Enter The Arena As Your Avatar -- The Spinoff!

DNC

Taye was familiar with fierce barbarians wielding dual hatchets, entire cities ravaged by armies, and heartbroken families split up by war. But those happened in timeloops, a place where nothing felt real. Now, however...

... tougher opponents have arrived, demanding a- ring? Was that the object Frilda had meant to deliver through the packages? Something so important it drove Mordor to commit mass destruction? If they kill Frilda and find no ring on her corpse, would they go after Ladwin and the princesses? Plus, with Hange & Kaisui going through all that effort, it didn't seem right to leave them all high & dry.

Out of habit, Taye's eyes scanned the Uruk-Hai's heavy armor for weak spots. Right after the other two ladies have made their shots, she swooped into the fray and whipped out her sword, which now had a curved hook on the tip. Her hair faded away from blond into a light shade of blue. Puddles rapidly grew and shrunk at seemingly random spots dotted around the plaza. Seaweed, minnow, and sharp coral alike filled the puddles, presenting hazards to foes.

Unusually enough, these puddles & its contents were extra-slippery (or extra-sharp) for specifically the Uruk-Hai only - they did nothing negative to Hange, Kaisui, or any other allies. Whenever Taye stepped on these puddles, she sped up greatly, able to dodge & turn with inhuman agility.

Defending Frilda was her main goal, and she acted accordingly. Target the Uruk-Hai that were locked onto Frilda. Run around them, staying on the edge of the crowd. Slide past the enemies' attacks, use her hooked sword to block & whack away the weapons they held. Even if disarming them wasn't possible, it would do good to throw off their aim & make them miss. And if the opportunity presented itself, take out a few foes by quick slashes to weak spots - she didn't spend entire timeloops taking out soldiers in full plate for nothing.

Edited by Hotpizza on Apr 19th 2024 at 3:38:40 AM

Empire Arms

I would like to know the names of those that defeated Garon. If you care to give us those names, the ITIEI intel could get some info about their whereabouts.

I'll go to search Foxy.

Said Loinball, right when Rosita stopped talking. She sighs loudly.

Okay. You are a free spirit, and even when I have the authority to stop you, you simply slip out like a trout... Just don't do anything weird.

Meanwhile, we are thinking about getting some provisions and weapons for the mission, and take Zamba for a road trip around the Arena.

Oh yeah! I'll ask the Boss to make a lovely uniform for you! You'll look like a Dandy!

The kid looks at the trio clothes, and gulps.

New Hyrule Minira

The explorers notice the two Lizalfos attempting to take the life of a man. Wally takes a soccer ball from his belongings, and kicks it at one of the monsters.

Hey you! Mess up with somebody your size!

Thankfully, this maneuver will allow the two girls to run and take the man away from the beasts.

Meanwhile, Mando pulls from hammerspace a futuristic looking machine gun, with a magazine (a readable, paper one) inserted behind. As he fires at the lizards, the magazine is shredded progressively, and letter-shaped bullets that cause regular magic damage are shoot out.

Pica-Verse

Thankfully for the group, there aren't other enemies nearby... Yet.

The T-Rex notices Sora going for it, and tries to swat him away like a fly with a swing of its tail.

The Hunter catches with Sora, and fires some loads of water with a surprisingly high pressure at the Kaiju, that simply crashes against its hard scales.

Meanwhile, Carolina and the other party members are helping with the evacuation of the city.

Minira

"Th-They'll respawn, r-right?"

It's usual for William's antics to lead to someone dying in some way or another but he isn't given much time to dwell on it since Scervo and Dreadfuse arrive out of the blue to kick his ass. He can discern they're likely robotic by feeling the source of electricity and can probably absorb their power in an instant but he airs a bit of caution because they might be magic-powered.

William watches the two of them go forward. He steps back and kicks Scervo's hook in an attempt to make it lodge into Dreadfuse's electric sword for some friendly fire.

Hub Centralis

A woman quickly runs out of the house she'd been hiding out in, going behind a wall to catch her breath. She's holding something in her arms, though it's covered by blankets.

She still can't believe this is happening. That she's running for her life right now, in this place, from...

She can hear the door of the house she escaped from get thrown open. Two voices come from that direction.

"I know she was in here!"

"She must've seen us coming. We have to find her and bring her back or the boss isn't going to be happy."

"'Not happy' is an understatement considering how freaky he's been since he came back. And where's the kid anyway!? He's supposed to help us find her!"

"Air patrol. The moment she runs into sight, we'll have her. We just gotta get her out of hiding."

"Don't forget to set your weapon to 'stun'."

"Already done. Continue looking."

The woman holds her breath as she clutches the blanket (and whatever's wrapped in it) close to herself. Is there really nowhere for her to run? Fighting isn't an option, she doesn't have any fancy magical powers. This alleyway she's in is a dead end, and coming back out of it will get her spotted, either by those two or by...

With no real option left, all she can do is pray that someone will save her.

Alexandria Eternal/Underwater Library (Post Sword Tournament)

(Technically a oneshot post, but one that'll have another half later on)

Dekai-Ver◊ enters the fabled library he'd heard so much about. If the rumors were true, this place has information on every being that has ever entered the Arena. Perhaps even every being in general. He sure hoped those rumors were true, given that he was desperate at this point, and he'd had to help some unsavory-looking people to even learn that this place existed.

But those people weren't nearly as bad as Mara, who he's seeking information of. If there's any records of that monster in this place, surely there would be a record speaking of weaknesses. Anything he can use to his advantage. Because he hadn't found any realistic way of improving his own skills to the point that he'd feel like he could take Mara in a fight. He's well aware that he only tied the first time because she underestimated him until it was too late. And even then, it was only that. A tie. They both perished that day, and while Dekai-Ver doesn't know how Mara came back to life, he was going to ensure she never would again.

As he now wanders the seemingly endless halls, he picks up on another presence that seems to be stalking him. A swift glance behind him reveals the large but slender creature◊ creeping behind him, glowing red eyes fixed on him.

Without as much as a warning, Dekai-Ver brings out one of his blades, turns and leaps at Mutran, who counters with his claws... or rather, with strangely shaped 'claws' made out of magic, protruding from above the claws he already has. The larger creature seems surprised at the sudden aggression, bringing out his wings and flying up on a shelf to avoid further combat. Dekai-Ver has no issue climbing up another shelf and standing across from Mutran though, drawing his other five blades and narrowing his eyes. However, Mutran speaks before any further confrontation can happen.

