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The red line in the sky was unlike anything you've seen. It was a bright, thick glowing streak that stretched eastward toward Marleon while making a sharp descent into the inner grounds of Zerase palace, a bright bloody streak across the afternoon sky. The noises coming from this skyward manifestation were downright ghastly, adding yet more cacophony into the echoes of this battlefield. Whispers of screams tickled your ears as creatures dropped out of this giant pathway like droplets of blood. Some died after, literally, exploding on the ground from their hundreds of meters fall but the majority remained whole, landing in bloody splotch, already ready to move. Numerous eyes and mouth covered their bleeding flesh, faces twisted in constant cruel or painful expressions were growing into and out of their skins as they crawled toward anything alive with surprising nimbleness.

Those who remained whole were easily the size of six men and their faces (you assumed) opened into giant fleshy peels full of teeth. One bad angle or a moment of inattention and they'd roll around one of your limbs, yet...

Francine was cleanly cutting through any opposition. Her slime body had gone through a keen metamorphosis that changed her arms and hair into edged whips, she led the way with a frenzy of swings that cut into -then through- any offending creatures, cleanly slicing them apart. Their utter lack of self-preservation made it easier for her to dissect them and protect your party.

''We can't let anything reach us from the back, let's continue!'' Deruella was behind her maiden, making sure everyone was keeping up.

Elina kept effortlessly holding Olga in her arms, the firewitch had insisted on not slowing people down after the major healing operation she underwent and so, the angel was helping her until the time of confrontation. Olga veins glowered with the luster of a fireplace, flickers of flames sparked to life around her and, the first time your eyes crossed, her nod gave you the hope she didn't hold a grudge.

The damage your magical ritual wreaked on her wasn't cured despite angelic magical healing. Olga is combat-able, not ready... but she remained confident, you'll have to trust her judgment.

''What did you teach that slime!?'' Sieglinde commented as she ran beside her little sister. Those slug freaks were just beginning to enter the battlefield yet the few interruptions had been nothing more than a nuisance. With Francine, the Exorcist, and Hadraniel fighting the scorpions... maybe hoping that your allies suffered no casualties wasn't wishful thinking.

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Your group went through the first set of doors that had been pulverized when Olga redirected a portion of Zerase destructive spell, the magic had also rammed through another set of doors further back which seemed to lead into an open room illuminated by the afternoon sun. Behind you, terrifying echoes of combat twisted your stomach. The scorpions were chanting in a language you didn't recognize and, from Shereen grimace, you preferred not to ask. Perhaps some kind of folk songs lining with their suicidal stubbornness?

''Now go back dearest.'' Deruella gently patted Francine. ''You shouldn't get any closer to that mountain.'' Worry changed the slime expression but she didn't hesitate. Eyes formed behind her shoulders as she ran back, observing your group as long as she could. A sudden whip of her hair cut one of the big metal doors off its hinges, making it loudly crash on the ground.

''Klesiah.'' You took this moment of reprieve to look at your blue knight. ''I'll need some of your magic...''

''Of course! As much as you need, my lord.''

You've already calculated everyone's magical reserve during your run here.

After Matthaeus gift, Elina was at 35% reserves. Before Olga situation, she had well over 80%... Never forget the high cost of Holy healing. What she has left now is more than good enough for combat because shields and winds are low-cost, highly efficient spells but if someone else is nearly killed, you'll need to join flow with your angel to save them.

Klesiah was around 80%. Her fighting style is all about efficiently enhancing her swings or throwing weak interrupting zaps at her enemy after they make some distance from her glaive, sapping out her reserves means she'll need to rely upon her comrades for support... but it is the better choice. You need her help.

Klesiah magical reserves have been reduced to 50%
Arawn magical reserves have increased to 68%

The process has become similar to muscle memory now. Your natures mingled so naturally, it was intimate. Had your body not been reinforced with Gardy cold steel, you might have been carried away in Klesiah intense, warm love... You took what you needed while your party continued a brief discussion.

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''I need to make one thing very clear. Once we proceed, all of you need to help me reach the apex of that snake pyramid, I'll be able to interrupt her grand ritual.'' Ama had manifested without warning, while still unable (or unwilling) to fully step out of her anchor, half of her body and all nine of her elegant fluffs demanded attention while hovering above Shereen. ''Before you ask.'' One tail point at Deruella, all the others wave at the sky beyond the roof. ''I haven't mentioned this little detail because I didn't know what form her ritual would take place, so let's not bog ourselves down in a useless argument. I can step away from my anchor for a little while now that it is afternoon... but it is best to let Zerase believe I am still crippled by that obvious weakness.''

''I don't like this.'' Elina grunted, interrupting the fluffy witch. ''We've carved ourselves out of this bloody mess and now you're telling us what to do?''

''I concur. Killing the Pharaoh sounds safer.'' Sieglinde stood so motionless her chest wasn't heaving with breaths. The dark mask covering half of her face and her limbs transformed into shiny dark weapons gave her the eeriest appearance you've ever seen, hints of dreads coming from the girls perfectly described her presence.

''Pah!'' Ama impatience manifested in a rude gesture. ''If your mind is to butt heads with a fearsome mage sitting on more than a thousand death pearls then I'll just take Mimiru and leave you to your joyous festivity. I'll wager Zerase stashed all of her jewels inside the pyramid acting as a nexus for this new mess were in, pray tell who else here can purify pearls? Do you have a quick solution that can prevent the merging that's going to happen soon? Also, my protective petrification has been dispelled.''

''What!?'' The witch glanced at you, frowning at your outburst. ''Can you tell how Anais is!?''

''No.'' Her pale ears flattened. ''We can only hope Waltier and Zazawu have managed to keep both of our darlings safe, meaning we cannot waste any time. Do we understand each other? Bring my anchor as close as you can to the apex of that bloody pyramid and I'll be able to... interrupt the flow of souls being sucked in there. Without fuel, her ritual should only last a few minutes, Zipangu army won't suffocate.''

''Souls sucked in there... Will they...?'' Hao murmured, then grimaced and slapped her helmet to force her visor down. ''Let's go! Little girls to save, Papi to save, and big otter-man to save too!''

Before anyone else could raise a word, your second and most fearless of knights ran toward the half-closed doors and broke them open with a phenomenal shoulder charge, once more proving that her short stature was a ruse. The treatment of her soul was amplifying everything she did and it trickled into your cold heart of steel.

''Up we go darling!'' Deruella scooped Shereen in her arms.

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Your first steps were through bits of broken marbles. The mountain spell had managed to melt the support of a statue and it had crumbled, giving your party full view of Muribel inner palace and it was, undeniably, an opulent sight. The hall was half the size of the ''public'' one, six gilded pillars with lady snakes carved into them proceeded toward your destination, stopping at a circle carved into the roof where a garden had been built into, something very similar to what Shereen had in her room. Three large pathways separated east, west and north; the red pillar of death made a sharp incline directly in front of you, into a faraway room

The pyramid was closed off by a pair of heavy-set doors and long, long walls, yet noises of battles filtered out. Stormy winds, muffled roars, and the constant sound of breaking glasses all mingled together into an unearthly ballet of death, a battle between Supremes.

''Guess this is where the scorpions wanted to welcome us.'' Olga grunted. ''Would have been messy.''

''Keep an eye for magical traps.'' Sieglinde spoke sternly. ''Let's go!''

Thankfully, nothing harrassed your party. The silence in the room reinforced the noises of battles -both behind and at the front- giving you the impression of being stuck in a bubble. Since there wasn't any dangers, Deruella let go of Shereen.

''Krr! Figures!'' Elina growled after giving one of the handles a good squeeze, Hao was putting all of her reinforced strength into the other one without success.

''Fucking thing is glowing, it's magical.'' Olga pointed out.

Indeed, faint purple light traveled the lengths of the doors, probably stirred by the girls touch.

''I don't think Zaza could go through this...''

''Hold on.'' Shereen stepped forward, pulling her small dagger out of its scabbard. ''These doors have always been ope-''

Something crashed against the doors hard enough to shake them, your little sun nearly dropped her knife.

''Anyway!'' Faint redness colored her brown skin. ''There was something similar in Myrtidal church.'' Embracing Focus, she gently cut a line on the human part of her thigh to extract a thin line of blood, she inserted it inside what you assumed to be a keyhole and, after a few tense moments of silence, the light of the doors extinguished and a noticeable rumbling shook them from within.

A rush of heat made you whirl around and bear your shield, you witnessed the trail end of Olga spell smash into the head of a sudden intruder, killing a misshapen humanoid instantly.

''Bloody statues fucking moved! They got glowy eyes now!'' The firewitch yelled. Indeed, the lamias heads have pivoted to look at your party with two glowing points of magical purples lighting up their stony eyes.

Necromantic energy swirled around the room, creating tears in the essence of the world, and out of them, ghostly shades began to emerge. Purple tendrils attached each tear to a statue.

''Them again!?'' Klesiah grunted.

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''Hao will hold them back!'' Your knight suddenly proclaimed, waving her greatsword. ''Go! Help all the ones, big and smalls!''

''Not alone you won't!'' Mina interjected, one of her golden arrows decapitated a newly emerged shade. ''I can return to Klesiah once Hao is safe!''

''No, no wait! There's no need for any sacrificial bullshit!'' Deruella loudly proclaimed, imposing herself with a few excited gestures. ''We've got projectiles and a Holy screen to keep them at bay, let's open the doors, rush inside and close them!''

Gardy's body operated quickly, in these few seconds of dialogues, you had already analyzed and weighed your options.

Leaving Hao and Mina behind to handle the shades would allow you to keep the doors open and provide a potential path of retreat in case Zerase summon something particularly powerful. One or two combatants could bait it outside, giving you easier access to the pyramid. It would also be wise to have Deruella help them out by building a favorable terrain.

Alternatively, Deruella's idea was obvious and wise. Safety for everyone, although the shades could mass outside and pour in if a wall is demolished... Or perhaps they can phase through the walls, although the magical reinforcement is likely going to prevent that.

Also... should you trust the witch plan? You've given her an astral pearl and she has yet to use it. Should you trust her now...? Your only other option is likely going to be killing Zerase outright.

Far easier said than done, judging from all the noises of combats inside that room.

Trust the witch.
Don't let her reach the pyramid.

>Rush inside with everyone and close the doors. The shades are going to spread around aimlessly.
>Leave Hao and Mina behind, having an escape route could be vital.
>a) Have Deruella stay with them. She'll probably be more effective here, where Zerase spells can't disturb her controlled territory.
>Free

Addendum: You are about to confront a very powerful spellcaster, combat here will operate differently because of that (doing things differently compared to the last thread sound exciting, too) I need to emphasize here. Your decisions and actions will be much more important. It's still possible to end the encounter early though, all depending on what you do.

>>5138014
>Rush inside with everyone and close the doors. The shades are going to spread around aimlessly.

It may complicate the escape but is probably going to be necessary.

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>>5138035
I'd also like to know if you want Arawn to keep trusting Ama plan or not. His attitude here will be quite important.

>>5138014
Ok, so is Ama saying she can stop this ritual *and* neutralize all those death pearls if she gets to the pyramid?

Also, the doors, how quickly do they open up or close? How fast are those shades piling up? How far will we be from the pyramid once those doors open? If we leave them open would it be possible to get Anais to safety or is that a non-starter? I mean, if the petrification is gone that means Waltier and Zazawu gotta protect her while also fighting a pretender era magus with essentially infinite ammo. Not good!

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>>5138055
>Ok, so is Ama saying she can stop this ritual *and* neutralize all those death pearls if she gets to the pyramid?
Yes. She'll do that by changing all the death pearls into astral ones, thereby cutting off all the fuel of the ritual.
>Also, the doors, how quickly do they open up or close?
While the doors are heavy because they're made of big stones, they'll open quickly enough due to your party general reinforcement. Opening/closing speed won't be an issue.
>How fast are those shades piling up?
For now? There's only one coming out each second but experience taught you they'll start pouring out really fast once the creatures inside the dimension realize there are warmbloods close.
>How far will we be from the pyramid once those doors open?
You'll need to see for yourself.
>If we leave them open would it be possible to get Anais to safety or is that a non-starter?
Possible, yes. Grab and run could work.

>>5138041
Trusting her is what got us into this (sort of), so I don't see why we should stop now.

I mean what could possibly go wrong, especially since we do sort of have some pretty powerful backup if she does try to pull a fast one, or something.

>>5138064
So us being near the rifts will cause them to start pouring out. Closing the doors seems the better option then. Also, we can make good use of astral pearls. So can Zerase though. Aren't astral pearls also useful for summoning things like that accursed spider what nearly ripped Shereen's soul out and killed our waifus?

Either way, the better option seems to be in trusting Ama. I don't like this at all, but facing Zerase Apotheosis is a guaranteed TPK/Wipe. ANYTHING is better than that!

Besides, Ama keeps on saying she's not as bad or downright evil as we say she is. She wants us to believe she actually cares and isn't fluffy Satan. If she pulls this off and doesn't just hijack the ritual to make herself a god instead we may start to believe her. A very, very small start but it'll be something.

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>>5138076
>Aren't astral pearls also useful for summoning things like that accursed spider what nearly ripped Shereen's soul out and killed our waifus?
Yes.
However, the ritual here seems to be a combination of blood and death magic. Astral pearls cannot feel that, so there's good logic backing up Ama confidence.
>A very, very small start but it'll be something.
Cute!
Okay, two votes for trust, and I can assume you also vote to bring all your party inside?

>>5138081
Yeah, we're going with Deru's plan. Everyone in, slam doors behind us, and pray to the gods we didn't just seal ourselves within our own collective tomb.

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''Open those doors!'' You barked, knocking your blue gauntlet on your shield for attention. ''We're all sticking together, Zazawu and Waltier can help us carve our way out if we have to flee! We'll stick with the fluff plan and adapt! Get the princess out of that mess, stop the ritual so we can keep breathing, nothing else matter!''

Ama promptly disappeared inside Shereen.

Elina and Klesiah had devised your intention and pulled on the doors before you finished speaking. Bearing your shield, you stood in front while magical projectiles killed emerging shades far behind your party.

