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You heard screams and horrible noises of tearings. Terrible yelps mixed with guttural screeches echoed throughout the area, your entire being shuddered when you inevitable acknowledged the origin of this monstrous cacophony.

Mamonos were dying. Perhaps close to two hundred people had cluttered around the translucid walls of the arena to witness Hao and Klesiah amazing bout. The abomination that barreled out of the forest had crashed into a tightly packed mass of teenagers and tore into these apprentices in ravaging violence with arms bigger than your torso bashing, ripping, killing...

"Arawn!"

Gardy voice painfully resounded inside your skull, reinforcing the grim truth: what's happening is real indeed, ten girls died before your eyes, slaughtered by an abomination big enough to rival Zazawu in size, more yet fell under the varied appendages of this walking monstrosities by the seconds...!

Your haze of disbelief disappeared. A surge of terrible rage at this injustice almost made it impossible to embrace Focus; finding the needed concentration and mindset was a difficult task. Thankfully the telltale sign of vigorous lights from your companions revealed their own embrace of this magical mindset, allowing you to calm down and follow their actions. Teruko glowered a pretty green, Vilma organic light projected a quiet purple and Klesiah still inside the arena shone a pretty dark blue.

A sudden explosive burst of wind erupted next to the closest abomination before anybody could react. Having bust out of her skyward perch in an awesome display of magical might, Elina rammed into the enemy with absurd velocity born from her stormy magic: a clap of wind resounded like a crackle of thunder and two third of her halberd sank into the creature reddish flesh, almost making it lose its footings on impact. A shockwave of wind sent corpses and limbs flying, blood splattered on the magitek walls of the arena and a few of the slower Mamonos were pushed on the ground, spared a grisly fate. Elina had conjured another burst of magical wind to shoot skyward, violently gouging out the abomination body with enough force to outright carve out its shoulder like a chunk of meat.

Such a wound still wasn't enough to kill; the sudden charge of a summoned creature thankfully ended this threat. Some kind of giant beast of burden -twice your height and weight with a plated frontside- charged right into the wounded enemy, carrying it off into the forest, breaking and trampling over trees.

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''Don't run!'' Sieglinde screamed barely a second after the removal of this immediate threat, voice barely heard over the noises. Creatures of all shapes and sizes were being conjured by panicky students and the few who lost their nerves were beginning to flee toward Internalisation. ''Elenor! Teachers! Rally the students here!'' Finding her endeavor fruitless, Sieglinde screamed toward the peculiar trio who had assumed a battle stance and dispatched one peculiar mutant that had come out of Internalisation.

The walls imprisoning your two knights petered out of existence and the girls ran to your group, both looked good for combat despite their exhausting bout, there wasn't any time to inquire.

''W-what's happening!?'' Vilma squeaked, grabbing onto your shirt when Martha -now shapeshifted- ran toward the trio of Minotaurus who had been just managed to wrestle down an enemy and finish it off by hacking it to pieces with dull axes and swords too small for their bodies.

A blur of dark and white running past you forced you to ignore your small friend. ''Hao wait!'' You blurted out and grabbed her shoulder, barely standing your ground with her reinforced body. ''Don't go, not yet!''

Her cute face, usually so expressive, was a blanket of neutrality that barely registered your existence. She tried to shake you off and stepped aside, only for a loud tearing on her dress to make her stop and finally acknowledge your will. ''Hao has to go, has to help and defend.'' She idly pointed toward the shimmering green portal in the gardens, another pair of foes had emerged but -mercifully- all the students had scattered, leaving the enemies in a state of strangely intense confusion.

''I'll have you go where you'll be able to save the most lives.'' You replied sternly, her mouth opened in protest but no sound came.

''My... Arawn is right, Hao.'' Klesiah stood behind her scaled compatriot. ''Rushing is will be a waste.'' She said while glancing upward toward Elina whose skyborne mobility whistled like a sword in the wind.

In the garden, out of the forest, on the path toward the school of Elementalism and Internalisation was an increasing number of these mutated freakshows of flesh yet there were no signs of coordination amongst them. Outside the sudden ambush, casualties amongst the monstergirls had already taken a sharp decline; Mamonos culture being inherently martial coupled with the school athletic and combative curriculum was bearing fruits. Students gave these enemies wide berth instead of trying to fight and those aggressive mutants fast enough to catch up were being interrupted by suicidal summons -used as nothing more than fodders to slow down these freaks- working to give people a few precious seconds to keep their distances.

The real problem was evident now. Mamonos didn't have a rallying point so girls scattered everywhere, dragging with them stubborn monstrosities.

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''You hear me!?'' Gwendolyn yelled from behind you, holding a pearl ring to her mouth which glowered an ominous purple. ''You were right, just... come back! Things are bleak...!'' Whomever she was communicating with wasn't something you could spare any moments investigating.

''Harken to me!'' Teruko voice bellowed from the middle of the arena. Her fairy, Titania, was glowing in a pretty mixture of green and gold, flying around like a bee around students gathering near her summoner. Teruko short pregnant body was almost obscured by the increasing crowd of panicky voices, thankfully Priscilla was beside her to avoid any accidental mishap: Daiyu personal maid didn't like the idea of being useless despite being a non-combattant. ''Listen I say! Her majesty Sieglinde will implant... impose orders so remain here with us! Recall your lessons, use summons will save lives but none of you should dare runs or I swear on your ancestors that I'll kill you myself!''

She was doing an admirable job to prevent a hysteric stampede.

''W-what do we do...!?'' Vilma murmured, ringing the bell of her staff as she inched closer. Portals on all sides were spewing out a constant stream of these creatures that seemingly couldn't' handle this traverse because most fell on the ground upon emergence or looked struck into a daze or excess of rages that created rare moments of infightings, unfortunately, this was only temporary.

Daiyu mentioned that rune of Passages could rob the sanity of its travelers... But these creatures were likely aggressive down to their very cores because all of them began to pursue Mamonos off their own volution.

''Sieglinde is rallying the students, Elina and Teruko are helping...'' You answered your friend, a brief glance toward Elenor and two teachers by her side revealed that she was trying her best to guide students this way, the two Minotaurus and their mother -a captain of the militia- were attempting the same with mitigated success. ''...So are Elenor and her big friends but things are much more chaotic inside Internalization.''

That was putting it lightly. Internalization was one huge school repurposed from an old fortress and it would seem whoever put these runes had managed to sneak a few inside its walls: people came out of there in scared droves, sometimes pursued by misshapen entities.

''Guys!'' Sieglinde heavy steps heralded her presence with a few ominous stomps and a ran that stop a hair length from colliding into Hao, from the sky you felt the wind unnaturally pushing you, soon revealing Elina presence hovering your small group. ''We've got to come up with a quick plan and stick to it, these creatures are increasing...'' she stopped for a second in confusion in front of Hao particularly intense stare, the sad sight of a summoner girl a breath too slow to get away from an enemy had sent your second knight in a quiet rage.

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She won't be able to hold back much longer. Such was the unfortunate price of coordination against an ambush so sudden and merciless.

''For now, I want a gathering summoners here and establish a line of defenses that could be easily reinforced to keep those creatures at bay whilst a squad of stronger combatants deals with those portals, if at all possible making other pockets of resistances should be another objective but there's no way to know how the situation is going to change.''

''Sound plan sis.'' Martha was the last person to arrive, her body had undergone significant shapeshifting: the familiar body-covering black exoskeleton of your soul adventure was back, without mouthguard this time. ''I'd like to bring Arawn in my lab and active one of the Anti-Supreme weapons. Mamonos can't pilot them and we don't have anyone else that's been handling the strain of magitek.''

''That's... you two will at least be gone for half-an-hour!'' Sieglinde protest was almost a scream.

''I'm not trying to argue, only offer an idea.'' Martha response was curt and quick. ''Agree or disagree and that'll be that. No time to waste.'' That completely calmed down the redhead who nodded grimly, casting her gaze toward everyone present.

You, Klesiah, Hao, Vilma, Martha, and Gwendolyn. Teruko was busy with the students and Deruella... Having her mind here would be immensely helpful.

''I-I'd like to sa-!'' Vilma tugged your shirt with insistent strength.

''Sorry to interrupt but I have important information to share!'' Gwendolyn imposed herself strongly, taking a step toward the Lilim sisters whilst her wriggling eyestalks tried to track all the carnage, Vilma stiffened body looked ready to pull a muscle. ''I've been talking with Tuilelaith -now's not the time to worry about details- and she told me that she can't open portals here, something seems to be interfering with Mother Earth web.''

''What!?'' Sieglinde stomped her big foot and her long, lethal tail coiled dangerously. ''She opened a few of them after my mother created the initial one this morning!''

''I know.'' The Overlord nodded grimly. ''Something happened afterward to create this interference. If there are any chapels nearby I think I could strengthen the web and allow her to come back... Otherwise, your mother is the only one who can create a portal since hers are connected with the Demonic Throne. Tuilelaith is already trying to reach Daiyu... but it'll take time. Perhaps an hour, maybe more.''

''We do have a chapel inside Internalisation, it's a small thing but it should be adequate. Assuming it hasn't been wrecked.'' Martha answered curtly and that's when you pushed Vilma a little forward whilst holding a hand to keep everyone quiet.

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''A-ah!?'' She observed you for a second but all the events surrounding you -roars, screams, battles for survival- constantly surprised her but it wasn't enough to completely terrify her. ''I-I can sue the corpses here a-and the recently deads for... to help strengthen, to-to create summons, maybe-maybe bolster our defenses.''

This caught everyone attention much more intimately: strengthening this position was extremely important.

''If...If Arawn is with me, his magic could really help.'' Continued the little lich, eyes gazing toward the garden with its shimmering portal. ''I...we practiced a few times, his magic is really helpful for summons so...''

''We can't spare the time for details.'' Sieglinde gently spoke over Vilma. ''We need to come up a quick plan and stick to it.''

Standing here and speaking whilst these creatures are running amok is undeniably selfish and perhaps a few lives could have been saved in the interim but running around blindly will endanger those students coming here for safety.

Good thing you and Gardy had been very hard at work coming up with plans of your own.

>Option 1
Invest your time in creating a proper main camp.
Establishing a proper line of defense is vital for the continued survival of these Mamonos. By focusing everyone effort in this endeavor, it'll be that much likelier to actually make a safe spot in this confusion. Enemies coming out of the portals are not coordinated this is the perfect time to make it work.

''Sieglinde idea is good for giving us better tactical options. If the students can create a protective pocket then we can concentrate on dispelling portals and react to the battlefield.''

>Option 2
Make a break for the Magitek equipement
The Demonic throne is a fair distance away from everything going on with the schools, reaching it will take times that could be better spent helping your friends... but Martha spoke about activating an Anti-Supreme weapon. Having it on the field would be an immense gain.

''I do not like gambles, we will have to trust your...our friends to hold on without us. The use of such a weapon is self-explanatory, an immense boon to ensure safety and protection for everyone we see.''

>Option 3
Necromantic ritual with Vilma
Vilma training as a summoner couple brilliantly with necromantic magic but she specifically asked for your help to attempt some kind of ritual. No doubt doing it together would significantly improve the effectiveness of her spells, which should also see a sharp increase in power from all the corpses and recently dead. Using the recently deceased might be in bad taste but the livings matters.

''Mamonos hold their ancestors and their deads in reverence but that's not something that should stop us. People need protection and Vilma had a few chances to handle your magic, Arawn. Any options that'll allow us to better protect these young folks is worth considering.''

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Option 4
Opening a path toward Elementalism.
Resistance is light on the path toward this secluded school, creating a safe corridor to evacuate students could be the best option in term of saving lives. The school of Elementalism is a secluded area full of potentially very potent magician -with at least two Supreme Mamonos- finding out what's happening out there and regrouping with Deruella could be important...

"Evacuating into a stronghold is a better idea if we want to focus our efforts on saving lives. sieglinde want to remain here and fight but is it truly a good idea to try and fight with these young Mamonos?"

Option 5
Venture inside Internalisation chapel and get rid of the interference that prevents Tuilelaith portals.
Internalization is likely the most dangerous place to be right now... but the Overlord communication with the old vixen should allow her to come in with reinforcement once the tampering of Mother Earth web is gone.

''If we want to make gains on this objective quickly then we have to act now. It is a dangerous thing indeed to attempt a counter-offensive of our own without knowing the enemies positions but allowing the Suppression forces to come back and secure the fortress is a worthy endeavor... but I don't like this.''

Option 6
>Free.

The chosen option is going to be very important. In an attempt to be fair for my players, I'll be generous with the time for today choice. Unless we get a landslide majority for an option, I'll be updating tomorrow and tally all votes tonight.

If we had lost in the previous event and Vilma had turned against us, we wouldn't have her.

So, let's use the option our efforts last time allowed us to have now

>Option 3

Let's trust Vilma!

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AAA IT'S TIME
LET'S FOOKEN GO LADS AND LADETTES

>>3345463
>>3345467
Shoot, it's rather tought to choose... but I'm not comfortable with the Necromantic Ritual because it might add even more chaos into the fold.

>Option 4
Regrouping with Deruella? Yes please. Also I think the School of Elementalism is far more defensible than the opne-ish, surrounded arena.

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>>3345529
>>3345550
Early voices, nice. It might be a little slow on my part to offer this entire evening as a voting time, but coming up with a strategy is going to matter.

While the old adage about plans and enemies hold true, it's still important to coordinate your party.

>>3345467
>but none of you should dare runs or I swear on your ancestors that I'll kill you myself!
Did Priscilla say that? If so then damn. Girl missed her calling, she should have been a Commissar!

Ok then, question time. I read the sheet and it seems we have to pick between either embracing the aspect or being able to use our spells yes? How fast can we cycle between the two modes if so?

