Cycle 5
Despite the initial panic caused by Astor’s frost and fire, the four groups were eventually able to deal with the environmental hazard in their zone. The flames poofed out of existence, leaving nothing but the last of the smokes fading out of existence. Meanwhile, the iced melted, revealing the familiar obsidian beneath. The battleground has been resetted.
D’vangelinge de Falder landed like a comet in zone three as its members seemed to interest her the most. The ground was barely able to withstand the inhuman force of her feet smashing through the obsidian. Ultra lance and greatshield readied, the daughter of light entered a battle-ready stance. Yet… Something wasn’t quite right. Before her corrupted golden eyes, her celestial maidens fell one after another under the combined might of the raid party. They were supposed to be disposable dolls with no purpose other than serve her until they died…
But with each single strike they received, it was as though someone drove a knife into her heart. Battered, pierced, and hurt, their heavenly form would fall onto that accursed and disgusting black surface before being mauled to deformity. They burst into golden feathers when their life extinguished, forcing her mind to remember memories she had long buried.
Weakened, the queen fell on her knees due to the pain that coursed through her entire body. But beyond that artificial, distorted pain —
Yet the ones responsible for taking away so much from her stood tall before her, just like they did with her father. Immortals that would simply return from death, no matter how many times they were cut down. For a moment, her heart resisted the temptation to blame the immortals —
But, in front of her were merciless monsters, who had the courage to find delight in her father’s death and singing his fall. Was this what her father experienced when the otherworldly adventurers stepped into his glorious hall that required a lifetime of effort, for the first and last time? She wanted to stop and avoid any more unnecessary conflicts. Maybe if she opened her eyes once more, this would all be over…
However, the nightmare continued. What her eyes met when they were opened was the same scene that triggered her idiotic hope. Enough. Arrows pierced her maidens like thunderbolts. Enough. Blades drew judgement on their ethereal skin… @Comet @Tetsunosuke
EEEEEENOOOOOOOUGH!
D’vangeline’s rage manifested through a loud roar. All around her, her already corrupted aura raged out of control, the previously subdued red turns into a deeper crimson as bloodlust filled the chamber. Before anyone could react in time, the fallen child of light stood up and charged forward, her knocking @Comet ‘s down into the ground with her shield and began to stomp on the shield, driving Comet into the ground. Several cracks could be heard upon impact. One last kick was enough to send the woman tumbling several feet away.
Then, D’vangeline’s eyes locked on the second vermin that had dared cut her Valkyries down like a madmen. After a heavy huff, the berserker rushed forward once more, ignoring several of the adventurers that were on her way until she finally reached @Tetsunosuke. With a swift and brutal motion of her arm, she managed to grab his face. She then broke into a furious sprint, dragging his head along the black obsidian surface for several seconds before finally letting him go, tossing the youth towards zone one as though he was a ragdoll in a monstrous display of strength.
While Astor’s focused his attention on the group that enraged D’vangelline, he was hit by @Ilusa Nakhalee's dispel who was in zone four. The spell was potent enough that his body convulsed violently in the air. He clawed his face in a frenzied attempt to dig something out from within.
Aah… Ilusa, what are you doing her-GH-HH!!! Get out of my fucking head. Hgg… it hurts… I am going to fucking kill you. Astor continued as though he was conversing with something that wasn’t… there.
AAAH!!! NO, fuck you!
He gasped like he was suffocating. His hands went to his chest struggling to take something out.
I did nothing wrong,
Theodore dug his own grave. GHH- get... out...
Holding his head with both of his hands, Astor bent backward, his body as tensed as it can be.
No, I don’t want to get back on that machine… no… no…
He groaned, frantically checking his hand to make sure his nails were still fixed onto the nail bed.
Although Astor’s conversation with himself began with great zeal, his voice slowly weakened. Each time he responded to the nonexistent person speaking to him, a new eye slit opened on his body before its pupil rolled up to look at his face. Moments later, Astor lifted his face to reveal the mocking expression he had displayed up until now, though, it appeared rather forced.
While the group was occupied with the antagonistic monarchs, Ivan attempted to contact the Brotherhood’s headquarters. When some of the players beckoned for his attention, he turned to them and spent a few minutes thinking about the situation. After he witnessing Astor and D’vangelline’s struggle against Titanius control, a thought dawned on him.
Alright gang, listen up!!! I think those are the real deal, probably under Titanius control. From what I have seen, their physical alternation seems to imply that they are experiencing a high level of dissonance and likely merged with Titanius.
Uuh, try beating the living shit out of them and cast as many dispels on them as possible. If we can somehow convert them back before they kill us, they’re likely able to help us fight against Titanius.
Moments later, he was able to establish a connection with the Brotherhood’s leader, Juliette.
Ma’am, we have a class-1 emergency. Where are you right now? I repeat, we have a class-1 emergency. He spoke aloud.
We are currently inside the monster that has been causing all kinds of interdimensional instabilities. The fight is going alright, but I am currently detecting a massive source of energy beneath where we are standing now. Can you send reinforcement?
Oh Ivan-boy, we were wondering what hole you jumped through. We were on our way to the location the Astorean Cornhead King sent to us, but we were tricked by its illusion on the way.
We were only able to break free from it an hour ago. The mages are working on sending supplies through the portals now, stay strong.
Why HELLO!
Zeus! You big lumbering oaf, don’t butt into someone else’s telepathic conversation! Out!
IVAN! you MUST tell the cubs Zeus says HI! I can’t WAIT to show them how TASTY these TENTACLES are!
Oh, put that down DO NOT eat that abhorrent creature, you buffoon! Tell the Lion cubs to finish that monster and pick up their leader AT ONCE! I cannot babysit this man for another second longer!
Are you ALLERGIC to seafood, Jules? Have a taste!
Don’t call me that, and get away from me, no-Mhffff--
… ???
