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>>4100984
The pain continued to surge through your chest as the twitching motion of your fingers tapped erratically on the concrete floor of the platform. It was an island of suffering on your body, as barely tactile feeling remained everywhere else. A smell of charred meat wafted but a few feet away, with its charred host still smoldering unceremoniously. You gritted your teeth at Rick's lasting testament to support, as well as the genuine effort it took for you to lift your head.

It took you genuine effort to even ignore the agony therein, much less look up from your pathetic position. The others weren't much the better, either laying sprawled out on the floor or slumped against the walls with the fading light of their suits barely illuminating them. The only comfort taken in the sight was their conscious moans of pain and light twitching. Dante and Kurtis were the only ones that were managing to even lift themselves off the ground, managing to shift their weight to their arms.

It was a dangerously timely effort however, as the sound of heavy footfalls approached ever closer to the end of the hall. The coiling heat in your chest only seemed to get worse as your breathing began to match your heartbeat. The heavy footfalls of the lizards continued to approach, as you also noted the scratching and shaking of something crawling out of the ceiling of the hall. You tried to move your arms again, trying to keep your hands steady on the floor as you tried to lift yourself up.

The sheer effort was causing your arms to buckle and shake, but lifting you slightly off the ground in time to see several green lights enter from the hall. The group of lights split into three, as the lizards exited the hall with even steps. You only recognized one, the one with the crocodile head that had killed Carol, which carried what looked like a massive slab of black metal and wiring attached to its right arm. The two others were right behind it to both of its sides, all carrying some kind of visor or helmet that glowed with that green light.

<Crriash Mic'rra>

A hissing croak sounded off from the one on the left, motioning its head to the left side wall, as it split off from its group towards that position. Your eyes darted to meet what it looked at and they landed right on-

"Get...the...hell...away from them!"

Kurtis's hoarse voice boomed in the platform, as the alien's attention shifted to him. He was on one knee, shaking, but aiming his net gun straight at the alien approaching the twins. He pressed both triggers on the weapon, not giving the aliens a chance to react as the net sailed straight to its target. The projectile sailed forward, deployed and was then intercepted by a lightning fast appendage. The motion had been only for a moment, yet you saw the alien's tail whip out with a glowing metallic sheen and struck the shot out of the air.

At the same time, the crocodile alien now barreled straight for Kurtis as he desperately tried to fire off another shot.

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>>4100985

>Gun, it'll take some effort to reach back and aim though...
>Sword, but it's gonna take a lot to get up on your knee...
>Possum, go back down, pretend you're dead and hope someone else helps Kurtis...
>Write In

>>4100991

>Gun, it'll take some effort to reach back and aim though...

We tried sword against it and it was really unefective last time

When will this run end aaaaaa

>>4100991
Can tanjeet use the Emp function on the mine? That croc is full of eletronic stuff it would be nice to have it all fried

>>4100991
>Sword, but it's gonna take a lot to get up on your knee...

Use the extending feature on this.

Also, how the fuck is that lizard fuck a samurai with its tail?

>>4100996
>>4101046
>>4101061

3 way tie.

Just got back from the gym.

You guys got 15 min to decide on this one before I roll for it.

1 - Gun

2 - EMP Aid

3 - Sword

>>4101159
can we go with the emp then?

> EMP time

Lets do this

>>4101046
>>4101217
>>4101265

OOC: Sorry about that delay, had to get some lunch.

>EMP Write in

We'll go with this, since I couldn't get back in time for the 15 min.

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>>4101276

'Sorry Kurtis' you thought as the crocodile alien charged straight for Kurtis, 'you're gonna have to give me a moment...'

The frantic situation landed your eyes on Tanjeet, still bleeding out from the stump on his arm, yet clutching close to a black device still at his hip. You hadn't recalled what everyone had started with back in the room, but the mine's capabilities would be needed here more than ever.

"T-Tanjeet!" you shouted, almost scratching up your throat with the effort, "use the EMP on the mine! We need to-"

No reply came, as Tanjeet's body seemed to be knocked right off the floor by another one of the aliens. It was the one from the crocodile's right, a slender creature that whipped its muscular tail on the floor to strike at Kurtis yet had hit Tanjeet instead. His body landed with a yelp not a few feet away from the entrance and the mine skidded away to the platform railing.

All the while, the crocodile's body thundered across the platform for Kurtis, a loud gurgling roar exploding from its massive jaws. Kurtis's net gun let out another shot and the alien lifted its arm to intercept it with that metallic slab. The shot expanded, the luminous wiring wrapped around the alien's front, wrapping it up before the anchors deployed to the concrete.

Kurtis went to press the buttons on the gun again to start telefragging the alien, but not before the slender alien quickly knocked it from his hands with a strike from its tail. The alien then pounced on Kurtis, pinning to the ground before aiming a set of long, white fangs straight for his throat. It was instead struck itself by Dante who managed to tackle it to the ground, yet stumbling himself.

Meanwhile, the crocodile's slab on its arm glowed white before a loud thrum rang out from it. Instantly, the net was blown apart, with the slab seeming to retract in on itself with a low, blue glow. It then proceeded to growl back at Kurtis, who was trying to crawl away to the destroyed escalators. It was all happening so fast, as you tried to keep your gaze to the railing and your teeth gritting to ignore the strain.

'I have to make it...damnit!'

>>4101349
>Roll 1d20 + 1 WIL

OOC: Today is full of flubs on me, my bad guys.

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>4101353
Ugh, rolling again

Rolled 16 + 1 (1d20 + 1)

>>4101353

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>4101353

>>4101361
>>4101395
>>4101446

>17+1 = 18

Writing

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>>4101535
<GREAT SUCCESS>

Your chest was pounding, more from the stinging pain than your thrumming heart, as willed your body forward. With the suit now deactivated, the cold, hard ground of the platform felt ever more painful with each reach of your hands forward. Your knees scraped and buckled under the weight of your body, feeling like concrete blocks on your back. And in spite of it all you pushed forward, as the railing and the mine got larger in your vision as you approached.

Behind you, pain filled cries and the shouts of a struggle seemed to increase as you got further away from the group. They were interlaced with the hissing and growling of the aliens and the grotesque noise of breaking bone and spilling blood. You could only hope they held out long enough for you to get to the mine, which was now inches away from your hands. The sole of your remaining foot pressed down on the concrete as you attempted to push yourself forwards.

As your numbed muscles tensed to push you over, a familiar, wet sensation wrapped around your leg. You had less than a second to lurch your body, or try to as you were swept off of the floor and were pulled upwards. There wasn't enough strength left in you to reach for your sword, as you knew struggling would only make the situation worse. Without the suit's defenses, a drop from a good enough height would certainly kill you.

You were suspended almost a foot off the ground however, when a flash of white erupted from the entrance of the hall. There wasn't enough time to see who had fired off the shot, as the alien dropped you on the floor with a heavy thud. The impact, even with your numbed out body, still rattled your ribs as you tried to recover from it. It felt blinding, yet your left arm landed on a black, round object which you dragged back to yourself.

The mine's display was the same as your radar's, as you touched the screen to turn it on. The three options were there before you as you laid on your side, the mine's claws extending out from it. You didn't hesitate in activating the EMP, with the mine's timer counting down from 5. The continued sounds of struggling kept their rhythm as you turned your body and threw the still counting down mine like a makeshift grenade. The alien that destroyed Kurtis's shot was engaged with Chris, knocking his massive weapon away, when it spotted your move.

It almost leapt to your side, extending out a clawed hand to the mine before it activated. A low, blue pulse of energy radiated from the mine as it spread out throughout the platform. In that moment, the remaining lights in the tunnel sparked with white electricity, before they turned off and drenching the platform in complete darkness. Growling screeches and howls emitted no doubt from the aliens resounded through the subway, as the voices of your teammates were interlaced with them.

'Need to get out of here...' you thought, reaching for your radar and activating the timer, 'Damnit Gantz...end it already.'

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>>4101644

>Scatter, give the order and tell your team to spread out
>Sneak, make your way to the elevator and hope to avoid everything on there
>Exit, make for the hallway and the elevators but you'll have to be fast
>Write In

>>4101656
>>Scatter, give the order and tell your team to spread out

is there any aliens left? the twins are already aliens? is that thing that fast?

>>4101656

>Sneak, make your way to the elevator and hope to avoid everything on there

Let's hope we fried all their eletronics and implants

I can go with sneak to break the tie if needed

>>4101656

>scatter

>>4101681
>>4101882

>Sneak, make your way to the elevator and hope to avoid everything on there

I'll count these, almost lost hope we wouldn't get a direct tie breaker.

Writing.

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>>4102055

You gave your eyes one last look through the light source of your radar before turning it off. The cautious motion returned the area to complete darkness, to which the aliens were still howling in discomfort or frustration to. A part of you regretted dropping the EMP, as it now put your teammates in a similar state of chaos to the aliens', yet you knew full well their chances at survival were higher like this.

"EVERYONE GET OUT OF HERE!" Dante's voice shouted over the din of the lizards.

The scuffling of bodies scattered around the platform, while you made your way to the remains of the escalator. The sheer darkness within the subway forced you to guide yourself from sheer memory and tactile search. Not that you were that far away, as you'd only need to follow the railing to the opening where escalators started. Reaching your hand out towards the stone railing, you used it as leverage to get up.

The numbing sensation in your body had become less active, as it became replaced by a burning sensation in your limbs as you rose to your remaining foot. Getting up was the easy part however, as moving forward even with the railing guiding you had become a genuine effort in endurance. Regardless of it, you moved forward, ignoring the still growling voices of the lizards.

'Please...don't notice' you thought, pleading along with moving forward, 'not until I'm off this floor. Once I'm there, it's just a jump down to the bottom platform.'

You'd taken into consideration the height of the platform to your plan, readying yourself for another rush of pain straight to your legs. It had all become so normal now, as whether it was in your chest, your shoulder, or any part of your legs it seemed only suffering kept following you. The reliance of your suit and Gantz itself had made itself clear for you in this situation to a humbling degree.

It was on that thought, that your hand grasped a hard plastic surface unlike the coarse concrete of the railing. Your weight leaned on it, as you felt the hard glass press against your leg. This was no doubt the escalator entrance, yet you hadn't remembered were the exact break would be in it. You took a slight lean in as you entered the escalator entrance, yet quickly realized the metallic ringing your feet were making on the escalator steps.

While the lizard's frustrated growls hadn't died down completely, you knew it wouldn't take long for them to take notice of where you are. You reached out your arm to the floor, attempting to touch where the steps ended. You moved forward with a slight hop as you continued to reach out your hand further. It was have been your third attempt to do so, when your right hand noticed a heavy break on the escalator's railing.

'Made it...' you proclaimed in your mind as you sat down, 'just gotta make it to the bottom without breaking anything.'

You'd have to find your foot quickly however, as the growling noises from the lizard aliens had finally quieted down.

>Roll 1d20 + 1 WIL

>>4102296

OOC: Sorry about the slow as hell updates today.

We'll restart tomorrow at 10:00 AM EST.

Rolled 19 + 1 (1d20 + 1)

>>4102296

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>4102296

Here goes

How do you roll?

>>4100984
Art keeps getting better and better. GJ!

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>4102789
Write dice+1d20 in the options field

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>>4102342
>>4102416
>>4102813

<SUCCESS>

The now eerie quiet of the platform was slightly interposed by the aliens' raspy breaths. Whatever electronic equipment they must have had, could have affected them directly when the EMP went off in some manner. You figured that's what happened at least, as you took a seat at the edge of the escalator's destroyed step.

You'd have to not only keep your voice down when the inevitable flare of pain came through your leg, but also try to keep the impact of the fall as subtle as possible. Without visibility, you'd have to only rely on your landing form to not draw any attention when your foot eventually hit the ground. A bead of sweat dropped over your forehead, adding to the now cold sweat curtain over it, as you steeled yourself for the jump.

No breath of preparation was taken as you pressed off of the hard metal step of the escalator. The small gust of air in your hair was as brief as the fall, as the quick descent ended with a rattling sensation on your foot. The impact was small quake on your remaining foot as it traveled up your leg, only slightly mitigated by an expertly executed tumble from it.

