Duel Aftermath
And so they all go on their merry ways. Reyna now a Duel Disk and another opportunity richer, Seto Kaiba a special card richer...
And Noah Kaiba another virtual space to inherit richer. The Duel Disk faintly glows for a moment, though neither of the Kaiba brothers notices. Noah has successfully entered Kaibacorp's systems.
And he's already thinking of what the best way to let himself be known to them again would be.
Fort Dawnguard
Morgan overhears his counterpart and looks at her.
"Um-", he says, though quickly pauses. Despite everything, things still feel a little awkward for him. Especially around the other Morgan.
Why? Because she was the one who found him and was the first one to give him a chance. And he betrayed that trust.
Granted, he'd proven that he's vehemently against Julius now. He's actually the Shepherds' ally. But it still doesn't make talking to her any less awkward because of it.
She'll probably have heard him, and if she looks, he'll decide to try to continue talking.
"I... can lend you a Thoron tome if you're looking for one.", he says.
In the year 202X, all is devastation... Soon, any last shred of hope had by the saintliest optimist shall die and decay.Beruka
Frowns at first, then considers that it's not like she can really barter. As far as she cared, it was all to save Corrin. The consequences, she could surely deal with. And while she was wary of putting more weird stuff in her body, she also had to acknowledge that it was at the very least very blunt.
I drink your blood. That his might spill.
Beruka knelt on the ground and put the cup to her lips, not flinching as she drank it all in. She then put it down and stayed still, preparing herself for the possible consequences, but nodding quietly to his words. Fine, she would. She'd sing it if she had to.
Morgan
is unaware of the metal shit going on far else in Lourent and her eyes settle curiously upon Morgan. Corrin and Beruka has had time to make their thoughts on him very clear but she hadn't. And as she observes him, she freezes, almost as if only now remembering he exists.
And she frowns...
But you'd lose on a Thoron. That wouldn't be a fair trade now, wouldn't it?
Edited by Bolded1 on Apr 22nd 2025 at 1:53:09 PM
Nautolan picture belongs to Bonesmarinated on twitterAbove Blackreach
Odio screams, blood dripping from his mouth, before getting slammed around.
He keeps screaming until he abruptly breaks free...then uses a magic scroll to heal himself back up to peak condition.
Then he takes a defensive stance, waiting to see what Mara does next.
Azazel's Temple
There's no dramatic flash of energy, or pain. After a few seconds, Beruka simply begins to feel more powerful than before.
But if she tries taking a practice swing, she'll find she's much more powerful.
Edited by KiriK on Apr 22nd 2025 at 6:55:43 AM
"A wizard is never late, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to."Fort Dawnguard
"I guess, but it's not a trade, it's borrowing.", he points out, smiling a little for a moment, but then looking awkward again, before eventually glancing down.
"... if... uh... you're not eager to accept anything from me then I understand that of course. You probably don't like that I'm here at all.", he says, voice a little softer.
Above Blackreach
Magic, huh? Mara has something to deal with that. But she has to consider: is it worth showing when her enemies may still be watching?
She hears the warhorn again. This isn't a coincidence anymore. One of her uncles is nearby.
Mara takes a deep breath, and Odio will see a strange sight: a visual of multiple Maras appearing out of nowhere and converging into the main one in the middle.
And immediately after that, Mara jumps forward and tries to impale Odio on a set of blades. If successful, she'll stab the blades into the ground in an attempt to trap him there.
What he or anyone else won't be able to see is that, at the moment Mara jumped for Odio, a ghostly apparition of Mara detaches itself from the main Mara body. This apparition is the same kind of state that Lord Duckus and Milo are in, meaning she can't be perceived.
She looks around for a moment, then finally notices both of her uncles standing there.
"... oh, I have a bad feeling about this." , she mutters to herself as she begins to approach them. Those two are supposed to still be at the meeting. Why are they here!?
In the year 202X, all is devastation... Soon, any last shred of hope had by the saintliest optimist shall die and decay.Beruka
is surprised at that part - she'd imagined that there would be. But perhaps she was used to it. Perhaps she had gained mental resistance to these things. Or perhaps she was being too coy and judging herself apt based on something that had nothing to do with either.