   "It is unbecoming to battle in this place."   

"Perhaps you should have considered that before you snuck up on me."

   "Blame my eternal curiosity. I assure you, I had no hostile intentions."   

"Why should I trust you on your word?"

   "If I wanted to fight, I would have continued doing so. Besides..."   

He grabs a book with his free clawed hand. Dekai-Ver look surprised at how careful Mutran is with holding it, likely not wanting his claws to damage it.

   "A battle in here would risk damaging and destroying valuable information that I have not yet finished researching. I've been here for but over a year, and have only read through a little over a thousand tomes. I have much, much more to go through."   

Dekai-Ver lowers his blades.

"You are here... to read?"

   "Why else does one come to a place such as this? Are you here for different reasons?"   

"I suppose not. But I'm searching for something specific."

   "In a collection this vast, you may just be stuck searching for months. Unless, of course, whatever you're looking for is something I've encountered myself."   

"I search for information regarding Mara."

   "Which one?"   , Mutran asks.    "If this place is to be believed, there are thousands of creatures named Mara across universes. Some less savory for the eyes than others as well."   

"Mara, the red and golden demon god. She who wears the skin of man, controls the dead and warps the perceptions of those who face her."

Mutran puts the book back, dispels the wind claws, and then suddenly jumps, landing near Dekai-Ver, who instinctively raises his blades again. Mutran doesn't seem to care though.

   "The Divine Guardian? The Mara who frequents this nexus world?"   

"Divine G...? Erm... yes, the Mara present within the Arena."

Mutran chuckles.

   "I've come across the hall bearing information on the Divine Guardians, Mara included. I will guide you to it."   

"... why?", Dekai-Ver asks, suspicious.

   "Because I want to know what you seek to find within that tome."   

"That... is your sole reason?"

   "I live to discover, to learn and to create. Not in a hundred millennia have I ever ignored something that has caught my curiosity, and I shall continue to act upon it until the day I die."   

He spreads his wings again.

   "Now come, flesh bag. Let me bring you to Mara's tome."   

"F... flesh bag?", Dekai-Ver asks, sounding incredulous at what he was just called.

   "What else should I call a fully biological being such as yourself?"   

"A human."

Mutran chuckles, then takes flight, staying above the shelves so that Dekai-Ver can always see where he's flying. The man grunts in frustration before hopping off of the shelf and proceeding to follow. He has no idea if he can trust Mutran, but the creature seems sincere and passionate about his quest for knowledge, and as he'd claimed already, he likely would not want to damage the books. So any potential trap he may set for Dekai-Ver is surely one he'd be able to escape from in the event that his mistrust is justified.

Edited by DevilPsyco on Apr 18th 2024 at 12:33:44 PM

Huh Centralis

Thor, Loki,◊ and Sylvie◊ are currently wandering through the streets. While Thor remains silent for now, the same cannot be said for the two half-Jotuns.

"So, remind me why the giant ape on that island seemed so familiar to you."

"I honestly can't explain it, Sylvie, but for whatever reason, it almost felt as though I had met him before."

Thor, on the other hand, immediately notices the woman retreating from her house. Hearing what sounded like two people searching for her from within, he wastes no time storming through said house's entrance before moving to seize the two assailants by their throats and lift them off their feet.

"What the Hel is the meaning of this?"

Loki and Sylvie briefly exchange looks before following the woman to her hiding spot.

"I beg your pardon, miss, but what exactly is going on here?"

"Don't tell me the TVA finally sent their cronies here to start pruning people."

Edited by IchigoMontoya on Apr 18th 2024 at 10:12:31 AM

Well then! Follow me. For those of you who won't, I will give you the names of the warriors who defeated Garon. Seek them out but remember to seek out strength, items and skills alike. Gunter decides to step out of the room, uninterested in the conversations going around him.

He does pick up on them. He's uninterested, not stupid enough to ignore anything he could glean from that and use later. I died once too. Corrin says, prompting Beruka to "gently" whack him in the back of the head. Gunter rolls his eyes at that but sit at the door, apparently (and naturally) wanting everyone to get out of his room beforehand. And once that happen, he goes and lock it behind him, tapping on the wood to insure the door's solidity.

Then, he walks to the elevator, perhaps doubling quite a few people due to waiting for them all to leave beforehand. Beruka and Corrin find themselves in front of the elevators first though, Beruka almost tugging on Corrin's arm to get him in the frontline, yet being careful not to be too ahead, as to blend with the crowd. She didn't want Gunter to be hanging out with Corrin, or for the young man to be generally out of her sight.

Yet, as the elevator opens, Gunter appear to speed up. Or perhaps the people waiting in line will simply suddenly wait for him to catch up. Either way, he make it to the elevator first, blatantly entering the empty mechanism first. The second elevator is about a dozen seconds behind. Obviously the elevator won't fit all of us now. He says, his armor indeed giving little room for anyone else to stand with him. Anyone else beside, say, a woman of not-intimidating stature?

Beruka? Would you like to come with me? I'd like to discuss some things with my son's sweetheart. The rest of you can wait or go down the tower - it's only 77 floors or so. The exercise wouldn't kill some of you.

Right. Corrin, wait for the other elevator. The rest of you, wait or go down the stairs. And down she goes, looking unenthusiastic. As for the others, while they're allowed to go to the other elevator, they'll have the slightest motivation to not enter the one Gunter is occupying. And indeed, despite tilting his head to the left in curiosity, Corrin doesn't follow after his wife.

Huh, I guess it'll be faster if I jump out of a window to fly out! he says, looking around for a suitable window to jump out of.

Elsewhere, in the elevator (as it close), Beruka blinks and reach for her head, lookig dazed and glancing at Gunter in startled alarm. The older Nohrian simply smiles at her, the gesture perhaps meant to be kind, but instead coming off as a smug smirk. Don't look at me like that. It was only a demonstration. One I made you fully compliant with.

Give me one good reason not to traumatize the guests on the ground floor with the sight of your corpse.

Oh, if the guests are going to be traumatized, I'm sure Corrin would be far worse off. Gunter says, pressing his hands against his chest in feign hurt. What I did was a demonstration, as I said. I could easily hijack you or Corrin's bodies and wills alike and have you quiet and obedient. It's not like they'd notice any particular lack of socialization on your part, now, would they? But that would be an evil thing to do to either of you, hence I've left you both free to do as you wish. If I were malevolent, would I have permitted that for either of you?

