybe you should ask her.
"Are you alright?" You look up from your self-pity party to see the last girl you had been hoping to see.
Fable Heart is the special kind of cute. The kind of easy innocence that makes it virtually impossible to think of her as anything other than innocent. So long as you ignored the fifteen foot tall statue of MALICE that stood behind her like the monster under your bed waiting to eat you. Still cute despite it though.
"Yeah... I'm okay. Just... awkward run in. Sorry." You stand up, dusting off your skirt. "I'm Anastasia. Also known as Solid Core. I've been going around the base greeting Magical Girls. It's nice to meet you."
Fable's smile is radiant. "Awesome! It's great to meet you too! I am the Guardian of Fairy Tales!" She jumps back a step and does a little twirl, transitioning into a picture perfect curtsy before throwing out a victory sign with her fingers. "Magical Girl Fable Heart! My Jabberwocky will crush evil no matter where it is found!"
You glance up... then stare as the creature of MALICE takes a body builder pose and flexes it's muscles.
Fable giggles at your expression. "Cute, isn't he? Do you have an introduction?"
You tear your gaze away from the posing monster to look back to Fable Heart. "... I think my transformation phrase is all I really need." You spread your feet and throw a first out. "Kneel in the Darkness, and Burn in the Light! I am Magical Girl Solid Core!" You grin at her. "How's that?"
Fable giggles. "Great line, but your heroic pose needs some work." The Jabberwocky moonwalks off to the side. "I think the rest of my team would like you."
You try very hard not to stare after the weirdest monster you've ever seen and focus on your new acquaintance. "Really? Are you with the Counter Force as well?"
She shakes her head. "Nope. Me and my friends are an independent Magical Girl Team!" She puffs up in preteen pride. "We're Team HEART! We defend the weak, and seek justice no matter where we go! We've been a bit split up recently due to our families moving about, but when the Counter Force put out the bulletin asking for volunteers, we decided to help out! There's me, Dream Heart, Wild Heart, and our Leader Candy Heart-" You feel your world almost physically crack when she says the name of the girl that saved you... and died twice for you. "-there's also Raging Heart, but she joined a different team!"
Unknowing of your internal agony, Fable Heart smiles up at you, "I think Candy Heart would like you!" Another nail into your heart. "Not many other Magical Girls would join in on our posing! We need to live up to the stereotype, you know? It's part of the culture!" She waves her hands excitedly, "But now that I know you're here, I can introduce you when she arrives!" The warm feeling of happiness that has stuck with you all morning is gone now. A new, familiar, cold feeling curling in your gut. "Though I don't think she'll be here for a while! Her town got hit by a demon not long ago, and was destroyed." Another nail. "So she's probably tied up moving again! Aw well. Dream hasn't contacted the rest of us recently either, and Wild says she's worried, but I don't see why."
Fable is still smiling, unaware of your pain.
"But when we're all together, I can introduce you to them, and then we can all hang out and practice posing with one another!" She blinks and looks at you. "Are you okay?"
Your eyes are shadowed by your hair, though it does nothing to hide the tear tracks that run down your cheeks. "Um... I..." Carefully you look up, trying to force yourself to look Fable in the eye. "Candy Heart... isn't going to make it here." The younger girl blinks in confusion and tilts her head.
"Why do you think that? Candy Heart's really punctual on stuff like this!" She nods fiercely as a kitten. "There's no way she'd miss a meet up like this!"
Your firsts clench over your heart as you try to hold back the flood of tears. "It's... because she saved me." That brought Fable up short. "You see... when the monster was destroying the town, it would have killed me. But she distracted it in order to save me and..." You squeeze your eyes shut so you don't have to see Fable's look of dawning comprehension. "My own powers woke up in the aftermath. But even then it wasn't fast enough to save her... I... I'm sorry!"
"N... no!" The crack in her voice is heart wrenching. "You're lying! Candy couldn't have died! She's too strong! She..." The girl turns and sprints away, the MALICE swiftly following her.
