• 96 HP
  

  MAX 125 HP

• 104 EN
  

  MAX 173 EN

• 09 STK
  

  Dissonance

Location: I1 - Zone IX

SET FIRE TO THE INSECTS! RAVAGE THEM! Nalla brought a hand up to her head, whiping away the sweat. Straining herself, she felt the invisible weights upon her legs begin to tether her to the ground. A MEANS TO AN END! A LIFE FOR A LIFE! Squinting, as the embers began to leak from her open maw with every breath, she stared upon her opposition with a ruthlessness. In this moment, she agreed with the voice. A life for a life. KILL! She wouldn't die running away. It really was a means to an--

"Let's try that again, Elen—nnnnaaalla! Nalla!" The pyromancer's streaming thoughts of destruction were interrupted with the calling of a familiar voice. @Kyupin Felnya? A friend amidst the madness was enough of a relief to break the trance. Feeling the weight upon her legs, the madness that was straining her release, she looked upon the battlefield with a clearer light, and upon herself. To die here was not worth it. She needed to rest. Perhaps there was another who was stronger to take her place, at least for now.

RUNNING?

Good. Smart.

"I'm tapping out for now, Kyu." Turning around to step out of the zone through the portal, Nalla exited the battlefield. In transition, as she swapped with the experienced hero who would take her place, she placed a hand upon the ally's shoulder. They had never really directly interacted with one another up to this point. In the past, Nalla had imposed a subtle, personal competition between the two. Now was not the time for friendly rivalries, though. She smiled, as they passed one another in a pocket of sub-space. "Good luck, Gwyn."

Swapping with @Gwyn ap Herne

 

• 132 HP
  

  MAX 139 HP

• 82 EN
  

  MAX 126 EN

• 07 STK
  

  Dissonance

Location: G6 - Zone VI

Moving from F5 to G6
-10 EN for Normal Attack
-7 HP/EN from Dissonance
Armour Shatter

Despite all their efforts Nanami got her hands on the sword that belonged to Saya, and Mizuki immediately suffered the consequences. While Saya's presence helped protect her against the merciless attack she could still feel it tearing through her leather armour, and she doubted she'd like it if she got attacked while her protective equipment was in such a state.

That's not good.

She looked at Saya, who looked shocked from where Mizuki was standing. Of course losing the sword housing a part of your soul would do that, but so far the hero who was supposed to act as their main lifeline in this mental hellhole had been denying everything that the enemy had been saying, and looking confused about it to boot. While Mizuki thought that better than being brought to despair by the enemy's words it might be past time that Saya began to pay more attention to what Nanami had been saying.

I'm guessing you and that Star Maiden are resilient against the effects of Dissonance, otherwise you wouldn't be able to keep fighting it for years. However what happens if someone like you fell into despair and willingly surrendered themselves to the Dissonance? Because I think...

She pointed towards Nanami.

I think that's what we're dealing with here. Now, that doesn't mean we shouldn't destroy her, but it'd explain how she could grab your sword and it means she knows how you work. Better be careful from now on.

With that said Mizuki stepped forward, chasing Nanami down before delivering a single powerful blow to the woman's side, where she could slip in an attack while evading the sword. She didn't want to find out what it would feel like to be attacked while her armour was worn down, but she was going to leave Nanami something to remember her by before swapping out.

Normal Attack on Dissonance Nanami
60 + 160 = 220
Tracker / Roll
Nanami: 1912 damage taken

 

• 160 HP
  

  MAX 160 HP

• 139 EN
  

  MAX 149 EN

• 08 STK
  

  Dissonance

Location: I6 - Zone VI

-10X EN for action
-XX HP from source

Aalam put down his bottle, and he picked up has arrows well this was something it seemed he had work to do. Placing them back in his quiver as he pushes himself off the floor and made his way to the exit of the regen. Well, he should get in the fight before the rest of them won the thing, what fun would that be after all? He had watched the battle cup form this point and well it was nice to see that the duke was able to throw out some damage when it was needed. He might have to work of the man a bit longer if he was able to carry on like that. However, it wasn’t him that he was taking the place of it was the wolf girl. It seemed that the young one had gotten her amour broken and needs a little say of rest. So he steps form protection and felt the madness hit him well it was good to know that this was the place the dissonance.