. Beruka doesn't answer Gunter, instead glaring up at him. He appears to be displeased by that, frowning slightly and adjusting himself as if to tower over her.

I want what's best for the both of you. But more than that I know what's best for the both of you. You should take that fact into account going forward - it'll make life easier for the both of us.

I'm sure Garon knew what was good for his children as well.

Gunter frowns. If I feel like you are trying to keep Corrin away from me, I'll tell him what you've done to gain those powers of you; Or better, I'll show him. He doesn't like being lied to, doesn't he? I wonder what he'd think of you eating dessicated human remains for more power. Beruka's eyes widen, and Gunter rolls his eyes to the ceiling, as if he's annoyed he had to go through it to start with.

I am your ally and Kenjaku is your enemy. You can support your husband's hold man for a little while, can't you? Besides, you've spent your entire life taking orders and applying them. Going back to that little routine won't hurt you much, Gunter continues, glancing at the tips of his armored finger in faint disinterest. Once Kenjaku dies, I'll vanish from both your lives. The faster we deal with him, the faster you return to having full ownership of Corrin's leash. Gunter smirks, as if pleased with capping off his statement like that, but he's surprised to find a fire returns to Beruka's eyes as he say that.

You say anything like that about Corrin again - the people on the ground floor won't be traumatized because they won't find anything left of you by the time I'm done, are we clear?! She snarls, taking a step closer to Gunter. To her credit, he actually look slightly surprised, even taking a step back in reflex.

Hmph. Fine. But remember that I know what he doesn't know. As the elevator close, Gunter and Beruka step out, shoving past some tourists almost unconsciously for the latter. The former simply avoids them, despite his own mass. I'll be taking a detour to the nearest bar. You can wait for Corrin and the others - we'll see what you'll be telling them about until then, hm?

Fuck you. The other tourists turn to her, scoffing in indignation, but Gunter simply waves by and leave.

Beruka blinks and groans, going over to a couch in front of the elevator and sitting there, legs crossed, as she wait for the other people to make it down to ground floor.

...

BAD GUY BAR

The bar is full of life and thriving - like a lot of bars in Hub Centralis, to be honest. People from various universes buzzed up and down the seats, being served by dutiful yet slightly overwhelmed bartenders. It was an ambiance Captain Foxy of the Foxy Pirates was proud of, but yet he hadn't left his spot in hours, sadly staring down his mug of beer as he apparently contemplated the meaning of life.

In the middle of a normal crowd, he'd stand out. But a depressed drunk with a goofy appearance was business per usual in places like those, so no one really minded him. They were just content leaving him alone, out of fear that he hid insanely powerful reality-warping powers that would devastate the city if provoked. Which is also the reason why Vladek had been left alone - if he was going to start a fight, they hoped he'd start it elsewhere.

The bar's doors open up to reveal the diminutive frame of one Ramon Salazar, more particularly, the one who had been in Nohr back then.

Oh, I know! I'll drown my frustration in alcohol! That has worked out great for others in the past. He says, his enthusiastic tone and smile contrasting with what he has to say. Foxy doesn't notice him, instead taking a swing of his beer mug.

Edited by Bolded1 on Apr 18th 2024 at 11:09:33 AM

Bad Guy Bar

Thankfully Vladek doesn't seem to be interested in causing a random bar fight, instead letting the people he demanded answers from do the talking. Soon after he's caught up on what the Arena is. A low, inquisitive hum escapes him. This could prove interesting. And helpful too.

He finishes the drink he had ordered in the meantime and gets up from his chair. While normally he wouldn't bother with this part, he puts some gold coins on the bar to pay for his drink. As little as he cares about 'following the law' or 'being a decent person', he's decided that he doesn't want to cause a ruskus here. Nobody knows who he is yet. He'd prefer to keep it that way until he has amassed more power. He's about ready to leave when Salazar comes in, his attire apparently enough to briefly keep Vladek's attention for long enough that he doesn't immediately leave.

Hub Centralis

Well, those two are in for the biggest jumpscare of their lives when Thor suddenly storms in and grabs them. Once again, the people he caught doing something suspicious are a pair of G.E.M. soldiers◊ (though not the same people as last time). Despite that, the two freeze up when they snap out of their surprise and realize who's holding them up.

"T-Thor!? W-we, um..."

"The boss told us to chase a-a... a convict! It's nothing to worry about, I-I assure you."

The woman, meanwhile, is startled when Loki and Sylvie approach. Sylvie won't have any idea who she is, but Loki may just recognize her◊, even if only faintly. Thor would recognize her much faster, but he's occupied at the moment.

"W... we're being chased by the people who used to work for me. I know the Arena is dangerous, but there was nowhere else to go, a-and-"

Cue the wall at the back of the alleyway suddenly blowing up, startling the woman. She turns to look as a familiar-looking silhouette (at least to Loki) shows up in the dust, one visible eye glowing red. Is that the Masked Man!?◊

Upon spotting Loki, the Masked Man?'s eye widens, seemingly in shock. The woman takes this opportunity to run past Loki and Sylvie in a panic, hoping to escape. The Masked Man?, however, immediately flies up, swings his blade, and sends a bolt of lightning at a nearby building, causing it to collapse. Not on top of the woman of course, she's not close enough to the building for that. The collapsing rubble instead blocks her escape path, as she's forced to stop to not risk her safety, as well as the safety of whatever she's carrying with her.

All this noise probably caught Thor's attention. It surely did catch that of the soldiers. One of them takes what the two would consider a big risk and suddenly contacts the main base despite being at Thor's mercy.

"465 here. We've found Ms. Ishizu, but we've run into opposition. We may require back-up!"

Astil

Refia isn't just sensing angels. She closes her eyes and releases a pulse of energy that washes over the landscape, as far as it can go.

Far enough, at least.

Kirue has a bright white aura. Iris once again has a rainbow aura, with the Deliderp having no aura. Both Areuis have a gray aura, with PC!Areui's being slightly darker. She sees the last presence as dimmed, flickering a little.

Among many others, she also sees the bright shining golden outline of a boy, which confuses her, and a similar outline which startles her.

The last being she has just detected, from far across the Arena, suddenly turns in her direction.

