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Tales of Alidaire: The Struggle

Discussion in 'Statistical Roleplays' started by Masquerade, Jul 19, 2011.

  1. Libra reveals:

    ---Weaknesses: Light
    ---Resistances: Dark
    ---Absorb: None
    ---Null: None
    ---Status Vulnerabilities: Burn, Wet, Deprotect, Deshell, Bleeding, Blind
    ---Trigger Commands: Stimulate, Regulate, Synchronize
    ---Notes: Rhythm of Darkness can be used freely regardless of how many actions have been taken on a given turn; Several blasts can be loosed with one use of Shaded Jet
    ---Phase Shift: Critical

    * * *

    Chapter 02-F: Truth

    Location: Archaea Castle - Storage Room

    Objective: Destroy the Shadow Heart!

    Background: ~Tantamount to Purification~

    {w} {w} {S} {S} {S} {S} {w} {w} {w} A
    {w} {s} {S} {S} {S} {S} {s} { } {w} B
    {w} {s} {S} {S} {S} {S} {s} { } {w} C
    {w} { } { } {
    M} { } { } {I} { } {w} D
    {w} { } { } { } {A} { } { } { } {w} E
    {w} { } { } {K} { } { } { } {S} {w} F
    {w} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } {w} G
    {w} { } { } { } { } {H} { } { } {w} H
    {w} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } {w} I
    {w} {w} {w} {w} {X} {w} {w} {w} {w} J
    -1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9


    Mai's Haste has 2 turns left.

    Mai's Hidden Power has 5 turns.

    Mai's Spirit Strike has 2 turns.

    The Party's MP Regen has 5 turns.

    Helena's Eagle's Eye has 3 turns.

    Enemy Phase.

    Shadow Heart uses Rhythm of Darkness! [All enemy positive status effect durations -1 turn]

    MP: 857/875

    The beating of the enormous heart didn't seem to falter in the wake of those who would wind up opposing it for reasons it did not even care for.  It was an abomination born of instinct and desire.  It had been given a task, and it would go to any lengths to see that said task was carried out fully.  As such, it would destroy any beings who were foolish enough to place themselves in the line of fire.  Beating a bit faster, a cloud of mist roiled out from the giant organ and over the floor, enveloping the warriors that stood before it.  Whatever preparations they were making would be inhibited slightly by the mist.  In all the confusion, one of the tendrils pumping darkness into the back wall broke free of said wall and suddenly lashed out at Mai who happened to be the closest.  Such a brazen warrior was sure to have strength to back her up, so it was possible that she would be a threat.  Unfortunately, the dragon warrior proved to be much to agile to strike, and the tendril passed harmlessly by her before retracting closer to the heart itself.

    Shadow Heart attacks Mai!  14 Dmg! (ATK) [FAIL]

    Shadow Heart waits.

    {w} {w} {S} {S} {S} {S} {w} {w} {w} A
    {w} {s} {S} {S} {S} {S} {s} { } {w} B
    {w} {s} {S} {S} {S} {S} {s} { } {w} C
    {w} { } { } {M} { } { } {I} { } {w} D
    {w} { } { } { } {A} { } { } { } {w} E
    {w} { } { } {K} { } { } { } {S} {w} F
    {w} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } {w} G
    {w} { } { } { } { } {H} { } { } {w} H
    {w} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } {w} I
    {w} {w} {w} {w} {X} {w} {w} {w} {w} J
    -1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9


    Player Phase 2!

    Alexandra (Blue Mage) *MP REGEN [2]*
    HP: 40/40
    MP: 25/35
    DD: 8/10
    Atk: 17
    Def: 7
    Int: 10
    Spr: 9
    Evade: 10%
    Move: 3 cells

    Kat (Arrow Sage) *ARCANE ESSENCE [7]* *MP REGEN [3]*
    HP: 40/40
    MP: 48/50
    DD: 10/10
    Atk: 2
    Def: 9
    Int: 15
    Spr: 13
    Evade: 8%
    Move: 3 cells

    Helena (Night Huntress) *CHR +25%* *MP REGEN [3]*
    HP: 50/50
    MP: 43/50
    DD: 7/10
    Atk: 16 --- 18
    Def: 9
    Int: 2
    Spr: 8
    Evade: 16%
    Move: 4 cells

    Mai (Dragon Warrior) *HASTE* *SPIRIT STRIKE* *MP REGEN [3]*
    HP: 55/55
    MP: 47/60
    DD: 0/10
    Atk: 17 --- 26
    Def: 7
    Int: 5
    Spr: 6
    Evade: 5%
    Move: 3 cells

    Strytor (Kitsune) *MP REGEN [2]*
    HP: 35/35
    MP: 23/45
    DD: 3/10
    Atk: 1
    Def: 7
    Int: 12
    Spr: 6
    Evade: 4%
    Move: 3 cells

    Hikari (Lumiere Skillblade) *MP REGEN [3]*
    HP: 50/50
    MP: 50/50
    DD: 10/10
    Atk: 15
    Def: 12
    Int: 13
    Spr: 7
    Evade: 7%
    Move: 3 cells

    Shadow Heart *PIERCE TIME (3)*
    HP: 1200/1200
    MP: 857/875
    DD: 0/10
    Atk: 14
    Def: 7
    Int: 16
    Spr: 8
    Evade: 3%
    Move: 0 cells

    {X} - Storage Room Door (cannot be occupied)

    {w} - Wall Lined With Junk (cannot be occupied)

    {s} - Stage (cannot be occupied)


    Alexandra moves to G5.

    With all the information sorted, Alexandra pressed the palms of her hands together, her body becoming enveloped in a pillar of electric blue light. She became a beacon as panels shot out over the room, lines of information displayed upon the projected screens for everyone to see. Weaknesses. Vulnerabilities. Special notes about it in general. Alexandra already knew of all the information displayed, so she focused on keeping it on the screens all over the place so her allies could gather what they needed to self-strategize. "I hope this helps," she called out to them all, the screens flickering after a few more seconds. She was losing her focus. The light completely blacked out all of a sudden, and Alexandra leapt back, lifting her saber into the air where light began to gather now. That was its primary weakness which made sense. What else would be the weakness of the epitome of darkness than light? If it was light that would make this thing wither away into nothingness, than Alexandra would shower it in the radiant essence. Waving her saber through the air once, several projectiles of light shot forth, curving towards the massive organ that continuously pumped its corruption into the castle walls. A defiant look was scorched upon Alexandra's face as she lowered the saber, contemplating her next move. It would have to be something based on what her allies could come up with. Any that could would probably work on exploiting the abomination's weakness. If that were the case, this battle might not be a long one.

    Alexandra uses Rightful Rule!

    Hits Shadow Heart! 6 hits! 18 Light Dmg per hit! WEAKNESS!! (INT)

    MP: 15/35


    Pierce Time strikes Shadow Heart! 5 hits! 14 Dmg per hit! (INT)

    Kat uses Chain Allude on Shadow Heart! 3 hits! 17 Dmg! 13 Dmg! DOUBLE!! 9 Dmg! TRIPLE!! 17 Dmg! 17 Dmg! 13 Dmg! DOUBLE!! 9 Dmg! TRIPLE!! (INT)

    MP: 38/50

    Kat's eyes quickly glanced up at the strange screens floating in the air that were apparently produced by Alexandra. Upon them was detailed information about what they were fighting which Kat found extremely practical, though she wasn't worried about exploiting weaknesses now. The blue light filling the room blinked out and Kat's eyes now shot to the space above the monstrous heart where a vortex was opening up out of which a torrent of arrows shot one after another down into the flesh of the organ. The vortex closed, but Kat's bow was already set to fire. A single arrow composed of neutralized mana sat upon the bow which Kat didn't hesitate to fire. It was then that she honed her control of her mana in order to quickly conjure several more arrows which shot immediately off the bow as they were created. She watched the projectiles soar through the air with such speed...she was impressed by her own power.

    Can't let that get to my head, she thought to herself, trying to keep her mind in check. The Restocasians were definitely an arrogant race, but only because they had every right to be. They were in every way superior to the other races. But...that's not me...heh... No, it wasn't her. She knew where she really came from--how she became who she was today. They'll learn about it eventually; I have a feeling. Especially if we run into Lucian which seems to be an inevitability now. To think that I have such little faith in him...but it's not too late, she thought determinedly as she kept her bow at the ready, mana swirling about her like a small breeze.

    Kat waits.
     
  2. Mai raised her blade tentatively, feeling the rush of power come before her and swirl about her protectively. She could already hear the archers of the group fire off their weapons, and in the corner of her eyes saw Alexandra's form light up with an unknown glyph. She glanced over, looking about to see pillars of ethereal information suddenly erupted about the room, causing her to swiftly look over, read the text given by the Skillblade. Quickly she took in the information, swiftly taking in what this thing was, and what was needed for its quick destruction-

    "Dodge!"

    Immediately Mai's eyes ripped from the pillars of information, focusing on whatever the essence willed her to look at. Instantaneously, a massive mass of purple flesh was swinging right at her, dark energy encircling its strike. With little to no time to react, reflexively Mai unlocked her knees, her whole body buckling down and hitting the ground with a thud within the split second. However, just as doing this, she suddenly realized what was about the group's feet: more darkness. The vicious energy began to overlap and tear at her own energy, causing her to immediately begin shoving it away, pulling herself back to her feet with a single jump from the ground. Immediately she recovered the massive earthen blade she had dropped momentarily, turning on her heel to face the gargantuan mass of evil. It was sentient enough to defend itself, something Mai wasn't too happy about, for it showed on her face. 

    "Damnit..." Mai hissed under her breath. It was expected, sure, but she did not expect it from the heart. It was self-preservable, something she did not like. However, as she deduced quickly, it was better it be the only target than multiple. Less thinking, more killing the evil out of this pumping mass of disgust.

    With a massive swirl of energy, she felt the assuring power of the dragon spirit that aided her, making her smile as she felt the gush of power overflow from her very veins. It was spectacular, and although the others wouldn't be able to see it, she could feel the power. The power she wished to unleash, to say the least. "And here comes your demise, you abomination," she growled to the beating heart of evil, although she had a feeling it would never respond. At least, not in language. Quickly, Mai surged onto the stage, immediately feeling the world slow as large azure flames began to encompass her arms, climbing up her blade and mixing with the earthen energy. With a determined yell, she fell onto the purple mass, and began to rip at it.


    Mai uses Blazing Entourage! 5 hits! 26 Damage per hit!
    [33/60 MP]

    Mai uses Blazing Entourage! 5 hits! 26 Damage per hit!
    [19/60 MP]

    Mai waits...
     
  3. Stry nodded towards Helena, face set in a contented grin at the fact that his magic was actually beginning to prove useful. He seemed about to comment, but his attention was drawn away as the Shadow Heart... somehow inhibited his spell. Snorting slightly, he shrugged and glanced at the screens of information, steel eyes scanning the words and taking in far more than what some of his allies might give him credit for. "Well now, this makes things simpler," He commented, chuckling.

