Fazit: If we had not slammed Fate in the beginning with Argent Star and gotten even once in meelee with him Heidi would be Dead. There is no doubt in my mind. If Fate had not cut her into ribbons. Angel with her back stabbing, Fate and Kanon with their excellent Control and Artillery capabilities would have decimated Heidi.
Heidi literally ended the Protagonists of another story.
Individually?
Despite Fate's Arcane Sovereign giving him a very strong damage and defense, Heidi retains both her Rage Against Fate battle continuation and health regeneration on a kill, and her OP ability to skill-negate his spells and Riposte in retaliation. Also, Defy the Rules allows her to ignore Hypersonic. In melee she would have negated his Slash Wave (probably three of them) and retaliated with a very deadly 15-string attack, if not more from sealing a weapon mode. Estimate damage at 27k for 15 strings. His defense can generously be at 45-50 k after Serenade doubling.
Of course this is where Vermillion would interfere with her Auto-Counter, probably, to protect Fate - if she chooses to immediately support him instead of trusting him to defeat a solo opponent by himself. Or if the team's mission is specifically to kill Defiance, in which case Heidi still moves first even if facing the entire team.
I which case their opening would have been using the Lockdown (Fate) and Spellbook Lockdown (Fantasia) spells on her, with extra attack spells by Vermillion and others. In this scenario I envision Heidi using Voyage to close the distance and probably evading everything besides Spellbook Lockdown.
That is a solid lead, so I guess I will close it.
Taking a bath wins, and going all-in on the spear.
Out of curiousity, what kind of capstone do you expect? (needs not be a specific Ability, but maybe the kind of boost you suspect it would give (damage, utility, etc.) or something like that)
Adhoc vote count started by Naron on May 13, 2020 at 6:08 AM, finished with 24 posts and 8 votes.
Out of curiousity, what kind of capstone do you expect? (needs not be a specific Ability, but maybe the kind of boost you suspect it would give (damage, utility, etc.) or something like that)
Out of curiousity, what kind of capstone do you expect? (needs not be a specific Ability, but maybe the kind of boost you suspect it would give (damage, utility, etc.) or something like that)
You are usually not one to linger in the tub, at least not for long. With hair like you used to have, getting that dried already took up enough of your time to not want to. Today however, after shedding your clothes and grabbing some things to wash up with, you decide to soak for a good long while.
Admittedly, the mixed bath is a little odd. The people in here are even more various than just in the women's bath. Yet everyone gives you some space to float, your loose hair forming a silvery halo around your head in the smaller pool. It is too deep for you to stand in the main one, considering how many Demons are two metres tall and up. Yours is one specifically made for the shorter ones, and you have it mostly to yourself.
People leave you alone for the time being and you enjoy the hot water enveloping you for a while, unsure how long exactly. The tension in your muscles dissolves somewhat and you even manage to not think much of anything, but your thoughts return in the end. Of all those men and women you ordered sent to their deaths, the Fairies fighting with a quiet ferocity, the cheers, the flames and ash.
Sighing, you stand properly and grab for your things to start cleaning yourself more thoroughly, mainly your hair. Now that it was cut to size, you noticed, tending to it is much easier and faster. It still gets a good scrub to make sure it is clean.
You continue to soak after that, gaze flickering over the various people present in the steam-clouded room. Men and women of all shapes and sizes, many of them chatting or cleaning each other. Some are on their own like you, apparently more comfortable that way.
This is kind of nice, you have to admit. Relaxing, too. But at the same time, it does not stop you from pondering. Not much longer until you leave, one more mission to go on. And you still have everyone to tell; the decision was only made last night, but you must not put that off. They deserve to know ahead of time.
Somehow, you already knew you would leave in time. They all did, probably. This is not your time after all, and all of your friends knew it from the start. But you still hope they will be there in your time, having survived. Meeting them again once you are back, that would be the best thing that could happen.
But you also try not to get your hopes up too far. Five thousand years are a long time, even if you can slip over that span so easily. Three thousand years between your encounters with Gabriel, and she is the Gabriel so her survival was kind of clear. Anyone else, you do not dare expect them to be around in your time. You remember that Gabriel is dead at that point, having died just a few years earlier.
Sighing deeply, you rise from the pool and start drying yourself off. You are feeling heady from the heat by now, but it was a relaxing experience.
. . .
IDENTIFIED BREAK LINE . . .
With yourself clean and your hair done in twintails again, a style you took a liking to over the last few weeks, you make to find your friends and gather them around. Imps are sent out to fetch each of them, directing them to your chambers one by one. Maya, Paoras, Orux, Dragul, Elisabeth, Lucifer. The only reason they do not have to squeeze into the room is its impressive size.