The agonizing impact caused a whimper to leave your mouth, which was stifled as you sucked in your breath. Your landing tumble ended as you collided against one of the concrete pillars, eliciting another wince from you as the concrete hit your head. Warm blood oozed out of the impact site almost immediately, yet you kept your mouth shut regardless as you knew the hardest part was already done.

Above, the aliens' shuffling and heavy breathing seemed to have slowed down from your initial jump. None of the noise indicated they were moving closer to you, or at least showed they were looking for you actively. It almost made your breathe a sigh of relief, yet you would suspect they would have another means of tracking people down in darkness like this.

<Crriash Mic'rra, Kra'cohrhs Atrret!>

A hissing, throaty voice spoke on the above platform as the aliens' footsteps began to even out. Then, they seemed to start moving away, most likely towards the entrance of the subway. It would have been a relief, had another set of footsteps not given way to an impact on the ground floor. It had to have been on the other side of the pillars, where the right metro line would have crossed in. Then the footsteps began anew, much closer as you heard a wet flicking sound from that area.

'They're splitting up to look for us...' you surmised, pressing your body against the closest pillar.

Your shuffling around thankfully didn't seem to draw the alien's footsteps closer. Though what came next, only froze your blood even faster.

<Kruiih Makrra!>

"W-what's going on...?" Yukino's voice sounded off, sounding very weak as the alien's voice shouted at her, "W-who...what's going..."

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>>4102942

>Distract, make some noise to draw the alien to you
>Surrender, shout at it to come to you
>Silence, let the alien continue with Yukino but keep a ready hand nearby
>Write In

>>4102945

>Distract, make some noise to draw the alien to you
Draw him and ambush, use the radar to follow his movements.

Also, there may be still aliens left, but where? There are no other signals so maybe just the twins? We have to blow them up, that was expected I guess, saw that coming a mile away.

>>4102945
>Distract, make some noise to draw the alien to you

>>4102945
>>Distract, make some noise to draw the alien to you

>>4102945
>>4102950
This plan if our radar can start working soon enough.

>>4102950
>>4102954
>>4102955
>>4103023

>>Distract, make some noise to draw the alien to you

4 for this, and including the write in about the radar.

Writing.

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>>4103449

'Goddamnit, no!'

The exclamation in your head would have resounded in the subway, as you realized what was about to happen. There was no room to think, just action as you reached for Erick's sword still at your hip. The plastic-like grip was heavy in your hand, yet you willed your arm to move it forward. With a grunt of effort, you struck the hard concrete of the platform with the sword's pommel.

The sound was akin to an echoing thud in your ears, so you struck it again with greater force. The echo was a thrum this time, as it seemed to reverberate around the pillars. You would have gone for it again, had the shuffling of feet and the clicking of heavy claws on concrete seemed to resonate from Yukino's direction. An errant hiss waved from that area, yet the footsteps didn't step closer to you as instead, they seemed to shift closer to Yukino.

"I-I can't feel my legs..." Yukino spoke out, before a grunt from the alien caused her voice to raise, "W-wait, what's happening?! LET ME GO!"

The growing fuel of rage in your stomach seemed to well up as you heard her cry out. You were about to give it another bang on the floor with the sword, when the alien's steps began to approach you. Immediately, you reached a finger to your radar, opening it up to see the exact location of the alien. As the light on the screen illuminated your sight and the display, the alien's footsteps seemed to stop for a moment.

"LET ME GO, PLEASE!" Yukino cried out, as the alien hiss in what you could only think of as annoyance, "I SAID LET ME-GYAAAAGGHHH!!!!"

Yukino's scream almost made you lose it, almost made you run out from your cover and try to slice up the alien right then and there. Yet you kept to your plan and tapped the pommel of the sword against the floor once again with all of your stored anger. The alien let out another hiss, and the footsteps seemed to approach faster now. The radar's screen showed it approaching from the right side of the pillars, no doubt using them as a cover.

'He's expecting an attack' you thought, before shifting your body to the far end of the pillar, 'see if you can expect this.'

Gripping the sword tightly, you readied yourself to extend it in a stab at the alien. Using the radar's locator to guide you, the only trigger would be its ever approaching steps.

>Roll 1d20 + 3 INT (DC reduced due to Sword: Intermediate)

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>4103476
Well fuck

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>4103476
No whammies no whammies

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>4103476

>>4103483
>>4103506
>>4103555
>̴͕̓̈̓͗̏́̀̎́̏͐́̒̇͝1̷̢̨͓͍̥̞̫̝̺̻̹̮̭̝̑6̸̣̕+̵̛͙̟͛̃̑͋͌̌̎̌̓͋̃̑͌͝3̸̠͌̑ ̶͈͗͋≠̡̧͓͓͇̭͙͉̠̠͈̆̍͌͗͆͊̿̀͊͂͠͠ ̸̡̫͈͙̜͎̳͈̟̝͖̦͎̌͗͌͗̿̚͘ͅ1̵̡̜̬̬͎̞͖͚͔͎̗̖̞̮͓̈́̎̄͆̓̿̒̋̓̕͠9̶̛͓̯͉̱̯̘̜̺̥̗͓̯̙͐̈́̋́̃̇͌͐̄̓̀̐̚̚ͅ
̷̜͕͎̣̤̫̟̼̑̊̇́̌
̵̢̢̛̘̖̖̻͋̒͆͆̃̓̏̀̒̉͐͌͜͝Ŵ̴̛̦̩̠̩̗̞̼̙͌̆̀̔͑͆̂̐w̸̢̧͇̰̙͍̭̫̜̜͍̘̗̪͋͑͘w̴̦̪͖͓̤̼͌́̈́͐͊w̶̡̛̤͔̺̣̙͎̗͕̞͈̼̫̖̗̒̿̑́̎̃̾̍̈̕w̸͇͉͚̮̌̿̒̍̏̓͒w̵̢̰̪̟̙̯̿͂͜͝w̷̝͖̮͛̑̆ͅw̵̪̤̤͓̥̬̪̠̳̮̪̖̗̖̒̊̒̀́̈́͛͗͘ẘ̸̯̣͆͐̒̌̂͂̒͘͝ͅw̷͕͙̖͉͌̇̿̆̇ŗ̷̠̟̗̗̙̭͙̜̈́̍̏̈́́̓͆̾̄̂͐͆͘̕ṟ̶̨̧͚̬̥̥̭̺̝̞͈͊ͅr̵̨̦͚͉͍̟͇̠̗̮͈͉̮̝̿̍͊̀́̕͜͠r̴͖̥̳̈́̀͌̌̚͝ȓ̸̤͎̟̺͔̝͈͚͕͉̱͕̰̻̒̐̈́̊̾̃̄̄͛̑̎̈̈͝r̸̤̣̜̘͔̼̺̭̗͕̮̮̂̋̀͆͌͐̏̐͌̽̓͝ͅr̸̛̖̟̦̞͗͒̄͗͌̌r̶̨̜͇͕̺͑̎̆̕͝ŗ̵̧̯̜̼̻̈ͅͅṙ̸̡̛̼̞͖̭̥̞̤̉̂́́̈́͋͝ḭ̵̡͌͌̑t̶̡͈̻͔̞̳͍͋͗͂́͒̐̊̈́̽́̂t̴̡̡̡͇͉̳͉̯̘̣̩̜͍̎̄̈͝ť̷̛̟͈͚̓̓̆̕̕͝t̷̛̙̭͈̟͈͉͇̹͈͂̈́́̈̔́̑̇͛͘͝͝ͅṱ̸̢̳̳͙͙̖̻͉̞̱̉̆̆̈͂͋̒͜ẗ̴̛͈́͛̾͛̆̍̍̀̏̽̓̚͜͝t̸̯̽̓͂͗̚̚͘t̴̢̖͉̼͓̭̞̟̥̰͚͙͌̊̋͒̏̀̂̍͋̏͑͗͜͝t̷̖̣̣̯̮̞̹̠̱͕̱͖̯̬̍̀͒͐̄̐̔̂̓̈́̓͌̀̀t̵͓̜̱̳̻̖̞́̈́́͑͊̕t̸̛̹̜̠̗͎͔̞͖̦͆̋͊̀̊̃͑̑͌́̀t̶̢̩͕̥̪̯̻̪̞͇̝̪̀̒̏̒͌̏͘͘̕͜ì̸̛͎͖͚̩̭̆̔ī̷̛͖̙͖̝̦͚̪͝i̷̇́̂̓̎̈́͗͘ͅ-̷̡̛̗̥͎̰̑͌̀̏̈́̀̈́̂͑

>>4103567
Well, it had to gappen sooner or later

Shame it's poor yukino who's gonna die, she was kinda not useful but she was a cute character, shame.

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>>4103567

<7H47 W45 4 N1C3 R0LL>

<17 15 N0W M1N3>

<1>

>>4103573
I hope the fuckers that voted to save the one to save luis are happy for trading his life for yukino's. And I hope they fuckibg learned to never again store a 1 unless its the mc's life on the line, the 1 always comes later in a much worse time

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>>4103574
I don't even drink alcohol and you're going to drive me to alcoholism

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>>4103574

<CRITICAL FAILURE> -1 WIL, -1 INT <POISONED - 2 POSTS>

The alien's footsteps were approaching fast, as its swift steps resounded on the concrete. Yet the radar's screen indicated it wasn't coming in a direct line, but weaving across the pillars themselves. Yukino's own signature was located right on it, almost interposing the lizard's own. It moved as quickly as the lizard's own, as it continued it movement across the pillars.

It could have easily blitzed you in a straight line and tried to beat you to the draw on the sword. Its sheer speed and agility of movement across the pillars seemed to grant it that much, yet you began to notice it wasn't advancing forward all that much anymore. In fact, it seemed to be sticking close to two of the pillars and seeming to jump back and forth from those.

It was so close, as the pillars themselves were right next to your own yet it refused to move forward. There didn't seem any reason to do this, as it could have easily outflanked you since it probably knew where you were. There was no angle of attack here for you, so maybe it could be-

"PAULA!" Yukino's cries reached out from beyond the pillar, "HELP! PLEASE!"

The cry of distress blotted out of your mind any further thoughts, as you refocused on trying to hit that thing in between the intervals of its jumps between the pillars. There was enough range on your sword to achieve this, you only need to focus on its pattern of jumps. The screen had shown you this for a few seconds, but it all changed as you spotted a dot dart out forward from the closest pillar.

The unpredictable movement was met with a wild motion from your arm, as you twisted your body back and pressed the buttons to extend the sword. A metallic unsheathing pierced the quiet of the subway, along with a gruesome sound of the blade entering flesh. The darkness of the subway gave no indication of what you hit, yet you heard a gurgling noise akin to choking or vomit escape a suffering throat.

You would have celebrated, had a muscular appendage not blindsided the side of your face. It struck you like a line of bricks, as you were knocked unceremoniously on the floor. Erick's sword dropped from your hands as you then felt a heavy foot and claws dig deep into shoulder blade. It was excruciating, yet it wasn't anything compared to what came next as two sharp, thin objects entered your back.

<Rru'Ac Nilrii'Ac>

The hissing voice of the alien resounded in your head, as the cold, steely needles dug straight into your back. A tingling, sucking sensation resounded from the one closest to your spine, no doubt drawing blood in the most painful way possible. The other however, gave a warm sensation of a liquid entering your body as you cried out in agony from them both. Yet, as quickly as they were stuck in, they left your body along with the alien's foot and claws.

You were about to reach for the sword the moment it stepped off, until a burning sensation began to overtake your extremities.

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>>4103649

>Resist, and reach out for the sword
>Resist, and reach for your gun
>Resist, and pretend to be dead
>Write In

>>4103657

>Resist, and reach out for the sword

Ugh what's the point, another mc dead, fuck we are going to spend the rest of the quest reviving people

>>4103657

>Resist, and reach out for the sword

>>4103660
Don't lose heart anon, it's just goes on the list of people to revive

>>4103657
>Resist, and reach for your gun
It's likely aware of the sword and aiming to block us from getting it. A gun, though...a gun is a different story.

>>4103660
>>4103670

>Resist and reach out for the sword

2 for this, writing.

I really hope you cuntmuffins who voted to save that 1 have come to realize....NEVER SAVE THE GODDAMNED 1.

Fuck.

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>>4103694
<POISONED - 1 POST>

The burning sensation had started at your fingers and your toes yet it was quickly traversing up to your hands and feet. It was pure lava in your veins, as it surpassed the incisions made on your back. It compelled you to writhe in agony, to wave your arms about to put out a fire that wasn't lit. It would have been so easy, yet you knew that it wouldn't help your situation.