Any option involving us essentially attacking would give us the option of attempting a fusion tier correct? If we go for the mid-tier and make the roll would we start giving off an "aura of protection" that'd calm people down? Vilma could summon some undead no matter what we do I'd assume but say we make a break for either Deru or that Chapel, could we help her send a horde towards one or the other to help out somehow?

Also, just thought of this, but aren't there chapels to Mother Earth in the city surrounding the fortress? Presuming those aren't borked as well couldn't a sub-optimal situation where a portal springs up in town be feasible? It'd take travel time to get from there to here but perhaps not as long as the hour it'll take for Daiyu to just override this bullshit and gate in herself perhaps?

Finally, if we go for magitek supremacy we could suggest a course of action to the others like request they go for Deru? Klesiah is a human mage as well so wouldn't she also have the potential to activate and use such a weapon? I mean, having either the Mech or the Power Armor in play would be nice, but both would be amazing.

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>>3345572
Questions while waiting for other Anons to weigh in on the situation:

Are Magitek limbs/prosthetics possible?
If yes, what sort of upper limit could we expect for said limb replacers?

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>>3345679
>I read the sheet and it seems we have to pick between either embracing the aspect or being able to use our spells yes?
Yep
>How fast can we cycle between the two modes if so?
Take you a minute, so about two combats rounds.

>Any option involving us essentially attacking would give us the option of attempting a fusion tier correct?
You don't have to be in combat to attempt a fusion with Gardy, but it certainly helps because the resulting stress and adrenaline great bolster your synchrony.

>If we go for the mid-tier and make the roll would we start giving off an "aura of protection" that'd calm people down?
Yes. In this state, your magical nature will be changed by Gardy existence, so doing esoteric magic is possible... but you'll still be operating blindly, keep that in mind.

>Vilma could summon some undead no matter what we do I'd assume but say we make a break for either Deru or that Chapel, could we help her send a horde towards one or the other to help out somehow?
Vilma will indeed be raising undead no matter what you choose to do, however, you need to commit time if you want to actually bolster her magic: Battery isn't going to be enough here, the spirits of the recently deceased are strong and Vilma has recently learned not to bite off more than she can chew with ghosts. (Remember what happened in her duel.)

>Also, just thought of this, but aren't there chapels to Mother Earth in the city surrounding the fortress?
There's one major church on Daiyu island.
>Presuming those aren't borked as well couldn't a sub-optimal situation where a portal springs up in town be feasible?
Smart lad. Tuilelaith tried, she can't open anything in Throne Town as a whole.

>Finally, if we go for magitek supremacy we could suggest a course of action to the others like request they go for Deru?
Yes, the default option will be 1 if you guys do the rituals or make a break for the magitek equipment, but it's possible to argue for evacuation instead.
>Klesiah is a human mage as well so wouldn't she also have the potential to activate and use such a weapon?
She hasn't handled the strain of Magitek unlike you, so operating one of the pieces could be very dangerous for her health.

>>3345692
>Are Magitek limbs/prosthetics possible?
Yes.
You'll have to find out what's available.

>>3345729
How long would the evacuation to the School of Elementalism take? I'm very tempted to get the Magitek Armor, but I'm not willing to risk being cut off from the rest of our forces.

>You'll have to find out what's available.
Ooooh now you have my interest piqued!
But not enough to get me to start voting for Arawn to go full-on Adeptus Mechanicus on his own body willingly, of course! MAYBE if he ever loses a limb.

>>3345775
>How long would the evacuation to the School of Elementalism take?

Variable, the portal and it's surrounding abominations will need to taken care of. If everything goes well, the teenagers Mamonos could start going in as little as 10 minutes.

>>3345775
In a very, very technical sense, we already have. Our body once belonged to (and still does because fusion) a machine who never knew the weakness of feeble, fallible flesh.

With the help of magitek and a deepening of our bond with our bestest buddy, we could likely draw that fact to the fore and assume a form far more pleasing to the eyes of the Omnissiah without the need for self-mutilation. Nothing stopping us from making a few additions to our body though. Mechadendrites are so very useful for all kinds of things. If they don't exist we must invent them!

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>>3345823
Dangerous line of thinking.

Let's hope curiosity has been sated, there won't be much time to think once we commit to action. We've got ourselves two votes so far.

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>3345529
>>3345550
Alright, I'll break this stalemate and then we'll begin tomorrow for certain. Let's see which plan we'll go for, I'll be willing to reroll if we get an influx of vote in the next hour.

>>3346314
Alright, upon further thought a necromantic ritual will just freak everyone out. The girls around us will be fine, but everyone else will just split their attacks between the risen corpses and the Chaos Spawn as in their panicked state they'll probably think the dead are their enemy. Unless she's going for a LOtR "Ghost Army" kind of deal that is.

Thus, if the above thing isn't in the cards I vote we pulse our Aspect and feel where the strongest responses are coming from. Those should be Apostles and/or where the next level of "fun" is going to begin. We'll do this as we retreat towards the school of Elementalism. Deru's there and she probably knows how to undo the Portal jamming magic and that is probably coming from an apostle. She's also likely to know exactly how we're getting fucked and thus how to un-fuck us.

The enemy probably knows that and have thus likely sent someone/thing to take care of her before she can do anything to mess with the evil plan. We must save her. We cannot afford to lose her. Or any member of the royal family for that matter. Daiyu will eat us alive feet first if we fail to protect them!

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>>3346429
>The girls around us will be fine, but everyone else will just split their attacks between the risen corpses and the Chaos Spawn as in their panicked state they'll probably think the dead are their enemy. Unless she's going for a LOtR "Ghost Army" kind of deal that is.

Influencing Vilma ritual is going to be possible if you want to help her. Not gonna go into too many details here unless we commit to this choice.

>Thus, if the above thing isn't in the cards I vote we pulse our Aspect and feel where the strongest responses are coming from. Those should be Apostles and/or where the next level of "fun" is going to begin. We'll do this as we retreat towards the school of Elementalism.

Alright so to make this simple...

>Use Lady White aspect to detect her influence and Apostle whilst using option 4.

That makes two votes for evacuating.

>>3346452
Ok, so if I'm right about the ritual, Vilma's asking for more than just mana. She's asking for that and our aid in strengthening her will so that she doesn't suffer a repeat of what happened in the arena right? She want's us (presumably Gardy as well) to "share the burden" of controlling the dead yes?

>>3346470
Yes, alongside thorough domination of all spirits used for summoning and also use your soul magic to customize what kind of summons will be created.

Ergo, making this a full-blown choice because it'll require time to set up.

>>3346479
Would it be possible to attempt this ritual once we get to the Elementalism school? I am kinda partial towards a full regrouping of our forces before unleashing a hammer blow of a counter attack and an army of the dead bolstering a rallied mamono summoner cadres+students backed by all three Lilim is really speaking to me.

>>3346504
No, a group of around 10 girls died very recently and this is the catalyst for Vilma ritual. She needs their bodies, their blood and the location itself to accomplish this big summoning.

Alright, late enough. I'll be locking down for the evacuation and proceed with this plan for tomorrow update.

>>3346664
Fine with me. I am very, very worried about Deru and, well, let's be honest, that ain't gonna be the last big group of dead monstergirls we're gonna be seeing today.

A pile of "fresh" corpses remains a potential necromantic ritual site for how long? Whole bloody fortress may be riddled with em' now...

>>3346681
Doing the ritual before 6 hours have passed will lead to an optimal result.

>>3346725
Ok then, keep an eye out for those in that case. Vilma may yet get her time to shine! I wonder if Deru's blood magic can be thrown into this mix for a truly... "wondrous" result. Wondrous in the eyes of the ruinous powers perhaps but, well, if the greater Chaos Spawn of Tzeentch is on *our* side then hey, who cares right? What's a little heresy in the eyes of Mother Earth between friends?

oh hey the first thread of this quest i get to experience in real time. i've really enjoyed going through the archive
up until now i was against the guys so thirsty for
lady white's blood but this is pretty unforgivable

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''It'd be better to have the kids evacuate toward Elementalism.'' You look at Sieglinde straight on and she returns your gaze with cold ferociousness. ''The Mamonos around us are students, not trained soldiers. They've managed to hold together so far but the fact they still haven't established a line of defense doesn't bode well once hostility amplify. Our role as actual combatants is to protect lives, the onus is on us to safeguard the students.''

Sieglinde lips purse together angrily as you continued your train of thought. ''My quick headcount estimate almost two hundred teenagers standing in the square right now, moving that many people at once should be seen by scattered students, creating a safe corridor of evacuation will save more lives far quicker... and we'll also be able to meet with Deruella.''

''My first instinct is always to stand and fight.'' Responded the redhead. ''Maybe I've been too quick in my judgment, these Mamonos aren't soldiers.'' Perhaps she'd be able to galvanize their pride and convince them to actually fight but their lack of training would ultimately create too many casualties.

''Alright, change of plans.'' She didn't need a moment of rest to change her tune. ''Gwendolyn are you confident in your fighting abilities?''

The Overlord single eye shrunk and turned from glaring at yet another foe emerging out of a portal to focus on Sieglinde. ''I am, don't feel shy with ordering me your highness, these creatures are everyone enemies.''

''Okay, I want you and my sister to support Elenor group and hopefully gather folks fleeing out of Internalization. Prioritize saving lives instead of closing portals.'' Both mentioned girls nodded.

''Elina!'' The angel had been listening overhead, flying quietly above the group. ''I want you to act as mobile reinforcement and keep an eye on the forest. The first beast came out of there, we might be dealing with more than one portal. Also, make sure Vilma isn't interrupted.'' She looked at the small lich. ''You can still do some necromancy without Arawn, right?''

''Y-yes of course.'' Vilma had reluctantly left your side. ''I-I think... No, I can raise ten shades.''

''Do it, afterward help out Arawn and his knights if they aren't done opening a path.'' Then her attention was directed at you and your two knights. ''Make sure to stay safe you three.'' She gently tapped Hao shoulder, the maid looked to have calmed down a little.

''One last thing.'' Sieglinde took in one large breath.''Should anything render me unable to give orders, defer to Arawn judgment. I'll be informing Teruko of what's happening, she and Priscilla should be adequate in guiding the students forward. I'll be heading toward the gardens afterward to gather people and kill off creatures.''

What!? That's... No way! Martha or Gwendolyn ought to be fallback options, not you! If those two resented this decision they didn't show it, swallowing your astonishment and keeping a straight face felt particularly bitter.

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''Alright, let's go!'' There was no time for a moment of silence, each second was one of guttural yells and noises of battles. Sieglinde ran toward the center of the arena, Vilma jogged toward the corpses with Elina flying overhead, Gwendolyn ran toward Internalization with Martha slowing down her pace to and of course you ran toward your little theater of action, Hao taking vanguard.

''Milord why aren't you in Focus?'' Asked Klesiah once everyone separated. She hadn't let go of her magical mindset for a moment but you had let go of yours before the briefing.

''Trying to get a hint of a potential dirty trick.'' Being vague really was frustrating. Touching upon Ama aspect of your soul felt like actively worsening your health and there wasn't any tangible result for this new trick. A vague sense of familiarity coming from somewhere in Throne Town. It was a better idea to let it go and re-embrace your magical ability. ''I'll-''

''Diiiiiiiiie!'' Hao bloodcurdling scream of utter rage completely ended your discussion. Your second knight reinforced body ran at breakneck speed toward an abomination that, it seems, had actually gotten the idea of trying to charge into the prepared line of summoners. Before anyone could react the pair collided, Hao immense axe making a straightforward arc toward the being fleshy torso. 4 bladed arms crossed together to block... yet the maid simply outmuscled her foe guard and tore into its flesh, overpowering the lean entity and sending it crashing right on the ground, whereupon she began to pummel it to death.

''Hao! Don't leave your lord side like this!'' Klesiah chided angrily but the maid obviously didn't care and only stopped after five wallops, leaving behind a twitching mess of blood and flesh; the creature had been caught thoroughly off guard and was dead as a result.

''Didn't leave, lord and friend are here now.'' She didn't flash a smile, her glare carried clear intent of bloodsheds. ''Destroy rune to dispell portal.'' She pointed toward the shimmering green oval shape in the middle of the road, something was emerging from its swirly depth.

''That's a fleshgait!'' Klesiah exclaimed, pointing her glaive at the portal.

Indeed, that was one of those pale naked humanoids that had tried to assault your position in waves yesterday and it apparently didn't like the trip at all because the creature was writhing on the floor, holding its head. Another was already following its footsteps.

For the briefest of moments, your eyes trailed on the road of cobblestone bloodied by innocents, five corpses of Mamonos were lying on the ground inert in various states of... carnage. You've taken this path each time you went to train inside the relaxing, secluded park with your friends. ''Hold on...?'' You murmured, feeling your stomach twist upon seeing a familiar corpse.

Orangeish fur stained in blood, a clean decapitation, what was once a shy fox-woman that helped host the library was now dead.

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''...'' A simultaneous spark of anger from deep within your soul joined with Gardy almost ignited a maelstrom of fiery anger, your lightning gauntlet creaked into the force of your tightened fist. ''Let's do it.'' Your two knights nodded, waiting for you to establish their approach...

Five big abominations loitered the path between you and the portal, all of them stuck in some kind of perpetual dumbstruck daze, a few were feasting on corpses... Smaller fleshgait were continuously emerging out of your objective, increasing threats with each passing seconds.

Now, how to do this...

>Concentrate on eliminating the bigger threats as a group, corner each abomination one by one and slaughter them with your knights.

>Have one of your knights distract the creatures to open a path toward the portal.

>Free

And another choice.

>Augment Klesiah lightning ability with a battery spell to strengthen your offensive.
>Don't commit your magical ability yet, keep a close watch on what's happening and react accordingly.
>Free.

