Aurora doesn't stop you when you move forwards, soft flames gently burning in the air as your weapon forms in your hand, the tip sparking along the ground.
I'm sorry you endured this for so long. You raise the blade off to the side, focusing as much magic into it as you can.
This is the least I can do. Right to left, the edge passes through the ash without a hint of resistance, a brief flare of fire leaving nothing remaining.
Something draws your eyes to ground, a pulse of magic from your sword sweeping over the spot she sat.
What? I didn't- [Hunger] Your chest shudders, a tendril of the barrier dragging something into it.
What are you doing?! Something shifts, then your barrier settles down, the pressure from the room slowly fading away at the same time.
A hum from behind you draws your attention backwards. Aurora is smiling at you, looking like a great weight has been lifted from her shoulders. "Thank you, some might disagree on allowing the barrier to fall sooner, but none would ever speak against releasing her from her torment." She ducks her head a little and closes her eyes, taking a deep breath, a tiny bump of magic pinging you.
Looking up, she steps back and you bite your lip, putting off your own confusion for later. "I understand the need for practicality." Letting your sword dissipate in a quick blaze, you feel small tendrils of fire crawling up your arm, trailing warmth as they go.. "But I just...
couldn't." You look away from her, a little embarrassed at your weakness.
She looks like she wants to hug you, moving half a step forwards, but restrains herself. "I think that you did the right thing." A nod. "The right thing and the best thing are not always the same. I understand why our Leaders decided not to release her, but I know for a fact that they hated themselves for it, some resigned after making the decision." The two of you move towards the door, your guide glancing back into the empty room as she opens the door. "We will probably move to full war footing soon now, but..." She stares into the empty room, eyes moving across the simple lines drawn around the middle. "Never mind." She steps through, closing the door with a soft thud and a quiet click.
Movement from the corridor draws your eye, a man dressed in robes that were blindingly magical to your senses. His eyes narrow at the sight of you, nodding to himself after a moment as he approaches Aurora. "I see that you have been making impulsive decisions again." She doesn't refuse the claim, just nodding with a smile. "Beatrice will decide your punishment." He turns away from her, looking at you. "I apologise for her actions, I understand that she may have attempted to trick you into this but..."
You answer his obvious question. "I know what I did and why." You frown at him slightly, but he just sighs.
"I see that." You glance at Aurora, slightly worried that she might get in deep trouble because of you, but the man catches it. "She is not being punished for the mercy she helped give. She is being punished for taking such an action despite knowing that it had been decided not to, even if by proxy. Just because
she did not do it does not absolve her of responsibility." The mixed look for frustration and disappointment on his face tells you that this is far from the first time.
Nodding next to you, Aurora doesn't let up on her smile. "I will ask her for double punishment, I deserve it."
The man lets out a long sigh, looking past you to the closed door, a small smile pulls at his face. "It's been so long..." He takes a deep breath, a river of magic rising with it, pushing away the slowly fading echoes. "
Haaaa." His magic slowly streams across the corridor, tenderly brushing away clumps of
something that quietly clings to the corners of the room. You stand there in silence as it passes over you, your own magic flicking it off when it tries to enter your chest.
When he is finished, the gloom that had settled over the corridor has faded, gentle streams of light glowing through the window and dancing across your face. Tiny little motes of light slowly drift around the room, never quite touching you as they gravitate towards the three of you. "What is this?" A slightly larger one gently floats around your hand as you try to grab it.
He raises a hand, looking ready to start a lecture when he pauses, looking at the door and sighing. "The result of a very complicated interaction of magic and the soul. They are harmless and will fade in a few minutes." Something makes the hairs of your nape stand on end and you turn, sending the little wisps scattering as you look up. In a corner, far out of the way of any light sources, you see black wisps, slowly gathering together. The man steps next to you, a small jolt of his magic plucking one of the dark ones from your back and nudging it towards the corner.
"Strange things happen when Magic and Existence meet." He peers at you, a flicker of magic passing over his eyes. "Especially in a place steeped in the End such as this." He looks back to the corner. "These wisps will fade with time too, but they are attracted to manifestations of their element." You press your lips together at the obvious implication to his words, your barrier gently purring in your chest. "It would be for the best if the two of you left now, no-one will bother you." You nod and he continues. "Besides, I believe that someone wishes to speak with you."