Elisabeth already knows your decision and is the least affected when you declare your intentions. Lu keeps her expression calm, but you can see her fingers clench into a fist. Maya lowers her head sadly, Paoras sniffles and jumps into your lap for a hug. Dragul does not particularly react to you, but rather to Orux, who does not meet your gaze; it hurts to see him hesitant like that, it hurts more to know what you are doing to him and yourself by extension.
He stays quiet for long moments, potentially because of everyone else in the room; but then he speaks, the weakness in his voice making your chest constrict. "We only just found to each other, and now you are to leave. I, I don't want that."
You can tell everyone's surprise when all of the Demons bar Paoras turn their attention to him; even Elisabeth's mouth hangs open a little while Maya and Dragul are openly dumbfounded by how candid he is. Not that he seems to care, holding your gaze as he does. You can not take it for longer than a moment and avert your eyes. "I don't want to, either. But I must."
"You must nothing, dear. If you wished-" Maya puts a hand on his arm to interrupt him, showing a gentle smile that is normally reserved for her children.
"She is right. Heidi is not of this time, no matter how used we became to her. She does not belong, and she should not remain forever. We will catch up to her, in time." They look at each other for a long moment and even you are half convinced by Maya's certainty. She starts to grin and claps Orux' shoulder. "We just need to make sure we live that long."
"Quite so," Lu adds from her side before gazing back at you. "I figured this was coming, and I doubt saying goodbye will be easy for any of us. Including you, friend."
You just nod sadly, still holding onto Paoras up until this point. She wiggles out of your arms and wipes her eyes, thoughtful. Then her expression brightens and she giggles before poking your stomach. "I just had the best idea! Go and write down what time you get back home, and we can come see you then!"
She giggles again and Elisabeth joins her, but Maya becomes thoughtful in turn. She eyes you curiously, the question rather clear. So you fetch some parchment and get to writing, noting the date in numbers and words, as extensively as you can. This, you hand to Maya, who takes it almost reverently. Another one you give to Paoras, then one to Elisabeth, and one to Orux, who appears at least somewhat mollified. Dragul declines when you offer and Lu just shakes her head. "I don't need it," she tells you with a grin. "I think I know enough to guess."
"Alright, fair enough."
A moment of silence settles, though Elisabeth breaks it while getting up. "I already figured this was the reason of your call. I still have work to attend, so if you would excuse me?" She starts walking at your nod and leaves, with Maya following soon after for the same reason. Dragul huffs and offers you a hand as he does the same a moment later.
Lu casts a glance between the people remaining, then she picks up Paoras. "I will see about getting this one in shape for now." Your friend squirms and complains, but Lu just grins and walks out. "Later."
She did it on purpose, you knew that the moment she went for Paoras. Now you are alone with Orux, who still seems deep in thought; the lump in your throat still remains, but you push through and take his hand to get his attention. "I'm sorry," you whisper to him. And you are; if you could just stay, you might. But everyone you left behind before, you can not abandon them forever. Not in a time that is not your own.
He does not answer for a long time, visibly stopping himself several times from saying something you guess would have been harsh. What he settles on, in the end, is a sigh. He clasps your hand and pulls, and you let him wrap his arms around you. He is warm, calming; the embrace pushes your doubts back up, but also steels your resolve to return home. It has to be.
"I understand," he finally murmurs while stroking your hair. "I understand, and I so hate that I do. I don't want you to go, ever. But keeping you here where you wouldn't be truly happy, I don't want that either." You stay quiet and squeeze his wide frame as best as you can, receiving a gentle squeeze in response. "I doubt I will make it for so long. I wasn't born strong, too weak to survive such a long time." You lean back to respond, but he kisses you to shut you up. A chaste one, soft. You blink at him while he starts to grin. "But I will still try, if this is what it takes to see you again. Just, please, don't visit me in the meantime. Even if you dropped by every hundred years for a week or even a month, I would just miss you more once you left."
This time you kiss him, leaning up as far as you can. It hurts to think like this, knowing that a matter of seconds is eternity for him. But you can also understand it somewhat. Once you separate again, you give him a stern look. "Okay. But you better make it until my time, or else!"
He actually has the audacity to laugh about that, not strongly, but you take the chuckling over the heavy mood he was in before. "We shall see, dear. We shall see. I guess I will need to take up a few more hobbies soon, to pass the time until we meet again."
You grin back at him and bat his shoulder. "No hairdressing?"
"Perhaps on occasion, but I need something I can do on my own. Something like sculpting, or painting. Perhaps I ask Dragul to teach me how to knit."
You both share a laugh at the joke. Orux does not have the hands for knitting, though you can imagine him being a painter. "What would you paint? Please say something that's not me, that would be kind of cheesy."
"I was thinking creepy, but if you say so. No, perhaps not people but rather places. There is so much beauty in every world, one only needs to find it. If I could put the marvels of each one into a collection... yes, I like the idea." He actually starts to think about it and you can not help but like the idea. Paintings of various worlds, specifically the most beautiful places found in each of them. That would make for an interesting collection.