Rolls, if needed, will be asked after you guys confirm your actions.

>>3348415
>Concentrate on eliminating the bigger threats as a group, corner each abomination one by one and slaughter them with your knights.
And
>Don't commit your magical ability yet, keep a close watch on what's happening and react accordingly.

>Have one of your knights distract the creatures to open a path toward the portal.


>Don't commit your magical ability yet, keep a close watch on what's happening and react accordingly.

Ideally, we will tear down some of these monstrosities during our path toward the portal.

I still have hopes of assisting Vilma with our soul battery after this, but even if we don't, it feels like this is a trump card to use when our alles need it.

Perhaps to get them out of a tight spot.

>>3348452
>>3348436

Alright, one agreement so far. I'll wait about 20 minutes to see if another anon make their voices known, then do my usual roll.

>>3348471
Is Elina still in the area and have Vilma's summons caught up with us?

>>3348506
Vilma just started her ritual, it'll take a little while for her to finish. Elina is flying above the arena, ready to intercept anything that gets close to the teenagers.

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>>3348412
>Orangeish fur stained in blood, a clean decapitation, what was once a shy fox-woman that helped host the library was now dead.
...Aw, no!
White will suffer for this. I will no longer settle for merely skinning her tails, the ENTIRE fox must be flayed, slow as the day is long.

>>3348436
>>3348452
These sound good. Were Arawn better equipped, skilled and experienced he could fight on his own but alas...

Are the abominations' bodies persisting after death? We totally should rip some of those blades away and give us some makeshift armaments. Maybe fashion a spear or two if we have a chance.

I gotta wonder why Sieglinde appointed us as a "spare commander", rather than Martha or Gwen. Something to ask once this entire situation is dealt with.

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>3348517
>Are the abominations' bodies persisting after death?

Nope. Dead is dead here.

>We totally should rip some of those blades away and give us some makeshift armaments.

Possible if you use your soul arm, you've still got your lightning gauntlet too.

>>3348436
>>3348452

Rolling to make a choice.

>>3348513
Is Elenore around? Would it be possible to get her or some of the students to throw a few summons at this problem to help distract or kill these things? We must utilize all available resources!

>>3348530
Elenor is busy handling the Internalization front, while you are on the path of Elementalism. See this map here >>3345467

You could try roping students as a potential force.

Now then.
>Concentrate on eliminating the bigger threats as a group, corner each abomination one by one and slaughter them with your knights.
>Don't commit your magical ability yet, keep a close watch on what's happening and react accordingly.

Is where the dice landed but I can wait a little longer to make sure you folks agree on that.

If we do commit with this endeavor I'll need 5d20.

>>3348526
>>Are the abominations' bodies persisting after death?
>Nope. Dead is dead here.
Ah, I wasn't being clear here. I wasn't worried about the abominations being dead, I was worried that the bodies would disintegrate or fade away after death preventing us from getting Arawn a blade or two from said bodies.

Also, It totally thought that >>3348436 and >>3348452 were in agreement on how to deal with the abominations, my mistake. Sorry!

>>3348541
>Concentrate on eliminating the bigger threats as a group, corner each abomination one by one and slaughter them with your knights.
>Don't commit your magical ability yet, keep a close watch on what's happening and react accordingly.
Sounds good to me.

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>>3348550
>Ah, I wasn't being clear here. I wasn't worried about the abominations being dead, I was worried that the bodies would disintegrate or fade away after death preventing us from getting Arawn a blade or two from said bodies.

I see, then your action is perfectly doable because the corpses do remain after death.

We've got three voices for the same choices, time to roll folks. Give me 5d20!

Rolled 15, 7, 2, 3, 1 = 28 (5d20)

>>3348560
good rolls pls

Rolled 3, 11, 17, 14, 6 = 51 (5d20)

>>3348560
DICE GOOOO-

>>3348573
>That 1
I'm worried.

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>>3348573
Nice.

>>3348579
Acceptable.

Let's see how our last roll goes.

>>3348579
Look like I'll be going with this one.

I'll try rolling. Did I make it in time?

>>3348630
Was just about to lock, so yeah you made it.

dice+5d20 in options

Rolled 7, 19, 2, 15, 6 = 49 (5d20)

Right, hehe.

>>3348631
Ok, now that the rolls are in, how badly are we fucked?

Rolled 20, 18, 5, 1, 11 = 55 (5d20)

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>>3348649
A good average.
You'll have to see what that means in the next post.

I am guessing that last one after mine came too late? Or does it count?

>>3348669
Came a little too late, unfortunately. I take the best of three.

>>3348676

Aww, dammit. Oh well, next time.

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The closest creature was similar to the very first entities that had so mercilessly slaughtered a dozen innocents, except smaller and leaner with a few dangerous appendages ready to latch around limbs. A metallic squeak accompanied your hand with your pointing; this was no hunt or murder, these beings were anathema to life itself. Cold rage burned a bright flame inside your bosom; ripping off one of blade arms of that fresh kill with your soul arm brought small, petty satisfaction. It'll make an adequate makeshift weapon for close ranges.

''Let's take them one by one, together.'' You spoke, looking to your knights.

Both nodded. ''Together.'' Repeated Hao who hefted that ridiculous axe on her shoulder -maid outfit now thoroughly ruined, revealing the chainmail underneath- and proceeded to charge once more, Klesiah following close behind this time, glaive crackling with energy.

15 seconds later, the enemy was dead. It tried to reach with Hao sudden appearance and use one of its bulky arms to crush your knight but she swung her weapon in anticipation -putting all of her strength into this one swing- and promptly carved right through the limb. Klesiah had circumvented around the creature bulk, keeping one firm hand on her glaive whose blade tore a long, continuous line across the creature back, then ducked under its swinging arm and plunged her blade under softer tissues underneath, whereupon a clap of thunder exploded half its body mass from the inside out.

''That's one!'' Your gauntlet was humming with sweet murderous energy. ''Wait until this next one gets closer, Hao! I'm thinking he's far too dangerous to hack dead!'' You warned your knight: both girls had rejoined your sides before their kill hit the ground.

The abomination in question was another tall and fat disfigured mockery of humanity, strange greenish pustules adorned its fat belly and opening throughout its body allowed a disgusting liquid to pool off and land on the ground creating constant sizzling small holes. There was also a body by feet in such a terribly horrific state... Better not to look.

''Help me out into zapping it dead, Klesiah.'' A crack of thunder followed your words as your Magitek weapon bloomed with destructive power, one single line of thunder crashed into its belly of pustules, creating a disgusting splash of steamy liquids.

A second line of thunder, more on the purple side compared to the yellowish-blue thunder of your gauntlet, emerged out of the blue knight glaive to snap the entity knee, sending it on the ground. Your Magitek glove was already primed for action, unleashing a second jolt that slammed into the acidic entity head, and in the same movement, Klesiah added another jolt that caused an explosive reaction with enough force to drag the body into faraway bushes.

You have used two medium lightning spells - you don't notice any changes with your internal reserves.

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A terrible noise of impact and meaty tearings revealed that Hao hadn't gone off on her own, four fleshgaits had decided to charge and she already hacked to pieces and proceeded to whirl around and club her second foe -who had attempted to jump on her back- with the back of her axe. The other pair were aiming for Klesiah and your knight wasn't caught off guard, for she swung her polearm the moment they were within reach, bisecting one face horizontally, and slamming her staff into the second offender whereupon a quick back and forth of her knees led to disembowelment and a stab in the face.

The violence must have awakened something deep within the shattered minds of your enemies because the last three abominations had congregated into a group, lining sides by sides like you and your two knights. One of them reminded you of a Red World entity in having a humanoid lower half whilst its upper body was simply... a split of bloody, toothed lines. Next was another one of those lean, 4 armed-bladed freaks and the last was a weird creature, a tall and thick near quadruped with a skull for a face, long thin neck, and oversized hands and feet.

What kind of sick mind would create things like these!?

''Seems they've noticed us.'' Klesiah murmured. ''This could be a little tricky...''

''Hehehe.'' Hao grinned, sticking her tongue out; one of the mindless freak toke a step forward and a sense of aggression spread within their small rank to make them all lumbers toward your group.

Thankfully nothing else was coming out of the portal for now.

You have time for one quick action before having another fight. There's no time for observation or something elaborate here.

>Have Klesiah become a recipient of your Battery spell and try to take down one of the creatures before is joined. [Small/Medium/High]

>Support your knight as best you can with your Magitke gauntlet. [Employ a conservative use of magic.] Or [Go wild with your reserves to ensure nobody is wounded or -worse- killed.]

>You need to think long term. Don't commit your magic here.

>Free

>>3349004
>Have Klesiah become a recipient of your Battery spell and try to take down one of the creatures before is joined. [Medium]
Hopefully this helps us break through without using too much juice

>>3349004
Would using a lightning whip from the gauntlet count as going wild with our reserves? My thinking is that we could damage/stun the entire group and then charge for quick takedowns.

>Have Klesiah become a recipient of your Battery spell and try to take down one of the creatures before is joined. [Medium]

Medium is good. Small wouldn't make too much effect, and High would be too much for our current needs.

As for the quick action, how about moving closer to the portal and try to destroy it now before starting another brawl?

If it's possible t do that as a free action, I vote for that. Perhaps we can tell Klesiah to focus some of her lightning fueled by battery spell to take down the portal?

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>3349062
>Would using a lightning whip from the gauntlet count as going wild with our reserves?

No.

>My thinking is that we could damage/stun the entire group and then charge for quick takedowns.

A medium spell won't be enough to daze them like this. You'll need to gamble on your gauntlet durability.

>As for the quick action, how about moving closer to the portal and try to destroy it now before starting another brawl?

Sorry if I've confused thing, the quick action itself would be doing the battery.

>Perhaps we can tell Klesiah to focus some of her lightning fueled by battery spell to take down the portal?

The creatures are a little too far from the portal to make that work, unfortunately.

Battery it is, let's see how much Klesiah is going to drain you...

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>>3349081
...Well taking in a little too much magic isn't necessarily a bad thing here!

Reminder that lower is better when it comes to measurement.

Let's see what happen next.

>>3349081
>>3349088
Ugh, we really need to get that Measurer perk onto our Battery spell - fueling someone else's spells is, quite frankly, too... unreliable(?) currently. Honestly speaking I will actively dislike using theBattery spell until this glaring flaw is fixed.

Anyways, I gotta head off now. Blasted timezone differences dictate that I sleep. Thanks for running Insert!

>>3349122
Thank for showing up buddy.

I'm not so sure if I'll update tonight now that I'm giving this roll some better thoughts, fueling Klesiah with a big amount of your magic is going to be... flashy.

>>3349081
>>3349088
Aww damn it! Well, at least it wasn't a 6. Other anon's right, after this shit we are getting that measurer perk for this spell ASAP. Every damn time we use it in combat we get fucking drained harshly it seems!

So what is the end result here? Did our moderate drain option get changed to the major one? What's the difference between a 5 and a 6 with these things? Please tell me this at least causes a chain reaction and hits all those fuckers at once and sends them into critical if not outright killin' em' dead.

>>3349334
>So what is the end result here? Did our moderate drain option get changed to the major one?

Klesiah failed the dc for a medium spell, result will end up in the high range.

>What's the difference between a 5 and a 6 with these things?

Crits don't count with d6, it's just a dc to get the right measurement.

Look like this is one of those cases that need me to write more than I first anticipated, don't worry I'll update today. Just later than I wanted.

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''Eeep!? M-My lord!?'' A simple handhold was far more intense than a combination of adrenaline and imminent danger for your knight it seems. Klesiah stiffened from head to toes despite the approaching enemies, causing awkward creaks from her plated armor, finishing with a thoroughly confused look.

''Klesiah, I want to strengthen your magic.'' Your uncovered hand squeezed hers, she blinked once and returned to her previously grim expression. ''Take a moderate amount, it should be enough to eliminate one of them. My support with the gauntlet will help us gain the upper hand afterward.''

''Okay.'' She squeezed your hand. Less than seven meters separated you from this trio now.

''Hao!'' You called out to your second knights whilst mingling your flows with Klesiah, doing so quickly was definitely ill-advised but a battlefield doesn't want on anybody. ''Magic first!'' You proclaimed when she faced you. ''Combat after!'' Her only answer was a nod whilst keeping her firm stance with axe on her shoulder, ready for another wild swing that had proven quite effective against these monstrosities.

You felt a hint of Klesiah emotions, a tumultuous projection of warmth eliciting images of rapids water but a sudden and extremely invasive sensation of loss that you hadn't braced against made you break physical contact with your knight and stumble on one knee.

A chunk of your internal reserves was consumed. You still have enough to function for a while, it would be prudent to avoid such spells if you want to function for the entire day.

''T-that wasn't...'' Your lungs were empty of air, keeping Focus active felt like an active effort.

''Agh...! I-I'm sorry... Arawn, my lord!'' Klesiah didn't' seem to be faring any better. Crackles of electricity rippled across her body in a cascade of purplish veins, she was trying her best to avoid grimacing and lean on her glaive whilst processing your magical nature.

Klesiah wasn't a strong mage by any means, she couldn't create spells outside of her body and had thusly adapted her natural gift to enhance her training, she wasn't being electrocuted from the inside out... even if that's how thing looked.

Doesn't help at all in making you confident.

''T-there was so much of you, my lord I... So much strength, so much life...'' She raised herself to her feet, a small cough somehow creating a crackle of electricity as if her very breath had turned into thunders.

''I'm not angry. Just worried.'' How could you ever stay mad at this steadfast knight?

''Friends! Enemies closer! Seconds!'' Hao screamed, the three creatures had begun running, closing distances quickly enough to make words a dangerous waste of time.