Tilting your head to the side, you blink when Mother rather forcefully asserts her presence to you.
[Finish your meeting and return home, you are needed.] She leaves you with a gentle poke on the forehead and a breeze ruffling your hair, a lingering feeling of urgency nagging at you.
Uhh. Turning to Aurora, you frown slightly. "I need to go now, Mother has called me back." She hums in surprise. "Can you please lead me back outside?"
"Of course, it isn't far." She turns, quickly moving through a dizzying array of corridors. You only know you are going the right way when you arrive back at a familiar corridor, passing through a large lounge of some sort as you go. The people inside peer curiously at you, but none of them call out and you exit without note, Aurora grabbing a can of something from the side as she does so. She spends the rest of the journey gently tapping the top, only when you see the gates approaching does she turn around, walking backwards.
"It was nice meeting you today, even though our time was cut short." You nod in agreement as the gates slide open for the two of you, the one way blackness letting you pass until you are standing on the rocky outcropping outside the walls. "Here, a gift." She hands you the can, you wince slightly at how cold it is; a quick looks shows an unfamiliar name on the side,
Vantablue. "For your sister, I believe that she would like this." You give her a sideways look, rather jarringly reminded of how much she knows about you. "And for you." She steps forwards, quickly hugging before stepping back. "I like you, come back any time." A small blush lights her cheeks as she smiles.
Mother whisks you away as you open your mouth, depositing you in the middle of the living room, her giggles filling the room. You press a hand to your face, letting out a long sigh.
She was totally working with mother wasn't she? The timing was just too perfect for it to happen otherwise. "I'm with Daiyu, please don't." The wide smile she sends you does not give you hope.
"Of course dear, of course. I was just trying to help you... expand your horizons." You catch a glimpse of a suspiciously pink petal covered manga before she vanishes it, waving her hand. "More is always better?" Her smile slowly diminishes at your frown, until she lets out a sigh as well. "I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable." She gently brushes against you, her flesh puppet looking contrite from it's place at the table. "I won't do it again." You nod and sit down at the table, setting the can down and accepting the mug she hands you.
Mmm. The tea is still steaming, a little too much sugar, but it's good. You blow on the top, taking another sip as you do so, looking over the mug when you hear footsteps. Your sister sleepily steps down onto the floor, Daiyu just a step behind her. They both move to the table and sit down, Mother pushing them plates of toast, which they begin devouring. "Morning dear." Both of them look up at your words, nodding in sync before looking at each other, the sight bringing a small smile to your face. A minute later, you hear a thud from upstairs, Cuifen making her way down. Seeing that almost everyone is here, you quickly stand up, walking over to the sofa and prodding Sabina.
She mutters something at you in French, so you poke her again, pressing until she rolls off of the edge. Her eyes snap open and she catches herself before she lands on her face, pushing her way to her feet while rubbing sleep out of her eyes. "Qu'Est-ce que c'est?"
You open your mouth, pausing as she stretches stretch her arms before, when she looks towards you, you ask. "In English please?"
"Repousse-moi." She mutters at you, pinching the side of your stomach as she passes, your squeak drawing the attention of the table.
You pout slightly as she steals your seat and your tea. "I used that mug." She pauses, sleepily looking down at the marks on the edge of the ceramic before shrugging, drinking the rest of your tea. You don't need to look to imagine the smile on your mothers face.
Goddamit Sabina. Pulling out the chair next to her, you steal your plate back before she can start on eating it, Mother pushing her a fresh plate.
The rest of the meal passes in silence. You finish first, yours was smaller since you'd already eaten, your sister coming in second. Collecting up the empty plate, you stand up and walk to the kitchen starting to wash them. "Una, give me a hand?" You hear a sleepy alright from behind you and go back to your scrubbing.
Actually. You glance back at Mother as your sister picks up the tea towel.
Why did you call me back so suddenly? She sits up, nodding to you as she does so.