You pull yourself up and kiss his cheek. with a grin. "Then you better have something to show me in the future." He just grins back and pulls you in again.
. . .
IDENTIFIED BRE-
Bam!
"Hei-"
(Bladed Ax: +1320 Base Damage, +165 dice, -330 Thrown Weapon = 1,155 Total Damage
Elisabeth: +2500 Base Resilience, +177 dice, -1500 Surprise = 1,177 Total Damage Reduction
Attack Ineffective)
You snap awake from your door being slammed and feel Orux move next to you, then hear the impact of steel on flesh... and after a moment of waking up, you find a flabbergasted Elisabeth standing in your room; her hair is disheveled, her blindfold is off, and Orux' axe just hits the ground from how he threw it into her face on reflex.
A moment of awkward silence follows, which you break with a sigh. Sliding out of bed and ignoring the impulse to cover yourself, you cross your arms before looking at her. Orux gets up as well and lowers his head deeply, mumbling an apology. She waves it off without even looking at him, mouth opening and closing as she tries to speak.
"This better be important, it's the middle of the night," you growl at her and she clicks her mouth shut. You blink, once, twice, and realise that the light her eyes emanate is flickering. The flames within dance, one fluttering and going out before reigniting. Elisabeth is fidgeting, no, shaking. She reaches out to you, falters, and you think you see a tear glimmering in front of her eye.
You calm yourself a little and step over, putting your hands on her shoulders. "What's wrong?" A moment of focus has you transform so you are no longer naked, the light casting long shadows over the room before darkness falls again. You tried your best to suppress the violence of your transformation, and your mostly calm state of mind helps with that. Elisabeth is still shaking, her lip quivers badly and you can feel her emanating heat from where you stand. With another shaky breath, she gets out a single word that has you freeze: "D-Dragon."
You stare at her as if she grew a second head. After everything you heard... "A Dragon. Here?"
She just nods mutely and you begin to lead her to your bed, sitting her down at the edge. Orux stays at the side and keeps himself busy igniting a few candles, leaving her to you. "Okay, take a deep breath." She does, following your coaxing, inhaling and exhaling and calming down. The hysterical flickering in her eyes slows and after a little while, the flames burn at least continuously. "Now, what is going on?"
Elisabeth takes another deep breath and then looks at you properly. "I got the message not long ago. A Dragon appeared on Sheol and made itself comfortable in the ruins of one of our bases. Everyone present to sort through the rubble was killed earlier today, so it took a while until a patrol noticed it. I, I don't have the means to deal with this," she stares at you helplessly, tears glistening in her eyes again. "I need you for this."
You frown at her, knowing that this is the kind of opponent you promised you would not face before. You were supposed to take it easy and leave soon, not this. "We had an agreement, only that Angel and I'm done."
She shakes her head and grasps your shoulders tightly, almost painfully. "I know that, I know, but please, Heidi, please! You are the only one who stands a chance, the only one I can ask. So many will die pointlessly, I...." She trails off and clenches her teeth while you reel from her audible desperation. "If need be," she continues quietly, "I cast my life in chains as your eternal servant in exchange."
You have no words, all you can do is stare at your friend. The flames in her eyes burn resolute, making absolutely clear that she meant what she just said. If she is really that desperate and needs you, she might do something reckless if you refuse. She might get hurt, and others definitely will.
...not so long ago, you wondered what heroes the UD has to look up to. And if there are none, then perhaps you should pick up the torch this once.
Taking a deep breath, you nod at Elisabeth. "Okay, I'll do it. No servitude or shit like that, but you owe me one."
Her beaming smile is hard to see, or would be, were it not for the shine from her eyes brightening considerably. They are almost like lamps now. "Thank you, thank you!"
You make to respond, pat her back or something, but a big yawn stops you. "Urgh, did you have to wake me at this ungodly hour?" She fidgets again, casting an illuminating glance at Orux and... you think she is blushing, which you do as well after remembering the situation.
"Well, yes. Dragons are horribly dangerous; leaving this one to stay here and grow even for a day, or worse, losing sight of it again, we can't afford that. If you need more rest to fight it properly, I can stall it, but-" "No, it's fine."
You can guess what stalling entails, so you are not going to go for it. With your sight you should be able to see the thing even if it is still dark. You blink a few more times and shake your head again. "Just get me some sweets if you have any, and a few minutes to wake up properly. Oh, and some light breakfast."
She immediately steps out to call for an Imp and Orux takes the time to dress himself. He then puts a hand on your arm and squeezes. "Be careful, dear. You shouldn't risk yourself like that."
"I know, but someone has to." And you can, you do not say. He probably knows it anyway.
When Elisabeth returns a little later, she settles down on a chair and offers you another smile. Orux went and lit a few more candles to illuminate the room better, so you can see it properly now. Elisabeth folds her hands. "I do not think I ever explained much about Dragons to you, dear friend. I never thought it was necessary."
