>>1527371

Your eyes snap open, and a hushed cry escapes your lips as the memories rush back into your mind. The weight of your situation presses down on you, but panic – beyond the merest flutter, at least – doesn't take hold. Rather, you find yourself regarding your situation with a kind of weary curiosity. At some point in your descent you must have passed out, only to wake up here, in what could pass for a bombed out ruin of a house. If you weren't already absolutely certain, one look at the crooked lines here would confirm it – you've woken in the Umbra, with no path back home.

Really, you've never known exactly what happens to people who are taken into the Umbra. When Kurosawa rarely speaks of it, he uses the most euphemistic language possible – people are lost, consumed, or swallowed by the abyss. What that actually means, though... well, you've got a feeling that you're about to find out.

Whatever it is, you tell yourself, it's a fate that you've spared three innocent lives from. That thought is more comforting than you had been expecting, offering a balm to your ailing spirit. A healthy mind leads to a healthy body, and soon you feel a warm glow kindled in your wounded leg. Finally daring a look down, you wince at the bloody sight. Simply put, your leg is just barely hanging together by sinew and splintered bone. A gentle waft of steam rises up from the wound as it heals, flesh knitting together as new bone stretches across to bridge the gap. The ache is bad, but the itching is worse.

As soon as your wounded leg can stand your weight you heave yourself up and take a first few tentative steps forwards, leaning on the closest wall as you go. Rough stone chafes your hand and loose pebbles shift underfoot as you move through the ruins, your eyes flicking back and forth as you search for... anything. Anything dangerous, anything useful, anything at all.

When you step around the crumbling remains of a stone wall, you are given plenty to look at. Starting high, you look up in search of a sky but instead, your gaze falls upon distant, unbroken rock – suggestive of some unimaginably vast cavern. Shuddering a little, you decide to keep your investigations to ground level for now. Stumbling out of the ruined house, you take in your new surroundings.

A city. Not like the perverted modern city you've seen elsewhere in the Umbra, or the ancient civilisation hidden beneath the Necropolis, but definitely a city – one that is bombed out and ruined, burned and ravaged. You seem to have woken on the outskirts, the suburbs, with the strangely dated buildings growing denser towards the centre of the cavern.

Pausing a moment to check that your leg isn't about to buckle beneath you, you limp further from your makeshift shelter.

[2/3]

>>1527372

Before venturing too far, you find a pile of rubble and ease yourself down onto it, sitting and considering what you've seen so far. The buildings that you've seen have mostly been low, never more than a three stories tall, and all of them with a particularly distinctive look. Although as twisted as anything else in the Umbra, the slanted roofs and sturdy lintels suggest traditional Japanese construction – the sort that is only ever found in history books. While those archaic buildings were made of wood, these structures are entirely carved – or perhaps grown – from rugged, dark grey stone.

Two buildings stand out from the rest – a tall tower, listing uncannily over the surrounding structures, and a grand palace, a pagoda, at the densest point of the city. Staring at the palace, you let out a soft groan of revulsion. While the lower sections of the palace look remarkably intact, the upper walls are smashed open, with meaty tendrils sprawling out to dangle and sway. The thought of what the inside of that palace might look like...

Shuddering, you push yourself to feet and move on.

-

By the time you've reached a junction, you've noticed something – this place isn't entirely made from stone, there are a few small exceptions. Here and there, you've spotted blind and unlit lanterns crafted from beaten copper, and now – in the centre of this junction, where the path splits off into four directions – there is a sign of that same metal. The symbols scratched into the sign mean nothing to you, but the sign itself is unmistakably shaped like an arrow, pointing down the left hand fork of the junction... which seems to lead away from the grand palace, instead leading to another junction, with another sign in the centre.

A nice little trail for someone to follow.

Which raises several questions – who put the sign there, where does it lead, and who was it intended for?

>Head for the grand palace. It's clearly significant
>Head for the tower. You can get a better view of the city from higher ground
>Follow the signs. There must be something important at the end of their trail
>Other

>>1527374
>Head for the tower. You can get a better view of the city from higher ground

>>1527374
>Follow the signs. There must be something important at the end of their trail
Make a mark at every intersection though

>>1527374
>Follow the signs. There must be something important at the end of their trail

>>1527374
>Follow the signs. There must be something important at the end of their trail
Just in case this is the same place everyone else is taken when they get caught in the Umbra, lets check it out. Seems like something that most people would follow first, so it might be retracing their steps. Assuming the first sentence holds true though.

>>1527374
>test out powers, leave a message just in case
>Follow the signs. There must be something important at the end of their trail

This city... to wander blindly, you could easily find yourself getting lost or misled. Anyone could, which is probably why the signs were left here – to direct anyone towards...

Well, that's about as far as your chain of logic gets. You're still no sure about what those signs might be pointing towards, but you're pretty eager to find out. If nothing else, they offer a landmark of sorts, something that you might be able to use to get your bearings. You just need a way of marking off where you have and haven't been, the rest should be easy. Maybe. Shrugging to yourself, you wait a moment more to see if anything comes along to change your mind. When nothing does, you get to work.

Before leaving the intersection, though, you summon up one of the Collapsed Star Knuckles and drag one finger down the side of the sign. The screech of metal against metal causes you to wince and check for any signs of a response, but nothing comes. Leaving behind this bright scratch on the otherwise dull metal, you set off in the direction indicated. When you arrive at the next intersection, and the next sign, you repeat the same process.

Still a good distance to walk, though.

-

As you walk, a slow chill seems to creep into your bones. It makes you think of walking through a cold mist, a faint dampness in the air that sinks in and refuses to let go. As you're rubbing your arms for warmth, though, you notice something – a slight corona of silvery light, shimmering like steam as it rises up off you. It's not bright enough to be easily visible, but... it's certainly something new. Without any idea of what it might mean, you return to your journey through the empty, gloomy city.

-

At the next intersection, you finally see a few signs of life – although that might be somewhat optimistic. Crowded around the sign, you spot a group of four black shapes. Phantoms, like the unformed Intruders you saw beneath the Necropolis. Just barely human in shape, they float serenely in place for a few moments more before starting to drift away... in the same direction that you would have taken, following the signs to their destination.

“Damn it...” you mutter, limping a little closer to the sign and leaving your usual mark. The phantoms you saw before were harmless – a small mercy – and you have no reason, yet, to suspect that these ones will be any different. Even so, you wait a few moments for them to travel on ahead before following.

Your wounded leg hurts terribly when you stretch it out, an ache grumbling back at you from deep within the bone. “Stop complaining,” you scold it, grimacing as you rise to your feet and force yourself to keep moving. That last sign seemed larger than the others – perhaps you're getting close?

Close to what, though?

[1/2]

>>1527374
>Follow the signs. There must be something important at the end of their trail

>>1527383

This though, just in case this is the lure of an Intruder

>>1527410

To pass around one final corner, you need to step perilously close to one of those phantoms, shivering a little as you feel a different kind of chill emanating from its smoky body. The chill isn't the worst part of it, though, it's the whispering that is the worst. Not words or even fragments of words, but a constant stream of meaningless babble that seeps out from the phantom's core. It has no mouth to speak with, but still the sounds hiss out from it.

But what really makes the whispering so unsettling is that you recognise some of the sounds they make. They remind you of Kurosawa's not-words, his attempts at describing the indescribable. The implications of all this...

And then you're stepping past the phantom, your path widening out into an almost scenic square. The buildings give way to empty space, while a statue of sorts occupies the middle of the area. As to what the statue was intended to depict, though... you couldn't even begin to guess. Abstract geographic shapes slam into one another, clinging together in defiance of gravity or any other natural law. You're no expert, but you're fairly sure that the whole thing shouldn't be able to support its own weight... and yet it does.

Before you can walk a full circle of the area, searching it for anything useful, you hear something – that same whispering as before, but raised up into a great chorus. Countless of those inhuman voices, all murmuring and hissing to themselves. Turning in sudden shock, you watch as a sea of murky blackness washes into the square. At first coming as an undifferentiated mass, the shadow soon splits up into dozens, scores, of the phantoms. Harmless on their own, could the phantoms be more dangerous in massed numbers?

Perhaps so, but they show no sign of attacking you – or even noticing you. They do, however, part as something new approaches. It too is a shadow, although paler in colour and more noticeably human in silhouette. This white form, softly glowing, passes through the parted ranks of phantoms and approaches you in silence. Frozen in place, you watch with wide eyes as it gets closer.

When the pale phantom is a few paces away from you, it stops and slowly shifts. Some part of it reaches out to you, like... like someone offering their hand in greeting.

“What are you?” you murmur, taking a single slow step backwards. The pale shade, however, says nothing, merely holding out that quietly insistent hand.

At the entrance to the square, the path through the phantoms remains open... for now.

>Touch the pale phantom
>Escape from the phantoms. Flee the square before they can block the exit once more
>Destroy the pale phantom
>Other

>>1527445
>Touch the pale phantom
I hope I don't regret this

>>1527445
>Touch the pale phantom
Mihos Emotional Barrier is degrading, as evidenced by the chill she's feeling and how her leg isn't healing fully. Touching the phantoms don't seem to help, but attacking doesn't seem viable either. There's no where else to go, after all, and these are the only kinda-people here to give Miho companionship.

>>1527445
>Touch the pale phantom

>>1527445
>>Touch the pale phantom

>>1527445
>>Escape from the phantoms. Flee the square before they can block the exit once more

File: Zakuro.jpg (713 KB, 1080x1080)

713 KB JPG

“Oh man...” you mutter, running a trembling hand through your hair, “Oh hell...”

From where you're standing, you don't have a whole lot of options. Fleeing is always an option, but where would running away leave you? Hardly any further forward, you'd just be back to wandering the city streets. Striking down the phantom? Well, perhaps... but it seems like a harsh course of action, a last resort option. You've tried speaking, but the phantom has no voice to answer you with. All it can do is offer you its hand.

So, swallowing heavily, you reach out and take the phantom's hand. It feels simultaneously solid and not solid, but before you can wonder about that curious sensation an awful chill tears through your body. Worse than the residual chill of this place, worse than being thrown into a frozen lake, it feels as though every bit of warmth has been ripped out of your body. Crying out, you stumble back and fall, your wounded leg finally giving out. Sprawled out on the ground, grey pressing in at the corners of your vision, you watch as the pale phantom writhes.

A change seems to grip the shade, causing its ephemeral body to waver between light and dark, expanding and contracting as though it was a beating heart. Like a man punched in the gut, it folds double and slowly sinks to the ground. Crouched there, in front of you, the misty form tightens in on itself for one last time, then bleeds away into nothingness. What it leaves behind, though...

It's human. At least, it LOOKS human. The girl glows with the same soft white light, but it has more shape and detail than any other phantom you've seen so far. Its eyes open wide, fixing on you for a moment before its lips part in a slight gasp of horror. Then:

“Oh god!” the girl blurts out, “I'm so sorry!”

A stunned silence draws out for a moment as you try and take in their words. “What?” you splutter eventually, “What are-”

“I'm sorry!” it repeats, “I didn't realise it would... I didn't want to...” Clenching her hands into tight fists, the girl beats them lightly against her forehead. “I don't like hurting people!” she wails, “I never wanted to hurt anyone! I never-”

“Hold on, hold on a minute!” you protest, forcing yourself to your feet, “Calm down, you crazy... I mean, calm down, don't get carried away! I'm fine, look, I'm totally fine!” Even though it feels as though your brittle body is about to shatter at any minute, you spread your arms wide. “See? No harm done,” you insist, “Let's... just start that from fresh. Uh, I'm Miho. Do you know your name? Do you have a name?”

“It's Zakuro... I think,” the girl replies, still hiding her face in her hands, “I don't remember exactly. You might not believe this, but...” Finally looking you in the eye, Zakuro forces a smile. “I'm also called the Knight Hospitalier,” she adds, “And I'm a magical girl!”

[1/2]

>>1527445
>Touch the pale phantom
how's Miho's SAN doing, anyway?

>>1527483
New friend maybe? I was half expecting a Miho clone or our sister to pop out.

>>1527483
...so, the phantoms in the Necropolis, that Kurosawa said was the neonatal form of Intuders.

They really were people! Ahhhhhh!

>>1527483
aww ye, time to rescue or kill Miho's sister!

>>1527483

“No way...” you breathe after a moment, “You're a-”

“I know, but please believe me!” Zakuro insists, “I was chosen by the gods to be one of their earthly representatives. The Native Gods of man... there are eighteen in all, and they each choose a single champion. I was chosen by the Great Virtue of Compassion, and-”

“No, I mean, I...” you interrupt, “I'm a magical girl as well. Heavenly Child Miho Tsukada, chosen by the Great Virtue of Duty!” It almost feels like you should strike a pose after saying that, but you settle for giving Zakuro a weary grin. It's about all you can manage, under the circumstances. You're about to launch into a flurry of questions, but then another change runs through Zakuro's body. What had first appeared as baggy and shapeless clothes now refine themselves into pristine robes, looking vaguely like something a Western nun might wear.

“You said that you were the Heavenly Child?” Zakuro asks, not noticing her own transformation, “But...”

“But what?” you manage to say, “Is there something wrong with that?”

“I... can't really remember,” shaking her head, Zakuro suddenly looks distraught, “I feel like I've forgotten so many important things. I've been here so long, if you hadn't let me borrow your strength...”

“I didn't exactly know what would happen,” you grumble to yourself.

“If you hadn't let me borrow your strength, I would have faded away completely... eventually,” Zakuro frowns, “Time is complicated here. I don't remember how long I've been here. Long enough to learn about this place, and then forget half of what I learned. I remember a few things, though, so I might be able to answer some of your-”

“Where's the exit?” you cut in, asking the most important question.

“Well...” Zakuro's face falls, “There isn't one.”

“Ah hell,” you sigh. For some reason, you're not really surprised.

“There isn't one YET,” the glowing girl adds, “But if we beseech the queen of this place, we might be able to change that. You've seen the palace that reigns over this city, haven't you? I hope... I think that we can find the queen there. Until now, though, I had no way of reaching it on my own. Now that you're here, though...”

“What do you mean, you had no way of reaching it?” you ask, “Those phantoms seem to leave you alone.”

“The queen's soldiers patrol the streets further in,” Zakuro hesitates for a moment, “And... I don't fight. My gift is to pacify the weaker Intruders, but the soldiers are too strong for me. I have to run and hide whenever they show their faces.”

“I'm stranded here,” you mutter to yourself, “And my only companion... is a pacifist.”

Zakuro just offers you a sad and helpless shrug.

>The palace, then. Stay behind me
>Do you have any idea what this place is?
>What is this “queen” you mentioned?
>How did you come to be here, Zakuro?
>I had something else to ask you... (Write in)
>Other

>>1527508
>How did you come to be here, Zakuro?
>Do you have any idea what this place is?
>What is this “queen” you mentioned?
>I had something else to ask you... (Write in)
Do you know what the Intruders are from your time are?

>The palace, then. Stay behind me

>>1527508
>>1527516
this

>>1527508
>>How did you come to be here, Zakuro?
>What is this “queen” you mentioned?
Beseech means beat up right, we can do that.

