The Luin Place
She found solace as she rode through towns once more. No longer bustling cities with a lack of sound, but instead quiet settlements with the occasional sound of a hay bale being lifted or another passing horse.
Before long, she encountered the last town. Not long after that, the rolling dunes became flat. Not long after that, the sky shifted and changed into one that was not her own, as the landscape became unto something that she did not, or perhaps could not understand. The sun changed form, and then ceased to be. The sky and land fell away. She was surrounded by sand and oblivion. Here was the center of everything. Maybe the end, or maybe the beginning of it all. There was nothing here, but perhaps some unspoken truth was hidden in the emptiness.
Somewhere along the way, she lost her horse. Somewhere along the way, she had lost herself. The woman she once was, happy and gleeful and full of life was gone. The woman who, when faced with hardships would pick herself back up and keep pushing was gone. Now all that remained was a shell, housing only the beginnings of lunacy. She walked on, but she did not know it.
Her surroundings violently change but she does not notice. She sees nothing but the green speck on the horizon. As she grows closer, she recognizes the speck as a woman, and as she grows closer, she recognizes it as herself, in a different, green set of armor.
But it is not.
This woman standing before here is older. Not in age, but in soul. Her face is real, not like the facade she had been putting on for everyone in more recent years. There are emotions here, and every line, every scar, every curve on her face tells its own story.
Stop.
Luin begs herself. She roots her feet into the nothingness she walks upon. Still she moved ever closer to herself.
Memories broken finally converged, becoming whole.
Luin connected the dots. A moment ago, she was speaking to her good friend Or. Now, she stood alone, nobody else around. A lifetime had passed in between.
"What…Did you do?" She spoke emptily, emotionalness, as though none of it had even caught up to her yet.
With great power…you know the rest.Cirno sees Luna coming and recoils, but is unable to avoid the hug, leaving her to squirm awkwardly. "W-well, I think that blast would've happened even if I had targeted a rock with it. So same result either way, right?"
"A wizard is never late, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to."Spore Knight pauses.
"... wait... we have? Oh, not again! That's how everything went wrong last time too!"
She paces back and forth for a few seconds before looking at the hole.
"That's it, I must tell Drill Knight that we're making a terrible mistake!"
While she's probably figuring that Loki will follow, she'll hop towards the hole and jump in even if he doesn't.
—
Iris lands on her feet and turns to look at Hive Knight, now seeing Issun about to go for a stab. She quickly runs over to them.
"Whoa, whoa, let's not start killing people. If we do that, the rest of them will think we came here with ill intentions. They'll never believe us when we tell him the artifacts they're digging for are dangerous."
Hive Knight slightly turns his head. Turns out he's still conscious.
"Wait... dangerous?"
"Hive Knight! We've got a problem!", Spore Knight yelps as she lands on the ground. Iris turns to look at her, then quickly gestures for Issun to put that blade away before Spore Knight sees it.
—
Drill Knight un-drills himself after having landed a hit on Amaterasu. The tiny splotches make him pause, as he's confused yet curious, and that buys Amaterasu enough time to proceed with her attack. The dots turned pellets deal some good damage to Drill Knight, at least judging by his grunts when they assault him.
Then Thor's lightning comes in, blasting Drill Knight head on... only for said lightning, as well as Drill Knight's own, to start spiraling around him and into his armor. The strengthening glow from within suggests that the Necklace of Navitus may have absorbed the elemental energy.
"Gold? This was never about gold.", Drill Knight says, huffing. "It's about the adventure, the fame, the glory! Anyone can get gold, but only the best of the best can find real treasure!"
"Drill Knight, stop your yells real quick and hear him out.", Tinker Knight interjects.
"This treasure is cursed. They've come here to prevent us from making the same mistake again!", Mole Knight says.
"Cursed? This gorgeous necklace? Pah, no way. This isn't like that amulet from back then! The darkness and evil was just oozing off of that thing! But this is different! It's making me strong, and I've never felt better in my life! ... though my head feels a little fuzzy..."
He shakes his head.
"No! This may be the last chance we'll have! I won't let us be tricked by these thieves!"
He holds out his arm and launches one of his drills up and forward, with said drill drenched in what appears to be a ray of light. The drill moves over the group at astonishing speed, and, once behind them, will turn and move back towards Drill Knight. While the drill is above the group, it'll launch small yet damaging rays of light.