You nod and think. "Someone told me that they are the natural predators of gods." Was that Lu who told you?
Elisabeth just nods. "That is correct. Dragons are, well, they are living focal points of bent reality. As far as I know, they are born from spirits or souls floating freely and accumulating mana for a long, long time. Those that manage to form into a Dragon begin to bend reality by their very existence, subverting it around them. This is an effect few others have, but it is known to kill smaller gods. Dragons basically devour gods they are near to due to refusing their laws and establishing their own. Violently."
She thinks for a moment and sighs, then shrugs at you. "We have not figured out how powerful this one really is, but it is not just a newborn Wyvern. I know that much."
You wait for her to continue, but she falls silent. After a few moments, you recap: "So, what I am looking at is something absurdly powerful, with a ton of mana, that sucks in local reality and substitutes its own rules instead?"
"Basically, yes."
"Great. Just great. Of course this had to happen."
"My apologies, but I prefer it like this. If this one had appeared after you left, hundreds of thousand or more would have died."
You just sigh and consider your options. Out of all the people on base, only Lu might be someone you could ask for help. She is not made for this kind of fight, though. Argus might have been an option, but he is not there anymore.
If you asked, you know, Elisabeth would immediately give you a team of specialists, handpicked from all the units under her command and some probably borrowed from elsewhere. You are not going to ask, they would just die.
The only other person you can think of, you do not know how to reach quickly. You do not know if she would actually help you, considering that you are currently on opposing sides. But perhaps...
You continue to think while Elisabeth explains the few things they learned about that Dragon from observation and some careful probing.
-------------
[] Go alone [] Requisition a team for the task; they will probably die There was enough death [] Ask Argus Can't ask the dead
[] Fuck it, see if Gabriel wants to hunt a Dragon
Just so we are clear and as a reminder, I do not roll dice. The result of the Gabriel-option has been set for a while, and it is not necessarily her agreeing to come along. Also, to meet her Heidi will have to enter UL-territory. There are risks involved.
[X] Go alone
You know, I have the strangest feeling that we are about to close another time paradox.
Besides the bonus exp, I want to be able to say that we, a Story Maker, killed a Dragon.
Also, I want us to quote "Rage War, The Chalengers of Excalibrate"
You spend a few minutes thinking about what to do exactly and eating, taking in everything Elisabeth tells you. Information on this Dragon is meagre. But with everything you heard and learn, it is clear you do not want to go at this alone. And there is only one person you feel you can ask, who is not going to die and can help. Or who you can help.
Once she is done, you nod and get up. "Alright. Give me a little time to find my friend. I'll just cheat a little if it takes too long."
"O-Oh, of course." Elisabeth gets up while you throw in the few sweets the Imps brought; not as sweet as you would have thought because this is still Demons who make their stuff spicy, but you hope it will wake you up a little more anyway. Sugar is good for kicking your brain into gear, or at least you think it was something like that.
"Who are you thinking of? I can have them called in."
The offer draws a giggle and a headshake; after swallowing, you grin at her and point skyward. "Sorry, but she isn't anywhere you could reach. Just need to find her and hope she's up for it. Might get a little bright if she does come. Bye-Voyage!"
You quickly leave the room, noting the flames grow almost to the corners of Elisabeth's eyeballs before you are gone and on Valhalla. Perhaps she was actually going pale, you could not say with just candlelight.
Either way, you now stand on trampled earth, the UD's staging ground, close to the beach. Maybe even near the spot your team submerged back then. Thinking of it like being an old hat is weird; this did happen less than a month ago for Paoras, but more like four for you. Perhaps the traces over there are actually yours, the stomping of the soldiers having left imprints in the ground beyond the waterline.
You shake your head and turn away, looking toward the fortresses in the far distance. They are gleaming with various kinds of magic. No convenient Gabriel hovering above, though. You sigh quietly, of course it would not be that easy.
Thinking on the matter for a minute and waving off a few curious Demons, you figure that your best bet would not be hopping around and hoping. Perhaps, you think, you should seek refuge in audacity.
So you cast Voyage again and pop out within the first fortress, in a large courtyard filled with exercising Valkyries. Weapons freeze in mid-air the moment your presence falls upon them all, once they realise you are there. Eyes go wide and younger Valkyries even shy away from you, but you pay them no mind.
They remain frozen after the moment you decided to give them, so you raise your voice: "I'm here to speak with Archangel Gabriel. Bring her to me!" The first snap out of it and you can see them clench their weapons more tightly, which is concerning. "I'm not going to fight anyone unless you make me. Save us all the trouble and get her, you couldn't beat me anyway."
The Valkyries hesitate visibly and some lower their weapons entirely, though none dismiss them. You push yourself to regard them not as enemies for now and the pressure of your presence on them lessens considerably. At least no one made to attack yet, though their aggressive stances remain and their eyes stay on you, which draws an eyeroll. "Go report to your superiors, I'll wait here."