A strange purple screen, similar to an organic membrane, covered the entrance. Nearly opaque, distinguishing what was happening inside was difficult, only shapes and shadows.

''Raaaaagh!'' Zazawu's unfiltered roar locked everyone but you in place.

Gardy body did not know hesitation, with the earth-shaking noise of the giant Supreme breaking something, you slapped your shield on the magical screen, activating the runes... and disenchanting the obstruction right there. Dampening must have broken the spell.

''Inside!'' Sieglinde yelled and everyone followed as you bore your shield forward. Elina raised a large golden shield a meter in front of you, your party streamed inside without interruption and closed the doors on dozens of rushing shades.

Your arrival had caused a lull in the battle. A giant skeleton the size of Zazawu crumbled on the ground in front of him, his giant maw finished crunching its head when the girls locked the doors. All around him were corpses of abominations and raised deads in continuous states of disappearance as the energy fueling them exited with their demises. The big monster himself was covered in wounds, from arrows to burn marks, his lower arm on the right had been cleanly sliced in half, reducing him to wielding only two of his enormous swords.

The pyramid was inside a nearly fully enclosed room of a size comparable to the palace: large and empty. One opening on the roof had been carved, a circle that allowed the thick red beam (full of bodies and faces) of the sky to descend directly inside your objective. The structure itself was of reasonable size, needing only thirty steps to reach the top. Made of strange coppery-blue metal with long golden lines traveling across its surface, giving it a title of artifact was fitting. On top was a square big enough for six people... and the Pharaoh stood there, surrounded by a dozen hovering purple pearls.

Next to her was princess Anais, thankfully alive and healthy. On the ground was Mimiru, Ama beloved ghoul and your one-time friend, motionless... Dead? No, that girl was one hell of a handful, she's a tough one.

A thick golden cube covered the girls, making it difficult to detail them.

Elina wasn't the only angel here.

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Waltier was flying far above, nearly reaching the roof, four thin, white wings had sprouted out of his back and a brilliant golden halo had appeared above his head. In his left hand was Zhu sword, its golden blade flawlessly deployed, his skin glowered with the golden luster of Holy magic. Sparks of necromantic energy flickered out of existence around him as he dispelled some kind of cloud spell with his wind magic.

A few steps below the Pharaoh was her eldest daughter, looking rough. While no wounds marked Ensan body, sweat and fatigue had robbed her of arrogance. She clutched the skull staff tightly, five pearls hovered around her.

''Now time isn't your ally anymore, snake!'' Zazawu voice was a note higher than his usual gravity, his moral had gone up a notch. ''You can still stop this nonsense!''

''One daughter, loyal and vital.'' Zerase voice was amplified, she remained aloof and closed as she looked down from her high throne. ''One daughter, no longer sleeping and traitorous. Family truly is the greatest of obstacles.'' The lady snake clapped her hands, all twelves pearls burst into a cloud of powdery purple and simply disappeared, nothing happened. Magical jewels came out of small openings in the ground to hover around her once more.

''You've always been harsh, mother, but never genocidal!'' Years of bottled emotions and two failed confrontations spilled out of Shereen, she managed to keep her emotion from overwhelming her, her scream reverberated throughout the room as the pillar of blood buzzed with continuous power.

''Casualties are simple numbers.'' The pharaoh replied mercilessly. Her voice sounded less amplified, more honest, and organic. ''We give these deaths the memories of two generations; afterward, nobody will care.''

''Bullshit!'' Zazawu roared. ''People still remember the Great Crusade! That's two hundred years of deaths and sacrifice that people will never stop respecting!''

''The great crusade... Zerase answered pensively. ''Was a conflict that affected all civilizations. Muribel sacrifice and our ascension will be a simple new normal. Who besides the Allied Kingdom and you fools clinging to keep the Demon Lord empowered will care?'' She waved toward the giant Supreme, emotions returned to her voice.

''Twenty years ago, a purge of Monsters occurred within the northern country of Gwynedd, nobody in the Allied Kingdoms cared, what did Zipangu do? Nothing. Inaction crippled her holiness Daiyu Jawahir. Today, the empire of Zen is purging Mamonos as we speak, yet here you are. All these deaths affect nobody outside these countries, so shall it be in Muribel.''

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''That's... disgusting.'' Shereen gulped and walked up a few steps, stopping a moment to look at you, she took a large breath and looked up to her mother. Waltier kept his distance by flying around, the tension in the room was thin, ready to be cut at a moment's notice. ''Mother... no, mom. Are all these deaths really worth it? I... haven't traveled much but the little I've seen of -our country- was pure depression! Everyone outside our capital is crestfallen, the city is sucking out everyone's vitality! How can you call yourself a leader!?''

''Leader? Nay. God? Yes.''

''Urk!'' Shereen ears flattened. Zerase operated on her own mindset, her morality, and vision. A bitter pill indeed.

''Showing ourselves civilized and speaking could be useful.'' A thin smile graced the large, purple-skinned lady snake's admittedly gorgeous face. ''Having two of the Demon Lord spawns bearing witness to our testament is good'' Again with that voice, strong, commanding... invasive.

''Shut up!'' Shereen's yell resonated. ''I'm the one talking to you!''

''Hey, Arawn.'' Klesiah whispered to you. ''Should we try to attack during their talking? They might lower their guards.''

...You've promised Shereen a confrontation with her mother.
Zerase is receptive now but she won't be once battles happen. It might be foolish and unwise to waste time, perhaps the Red front can vanquish the mountain, perhaps she's stalling for time... or maybe this mother finally acknowledges the existence of her useless daughter now.

>Do not act. Speak with the pharaoh, Shereen deserves this, even if it endangers the entire army effort.
>Klesiah speaks truths. It is unfair, disgustingly so, but... you can't risk delays. Each word brings you that much closer to death. You need to act!
>Free.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VauwdyjK4Eo
I'll try to deliver the next update tonight but no promise, could be a long one.

>>5138222
>Do not act. Speak with the pharaoh, Shereen deserves this, even if it endangers the entire army effort.

Ama could well be in her ear so Shereen should be aware if anything is happening, any time they grant us is more that could be used to scope out the area and come up with something.

>>5138222
Hmmm... we have yet to violate a promise yes? Is this ritual continuing/proceeding despite her attention being elsewhere? How bad off are Zazawu and Waltier?

On that note, how stealthy is Ama? Could we move closer slowly? Is Zerase even aware of Ama's presence within her daughter? Where is the Mountain? Can Zerase just use a bunch of pearls to insta-kill Anais even though she's shielded? Does this current area count as realspace or has it mostly shifted to the red world?

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>>5138309
>Hmmm... we have yet to violate a promise yes?
So far.
>Is this ritual continuing/proceeding despite her attention being elsewhere?
Seem likely, hard to say what Zerase need to do here really. The pyramid is siphoning souls.
>How bad off are Zazawu and Waltier?
Waltier is looking perfectly healthy and Zaza shows no hint of slowing down despite his numerous wounds.
>On that note, how stealthy is Ama?
She has completely retreated inside Shereen soul, can't really be any stealthier.
>Could we move closer slowly?
You can try, yes.
>Is Zerase even aware of Ama's presence within her daughter?
Impossible for you to know.
>Where is the Mountain?
No signs of it yet.
>Can Zerase just use a bunch of pearls to insta-kill Anais even though she's shielded?
Princess is still alive despite being next to her. Waltier cube is holding firm.
>Does this current area count as realspace or has it mostly shifted to the red world?
Still realspace.

>>5138328
Ok then, we can try to inch our group slowly towards the pyramid as Shereen uses this confrontation as a pretense for it.

Y'know, getting angry or emotional while making a point goes hand in hand with walking towards the person you're confronting if you're not already right in their face. Our party doesn't make any airs of imminent hostility, merely being properly paranoid and wishing to be exactly where we need to be to keep Shereen safe from all directions and against any and all bullshit.

Mimiru is a ghoul right? Do death pearls give Zerase some authority over her as an "undead" type monstergirl? Can Ama communicate with her? If and when negotiations break down, well, I don't know if you ever watched Kara no Kyoukai but replace Ryougi with Zerase or Ensan and a certain mage's severed arm with Mimiru and you've got the jist of what I'd like to stage.

>>5138376
>Mimiru is a ghoul right?
Yup
>Do death pearls give Zerase some authority over her as an "undead" type monstergirl?
No. Remember here that ''undead'' is a slur, Mimiru is actually 100% alive. Stuff-like skeletons are actual true undeads.
>Can Ama communicate with her?
If she is, you can't know unless Shereen says something.

>>5138392
Ok then. We're trusting Ama right now so we'll leave her to that. Hopefully Zerase is blissfully unaware that Shereen's the anchor for Bad Fluffy's shard.

If it wasn't clear, my vote is to let Shereen have her confrontation and use it as an excuse to inch slowly towards the pyramid with her. I doubt Shereen's gonna be able to talk Zerase out of this so we need to be in an advantaged spot when hostility recommences. That is, as close to the pyramid as we can get Shereen so when Ama makes her entrance Zerase hopefully won't have the reaction time to stop her.

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>>5138429
Alright, two votes for the dialogue... Been a long time coming huh?

>>5138437
Yes it has. I fear it's going to send Shereen into an emotional nadir. I don't know what Shereen will do once in that state. Hopefully something helpful.

Captcha is GGHAX. Prophecy?

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>>5138502
Oh, there's going to be emotions. I'll try my best to deliver tomorrow!

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As I feared, it'll be a longpost. Been trying my best to make a good cut point for interaction but it's not our protagonist personality to lose his cool. Zerase is one interesting lady.
And you'll see firsthand what I mean by how important your decisions are.

>>5140063
>that spoiler
Why do you always make me worry? Now I'm worried we overlooked something extremely important.

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>>5140357
Naaah, one could say this is yet another result of your entire journey, were approaching the climax of Ama game after all. I think most of the answers might be long ones.

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Answer will be coming later tonight. This sequence was intended to be the end of our previous thread, sorry for the delay... and the length.

>>5141419
It's cool man. Always willing to wait for quality.

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''Be subtle, see if you and the girls can spread around, don't be obvious. For now, Shereen needs to talk.'' You whispered back, acknowledgment filtered into you from the soul link, the feeling spread throughout the girls. You stepped forward, hefting your shield.

''Arawn...?'' A few deep breaths and your proximity had helped calm your fluffy princess.

''A Moon duty is to his Sun.'' You stated plainly, gazing up at the faraway Pharaoh.

''Indeed.'' Even Zerase plain statements carried strength.''To have a pair of amazing Moons is a sign of great potential, even more so after breeding such undying loyalty. Step forward, you two, we can allow a close witness to our blood audience.''

Waltier and Zazawu have been trying and failing to breach through Zerase's magical defenses, the only tangible gain being Ensan worsening stamina. Continuing that strategy with your party could lead to success but a change of strategy would likely yield better results even if time... probably helped your enemy more than your side.

''Stop'' The large lady snake ordered and you obeyed with your little sun. Zerase had imposed herself on your tenth steps. One-third of the way up. ''Now, with an army behind you and murderers at your side, will you finally find the courage to speak to us, little one?''

''Khh!'' Shereen grunted, one of her hands sought yours but your position made that impossible, so she grasped your reinforced pants instead. ''There's one thing... one very, very important thing, I've always wondered.'' One deep breath resonated, then came her voice. ''Why did you stop teaching me about my magic, mother? For one year you... were there, instructing me, existing, making me...'' Her grip strengthened with emotions but her voice didn't shake. You're doing good, Shereen. ''...You stopped without warning, didn't say anything to me at all, I... Why?''

''Because you had the potential of becoming an immense danger, my little one. Out of all esoteric natures, we cannot fathom anything more horrific than yours.'' Zerase slithered close to the pyramid edge, sensuous and tempting. ''And we wished to test your curiosity, to witness what kind of personality you truly had... and you ended up docile, dear. Far, far too docile.''

''Yes, you think right.'' Zerase continued when Shereen's fluffy ears straightened, her voice lost its strange enhancement. ''We wished for you to disobey. Your sister was quite the unruly child, prone to rebellion and challenge our directives but that spirit was good in its way for it heralded the spark of ambition, a trait worth nurturing. And with time...'' She made a small wave toward her eldest who looked down bashfully. ''...came mutual respect.''

''While little old me grew up in her room reading books...'' Shereen hissed. ''...You lost interest.''

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''Indolence. Sloth. That is what you are, Shereen.'' Continued the pharaoh. ''You were born with everything and did nothing.''

Sieglinde's rush of anger ignited a united front of rebellion with all of your links, you moved to step forward but Shereen held you back by scratching your leg with her claws.

Ah... So that's how it is. This is Shereen's fight, supporting her now would be usurping what little authority she has left and likely kill her mother's interest.

''Today I've walked with an army, flew through the sky with the help of a goddess, burnt down your great web... How's that for a rebellion, mother?'' Shereen face was unreadable, her voice mirrored her appearance: calm and collected.

Zerase's response was to point at you. ''What have -you- truly done these past two months, Shereen?'' She paused, her gaze glowered with purple power as she trampled Shereen's will. ''Despite more dangers and excitements than what you've experienced throughout your life, you didn't even try to improve your magical aptitude. You've allowed yourself to be led by your Moon whilst pretending yourself a Sun. A mistress allowed herself to be shackled because you've always fled from the weight of authority.''

''That's not true!'' Shereen took a step forward. ''What do you even know anyway!? Banu brought me a new Moon I... Me, myself, your daughter, decided to use your pyramid, I gathered the ingredients to help him!''

''And proceeded to follow him.'' Zerase's response was dry, empty of compassion. ''To surround oneself with worthy talents is, indeed, worthy of praise but you were nothing but scenery. A bystander.'' Zerase cleared her throat, a strange noise, like an incredibly coarse and quiet roar, emerged out of the pyramid.

''When one of your Moons slaughtered Ensan herald, it gave me hope after you failed to rain proper vengeance on Marleon for your crossbow wound.'' Of course, she'd know. ''Outwitting your sister by keeping your guardian alive made me believe in your potential.''