Steeling what remained of your strength, you willed to move past the pain and reach for Erick's sword. You'd no idea if this thing was even behind you or even where it was at the moment. You'd forgone looking at your radar, and focused straight on the sword ahead. As the burning sensation began to reach your wrists, you let out a howl of effort as you willed yourself forward for that sword.

'Just...a swift motion, sheathe, then unsheathe right on that bastard's chest.'

>Roll 1d20 (DC reduced due to Sword: Intermediate)

OOC: For the sake of clarity, you're rolling WIL but without any modifiers.

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>4103720

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>4103720
Fuck it, die paula so we can play chris and use the big gun

>>4103758
That would suck tremendosly but I guess we can never catch a break

And Chris first pick would probably bring Paula back after what they went through last week

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>4103720
MASAKA

>>4103780
Save the one
Roll again

This is run defining moment so this is warrented

>>4103750
>>4103758
>>4103780

Huh, well that's another nat 1.

You guys want to save it or keep it?

>>4103785
save it

this shit is unbelievable

fuck, with paula dead there's no one else I care about in this shit, I think I might be done

>>4103784
>>4103786

Well, if no one else is going to verify this, we'll go with keeping it.

<Nat 1 Stored>

>>4103780
Please re-roll pink anon.

I'll do it for you in the next 10 min.

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>4103720
>>4103796

>>4103798

>12

Thank you, writing.

>>4103798
at least is over 10, oh dear

>>4103784
>>4103786
No god damn it why must you save it we are already at the end of the hunt so it has to be used like next round

>>4103821
anything to try to keep her living to be honest, if it was about any other character I would have not voted to save

>>4103823
Just let the poor woman die. This hunt has clearly had it out for her. The end of hunt section is lasting so fucking long that Gantz/Bollovar is making it clear this bitch is on the chopping block. Bitch ass orb should have beamed us in a while ago.

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>>4103801

<BARE SUCCESS> +1 WIL, -1 INT

Suffering had been your closest companion throughout this hunt. It had started with a stab through your shoulder, your chest, the loss of your leg, the surging pain in your chest, the impact of your fall and now it seemed to culminate in a burning current running up your arms. It had passed your wrists now, as you willed yourself to Erick's sword.

Crawling on your knees, with every touch on your fingers and arms sending further flares of pain to your head, you reached its landing not a few foot away from your position. The sword's hilt pressed on your fingers like burning metal, sending tears of agony streaming from your eyes as you pressed the button to retract the blade. The metallic flit back to the hilt was followed by a quick motion from you, as you turned around and aimed the sword's opening straight to the darkness behind you.

Pressing the sword's button, the blade unsheathed and extended straight out to the darkness. The sound of flesh being sliced hit your ears, followed by a screech of pain just beyond it. Slight resistance had met the blade, as you tried to move it in an attempt to cut deeper before a heavy object hit you squarely in the head. The weight, coupled with the continued pain in your body, caused you to collapse straight to the floor.

<HRAASH! CHIR'HZAKKA!>

A hiss of anger resounded within the darkness, as those footsteps seemed to grow more faint. You would have gotten up again, had the burning sensation not begun to invade your chest. Coupled with the amount of damaged your body had sustained, it was taking a concerted effort for you to keep from passing out. The cold floor of the subway platform was a now a comfort to the continued wracks of pain that kept assaulting you.

You wanted to curse, to shout or cry for help but the prolonged bouts of agony had begun to win over. This hunt had taken your all, but it only seemed now that it was starting defeat you. You could only hope the others were safe, as the pain began to crawl closer to your neck. It was at that moment though, that a shine from your radar heralded what you could only hope as a magic number.

<1:02:10>

You remembered it happening before on the other hunts, a final spark from Gantz to signal the end of a hunt. It almost made you feel relieved, but that was quickly replaced by a blaze starting at your abdomen. It was a horrific degree of pain, nothing like you'd felt yet as you involuntarily started writhing to cull the suffering in some manner.

<POISONED - Roll 1d20 to Resist>

>>4103825
I get that, but it would suck ass to let her die, she was my favorite character since we started playing with her, and if she dies it's 10 more months until we can bring Erick bark, it's probably gonna go, Chris brings Paula back and then she brings him back after 13868356378 years

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OOC: Last update of the evening.

We'll return back with regular updates tomorrow after 8 PM EST.

Have a good evening /qst/ and sorry for all the late updates this weekend.

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>4103837

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>4103837
and here is anothr 1

>>4103846
We haven't had a single 20 in this hunt, have we?

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>4103837
rekt

>>4103857
and I think 5 1s

and now my 8 is what we have, at least is not a 1 so I think we may survive since paula is the best in physical atributes
damn this run was draining, at least we can get back to the story and all those omnious things that were about to happen

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>>4103867
I just want to have good luck in a hunt for once. The rolls always do just fine out of a hunt, but as soon as we teleport in we basically get fucked over by luck nonstop. It's only by virtue of having allies that soak up the deaths instead that Paula is still around.

>>4103879
paula was actually on point this hunt, saving people left and right, the shit part is that one 1 during a 3 dice sequence can fuck us over. if she wasn't around everyone would have died.

now that the run is over we will have to deal with Chris dad, the police and all other shit, if we can bring Erick back too.
but the fact that it took so long for the transport to come is a clear indication that she should have died to satisfy some strange narrative entity that wants us going in circles reviving people kek

>>4103845
>>4103846
>>4103863

OOC: Forgot to put the modifiers on the last post.

For clarity's sake, it should be +1 WIL, (DC Reduced via DEF)

>8+1 = 9

Writing

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>>4104302

<BARE SUCCESS> +1 WIL, -1 AGR

There was no measure of sweat coming from you, as the heat that now snaked in your insides continued to dig further up. Boiling lead and metal were being splashed in your veins with every toss and turn you gave on the floor in some vain attempt at relieving the pain. You had lost count of how long you'd screamed, as your throat had become all the more torn up through it.

Any further sounds around you seemed to be washed out by the continued scalding in your body. The sensation had almost completely covered it, as it began reaching your neck. The previous ardor was nothing compared to the boiling magma coiling its way through vocal chords. The screaming seemed to stop as it reached it, now only eliciting a sound of dry gagging and strained groaning from you.

Excruciating suffering was an understatement for the hell that was coursing through you now. The writhing had ceased as the energy began to drain out of you, only erratic spasms remained as you began to waver into unconsciousness from it all. The sheer darkness of the subway line almost beckoning you close your eyes. It would have been so easy, as the burning in your body had become numbing to you as it continued to scald your veins.

'Erick...Yukino...' the thoughts began leaving your head, no doubt a sign of dying consciousness, 'I...wish I could have-'

A blinding flash of light seemed to cascade over you, as well as the sounds of fuses sparking alive. From your position, the high capacity lights of the subway system seemed to have turned on, alongside the low visibility of the railway fringe lights. It almost seemed like a small miracle of sight on you, had your vision not been spotty upon returning once again. Perhaps its had been the sudden radiance that had willed you out of the near bout of unconsciousness. Or perhaps it had been your now numbing body, as you were quickly losing feeling or control over the rest of your body.

Maybe whatever the alien stuck you with was designed this way to keep you alive while also in horrible agony, but at least you hadn't fallen unconscious through it all. As your vision returned, the first image to capture your eyes was the still rotting corpse of the massive grub that had been not a few inches away from the pillar you'd used as an ambush point. What's more, you saw the slender alien in full now sticking some kind of wicked device into the monster's carcass and drawing some of that brown fluid into an attached glass receptacle.

You also noticed a portion of its tail missing, cleanly sliced off by Erick's sword in your blind fire. It was completely ignoring you, only seeming to cover its eyes from the lights as it drew samples from the dead grub. You'd have easily tried to aim another shot at it with the sword had your arms and legs remained responsive. Unable to move your head, your eyes darted everywhere where your vision allowed, ignoring the alien's task lest it approach you.

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>>4104321

>Look Left
>Look Ahead
>Look Right
>Write In

>>4104322
>Look right
Right is always right

>>4104321
>Look Right

>>4104322
>>Write In

look general yukino direction, she is probably on the same shit we are

> Look Yukino

>>4104328
>>4104331
>>4104335

>Look Right

2 for this, including write in.

Writing.

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>>4104846

The squelching and slicing noises from the alien's continued examination of the grub continued as you darted your eyes away. You weren't interested in the spectacle, and instead focused in on the sights to your right. Where you had landed was the central section of the pillars, where you'd spotted that prior signature which you'd thought had been the alien; though you couldn't lift your arm to look at your radar again.

Your eyes reached their destination, as you looked out to the far edge of the pillars. Another sword laid next to the pillar, completely sheathed yet still wedged between the pillar and the floor. You figure it may have been Chris's, considering you didn't see it on him since he sliced his way out of the grub. Though, you didn't spot any of the creature's rancid, brown ichor on it.

As your eyes looked to the rightmost area, you felt a warm, dark liquid caress your cheek on the concrete floor. It seemed to ooze out a bit more, getting under your chin and lower jaw as you looked for its source. The blood dribbled down, facing your head, and so you turned your eyes to see its origin. You'd closed your mouth to keep the blood from entering, yet you parted your lips the moment you saw what was before you.

Yukino lay sprawled out in the center of the pillars, with her head facing you, in a pool of her spreading blood. She wasn't moving, not any errant twitches or agonized shuffling or even the rise and fall of her chest to take in a breath. Her skin was pale, even more pale than what she'd appeared when she was in her light coma and her open eyes were unblinkingly staring at the floor.

The sight was horrid enough, yet it grew to a conscious nightmare as you spotted a hole imprinted straight from her back; the kind of incision only possible by a blade. A new, horrid pain assaulted you, this time straight to your chest and to your head. It had dawned on you exactly what had occurred during your failed ambush against the alien, that thing you had stabbed in the darkness.

The low gurgle of blood escaping its throat had been none other than Yukino's own. It was clearer than ever for you now, as the gruesome spectacle that laid before your eyes. You could have averted your eyes, closed them or even willed yourself to unconsciousness again, yet you could only stare. From the staring, rivulets of tears streamed straight out from them as the strained sounds of whimpering left your throat.

Every word in your head, every part of thought that surface seemed like growing noise inside. Chaos, overwhelming anger, sadness and self-contempt grew heavily within you as the horror was so near to you. You'd almost willed your head to shaking in panic or complete disgust. There wasn't anything left, even you managed to bring her back the sickening thought your responsibility for her death would claw at you for as long as you could remember this.

>Roll 1d20 + 2 WIL to Not Gain a Trauma

Rolled 1 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>4104899
that's bad but expected, poor yuki, I wonder how we will explain this to her father

>>4104910
welp, trauma in-bound

boli didn't even had to use the one

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>4104899
Sigh....

>>4104911
Paula is never touching a sword again after this. Better start training with those gloves, damn

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>4104899

Damn Paula is just fucking it up all hunt

>>4104946
just you look at that!

I was not expecting this

Hey "Save the 1" fags, was Yukino's life worth saving Luis?

Huh?

Fucking cuntmuffins.

>>4104910
>>4104916
>>4104946

Huh, that's the first 20 in a while.

Do you guys wish to invalidate the 1 or store the 20?

>>4104992
Store the 20. Paula killed Yukino, a trauma is thematically appropriate here.

>>4104992
invalidate I think, that leaves the 12 right?

>>4104992
Invalidate the one. That way maybe you'll use that stored one instead of saving it for the next run

>>4105018
We can just counter the stored 1 with a stored 20 when it comes up. better than not having it on hand in case the qm doesn't spend the stored 1 here.

>>4105012
>>4105018

Well, 20 min are up.

We'll go with using the 20 to invalidate the 1.

This means that the 12 will be our highest roll here. Writing.

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>>4105035

<BARE FAILURE> <Trauma Gained: PTSD>

"Y-yukino..."

There wasn't anything left to speak on the situation yet your mind kept up the pace of grief. What should have been happy memories of the moment you had met her, spoke to her and had stayed with her along with Erick turned to poison in your head. All of it ended by your hands, even unknowing and out of your control without realistic input. If she had been returned back to life, would only let your speak to her again but probably not forgive yourself yet.