    And then it attacked Mai. While the attack still missed, it was cause for disconcertion; the abomination was clearly at least aware enough to defend itself. Stry sighed, shaking his head. "So, a giant heart, that's clearly aware of us and yet has no eyes, can be blinded but not confused," He said with a slight laugh as he edged along the wall. Blue-white fire gathered at his right-hand fingertips. "Well, whatever. It can be burned." With no further words, he cast the flame at the Shadow Heart, hoping to get lucky.

    [Strytor moves to D8.

    Strytor casts Kitsunebi on Shadow Heart! 14 Int Fire damage, chance of Burn.
    MP: 17/45]
     
  4. {Helena moves to F6 [H6 - G6 - F6]}
    {Helena uses Auric Blitz on Shadow Heart (C6)! 3 Hits! 17 Light ATK Damage (first two hits)! 26 Light ATK Damage (third hit)! Chance of Blind!}
    <MP: 33/50>


    Just as quickly as she had made her preparations for battle, she could feel some of her energy deteriorating. The Mana enhancing her vision seemed to waver slightly, causing it to falter only momentarily before righting itself. The vision was staggered, only augmenting her abilities for brief moments. Moments, she quickly recognized, that were fully synchronized with the beating of the Shadow Heart in front of her. A grimace took its place upon her face, as she slowly came to the recognition that it was sapping her power... and likely those of her allies, as well. "S'a little... draining, being down here." She said, aloud, to nobody in particular, though she acknowledged the sapping capabilities of the heart. Ahead of her, the entire party seemed to be launching into an all-out assault against mass of decay. She wondered... what if the creator of the magic was not, in fact, far off? Would he or she come back for them, to finish them off? Was the heart itself just a façade?

    One comment in particular had grabbed her attention away from her thoughts. "Blinded... but not confused," Helena repeated Stry's comment aloud. It seemed like the answer was staring her right in the face, which caused a small grin to form. Even in the darkest of hours, so always there would be light. There was no sense in dwelling in the darkness when she had the power of Light Mana at her fingertips. Though things had taken a faulty start to the side of the grim, Helena hoped that they would be able to make it turn itself around... and with everyone working together on one collective target, the huntress was confident in the abilities they could work with. This fuckin' insanity has to meet an end sometime... she thought to herself. It did not do her well to think this over too much, especially while she examined the heart for weak points. The exposed flesh was doing nothing for her concentration... it threw her off, slightly, but she knew that if the others could see her, it would not do her well. She tentatively took a step forward, preparing herself to get closer to the overpowering stank of decay... and definite evil.

    "Eugh..." she gagged, slightly, stifling it as much as possible so as to not show any sign of weakness again. Though she was a huntress, the pure overpowering smell of decay was causing her eyes to water. It was almost unbearable - even for one accustomed to inflicting vital-exposing wounds such as herself. Yeah... gettin' outta here would be bloody swell. An arrow was in her hand instantly, however, not at all reflecting her resolve towards the vicious heart. Mai had done an excellent job at diverting its attention - and staying out of harm's way - but how long could the dragon warrior keep up such radical dodging? At the same time, Kat was also close in proximity to the centre of all of the chaos... just what was she playing at? What was the strategy she had in mind...?

    Nonetheless, the arrow was quickly strung to her bow. And with the fletching of the arrow resting against the string, Helena took aim, allowing for the tip to glow brightly once more with the overwhelming brightness that it had taken in their last battle. If the heart could only see her now...! It had another thing coming for it, as two preemptive bursts of Mana extended themselves to illuminate the room - and the pulsing mound of shadowy flesh, much to Helena's chagrin - before plunging deep into the writhing core of the mass. The room dimmed slightly, before being lit up once more by the brighter attack - the igniting, piercing arrow released from its grip in Helena's bow's clutches. It flew with a deafening 'F-TAANG' towards the heart, before expanding its glow brightly to signify its contact with... something. Helena averted her gaze, allowing for her eyes to readjust to the relative darkness. Seeing whether or not she had hit would have to wait a couple moments...
     
  5. With an astral bang which resonated through the enclosed chamber, a sword exploded into existence in front of Hikari. Faint traces of luminosity had intensified into a power that had bent light itself into the rough shape of the blade which hovered right before her, before ultimately releasing it and allowing for such weapon to be instantly crafted. She stood for a moment, blinked once, and reached for it. The sensation was unique--the somehow material glow was shaped finely but detaillessly into a grip, a handle, a blade; all with the characteristic shine: bright, and possessing a tint of yellow.

    However, she was not done yet. She had yet to try something different.

    The Lumiere Skillblade then closed her eyes, and allowed for her Mana to flow freely as if in the process of casting a spell, but no attempt of it was actually made. Instead, she imagined. She imagined a sign, any sign within the darkness of vision. It presented itself in the form of an imaginary point, and then it was not a point anymore, but a pattern which overtook the canvas of her mind, twisting into circles and markings and runes and detailed iconography which burned into her phantom vision as if it was real... And it was.

    She would have smirked if her opponent would not have been a mass of darkness, a corrupted mockery of an vital organ which had just lashed at the Dragon Warrior in instinctual defense. Hovering slightly above the ground beneath her, a complete, flawless replica of the complex pattern had drawn itself with the Mana she had seemingly-aimlessly channeled. Spellcircle, she identified, with an array of colors probably used to denote the structural difference between its components... But having no time to study the core mechanics of her own magic, she proceeded to activate it.

    The moment the artificial sword touched the spellcircle, every individual line shone into life. Simultaneously, a rift opened above Hikari, the very fabric of space seeming to twist and rip as the opening was shred by her spell. Momentarily, light bathed the Lumiere Skillblade... but simply calling it "light" would have betrayed its presence. It was an otherworldly, detached fall of streams with myriad colors, which maintained a visible presence as much as they, too, maintained a tangible one, somehow. It only lasted for a few seconds before it closing definitely, choking the last vivid rays the rift could see out.

    Even though she could step out of the vanishing spellcircle, she chose to remain in place. Her position granted her a notorious opening for her attacks, and given the... thing they were facing, Hikari was certain she would need to strike with everything she had. And she had just prepared herself to allow such thing to happen.


    Cast Time: 1/1

    Hikari casts Brightest Blade!
    MP: 40/50

    Weapon "Brightest" is Equipped!

    Hikari casts Circle: Lumina's Aura!
    MP: 28/50

    (Hikari) Dark Elemental Damage Received -50%!
    (Hikari) Current MP Costs -30%!

    Hikari waits...
     
  6. Shadow Heart takes 442 Dmg!

    HP: 758/1200

    Shadow Heart evades Burn!

    Shadow Heart is Blind!

    Chapter 02-F: Truth

    Location: Archaea Castle - Storage Room

    Objective: Destroy the Shadow Heart!

    Background: ~Tantamount to Purification~

    {w} {w} {S} {S} {S} {S} {w} {w} {w} A
    {w} {s} {S} {S} {S} {S} {s} { } {w} B
    {w} {s} {S} {S} {S} {S} {s} { } {w} C
    {w} { } { } {M} { } { } {I} {S} {w} D
    {w} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } {w} E
    {w} { } { } {K} { } {H} { } { } {w} F
    {w} { } { } { } {A} { } { } { } {w} G
    {w} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } {w} H
    {w} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } {w} I
    {w} {w} {w} {w} {X} {w} {w} {w} {w} J
    -1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9


    Mai's Haste fades.

    Mai's Hidden Power has 3 turns left.

    Mai's Spirit Strike fades.

    The Party's MP Regen has 3 turns left.

    Helena's Eagle's Eye has 1 turn left.

    Hikari's Brightest Blade has 3 turns.

    Hikari's Lumina's Aura has 3 turns.

    Enemy Phase.

    Shadow Heart uses Trigger Command: Stimulate! [Rhythm of Darkness empowered][User INT +20%]

    Shadow Heart uses Rhythm of Darkness! [All enemy positive status effect durations -2 turns]

    MP: 839/875

    The enormous organ seemed to jiggle upon its stage as the mass of attacks tore into it, causing its beating to become arrhythmic for a few moments before it was finally able to stabilize itself.  However, the normal beating suddenly increased in pace, much more greatly than before.  Another cloud of dark mist rolled out along the floor.  Each of the warriors could feel the toll of the mist had become empowered, but they weren't given long to think about it.  Two pillars of darkness appeared in front of the left side of the heart.  The pillars thickened, then blasted back towards the opposition, scathing all who were unlucky enough to find themselves in the line of fire.

    Shadow Heart uses Shaded Jet! Hits Kat and Mai! 27 Darkness Dmg! (INT) [Kat is Plagued][Kat evades Blind][MISS (Mai)]

    MP: 817/875

    Shadow Heart waits.

    {w} {w} {S} {S} {S} {S} {w} {w} {w} A
    {w} {s} {S} {S} {S} {S} {s} { } {w} B
    {w} {s} {S} {S} {S} {S} {s} { } {w} C
    {w} { } { } {M} { } { } {I} {S} {w} D
    {w} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } {w} E
    {w} { } { } {K} { } {H} { } { } {w} F
    {w} { } { } { } {A} { } { } { } {w} G
    {w} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } {w} H
    {w} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } {w} I
    {w} {w} {w} {w} {X} {w} {w} {w} {w} J
    -1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9


    Shadow Heart is Blind for 2 more turns.

    Player Phase 3!

    Alexandra (Blue Mage) *MP REGEN [2]*
    HP: 40/40
    MP: 17/35
    DD: 10/10
    Atk: 17
    Def: 7
    Int: 10
    Spr: 9
    Evade: 10%
    Move: 3 cells

    Kat (Arrow Sage) *ARCANE ESSENCE [7]* *MP REGEN [3]* *PLAGUE [3]
    HP: 23/40
    MP: 48/50
    DD: 10/10
    Atk: 2
    Def: 9
    Int: 15
    Spr: 13
    Evade: 8%
    Move: 3 cells

    Helena (Night Huntress) *MP REGEN [3]*
    HP: 50/50
    MP: 34/50
    DD: 10/10
    Atk: 16
    Def: 9
    Int: 2
    Spr: 8
    Evade: 16%
    Move: 4 cells

    Mai (Dragon Warrior) *MP REGEN [3]*
    HP: 55/55
    MP: 19/60
    DD: 10/10
    Atk: 17 --- 26
    Def: 7
    Int: 5
    Spr: 6
    Evade: 5%
    Move: 3 cells

    Strytor (Kitsune) *MP REGEN [2]*
    HP: 35/35
    MP: 19/45
    DD: 4/10
    Atk: 1
    Def: 7
    Int: 12
    Spr: 6
    Evade: 4%
    Move: 3 cells

    Hikari (Lumiere Skillblade) *MP REGEN [3]* *BRIGHTEST BLADE* *DARK DMG TAKEN -50%* *MP COST -30%*
    HP: 50/50
    MP: 31/50
    DD: 10/10
    Atk: 15
    Def: 12
    Int: 13
    Spr: 7
    Evade: 7%
    Move: 3 cells

    Shadow Heart *PIERCE TIME (2)* *BLIND* *STIMULATE*
    HP: 758/1200
    MP: 817/875
    DD: 1/10
    Atk: 14
    Def: 7
    Int: 16 --- 19
    Spr: 8
    Evade: 3%
    Move: 0 cells

    {X} - Storage Room Door (cannot be occupied)

    {w} - Wall Lined With Junk (cannot be occupied)

    {s} - Stage (cannot be occupied)


    The final farewell...I'll send the light to bring you to the final destination. The body and soul shall be rent in twine for the journey! Prepare yourself! Alexandra bids Shadow Heart an Au Revoir! 40 Piercing Holy Dmg! WEAKNESS!! [Chance of Oblivion]

    The heart proved to be much more dangerous than she could have thought as it blasted them with columns of darkness. It was time to reciprocate the gesture. "Farewell, abomination." Alexandra raised a hand into the air and waved it as if she were bidding someone goodbye. Two large vortexes of light appeared, one above the monstrous heart and the other opening up beneath it, right atop the surface of the stage. Dropping her hand, the light convulsed from within the portals and shot downwards from the top one and upwards from the bottom before retracting, strings of light pulling and ripping, trying to shred the horrific organ in two to no avail, but the damage was done regardless. Alexandra looked upon the result of her attack as the portals closed and the light dissipated, completely content with what she had done. If only I possessed more power... she thought, grip on the handle of her saber tightening. She had just received the blessings of the blue mage. She regretted not having more time to develop her abilities beforehand.