''Then... You became nothing. You fled, none of your followers obeyed you, we can predict it wasn't your idea and will to flee into Myrtidal. Not only did you allow yourself to be led by your shackled man, but you've entertained a most loathsome witch, going with the flow. Always.''

Zerase wanted her children to be leaders. Could she be envious of Daiyu? Sieglinde is Throne Town administrator, Deruella wits need no demonstration and Martha upgraded the gauntlet that has been so vital throughout your journey. All worthy talents.

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''Reaching Solemnval was indeed impressive yet still you fled.'' The Pharaoh mercilessly continued. ''Bringing you back home was the only way to make yourself useful to our purpose now but you've shown a little spirit with terminating that loathsome entity and having your entire group survive our fetching. Still, Shereen, have you truly convinced these people to stop us? Nay we say, it is all mere reactions from uncovering our purpose and misunderstanding our intention. You've always been a disappointment.''

Had your body not been modified with Gardy cold, analytic steel, you wouldn't have been able to resist stepping up to protest. It went beyond abuse, Zerase was choking whatever embers of love and appreciation Shereen had for her single-parent. No, it was worse. She was trying to completely destroy Shereen's pride.

Silence stretched into a near full minute where held-back emotions changed the atmosphere into something dangerously murderous. Every witness here had gained yet another reason to abhor this snake.

''I wonder...'' Shereen kept her head down. ''...What is there to accomplish by yourself? You've lived through the Great Crusade, didn't you mother?'' That subject caused Zerase to visibly tilt her head. ''Humanity won by uniting despite all their different cultures and races, they also welcomed monsters wanting to stop Damien.''

''You're right about everything you said, I'm slothful and I don't think I'll change, it's part of me.'' Something screamed from within the horrific pillar of red, a resilient soul tried and failed to extract itself out of it. ''And I was happy to follow Arawn on his errands when we met because I was bored, and then everything escalated, he was the only one standing up to Banu so... yeah I let him lead me around, especially after we met Zhu... he had so many connections, there were so many people waiting for me and he wanted so, so much to go back to them, but finding his missing knight first was most important and...'' She shook her head, took a step forward, rubbed her wet eyes, and looked up to her impossibly tall, powerful mother. ''...You're wrong. Arawn always listened to me, for some reason he gave me a chance, reached his hand to me in friendship despite the collar I put on his neck, when he explained his troubles to me I wanted to help him! And you know what, mother? Yesterday might just have been the best day of my life.''

Another forward step, you took one to keep up without the pharaoh saying anything. Eleven stairs. Good.

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''Sieglinde wants me inside her little bubble, her family! I told Arawn I loved him and he does, too! I'm going to find a way to give Zhu a new body, I'll ask Klesiah to teach me self-defense and talk about the history of knights throughout the Allied Kingdoms! I'm going to teach Elina and Hao how to play a card game I was never able to convince Banu to play with me! I'm going to visit Hildegarde because she's my friend! I'll ask the Demon Lord family how to best handle my terrible nature, I'm going to live side by side with Sieglinde and Arawn, our group, I'll follow them on their adventures, their ambitions... that's right mother, I will follow them. I don't have any big dreams so I'll help them instead!''

Shereen took a few long labored breaths, her voice had shaken with barely restrained emotions by the end. ''I still love you, mom. You too, Ensan. I hate you both, but I also love you. You're my blood... and that's why I've come to stop you. I'm just one amongst many.''

''How sad it is to witness your blossoming will be perverted by the naivety of unity.'' Despite such a beautiful, heartfelt delivery coming from her daughter, Zerase didn't take a moment to give her a silence of acknowledgment. She responded without waiting. ''Tell me, child, you who so love history and books, what do you expect to ''solve'' by being together? You were born for great things, that is what your nature demand.''

''You... Are you just going to ignore everything I've said?'' Shereen voice shook with genuine sadness.

''Nay! We will gift your spirit with an answer, little one! Your blood deserves that much.'' Zerase held up a fist, her voice spoke with organic gravity and strength instead of its usual hollow reinforcement. ''The labor of our ascension is to grant freedom for all monsters, Shereen. Such a great boon cannot happen with mere unity of wills.''

''Freedom!? You're slaughtering hundreds of thousands right now for freedom!?'' Surprisingly, Deruella was the one to lose her composure. ''I didn't peg you for a lunatic! This long plot of yours and this ritual are both masterpieces, yet you can't even hear or see straight!?''

''The strength of a god is the only thing that can allow monsters to birth males'' Zerase statement trampled any protest, the snake slithered down one step, all twelves of her pearls glowered with power, ready to burst. ''The gift of sentience has enslaved the very existence of our kind.'

''Mamonos cannot have fully independent countries, they cannot organically grow their own cultures, they cannot free themselves of mankind influence because we are parasites needing one half of humanity to survive. An ugly truth nobody like to hear, and we've labored so very hard in finding a solution, a proper answer. Our Demon Lord is a halfbreed, the result of a demoness copulating with a human male, and this fact affected the Corruption spread by the Throne, imposing itself on everyone's biology.''

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''Common knowledge.'' Zerase continued, interrupting Deruella. ''So we labored to manipulate Corruption itself, change and alter it from within our body. We observed, explored, mastered our knowledge and this ritual was our conclusion. Corruption yield to ''facts'' of our reality, all monsters are poisoned by the taint of the Demon Lord, affected by the fact her particular clan of succubus can only birth girls.''

That... is new information.

''We've researched for freedom.'' The pharaoh balled her hands into fists, the only sign of a change in composure, her voice remained measured and strong. ''And no amount of mastery of Corruption and labor on the body worked. Mamonos are condemned into our sorry state of affairs, it is almost a stasis of the mind.''

''Wait, wait... Mother? You've experimented on corruption, on... fertility? Did you... use pregnant women?'' Shereen voice was almost vulnerable for she did not want to acknowledge something so ugly.

''Nay. Our study needed a sturdy body, a strong mastery of Corruption, time, discretion, and pearls.'' Zerase took a moment to observe her offspring. ''Shereen, you are our twelfth daughter. Ensan is our ninth.''

Not even you were immune to being dumbstruck.

''Your speech of unity, child, is nothing more than an illusion, a coping against the cruel truth plaguing our species. Nobody was willing to go down in the muck and find the needed answers to our plight, so we took this responsibility and this...'' She gestured at the red pillar continuously sucking in souls. ''...is our answer after two hundred years of seeking. The elevation of a Pretender God is the first step, afterward comes another grand ritual to alter and free all Mamonos from mankind's dominance. You speak of loving this man, Arawn?'' For the first time in this long discussion, Zerase magically enhanced eyes settled on you. ''To share him?'' Had she less mastery of herself, she would have spat with disdain. ''Accepting this possibility is the greatest mind rot affecting our kind. No man, no matter how great, deserve several women. One man, one woman as nature intended; such is the aim of our ritual, our great work.''

''You say that, yet Arawn is linked with his lovers, and not only are they all happy together, but they're also willing to accept me too. You're making assumptions about people, mother.'' Quiet anger and strength had returned into your little sun, she glared at her impossibly strong mother without fear, all intimidation cast away. ''Are you one of those fools who believe a relationship strength is inherently tied with time spent together? That's stupid! Look at me! I've only known Arawn for two months and my life has been completely changed... that's because I've accepted it. You're right in saying that monsters are very unlucky, finding love is so much harder... but I'm willing to believe that when it does happen, it is so much stronger than a regular relationship. I'm-''

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''Enough, child.''

''No!'' She interrupted her mother. ''I'm going to be part of a new family now. Arawn united us but that doesn't make him some kind of idol, we'll be able to grow old together, live in a community... as all Mamonos have grown to do in these past two hundred years! All you're doing is enforcing your vision! How can you even say ''as natured intended'' anyway!? Did you even read any books about animals!?''

''You've made your choice, child. It is good to witness the potency of our blood, for, at the very least, our daughters show strength in trials. Make me your nemesis then.''

''Neither you nor Ensan ever loved me, you two... lunatics.'' Shereen body glowered red, emotions fed into her magic. ''I did. I really did, couldn't help it I guess, it's how I am. I thought I could maybe stop you, keep you alive... I don't care anymore. Power is what you respect, right? Then I'll show you some more!'' Tendrils of blood sprouted out of the small wound she had sliced on herself, extending in thick membranes of bloody tentacles that danced around her like additional limbs.

''So it shall be. The Mountain has weakened, our ritual is strengthening, this vampire spawn needs to be used.'' She gestured at Anais who had been listening to everything with rapt attention. ''We need to deliver one last remark.'' Zerase coiled her body to elevate herself. ''You two, spawns of Daiyu Jawahir, hear us for there is something we need to share.''

''We've got names.'' Deruella growled, prompting you to turn back and briefly inspect your party. Everyone had fanned out nicely, although... Where was Hao? Her small stature and dark armor made it difficult to see her in this dim room.

''It must have been... forty, nay fifty years now since your mother's miscarriage.''

''How is this related to what's happening right now!?'' Sieglinde screamed, a whirlwind of fiery rage erupted out of her. The pharaoh had gouged into her most sensitive wound. Deruella managed to remain silent but her stance had straightened with the rigidity of someone suffering a sucker punch.

''Truth, no matter how ugly, deserve to be known.'' Zerase continued, undaunted. ''How could such a thing happen? You two must have asked a hundred times. We know Daiyu was poisoned in the later stage of her pregnancy.''

''Mother? Why are you saying this?'' Shereen's confusion mirrored yours. What happening now? Why is Zerase speaking about this?

''Only someone close to her could have done this.''

''Everything and everyone around our mother was being -very- carefully inspected and monitored, down to shapeshifting and even oddities of souls. You say it's you? Impossible.'' Deruella's voice held no strength, her body trembled, her tenebrous gaze of dark and red looked on the ground in horror as she had already reached an answer.

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''[Green]Nay. Back then, we needed to divert the Demon Lord attention for she was starting to peel the layers of our security, our single disturbance was to undo the suggestion put upon that man, your mother had ensorcelled him in hypnosis. His vengeance went far beyond our ex-[/green]''

''You rotten snake! Stop talking right now!'' Deruella enraged scream resonated throughout the room. ''I understand your dirty trick, you've been injecting hypnotic suggestions into your voice! You're amplifying everyone's emotions...Sieglinde! Don't-''

You've had plenty of experience resisting deluges of foreign emotions throughout your journey. Klesiah intense love, Elina near death at the hand of the paladins, Hao resonating happiness when you've reunited... But this anger was unique. Madness erupted out of Sieglinde, a tsunami threatened to crush your psyche whilst a whirlpool threatened to swallow your entire soul into a depth of maddened rage. Gardy body of steel and its inherent resistance to emotions, magic and souls is the only thing that allowed you to keep your sanity.

''Fuck, fuck fyuurgh!'' Dark tar poured out of your lover's eyes, her modified dark limbs grew slicker and longer, her tail changed in thickness, hardening into a familiar spear. Her new Corruptio was taking hold of her body, changing. ''KillhimKillhimKillhimKillhimKillhimKillhim-''. Dark-red tendrils suddenly enrolled around her body, locking her in place

''Don't get close to her!'' Elina screamed when Zazawu approached. A black, crimson entity grabbed one of her wings and tore it off.

...!? No, no that's impossible. Elina is flying right now, she's fine.

Deruella had bitten off one of her little fingers. From the wound came a thick sludge of Corruption mixed with blood that was further transformed into the tendrils that now locked Sieglinde in place. She kept fiddling with the coppery collar her mother had given her before the assault... An obscure silhouette was unraveling beside her, a combatant from the Red was bridging dimensions.

A purple blur made you raise your shield, something rammed itself against your protection! It was a ghastly thing, a cloud of necromantic energy that acted as a nest for some unholy thing with two large bony hands and a jackal head dripping with blood! Its pressure didn't last because Waltier flew close and decapitated it outright with his golden blade.

''The Mountain has weakened, the ritual is strengthened! Now we rebel against fate!'' All twelves of Zerase levitating pearls burst into powdery magic, her body glowed with renewed energy. ''To ascend is-''

Hao suddenly shoved herself against Zerase, pushing them both off the apex of the pyramid!?

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A dark spear planted itself into her guts No, chase these images, they don't exist!

Your knight didn't fully understand the common tongue and thus wasn't affected by the pharaoh's transfixing words. To avoid making noise she had discarded her greatsword, slipped out of her boots, and removed her armlets. She must have scaled the back face of the pyramid.

She understood one thing: Shereen needed to reach the apex.

Zerase managed to redirect some energy from her disrupted spell and poured the necromantic poison directly into Hao soul before they even hit the ground, a wave of nausea assailed you, a rot, pure death-

''Arawn!''
''Mother is coming!'' Mina screamed a second before a part of the roof exploded.

''Watch out for debris!'' Zazawu yelled, his swords slammed against a raised entity coming out of the pyramid itself.

A giant mirage blinked into existence on top of the pyramid. The great demonic mountain, the Prince of Famine, made a brief incursion into the world and vomited a portion of its fell, golden energy. You immediately stepped in front of Shereen as a beam sizzled across your shield... it wasn't hot.

''Aaah!?'' Elina screamed when one of these beams spread across her body, cutting directly into her soul. Afflicting by crippling dizziness, she crashed on the steps of the pyramids.

Thankfully all the others beams went wild and the creature returned into its accursed realm.

All this while flames darts continuously crashed into Ensan. Olga fiery projectiles struck into your enemy like well-aimed rocks, making it impossible for her to do anything but defend herself with her staff and eventually, use a pearl for protection. Her weapon vomited a purple cloud toward the firewitch that managed to dispel her magic... no, rather, it was a cloud of deathly cold to sap out Olga heat.

''Arawn!'' Shereen screamed to you.

So many things happening all at once... Precious lives are held by strings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCP7f3UtbPg

>Proceed with the plan. Hao interrupted Zerase, Olga is keeping Ensan occupied, Waltier has the opportunity to fetch his daughter and get Mimiru out of harm's way. You and Shereen are twenty steps off the top. GO.

>Rush for the pharaoh. You've got to save Hao, this is an opportunity to end that mage...!