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Ominous crackles surrounded Klesiah silhouettes, jolts of purplish thunders snapped around her body traveling throughout her metal armor harmlessly but a congregation of color on her glaive made it obvious she was likely enchanting the thing, using her weapon to channel magical energy. Once the abominations crossed a threshold of three meters, the blue knight suddenly threw her long polearm like a javelin -a feat undoubtedly made possible by bodily reinforcement- and with snapping lightning the weapon embedded itself inside the misshapen entity in the middle, immediately resulting in a lighting burst that destabilized its comrades whilst simultaneously cooking the flesh of that already sliced up excuse of a humanoid.

The damage on Klesiah first victim was terrible. Purple lightning traveled its fleshy body, contracting muscles, melting flesh, seemingly eating right into the bones and snapping them with loud crackles that your brain almost registered as a cackling witch. The noise of sliding steel revealed that she was far from done.

Barely finished with pulling out her sword, Klesiah aimed her sidearm toward her polearm and a long, blinding tendril of purple jolted to life -impossible to know where it originated from- and twin thunders lashed out like arrows to strike the other two foes, both having regained some measure of balance to continue their charge. The fatter of the two was struck right in its skull face whilst the second intercepted with a bladed arm, only for the limb to dig inside its own torso from the thunderous contact.

That's when Hao suddenly began running toward this leaner enemy and Klesiah shifted her attention on the last one with perfect coordination. ''One!'' Screamed your knight, thrusting forward with her sword, creating a long serpentine lash of thunder that crashed into the tall creature shoulder. ''Two!'' She continued bending her knees, aiming another jolt toward the being torso, tearing out a chunk of meat. ''Three!'' Klesiah raised herself on full legs, aiming another crackle of purple light toward the creature skull face as it reeled back. ''Die!'' She screamed, coursing magic into her sword, creating another source of worrisome roaring lightning in a simulacrum of natural might.

Klesiah threw her sword... no, her magic made it seem that way. Her blade became a temporary nexus of thunder that flew toward the dazed abomination, sticking deep into this muscled red hide... Then came a blinding show of purplish might all but cooking this entity alive.

The green shimmering portal petered out of existence when your second knight pulverized the rune. Something fleshy and heavy had been attempting to pass through but Hao pushed back with a sound clubbing with the back end of her axe.

"Klesiah!?" She was too busy taking a few long gulp of air to respond. "You... are you okay?''

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"Of course milord.'' She flashed an honest smile, looking at the dead creatures then running to retrieve her arsenal. Those being were definitely the kind to be used to break formations but the curse surrounding Runes of Passages really hamstrung their potential.

Nevertheless, they could take serious punishment.

''Your reserves?" You asked once Klesiah returned, Hao also silently running back to your side.

''I'm fine, Arawn. Your magic is... overwhelming, I-I never thought I'd be able to produce such magical destruction in my life...'' Vilma had described your soul magic as some kind of paste, this description was inadequate when it Klesiah. She displayed a sudden increase in potential far, far beyond her natural ability. Could it be that you also acted as some kind of stimulant for elemental mages?

''Let's rejoin with the others, we've done our job!'' Barely five minutes had passed since you began this little mission.

The arena looked safe, a few groups of students had added themselves in the group thereby creating a significant crowd of teenage Mamonos. Near the forest, you immediately spotted Vilma surrounded by strange entities that -Mother's Mercy- weren't looking hostile. Ten bluish humanoids surrounded her with a translucid characteristic that inevitably reminded you of the Magritew but, judging by the fresh corpse of another abomination that had charged out of the forest (damages on the trees didn't lie) Vilma summons looked effective.

The crowd had swelled too much for you to get any hints about Sieglinde whereabouts: the enemies littering the garden had been spreading out deeply, likely forcing her to venture far to keep people out of harm's way.

On the front toward Internalization, things looked stable. The group led by Gwendolyn and Martha had accumulated an impressive body count by adapting with the recent discovery that violence galvanized the enemy into action. A dozen summoners had come to bolster their forces leading into the creation of a stable line that managed to hold out against the abominations clumsy assaults - no doubt your allies would have much more trouble if those creatures could coordinate- but this sight was heartening indeed, already having the hoped effect of guiding many fleeing students their way.

Unfortunately, this was a small victory.

The five minutes of your struggle had been enough for Internalization to be lost. Entities of all shapes and sizes emerged from within its depths, moving in random directions yet snapping to attention every time they sensed violence. Fleshgaits ran in a confused frenzy, bigger creatures battered themselves on the walls... Whoever architected this attack had undeniable poured most of their resources on this objective.

The students had all been encouraged to remain outside the fortress once the soldiers of various Mamonos had been invited inside but there's no telling how many remained and now, how many are dead in there.

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''Arawn!'' Perhaps this sight had also captivated your knights because all three of you jumped on Priscilla arrival. ''Good work! Your battle was witnessed by the students, now everyone knows this will make a safe corridor to reach-''

Teruko signal interrupted her. A gorgeous spread of greenish-gold light invaded the blue midday sky like an aurora whilst simultaneously creating a thin luminescent pillar. This spectacle lasted only a few seconds, perhaps intense enough to have been witnessed throughout the entire city... But it also didn't escape the enemies because many of them jerked and twisted their bodies as if chasing their robbed sanity, then proceeded to run toward the arena southern line.

''...I can lead the student from the fronts and lead them toward Elementalism. I know the way.'' Priscilla continued, unphased by this developed. this maid might be a non-combattant but she's certainly honoring her lord.

''What if you have to deal with another portal?'' Klesiah asked.
The sight of Teruko pregnant frame jogging toward with her brilliant fairy sitting on her shoulder had you momentarily dumbstruck. Mamonos really are a sturdy bunch huh?

''We'll have to manage.'' Responded the maid grimly, replacing her glasses. ''The girls understand the foes can be killed and Elementalism has its own Supreme Monster without counting her ladyship Deruella. It is not beyond hope to believe they've already sent a contingent our way.''

''I say!'' Teruko puffed, keeping a hand on her round belly. ''...She is right! Stand and fight now mysir this is our role.'' She caught your gaze toward her stomach and grimaced. ''Don't for once believe I'm not going to fight! Keeping students under control was important but so is saving those unfortunate scattered everywhere!''

...but wasn't this a prime opportunity for her enemies to attempt harming her now?

''Elina went to help our passionate majesty in closing the garden portal, mineself cannot quite fathom what seems to be holding them b-'' A loud sound of crashing trees and maimed barks revealed the appearance of a new foe out of the forest. Vilma yelped and jumped back, sending all of her ghosts on an overwhelming offensive that already began to tear this entity into bloody ribbons.

You don't have time to fully analyze the situation. The line guarding Internalization is bracing for a violent impact: a dozen abominations and fleshgaits had been attracted by Teruko signal, a menace significant enough for Martha to force the 10 volunteers back and Elenor to conjure all of her clones. The teachers were gathering together, speaking with the Overlord in those precious moments before the battle was joined.

''We need to make a quick command and stick to it.''

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>Insist that Teruko leave, her life isn't hers alone and this group of students -close to 300 now- need protection.

>Accept the help of the elder summoner. One more strong combattant is badly needed here.

And...

>Join the defensive line in the south and push back those freaks pouring out of Internalization!

>Go find Sieglinde, what in the world is holding her up?

>Free

It is also possible to separate your knights. Sending them both to reinforce the southern line while investigating Sieglinde front is possible, as would be sending one of them to accompany the students.

I'll probably be taking tomorrow to rest up a little but don't for a moment believe I want to end our thread this soon. I'd like to take the entirety of next week for updating too, gotta make up for lost time!

>>3351884
>Accept the help of the elder summoner. One more strong combattant is badly needed here.
>Go find Sieglinde, what in the world is holding her up?
But leave one of our knights with Teruko

>>3351884
>Accept the help of the elder summoner. One more strong combattant is badly needed here.
I REALLY don't like it - and I say we voice that part - but we don't have the luxury of choice here. Teruko stays.
>Hao joins the defensive line, Klesiah stays to help guard Teruko, Arawn goes to find Sieglinde.

If there's time, I'd say now is a good moment to either loot a weapon from a corpse, borrow one from a student or rip off an abomiantion's armblades. Better to be armed than empty handed I thinks.
While highly unlikely, maybe having Arawn handle an actual weapon would jog his memory even a little

>>3351951
You'll need to make a choice between Klesiah or Hao.

Also, unless specifically asked, anyone you don't take with you to investigate Sieglinde situation will go reinforce the southern line. (Though, Vilma will keep guarding the forest)

>>3351955
>If there's time, I'd say now is a good moment to either loot a weapon from a corpse, borrow one from a student or rip off an abomiantion's armblades.

You've still got your soul arm holding onto one. I didn't mention it because nothing came close enough for you to need it.

>Accept the help of the elder summoner. One more strong combattant is badly needed here.

I prefer Teruko staying here, where we can see her, than her retreating to somewhere where she can be ambushed.

But, if that is the case, I want Arawn to stay around teruko for the time being.

>Send Klesiah to check up on Sieglinde while Arawn and Hao stay and hold the line. If Klesiah can't report back to us a sjort while afterwards, we will conclude there is trouble and rush to her and Sieglinde's aid.

Does Klesiah have a way to signal distress to us from a far away distance?

>>3351961
Well, perhaps we can grab another one! One can never be too well prepared.
Besides having an extra means we can sacrifice one as a throwing weapon in a pinch.
>>3351992
Hmmm. You made think about this a little more actually. Sieg gave Arawn a bit of commanding power, so our elf might be of more use helping with coordinating the situation in the arena rather than rushing off towards Sieg... I'll have to sleep on this.

>>3351992
>Does Klesiah have a way to signal distress to us from a far away distance?

Possible by using a particularly strong lightning spell, but it'll be difficult to make it a genuine signal. You know her style by now, she really likes making thick bolts of lightning.

>>3351884
So if I'm reading everything right the Internalization school is utterly fucked (i.e. no chance of clearing the portal interference now), Sieg and Elina are currently being held up somehow in the garden I bet money they just met an Apostle and their entourage, and Teruko just rang the dinner bell for the abominations for some reason?

Fuck, this is all really bad. Would it be possible to take some summoners/students and assign them either to ourselves or our knights as dedicated units under our/their command as they/we go for an objective? How feasible are dedicated summoned meatshields in this capacity as well? What mamono types are here for us to requisition?

Also, it's rather morbid but can't we grab a few more pointy bits from the abomination corpses lying around and hold them in our arms/hands? We have a Gravity Gun essentially and my major gripe with that game was the inability to just make something to lug around a few spare sawblades or spikes that you could just throw down in front of you and start lobbing with the gun into enemies whenever ya felt like it. Yet more morbid ideas, get the summons to toss corpses with pointy bits Gwen's way. That's basically ammo for her as she's a telekine right? How far away are we from Martha and Gwen?

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>>3352303
>Teruko just rang the dinner bell for the abominations for some reason?

Nobody anticipated that making a light show would make the enemy suddenly aggressive. It did work in reorientation scattered students at least.

>Would it be possible to take some summoners/students and assign them either to ourselves or our knights as dedicated units under our/their command as they/we go for an objective?

Yes, but you won't be able to join the southern line in time in doing that because you'll need to gather volunteers.

>How feasible are dedicated summoned meatshields in this capacity as well?

Fairly adequate, most average summoners style their creatures with animals or monsters of the past and adequately remake their abilities so they work very well in distracting enemies.

>What mamono types are here for us to requisition?

All races, the majority are beastgirls like kitsunes, dogs, cats but there's also a significant number of Lamias. A few insects students are scattered in the crowd and there are a few scattered warrior type Mamonos that evacuated Internalisation in time. Keep in mind that the yare expected to be evacuated, not being suddenly roped into a fight.

>Also, it's rather morbid but can't we grab a few more pointy bits from the abomination corpses lying around and hold them in our arms/hands?

No, you've already got one with your soul arm, you can't split that one yet. Holding something with your non-magitek hand is very impractical, the blade-arms aren't easy to hold onto without hurting yourself.

>Yet more morbid ideas, get the summons to toss corpses with pointy bits Gwen's way. That's basically ammo for her as she's a telekine right?

That's right, she's been chopping off bits off dead corpses with her mind and using debris to lob at creatures with surprising lethality.

>How far away are we from Martha and Gwen?

Looking at the map here >>3345467
You've gone a fair distance into the path of Elementalism to get rid of the portal, joining the southern line will take you one minute of sprinting with your reinforced body.

Joining them ASAP will allow you two free actions to help coordinated the combatants before having to answer the first wave. Teruko will need to be carried to get there quickly, but that's something Arawn can easily do since he's the only one without weapons.

Here are the people currently keeping things secure.

>Martha, Gwendolyn, Elenor, three teachers (witch hat lamia with purple scale, short haired blond demoness, a spiderwoman) and three Minotaurus (Brenhilda twins and their mom)

>>3352383
So we could grab one with our lightning gauntlet hand so we'd have 2 at least? Military philosophy after all: "2 is 1 and 1 is none" Ya seem to be awfully fond of posting gun waifus as of late it would seem.

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>>3352506
You'd have to let go of the blade the moment you want to use a thunderbolt but yeah, using your armor that way is doable.

>Ya seem to be awfully fond of posting gun waifus as of late it would seem.

I've been making a setting inspired by gun waifus for a while and I've been mighty tempted to try doing two quests at once. I know I shouldn't bite more than I can chew... But I sure love gun waifus. Rereading Alternative recently isn't helping to curb this sci-fi urge

As stated yesterday, we'll continue tomorrow so I'll tally votes this evening.