If the drill is somehow prevented from getting back to Drill Knight, it'll explode into small light particles, which will then reform on Drill Knight's arm to re-form the drill.
"!"
Mole Knight quickly burrows into a wall. Tinker Knight, meanwhile, panics and tries to cling onto the back of Thor's shirt and/or armor in an attempt to stay safe.
"Drill Knight, you loon! We are your friends!"
Drill Knight does not respond to this. Despite his helmet having a protective blue visor, the color within said visor seems to dim enough to suggest an unfocused gaze.
In the year 202X, all is devastation... Soon, any last shred of hope had by the saintliest optimist shall die and decay.Loki jumps down the hole after Spore Knight, lands on the ground beside her, and saunters over to the others.
"In short, you haven't discovered great treasure, but dangerous artifacts housing a terrible power that can and has razed worlds. Not to mention how disastrous the consequences would be if they managed to fall into the wrong hands," he quickly explains to Hive Knight.
He picks up Iris's discarded coat and hands it back to her.
"I hope I haven't dropped in at a bad time."
"The artifact is already taking effect on you. Come to your senses and let us have it before the damn thing consumes you," Thor says, bringing Mjolnir to bear. "Whatever happened with this amulet you speak of will seem like bloody child's play in comparison to what keeping that necklace would unleash. There's no glory to be had in losing yourself to its influence."
Once the drill has been launched, he wheels around and begins deflecting ray after ray with his hammer before hurling the legendary weapon towards Drill Knight with all of his considerable might. Then Tinker Knight suddenly grabs onto him just as he summons Mjolnir back to his waiting grasp, much to his surprise.
"Odin's beard..."
Edited by IchigoMontoya on Oct 5th 2022 at 4:31:50 AM
Lourent Mountains
The voice spoke up again, this time as if it was trying to weigh the pros and cons of either of them.
"Looking at either of you... That's obvious. Me and The Operator were... On said solar rails. They're basically pathways that have been made to make space travel more efficient. A patch of space akin to a motorway... If you guys even know what that is?"
Kroq-Gar kind of understood, his creators supposedly did something similar. And as he looked inside, Kroq-Gar's face froze. The glasses had mostly been dispersed by the ship's ventilation system and Kroq-Gar's own purification. Clutching a strange, gilded bipedal robot was-
A young man, of fair almond skin, marked with black eyeliner around his eyes. The Gilded Robot had a slightly avian head, and it seemed to be nudging against the man's face. Kroq-Gar immediately had a sense that something was wrong. There was an odd color trailing from his mouth... he also was baring his teeth lazily, and his eyes were swollen. Discoloration in the fingers... Small floating figures could be seen flying around the sitting man, as blue light vr from strange ocular disks on them.
Kroq-Gar started walking forward, which angered Halcon greatly. The Bipedal walker within his hold started to chitter, as if it was aloof and defensive pet.
"YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TOUCH THE OPERATOR! YOU ARE NOT AUTHORIZED PERSONAL-"
Kroq-Gar suddenly roared back, one that Apothea could feel down to her bones, and made the ship's chassis rattle slightly. Rage filled his voice, but it was also knowing. And deep down-
"YOUR OPERATOR MAY BE DEAD HALCON!"
The vessel seemed silent as Kroq-Gar marched forward, as if feeling for a pulse, going through all the steps one would check to see if he was drawing in air, was having spasms, and checking his eyes as the walker still continued to chatter up at him, though the machine gave off an oddly relatable... Hesitancy.
"Tenno are hardier than you think, I have been examining him for hours-"
"Than you're in denial. This is Warpstone Gas... It can choke out a Kroxigor or Stonehorn, it can even poison Daemons... Kill them even."
Tropique
Vrukrazz seemed almost insulted at the motion, rubbing the blood off across his form as he looked to his Switch-Axe, and nodded no at her.
"A Propa boy doesn't use a small knoive, he only needs his choppa and stabba... What we gonna skin it now and break it's bones?"
While he started off sounding pretentious and sure of himself... He did actually soften up and seem genuinely curious.