>Sieglinde is succumbing to her alternate Corruption. With your souls being linked, maybe you can bring her back from the abyss she plunged herself into, instead of suffering the same tragedy you did in Throne Town!

>Free

>>5141656
Ho boy that's a *lot* to unpack. I take it the spoilers are us beginning to recall our fight with Dark Sieg so long ago (who is currently about to take over normal Sieg if it hasn't already). Still, in regards to our party let's see if I got this right.

Hao is now soul-poisoned and may be suffering from internal as well as soul necrosis (the former is a death sentence without modern medical tech to operate and remove the gangrenous tissue albeit slow and painful so she won't die immediately. The later is also deadly and may not be healable). If nothing is done by anyone to distract her Zerase will kill Hao outright next turn.

Deru is currently using all her power to restrain Dark Sieg and keep her from going on a rampage. She'll lock-on to either Zerase or one of the males (saying "killhimkillhim" means 3 people in this room and we're one of em') and insta-gib them. After that it's good old "kill everything that moves" and then feasting on the corpses. She's also summoned someone from the red world. Can we expect them to enter realspace and act next round? I have a good guess as to who it is and we could really use that bail-out right about now. Well, more like un-fucking this situation enough for a wipe to stop being certain.

Elina has eaten soul damage and crashed into the pyramid and may be unconscious for the next round or two. Olga and Ensan are currently enjoying a stalemate as Olga can keep up enough pressure to keep Ensan from using offensive spells but Olga's assault cannot overpower or breech Ensan's fully focused defense.

Mina screamed "Mother is coming" meaning in the next round or two ME's Avatar is gonna get here. She's basically a shard on hardcore officio assassinorum grade combat stims right? Can she heal soul necrosis?

Zazawu and Waltier are fine and Waltier/Zhu's sword can insta-gib pretty much anything Zerase tries to summon. That about right?

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>>5141689
>If nothing is done by anyone to distract her Zerase will kill Hao outright next turn.
I don't really want to acknowledge any potential finality here. Just, remember that Hao's soul has been treated before the assault and is still strengthened by her Whitening. Her disease was stabilized not fully treated yet.
>Can we expect them to enter realspace and act next round?
They've already begun to act, Arawn just isn't looking back.
>Mina screamed "Mother is coming" meaning in the next round or two ME's Avatar is gonna get here.
She's already here, Arawn wasn't able to see what she was doing due to the ghostly interruption.
>She's basically a shard on hardcore officio assassinorum grade combat stims right?
She's a grade higher than shards.
>Can she heal soul necrosis?
She oughta be able to heal anything once she's in her web and the subject is alive.
>Zazawu and Waltier are fine and Waltier/Zhu's sword can insta-gib pretty much anything Zerase tries to summon. That about right?
Yes. Justice sword directly strikes at souls, it's extremely effective at killing what Ensan and Zerase can muster.

>>5141696
Ok then. Where is everyone relative to us. At least, far as we could gather. Medium fusion means we're still basically a seed AI and that can easily generate accurate data and projections from but mere snippets of information. A "glance" would give us the velocity and vector of a falling object and thus give us an accurate projection of where it'll fall.

Also, 20 steps ain't very far. How fast could we move if we carried Shereen? How many "blood tentacles" did she summon and what's the range?

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>>5141712
> Medium fusion means we're still basically a seed AI and that can easily generate accurate data and projections from but mere snippets of information. A "glance" would give us the velocity and vector of a falling object and thus give us an accurate projection of where it'll fall.
Accurate description but Sieglinde wild emotions are causing interference. Your soul link cannot carry information anymore because of that.

>Where is everyone relative to us.
Far-right on that face of the pyramid is Hao and Zerase.
Elina crashed on the left.
Ensan is around 15 steps away from you, on your left.
Waltier has flown on the apex to fetch his daughter and Mimiru.
Everyone else is presumably behind, you can hear Zazawu stomping around.
>Also, 20 steps ain't very far. How fast could we move if we carried Shereen?
Really damn quick, especially with all of your reinforcement.
>How many "blood tentacles" did she summon and what's the range?
7 tentacles, 2 meters in length. They're clumsy weapons for sure but could help if needed.

>>5141727
We still got the aim of a god though right? We can also fire out of our mouth right? What's our current element on the gauntlet and do we have a clear shot at Ensan and Zerase? A "drive-by" shooting might tilt the odds in our favor. Fire won't work though so it'll have to be either Ice Javelin or Thunder Blast if we want an effect.

Also, how far away is Zerase and Hao from us and are they "on the way" from our perspective to the top of the pyramid? Bowling past them with Shereen in our arms and letting the tentacles knock the snek down the rest of the way to the bottom of the pyramid for Zazawu to pull an Ozzy Osbourne is also very appealing.

Also, where are Deru and Sieg? That's a no-go radius for everyone and will end up complicating maneuvers. Well, unless we want to chuck someone into that zone with unforeseen yet likely lethal consequences.

I'm also guessing that, had we deduced that Zerase was using hypnosis and warned everyone she'd have just dropped the pretenses and commenced hostilities immediately giving us the worst of both worlds.

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>>5141764
>We still got the aim of a god though right?
Not -that- much but you're really damn good right now, yeah.
>We can also fire out of our mouth right?
Yes, though not as quickly compared to your gauntlet.
>What's our current element on the gauntlet
Lightning if I remember right.
>do we have a clear shot at Ensan and Zerase?
Ensan, yes. Your angle on Zerase is bad due to Hao.
>Also, how far away is Zerase and Hao from us
Around 12 meters.
> they "on the way" from our perspective to the top of the pyramid
No, Hao momentum made them fall around twenty steps and they're struggling on the long side of the pyramid.
>Also, where are Deru and Sieg?
''Somewhere behind you'' is the best I can give you. The Soul Link is suffering from a major interference so telepathic communication isn't happening and I will treat looking back as indecision for Arawn.
Indeed, but it's also Arawn general demeanor not to act on emotions so I decided not to give an interaction when Zerase was abusing our little sun.

>>5141779
Well I need to sleep on this but it sounds like a drive-by or cheap shot on Ensan is basically a free action so I say we graft that onto whatever other choice we make. Swapping elements is also a free action now right?

Errr, just a thought, how high can we jump with Shereen in our arms? Could we just Jump up 20 steps and what would our firing solutions look like as we did that? As in, currently no good angle on Zerase but in midair that might be a different story.

>>5141798
Also, just caught this, heal "anything" if she's in her web eh? That include Sieg's condition?

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>>5141798
>Swapping elements is also a free action now right?
Yeah.
>Errr, just a thought, how high can we jump with Shereen in our arms?
You'd be able to cover roughly seven steps
>Could we just Jump up 20 steps and what would our firing solutions look like as we did that?
Not really feasible, no.
>As in, currently no good angle on Zerase but in midair that might be a different story.
You'd definitely get a good angle in the sky but Arawn leg game isn't -that- good.
>>5141800
You'll have to find out. And yeah I'm definitely giving this option a good waiting time.

>>5141804
Ok. Before Sieg went berserk where was Klesiah? We'd have that info right up until Sieg started going nuts again.

We don't have relevant info now but maybe, if the stars were aligning and Mina and ME's Avatar were in the right spots mayhap another cast of Indignation might fix most of our current problems. Provided, of course, we can still fuel casts by our links despite Dark Sieg's interference.

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>>5141823
>Ok. Before Sieg went berserk where was Klesiah?
A few steps up on the left side.
> Provided, of course, we can still fuel casts by our links despite Dark Sieg's interference.
Brute forcing it is the only way to see if it's even possible.

>>5141827
Ok, how much does big ME like Hao and, conversely, how much does she hate Ama? Zerase has confirmed that she knows Ama's in Shereen so I'm pretty sure she's not exactly keen on her reaching the summit and why she ordered the Mountain to go for soul damage over pure physical devastation (she was aiming for Ama primarily and didn't care about harming Shereen's soul as collateral damage).

If ME likes Hao enough to cancel out most of her hate towards Ama we can trust she's locked onto Zerase and will either extract Hao or eliminate/distract Zerase which will preserve Hao for at least this round.

How hard would multitasking be? Like, we carry Shereen up to the pyramid's summit and then try to deal with Dark Sieg. Would the intact pyramid give us any bonuses? Would Ama help us with that in a way that wouldn't involve killing her?

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>>5142108
Also, just reread all Zerase had to say. Daiyu's half-human and her breed of succubus was always bound by the no male births rule? Didn't expect that one. If she's the "template" all mamono are now based off of that would explain the issue and that majorly complicates any fix. I doubt she mind controlled her hubby though. I mean, maybe in one sense she did but merely being so sexy you make a man forget his principles/convictions doesn't count in most people's books. After all, if your convictions were that strong no amount of sexy would make you forget (let alone violate) them.

Insofar as the fixing the no male births problem she's correct about the ramifications of it but incorrect in regards to the solution. Even this noblest of ends does not justify the most vile of means. Pretty sure the next "grand ritual" would involve even more deaths and sacrifices than what's happening here. It may even have involved the outright elimination of humanity. Daiyu seeks to integrate and fuse humanity with the mamono races. Zerase's the type that'd "assimilate" them through consumption. That is, essentially, to "eat" them and gain/integrate all their beneficial and desirable traits into her kind whilst discarding the rest.

I've said we'd probably need ME's help to fix it and that it's also likely contingent upon Father Sky's consent to allow it to happen. ME might want it, but if FS is against it for some reason we got a stalemate as nobody wants a "War in Heaven" as it were. Meaning we'll have to somehow convince or kill him if he is against it as I fear he is. He might be so firmly on the side of humanity he rather likes the current situation. Now Mamono's cannot extinct humanity without facing extinction themselves. This sad and sorry state of affairs ironically pretty much ensures humanity's survival through MAD logic and he may be rather in favor of this status quo if his goal is Humanity's survival uber alles.

I do agree with Zerase on the monogamy question though. However, this is more over the fact that currently far too many good, kind, wonderful monstergirls are going without love and romance of any kind! There literally aren't enough men to go around even with polygamy factored in! This must be fixed! God wills it! But Zerase's solution simply isn't acceptable. Especially because, again, as she loved Damien the genocidal maniac, it probably involves either humanity's enslavement or extinction in one way or another.

What happens to a body that's had its soul ripped out? Is it still technically "alive" until it dies of either thirst or hunger? If we stop this ritual will it be like FMA where all those souls get returned to their owner's bodies and they get to live on with this being nothing more than a bad yet passing nightmare?

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>>5142108
>Ok, how much does big ME like Hao
Well, she was able to fully inspect her soul during the treatment. I can't exactly speak for her now since Arawn has no way to truly know.
>how much does she hate Ama?
Ama is in the ''I want to kill you fucking much but you aren't my most dangerous enemy fuck you'' category
>How hard would multitasking be? Like, we carry Shereen up to the pyramid's summit and then try to deal with Dark Sieg.
The sheer intensity of the simultaneous events makes it impossible to spread your attention effectively, Arawn strength/precision will not be enough to answer any menaces or accomplish anything significant unless he put his entire mind to it.
>>5142130
>I do agree with Zerase on the monogamy question though.
Oh my, so a player actually agrees with the evil snake on one thing? Interesting, since Arawn is a living contradiction to that!
What happened in Marleon went beyond merely ripping out souls from bodies I'm afraid. To answer your question, a body without souls will be in a permanent coma and eventually pass away without some kind of soul energy injected into it. The people here are all dead, even by disrupting the ritual.

I'm feeling tired today, I'll probably answer tomorrow though I'd still like to lock things in around... 1 hour.

>>5142420
A damn shame. What would helping Sieg entail over getting Shereen to the apex? Is the ritual still ongoing and will it soon shift everything into the red world and thus wipe 99 percent of Zipangu's army out?

Also, pretty sure ME knows Shereen has but a shard of Ama and not Ama proper. Killing it won't actually kill or harm the "real" Ama. Like how killing Mina wouldn't hurt the "real" ME (though she might mourn her).

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>>5142429
>What would helping Sieg entail over getting Shereen to the apex?
Turning around, seeing what's happening, and in all likelihood, fighting her outright to contain her. This means abandoning the objective you've established.
> Is the ritual still ongoing and will it soon shift everything into the red world and thus wipe 99 percent of Zipangu's army out?
Is still going but you've no idea how close it is to completion.
>>5142429
>Also, pretty sure ME knows Shereen has but a shard of Ama and not Ama proper.
Well, information does travel through soul links...

>>5142434
Well, if the ritual is continuing despite Hao tackling the mage leading it that still means that a total red world shift is potentially still counting down and we can't just order Shereen to go up there while we deal with Sieg.

This ritual needs to end. Or perhaps, be hijacked and repurposed. Since these souls have no viable bodies to return to we're basically sitting on a massive philosopher's stone. Sadly, the only person who can make any real use of it is Ama or ME.

We grab Shereen and rush for the summit. Then we turn around and see what's happening/block whatever attack will be directed at Shereen as, again, the last thing Zerase wants is Shereen/Ama fucking up her ritual. We are the great protector. We have to have some way of salvaging this and saving everyone! With how far south all this shit is going have we met the requirement to invoke our nature or will we if things get much worse?

Also, I agree with Zerase about monogamy, but on the grounds that far too many good, loving mamonos are going unloved and unromanced by what amounts to the laws of physics! Literally not enough men to go around. The horror of shy insect girls going without their carapace being washed with love and care. A kind yet mischievous kitsune who will never know the joy of a loving husband fluffing her fluffy tails. And these tails are frighteningly common! This madness must end! But not like this. Zerase's solution is too terrible. There has to be a better way. A way not forged in the blood and souls of millions of innocents...

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>>5142552
>We grab Shereen and rush for the summit.
Noted. One vote for rushing up!
Mayyybe. We'll have to see what happens now huh?
>There has to be a better way. A way not forged in the blood and souls of millions of innocents...
Alas... there might be only one reality. Mamonos love is rare but strong!
Gonna leave things open for another potential vote, I'm feeling woozy tonight so I'll aim to update tomorrow. I'll lock votes for sure in another hour.

>>5142566
I would have to agree rushing is probably for the best.