>>3352521
>That spoiler
Alternative? As in Muv-Luv? Well now, that explains quite a lot. The fantasy version of *that* event. Damn, it's worse than I feared. Are the abominations Silicon based? Gonna have to put the corpses through some tests in the lab later.

>>3353933

Don't worry that statement was just there to make you sweat. I'm not taking any pointers from it. Everything is made of flesh, don't worry. Besides, we already have our own form of aliens to handle because of the Cursed Swamp.

>>3351884
>>3351955
>Accept the help of the elder summoner. One more strong combattant is badly needed here.
>Hao joins the defensive line, Klesiah stays to help guard Teruko, Arawn goes to find Sieglinde.

>>3354468
Can we *not* go it alone in looking for Sieg? We are support, not direct combat. Unless you're wanting to risk burnout with a fusion activation. We should take either Teruko or one of our knights if we are to aid Sieg else we'll only be getting in the way.

>>3354699
Teruko should remain in a localized area since she's pregnant, but I'm down for taking Klesiah and having Hao protect the pregnant momono.

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Alright after rereading It seems these are our choices.

>Accept the help of the elder summoner. One more strong combattant is badly needed here.

And

>Hao join the defensive line with Teruko whilst Arawn and Klesiah go investigate Elina and Sieglinde position.

At least that seems to be the mood I'm getting.

>>3354957
Mmmh, seems good to me.

>>3354957
sounds right.

>>3354957
Oh yeah, an important question I forgot to ask, is the garden portal she was supposed to shut down still up? If so then that's a very, very large red flag and she definitely needs assistance.

I assume we get to bark an order before we're off to aid Sieg right? If so we tell them to keep Teruko safe and to send any glory hungry battle freaks/volunteer militia they can spare our way. I fear we'll be needing a few meatshields...

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>>3355741
>Oh yeah, an important question I forgot to ask, is the garden portal she was supposed to shut down still up?

I completely forgot to deliver that info. Teruko and Priscilla saw it disappear.

>I assume we get to bark an order before we're off to aid Sieg right?

Indeed. The order itself include separating your knight but adding a little flavor work out fine too.

>>3355800
Ok, sudden epiphany here guys, I think we wanna take Hao with us instead of Klesiah. New worst case scenario, the portal wasn't closed because Sieg and Elina closed it, but rather, they got dragged into it and then it was sealed behind them to trap them within the red world. This explains why they have yet to return. It's also what I'd do to them as a villain. Taking the top commander and main healer "off the board" is just good common sense if you can manage it.

Hao told us she can access the red world essentially at will without the need of the Hour of Lullaby. This implies she can exit it at will as well. If they've been dragged into that hellscape Hao's our only chance of safely extracting/saving them.

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>>3355955
Oh. Ok. Yeah. Let's do that then.

>>3355955
Agreed

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There wasn't going to be any good decision here; Sieglinde saddled you with the burden of leadership and now its burden demanded a life and death decision with far too few seconds to spare for analysis.

''No time to argue.'' You began, knowing full well Teruko stubborn temperament. ''Klesiah, Teruko, go bolster the line. Hao, you're with me.'' You tapped your chest with thumb for emphasis. ''Need to see what's holding up Elina and Sieglinde.''

''Eh...?'' Klesiah hadn't expected to be separated, her expression of sad worry squeezed your heart and for a precious moment, you remembered that this woman - this pillar of your past- had barely stayed in Daiyu fortress for a single week...!

''Let's go. Priscilla evacuates the students! Violence will intensify very soon!'' Your body was already heavily reinforced. You didn't wait for the pregnant lizard or your blue knight reply, perhaps in a desire to run away from this overwhelming worry brought by the reality that the majority of your friends are going to be in extreme danger very soon, you ran toward the arena without adding anything else, Hao following close behind like the faithful knight she's proving herself to be.

It took only a few seconds to regroup with Vilma who observed the coming onslaught with evident fear, unfortunately, constant interruption from entities emerging out of the forest portal made it far too dangerous for her necromantic talent to be fully dispatched with bolstering the line; trickles of abominations emerged by their lonesome in constant threats of pulling off a lethal flanking attack. One glance was all that could be shared between you two.

When you and Hao took your first steps into the ravaged area of the garden the noise of battle echoed viciously, a mixture of screams, magic, and bestial roars almost made you turn -doubly so when the zapping of thunder distinctively cut into this mess of sounds- but this wasn't your fight and turning around would likely make it impossible to advance.

''Find friends.'' Hao somehow managed to speak during a sprint. ''Elina, Sieglinde strong. Need them, help others... find them!''

This tribal girl really pours her entire being into whatever it is she choose to do.

Getting a better look into the garden current state was ominous. Corpses of abominations and smaller fleshlight littered the ground in various states of bloodied mess with the kind of collateral damage that was a telltale sign of Elina potent wind magic. There weren't any signs of a portal anymore but that didn't disprove another one deeper in, where large squares of maintained flowers gave way to a relaxing path flanked by trees, completely cutting off visual sight with the arena.

This entire place really felt like your home...

''Let's go!'' You and Hao had only paused for a short breath. She wasn't showing any strain but lugging around that big, bloody axe must be exhausting.

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Corpses leaned on trees, others were pulverized, a few abominations looked to have been ripped apart, strange beasts had also been freshly killed -quadrupeds with added appendage for lethality- making your way deeper into this secondary forest revealed ominous faraway noises coming from the sky. Echoes of a faraway tempest?

''Look!'' Hao stopped and pointed toward the horizon of water. There, high up in the sky, were two winged silhouettes locked in aerial combat, pulling off dizzying maneuvers to strike at each other with similar halberds. Golden shields were conjured and broken constantly, wind magic clashed with shockwaves of ear piercing booms. One of them was a four-winged silhouette and he clearly had the upper hand mostly because...Elina... was trying to disengage desperately without success.

''Hao, let's find Sieglinde.'' You couldn't yell, your throat had tightened painfully, your mouth was empty of spit, your lips and tongue felt pasty, heavy, a burden to move.

On the road of cobblestone, you and Hao reached a group.

''We've wasted more than enough time indulging you, woman. Get a move on, kill this one quickly already she's not our objective.'' This grave, yet warm and paternal, the masculine voice belonged to a familiar monstrous male. A giant of muscle and blue skin completely bald of any hairs, one protruding horn jutting out of his head. Attached -no, shackled is a better word- on his wrist was a spiked bracelet digging into his skin tied to a floating book by a chain.

''Shut up.'' Replied a tall woman, the unfamiliar face of the group. Long blond hair cascading down her frame toward her lower back. With skin was tanned by the sun, the lady looked foreign. ''She's a part of it too, goddamn years did I insist on a fucking duel of honor and this bitch always smugged me, guess because the plain truth is that she's a weak piece of trash abusing her bloodline privilege, right Sieglinde!?'' A piercing thunk resonated when she stabbed a thin blade into something dark.

It wasn't a mere something. Sieglinde was at her feet and this blade had just pierced right through her palm yet the Lilim uttered no sounds, her brilliant gaze burned with life but her wounds made it impossible for her to stand. Merciless lines crisscrossed her back, the tip of her tail was gone -its bladed end was embedded inside a nearby tree- and her clothes were little more than rags cut by a blade, everywhere you could see there was blood. Sieglinde was lying in a pool of her own vital fluids, so much red that... you couldn't even fully investigate her injuries.

''Haha! Arawn, helloooo!'' Mimiru jumped on her feet upon seeing you, waving in excitement.

The silent dark elf had been sitting next to the little blond and she acknowledge your arrival by aggressively grabbing her pair of tonfas: gone was the silly jester costume, her red eyes were fixated on you in a passionate emotion almost akin to rage.

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The Apostles...

''Mh, Arawn Loukanos.'' Now it seemed they all acknowledged you beside the taller woman who kept grinning down at Sieglinde. Prominent teeth revealed obvious vampiric heritage. ''Good of you to come so quickly, getting rid of our most troublesome tactical enemy will make things much smoother.'' The male Oni, Harkon, smiled gently in self-satisfaction, his hovered book opened to reveal loathsome black pages of a grimoire full of runic alphabet.

''Aw cmon he's not part of her revenge, Ama doesn't want us to break her toy at all so mind yourself, biggie!'' Mimiru chided the giant of a blue man, who acknowledged the statement with a huff and a slap of his tail.

''Lord Arawn...'' Hao had been standing rigid, her whisper was interrupted by a particularly loud snap in the sky that suddenly erupted in a strong gust of wind that shook all the trees like fluffy toys. ''...Leave now, Hao will stay and slow them.'' Finished the tribal girl, her piercing green eyes were focused on the redhead demoness who, you realized, was mouthing a silent message, one single continuous word. Run

''Hahaha! So you can still gesticulate!'' The tall vampiress plunged the tip of her rapier inside Sieglinde shoulder, putting a stop to her efforts.

''Jena!'' Harkon growled. ''We are on a tight schedule!''

Perhaps this was a shock you couldn't endure well. All of your thoughts were reduced to a crawled mess, yet all sight of your benefactor made your heart beats a thunderous avalanche.

Kill this one quickly.

All of Ama's Apostles were gathered here.

Kill this one quickly.

You can't... there's no way to win this fight, Elina is... They have an angel...

Kill this one quickly.

An amalgam of more than forty entities was engaged with a small, far, far too small, number of your acquaintances and friends.

Kill this one quickly.

Leaving Hao here to... what, become a battery for Teruko and hope she can take them all down? Mother's Mercy you... you should have gone and taken the Magitek weapon!

Kill this one quickly.

At least... they won't be a menace for the evacuated students.

>Try and get them to talk. How did they get here? What're their objectives?

>Stand and fight with Hao, these guys clearly aren't here to talk and you can't afford to have them disrupt the Arena... They're obviously after Teruko!

>Take your knight advice and run back to your friends. (Alternatively, run back with Hao, leaving Sieglind behind.)

>Free.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgNJ-ekduVg

>>3358577
>Try and get them to talk. How did they get here? What're their objectives?
Well we're straight fucked

How ya doin' INH? Saw your twitter posts, sorry you've been having a rough time.

>>3358577
Shit, shit fuck shit! If we leave, Sieg dies. Why the hell isn't she in her warform like when she was dueling Belph? We still have that limb in our soul arm right? Please tell me this is causing a resonance with Gardy. They're all gonna die in front of our eyes!

There are few options I'm seeing here. One, we go for a fusion activation and send Hao to grab help. Two, we try to get them to talk and stall for time in the hopes that Deru or something bails us out of this. Three, if we still have the spike, we try to brain one of em' then go for fusion. Wouldn't the magitek weapon have taken half an hour to attain? That would have still left Sieg pretty fucked.

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>>3358693
I'm fine now, thanks. I got hit by the QM curse during February it seems, things are better now.

>>3358702
>Why the hell isn't she in her warform like when she was dueling Belph?
It is a mystery.

>We still have that limb in our soul arm right?
Yep.

>Please tell me this is causing a resonance with Gardy.
Calling it a ''strong'' resonance isn't enough to describe your current state now.

Arawn is panicking, going for the weapon would have indeed taken this long.

I'm seeing one hard vote for dialogue and a soft one in this area. Let's see, I'll wait about 20 minutes then go for the talk option unless you folks vote for something else.

>>3358720
So, if we were to try for a fusion activation, this is about as good a circumstance as we can hope for in regards to ensuring its success?

No matter what though, we cannot let them finish off Sieg. We have to protect her!

>>3358740
>So, if we were to try for a fusion activation, this is about as good a circumstance as we can hope for in regards to ensuring its success?

Arawn and Gardy current state of mind and emotions open up the better fusion, yes.

>>3358753
Will this state be maintained if dialogue is pursued? I imagine it would, given how Sieg is at death's door and all.

>>3358773
Yes.

Alright, I think people will lean for having a little chat. Let's see what's about to happen.

>>3358781
Ok then, dialogue is fine, but the instant, I mean the *instant* anyone so much as flinches or makes an errant twitch suggesting they're gonna finish Sieg off we stop em' with fusion if need be.

Question, how fast does fusion happen? That's kinda important.

>>3358810
Depend on the fusion degree. Without the right emotional duress it can take a few rounds to activate but right now, it'll be near instantaneous.

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''Tight schedule... tight schedule!? Who cares!? What the hell are you guys doing here after yesterday? One defeat wasn't enough!?'' Rage boiled over your defense like a tsunami crashing onto a castle wall, your arm shot sideways to prevent Hao from walking forward, your screaming tone made all the apostles wince and nearly adopt a defensive stance.

''Spirited one ain't he?'' Said the vampire, glancing over her shoulder to look at you. Her rapier was touching the back of Sieglinde neck who wriggled fruitlessly to dodge its steely tip. Getting a better eye on that pool of blood also revealed traces of Corruptions.

''That was the-'' A sudden cavernous boom from the aerial fight interrupted Harkon response, the oni thoughtfully gazed at the sky whilst grabbing his grimoire. The angels battle was far too often obscured by all the trees to make a continuous viewing possible. ''If you and that savage need to be removed, Arawn Loukanos, then so be it. You won't die, that's the only promise you'll earn.''

''Yesterday was fun, things happened like that cause we Apostles didn't work together!'' Mimiru bounced on her feet, not only interrupting but stepping right in front of the much taller, muscled monstrous male whose feature degenerated in a dangerously mean scowl aimed sorely at the little blond.

''Didn't... work together?'' You repeated, unable to look at anyone but Sieglinde. That woman standing over had made a half turn to observe you with a smug smirk on her face, the hilt of her halberd looked strangely organic... a small eye was inside of it and it actually moved!

''Mmhm!'' Mimiru nodded, spreading her arms happily. ''Vilma becoming an apostle was my plan you know? Harkon here worked with Jena in making runes and stuff, they made an alliance or something like that cause he saw... what was it again?''