Edited by ArbiterOfTheBog on Oct 5th 2022 at 6:14:40 AM
AwawaNOW WE'RE TALKIN'!!! The wolf-man howls, literally, but then remembers there's a debris heading his way. He gets to save his cool factor this time, raising his hands and catching some debris. He also steps in front of Alexa, enduring some on her behalf.
Hah, you're a puppy, but a brave one! As if to demonstrate his own bravery, he clench his fist and form a long crystal sword, like a predator claw, before running over to the fight, hoping to find an _occasion_.
...
Adam slightly tilt his head to the side, his big ears not for show. And not the ears on the rabbit suit! Good shot! I think guns are a cowardly weapon but you are pretty swift with those! He says, quite bluntly, tapping Claus on the shoulder and glancing at the corpses. A fair kill, he thinks, but five, rapidly six, wasn't sufficient.
He ponders about how easy it'd be for him to eradicate that evil by learning from where it comes from. Five wasn't even worth registering in most armies, he needed to strike hard at the very core of it, cut up the entire army and then slaughter their helpless leaders, driven to the brink at the discovery of something stronger then they are.
But how would he ever learn their HQ's location?
No, I do not have a rope, that'd be perverted, he says, advancing towards the soldier with steady steps. Let's crush his head and... gears rolling. Claus got him to think a bit more about the situation. ... Hmm, I see, you need a rope then? Here.
He reach down, into the corpses of the fallen soldiers. He then stops, let go of the intestines he was holding, and frowns. I'm going to need to wash that off.
He bends down, pick up some intestines, and attempt to tie them around the fallen soldier. Here! he ties the bloody entrails. Quite the clever plan B, don't you think?
...
Or stares at Luin in silence, though they're smiling more than usual. Ahhh, how they wish to perpetually abuse and slap around this undisciplined little ruffian, to watch her pathetic little eyes tear up in puerile confusion over her fate, as her mouth forms whimpering bits of pain and protestation. How it would please her to continue this over and over again, to torment her specifically, and bask in her helplessness!
Or had blasted away entire parts of existence without so much as thinking about it. For in true, they were a greater existence in themselves. The hopes and pondering of those little specks of lives didn't bother it, for they were all now useless with it around. Life was only ever meant to lead to its ascension, and with its rise, everything else in existence was useless, only fit to be crushed to fuel its eternal ascension into Godhood.
But then it had been scattered, and had seen beings up close,and felt curious about them and their faith. How they were thankful for sudden gifts and devastated by catastrophes. The way their mouths moved, the liquid that burst from their eyes when they felt sad, the red liquid that would come out if Or applied a bit too much pressure with its power, and their horrified reactions when they could even live to see it.
Fascinating, it thought, and its little interactions with the... what were their identifiers? It had argued quite fiercely for-ah, yes, Tik'Tak'To, Baloba. Yes, both interesting. And they hoped Meteoriquia would be interesting too.
But, ahh, Luin was so much more enthralling in her patheticness. It wanted to endlessly torment her until she could no longer so much as speak, and then ask for her freedom in words, watching as her face slowly decomposed before this simple impossiblity. It wanted to drink from her tears, so that they might fill a bottomless chalice. It sought to peel her skin off until she no longer remembered what she looked like.
we had fun Or answers Luin, having stood silent for a while, voice vibrating with malice. It then slowly hovers next to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and sympathetically patting her head. It then begins to speak, pleasure rising in a crescendo as it speaks, mixing emotionlessness with pure sick mirth.
our victims are innumerable, the galactic scale impossible even for a god to visualize, but never before have we found such interest in tormenting you.
ahhhhhh, how we wish we could drive our claws into your eyes and force you to walk around a void made of traps, searching for an exit that you can only find by its light
how was it, luin, to have won everything in a life that isn't yours
to slip into the skin of another luin, a better luin, who will always be better than you
would you be interesting in taking her place
i only need you to do something
for
i
Edited by Bolded1 on Oct 6th 2022 at 2:42:50 PM
Nautolan picture belongs to Bonesmarinated on twitterApothea hears what this 'Halcon' has to say, and understands it well enough.
...Yeah, surprisingly, she mostly wraps her head around the explanation given for the 'Solar Rails', even if she doesn't know what a motorway is.
"So, this... Solar Rail... it is some kind of space... road, is that what you are-"
She does not manage to get in her full sentence before Kroq-gar incenses Halcon.