>>5142566
Oh, right, I did mention it earlier and forgot to put it in my vote but Ensan is also going to be the victim of a drive-by shooting as we rush for the top. We have a clear shot and it'd cost us essentially nothing to pop one off and hopefully open her defenses enough for Olga to fire up the barbeque!

>>5142803
Oh, and the shot is not fire. Ensan's easily able to defend against that element. Either ice or lightning will serve, but not fire.

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>>5142905
>>5142711
Sticking to lightning it'll be. My, you guys have grown to trust your beloved witch, hmm?

>>5142913
Trust? Hell no. Well, maybe, *maybe* if she does as she promised and doesn't royally screw us all over we might, begrudgingly, start to possibly sorta kinda trust her. A little bit. Not much.

Thing is, getting screwed over by Ama is probably a better outcome than Zerase's success/the continuation of this ritual for her ends. I think you said botching this ritual could result in this country becoming Cursed Swamp #2. The real Ama lives in the first one right? She in the market for a "vacation" home?

And while there may be but one reality it is somewhat malleable. Zerase's way is wrong and probably ends with humanity's extinction. The "true/golden" end to the no male births crisis has to be out there. We just have to find it!

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>>5142952
>The real Ama lives in the first one right?
That's what everyone believes but has she truly said so herself? Ah well, let's see how this game end...

>>5142913
One final question. Gardy's memory core likely had a lot of information in regards to fighting pretender era necromancy. His body would know what element would be more likely to pierce a necromancer's defenses and/or how a given element would best be "weaved" so as to circumvent any potential defense right?

The big problem with facing what amounts to master pretender mages here and now is how the current magical systems are nothing like it yet might easily thwart it for little MP if we get down to the fundamentals.

It's like a duel between a Vancian Mage vs. an FF/MP using mage. One inspired the other and may be more common now, but neither really has the context needed to truly figure out the other's magic except by what amounts to a dice roll with modifiers neither can rightly guess at. Meteor Swarm costs 2 9th level spell slots but from the other end it costs X amount of MP and that could be either ultimately miniscule (ex. they got 9999 MP), or *way* above their pay grade as it were...

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>>5143112
>Gardy's memory core likely had a lot of information in regards to fighting pretender era necromancy.
That he does.
>His body would know what element would be more likely to pierce a necromancer's defenses and/or how a given element would best be "weaved" so as to circumvent any potential defense right?
There's no particularly effective element here unless the necromancy change/enchant his body. Fire is particularly effective against putrid flesh and to burn out a big amount of weak summons, lightning works as a general catch-all, ice is great to control the field and potentially skewer a human dead in one lucky blow etc.
For now, your working on speed above strategy so you can't make an informed decision about what to do. Gotta judge the situation at hand and try your best!

>>5143114
Ok, one more possibility. In regards to the girls we're linked to could we act as a "lightning rod" for any soul affecting spell? That is, could we eat that damage in their stead if it came down to it? Necromancy ought to be far less effective against an artificial construct than it is an organic meatbag.

It'll still hurt us, but rusting a few gears is a lot less worse than necrosis of the heart and lungs. We can shrug off a few rusted gears, but you ain't nobody shrugging off their vital organs rotting from within.

>>5143355
>In regards to the girls we're linked to could we act as a "lightning rod" for any soul affecting spell?
Yes.
>That is, could we eat that damage in their stead if it came down to it?
Yes. Though doing that will require some commitment, meaning a full choice

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''Were going Shereen!'' The cacophony made it difficult to speak. Energy coursed through your magical gauntlet as you excise a precise amount of magic out of your soul. ''Stay near my shield!''

''Not-urk!'' Ensan tried to speak but right as you were about to unleash a spell, Mina violently tackled her on the stairs. Her momentum carried them both down in a painful fall whilst ghostly entities began to emerge out of the pyramid, the veil of reality was growing thin.

The path up was clear. Everyone knew their objective: you and Shereen needed to reach the top, no matter the cost.. She followed at your side diligently, her ever crippling hesitation washed away. At the pyramid apex, Waltier flew off, carrying his daughter and the motionless Mimiru

Twenty steps.
An eerie noise of broken glass sounded close than it should on your left, a lucky warning.
''Don't sto-!'' You screamed at your companion when you barely braced yourself hard enough to avoid sliding off the step when a fell creature slammed against your aegis or rather, your Sylphis.

Another one of these damn clouds with arms and beastly face. Yet before you unleashed your spell, five tendrils of lightning tightened around the entity and promptly yanked it off you. Klesiah was five steps behind you, on your left, and must have poured well over 10% of her entire reserve in this spell. She threw the creature up in the air where five fiery arrows from Olga slammed into its body and face, ending its minute-long unlife.

''Blue! Beh-'' Zazawu warning came too late. Another one of these bony jackals gripped Klesiah torso from behind and slammed your knight into the steps... and a second later, one of Mina sisters landed, grabbed the thing head, and crushed it like an overripe melon.

Twenty five steps
AaaaaHAHAaaahHAaaa PPaaplayingSsisshaaare
''We'll handle her, get away!''

Pandemonium behind you, the battle there was by far the most violent. Something big and heavy had crashed into a wall, you couldn't afford to look back.

''Shereen, behind me!''

Because the mirage of the mountain had reappeared atop the apex of the pyramid, its many eyes flashed with power for one second and vomited brilliant death.

Right at you.

''Urgh!'' It was a weigthy beam reminiscent of Zerase first spell on the battlefield and it didn't bloody end! The pyramid steps were on the larger side but each second made you slide back ever so slowly, centimeter by centimeter.

''Hold on! Just hold on!'' Shereen screamed behind you. She had gone behind you to hold your back, using her odd spell to help... but it wasn't enough, the spell wasn't ending. It was loud, rending you blind to the world around you. Athena's shield was the only thing that saved your life. Not even Gardy shell could resist such an intense soul scorching.

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''Shereen! Round up on the left and go...!?'' The pressure suddenly lessened and disappeared completely, along with the spell. One of Mother Earth shards had flown through the mirage and disrupted it enough to send the fell mountain back into its accursed realm... but the toll must have been heavy because her flight ended in a painful crash on the pyramid steps.

A handful of purple pearls exited from the pyramid apex, going to the right.
64% magical reserve left.
Tendrils of thunders belched out of your gauntlet and zapped into all the jewels. They burst into brilliant glitters after a few seconds of thundering treatment.

Apex.
Ama stepped out of her anchor, Shereen was already holding her single astral pearl.
Zerase slithered on the apex. Her body continued to glow purple despite her lack of pearls. ''This world needs to suffer no witches.'' Something was hovering around Zerase's body, a ghostly abomination reminiscent of Deruella manticore maiden ancestral ability. Eight legs sprouted out of her spine and the emerging manifestation of a draconic head-
It was promptly sliced open by Waltier's golden sword. A large golden shield appeared in front of the pharaoh, containing a belch of cold, yet fiery-looking death.

''------''
Astral.

Ama spoke words of power. Gardy had heard them so very long ago... and they left a deep enough impression to fill your mind with knowledge. The screams of all the damned souls trapped within the red pillar felt more tangible now, a surreal breathing noise from within the pyramid began to dwarf the chaos of combat.

''---- ------''
Open Origin

The mountain mirage appeared once more. Without the Demon Lord in the Red, the fighting over there must be on the backfoot.

''Down!'' You forced Ama on her knees, covering her and Shereen as another soul scorching beam-

''------''
Extend.

The mountain aggression was gone, banished once more into its realm. The world had grown completely silent, the idle thought of death briefly tempted your mind but a new phenomenon made you discard this distraction as you looked around.

The entire world had gone completely still and was now becoming a pure, dull white. People -your comrades- were replaced by silhouettes of marbles that, at first, you mistook for statues but their incredibly slow movements made their momentum nearly impossible to perceive. The pyramid was still there, the red pillar was replaced by yet more silhouettes so, so slowly going down their damned destinations. Your soul link was deafened.

''Shereen?''
''I'm here, I"m fine!'' Your little sun was here, in the flesh, in all of her colors.

So was Ama. The vixen of nine tails was spreading her arms and fluffy limbs as wide as she could, her triumphant smile managed to birth a flicker of dread within Gardy artificial body.

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''There's no need to worry about your friends, my dears. Right now, time is on a little extension... let's say that one regular second for them is a full hour for us.'' Her tails seemed to disappear in the scenery around her.

''What do you mean? Where...!?'' Shereen gasped, disbelief quieting her confusion.

All around the pyramid was a world of dull white, no walls, no architecture, absolutely nothing to see... besides the presence of thousands of angels, nay more than thousands, tens maybe even a hundred thousands. All of these beautiful individuals remained motionless in this world, caught in some kind of stasis, looking asleep while levitating in the air. Some had two wings, a few showed four, even rarer were the angels with a single one. These individuals spread into all horizons; up, down, north, south, east, west...

''Say hi to your audience, my players.'' Ama's grin couldn't be any wider. ''My stage wasn't all a show. Zerase did force me to change things... like needing my players to walk backstage to reach my climax, but here we are now.''

''Where are we, exactly?'' You had to ask. Your shield still worked, pulsing a harmless amount of lightning on its surface reduced the magic to nothing. Gauntlet is okay, Focus is holding firm...

Ama's glare made you understand she didn't like this harmless aggression. ''I call this place the origin of souls, I haven't been able to ask any authority for another name and before you ask, I have no idea why there are so many angels here. Infiltrating their little heaven is much, much harder than it sounds.''

''Reality is malleable, we call our big realm of existence a World Tree, right?'' The fluffy witch continued. ''Branches are alternate, closed dimensions like Solemnval, if we live on the trunks then layers within are places like the Red World but what happens if you go really, really deep?'' She spread her arms around this white world. ''There's not even any air to breathe but that's where pearls help.''

Deep within the World Tree? An origin?

''I think the angels would be better placed to explain but we can't go asking now.'' One tail gestured at one of the many, many motionless winged beings. ''Now's the time to finish my good game... aah dear me, I'm trembling!'' With a wave of her hand, the vixen made a long set of opaque white stairs appear next to her. ''I have to personally thank you for playing, my dears, and give you a fitting reward...'' In this realm, Ama eyes looked gold.

''...And you still have great strength, my loving automaton. I'm honestly moved by how much you've honored Gardy's body throughout your journey.'' A budding pressure within your chest heralded the interruption of foreign manipulation. Ama hold upon you was strong, stronger than never before but... you weren't within her mindscape or wherever she dragged you at night.

You can resist.
At a terrible price.

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''Hey, you two!'' Shereen interruption brought much-needed calm to your silent glaring contest with Ama. ''Let's go!''

''Shereen...? Do you trust her?'' You had to ask.

''A tiny bit of me does. By now, I believe that Ama would rather give us the ropes to hang ourselves, rather than kill us because she's a sore loser. I think that was the purpose of her entire game... There's always next time huh?'' She forced herself to chuckle as she looked at the angels all around. ''Do you think they'd be sad by a tragic end, Arawn? Ama?''

The witch labor for emotions. Is this audience why? These angels?

''Hard to say, they've never spoken with me.'' Responded the witch. She walked the few steps separating her from Shereen. ''I'll have to be prudent with you Arawn, but nothing hostile I do promise. I'm willing to answer one question, absolutely anything you want, as we walk up these stairs so I can shed this shard...Afterward, I'll be more than willing to help, don't you worry.''

You've given this witch your trust, once and she invaded your soul, planted a contract that is now tightening your limbs and magic with an invisible chain of authority.
This is your only opportunity for resistance.

You've trusted Ama again and so far she has kept her word. She hasn't brought any harm to your companions, she hasn't trampled Shereen's will, she helped Deruella uncover and find a solution to Zerase ritual. Now, the pharaoh stash of pearls had been neutralized, cut by half, transformed into astral pearls and Ama must have used them all for this... this opening? This finale?

Trust the witch.
Resist.

Here comes the single most important decision of this entire act, nay quest
If you do not trust the witch, your only option is to resist. You still have plenty of magic and her authority on your soul because due to her contract means you will not have any other opportunity. Expect major damage to your soul at the very least.

Trusting her is obvious enough. Ama will cast off her glamor, you'll see her in the flesh and witness what climax she has for this game, you've experienced how much she loves her ''choices''. Shereen has opted to trust her. And Ama promised to answer you one thing, right here and now...

>>5144113
Ask her what she intends to do next, this can't exactly have been a zero sum game; there should be a reason behind it, and an idea of what happens next with this "end".


I'm leaning towards "Trusting the witch" so things go smoothly and not resisting is probably for the better, though things might end up going too far.

>>5144113
Oh man, I have a feeling we're going to regret either choice. However, one hour here is one second to the outside world. Why only one question? We got time for two or three do we not? Her willingness to cooperate on this front would go a long way towards securing us choosing to trust her unless she's got a damn good reason to rush things.

I'm guessing we can't tell what happened with our links or if they're all still functional (i.e. tell if all our linked girls are still alive). Gardy's body got scared with Ama's smile eh? Is this sight triggering anything within the ol' memory core? Did "origin of souls" dreg up something in the database? Are the last embers of Gardy telling us anything?

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>>5144341
>Why only one question? We got time for two or three do we not?
Because you'll reach your destination after that conversation, while you do have time, distances is a veeeery unreliable concept right now.
>I'm guessing we can't tell what happened with our links or if they're all still functional (i.e. tell if all our linked girls are still alive)
Yeah, the distance between you and your link has gotten extreme enough to make all sensations inert.
>Gardy's body got scared with Ama's smile eh? Is this sight triggering anything within the ol' memory core?
Just familiar dread because bitch be smug and that expression left an impression.
>Did "origin of souls" dreg up something in the database?
It did. The only data you can get, however, is that angels shouldn't be here. This is not a place for the living, if they are here perhaps someone else then your group could be, too. As for what this place is, you'll need Gardy soul to make some sense since his memories of this place are corrupted (in the literal sense for once.) He's been here once. That's all you know.
>Are the last embers of Gardy telling us anything?
Depend on how you view body and soul. You're inhabiting his frame right now (modified to become organic of course). This isn't his soul acting up.

>>5144372
Ok, I think Gardy would know who commands the angelic hosts. Is it ME or FS? Willing to bet one of them is here for one reason or another.