"Alright." Her voice instantly draws your attention, it's hard, more so than you've ever heard it. "I was going to spend a few weeks more getting you used to working together, buuuut..." She looks at you, then back to the table. "That isn't possible any more, you have no time for breaks, nor does anyone else." You stop scrubbing, flicking your hands and rubbing them on your shirt as you turn around, your sister handing you the tea towel as she stops. "You have a mission that needs to be done
now."
Since you are -kind of- the leader of this group, you step forwards. "And that is?"
"I want you to kill these two men." An image appears in your mind, one tall with a bit of a bear, the other shorter and clean shaven, they are in Counter Force and Clocktower Uniforms respectively. "They will be with a girl." No image this time. "Do not kill her, do not harm her at all." She leans forwards. "Not even a scratch." You nod, and she sits back, answering to your thoughts. "They are trying to negotiate peace, or at least a ceasefire. This cannot be allowed." Right as you think it. "The girl is of interest to me, she was the result of the second summoning." Mother presses heavily on the world around you, her body looking intently at the table. "
She does not belong."
You swallow as Mother relaxes, glancing at your girlfriend. "Are we going
now now?" She nods.
"Transform and I'll send you."
Oh. You step away from the counter, armour creeping up your skin in a slow blaze, Daiyu also transforming a second later. You glance at Sabina, mildly confused at her lack of transforming until you realise that she was already transformed. She wiggles slightly under your stare and stands up. "These clothes are more comfortable to sleep in, especially considering I have to sleep on the
sofa." She looks sideways at Mother, who scratches her neck sheepishly. "I'll add another room later." Satisfied, the she steps over to you and Daiyu, waiting for the sudden teleportation.
When ten seconds pass and you haven't moved, you look back to Mother, who is staring intently at your sister.
Hey? She looks back to you, nodding to herself. "Una, I believe that today would be a good time to get some field experience, don't you think?" Her eyes light up, a quick tug at your magic and she is transforming, practically bouncing as she skips towards you.
You frown, shaking your head as you look at Gaia. "I don't want her to come." You ignore Una's crestfallen look. "This isn't what I want for her."
I don't want her to become like me. She doesn't need to kill. Her voice whispers into your ears.
But you will need her before the day is out. You bite your lip, looking down at your sister.
I don't want this. Do you want to live? You blink in surprise.
You will need her before the day is out. She smiles, not a hand patting your head.
Keep her safe. You reluctantly nod and suddenly find yourself in front of a rather ordinary building, a small window covered by curtains and a metal door blocking your way, subtly glowing with magic.
You glance around, taking note of the crowd of people backing away from you and turn back to the door ignoring them. "Try to avoid hitting bystanders this time." You stare at Sabina until she nods, then eye the door.
Magical protection of some kind, should I just... You trace an outline around the door, the easiest way would be to just take the wall down, but...
Nothing ventured. You pull the handle, the door swinging open without issue.
Huh. Stepping through, you enter an office of some kind, familiarly uniformed workers freezing as they notice you.
You just tilt your head and the room is filled with orange light, three quick strikes from Sabina multiplying into a lattice of light, eviscerating them before they can react. She steps up next to you, grinning slightly and you pat her on the head, smiling her weak resistance. "Daiyu." You hear her shuffle behind you, your sister letting out a little squeak as she is pulled next to her new guardian.
Ok then. "Shield." A bubble pops into existence over each one of you and you start moving, picking the path through the desks with the least blood splatter.
All set.
You share a quick glance with Sabina and she shakes her head. "Just three more, past this door and the third on the left, looks like these guys were just camouflage. The rest of the building is empty."
That's what I thought. Your own sense had told you as much, but considering how much they were trying to work against your powers, you wanted to make sure.
Pushing the next door open, noticing the similarly magical nature of it and being quietly amused at the caster forgetting to actually
lock said doors, you enter the hallway.
No way out for them, no windows in the room or escape tunnels, we are between them and the exit. Reaching back with your sword, you use the blunt edge to bump your sister's hand, making her drop the arm she was inspecting. "Don't touch that, it's filthy." You can just about make out her pout with your sense. "Daiyu, don't encourage her." She slowly puts the watch back on the desk she was standing next to, nudging it towards the arm it came from.