As if to emphasize your words, you turn sideways and step to one of the reinforced stone walls. Leaning against it and looking at the confused Angels, you have to bite down on a grin. You want something here and you already got out of one unnecessary fight.
Gazes are exchanged and they whisper with each other for a moment, then one man in somewhat more elaborate armour takes charge and orders the rest into position. Two fly off to carry word of your arrival, the rest assumes an orderly formation in a half-circle around you. Two dozen bows aimed from the back, as many lances and shields in front, a row of swords in-between. All of them align with each other like clockwork, no real openings left and no hesitation as they move. That is the Valkyr Legion, Angels born as masters of arms and trained for battle.
You just stay where you are, arms crossed. Magic surges through your veins in response to the many opponents, but you manage to keep your presence from pressing down on them. It turns into a weird kind of stare-off, seeing that they all try to keep their eyes on you but specific Valkyries start to waver the moment you meet their gaze. Neither side moves much as minutes pass by, Angels soaring above and drums sounding from time to time. Magic lies heavy in the air and a few Fairies join the standoff on elevated positions, ramparts and stairs and even a tower. None of them attack you, though.
You are almost tempted to make a game of trying to stare one particular man or woman into breaking their formation, but you are neither that bored nor that mean... or, at least you think you are not that mean. The idea sounded funny the first two or three moments after you had it.
A shadow from above catches your attention at some point, but the lack of holy choirs singing already told you it is not Gabriel, as did the lack of light surrounding you.
It is, however, still a familiar face. Calm and collected, peering down at you as she sinks into the courtyard on steady wings. A sharp face and lean body, a taller Angel at... around four metres? Three and a half? You can only guess, but it is just as well.
"How brazen of you to step foot into one of our strongholds just like that," she starts and strides forward. All the Valkyries move aside to let her pass, every single one of them being outranked by her. A greyish white tunic is gently ruffled with each step, breastplate and pauldrons clattering almost inaudibly.
She walks up until she looms over you, apparently without fear. You just look up at her with a raised eyebrow and push yourself off; the other Valkyries immediately ready themselves for battle, but you ignore them. "I have something to discuss with Gabriel, nothing more and nothing less. Don't get all worked up over it, I wouldn't be here if it weren't important."
"So I see," she returns calmly, and trails off when you let your presence work on her. She freezes for a moment, but then violently shakes herself and clenches her teeth. "Yet, even if she decided to indulge your whims, Adelheid, I have business of my own with you."
Now she has you curious. "Oh? And what would that be?" You think for a moment, meaning to add her name just as well, but it has been a while. You blink, think, then sigh. "Sorry, I forgot your name. Something with H?"
The dumbfounded look she gives you is almost worth it, and you can see a single of the surrounding Valkyries grinning. A good bit of tension fades while she takes a deep breath and steps back with narrowed eyes. "It is Hildr. Your memory is apparently faulty if you already forgot it after such a short time."
You just wave her off. "Pretty much, yes. I'm not that good with names, keep forgetting most of them." She frowns again, maybe having expected some kind of boast about her being insignificant and thus forgotten. You do not care to play into her perception of villainous ego, though. And neither will you admit to having gone months longer since encountering her. "Anyway, what did you want?"
"A rematch."
"...excuse me, what?"
"A rematch," she repeats herself while raising her blade, a single motion of her hand making the Valkyries scatter and take position further away. "I know not how you hid your true power from me the last time, enough of it to call an Archangel to battle, but I refuse to accept it until having seen it for myself." As you grow ever more incredulous, she bellows her challenge: "So face me once more, with everything you have!"
You blink at her, but she remains that way, blade raised at you. This is not a joke.
"Just... just to make sure, you mean it? You are dead serious?"
"Of course I am!"
She actually growls a little and you sigh before pushing yourself off the wall. It has only been a month for her, and Angels do not grow stronger at the rate you do. Not even remotely. This is only going to end one way, but she probably knows it, too. Manifesting your weapon and switching it to Aetheric Tide, you give her a nod. "Alright. But, we are only doing first blood, and they stay out of it."
You motion toward the other Valkyries with the last condition, which makes Hildr flick her eyes over there. She nods immediately. "Of course they will, this is a duel. That aside, first blood is fine by me."
The soldiers around you relax their stances; they remain alert, but no longer like they will interfere, so you take your attention off them. Sneak attacks are not going to work on you anyway. Hildr presents her blade and you take a stance yourself.
Then, however, she bows her head deeply at you, a gesture which you do not know but emulate as best as you can. It probably has something to do with respect or honour, but no one elaborates. You actually wait and let her move first, just to make sure you do not start too early.
After frowning at you for a moment, she surges forward to strike... slowly. Weird.