A round, black object trailed its way to Yukino's side after a loud impact seemed to hit the lower platform. The sound of moving heavy footsteps approached the pillars, rippling the blood around your head forced your attention forward. It almost made your head bounce on the floor, yet the object's image connected with Yukino's body. It had to have been Yukino's sword, not Chris's, that had no doubt dropped from her body.

It drew a conflict in your stomach as you stared at it. The unsheathed weapon that had killed so many things this night: the roaches, the boss, the grub and now Yukino. It was drenched in blood from the puddle below Yukino, yet you imagined it wouldn't stop flowing even if you rinsed it off. A crawling, chattering noise of teeth and claws seemed to slide into your head the longer the stared at it before a much larger object interposed itself behind Yukino's body.

<YrrarCh Cu'rmAc.>

The throaty growl of the alien's voice rippled in the water as it gave Yukino's body an interested stare. The muscular mass of the crocodile alien blocked out the lights from the tunnel ahead. There was a visible burn on its right arm, where the wiring on that metallic slab had blown out completely. A similar burn seemed to have been blown out of its left eye, as it seemed to be glazed over in a blackened crater of charred skin. And you could only stare as it reached for Yukino's body.

The breath left your body in preparation for what this thing was about to do. You couldn't even struggle in vain to move an inch to stop it, only stare as it opened it's primal maw and moved her body towards it. A whirring sound in your ears seemed to be the only reprieve you got, as you felt a familiar sensation of strange discomfort. The last you saw of it, was her body tossed like a rag-doll to the alien's mouth before your eyes were taken by the Gantz laser.

"Y-"

<>

"-UKINO!"

You were still on the floor when your body returned to the familiar wooden floor of Gantz's apartment. You'd repeated her name a few times, before you punched straight into the un-moving wood below. You stared right at that floor for a few more moments, breathing in heavily as Gantz's laser transported someone else next to you. You didn't take notice of who it was, as you kept your continued grief squarely on the floor. The voice was Chris's, with a simple, yet sympathethic question for you.

"Paula, what's wrong?"

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>>4105149

>Truth, Yukino's dead...and I killed her
>Partial Truth, Yukino's dead...I couldn't save her
>Lie, it's nothing just mind your own business
>Write In

Music for this section: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8Z4rdz4dII&t=477s

>>4105152
>>Truth, Yukino's dead...and I killed her

>>4105152

>Partial Truth, Yukino's dead...I couldn't save her

This is actually close to the truth, we were trying to save her and the alien was going to kill her

Just imagine what a 1 would have given her, suicidal thoughts maybe?

>>4105166
Nah

I change to


>Truth, Yukino's dead...and I killed her

Chris would understand our pain and he is the one who can help Paula right now

>>4105162
>>4105171

>Truth, Yukino's dead...and I killed her

2 for this, writing

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>>4106290

His words registered in your head for a moment, as you tried to keep your head steady as you held yourself forward on your knees. Your legs were strong again, yet you still felt a shaking chill within them that sought to bring to the floor again.Your arms were all the same, the shaking motion on them only matched by the ragged breathing coming from your throat.

"What happened Paula?" Chris's voice rang out again, genuine concern ringing with it, "Let me get you a hand and-"

"Yukino is dead."

The words had left your throat so suddenly, a lapse of judgement from your worn out mind. Your voice cracked as you said so, as only the sliver of self-control was still with you. The warm wetness of a tear began leaving your eyelids, sliding out of sight from Chris's view.

"Christ..." Chris replied, a tone of disbelief and sorrow hanging in his voice, "goddamnit, I'm sorry Paula. If we had been down there to help we could hav-"

"I killed her."

There was no thought behind that statement, no real reason to speak it. Had you been in your right mind, maybe you'd have spoken it given your trust for Chris. It made your gut wrench a little tighter and the knot in your head a bit looser. There was a pausing breath in Chris's voice, as well as the sound of another laser transporting another person into the room, before he spoke again.

"What do you mean...?" he spoke, disbelief and confusion fully stretched in his tone, "Paula, if it's about the blackout, no one is going to blame you for that. We would have been dead without the cover anyways and-"

"I MEAN I FUCKING KILLED HER CHRIS!" a shout of anguish left your mouth, as you stood up with a heavy stomp and turned to look at him, "STUCK HER RIGHT THROUGH WITH ERICK'S FUCKING SWORD! THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED AND THAT'S WHAT'S WRONG."

There was a heavier pause in the air following your loss of control. Chris, and a newly teleported Dante, stood in complete silence at your near complete loss of control. Breaths left your lungs in heavy, weary sighs as you stared straight at them with bloodshot and tear-soaked eyes. Gantz's laser shot out again, materializing another person on the floor before anyone spoke again.

"I don't believe that for a second" Chris retorted, looking at your fiercely, "it had to have been an accident."

"It's not like it matters" you stated bluntly, yet retaining a shaking anger to your words, "she's dead because of me! You think that's something that I can just do away with that kind of excuse, Chris?"

"But there's more it" Dante replied, looking more somber himself, "what else happened Paula?"

A part of you wanted to answer him fully, to let him know what had honestly happened back there. Another one just wanted to got to a corner to sulk on your own guilty and failure. It all added so much more needless noise to your head, and pain to your chest. As Luis's body was finished materializing, you felt the expectant gazes of the others on you.

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>>4106395

>Lie, fabricate a story that will get them to stop asking you questions
>Elaborate, but you'll have to keep your cool during your explanation
>Silence, just leave without saying another word and head to the other room
>Write In

>>4106399
genuine question qm, what else happened? we killed her by accident trying to save her from the lizard so I'm not sure what paula will be terlling

>>4106399
>Elaborate, but you'll have to keep your cool during your explanation

>>4106399
>Write In
Take a deep breath
Look the next person materializing
"Later"

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>>4106405

OOC: Essentially, Paula didn't see anything since it was completely in the dark except the incoming signatures on the radar. She reacted on instinct to the errant movement of the closest one and stabbed the area of it with Erick's sword. This was the moment the alien blindsided her, and let Paula stab her out of the alien's back. As far as she's aware, she's guilty of killing Yukino through an assumption but had no otherwise idea how it happened.

There, any further explanation honestly downplays what I write for the sake of keeping perspective to Paula and the reader. If I am not giving enough context clues, then that's a fault that I should improve on.

>>4106556

Honestly, I figured Paula just thrust at what she thought was an alien, and it turned out to be Yukino. From the outside looking in, it's a justifiable mistake, a gruesome and horrible one, but still a mistake. From Paula's view, she straight up murdered Yukino.

>>4106399
>Elaborate

>>4106781
What I want to know is why Yukino wasn’t on the radar. Emp maybe, but the radar itself was still working, and even if the FoF tag in her suit or headchip was temporarily disabled, two dots would have been noticed instead of one (since the ayy was definitely in our area too)

>>4106556
Thanks

>elaborate

At that situation, with a foot melted off, 3 posts worth of blood loss with 1 remaining to be killed, a deactivated suit and multiple bruises from being tossed around it's a miracle Paula was able to even try, maybe through pure force of will to try and save Yukino, the lizard played her good.

>>4106955
Not to mention the thing hurting her to draw us out.

I hope we got a good look at it so we can kill it later

Well, our luck was shit, but what a shitshow of a hunt that was. What do you think we should do to prepare for the next?

>Buy team comms: either normal or in the upgrade menu
>More team training to get those sweet special moves
>Bringing additional supplies (explosives, medical...etc.)
>Non-electricity based light sources: lLamps but perhaps Curtis can get us Night vision and we just can EMP the whole hunt and see if the lmaos have night vision. Would be fun to turn the tables on them. We would need a container to store them safely from the EMP.

>>4107606
Paula and erick are probably going to live with kurtis after this too, she is wanted by the fbi probably and the fbi guys and rick's body will be at her appartment, and erick is missing and if he shows up will be considered a suspect too

>>4107606
To prepare for the next? Hunt the bitches who keep interfering after the end of a hunt.
The emp worked wonders on them. We should track em, shut their shit down, and snipe the living shit out of them outside of the EMP’s range.

We will get some plastic explosives and blow those lizards home base to hell

>>4106450
>>4106781
>>4106955

>Elaborate

3 for this, Writing.

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>>4108034

"I'm alive...?" Luis spoke in surprise as short breaths of relief left his mouth, "Haha, you weren't kidding Dante, everything is back to norm-...what's going on guys? Paula are you-"

"After we dispersed, I took shelter on the bottom platform" you started, not taking notice or care of Luis's words, "and one of those lizard things came in right behind me. I don't know if it followed me in, so I tried hiding behind the pillars down there."

"That was when I heard Yukino's voice from the other side of the platform, when the alien found her. Tried to make some noise to draw it away from her, but I guess the alien was onto me since he dragged Yukino along to investigate."

"I thought to lay out an ambush for it as I used the radar to track its movements. Then I...heard her screaming in pain and I guess I got desperate and only focused on where it moved on the radar."

You took in a breath as you continued to both steel your nerves and to give the others a second to process as they stared both worry and contemplation. It calmed you slightly, but it did nothing to lower the shaking tension in your hands.

"I guess it figured I was laying out an ambush, since it started moving erratically along the pillars for cover. I heard Yukino screaming for help again as that happened, until...it decided to move forward in a dash...that's when..."

You swallowed a sob in your throat, though it didn't stop a small rivulet of tears from your eyes. The stoic and furious visage was starting to fade as you recalled the final portion, which wasn't lost on the perturbed reactions of the others.

"That's when I extended Erick's sword forward at the signature on the radar and heard it tear into something. But...when the lights turned on...it had been Yukino...stabbed right through the chest by...me..."

You couldn't hold back the second sob from your throat, as more tears began leaving your eyes. Your hand involuntarily closed around your mouth, as you could only shake in grief after recalling the entire event. Your vision of the other's reactions had turned misty and difficult to see, yet you figured they horrified to learn of your actions. Even as Gantz's laser finished transporting another person here, no one dared to say a single word, before you hurriedly brushed your tears away with your arm.

"That's what happened", you finalize in a defeated tone, "Yukino's dead because of a stupid mistake I did. Because I thought that I could save people like-

"Don't you dare finish that sentence Paula" Allie spoke out, emerging from the small crowd, "I don't know what you think you did, and frankly I don't care. But you can't compare yourself to someone like him, because he made mistakes as well; mistakes that got him killed."

There was a twinge of anger rolling straight towards Allie from you, which was reflected on Chris's expression. Yet, you knew that she was right to criticize your comparison. Though, it didn't make your ultimate mistake any more digestible.

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>>4108136

>Ignore, don't respond and head to the other room alone
>Conflicted, accept her words but nothing's really going to change
>Negative, tell her off and make sure she doesn't speak about Erick like that
>Write In

>>4108148

>Ignore

>>4108148
>Negative, tell her off and make sure she doesn't speak about Erick like that

At least he always did those mistakes trying to help not to run away

>>4108505
Hey qm, about the Gantz system, does Yukino keep her points if we bring her back? Of the roaches she just killed?

>>4108148
>Ignore, but don't leave the room. You need to see your score.

>>4107606
>Well, our luck was shit, but what a shitshow of a hunt that was.

looking back, even with the 1s paula was one of the top players in this run

>Got the supplies for Tanjeet
>Killed off the big alien that was controlling the roaches
>Kept the elite at bay with the help of Dante while Kurtis got the twins
>went toe to toe against the elite to give the others time to escape and even managed to cut one leg off
>gave the trap idea
>saved Tanjeet from becoming grub food
>with one foot melted off made the grub stop shooting that acid by blowing it's mouth off, giving Chris respite to cut the thing from inside
>saved Tanjeet and Luis from becoming minced meat at the hands of the flying elite (wich gave us the one that killed yukino but people in the game can't see dice rolls lol)
> used the emp on the lizards probably saving Kurtis and a lot of people from getting killed by them since it fried their implants

Paula did way more saving than killing than killing this hunt
but we fucking stabbed Yuki....damn

and her new Gantz nickname will probably be team killa or something lol, the big alien and the roaches will probably push us to 100

>>4108148
"his mistakes saved lives too, but we can't predict what happens, if you want to talk about things we CAN predict ask Kurtis what he was about to do at the tunnels later than."

and storm off

I can go with >ignore for the sake of not ending up in a tie, I bet Paula can't wait for this night to end and going into a shouting match with Allie and the wannabe hero kurties won't do her any good after everything that happened

>>4108402
>>4108510
>>4109149

>Ignore

3 for this, writing and will include the write in for this.