When she hears of deadly gas, she takes a few steps further away, and twirls a finger, using Wind Magic to keep the air around her head relatively pure. If this gas really is as deadly as Kroq-gar says, then she isn't willing to take any chances whatsoever.
As for whether or not Halcon's operator is dead... she hasn't the slightest clue. She could check for a pulse, but not much more than that.
"Halcon. Listen, for a moment. Sit. I may be able to help you."
...But she does know of one way that could determine, to her, without a shadow of a doubt if this operator is truly dead.
Healing magic.
It's a well known fact in her world, of course, that healing magic does little more than slow the decay of the dead. Raising the dead is the realm of necromancy, and even that can do little more than animate husks.
Bringing someone back to life? That is something only a select few gods are capable of doing.
Yatta!Lourent Mountains
She was able to dispell any of the lingering fumes away, though it still felt like the air was heavy, as if it was like liquid silver. Halcon doesn't really have the capacity to sit, but the small floating entities do disappear amidst blue static. The ship she could feel was focused on her. And she soon felt Kroq-Gar's hand on her shoulder. It than passed to her hand as if to guide her. But instead he began to spell out something on her hand. While she could hear, Kroq-Gar was going to be completely honest: Death was so common place in his life he knew how to address it.
But that didn't mean others would react so positively. So he spelled it out onto her hand, the only message he could convey now.
He is gone.
Just as Halcon spoke.
"You have my attention... Speak."
Kroq-Gar could be heard sighing after spelling that out, and she felt him suddenly let go and audibly sit the body up. He looked the figure in the face. It reminded him of someone... And for a brief second he felt... At home again. He had never met this man, nor had he ever raised him. He had never fought him, and he was from a species he had only heard about just now. But he knew the value of death. He gently led the Bipedal machine over to its assumed master, and rested the wrist of the figure's arm atop it's head. He didn't know if there were sensors there, that is just how he did things with his own warriors and their mounts. The figure leaned into the hand, and started a repeating, hoarse chittering, as it snuggled up more against his palm.
AwawaApothea slowly, and carefully, steps forward.
She understands very well what Kroq-gar means to convey.
That does not mean she isn't going to try.
"This should only take a moment," she says, raising a hand towards the body of the operator. She does not at all understand the biology of it, nor more than the very most basic shape of its body... but magic has always filled in those gaps in her knowledge.
She isn't a surgeon. She doesn't know more than a handful of things about her own race's biology, ultimately.
A gentle golden light falls from her outstretched hand, and falls as stardust upon the body, illuminating it in a hazy glow.
But ultimately, and predictably, Apothea feels the magic do nothing at all. It cannot begin to heal this kind of damage.
"...I am sorry. My magic, it cannot..."
She pauses, for a moment.
"I cannot heal damage like this."
Though the air around her is nearly fresh, she finds it hard to breathe. Every breath she takes feels just a little more labored than usual, to her.
But in truth, nothing has changed on the outside.
Apothea is just... reminded of something, that's all.
Yatta!Lourent's Passing
Kroq-Gar waited, and just saw the MOA companion move the hand away, resting it's somewhat boxy but hook billed head stop it's lap, as an uncomfortable silence filled the room. Halcon seemed uncomfortable too, even though it was just a ships system's it was obvious the two had a history. The chittering stopped from the Biped, as it was now replaced with a low, drumming whine. At least 3 every minute, and that beat just... Seemed to set something in Kroq-Gar. He held the figure's head in his hands, repeating something in his tongue, quietly to the expired man... Who had been taken young.
"Nocomichic, nocenteuh. tla xihualmohuica..."
As he continued, Halcon finally addressed Apothea, silently cursing at first before it's voice became louder and clearer.
"That was quick... You know, warriors often times will just, fight to test their skills. Despite his age, he was old in soul. He always fought to protect others... They say he was the incarnation of The Sky King... If so, old habits die hard... I am... Unable to really... Decide on this. We faced a new foe, at first we were responding to a void rift with... His allies. If they're even alive now that is. We tried to give them time to escape."
Edited by ArbiterOfTheBog on Oct 5th 2022 at 7:20:07 AM
AwawaAnna's Market, Night City Collection
Anna nods to her customer, saying "This way, please."