"W-wait! Fable-!" She ignores your call after her as she sprints away. Quietly, you grimace as she vanishes into the distance, around the ordered construction of Ataraxia. You are uncertain if she'll likely ever talk to you after this, considering you're the one to tell her of Candy Heart's death.
If what she had been telling you was accurate at all, it is likely Candy Heart means more to Fable Heart and her team then she probably ever did to you.
But that raises a quiet question in the back of your mind.
From what little you actually did know of Candy Heart - the few posts of hers from ToHO as well as the still-clear memory of her leaping to your rescue- she had been... an upholder. Of the ideals that the core concept of Magical Girls had been built upon. She had been a follower in Goddess White's and Grey's footsteps, ones who worked their gifted powers in an effort to make the world a better place. You remembered the little "Counseling Thread" she had run in the general chat section of ToHO, dispensing advice to everyone that asked.
Even at the end, when faced with an opponent she had to have known would far and again outmatch her, she had tried to protect someone. You.
Standing here, it is the memory of her barring the Spawn of Mayhem's path in an effort to protect you that stands out the most as that tiny question reverberates through your mind. When the chips were down, and the only thing standing between an enemy you wouldn't be able to beat and however many innocents it was after was you...
Could you lay down your life? Or would you flee, leaving those that relied on you to perish?
It was a question you dreaded answering.
-/LINE BREAK IDENTIFIED\-
"Hey! Nepgear! Over here!" You raise you listless gaze from the blank screen of your datamine at Sega's voice. "We've been waiting for you for almost half an hour... what took you so down?" She notices the redness of your eyes, "Ana, what happened?"
You wrap your arms around you sister, hugging her tightly. "... Nothing. Just... when you died there was this Magical Girl that saved me from the monster." Revolution and Unification both come up to stand behind Sega as she tightens her own grip on you. "It... cost her everything. But it was enough for me to survive. Then later... she was revived and... I had to..." Your throat closes up and you squeeze your eyes shut in remembered pain.
"Oh... Ana... I am so, so sorry." Sega nods at Rev, and she pulls her sister to the side to give you a bit of privacy. "I... shouldn't have left you like I did. Dying isn't enough of an excuse."
You shake your head, "You didn't have a choice..." Sega presses her face into your hair, quieting you. The both of you stand there, for how long you don't know, with your sister simply holding you as you cry silently into her shoulder.
It's nice. To be held like this again, after all the pain and all the terror you've been through without her.
"Tell you what. I'll make you some lasagna tonight. Even if I have to mug the cafeteria for their stove." You giggle at the idle threat.
"I'd love some lasagna. Even if it's burnt." Your sister scoffs in mock offense, an old ritual between the both of you.
"Come on." Sega pulls at you, guiding you towards the training ground. "Lets get our minds off this with some good old fashioned beating each other sweaty. You said there was some things you wanted to try." You nod as Rev and Uni rejoin the two of you.
The training grounds themselves are already partially occupied. Several Magical Girls are sparring lightly off to one side, while Aquila is in the opposite direction of them giving other Magical Girls in their own Civilian forms pointers for hand to hand combat. One of them you recognize vaguely as Brilliant Key.
Sega grins, falling into several squats reminiscent of that one video game she used to play into the ground. Rev huffs in exasperation and turns to you as Uni goes a bit further. "Alright Anastasia. What did you have your annoying sibling gather the two of us together for?"
You wipe at your eyes, still recovering from Fable Heart's barrage, "I... um... was thinking over Starborn last night, while taking a shower and it occurred to me that the four of us are likely going to end up fighting together again sooner or later. So... I want us to explain our abilities to one another, so we know what to expect when fighting together. For example I've been focusing my own power into my defenses to... great effect."
"'Great Effect' she says." You sister cracks. "This coming from the Girl that tanked Alex's spear five separate times. One of which she was literally standing in place for. Just admit it Neppers, you're the next best thing to indestructible."