>>1527508
>Do you have any idea what this place is?
>What is this “queen” you mentioned?
>How did you come to be here, Zakuro?

>>1527508
I think the queen's a Tyrant class intruder. It sounds about right, considering how those Intruders apply field effects.

In any case, since Zakuro seemed to get stronger when Miho said she was also a magical girl, maybe she should talk about her friends and remind the two of who they were. Strengthen their Barrier, in other words.

Or try to, anyways.

“Alright, so you said that you might be able to answer some questions,” you begin, rubbing your arms to chase away the lingering chill, “That's good, because I've got plenty to ask. Do you have any idea what this place even is?”

“I have a theory,” Zakuro tussles at her fluffy hair for a moment as she thinks, “Um, how much of it is true or not... anyway. Do you know anything about how Tyrants and the Umbra interact?”

“Well, I know that Tyrants can shape sections of the Umbra,” you begin, thinking back to the rotting swamps in the Mizuhashi reserve, “But I don't know anything about how they do it. I figured it's just because they're powerful, and...” Your voice dies here, before picking up in a lower tone. “Does that mean we're up against a Tyrant?” you breathe, “If so...”

“Um, well, I'll get to that in a minute. I think this city – I called it “Dis”, back when names meant anything – is like that. A closed space under the control of a powerful Intruder. It's an abyss, things can enter but they cannot leave, and it's all under the control of the queen,” Zakuro points up at the meaningless statue, “This entire city was shaped by her desires, I think. Well... the lingering desires of those she has, um, consumed. In either case, this is a space where she has complete control, where she is worshipped and obeyed. Speaking of the queen...”

“Right,” you agree, “What is she? An Intruder, I guess, but... I don't know, something about this place doesn't add up.”

“She could have been a Tyrant, if she had the will,” stepping carefully around you, Zakuro lays the flat of her palm up against the statue, “Tyrants are old and powerful, but they need more than that. They need a purpose. Without the drive to break out of her shell, the queen turned inwards and created this city. As far as I know, she's unique – an abnormality, something ancient and forgotten. I can't say how long ago she created this place, or even when she came into existence. I just don't know. Now though, she just exists here, occasionally snaring whatever prey she can find in the outside world. Um, that was how you got here, wasn't it?”

“Yeah. A tentacle grabbed me and pulled me down here. I thought it would never stop,” you shudder a little at the fresh memory, “So how did you come to be here, anyway?”

“Um, well, it was probably the same as you,” Zakuro looks around from the statue, “I was taken, like so many others. Grabbed and pulled down. Somehow, though, I managed to escape into the city. I've been wandering ever since, slowly fading away. If you hadn't come here...” She turns back, here, glancing at the lingering phantoms. “I would have died,” she finishes weakly, “And then we'd both be in quite a fix!”

That's an understatement.

[1/2]

>>1527508
>>1527516
let's just do everything.

>>1527555

“Say, there was something else I was wondering,” you ask her slowly, “The Intruders from your time. Can you tell me what they were like? If you didn't fight, you must have had trouble dealing with them.”

“I... yes, I must have,” Zakuro frowns, “I think I had friends. We were a team. I don't remember much about them, though. Most of what I remember from the real world is a blur...” Sighing and shaking her head, Zakuro leans back against the statue. Around you, the phantoms shift and murmur, oblivious to your presence. “I'm not being very helpful, am I?” the girl whispers, “I was here so long, I must have forgotten all the important things.”

“Hey, c'mon, don't be like that,” you press, trying to keep her from moping, “You know way more than I do. How do you even learn this stuff anyway?”

“Oh,” her frown deepens, “How DID I learn all of this? It's so frustrating, not being able to remember...”

“It doesn't matter,” you reply with a shrug, “Maybe it'll come back to you. Anyway, looks like we've got to head to the palace. Stay behind me, Zakuro, I reckon I can handle any “beseeching” that we might need to do.”

“Wait, there's... I have a favour to ask of you,” Zakuro pleads, “There's something here, in the city. Something I lost, I think. With your help, I might be able to find it.”

“Huh, okay,” you consider, “What is it?”

“I don't know,” the girl answers promptly.

“...Okay,” you sigh, “Where is it?”

“I don't know,” she continues, visibly wilting, “But I think I can find it. I don't know exactly where it is, but I can feel a... tugging. A pull, leading me to it. If I can just follow it, I might be able to find what I've lost. I know that it won't help us get out of here, and we might run into the queen's soldiers, but...”

>But it's important to you. I'll help you find it, Zakuro
>It's a risk that we can't afford. I'm sorry, Zakuro
>Other

>>1527586
>>But it's important to you. I'll help you find it, Zakuro
...yeah, she's dead. Even if Miho's not the Gravetender, we can put her to rest.

>>1527586
>But it's important to you. I'll help you find it, Zakuro
Queen isn't going anywhere. We've got time.

>>1527586
>But it's important to you. I'll help you find it, Zakuro
We gotta be the helpful and cheerful magical girl, our Emotional Barrier depends on it!

>>1527586
>But it's important to you. I'll help you find it, Zakuro
I bet you a bar of synth-meat it's your weapon. ....you know what synth-meat is, right?

>>1527586
>>But it's important to you. I'll help you find it, Zakuro

>>But it's important to you. I'll help you find it, Zakuro

>>1527586

>>1527586
>But it's important to you. I'll help you find it, Zakuro
>Maybe it's a less pacifistic dear friend?

>>1527621
I kinda hope not, Miho might not survive another energy drain like Zakuro did, right?

“But it's important to you,” you finish for her, “I'll help you find it, Zakuro. The queen isn't going anywhere, and I've got plenty of strength left. If any of the queen's soldiers get in our way... I'll show them exactly how I negotiate!” This time, you do pose a little bit, pumping your fist in the air. Laughing aloud, Zakuro claps a little, her aura flaring brightly for a moment.

“You're so brave!” she squeals, “I wish I could have had someone like you here ages ago! Oh, that's... that's very selfish of me, isn't it? I shouldn't wish for anyone to be dragged into a place like this...”

“Don't worry about it,” you tell her, “Let's just get a move on. You still feel that tugging, right? Lead on, and I'll keep you safe. If you remember anything important, just speak up. Hell, if you want to talk about anything at all, just speak up anyway. A place like this, we've got to keep our spirits up, right?”

“Yes,” Zakuro agrees solemnly, “A stable Emotional Barrier is incredibly important.” That, however, is all she says. Pointing ahead of you, she starts to drift off towards the exit. When she draws near them, the phantoms silently part to allow her through. Swallowing heavily, you hurry after her before they can draw back together.

-

“This next turn,” the girl announces, “I wish we could cut through these buildings...”

“Maybe we can,” you suggest, approaching something that appears to be a sliding door and giving it a firm tug. It doesn't shift, and a closer look reveals it to be simple decoration – rock shaped to imitate an old sliding door. Grunting in frustration, you hurry back to Zakuro's side and force a smile. “I bet it's your weapon that we're looking for,” you tell her, “I'll bet you a bar of synth meat. You remember that stuff?”

“Synth meat? That sounds ghastly,” Zakuro turns and gives you a bemused look, “Why would someone eat fake meat?”

“Cheaper, for one thing. Real meat is-” you pause here, “Hang on, you really don't know about this stuff?”

“I remember eating meat, obviously,” Zakuro insists, “A boy bought be chicken on skewers once. The sauce was very tangy, with just the perfect amount of sweetness.” Sighing wistfully, Zakuro pauses and stares up at the cavern ceiling. “When I get out of here, I want to eat chicken skewers again,” she decides firmly, “I don't even care that I'll have to buy them myself. Food tastes nicer when a boy buys it for you, but anything would be lovely after this place.”

You just grunt acknowledgement to that. Even on your father's relatively high salary, real meat is a luxury that you can rarely justify eating. If Zakuro remembers eating real meat as if it wasn't anything special... how long must she have been lost here for? The thought of a different abyss – the gulf between her time and yours – sends a shiver running through you.

[1/2]

>>1527629
If we don't think we can survive it, we can refuse to give it.

>>1527648

“So hey, maybe it isn't a weapon,” you suggest a moment later, “Maybe it's a friend? Say... someone who isn't a pacifist?”

“Maybe,” Zakuro murmurs, closing her eyes for a moment, “I can almost imagine a person. Their face is blurred, but... I don't know. I think I-” Her sentence is cut short by the clattering sound of stone against stone, and Zakuro immediately tenses up. “Her soldiers are coming!” she hisses, turning a mad circle as she searches for somewhere to hide, “We need to... we can't let them... not when we're THIS close!”

“Don't panic!” you tell her, “I can take them... probably. There's no need to-”

“This way!” Zakuro moves to grab your arm, stopping herself short at the last minute. Instead, she turns and flees into a narrow alleyway, cutting through a broken section of wall and vanishing into a building. Cursing to yourself, you chase after her and duck into the same building. As you drop out of sight, the grating sound of footsteps gets suddenly louder. Accompanying it, you wear a low grinding noise.

Sensing Zakuro shivering beside you, you risk peering though a crack in the stone. Standing at the far end of the narrow street, you see an odd sight – something that would have looked more normal in a museum. An old suit of samurai armour, hewn out of rock and missing the helmet. A large blunt sword drags on the ground as the samurai lurches closer. At the sound of the footsteps, Zakuro whimpers.

“Don't worry,” you whisper to her, “We're safe – he can't see us, he doesn't have a head!”

“It can find us!” she insists, “It can smell us, smell our lives. Oh, I knew this was a mistake...”

“Sure it was,” you agree grimly, summoning the Collapsed Star Knuckles and savouring the rush of strength that accompanies them, “HIS mistake, not ours.”

“No, no, no...” whining now, Zakuro starts to back off, checking for another exit, “We've got to run, maybe we can find another way. No, I'm SURE that I can find another way! We can... we can lose it somehow, shake it off our scent...”

>Zakuro, trust me. I CAN take it out. Just keep your head down and let me do my thing
>Alright, if you think we can lose it, lead the way
>Other

>>1527687
>>Zakuro, trust me. I CAN take it out. Just keep your head down and let me do my thing

>>1527687
>>Zakuro, trust me. I CAN take it out. Just keep your head down and let me do my thing

>>1527687
>How do you suppose we beat the Queen if we can't even take one servant? Just call this....scouting out the opposition.
>Attack

I bet fighting slowly drains us of soul strength

>>1527687
>>Zakuro, trust me. I CAN take it out. Just keep your head down and let me do my thing


>>1527703
Maybe she really wanted to talk the Queen down.

>>1527687
>Zakuro, trust me. I CAN take it out. Just keep your head down and let me do my thing

>>1527687
>"If you think we can escape lets do it."

Guys we're not planning on beating the queen but asking her to let us out. Maybe we shouldn't kill her guards unnecessarily? Might sour her mood.

>>1527687
>Zakuro, trust me. I CAN take it out. Just keep your head down and let me do my thing

>>1527727
She takes people unwillingly to be her subjects. Fuck her.

>>1527727
>Didn't actually address your concerns
Whoops sorry. We are going to bully a portal out of her.

Normally, this would be where you grab Zakuro's shoulders and look her in the eye. After what happened the last time you touched her, though...

“Zakuro,” you hiss, causing her to look around at you, “Trust me, I CAN take it out. Just keep your head down now, and let me do my thing.” A flicker of hope, tempered by uncertainty, flickers in her eyes, and you press the advantage. “How do you suppose we beat the queen, if you can't take out one of her servants?” you stress, “This is... scouting out the opposition, you see? This is just us doing our research. I'm not asking you to fight, just trust me. Stay here, and stay safe.”

Swayed more by your tone than your words themselves, Zakuro calms a little and stops in her frantic attempts at escape. Numbly, she gives you a tiny nod. “But it's dangerous,” she whispers eventually, “It's not safe...”

“Trust me,” you repeat, “I'm really good at punching stuff.” Flashing her a cavalier grin, you leap out through the destroyed wall and stride out into the street. Zakuro yelps out your name one last time, but you're already long gone. A faint moan of dismay reaches you, but that's all that she has to add.

-

A few steps more, and the samurai realises that you're standing opposite it. With a slow dignity, it raises its sword aloft in a double-handed grip, the sort that you've seen in old samurai movies. That slow pace is thrown off in an instant as the Intruder launches into a swift charge, closing the distance between you and it in a few moments. Raising its sword up and over its head, it brings the blunt, chipped blade smashing down towards you.

Grinning with anticipation, you cross your arms and block the strike, relishing the feeling of stone cracking underfoot. Pushing back with all your might, you throw the blade up and out of the Intruder's grip, following through with a powerful fist square to the torso. Lifted up and thrown back by the force of the blow, the samurai is hurled back the way it came, bouncing and gouging a trail in the ground as it lands. You don't give it a chance to rise, charging towards it before the creature can recover.

You charge, and then something lashes out at you, turning your attack into a stumbling fall. A startled cry escapes your lips as you fall back, and then you see what it was that tripped you. Snaking out of the empty armour, in place of a head, a slick rope of muscle waves steadily though the air. The flesh peels back to reveal a long spike of bone, and you recoil at how familiar it looks.

“I won't fall for that one twice,” you snarl, scrabbling to your feet as the tentacle spears out towards your unguarded face.

[1/2]

>>1527786

The tentacle stabs out, and you swipe an armoured hand through the air, snatching at it. The thick tendril squirms as your fist closes around it, a frantic pulse of motion running through it just before you clench your fist shut and burst it like a water balloon. Throwing aside the splattered remains of the tentacle, you raise your guard and wait for the armour to rise back up again. When it doesn't show any sign of life, you kneel down and peer inside.

“Empty,” you mutter, “Huh. I guess-”

“Miho!” Zakuro screams, running to join you, “We've got to go, we've got to go NOW!” She doesn't even wait to see if you heard her, sprinting right past you and off down a narrow side street. Her glowing body starts to disappear into the labyrinth, and you chase after her with a curse. She's fast, but soon you're catching up with her.

“Calm down!” you snap, “I got it, it's dead! Not even that tough, although-”

“She knows where we are now!” Zakuro wails, “She's going to-”

And this time, you do grab her – albeit more out of instinct than anything else. She's ice cold to the touch, but that's all you feel. No sense of the life being drained out of you, no uncanny emptiness. Just cold, clammy flesh. “The queen isn't going to do anything,” you tell her firmly, “If that thing had our scent, it might have followed us. It might have called for more soldiers. Leaving it alive was a risk that we couldn't afford to take. Do you understand me?”

“I...” Zakuro begins, then gasps and looks away from you. “You reminded me of someone, just then,” she mumbles, “She was a fighter, just like you. She... I don't know, I wish I could remember...”

“Yeah, I know how you feel,” you agree quietly, “My memory isn't worth much either. Let's just get a move on – are we close?”

“We are... I think,” the otherworldly girl closes her eyes and draws in a shuddery breath, “Yes, we have to be close now. I don't hear any more of them, do you? Okay Keiko... let's go.”

“Huh?” you blurt out as Zakuro hurries away, “You called me “Keiko” there. Was she... Hey!” Abandoning your attempts at questioning her, you just focus on keeping up with the flighty girl. Now that she's getting close, it seems that she's unwilling to waste even a single moment more.