"Aura," Refia whispers.

Astil

"Oh, Gods.", PC!Areui groans while rolling his eyes, having heard her.

"Aura? Who is Aura?", Kirue asks, also having heard.

"Long story, but we have beef.", is the only descriptor PC!Areui gives. "Refia, please tell me you located their friend so that I can go get them before Aura gets here."

Edited by DevilPsyco on Apr 18th 2024 at 12:11:38 PM

Astil

"I don't know what is or isn't Yazur, but there's a weak presence approaching us from the edge of the forest."

Refia sighs. "And Aura. Aura is also approaching. I'll try and keep him off our case."

Swordnament - A

It is good that A is familiar with this sort of attack. Before the rift can tear open, A activates the Monado and cuts into it. Sparks of energy fly out as A violently forces the divine weapon to cleave through the rift, struggling against its power until it welds shut with a crack, disappearing with a burst of energy that A leaps away to avoid.

Refocusing, A advances on Odio again, delivering swiftly furious slashes intended to exploit both Odio's potential surprise at his attack being shut down, and his lack of ability to engage in defensive retreat while bound in place.

If Odio is intent on protecting his vitals, then A will simply cut him down by force, exploiting any opening with machinelike precision.

Swordnament - Apothea

Apothea, landing relatively elegantly on the roof, is once again protected from a surprise attack by her object-piercing nonsight senses, avoiding Gut's stab. Using her advantage in height over the remaining sister, then, Apothea dives down to deliver an insanely powerful electric-charged overhead sword swing towards her, which even upon missing would let out an expanding shockwave of deadly electricity.

Edited by Whoma on Apr 18th 2024 at 5:03:02 AM

Astil

"Great, to the edge of the forest we go.", PC!Areui says, already grabbing Kirue's and Areui's arms, ready to go.

"Hey, hold on a mome-"

Cue PC!Areui flying off with the two. Iris looks at them, then back at Refia.

"... should I... go with them, or stay with you?", she asks, confused. The Deliderp seems interested in the former, as it starts waddling slowly in the same direction.

Alexandria Eternal, one day later

(Part 2 of my 'one'shot post)

It had taken about an hour of walking before Dekai-Ver finally saw Mutran descend near some shelves. Upon entering that hallway he sees Mutran pointing at some books.

   "My memory has not betrayed me. These are the tomes centered around the Divine Guardians. I don't know if this is all of them, but considering the large amount of them, I'm inclined to believe so."   

Dekai-Ver moves closer to read the titles on the covers.

"Fate... Vitaegard... why does this third one not have a title?"

   "I'm not certain myself. The entire book is blank. But it looks like there was something in it at one point. I have not yet found answers on the matter."   , Mutran says. He then gestures behind him.

   "Regardless, Mara's is further down the line. Second to last one."   

"Hrm..."

Dekai-Ver moves further down, looking at the amount of books between the first and Mara as he goes along. 10 guardians. 20 guardians. 30. 40.

It's not until he reaches the mid-80s that Dekai-Ver finds the book he was looking for. The one labeled 'Mara', which he takes out of the shelf and opens, reading the first page.

"Created as Mani in the year-huh? What?", he mutters.

   "Ah, yes. Quite a surprise to me too when I first read that."   , the Makuta says as he approaches.

   "Back then I thought I had the wrong book at first, but I soon suspected she may have changed her name at some point. Which was proven right."   

"Of course she would change her name, she'd likely believe it would make it harder to find this book.", Dekai-Ver deduces.

   "I'm not sure Mara knows about this place."   

"I suppose it doesn't matter in the end.", he says as he continues reading the book.

—

Hours and hours of reading had passed. Dekai-Ver had learned a lot about Mara. He'd learned some things that even made the demonic creature come off as something with occasional humanity to her.

But Mara could've been a saint in the past and Dekai-Ver wouldn't care one bit. The death and destruction she spreads is unforgivable and he would do anything in his power to put an end to it.

Eventually, however, he comes across something very, very interesting.

"-however, she was taken off guard when her younger sister Adrestia set in motion the plan made by her and the inhabitants of the world Mara threatened. Combining their magic abilities, she and the six greatest heroes on the planet used an ancient chant meant to ward off evil spirits and sealed Mara away for the next one thousand years. One Divine Guardian of Morality had triumphed over the other in a way in a way that was to ensure peace and longevity. However, a mere one hundred years after this battle, Mara was released by a power-hungry member of the species residing on it, rambling about whispers in his ears at night, telling him to undo the seal."

His brow furrows as he continues reading aloud. Mutran now peeks at the book as well.

"Upon her release, Mara was furious and laid waste to the world. With Adrestia having left the planet years prior to aid others in need, Mara hunted down everyone at her own leisure, reviving her victims as undead servants who would be made to hunt down those once precious to them. Eventually even the six heroes fell to her power and were revived as six special undead warriors meant to serve her directly, bestowing her cruel punishment on them for daring to seal her."

   "Forced to serve and kill in the name of their mortal enemy for the rest of eternity. Cruel indeed."   , Mutran comments. Dekai-Ver flips to the next page, but this describes another event in Mara's life.

"Of course... of course the book doesn't say what the sealing spell was. That spell might be the key to Mara's defeat!"

Mutran hums, tilts his head, then takes Adrestia's book out of the shelf and holds it above Dekai-Ver.

   "Perhaps the spell is featured in the book of the person who actually cast it?"   , he asks while sounding amused. Dekai-Ver snatches the book out of his hands and starts flipping through the pages. If that spell was in here, he'd have to find it.

Edited by DevilPsyco on Apr 18th 2024 at 12:42:19 PM

Astil

"I'd appreciate backup in case he's in a bad mood, but—"

In a flash, before Refia can elaborate, Aura◊ is behind her. She abruptly swings a fist backward, but he catches her wrist just short of collision.

It all happens so fast that from Iris's perspective, Refia just went straight from standing upright to hunched over and twisted back, with a blond guy behind her gripping her outstretched arm.

Definitely not a friendly introduction.

Edited by KiriK on Apr 18th 2024 at 5:50:22 AM

Red Hood, Bucky, and Vi all exit the hotel room before stepping into a nearby elevator. As the doors close, the three begin conversing amongst themselves as they descend.

"Either of you think there's something going on with that old guy?"

"You think he could be working with Kenjaku and we might be walking into a trap?"