"Four." Rev and Uni both blanch and give you a pair of identical stares. "She only hit me four time-"
"SHE WHAT?!" Uni grabs you by the shoulders. "HOW ARE YOU STILL ALIVE?!?!" And then your would turns into a spinning mess as the other girl starts shaking you like a maraca. Anything else dissolves into an incoherent jumble as your brain rattles into uselessness.
"Welcome to Tagmension! Where we all go to highschool and fight zombie dogoos! Blurg..."
"Aaaand now she's not making any more sense. You want to try shaking my sister a little more Uni? I don't think you did enough damage last time. She's still speaking English."
"I said I was sorry..."
A hand slaps across your cheek, snapping the world back into focus. "There we go." Rev drops you. "It should tell us all we need to know that we can reboot her the same way I can reboot you. You definitely are sisters."
"Thanks Rev!" Sega chirps. You groan and glare at her from the ground. "Come on, up and at 'em Nepgear. Anyway, I used to focus mostly on density and dodging. But if my magic is anything like yours, I obviously didn't go far enough on my defenses before focusing on my speed. How do you do that anyway?"
You pout at her. "It's hard to describe. Whenever I transform, it feels like there's something else there, so I... thinned?—I think that's the word—myself over it, so they're more hitting it than they're hitting me...? Does that make any sense?"
"I... think so. I'll consider it. In the meantime though, I'll keep up my dodging practice. Rev?"
Rev shrugs. "I usually stand back and fling spells as needed. Nothing much besides that. We tended to keep our strategies simple. Fewer points of failure that way."
Uni clenches a fist over her collarbone, "I just point and shoot. So long as you don't stand in front of me, we're good. I could use some more practice with firing on the go, but otherwise I'm rather effective as a mostly immobile cannon."
You blink. "That's... kind of a lot simpler than I was expecting. Um..." Frowning you scratch at the top of your head. "I'm going to have to think more on this."
Rev sighs. "Five minutes, and you're already more reliable than your older sister. Sega, you should be ashamed." Said Super Slacker simply grins and sticks her tongue out at her girlfriend in a show of her maturity.
Uni snorts as Rev facepalms.
You grin awkwardly. "Well... aside from that I noticed in the fighting yesterday that you and Sega had some kind of synergy. I'm wondering how you two pulled that off, and if possible figure out how me and Uni might be able to do similar."
Rev shrugs. "That? It actually kinda comes naturally. After we spent enough time around each other, me, your sister, and Alex started to just naturally grow stronger while fighting alongside the others. Like some sort of friendship bond or something. I'm not sure how we unlocked it, or if you and Uni even have anything similar, so you'll have to just spend some time together and see if that works."
You sigh, "Darn it. Well, at least that gives me a good reason to extend my last request. That we simply spend some time together and work out how best to work with one another."
"That's rather simple." Sega speaks up, "Though... kind of awkward. Maybe we can just hang out and test our powers a little? I know I've grown stronger recently, so I want to at least look into what's changed on that front."
Uni smiles, "Sounds like fun." Grinning the shorter of the two Sort siblings wordlessly transforms, "Want to make a competition out of it?"
Rev wordlessly transforms as well, a smug grin on her face. "Oh, you're on! Most damage to the far side of the training ground wins?"
"How do you two do that?" Sega whines. "I still need to do my whole transformation phrase and everything before I can take my Magical Girl form!" Rev sticks her tongue out at your sister, who shakes her head and shrugs. "Whatever... Around the Engine, I become an armor of Light. I am Magical Girl Solid Drive!"
Giggling, you throw out a hand and do a little twirl.
It's the least you could do for her memory.
"Kneel in the Darkness, and Burn in the Light! I am Magical Girl Solid Core!" A moment of light, and you're transformed as well. The light show doesn't pass without notice either as the sparring girls off to the side come to a stop and Aquila pauses in her instruction. "So, what first?"