The reality of this business dimension shifts around, moving to a series of shops with a surrounding cityscape of holograms, neon signs, electric billboards, and flying cars. Anna and her customer now stand in a night city shopping centre, or at least something similar to it.
"Weapons, Trinkets, music, cybernetics, With wonders and horrors from all continents of the globe, or at least the ones which imported to night city in the year 2077 in this specific thread of reality. Doing business in an interdimensional nexus gives you a lot of options."
Apothea nods very subtly, enough that it is easily missed.
"It sounds like he was brave. I do not know of any 'sky king', but if that title is as noble as it sounds, then he embodied it well."
Apothea feels her breath return to normal. It was a fleeting sensation, the way her lungs felt as if they could not quite supply her with the right amount of air.
Just a memory.
"...You are as well, you know. Brave. I am not certain as to what you are, Halcon, but I can tell that much."
She decides not to ask any more questions for the time being.
Yatta!"Always wanted something to physically challenge me! Everything's mentally challenging to me which is unfair!"
Green cracks her neck before walking to the exit.
Cecil fist bumps back, before walking out of the place. "And if anyone says they're working in my name, Eve, get them the fuck out." He's then thrown back in after being flung around like a pinball machine. Forming his warhammer and slamming it against the ground to anchor himself.
Mark is sent flying back from the attack, then is bounced up and down from the concurrent shaking. Cecil creates an un-crusted loaf of bread to cushion him before he can do anything more idiotic to him.
"Screw you old dickweed I was having fun"
"You'd unashamedly have fucking fun eating bricks if I let it continue"
"Ohfuckshitfuck-"
Nick attempts to try and punch Annie once he's sent up but only manages to give him a metallic appetizer. He stares at him with a completely shocked face before he's sent away like a bullet. Only managing to miss Urkel by fate itself intervening or y'know, Urkel moving. The ground kisses him though, head first as he pulls himself out of the dirt.
The general is dead. This begins a bubbling rage within Nick from two people he wants to fight already being taken by this monster. He starts going all out with the magic he can in this moment. Pointing his wand at Annihilation Nergigante.
"IF THEY HELD SUCH A FUCKING EVENT AND DIED TO THIS, THEY WERE NEVER MEANT TO LIVE TO BEGIN WITH!"
A blindfold forms on his eyes through a series of tiny daisy-chained cloth feet as giant human arms and legs begin to form around him. Despite the fleshy appearance they're made of air so compact that destroying one acts as an elaborate pipe bomb. A pair of arms grab Radahn's swords and fly back to Nick, then Annie, as he starts performing slashing motions with his arms. Concurrently making the giant arms slash in tandem with him. The other limbs fly in to try and restrain Annie for the other combatants, whether it be through grabbing or flying behind and intentionally detonating to concuss.
The only arms that wouldn't detonate, are the ones that Nick is controlling, as it's completely linked to his arms. Making any damage transfer over to him too.
Edited by BoniniBanana on Oct 8th 2022 at 12:49:24 AM
realHm...
Sarah get herself two weapons: a Sniper Rifle and a Minigun, which she walks around carring absolutely unbothered, two handed. I know what I'm gonna do this round. I think I've got an ability or two to make this very easy for us, but that'd be unfair and easy, so I won't. Sarah says, holding the rifle.
I'm gonna try this "sniper" guy's weapon at first. What other stuff does he has available? I'd want to be true to form.
She sits in a bench in the respawn room, naturally not too impressed by where she's standing in.
Thor grins and retroactively laughs, upon seeing himself teamed up with Flandre. Little does anyone know, he's grabbed weapons.
HAHAHA LET US DESTROY THEM IN STYLE!!!
Edited by Bolded1 on Oct 6th 2022 at 1:30:22 PM
Nautolan picture belongs to Bonesmarinated on twitterExotic Battlegrounds
"Why is it called capture the flag then if there's no flag? Rumia asked, tilting her head in confusion.
"Hehe, these teams look interesting." Flandre says meanwhile, looking at Thor with a smirk before both headed to the respective spawn rooms. Flandre stops at the armory though, curious. She looks inside and tosses aside a flamethrower (which explodes), a grenade (which somehow doesn't explode) and an axe (which somehow explodes) until she settles on a black box shaped rocket launcher. Trying to get it work, she accidentally fires behind her before figuring it out.