Ignoring Sabina's quiet laughter, you move down the corridor, noticing the people in the room react to your approach.
How? You glance up at a heat source, seeing a small camera tracking your movement.
Clever. You burn out the circuits, taking note of the positions of everyone in the room, the smallest one crossing her arms and staring at the door. Looking closer, you can make out her features, and the small smile on her face.
Female, must be the girl. You pull your fist back and slam it into the door, your hand stopping rather abruptly and doing nothing.
Oww. Shaking your hand, you prod at the door with your other.
What the hell is this? The door is completely smooth, not yielding even slightly when you push against it.
Ok... Your barrier sneaks forwards, pushing up against the door and flowing off of it like water.
What the fuck is this? No matter what you try, your barrier just doesn't touch it, staying
just away from starting to degrade it. You can hear the girls panicked laughter through the keyhole, you can just about make out her voice. "
Don't worry, there is no way they can get through that door."
Really?
"Sabina, can you cut the lock out of this door?" She tilts her head, taking a single swing and hissing when a loud
clang sounds out, her sword vibrating in her hand.
I'll take that as a no. You hear the girl stop hyperventilating, and laugh. "
See, completely safe."
You know, I could just burn you to death from out here, but I want to see the look on your face in person. You feel your sister take half a step forwards, lifting a hand. "I can probably do it."
The wall or the door... You reach down and pat her head, ruffling her hair. "I know, I just want to prove a point." She nods and lets Daiyu pull her back.
Just to be sure. You check the wall with a quick punch, smiling when you see a few cracks race along the concrete.
Forgot to reinforce the walls idiot. Taking a step back, you lift your sword and focus your magic.
Pulse it in time with the swing. Your blade passes through the wall like a knife through butter, a quick spin carving a massive X. You feel the girl flinch back, her temperature rising considerably when the tip of your sword pokes through to the other side. A pulse of magic and your foot collides with the wall, pushing through and completely demolishing it, a cloud of dust obscuring your vision.
When sight returns, you see the girl frantically scrolling through a floating menu of some kind, the two men at the table not even bothering to stand up. The girl obviously finds something, since she taps a button and raises a shaky hand towards you. Before you can do anything, the man closest to her reaches out and grabs her wrist, dragging it down. "Don't be foolish, if she had wanted you dead the building wouldn't be standing." The other man nods, taking a sip of coffee.
Heathen.
Once he is done, he lets out a long sigh, slowly setting his fedora on the table as he looks at you. "Do you mind if I?" He reaches into his jackets pocket, pulling out a fat cigar. "I was saving it for a special occasion, my death seems worthy." A little bemused, you nod, lighting the tip for him. He takes a long drag then breaths out, letting out a long sigh as he slumps back into his seat. "Oi." The other guy waves his hand. "Share you bastard." With a coughing laugh fedora man takes a long pull and flicks the cigar across the table.
"You know, you two are probably the most composed people I've ever met." The girl is fidgeting, looking left and right as she tries to think of
something. But the men are completely relaxed.
They've given up.
"Yeah well, we're already dead, it's just not happened yet." Not-Fedora man says, closing his eyes as he leans back. "Nothing quite like knowing you are going to die as bait eh?" His words catch in your brain and your eyes widen, dashing towards the girl and slamming her into the wall. You don't need to look back to hear the screech of Sabina's spell end their lives. "We are leaving." You throw the girl at Sabina, letting her restrain her as you lift your sword at the wall, feeling three new heat signatures suddenly pop into existence outside.
Your timing was off. Your spell rushes forwards, disintegrating the building before it as it rushes towards the group.
(Juggernaut Wave: +43,360 Base Damage, +4992 Dice = 48,352 Total Damage
The Scourge: Unending Hunger
The Scourge Health: 400 + 48,352 = 48,752)
Just when your spell approaches them, it suddenly disappears, the only sign of it's passing the massive hole you'd drilled through the building.