She doesn't take a swing - not yet, not inside this temple. A trained and seasoned warrior like Beruka can feel her new power before she has to test it. She glances down at her hands and clench them into tight fists.
... I shall head outside for a moment.
Morgan
Nods as if understanding his point, which she does! But... I think it's better to... trade. Mom says it's best to do it that way so that both people can learn something from it. Dad too! Buuuttt he also says borrowing is totally fine if you need it.
She glances down at him when he speaks, then raises her head, as if remembering.
Honestly, if we'd met... before, I might have just done that. The redhead says, bluntly, in a way that'd make her mother and brother proud.
But I've heard you've helped! So... as far as I'm concerned, you did bad, but then you did good. And you're still doing good. Fair trade.
Nautolan picture belongs to Bonesmarinated on twitterA Quick Chat
Previous Post: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=14315151240A21923900&page=15812#comment-395290
Partner Post: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=14315151240A21923900&page=15812#comment-395293
Hub Centralis
"Every word, friend." Charlian's smile widened into something that only the most warm and compassionate of people can muster. It receded a little when he heard that she does actually want to get rid of her past, but understood why she may want to, given what he has seen of Code Amelias. Charlian finds her other reason to be perfectly understandable as well, as he has seen those who fight to repay others who have brought them out of a dark time.
"I appreciate that, it sounds like you think very highly of him." Though, the young man sighed when Amelias made the comparison. "Well, I would use something more intense on the battlefield, but what I know of are usually too destructive, and we don't really wanna suppress our enemies with overwhelming force unless we really need to. It sends a bad message, especially to soldiers and the like."
Hub Centralis
After a successful meeting with Refia, Filia has found herself in Hub Centralis searching for allies. Her studious gaze scanned the innumerable individuals of mundane capabilities, hoping for one to stand out amidst the crowd. The demoness' search had gone on for hours to little avail, and searching Gravitas' records was a doubly monotonous process, especially with the chatter of accountants in her ear.
The hustle and bustle of Centralis was a change of pace that Filia desperately needed, able to slip into the crowd and appear as a normal member of society. Freeing as it was, the demoness felt odd not receiving the occasional glance, no hushed whisper, and not one single inkling of attention. That, however, was soon to change. Reaching a clearing in the crowd near a tram leading to District 21. A holographic newsboard above flashes against Filia's gaze, images of a bunch of gorillas attacking Centralis reflected in her eyes.
War, a stark reminder of what was soon coming to Filia.
Shadow shoots a bitter scowl at Noah, and from between his sharp, slightly-bared teeth flicks his long, forked tongue, tasting the air with a quiet hiss. A petty, minor display of displeasure, but a memorable one.
"Not to those who don't deserve it, at the very least, but try telling Zorc, or anyone else who hurt my friends, in the Arena or elsewhere, that I'm 'not the Smiting type.' That is, if you can find enough left of them to hold a conversation."
He looks up at Kii-Saa-Raa, and nods.
"Intriguing. Where else were you thinking of going besides the Lost Woods? And it's interesting that you share control of your body. Do you all decide on how to move in unison?"
He glances up at the steaks, and then back to Kii-Saa-Raa.
"...y'know, that's totally fair. Didn't think that one through. What I find interesting now is that you more or less have the same dietary preferences as typical Gryphons. Another thing that mildly amuses me is that the Winged Dragon of Ra sorta' resembles a Gryphon. Ah, and, here ya' go, you can have these!"
He clicks his fingers once, creating a third steak; twice, somehow un-cooking the second; and thrice, causing the steaks to change into a notably different cut, which, should Kii-Saa-Raa decide to try them, they will find to be horse.
"What I find interesting now is that you more or less have the same dietary preferences as typical Gryphons. Another thing that mildly amuses me is that the Winged Dragon of Ra sorta' resembles a Gryphon."
He nods upon hearing that the Dark Magician is present, smiling.
"Might have to say hi sometime."
He then freezes upon hearing of the maintained presence of Diabound, and the feathers on his wings stiffen.
"...Diabound? Oh, that little..."
He growls.
"I had a feeling Yami Bakura was still around after we torched Zorc. If he's back to his old tricks, I might have to pay him a visit. Nothing excuses what happened to his past self, but walking around dispensing misguided vengeance on innocents isn't helping anyone."