"Well..." Sega drawls. "Me and Rev likely grew the least. So, how about the two of us fire off a few spells to get a feel of our increased power, then you and Uni let loose a little on the surroundings?"
"Make sure not to throw out your back or anything old lady," Uni snipes.
"Hey!" Rev gripes back, "I'll have you know I age like fine wine! Unlike Sega. She ages like milk." She smirks at you sister who merely grins back.
"You mean not having a chance to age since everyone drinks me right up? How kind of you." Rev blushes and your sister devolves into a giggling fit. Sighing, you look to your fellow little sister. She gives a comradely nod, and you two bask for a moment in shared embarrassment. Then Sega and Rev straight up, and float a few feet off the ground. Likely readying themselves to fire off some of their larger spells.
"Remember to aim away from the base!"
"I know Rev!"
The two lights brighten, the morning light dimming some as purple and white brightens in the sky. Power rises in the air, almost suffocating.
As one, they both cry out— "SWORD BEAM!"
Twin pillars of power carve a path outward through the air, roaring vacuums of displaced atmosphere racing in behind them. The two attacks travel nearly as far as your Celestial Severance before finally petering out. "Hehe! Hey Rev, my Sword Beam was stronger!"
Uni's sister rolls her eyes and scoffs loudly. "Of course it was. I haven't kept up on keeping my Sword Beam strengthened. Watch and learn Sega." She floats forwards, power once again building up as the morning sun darkens slightly. "DROP SLASH!" And for a moment—
—the world—
—rumbles.
A sphere of distorted space forms in front of Rev as her spell hits all at once. Trails of light from the refracted sword swing dance through the bubble like scratches on a disk, while everything within is reduced to dust and fragments.
Sega slumps as Rev preens. "See? I've still got it. If we activated our Drive Ignitions they'd have been stronger, but this is fine."
"No fair." Sega pouts as they drift back to the ground where you and Uni are still standing. "Can't really think of anything that'd really survive standing inside that when you set it off... But anyway, can you shrink the blast radius? Not something to use in doors."
"Probably. But I'd have to work on it over the next few days." She looks to the two of you. "Uni, you're up next. Remember, biggest attack you can, aimed away from the base. Don't worry about control yet."
She nods. "Got it Sis!" The younger of the two promptly takes off into the air, as Sega comes to stand beside you.
Uni comes to a rest slightly above were Rev and Sega fired off their own spells, centered over the new crater. "Core Purge!" Her black 'armor' shatters, making way for her internal light to bathe the surroundings brighter than either of your sisters had been. From there, she adjusts her grip on the massive cannon she calls a weapon, and fires randomly into the ground, spinning it up to it's theoretical maximum before raising the maw of the destroyer towards the distance.
BEAT
You blink as something in the air changes. A thrumming sensation that works its way down to your bones.
BEAT BEAT
"Hmm? Anyone else feel that?" You're not sure who asks this. Their voice feeling distant, as if down a long hallway. Uni's light filling the air. A flicker of green and blonde out of the corner of your eye.
BEAT BEAT
Power surges through her form, and suddenly everything else feels insignificant.
You blink as something in the air changes. A thrumming sensation that works its way down to your bones.
BEAT BEAT
"Hmm? Anyone else feel that?" You're not sure who asks this. Their voice feeling distant, as if down a long hallway. Uni's light filling the air. A flicker of green and blonde out of the corner of your eye.
BEAT BEAT
Power surges through her form, and suddenly everything else feels insignificant.
"The—" [Secondary Gun: Maw of Oblivion]
(
Burst Stream of Obliteration Triggers!
No Mercy Triggers!
1,005,734,520 Total End Damage)
You blink as Uni's voice is drowned out by fact. A resolution of reality super-imposed over merely mortal perception. Powered directly from the Core, the secondary gun fires for the first time since [PEACE] and [WAR] were wounded. Streamers of Light fill the sky, and wherever they touch [PEACE] descends upon their victim.