(Warforged Blade: +4200 Base Damage, +23 dice = 4,223 Total Damage
Attack Negated
Riposte!
Aetheric Tide: +1280 Base Damage, dice suppressed, +853 Horrific Speed Gap = 2,136 Total Damage
Aetheric Tide: +1280 Base Damage, dice suppressed, +853 Horrific Speed Gap = 2,136 Total Damage
Aetheric Tide: +1280 Base Damage, dice suppressed, +853 Horrific Speed Gap = 2,136 Total Damage
Aetheric Tide: +1280 Base Damage, dice suppressed, +853 Horrific Speed Gap = 2,136 Total Damage
Aetheric Tide: +1280 Base Damage, dice suppressed, +853 Horrific Speed Gap = 2,136 Total Damage
10,680 Unified Damage Valkyr Armor (25%): 8,010 Total Damage
Hildr: +1800 Base Resilience, +72 dice, +7000 Underdog's Steadfastness = 8,872 Total Damage Reduction
Attack Ineffective. Hildr still says suck it!)
You meet her halfway and see her expression turn to surprise at the ease with which you deflect her strike, then lay into her with your spear to end the fight... except that it does not end. Five stabs are sent into her side as you pass by, only to be caught on a faintly glimmering forcefield. Right, you forgot she had that and you still do not know how it works. And you even suppressed your mana from empowering those strikes to not hurt her too much.
You could continue to do this until you overcome it, but that might hurt her significantly. So instead, you have the weapon switch to Stygian Tempest. The scythe feels almost unfamiliar in your hand with how rarely you use it in actual battle, but it is perfect for now. You just need to be a little careful.
Hildr has yet to properly recover, so you take two steps, twirl your scythe for theatrics, and then tear open her side.
(Stygian Tempest: +595 Base Damage, dice suppressed, -476 Careful Attack, +396 Horrific Speed Gap = 515 Total End Damage Valkyr Armor (25%): 386 Total Damage Hildr: +1800 Base Resilience, +353 dice, +7000 Underdog's Steadfastness = 9,153 Total Damage Reduction Unstoppable
386 Final End Damage
Hildr Health: 24,000 - 386 = 23,614)
Careful positioning makes it so her tunic is torn open at the side without the scythe even touching it. If you had actually wanted to, you could have sliced it open. That unnatural sharpness is useful for setting small cuts at least, you just had to push the outermost layer of it against Hildr and it cut through everything like butter.
A quick step back and you flourish your scythe again before returning it to the Handle and dismissing it. Hildr stands at ease a moment later, her bloody garments ignored; mana courses through her, healing the damage and leaving only the torn clothes to speak of her loss. "Truly," she starts while bowing again, "it is as I heard. And yet I can not understand how your strength was kept hidden from me."
You bow in turn and shrug at her. "It wasn't. I gathered it from other sources since meeting you in battle for the first time." And this is all the information you are going to give her, despite the hints of curiousity she displays. "Have fun trying to figure it out."
And with that, you step past her to lean against your wall again. When, in that moment, light basks everyone. A presence that warms your soul and sings gentle songs as it envelops you. She is here.
Everyone knows it the moment you do, the presence of Light herself. Gabriel descends with the same air of invincibility she had last time, pristine and immaculate. Her eyes are on you, expression deceptively calm to the point you can not tell what she thinks. When she lands however, you notice how literally every other Angel dwarfs her and almost crack up.
Bad Heidi, no laughing at the Archangel in front of her underlings.
You try hard not to smirk, but your lip does wobble a little in repressed mirth. Thankfully, Gabriel speaks first and gives you something else to focus on: "I did not expect such a visitor, and one so brazen at that." She speaks calmly, almost cold and without any hint of familiarity; you are not sure who exactly the act is for, but decide it does not matter and shrug.
"Yeah, how brazen of you to waltz in here, champion of the darkness, et cetera, et cetera. Can we skip that part? It's urgent." You earn many shocked gasps for the perceived slight, but Gabriel herself does not appear bothered by it. She simply motions for you to continue, then pales when you do: "We had a Dragon sighting on Sheol, and last I heard those guys were the original reason you guys made Archangels."
The sudden silence is telling; your behaviour apparently forgotten, all the Valkyries are now looking to Gabriel, whose true feelings are slipping through. Her eyes are wide, fingers clenched, but only for a moment until the mask is back in place and she tilts her head ever so slightly. "Quite true. However, what reason would you have to call upon me when the creature is Hell's problem? I am not going to do your work for you."
Ouch. That sounds kind of harsh, if justified. Still makes you a little angry, even if you know she does not mean it. Or, at least you hope she does not.
It does not prevent you from snapping back with a frown: "I'm going to fight it either way, but don't expect me to come help you either if it decides it rather make a nest in the woods before I get to it." You throw out a hand toward the endless forest beyond the castle, which draws fearful murmuring from the surrounding Angels. Gabriel swallows as well, discreetly of course. Even you do not know if what you just said is true, though.