"Life isn't a fairytale. There isn't always a 'Happily Ever After' waiting for you at the end of the road." ~ Isengrim Heath-StalkerA Quick Chat
"...I do." Amelias admits, then chuckles. "Ah I don't just mean intense in terms of firepower. It's... how should I describe it?"
She stands up and imitates holding two swords, then merging them together before slamming them down with a shout of "This is my BUUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRNIIIIIING SWOAAAARDOOO!"
It takes her a moment to realize how she must look and she promptly blushes and meekly sits back down, shrinking into herself out of embarrassment.
Hub Centralis - A Not As Quick Chat
As Filia walks through the hordes of generic NPCs that nobody cares about before looking at the display of the gorilla attack people do care about, she'll feel an unusual presence nearby. Not necessarily malicious but definitely one that sticks out like a sore thumb. And one that is steadily approaching her.
Until The Moment You Die - Touhou Lost Word Music Extended
"Filia, the last demon." says a distinctly feminine voice from her left. Were she to turn around she'd find a figured wearing a black cloak with a hood, concealing them fully from view (even were she to have darkvision or the like). The people move around her like waves around a boulder, even though none seem to visibly react to her presence. "I have been looking for you."
"That was a pointless encounter with a pointless person."Vildebjørn had lunged and come up short one too many times against his foe; not once with the jester knight in his hands. He couldn’t hope to defeat Limas with wide and sweeping rage; he’d need—
Precision. He reached again at Limas, focused not on where the knight was but where he’d be. Again he missed, but this time felt material brush against his knuckles. Limas’ next dodge was sloppy, no doubt muddled by unease, masked with a laugh. Vildebjørn grabbed at the knight a third time, and came away with a torn fabric patch in his fist. Steel flashed across his sight, a stinging warmth ran down his cheek. Another silver flash opened a cut across his chest and Limas disappeared from sight, before the vikingr’s right calf flashed with white-hot pain. His snarled, whirled around with a wild haymaker, but again uncoordinated rage proved ineffective. Limas ducked beneath the swinging arm, came up with his razor racing for Vildebjørn’s throat. This time, he was prepared.
The jarl’s hand shot towards the sword, gripping it by the blade and yanking it out of Limas’ grip. Though surprised for an instant, the Laughing Knight did not allow himself to be caught offguard; just as quick as the blade was gone from his right hand, another entered his left. A dagger. It raced in a silver streak at the side of Vildebjørn’s neck, the warrior too slow to stop its path to his carotid…
Dink. There was a brief moment of silence where all that could be heard was the battle raging between Raex and Volke, Vildebjørn and Limas still as statues arranged in a deathly close pose. In the latter’s hand was the shattered knife, its edge broken against Vildebjørn’s skin. "My." Vildebjørn’s hands smashed on either side of the Laughing Knight’s tattered hat and beaked helm, breaking both as he forced the man to the ground. Stripped bare of his visage, the true face of Limas hit the light for the first time in years. His burnt flesh writhed like snakes as his fervent giggles intensified, a madness in his eyes that gave Vildebjørn pause for a single, critical second. A fake tooth in the man’s maw cracked open and from it hissed a very visible, and very toxic gas.
The jarl writhed away, staggered back as he attempted to wave the cloud from his face, but it was too late. He was seeing double, triple, dozens of Limas, the Laughing Knight’s face burned into his retinas and his voice echoing in his ears: "This is where you die, bastard!" A steel-pointed boot kicked sharply into the back of Vildebjørn’s knee and knocked him to it, another kick planted into his side and bringing him onto his hands. The giggles hissed from all around him at once. Vildebjørn closed his eyes and ignored what he heard; a bear made use of all its senses, and he had one left as of yet unaffected. Vildebjørn sniffed at the air. There you are.
Limas came in for another blow, but found himself caught instead in the warrior’s hold. A vice grip around his throat. Limas kicked at the air, his feet leaving the sanctity of ground as Vildebjørn rose to his own, eyes accented with rivers of blood reaching for the iris staring into Limas’ own, dark and murky. The Laughing Knight clawed at the hand around his neck; suddenly this wasn’t so funny.