BEAT BEAT
The peace of nothingness. To not exist in the first place so conflict cannot find you.
BEAT BEAT
Rock, shrub, and dirt vanish beneath the onslaught of no sound. There is no roar, no cry of defiance as [PEACE] descends. It is simply the resolution of something already set in motion. A rewrite of the universe before you to a new state of being.
BEAT
The 'field' is no longer there. What is left are lines carved out of the World's flesh to mirror-perfection. An echoing stillness as what has transpired is taken in by those who witnessed it. A silence broken as the tool of destruction hits the ground. You snap back to yourself as Rev rushes past you to her trembling sister through sheer reflex. Gathering up the spooked girl in her arms as everyone else starts to shake themselves back to their senses.BEAT BEAT
The peace of nothingness. To not exist in the first place so conflict cannot find you.
BEAT BEAT
Rock, shrub, and dirt vanish beneath the onslaught of no sound. There is no roar, no cry of defiance as [PEACE] descends. It is simply the resolution of something already set in motion. A rewrite of the universe before you to a new state of being.
BEAT
"Holy shit." Aquila's voice is tiny, but you latch onto it. "And that's... holy shit."
"Uh... should I... Sega?" Your sister turns round eyes to you in confusion. "Still go... I mean." She looks up from you, gazing once again on the... remade field. Someone's going to need to flatten that out, the slightly manic thought manages to pierce through the haze of confusion.
"Yeah... you should. Better to learn what happens now instead of somewhere with something important you need to keep in one peace, yes?" She runs a hand through her hair, adjusting one of her braids, "C'mon, I'll help Rev get Uni out of the way." You nod and follow.
"Hey, Rev? Do you two need help?" Revolution looks up at Sega's words. "And think of it this way, at least you learned how much damage you can do here, instead of in the middle of a fight, yeah?"
"Thanks Sega, but you suck at comforting." Sega gives Uni a cheeky grin.
"Wouldn't be me if I didn't suck at most of everything, eh? Anyway, Anastasia still needs to go as well."
Uni's gaze shifts from Sega to you, and you find yourself fidgeting under it. "... Right." She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. "Sis? Can you help me up?" It's immediately obvious that Uni isn't as steady on her feet as she normally is. Though whether that's because of the exertion of firing off the Maw, or if it is from the impact of launching such an attack you can't tell.
Once they're clear though, Sega gives you a thumbs up. "Your turn. Just remember to aim directly away from the base."
You sigh. "I know. Thanks Sega." She grins at you, though you know her well enough to see the worry in her eyes. All you can do is smile back as she makes distance.
You rise into the air, turning away from Ataraxia to gaze upon the ruined field that Uni had called [PEACE] down upon. The riveted mirror-surface of the field somehow glitters like glass, the surfaces are so impossibly smooth. The Purifier Beam rests heavily in your had.
You shake your head. This isn't the time to think too hard about this. What you need to do is what Uni did. The biggest, baddest, attack you can fire off. Time to focus.
"Core Purge!"
Light spills forth from the shattering of your armor, much like Unification. Your voice echoing out much like hers had. From where you shine above, you feel instead of see those spectating take several unconscious steps back, knowing what is to come will be of similar scale of what came before.
You hold the Purifier Beam up to the sky and feel your power rush to it.
BEAT
It comes again. That feeling of presence that suffocates the world.
BEAT
Of your two spells, one has always been with you since the beginning. The one you used to slay many of your earliest foes.
BEAT BEAT
You're not sure what compels you to call upon it, but you do. Magic hones itself into the finest of blades. A perfected edge fit to cleave apart the World. Energy traces along your form much like it had Uni's, you call out the name;
It comes again. That feeling of presence that suffocates the world.
BEAT
Of your two spells, one has always been with you since the beginning. The one you used to slay many of your earliest foes.