    Alexandra waits.


    Pierce Time strikes Shadow Heart! 5 hits! 14 Dmg per hit! (INT)

    Kat uses Chain Allude on Shadow Heart! 3 hits! 17 Dmg! 13 Dmg! DOUBLE!! 9 Dmg! TRIPLE!! 17 Dmg! 13 Dmg! DOUBLE!! 9 Dmg! TRIPLE!! 17 Dmg! (INT)

    MP: 38/50

    Kat groaned audibly as the mist roiled around her feet, but what was worse was the blazing column of darkness that plowed through her causing her to double over in pain. Her skin grew sallow quickly and she coughed violently, a dark aura clinging to her form, refusing to leave her for even a moment. "D-damn, it's a plague," she cursed before coughing rendered her speechless once more. Her vision grew blurry and a headache formed causing her to put a hand to it in a meager attempt to...do what even? She couldn't get rid of it on her own. Come on, Kat, stand strong, she growled mentally, standing up straight. She didn't bother trying to take a deep breath, for it would most likely just lead to another coughing fit. She kept her breath shallow and raised her bow in time to catch sight of another blue portal opening up in the airspace around the heart, arrows shooting out of it after which they pierced the disgusting flesh of the giant organ. This pleased her and gave her strength, not to mention Alexandra's own brazen assault.

    Steady aim...fire... Kat conjured a neutralized arrow of mana and loosed it, gathering what little strength she still had to quickly succeed that one arrow with two more, illusory copies of the first two arrows becoming manifest such that they struck the heart as well. A weak smile formed on the archer's face as she lowered her bow, coughing some more. Her legs were wobbling at this point; she wasn't even sure if she could try to dodge another incoming attack which worried her. She didn't want to get hit with anything like that last spell again.

    Kat waits.
     
  7. Mai leaped from the heart's disgusting flesh, landing nearby just in time. She had felt the shift of some energy around her, and luckily she listened to that feeling; within a moment's notice, two vortexes of light ripped open from the atmosphere and began to tear away at the large, pulsing organ. Mai's eyes watched, the bright radiance of the vortexes reflecting off her irises as the small spectacle shredded at the heart like no other. Mai smiled, grateful someone had something against this disgusting abomination. She swirled her blade, suddenly feeling the loss of the spirit she had at her sight just moments before. Had the darkness cast it away? As she looked about, it was evident she already knew the answer to that. Well, there goes what assistance I had.... Mai cursed within her mind. As she raised her blade for a couter-attack, her senses immediately caught her. Something else was brewing, some other energy... and it wasn't good.

    Within the next moment, her senses were correct. A dark mass encircled under Mai, and in a moment's notice, a pillar of darkness erupted, obscuring Mai's form within the mass amounts of dark energy released. In the very same moment, however, a sudden surge of blue flame erupted out the side of the pillar, Mai landing with a powerful thud against the ground before regaining her stance. She was panting, her eyes now re-opened and warier than ever. However, as fast as the pillars had come, so too did they expand rapidly, sending a massive surge of darkness outward before finally dissipating. Mai raised her blade immediately, striking and ripping the energy with large slices of azure flames, causing it to disperse and flow around her, leaving the Dragon Warrior unharmed. As the darkness settled, she finally began inhaling to calm herself, her eyes looking about to view the damage quickly. Her eyes focused on the momentarily incapacitated newcomer archer, her situation more than dire as immediately Mai noticed the woman's stigma. Dark bits flowed in and out of the woman's body, purging her life and spirit right in front of the group. A horrible plague that made Mai immediately shudder slightly. If she were stricken by that blast....

    "Hang on there," she called to Kat, turning immediately to face the surging heart with a stern gaze. It was no longer just a mision to destroy this thing- it was now to finish it off for their survival. If any of her allies were to take these afflictions, what would they do? Would they survive it? Not that alone, but now Mai's mind expanded to the whole of this city. Would this place survive? Is the heart already destroying things as they were battling it now?...

    "No more shall you corrupt this city, so long as I stand!" Mai finally called out, a mass of bluish energy swirling and surrounding her in graceful swirls and helix formations about her. The blue light magnified dramatically until the energy finally burst out from Mai's form, a large stripe of bright flame following her path as a large blur of energy surrounded and began striking the heart from all angles. Bright, bright energy one could only discern was the being Mai as she rocketed from point to point on the organ's form, slicing and ripping through the organ with powerful ferocity. Finally, the bright energized form of Mai stopped above the beating mass of dark magic, lighting up the room for that split moment with elegance before the light blasted down like a cannonball, piercing straight through the heart and out one of the arteries, leaving a mass of injured flesh pumping and pulsing out darkness as if blood.

    Mai landed a few feet away, the same position she was at, skidding to a halt as a trail of energy flew past her before dissipating. The light about Mai slowly faded to a calm glow as she stood, swinging her blade with calm gratification.

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Mai uses D-Ability: Drakine Judgement! 4 hits! 100% ATK Damage (3 hits), 150% Piercing ATK (4th hit)! Chance of Severe Burn! Chance of Instant Death!

    Mai waits...
     
  8. "Mmm." Stry made this soft noise of consideration as his gray eyes darted around. From what he could tell, the group had already dealt considerable damage to the Shadow Heart... not to mention the attacks already being launched in retaliation from its last strike. The Kitsune's eyes were drawn particularly to Alexandra's rather flashy display of light, grinning slightly before going back to his analyzing. His attempt to burn it had failed, but no matter.

    "Let's try that again, shall we?" He asked nobody in particular, raising his arm as his hand collected yet another orb of blue-white flame. He threw it at the Shadow Heart once again with what appeared to be more effort than before; his demeanor was shifting slightly, appearing more serious, more focused. His five tails fanning out, Stry's stance adjusted so that while he didn't move away, he still braced himself for the ever-present threat of attack.

    "Been a while since I've been this close to an enemy of my own will," He said absently, voice dry but joking. He now glanced at Kat, who seemed to be having difficulties... the Kitsune watched the woman for a moment, as if gauging her condition. "... I'd ask if you were alright, Kat, but I feel that answer is obvious." The words themselves were somewhat teasing, but for once his tone was completely serious. He kept his attention on her for a quick moment longer, before looking back at the Shadow Heart. Can't really get distracted now...

    [Strytor casts Kitsunebi on Shadow Heart! 14 Int Fire damage, chance of Burn.
    MP: 13/45

    Strytor waits.]
     
  9. {Helena uses Auric Blitz on Shadow Heart (C6)! 3 Hits! 15 Light ATK Damage (first two hits)! 23 Light ATK Damage (third hit)! Chance of Blind!}
    <MP: 22/50>
    {Helena moves to F7 [F6 - F7]}


    The beating of the heart seemed to react heavily to all of the brightness that had slammed into it at once. The strobelike light given off by the ragtag group of assassins as they fought valiantly to purge the kingdom of its scourge, the mocking organ of darkness. Helena gave a grim smile as all three of her arrows plunged deeply in... though the beating of the heart sped up to match her increasing state of concern. What if what they had wasn't enough...? Again, Helena struggled to shake her head of the thoughts that seemed to plague her brain. Maybe the evil that was released by the heart was affecting her outlook on things as well. It mattered relatively little. She just needed to keep going... Keep fighting. And pushing through; there was a future to look forward to...

    ...Though the results'll be grim, too. It was a grim thought to be thinking, but the crystal ball wielded by the late prophet Nanila hung heavy at her waist. She was still trying to convince herself that she was no graverobber, but it was odd to explain how the orb had come into her possession. She would not be able to explain it to her allies if they asked... and all still, Kat had her own demons to confront at the end of the night, as per her question of Nanila. And speaking of her fellow archeress, the young woman did not look well. She seemed to keel over just after releasing her arrow barrage, duplicating itself in a fantastic display illuminated by Alexandra's magical attack that she had seen only a couple times before. Helena winced at the daggers of light piercing her corneas. It still hurt trying to get her eyes accustomed to the deathly darkness of the storage room, while it was lit brightly by her allies.

    And then, the voice. The one that made her skin start to crawl again.

    Stry almost seemed concerned when he made a snarky comment about Kat's well-being, but it was worded in such a way that made Helena remember what pissed her off before he had started becoming remotely helpful. "Back off it, foxboy," she growled off, preparing to add some more to the statement... but she ultimately chose not to sink to his level. She inhaled deeply... unfortunately letting more of the tainted mist into her system. Immediately, she sputtered out "Fack..ing shit..." in between coughs. The impurity of the air was growing progressively worse as the heart began to beat faster, Helena was sure of it. As her fit of coughing subsided, she could not help but feel even worse for Kat; she had caught the brunt of the attack while Mai had dodged unharmed through, as usual. Helena had thought she had rendered the heart blind, somehow... but apparently it had not been enough to spare Kat.

    "Get outta the way, Kat!" she called out, genuine concern in her voice. Mai launched a powerful licking of flame all over the organ, masterfully striking where the weakest points seemed to be. It impressed Helena, to be certain. In spite of everything, Mai was still on their side. Her resolve never wavering in whatever she saw as just... it'd do her well to see the truth in their actions, Helena supposed. It was time that Helena herself let loose an attack; the brightness of her arrows returning to their tips as the two beams of light shot out into the depths of the heart. As Helena loosed the final arrow explosively, she stepped off to the side, moving out of the immediate range of the heart, and hopefully to a place where it could not strike at her as easily. All she wanted was to help Kat; but it would do her no good to move into the foray as the young woman had... not when her specialty lie in the art of ranged weaponry, as opposed to the magecraft that her opposite struck with.
     