Your friend(?) mulls it over for a moment, then offers a soft nod. "Indeed. I do recall hearing that we set aside our differences for such matters before. Rare as it may be, a Dragon is dangerous to all sides and not just one. We shall have truce between each other until the beast is destroyed or driven off." She steps forward and offers you her hand, which you take with a winning grin. The gentle squeeze that follows makes her own feelings clear. "I can head out immediately."
Hildr looks like she wants to argue, but she holds her tongue. So does everyone else; the Archangel knows what she is doing after all.
You nod at her and look around for a moment. "Same with me. Off we go, Voyage." You step closer and hug her, then transport the both of you away before anyone can object. Before going back to Sheol however, you send both yourself and her to Milidia, in the exact spot where you and Lu once built your camp.
She looks around curiously, noting that no one is around. No trace of the shelter you built so long ago, even the forest is gone and replaced with a wide meadow. There are some new forests sitting in the distance, though. You ignore this and give Gabriel a proper hug. "Sorry about cutting you up like I did. You're hard to take down."
The Angel stiffens for a moment, but then she hesitantly wraps her arms around you as well. "My apologies as well, for pushing you to do this. When I saw you on Valhalla that day, I hated that I had to scare you so much. That we had to fight."
"We're still friends, right?"
"If you want to be?"
You squeeze her again and let go so she can see your smile. "Of course. Don't worry about the fight, you had your duty and I had mine."
She smiles as well, now. The aloof Archangel fades and left is only Gabriel, who beams and keeps her hands clasped behind her back. Then she pushes out her cheek and pouts at you. "Did you really have to cut my throat? They put me on bed rest for an entire week!"
...whoops?
Instead of apologising however, you give her a thumbs up. "Not my fault you just kept regenerating yourself, you know? How else should I have stopped you?"
"Maybe by punching me in the throat instead? That would have been much easier to take care of, if you really had to do it."
"Fair enough. Didn't think of that at the time."
Gabriel sighs and drops the pout, then offers you a weak smile. "I... will admit that I did not expect a chance to talk to you so soon. With you and I on opposing sides, I figured it would be a while."
"Yeah," you can not help but agree. "I wouldn't normally do this, but you're the only one I could ask for this. And, well, it did give me a convenient excuse to have a chat and apologise. For the injuries, not for kicking your ass like I said I would." Your winning smile is met with a blank stare, but then Gabriel huffs and shakes her head.
"Just like I remember you being. Brash, brazen, brave. Few would dare to call an Archangel to battle like you did, and fewer still would walk away victorious." She has a point, and the compliment does make you blush a little.
"Ah, well. I'm just glad you remembered me at all. Three thousand years, seriously, I can't even imagine how long that is. I'll only live eighty or ninety, if I'm lucky."
Gabriel sighs and nods, though she still smiles. "It is a long time, but I would never forget someone like you. A dear friend, at that." A moment of hesitation, then she becomes a little more serious. "And defeating a Dragon together... that sounds like it would make for a nice memory. Something that I will never forget, for as long as I live."
You can not help but return the smile at that. For as long as she lives, that will be a long time. Your mood drops a little once you recall your decision to return soon, though. Her declaration will be put to the test. "About that, um...." You trail off, unsure.
"Yes?" She thinks for a moment, then raises an eyebrow at you. "Am I going to die soon?"
"What? No!" You quickly shake your head and sigh. "It's just, I'm going home in a few weeks. To my own time, another five thousand years distant." Her own smile fades, she understands. You elaborate anyway: "I'm planning to come visit from time to time, you and Lu in particular, but I don't know how frequent it will be."
"That is quite alright. I am not going to forget, and I will be happy whenever you can spare some, heh, time for me." Gabriel takes a deep breath and nods to herself. "Now, I believe there is a Dragon to hunt?"
"Yep, give me a... oh. Oops." You only just realised that you did not ask for directions. Elisabeth did not tell you where exactly the Dragon is. You slap your forehead. "We need to make a quick detour so I can find out where we need to go. Can you suppress your auras?"
Your friend thinks for a moment and focuses, then the presence of light fades from your surroundings. She herself still brims with it, but now she is more like a beacon and not the central point of a golden sea. Although she fidgets a little. "Should I, ah, wait here? Would it not be awkward for me to walk a demonic stronghold by your side?"
You blink up at her, notice her faint blush, and heave a sigh. "Don't worry so much. Nobody will even know you are there."
Then you grab her before she can protest, cast Voyage again, and deposit the both of you on the main spire's rooftop. Which is empty in the middle of night, and the surrounding patrols are not going to bother with her; she is not here as an invader, and so Elisabeth's runes do not label her as hostile. No alarm sounds.
You grin at her renewed pout and step away toward the nearest rune. "Give me a minute."