>>4108507

OOC: Should she be revived, she will only retain the points she had before started her last hunt. The same thing happened with Chris when he was revived.

Think of it as a hard checkpoint before your missions.

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>>4109306

A twinge in your mind was urging you to lash out, to speak against her words with a measure of both anger and defensiveness for Erick. But nothing came of it, as you only gave Allie a sharp stare as a response. You like to think you did it out of maturity, to be bigger person in your emotional state. In reality, you'd probably not replied at all due to how tired you were of screaming this evening even if you throat and chest had been restored.

The room was once again silent, except for the start up of Gantz's laser transporting someone else to the room. There wasn't any semblance of fury or anger in Allie's eyes, only a cold, serious tone matched by her voice. As it seemed the stare would have gone on for a full minute, the newest teleportee stumbled to the floor in a heavy gasp. All eyes turned to Kurtis, who sat at the center of the room with a look of panic with every shallow breath that left his chest.

"I-I'm here..." he stated, clutching his chest in desperation before he looked at the group, "and you guys...you're alive. Thank god...has anyone...seen Tanjeet?"

"No" Dante replies, echoing the look of concern he gave you, "at least, I didn't see him after the blackout happened. Was he with you after we split for the hallway?"

"No...no...Goddamnit..." Kurtis responds, his breathing becoming more erratic as his hand once gripping his chest goes to the side of his head, "he said...he was going to hide in the bathrooms...in the hall. Said that...it'd be safer for the twins there, instead of carrying them around everywhere...."

"Wait, you took them both?" Allie asks in disbelief, with Kurtis giving her a nod in response.

"Couldn't have thought of anything else to do when Paula set off that mine" he states, his breathing equalizing, "I just hope those bastards didn't get him or the girls..."

As Kurtis continued on about his worries, you were almost thankful for his appearance in diffusing the situation between you and Allie. You could have sworn you still felt a scolding look in her eyes even now, but you kept your focus on Kurtis. Or so you did as yet another person was transported into the room not a foot away from Kurtis. His attention turned to this person, who's skin-tone and medical bag revealed to be Tanjeet.

He arrived sitting down, holding himself in a fetal position against the wall of the apartment. A sigh of relief left Kurtis's lips, as well as the others to some degree, before he approached the sitting Tanjeet.

"Tanjeet, you're alright man, you made it" Kurtis spoke in a reassuring tone, "we're back in the room."

He didn't reply, only seeming to stay curled up, unflinching to Kurtis's words. Kurtis's face contorted to genuine worry, as well as some of the others looking on to him. You couldn't even spot a single rise of breath from his chest, only seeming to hold himself further closer to the wall.

"Hey, what's wrong man?" Kurtis asked, concern rising in his voice, "what happened over there?"

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>>4109430

>Intervene, tell Kurtis to leave Tanjeet alone
>Question, help Kurtis in figuring out what happened to him
>Ignore, let them sort this out while you deal with your own problems
>Write In

>ignore

> The Twins were infested weren't they....?

>>4109436
>question

"It's the girls? Those things were after them...or did the thing in their heads do something?"

>>4109747
>>4109748

I'll included these two in the update, since they're the most alike.

Writing will start up in a few hours, sorry about the lack of updates yesterday guys.

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>>4113029

"It was the girls, wasn't it?"

Everyone's gazes turn to you as the words leave your mouth and you shoot a knowing look at Tanjeet. You doubted he could have noticed it, but you finally noticed movement in him. He's wrapping himself up even tighter in that position, moving his legs back to his body as if to make himself even smaller.

"Those things were after them" you continue, trying to elicit movement from him again, "because of something in their heads put in by that bigger roach alien. They mentioned they couldn't move earlier so did-"

"I killed them."

The words were almost too muffled for you to hear, but you understood them as those same words had also left your lips not a few moments ago. It was for that reason, that your reaction was much more subdued than how the others responded to him. Whether it had been silence and disbelief or a gasp and fear, Kurtis was the first to reply back.

"You're not...serious are you? Tanjeet, you're not making any sense what do you-"

"I killed them both, Kurtis" he morosely replied, bringing his head out of his knees and revealing dried tear trails, "I didn't want to do it...but...I couldn't think of another option then. I-"

His words were immediately cut off by a lunging punch from Kurtis, with his suit activating to enhance his attack. The attack had been so sudden, Dante and Chris barely had time react before a flurry of punches and curses hit Tanjeet.

"WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU MEAN YOU COULDN'T THINK OF ANOTHER OPTION?!"

"We were cornered...one of the alien's trailed us in there somehow. And they were in so much pain and-"

Dante and Chris were on Kurtis in a heartbeat, holding him back from his assault. Kurtis struggled all the way through, but they suceeded in pinning him to the wall with his shoulders held back. His beating to Tanjeet had been so severe, that Tanjeet's suit's buttons were starting to blink. Though, this didn't stop Kurtis's continued tirade of anger at him.

"SO YOU THOUGHT TO EUTHANIZE THEM?! YOU COULDN'T THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE?!"

"It was like what Paula said, there was something inside their heads...and the timer on the hunt hadn't ended so-"

As Kurtis was restrained, you and Allie quickly went to aid Tanjeet off the floor. He'd been almost sprawled out on there and hadn't seemed to struggle that much against Kurtis's assault. He carried an expression of pure fear and regret, as he was shaking erratically as you and Allie aided him. She implored Kurtis to calm down, yet he ignored her and continued to rage against Tanjeet.

"What happened to do no harm, huh? AND YOU CALL YOURSELF A FUCKING DOCTOR?!"

"I-I'm...so sorry...I'm sorry...I'm sorry..."

Tanjeet's dialogue had repeated that phrase a few more times as more tears began to run down his face. It didn't seem to satisfy Kurtis who continued to struggle against Dante and Chris. All the while, Luis gave them a wide berth as he moved to your side of the room with Tanjeet.

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>>4113902

>Question, what do you mean the timer hadn't ended?
>Kurtis, help Dante and Chris move him out of the room
>Threaten, get Kurtis to calm down on threat of force
>Write In

>>4113904
>Threaten, get Kurtis to calm down on threat of force
This hunt really made me hate kurtis. He’s flipping his shit over hard decisions made in a life or death situation when he would have done the EXACT SAME THING to Paula if he had to. God knows the bitch tried.
And let’s not forget the fact that Tanjeet is an infinitely more valuable team member than two roasties who were LESS than useless due to throwing themselves into danger!

>>4113904

>Question : “You said the timer hadn’t ended. Did it end once you killed them?”

>>4113904

>Question, what do you mean the timer hadn't ended?

I saw it, i was trying to help them before the crocodiles arrived, but that big alien inserted something in their brain and it was changing it


Welp the only reason the hunt ended was because they died then

>>4114025
>>4114160

>Question, what do you mean the timer hadn't ended?

2 for this, writing and including the write ins.

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>>4114372

"Help Tanjeet out" Chris commanded, all the while keeping Kurtis held back, "we'll move Kurtis out of here!"

"Goddamnit, LET ME GO!" Kurtis shouted as Dante and Chris began moving him out of the room, "You think he shouldn't answer for what he did?!"

"Don't really give a shit about that right" Dante replied back, as they reached the hallway door, "but I think you need a little time to cool off."

Upon seeing Dante struggle to reach for the door handle, Allie stood up from Tanjeet's side and helped him open it. She gave Dante a nod, as she held the door open for the hallway. Upon witnessing this, Kurtis's tirade stopped for a brief moment, surprise plastered on his face as he was dragged to the hallway.

"I think it's better if I help out here" Allie stated simply before she closed the door behind her and Kurtis's shouting began anew.

The muffled anger behind the hallway door had left the living room much quieter, yet all the more uneasy. Tanjeet's body was still downcast as he was practically whispering 'I'm sorry' ad infinitum, not even reacting to Kurtis's leaving. It almost made you want to give him a shake or a slap to snap him out of the stupor, yet Luis beat you to the punch. He knelt down, and slapped Tanjeet's cheeks simultaneously, eliciting a yelp of attention from him.

"Hey, wake up" Luis kindly demanded, earning Tanjeet's attention, "that guy over there ain't gonna hurt you for the night. But you gotta tell Paula what's going on or we can't help you, please."

Every officer in the force was trained to a degree to coerce or converse with civilians for information gathering. It almost gave you a feeling of regret for not utilizing the more assertive method earlier. Tanjeet didn't respond right away, but you noticed a subtle nod from him. This earned a smile from Luis, after which he motioned you to speak up.

"You said the timer hadn't ended" you started, earning a nod from Tanjeet, "well, did it end once you...killed them? Because it didn't stop when we killed the big cockroach."

"...yes, it did" Tanjeet replied in a tone that sounded like he was ashamed of speaking, "I...knew something had to wrong since the teleportation was taking far too long. So...I remembered what you told me about what was in their heads."

"I remembered what happened back in the museum, how Chris waited to kill that last rock alien. How the hunt wouldn't end until every alien on its list was dead...so I...killed them both...because I thought it was the only way to stop it..."

Your own grief over Yukino's death was mirrored in Tanjeet's words, the only difference was that he'd knowingly done so. What's more, he'd only done so out of a desperate attempt to save the group from the lizards. For better or for worse, he had been right in his assumption and had been beaten repeatedly for doing so. Luis's brows furrowed at Tanjeet's words, looking confused and giving you a glance for some course of action for your teammate.

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>>4114496

>Reassurance, give him a hug and tell him he didn't do anything wrong here
>Wariness, recognize what he did to help but chastise him for taking a life regardless
>Gratitude, thank him for what he did and head out to speak with Kurtis
>Write In

>>4114503
>Write In
"I was hoping it would not come to this but the moment I looked at their brains I knew something was changing...the people at the metro, they were once humans too so I figured they vould transform people into one of them"
Check with Alis if she'd help us out with Kurtis.

The good thing is that the twins didn't die because of us, we never botched a roll near them, the bad thing is that they never had a chance since even if we rolled well whenever they were involved they died anyway.

>>4114503
I don"'t know about telling hik he did good or thanking him but
Hug him and tell him it's ok maybe add something like this>>4114522

>>4114522
>>4114539

OOC: I'll take these two as the primary vote right now, but I will have to delay the update until I have my new art finished.

Please bear with me guys, we're not going on hiatus again.

>>4116888
no problem boli

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>>4116888

Kurtis's shouting continued just outside of the hallway door, its indistinct muffling was the only thing heard in the room. It was a background track to Luis's expectant stare at you, along with Tanjeet's light breathing.

"I was hoping it wouldn't come to this" you start, remorse harrowing your voice, "but the moment I saw what that thing planted in them...a
part of me knew that it wouldn't be so simple as to just help them."

"What the hell did that thing even do Paula?" Luis asks, though his tone didn't carry curiosity but veiled reassurance for Tanjeet, "I only saw them laying down with a gash on their foreheads and you said something was in them."

"Can't be sure of anything," you answer, shaking your head in defeat, "but I could only guess it may have been trying to infect them with something if it would go to the trouble of chasing after them so furiously. Even back when in their lair, it only seemed to care about them specifically."

"Parasites then...?" Luis questions, and only shrug assurance, "like those was wasps that put their eggs in spiders? Christ...talking about this shit is too unreal, it's like something out of a goddamn science fiction movie..."

"I would have tried to help them anyways..." Tanjeet interjects apologetically, his eyes drooping down again, "it's just that...I couldn't think anymore at that...I only acted on a hunch...Kurtis is right in that, it's not something a medical practitioner should do-"

"Don't talk like that" you reprimanded, looking at him straight, "we're only all alive because you made that call. No one would have wanted it to happen but...there weren't many other options left."

"But how can I make a decision for the live of-"

Tanjeet starts in strained voice, as more tears build up in his eyes before you bring in him close for a warm hug. His words are caught immediately on his throat, as you hold him tightly on your knees and holding his arms slack to his sides.

"I can't speak for the others" you state, conviction building in your voice, "but you're not a monster for what you did Tanjeet. Allie said before that we all have to live with our mistakes and choices, even if they get other people or ourselves hurt or worse."