  10. "Hold on there, Kat!" the reassurance in Hikari's voice was lost amidst the degenerating, dampering haze of darkness which obscured the ground with each palpitated pump, sapping away the potency of their beneficial magic which struggled to linger.

    The Lumiere Skillblade crossed the stage--the grotesque visage of the Shadow Heart in full view now--already visualizing the patterns of Mana needed to cast one of her spells. Even if it meant risking herself, as well... But all in all, this was what she was here for, anyway. She had willingly chosen to accept the mission, the fate that had lead her to go against the Chaos Knight himself, and eventually this... thing beneath the castle itself. But if it meant brightening the future of the people of Dalmaschior, then it was a risk she was willing to take. Hikari turned to the Arrow Sage and, with the clump of Mana blessed with multiple incantations following a pattern of cleansing, cast her spell on Kat. The blinking energy resembled stars among the endless sea of space as they fluttered quickly towards her, purging the malicious curse which took form of a vile essence which dissipated instantly from her form.

    But she was not done yet. Whirling around suddenly, and following Mai's relentless assault on it, Hikari leapt towards the Shadow Heart itself, twirling the mace above her to gain momentum. And the moment her feet touched the blackened flesh of the mammoth organ opposing them all, she brought it down with full force. Though its physical constitution was severely lacking so that her weapon managed to pierce straight through its uncertain depths, it sure had enough stability to remain functional even after the group's continuous assault. And so, she quickly raised the mace, and sent it crashing down the heart in a powerful arc, once again.

    And then, light visibly collected on Hikari's right palm--a signal telling she was not quite done. She quickly backflipped off the Shadow Heart, landing smoothly in the position she had leapt from to create a moderate gap between the thing and herself. The Lumiere Skillblade simply raised her hand. It was as if the retraced arcs of motion, the trail of her two previous swings of the mace, ignited with pure light--no, it was Mana. It leaked copiously as if it was a rift of sorts, wavering even to the dispersing shadows it created. This only lasted for a brief instant, for less than a second later, a bright pattern blazed out. Lines of light surged from the point into a cross parallel to the heart's position, searing it rather fiercely from multiple directions, for it was the Element of Light that attempted to vanquish the darkness that laid before them... And then, it faded away.

    Hikari took a few exhausting, deep alternations of inhaling and exhaling, for her last few actions had quite taken a toll on her own Body Mana. "No stopping now, Hikari..." And this time, the reassurance was for herself.


    Hikari moves to D5 (D7 - D6 - D5).

    Hikari casts Anti on Kat! Target: Plague
    MP: 25/50

    Hikari chains Cross Clash on Shadow Heart (B5)! 2 Hits! 20 Atk Damage, 20 Atk Damage! Target Base Def -20%!
    MP: 14/50

    Hikari follows up with Light Surge (Splash: 4 Other Targets)! 22 Light Int Damage!
    MP: 4/50
     
  11. Shadow Heart takes 502 Dmg!

    HP: 256/1200

    Shadow Heart evades Severe Burn!

    Shadow Heart evades Instant Death!

    Shadow Heart is Burned!

    Shadow Heart's DEF is reduced by 20%!

    S-Ability Impose Shutdown activates! [All enemies are Doomed]

    Chapter 02-F: Truth

    Location: Archaea Castle - Storage Room

    Objective: Destroy the Shadow Heart!

    Background: ~Tantamount to Purification~

    {w} {w} {S} {S} {S} {S} {w} {w} {w} A
    {w} {s} {S} {S} {S} {S} {s} { } {w} B
    {w} {s} {S} {S} {S} {S} {s} { } {w} C
    {w} { } { } {M} { } { } {I} {S} {w} D
    {w} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } {w} E
    {w} { } { } {K} { } {H} { } { } {w} F
    {w} { } { } { } {A} { } { } { } {w} G
    {w} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } {w} H
    {w} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } {w} I
    {w} {w} {w} {w} {X} {w} {w} {w} {w} J
    -1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9


    Mai's Hidden Power fades.

    The Party's MP Regen fades.

    Helena's Eagle's Eye fades.

    Hikari's Brightest Blade fades.

    Hikari's Lumina's Aura fades.

    Enemy Phase.

    Shadow Heart uses Trigger Command: Synchronize! [Alexandra is Burned][Kat is Burned][Helena is Burned][Mai is Burned][Strytor evades Burn][Hikari evades Burn]

    Shadow Heart uses Trigger Command: Regulate! [Bestows Regen][Rhythm of Darkness cannot be used this turn]

    Shadow Heart casts Darkra on Hikari! Hits Strytor! 26 Dark Dmg! (INT)

    MP: 803/875

    The quickly beating heart profusely released more and more darkness from the tears in its disgusting purple flesh as attack after attack landed upon it, and though the light from those attacks was rather powerful, the darkness was quick to cull it from existence, an overwhelming feeling of imminent despair settling over the storage chamber. As the darkness slowly and silently drained the life force from the foes, a pulsing heated blast echoed outwards, scathing many of the organ's foes, and after that was out of the way, it allowed its beating to substantially slow, but for whatever purpose was lost to those fighting to keep their lives at this very moment against this abomination. In the midst of the confusion, the heart called upon the darkness to coagulate against the one who commanded the most light. A blast of darkness exploded around Hikari and radiated outward to buffet the unsuspecting Strytor. However, the heart's offensive was far from complete. A hovering sphere of consolidated darkness appeared before the heart, and in naught but a few moments, a blasting column surged along the ground hitting Kat and missing Mai just as it had last time.

    Shadow Heart uses Shaded Jet! Hits Mai and Kat! 22 Darkness Dmg! (INT) [MISS (Mai)][Kat evades Plague][Kat evades Blind]

    MP: 781/875

    Shadow Heart waits.

    {w} {w} {S} {S} {S} {S} {w} {w} {w} A
    {w} {s} {S} {S} {S} {S} {s} { } {w} B
    {w} {s} {S} {S} {S} {S} {s} { } {w} C
    {w} { } { } {M} { } { } {I} {S} {w} D
    {w} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } {w} E
    {w} { } { } {K} { } {H} { } { } {w} F
    {w} { } { } { } {A} { } { } { } {w} G
    {w} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } {w} H
    {w} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } {w} I
    {w} {w} {w} {w} {X} {w} {w} {w} {w} J
    -1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9


    Shadow Heart is Blind for 1 more turn.

    Shadow Heart is Burned for 3 turns.

    Shadow Heart's DEF Reduction has 3 turns.

    Shadow Heart's Regen has 5 turns.

    Player Phase 4!

    Alexandra (Blue Mage) *DOOM (5)* *BURN [3]*
    HP: 37/40
    MP: 17/35
    DD: 0/10
    Atk: 17
    Def: 7
    Int: 10
    Spr: 9
    Evade: 10%
    Move: 3 cells

    Kat (Arrow Sage) *ARCANE ESSENCE [7]* *DOOM (5)* *BURN [3]*
    HP: 11/40
    MP: 45/50
    DD: 10/10
    Atk: 2
    Def: 9
    Int: 15
    Spr: 13
    Evade: 8%
    Move: 3 cells

    Helena (Night Huntress) *DOOM (5)* *BURN [4]*
    HP: 46/50
    MP: 22/50
    DD: 10/10
    Atk: 16
    Def: 9
    Int: 2
    Spr: 8
    Evade: 16%
    Move: 4 cells

    Mai (Dragon Warrior) *DOOM (5)* *BURN [4]*
    HP: 51/55
    MP: 19/60
    DD: 0/10
    Atk: 17
    Def: 7
    Int: 5
    Spr: 6
    Evade: 5%
    Move: 3 cells

    Strytor (Kitsune) *DOOM (5)*
    HP: 15/35
    MP: 13/45
    DD: 5/10
    Atk: 1
    Def: 7
    Int: 12
    Spr: 6
    Evade: 4%
    Move: 3 cells

    Hikari (Lumiere Skillblade) *DOOM (5)* *CRITICAL*
    HP: 5/50
    MP: 4/50
    DD: 10/10
    Atk: 15
    Def: 12
    Int: 13
    Spr: 7
    Evade: 7%
    Move: 3 cells

    Shadow Heart *PIERCE TIME (1)* *BLIND* *BURN [96]* *REGEN [60]*
    HP: 220/1200
    MP: 781/875
    DD: 4/10
    Atk: 14
    Def: 7 --- 6
    Int: 16
    Spr: 8
    Evade: 3%
    Move: 0 cells

    {X} - Storage Room Door (cannot be occupied)

    {w} - Wall Lined With Junk (cannot be occupied)

    {s} - Stage (cannot be occupied)


    Alexandra uses Rightful Rule! Hits Shadow Heart! 6 hits! 18 Light Dmg per hit! WEAKNESS!! (INT)

    MP: 7/35

    It was almost too much. Alexandra's eyes were wide with horror as the darkness spewed out of the heart's wounds and filled the air faster than she could even imagine. Her whole body trembled in both fear and trepidation. There was no doubt that she felt weaker--almost as if her life were slipping away and there was no way for her to grasp it. This was beyond her control, though she was aware that there was an escape. They had to defeat the heart quickly while it was weakened and escape the castle as soon as they could. That was the only way. Each time their light shone through, it was culled by the myriad shadows, but once the source was eliminated, the place perhaps could be purified. It was the only thing she could hope for. The angry blaze appeared in her eyes again and she stood up straight, stabbing the air upwards with her saber. Light gathered at the point--a production of her own mana at this point for the slowly beating heart had turned the chamber into a realm of pure darkness. Alexandra could feel the heat on her skin from the heart's previous blast, but that pain only fueled her light. The sphere grew in size, and with a mighty swing, Alexandra loosed a plethora of surging projectiles comprised of the very light she had managed to gather. They soared like beautiful beacons through the darkness and embedded themselves in the flesh of the organ.

    "This is our last stand, guys! This heart goes down now or we do!!" she shouted at the top of her lungs to the others only to get a mouthful of the lingering dark mist that the heart had unleashed before causing her to break out in a coughing fit. Eyes closed shut and throat stinging, she thought back to when she was just a ditz of a noble wandering the streets at night. Oh how far she had come. Whether she lived or died against this abomination, she knew the journey had been worth it. We won't let this thing win, nor the person who is behind it's creation, she thought firmly, finally getting over the coughing and standing up straight again, saber at the ready once more.

    As long as I live and breath, the darkness will not take my home.

    Alexandra waits.


    Pierce Time strikes Shadow Heart! 5 hits! 14 Dmg per hit! (INT)

    Kat uses Chain Allude on Shadow Heart! 3 hits! 17 Dmg! 17 Dmg! 13 Dmg! DOUBLE!! 9 Dmg! TRIPLE!! 17 Dmg! 13 Dmg! DOUBLE!! 9 Dmg! TRIPLE!! (INT)

    MP: 35/50

    "Thank you, Hikari..."