Vildebjørn gave his rage voice, roaring and throwing Limas to the soil. He dropped to the smaller mans chest and rained his fury onto the knight’s head, again and again, this unceasing torrent of fists driving the burnt head into the soil until it was practically one with it. Vildebjørn lifted bloody fists, panting, from the pulverized mess. He glanced up at his newly made companion, saw…
Well, let’s rewind a bit first.
Wincing in the wake of the flashbang, Volke rears back from Raex, unable to see. Blinded but not incapable, Volke hears his templar opponent rush behind him, whipping around to deflect Raex's blade with a savage shield strike that disarms him. Thrusting forward at Raex's general area, the templar dodges Volke's attempted blow with a roll toward his blade.
Grasping his greatsword, Raex rose with a sweeping strike that clanged against Volke's blade, the two engaging in a blade lock. Sparks flew between them as each stifled grunts to appear less drained to the other, the intensity of their strength cracking the ground beneath them. Neither lost balance, even as their metal boots sunk into Tropique's fertile dirt. The dark knight chuckled angrily, pushing against Raex with all his might.
"Weak!"
Volke bellowed, but Raex sealed his lips; all he'd wanted to say had been so. Volke headbutted the templar, pushing past his guard and breaking their blade lock and Raex fell on his back. Shaking off the daze, Raex catches Volke's blade with a single hand as the dark knight attempts to drive it through his chest.
His arm shook, tightening his grip on the obsidian-colored steel of Volke's blade with gritted teeth; the tip of the blade cracked, a loud ting suddenly silenced by the immediate breakage. The tip of Volke's blade and the following inches crack into pieces, falling to Raex's side like shards of glass.
Swiftly batting away what remained of Volke's sword, Raex rose with a clenched fist, smashing the dark knight in the chest with a hard blow that sent him skidding across the ground. His shield fell to the ground a few meters away.
Volke, addled by immense pain, rose from the ground, dirt cascading from his shoulders. Looking down, Volke spies his chest plate torn asunder, a gaping wound at the center of his ribs. The flesh was flayed to the bone, but Volke smiled, raising his gaze to Raex and clasping his shattered blade like a barbarian.
The templar was initially shocked at Volke's survival, shaking his hand while the two stood far from each other again. Raising his blade, the templar's greatsword glowed gold, and he rushed forward. Volke laughed, rushing to meet Raex, taking a pitstop to grasp his shield.
Thrusting it forward, Volke roared like an animal as he approached Raex, shouting with wild abandon.
"YOU CAN'T WIN!!"
Attempting to smash his shield into Raex, Volke is surprised as the templar's glowing blade pierces the shield, running straight through and into Volke's chest, stopping the dark knight in his tracks.
The air in his lungs is driven from him as Raex's blade plunges deep into his flesh, emerging from his back with a loud crack that expels blood, bone, and gore alike. Volke's strength abandons him, his grasp slipping from his blade and losing his footing.
Raex keeps Volke standing, twisting his blade in the dark knight's chest. Their battle was over, or so it appeared, and Raex took a deep breath, a low, angered tone exiting his helmet.
"Burn under the fires you've ignited."
Volke suddenly bursts aflame, his remaining senses overwhelmed with a sensation of searing flesh as his body is coated in golden fire, but the dark knight believes there is hope yet. Adrenaline surges, his vision focuses, and he suddenly clenches a fist and clobbers Raex in the head.
Dazed, Raex is struck again in the chest, a hard blow that drives the breath from his body. Volke pulls himself closer to Raex, plunging the templar's sword deeper into his body. Even as he burned, Volke cackled, striking Raex with a series of blows before clasping his hands together and sending the templar rocketing a few meters away into the dirt, as if the templar had been struck with a hammer.
Ripping the blade from his chest, Volke clasped his hands tightly around Raex's greatsword and stalked towards the dazed templar, utterly honed in on his foe. Too much so, evidently, to pay the footsteps rapidly approaching from his left any heed until Vildebjørn’s knuckles had already cracked open his helmet with a dingy crunch, revealing a lone, gray eye. Volke crumpled to a knee, using his broken shield as support, while Vildebjørn dropped to the ground, too addled by poison to slow the momentum of his charge. But his role was played; an opening had been made and all that remained was for Raex to use it.