You thought you almost heard the start of a strained 'Thank you' from Tanjeet, before a whirring sound resonated in the room. All eyes became transfixed on the source, as you pulled away from Tanjeet towards Gantz.

<1:02:10>

"What's it doing now?" Luis asked, as the hallway door opened as Chris entered the room and another message scrawled itself on Gantz.

<3v3ry0n3 w17h @ c@n, dr0p 17 1n 7h3 sl07>

A round, receptacle opened from the ball as Chris carried over one of the net launcher's storage units to it.

"Hey Paula, we got Kurtis to calm down" he spoke while dropping the metal container in the receptacle, "but he wants to talk to you and Erick as well. Don't say why, just said he wanted to speak with you both."

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>>4125621

>Agree, but tell him he'll have to wait until Erick's back
>Refuse, tell him you're not going to speak with him right now
>Tentative, speak with him but only by yourself
>Write In

>>4125623


>Agree, but tell him he'll have to wait until Erick's back

Got some stuff to talk to him too

>>4125623
>>Agree, but tell him he'll have to wait until Erick's back

it's back!

>>4125623
>Agree, but tell him he'll have to wait until Erick's back

>>4125840
>>4125849
>>4125853

Fuck, all these replies as I leave for lunch.

>>Agree, but tell him he'll have to wait until Erick's back

3 for this, writing.

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>>4125916

"He's going to have to wait then" you reply, as Gantz's receptacle closed, "with Erick obviously not being here and all. We'll talk for sure, but he's going to have to answer a lot of questions from us as well."

Chris gives you a toothy smile, no doubt thinking of how you and Erick would make Kurtis squirm. You weren't a sadist or someone who enjoyed antagonizing others, so you weren't interesting in putting Kurtis through an interrogation. Yet, this hunt along with the last few days had revealed a latent stubborn and callousness to his actions. It was something you knew would need to be addressed, especially after so many losses the group had taken during the hunt.

<4LR16H7 H3R35 4R3 J33R 5C0R35.>

The whirring of Gantz's screen drew all attention in the room to its spherical screen once more. You'd even heard the hallway door open as more team members entered to see the results. You didn't turn away however, as your attention was fixed on the changing graphic on Gantz's screen announcing the first outcome.

<El Cabrocia - 10 Points - Only 90 more points to go! - Shoot more of them you bitch.>

"What the hell?" Luis states, making an expression halfway to confusion from anger, "is this thing for real with that name? Scary black ball and it starts mouthing off like a cocky 10 year old."

"Just go with it" Chris adds, grinning at Gantz's screen, "don't expect it to give you any respect if you don't get a lot of points. It only likes it when you manage to kill a lot of things during the hunt."

"Dante and Kurtis mentioned something like that" Luis replies, crossing his arms, "like a kind of bounty system on the aliens or something. Didn't believe them then, but...after seeing it first hand-"

Gantz let out another whirring sound as its screen began forming the next portrait and result screen.

<Continued>

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>>4126348

<Poo-in-the-loo. M.D. - 21 points - Only 52 more points to go! - Sorry Dr, teammates don't count for points.>

There was an audible sigh from Tanjeet as he looked on at the Gantz ball. You'd fully expected for him to give it a kick or punch out of frustration or anger at the now three people Gantz's hunts had gotten killed out of his life. But instead, he just went back to the glass doors of the apartment's porch and sat back down. This time however, he kept his chin up to look at Gantz instead of placing it on his knees in melancholy.

"It really doesn't care" Luis spoke up, looking over to Tanjeet, "like this is all one big joke to it. Ain't it bad enough we almost died?"

"Not, it absolutely doesn't care" Dante responds, letting out another sigh, "and honestly, I stopped caring about trying to make sense of it myself. Better to just accept it and move on with what it wants, not like we have a say in it."

Luis gives him a look of perplexity but you can see the crease on his lips indicate a sense of fear coming from him. It was a familiar look, since you'd sported one just like it during your first hunt as well. You'd made it a common objective to not stress on the details, with Gantz's attitude ranking high in disinterest. It's not as a if you wanted to understand the thoughts or modus operandi for an alien device with a bad sense of humor in the first place.

'I just hope Tanjeet can handle it better now' you thought, as Gantz began whirring in a new entry to the results screen.

<Continued>

The suspense, who's next! Will chris bring back her girl like we talked about? Or maybe someone else?

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>>4126450

<Nosy Bitch - 25 points - Only 62 more points to go! - At least you didn't slow down your teammates, lol>

"I honestly lost count of how many we managed to kill back there" Allie admits, turning away from Gantz's screen, "everything was such a blur after we managed our escape from the tunnel."

"At least we managed to get out of there" Dante added, looking over to his weapon, "if there's anyone to really blame it's probably me and Kurtis for deciding to go in there in the first place. Dirty trick for Gantz to just separate us that far away at the start, so he's got a big part of the blame as well."

"What even happened in there at the start?" you ask, trying to recall what Dante had told you previously, "you said before that you guys went to look for us but you should have all clearly seen the radar's screen with all of the signatures."

"No, we saw them" Allie responded, looking ashamed, "it's just that Kurtis and then me insisted in going through with reaching you guys. Dante then goaded the officers into following us after one of theirs got their head exploded by going out of bounds."

"At that point," Luis added, looking over to Dante with a fearful look, "there really weren't many other options to choose from either way. Honestly though, even if you guys did plan for us to go in there, we wouldn't still be here if wasn't for your experience in leading us out."

Dante nods with a slight smile at that, but you can tell he's suppressing his own level of shame behind it. Not long after, Gantz let's out another whir to indicate a new name appearing on the screen's results.

<Continued>

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>>4126498

<American Sniper - 39 points - Only 61 more points to go! - Good start, but you're still a chump.>

"HEY KURTIS!" Dante shouted to the hallway, almost startling you with how loud it was, "YOU GOT 39! YOU'RE STILL FREE TO COME OUT OF THERE IF YOU WANT!"

There was no immediate reply to Dante's question as you and the others stared straight at the hallway door. In your glance towards the door, you spotted that Dante and Allie were also in the room. As you began to ponder on why Kurtis had decided to stay in the hallway of his own will, he gave Dante a muffled reply behind the door.

"I'll come out when Erick is back! But thanks Dante, I'll keep it in mind."

"What the hell is that all about?" you ask, earning a sigh of frustration from Allie, "He's not still angry at Tanjeet or-"

"He's holding himself in 'exile' " Dante responds, making air quotes at the afflicted word, "said he doesn't want to cause anyone anymore grief until he's spoken to you and Erick. Guess he must think you've got enough points to bring him back now."

"Sorry, I think I'm missing something here" Luis interjects, looking over to you, "Erick, as in, Erick Vanders? Is he actually dead and that shit about him dissapearing was-"

"Yes, he's dead" you interrupt, a sour tang filling in your voice, "Gantz denied me on the last hunt on bringing him back. Let's see if it tries that again."

As if responding to you, Gantz's whirring noise materialized another profile result to its screen graphic.

<Continued>

We did get that big alien so lets hope

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>>4126503

<Dante 'Big Dick' Bowery - 52 points - Only 34 more points to go! - Finally a good turnout, don't slack off again nig nog.>

"Christ, it just doesn't stop" Luis states, looking at Gantz with sheer disgust, "just when I think it says something idiotic, it does this."

"It's said way worse" Dante responds, almost rolling his eyes at Gantz's comment, "I've only ever seen it praise anyone if they get a massive amount of points anyways. Guess the name change is part of it as well, since Paula's own changed after the last hunt."

He was right, as you'd remembered Gantz's name assigned to you had changed after the haul of points you'd brought in the last hunt. The same had happened to Erick's name during the third hunt, which only correlated to Dante's theory. For what it was worth, it was a small reprieve from Gantz's constant jeering in your ears following every finished hunt.

"Points are what matter in the end" Chris adds, earning a look of wariness from Dante, "hey, you know it's true. Gantz doesn't play favorites with scoring as far as I know, even with all of its shit-talk."

"Guess it must like to just kick people while they're down" Luis assumes, looking at the ball again with disgust, "all that tech and it just decides to do shit like this."

Gantz's whirring sounds seem to reply to Luis's words, as its screen graphic changes to display a new profile result.

<Continued>

>>4126545
You guys ready to see Paula "killing a child feels really wild" Torrez?

Maybe Paula "Out of the womb and into the tomb" Torrez?

Paula "Ten years or less and get laid to rest" Torrez?

Paula "First grader mutilator" Torrez?

Paula "Late term abortion" Torrez?

>>4126589
I'm not but the least I expext is Paula "team killah" Torrez

>>4126606
>>4126589

Paula "John Wayne Gacy" Torrez

>>4126589
>>4126606
>>4126608
Paula "sashimi expert" Torrez
She did a fine job at slicing that japanese meat up

On a side note jesus christ I had just a three-layered Deja Vu. In which I remember remembering this deja vu.

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>>4126545

<Chris 'Savage' Bowery - 96 points - Only -30 more points to go! - Impressive as always, but don't lose your gun next time.>

"HELL YEAH!" Chris shouts in accomplishment.

"Again?!" Allie exclaims, completely surprised at the result, "are you sure Gantz doesn't play favorites? This is now the second time you've gotten it and for such a high amount as well."

"Hey don't downplay my skill here!" Chris responds, giving her a cocky smile, "if you get a 100 points, maybe get some bigger weapons. Because it certainly helped me."

You can hear a huff coming from Allie, before the Gantz's screen changes again.

<CONGRATULATIONS CHRIS! YOU GOT 100 POINTS! EXTRA MENU UNLOCKED>

<EXTRA MENU>

<1. GET BETTER EQUIPMENT>

<2. REVIVE SOMEONE THAT PREVIOUSLY DIED IN THE GAME>

<3. ERASE YOUR MEMORIES AND LEAVE THE GAME>

"Either way, you got to it again" Dante states, looking at the screen, "question is now on what you're going to do with it."

Chris took in a breath as Dante said that and you saw him furrow a brow to look at his choices once more. A part of you knew Chris wanted to do what he promised in bringing back Hailey, but you were well aware that impulse for the game could spring up again. Looking on to him, he raised his hand to the Gantz's screen and pointed his finger to his choice.

<2. BRING SOMEONE BACK>

"You're not getting another weapon?" Allie questions, looking just as surprised as before, "didn't you just say that point were all that mattered?"

"They are," he answers, as the Gantz screen switches to the profile list, "but they don't mean anything if we're all dead at the end. That and...I think it's time I almost made up on previous mistake."

You had expected him to scroll to another page of the list to look for Hailey. It only made the surprise of his final selection all the more unbelievable, as Chris's pointer finger landed squarely on Erick's portrait. Now, it was your turn to almost gasp in surprise as Chris's selection was made and Gantz's message faded from its screen. Everyone in the room turned their attention squarely on Chris and Gantz, to make sure what they had just witnessed was indeed true.

"But Chris, what about-" you manage to utter before Chris interrupts.

"There'll be other times for it, at least if Gantz keeps giving out the points like this. Besides, I think we'll need him more now than ever before."

You would have given a Chris a hug of gratitude, had Gantz's laser not started materializing a male body at the center of the room. The shock of Chris's decision was now transplanted to the spectacle in the center of the room. Slab by slab, the familiar form of Erick began to take shape again, as you and everyone else held their breaths for its completion. After the last lock of his light brown hair returned, you felt another tear leave your eye upon seeing him standing before you once again.

"Hah...huh?" he exhales, before looking at you and the others with worry, "Hey, guys, is...everyone alright?"

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>>4126745

<CHARACTER SELECT>

>Paula Torrez

>Erick Vanders

>>4126760

>Erick Vanders

Let's get this shit back on track to be an even bigger train-wreck

>>4126760

>Erick Vanders

Yeaaaahhh! Erick is back! It feels like a year has passed

>>4126763
And before I fprget, Chris is officially a bro, I'm glad that we took the time to bring him to our side and now everything that Paula went through can be vented on Erick and he better make sure he grabs and supports that girl that held everything together while he was out

>>4126760
>Erick Vanders
Eric the savage is back, baby! Its about fuckin time!

>>4126760
>Erick Vanders

damn our first words were not "ONCE AGAIN I WALK UPON THIS EARTH"

>>4126801
>>4126745


>yfw Erick's first words back were not "DEUS VULT!"