"The first real action I've seen in forever, and there's a chance it's secretly a death trap. At least it's probably not some secret HYDRA plot."

"Maybe he is, maybe he's just no better than Kenjaku."

"Enough lies!" Thor snarls, his grip on the soldiers' necks tightening ever so slightly. "You're going to tell me exactly what is going on here, and why G.E.M. has been acting so-"

Then one of the soldiers makes the mistake of inadvertently telling him what's going on. Sighing heavily, Thor moves to hurl them both through the nearest wall with perhaps more force than necessary and hurries outside to find the Masked Man trying to prevent Ishizu from escaping.

"Damn it all..."

Rocketing into the air with jagged streaks of lightning trailing behind him, Thor descends upon the Masked Man and attempts to deliver an electrically-charged dive kick right to his face, triggering a not-insignificant explosion of lightning if it successfully connects. Whether or not his attack landed, he glances at Loki and Sylvie afterward.

"Keep Ishizu safe and get her the Hel out of here. I'll catch up with you shortly."

"Of course."

"No need to tell me twice."

He then shifts his attention back to the Masked Man and stomps towards him, his face twisted into a glare capable of chilling even the hardiest Frost Giant's blood as his eyes take on an all-too-familiar electric blue glow.

"Today is not the day to test my patience, Claus. Tell me why G.E.M. has been so damn suspicious lately, why they've suddenly turned on Ishizu and now want her - an innocent woman - dead," he rumbles, clenching his fists tightly enough to make his knuckles turn white. "And tell me NOW. Do I make myself clear?"

-

Drawing their respective swords, Loki and Sylvie hurry after Ishizu before coming to a stop near the freshly-made pile of rubble.

"Ah, hello again, Ishizu," Loki greets. "I'd ask why G.E.M. has suddenly betrayed you, but I suspect you're as much in the dark as we are."

Sylvie raises her free arm and unleashes a sizable beam of emerald green energy, blasting the rubble obscuring Ishizu's path to smaller chunks of debris.

"I'm Sylvie, by the way. Since we don't really have time for introductions, all you have to know for now is that I'm with these boys," she says. "Now, stay close."

Figuring that Ishizu was probably going to take that advice, Loki and Sylvie begin running down the cleared escape route.

"So, tell me, is this path leading us anywhere in particular or were you simply putting distance between yourself and those agents?" Loki inquires.

Edited by IchigoMontoya on Apr 18th 2024 at 10:19:14 AM

Empire Arms Hotel

Pyre, before actually leaving, shoves what food she can into her bag. It'll keep her fed for a bit longer, at least. Better than scavenging through trash bins or whatnot.

She runs back towards the elevator-

-huh? She doesn't think the old man should be able to move that quick. She feels a bit out of it, too- her eyes narrow.

...I've been under domination spells before... that's what those feel like.

Pyre clenches her fists and grumbles, before heading to the stairwell and throwing her sword down it before leaping from railing to railing to get down a bit faster than the elevator. When she grabs her sword and slams the stairway door open, she hears the last bits of Gunter and Beruka's conversation. She walks over, shrugging before quickly speeding up into a run as she heads for her hideout.

Pyre's Hideout

Metal, wood, and fire. That's what greeted Pyre when she got back to her little camp in an abandoned building. She sets her bag and sword down against a small dresser and takes stock.

With what food was left, she has a few weeks at least- and it's all packaged, so no spoiling.

The old faucet still worked. Water wasn't a problem.

Her clothes had seen... better days, for sure. She'd had them when Baldur's Gate was under siege, and never repaired them since.

The fireplace was still simmering somewhat. So were the lamps she'd strung around other places. A gentle heat filled the otherwise-cold room, and Pyre shudders from the warmth that her clothes simply can't provide.

Away from the fire sat her small stash of weaponry and related things. She picked up her old dagger, taking a few practice swings before affixing it to her belt. She also grabbed a few makeshift smokepowder bombs she'd made- little more than a small cut square of a sack stitched together tightly with a fuse out of a single hole. Unreliable as hell, but Pyre was no Ironhand- she was just someone trying to get by.

This should be enough. Judging by the direction the old man was walking, there's only so many directions he could've gone...

She shoulders her bag and heads back out. She'll find them again before long.

Bad Guy Bar

Pyre's wandering brings her... here, of all places. She decides to head in for a moment- if only to catch her breath. She'd thought tracking the old man would be easy- but this is Centralis- old-ass people wearing armor are more common than she thought.

"-I can assure you, it doesn't. It makes it a hell of a lot worse."

Pyre says to Ramon, sitting herself down on a barstool with a sigh.

"How hard can it be to find one person, Pyre? Yeah, I'm sure you'll be able to find him easily, there's totally not a bunch of old men wearing armor in this city..."

She lets out a sigh. She doesn't even have the money to buy a drink, so that's out the window. No telling if the people here would let her- there were all sorts of weird rules that she wasn't used to, and she'd gotten denied a drink one too many times so far.

Oh well.

Astil

All Iris sees is indeed Refia being 'attacked', and as such her first reaction is to jump towards Aura in an attempt to headbutt him and make him let go of her.

Hub Centralis

And the two go flying through a wall. That's sure to keep them down for a while.

The Masked Man?, meanwhile, hears Thor coming, but isn't fast enough to react and gets kicked downwards hard, with the only reason for him not outright crashing into the street below being his jetpack slowing him down enough. Though he still lands, rubbing the spot he got kicked in and wincing.

"Ouch..."

This reaction from the otherwise stoic Masked Man, as well as the fact that he actually looks nervous when Thor angrily approaches, should make something clear that, despite Thor using his name, may not have expected to be the case.

The Masked Man isn't the one in control right now. Claus is. He's the one doing this.

"Thor, I...", he mumbles, taking a step back. He still looks nervous, but also panicked, terrified, conflicted...

... conflicted?

He contemplates for a few seconds, then does something nobody would expect as a reaction: he takes on a battle pose. And it's not like the Masked Man suddenly took over control, because Claus' expression is still a conflicted one, and his arm is shaking a bit.

"Sorry, Thor."

... Claus is rash. He's proven as such time and time again. But he's not an idiot. And the fact that he's reacting to a very clearly pissed off friend of his (and a good friend no less) who demands answers not by giving him those answers, but by basically declaring battle...