From the ground, Raex's gaze settled on Vildebjorn, a sudden invigoration casting his dazedness away. Raising a single hand to Volke, Raex's voice bellowed loudly, echoing with words that were not his own.
"BURN TO ASH IN THE HOLY FATHER'S NAME!"
He commanded, the immense blaze surrounding Volke increasing its intensity tenfold, the divine flames bursting with renewed strength that shredded Volke down to his bones in a single, painless moment. His skeleton, charred black, collapsed to the ground, spreading across the dirt with a series of hollow clatters. Taking a deep breath, Raex turned to Vildebjorn.
"Are you alright?"
Crimson-tinged vomit splashed wetly onto the soil beneath him. Despite this, Vildebjørn wiped the blood from his lips and pushed himself onto firm footing. "Aye, I’ll live." Already his immune system was flushing the toxins out, enough to kill any average man in mere seconds. Thankfully, he was not that. The jarl glanced to the still-smoking figure curled up in the middle of a blackened patch. "You make a fearsome warrior, Raex."
With great power…you know the rest.Filia stops in the crowd, innumerable individuals marching past her while her gaze scans the area, the approaching presence of immediate intrigue. Unable to place where precisely it's coming from, Filia's studying gaze became frantic, a brief, dread-ridden question plaguing her mind, hoping desperately this was not an ambush. When the voice spoke, Filia's gaze snapped to it, her widened, panicked eyes narrowing. Though this individual may know who she is, if she were here to kill Filia, their battle would have already begun.
"I am she, and you are?"
Raex
Planting a clenched fist in the dirt, Raex rose with a pained grunt that he allowed to extend for a few moments, stretching his back. Initially stumbling, Raex walked to Vildebjorn, offering an assistive hand.
"Formidable as I am, I don't believe I would have your strength of perseverance. Get up."
Edited by KrampusTheTherapist on Apr 22nd 2025 at 8:00:28 AM
The berserker took Raex’s aid, pulled himself onto his two feet again. "When I offered myself to eternity…Yggdrasil showed me, for a flash of a moment, when I would emerge. I didn’t see so much as I felt it: the man who awoke me would be one of great purpose; a purpose to guide him to me. Tell me, knight, did Yggdrasil show me true?"
Edited by ISZATSO on Apr 22nd 2025 at 10:14:16 AM
With great power…you know the rest.Raex
Raex's gaze traveled up to Vildebjorn's eyes, seeing precisely what he had hoped to find. Silence fell between them as the templar settled on the necessary words, but they would not pass his lips. Turning away, Raex walked to Volke's smoldering corpse, grasping his greatsword from the ground and sheathing it. Still crouched, Raex cleared his throat.
"As you saved your world, I humbly request you do the same for mine."
He paused, turning back to Vildebjorn and rising.
"A great evil took hold of my world more than a century ago, and its source, Lucifer, supreme master of evil, is that affliction's origin. My people have suffered, and it is my ordained task to bring that vile demon to justice for all she has done to my world for generations."
Looking to the horizon, Raex continued.
"She has allies within this place, connections gathered from years of activity as she left my world in ruin to infect another. I can't face them alone, and so I searched, guided by my Lord, to you. Will you join me?"
Edited by KrampusTheTherapist on Apr 23rd 2025 at 9:25:20 AM
Lucifer. Some evils persisted, it seemed, even across worlds. Of the name he was well acquainted in whispered tones; the idol of the Underworlders and the dark figure to which they bowed. To hear a “she” attached to such a name was new, though far from unexpected. A monster could take on many forms. He glanced down at his palm, the blood of the Laughing Knight intermingled with his own, before offering it to Raex. "A pact, then." His voice rumbled with the low gravitas of a ruler, his powerful posture regained. "As you’ve aided me, so too shall I return the favor."
Edited by ISZATSO on Apr 22nd 2025 at 10:40:25 AM
With great power…you know the rest.Raex clasped his armored hand tightly around Vildebjorn's blood-soaked grasp, shaking it sternly with a relieved look plastered on his helmeted face. To say it was a relief that Vildebjorn agreed would be putting it mildly, and as Raex withdrew his hand, the templar felt as though he would weep with joy. A time would come for such things, and Raex resolved to celebrate properly.
"Indeed a pact, but even we are not enough. I must journey off, the Lord calls me East to ground He walked. There is a place in Onyxis on its furthest edges west, forever stained by my holy power. Go there, and I will come to you with our other allies."