    Kat had managed to respond as such as she tried to gain her breath after the plague had been removed, but a blast of heated force nearly knocked the wind out of her again, not to mention made her skin feel like it was on fire. She felt pain and despair that she couldn't even have imagined before teaming up with the ragtag group of assassins while she searched for the person she was looking for. The arrow sage was forced to her knees, and out of squinted eyes, she could see the last of her time-transcending arrows dig themselves into the organ's flesh, but her vision was obscured by the darkness, not to mention another column surged along too quickly to dodge. She took the full brunt of the attack but remained in her kneeling position, luckily free of the plague that had afflicted her last time. This...this is almost too much. Damn it... Kat cursed as she shakily stumbled to her feet, gripping her crimson bow as tightly as she could as if for support in staying standing. Kat could hear Alexandra's proclamation over the sound of her own heart beating rapidly.

    This was their last stand.

    Raising her bow with renewed strength, the mana around Kat sparked and ignited in a ravishing blaze. A shaft of neutralized mana appeared nocked on Kat's bow as she took aim at the heart that had caused so much agony and torment. She loosed the arrow and watched as illusory forms of the main shaft appeared one right after another in a straight line right after the lead. They too would pierce the heart in conjunction with Alexandra's projectiles, and what would hopefully be the last of the others' attacks. After all, if they couldn't put this thing down now, there was probably going to be no hope later.

    Kat waits.
     
  12. Mai danced along the floor slightly as she powered up her next set of strikes. This organ wouldn't dare stay in existence while she was around. She could still feel the remnant feeling of the energy she used to perform the powerful fire attacks which left the organ to spit the dark energy profusely. It was indeed slowly losing its grip on its own energy, causing Mai to smile. This thing can't last long..

    Mai was about to look to the others before her gaze began to slowly dwindle, feeling a considerable lack of energy that she had had beforehand. Gripping her blade tighter as if to hold onto the energy that was slowly being stolen from her own form, she readied herself for another strike of considerable damage. She was going to rip this thing into nothing but gooey purple remnants. As she then bounded up for a leap, her body was suddenly knocked backward by a heated shockwave, causing her to hit the ground with a thud. With an agonizing grunt, she began to feel her skin burn considerably, causing her to grip onto the cold floor for any relief. As she looked at her skin for the damage, she was astonished to find no traces of any burns; dark energy hovered over her skin, forcing her skin to bake within it.

    "Son of a- it cursed us!" Mai shouted, pulling herself to her feet and turning to the heart once again. Her blood began to boil, drowning out the burning of her own skin as she gripped her blade tighter. It was then that she sensed another oncoming strike, an imminent burst of energy boiling just under her feet. In a reflexive panic, Mai suddenly blurred, the predicted pillar of darkness launching from the floor just moments after. Mai reappeared a foot from her previous position, catching herself as the burning sensation about her whole body was throwing off her awareness. We have to kill this thing as quickly as possible... It'll destroy us, then the rest of this place once it gets the chance..

    Steadying herself and gripping her large earthen-based broadsword carefully, she aimed it toward the organ as if to challenge it to a stand-off. Her piercing gaze ripped into the flesh itself, burning at the same intensity that the heart had bestowed upon her. "I've had enough!" she called out, suddenly surging forward in a blue blur. Catching on the edge of the stage, Mai rocketed herself into the air, flipping forward a few times before landing on the pulsating organ once again. Her analytic gaze quickly spotted all the gashes and horrific wounds completely exposing the innards of this heart, only drowned from view by the blackened mist which smelled of dread. Mai raised her blade, her body quickly being covered in a fierce azure energy.

    "Control this!" she yelled out at the organ. She didn't really care whether it could hear or not, but it definitely made her feel satisfied. "I'm going to rip the demented soul that purposed you from existence just after I'm finished with the dismemberment of the abomination that is yours!" With a powerful stab, Mai thrust her weapon into the organ, gorily tearing the flesh and causing spurts of dark haze flustering out in all directions. She then suddenly blurred from view, a blue light surging around the organ's exterior at blinding speed. Several gory tears ripped the heart in an explosion of purple chunks and black clouds almost instantaneously as the blur faded nearby, Mai skidding to a halt and wielding her blade to her side horizontally. She seemed to be shaking ever so slightly as she panted, the arm wielding her weapon slowly but steadily shaking and succumbing to gravity.

    She could feel her energy losing fast.

    --------------------------------------------

    Mai uses Blazing Entourage on Shadow Heart! 5 hits! 17 ATK Damge per hit!

    [5/60 MP]

    Mai waits....
     
  13. {Helena uses Auric Blitz on Shadow Heart (C6)! 3 Hits! 15 Light ATK Damage (first two hits)! 23 Light ATK Damage (third hit)! Chance of Blind!}
    <MP: 10/50>
    {Helena waits...}


    The flesh ripped and tore with the surges of the bright lights that penetrated its purple, rotten exterior. The way the purple, mocking, contorted flesh wriggled and writhed under the pressure of the ongoing onslaught almost made Helena come ever closer to her breaking point. She turned her head, gagging slightly at the disgusting sight in front of her. She really could not stomach much more of this... but she had no choice. The miasma inside of the small, nondescript storage room would cause her to succumb to it if she didn't aid in finishing off the monstrosity... and the desperation seemed to draw more and more nigh. The shadows replaced the dying light of her arrows, consuming it whole. Extinguishing it like a water-doused flame...

    But she could feel in the air, vibrations of the sheer hatred emanating from the core of the heart. The paced heartbeat had once more sped up to a sickeningly quick pulse - no, a cacophony of concussive beats. Consuming her mind with madness. She covered her ears in her hands to try and suffuse the beat... she could feel it invading her mind. Telling her that she could not win. It was futile to keep going... but she knew, in the smallest corners of her private self that she could not give up. Not now. Kat needed her, Alexandra needed her. Even Hikari, Stry, and Mai needed her, no matter how begrudging they were to one another. I can't... I won't. Giving up is NOT an option... A quiet, though determined thought. It seemed like such a distantly kept thought... would she be able to live up to the lives that she had claimed? Striking down the prophet, Nanila? What futures had she seen in Helena's eyes... the Heart's pulse seemed to consume her mind as she fell to her knees, letting out a horrifying shriek. It'd be so easy t' just give it up now... A choked sob escaped her lips as the miasma began to claim her, tendrils of the sickening gas and pulsations of darkness sourced from the Heart... and equally as suddenly, an overpowering heat. Helena braced herself against the cold flooring, trying desperately to cool her flesh. She felt as though she was on fire; the wave surging forth from the Heart as though its burns were to be shared...

    But her thoughts were suddenly elsewhere. The ring in her pocket, growing to burn against her side from the heated blast from the Heart. Look at yourself, Helena. Bloody cowering on the floor. What would he say if he saw this? You are so much better than this. A new-found vigour inside of her. The ring's presence seemed comforting... reassuring. Despite its symbolism, she could feel it as though it were kicking her. Trying to revive her spirits... Look at Kat, for Chris'sakes. Girl's fighting desperately for you. She isn't givin' in here. And you can't either. She felt like a fool, as she tried to clamour to her feet. Trying to stand was a struggle as her seething flesh howled at her to return to the comforting chill of the flooring in the chamber. Somewhere in the distant echoes of her horrifically addled brain, she could hear Alexandra making a call for their final stand. "Hah... Wouldn't have it any other way, majesty." She grimaced in a contorted sort of pain, whispering to nobody but herself now, "The final stand... kind of like that. Gives it a bit more meaning..."

    Before she could even nock an arrow to her bow, she saw the form of Mai, silhouetted by the destructive shadows that had just about claimed her sanity and the light provided by Alexandra's explosions of Light Mana. The girl was on a rampage, ready to destroy the Heart. She seemed ready to shred the Heart in half with her own bare hands if it were to keep surviving. Helena admired her sense of determination... something she had just about been denied of moments prior. She heard Mai howling, raging at the Heart itself. She almost laughed, in spite of herself, but sputtered. She called out to the self-righteous purist girl, "Give it up, Mai. Bloody thing can't even hear you." It was a waste of her breath and what little precious, breathable air there was left in the compacted storage room to continue her mutterings. There was no longer a place for battle chatter, only action. Only the final stand...

    And it was her turn to finally contribute to that.

    Her own Light Mana coursed through her veins, as she channelled some of the last of the energy within her to release her two preemptive bursts of light, striking and piercing the Heart as they had so many times prior... perhaps this would be the final time she would need to strike it down. She relished this thought, drawing back on her bowstring. The gleam of the arrow's tip grew ever brighter as she prepared to release it. I'll need a right long rest after this night... she cast a sidelong glance at Kat, who had been rightfully quiet for the majority of the time since their run-in with the demons. Can't imagine how she'd be holding up... She decided that this last shot of hers would be attributed to the girl. Her first true friend since the fateful night of meeting Alexandra.

    She released the arrow, and it flew true. Directly into the centre of the Heart.
     
  14. Shadow Heart takes 261 Dmg!

    Shadow Heart KO!

    Chapter 02-F: Truth

    Location: Archaea Castle - Storage Room

    Objective: Destroy the Shadow Heart!

    Background: ~Tantamount to Purification~

    {w} {w} { } { } { } { } {w} {w} {w} A
    {w} {s} { } { } { } { } {s} { } {w} B
    {w} {s} { } { } { } { } {s} { } {w} C
    {w} { } { } {M} { } { } {I} {S} {w} D
    {w} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } {w} E
    {w} { } { } {K} { } {H} { } { } {w} F
    {w} { } { } { } {A} { } { } { } {w} G
    {w} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } {w} H
    {w} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } {w} I
    {w} {w} {w} {w} {X} {w} {w} {w} {w} J
    -1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9


    The Shadow Heart has been destroyed!
    CHAPTER COMPLETE!!

    EXPERIENCE:

    +20 - Shadow Heart
    +2 - Player Phase completed less than 10
    +2 - No Player Character KO
    +2 - No Items used

    TOTAL EXP GAIN: 26

    Alexandra: 15/36 --- 41/36
    Level UP!
    3 Stat Points gained!
    Next Level: 5/36
    Current DD: 6/10

    Kat: 26/36 --- 52/36
    Level UP!
    3 Stat Points gained!
    Next Level: 16/36
    Current DD: 10/10

    Helena: 1/36 --- 27/36
    Next Level: 27/36
    Current DD: 10/10

    Mai: 0/36 --- 26/36
    Next Level: 26/36
    Current DD: 4/10

    Strytor: 6/24 --- 32/24
    Level UP!
    3 Stat Points gained!
    Next Level: 8/24
    Current DD: 5/10

    Hikari: 23/36 --- 49/36
    Level UP!
    3 Stat Points gained!
    Next Level: 13/36
    Current DD: 10/10

    Skill Points Awarded!

    +1: Alexandra, Kat, Strytor, Hikari
    +0: Helena, Mai

    The Party receives 300 Gold!

    Items found:
    ---Essence of Darkness

    Edit your profiles, please~ Update will come shortly.
     