Something is up here. The panic and terror on him can't be a result of Thor being furious. Because he'd know Thor wouldn't try to kill him. With how angry Thor is right now though, will he be able to see that there's more to this right now? Or would that only come up in his mind later, once he's eventually calmed down?

It's then that a worried Lucas◊ suddenly runs out of the alleyway, though he stops in his tracks when he sees Claus and Thor on opposing sides. He gasps in shock, though he stays silent. His presence momentarily seems to make Claus waver a little, but he remains steadfast in his pose. Notably, he doesn't actually make the first attack.

-

Ishizu turns to Loki and Sylvie, and judging by her expression it's only now that she really recognizes Loki in turn. Perhaps her panicked state made her not realize who he is until just now.

"N... no, I... I know what's going on. M-most of it actually, but..."

Yeah, as they said, now's not the time to talk. Especially since it seems things are about to get worse, what with Claus's response to Thor.

When Sylvie creates an opening, she indeed sticks close to them, but she's clearly also running slower than she should be capable of. And the reason why will be clear very quickly when the towel she has in her arms squirms a bit. A quick glance reveals she's holding onto a child, an infant, probably about 2 years old at most. Judging by his hair and skin color, the child is probably Ishizu's son.

"T-the latter. I didn't know where to go. I barely escaped Blackreach when I was noticed, and-"

A G.E.M. soldier reinforcement suddenly pops out from a nearby house, weapon trained on Ishizu, Loki and Sylvie.

"Don't move, any of you! This thing hits gods too, just to warn you! I've got it in stun mode, but it'll still hurt. Ms. Ishizu, I'm sorry, but you're gonna have to come back with-"

The soldier pauses when he sees the child though, eyes wide behind his mask.

"W-wait a second... shit."

With the way he says it and the way his arms are shaking, it's clear his conscience is preventing him from doing anything right now. If he were to shoot Ishizu, even just to stun her, she'd undoubtedly drop her child and he'd get seriously hurt.

"Shit, shit, we didn't know you took him with you. Fuck, they can say or do what they want, I'm not doing this.", he mumbles, backing off a bit and shaking his head. Seems like he's going to let the small group pass through without a fight, unable to bring himself to risk harming the kid.

Aura uses his free hand to catch Iris by the head.

"Refia," he chastises like a parent scolding their children, as he releases Refia and Iris. "Is this how you say hello?"

"Well, excuse me for being on edge."

"You'd be right to be. I have questions, you know."

Refia sighs. "Now's not a great time to ask."

Edited by KiriK on Apr 18th 2024 at 6:44:14 AM

The news echoed through a quiet room.

It covered subjects and matters Kain cared little about—an attacked in Tropique, a great battle over the skies of Hub Centralis, a situation in Lourent progressively worsening…

On the couch, Kain paid little attention at all to it. His mind was elsewhere; he stared off at the bloody wall behind the television, where he had blown that incessantly screaming wench into millions of tiny little pieces and droplets of blood. Some of her still dripped from the roof, gathering into puddles on the carpet.

"Is m’lord Kain admiring his work?" Alanah asked from beside him. She lay with her head on his bare chest and her hands wrapped around his shoulder…though, technically, they weren’t his. Some superhero—the “Deep” he called himself—who had captured Kain’s eye when he saw the fool in the news, yammering incessantly about some group or other’s progress in “purging our glorious city of evil!” Now his wife was dead, his squid was in his own stomach, and his body was taken prisoner by Kain.

The man’s blood was spread out across the hallway outside; the redness flowing in him at the moment was Kain’s. Kain’s blood, which controlled the superhero’s body.

Most of it.

Behind the couch, the man’s hair and a good portion of his scalp rested crumpled against the floor. The skin, Kain could handle, if only temporary, but the hair? Oh, Kain could never stand hair. Even as a child he’d torn his follicles out, bloodied the top of his head every time new hair began to regrow, just as he’d done now to the “Deep’s” body. The wretched fool wore a cap of red now.

   "No,"    he answered at last, drawn from his mind.    "I’m just…thinking."   

"I love it when m’lord Kain thinks.." Alanah doted dreamily. She squeezed her arms and buried her head into the chest, giggling. Kain sighed and glanced elsewhere again, to the man standing guard in the doorway. He leaned on the frame with crossed armed, looking out into the hall. White as a ghost, with his black and white robes and the pale red bags around his eyes. His dark brown hair was tied into two ponytails, spiking out from the back of his head, but most curiously of his appearance was the thick, black line across his nose.

Choso’s gaze met his, and there they held it for a moment. The man’s gaze was almost confrontational…something about it triggered an emotion within Kain. Anger flared for a moment but simmered as quickly as it had come; he was emotionally exhausted, as he always was following a fight, even one as short as this had been.

Still, he wished to speak with the man.

Alanah had begun to yap again, but she quieted immediately once Kain spoke:    "Hold on a moment,"    her idol pressed a finger to her lips, before lifting his hand just above her wide, lovestricken eyes. Streams of red shot from both ears as he blew out her eardrums; Alanah smiled at the sensation. As she stared ever onwards at her love, deafly contemplating his strangely shaped new face, he turned to the sentry and spoke.

   "Choso."   

"Bloodlord Kain." Even in his voice…there was not a hint of admiration, of idolation or fear..

   "Every other person who follows me…when they look at me, when they speak to me, they do it with…terror, perhaps, or respect. Some kind of love, fanatical devotion…some emotion that makes them subservient to me, a hormone produced by their brains to remind them that I am their superior, that I and my word is all that matters to them…but not you. Why is that?"   

"I’m not scared of you." He answered plainly. "Nor do I love you, Bloodlord Kain. The only ones I’ve ever loved were my brothers. They’re dead. Now, I only want revenge on the men who killed them." Revenge…revenge was as good a motive as any. But it wasn’t enough for Kain. If Choso was only interested in serving his own gains, then he did not truly follow Kain. He was simply working with Kain to kill a shared enemy, but Kain did not want that. He wanted a follower. He wanted dedication, loyalty, and…

   "And respect? Do you respect me, Choso?"   

"Yes." His face was unmoving. Unconvincing. Kain frowned.

   "Do you remember that man yesterday? The one I killed?"    Kain asked, and Choso nodded.    "Do you remember why I did it?"   

"He did not bow when you stood. I recall. You needed to remind the others that you control them. You lead and they are your tools and nothing more." Choso paraphrased what Kain had said to him almost verbatim.