-

When you catch up to Zakuro, you find her sitting hunched up and holding herself tightly. Her head hangs limply, and she offers no hint of noticing your arrival. You reach out to touch her shoulder, and then you see something lying nearby. Scattered in the corner of this dismal alleyway, left to the ravishes of time, you see a collection of bleached bones.

“Zakuro...” you murmur, “Whose bones are-”

“I remember so much now,” the girl whispers, “These are MY bones.”

[2/3]

>>1527883
and now I grant you my powers
>received the Zakuro dressphere

>>1527883
Well, she sure had a ghostly complexion.

>>1527883
so does this mean we're not going to get to bring her back out of the Umbra?

>>1527883
Ok, so there is some microbial activity to degrade organic material. This means there's some life-support here! (Focus on the bright side, Miho!)

>>1527922
We should still see what happens if we take the ghost through the portal. If it's possible we should get her spirit out of Umbra.

>>1527923
>Implying they weren't gnawed clean by Intruders.

>>1527883

Truth be told, the idea had crossed your mind. You had pushed the thoughts away whenever they started to creep in, unwilling to face them, but now there is no denying it.

“I was taken here,” Zakuro explains slowly, her voice hollow and hushed, “That was no lie. I managed to get away – that was no lie either. I escaped, but all I could do was wander this place, running and hiding from the soldiers that came looking for me. There was no way out of this abyss, no food or water, no hope of rescue. I don't know how long it took, but eventually I collapsed here, and I just... let myself slip away.” Without looking up, she lets out a long sigh. “But that wasn't the end,” she breathes, “The queen had... a need for me.”

“A need?” you whisper, “Zakuro, you don't-”

“She's been feeding on me,” shuddering heavily, Zakuro hunches herself a little lower, “Draining me dry, taking what the gods put in me... and she'll do the same to you. All we've done is buy ourselves a little time... and give her an extra victim.”

“To hell with that,” you snap, forcing yourself to rise above the bleak fog filling your mind, “I'm not a victim, and I'm sure as hell not anyone's meal. We're going to march up to that palace, and we're going to “beseech” that queen until she lets us go!”

“You don't get it, do you?” Zakuro rises suddenly, turning and glaring at you with sharp eyes, “I can't ever leave this place! I'm a part of it now, just like her soldiers! I can't-” But cutting herself off here, she narrows her eyes in thought. “Or maybe there IS a way,” she murmurs, “But I need to think. I need to... think...”

“...Okay,” you reply slowly, “I'll welcome any suggestions. Our next step is heading for the palace, right?”

“That's right,” she nods firmly, “The queen. This all ends, one way or another, with her.”

>Let's get moving, then
>You said a name before – Keiko. Was she your friend?
>Do you remember anything more now, about how you got here?
>I wanted to ask you something... (Write in)
>Other

>>1527972
>>You said a name before – Keiko. Was she your friend?
>>Do you remember anything more now, about how you got here?
Be our stand, Zakuro.

>>1527972
>>You said a name before – Keiko. Was she your friend?

>>1527972
>>Let's get moving, then
>>You said a name before – Keiko. Was she your friend?

>>1527972
>>Let's get moving, then
>>You said a name before – Keiko. Was she your friend?
So we burn the queen to ashes, yes?

>>1527976
No. We Shaman King Nao.

>>1527972
>You said a name before – Keiko. Was she your friend?
>>Do you remember anything more now, about how you got here?

>>1527972
>You said a name before – Keiko. Was she your friend?
>Do you remember anything more now, about how you got here?
>fashion something to carry her bones with us

“Let's get moving then,” you decide, still feeling vaguely uneasy about this whole situation, “Oh, wait, there's something I wanted to do first. Do you think we can spare a few moments?”

“Yes,” Zakuro says as she brushes past you, “We should be quick, but a few moments more won't mater, not after the... time I've spent here.”

As Zakuro watches and waits, you pull off your uniform blazer and fumble with it for a few moments, tying the sleeves this way and that until you've made a crude sack. When she sees you placing the bones in the pack, Zakuro's eyes widen a little. “Don't give me that look,” you scold her lightly, “I'm doing to make sure these are treated respectfully. Give you a proper cremation, scatter your ashes properly. It's, uh... I mean, it's only fair, right?”

“I... yes, I suppose so,” the girl bites her lip for a moment, before shaking her head and forcing a frown, “But don't burden yourself down with them. You'll need to fight, remember. Now then, let's keep moving.”

Giving orders all of a sudden... Recovering her memories seems to have banished the frightened girl you met before, leaving something colder and harder behind in Zakuro's place. Even her voice has changed, growing firmer and more assertive. All of a sudden, you don't feel like the leader of your little duo.

It's strange. Back in the real world, you've never felt entirely comfortable as a leader. The way Zakuro was immediately willing to take charge, though, leaves you even less comfortable. Perhaps that's why you ask her your next question, to try and restore a little of her old warmth. “You said a name before,” you begin, “You said “Keiko” - was she your friend? The fighter?”

“Yes, she was,” Zakuro pauses, turning back and rewarding you with a faintly nostalgic smile, “She was like you in a lot of ways. She was brave, she liked to fight... and she was a Heavenly Child. Even if I couldn't fight, we made a good team regardless. I could keep the weaker Intruders sedate, while she could destroy the larger ones. Perhaps it wasn't the most efficient system in the world, but it worked for us.”

“Another Heavenly Child, huh?” you muse, “I wish I could speak with her. Share our notes on a few things...”

“I think she enjoyed it, having so much responsibility on her shoulders. She rose to any challenge she faced,” Zakuro sighs wistfully, “Although she could be cruel, at times. She believed that she had a duty to punish the Intruders, not just defeat them.”

“We take our duty very seriously,” you agree with a solemn nod, “I suppose that's why we were chosen by Duty himself.”

“But...” Zakuro begins, before shaking her head, “Never mind. We're lagging too much, let's not dawdle.”

[1/2]

>>1528028

“Hey, you said that you remember more now,” you mention as Zakuro leads you around another sharp corner, “What about how you came to be here, do you remember any more about that?”

“Plenty more. We were led to this portal, Keiko and I. There were already innocents inside. The queen doesn't need to feed often, but she's merciless when she strikes – quick and cunning, snaring people with almost no warning. Most Intruders show more early signs, at least they did in my day,” Zakuro holds up a hand to stop you, reaching down to tap the ground. As she rises back to her full height, she seems to pull something up and out of the ground itself – a long metal staff, tipped with several flickering candles.

“Your weapon?” you ask.

“It's NOT a weapon,” she corrects you, “But it allows me to focus my powers. With luck, I should be able to calm some of the guards. Anyway, where was I?”

“You hit the portal,” you remind her, “There were innocents.”

“That's right, yes,” nodding, Zakuro thinks for a moment, “The situation was looking bleak. Every time that Keiko came close to rescuing one of the innocents, more of the queen's fingers would drag her back. Soon, there were no innocents left, and it was just me and Keiko left. We both knew, then, that only one of us was getting out alive. Keiko was the Heavenly Child – she had the important destiny, the potential for greatness... so I was the one to stay behind and hold them off.”

“You sacrificed yourself for her,” you murmur, “That's very noble.”

“Yes, yes it was,” Zakuro agrees slowly, a dark note of implication rising in her voice, “And Keiko certainly had a way of making me see it that way.” Stopping in her tracks, Zakuro clenches her eyes shut for a moment. When she opens them again and speaks, her voice is clear and careless. “I suppose it all turned out for the best,” she says, “I don't suppose HE ever mentioned her, did he? I wonder if Keiko lived up to that great destiny of hers...”

“Kurosawa? No, he doesn't talk about... much, if he can get away with it,” you admit, “If we get out of... if we find away to contact him here, I'll ask him for you. I bet she did you proud, though.”

“I wonder,” Zakuro muses, looking up into the flickering candle flame that tops her staff.

>I'm going to have to pause here, I'm coming up blank. I'll continue this tomorrow, and if anyone has any questions or comments, I'll answer them as best I can
>Thanks to everyone who contributed today!

>>1528059
Thanks for running, Moloch!

Say, do the Gods know they have to choose another person if their chosen gets lost in the Umbra? Like, is Kurosawa searching for another girl to choose to be the Heavenly Child right now?

>>1528059
Thanks for running.

Hopefully getting her bones or her spirit out of Umbra does something. No one should have to stay here.

>>1528059
Zakuro is soooooo betraying us. I'm calling it.
She will try to sell us to the queen in exchange for passage back, or even for being turned into an Intruder.

>>1528073
Worse, we're going to find out a Tyrant is what happens when a demon either full consumes a Magical girl or gets taken over by one.

>>1528059
Thanks for running Moloch.

>>1528073
Zakuro a good girl, would never betray us!

>>1528064

>Say, do the Gods know they have to choose another person if their chosen gets lost in the Umbra?
No. Kurosawa or any of the other gods have no way of looking into a sealed system like this. So, they have no way to know if Miho and Zakuro are alive or dead. Zakuro, though, is assumed dead since she's been missing for so long. Miho is still presumed to be alive – for now.
>Like, is Kurosawa searching for another girl to choose to be the Heavenly Child right now?
Kurosawa IS searching for a replacement Knight Hospitalier, although his search is a futile one. He isn't searching for a replacement Heavenly Child yet, but he would probably start to search in time.

The search for a replacement Knight Hospitalier is futile because there can only be one of each candidate alive and active at any time. Zakuro is technically still alive, on a spiritual level, so a new Knight cannot appear until the current situation changes.

>>1528117
>the current situation changes
So we have to kill Zakuro. Got it.

>>1528117
Has Zakuro asked how we ended up here?
Does she know the certain something that is needed for a Tyrant to exist?
How is Ayane taking us getting swallowed by the umbra in front of her?

>>1528122
Or just get her out of the 'sealed system'. Might have the same result of her 'dying', like her spirit going to wherever they do in this setting.

>>1528126

We explained in pretty vague detail about how we got here. I was planning on expanding on that a little, however. Something for the next post.
Zakuro knows quite a lot about a lot of things!
Ayane is taking things... poorly. I don't want to say too much more than that now, but she's running pretty low on happy thoughts right now.

Was wondering, how many classes of magical girls there are? One for each god?

Small delay, should have things up and running in ten minutes or so.

>>1530442

One for each god, yes, so there's eighteen in total.

“Look at them,” Zakuro murmurs, leaning heavily on her metal staff and glancing across the undulating waves of shadow that have gathered at the palace. Countless phantoms, their number dwarfing even the mob you encountered at the statue, form a wall between you and the palace gates. Their chorus of murmuring is loud here, even if the individual voices are weak and powerless.

“I'm looking,” you agree, leaning on the broken wall to get a better look, “And I don't like what I'm looking at.”

“They come here to worship their god-queen,” a note of disdain enters Zakuro's voice as she regards the crowd, “And why not? She made them, after all. Sculpted them out of the raw clay that gathers at the lowest points of the Umbra, and fed them on... well, I don't quite know what. There are a lot of things that I don't know.”

“I guess so,” frowning, you turn to glance at the girl. She definitely seems older now, since recovering her memories, and a hard edge of cynicism keeps showing through – like lifting the corner of a blanket to reveal a razor blade. When you mention as much, she laughs humourlessly.

“I suppose it's easy to lose one's wide-eyed wonder when one remembers exactly how long they've spent here,” Zakuro glances around at you, then points up at the cavern ceiling with an ironic smile, “There's nothing new under the sun, after all.”

“It's weird, y'know, I don't actually remember arriving here,” you remark, “I was being dragged down, then... I guess I passed out. I woke up here, but I can't quite figure out how I got here. It's like...”

“Like entering the Umbra,” the ghost finishes for you, “That's right. My theory is, this place is a sort of sub-division of the Umbra. Like a basement built beneath a house. A sub-basement built beneath a basement, to be more precise. Of course, that's just a theory.” Finally, Zakuro turns away from the mob of phantoms, leaning back against the wall in thought. “You mentioned being brought here,” she begins, with a deliberately casual tone, “But I'm a little unclear on the details.”

“I'm a little unclear on them as well,” you admit, “Things got pretty rushed. It was similar to what happened with you – there were innocents involved, and we didn't have time to think things though. We went in and, uh...” Clearing your throat, you kick at the loose pebbles beneath your feet. “Well, it didn't all go to plan. I bought enough time for my friend to get the innocents out, but I got dragged down here before I could get out,” you shrug, “The portal closed before I could get out. It was unstable, y'know?”

“An unstable portal? That's interesting,” Zakuro murmurs to herself, “Maybe I was wrong, maybe there ARE some new things out there...”

[1/2]

>>1530749


“Y'know, Zakuro, you're kinda creeping me out,” you admit, “I mean, we ARE on the same side, right?”

“What? Oh, I...” pausing, Zakuro winces a little, “I'm sorry. I'm just having a little trouble adjusting to all this. Everything seems different now, and it's been so long since I've had anyone to talk to. I suppose I've been abominable to you, and you've only ever been a great help to me. I'm so sorry, Miho, I really do regret if I've made you uncomfortable.” Turning back to you, Zakuro looks you in the eye – and there, you see the old Zakuro, uncertain and fearful. “I have a plan,” she adds, “You just need to trust me for a little longer. We trust each other, don't we? You're good at punching, after all, and I'm good at... planning.”

No matter how you interpret that, it always sounds at least a little bit sinister. Nevertheless, you find yourself nodding. “Our first problem,” you say, nodding to the place gates and the wall of phantoms that surround them, “How are you going to plan your way around those?”

“Actually,” Zakuro considers, touching a finger to her lips, “I thought we might go in through the front door.”

-

You've got to admit, the sheer audaciousness of her plan has a certain mad appeal to it. Simply put, her plan is to wait for the palace gates to open for the guards to change, and then... just walk right in. With Zakuro's abilities to pacify Intruders, you should hopefully be able to make it in without any trouble. There's just one problem. “So, uh, how do you know that they WILL change the guards?” you ask, “I mean, they're not human. It's not like they need to go in and take a nap.”

“The queen likes to see things marching to her command. This sort of ritual and formality is exactly what she thrives on,” Zakuro explains, nodding to the mass of phantoms, “Worship and obedience, you see? I've had a long time to learn these things, to get used to her whims. Trust me, Miho, those gates will open.”

“And then we just walk right in,” you finish, “Well... I don't see any other entrance.”

“Once we're inside, however, we might not be able to get out again. This is a gamble, our last throw of the dice,” pausing, Zakuro studies the candles atop her staff for a moment, “But, on the other hand, we can take our time. If there's anything you wanted to do first...”

>I'm good, let's wait and see what happens
>How do you know so much about this stuff, anyway?
>What would happen to this place if the queen was destroyed?
>There IS something I need to do... (Write in)
>Other

>>1530750
>>How do you know so much about this stuff, anyway?

>>1530750
>I'm good, let's wait and see what happens
>What would happen to this place if the queen was destroyed?

>>1530750
>>What would happen to this place if the queen was destroyed?
Like, are the other phantoms of only spiritually alive people really gonna die with this place or are they going to be released into the greater Umbra to be eaten again?