Alright then. "Shield." The bubble around you grows stronger and you step forwards, walking through the mangled mess until you reach the street. A familiar glowing barrier is shining in the middle of the road, a small man in a baggy hoodie standing in front of him and a well dressed man in a suit in behind both of them. "Didn't I kill you?"
The aged man just snorts, blowing his white hair out of his face. "As if I would die so easily, arrogance becomes you." He casts another layers of shields and you sigh.
Not going to get you so easily this time am I?
"I tore both of your arms off and exploded your chest." Daiyu stays a few steps behind you, Una safe in her clutches while Sabina punches the girl in the head and throws her to safety.
Goddamit Sabina. She steps next to you, and swings her sword, eyes narrowed at the suited man.
(Endless Soul: +1000 Soul Edge, +117 Dice = 1117 Total Damage
Sir Neverthere: Personal Space: Negated)
The air warps around the suited man and Sabina's sword snaps back into her hand with a ringing noise, the old man continuing as if nothing had happened. "Not making sure your opponents are dead is a mistake you will always regret." You grunt as he stops casting, noticing him moving very slightly from within his barrier.
He's changed his technique? "I am angry about the arms though, some of those runes were irreplaceable and prosthetics just don't accept magic as well as flesh does."
Another layer of shields bloom over your group, Daiyu stepping in front of you as your sister shifts behind you. "What are you stalling for?" None of them had made any motions towards attacking you, content to hold their distance from you. "Surely you aren't the trap to their bait?" Only the suited guy had a weapon and that was a gun, the fortress mage you already knew couldn't hurt you and the other guy just looked kind of scrawny. You form a single spear over your head, pouring the bare minimum magic into and letting it fly.
(Thermal Spear +10 Base Damage, +1 Dice = 11 Total Damage
The Scourge: Unending Hunger
The Scourge Health: 48,752 + 11 = 48,763)
It vanishes completely when the hoodie guy steps into it's path, the magic just disappearing completely.
Are they just here to stall us? You start building up spears overhead, since they have so kindly given you the time, glancing to the side as you do so.
Really people, you want to stay here and watch this fight? The bystanders hadn't run far, barely to the end of the street.
Not my problem if you are too dumb to live. Your stare down continues until you have twenty spears floating overhead and you step forwards.
A spear of magic quickly forms over the glowing barriers and you dash forwards past your girlfriend, trusting in Daiyu's shield to hold it off, Sabina just a step behind you.
(Spear of Alerious: +800 Base Damage, +320 Ordnance, +387 Dice, +771 Spell Boost = 2278 Total Damage
Knights Shield: +4500 Base Resilience, -3375 Juggernaut = 1125 Total Reduction
Knights Shield Health: 450 - 1153 = -703
Ignition Knight: 420 Base Resilience, +361 Dice, -315 Juggernaut = 466 Total Reduction
Ignition Knight Health: 2200 - 237 = 1963)
The spell punches through your shields, shattering them, but is weakened enough that you let it explode across your chest, using the smokescreen to move forwards and shattering the ground as you leap towards the spell negater. He flinches back as you burst through the smoke, apparently expecting you to be knocked back by the spell you'd ploughed through.
Wide open. Sabina diverts towards the barrier mage while you grip your sword tightly, slamming into the ground hard enough to unbalance your opponent.
Mine.
(Infinity Edge: +2520 Base Damage, +896 Dice, x3 CRUSH = 10,248 Total Damage
The Scourge: +100 Base Resilience, +627 Dice, -545 Juggernaut, -145 Flatfooted = 37 Total Reduction
The Scourge Health: 48,763 - 10,211 = 38,552)
Your blade cuts deep, spraying a ridiculous amount of blood everywhere as he stumbles back, his frantic attack brushing over you harmlessly as Daiyu layers a new shield over you with two quick pops.
(The Scourge: +450 Spell Surge, +440 Dice, +211 Mana Steal, -220 Flatfooted = 881 Total Damage
Knights Shield: +3000 Base Resilience = 3000 Total Reduction
Knights Shield Health: 300 - 0 = 300)
The way his eyes widen is hilarious, his back colliding with the ground as you stomp on his face, pinning it to the ground while you swing.
