• 129 HP
  

  MAX 129 HP

• 121 EN
  

  MAX 195 EN

• 03 STK
  

  Dissonance

Location: H3 - Zone IX

-10 EN for Attack

Ha. Ha. Ha. What?

The Saya guise fell in an instant. Gone was the flowery love speech and the pretty pert form of the knight. Returned was Rat in all her dirt caked grime covered glory, glaring with her one eye, aiming a finger at the boss which just listed in the air, not really doing anything but bobbing in place and muttering dark nothings to itself.

"DON'T YOU IGNORE ME YOU UNHOLIER THAN THOU FINAL FORM HOT TOPIC CRUSTY OLD QUIM! I am so DOOOOOONE with this boss fight! The one god damned speech I even bother getting behind which IN ANY CLICHE ANIME OR GAME, THIS IS THE OPTIMUM TIME FOR IT, CAN WE ALL AGREE?! And you IGNORE ME after making me listen to ALL. OF. YOUR. ANGST? Well now you get to listen to MY ANGST for as long as I'm here to SWING A DICK AT YOU so EARS AT ATTENTION and CHIN UP 'cause here comes the horse cock you bisected oculophilic living narration of a teenager's depressing poetry journal! OOOOOOH, nobody understands my pain. OOOOOH, life is like a boat full of holes. Nothing matters and I like to get freaky with the idea of sunsets and darkness because I want to mask my philosophic inadequacies with sophomore nihilism! You want twilight? Have twilight!"

Summoning up her oak staff, it began to radiate with white light that coursed through the grains of the wood.

"TWILIGHT!"

Attacking Boss
99 + 60 + 50= 209
Tracker / Roll
Target: 3949 / 9999 HP

 

• 116 HP
  

  MAX 122 HP

• 31 EN
  

  MAX 180 EN

• 09 STK
  

  Dissonance

Location: H2 - Zone IX

Moving from G3 to H2

"One... whose...life... is.... in....dusk....will.....perish...."

With those foreboding words, Roland’s body fell into itself, his mind shattered by the weight of the grudge that crushed him into bits. Shit, they should have prepared for that possibility as well, but how? To think that even the Sword had the properties of the Shadows. The Duke was felled before he could even react, and though the orchestra of phantoms before him shielded his companions from the dissonant madness, Cain could only uphold it for so long.

It was taxing. Perhaps offering up his own body to shoulder three grudges at the start had been a bad idea. If such a potent power was possible, he should have saved his energy for this phase of the fight. Dissonance immunity was a beautiful thing, after all.

But hindsight was 20/20. And Cain wasn’t a genius to begin with.

All he was, was an annoying flagbearer who specialized in aggroing edgy people. Taking a few steps back to attain some modicum of safety, the midnight haired muse ignored Rat’s current tirade, and instead latched onto fake!Saya’s speech of friendship and loyalty and goodness and all.

“Dusk? Twilight? Look around you, Titania! No, not around you, but upwards! Above the fiery smoke, above the searing firelight, above above above! The sun may set, and dusk may fall, but no matter what, light will always exist! The sublimity of the moon, reminding humanity of the sunlight that is to come! The wistfulness of the stars, twinkling with inexorable flame to reach us from a thousand lightyears away! Where wrath and hatred smoulder and rage, these unbreakable bonds between us shall never be shaken! We are the immortal adventurers of Astorea, the champions of the Elysid, the stalwart guardians of the millions that rely on us to shield them from the monstrous chaos that runs rampant in the world of Terrasphere.”

Though he no longer held the Ivory Reminiscence in his hands, the phantoms of his past still unfurled their astral banners, a row of starstream flags billowing in the invisible air as Cain stood tall, the three dimensional magical circle established, one thousand harmonic notes swirling around him.

“The evil beast shall fall, and the world shall reach its sunrise! Reclaim your blade and end this night, Saya!”

…

“Also goddamnit Rat, you need to work on your bullshit tolerance more.”

Using Hylia Score
Full Concert: Hylia Version
Tracker / Roll

 

• 129 HP
  

  MAX 129 HP

• 109 EN
  

  MAX 195 EN

• 03 STK
  

  Dissonance

Location: H3 - Zone IX

-10 EN for Attack
-2 EN from something
-2 HP from something
+25 HP from another thing

Her hit landed with satisfying results, but Cain's song stopped shortly after, and she felt a degree of the power drain from her. Roland, who had fallen to the ground, became impaled by spikes of shadow and was nailed by a cross lady for their sins. Truly, he was the hero, napping on the job like that.