“Hey, how do you know so much about this stuff, anyway?” you ask, “I mean, it's like you know how the queen thinks, that's... weird. Intruders don't really think like that, like people do.”

“I suppose it must seem that way, to someone like you,” Zakuro pauses for a moment, searching for the right words, “The queen and I, we are undeniably linked. My existence, for want of a better term, is only possible because of her. When my body died, she ensnared my spirit here – so that she could feed off me. That link, however, has a certain degree of reciprocity. I know certain things because SHE knows these things. The real challenge is putting them in terms that a human might be able to understand.”

“I think I understand,” you reply slowly, “Does the queen know about this link?”

“I'm really not certain about this,” she shakes her head slowly, “But I don't think so. To acknowledge it would mean acknowledging a weakness, a failure. Such a thing would be unimaginable to the queen. Don't worry, Miho, she doesn't know what I'm planning.”

And neither, you think to yourself, do you. “What would happen to this place if the queen was destroyed?” you ask after a moment, “I mean, if our negotiations turn nasty and things get out of hand...”

“The queen is what holds this entire place together,” Zakuro answers, “If she dies, this place would collapse – it would be destroyed. You would either be thrown back into the real world, or back into the higher levels of the Umbra. Your employer would be able to recover you there, I believe. I, on the other hand...” Glancing around, Zakuro gives you a carefree smile. “I would cease to exist,” she finishes, “It is as simple as that.”

“You'd die?” you murmur.

“I would cease to exist,” she corrects you, giving the makeshift bag of bones a meaningful look, “I died a long time ago. Don't frown like that, Miho, I've made my peace with it. I would prefer to return to the real world along with you, of course, but that's simply not an option. Of course, this is all dependent on destroying the queen. Perhaps, with enough begging and pleading, she could be persuaded to release you.”

“But you'd still be stranded here,” you point out, “Being slowly drained of all your power...”

“Maybe,” Zakuro counters, with a mysterious smile, “Maybe not. I've still got a few tricks up my sleeve yet. It's not something you need to worry about, not until we're inside the palace at least. Hmm... speaking of that, I don't think we'll have much longer to wait.”

“Wait, what about those phantoms?” you ask quickly, “If we destroy the queen, we're not going to let them all spill out into the rest of the Umbra, are we?”

“That IS a risk,” Zakuro admits after a moment, “It's possible that they would gather into a single entity. How dangerous that might be, though... I'm not quite sure. Not yet.”

[1/2]

>>1530780

“Man, that sounds pretty bad. Escaping from this place, only to have some Intruder following me-” you begin, before the sound of grinding stone cuts you off. “That must be the gate!” you whisper to Zakuro, grabbing her icy arm, “This is it!”

“When the gate is fully open, we'll make our move,” Zakuro agrees, “Be ready.”

Nodding, you watch as the great door at the front of the palace begins to slowly grind outwards. Flanking it, the stone samurai snap to attention and raise their scarred blades in a proud salute. By your side, you sense Zakuro concentrating hard as she prepares her powers. Then, she hesitates and looks around at you. “We're in no hurry, so no sudden movements,” she warns, “We don't want to do anything that might provoke the guards. Just take it slow and steady, okay?”

“Slow and steady,” you repeat as you tuck the bones under your arm and rise to your full height, “Easy for you to say...”

-

Approaching the palace gate, with the black ranks of phantoms parting silently before you, this almost feels like a funeral procession. The sack of bones held under one arm certainly helps with that impression, and Zakuro, in her vaguely clerical robes, makes it perfect. Slowly and steadily, just as you agreed, you approach the open gate. The phantoms offer no resistance, but the pair of newly arrived guards are a different story. Stone grinds as they turn and raise their blades, but then they hesitate. Zakuro furrows her brow in concentration and you hold your breath, waiting to see what will happen.

Just when you're about to drop the bones and go loud, the samurai slowly lift their blades in a salute, making no attempt to bar your passage as you step cautiously through the gate. A few moments later the great pair of doors rumble again as they close behind you.

There's no turning back now. Well, unless you punch the gates down, that is.

-

The inside of the palace is a hideous thing, like the set from some old samurai movie that had been covered in blood and massively oversized entrails. Immediately in front of you is a large staircase, with a balcony running around the upper level. Both are covered in fat, pulsing tentacles, while a constant drip of some ghastly fluid echoes out from deeper within. The smell is easily as bad, just similar enough to blood to turn your stomach. Even Zakuro falters for a moment, her lips parting in a soft gasp as she takes in the sight.

“Well,” she murmurs, recovering her senses, “I'm glad I didn't have much of an appetite. Less to lose, this way...”

“Those tentacles are coming from above,” you manage, “Is that...”

“Where the queen is?” Zakuro finishes, “Of course.”

“Of course,” you repeat, rather bitterly.

[2/3]

>>1530803

More than once, as you pass through the empty halls and corridors of the palace, you step in thick puddles of slime and filth, sickeningly warm and clinging. Gagging at the stench of rot and decay – it seems to get worse the higher up you get – you nevertheless follow as Zakuro leads you further in. At no point does she ever stop and think, searching for the right path – she takes each corner with absolute certainty, as if she knew the palace better than the palm of her own hand. Even when you call her name, she offers no reaction or even a sign that she heard you. Lost in her own little world, she hastens onwards.

All you can do is follow her, avoiding the rivulets of filth as best you can.

-

“Okay, wait, okay,” you plead as you finally stop in a large hall. That last flight of stairs left you out of breath, and you're getting pretty sick of tripping over lurking tendrils. This hall seems to be your final destination, anyway, with nothing to see but a heavy door sealing the path ahead. It rivals the outer gate in size and strength, with no clue as to how it opens. No handles, no obvious mechanisms, nothing.

“The queen is behind this,” Zakuro announces, with absolute certainty.

“Sure, that's great,” you agree, approaching the door and pressing against its unyielding weight, “But we're not getting through without a battering ram. I don't even think I can... wait.” Frowning, you press an ear against the door and listen. Behind it, you can hear something moving. Maybe there is a mechanism, or something like that. A steady, rhythmic thumping, almost like...

Almost like footsteps.

Instinct sends you leaping back, and a split second later the door explodes outwards in a flurry of shattered stone. Charging through it, shaking the ground beneath you with every step, a giant Intruder slams a massive metal club down upon where you stood a moment ago. The blow leaves a spiderweb of cracks spreading out across the floor, and soon the giant is readying for a fresh attack. It's fast, for something so massive and heavy.

Headless, just like the other soldiers, the giant samurai nevertheless tracks your movements. Thin tentacles worm out through the various joints of its armour, waving and tasting the air. The club it carries looks ancient, flakes of rust and corrosion falling free from it. A good hit, maybe...

“A bodyguard, huh?” you snarl, “I knew this seemed too easy...”

>Get in close and focus on hitting the legs
>Keep your distance and try to break the club
>Attempt to scale the brute, hitting the fleshy parts
>Other

>>1530823
>>Attempt to scale the brute, hitting the fleshy parts

>>1530823
>>Keep your distance and try to break the club
Aim for the hilt of the club where it's weakest so the rest of the club breaks off and the samurai only has the hilt.

Then pick up the rest of the club and smash break it over the samurai's 'head'.

>>1530823
>You only need to crush the fleshy bits. Pin the club into the floor or wall, giving an opening to climb the brute.
save the flames for the queen

>>1530835
I don't think we actually run out of flames or thunderclaps and all that.

No real reason to save them if they can make a difference here.

>>1530823
I dont think we should climb it, hard to defend with all those tentacles.
>Keep your distance and see if you can hit the club.
Also, should check on zakaro.

>>1530823
Speaking of flame if we manage to get a gauntlet in a joint of the armor, napalm the fucker from the inside out.

>>1530844
I'm paranoid that the queen will prepare a countermeasure.

Although Zakuro was saying stuff about not recognizing weaknesses...

>>1530823
>>Keep your distance and try to break the club

>>1530856
I get you. We'll probably have to cauterize her tentacles so they don't grow back.

That said I don't think she'll have time to prepare anything since she is right after this and Zakaro has most of her subjects locked down.

You can only assume that Zakuro has backed off or found some place of safety, and looking around to check isn't much of an option. Your attention is fixed on the brute, watching and waiting for your opening. The stone armour is just that – armour. The real Intruder is within, the meaty part of it, this fight won't be over until you can destroy that. Of course, the giant won't make that easy on you.

The giant swings a heavy blow at you with its club, and you drop low. Even so, the force of the blow slashing overhead plucks at your clothes like a gale, sending up a cloud of dust and flaking metal. Coughing at the sudden mist, you're almost too slow in dodging the next blow – a downwards strike that aimed to crush you flat. Still ducked low, you sprint forwards and feel another rush of displaced air tugging at you, twisting around to launch your counter attack as soon as it's safe. While the club is still lowered, you draw back your fist and slam a blow into the rusting weapon, low down at the grip. A tremendous crack runs through both you and the club, and when the giant lifts his weapon once more, it collapses apart.

If only it had a face. You would pay good money to see the expression on the brute's face as it holds up that useless stub of a weapon and hesitates. Throwing the remains of the weapon away, the giant slams its stone fists together like a prizefighter and shifts into a lower stance. Grinning savagely to yourself, you raise your own gauntlets in response. A stalemate.

“Hey, Zakuro!” you call, not taking your eyes from the Intruder, “You okay back there?”

“I'm quite fine,” she replies calmly, “You're doing well, Miho. Just watch out, be ready for anything.”

“You bet I'm ready!” you assure her. Before you can say anything more, the brute lunges forwards with both fists ready. Its first attack slams straight down and forces you to jink sideways, while its other fist sweeps across to meet you. Crossing your arms, you dig in your heels and block the sweeping strike. Thundering against your defence, a great crack runs down the brute's stone fist, loose gravel spilling out as it recoils. Pivoting on your heel, you turn and drive a powerful punch into the brute's other hand, throwing all your weight into the blow. With the hand knocked out beneath it the brute is send tumbling to the ground, and it's only a hasty leap backwards that keeps it from crushing you under its bulk.

[1/2]

>Sorry for the delay, I got some family stuff dumped on me. Next post might be a little delayed as well.

>>1530823
>Attempt to scale the brute, hitting the fleshy parts
Well, if it worked on the last soldier...

Also, it's not just me who thinks that the queen also can see though Zakuro's eyes, right? And she'll be able to drain Zakuro for a second form?

>>1530878
No worries, we'll be here.

>>1530881
I'm reasonably sure Zakuro IS the queen.

>>1530928
N-nonsense anon! We have to rescue her and then magic will happen and her bones will regenerate once we leave this place and we'll be partners forever!

>>1530928
That's what I was worrying about too.

>>1530878

“Miho, watch out!” Zakuro calls from behind you, “It's coming!”

Her warning comes a second before the awful sound of tearing meat drowns out anything else she might have said. A single fat tendril bursts from the armour's hollow neck, while several more rupture through the broken gauntlets. Lunging forwards and forcing you to jump back again, the fallen brute drags itself across the stone floor, its entire bottom half tearing free and languishing behind it. Although you only catch a fleeting glimpse of it, you see more of those loathsome tentacles writhing free of the abandoned legs. Falling to the ground, they slither away like snakes and leave bloody trails in their wake. Some vanish back through the shattered doorways, while others... you don't see where they go.

Not until one tangles around your legs and sends you falling to the ground, your ankles bound tightly together. Cursing, you roll to the side as the main tentacle slams down into the stone floor, spraying a thin mist of bloody slime all over you. “To hell with you!” you snarl, levelling one gauntlet at the base of the brute's neck, “Inferno Knuckles, go!”

Flames spray out of your gauntlet as you unleash the attack in a boiling torrent, lapping hungrily at the flesh they cling to. Fleeing from the flames, the tentacle pulls back and shrinks into the armoured shell once more. Wasting no time at all, you reach down – with the gauntlet currently NOT shooting fire – and tear the smaller tendril away from your ankles. Once the greasy, meaty appendage has been crushed and thrown aside, there's nothing keeping you from leaping up at the armour, pushing your arm inside the neck and trigger another torrent of fire. Heat washes back over you as the flames spill out, flowing through the armour and incinerating anything that they touch.

When you finally pull back, there is nothing left of the Intruder but a sooty coating on the inside of the armour and a few bloody trails, marks from where some of the lesser tentacles fled. Nodding in satisfaction, you rise to your feet and glance back to Zakuro. “Job done,” you announce, “Sorry for keeping you waiting.”

“That's quite alright,” Zakuro replies, “It's the queen next, though.”

“Yeah,” you agree slowly, “Gotta admit, I was almost expecting her to have shown herself by now. Rushing out to attack us, you know? Maybe she really IS willing to talk...”

“Maybe she is,” the ghostly girl muses slowly, “But that likely depends on what you do. Miho – will you allow me to speak with her? I think I can... get through to her. If this doesn't work, by all means destroy her.”

Destroy both of them, you think to yourself.

>Alright Zakuro, I'll let you try this
>She's an Intruder, we're not talking with her!
>Other

>>1530973
>>Alright Zakuro, I'll let you try this
RIP Zakuro, I'm ready for it.

>>1530973
>Alright Zakuro, I'll let you try this

>>1530973
>Other
"Zakuro I CAN'T let her take anymore victims. I need to put a stop to this while I am here. If you can somehow guarantee that I'll do it your way. But if you can't I'll have to take matters into my own hands."

>>1530973
>>She's an Intruder, we're not talking with her!

>>1530973

>Alright Zakuro, I'll let you try this

>>1530973
>>Alright Zakuro, I'll let you try this
Well, if she can get the queen to disintegrate back into the substrate of the Umbra, that's fine with me.

(Also, if Zakuro just gets eaten, Miho doesn't have to face a freshly healed and more powerful boss fight after beating down the queen!)

“Alright Zakuro,” you murmur, “I'll I'll let you try this. I don't know if it'll work, but... you seem to know what you're doing, and I guess I trust you. But there's one condition – I cannot let the queen take any more victims. No matter what else happens, she cannot be allowed to continue this. If you can guarantee that, we'll do it your way. If not, I'll have to settle this in my own way. Do you understand what I'm saying?”

“I understand,” Zakuro nods, “And I accept your conditions. I cannot promise success, but all I ask is that you let me speak with her. This is something that I need to do. If my attempts fail... I would WANT you to destroy her.”

“Thanks,” you breathe, “I know it's harsh, but...”

“Thank YOU, Miho,” Zakuro insists, “I owe you a great deal. I don't know how much this might mean to you, but... I won't forget this. No matter what happens, I won't forget this.”

“I'm glad to hear that,” you agree, before frowning, “Wait... what's going to happen?”

“We'll have to wait and see, won't we?” Zakuro laughs softly, shaking her head before giving you a serious look. “Oh, there was something I wanted to ask you,” she adds, “And we might not get another chance to speak like this. Do you mind if I ask you something... personal? You mentioned before, about how you came to be here. You put yourself in danger to buy your friend enough time to escape. Even knowing what you are, the weighty destiny you have on your shoulders, you risked your life for hers... why?”

“Why?” you repeat, “I don't...”