"Hmm, may as well try something new since I'm here." Flandre muses. "Though I don't think it's any stronger than my own bullets." she then heads to the spawn room proper and waits there.
Rumia meanwhile looks over Stefan's shoulder. "What's in there? Is there anything for me?" she asks, curious.
Anna's Market
Daiakuma hummed to herself, looking at the place.
"Reminds me of the mall in Esoteria, though with more flying cars and less fairies." she comments. "Hmm, I doubt the Lady will care for the music or cybernetic enhancements all that much, though maybe those trinkets will interest her."
"That was a pointless encounter with a pointless person."The Fight Place
With a flash of blue light, Arad emerged from the changing room in a new Warframe vaguely resembling a cowboy.
The Warframe, Mesa Prime, slid dual golden revolvers into two holsters on her hips,
slung a white, black, and gold rifle onto her back,
and placed a curious weapon into a sheathe next to one of her revolver holsters.
"New teams, huh? You two are strong, it'll be good to have that power with us." Arad's voice spoke from within the Mesa Prime, as the Warframe walked onto the map. "So, we got any strategies? Any plans?"
With great power…you know the rest.Exotic Battlegrounds
As Rumia suddenly appears behind him, he flinches - but he's slowly getting used to her doing this. If he had to guess, it's her thing.
"I dunno... looks like deco to me, mostly."
He picks up a dose of pills and peeks inside.
"Sugar pills, if I had to guess?"
He then turns around to Sarah and grins. "Oh, you're playing Sniper? He has a machete as a melee, or alternatively, the Jarate... which is a bit disgusting, to be honest. Especially in real life. I'll spare you the details."
He steps aside to let Rumia peek into the cabinet.
"So, plans? I don't know how I wanna cross the moat... sewers are a possible path, but they're a chokepoint, and we might get unlucky..."
If it disagrees with experiment, it's wrong."I'll freely admit I don't have any sort of plan made yet. Though I should note it seems they have a slight advantage over us due to Stefan knowing the layout of this place's inspiration." Flandre says, twirling a rocket in her hand dangerously. "I'm fond of the idea of blitzing through to gain an early advantage."
"I usually let Flandre or others do the planning~." Rumia says, humming as she tosses away some props from the cabinet. She then chews on a sugar pill only to spit it out when she doesn't like the taste.
"That was a pointless encounter with a pointless person."Bunker
Stevens breathed a sigh of relief as Zero's power armor camera activated and allowed them to continue viewing the fight and measuring the capabilities of their creations.
Meanwhile, the camera feed in the sky would display Cittefuni and Piovre grappled onto eachother as they fell, trading punch after punch after punch, until they slammed into the ground just outside of the bunker, as a camera feed was no longer needed for they now had front row seats to the fight.
Ice shards shot from parts of the ground like geysers, but Cittufeni dodged each of them. In the air besides Piovre, icicles formed before being fired at Cittufeni like bullets. What would ordinarily kill a man simply shattered against the Android's skin like nothing as he continued to run directly at Piovre. Meanwhile, the hologram of the CEO couldn't help but give a respecting nod at Zero for his work with the Android's skin.
The target attempted to grab Cittufeni, but was knocked back by a sudden blast of Ki that shot out from the creation in a circle. Piovre slowly got to his feet, not yet ready to give in. The two stared each other down, a moment of dead silence, before running directly at eachother and lifting their fists, an aura of Ki forming around Cittufeni's and Piovre's becoming armored as a bulky sea blue and dazzling silver gauntlet appeared on his forearm.
Both punches collided in a smashing Cross Counter, which sent out a visible shockwave that shattered the window (and just about every glass appliance in the bunker), as well as knocked over Director Stevens, the Elite soldiers, and even Arad. The CEO's silhouette hologram began to flicker wildly due to the projector becoming damaged, and as the dust and snow settled, the damage to the surrounding area was revealed.
There was a large crater in the ground just outside the bunker, and the trees, those that weren't simply disintegrated or shattered, had all been knocked over or violently tilted.
As the four Grandnova representatives stood, Stevens peeked out over the edge of the bunker where the window had once been.