Cain had a speech of his own prepared, speaking as best he could over Rat's ranting as she shouted incoherent gibberish of rage at the boss, though her ire turned upon him when his choice last words met her ears. Summoning up another attack, she sent a beam of white light out at the boss, watching it cascade across their body without doing a damn thing. Who was he to tell her to get a grip!

"NO, I WON'T CHILL EVER!"

Attacking Boss
5 + 60 = miss
Tracker / Roll
Target: 3850 / 9999 HP

 

• 40 HP
  

  MAX 201 HP

• 14 EN
  

  MAX 135 EN

• 06 STK
  

  Dissonance

Location: G2 - Zone IX

-161 HP from multiple attacks

Roland pushed himself off the ground. His head was spinning, and he wasn't exactly sure what had happened. The last thing he remembered was throwing a static discharge spell at the sword, and then blackness. Had it really been able to hit him that hard? He wasn't even near empty, at least not at the time. A quick look at this status bar gave way his current condition, not to mention the pain. Drained of both energy and health, Roland raggedly stood up trying his best to eye the situation before him. @Rat was charging forward ineffectively, @Cain Darlite was gasping for breath, and @Gwyn ap Herne? Well Roland couldn't even see her.

With a grunt, Roland waved his hand sending a message to Des. "I'm swapping out, send another in my place." They weren't going to win like this, they needed a trump card and Roland could only think of a single chance of victory. And she was sitting in the soul path...

Swapping with @Aalam Abungu

 

• 129 HP
  

  MAX 129 HP

• 94 EN
  

  MAX 195 EN

• 03 STK
  

  Dissonance

Location: H3 - Zone IX

-15 EN for buff

Well, that didn't work. Conjuring up some more magic, the woman considered hurling another spell at the boss in order to strike her down, but calmed herself enough to realize the futility of her own efforts. Instead she turned to @Gwyn ap Herne who could at least fire off shots that might matter. In the same way a fly mattered to a rhino, you know?

Buffing Gwyn
13 + 31= 44
Tracker / Roll

 

• 148 HP
  

  MAX 187 HP

• 82 EN
  

  MAX 156 EN

• 11 STK
  

  Dissonance

Location: I3 - Zone IX

-11 HP from Dissonance
-11 HP from Dissonance
+44 Buff from Rat
-15 EN for Stable Attack + DMG Supplement

Gwyn could admin with complete honesty, to herself, that she followed about half of what Rat said to the corrupted boss and got horrifically lost along the winding way of the rant. She wasn't stupid, but there were a fair bit of words spat in disgust and fury that she didn't recognize. Much less know the meaning of. She whistled lowly to herself, but returned at least her visual focus to the thing before them. Cain started up some equally convoluted tirade that meant little to nothing to her beyond an eye roll or nine. What was with these people and the monologues? Wasn't that the thing villains did? People complained about that a lot, she thought. In comics and movies and such. Maybe heroes did it too? It would certainly explain why Seigi was so fucking loud all the time.

Setting aside her confusion, Gwyn did little more than shift her stance to keep Roland in view up until the point he vanished from their view. Safe. One less ally, frenemy, casualty to worry about. It looked like Cain would be forced to follow him soon, drained by the grand performance he had barely managed to sustain. They'd chosen that tricket's use a little late. They were all flagging, worn thin and irritable. It was a small act of mercy, something a lesser soul might attribute to the miracle of a deity, that they hadn't turned to bite at each other.

She had a foul feeling this boss would feed off it in spades, egg it on and lash the whip in deep to drive their fangs into one another all the better. They could slaughter each other in a breath. The creature struggled against their numbers. As a pack they were mighty enough to weather the storm. For now. Time was still tick tick ticking.

Gwyn snapped to action as soon as the feeling of magic acting on her jarred her from her thoughts. Focus. Strike. Like fangs, like the snakes. Carry the venom of the spitting rat with her, make the wound all the worse. Let it stew. Let it rot. Let it be another flagging mark to drag victory closer to them by the skin of teeth and chipped nails.

Another shot found its mark and the huntress hissed her thanks between her teeth. A prayer to the might of man.