“It doesn't matter,” shaking her head quickly, Zakuro glances back to the entrance, “But now we must hurry. I fear that the queen has summoned her guards – we don't have long left. Follow me, please, but remember-”

“I'll let you talk,” you assure her, “Don't worry about that.”

-

The queen's chamber is dark, and the blood-scented air feels humid. Zakuro raps her staff on the stone floor and causes the candles to flare brighter. In the newfound light, you see new details – fat tentacles that spread out from some central point, burrowing through the stone to reach throughout the palace. Where all the tentacles gather, a great flower of flesh has blossomed, nauseating petals folding back to reveal the queen herself – a pink, wet thing, childish and stunted.

Without a trace of fear or revulsion, Zakuro strides across the room and stands before the grotesque flower. She only says four words then, murmuring them to herself. Those four words...

“I've finally found you.”

And then, with a sudden violence, she lashes out and buries the blunt tip of her staff in the queen's heart. A cry of alarm and confusion is ripped from your lips as Zakuro's blow strikes home, the petals folding in around both the queen and her attacker. By the time you've shaken off your horror, Zakuro has been engulfed.

Without the light of her candles, darkness blankets the room.

[1/2]

>>1531032
And here we go.

Get those Inferno Knuckles ready

>>1531032
Well then. There goes the pacifist. Time to pacifist in Miho's style now.

>>1531032

It takes a moment for your eyes to adjust to the new gloom, but they do so just in time to see the petals of that loathsome flower peeling back once again. The figure curled up inside the flower, seated upon it as though it was a throne, is not the queen that Zakuro stabbed. Although red and glistening, skinless and wet, the figure is unmistakably that of a more mature woman. The pulsating tendril that trails from the creature's navel into the flower itself, though, has the sickeningly familiar appearance of an umbilical cord.

Then the new queen opens her eyes, her gaze slowly panning across the room before locking upon you. Those eyes, that pale colour... they are unmistakably Zakuro's eyes.

“All according to my plan...” the Zakuro thing purrs, “Synthesis. Unity. We are one. It is as SHE wished, but not as she expected.”

“No...” you murmur, taking a slow step back, “I don't understand...”

“The queen and I... our link worked both ways. She wished to consume me, to absorb my spirit and my strength... but I consumed HER instead,” the skinless face parts in a grin, “Synthesis. The unity of a magical girl and an Intruder – which makes me... a very special kind of Tyrant, I suppose.”

>I don't care what you are. You're a monster, and you need to die
>If you have the queen's power, can you let me escape from this place?
>You're a... a Tyrant, what you do mean? And what do you WANT?
>You planned for all of this?
>I have so many questions right now... (Write in)
>Other

>>1531163

>You're a... a Tyrant, what you do mean? And what do you WANT?

>Can you use your Tyrant powers for good instead of evil?

>>1531163
>>You're a... a Tyrant, what you do mean? And what do you WANT?

>>1531163
>Other
"Why do this? Vengeance? Desperation to survive? What?"

"My ultimatum still stands Zakuro. Unless I have a guarantee you won't repeat the same things your other half did you know what I have to do."

>>1531163
>>You're a... a Tyrant, what you do mean? And what do you WANT?
>>You planned for all of this?

>>1531163
>>You're a... a Tyrant, what you do mean? And what do you WANT?
Sure would be nice to have a friendly Tyrant that didn't eat people.

“You're a Tyrant?” you mutter, raising your fists in an uncertain gesture of defiance, “What do you mean? Do I... I mean, I have to destroy you... don't I?”

“Really? Why?” Zakuro widens her eyes, their whites seeming very bright against the bloody tapestry of her face, “Tell me, Miho – do you know what a Tyrant is? What it really is?”

“An old and powerful Intruder...” you begin, before a thought takes shape in your mind, “An Intruder who has consumed one of us, a magical girl like me. That's what really separates a Tyrant from any other Intruder, isn't it?”

“Exactly!” Zakuro claps her hands in delight, the sound of wet meat slapping together causing your stomach to lurch, “Age and power are a minor factor, and any Intruder with enough of them can shape its territory like this, creating a sealed system. What really separates a Tyrant from anything else... is a little bit of stolen divinity. Not much, perhaps a single grain of sand taken from a vast beach, but that's all it takes. The result? The ability to think, to truly think – free will.”

“Then you can choose what you want to do?” you ask, “You... Can you use your powers for good, rather than evil?”

“I suppose I could,” the Zakuro thing considers, as if the idea is a novel one, “I can do whatever I like with this place. It all depends on what I WANT to do.”

“And what do you want to do?” you press, “Are you going to continue taking victims like the old queen? My ultimatum still stands – if you just repeat the old queen's actions, you know what I'll have to do.”

“Taking new victims? I don't think so. I really don't see the point in it,” leaning back in her fleshy throne, Zakuro taps a finger against her skinless lips, “No, Miho, I remember our deal – I said that I would, didn't I? No matter what happened, I wouldn't forget everything that you did for me. Our deal stands – I will take no prey.”

“That's... that's a good start,” you decide with a faltering nod, “So what do you want to do?”

“What I want to do, what I really want, is to rest. A bit of peace and quiet, that's all I want right now. After that... I think I might study this place, the Umbra and its workings. I've learned so much already, but I suspect that there are enough secrets to last me a lifetime of lifetimes,” again, the Tyrant gives you a sickly smile, “But I knew that I could not learn them, not as I once was... as a human.”

“So you planned this?” you breathe, “All of this?”

[1/2]

>>1531251
So, does this mean there's a new Knight Hospitaller candidate back on Earth, now? Otherwise, I don't see how there can be many magical girls left...

Also... That last Tyrant class Intruder we fought... who was she, when she was human?

>>1531251
Well it's turning out better than expected so far. Wasn't too happy at the thought of soloing a Tyrant.

>>1531251
We need to somehow mark this place to find it again if the need arises to push Zakuro's shit in.

>>1531286

Zakuro, as a human, is now considered "dead", so a new KH can be created, yes. It may take a while for a candidate to be found, however. The last Tyrant that we fought served Spite, back when she was alive.

>>1531322
Oh boy time to kill our sister

>>1531251

“I planned a lot of things, Miho,” Zakuro signs, the smile falling from her face, “I had a lot of time to think, to consider my options. I didn't plan for this exact set of circumstances, but... I was able to piece a few things together.” Rising from her throne, Zakuro takes a few steps towards you, her umbilical cord trailing behind her. “IF another magical girl here, I might have been able to borrow some of her strength. IF I was able to borrow her strength, I might be able to reach the queen. IF I was able to reach the queen, with that strength, I might be able to... well, win.”

“And I guess you did,” you mutter, “If you call this winning...”

“Of course, there was one thing I didn't plan for,” Zakuro holds up a finger, “I didn't consider that my memories would fade away. If you hadn't helped me recover what I had lost... I suspect that we would have had no choice but to destroy the queen.”

“Maybe that would have been better,” you think aloud, “I don't... I don't understand this. Not really.”

“Well, I don't really blame you,” Zakuro shrugs, “You're still young. You haven't had the time to think about these things that I have.”

“Right...” shaking your head, you watch as Zakuro squelches back to her throne, “Look, Zakuro – or whatever you are – I'll make this simple. What the hell do we do now?”

“I will attend to my studies, and you will leave. I can allow that – I can send you to a higher level of the Umbra, where Duty can recover you. I ask only one thing,” Zakuro leans back, “Do not tell Duty about this. An Intruder captured you, but you were able to defeat it and escape. He cannot see into this space, he will have no way to know that you're lying. If I ever – EVER – take another victim, you have my permission to return here and destroy me.”

“I'll hold you to that,” you promise her, “But how can I find this place again?”

“Hmm, a good point. I wonder...” rising again, Zakuro lurches a few steps closer and, before you can leap back, touches a finger to your forehead. Rather than a chill, a rush of sickly warmth rushes through your body. “That probably felt revolting,” Zakuro apologises, “I'm sorry, but can you feel what I did?”

“You... gave me something,” you murmur to yourself, “Something that would lead me back here. What was it?”

“I wrote the [Umbral Coordinates] of this place into your mind,” Zakuro says, the not-word slipping easily into her sentence, “That's all. A trivial work, but it should be effective enough. This city will welcome you, Miho Tsukada, if you ever wish to return to it.”

>But I don't think I will be back. Goodbye, Zakuro – remember our deal
>I'm sorry, Zakuro, but I can't risk leaving you alive
>I had a few last questions for you... (Write in)
>Other

>>1531356
>Thank you and farewell, Zakuro
She seems nice. And now we get to be the one with a secret from Kurosawa instead of vice versa.

>>1531356
>>But I don't think I will be back. Goodbye, Zakuro – remember our deal
Everything went better than expected, time to go back to our friends and see how much time has passed.

>>1531356
>>I'm sorry, Zakuro, but I can't risk leaving you alive

>>1531356
I don't think Miho can agree to that deal. Miho will only have so long to live, and Intruders seem to be comparatively ageless. If Zakuro ever breaks her deal, who will punish her, once Miho's dead?

Though, nonetheless, yeah, let's get out of here and properly set human!Zakuro to rest.

>>1531356
>I might return, both to check up on you and to see if your research bears fruit. Who knows, you might find something that can help me in my fight. Remember our deal and keep your nose clean Zakuro cause who knows when I might swing by. See you later.

>>1531356

>>1531382
I like this.

“I might just do that sometime,” you tell Zakuro, “Although I never thought I'd want to. It might be nice to see you again, to see how your research is going on... and to make sure that you're keeping your nose out of trouble. So remember our deal, Zakuro, and we'll meet on good terms from here on.”

“That... might be nice,” Zakuro agrees slowly, “If my studies can ever assist you, Miho Tsukada, I would happily offer them. In return... well, you can give me a good funeral when you return to your world. I hope that isn't too inconvenient for you.”

Showing up with a bunch of bones, and trying to dispose of them discretely? That shouldn't be inconvenient at all... Shrugging, you give Zakuro a nod. “I'll do my best,” you tell her,as you trek back to the gate and recover the makeshift bag, “Thank you for everything, Zakuro, and maybe I'll see you again soon.”

“Maybe so,” the being agrees, gesturing for you to get closer, “Now let me touch you. I'll send you back to where you belong.”

“Oh man...” you mutter as you let Zakuro place her hand on your shoulder, “This is gonna suck, I just know it...”

“Oh yes, Miho, there something I wished to say to you. You may not wish to hear it, but I cannot, in good faith, leave it unsaid,” the Zakuro thing looks you in the eye, “The Heavenly Child... you were chosen by the Great Virtue of Duty, is that not what you were told?”

“That's right,” you whisper, a feeling of dread forming within you, “That's what he told me...”

“He lied,” Zakuro murmurs, a sympathetic light dawning in her eyes. You open your mouth in shock, but then the world folds in around you. It folds, twists, and your mind retreats into the safety of unconsciousness.

-

Slowly opening your aching eyes, you stare up at the milky sky of the Umbra. You don't recognise this place at all, but that isn't surprising. The Umbra doesn't have many landmarks, after all. Groaning softly, you sit up and clutch the bag of bones to your chest. Until Zakuro gave you that last dire warning, you had been feeling surprisingly optimistic – as if things were finally starting to go your way. Now, though...

You made a deal with the Zakuro thing, that you would destroy her if she strayed, but what about after you're gone? As an ageless being, she could easily play the long game, waiting until you're dead before returning to the old queen's habits and hungers. Perhaps all this has done is create a new kind of evil, with the power of a Tyrant and all the cunning of a human being. Was this really the right thing to do?

And how can you be sure that it really was Zakuro that you spoke with, and not just a Tyrant with her stolen memories? An imitation, a perfect imitation...

“Miho!” Kurosawa cries, his voice hitting your mind, “Miho, there you are! I'm pulling you out right away, prepare for an emergency evacuation!”

For the second time in a handful of minutes, your stomach lurches.

[1/2]

>>1531447
Zakuro fucking please. Way to drop a nuke on us all the sudden.

>>1531465
But which part did Kurosawa lie about?

Are we not the Heavenly Child? Is he not Duty? Were we not 'chosen' per say? All of the above?

>>1531471
Or it could be that Zakuro is mistaken? Maybe she just thinks or wants her Heavenly Child friend to be alive and around? I want to trust Kurosawa, I want to like him.

>>1531489
>Or it could be that Zakuro is mistaken?
I don't think so. And it's not like Kurosawa has ever been the most honest person.

>>1531447

Kurosawa is sitting on your chest when you wake up, finally back in the human world. When you stir, he hops away and slinks back to a safe distance. “Heavenly Child,” he announces gravely, “When I heard that you were taken-”

“Oh god...” you plead weakly, “Can this wait? Not now, Kurosawa, just... just give me a few hours. I can barely think straight.” Wincing against the band of pain pressing against your temples, you shut your eyes and groan softly. “If the world needs saving, get one of the others to do it,” you add, “I'd be no use at all.”

“Very well, I understand,” Kurosawa grudgingly concedes the point, “I am gladdened to see you alive, if not well. We will discuss this matter later. Goodbye... Miho.”

When you feel the air change, you know that you're alone. Sitting up, you pull out your phone and wince as you check the time. Twelve hours – you've lost twelve hours. Next, you scroll down the long list of messages and missed calls. Scores of them from your friends... and a single message from your mother. One single, bemusing message - “Your friend called us. I hope you're well, and I hope things settle down soon.”

Which is... something of an understated reaction, considering that you were missing for twelve hours. Did Ayane tell her, or was it Maika? As if responding to your queries, the phone chimes in your hand, Maika's name showing up on the screen. By instinct, you accept the call and press the phone to your ear, rasping out a greeting.

“Miho?” Maika blurts out, “I... forgive me, I hadn't actually been expecting you to answer. You... you're back.”

“I'm back,” you agree, “No big deal, just a short holiday in the Umbra. Hey, uh, did you call my mother? Someone did, and...”

“Oh, yes. I apologise if I overstepped any boundaries,” Maika pauses, “When Ayane gave me the news, I thought it best to make arrangements. I called your mother and told her that you were at mine, but a security risk had put the house on lockdown. You were fine, but you wouldn't be able to return home until the risk was settled. I hope that wasn't too much, but we weren't sure how long you would be gone for. A stalling tactic-”

“It's fine, Maika, it was better than just letting her worry,” you murmur, nodding slowly, “Quick thinking.”

“In either case, it would be best if we spoke in person,” Maika suggested, “Some interesting information came to light while you were away, but I'd rather not discuss it over the phone. Can you stay where you are for a little bit?”

“I... could, yes,” you reply in a confused voice, “Why, though?”

“Because I'm sending a car to your position now,” she answers, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, “And it might be harder to find you if you wander.”

“Oh,” you murmur to yourself, “Of course.”

[2/3]

>>1531513
Hate to turn on our buddy here, but it's not like Zakuro showed any base for her claim. Unless her Kurosawa told her friends that he was another god or told them something weird, then I can't think of any reason for her knowing that he was lying.

>>1531543

It feels strange, waiting for a car with a sack of human bones tucked neatly under one arm. If there is one small mercy, it's that Zakuro – in her time as a living human – must have been a small girl. She's pretty easy to carry, all things considered. Save for one moment where your grip slipped and you almost spilled the whole lot across the street, you make it to the car without incident.