Cittufeni and Piovre were very, very slowly rising from their comfortable positions on the ground after both being shot in opposite directions due to the other's punch. But while Piovre winced in pain with each movement, Cittufeni did it rather effortlessly, as if the attack hadn't even bothered him. Already, he began to perform his next attack, ascending into the air and drawing both arms close to his chest, his open palms facing eachother as a blue orb formed in the air in between and began to grow in size.
"Ka…"
The Italian, upon recognizing that Cittufeni was charging up a powerful attack, realized he'd need to match it with equal, or even more firepower. Calling upon Brino's power, he spread his arms as the gauntlet disappeared and a breastplate with the same color scheme appeared on his chest, a blue glow emanating from the center and glowing brighter.
"Me…"
The orb grew and grew in size, as the glow from Piovre became brighter and brighter.
"Ha…"
Director Stevens had no idea what was about to happen, but he had the vague feeling he should probably hide.
"Me…"
A look of fear crossed Piovre's face as he realized his attack wasn't charging up fast enough. He canceled it, the breastplate disappearing as two gauntlets appeared on his arms, which he raised up to cover and protect his face just in time.
"HA!!!"
Cittufeni pushed his arms forwards, the ball of energy expanding into a beam that shot for Piovre, driving him backwards into the ground. The entire scene became a blinding blue as the attack grew stronger the longer it went on, Piovre being pushed further and further away and leaving a skid in the ground. Finally, the beam attack came to it's end, and the CEO stared proudly at Cittufeni who stood still, victorious.
With great power…you know the rest.Church of Gor: the Ascension
So these are your fliers, Meteorika, dread Great Pope, stands before a large assembly of... five people deep within a very sober panic room deep in the entrails of the church. It's a rather simple room, made out of noise and presence-suppressing black stones, with one creepy chandelier overlooking a tall blood-red table, shaped like a coffin, littered with a bunch of candles along the way, all ominously showing the faces of the occupants. Bar the last member, who's barely leaning out of the light, and only revealing a generic black cloak.
Meteorika sit at the other end of the table, opposite of said last member, in front of a large painting of Or itself. The painting depict the child-like deity glancing at the viewer, holding a great cosmic spear in one hand and bread in the other. Immediately next to her are Evelyn and the Man Who's Face is Veiled. The former is leaning in her seat, ignoring the fliers, while the latter "eyes" them curiously, wondering what it is about while slouching in his seat.
The two figures farther down the table are a hooded figure, the most nervous of all, tapping on the table with his fingers at an uneven pace. In front of him is a tall woman, with blue spiky hair (it makes her five inches taller), purple skin, yellow eyes and a red lipstick, clad in black spiky armor, who's standing to full attention. She gives The Man Who's Face Is Veiled a stern elbow to the rib, and grab her fliers immediately, while the hooded man and the rider both grab theirs hastily. Only Evelyn refuses, eyeing elsewhere all along.
Evelyn. The woman announces, threateningly, only to still be ignored. She blinks, then moves to get up, only for Meteorika to get her to stand down with only a slight nod.
On the fliers themselves stands a little drawing of a friendlier-looking Or: The "evil" aspects are removed, the horns are gone, the eyes are normal and cleaned up and the cosmic dress is more regal, with normal hands and feet. She's also holding a four-limbed cross with one hand, and holding her hand at the reader, invitingly. She also just happen to stand at the top of a large flight of stairs, overtaking most of the picture and leaving little in the way of text.
GRAND OPENING!!! the text bellows fiercely. TRAVELERS! LOCALS! BEHOLD GOR AT THE GRAND OPENING OF THE CHURCH DEDICATED TO ITS WORSHIP!
REACH YOUR HIGHEST POINT! AND LEARN OF ITS TEACHINGS! AND THROUGH YOUR PRECIOUS WORSHIP, CREATE A UNIVERSE WHERE YOU MIGHT BE THE BEST VERSION OF YOURSELF! ENTER A SKEPTIC! LEAVE A WORSHIPPER! COMPLETELY LEGITIMATELY! AND SET OUT TO SEE FOR YOURSELF THE CREATOR DEITY OF A NEW WORLD!
DON'T MISS IT! DISCOVER THE APEX OF YOUR EXISTENCE!
What do you think of it? Meteorika says, folding her arms, sounding slightly smug. I think it's pretty good!
It is very good.
Y-you truly surpassed yourself indeed, my queen!
You sure put some words on that paper, Meteorika!