Edited by KrampusTheTherapist on Apr 23rd 2025 at 9:26:10 AM
Morgan
He looks back up with wide, surprised eyes. She doesn't...
"So you don't... hate me for what I did?", he asks, unable to hide how hopeful he sounds right now.
Lost Woods
It has the intended effect, because Noah looks briefly startled and sticks closer to Mokuba. Instinctively it seems, since he's a hologram right now so Shadow can't actually hurt him.
He realizes this quickly as well and looks comically annoyed while Mokuba chuckles a little.
"NOWHERE. JUST SOMEPLACE ISOLATED."
Their attention is immediately on the food presented to them, and they instantly snatch the steaks up in their mouths.
"WE LIKE!"
Since this is a mental conversation for the dragon, it can continue to speak while eating.
"WE HEARD DIABOUND IS IN A CITY. BUT NOTHING ELSE."
"Okay, I don't know who this 'Diabound' or 'Yami Bakura' are.", Noah says. Which is true, he never did get to see Bakura, who had been sent to the Shadow Realm by Yami Marik at that point in time.
"But if you give me a descriptor of them I'll try to see if they're registered in any city system, and maybe I can locate them."
Kaiba looks at him with a raised eyebrow. Mokuba has a cheeky little imp grin as he leans to Noah and whispers.
"Are you offering to help us because you're a little scared of him now?"
"No, shut up!", Noah hisses back, which just makes Mokuba laugh again. Noah is surprisingly easy to read when he's not in control of the situation.
In the year 202X, all is devastation... Soon, any last shred of hope had by the saintliest optimist shall die and decay.Filia
"I've been given many names throughout my life." the figure replied as she seemed to glide across the ground, circling Filia as if sizing her up. Again, people parted out of her way but nobody seemed to consciously acknowledge her existence. "Hel, Azrael, Death."
"But my mother named me Thanatos." she says, stopping her circling as she reaches her initial position before slightly leaning forward. "And I have come for you, Filia."
"That was a pointless encounter with a pointless person."Morgan
Laughs at Morgan. So silly and goofy of him! That said, she quickly realizes he could take her laugh to be her laughing at him and stop to compose herself, coughing into her fist as she straightens up.
Well, if you hadn't gone to Nohr, I'd have been very mad. But I know you went there and tried your best because you wanted to. Not because you were coerced. Time went by too so... She shrugs.
Nautolan picture belongs to Bonesmarinated on twitterHub Centralis
Filia studied the floating figure with a perplexed stare that followed her as she floated in circles, passing through the crowd like a specter. Filia straightened her posture as the figure leaned forward, raising an eyebrow at one of her names. This being certainly wasn't an angel but was known by one's name, a curious sight.
"If death has come for me, then why do I still breathe, Thanatos?"
She asked, seemingly beckoning a display of power, but all Filia wanted was a swift explanation. Level-headed as she appeared on the surface, her heartbeat began to quicken.
Manor
Emma's face lights up the moment she hears the literal magic words but she's almost visibly holding it in. She's aware she can get a bit too giddy around her unit about this topic but this need to exert great self-control without a present authority is ironically new to her.
She's met Refia while out on her usual patrol so she doesn't hide it much around her but Filia's a new can of worms entirely. Speaking of, she hears out Refia's plight first before answering Filia.
"They're definitely going to provide aid now that you've mentioned that... magic he has... While truthful its definitely an understatement. "If they'll be useless then at least I have my own sudden personal investment in this matter."
Cairo
Grimgor was only met with her laughter in response to his question. Green might be taking him with absolute seriousness but there's this internal underestimation that makes the Ork's fist hit harder than it would otherwise. She's spiked to the ground, blood shoots between her teeth from bracing herself to force herself back up via violent cramping.
New approach, there's lots of people here. She's hearing all of these noises and battle cries to try and lure Grimgor in which means she c— WAAAAAAAGHHHH Her brain's scrambling again from the amount of electricity pumping through her body.
She hunches down, charges for him, feint a tackle, then suddenly swerve to attack Grimgor from the side. She goes for a single-leg takedown
to either force him to the ground and attempt a submission fit for his frame or immobilize him long enough to directly divert attention to her as part of this agreed upon collective effort that unintentionally prompted the sudden uncontrolled brain scrambling.