A delightful smell greets you as you slip into the leather seat, the hearty smell of exquisitely made curry. Maika is waiting for you in the car, holding a small box of food. Her eyes widen a little at the sight of your burden – some of the cloth has slipped, revealing the end of what you think is a shin – but she says nothing.

“That curry is for me, right?” you ask, setting aside the bones and taking the food from Maika, “I'm eating it anyway. I'm starving...”

“Quite so,” Maika manages, still unable to look away from the bones, “It seems as though you've been through a lot.” With your mouth full, all you can do is nod and grunt to that, but it seems to get the message across. Smiling at last, Maika put a cool hand on your shoulder. “I'm so glad that you're okay,” she murmurs, “I feared that we'd be lost without you to hold us together, Miho.”

Swallowing your mouthful of curry, you nod and return her smile. Then, a moment later, you quite deliberately clear your throat. Maika, whose hand had been lingering on your shoulder, draws back as though scalded.

“Well, never mind that,” she says brusquely, “I'm glad that you're back, that's the important thing. That said... we have business matters to consider. I'll explain further when we get to a more secure location.”

“I can't wait...” you mutter. Then, unable to hold back, you set to work demolishing the last of the curry.

>I'm going to pause things here for today. I'll continue this tomorrow, and if anyone has any questions I'll do my best to answer them
>Thank you, and I apologise for the delays today!

>>1531598
Good thread, didn't expect how things turned out!

>>1531598
Thanks for running.

>>1531598
Thanks for running, Moloch! The plot's shaping up quite nicely!

So, was that last Tyrant Intruder the remains of the last Chosen of Spite? The one in the interludes?

>>1531598
Thanks for running!
How long until we find out that the destiny of a Heavenly Child is to sacrifice her friends?

>>1531598
Thanks for running, Moloch.

>>1531620

That would make quite a neat connection, wouldn't it? However, that's not the case. The swamp Tyrant was a great deal older than that.

>>1531625

All of her friends? Nah, that would be needlessly cruel!

>>1531651
Between her MG job, being a leader, school, the Sentinels, potential rogue AIs, learning about her sister, Kurosawa, and now this whole business with Zakuro how stressed is Miho on a scale between 1 and 10?

>>1531598
Where's
>Okaeri
>Tadaima
?

>>1531669

If 10 was "breaking point", I'd say that she currently peaks at about a 7. It's normally a bit less than that, though - Miho's pretty good at compartmentalizing. We're not quite at tumbling down levels yet.

>>1531670

Ah, well, I don't actually know any Japanese, so unfortunately a few things like that end up omitted

>>1530750
>No matter how you interpret that, it always sounds at least a little bit sinister.
Calling it now, she's the psycho. She tried to trick Keiko into sacrificing herself, but it didn't go to plan. All of this is an act to do the same to Miho, but successfully.

>>1533009
So what, she's just evil? I want to believe that so I can have a reason to trust Kurosawa and cause it'd explain the out of nowhere nuke she dropped but it seems a bit of a stretch.

>>1533041
Anon he's commenting/predicting as he's catching up on the thread.

Calling it now. She is telling us the truth as well as she can, and will eventually be our best ally when we wipe out the gods and other tyrants to bring balance to the universe and free humanity from the meddling of both.

>>1533945
I hope this is the case.

>>1533945
Calling it now. EVERY Tyrant gets taken over by a magical girl, not the reverse. EVERY girl was in control, at least at the beginning. Maybe even now.

File: Maika Kanzaki.jpg (272 KB, 1080x1080)

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“Well,” Maika remarks later, taking the empty box from you as you're getting out of the car, “Did you enjoy the meal? You should really thank Bradley – it was his idea to bring it. I mentioned that you might be hungry, and...”

“Hey, wait a moment,” you hold up a hand to silence Maika, waiting until the pair of you are alone before continuing. “How much does he know about us?” you ask, “Bradley, I mean. Magical girl stuff, I mean. How much does he know about us being magical girls?”

“Nothing. All I told him was that you had gotten in a spot of bother, and that you might need some help,” Maika assures you, “That's all I mentioned. He didn't ask any unnecessary questions. He's... well, I'll be blunt. He's paid not to ask unnecessary questions. However, I like to think that we have a good enough relationship that he respects my boundaries on a more personal level.” She pauses for a moment before shaking her head. “Well, in either case,” the heiress adds, “I don't think we need to worry about it.”

“He certainly is reliable... and discrete,” you begin, hesitating a moment before continuing, “Do you, uh, do you think he'd know how to dispose of a body?”

“Oh yes. That,” Maika hesitates, glancing at the bundle of bones tucked under your arm, “Dare I ask?”

“There's nothing to say, really. I found some bones in the Umbra. It didn't seem right just leaving them there, and carrying them wasn't much of a burden. As for what I'd do with them once I was out...” you shrug, “Well, I didn't think that far ahead.”

“Well, there may be something we can do. Records can be altered, covered up... I must say, though, it all feels rather criminal,” she shakes her head slowly, “I rather suspect that I would have just left them there. They're only bones, after all.”

You bite back an angry reply to that, settling for a scowl at her unthinking callousness. Maika doesn't notice your expression, or doesn't comment on it, as you arrive at the elevator up to her private chambers. When the elevator hums into motion, though, you clear your throat and speak. “Is Ayane here?” you ask, “What happened after I...”

“When Ayane made it out, her first action was to call me – on an unsecured line - and explain everything that happened – in exhaustive detail,” weariness creeps into Maika's voice as she mentions this, “That leads us into some of what I wanted to talk about. Regardless, after we discussed the issue, she went home. It was either worry about you here, or worry about you there, and... well, I dare say that she was more comfortable in her own home. Less irritating, as well.”

[Welcome home, Miss Kanzaki,] SAE greets you as the elevator doors open, [Welcome home, Miss Tsukada.]

[1/3]

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>>1535478

“Hello SAE, it's good to see you again,” Maika replies cheerily, looking up into one of the numerous images of SAE projected onto the walls, “But we should get right down to business – why don't you tell Miho what happened after she entered the Umbra?”

[Very well, Miss Kanzaki,] SAE agrees, one of her images turning to look straight at you, [When Miss Nakamura initiated communications, her call was monitored by several entities – Renko Biotech, Hieroglyph Marketing, and the Ark City administration.]

“We can rule out that last one,” Maika points out, “The government listens to everything. No, the first two were far more interesting. SAE?”

[Both Renko Biotech and Hieroglyph Marketing were alerted to the use of specific keywords. The specific keywords are as follows. Hieroglyph Marketing – Intruder, Umbra, Miho. Renko Biotech – Miho. That is all,] SAE pauses for a moment, [Upon intercepting Miss Nakamura's call, systems within Renko Biotech began an extensive search, temporarily hijacking large numbers of civil security systems. EVE is looking for you, Miss Tsukada.]

“Of course she is...” you mutter, “What about Hieroglyph, what did they do?”

[Unknown. I estimate, to a probability index of ninety percent, that the communication was logged and recorded. However, no further action was detected,] SAE explains, [They are, as you humans might say, playing their cards close to their chest.]

“The Sentinels,” Maika offers, pausing a moment before continuing, “Ayane wanted to get in contact with them. I convinced her to wait a full day, to see if they would make the first move. So far, we've heard nothing from them.” Sitting on the edge of her bed, Maika toys with some of her discarded tech. “I don't know how much help they could have offered,” she adds, “Or even if they would have been willing to help...”

“Never mind them now. I got by fine without them,” you assure her, “But hey, Maika, do you have any good news, at least?”

“Well, there is something,” a small smile crosses Maika's face, “Kurosawa thinks he caught a hint of potential. We may have a new member of our little group soon. Of course, finding her might not be quite as easy as that.”

“You never know. We found Emi without too much trouble,” you sigh, “Oh yeah, does Emi know about this?”

“She does, yes. Her reaction was rather more... blunt than I had been expecting,” Maika smiles again, “She said that wherever you were, you were sure to be kicking... well, you can probably guess how the rest of it went.”

“Kicking ass,” you say with a smile, “Maybe even taking a few names.”

“Well, yes,” clearing her throat awkwardly, Maika looks down at her restless hands, “Quite so.”

[2/3]

>>1535486

[Miss Kanzaki, Miss Tsukada, I have a suggestion,] SAE announces suddenly, [This facility is equipped with a furnace. Although it was originally intended for the disposal of sensitive materials, it is definitely capable of destroying human remains.]

“Well, that would do,” you decide, “I mean, it might not be a fancy ceremony, but I guess we could scatter her ashes somewhere nice.”

“Her?” Maika asks, tilting her head to the side.

“Uh, yeah. They're pretty small bones, don't you think?” you stumble to explain, “So I figured maybe she was a girl once. Could have been a young boy, I guess, but... I dunno, they just seemed like a girl to me.”

“Well, I suppose it doesn't matter now,” Maika shrugs, “This way, at least, you won't need to deal with any official crematorium. Less difficult questions that way.”

“Yeah,” you mutter, yawning widely before adding, “Man, I'm beat. I need a nap...”

“Go home, Miho. Take as long as you need to recover. I'll let the others know that you're back, and we can respond to any emergencies,” the heiress gives you a very serious look, “I mean it. After what you've been through, you might be at risk if something happened. Get some rest, that's the most important thing you can do now.”

She's not wrong. Right now, you feel like you could stretch out and sleep for a week. Still, a few thoughts nag at the back of your mind...

>Alright, thanks for the update. I'm heading home now
>So what would you do next, if you were in my position?
>Do you think we have a duty to destroy all Intruders, even ones that aren't hostile to us?
>There's something we need to discuss... (Write in)
>Other

>>1535487
>Alright, thanks for the update. I'm heading home now
We should call Ayane and Emi and let them know we are alright. From a secured line if we still want the Sentinels to think we are out of commission. Though we might've already let that slip when Maika called us.

>>1535487
>So what would you do next, if you were in my position?
Let's not ask about Intruders right away. I have a feeling that Maika is a bit suspicious after our blurt about the bones. Also we can think about it on our own in the meantime.

>>1535487
>>Alright, thanks for the update. I'm heading home now
>>So what would you do next, if you were in my position?
>>Do you think we have a duty to destroy all Intruders, even ones that aren't hostile to us?

I think we should debrief our girls on what happened so they don't get thrown a curve ball later down the line, but in a way that we don't tell Kurosawa.

Hey Moloch can Kurosawa tell what's happening in SAE's VR?

>>1535539

>No, Kurosawa has no way of accessing digital spaces like that

>>1535552
Then the next time we have the group together we should debrief on what happened in VR

“So hey, Maika, what would you do next if you were in my position?” you ask, “After getting a rest, I mean.”

“What would I do?” Maika muses, “Well, I dare say that I wouldn't be bored. EVE is looking for you, the Sentinels are working on their own schemes, Kurosawa will want to find our new teammate as soon as possible...” Pausing here, a small frown creases her brow as she thinks. “There's school, of course,” she continues, “And I would want to make sure that Ayane was okay. She seemed rather upset when we last spoke, after all.”

“Wow, okay,” you mutter, wincing as Maika lays out a full list of everything that you've got to deal with, “Can we, like, narrow that down to one thing?”

“Oh, in that case...” the heiress pretends to think for a moment, “I'd speak with EVE. She sounds rather fascinating, if I'm being honest.”

She would think that, you almost say aloud. Biting back the comment, you give her a weak smile. “I'd certainly need a good long rest before I feel up to that,” you reply instead, “She's quite... intense, EVE. Not nearly as polite as SAE, certainly.” Fighting back another yawn, you consider something Maika mentioned. “Oh yeah, this place has all kinds of secure communications, right? Maybe I should call Ayane and Emi now, let them know that I'm back,” you pause for a moment, “I guess the Sentinels know already, if you called me...”

“Maybe not. I've been calling from a secured line, so they might not have been able to listen in on us,” Maika purses her lips in thought, “Really, this sort of information warfare isn't our exact speciality, but neither are we helpless. In fact-”

“Uh, Maika?” you press, “What I meant was, can I borrow your phone?”

“Oh, I see,” Maika blinks slowly, “Yes, certainly. Let me just get it...”

-

When she hurries off, you sit down heavily on the bed and rub your aching brow. A hard knot of tension has formed between your shoulder blades, and fatigue has sunk deep into your bones. The sooner you can get back home and rest, the better. Still, though, you can't put your busy mind at rest. When Maika returns with the phone – a curiously bulbous thing, fat with additional circuitry – you take it, but then hesitate.

“Hey Maika?” you ask slowly, “Do you think...”

“Do I think what?” the heiress prompts when you fall silent, “Is there something on your mind?”

“Yeah, I mean, no, I... I don't really know,” shaking your head, you bite back the question you had been about to ask. Kurosawa might be listening in even now, and you'd rather not have him overhearing certain matters. “I'll tell you later,” you assure Maika, “Once I've got my head screwed on properly.”

“I see,” Maika says with a thoughtful nod, “I'll look forwards to it. Now then – go and make those calls. I'll give you a moment alone.”

[1/2]

>>1535605

Just as you're about to make the first call, you notice the time – Ayane and Emi would be in school at this hour, if they were still following their normal routines. True enough, neither of them pick up when you call them. Leaving messages with an incredibly vague account of your return – little more than “I'm back now” - you hang up and give the phone back to Maika. They might be at school, but you're definitely not going in today. You just crawled out of the abyss – if that doesn't qualify you for a sick day, you don't know what would.

-

Leaving Zakuro's bones in Maika's care – she seems strangely flippant about the idea of disposing of a body – you take a slow walk back home. Compared with Dis, with Zakuro's new home, Ark City seems impossibly polished and modern, like the set of some science fiction movie. Shaking off the oppressive haze of confusion and alienation that seeks to cloud your thoughts, you force yourself to keep moving. One foot in front of the other – that's all you've got to do for now.

It's only when you slump against the side of the elevator and feel cold metal against your skin that you remember your uniform blazer. You must have left it back at the Kanzaki compound. Well, so be it – you didn't fancy the idea of wearing it again, after what you'd been using it for.

-

“The Kanzaki family, hmm? You're certainly moving up in the world,” Yui thinks aloud, after you've finished your fictional account of the past twelve hours, “I suppose it's a little late now, but I do wish you hadn't got involved with them. I don't really care for that family. Their girl, Maika... I met her father once, I think it was at a charity dinner. Something like that, certainly. Not a man I'd care to meet again.”

“Huh?” you reply, pausing halfway towards your bedroom door and turning back to your mother, “What do you mean?”

“Hmm, good question. What DO I mean?” Yui considers her next words, “He had a look in his eye, I suppose. More than ambition, I'd say that it was the desire to succeed at any cost. A man like that, he would trample over as many people as he needed to succeed.” Yui shivers a little, before forcing a carefree smile. “And he has SUCH a tacky name – Eligor Kanzaki,” she shakes her head with sad mirth, “He had it officially changed, if you believe the gossip. I couldn't say why you'd choose such an awful name, though...”

“Right,” you nod, your interest already fading as the conversation turns to gossip, “I'm worn out. I'm gonna take a nap, okay?”