If I ran out of toilet paper and were handed this, I'd probably be offended for my ass. "Eyes" set out on Evelyn, who smiles smugly and lean further back her seat.
I think it's neat. The last figure concludes, advice unheeded, though the purple woman turn to him with a nice smile and a nod, pointing at him and looking at Meteorika, as if to cheer her up.
I still think Gor's words is the greatest, of course, but why distribute it? We're better than this. We look like a fucking mall.
Language. "We look like a mall" is just as effective in enforcing your opinion, which I disagree with nonetheless.
I think it's neat that it says legitimately because they might think it's brainwashing, and it'd be bad, because people might try to shut us down. The Man points out, tapping on the flier, attempting to lead the discussion elsewhere. They might think we're su-
Ah, but I'm planning for that! That pathetic devil, for instance, Meteorika briefly looks at Evelyn and nods, apology in her closed eyes. We haven't gotten much attention, but my "help" with that mercenary's case got more people to come our way. It's good. If we spread our faith and limit it to a few key cities, less people will gun for us. Besides, we encourage challenge. Only by overcoming it can we grow, she says, holding her index up. It will be a demonstration of power, and faith, and protection. But we need to get as many people as possible to see it, hence, the scattering. Which you will do, Evelyn. She concludes, turning her head threateningly to Evelyn.
... Fine, the blue-haired woman sighs, then "glance" at the other side of the table, somehow seeing for herself that- Yo, that guy hasn't gotten any fliers!
I don't feel like it. He says, casually.
Meteorika coos, rubbing her hands together and putting up a kind smile, almost reverent. Then you are exempted!
... B-but wait! I am rather disliked around here! I mean... if the people who saw me last time happen to stumble upon me, I-
Can't you shapeshift into somebody else? A blind old woman would get a lot of attention, right? You could even ask people to slap flier around for ya! The hooded man still hesitates, and the Man Who's Face Is Veiled shrugs. Could I come along once I'm done with my fliers? I'll help ya if anyone attempts something. Would be a sick thing not to help a blind man.
The figure almost snarls, lowering his head. To think I would... be reduced to such indignity as receiving help from the likes of him Oh, thank you... what would I do without you...
Good, good! Empathy and cooperation are the way to go! Meteorika claps her hands together and stand up, smiling. Now, shall we?!
...
Sarah nods and pick one up, deciding not to pry into Jarate.I guess I'll be covering you. If I get one of them distracted or downed, you guys could try to force your way through, Sarah hesitates, tapping her chin. That or we play defensive for a while, because I know Thor, he's only ever gonna agree to smash in. So that's one guy who's going to be looking to barrel his way in.
She then shrugs. And from what I saw of Flandre... I'd say Arad is a wild card yet, but he was gung-ho last time. If they charge at once, and we take them out or down them even briefly, we could then walk into the base and get what we need from them.
It'd mean an all-out fight from the start though, that could be chaotic. I can handle Thor, and knowing him, he-
...
I AM THE SNIPER! I WILL FOCUS ON SARAH AND HELP YOUR OFFENSE! YES! I SUGGEST WE POUND THEM WITH AS MUCH ENTHUSIASM AS A WARRIOR COMING BACK HOME TO HIS LOVING WIFE! Thor grins, then set out immediately for the battlements.
Strategy time's done for him.
Edited by Bolded1 on Oct 6th 2022 at 7:25:18 PM
Nautolan picture belongs to Bonesmarinated on twitter

Issun jumps out of the net and lands right on Hive Knight's head. He raises his sword in preparation to stab the knight in the eye! Now, it's questionable if his sword is even long enough to reach Hive Knight's flesh through his helmet, but Iris may not want to wait and find out the result.
—
Amaterasu dips her tail out of this layer of reality to perform a Celestial Brush Technique and draws a line from Drill Knight to the floor, using his own electric element against him to redirect his flight path. However, he can still dig up to the ceiling and drop down on her, which he does. She yelps and goes bouncing away from the collision.
In response, she uses the Celestial Brush again, this time dotting Drill Knight's armor with little tiny ink splotches. The Eighth Wonder grants her the Ink Bullet ability, and each of these dots transforms into a pellet, barraging Drill Knight with numerous low-damage projectiles to chip away at him.
"A wizard is never late, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to."