Also, is getting the question answered contingent upon trusting Ama or can we get an answer and then make that choice?

>>5144465
>Ok, I think Gardy would know who commands the angelic hosts
That is something he knows, actually.
>Also, is getting the question answered contingent upon trusting Ama or can we get an answer and then make that choice?
You need to trust her. The timing of your resistance is critical here, Ama won't be able to hijack your mind or body but she'll make it impossible for you to become hostile. The situation is fairly similar to what happened in Solemnval: Ama is much more serious since you're close to her true body (even if that was just a bluff last time). Here, the feeling is genuine.

>>5144477
Wait no, I meant that is NOT something he knows. My brian is rotten tonight

>>5144477
So you're saying this is essentially a chance to sucker punch her "real" body/spirit and possibly even kill her but she'll definitely get a parting shot off and wreck our soul in the process.

I'm also getting that trusting her is required to get the question answered. That about right?

>>5144524
>So you're saying this is essentially a chance to sucker punch her "real" body/spirit and possibly even kill her but she'll definitely get a parting shot off and wreck our soul in the process.
No, it's a chance to resist and reject whatever she's planning. Ama hold on your soul cannot fully control you but it will make it impossible to hurt her later, so this is your only chance to say ''No!''. Ama wants to go up these stairs and meet her actual body, so she's sorta putting a precautionary measure on you.
>I'm also getting that trusting her is required to get the question answered. That about right?
Yes

>>5144536
Meet her actual body? As in, all of this was so she could regain a body to use in realspace? Do we still only get the one question or will her "real" body be amenable to answering further queries?

>>5144564
>As in, all of this was so she could regain a body to use in realspace?
Maybe you can ask her that... Still, she did say the angelic host was your audience.
> Do we still only get the one question or will her "real" body be amenable to answering further queries?
Maybe you could ask more things if you trust her. We'll see

>>5144570
Well, if she's going to try to kill ME or FS we can probably invoke our nature to override her BS and "protect" them and Shereen.

I don't like this, I never like giving Bad Fluffy what she wants, but the question the other Anon posted is a good one. At the very least we'll find out immediately how badly we fucked ourselves without fucking ourselves up. Much. I hope.

This isn't consent on the soul level is it? The very last thing we want is her finally getting full sysadmin privileges over our soul. If that happens it's over. We're her plaything, forever, and there's nothing we, Gardy, or anyone else could do about it. It's a bad end to the whole game!

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>>5144581
Absolutely not. That kind of consent is only achievable through genuine love or deep camaraderie.

I'll close things tomorrow evening, around 5 pm. I wanna leave ample time for votes.

>>5144593
So you're saying that us trusting her cannot and will not result in us getting fully enslaved to her at the soul level.

That's what you're saying right? Because if this might result in that than resistance is the only viable option. Better to die on our feet than live on our knees!

>>5144650
>So you're saying that us trusting her cannot and will not result in us getting fully enslaved to her at the soul level.
Yup.

>>5144113
Oh. Oh no. Oh god no no no. This feels dangerous in ways that words cannot express.

>>5144714
Both options are. Which way are ya voting my dude?

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Look like trusting will be the chosen option. I'll still wait until my deadline to lock things.

>Trust the witch.

Let's trust her a second time. Let's hope we don't regret it.

>>5145372
Probably. Can we make a remark before asking the question?

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>>5145548
I don't think that'd be a problem, depending on what it is.
And we've got our action. HeeeheeEeeheheeehee
This is likely going to be another longpost, one that I'll try to cut in two to avoid leaving you guys in too much suspense... Oooh such joy!

>>5145562
We had bad choice or worse choice. For me the remark should be something along the lines of "You better not be going for apotheosis or deicide Ama."

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>>5145568
A little snip like that is harmless enough. Time to walk some stairs... Eehehehe

>>5145575
I don't suppose you'll give us a number between 1 and 10 rating how badly we've either just fucked ourselves, those we care about, or perhaps even the whole gosh darn world over?

Given who you're posting, is Ama about to summon an Outer God into this reality? That'd be really bad.

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>>5145599
Now now, enjoy the cliffhanger, they don't come often. I don't get to taste the delectable dread of my players often, I should be able to post what I want tomorrow if I make good progress tonight.

>>5144802
I have executive dysfunction with this stuff. I can't add my voice. Sorry.

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I gotta operate slowly tonight due to tiredness, I'll aim to post tomorrow

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Reality isn't binary, an escape always lurks somewhere, something you've overlooked, a path obscured by failing to confront all the angles of your problems. Unfortunately, you aren't inside the reality you know anymore.

Ama influence grows on you by the second, your instinct is to resist, rage against this violation. It takes every ounce of self-control... No, it takes Shereen's worried stare to keep you still as the witch influence settles over you.

You like to work with imagery to explain magical and soul phenomenons. In this case, the fortress that is your soul has been invaded by the existence of the witch but your ego, your mind sought refuge within the keep. You can still think, move, act... but once her influence settles on you, your potential is chained, and nothing but assured self-destruction will even give you a chance to physically resist her.

''Sorry about that.'' Ama has at least some decency. ''It's for my security.''

''If we have to die to stop you, we will.'' Shereen clear statement makes the taller vixen blink in surprise.

''You'd better not be attempting your ascension or some kind of deicide now.'' Your growled, taking your first step on these magical stairs. They extended upward far enough to camouflage with the white scenery without touching any angels.

''Goodness me! I'll prove myself trustworthy, don't worry. Let us ascend my dears and reach behind the curtains.''

Ama put action to words and climbed first, followed by Shereen and finally yourself after one last look at the pyramid and its people of marbles. From this angle, you had no idea who Sieglinde was, neither could you see Hao or Elina... You pass your frustration by holding your shield.

The pathway goes up for eternity making for an uneventful journey, the only sign of your trio making distance are the angels you leave behind and the continuously shrinking pyramid. It disappears after five minutes of climbing and the crowd of angels grows noticeably thinner.

''What do you intend to do after this, Ama? After you reach your ''end?'' Daiyu might be able to knock on your doorstep soon, all the effort you've put into your game has to amount to something, right?''

''Hmm...Good question.'' She didn't turn back to look at you. ''My result will depend entirely on what's about to happen soon, I'm the one bestowing a reward my dear, I can't be greedy now and seek more than my fair share, this entire game, this time we've spent together and my, that moment in the bath...'' Her tails flutter excitedly. ''Delightful. I've never been part of a group, I've never felt so intimate with adding my strength to others. I did speak the truth when I said Zerase completely derailed my game. Originally... I aimed to end things in Solemnval but I had to readjust.''

''Are you saying the journey was your reward?'' Shereen manages to sound haughty and sarcastic disgustingly well.

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''I'm not so sure myself. Emotions are the most darn things, aren't they? When I played with you back in the Iron Kingdom, Arawn, the ending you got was to flee with your beloved through the mines and exit into the wilderness... instead Armin ruined that. You have no idea how frustrated that made me: you earned your ending fairly and that bastard robbed us of a well-earned satisfaction. Granted, I would have swallowed an interruption if things would have ended on a better note... Tragedies are overrated.''

That is not at all how you felt back then, being toyed by some super-powerful creepy, ghostly fox-woman was making your paranoid young self insane. However, could this flimsy, chaotic mess of a witch have a code? Or is she simply upholding her self-imposed rule precisely because she's so powerful?

''Then, in Throne Town...'''

''I was just trying to reconnect, honest. I wasn't playing anything, I just thought of trying to give you a little heads-up about what was going to happen.'' Ama answer you quickly. You've successfully snuck another question. ''A witch is a being of glamour and secret... The Swamp isn't my home, darlings. The place we are going to is exactly that, I've never invited anybody before and I must say, those seventy pearls were well spent. So, to give a clear answer, I honestly don't know what I'll do after today!''

Gods damn it all, is she being truthful...?

''Are you going to tell me that Ama-no-Uzume, the great witch of contracts, doesn't bestow gifts of blood magic to her supplicant?''

Ama stops climbing and turns around, looking at you with this damnably smug smirk...

''I -did- answer Banu pleas.'' Is her answer and up she goes again, taking the lead in climbing this endless set of stairs.

''Will the people... no, will our allies be safe when we return?'' Shereen says after thirty full minutes of silence. By now, your ascent had obfuscated the massive angelic host, leaving all three of you in a lonely world of dull white.

''Alas, emptying Zerase stash of pearls did nothing in improving the health of our darlings. We'll have to do what we can for Elina, Hao, and Sieglinde, once we return. I do promise to help in this endeavor if you'll have me after your reward of course.'' Polite, gentle, patient. This fox isn't acting as you'd expect for someone who worked so hard in creating a satisfying game.

Hasn't she won? And ''we''? She's planning on sticking around?

''We'll be here...'' She continues, reaching forward. ''...now.'' She adds with finality. The stairs changed into a small pathway of five tiles that Ama boldly stepped onto. She reached into the brilliant abyss and opened a piece of it like a door as if this infinite white was nothing more than a wall!

It led somewhere strange, a brilliant night sky with a white soil better illuminated than whatever you stood onto in this ''Origin''. The stars shone nicely from this side of the door. Where in the world is this?

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''Come, come let's go!'' Ama excitedly rushed inside, she stepped onto the strange white soil, tails aflutter, moving around without trouble.

With one cautious look at your little sun, you stepped forward as she followed behind. Contrary to your expectation, Ama didn't close the door after you emerged outside in this...

''...What?''
''What is this?''

The night sky was an infinite glimpse of brilliant lights but the moon had been replaced by another, bigger globe. This one was colored in too many marvelous vibrancies to describe. White clouds, blue sky, wide expanse of blue, long sinuous patches of... terrains spread in what looked to be a random pattern, with massive stretches creating immense patches of lands?

''This is our star, darlings, welcome to my home. Now is time to put this shard to rest, enjoy the view.'' Ama proclaimed with panache, extending her arms toward this grand, beautiful globe. Her body dissipated without fanfare: kimono and fluffy tails became fluttery dust of colors, everything dispersed in less than five seconds.

''Ah?'' A shade of sadness colored Shereen's expression. ''She's gone, I don't feel her presence anymore.''

Across the giant empty field of craters and white dust, you spotted a sudden movement ten steps away. A silhouette rose to its feet, apparently having been there all along in the spotty darkness of this strange realm.

''HeeeEey-ugh. Damn my voice. Think of water think of water...'' The silhouette walked close, she was an inch shorter than Shereen with a voice reminiscent of a dying crone. ''...sounding much better now!'' Indeed she did, the excitable voice of a normal girl accompanied Ama true body.

She was a girl, young adult, or older teenager, with long blond hair touching her thighs, separating into many strands that reminded you of snakes. Garbed in a puffy black dress, this entirely human and wholesome girl was a complete contrast with the desolate scenery surrounding her. ''Not too disappointed?'' She asked, blue eyes shining unnaturally, her grin showing particularly pointed teeth. Ama briefly toyed with her long hair, pushing the strands behind her ears. ''Without glamours, all the majesty of a mystery become boring.''

''Y-you...Ama? The fox...?'' Shereen was suitably flabbergasted.

And now you realize that you are unable to speak. The witch influence is all-encompassing now, she might even batter down your mental fortress!

''Foxy is way more impressible than boring little old me, a witch need to impose a little awe when making an entrance y'know? Well, it doesn't matter that much now that we're backstage, sorry about not offering crumpets, I'm poor, nehehehe.'' She made a gesture toward the scenery. ''Nice view yeah?'' She sounded nervous, her small body was trembling gently.

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''What do you want to give Arawn?'' Shereen immediately interceded.

''My help for the coming future!'' Oh hell no, wipe that smug grin off your face you shitty brat! ''Barrel of shit coming real soon and since you both won, I don't wanna play again, hell it's impossible to make a board with all the mess around him now.''

''Are you sure it's not because you want to be with him?''

''Pfah!'' A noticeable redness colored the little blond witch's cheeks. ''That's what he wishes, the horny bastard! How'd it feel to fuck a little girl, Arawn? Regretting it? Huh? Huuuuh? Gonna have some explaining to do huuuuh? Pissing your pants?''

Lightning coursed through your gauntlets and erupted in a loud clapping noise when you punched your shield. If only you could strangle this goddamn brat!

''Neehehehehe.'' Ama heartily chuckled at your expense. ''I'm keeping Arawn silent for now cause I need to talk with you, Shereen. You've been my main player for this game and you have a decision to make, one I want you to make entirely on your own without any influence.''

''What? Arawn can't speak?'' Your little sun took a step back and look up at you, only now realizing Ama spoke the truth. You could only nod your head. ''Why am I the main player? Arawn did everything!''

''Cause I said so.'' The shorter witch responded, her voice growing firmer as her confidence grew. ''At first, I only prepared things for our man here but when I noticed your relationship and your potential, I altered my ambition.'' A sphere materialized beside the short witch, a globe of glass reminiscent of a crystal ball with its inside shining like all the infinite stars of the nearby naked cosmos. A beautiful item.

''In here is the concentration of roughly 600 astral pearls of powers.'' Ama walked in front of Shereen, less than ten centimeters separating them. Despite being shorter, thinner, more fragile than your little sun, this blond girl looked almost demonic, seductive. ''This is the power that sends nations to wars, the gods of our distant past would all have converged to get this precious trophy, this raw power... your birthright Shereen, I want you to have it. It'll allow you to become a witch!''

Your little sun could not say anything, your brain barely registered the witch of contracts words.

''It sounds really scary I know.'' Ama continued, starting a motion to round Shereen. ''That much power, being a witch! It changes so many things, so many new paths are open, so many unknowns... it's normal to reject it, that's why I want to insist a little and talk, you deserve better than a hasty decision.''

''P-Power...? Couldn't you take it for yourself? I-I...'' The weight of Ama proposition was finally dawning on Shereen, the witch had indeed completely predicted her first instinct. Confusion leads to fear

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''Wouldn't work on me, I think. I'd rather not try and waste something so precious, this many pearls... I don't think anyone in the War of Pretenders had a stash like this, people kept using them to stay on top.''