“Okay Miho,” Yui leans across and pats you on the arm, “School can wait one day. You've been through a lot today.”

If only she really knew...

[2/3]

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>>1535653

Back in the gloom of your bedroom, you lie back on your bed and try to think of nothing. It isn't some zen trick or anything like that, you just dearly need a break from everything. Kurosawa and his constant stream of lies and half-truths, your gnawing uncertainty over Zakuro, the looming mystery Sentinels, EVE, the Intruders... everything. Until now, things had all seemed like they were under control. Now, though? You're not so sure.

Slowly, you slump over onto your side and curl up, huddling into a tight ball as the weight of the past few days presses down on you. At long last, you manage to empty your mind of all thoughts.

Perhaps you sleep a little.

-

You couldn't say how much time has passed when you jerk up and look around in confusion, searching for the source of the uneasy feeling. Kurosawa, you realise after a moment, it's just his usual presence. Your mind was so fogged up that it took you a while to recognise him. Rubbing your reddened eyes, you meet Kurosawa's green and gold eyes. He stares into you for a long moment, and then he speaks.

“Pariah should have told you,” Kurosawa begins, “I believe that I have a trail for a new candidate.”

“Maika said that, yeah,” you manage, “The Temptress, right?”

“Yes. Chosen by the Curse God of Shame,” the cat nods slowly, “I can only hope that she will be a vital asset in the days to come.”

>Was that all you came here to say?
>I'm curious. Can you tell me all of these titles, and their gods?
>That Tyrant we fought back then... what separates it from a normal Intruder?
>I need to ask you something... (Write in)
>Other

>Pretty bad connection problems today. Sorry about this

>>1535694
>That Tyrant we fought back then... what separates it from a normal Intruder?
Do all Tyrants have keys to that fortress in the Umbra? If not, what is different about the keyholders?
>Why did you chose me?


inb4 now that she's a tyrant zakuro has the last key

>>1535694
>>I'm curious. Can you tell me all of these titles, and their gods?
>>That Tyrant we fought back then... what separates it from a normal Intruder?

Going to guess she's an idol.

>>1535706
typo, meant to greentext that second line. It's a question for Kurosawa.

>>1535707
gonna guess that she pleases old men for money

>>1535694
>>I'm curious. Can you tell me all of these titles, and their gods?
>That Tyrant we fought back then... what separates it from a normal Intruder?

>>1535694
>>I'm curious. Can you tell me all of these titles, and their gods?
The Temptress doesn't seem like she should be the one feeling Shame, which is unlike all the other magical girls we know of.

>>1535694
>I'm curious. Can you tell me all of these titles, and their gods?
>That Tyrant we fought back then... what separates it from a normal Intruder?
>I need to ask you something... Are there Intruders who don't intrude, and just keep to themselves in the Umbra?

>>1535707
Gonna guess she's a shameless armpit shrine maiden.

“Hey cat, I've got a question for you,” you begin, “That Tyrant we fought back then, in the swamp... what separated it from a normal Intruder?”

“Power,” Kurosawa answers slowly, “Tyrants are Intruders that have gathered a great and terrible power, by consuming human beings... and those like you, humans imbued with a divine spark. That, above all else, is what grants Tyrants their power.” The cat vanishes from his perch, only to flicker back into view on the bed. “I understand that this may... disturb you,” he continues, “But the Tyrant you destroyed was not a girl like you. By destroying it, if anything, you avenged her.”

“So any of the regular Intruders we fight, if one of them manages to... to kill one of us,” you press, “Will we just be making things worse? Making a new Tyrant?”

“No. “Kill” and “consume” are different matters,” the cat shakes his head, “It is rare for a girl like you to be taken alive. Most fall in battle, dying with their honour and virtue intact.”

You couldn't even begin to guess if that was supposed to be comforting. Sighing, you press ahead with your questioning. “We took a key from it, that last Tyrant,” you begin, “Do all Tyrants have keys like that? If not, what separates the keyholders from all the rest?”

“The keys are a convenience, to aid human recognition,” Kurosawa replies in a dismissive tone, “What you really gained from the Tyrant was a measure of its power – the divine power that it stole from its victim. That power can be used to break through the defences in the Umbra, opening up deeper and lower levels. They have no real physical form, and so taking the shape of a key is a matter of preference. They could easily appear as swords, coins... anything of that sort.”

“Swords would be cooler,” you mutter, “So we can get the keys – or whatever they are – from any Tyrant?”

“That is correct,” Kurosawa nods, “You are a quick learner, Miho.”

“Yeah, thanks,” you grunt, “And these Tyrants are always hostile, right? I mean, all Intruders are. There aren't any of them which just stick to themselves, living peacefully in the Umbra... are there?”

“There may be Intruders who do not seek access to your world,” Kurosawa admits, “But make no mistake – whether they seek to take victims or not, they are your enemies. Even those that lurk deep within the Umbra may one day choose to attack mankind. They cannot be permitted to live.” The cat's eyes sharpen for a moment. “Do you understand me, Heavenly Child?” he asks, “You know what your duty is, do you not?”

A silence falls across the pair of you, and then you give him a slow and thoughtful nod.

[1/2]

>>1535825
Burn the Intruder
Kill the Tyrant
Purge the unclean

>>1535825

“I'm glad that you understand,” Kurosawa's voice softens a little, as much as it ever softens. “I am here to guide you and instruct you, every step of the way,” he adds, “If you ever seek enlightenment, I can provide it.”

“Well, I DO like to learn,” you concede, “So, uh, maybe you can teach me something. I was wondering about these titles and the gods – can you tell me the rest of them? Just a list of them, that's all.”

“I can do that,” a note of caution slips into Kurosawa's voice, “We will begin with the Curse Gods. You know of Sloth, Fury and Shame – the Pariah, the Temptress and the Executioner, respectively. Spite has the Crown of Thorns, Misfortune has the Silent Jester, Weakness has the Great Denier, Terror has the Nightmare, Sorrow has the Orphan, Pain has the High Inquisitor, Blindness has the False Witness and – finally – Discord has the Warlord.” There is a short pause, the list of names seeming to hang in the air for a moment. “Those are the champions of the Curse Gods,” he adds, “I hope you were taking notes.”

“Don't worry, I've got a pretty good memory,” you lie, “So what about the Great Virtues? Less of those, so it should be a short list.”

“Is this really necessary?” Kurosawa asks, with the hint of a yawn in his voice, “This not an efficient use of your time or mine.”

“C'mon, humour me,” you urge, “You literally just said that you'd be happy to enlighten me. You're not gonna go back on that now, are you?”

“Fine,” the cat mutters, “The seven Great Virtues, then. Compassion has the Knight Hospitalier, Dignity has the Gravetender, Destiny has the Gatherer of Whispers, Faith has the Seeker of Truth, Wisdom has the Crown Apothecary...” He trails off here, looking just about as uncomfortable as a cat can look.

“And the Heavenly Child is Duty, so that just leaves Sacrifice,” you press, “I mean... right?”

“I'm afraid that that's not entirely correct,” Kurosawa hesitates, forcing himself to meet your gaze before continuing, “My champion, the chosen of Duty, is the Dutiful Squire. The Heavenly Child, then-”

“Chosen by Sacrifice,” you finish for him, leaning back and staring up at the ceiling for a long moment, “So this “grand destiny” that I've been hearing about...”

“The Heavenly Child DOES have a grand potential. That is no lie,” Kurosawa insists, “But that potential is, all too often, to sell her life for the sake of mankind. In the past, the Heavenly Child has died saving thousands, hundreds of thousands of lives. Perhaps even this entire world that you live in now only exists because of Sacrifice – the needs of the man, outweighing the good of the few.”

“And you chose me for this,” you breathe, “Why?”

“Because you had the potential,” he answers simply, “There is no other reason. You possessed the ability to do what needed to be done.”

[2/3]

>>1535909
He chose us? Wouldn't Sacrifice have chosen us?

>>1535921
He chooses everyone. The rest of the gods just sulk, eat junk food and watch TV in an empty room.

>>1535909

You're speechless for a long time, occasionally murmuring some useless half-word as you try to put your thoughts in order. It's one thing to willingly put your life on the line, especially for the sake of your friends and allies, but being told that you're destined to die... it's an entirely different matter. Ever since agreeing to do this, to be a magical girl, you've had a sword of Damocles hanging above your head.

“Heavenly Child,” Kurosawa begins gravely, “Miho...”

“You chose me for this!” you spit, anger blossoming in your chest, “You-”

“Technically speaking, Sacrifice “chose” you,” the cat corrects himself, “I merely brought you into his service. I misspoke, I apologise – after being isolated from the rest of the gods for so long, I have come to see myself as choosing all of you. A sin of arrogance on my part, but-”

“I don't care!” you snap, “I don't care about your terminology or your technicalities, I care about... I care...”

“Yes, Miho?” Kurosawa asks mildly, “What DO you care about? Mankind, your friends and family, the countless lives in this city? Or do you have more selfish motives? Do you even know?”

“I...” you whisper, his question cutting through your anger, “I don't know...”

“I've upset you. I do so wish you hadn't asked,” shaking his head sadly, Kurosawa lets out a low sigh, “I hope that, with time, you will come to understand.”

“No, don't!” you gasp, lunging forwards towards the foot of the bed as Kurosawa vanishes. Your hands swipe through empty air, and a desperate curse tears itself from your lips. Lying gracelessly on your bed for a moment, you bury your face in a pillow and scream, your voice just barely muffled by the pillow.

-

“Miho?” Yui asks as you storm out of your room, “Are you...”

“I'm going out,” you snap, marching out through the door, “I don't know when I'll be back.”

“Miho!” she calls out, panic in her voice, “Miho, come back, don't-”

But you're already gone, running out through the front door and into the corridors. Ignoring the elevators – you couldn't face them right now – you slam through the emergency stairwell and descend in a hurry, taking the stairs two at a time. The thought of falling and breaking your neck never even occurs to you, only the aimless anger and confusion. Kurosawa has lied before, but... but this feels different.

It's only when you stumble out into the street that you realise – you had no idea of where you were going. You still don't. Not yet, at least. With a numb hand, you take the phone from your pocket and flick aimlessly through the list of names.

>Call the Sentinels
>Call Ayane
>Call Maika
>Call Emi
>Call someone else (Write in)
>Other

>>1535968
>>Call Ayane
Maika isn't social enough to be able to comfort Miho; the Sentinels aren't friends enough; and Emi is too new-ish to be really friendly.

Also, Ayane has a dog. Petting time?

>>1535968
>Go sit in a kids' playground and get our thoughts in order.

>>1535968
>Call EVE

This seems like the perfect time to deal with an unstable AI.

>>1535968
>Call Emi
No real reason why, just going with my gut. Maybe it's the blunt cavalier attitude.

>>1535968
>Call Emi

>I'm going to close the vote here, going with calling Emi. Sorry for any delays, things are looking a little sketchy over here.

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Holding your phone loosely in your hand, still undecided about who to call, you pick a random direction and start walking. Your earlier burst of energy has been burned away by the mad dash from your home, and now you feel like a puppet with its strings cut. Your mind is racing, but your body is wilting. Even so, you force yourself to walk. Trekking through the evening streets for a while, you finally grow too tired to stay upright.

Arriving at a small playpark – a cold and joyless thing, apparently forgotten by the local children – you slump down into one of the swings, the only seat you can find. The surrounding buildings form a thick shield against the sounds of the city, and your heavy breathing is the only sound you can hear. Listening to it calms you a little, and soon your heart slows to a more normal pace. After a moment's thought, you look back down at your phone and pick out Emi's name. You couldn't say why you picked her, but it feels right. She's bright and uncomplicated, which might be exactly what you need right now.

Emi picks up on the first ring, and her lively voice hits you like a lightning bolt. “Shit Miho, it's about time you called me!” she begins, “Man, I was so relieved when I heard you were safe. I mean, I wasn't worried about you, but I thought... shit, I thought there wouldn't be any Intruders left when you were done with them!”

A burst of laughter escapes you. “I'm glad to BE back, Emi,” you manage to reply, “But don't worry, I left a few of them for you. Hey, uh, can we meet up somewhere? I wanted to talk to someone, and... and I thought of you.”

“Wow, really?” honest surprise enters Emi's voice, “Yeah, sure, we can meet up. I'm at home right now, you wanna come over? It's an empty house, so we can... I dunno, we can have a party or some shit. You know the address, right? Wait, I think I can send it over. Wonders of modern technology, huh?”

“Yeah, it's really something,” you agree weakly, a dull chime ringing in your ear as Emi sends you a map reference. After exchanging a few last forced pleasantries, you end the call. Then you replay her words in your mind and curse. She mentioned Intruders – exactly the kind of bait that the Hieroglyph AI would pick up on. Could it have intercepted her address as well?

Staring at the phone in your hand, you can't help but wonder if you've made a terrible mistake.

-

At least you manage to make the journey to Emi's house without collapsing or being accosted by the Sentinels, so you'll take that as a small blessing. Emi is waiting outside for you, dressed like someone just back from a gym – black cycling shorts peeking out from beneath the hem of an oversized T-shirt.

“Hey,” she greets you, “Don't get too close, I've been running.”

“Yeah,” you agree, sniffing the air, “I can tell.”

[1/2]

>>1536083

While Emi takes a brief shower, you take a few moments to consider what you're going to tell her. Everything about Zakuro is off limits for now, especially when Kurosawa might be listening in, but the rest of it – your new position as the chosen of Sacrifice – is fair game. You've just finished thinking about how to word it when the shower creaks off. When Emi rejoins you, her hair glistening and wet, your carefully prepared speech flies right out the window.

You don't have a choice in the matter. In an awkward jumble of words, you spill out everything that Kurosawa told you. Emi, her eyes wide and startled, can only listen.

-

“Uh, wow. Yeah, I can see why you wanted to talk,” she manages at last, “And, uh, I dunno. I'm not one for fancy talking, but something did occur to me. You know what I think about all this “sacrifice” stuff?”

“I...” you swallow heavily, shaking your head, “Go on then.”

“Fuck it,” Emi tells you with a victorious grin, “I don't know much about destiny, or potential, or whatever this stuff is, but... fuck it. Do your own thing, Miho.”

“You... you really think it's that simple?” you ask, incredulous.

“Sure, why not?” the young girl shrugs, “Look at me. I'm the Executioner, I kill people like us. You know what that means? That means that I'm a card carrying badass, that's all – it does NOT mean that I'm gonna start killing people left and right. I've got “murder” written right through me, and you've got “sacrifice”, but that don't mean anything.” Leaning forwards, Emi stabs a finger into your chest. “So maybe the stars say that one day, you've gotta give your life to save, I dunno, a bus full of orphans from a big Intruder. You know what you should do?” she pauses for a second, grinning again, “Kill the bastard, but don't die in the process. That's ALL you need to do, see?”

“I don't think it's quite that simple,” you argue, although a smile of your own has taken hold of your face, “But...”

“But nothing! All you've got to do is get up every morning and promise yourself that you won't die. Easy!” Emi nods vigorously, looking absurdly pleased with herself, “Why don't we make, like, a pact? I'll promise not to die, and you do the same. That way, neither of us has to worry about anything!”