   "That’s why I said I did it, yes. Do you know why I really did it?"    Without waiting for an answer, Kain continued:    "The truth of the matter is, I did it because I felt like doing it. I wanted to see his guts roll out of his torso, so I did. The truth is, Choso, that at any moment I could kill all of you at a moment’s notice and there’s nothing you could do to stop me, because I am, truly, superior. To every last one of you stinking, whimpering, pathetic fools, following me for handouts, feasting on the carcasses I leave behind, scavenging on my greatness. To me, you’re all nothing but temporary entertainment to be killed at a moment’s notice. Even her, the minute, no, the second she ceases to please me, I’ll open her throat, hack her to pieces, and eat her brain."   

The woman beside him was deaf to his threats. He paused to see Choso’s reaction.    "You’re useful to me, Choso. You’re good at what you do, so I keep you around. But the moment your usefulness wanes or you begin to conspire against me, I’ll tear your heart out and turn your lungs inside out."   

"If it pleases the Bloodlord." Choso recited without emotion. At this Kain scowled, but said nothing more on the matter; there was nothing more to say. Instead he only pressed his hand to Alanah’s face again, repairing her eardrums as he switched to a different subject.

   "That man who joined recently—with the spears. What was his name?"   

"Pallus, I believe."

   "”Pallus”…what a fucking stupid name. Summon him."   

Wordlessly, Choso pushed off the frame and disappeared from sight down the hallway. Next to Kain, Alanah itched at her ear.

"Summon who? Ooh, is it dinnertime already!" She smiled but Kain shook his head in answer. Alanah pouted and lowered her gaze from the eyes of the man who’s body Kain had stolen to the chest. She furrowed her eyebrows in disgust and jammed a finger into his breast. Kain watched with disinterested curiosity as her finger sunk up to the joint into the hero’s skin, blood rushing to the surface and pooling around it. "I don’t like it," she complained, in reference to the form he had taken. "It’s not you."

   "Perhaps you’re right.."    Kain lifted the right arm from the back of the couch and lowered the man’s hand into his sight, flexing and unflexing…before bringing it to his mouth and biting off three fingers. His legs and left arm spasmed as the owner of the body tried to fight back against him, earning the vampire’s intrigue. He looked at the hand again, red rivers streaming from the bloody and bony stumps that extended from the palm.    "You’re still watching, hm..?"   

"Of course I am, m’lord Kain." Alanah answered a question not intended for her, and Kain sneered. It was just like women to respond to something that wasn’t directed at them. But before he could pluck her eyes from their sockets in punishment, footsteps rang from outside the room. Choso was in the doorway once more, leaving enough space for another man to pass through: he was an impressive seven feet of height, with a powerful and muscled build. He wore cloth pants and sandals and nothing on his chest save a strap; covering his surely grotesque face was a gladiator’s mask. In either hand was a half-spear, silver grips with gold blades.

Even before Kain could give the command, the man dropped to a knee and bowed his head, placing the weapons before Kain’s feet. Impressive, thought the First Vampyr, he’s an experienced meatrider.

   "You’re…Pallus?"    Kain spat the name.

"Indeed I am, Bloodlord Kain; the First Vampyr, highest of monsters, atrocit—"

   "That’s enough."    Kain waved a hand that wasn’t truly his. The body jolted again, another attempt to wrest control back to the original owner, and Kain sighed. He stood from the couch and reached up to the Deep’s right shoulder, snaking his fingers under the skin, before tearing it off and revealing the flesh below.

Blood squeezed from between exposed muscle as the Deep’s skin dropped to his waist, hanging limply from the hip. White eyes and flawless teeth shone from amidst the red of unpeeled flesh. The Deep’s scream broke from his lips and erupted across the room, a horrible, pained sound, but Kain quickly forced the jaw shut with an impact so powerful that the teeth shattered within.

   "You were right, Alanah."    Behind him, the woman beamed brightly at the mere mention of her name.    "This body just doesn’t fit."   

His true form exploded from the skinless man. Raw flesh packed into layered, slender muscles; long arms that dropped to his knees and ended in bestial claws; and a grotesque, elongated, almost batlike face, curled lips lined with rows of razor-sharp fangs. His glossy black eyes stared down at the would-be follower—now it was he who towered over the gladiator. Alanah cheered and clapped happily behind him, and Kain stared down at Pallus.

   "You wish to prove your worth to me?"   

"More than anything, master Kain." He kept his eyes fixed to the bloodstained carpet. Kain smirked.

Edited by ISZATSO on Apr 18th 2024 at 7:48:39 AM

Astil

Iris pauses.

"Wait, you two know each other?", she asks without even trying to free herself from Aura's grip until he lets her go himself. Confused, she points at Aura.

"Whyyyyyyy did you attack her?"

Astil

"He didn't, I did. It was a reflex."

"I figured. Regardless, I am Aura. And I do not approve of your cavorting freely with him," he growls.

"Areui is my friend," Refia declares. "You have to accept that."

Aura shakes his head. "You make it sound so easy, to just let bygones be bygones. I tried to forgive him many times, but when I searched my feelings, all I found was lingering despair and hate. I've given up denying myself."

Edited by KiriK on Apr 18th 2024 at 6:49:04 AM

Astil

"Oh. ... sorry."

She then listens a bit to their conversation and looks confused.

"Wait, hold on, what'd your Areui do exactly for you to feel that way?", she asks Aura. She didn't think too much about it, but he's likely to catch the specification of 'your' Areui.

fighte swordes

The McDownside - Ganondorf's sudden re-entrance catches Fighter across the face and also body, leaving a gouge across him. Talk about a SNEAKY.

The upside is that Fighter is a silly little guy, and the surprise blow knocks him across the battlefield and into the house to the South - a shocking impact, but one that means he's out of the way from getting two-hit by Mshez.

ONE MOMENT LATER, he's rising to his feet in a daze, metaphorical stars spinning around his head.

   What a pitiful abode - but I guess something ran down and dirty like that suits you pretty well.   

Mhh, the housing above is a little too costly. I'd rather live somewhere closer to my means.