Coming to rest on the side of the star maiden who seemed to be in a state of shock of the fact that her weapon had been stolen from her. Well that was a shame it seemed the crazy one had a stronger will then this little star maiden, but at least the blade didn’t like the person that was currently holding it. That meant she might have a chance to take it back. @Pandora "Oye Maiden if you would be so kind and take your weapon back and kill her. Thank you." Well, that was that now he only had to worry about the two more things. Taking a swig of a bottle of rye whiskey he had on his person took care of the first and grabbing Uneo by the shoulder took care of the second. Pushing her back towards the regen spot. "Now I do believe I am here to buy you time so if you would be on your way thank you." He had forty-two arrows on him currently that was forty-two holes he could put in an old god. This was a good day, that and he would be able to see if he could outshoot Gywn. Taking aim at the crazy one with the sword, he was putting an arrow into each of those eyes, in the line of the blind, the one-eyed was king. Letting his arrows fly hell he wasn't going to miss here hopefully.

(normal attack)Putting a few arrows in the crazy one
1 + 145 = 146
Tracker / Roll
Nanami: 1912 damage taken

 

• 132 HP
  

  MAX 139 HP

• 82 EN
  

  MAX 126 EN

• 07 STK
  

  Dissonance

Location: G5 - Zone VI

As Mizuki finished her attack she considered her options, which quickly came down to quickly swapping out before Nanami retaliated and showed her just how much damage she could do with all that pesky armour out of the way. As she thought about how to swap she felt something pulling on her entire being, not in a direction but in essence. As Aalam entered the fray Mizuki blinked, but didn't waste time as the pull became stronger and she nodded in response to the man.

Thank you. I'll try to come back as soon as possible, but watch out for that sword of hers. It'll cut straight through your armour if you aren't careful.

With the message delivered Mizuki was enveloped by the same light that had taken those who had swapped out before her, quickly pulled into the soul path to recuperate and prepare for the next time that she would enter the fray.

Swapping with @Aalam Abungu

 

• 187 HP
  

  MAX 187 HP

• 146 EN
  

  MAX 156 EN

• 16 STK
  

  Dissonance

Location: E3 - Zone VIII

+10 STK
-10 EN for Attack

With the Fade Cultist fallen and things seemingly under control within the bowels of Titanius, Gwyn had returned on swift feet to the space between spaces. The bridge to the soul had rotated its cast some and Gwyn tensed when she caught sight of her fellow archers vanished from it. Kyupin and Aalam had both been called to fight. She was ready to chafe at the bit in waiting, but before the unease could settle in? Nalla appeared to trade places and the beast tamer nodded to the familiar stranger, one of the pyromancers that had helped lay low Arachna.

She offered only parting words to those gathered to patch themselves up, catch their breaths, and peel away the sickening corruption of the place.

Entering the strange place was an odd sort of whiplash. Something resembling New York City perhaps warped around them beneath a gaping void. She'd been only a few times, but this? This was unlike anything real. Gwyn didn't care to look for long. There was nothing to see but her prey. She had to remind herself that as soon as her eyes landed on the woman skewered by a massive sword. Saya. Worse sights than her. Her sword was wrong, twisted into a black and flickering nothing made of shadow and impossibilities and the archer's stomach twisted. She could feel the agonizing bite of electricity, the sinking of King Theo's sword halfway into her guts and threatening her spine, the voided arrow through her heart that had stopped it dead.

She fired, half blind with disgust and fury and something too animal-angry to be fear. Desperation perhaps? Gwyn didn't care. Couldn't. The arrow hit and did nothing, whatever magic their ally had offered the others was gone. The arrow wasn't made of light. Wasn't made of shadow. Was just wood and metal and wishes. She'd tear apart the bitch with her teeth then. And then melt that awful awful sickening wrong sword all made of shadow in the hand of a hole in the world into nothing. She wanted it- needed it gone.

Attack on Nanami
45 + 55 = 100
Tracker / Roll
Nanami: 2312 DMG Taken

 

• 134 HP
  

  MAX 134 HP

• 117 EN
  

  MAX 142 EN

• 10 STK
  

  Dissonance

Location: F3 - Zone VIII

-10 EN for Attack
+10 Dissonance from Soul Charge?

Kyupin watched from afar, eyes wide with fear, as the blade skewered through Saya. She let loose her arrow, but whatever magic that had graced her fingers had already dissipated. It was infuriating, watching her arrow bounce off Nanami's body. Where was the power that would protect people?! Why was she so weak?