''It sounds like what your mother was trying to accomplish, but unlike her, you're blameless in the collections of death pearls. This is a power that has to go somewhere, it cannot be handwaved away.'' A loud whisper emerged out of Ama as she kept walking around Shereen, the blond girl's mouth didn't move at all. ''Nor can I contain it.'' She spoke for real. ''Because my flimsy container will break once our time extension is gone.''

''I-I'm not...'' As Shereen hesitated, moving your legs became difficult, unpleasant weights afflicted your arms. Fighting through this...would mean no turning back for you. Your connection to Hao and your magical nature will surely be needed to help her, you can't... You have to wait.

''Shh, listen You can become a witch, of your choosing, your own title, you can build your own reputation or not bother with any of that and espouse benevolence. Second witch, companion, enemy whatever you choose.''

''I... I have friends now, a lover a-and Sieglinde invited me into her... our family.'' Shereen's protest was weak, her gaze lingered upon the floating crystal ball.

''I'm not demanding anything, Shereen. They can adapt.'' Sweet tone, sweet words coming out of such a sweet-looking girl. ''Accepting my gift or refusing it will change people's opinions. Your newfound potential will be difficult to accept because of what I am but, darling, power is a tool. You are not your mother. You've seen the good and bad. You don't have to throw away your community, your bubble.''

Ama made a full rotation before speaking, her brilliant gaze always fixated on Shereen's head. ''Your mother used power for her selfish glory and no delusions of salvation will change that. It takes a special kind to reduce people into ingredients... But power isn't a bad thing. Tsukiyomi-no-Mikoto is an impressive woman, right?''

''I know the queen-mother of Zipangu is strong, I'll never have her wisdom.'' Shereen emotions were settling down with self-deprecation.

''She has a family, a dashing husband, one biological daughter, and two others she loves just as much. Yet she was born as an artificial demon lord, an experiment by angels meant to control monsters. Not only was she made infertile but Damien cursed her, alongside all the heroes, to have progeny without souls, yet Kin is a wonderful girl, a little miracle that shouldn't be alive.'' All smiles and gentle words. ''Power is the only thing that allowed this miracle, Tsukyiomi happiness is built on strength. Selfish, wise and ultimately accepted.''

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''Ame-no-Uzume no Mikoto is a Kumiho.'' Ama boldly stepped into a new secret. ''She is of a near-extinct race of kitsune with a curse in their blood where they have to cannibalize men, yet she's been able to control herself. Her force of personality is commendable, yes but the power of the people around her -especially her adoptive mother- tremendously helped her contain this disease and her inner strength manifested in a magical potential potent enough to protect her family, nation and those she loves. Strong, selfish yet generous... Ame life is only maintained through power and wisdom.''

''Hadraniel, Embodiment of love. She has been in a coma for the past twelve years yet is already here on the battlefield.'' Ama walked to Shereen left. ''It took great strength for her to survive her wounds and power -yours especially- was needed to rejuvenate her, her life was only maintained with power.Heroes are strong''

''My friends...'' Shereen spoke breathlessly as Ama stopped behind her.

''Arawn needed to be strong to survive my game. I put Zhu as a safety net, her power is truly impressive.'' Shereen gently cradled something in her pocket upon hearing the whisper. ''Elina, Klesiah, Sieglinde... They're all strong, the Demon Family has reunited too, despite all their responsibilities, enemies, and all the envy their position cause, I want to believe Daiyu is finally reaching some kind of harmony... despite the heavy burden her power impose.'' Ama rounded and stopped on Shereen right. ''Banu needed to maintain her power to keep you safe, she had to stay competent, healthy, and strong. Her circumstances were born from necessity and love, but power is power and she has proven herself more than good enough.''

''I...I've never done...'' Shereen, don't let that witch get into your head!

''No, you've lived embracing power and that's admirable, Shereen. Your circumstances have changed now, I'm offering a new opportunity, something that'll open so many paths...'' Ama glanced at her floating artifact then gesture at the beautiful globe in the sky. ''...Our world is one of strength. The powerful can live happy lives, elves are eternal, so are many species of monsters; everyone needs to adapt to times ever-changing circumstances but only the powerful can impose their wills. Strength influence all things: living how you want without bringing harm to others is commendable but you will need to adapt against the ambitions of the powerful unless you have the strength to impose yourself. [Blue]Supreme Monsters is nothing more than a title for a community.''

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''Your life will never be the same after today, no matter what.'' Ama stopped in front of Shereen, her brilliant gaze never left your little sun face. ''Always bending to people's expectations isn't a virtue, I want you to think about what you really want. I could shove this orb into you no matter what you want but what's the point in that? You'll become my enemy and that'll make things boring. Maybe we would still become enemies if you choose to become another witch, I'm willing to accept that; it would be your choice. One made as a true witch. My equal. No more uselessness.''

Silence fell, Ama took a step back to finally give Shereen time to think. Your little sun was staring into space, registering the truth of Ama words. Emotions weren't overwhelming her, Shereen looked at the witch with a hard gaze, she had never looked so intense before.

Whatever choice she makes will be the right one... for her.

Did Ama build this entire game for this singular moment? For this sweet temptation...? Even if you could talk, what can you say? Shereen has never been allowed to make decisions for herself, circumstances always forced her hands, and she adapted.

...You don't know, you really... can't think of any rebuttal to Ama's!
There is no choice here, Shereen has to make her decision. I'll do my best to answer in two days.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UX3L-gs4MPs

Is this the birth of a new witch?

...I'm still not sure if this outcome is a positive one or not. Did we do the right thing trusting Ama? Didn't we? Agh, I thought I'd know for sure after this cliffhanger! I still don't know!

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>>5148000
If a new witch is born remain to be seen, your precious, gentle little sun is being tempted... But is it truly a bad thing? Trusting Ama allowed her to speak to Shereen without interruption... But again, is it such a bad thing in the end?
This moment has been one of the biggest motivations for me during act 2. Everything that happened with Shereen led to this: is it time for her to gain true power? She who has been so useless her entire life?

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>>5147913
So Ama's true self/body looks like Abigail? We've been getting fucked with and over by an ancient loli witch!? I didn't see that one coming. Her asserting we want to "be with" her, however, is right out. No! Bad Fluffy is not and will not be our lover! Not willingly anyway. Mind fuckery can make anyone do anything after all.

So if Shereen accepts she'll become just as powerful as Ama? Will she lose her body in turn? Ama did say something about making bodies in Solemnval but that she hadn't the time to do so before Leena's soul would have decayed to the point of unviability. That would mean Shereen, if she becomes as Ama, could make a replacement body for Zhu and her soul is always going to remain viable within that gem. She may even be able to mess with the parameters a bit and give her self-regenerating telomerase making her as immortal as we are. This would also grant herself immortality as I don't think the Anubis species has that naturally.

If Zhu were here I bet she'd tell Shereen to take it. She has a kind heart, but we all know what they say about power. Is that Ama's ploy? To watch as a pure and innocent soul falls to the temptations of raw, undeniable power?

Also, I'm betting if she refuses we get a second cursed swamp out of all this. She could go either way on this one and we still don't have any clue what Ama's really going for here! This really is a nail biter isn't it...

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>To watch as a pure and innocent soul falls to the temptations of raw, undeniable power?
Sound like it, doesn't it? What Shereen will be able to do as a new witch isn't something I'll speak about before she accepts the deal of course. Thinking on your entire journey, do you think she'll accept it?

>>5148038
She was able to help out here and there, but we didn't resolve her underlying psychological issues producing her inferiority complex. Had we gone with other choices and had the dice sided with her if/when those choices were made that may have resolved them.

Instead, we played it safe every time. Her magic was a path to getting everything we wanted several times with no drawbacks... provided the dice gods smiled upon us as she was/is an essentially untrained blood mage. Had she/we botched the roll something bad would have happened and deepened the issues.

Then there is the matter of this power being "tainted" with the deaths of innocents, but that's beyond anyone's capacity to fix now. The people caught in the ritual and those who became pearls are dead and nobody can bring them back. Were she to take this power and use it for good perhaps their deaths would not have been in vain and at least resulted in some form of good. About as happy an end as they could achieve now sadly.

She doesn't seem to be the kind of analytical thinker Gardy and Arawn are though so that thought might not even cross her mind. Like I said, given what I've got, it's 50/50. She might accept and she might refuse and I have no idea what either option entails! Gah!

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>>5148101
>Like I said, given what I've got, it's 50/50.
Good.
Ama is a good person!

>>5148105
Ama's a lot of things, but I wouldn't call her good. She's more... Chaotic than anything else. She has rules and all, but nobody can rightly figure out her real angle. Why she listens to some and not others? Who she enters into contracts with and why? Hell, why the hell she likes us so damn much is still a mystery!

You really like to milk the cliffhangers don't you? Love us stewing in vague dread and uncertain anxiety?

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>>5148116
Ama is a liar because that's what witches are, in the end. Being of illusions, reputation, and glamour. She hasn't been open in the relatively short time you've gotten to know her for real in your journey so having no damn idea what motivates her is fair, although... I think her current home and the circumstance of your meeting her True Body does give a few good hints about her.

This cliffhanger is more about me wanting to avoid making a 5k answer and making you digest Ama efforts. This is her triumph here!
Well, I do enjoy making you guys squirm too I'll admit. This current scene -Shereen penultimate decision based on all the trials she went through in act 2- has been one of my biggest motivations... Sure am glad all my gambles paid off! I'll try my best not to make you guys wait too much.

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>>5148141
Well, we are willing to wait for quality. However, I must say that Ama, and by extension, what she's offering Shereen feels an awful lot like what becoming/being an "archmage" in the New World of Darkness/Mage: The Awakening is.

The "archmage" has crossed "the abyss" and has successfully managed to well and fully establish themselves as an existence within the supernal realm. The realm of, for lack of a better term, the gods. They are not gods per se but to most anyone still here in the mortal realm (and even to those aware of and able to interact with and utilize the supernal realm, mages) they may as well be.

What that actually means depends on the arcana you focused on when you "ascended" but suffice it to say that, whatever "impossible" thing that was not allowed to you despite that arcana's potential to do it? Yeah, you can do that now. Create a new/perfect body for a soul to inhabit? If you got over five dots in the "Life" arcana? Done. Literal time travel? If you're a archmage of time? Also done. Once you got that 6th dot in your primary arcana you could get that in others, but you could only get that absolutely insane 10th dot in that particular arcana if memory serves. Getting that 10th dot was basically equivalent to actually becoming a god of that arcana. It'd be the equivalent of being a god with some aspect of that as your domain if ya catch my meaning.

In the context of this quest Soul mages are focused on the "Prime" arcana and we have displayed what that means. It is "The magic of magic" as it were. Amplification of the spells of others. The manufacture/donation of mana from one party to another. The possibility of weaponizing this as what amounts to literal "divine fire" able to scorch and incinerate the very essence of one's being/soul. All possible within the Prime Arcana.

And if this deepest realm of "The World Tree" isn't analogous to "The Supernal Realms" I don't know what is. Again, the only real question is, why the hell would an ancient archmage want to "uplift" a being like Shereen to such a high plateau of existence? A young and truly kind and innocent creature that really ought to have been a broken mess and yet didn't even when Mommy rejected her entirely and used that rejection as a way to break Sieg so that she'd go berserk and thus open both us and her, hopefully from her end, to the Mountain's "Delete Soul" hyper beam attack...

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>>5148660
You'll get to find out soon. I've never delved too much into World of Darkness stuff so all resemblances are honestly coincidental. Hope you're liking your trip on the moon!
Ama best girl.

>>5148678
No she's not. That title belongs to Sieg, Shereen, Zhu, or Vilma as of right now from my end. Ama is still worst girl. Knowing she's truly an ancient loli over a 9-fluffy tailed kumiho actually knocks her down a few pegs.

Still, like I said above, body creation isn't beyond the capacity of an archmage. She chose to become a kumiho and sired Ame on what appears to be a whim while in that body...

But this bitch is obviously capable of thinking 20 steps ahead and must have been unbelievably proud of the virtues displayed by both Tsukuyomi and Ame. Not an outcome she'd saw coming. Tsu was/is a hardcore pragmatist and she gave Ame no hints as to how to manage her cravings for male livers.

And yet, the happy ending occurred regardless. Pleasant surprises seem to make Ama happy. Too bad unpleasant surprises are just as fun for her up to a point. She didn't like Armin's interference with us running off with Devona's avatar/our beloved but that was what amounted to a poorly written plot twist. A reverse "deus ex machina" as it were. A tragedy created by pulling something out of one's narrative ass is, indeed, boring.

Armin's and Ama's idea of fun/ideal stories likely conflict I'd say. Err... Ama did take the proper precautions to ensure he can't fuck this up in all the worst ways right?

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>>5148728
>Knowing she's truly an ancient loli over a 9-fluffy tailed kumiho actually knocks her down a few pegs.
Posting Abi is probably a bit of a mistake on my part since, despite being a perfect lookalike, Ama does look older, she's grown past the loli phase.
>She chose to become a kumiho and sired Ame
Has she now? Or is it what people believe?
>Ama did take the proper precautions to ensure he can't fuck this up in all the worst ways right?
Given what you know, do you think it's possible to have any precautions against him?

>>5148747
>That spoiler
If we don't than Ama does. Hate to say it but she's no dummy. She learns from her failures and mistakes. Armin royally fucked her over back when we were but a wee lad intent on escaping with our beloved shard of a pretender god/godling. Would have too, were it not for evil not-Merlin.

And let me just say this. Ama is currently in possession of the energy of 600+ astral pearls. If she wanted to make the local star go supernova tomorrow she might be able to do that.

With that much power you don't ask, you command...

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>>5148764
>Ama is currently in possession of the energy of 600+ astral pearls.
A terrifying number, isn't it? You've already experienced what someone can do with a handful of them... So much power! What would you do with it?

>>5148774
Err, enable male births for mamonos in the way Daiyu wishes. Duh.

She wants to fuse the races of man with the races of mamono. I'm fully on board with that! This will result in "human" females becoming an oddity or even extinct species but I doubt it'd ever come to that really.