BEAT BEAT
You're not sure what compels you to call upon it, but you do. Magic hones itself into the finest of blades. A perfected edge fit to cleave apart the World. Energy traces along your form much like it had Uni's, you call out the name;
"Celestial—" [The Main Gun: Symphony of Peace]
Your awareness is subsumed by fact. There is nothing else as the Great Mechanism shifts from within. The universe turns to glass as your gaze pierces the veil called Reality. Good becomes Evil, and visa versa as the universe is split along the lines known as Conflict.
[WAR] leaves upon you a feeling of profound sadness, as if you had seen a dear family member take leave on a long trip. An echoing sense of nostalgia waiting for them to return with tales of their journey. You know for a fact now, that Uni's weariness is from neither shock of her power, nor the exertions to use it, but from that sense of [VOID].
Then it all ends in an instant as the power you called upon leaves you.
(
Echo: 2 Echo Triggers!
Echo: 1 No Echo
1,179,861,320 Total End Damage)
What comes has more in common with a column than a ray of light. A pillar of silent power races into the heavens and splits the sky.
... You hope you don't hit anything with that.
-/LINE BREAK IDENTIFIED\-
"No, nonono. What I'm saying is the current economy makes no sense. What happened to all of those national debts? Who's paying for that shit?" The female astronaut ignores her spinning colleague as she double checks the gauges on the oxygen tanks, their third member fiddling with their malfunctioning television as the ranter continues spinning in the middle of the room. "Hell, how are they still funding our trips into space? Wasn't NASA funded by the United States or something?"
She bangs her head against the dials. "Oh... for the love of Christ, SHUT UP ALREADY!" Ranter stops his spinning as FA turns on him. "You've been ranting about this for the last two days! For the love of God, if something doesn't happen in the next two minutes to change the subject I will fucking space your—"
She's cut off as something bright flashes past the view ports of the space station, enveloping everything with it's light. The space structure rattles alarmingly as whatever it is passes close enough that the proximity sensors blare at the top of their electronic lungs.
Silence descends with it's passing.
"Hey, the TV is working again!" Their Russian co-worker calls out as a new episode of CSI Miami flickers onto the screen.
-/LINE BREAK IDENTIFIED\-
Aquila and most of the other spectators leave once it becomes obvious there's not going to be any more large scale blasts being thrown around after your giant Kamehameha. Likely to spread the news around base that nothing was broken or something.
Rev and Uni are both off to the side talking, while you focus on the Purifier Beam itself. Your fiddling draws Sega's attention.
"So, whatch'ya up to sis?"
"Oh, this? Eh, last night I had a weird dream involving dials on my weapon, and it dawned on me that I never actually inspected my Purifier Beam very closely before. I'm trying to see if there's anything I missed."
She tilts her head in confusion. "Okay... Have you found anything?"
"Yup!" You hold up the Purifier Beam, aiming it into the sky and point at the circle on the side of the main body. "Turns out, this is a kind of switch-dial. Not sure what it does yet to be honest, but I'm hoping it can help me deal with my collateral damage issues."
"Should try it then. Got a good target?"
The both of you look around for a moment at the... barren field. "Hmm." Sega jogs out into the base slightly, before physically grabbing and lifting a large half-buried stone from the edge of the training ground and carrying back over. "Here we go. Just shoot this." She places it down in front of you and takes several quick steps away. "Ready when you are!"
"Alright." Looking down to the Purifier Beam, you slap a hand down onto the dial and twist.
A click, and suddenly it changes. The Purifier Beam begins to shrink in your grip, the extra brace-thing that sticks out over the barrel of the weapon retracting, along with the support that extends from the wrist guard. You blink at the suddenly much smaller weapon in your hand.
You look at Sega and she shrugs. Shrugging yourself, you level the Purifier Beam at the rock, aiming at its center of mass, and pull the trigger.
Only then do you realize that Sega put the rock between you and the rest of the base as it bores through the stone like it's thin air.