She refused to shake in her boots, but if her fingers wavered, her breath hitched... well, there was little she could do about that.

Her fingers tightened around the wood of her bow, letting the grain of her weapon ground her. She could still fight - would still have to try, at least. This would not be the hill she died on. She would persevere! They all would!

"ONE MORE TIME!" she shouted, pulling string taut with another arrow. "We can do this!"

Attack on Nanami
65 + 35 + 20 = 120
Tracker / Roll
Nanami: 2312 / ??? HP

 

• 14 HP
  

  MAX 134 HP

• 115 EN
  

  MAX 142 EN

• 10 STK
  

  Dissonance

Location: F5 - Zone VIII

-2 EN from +1 Panel Movement (Adept Acrobat)
Moving from F3 to F5

She cried out as energy burned through her. In the corner of her vision, her health bar dropped rapidly. How low would it go?! As it crawled to a bright red stop, Kyupin finally understood just how out of their league this fight was. But they had to do it. Had to persevere, if only for everybody else in the world. The sacrifice of a few for the better of the many.

Mizuki's image flickered into mind. She knew she would have to swap out, soon. Maybe now. But her counterpart was a strong melee fighter. She needed to reduce the distance.

Kyupin groaned as she dragged her body forward, pushing it to the limit just to get it closer to their target. Every inch of her wanted to refuse. Wanted to turn around and leave if only to keep herself safe, but she couldn't. Would not. She had to give 110% of her effort or it would be meaningless!

She panted as she rolled to a stop right next to Nanami. Dread overwhelmed her, weighing her down and eating her up from the inside. Thankfully, she'd done her job. She could leave. Rest. Take a break and let the others keep on fighting. She laughed weakly as her eyes drifted shut. She could feel the pull of the portal connection, taking her away from this plane of existence. To safety.

And in her place, @Ueno Mizuki would appear. Ready to do some hurtin'.

Swapping with @Ueno Mizuki

 

• 25 HP
  

  MAX 145 HP

• 60 EN
  

  MAX 130 EN

• 20 STK
  

  Dissonance

Location: C1 - Zone VII

As he saw that Nanami was about to swing her sword towards the party, Bradwynne tried to counteract this with chanting Hebrew phrases to invoke the help of an angel who he thought would mitigate if not completely block the damage. As he finish the spell with an alacrity that he wondered when did he possess, he then shouted, "Raphael!" A barrier then formed at his front, and he was confident that the attack of Nanami would not penetrate his defense. But he never thought that that thinking was dead wrong, as she swung the blade laterally towards the whole party.

The wave generated from the sword of Nanami hurtled towards all them, and as the wave mobed towards Bradwynne, the shield resisted, but for a short time as it shattered and the wave continued to move towards him. It connected to his midsection, but was not able to penetrate him that much before the wave became broken on his body as the two parts hurtled towards his back. Unimaginable pain coursed through his body from his midsection, and his entrails almost gushed from his body which fortunately was held back by his right hand. He knew he was in no good condition to fight, and so he quietly retreated to the soul path. Meeting the person he expected to usher a new day in Terrasphere, he then said to her, "Looks like this guardian angel would need to rest for the meantime. I would hope, though, that a hero will do the job where even those chosen by Ella and Tria had not succeeded. I had full faith in you in bringing back the light in Terrasphere, Seigi," before finally lying down.

Swapping with @Seigi

 

• 61 HP
  

  MAX 187 HP

• 120 EN
  

  MAX 156 EN

• 16 STK
  

  Dissonance

Location: E3 - Zone VIII

-100 HP from Nanami
-26 HP from Dissonance
-26 EN from Dissonance

Had she been called in to serve as nothing but a target to be struck? A moment's shield rather than a sword? Gwyn snarled beneath the force of the strike, Nanami's sweeping attack cutting through them like nothing and only the rules of the game kept them whole. That baleful black sword that ate through space had come for her again. It had been stopped in its tracks before, unable to cleanly sink through like it wanted. It had hungered and been sated in halves alone and now it wanted more more more. More than she had to give. The corruptive force seeping through the air and dripping from the woman was nothing compared.