Rushing around to find your friend, ignoring her questions and getting what you need from her, you are back in maybe a little more than a minute, but Gabriel is still up there on her own. She sat down and has her knees pulled to her chin when you return, wings folded carefully and doodling in the dust with one finger.
By the time she gets to her feet again, Elisabeth has appeared behind you and is just staring at the Archangel in front of herself. Her eyes' glow turned into weak flickers, but even that produces enough light to illuminate Gabriel's pristine blue armour.
You walk backward for a moment and grin at Elisabeth. "Told you I'm bringing a friend. That way was right, yes?" You point in the direction you were guessing and she nods dumbly. "Great, thanks!"
Then you hop on Gabriel's back. "And now quick before she can chew me out! Away!"
Something that sounds suspiciously like a snort gets to your ears, but Gabriel does spread her wings and takes off. She quickly takes up speed to the point you have to hold on for dear life, to the point you can hardly see the countryside below you rush past. She is fast, incredibly so.
At least the direction you were pointed in is toward the rising sun; by the time you spot it and make Gabriel slow down, you are in an area where it is morning and not night. The time in-between was spent explaining what you learned about the Dragon to your friend.
Even from this far away, you can see the crater of what used to be a base. The ground is not so much molten as withered away and something bulky and orange sits amidst the destruction; you can not see details from this far away, especially because it actively distorts the surrounding area. The very center is mostly a vortext of swirling colours, sucking in mana from its surroundings and tearing at them.
"There it is. Shall I approach?"
"No, I can pop us right in front of it. That will give it less time to prepare."
"Very well."
You feel Gabriel inhale deeply and do the same, knowing that this will be a horrifying opponent. After finding just how colourful everything is down there, you scale down your magic sight; else you might not be able to see properly. Another deep breath and you climb down into her arms. "Alright, put me down the moment we are there. One, two, Voyage!"
Eternity takes you once more and a moment later, once the malicious hissing of a hundred thousand snakes surrounds you, you are set on the ground. Your auras reach out while the earth crumbles to dust beneath your shoes, and the creature spots you. Even your presence falling over it leads to little more than a twitch and a quickly dispersed surge of mana from within.
It is big. Not a mountain-sized monstrosity, just big. Maybe half the size of your apartement building back on Earth. You stare into its eyes and find intelligence there.
The Dragon returns your gaze, eyes narrowing at you. The fact that your weapon is drawn does not go unnoticed, and it almost feels as if it smiles. Muscles bulge under the orange scales as it climbs to its feet, towering over both you and Gabriel.
Then you can feel the force of its being press down on you, trying to suck you in and take away all that is you. Light shines brighter in the corner of your eye and choirs sing, but it is almost futile. Your eyes narrow while the Dragon stands in its crater, watching you succumb.
Yourefuse
You are a frail human, a Story Maker from the lowest end of the scale, but you refuse nonetheless. The magic trying to subsume you weakens as fury fills your very being, rage against this fate, and breaks away as the Dragon's eyes widen in shock. Light roars around your form and the ground shakes as your very soul screams out in defiance.
For that is who you are. You refuse.
And the creature before you, perhaps for the first time in its life, rears back and breaks eye contact. Seeing this, you slowly relax your gritted teeth and begin to smirk. Where Gabriel beside you resists and takes to the air, your own self reaches out to the swirling vortex and plugs it shut!
Before, you were worried and maybe even sad about having to do this. But now? Now this is personal.
-------------
[] Time for a plan
-[] Fight defensive and let Gabriel do the attacking
-[] Switch out with Gabriel, both acting on offense and defense
-[] Screw that noise and hit it in the face!
-[] You have another idea (write-in)
[] EXP-Plan
-[] Write-in what to buy
-[] Save it
=====
Current Status:
-Gabriel: 360,000 / 360,000, in the air
-Defiance: 900 / 900, pissed
Active Effects:
-Presence of Light: Heidi and Gabriel regain 3,000 Health each turn, Foldropha takes 3,000 damage each turn
-Overwhelming Presence: Foldropha's Magic Modifier is set to 0
-Draconic Regeneration: Foldropha regains 25% 10% Health each turn -Draconic Presence: Affinities aligned with Foldropha's can not affect her, all others are reduced in power by 50%
Fuck you.
Objectives:
-Kill Foldropha
=====
+25xp Met Foldropha
+50xp Staring Contest With a Dragon
+500xp Won the Contest
EXP gained: 575 Total EXP: 605
=====
(Valkyrie Commander Hildr's character sheet was updated)
(New soft mechanics revealed: Due to the combination of a powerful Existence as all Magical Girls are, as well as the Affinities Defiance and Interference, Heidi can resist the effect of World Spheres, zones of altered reality whose owner can set the rules as they please.)
=====
Foldropha
Stats
Health: 1,206,602
Base Damage: Current Health
Base Resilience: 500
Magic Modifier: Current Health