''Mimiru!'' The large, two meters monstrous male barked.

''Oh right, a worthwhile specimen!''Mimiru glanced backward and grinned a cruel smile of self-satisfaction. ''Things kinda fell apart Harkon got greedy and made you loopy, my own little trick with Vilma was just a distraction... though it would have been really nice to have another -genuine- friend.''

''Mimiru!''

''Ahahaha! You two really hate each other, huh and that elf just keeps on glaring like a statue, big old scary Lady White followers really are woefully incompetents. No wonder I got fooled into making a deal, necromancer. That angelic man is the only one worth something from you pathetic lot.'' Jena laughed in open mockery, soon followed by a worrisome noise from the aerial battle. A faraway thud... had the battle moved on the ground?

''That's your idea of revenge!? Opening portals inside the fortress, countless hundreds of innocent students!?'' Harkon had been glaring at the blonde vampire and barely shifted his attention on you.

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''It's just business.'' He replied with icy calm. ''You lot are destroying my testing ground, gaining something out of those specimen is logical, might as well make a little gamble to gain something of worth.''

''Revenge huh?'' Jena laughed bitterly, sinking her sword on the ground beside Sieglinde. ''That man in the sky told me my quest for vengeance was a pure one.'' She smirked, wide and cruelly, thoroughly full of self-indulgence. ''Suppose an elf can understand that bonds between immortals can't be compared to the pitifully whimsical relationships between mortals. A hundred years of faithful friendship carry a toll in blood when it is suddenly ended by a bunch of barbarians.'' Then she turned toward the prone Lilim. ''Not that you'd know, right your highness? You'll die before your sisters.''

Your heart squeezed, your breath shortens, tears blur your sight.

''Do you expect to avoid the Demon Lord-''

''Enough!'' The Oni yelled, darkened purple of power oozed out of his grimoire like a small campfire. ''You've made us waste more than enough time with your damnable indulgence, woman. Arawn will be easily taken care of but the savage beside him will make us waste even more time.''

Then your attention finally shifted back on your second knight. Hao had taken a strange stance: having planted her axe on the ground quietly, she was squatting in front of it and used her legs to push herself and the weapon sideways, creating an increasingly large hole on the ground.

''Hao?'' What... what in the world? Her eyes are clear, two beautiful emeralds where tears continuously crawl down.

''Hao is happy, my lord.'' She responded with a calm smile. ''Princess Sieglinde, you, teach Teruko... Everyone else gave her a home and purpose, trusted, helped...'' She took in a large breath and rose on her feet. ''Good day to die.'' Her second arm extended toward the group of Apostles... and tightening into a fist.

''Where the hell did they even pick that one up?'' Muttered Jena.

''Let's make a deal, Arawn Loukanos.'' Harkon gestured toward you. ''You and that girl should simply stand down and let us pass. A... Lady White ordered us to not kill you, so having a fight means the death of these two women will be entirely your fault. Maybe you'll be able to help your angel, she seems to be giving ours more trouble than he thought.'' He stated calmly, no hints of derision in his pragmatic, almost polite emotion yet... Such arrogance!

''What the hell make you think-'' Jena was loudly interrupted by a stop from the male monster.

''I'll kill you myself if you keep making us waste time, woman.''

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''Goood...'' A soft voice that could barely be heard with all the cacophony of combat floated out of Sieglinde mouth, her body was a sturdy one: blood wasn't oozing out anymore but she was still so weak, so helpless... ''day to die.'' She whispered, sharp red eyes glaring at you with a knowing glint, her expression changed into a mischievous smile, her majesty had seemingly gotten a strange idea.

And that terrified you.

>Accept Harkon deal. Saving Sieglinde life is all that matters... It really is. Your position as Ama favorite toy can be useful.

>Refuse. REFUSE.

>Try to find some way to stall for time.

>Free.

Continuing tomorrow... Things are getting intense!

>>3359017
>>Try to find some way to stall for time.

I'm thoroughly spooked

>>3359017
So about how we got our soul nabbed by Gardy… I don't suppose we could do that for someone who may or may not be about to Kamikaze these guys?
>Try to find some way to stall for time.

>>3359108
You and Gardy are far too close to be separated now. the fact that he hasn't said anything yet is a little hint that strong fusion is possible.

>>3359017
So the apostles are not united in goals and purpose and a few seem to not like the others very much. Good to know.

From the looks of things Hao is preparing a kamikaze attack of some form and Sieg is about to do... something likely involving blood and corruption. Ummm, I think Sieg just knows about blood magic but isn't a practitioner right? I can imagine all kinds of nastiness she might be able to call forth here if she decides to try her hand at it here and now but yeah, Arawn's instincts are correct. Whatever she's planning cannot be good for anyone. That knowing glint is concerning, like she's reciting her mom's philosophy in her head.

Also, I do believe that Ama, Mir, and the Evil Angel have neglected to inform the rest of bestest buddy else they wouldn't be so confident in just being able to swat us aside like a tiny insect. If the horny necromancer had any sense he'd knock us out before we get the idea in our head to pull a fusion.

>>3359122
Strong fusion, as in fully manifesting as Gardy? Isn't that hella risky outside the red world? It would definitely buy time though...

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>>3359156
>Ummm, I think Sieg just knows about blood magic but isn't a practitioner right?
Indeed, she's a blood magic expert but never practiced it.

>>3359156
It is risky, but you can pull it off if you think it's worth it. Things are happening rather quickly.

>>3359175
Ok then, what is our position relative to Sieg and the other Apostles? Important info that, maybe a hint at what our suicidal waifus may have in mind. Why are they so eager to throw their lives away with kamikaze attacks?

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>>3359213
>Ok then, what is our position relative to Sieg and the other Apostles?

Myr and Mimiru are side by side, Harkon is facing you and Hao. Two meters behind the Oni is Sieglinde and Jena above her.

>Why are they so eager to throw their lives away with kamikaze attacks?

Now now, who said it was kamikaze? Sieglinde and Hao might share a surprising similarity!

>>3359249
>That spoiler
Whatever it is, She's crying and speaking of dying here. It cannot be good. I fear she's about to let Sieg "eat" her for a power up.

I don't exactly see how we can buy time save for commencing hostilities. Harkon is done talking and it looks like he's the boss for this operation. We can't exactly let them go either. Our friends are embattled enough holding back the flesh tide. If these guys join in they're toast.

With strong fusion possible another option to buy time is apparent. I bet Myr would just love to have a rematch with Gardy. If we do a mid-tier fusion would it be possible to transition it into a strong fusion if things got particularly dire? Gardy's voice is also artificial and unnatural sounding if I remember. Would it be possible to essentially screech like an enraged and malevolent machine spirit/techpriest in such a way as to temporarily disable anyone who caught an earful? Damnit man, I don't want anyone to die here!

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>>3359307
>If we do a mid-tier fusion would it be possible to transition it into a strong fusion if things got particularly dire?

It'd actually be genuinely difficult to do anything BUT a strong fusion given your emotional state. Arawn and Gardy are absolutely terrified to see Sieglinde die right now, so trying to hold back will require you to control your emotions.

>Would it be possible to essentially screech like an enraged and malevolent machine spirit/techpriest in such a way as to temporarily disable anyone who caught an earful?

No.

Aww, missed the action today!

Let's see...

I am leaning towards
>Refuse. REFUSE.

We need to believe in Elina. She will be fine in her fight against the angel.

though stalling might also work. If they are in a rush, it means they are afraid of some kind of powerful reinforcement arriving.

Perhaps Tui has a way to open a portail eventually and they want to be gone before that happens? I so want Daiyu to appear out of nowhere and save the day...

These guys, even now, they don't seem to be very coordinated. I have the feeling that if we try to negotiate something in the terms of ensuring Sieglinde lives, the vampire is going to start attacking their own team-mates.

If beyond refusing, we can select a thing to do, we want to rush and stay inbetween the enemies and Sieglinde and assert our protection over her. If vampire goes aggro on us, the others will stop her. If the others are stopping her, we can use the moment of disarray to land some kind of Gardy-based blow on them. Especially that one vampire. A punch in the face, she has it coming.

>>3359322
Upon re-reading these last updates I noticed a few things.

>a small eye was inside of it and it actually moved!
Great, so the arrogant bloodsucking cunt is armed with a living weapon. Hope Hao noticed that if hostilities commence.

>You lot are destroying my testing ground
So Harkon's the "Lich King" in charge of/responsible for that nightmare forest currently being suppressed. Fuck me.

As for Hao, I think I may have been quick to judge her in readying a true kamikaze attack. Rather, it seems like she's digging her grave in this place. In many a fantasy warrior culture such an act is a declaration, victory or death, she will triumph or she will die. The tears are likely ones of joy. Finally, this one and perhaps last time, she wasn't absent.

I'll tally up things tomorrow afternoon so you folks have time to votes still.

>>3359617
Ok. I'ma try out some dialogue before I go to sleep. Let's see what option ya think it falls under.

In this, Arawn has basically resolved himself to a strong fusion activation at the drop of a hat. Like I said earlier, the instant it looks like someone's gonna try and kill one of ours/Sieg we just activate fusion and damn all the consequences. We are the embodiment of protection, we will not be found wanting of that title.

"So you'll let Sieg live if I let you pass? What of my companions holding the line against your necrotic horrors? Will you promise to not kill or permanently maim them as well?"

This is to buy time, but it's also a bluff. We aren't really gonna accept his deal no matter what the fucker says. But hey, let's see how dumb this Oni really is. If we can get him to enter into a quick bargaining mode so much the better. He'll offer to not "kill" em', but time's of the essence so he can't guarantee the latter part but yeah, no killin' the toy's favorites on purpose yes?

Best case scenario, he offers to shake on the deal. Full fusion activation as we do it so we can conduct a science experiment of our own. How does Gardy's true form interact with entities he'd rather much like to die now?

>>3359709
Attempting to make a deal with the male Oni only to try and pull off an ambush?

That's a free choice, so of course, you can attempt it.

>>3359735
Hehe. The whole point is to try and see if something comes along to bail us out of this shit before we gotta start living on the edge again. Still, hope is *not* a strategy. We hope, but we know deep down that it likely will come down to that last resort option (i.e. Strong Fusion outside the Red World).

Basically, if he actually buys our BS at face value then we start to negotiate in "good" faith. While we know he probably won't an elf can dream eh? Still, even if he does the other Apostles probably won't. However, they all seem to dislike Harkon somehow so they may just let us play him. It'll be a good laugh between them all if we do land that Gardy hand crush...

Still, overarching goal remains the same, nobody dies here today, no matter the personal cost...

I'm a bit worried about what the enemy's real goal here is. They've let on that they do have something in mind other than random terrorism and that Sieglinde and Elina aren't important to them.
If Ama told them not to kill Arawn, she of course knows what they're doing, which might mean she has something planned to happen during or after this attack. Or that could have just been an over-arching order she gave them when she got her hands on us.

>>3359067
>>3359108
Two votes to stall.

>>3359588
One hard refusal.

>>3359709
Pulling off an ambush.

I'll lock things around 2-3 pm. Possible that I'll only update once today, had a bad night of sleep that's affecting my day. We'll see how things go.

>>3360290
My vote was more of a fusion of refusal and stall with the ambush only happening if we get very, very lucky as I doubt Harkon's gonna bite because now I remember that he's certainly the shadowy book using necromancer we fucked with yesterday (and thus he likely knows about Gardy so he's trying not to send us into utter desperation mode as he knows how that'll end).

Again, no matter what is chosen, the very instant it looks like any of them are even thinking of killing Sieg we stop them. We cannot, *can* *not*, let Sieg, Hao, or any of our friends die here. Not now, not like this.

>>3360329
I do believe the general underlying feeling is to go full PROTECTION if things start escalating.

For now, we've got a pair of solid votes with making a big try with stalling. I'll begin working the update in an hour, I think we've got our course of action.

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>>3360422
Exactly.

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Time... You needed time. How long has it been since this mess started? Thirty minutes? You've no idea of the situation inside that cursed forest but surely Tuilelaith can reach the Demon Lord quickly... although you've no idea how quickly Daiyu can make her way here; news that her fortress -alongside all of her daughters- are under attack is bound to completely change...

''We can't afford your indecision.'' Harkon shattered your train of thoughts, his hovering book flipped wrinkled pages by itself, settling on a pair of strange symbols, faces?

''Alright, before I agree, I need one assurance... to make sure nobody is needlessly killed, starting with Sieglinde.'' You didn't really know what you were doing here but Harkon eyebrows briefly raised, your gaze trailed toward the other two women on the side; Mimiru was holding onto Myr clothes, the elf glared at you furiously but remained still...

''Harkon.'' Your voice didn't shake, no spill of your inner panic and turmoil spilled into hints of weaknesses. ''Don't try to-''

''Ah!'' Jena guffaw interrupted you, Sieglinde had begun wriggling... no, moving. ''Crawling befit her majesty, tired of having a sword at your throat? Finally understanding my magnanimity by sparing your vitals during our bout?'' Sieglinde... had dragged herself to hold onto her tormentor's legs, raising her torso off the ground to hold onto Jena limbs like some desperate beggar.

When you glanced back toward the big male of blue, your world spun. A strange noise resounded -a scream lost in the wind- and something colliding with you with enough velocity to send you on the ground. Something had slithered into your being through skin, a presence foreign to you and Gardy joined souls tried to run amok inside your soul, attempted to invade your existence and make your body into its shell but this spirits simply burnt by the sheer weight of your and Gardy joined souls, like throwing kindling into a fire.

Then there was a violent impact, a huge fist of blue slammed into your face before you could gather what was happening, all sounds mingled into an incomprehensible mess for the next few instants. Yells, familiar sounds of ringing steels, sudden wind rocked your frame (had something exploded...?) Harkon presence removed itself from your frame.