(Infinity Edge: +2520 Base Damage, +787 Dice = 3397 Total Damage
The Scourge: +100 Base Resilience, +83 Dice, -137 Juggernaut, -183 Completely Vulnerable = 137 Additional Damage
The Scourge Health: 38,552 - 3534 = 35,018
Infinity Edge: +2520 Base Damage, +489 Dice = 3009 Total Damage
The Scourge: +100 Base Resilience, +507 Dice, -455 Juggernaut, -607 Completely Vulnerable = 455 Additional Damage
The Scourge Health: 35,018 - 3464 = 31,554
Infinity Edge: +2520 Base Damage, +514 Dice = 3034 Total Damage
The Scourge: +100 Base Resilience, +179 Dice, -209 Juggernaut, -279 Completely Vulnerable = 209 Additional Damage
The Scourge Health: 31,554 - 3243 = 28,311
Ignition Knight Health: 1963 + 110 = 2073)
His shouts are cut short by your first swing, tearing his throat out before moving higher, your second swing shattering his jaw before your third tears it from him completely. You lean back and raise your sword, ready to continue tearing into him when a shout echoes across the battlefield, the girlish voice followed by a small flare of magic drawing your attention. "OI, WHAT ARE YE SCALLYWAGS 'DOIN TA ME CITY?!?" You turn to look, seeing a short girl perched atop a car a fair distance away.
The fighting pauses for a moment as you look at her, a quick stomp keeping the mauled face pressed to the ground under your boot.
That's... You feel it in your chest, and you
know. A magical girl. While you blink another girl hops up next to her, a similarly poofy dress covering her form as something rumbles under your feet.
The first girl looks towards you, flinching slightly when she catches sight of the massive pool of blood surrounding you and your prey. "WASS THIS?" She looks at your prey, and her frown grows even deeper. "YOU EVIL LOT BE FITIN IN THE STREETS? LOOK AT WHAT YE DONE TO THE PLACE!" You glance around and mentally shrug, the buildings were mostly still there, so you thought you had been pretty tidy today. "I'M NOT HAVIN NON A THIS. VESSEL, GIVE EM A VOLLEY" You hear a deep clunk, drawing your eyes to a small girl crouching just beside the car.
"AIM FOR THE SPIKEY ONE!" You barely have a second to see the guns train onto you, lifting your sword out of the man's face and turning it sideways as a shield.
(Vessel?: +2000 Broadside, +300 Dice = 2300 Total Damage
Knights Shield: +3000 Base Resilience = 3000 Total Reduction
Knights Shield Health: 300 - 0 = 300
The Scourge Health: 28,311 - 2300 = 26,011
Ignition Knight Health: 2073 + 110 = 2183)
The massive explosion deafens you, but nothing more. The poor bastard you had been wailing on is caught in the edges of the boom, the fires scorching his skin. He takes the opportunity to wiggle out from under you, making a desperate leap towards his allies as you shake off the ringing in your ears.
Ow, that was loud. When the smoke fades, showing your completely unharmed form, the first girl visibly gulps. "Bugger." Before you can decide what to do, a fire hydrant bursts, the water pushing you and Sabina back towards Daiyu before racing towards the second girl, pooling at the base of the car.
Just as you open your mouth, the suited man speaks for the first time. "Ah, finally, I was wondering how long we were supposed to stall you." You glance towards him in confusion.
Were these girls with them? Looking back to them, they are just as confused as you are.
A distant roar catches your attention, the sound of a massive engine pushing something forwards coming from around the street corner as helicopter blades tear through the air. You jump backwards, forming a triangle around your sister as your spears split between pointing at the two groups and the street end.
Mother, we need to not be here right now. [Trying, Tuxedo Mask over here is getting in the way.]
You don't have the chance to respond because a vehicle of some sort slides around the corner, skidding to a stop with all four barrels pointed at you.
Oh fuck my life-
Battle Plan...
[] Write In...
+5xp Met Door Girl ???
+5xp Met Magical Girl ???
+5xp Met Magical Girl ???
+5xp Met Magical Girl Vessel ???
+10xp A rival returned, The Undying Fortress
+5xp Met The Scourge
+5xp Met Tuxedo Mask?