"You're nothing." She spoke without malice, almost blindly staring past Nanami. "Hah, you think you're the end of it. That you serve the end of it, maybe. But that you're worth fearing." She laughed and stepped backwards as she watched Kyupin flee. Then Bradwynne. "That sword isn't yours. Isn't anything but a tool. You're even less one. Nothing. You're nothing compared to that nothing." She shook her head, clawing at where she should have been cleaved in half. Eyes locked on Arbiter and not. Her stomach turned and sweat beaded up under her armor.

She took another step back and turned her back on the woman and the false sword. The huntress had to remind herself that it wasn't the same. It didn't reek of the same kind of ending. This woman played at being some horrible god, and she fought like she was, but she was just that. Playing. A child. Nothing nothing nothing compared. "Just a toy."

Gwyn pitied her. Pitied her, but didn't mourn her. She'd be dead soon like the rest. Another piece in a game she thought she was in on. What a cosmic fucking joke.

Swapping with @Comet

 

• 132 HP
  

  MAX 139 HP

• 72 EN
  

  MAX 126 EN

• 07 STK
  

  Dissonance

Location: F5 - Zone V

-10 EN for Normal Attack

As she was pulled into the Soul Path Mizuki frowned as she realized that even as she rematerialized her armour reformed as if it had never been damaged. She was puzzled for a moment, trying to figure out why this would be, when she realized that even if they had fully entered the core of Titanius it was still a separate realm, so what happened inside the core might not necessarily fully carry over to the soul path. She could still feel the drain on her energy and the small amount of damage that she had taken, but it was good to know that some things were treated separately depending which realm you were in.

Although that left her with the question of what to do, since she'd been expecting to need some time to look at her armour and now she was already fit to jump back into the fray, given how both her health and her energy were still in tolerable levels... and without her armour damaged she was pretty sure she could take at least one hit before having to swap out again.

Wondering her options she felt that same pull on her being, feeling someone trying to get her straight back into the action. Grinning somewhat maliciously Mizuki allowed herself to be pulled in, noticing that Kyupin had taken her place inside the soul path while she returned to the core, which had turned from an illusion of a rundown orphanage into a hellscape. Everything looked like it had fallen apart amidst the flames... including Nanami herself who was clearly hurting.

There would be some that would argue it was dishonourable to attack someone when they were in such a state. Those people needed more experience fighting eldritch abominations that were trying to destroy the world. Having spawned right next to Nanami Mizuki didn't waste any time, quickly burying her fist in the woman's gut and ignoring the strange sensation of darkness and light that engulfed the madwoman.

Looks like that sword doesn't appreciate you taking down its true master. Think you can actually bend it to your will?

Nanami had openly declared that she just wanted the sword, and was still clinging to it even as it harmed her. She wanted to keep Nanami from thinking smartly, keep her distracted.

Normal Attack on D.Nanami
(8 + 60)*2 = 136
Tracker / Roll
Nanami: 3448 damage taken

 

• 48 HP
  

  MAX 160 HP

• 139 EN
  

  MAX 149 EN

• 18 STK
  

  Dissonance

Location: L6 - Zone VI

-100 HP from Nanami
-18 HP from Dissonance
-18 EN from Dissonance

Well, this was going to be painful if their star maiden was just killed then nothing good was going to come of this nothing good at all. They would have to kill the witch before she was able to push her control over the sword and they bring the maiden back to life. Damn this made him feel like he was Lucia with her things but times called for action, and well this was the action that was needed. The sword didn’t like it was now owner and seemed to want the old one back. Then needed to get the thin away from her at least. He was so busy thinking about what had happened that he wasn’t paying attention to her actions. That wave hit well it hit like a truck, and that was a problem because his dissonance acted up with that attack. He was on the floor and was in pain his right hand was slow to react for an archer that was not a good thing. Running his hand over his chest and there was movement underneath the skin too much movement, so well that was ribs. Damn, he hated when rubs broke, he could take cuts and wounds, but ribs were a pain. They moved when he had to breath; it was official he hated this thing to a great amount.

It was time to head back he wasn’t going to be much help like this right now so its time to play tag. Pushing himself to his feet with his bow as he looked at the witch, it was touch and go, getting up, but he was able to manage. There would be a lot of drinking when this is over a whole lot of alcohol of that he was sure and then a lot of sleep. Maybe not taking any more job for a while or easier job at least “Oye crazy one next time I’m taking an eye hear me.” It was time for him to be on his way, so he opened the way back to the regen under his feet and let himself fall through. He needs a drink.