The Sentinel of Stone
Nick threw whatever small collection of rocks he had at the magma beam, the fact it dispersed meant his minerals were barely enough to block the parts coming for him. He gets his ass knocked down by the quakes. By this point he's amassed the missing pieces of the cannon. The familiars combine by hopping into the missing slots and their limbs dissipating and then.
"...What."
The cannon grows pairs of limbs by the carriage and immediately runs for the Gravios to start ramming and flailing the barrel at the monster as if it was a 3rd leg. Nick's facepalming but he might as well make the ammunition into his bodyguards for now.
Edited by BoniniBanana on Apr 24th 2025 at 12:44:04 AM
realFilia
Thanatos said nothing at first, staring silently.
"You feel fear yet don't show it. Good." She commented in lieu of answering her question. "It is indeed not your time. Yet."
"One of the abilities that I posses is the ability to foresee ways someone might meet their untimely end." She said, this time remaining in place as she straightened up. "I have seen your potential end. If you continue down this path then you will die, as your father's sins catch up to you."
She paused, as if letting Filia process that.
"So I came here seeking to prevent that."
Edited by shroobot3000 on Apr 23rd 2025 at 10:02:11 PM
"That was a pointless encounter with a pointless person."Morgan
Well, that's certainly not the initial response he expected. He's glad she clarifies herself soon after though, he genuinely didn't fully get it until she did.
"I'd like to ask you one more question then if that's okay."
He braces himself.
"Do you think there's any chance that we can be friends again one day?"
In the year 202X, all is devastation... Soon, any last shred of hope had by the saintliest optimist shall die and decay.Morgan
seems more uncertain at this point but give the question clear thought, putting her thumb at the end of her chin and thinking. Thinking deeply, even.
I would. But it'd feel weird to act like... nothing happened, you know? It took some rather extraordinary circumstances for us to survive, but I can't blame you for Nohr.
Nautolan picture belongs to Bonesmarinated on twitterManor
Filia turned to Refia, a dour expression on her face.
"My father, though I respect him, had many qualms. The politics of demonic conflict being so self-destructive must be tumultuous to navigate, to put it mildly."
Emma's sudden invigoration gave Filia pause, the demoness raising an open palm as she finished.
"If you're hoping to glean some knowledge on the matter or perhaps use it for yourself, given your absorption capabilities, I'll have to steer you away. It is a magic of pure expression, given strength by one's faith and will."
She paused, taking a breath.
"Where my elemental magic has limitations, he is barred by nothing."
An idea seems to strike Filia, but she remains silent.
Hub Centralis
Filia stifled her surprise at being so easily read, but given the identity of the one speaking to her, the demoness should've assumed Thanatos would read her like a book.
"My father's sins?"
She asked, a rhetorical question, doubtlessly, but one Filia struggled with nonetheless. Dismissing the notion initially, such a question would put Filia on the defense, but the demoness is disarmed by this apparition of death's willingness to help her avoid that fate.
"Help? Why?"

Duel Aftermath
Reyna takes the business card, bows, then packs up her things.
"Thank you for the opportunity."
With that, she leaves.
Babey Mansion
"My mother is Lilith, demon lord of the seventh circle of Hell. She is the second most powerful demon in existence, only behind That Which Sees—which is an indescribable horror—and unlike it, she has ambitions to keep growing stronger."
"I'm over a hundred years old and I've spent less than three of those years free from her control, and even to this day she still casts a shadow upon me. We're going to fight some day, and even after all I've done to strengthen myself, I don't think I can win by myself."
Azazel's Temple
<You are bold indeed to make such demands of me. However, you are fortunate, for I have need of a powerful servant.>
Azazel stomps up the stairs to the altar and uses one of his talons to cut his palm, bleeding into an offering bowl.
<You wish for the strength to defeat a curse? Sip the blood, and gain the power of a Devil.>
Then he turns to Beruka.
<In return, I would have you serve as an agent of my presence, spreading word across the land. This temple ill suits me in such a silent and empty state.>
Edited by KiriK on Apr 22nd 2025 at 7:04:09 AM
"A wizard is never late, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to."