(Purifier Beam: 6,460 Base Damage, +0 Dice, +500 Divine Power = 6,960 Total Damage
7,460 Total End Damage
Random Rock: 700 - 7,460 = -6,760 Health Remaining)
Your hand snaps open like it functioned on pistons, dropping the magical weapon to the ground.
"SEGA, WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO?!"
"IT WASN'T ME!"
Something in the distance explodes and a pillar of multi-colored crystal suddenly sprouts into the sky.
...Today just isn't your day is it?
(Beam Extension has Evolved! New Ability Get!)
-/LINE BREAK IDENTIFIED\-
You stare at the half a tea cup in Rei's hand, the bottom having been cut away in a near-perfect semi-circle, just missing the handle. The Goddess herself contemplating the hole with an air of bewildered amusement.
The pillar of semi-organic crystal that had replaced Samael's workshop (and most of Rei's tent) is decomposing into some kind of strange sludge that is rapidly evaporating under the-closing-on-noon-day sun. Lucky, drenched in said sludge, is releasing a rapid-fire string of high-pitched chimes like a particularly out of tune bell that you recognize as the primary fairy language. She's bouncing in place even as Samael, who is also covered in the same sludge, wipes his face off with a towel provided by the soldiers quarantining the area.
"Specialist Lucky Star. As much as I appreciate your excitement towards finding something so new, I must request that you calm down long enough to provide me an explanation as to what happened in a language I actually know." Commander Mason half-growls in frustration. Likely because Lucky's excited flapping is spraying the rainbow sludge everywhere, including onto him.
Your fairy commando 'eep's, and drops to the ground. "S-sorry Commander. It's just that this is all really exciting. Yesterday on our way back to Ataraxia after the conclusion of our last mission, one of the Magical Girls we had been working with—Insight to be precise—suggested that we look into the magical connection that Magical Girl Solid Core gave to us on Team GEAR as to provide more power. In the past I've looked into utilizing the energy coming through the connection for my own spells, but never actually looked much into the connection itself. Well, as you can see I've discovered that something on the other end of that connection is providing the power. And with a bit of work, we're capable of pulling that something through."
Mason shoots you a look and you duck behind Rei. The Commander turns back to Lucky, "And that something is... what, exactly?"
She jerks a thumb over her shoulder at the decomposing crystal. "This thing. I was only fused with it for a few moments before I managed to separate but while I was still inside of it... well..." Here she looks confused. "It was strange. Like my perception was warped in some way. Like instead of seeing via light, I was seeing through interactions between people. It was strange."
Commander Mason pinches the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes for a moment. "The things I do for this job. Alright. How dangerous would you say this new ability of yours is exactly?"
"Not very... or at least. Not so long as we don't try pulling whatever these things are through in a confined space. I'm positive we have perfect control over these things while fused with them."
"..." Mason frowns in thought. "Right then. Before any of you use them on a mission, I want you all to practice them first. I trust you when you say you believe you'll have control, but it'll be better safe than sorry. Friendly Fire Isn't. Remember that."
"Yes sir. I'll send a message to the rest of Team GEAR."
Rei finally tosses her ruined tea cup to the side and looks at you. "Did you know about these things?"
You shake you head. "Not a clue. I don't even know what they are."
Rei shrugs. "So long as they don't try killing everyone, I think we can let this slide... though I don't think Lucky will."
You follow her gaze to the fairy who's hopping in place again, and flapping her wings excitedly. She's not spouting rapid fae again, but is still talking fast enough in English that what you do catch is more than a little worrying.
"...and when I find out how to summon it on demand, I'm going to learn how it effects my spells, then I'm going to do so many experiments...SCIENCE!"
"I don't now if I should be worried for her or not."
"Lets not and say we did."
"That sounds good."
(Progenitor Golems now Available)
-/LINE BREAK IDENTIFIED\-
Amazingly enough, your little 'training accident' with the Purifier Beam didn't hurt anyone. It didn't even cause all that much damage: the hole in Rei's tea cup coming the closest aside from some injured dignities. And the chaos from Lucky's sudden transformation into a giant Crystal creature was also mostly contained once it was confirmed non-hostile.