  15. They had done it. Through many trials, stresses, and tribulations, the motley group called together by some mysterious voice had managed to finally rid the city of Archaea of the source of evil that was tainting the mind of their benevolent king, Chaos Knight Albert Valentine. The massive heart of darkness slowed its beating until finally, it came to a complete stop. The storage chamber grew eerily quiet, and the dark mist still hung thick in the room. After a moment had passed, the heart began to disintegrate, radiant beams of light shooting outwards from its center. Every single space the light touched, the darkness vanished. The tendrils connected to the walls melted off, attached no longer to the castle. The light grew more and more intense until the entirety of the heart had been enveloped in its warm embrace. All became shrouded in light, and Alexandra threw up her arms to shield her eyes from the intense light, as did Kat and the others, at least if they so wished to avoid being blinded. When the light cleared, the storage room looked...normal. No longer was their darkness being pumped into the walls, and there was no dark mist shrouding the area. It was just a dank, dim storage room once again. No trace of the great evil remained save for a small vial sitting on the stage filled with a reminiscent darkness. Alexandra carefully tread the stairs next to the stage and walked across it to retrieve the vial, holding it up to get a better look. It almost sent a shiver down her spine, so she tucked it away. As she descended the stairs to join the others, she realized she didn't have any idea of what to do next. She came to the decision that it would probably be best to check on the assassins and let Masquerade and Nigel know that everything had been a huge success. With that in mind, Alexandra gestured for the others to follow her, and as such, they all made a run for it, dashing through the occultist undercroft and back along the west hall until they were outside the castle.

    Outside, everything was in sheer chaos. Monsters and soldiers fought off the town guards and knights. The soldiers were nothing more than mercenaries--the same ones that the group had fought prior. They were merely posing as Archaean guards by whoever had been behind this madness. Alexandra shook her head and dashed through it all with the others in tow. They had to find Masquerade or Nigel and figure out what was going on. Did the person who planted the heart know of its defeat? Was that why he or she or it had gone on the complete offensive? There was no telling at this point. Departing the front of the castle, they dashed along the adjoining avenue which was less filled with fighting than the castle gates. Taking detours with no Nerra or Nara around was a no-go. It would probably take longer than trying to navigate through the chaos filling the streets of the city. With their destination set as the cathedral for the moment, they continued to run until they were forced to come to a stop by none other than Midas who had been fending off a group of monsters and mercenaries by himself.

    "Midas, what's happening?!" Alexandra finally shouted, her voice somewhat shrill with distress. Bottling in her confusion wasn't helping. In the distance to the north, she noticed a few explosions. What the hell was going on?

    "Your Majesty, you need to get to the northern exit immediately," Midas was quick to respond, his breath slightly ragged. It seemed as though he had been fighting for a while without rest. Luckily there were no enemies in immediate sight...at least not at the moment. "The source of this invasion has taken root at the northern exit and held his ground there while the monsters and mercenaries run rampant through the town. The citizens have been evacuated as a first priority, but as such, no one is there to take out the commander." He paused, and a seriously hurt expression had formed on his typically lax and stoic face. "I'm afraid the task falls upon you and your frie--" His sentence was interrupted by loud growling as a pack of mutated wolves appeared from some nearby alleyways. Their time was up. It was back to fighting for him. "Your Majesty, you must go now! I'll clear you a path!" Taking his scepter and spinning it around in the air over his head, the stars in the night sky seemed to gleam before sphere of light shot down, crashing into the street and exploding, most of the wolves getting smote instantly while the rest were tossed aside.

    Alexandra knew that this was their opening. "Midas!! Please be careful!" she shouted before dashing down the street through the wreckage, waving a hand for the others to follow once more. Their new destination was the north exit, even though she wished she could see at least Masquerade again. He seemed so reasonable and knowledgeable. But, it seemed as though they were going to have to figure out what to do on their own. She felt a certain rage welling up within her. Whoever was behind this attack was behind the corruption of her uncle. She could not wait to lay waste to whoever the fucker happened to be. Maybe this was for the best after all. In this way, she would be able to get revenge for her friends, her family, and her country. Shifting down one of the northern streets, Alexandra cut down a side road with the others to arrive on the main thoroughfare leading towards the north gates. This particular avenue was free of fighting, but the buildings near the gates were on fire, probably a result of the earlier explosions. They continued to run until eventually, they came to a stop several yards from the gates where under the archway stood a single man. Alexandra found herself literally stunned by this man's appearance, for he wasn't a normal man, no. He was tall with a lithe build, slender and slightly curvy. He had a body to be envied, to be desired. His skin was tanned and flawless, his facial features sharp, lips thin, and expression as stoic as could be portraying a moderate disinterest in the destruction that lie before him. His long, raven black hair was tousled by the night breeze, seeming to glow in its own light as if blessed by the cosmos. His garments were regal: a white collared button-up dress shirt with beige trousers that were equally as dressy. Over top of that he wore a beautiful white overcoat with gold trim and lining, the sleeves long and smoothly flared. On his feet were polished, black dress shoes with not a speck of dirt or grime upon them which seemed impossible given the situation, yet there they were.

    Kat had been following Alexandra from the start, just as intent on getting answers as she was. How could the city be overrun so easily? Thoughts suspended for the time being, she sprinted along until they ran into Midas who looked rather worse for wear. Clearing a path for them, he told them the commander of this little invasion was stationed at the northern gates, and as expected, she followed Alexandra along with a certain anxiety continuously nipping at her heart. This was the moment of truth. Tears began to form in her eyes as she ran knowing full and well what lie at the gates. Eventually, they made it there, fire burning and buildings destroyed. Standing just in the archway of the gates was the person she had expected to see. It had been so long that she almost forgot how beautiful he was. All Restocasians were typically good-looking, but this man was something else. Now the tears were definitely pouring from her eyes and down her pale cheeks. She pushed past Alexandra and ran forward a bit, coming to a stop and stomping a foot on the ground, glaring defiantly at the man. "Lucian!! I've....I've been looking for you everywhere... And when I finally find you, it turns out you're behind all this! What happened to you?!" she shouted angrily, emotion completely overwhelming her being.

    The man who was revealed as none other than Lucian gazed pointedly at Kat. "Katerina Lorraine. It has been a long time, hasn't it? Hmhmhm..." Lucian said simply as if all were calm. "I'm afraid I don't understand your question." He paused a moment, letting his silken voice flow through the air, the words practically sinking into Kat. "Nothing has happened to me other than my finally taking an interest in experimenting. It took a long time to set all this up, but finally my plan had come to fruition, down to where it's foiled." Here he filled the air with a mocking laugh aimed at all of them. They were all pawns in his plan, playing their role down to the finest detail. They would not comprehend how much of a hold he truly had on them.

    "Grrrr....you weren't like this before, Lucian, and you know it!"

    "Oh please, Katerina. I've always experimented; it's in my nature. That's how you came to be now, isn't it?"

    Kat was silent, almost stunned that he had brought it up, though she knew that the truth had to be revealed at some point. Wasn't this what she was truly afraid of? The others finding out about her origins? "That was innocent enough...but you got lost somewhere along the way," she uttered with a mix of despair and anger.

    "You call me lost?! I'm the one who gave you the life you have! You speak so ungratefully, Katerina! You were nothing but a domestic house cat before I came along, and I gave you the chance at a better life through my magic! I made you what you are today!" Lucian shouted back in response hysterically, pretending that he was hurt when in reality he couldn't care less. At this point, all life was expendable, even the life he granted. The world was his laboratory now, and everything in it was his specimen.

    Kat drew her bow, mana surging along its length so that it appeared to be on fire, glowing orange embers flashing into existence around her form.

    "So this is how you repay me....," Lucian uttered, shaking his head with an exasperated smile on his gorgeous face. "Could the rest of you talk some sense into this woman? She seems to have forgotten that I could and would crush her life in a mere instant," he said, calling to the rest of the group behind the arcanist.
     
  16. Mai looked to the others as a minute had passed by after the spectacular burst of light that ended the dark heart's existence, one of calm peace and a smile of satisfaction overcoming her. "Hah!" she scoffed aloud, the empty chamber echoing as Alexandra returned form the stage with the vial. Mai seemed to be standing much taller, as if she had been completely healed of this whole ordeal as soon as the organ exploded into nothingness. She had her large blade downward, hand gripping the butt of the weapon confidently as she swirled it around ever so slightly. However, as the situation seemed to turn back to the outside world, she furrowed her brow as she began to feel what everyone else thought. What is happening outside, I wonder?... What has become of Masquerade and the serpent?...

    Alexandra seemed to look to them all before beckoning them onward, Mai responding instantly by kicking the blade upward, simultaneously twisting her hand around to catch the handle and swing it behind her. The handle guard caught on her shoulder, stopping the momentum of the blade as it rested on her back. Mai closed her eyes, willing the energy within her to heal her wounds during their trip. Immediately a slight essence of azure encompassed Mai and disappeared instantly from sight, although one could tell it was still about her. Mai sighed as she felt a burning, healing feeling overwhelm her wounds and stitch up her spirit. Looking to the others, she nodded and took off with them.

    Once outside the castle, Mai's eyes were overflowed with crimson and chaos. The clink of weapons, the sparkle of metal that reflected the moonlight, the flying of bodies as many began to fall. Mai looked in all directions of the castle area, awed at the mass of battles. Monsters and rogue soldiers had overrun the place, guards and knights that defended the kingdom holding their ground to the best of their abilities against the onslaught before them. Her gaze then flickered over to the gates, seeing no hope of escape through it. Even if she felt she had enough energy, it was deterring to see the horde of beasts that were flowing in. Her attention then drew back to Alexandra, who had gone down a different route. She followed hesitantly, keeping good pace with the rest. She could draw ahead much further, but figuring the others weren't in the mood of catch-up, and the fact she was still healing, Mai kept to a calm dash, a thin trail of blue seeming to follow her form even if barely noticeable. We need to find the source of all this... the heart was mere fuel. Who is the feeder?

    Mai's thought cut short as a familiar being was striking down multiple beings at once. Her memory swiftly pulled up the name before the recognition as they neared. Midas was quickly felling as many beings as he could as they rushed him, forcing his energy low with their onslaught. Mai swiftly dashed ahead of everyone in a blue blur, coming to Midas's aid almost instantly. The remaining mercenary soldiers he was fighting suddenly screamed out as blue energy surged from their midsections, sectioning their upper and lower halves into two before their upper halves flew off by the small explosions of blue energy within them. Mai pulled herself around quickly and dashed over to Midas, coming to a stop as she heaved her blade back to her shoulder.

    Mai took quick ear to the conversation between the man known as Midas and Alexandra, her thoughts answered with great satisfaction as to where the source of it all was. Mai gripped the handle of her blade tightly, her legs now pumping with energy to continue the run. "Sounds like fun," she commented as the man told of the current predicament on their hands, and specifically to the comment of a need to fell the commander of this revolt. She obviously expressed her interest immediately, the pain of fighting completely wiped from her face as if she had never been injured. It was becoming quite literal as her wounds were much smaller now, significantly so. Mai then thought of the others, looking at their own wounds and even Midas's wounds as well. Quickly summoning what power she could, she forced it into the others to seal their wounds and increase vitality significantly. Hopefully it would help Midas cope better as well.