Sukuna chuckle, glancing around at the Hub Centralis sewers. Kenjaku has found residence inside a particularly creepy "little" room, although with the sewers being spacious to start with, "little" meant that Sukuna was standing on top of a large wooden ramp leading down to a circular room. In the middle of it was a grate with red ooze pouring out of it, which Kenjaku wisely avoided as he sauntered across the room, putting down a miniature TV, some books, a miniature fridge and a few others commodities.

The fridge, he was struggling with in particular - he couldn't find an electric socket.

My food's going to be all spoiled at this rate, this is bad, Kenjaku put an hand on his chin, obviously deeply pondering. Would you mind asking-

   You've had worse go down your throats. And what counts as "nutritious" in this era is better off rotting away,    Sukuna says, stepping off the edge of the ramp, hanging one foot over it almost tauntingly before falling to hit a nearby sewer pipe, bouncing on it to make a flip over another sewer pipe, which he jump off as well to impact a brick wall. He slide down that one upon impact, punching his hand through the material as he slides down. He then take one last jump to bring him directly next to Kenjaku, bricks falling off next to the two abominations.

Show-off, Kenjaku replies, raising an unimpressed eyebrow. Impressive thing you did with Yorozu's spleen by the way! But how'd you know that Beruka would be a fitting host? And where'd you get it, even? Have you been stealing stuff from my bag?

   Oh, I didn't. I just think it's funny when cattle want to play predator,    Sukuna shrugs.    I'd have dragged her corpse to Corrin and infested him if I had failed.   

All my hard work on Moonrise Crypt would have been for nothing then, Kenjaku sighs, folding his arms and shaking his head. Do you know where Idiot went to? I wanted to visit him for the next phase of the plan but he's been hard to find. I can't even track his energy.

   No; But I know Corrin and the meat have been elsewhere than at home. Looks like you were too reckless with that attack.    Sukuna chides, aware that it didn't matter much to him. He'd almost regret not having a phone to contact them with, but though he was willing to go through some indignities for himself, he wasn't about to debase himself by getting some of that technology. And luckily, neither were Corrin and Beruka.

Yeah, could you go check up on them real quick? I need to finish moving my stuff into the sewers.

Sukuna scoffs, his expression remaining detached even as his grin grows a tad more sinister.    I'm not your errand boy. And with Idiot compromised, I've been careful of getting close to them in case his power has worn off.    It was their mistake relying on such a weak and flawed being and its weak and flawed power, really, but Sukuna blamed it more on Kenjaku.

For his part, he hadn't done anything suspicious. And if his suspicions were right, he was now in a position where he could easily get closer to them.

Pretty please?

   If you agree to undo one of those Binding Vows we've made, then maybe I'll take a stroll close to them.   

No thanks! I think it'd be hard to pull my experiment off as a ghost.

   Well, as it is, it's going to be impossible to pull your experiment off as whatever you are. So...    Sukuna shrugs and sighs, mimicking resigned boredom.    Well, whoever has them, I can always-   

But then, Kenjaku and Sukuna's expressions shift into a grimace and they turn around hurriedly, both prepared to battle it out right here right now with whoever was in there. For the sinister aura was such as to instantly convince both men to throw aside their previous argument and focus on the fight ahead.

What theya actually find is just Idiot, eyes blank and mouth wide open, and Azura, unconscious and laying unto her side.

Kenjaku and Sukuna blink, unimpressed at their seeming good fortune. Kenjaku eventually does break a slight smile, amused with the situation.

I guess I'm not going to be living in the sewers after all.

Edited by Bolded1 on Apr 18th 2024 at 2:10:54 PM

Thor does indeed snap out of his rage after realizing that Claus was both terrified and conflicted. He motions for him to lower his weapon.

"Claus... whatever is happening here, you don't have to do this. Just tell me what's going on and why G.E.M. has suddenly gone rogue," he says, discreetly glancing at where Loki and Sylvie were. "Whoever's in charge of the organization now, are they threatening Lucas or anyone else in your family to make you comply?"

-

Loki and Sylvie prepare to subdue the G.E.M. soldier before he can open fire, only for the latter to back down and leave upon noticing Ishizu's baby.

"So, G.E.M. hasn't suddenly become malevolent," Loki muses. "Or been malevolent this entire time, for that matter. Anyway, let's work on an escape plan."

As he scans the immediate area, Sylvie looks down at the baby in Ishizu's arms.

"He's having such a rich childhood right now," she remarks. "Believe it or not, I can actually relate."

Loki then snaps his fingers and points in the direction of a speedboat parked at a nearby dock.

"We'll take that craft to a certain island, and if I know Pseudo, he'll have no qualms about allowing you and your child stay in his headquarters for as long as you need," he explains. "Now, come. Thor shouldn't have any trouble catching up."

"I hope you and your baby don't get seasick, Ishizu."

Loki and Sylvie than begin ushering Ishizu towards the dock as quickly as possible.

Edited by IchigoMontoya on Apr 18th 2024 at 10:22:20 AM

The mysterious wakizashi emits a wail from beyond as it tears its way through Clone Three. Blade sheathes the sword in a clean motion and nonchalantly checks her watch for her next destination when she suddenly hears Clone Three talk. How did that not mince her?!

"Oh, you bitch."

Under most circumstances, there would be no way such an attack would have connected. It is clumsy and far too telegraphed, and the legendary swordsmaster boasts unparalleled agility and reaction time. However, when Blade attempts to evade, she realizes just how badly that previous attack left her wounded. The sudden movement rips open the severe burns inflicted by Laevateinn's infernal magic, prompting Blade to grunt and flinch in pain in a rare moment of weakness from the apex of humanity's strength. The swing from the gargantuan blade lops off her arm at the shoulder, and the shard explosion finishes her off. Guess she won't be the only one taking a point from this duel.

Damn it! With a performance like that against just one of her clones, I wouldn't stand a chance against the controller. Get your shit together, Blade.

Respawning inside the house on the roof of which the two Dantes are waging war, Blade takes stock of the situation. It seems like the battlefield is a mess - dozens of fighters coalescing in gruesome free-for-alls. She's in a leading position, so she can afford to take things relatively slowly. She doesn't feel like charging into a fray again, swinging her sword blindly and seeing what sticks, and opts instead to single out a currently unoccupied fighter for a duel - Adam.

"Eyes right here, pointy ears. I am your opponent," she says, adjusting her necktie with one hand while the other firmly grips the hilt of the Ender of Paths.

Edited by Arachnos on Apr 18th 2024 at 9:52:26 AM