It likely said a lot about the soldiers here that they could roll with the punches so easily. Though the panic in the Elf portion of Ataraxia caused a bit more damage. Especially with the fire that started somewhere near their blacksmiths and spread into the Angel portion of the base. If anything, your 'misfire' was lost in the commotion.
The upside though? You weren't late to your little rendezvous with Kathrine. The veteran Magical Girl is in her civilian form, a white blouse with light blue skirt, while talking to a transport pilot, both of them turning to you as you walk up. "Ah, Nepgear. Viktor here agreed to give us a lift to our destination. It'd be a several hour drive, but a lift via Skybound is only a few minutes away..."
"And my Skybound specifically has been set aside to help Independents get around if they're using Ataraxia as a staging ground. So no harm, you girls let me know when you're ready to leave." The pilot climbs into the gunship as Kat turns to you again.
"Um... Nepgear?"
"Yeah?"
The older girl scratches at the back of her head. "I... should probably explain what this is all about, shouldn't I?"
You clench a hand to your chest and shake your head. "Don't worry about it. If you don't want to explain, I'm fine with that. Otherwise... I'm open to listening."
"Thanks Anastasia." Kathrine grins at you. "Well... this whole thing is a bit selfish of me, but before I got engaged I was part of a independent Magical Girl team known as the Three Knights. There was me, Red Knight, and Dark Steel... we were active in Europe together for a time before the London Exclusion Barrier was raised to stop demon incursions after Hope fell. The three of us were great friends, but..." She grimaces. "We... had a bit of a falling out. Margret lost her entire family at Hope, and never really recovered. I tried but..." Kathrine shakes her head. "She eventually dumped me and left. Me and Kate stuck together a bit longer, but she was never the most stable of individuals to begin with, and last I heard of her, she was doing something at Milidia."
You nod. "So what's this excursion for?"
Kathrine smiles, turning to the Skybound and waving you after her. "I want to find Margret. If possible, I'm hoping to convince her to join us on the offensive... and if possible to repair the bridge between us."
"So why bring me along?"
She smiles brightly. "You convinced Goddess White to come back, of course!"
Hmm? What is this? Oh yes, it's your old friend. Dread.
Why do you get the feeling this is going to end with someone dead?
-/LINE BREAK IDENTIFIED\-
The town that the pilot Viktor flies you and Kathrine to is a tiny one. With a single school, a single grocery store, and miles of farmland all around. Its population couldn't be more than five hundred at most. The Skybound sets down just outside of town near the main road that cuts right through the middle of it.
"I'll be right here until you ladies are ready to leave, alright?"
"Alright, thanks Viktor!"
The pilot waves to you as you and White Knight, now in Magical Girl form move towards the town. "Here we are. Margret hasn't really settled down since Hope, but I was able to track her to this town based on previous movements. She's been generally hostile to everyone, but has always moved to protect Civilians, so if we run into her, we can at least be sure she won't be the one to start the fight... I hope."
"You hope?" You ask Kat with disbelief.
"Oi, I tend to have good instinct on this!"
"... White? Name one mission I've been on that something hasn't gone horrifically wrong."
And awkward moment of silence passes.
"Thank you."
A Tale of Three Knights
Once upon a time, there were three friends who fancied themselves as Legendary Knights in the making... But with the death of Hope, it all came tumbling down...
[] Search the town together. If you run into Red Knight together, Kat might be able to keep things from coming to blows.
[] Split up. It'll be faster to search the town this way, and hopefully you can find her quickly.
Mission is within the Ataraxia Exclusion Zone, no roll check for Unified Darkness strike team.
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LostDeviljho
Flame Dragon Princess
- Location
- The glorious Pacific Northwest
- Pronouns
- Any
BTW, the person who figures out how the extension-less function of the PB was foreshadowed gets a prize.