Swapping with @Nalla

 

• 121 HP
  

  MAX 125 HP

• 109 EN
  

  MAX 173 EN

• 09 STK
  

  Dissonance

Location: I6 - Zone VI

-20 EN for Reckless Attack

Nalla had just exited the battlefield, stopping in the safety of the soul path. Leaning forward, she felt the sweat drip off of her forehead onto the vague surface that she stood upon. Her heart clattered against her ribs like a rabid bird to its cage. She panted, the sound of her rapid breaths overshadowing any of the whispers in the back of her mind.

That was fine. Don't worry about the others.

Fine? Running away?! Cowardice!

"Hey!" She shouted, silencing the voices. With a fist clenched, she beat her own chest, gritting her teeth. "I'm in charge here." For a few moments, there was only quiet in her conscious, a thin layer of perspiration blanketed across her arms. She had caught her breath, and now stood with eyes closed, carefully managing her thoughts. A subtle tremor came to her palms, snakes of fire radiating faintly around them. While her body had been calmed, her heart rate had not. It still shook the tracks like a runaway train. With nowhere to place this pent up energy, she cautiously raised a clenched knuckle. The palm slowly opened, as a stone of flame came into being.

Obviously, she had no good place to put the explosive device, so in her hand it remained. As her muscles strained, she held it tight, maintaining it's volatile energy. Luckily for her, she didn't need to hold it long, as a portal to the combat opened. She had not fully rested since her last combat in the zone, but her current state would have to do. Stumbling forward, she passed @Aalam Abungu in transition, providing him a slight nod in passing.

The moment the orphanage around her came into being, THERE! her eyes locked to the target. Somehow weakened and vulnerable, she smiled. Paroxysm, the flame in her hand pulsed with the rhythm of her own ticker.

BOOM!

"BOOM!"

There was no comment from the calmer voice in the pyromancer's maddened brain. Instead, only the crackling of fire, as she hurled the ball into the enemy, the object exploding into a miraculous burst upon impact. She smiled. If nothing else, how good this game was to let loose once and a while...

Reckless Attack on Nanami
(61 + 27 + 55)*2 = 286
Tracker / Roll
Nanami: 3734 damage taken

 

• 132 HP
  

  MAX 139 HP

• 62 EN
  

  MAX 126 EN

• 07 STK
  

  Dissonance

Location: G5 - Zone VI

Moving from F5 to G5
-10 EN for Normal Attack

Mizuki frowned as she felt her punch connect, but she didn't feel the impact penetrating as deep as she had been hoping. Well, no matter, Nanami was still looking disoriented and she'd just try again. It might be a bit reckless to keep up the offensive, but at this point this looked like the best opportunity they were going to get to deal some serious damage. She'd just have to hope that even with this assault she'd survive to swap back out after.

Hey you!

Hearing the voice Mizuki blinked, looking around at the same time as she was hit with... something. It felt like a fire was suddenly spreading through her, hot but strangely not burning her. Instead it gathered in her hands as she noticed that it had originated from one of her allies, @Nalla, the same one who'd just bombared Nanami with fire. Apparently she wanted to help Mizuki try again, and maybe have her destructive elemental magic also reach deeper than before. Swiftly turning around Mizuki took a low stance, feeling the flames that were threatening to consume her limbs if she didn't release them quickly.

Well, this would be an improvisation but it was certainly going to hurt.

Fire Bite

Pushing herself upwards with her legs she struck with the first fist, aiming squarely for Nanami's jaw and upon impact releasing a burst of flames that helped lift the woman up into the air. However the main dish was still coming, as Mizuki jumped into the air herself, gathering what remained of the hellfire in her other fist. Once everything was in that one fist she struck again, this time aiming downwards towards Nanami's face, and this time not holding back in the slightest.

Upon impact all the fire burst forth, howling and raging as they exploded into a pillar of intense destructive force, the heat enough to make Mizuki herself wince as she was launched backwards by the explosion. Luckily since she had anticipated something like that she managed to land safely on all fours, her brow furrowed as she looked at the engulfed Nanami and wondering just how effective the combo attack had been.

Normal Attack on D.Nanami
(99 + 60)*2 = 318
Tracker / Roll
Nanami: 4052 damage taken