''...!'' With pain assailing your skull and a broken nose with a cascade of blood drowning your mouth your protests escaped in gurgles. Jena had struck Sieglinde with a violent knee in the middle of her face.

Stop.

A manic grin on her face, the vampiress blade slashed horizontally, steel pointed tip catching the skin of Sieglinde throat and slitting it, leaving a terrible gash and a tiny spurt of blood.

*

''Hrrm!?'' Harkon grunted when, out of nowhere, something cut into his flank, creating a superficial line of blood from wrist to shoulder. A glitter of coppery gold flashed with the midday sun peeking through the foliages of trees.

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''What the fu!?'' Jena barely registered similar color when finely honed survival instincts had her parry a blade lunging for her guts but this defense did nothing to brace against the metallic body slamming against her with enough force to make her feet leave the ground and slide on the cobblestone. Alarms of self-preservation still rang in her head and without airs in her lungs she desperately parried a blade coming for another gut stab and with flowing blood and a discarded piece of soul her heritage flowed inside her body and singlehandedly pushed off that aggressor of steel -not before it managed to carve a bloody line across her stomach- and with this salvation, Jena Javed got on her feet and promptly ran toward her comrades busily dealing with an enraged axe wielder.

You...Weren't in control. Neither was Gardy. Your little starry domain had shattered into pieces. A dark fog had invaded your soul, masking you to Gardy's existence... Your body felt so strong, but you weren't in control; your and Gardy joined existence was muddly landslide you had to direct.

There was also information. So much information.

Hao was fighting with Mimiru -who displayed strange new abilities of Corruption manipulation by using it as a distance- and Myr -who by the look of her stance wanted to break off and attack you- but your tribal knight didn't allow the dark elf to gain a single moment of respite. Harkon was conjuring something, using his book as a catalyst to drag some spirits through the veil of the Red World and Jena stopped near him.

Sieglinde. She's not moving. Blood flow out of her throat that she's desperately plugging with her big hands, red fluid still squirts between her fingers. Carotid artery severed Her beautiful red eyes look at you solemnly.

How long can a normal person survive such wounds? A minute. Mamonos are naturally tougher. Still a single minute of survival is expected Supreme Monsters are even stronger. A few minutes. Taking Sieglinde wounds and loss of blood into account...

One minute until death.
One minute until death.
One minute until death.

How to save her, how to protect her?

Overhead, the angel battle is closing in. Elina holy talent is life-saving. The amount she will need will undeniably poison Sieglinde. It will still save her life right now

Another peculiarity lies in Sieglinde current use of Corruption. Inherently, it is a force of changes that manifest as shapeshifting, summarized by this sentence: adapt to survive. This is why Mamonos can be so difficult to kill because their body will desperately adapt to their wounds in order to survive... Right now Sieglinde is actively preventing this process, logically choosing death over survival.

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Why? Likely scared of her disease, attempting to prevent her own demise through heavy use of Corruption will likely result in unknown consequences in the future.

That doesn't matter if she dies right now. This can be remedied by supplanting Sieglinde will with your very own. Possible. You We are the Embodiment of Protection; Sieglinde needs protection. Supplanting the world laws and violating an individual sanctity of mind is loathsome. She needs to be protected.

Lastly... Hypothesis
These Apostle likely came prepared. Do they have medicines and potions in their pouches? Maybe. You didn't see anything, no hints of such a reality... trying to grab anything is a gamble.

One minute until death.

Choices here are subject to a little imposition of mine. While you can actually make your mind on what to do, planning your approach or influencing it isn't going to be possible. You can still make your custom choice but it might not come out as you planned.

Sieglinde WILL die within two rounds.

>Interrupt the angel fight to give Elina some breathing room. (Will need 1d20.)

>Invade Sieglinde soul with your own to force her body to be strengthened by Corruption

>Try to grab some items from the Apostles (Will need 1d20).

>Free

Roll only once we reach an agreement.

>>3360928
>>Invade Sieglinde soul with your own to force her body to be strengthened by Corruption
Shit man this seems like the option that will protect her life but not her smile
But I don't wanna risk a dice roll

All choices right now are going to be very important, so I'd at least like to wait for two or more votes before proceeding.

>>3360928
Fuck! Should have just refused and started the fight without Sieg taking a mortal wound. Damnit!

If we invade her soul we could use our nature to backstop any major nastiness by "protecting" her soul yes? We're immune to corruption so we can safely absorb any overbleed can't we? What would feeding her a chunk of our soul do? Vamp just did that to heal essentially and we know that eating souls can strengthen the body. Could we sacrifice a memory or two to create a shield that'll plug the wound and stop the bleeding? Can we cauterize the wound or suture it somehow?

>>3361059
>If we invade her soul we could use our nature to backstop any major nastiness by "protecting" her soul yes?

I can't give any hints about that.

>We're immune to corruption so we can safely absorb any overbleed can't we?

Yes, Corruption has no effect on you.

>What would feeding her a chunk of our soul do?

Reinforce her own and allow her body to adapt to her mortal wounds.

>Could we sacrifice a memory or two to create a shield that'll plug the wound and stop the bleeding?

Protection isn't healing. This is a hard no.

>Can we cauterize the wound or suture it somehow?

Her carotid artery is slashed, she's got a big bloody line across half of her throat. It can't be closed that easily.

>Invade Sieglinde soul with your own to force her body to be strengthened by Corruption

I like this. Ideally, we'd soul-battery with her and draw from our very wn reserves to make that happen, if it were possible.

>>3361087
So if we feed her a chunk she can adapt without corruption? If so we do that. She's worth a precious memory.

>>3361116
>So if we feed her a chunk she can adapt without corruption?
Hm, my tiredness is showing because I made you misunderstand. Strengthening Sieglinde Corruption is done through feeding her a part of your soul. No other way around that.

Two votes for invading the princess precious place.

>>3361116

The ideal thing I'd like to happen is something along these lines:

She eats part of our soul. The trait that makes us immune to the bad effects of corruption rubs off on her.

Now her corruption no longer harms her.

It'd be neat, but I don't think it's going to be that easy.

>>3361138
If feeding her some soul will mitigate bad things we do it. Strengthening her corruption isn't bad right?

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>>3361170
>Strengthening her corruption isn't bad right?

You'll have to find out.

Look like it's a majority vote to avoid any rolls. Locking things now.

My bad night of sleep has me a little woozy this evening so I won't be updating tonight, with this choice now cemented we might be able to close part 1 of this event tomorrow.

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>>3361189
>isn't bad right?
>You'll have to find out.

>>3361189
Well now, looks like we've chosen to mind/soul rape Sieg. Even if the intent is pure there's no way around this, we're gonna do a horrible thing. Mind Control is what this boils down to, never a "good guy" move.

Any way to be... gentile about that by the way? Y'know, like we kindly "ask" permission to let us protect her soul and maybe leech off some corruption so she can fix that gash in her neck with few worries about future nastiness instead of just brutally imposing our selfish desires upon her against her will?

I do wonder what changed. She was fine with using corruption yesterday. What the hell suddenly gives when far more is at stake than it was previously? Why allow herself to die in front of us? Part of me is even thinking she wanted shit to get this bad because she *hoped* it'd cause us to resort to (and succeed at) a full Gardy manifestation as, let's be honest, that's just about the only thing that stands a chance against all these fuckers at once short of Daiyu or a nine tailed foxy lady.

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>>3361767
>Any way to be... gentile about that by the way?

Nope. Sieglinde is going to take it good.

>She was fine with using corruption yesterday.

She wasn't beaten and sliced within an inch of her life yesterday.

>>3361778
>Sieglinde is going to take it good

Great, so she's probably going to live thanks to this but now she's gonna be traumatized and hate our guts from this day forward. Damn, she was my favorite girl so far too.

Most of the girls are probably gonna hate us for this too now that I think about it. They were displeased with us probing Vilma, and this is several orders of magnitude worse. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if we get slapped with major criminal charges for this. Violating someone's soul can't be legal!

Speaking of which, did Harkon try to do that to us? Seems like he wanted to get us possessed by one of his nastier spirits but didn't expect our soul to be so... resilient.

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>>3361842
>Great, so she's probably going to live thanks to this but now she's gonna be traumatized and hate our guts from this day forward.

Now now, don't go assuming too much.

>Violating someone's soul can't be legal!

Oh, definitely felony level right there.

>Speaking of which, did Harkon try to do that to us? Seems like he wanted to get us possessed by one of his nastier spirits but didn't expect our soul to be so... resilient.

Yep. He tried to interfere with your mind but things didn't work out.

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Not sure when I'll post but it'll be today for sure. This update will be closing the thread, sorry for this delay. Gotta give it some oomph.

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Have to do something now. Hao won't hold out forever against two Apostles, one of them will slip by and interrupt you. Harkon channeling of a necromantic spell demand time to finish, Jena Javed retreated at his side to gather herself and regain her nerves. Trying to intervene in Elina battle is a gamble, the angel healing talent would undeniably prevent Sieglinde demise but there is no certainty for the avatar of protection to successfully give her enough breathing room; these angels fly quickly and pull off impossible acrobatics in their aerial struggle.

We have to do something here and now. Why are you resisting your Corruption, Sieglinde? You could buy yourself a few vital minutes. In order to safeguard the Lilim life with some amount of certainty, you'll need a heavy hand.

A single second was all you needed for this thought process to implant itself within the steely body of the Embodiment. Your magical reserves felt stretched into a breaking point, a single, tiny piece of your magical nature was needed to create this unusual phenomenon that was little more than a magic trick: supplanting reality truly is the basic of basics and Embodiments do it by existing, adding the tiniest of trickle was a sneaky, harmless thing.

However, a potent sensation of loss momentarily gripped your heart is poignant sadness. A memory -so fragile and ephemeral- bubble to the surface of your conscious and with similar fragility burst to nothingness.

You remember yourself as a boy, a fat and short kid inside a strange blank room surrounded by murky details, playing a game of chess and by the looks of things, winning against an opponent whose traits you couldn't recall... Outside gorgeously, long and fluffy white hair and bronze skin.

''See, it's not a bad game at all.'' She said, her voice is a mixture of Elina, Sieglinde and Klesiah as if all three spoke together.

''You're letting me win.'' You recall answering in a sulk.

''You'd only get angry if I were to ruthlessly crush you.'' She smirked. ''Big sis knows better here.'' Her bishops moved to take yours. ''Get that logical thinking going lil' bro cause things are gonna get interesting real soon.''

Like a canvas burning from within, everything disappeared, tearing away a small piece of your existence to become a force of crushing power. Sieglinde had stopped wriggling, her gaze remained staunch despite all the blood leaking out of her throat; a weak shake of her head was her only protest upon seeing a small colorless ball on the avatar steely palm, the machine didn't hesitate in its purpose and gently pushed it inside the Lilim body...

Then came the creation of a link of souls, an operation almost exactly like Battery yet... with stronger foundations. Taking hints from Martha operation with her strange device, the Embodiment built a bridge of stones with the speed of a coursing river, crashing against potent conscious barriers...

Don't struggle

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Her Majesty was far too wounded and tired to put up a fight. With your and Gardy wills joined as one and the kindling purpose of their avatar, crushing those walls was far too easy and you rushed inside her very should, settled in a lasting link and finally poured deep, deep inside the recess of Sieglinde entire being, magical adaptive nature easily becoming a stimulant for Sieglinde Corruption.

''Mgh!?'' A small whine escaped her bloodied lips then black tar erupted out of her gushing wounds in a sudden overflow, coating the Embodiment body in a sudden gush of black, darkening all the surrounding blood. ''Ngh!'' Your benefactor writhed, she already ruined clothes now becoming a biohazard: Corruption flowed out endlessly from her sputtering wound, out of her mouth, nostrils, ears, and even eyes. ''Kill!'' Sieglinde groaned, managing to form this single word with her mouth vomiting excess amount of strengthened corruption. ''Kill me, Arawn!'' She half yelled, Corruption inherent adaptive shapeshifting.

''Negative.'' Answered the man-machine. ''This is for your protection.'' His voice was deep, scratching of rusty metals.

From Sieglinde side of this newly created soul-link came a wave of abject terror and guilt of such potency that it momentarily induce awe into you and Gardy joined purpose. One quick perusal of your surrounded revealed that battle had halted with all actors; newly raised corpses of battle mutated humanoids had crumpled into a mess of meat from Harkon failed spell, Hao battle against Mimiru and Myr halted as they observed the avatar standing in this increasing pool of Corruption, even the angel ceaseless bout came to a standstill with the razor edge tension standing on a blade tip.

''Nononono...'' Sieglinde murmured, crawling, writhing on the ground as an endless amount of Corruption poured out of her body. Her body was a simple container thrown inside a waterway but the inherent shapeshifting adaptive nature of Corruption had thankfully saved her life... but also created changes throughout her body.

Sieglinde torso cracked, dark bones jutted out like protective spike all along her spine, ruining what was left of her clothes. Her ribcage was reshaped into a protective armor, something worming out of her skin that had turned a sleek black similar to her limbs. Those normalized into thinner arms and legs befitting this new body: fingers and toes had turned into dangerous claws. Sieglinde jaw changed, becoming wide and tall with rows of razor-sharp teeth ready to crush anything they'd close onto. Her pretty face was nothing more than bestial imagery of predatory intent, the seductive redness of her hair and eyes were now concentrating into two burning holes of bloody carmine. Lastly was her tail that had always been so alluring, it was the only thing that remained somewhat whole for its deadly bladed tip had fully regenerated.

''What the hell is that!?'' Jena was the one to scream.