    Mai's attention was then directed behind her by the barks of strange, mutated beasts that she could discern as wolves, swiftly pulling her blade from her shoulder and swinging it in front of her to an offensive position. If they had to fight now, so be it. Suddenly, the alleyway of which the wolves were charging lit up dramatically, a large pulse of radiance that struck the ground and caused a large explosion. Mai covered her eyes the moment it happened, immediately turning her attention back to the alleyway and keeping an ear to her allies behind her. As Midas beckoned them onward, Mai nodded in agreement. She looked back at Her Majesty, calling out, "I'll make sure we get there as well."

    As they took off, Mai swiftly dashed ahead farther than the others, swinging her blade and swiftly felling one of the mutated beasts that recovered from the explosion, earthen energy glowing as it sliced the wolf's head clean off. Mai then charged ahead further, quickly slamming her blade through everything that would and could be a threat to the group. There wasn't much to defend from, however; the alleyway was half-deserted, a straying beast here and there and a mercenary soldier looking for anything to take a life from. But Mai wasn't taking any chances by slacking back and letting the rest of the group run into an even larger pack of beasts.

    As Mai cleared the end of the alleyway and saw the others begin to catch up, her attention was swiftly drawn to the gates up ahead. She told herself it might've been the buildings ablaze, but as she noticed a figure revealed within the gates themselves, she knew what she sensed. It was a man that took her by pure surprise, stopping her straight in her own tracks. His complexion was like nothing she'd ever beheld; long, flowing, gleaming black hair ruffled ever so slightly as the physical features of this man glowed with his own essence. His body and face were defined and perfected by some unknown maker of celestial glory, making Mai marvel for a moment at what this man was.

    That was answered within a moment.

    Kat had dashed right ahead of her, stopping and suddenly bursting into shocked tears although, as Mai sensed from her, she expected this man to be here. "Lucian!!" roared from Kat's mouth, suddenly causing Mai's body to be shocked with alarm. Midas said they'd find the source here, the one running the destruction of this city and the kingdom, and here he was. But what was causing her blood to run cold in shock was the fact that Kat knew this man, knew this... Restocasian, as she recalled. Her body seemed to be shivering, quaking in this sudden change of events. She didn't think much of their new comrade Kat, but she didn't in the slightest expect this. This is what she was to expect, she supposed, with newcomers to their new group. Her feelings raged as immediately she felt biased toward all others that were not of this small group from the beginning, feeling paranoia immediately toward the other newcomer- the kitsune. Was he of affiliation to an enemy as well?

    However much she wanted to look back and glare at the being, her attention kept to the immediate scene at hand; it was more important in the first place. The intentions of the kitsune were good for now, she supposed... it was no time to turn against one another with the current situation. They were facing the one that was destroying the world around them. It was no time to turn on each other when there hasn't been a reason from the kitsune to give suspicion. It was Kat, the one in front of her, that was making her quiver with unease.

    Mai then narrowed her eyes even more as the shock of Kat's origins came out almost instantly in the conversation between the two. Kat was... a cat. It would've made Mai almost chuckle were it not the severity of the situation. The fact that this being, Lucian, had the capability to create someone like Kat, to conjure a human being from an animal, only caused Mai to shudder. The capable power of this being was making her freeze in place. It was now only more evident of how dire their mission was; as Mai thought of the possibilities and extent of his abilities, it only churned her stomach. It was then that Mai burned with passion, feeling her own rage overcome her. This man came around with the expectation that he was the strongest one about, that he could use his power to "experiment" with innocents and that everyone was nothing but a game. She'd about had enough.

    "No."

    The utterance seemed to blare out of Mai like it was a communed voice of the whole group in general. Mai slowly paced forward, body firmer than ever as her eyes burned with fury. She was pissed off, a feeling she hadn't felt for a long time; she hadn't felt it to this degree, at least. She pushed past Kat, gripping her blade tightly and lifting it up bravely to the man slowly. "As I see it," she started, "You think you have this in your full control." Mai gripped the blade's handle tighter, feeling a burning sensation within her. "But there's just one thing that's flawed about you: your thinking. You underestimate everyone here and we're not letting you 'experiment' further with all this. Look at the destruction around you, look at the pain and death you are causing. This is not greatness."
     
  17. Stry had been knocked back slightly against the wall from the Shadow Heart's attack, and by the time he regained his footing and composure, the rest of the group had taken down the abomination. Just as well. Aside from burning it, the Kitsune really hadn't been doing much damage. He'd expected as much- he had gone quite some time without honing his magical ability prior to meeting this group, but he was quickly getting back into the swing of things. He just hoped his lack of practice wouldn't hinder him too much in any upcoming fights... though, with the Shadow Heart taken down, they may well not have to fight anything else for a while. Sure.

    It couldn't be so simple.

    Surprisingly, he followed the group out of the room in silence. Upon reaching the outside, Stry's slate eyes narrowed imperceptibly as his faint suspicion was confirmed. The Kitsune gave a slight sigh of exasperation, but followed Alexandra as she bolted off. A fight soon was certain; while he could easily slip away from the group and take cover among the chaos, safety tended to fall in numbers and he wasn't too keen on taking unnecessary risks at the moment. Ears and eyes quickly flicked in various directions to keep track of the surrounding area: the group could be intercepted or ambushed at any moment. By now is was self-preservation as a priority; his endless supply of snide remarks could wait.

    A stop. Alexandra called out to a man named Midas and asked what was happening. Only really half listening- the others were perhaps better equipped to have the knowledge, Stry was only truly concerned about safety- the Kitsune only picked up that the invasion was originating from the north before her set to looking around again. No adversaries in sight, for the moment. Here Mai quipped something as well, and Stry glanced at her out of reflex, and then a chorus of canine snarls erupted from an alley as a pack of deformed wolves emerged. Mai was preparing for a fight; so be it. Blue-white foxfire danced at his fingertips but was quickly extinguished as immediately the wolves were felled or thrown away by Midas's attack. He gave the man a curious look but said nothing; Whatever's easiest for us, I suppose. His attention was drawn away as the group moved on in their haste to end the chaos. Little time to rest. Annoying, but it couldn't be helped. He continued to follow.

    They were nearly at the gates within a surprisingly short amount of time. Awaiting them there was a man who, by any human standard, would probably be considered nothing short of beautiful. His posture, body structure, and clothing all intermingled to create one hell of an attention-grabber- but then, the concept of being flashy seemed common among those with ill intent. And there was little doubt that this was the man behind everything, especially when Kat addressed the man she now identified as Lucian and proceeded to almost scold him for his actions. Stry listened quietly to the exchange between fiery, angry words and smooth, calm ones; why did villains always have to--

    Kat the cat.

    Stry blinked in stunned silence, as if he hadn't been quiet enough before. His tails bristled and his ears pressed against his head in a rare display of general unease as Kat drew her bow, but by the time Mai began speaking he was already regaining his composure. Allowing Mai to finish, Stry spared a glance towards Kat before speaking aloud for the first time since the battle against the Shadow Heart.

    "Mai, perhaps it would be a good idea to not provoke the bad guy," The Kitsune remarked dryly. The quip was just that, however, and a sort of challenging light appeared in his usually sanguine eyes. He didn't approach the Restocasian, of course... but given that the area was free of fighting... "However much I agree with you. It's inevitable that we'll be fighting him, naturally, but let's not prematurely start the battle, alright?" He gave a wry grin, as if he was trying to be serious and teasing at once but couldn't quite manage it.
     
  18. The light from her arrow plunged into the fleshy, tainted organ writhing and pulsating vigorously at the centre of the room, as though the darkness was consuming it whole, swallowing it and leaving nothing but an absence of the light. The rhythm of the battle had matched the appearance and disappearance of the Light Mana that the mostly-reluctant allies had been conjuring to purge the heart of darkness from the kingdom. As it swallowed this last bit of light, however, the demonic organ began to slow its beating. Unnoticeably, at first, but gradually slowing down until Helena could only hear her own heart beating loudly and angrily, fuelled by adrenaline in her chest. She widened her eyes slightly as the mass of twisted flesh simply sat for a moment, pedastalled on the wooden stage in the largely-unsuspected storage room. The only thing that could be heard for a moment was the sound of heavy breathing as a result of the battle, though there were no signs of it now. The thick miasma filled her lungs as she sputtered momentarily, covering her mouth with the crook of her arm. She sunk to her knees to try and avoid breathing too much of it in, as it felt like she was slowly dying... This isn't th'end... no... but as she lay there, she could see the cracks of the floor slowly illuminating - as gradually as the heart had stopped its beating, so too was it replaced by all of the light that it had devoured from the city of Archaea. It stung her eyes to look even at the floor as the mist seemed to recede into nothingness. As the brightness faded, Helena looked up at the others. It was not unbearably dark now, but it still reeked of decaying flesh and mold. Helena stared, awestruck at the re-transformation that had just occurred before them. It was certainly not the end. Not yet.

    Mai let out a sound of celebration, though it was clear that the night was yet young. The foxboy had even fallen silent, as though he knew better than to even hazard a forward thought to the group at this point. Wiser that way... wouldn't want him runnin' his big mouth after a night like that. To Helena, though, even her mental jeers at Stry would not suffice to ease her plagued mind. They hadn't found the conjurer of the heart yet, and there was still Nanila's prophecy to consider. The words of the prophet still blazed in her mind, at a fevered pace. They had not once left the mind of the archeress... It will not be a happy reunion, I am sorry to say. Not a happy reunion. Of course not, after all of what had happened tonight? It could not end well for Kat now. Helena cursed herself for not having inquired further about Nanila's hazy vision... though the woman was on her deathbed, what more could she have truly offered?

    Without so much as another word from anyone after the dragon warrior's exhalation in relief, Alexandra gestured silently, as though asking for the rest of them to follow. "Guess the running ain't over," she muttered, though only Hikari was left in the room with her to hear. Everyone else had already dashed out of the room, and Helena took off running, easily catching up and following the rest of the group out of the ominous rooms of the castle, through the narrow corridor, and out into the fresh air. Helena shut her eyes as she came to the open door, hesitating a moment before stepping out with her arm rested on the frame, and inhaled the open air deeply, soaking it in and allowing her lungs a moment to recover from their endurance bout with the heart of shadows. But as soon as her eyes opened, their red irises would observe nothing but more strife. The calm on the streets just before their infiltration had been replaced by madness - with meshes of monsters and soldiers striking away at civilians and true guards alike. "Shiiiiit." Helena whistled at the sight. It seemed that they hadn't had a thing to worry about when fighting the 'guards' earlier in the night, after all... She only wondered what distinguished those on the side of the city from the renegades attacking it. Best keep that to myself fer now. No time.