>>4126808
I dunno man that's kinda last week's meme

>>4126817

Yeah, but Erick's been gone for awhile

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>>4126763
>>4126764
>>4126778
>>4126801

>Erick Vanders

4 for this.

We'll go with this one for tomorrow. Have a good evening /qst/.

>>4126905
damn bro that art is fine

>>4126760
>>Erick Vanders

time for teary reunions, and for Erick to say he is sorry for Paula, dying is a dick move

I'm really glad we spent this time in Paula's position, it showed a lot of stuff

now Erick and Paula will need to lay low since she is probably being looked for by the police

>>4127339
the first thing that will shock him will probably be how Chris went from a shithead to an ally and even brought him back

Paula needs to bring Yukino back now

>>4127378
Bring in a second Erick for twice the psionic bullshit!

poor Paula man, I can see the breakdown coming, she held strong all this time with the help of focusing on bringing Erick back, like, I can take this, I just need to hold on a little more, and now the guy is here. rough day for my favorite cop

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>>4126905

The bright hue of light burned your open eyes for an instant, as indistinct voices and sounds filled your ears. A hard floor pressed below your feet, applying a light pressure beneath the soles of your footwear. The feeling was mirrored throughout your body, with room's conditioned air moving around you. It was a small overload of sensitivity to your waking mind, yet it had all taken place in the span of a second.

When your mind settled to the scene before you, several thoughts entered your head. All of them were garbled and based on the observable view of the room. Your group was standing before you, though Tanjeet was sitting apart from them near the porch doors. Their expressions were a mix of surprise and elation, as well as their lowered numbers than you remembered.

"Hah...huh?" the sounds escape your throat, your face scanning over the group, "Hey, guys, is...everyone alright?"

"Erick, it's been-" Dante starts to speak, before a flash of motion hits you square in the chest.

There's barely time to even tense your body for the impact, as Paula body hits you straight in the chest. She collides with you with such force it almost topples your right over, yet there's no pain but warmth as her arms wrap around you. As her arms and then hands hold tight to you, you feel a shaking tremble from her head now buried in your chest.

"Wah, Paula, wait" you exclaim, which is cut off as she raises her head to you holding both tears and happiness in her eyes.

"I'm...so happy you're here again" she proclaims, clearly overwhelmed by your arrival, "everyone here, we were trying to bring you back after what happened in the museum. I would have done it, but Chris was the one that did it."

You were in the process of returning her embrace, when several realizations had run through your head. The final moments in the museum, when your lungs filled with blood and the pop of every blood vessel in your body. If you could remember that final moment, then someone really had brought you back. Upon hearing her revelation of it being Chris, your gaze immediately turned to him, standing near Dante with his toothy grin.

"You're welcome, brosef" he admitted, sounding proud of himself yet without a hint of malice, "also, Kurtis wants to speak to you and Paula about something since you're back."

"He can wait for a bit longer" Allie added, and then turning to face you with a warm expression, "but we are glad to have you back Erick. It was...so different without you here, we were almost wonder when you'd be back."

"When?" you ask, curiosity over your length absence weighed in your voice.

"It's been about a week or so" Dante added, looking a bit wary, "Paula told us the police declared you dissapeared at your work. Also said that those lizard aliens were looking for you."

"Lizards?" you question, looking somewhat confused, "do you mean the one that entered my appartment or-"

A whirring sound reverberated in the room, as Gantz's screen flashed with motion.

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>>4128088

>Watch the results, and see what Kurtis wants
>Watch the results, and speak with Paula regarding current events
>Watch the results, and speak your group about the hunt
>Write in

>Watch the results, and speak with Paula regarding current events

>>4128091
>Watch the results, and speak your group about the hunt

>>4128091
>>Watch the results, and speak with Paula regarding current events

paula first

>>4128091

>Watch the results, and speak with Paula regarding current events

>>4128102
>>4128130
>>4128148

>Watch the results, and speak with Paula regarding current events

3 for this, we'll go with this tomorrow.

Writing after I get back from work.

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>>4128239

<Paula 'APB' Torrez - 108 Points - Only -105 more points to go! - Excellent shots, excellent ass.>

You and everyone else's, including Paula's, attentions were set straight on the ball's latest result. There weren't any sounds for a moment, as everyone just stared in awe at what was shown on Gantz's screen. Paula's own expression seemed almost grateful for the result, as she pulled away from you towards Gantz. You had no idea how it had happened, but she'd managed to total out over 200 points.

"Damn" Chris commented, breaking the silence with a whistle, "she almost beat your high score Erick. Nice job Paula."

"Think it might have been the big one", Dante surmises, looking over the results, "maybe the boss of the round or maybe it was all those roaches that went nuts after you killed it. Either way, congrats Paula, don't think I've seen a double 100 Point total."

"Will it let me use them both?" she asks in wonder, looking over the ball's screen, "So many points...I'm don't know what to do with the remaining 100 if it does let me use it."

Before you could bring up a suggestion, Gantz's screen faded and revealed a new message.

<CONGRATULATIONS PAULA! YOU GOT 100 POINTS! EXTRA MENU UNLOCKED>

<EXTRA MENU>

<1. GET BETTER EQUIPMENT>

<2. REVIVE SOMEONE THAT PREVIOUSLY DIED IN THE GAME>

<3. ERASE YOUR MEMORIES AND LEAVE THE GAME>

"Don't have to ask me twice" Paula responds, pressing a finger to the second option, "should be right near the top of the list. Sorry Erick, I didn't meant to keep you out of the loop...it's just that a lot of things have happened since you left."

"Hey, it's fine I understand" you replied in relief, "just lay it on me. Honestly, the museum and this moment feel so close together I can't really imagine it's been two weeks."

As the words left your lips, you spotted Paula's finger reach for the image of a familiar half-Japanese girl. You didn't have to think too far to image what had caused Paula to pause during her response. The revelation only seemed to make your mind grow darker with thoughts of what exactly did happen during the hunt and the last week. As her finger pressed onto Yukino's image, Gantz's screen faded for a second and then let out an entirely new message.

<R U 5UR3 480U7 7H47>

<Y35> <N0>

"What?" Paula spoke, and quickly pressing down on the <Y35> button, "Of course I am. Did it ever do that for a choice be-"

<R U R34LLY 5UR3>

<Y35> <N0>

Everyone stared for a moment at Gantz's screen at the second confirmation now displayed clearly on the screen. Their looks of complete surprise were mirrored on you face, yet yours carried a degree of frustration. Gantz had been a massive tool since the moment you arrived, yet it had never asked questions when it came down to your choices. Whether it was the sheer surprise at its message or some insane psychic intuition, you could tell something was off.

"What is wrong with this thing?!" Paula shouted, as she went to press the button again.

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>>4129681

>Yes, let her press the button
>No, tell her to stop and reconsider even if it Yukino
>Write In

Ok, I'm at a loss here, why the fuck would it be a problem I see no reason here

>>4129688
>Yes, let her press the button

>>4129688
>No, tell her to stop and reconsider even if it Yukino

no, this is fucky, it never did anything like that, if that thing blows Paula's head for some reason I'm gonna be pissed, we can always resurrect her next week, unless that assassin father of hers finds us first

>>4129688

Something is *way* off here...

Fuck it, MYSTERY BOX!

>Yes

>>4129688
>>4129709
I'm changing my vote after consideration.
>No, tell her to stop and reconsider even if it Yukino

>>4129688
>yes

The thing is trying to fuck with us? What reason would it not want us to ressurext her? Is she still alive there for some reason?

>>4129688
>Stick your finger in Gantz's ear and ask why it's being a dingus

>Yes

>>4129734
>>4129882
>>4131056

>Yes, let her press the button

3 for this, writing

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>>4131361

The thought of stopping Paula ended the moment you realized just what you were about to do. Yukino had died, you'd not known how but it didn't matter as it was something you had just thought of preventing. It almost made you recoil in imagining how wary or jaded you had to be to imagine of doing something like that, even with Gantz's unusual behavior.

"Paula wa-" Allie spoke up, all too late before Paula pressed her finger on the <Y35> button.

"Wait what?" she responded, giving Allie a confused look, "I understand what happened with Yukino is still partly on me, but this isn't me making excuses to-...?"

A whirring sound from Gantz elicited all eyes in the room towards its screen, which was now changing once more. The furrow of Paula's brow don't betray her irritation, no doubt annoyed that Gantz kept denying her wish to return Yukino. You'd expected Gantz's laser to sprout from the ball's mass and start materializing Yukino's body. But instead, the graphic on the screen changed to display a simple message.

<U R B0R1N6>

You and the others stared straight at it in confusion, before the message faded and the ball's signature laser shot out from its ebony form. The suddenness caused you to wince back, as the laser began forming the first layers of Yukino's body at her feet. Gantz's teleportation process hadn't become any less gruesome than when you'd first seen it, much less on someone like Yukino, Yet, you were mostly just glad that Gantz hadn't prevented her return or done something worse at this point.

"What did it mean though...?" Allie continues to question, her voice almost a whisper, "This all still seems too suspicious Paula...maybe make sure-"

"That she's actually Yukino?" Paula finished her thought, as the laser reaches Yukino's shoulders, "Don't worry, I'll know for sure. No one here besides Erick and her dad know her as well."

The thought had crossed your mind, if Gantz would attempt something like that. While you failed to think of a reason on why, Allie's comment on what that final message meant certainly wasn't making you any less nervous. Yet, as the laser began to finish off Yukino's hair, you began realized that maybe you were worrying too much for once. Unlike your blissfully unaware entrance back to the room, Yukino's own was marked by an errant flinch as if to cover herself from something terrifying.

"Haa! Stop!" she shouted in a voice of pure fear, as she slowly opened her eyes, "I-I...where am...I? Erick...am I in...heaven?"

Her eyes were fixed on you first, no doubt still adjusting to the light. Whether Gantz had done something to her, you couldn't tell as she clearly remembered who you were at least. But you knew that there wasn't any harm in confirming what Allie and Paula suspected at least. As you readied a query to her or other means of getting her to confirm her identity, Paula stepped forward to do the same.

'Please...let that just be a stupid bluff like always Gantz...'

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>>4131545

>Question, try to confirm her identity with something she'll know <Write In>
>Proof, present something to her and confirm her identity if she remembers it <Write In>
>Gantz, let Paula handle this and see if Gantz is showing up anything else
>Write In

>>4131553
>Telepathy should be able to confirm her identity, along with a few questions about mundane events. If she remembers them, you'll be able to see for sure that she does.

>>4131553

>Gantz, let Paula handle this and see if Gantz is showing up anything else

Paula had a whole week more than Erick....damn...it kinda sucks to die

Still give her a tight hug, its good to see her safe

>>4131553
>Gantz, let Paula handle this and see if Gantz is showing up anything else

>>4131558
>This

You niggas seriously forgetting Erick's got psychic powers?

>>4131564
>>4131700

2 for

>Gantz, let Paula handle this and see if Gantz is showing up anything else

>>4131558
>>4131752

2 for Write in

I'll give you guys an hour to tiebreaker this, otherwise I'll roll for it.

>>4133034
>>4131752
>>4131558

Telepathy ftw!

>>4133095

>Tie-broken

>Telepathy should be able to confirm her identity, along with a few questions about mundane events. If she remembers them, you'll be able to see for sure that she does.

Writing.

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>>4133163

"Wait Paula" you state, holding up a hand to signal your intent, "let me try something."

She stops moving forward per your command, while you squat down to meet Yukino at eye level. Her expression is a mixture of confusion, worry and slight pain from still attempting to adjust to the room's light. Regardless you take in a breath and focus straight on Yukino's eyes. A coiling, cold sensation snakes from top of your spine, warming as it travels to your forehead until expanding out forward to reach for Yukino.

"Erick?" She asks warily, as you establish the psychic link, "What are you doing? Are we all...dead?"

"Paula brought you back, Yukino" you state, not dropping eye contact with her, "so, I safely say you're not in heaven. But, Gantz may have done something when it brought you back, so I'm making sure nothing is wrong with you."

"I...feel alright though" she replies, making an attempt to calm herself, "I'm not missing anything or have anything off, do I? I can remember everything clearly, if you're worried about memory loss."

"Really now?" you inquire, earning a wary nod from her, "then, do you remember the first day I came over? And what you told me about that thing in your dad's drawer he didn't want you to know about?"