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This... no, Sieglinde new body imposed a strange phenomenon onto Mother Earth reality for smokes began to waft out of its body without any sources of embers. An acute hiss escapes her open mouth like steam escaping out of a boiling container, slow but definite movements with regained strength allowed the Lilim to stand on her own two legs.

From the soul-link came a new torrent of feelings that momentarily struck the avatar of protection into an awed stupor. Rage, glee, excitement, violence, lust, hunger, pain; they mixed into an emotional maelstrom beyond comprehension that would have easily swept you and Gardy away into an infection of evil were you not joined.

Evil. Heinous. Malevolent. If Lady White is evil in intent, this creature is malefic by its very existence. It wants to rip you apart and partake of your flesh. It wants to sink its teeth into Hao's breast and rip it off. It wants to find Teruko and-

Enough. Rekindled purpose of protection raised psychical bulwarks against this invasive influence.

What in the world happened? We know the answer, we have all the hints we need.

Sieglinde was wounded by a mage called Siegfried during the crusade in Zipangu, this led into complication with her Corruptions that resulted in a strange disease that, after making her life difficult for a time, became dormant for years after treatments only for you to realize that it had been causing strange side effect into her soul via Red World observation.

We have strengthened this Corruption immensely with pure soul magic. Sieglinde is Daiyu biological daughter. Her natural Corruption underwent odd changes during the decade that followed her injury.

Conclusion: This is the birth of a new Demon Lord, freed from the shackle of its Demonic Throne. Her corruption is completely different from her mother, it is impossible to describe its effect without tests. Natural immunity remains effective.

''Ah!'' Hao screamed and this newborn Demon Lord twitched, turning its head toward the tribal girl, grinning. Hao didn't see or her boundless courage made her not care. ''Stay here!'' She screamed at a pair running away.

Harkon and Jena had taken advantage of this brief lull in your collective attention to retreat, or in their case progress, toward the arena.

Sieglinde life has thankfully been spared, protection was successful. Elina and Hao might be the ones needing it now

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raxEmANPTVc

A Tale of Monsters -27- end.

Part 1 of Purity of Revenge is over. Join me next time around Sunday or Monday for part 2... this wouldn't be an update without a choice, however, so here I need you guys to make a very important decision.

Who should be the focus of part 2?
>Arawn.
>Klesiah.

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>>3363321
>>Klesiah.

This might be the darkest timeline
Could we have even fucked up any worse?

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>>3363354
Yes. Nothing bad is going on at all.

>>3363362
I'm preemptively upset at how smug Ama is going to be next time we see her

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>>3363396
Now now, there's still part 2. Maybe she won't have anything to be smug about.

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>>3363321
I actually thought this would happen. The other options, if successful, would have saved her but she'd still be out of the fight. Now, she's back in the fight but now she's gone berserk and will now start attacking whatever is nearest to her. We need to ensure that that quickly becomes things we want dead. Can we lead her towards Harkon and Jena? Hopefully eating enemies doesn't make things worse.

A "lasting link" you say? So we have a soul link of sorts with her now? Well well well, Deru's an expert on souls yes? Tui is as well I hope. Gwen may or may not have the psionic will to withstand this things poisonous presence. How long until Daiyu comes back? Sounds like we're gonna need those folks to even stand a chance of extricating Sieg's ego from this. Can we siphon corruption off and process it somehow using our nature/status as the embodiment of protection? Is there a way to weaken corruption somehow? We get bonuses to defensive actions taken to save others right? Is this the son of the squatter? The "beast" reborn?

As for the choice, what effect will that have?

>>3363362
Bull. Fucking. Shit. No way in hell this isn't one of the worst possible outcomes. Yeah, she's not dead, but as of now she's been stripped of her humanity and may well kill/nom every last lifeform here in throne town in a blood frenzy! This fusion better last for a good long while because the instant it fades we're utterly fucking dead!

>>3363396
That'll depend on how dead our friends are and how many of hers are in Sieg's belly by the end of this.

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>>3363406
>Can we lead her towards Harkon and Jena?

No. Let's say she's a little too overwhelming for that.

>A "lasting link" you say? So we have a soul link of sorts with her now?
Yep.

>How long until Daiyu comes back?
Can't say.

>Can we siphon corruption off and process it somehow using our nature/status as the embodiment of protection?
The only way you've got is to bleed her/it out.

>Is there a way to weaken corruption somehow?
Holy magic.

>We get bonuses to defensive actions taken to save others right?
Indeed you do.

I'd rather not give too much hints.

Don't forget to votes on who'll be the protag for part 2 and who'll be our principal actor to bring this crisis to an end. I won't slap a BAD END on the one who's not chosen... Though maybe my standards are different than my players.

>Bull. Fucking. Shit. No way in hell this isn't one of the worst possible outcomes.
It's not the worst for me!

>>Arawn

By focus, you mean, wh will hold the POV in th next chapter?

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>>3363421
>It's not the worst for me!
I actually wouldn't mind (too much) if a big chunk of the main cast were to die but the story kept going.
I also wouldn't mind a villain POV segment

>>3363440
Yeah.

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>>3363443
>I actually wouldn't mind (too much) if a big chunk of the main cast were to die but the story kept going.

Madlad. I'd be the one heartbroken with killing off our girls, you guys have also made protecting them your entire raison d'être, I can't just go killing them easily. Especially since they can all hold their own, making competent, strong women is biting me in the ass constantly...!
Villains are one of my weakest points I'll have to admit. I've been hard at work in this quest trying to rectify that. You want an Ama pov, anon-kun?

I want to keep our allies safe and happy!

I would certainly mind if we lost them. >w<

If there were a Pov from AMA, we'd likely try to find out her weaknesses. Though, letting us as players direct her actions could lead to complications.

Like, trying to have her have a conscience and stopping being so mean.

Or alternatively, trying to roll poorly on purpose to get her killed X3
So I think it wouldn't work nicely. Though it'd be interesting to see what'd happen, for sure.

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>>3363455
Yeah, I think the best thing to offer here would be a short story concerning the Apostles. This entire end of arc was lowkey named after Jena but there's hasn't been an opportunity to get a talk going yet but that's alright.

>>3363447
>Madlad
I guess so. I'd be sad to see them die, but a story's gotta have the good and the bad, right? I'll make choices with the boys' best interests at heart though.
Onegai. I'm her #1 fan.

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>>3363469
What makes you like this dangerous fluff?

>>3363421
Overwhelming, as in we're so far bloody outclassed by this entity that it's everything we have just to keep ourselves from being nom'd in an instant? Damn, I wonder if Hao has any ideas. Did the enemy angel retreat too or is he still dumbstruck by these events? Is it possible to try and use the soul link to either influence the creature or search for Sieg's ego in this corrupting mud infecting her soul?

If bleeding it will help can we form a pipette lance to stab her with? Controlled bleed out is needed here in that case, least we just end up killing her.

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>>3363474
Her intro scene was really nicely done, and every scene with her since have been some of my favorite bits. The sense of vague, looming danger she added to the story combined with my own purely innocent tastes in female characters all adds up into a character I'm hoping to see more of.

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>>3363502
>Overwhelming, as in we're so far bloody outclassed by this entity that it's everything we have just to keep ourselves from being nom'd in an instant?

Not THAT dramatic. Full fusion is going to have mighty painful consequences later but while you aren't full 100% Gardy of the past, you're about the only person here who can fight with this thing 1 on 1 and have a chance to win.

>Did the enemy angel retreat too or is he still dumbstruck by these events?
Yep, so is Elina.

>Is it possible to try and use the soul link to either influence the creature or search for Sieg's ego in this corrupting mud infecting her soul?
Yes.

>If bleeding it will help can we form a pipette lance to stab her with?
Yes, Gardy can shapeshift his own body via mechanical and magical means that is very, very close to Magitek without actually being the thing itself.

>>3363503
Thank for sharing. A face to face meeting with that dangerous fluff would be very interesting...

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>>3363516
I am fearful as to what those consequences might be. Bedridden for a week and that's the light end of my estimates, but whatever the consequences it'll be worth it if we can save everyone.

Just to be clear, pic is what I have in mind. Stab, drain, discharge/process into energy we or others can use safely in a calm and controlled fashion, dodge the inevitable reprisal, repeat. If we can weaken it enough or bind it somehow we can then go for a soul dive to save Sieg from herself. Try and get it to drop its guard by broadcasting positive emotions during the fight phase. Gotta leverage everything we have!

Might as well try barking an order at the angels as well. I doubt the apostle will aid us in drenching this abomination with holy energy but hey, worth a shot.

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>>3363571
>Stab, drain, discharge/process into energy we or others can use safely in a calm and controlled fashion

Stab, drain, discharge is possible. Process is not.

So, I take it you're voting to keep the POV to Arawn.

So we've got two for our elf/machine and one for Klesiah.

>>3363589
How would Klesiah be able to help in this situation? I would actually like to switch to her as a change of pace but at the same time I'm at a loss as to how she would be able to resolve this conflict.

That is, unless there's something about her/in her possession that we've yet to learn about. Then again, she is in a position to gather our currently absent allies like Deru, assess the ETA with Daiyu and the other suppression forces, and otherwise lead and direct everyone who isn't us, Hao, or Elina. Is that what ya have in mind if we choose her?

>>3363644
>Is that what ya have in mind if we choose her?

Something like that. Her Pov will be about dealing with the bigger battle alongside handling Harkon and Jena interruption. It'll be the other front of the battle.

Important like what's happening with Arawn.

>>3363672
Oh, one last thing, what happened to Myr and Mimiru? They still around or did they just run like little bitches and leave us to deal with Sieg?

I'll need to sleep on my vote. Sticking with Arawn increases the likelihood of saving Sieg in a direct manner and would allow us to maybe direct Berserk Sieg in a way that avoids friendly casualties, but switching to Klesiah increases our ability to safeguard Teruko from the incoming apostles and may increase the odds to save Sieg indirectly by gathering the correct allies needed to resolve this catastrophe by aiding Arawn (though at the increased risk of Sieg Nom'ing an ally of course).

Gah! Why did everything have to go so very wrong here?

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>>3363774
>Oh, one last thing, what happened to Myr and Mimiru?

They are still here, they stopped fighting because of this sudden escalation. Myr REALLY wanted to fight with the avatar/Arawn but this development stopped her bloodlust.

>Gah! Why did everything have to go so very wrong here?

But it's going in the right direction!

>>3363793
>That spoiler
If you mean in the direction of maximum suffering for everyone save for Bad Fluffy and her buddies then yes, yes you are indeed correct.

Going on instinct and what the link told us, the figures mentioned are the key to saving Sieg. That is, we'll need Arawn/Gardy, Hao, and Teruko. We cut it off before we could get that last name or two sadly but I imagine her sisters are also key. I wonder if Daiyu felt that. Wouldn't a second Demon Lord's birth affect the first somehow?

What are the defaults for Arawn and Klesiah, because choosing one means the other will act on a default setting until we somehow regroup with them. Given what I mentioned above, I'm currently leaning towards Klesiah because I fear if we stick with Arawn Teruko gets fucked and that means *everyone* gets fucked. A TPK with Beast Mode Sieg devouring us all!

Damn it all, it feels like no matter what we choose someone's gonna die horribly. Should have tried trusting the dice gods...

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>>3364612
>Wouldn't a second Demon Lord's birth affect the first somehow?
Who knows?

>What are the defaults for Arawn and Klesiah, because choosing one means the other will act on a default setting until we somehow regroup with them.
The best thing I can assure here is that whoever isn't chosen won't be slapped with an immediate bad end. QM honor on that.

Klesiah will start with the bigger group of allies to fight the ''bigger'' battle (a new Demon Lord is far more important than all of your friends combined, sadly) whilst Arawn is a direct continuation of what's happening here.

>>3364622
By more important do you mean "can take them all on without breaking a sweat" or just in terms of narrative weight in regards to the world and what happens in it?

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>>3364624
>just in terms of narrative weight in regards to the world and what happens in it?

Something like that. Arawn need to deal with that and Klesiah need to deal with the interruption of Harko and Javed; both are super important for you players.

>>3364633
So performance in regards to who is chosen will impact the one who is not? Still leaning towards Klesiah in that event. If we can resolve that quickly and well we could shift those forces towards restraining/containing Sieg so Arawn can safely attempt a soul dive and drag her ego out of that mud. Even if the apostles are in a helpful mood (and I'd bet they're not), that won't be enough to keep her from nom'ing us as we're essentially a sitting duck during the dive.

I do fear that her new "form" might be permanent though even if we somehow manage a major success.

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>>3364917
>So performance in regards to who is chosen will impact the one who is not?
Yeah, though as you've said Klesiah has a better chance to end up helping Arawn because there are more actors with her perspective.

So is this a hard vote for Klesiah?
We've got two for her and one for Arawn.

>>3364943
I can't pick. I think I would personally do better trying to figure out Arawn's side. But I'm not sure that being better at the potentially harder thing would even out. AND both would be satisfying and enjoyable in their own ways.
I almost want to ask if we can do one, then the other. But that'd put you under lots of unnecessary strain to try and make it work somehow.

>>3364943
Ok, one more thing I just though about. Umm... Vampires. Can they turn people/spread the sickness to humans or other species of monstergirl? I fear that someone's gonna end up bit by the end of this and I think this would be a common lore kind of thing.

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>>3366242
Doing both would only allow me to do Klesiah side up until Sieglinde metamorphosis happens, then we'd need to choose a main actor to move things forward.

>>3366298
>Can they turn people/spread the sickness to humans or other species of monstergirl?

No, remember that ''undead'' is a racial insult for the vast majority of monsters classified that way (there are still legit undead like ghosts and zombies). Vampirism, however, can be spread via ritual but it's a long, elaborate affair that only work on human. Or you are born a Vamp.

Well, then I do believe next thread will have a pov change. How exciting!.