Stable Attack on Titania
53 + 55 + 21 + 44 = 173
Tracker / Roll
Titania: 3677 / 9999 HP

 

• 122 HP
  

  MAX 122 HP

• 1 EN
  

  MAX 180 EN

• 09 STK
  

  Dissonance

Location: H2 - Zone IX

-15 HP from Dissonance
-15 EN from Dissonance
-15 EN from Single Buff

It was seeping out, the phantoms and the memories, replaced by the heavy blanket of weariness and exhaustion once more. Vanilla white desolation greeted him as he pulled himself out of the fever pitch that had consumed his voice. Dissonance continued to feed, continued to choke and choke and choke, but Cain stood...somewhere. Another attack, another swapping of members, and each time they arrived, they were a little more wrung out, a little more unprepared.

His energy was dwindling once more, the orchestra impossible to sustain, dangerously nearing the Mind Down condition. If he was to do so, he'd have to do it well.

But the person that arrived in place of Roland was Aalam, and Cain, exhausted as he was, could not find any words for a drunkard who fucked up on his first shot and then ran back out with his tailbone behind his legs, to drink some more. Fucking pissant.

An arbitrary flick of his fingers, a few rhythmic snaps to create a ripple in the polluted air, and the Flagbearer sagged away, physical form slowly dissolving into ethereal particles.

It was about time he took his exit as well.

Rest, recharge, and recenter. The Score remained in his hand, held tight, burning bright in the shadow of the Darkest Day.

Single Buff @Aalam Abungu
8 + 31 = 39
Tracker / Roll

 

• 143 HP
  

  MAX 169 HP

• 149 EN
  

  MAX 149 EN

• 13 STK
  

  Dissonance

Location: H9 - Zone III

-10 EN for action
-26 HP from source
+39 buff from Cain

Aalamemptiesy the last of his bottle and got to his feet it seemed that it was time for him to get back in the fight. Taking a swig from the bottle of rum that he was keeping in his back pocket, that was a good drink. However, it was time to stop being a layabout so he got to his feet, and opened the portal back to the core underneath his feet it was an old feeling just to fall like that into battle. However, it did play havoc with his stomach he was going to need to pour more of this stuff down if he was going to keep the rest that was coming up down. Dropping into the core with a resounding little squish, well that was a feeling he wasn’t going to enjoy that he was certain. It was just wrong; however, his dissonance was trying to flare back up well he could get a handy on that. There was enough liquor in his veins that he would be able to make due, hell if he was able to make it through this amount of drink he could make it through anything. He was going to feel that in the morning, however.

But that was for another day there was work to be done, so he took aim and the thing and left his arrows fly. They needed to get more damage in before they brought back in the maiden. The more they could do now the better chance they would have later to kill the thing. So he took aim there was few arrows that he had promised to put through her neck and he was going to keep that promise. Besides she was getting the way of his date, he couldn’t take Savannah anywhere if there was no place left to take her. Well, that and he had agreed to take the job. @Gwyn ap Herne "Think she going to have liquor on her?"

Normal Attack on Titania
78+ 35+15+39 = 167
Tracker / Roll
Target: 3510 / 9999 HP

 

• 122 HP
  

  MAX 122 HP

• 1 EN
  

  MAX 180 EN

• 09 STK
  

  Dissonance

Location: H2 - Zone IX

Was it disappointment or was it relief that washed over him as the midnight haired muse dissolved, replaced by the one who had lost the most in conflict against this Dissonance?

It was neither. Even as his limbs were blown away like smoke, even as his UI continued to warn him about his incredibly low energy levels, Cain's gaze never left Titania's manifold eyes. His voice was stolen from him, his form being pulled back to his physical body, but there was one last line he mouthed.

Not elegant threats, not witty remarks, not anything belonging to whatever 'hero' Seigi may have thought he was.

Just...

'Imma fuck you up when I get back, bitch.'

Swapping Out with @Ashiore Evretto
Tracker / Roll

 

• 148 HP
  

  MAX 187 HP

• 72 EN
  

  MAX 156 EN

• 11 STK
  

  Dissonance

Location: I3 - Zone IX

I3 to H3 to G2 to Soul Path
-10 EN from playing the role of Team Hearse

She wanted to stay and fight, her stubborn will to continue latching on like the bite of the hounds and tearing deep wounds in her pride. She was still fit to fight. Gwyn was lagging, exhausted and pulled thin, but she could still fight the odds. She doubted many a thing, but never that. The huntress did not bow or bend or break.

At least, not for long and certainly not forever.