“Y'know, that might not be such a bad idea,” you decide with a sigh, allowing yourself to be swept along on Emi's tide of enthusiasm, “You've got yourself a deal, Emi.”

“Damn right I do!” she declares, taking your hand and shaking it eagerly, “So hey, we should do something to celebrate our new deal. You wanna go out somewhere? I know this sorta... I guess you'd call it a bar. Totally legal though - you interested?”

>No, I need to get home. Thanks for listening, though
>Yeah, that might be fun
>Can we talk about something else first? (Write in)
>Other

>>1536147
>>Yeah, that might be fun

>>1536147
>Yeah, that might be fun
That exact type of speech is what I was hoping for when we picked Emi.

>>1536147
>Yeah, that might be fun
Emi was a correct choice. Good job, anons.

>>1536147
>Yeah, that might be fun

>>1536147
>Yeah, that might be fun

“Yeah,” you agree after a few seconds of thought, “Yeah, that sounds like fun. I could use a night out. What sort of place is this bar, anyway?”

“Nice, nice!” Emi leaps to her feet, “Just let me grab my jacket.” Buzzing with excitement, she hurries through to her room. “It's pretty new, apparently,” she calls through, “I heard about it from a couple of the older girls at my school. I guess you'd call that eavesdropping, but whatever. From what they were talking about, it sounds like a real classy place.” Emerging from her bedroom with her battered leather jacket draped across her shoulders, Emi gives you a bright wink. “Classy by vice district standards,” she finishes, “So, like, don't expect TOO much.”

“Don't worry,” you assure her with a deadpan voice, “I'll set my expectations low.”

“Now you're getting into the vice district spirit!” the young girl announces, laughing aloud.

-

As you walk, a thought slowly dawns in your mind. All that talk about being badass and refusing to die... Emi was playing it up for your benefit, cranking her natural enthusiasm up to eleven in an attempt to lift your spirits. Knowing that doesn't change anything, but you find a new respect for the girl blossoming within your heart. She knew exactly the right thing to say, and the exact way to say it. For someone who's only known you for a matter of days, that's no small achievement.

“The place is called “Hime”, apparently,” Emi explains as you walk, “And the way I hear it, it's kind of a... I mean...”

“A bar,” you prompt, “Right?”

“Yeah, a bar,” Emi nods, “Like, a bar for people to meet other people.”

“Oh,” you pause, “That kind of bar. So, uh, aren't you a little young for that sort of thing? Hell, I'm still a little young for that sort of thing!”

“Nah, see, I just wanna go see it,” Emi insists, shaking her head furiously, “I bet it must be real nice, y'know? And I want to see how people act at a place like that, all flirting and picking each other up. It's not something they really teach us at school, yeah? Especially not a Jesus school like mine...”

“Well, you've got a point there,” you agree hesitantly, “Ah, what the hell, we've come this far. We might as well take a little look, just as a learning experience. It's not like we're committing to anything, after all.”

“Right, right!” taking out her phone, Emi squints at the screen, “Just up ahead, apparently.”

Peering ahead, you see the glow of a pink neon sign and smile. It's such a typically “vice district” thing to see, like every stereotype you've been brought up with. Despite a faint flutter of nerves, you join Emi in hurrying on towards the bar.

[1/2]

>>1536369

After less than ten minutes, you begin to wonder if this might have been a mistake. You and Emi both stand out here, clearly not dressed up to standard. You're still in your uniform, creased and dirty with a poorly matching jacket on top, while Emi looks like she just strolled out of a punk concert. The other patrons, by comparison, are dressed in their best outfits. Admitting defeat, you order some drinks, non-alcoholic of course, and slink away to a discrete booth.

The bar itself is... hard to describe. Although the decoration is objectively “nice”, the low lighting gives the entire place an unfortunately seedy feel to it. The place can't shake off its vice district origins, no matter how much it might try to. Emi, at least, doesn't seem to mind.

“Man, look at her,” the young girl mutters, nodding across to a girl sitting at the bar, “I wish I could be like her. She's pretty, she's confident... I bet she doesn't have a bunch of scars on her gut.”

Following Emi's eyes, you examine the girl. Well styled hair, delicate cosmetics and fashionable clothes all make a striking impression. Coltish legs, bound by a tight, short skirt, sway with a hypnotic rhythm as she sips at a luridly coloured cocktail. The girl hasn't noticed you, and she probably never would – she operates on another level.

“She could walk out with any guy in this place, easy,” Emi breathes, “Just like snapping her fingers.”

“So what?” you manage to shrug, “So she's pretty, big deal. I bet she can't swing about a sword the size of a surfboard.”

“Yeah?” Emi's eyes widen, “Yeah, you're right! A girl like her would never be able to do the shit we do, she'd break a bloody nail and BAM, her Barrier would fall down like a house of cards!” Cackling to herself, the young girl throws back the last of her drink. “Man, fuck this place,” she decides, “I'm sticking to Satori's palace from now on, let's get outta here!”

-

With your impromptu night out coming to an early end, you decide to wander the streets with Emi for a while longer. With no direction in particular, you amble down streets chosen at random and take in the various sights that the vice district has to offer. You're still blushing from a particularly vulgar window display – and Emi is still laughing – when you see it. Incongruous here, surrounded by bars and dubious shops, the old church makes for a strange sight.

“Oh yeah, that place,” Emi says, noticing your look, “Kinda weird, huh? I don't know what goes on in there. Folks around here never talk about it, it's like they don't even notice it. I always thought-”

But you cut her off here, pushing her into a nearby alleyway as the church doors swing open. Just before ducking into the alleyway yourself, you catch a fleeting glimpse of a familiar face.

Karl Dietrich Kaplan.

[2/3]

>>1536455
Oh the irony, if that girl is the Temptress.

>>1536455
Maybe we can buy a pie and then throw it at him.

>>1536536
Nah. We should only give him shit when he gives us it so he comes off as that guy who talks shit but can't take it.

Needless provocation isn't classy.

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>>1536455

Even with seeing pictures, it's strange to see the Sentinel in mundane clothes. Without his ornately decorated uniform, Karl looks less... intimidating somehow, as though he lost an inch in height. Just catching a glimpse of his face, though, is enough to light a small fire in your heart. Peering around from the alleyway, you realise that he isn't alone – there's a young woman with him, her expression hinting at a mood little better than yours.

If you could describe the woman in one word, it would be “dark”. Dark clothes, long dark hair, and a smear of dark eyeshadow across her pale skin. Even at this distance, you can see her scowl as Karl murmurs something to her. When the pair start to walk your way, you duck back into the alleyway and hide, listening closely for anything you might be able to overhear.

“...Fairly sure that there are more of them,” Karl mutters, “At least two more. We're trying to get confirmation on their exact nature, but it's difficult. Our contact has been... uncooperative so far.”

“That's your fault, jackass,” the woman snipes back, “Stick to fieldwork from now on, let Jun handle the talking.” Her accent is strange, and it takes you a moment to place it as English, although not a noble sort - low English, the sort that is born and bred in the slums. “Give me the details later,” she adds, “Maybe I'll help you... if I feel like it.”

Judging by the sound of retreating footsteps, the woman leaves after that. Karl lingers for a moment longer, letting out a soft laugh. “You're a loathsome woman,” he mutters to himself. With a second round of curt footsteps, Karl marches off into the night.

“Shit,” Emi breathes, “God damn.”

“Yeah,” you agree, “My thoughts exactly...”

>Let's get out of here, there might be other Sentinels lurking around
>This is our chance, let's get in there and take a look around...
>Other

>>1536559
>This is our chance, let's get in there and take a look around...
Leave Emi on guard since they don't know her.
Set our phone to vibro, temporarily block all calls except from Emi. Have her call us if we have to get out quickly.

>>1536559
>This is our chance, let's get in there and take a look around...


seconding other options in >>1536584

>>1536559
>>This is our chance, let's get in there and take a look around...
So we have another person for Maika and Kurosawa to look up! Also, it seems they haven't actually made Ayane or Emi yet, so that's good.

>>1536559
>This is our chance, let's get in there and take a look around...

Could also enlist Kurosawa to help us in this like when we scouted Emi's place

>>1536595
They intercepted Ayane's call though, so they ought to find her quickly.

>>1536614
Bummer.

Good thing we're about to recruit the Temptress for another unknown.

>>1536559
>>Let's get out of here, there might be other Sentinels lurking around

“This is our chance,” you mutter to Emi, “I need to get in there and take a look. Can you stay here and keep watch?”

“Huh?” Emi frowns a little, “Oh right, they don't know me yet, right! Sure, I can do that. I got a pretty good angle here, and it looks like there's only one way in. Uh, only one way out as well though, so...”

“So I'll need a warning nice and early,” you finish for her. Slipping your phone out, you set it to vibrate. You've seen enough movies to know how dangerous a ringing phone can be, and you refuse to be caught out by such a lame trick. “Okay, call me if you see anything suspicious,” you tell Emi, “The first sign of trouble, got it?”

“Got it,” Emi nods, “Good luck in there, Miho!”

-

With a quick but careful pace, you slip out of the alleyway and hurry across to the church. Glancing back, you give Emi a nod – she replies with a thumbs up – and turn back to the door. It opens easily, allowing you to slip inside without much noise. Gloom reaches out to welcome you, a cool darkness that you find strangely soothing. The air here is perfumed, a hint of incense hanging heavily over the scene. Gauzy sheets are draped everywhere, cloaking much of the detail from view. At the end of the central aisle, where the altar might normally sit, you see a blocky silhouette through more of those curtains.

Swallowing heavily, you take a single step closer. The thick carpet muffles your footsteps, giving you the courage to press on ahead. When you're halfway up the aisle, a light flickers on behind those curtains – a single white light, as though a Cyclops had roused itself from some great and terrible slumber.

[Karl?] a slow, synthesised voice asks, [No, you're not him.]

A moment of silence, the breath caught in your chest, and then:

[Approach.]

>I think this is a good place to stop for today. I'll continue this next Friday, and if anyone has any questions, I'll answer them as best I can.
>Stay tuned for our regularly scheduled bonus episode!

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Los Angeles, America
Eight years ago

There was a certain knack to it, knowing the future. No matter how many times Noriko tried to explain it to her, Megumi just couldn't get her head around it. Noriko had only been with them for a few short weeks, but already she had a firmer grasp on her powers than either Megumi or Felicia. She was a studious one, Noriko, very serious and thoughtful.

“It's really a case of sensing the flow of things and going along with them,” the new recruit began, giving it another attempt, “Think of it like a river. When you know how to study the currents, you can predict that lies ahead. If you go THIS way, you'll be carried into dangerous waters. If you change your path and go the other way, though, you'll be safe.”

“So you can sense when things are bad and when they're good,” Felicia stated, rather unimpressed with Noriko's abilities, “Anyone can do that, it's just being able to predict an outcome. It's luck.”

“It's NOT luck,” Noriko stressed, pouting, “I'm getting better at it with every day, and I'm starting to see more and more details. It's... I'll prove it to you. I asked us to come here today because of something I saw. We're going to fight an Intruder tonight.”

“Noriko,” Megumi added gently, “That's not a difficult prediction to make. We're fighting Intruders on an almost nightly basis now. I really do wish Abraham would tell us why – I'm sure that there's something unusual going on here.”

“If you can tell us anything about THAT,” Felicia sneered, “You might actually be able to help us, new girl.”

Noriko gasped softly, looking away as Felicia shot her a hard glare. “Easy now,” Megumi cut in, holding up both hands in a plea for calm, “We'll take this one day at a time, just as we've always done. There's no need for us to start bickering and picking fights with each other. Are we all clear with that?”

Felicia frowned, but nodded slowly. Her temper could be trying at times, especially when things got tough – as befitting one chosen by Spite, Felicia had a mean streak running through her, a tendency towards senseless cruelty. It wasn't normally bad enough for her to take it out on a teammate, but recent events had pushed her hard. Pushed everyone hard, really. “Very well,” Felicia conceded at last, “I apologise. This Intruder you've seen, then – is it close?”

“It's close, yes,” Noriko nodded. Holding up a hand to halt the others, she closed her eyes for a moment. Then, with sudden speed, she turned and pointed her finger out into the darkness behind the group. A handgun – a simple, utilitarian piece – appeared in her hand, kicking back against her wrist as she fired a single shot. The Intruder that had been following them, unseen, slumped down to the ground and started to dissolve.

“Like I said,” the seer announced calmly, “It's just a matter of going with the flow.”

[1/2]

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>>1536701

“I'm really sorry,” Noriko muttered a short time later, after Felicia had stormed off home, “I should have warned you. I didn't think that Felicia would get so... mad about it.”

“Ironic really,” Megumi remarked, “That you didn't see it coming, I mean.”

Noriko looked around and scowled for a moment, before she realised that Megumi had been making a joke. “I suppose so,” she decided after a while, “Although it's a lot harder to sense things when people are involved. Free will complicates things so much, it adds so many different variables. Intruders are easier to predict, far easier.”

“Well, either way, I wouldn't worry about it,” Megumi shrugged, “Felicia is just pissed because you made her look foolish. By tomorrow, she'll have forgotten all about it. Personally, I thought it was pretty cool. I must admit, though, I wasn't expecting you to have a pistol like that.”

“It is rather...” the seer reached into the wide sleeves of her shrine maiden's garb, pulling out the steel pistol and examining it. An old M1911 - Megumi recognised the model from some old World War Two movie, although this was her first time seeing one in person. “Rather unladylike,” Noriko decided at last, “I wonder what that says about me. Does it mean that deep down, I'm ugly and clumsy?”

“Not at all,” reaching out to put a hand on Noriko's shoulder, Megumi looked into her eyes, “It's nothing like that. You're nothing like that!”

“Oh...” a slow flush filled up Norikos cheeks, her eyes widening a little at the intensity of Megumi's words, “I didn't... expect you to say such things.”

“Ah, well, uh...” taking her hand away, Megumi cleared her throat awkwardly, “Neither did I. What I meant was... well...”

When a shrill scream pierced the night air, it came as a relief to both of them. Exchanging a firm and businesslike nod, the pair of girls charged off into the night, following the source of that scream.

And that was how they met Fleur LaCroix.

>And that concludes today's bonus episode – tune in next week for the next episode of Heavenly Child Quest!
>Thanks to everyone who contributed today!

>>1536709
Thanks for running!

Guessing this is the Hieroglyph AI

>>1536709
Thanks for running!
How long until we find out the Sentinels are headed or manipulated by another free-willed Tyrant like Zakuro?

>>1536709
Thanks for running, Moloch!

>>1536738

Oh, I wouldn't worry about it
They work for something far worse, obviously!

>>1536709
Thanks for running Moloch.

I really hope we'll find allies in Zakuro and EVE. Maybe turn some Sentinels as well because the odds are getting stacked against us if the Hieroglyphic AI and those controlling it are enemies.

>>1536147
>Why don't we make, like, a pact? I'll promise not to die, and you do the same.
Emi fucking please, the death flags are real.

>>1536709
Thanks for running Moloch, missed the whole session though. Looks like we ran into something pretty interesting, wonder if we'll be able to ask it not to tell anyone we were here.