    Her thoughts fragmented, she felt considerably less fatigued now that the air was no longer saturated by a mist threatening to choke the life out of her. She followed absently the rest of the group, keeping pace just behind the lead of Kat and Alexandra. This put her directly beside Mai, and though she didn't want to agitate the warrior's sudden bout of earlier self-consciousness, she still wanted to match her in pace if nothing else. She stared down the labyrinthine alleyways, and wondered why they had ever let Nara and Nerra leave their sides to guide them through the city... certainly the others knew the area better than she, but she wasn't overly surprised to see Alexandra taking the more customary direct route. After all, she had nearly gotten herself into a fair bit of trouble when they had first met the noble... It hardly seemed like that was a mere few nights ago. The past few days had been a whirlwind... thoughts such as these occupied the still-racing Helena's mind, as she ignored the chaos until a burly figure seemed to block the path, fighting off a great number of the oncoming assailants. A telltale call from Alexandra herself confirmed her immediate suspicions.

    "Hah, the guard too lazy to arrest us," Helena said, nocking an arrow in preparation to fend off anything that would come near. "Guess they really heard ya when y'said that you were helpless at night," she spoke as though she and the hulking Midas had gotten off to an amicable start. Though she didn't exactly enjoy his presence, the big man sure knew what he was doing with his mace. He was very clearly far from helpless as he knocked the wolves coming to attack him aside with powerful blows... but Helena wasn't about to guard her tongue. The night in itself was ridiculous enough so as to not need any further stresses coming with it. She let loose an arrow to eliminate one such oncoming wolf, as Midas informed them of the invasion, and exactly where they were needed. Clearly, for a bunch of wanted assassins, they were still trusted enough to handle the fate of the city. Seems a tad backwards, but hell, after all we've been through tonight... Helena shrugged, turning away from wolves she had not seen emerge from the depths of the night. Midas seemed more than capable of handling it, as a bright light bathed the area, exploding onto the scene, and eliminating the threat of more enemies. Alexandra gave him some futile advice as she turned to run to their directed position, and the rest of them could do nothing but follow the noble as she haphazardly ran through the city, choosing a side road arbitrarily to take.

    When the running finally stopped, it was clear as to why. They stood below flaming buildings, overwatched by the moon and the gaping archway from whence the invasion had inevitably surged. The single figure, standing impassively amidst the wreckage that - predictably - he had been the cause of. A male form. A beautiful, perfect male form. Suddenly, the carnage of the night seemed to quiet itself as the group took a moment to gaze upon the specimen in no less than awe. The man stood in silence with a slight smirk crossing his flawless lips, framed by hair that both seemed of the night, and nightless at the same time. The spell was broken by a choked sound of surging hatred, of scorn, and of emotions that Helena was not unfamiliar with was ripped from Kat's lips. She cried out, his name emerging into open air finally. It was clear that this was all of her bottled up emotion since Helena had asked her final wish of Nanila on her deathbed.

    ...It will not be a happy reunion, I am sorry to say...

    Happy was the furthest thing from what Kat was right now. She lashed out at the man with a verbal assault, as though her words would change whatever terrors he had caused to fall upon her in his leaving her. But he merely smiled more as she carried on. Helena could do nothing but watch on in spellbound terror and confusion. Finally, he spoke in response. His voice cloyingly thick, rich. Almost nauseatingly so. Helena immediately knew to dread the coming of that voice... for it was the bemused tone at all of Kat's emotion that caused her to grow hostile, as she drew an arrow slowly to her bow. She didn't know what he was capable of, but she feared for Kat. Whatever came next would be a surprise to her, entirely...

    But suddenly, a revelation struck her. The sweet voice turned as he announced to them, triumphantly, the relationship that he and Kat had. Lucian spoke of how Kat was nothing more than a 'domestic house cat' before him... and Helena let out an audible growl. "Kat, is that..." she began aloud, "Cat or no, you're far more than scum like this," she tossed her head towards Lucian to emphasize her point, "who think they're just bloody better than everyone else, especially with their flashy coats and shit." Oh man, Helena was right pissed now. The archeress could hear just how furious she was, and an overpowering empathy came as Kat's own bow ignited, because that was identical to the feelings that Helena outwardly felt now. Beautiful or not, the fucker was not one to be reasoned with. Mai knew this, but Stry seemed to resist it, as though he was uneasy about fighting the man for some reason. The kitsune tried to reason it out with them, straining a grin and forcing himself to try and keep things light. Helena could barely stand for it. She almost threw her hands up in sheer exasperation. "Bloody HELL, foxboy. Prettyboy may as well have you under his spell. Fight now, or fight later? He's said all that he needs to." A menacing glare was shot at the man, but he quite plainly radiated in power that secretly made Helena feel very small within herself, as though all of her spirit had gone to the exact other side of her body, pulling her back from the fight.

    She didn't shoot, but she kept her arrow trained on the man. He seemed to relish the position he was in, as though he truly could crush Kat's life force away instantly. Was that something they could truly risk in an invasion where they would soon be outnumbered by whatever forces still lay beyond the city limits...?
     
  19. "Kat... a cat...?" Hikari blinked in astonishment. That was all she could really do, standing amidst the utter, widespread chaos, gaze switching swiftly from the man before them, to the Arcanist whose fiery bow was steadily aimed at him.

    Even after they had defeated the source of the entire corruption, the Shadow Heart in the middle of the deepest corners of the castle, it was made blatantly clear that this was not the end. It was far from it, from the looks of the scene, the countless monsters, the ruthless mercenaries, the incessant running, the occasional defensive swing, and all in all, the sheer sense of wrong that plagued the entire city.

    And when they finally came to the apparent source, Hikari knew why they had stopped. There was no other monstruous beast, no fully-armed "commander" of sorts, just... a man. A very peculiar, very dangerous man. Hikari could almost immediately notice that his demeanor--as uncaring and condescending to the world as it was--was clearly justified. He was no normal person, as he somehow radiated a power. A frighteningly strong one, at that. The Lumiere Skillblade was just quietly shifting, her glare still burning into him, when Kat's yell gave them his name. Lucian.

    And with all said and exposed, Hikari had no doubts he was truly the one behind it all.

    "Not fighting?" she nearly spat to the Kitsune, only casting a sidelong glance to him, "I think the answer is obvious now."

    Even though, all in all, they were all at least a bit hesitant to do so.
     
  20. The man, Lucian, seemed completely shocked by their will to fight back.  Were they insane, or just ignorant?  Did they truly not realize that this was going to be a losing battle?  Lucian drew his sword with its blade as dark as the most abyssal shadows.  It looked like something that did not belong on this world or in this dimension, and yet there it was--the darkness of the night having not even close to an impact upon its own.  "It is a shame that things have come to this, Katerina," Lucian stated, shaking his head slowly, a look that could probably pass as disappointment taking place upon his visage.  "You are probably my most greatest creation, but by turning upon me you give me no choice but to cut you down, and your so-called friends will be coming along for the ride, forced to bear the same fate.  How fallacious..."  Lucian closed his eyes and focused, a large white glyph appearing on the cobblestone beneath his feet.  A burst of mana surged upwards, and a wild wind traversed the area.  With each blasting gale, the group could feel their grasp on mana slacken significantly until finally...it was just gone.  The winds died down and likewise the glyph disappeared.  Lucian opened his eyes, a confident fire blazing within them.  He knew what he had accomplished, and now he just wanted a moment to soak up the fear that they would be inevitably feeling.

    Lucian uses Broken Pact! [Enemy Mana-related basic attacks and abilities are Sealed]

    "It's...it's just as I feared..." Katerina murmured after having been buffeted by the wind, her hair a mess at this point, but that was the least of her worries.  Not being a true Restocasian, she became quite aware quite quickly that her mana had been sealed.  She tried to conjure an arrow of mana on her bow, but it failed completely.  The mana around her didn't even stir at her command.  Oh how she loved that everyone was sticking up for her, but this...this was suicide.  They were all going to get slaughtered by Lucian if he had a mind to do so.  So it was all riding on luck at the moment.  Even without her abilities, she was going to try her hardest to make it out of this alive.  "I might be a better person than Lucian, Helena, but he has us right where he wants us now," she said in exasperation, her hand gripping her crimson bow so tightly that her knuckles whitened.

    "One thing you will note is that I AM in control here!" Lucian exclaimed over the roaring of the fires and the chaos emanating from deep within the city.  Even now everyone was fighting their hardest against the monsters that Lucian had let in and commanded.  "You have but a final chance to relinquish yourselves to me.  Or die."

    Alexandra trembled in fear.  True be it that she felt it...the disconnection from the mana that she had grown so used to feeling.  But that shuddering quickly turned into a reaction to the anger welling up within her.  Her uncle driven to madness.  Her city in the process of being destroyed.  Her kingdom on the brink of oblivion...and one of her friends on the brink of emotional distress.  She might not have known Kat for long, but she had a certain respect and caring for the woman who selflessly helped them while she had this much of a troublesome burden to bear.  It was all because of Lucian.  Oh how she would love to put this arrogant bastard in his place.  "Grrr....for all the pain you have visited upon this land and its people, the wrath of Archaea will fall upon you without mercy!  All of the might of the kingdom...you will be CRUSHED!  This I can promise you."  The noble's hair was tinged with the crimson of blood, and her eyes were wide, an anger within them the likes of which many had never seen before.  To finally find the source of all this?  How could she not be roused to such a high sense of anger?  It was time to exact vengeance for every single soul that could not.

    "Do not make promises that you cannot keep," Lucian scoffed, waving his hand nonchalantly at Alexandra's pathetic tirade.  "If this is the path you have chosen for yourselves, then dance your way to your demise."

    Chapter 02-G: Twisted Friendship

    Location: Archaea - North Gate

    Objective: Make your stand against Lucian, the Corrupter!

    Background: ~Soul Born From Darkness~

    {g} {g} {g} { } { } { } {g} {g} {g} A
    {g} {g} { } { } {L} { } { } {g} {g} B
    {g} {g} { } { } { } { } { } {g} {g} C
    { } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } D
    { } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } E
    {r} {r} { } { } { } { } { } {r} { } F
    {B} {r} { } { } { } { } { } {r} {r} G
    { } { } { } { } {A} { } { } { } { } H
    { } {r} { } { } {K} { } { } {r} { } I
    { } { } {r} { } { } { } { } { } {r} J
    -1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9


    Alexandra (Blue Mage) *BROKEN PACT*
    HP: 45/45
    MP: 35/35
    DD: 6/10
    Atk: 14
    Def: 8
    Int: 11
    Spr: 9
    Evade: 10%
    Move: 3 cells

    Kat (Arrow Sage) *BROKEN PACT*
    HP: 45/45
    MP: 50/50
    DD: 10/10
    Atk: 2
    Def: 10
    Int: 16
    Spr: 13
    Evade: 8%
    Move: 3 cells

    Lucian *MAG DMG OUTPUT +15%* *CHR +15%*
    HP: 5000/5000
    MP: 9999/9999
    DD: 0/10
    Atk: 25
    Def: 17
    Int: 32
    Spr: 24
    Evade: 30%
    Move: 5 cells

    {B} - Bag (cannot be occupied)
    Trigger Comand: Open

    {g} - Gate Structure (cannot be occupied)

    {r} - Building Remnants (cannot be occupied)

    Players may start in rows H-J!
     

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