The sight of the floating sword's patterns shifting reminded her of why she had been so willing to duck back within the odd space of the soul path before. She snarled as it flew toward their wily combat medic with both a bark and a bite. It split into many and Gwyn could see them ripple and turn to nothing. Their handles ate the light that touched them. Their blades were far more massive. Far less ornate, but no less imposing. Again the Regret descended and cast their enemy in a lesser light. She shut her eyes as the wet sound of cleaved meat was clear over the din of the shattered world. She was so close, she could hear the singing of the metal cutting through as the king lunged. Her torso ached where it had buried itself in her side.

Nothing harmed her this time and she opened her eyes a sight she was long resigned to see. More bodies fallen to the blade. Her stomach twisted as she ignored the words of Titania and busied herself grabbing onto a scrap of intact armor. She pulled the meat, bone, gristle, and leather of the medic against her chest. Gwyn barely restrained the dry heave. If asked? It was Rat's body, not the retreating sword that did it.

Turning to see Aalam had joined her was a wound all the same, but again she dutifully turned her back to the danger. The huntress fetched the still body of the other archer and lifted him limply over the shoulder not already stained crimson.

"Just hold out a little longer. You won't be alone, Ashiore. I promise. Not for long."

Removing @Rat and @Aalam Abungu.
Swapping in @Seigi, @Comet, and @Kyupin Felnya.

 

• 64 HP
  

  MAX 134 HP

• 127 EN
  

  MAX 142 EN

• 00 STK
  

  Dissonance

Location: G1 - Zone IX

Moving from Soul Path to G1
-10 EN from Stable Attack
-5 EN from Damage Supplementation

She came out with fangs bared, bowstring straining against her fingers. The rage boiling in her veins made her less precise, yes, but faster to lock and load. She'd only just let loose the first arrow before reaching for the next, her aim and gaze steady on the monstrosity in front of them all. Killer. Monster. She would have to put it down, for all their sakes.

She had nothing to light the darkness coming down all around them, no way to guide the others, but her own near-animalistic eyes could see for a little longer in this dimming world. Just long enough to nock and loose the second arrow.

In this world, death should've been normal. Easier to handle. But here, desperate and uncertain of how many more lives would be lost, Kyupin found herself giving in to the more… animalistic parts of her. The parts that screamed for her to survive. That reminded her the world was dangerous and required her to struggle just to stay afloat. That for one to live, another must die.

And she refused to die. Not here. Not now.

"Sorry," she said, voice hush and tongue peeking out to lick her drying lips, "but I need you to stay down, please."

Stable Attack on Nanami
18 + 23 + 35 + 20 + 15 = 111
Tracker / Roll
Nanami: 3399 / 9999 HP

 

• 108 HP
  

  MAX 157 HP

• 71 EN
  

  MAX 138 EN

• 00 STK
  

  Dissonance

Location: E5 - Zone V

Moving from Soul Path to E5
-15 EN for Careful Attack + Damage Supplementation

Passing from the body, to the soul path, and back into the core again strained Comet physically. She so desperately wished for release by logging out. A wish pushed back further and further until it became suppressed by a deadly persistence. Today, she'd tried so hard that death seemed like nothing. It wouldn't exactly be welcome, perhaps even resisted in the moment, but she knew that it happened to be a huge possibility. Especially with all the luck surrounding her. An extra layer of protection thus far. Hopefully, the luck would remain for skill certainly had depleted.

Each slip of the mind when it wandered from being positive nearly destroyed the young woman each time, mentally. Her body could work all day. Other significant parts such as the soul? Who knew, with each crack, when that piece within her would give in to the weariness and negativity and death. Emerald eyes dulled, darkened in reaction to witnessing the dead bodies. Terrasphere always had a way of turning from just a game into near perfect reality where devastation or trauma or a deep sickness made her bones ache in agony. More so from troubling realization than pain that caused her flushed body to swell up.

The sparkling arrowheads she pulled from a quiver strapped around her chest lit up the dark world around her. Dark with all the things gone wrong, and those that felt wrong, and what would go wrong. She shivered upon remembering how a wave washed over her in complete darkness. Evil. The fight would get rid of this, she remembered, so no one else would ever have to feel the same. So horrible and full of dread.

Careful Attack against Titania
37 + 25 + 15 + 15 + 20 (arrow consumable) = 112
Tracker / Roll
Target: 3287 / 9999 HP