There was a small gulp from Yukino, which was the necessary trigger needed to bring about that previous thought to surface. The sensation in your forehead grew a bit warm as your focus shifted to it like a leaf on top of the water's surface.

'Erick...I can't tell everyone about what's in that drawer...' the thought resonated, with a light image of said drawer and its hidden contents, 'dad would get REALLY angry with me if he found out anyone knew about it.'

"What t-thing...?" Yukino stuttered, trying too hard to lie.

Upon seeing her distress, you blinked your eyes, losing sight of her for a moment as you felt the coiling sensation recede back to the back of your head. Staring straight at her once again, you were privy to how truly frightened she was. Her eyes were shifting slightly to the sides, her breathing was a bit ragged and was lurching back away from you. Having lived through death, you could understand just how horrifying the experience was to stop feeling anything and then be assaulted by sensation once again.

To your knowledge, it must have been worse for her given her immature body and mind, so you resolved her question with a simple gesture. Moving your arms around her, you pulled her in for a warm hug, which she audibly gasped, almost tried to get away from before embracing you right back.

"Forget it" you finally answer, pulling away from it for a moment, "I'm just glad you're back, safe and sound."

"Me too" Paula added, squatting next to you, "I'm so sorry I lost you Yukino. Please...forgive me..."

You could sense a break in Paula's voice as she said this. It made you wonder what had happened in the hunt, before Allie near Gantz's screen returned you back to reality.

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>>4133334

>Points, let Paula know about her remaining score
>Speak with Allie, and see if she's seeing anything off on Gantz's screen
>Speak with Kurtis, have Paula take you to him
>Write In

>>4133342
>points, high score!

>>4133342

>Points, let Paula know about her remaining score

big wepon or maria revival

maria revival would be funny, "oh yea your flunkies just died lol"

>>4133342
>Points, let Paula know about her remaining score

>>4133342
>Points, let Paula know about her remaining score
Maybe we could use it...to get Yukino out of the game?
I'll be honest, this place is nowhere for a young girl like her to be.

>>4133537
i think you can only free yourself, not others

>>4133468
>>4133501
>>4133537
>>4133370

>Points, let Paula know about her remaining score

4 for this, writing

>>4133537
Also yes, as this anon says, >>4133572 , the <FREEDOM> choice can only be used for the person that got the 100 points.

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>>4135057

"I'm sorry to cut the reunion short guys" Allie announced, slapping her hand on Gantz, "but Paula, I think you still have another choice to make here."

You'd already pulled away from Yukino, and Paula had filled the void, when you turned around. Clear as it had been previously, Gantz's regular congratulatory screen was inscribed with as much effort as last time. Paula didn't pull away from her own embrace to look at the screen behind you.

<CONGRATULATIONS PAULA! YOU GOT 100 POINTS! EXTRA MENU UNLOCKED>

<EXTRA MENU>

<1. GET BETTER EQUIPMENT>

<2. REVIVE SOMEONE THAT PREVIOUSLY DIED IN THE GAME>

<3. ERASE YOUR MEMORIES AND LEAVE THE GAME>

"Whoa, you got a bunch Paula" Yukino states as she stares at the ball with amazement, "I only remember you killing roaches out by the tunnel before I blacked out. Did you kill the boss?"

"Maybe" Paula replies, her voice easing up from her moment of unease, "but...I suppose Allie's right, may as well get this over and done with as soon as we can. We'll have all the time in the world after that, alright?"

Her tone was sweet and reassuring as she relayed her message to Yukino, who responded with a smiling nod. Paula then pulled away and approached Gantz with a thoughtful look on her face. You mirrored her gaze to Gantz, which Allie had taken a slight step back away from. There was a look of wariness as Paula approached, something you took a slight curiosity towards.

"Don't really want a bigger weapon" Paula thought out loud, looking over the options, "and I'm not leaving this place until everyone else is out as well. But...I don't know who else to bring back."

"Paula, remember" Dante interject, catching everyone's attention, "you said you were going to help me get Carol back after what his brother was doing at the police office."

"Wait...Carol is dead?" You asked in surprise, earning a sighing nod from Dante, "shit...what about Maria and the twins. Any of the new members from this hunt, are they still-"

"Everyone you see here" Tanjeet answered, standing up and giving you a look of pain, "except for Kurtis, are all that's left Erick. Personally, I think you should bring back that police chief of your Paula."

"What good would that do?" Luis replies, shaking his head, "even if Rick is willing to help, the FBI would probably supersede him at best or label him an accomplice at worst over the disappearance of 4 of their operators."

"None of you have to explain that by the way" Allie interjected, giving Luis a stern look, "Why did you all decide to go after Paula that day? If it was under federal orders, then it's something that your boss can help us with."

The eerie quiet of the room had turned into a small din of argument, all of which were as confusion to you as the last. Ignorance on their conversations almost made them seem to blend into each other, which was further aggravated by their interjecting speech. All the while, you saw that Paula was deep in thought on what to choose.

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>>4135292

>Quiet, tell your teammates to shut up and let Paula choose
>Suggestion, ignore the others and give Paula your own suggestion <Write In>
>Ideas, support one of their ideas for the 100 points <Write In
>Write In

>>4135294
I would suggest her to get Haley since Chris got Erick but Erick does not know anything about that

so

>Quiet, tell your teammates to shut up and let Paula choose
and hold her shoulders from behind, whatever she chooses we are supporting it against anyone that bitches about it

>>4135294
>Quiet, tell your teammates to shut up and let Paula choose
There's a lot of choices to make, and no one choice will be the 'right' choice for everyone. We can only do what we as an individual think is best, for the survival of everyone.
If that means getting a better weapon to protect everyone who's here right now? That's fine, it's a better chance to earn points and improve all around. We don't want to be stuck in a loop of reviving people and getting people killed, after all.
If it's reviving Rick? Like the others said, that'll be great for dealing with the out-of-game consequences of shit, and if we can get him on our side that'd be all the better.
If it's Carol? She's an original team member and one hell of a fighter for the most part, it'd be great to have her back.
Hell, for all we know there could even have been someone with an enormous score who used to run in this area before all of us. Even reviving them is a viable option. It's something worth looking into, the scores of the deceased.

>>4135294
>Pick Maria

I don't even remember Carol lol

>Ask Paula if we can look up other deceased Gantz players from around the world

>>4135732
we can do that but not here, we need to access that pen drive at our home computer, maybe something for later, we can investigate how did the people that came before us do

>>4135299
>>4135315

> Quiet, tell your teammates to shut up and let Paula choose

2 for this, writing.

OOC: Sorry about the delay fellas, work has been hell because of the virus.

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>>4138458

'Can't hear myself think' you surmised, looking around to the others near Paula, 'and I don't think Paula can either."

You took a step forward and diverted the suit's power to your legs. Raising one of them to your chest, you brought it down harshly to the floor. The loud bang on the wood caused everyone in the room to snap away from the argument. Your furrowed brows and hardened lips met their surprised expressions.

"Everyone" you state with serious intent, "calm the hell down. We're not going to start fighting over points now, are we?"

"Who's fighting Erick?" Allie replied, looking somewhat apologetic, "we're just trying to plan out what's the best option for the points. I know we were getting a bit loud but-"

"A little?" you interject, giving her a look of disappointment, "there's delegating for a decision and then there's having a near violent argument on someone else's choice. Or were you all actually trying to make Paula's choice for her with whoever was loudest?"

Everyone already knew the answer to it, as their silence only hearkened to it. Paula herself had turned around to look at you as well, her own expression a mixture of surprise and gratitude. You'd fully expected for her to speak out to the others first, which made you only believe that her thought process on deciding may have been much more involved.

"Paula" you speak, with your tone gaining reassurance, "go with your own thoughts on this one. Whatever you choose, I'm willing to support you on it."

"Thanks Erick" Paula respond, and turns back to the Gantz screen, "and I think I got an idea for my choice."

The finality of her voice caused the others to turn full attention to her hand aiming for the second option. Once again, the Gantz's screen turned back into the dossier style list of people's portraits. The eyes of everyone in the room followed her hand as it moved down the list and landed on the portrait of an unknown girl with glasses. It didn't look like anyone previously mentioned in their previous requests, however you heard an audible gasp from Chris as she pressed the button.

"Paula what the hell do you-" Chris started, but immediately stopped as Gantz's screen changed once again.

<U 5HMUCK5 R 80R1N6 L0L>

"It's doing this shit again?" Paula thought out loud, before the message disappeared from the screen, "Oh, I guess it's just taunting us again. And Chris, you've got a right to being happy like everyone else, even if you didn't think so before."

Chris doesn't get a chance to respond before Gantz's laser once again deploys to the center of the room. The laser starts at the feet, slab by slab, teleporting the flesh and matter of a girl that looked like she was still in High School. By Chris's prior reaction and his current expression, you figured this must have been someone very important to him. As the laser finished the top of her head, she meekly turned to look at you and then the others.

"W-who are you all?"

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>>4139401

>Greet, and introduce your group
>Chris, let him introduce himself since he mat know her
>Paula, ask her who this girl is
>Write In

>>4139402
>Greet, and introduce your group

>>4139402
>Chris, let him introduce himself since he mat know her

>>4139402
>Greet, and introduce your group

"I'm Erick 'Alpha' Vanders, and it looks like you already know Chris 'about to be cucked' Bowery."

>>4139402
>Greet, and introduce your group

>>4139872
Dont do this anon, we're a loyal man to Paula.

>>4139402
>Chris, let him introduce himself since he mat know her

>>4139409
>>4139872
>>4139976

>Greet, and introduce your group

3 for this writing.

>>4139632
>>4140084

>Chris, let him introduce himself since he mat know her

OOC: That should read

>Chris, let him introduce himself since he may know her

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>>4140392

"We're DC's Gantz team" you respond, trying to sound as soothing as possible, "but, I guess you probably knew that since you were in our ball's registry. What's your name?"

The girl's eyes are a mixture of fear and anxiety as she looks back at you. There's no answer from her mouth save the quivering that parts her lips slightly. Whether it was nerves or legitimate fear of your explanation, her answer comes almost as low as a whisper.

"H-Hailey...Hailey Kross" she answers, her eyes shifting rapidly towards everyone in the group, "and what about...you?"

"I'm Erick Vanders" you respond, giving her a sympathetic smile and pointing to your team, "and this is Tanjeet, Dante, Allie, Chr-"

"Chris" Chris interjects, moving up from behind you, "but you knew that already. Hailey...I didn't think I'd actually see you again."

"Chris..." the girl named Hailey replies, staring back at him like a deer in headlights, "you brought me back? Why...?"

"I didn't" Chris sighs, and then points to Paula, "she was the one that brought you back. As to why...well-"

"We needed more camaraderie" Paula interrupts, earning a look of incredulity from Chris, "and Chris told me you were someone he knew before he ran with us. The name's Paula Torrez, and we'd be more than happy to have you."

"I-I...see" Hailey states, relief and apprehension seeping from her voice, "well...thank you very much, Paula. I...will try to pay back for it...as best as I can."

"Hey, we can wait until later for that" Dante says, while giving Chris a gesture with his thumb, "right now, we need to see about getting home. I'd imagine your parents must be worried sick right about you."

"My parents..." Hailey chimes in a sad huff, before looking at Dante with curiosity "how long has it been since I...died?"

"Well," Dante responds, scratching his head in thought, "from what Chris told me before, I'd say about 3 months or so-"

"Wait, 3 months?" Allie interjects, giving Dante a stare of irritation, "you brought back someone for Chris's sake and she's been gone for that long? Just who is this girl anyways, and why was she a more important target than anyone else we mentioned?"

"Because she's just as everyone else you mentioned" you answer, earning a look of irritation from Allie yourself, "we're here to make sure everyone makes it out of this place alive. Human life shouldn't have a higher standing than anyone else, even if it's someone I've not met before."

Allie was about to give you another response, until a noise from Gantz caused her to turn back to look. You and the others did so as well, looking straight at the ball's screen to a new message scrawled on it.

<Welcome to the Streak Menu - Spend points to upgrade your gear. Anyone can do it! It's easy you schmucks!>

Its sudden appearance reminded you of the previous time it appeared with Dante, but you were somewhat thankful it did. Both for its timing with Allie's response, as well as the aid your team needed.

<Continued>