After all, in a world where monstergirls were so utterly common that rare merely "human" female would become the rarest of commodities. Given how this end would essentially label "human females" as just one another mamono type well... shit can happen.

Like I keep saying, this madness must end! Too many kind and wonderful monstergirls are denied the happiness of love and marriage merely because of the dearth of men given how their kind cannot spawn them!

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>>5148788
Too bad Arawn is not the one who makes the choice huh?

INH, so I am guessing you have already decided what Shereen decides here? Or are you still considering things?

>>5149185
Oh, this update is just me essentially cutting it in two because it would have been pretty long and I wanted to make you guys react a little. This is a choice that Shereen has to make entirely on her own, which is pretty much my way of saying that it sorta depends on everything she's gone through in this act.

>>5149470
Wait a minute. Didn't Ama say that after this that big fight with Dark Sieg, Zerase, Ensan, The Mountain and that whole war outside will still be going on after this?

If Shereen heard and registered that her big question will be "Will this make me strong in a fight? Strong enough to protect and save everyone?"

Ama's answer to that will likely dictate Shereen's answer. If yes we've likely got ourselves a new witch. If no, well, I don't rightly know.

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>>5149576
>Ama say that after this that big fight with Dark Sieg, Zerase, Ensan, The Mountain and that whole war outside will still be going on after this?
Yeah but Zerase forces are going to be completely crippled because the source of her magic will be dried up. All the abominations will stop falling from the sky and those that remain will die, all the ghost and necromantic reinforcement will dissipate, the Mountain won't be able to shift into the world anymore so the people battling it will likely retreat since the veil between the Red and reality will reinforce, your force will gain an overwhelming advantage. Hao and Siggy are going to be your biggest worry and, well, Ensan and Zerase could be too but they don't have any pearls to use.

Ama didn't pressure Shereen with this subject precisely because she did not want her to make a hasty decision.

>>5149586
She'd still worry about it and she likely doesn't know about all that.

How would Hao be a worry besides likely needing urgent full spectrum healing of both body and soul? How would we even begin to try to do that? I think you said ME's avatar could do it but she needs her web to do something massive like Hao likely needs. Poor brave girl, too pure and earnest for her own good...

>>5149600
Oh, Shereen knows that Hao got royally screwed over by her mom right? She did see her tackle her and it doesn't take a genius to figure she ate one hell of a nasty spell for her trouble.

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>>5149602
That she did.
Worry about what's happening right now my friend, this is Ama and Shereen moment!

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELF1OImSrQw

It is an agonizing wait. Shereen takes a long time gazing at the crystal full of pearls, the surrounding desolation reinforces its complete silence. With time stretched so thinly, noises didn't carry well, more whispers of imaginations than something firmly rooted in reality, making it difficult to hear her steps. Thankfully, this phenomenon did not affect speech. Shereen walks away to stay by herself, looking up into the beautiful globe that was your world, your star.

''I'm glad she's taking her time.'' Ama whisper next to you. ''I'd like it if you believe me when I say that I'm doing this out of nothing more than the goodness of my heart.''

Glaring is the only thing available to you. The much shorter blond pout at your expression. ''So difficult.'' She grouse.

Shereen's demeanor and movements start to become much more expressive. She squats on the ground and traces a few claws on its surface, carving a small hole to grab a hefty amount of the white powder that made you think of sand. She let it flow between her furred hands, then rise to her feet once more and look upon the beautiful colored globe that was your star, your world. She snuck random glances at Ama here and there, expression growing solid, almost fierce. Whatever your little sun was thinking was making her increasingly bolder and self-assured.

''I got it.'' She proudly states while clapping her hands, causing a muffling noise. ''I got it.''

This is the first time in your adventure that you are unsure, tense, perhaps even desperate while Shereen is confident. She walks in front of Ama, reaches to grab one of her hands with hers, and announces the unbelievable.

''Become my only Moon, Ama''

...?
''Huh?''

''Your home is a miserable place, I'm taking you out of here.'' She shakes Ama's pale hand. ''Your fox body is who you want to be, isn't it? You never actually stepped into our star yourself, right?''

''A-ah? Wa? W-wait that's not... Hold on, my proposition... Shereen?'' The witch was completely overwhelmed despite your princess being gentle in her excitement.

''No wonder you labor for emotions! You've been stuck in this dreary place for your entire life, you have outlived every Demon Lords! So here's my answer: become my Moon. I don't care about what we said previously during our dealings, I want you out of this insane place.''

''Shereen? You might have misunderstood me...''

''Your game taught me to never be fooled by an imposed choice! Reality -life- is too big, too unpredictable for that! What would have happened to Leena if Arawn didn't wrack his brain hard enough? All I was doing back then is cry! I know -exactly- what I want Ama, I took all the time you've given me to think about it.''

Shereen steps closer, Ama steps back.

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''When you popped out of the darkness here, I taught you sounded happy. That's because you've never welcomed anyone into your home before, right?'' There was no answer to her question, Ama only stared at Shereen, completely overwhelmed. ''You've gotten your groove back now but I'm not fooled.''

''You'll have to apologize to lots of people. I'm really nervous about Hao and Elina... All that power you're offering won't be worth anything if I don't know how to help them! Arawn nature is nothing more than wind if he doesn't know how to treat the damage! So, I want you Ama. I want your knowledge! What guarantee do we have that Hao won't need long-term treatment? Can we expect Mother Earth to always help us?''

''Sieglinde is in so much pain too...'' Shereen continues, by now she's monologuing, the smaller witch of contracts cannot hope to place any rebuttal. ''My mother tore into her heart, now she needs to be restrained by force. What will that power do in helping her? Her little sister is dead and won't come back!''

''I couldn't stop thinking about those three.'' Your little sun continued. ''It's why I wanted to accept your offer at first... but then I remembered that you're a person too, Ama.''

''S-Shereen?'' The witch can only place this simple word.

''I was able to feel a little of your emotions throughout the week. With how careful you were with maintaining distance, it didn't happen often but... I caught a few glimpses here and there. You were having so much fun traveling with us and being in Zipangu... I felt myself beginning to trust you, especially once I sensed your little pangs of sadness when Arawn was harsh with you.''

''A-Ahaha, that was no...'' Shereen interrupted the shorter girl by placing her furred hands on her cheeks. ''...warm paw pads...''

''Have you ever been touched before? Banu would give me a few hugs and head pats here and there... How about you Ama? Was it only through the fox? That proxy?''

Shereen waited for an answer, Ama was at such a loss that none came.

''You've been worried about Mimiru.'' Shereen continues, never once breaking eye contact. ''When we were fighting against the scorpions, I felt your frustration, your fear. You wanted to scream at us that we were taking too much time, not rushing the palace made you angry. Your protective petrification was growing thinner by the minutes...'' Shereen pursed her lips tightly, stopping a few seconds to observe the girl -witch- she held prisoner. ''...I'll make sure all the heroes we've gathered will help Mimiru if their talents can help her.''

''N-now hold on now.'' Ama managed to wiggle her face out of Shereen's fluffy palms, her pale skin had turned into an adorable shade of all-encompassing red. ''What makes you think this scenery is even real, darling? Remember! I'm a liar! You imagined quite the scenario...''

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''Then betray me.'' Unlike the nervous witch, the princess's stance mirrored the strength of her voice. ''I want you to come with me, Ama. As you are, out of here.''

''A-ah...'' That last remark struck somewhere deep within Ama. She almost hunched over, gaze alternating between your little sun and the ground.

''If all these pearls can help the angels trapped inside the Origin, that's where I want to see it used.'' Shereen continued, bridging the distance to put a hand on Ama shoulder.

''I'm unsure if it'll do anything, I-I can't keep a concentrated flow to direct the energy of the pearls, nor do I know anyone souls but yours... or Arawn.'' For the first time, Ama kept her eyes away from Shereen. Inward trouble plainly showing upon her feature, the small blond looked ready to cry.

''Please try.'' Shereen simply did not have the soul of someone who could deliver meaningful order, yet that simple request gave the witch the countenance of a prisoner walking toward his execution. Naked troubled hinted at all the feelings brewing inside the short witch.

''You...?'' You surprised yourself when the word escaped your mouth. Not only were you able to talk but the witch impregnable hold upon your soul had significantly diminished.

Ama said nothing. The orb of power levitated around her landing on top of her palm and she lightly tapped your chest with her second hand.

''--------''
Fulfilled.

A dim flash traveled out of the crystal ball and entered Ama body. You immediately braced against some kind of foreign invasion but... Your short nemesis gently tapped your chest and walked off, murmuring ''I wanna try''

The chains wrapped around your soul weakened, growing rusty, overused, and finally... broke. A tiny, flimsy tightness in your chest dissipated, your soul was wholly free... And not because the witch allowed it.

''Ama?'' She was walking toward the opening leading back into the Origin. ''Did you remove your contract on me?'' She didn't respond.

That foolish, stupid mistake you've done not too long after your awakening was... was it gone? Really? No way! She's been holding this rope like a leash! This has to be a trick. This entire act is a trick, too!

''A lot of people died today.'' Shereen spoke while looking up at the colorful, motionless globe that had been only privy to Ama perusal before today. ''My mother can't be saved, I don't know about my sister... I don't want to leave Ama here, or say goodbye.''

''Shereen...'' She said it herself. She'd rather be betrayed than go against her feelings. ''...I'm convinced the witch is trying to fool you.''

''And? Maybe a lie can become the truth. I couldn't think of any rebuttal against her arguments, that power really would be immensely useful, and honestly, being a witch sound so cool... I want to help her, Arawn.'' She briefly glances over her shoulder, back at you.

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A noise akin to a gust of wind emerged from behind you yet there was no force to accompany this phenomenon. With one arm stretching inside the wide room, Ama was directing a flow of pure, magical might. 600 astral pearls of power fell like brilliant snowflakes, causing pain in your eyes because of the white backdrop.

Shereen returns to her observation of the beautiful star that is your world. ''I have no idea why she calls herself the ''Witch of Contracts.'' Because you're the only one she established something with. She has been with our group for a week and nothing happened, she hasn't tried to tempt me despite being in my soul... She flaunted her hold on you, but why didn't she try to establish anything else?''

It was a good question, you had no idea how to answer. ''Perhaps Ama hold a different view of that word.''

''Yeah, I think so too. What has she been so obsessed with during her game?''

''Emotions...''

''I don't think that's all of it.'' Shereen shakes her head.

''What exactly is a contract?'' You move next to your little sun while musing aloud. ''Looking at its core, the word implies agreements.''

''She's been eager to make deals, you're the only one she cheated.'' Shereen continues, whispering. ''She kept her word to Banu, to me... Even you. I think Ama did speak the truth when she mentioned her labor of emotions. What was she looking for with this grand game? So many Supremes have been involved...''

''The Demon Lord united with Mother Earth against a common foe.'' You let out a chuckle. ''That is something worthy of a witch.''

''What if Ama had found out about my mother two years ago? Can you imagine how many people would still be alive now?'' A rise of emotions causes Shereen to cough and take a few deep breaths to recenter herself. ''...No that's an excuse. I honestly want to become her friend, not save the world. Ama showed us her home, we've seen what she call her true body, she's being honest with us, Arawn. I don't want to say goodbye... I'm already discarding my family today. I know Ama hurt you, she stood by without doing anything while a crisis happened but...I... Isn't this place an abyss?''

Kindness without wisdom is dangerous. You couldn't call Shereen's heart pure, you've seen how hateful she can be when you fought in Myrtidal. She has no aspiration to save the world or prevent worldwide suffering, nay: if she sees someone sad or in need and she can do something about it... She'll do it. Ama promised she wouldn't influence your little sun by anchoring her shard into her and, indeed, that was true. Shereen grew to care about her in the simplest, most honest fashion.

And refused godly power in favor or companionship. And it seems even that damnable chaotic, childish, indecisive, flimsy, and arbitrary false she-fox can feel emotions!

When you gazed upon the door leading back to your home...

...Magical reserves at 30%

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Someone that shouldn't be here was grabbing the blond witch. One of his hands held her wrist, the other covered her mouth.

Gears replaced bones, coppery-gold cover your skin. Hears and lungs are replaced with one efficient engine. Eyes are installed at strategic points of your body to extend your vision all around you, your mind expands to accommodate this information.

Ama was struggling, tendrils of darkness stabbed her back and stomach, dark-red liquid flowed out of her mouth as she vomited a poison so very similar to Corruption but infinitely worse. The liquid barely made it out of her mouth.

Rune magic and magitek are incompatible but your body itself is anathema to reality. Your veins become wires, your equipment is absorbed, becoming part of your whole, spread all over your body yet nowhere at the same time, to emerge whenever you need.

A tall, beautiful elven man was
CelestynakillerCelestynaKiLlerCelEstynakillErCEeelestynaKILLER Iiiit iiisi heeerefunctions.
Calm. Analyze. Calm. Protection comes before vengeance. Do not succumb to the emotional nadir; body modification complete, the witch interference is gone. You are fully functional.

''Y-you!? Let her go!'' Shereen screamed, embracing Focus. ''Let my friend go!''

''Good evening travelers.'' Says the elf. It is a dangerously beautiful man, his rainbow accessories and colorful decoration reinforce the gentleness emanating out of him. Peerless white, even purer than a world of naked souls. ''Please do not be afraid, nor should you let yourselves be fooled by this nasty girl.''

Ama vomits another mouthful of liquid and grows weak in the knees, her entire body tremble in fear.

There is only one explanation for its presence here, based on the little information you have: Armin must have been hiding within the Origin somehow, before your arrival. Now, it shows itself: it must have been waiting for the pearls to be used.

''I am not here to bring any harm upon you, princess, nor you, prince.'' It inclines its head while speaking. ''This beautiful star of ours ill need the machination of a selfish, childish, lying witch. Please, leave... allow me to deliver you all from her enchanting evil.''

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''No! NO! Fuck you!'' Shereen spits and rages as she tightly grabs her dagger. ''I've decided to make her my Moon, Ama is now my responsibility, stop poisoning her! Let her go!''

''Good protector.'' Armin dares to address you with a smile. ''I cannot fault your Sun for being suffering the witch beguilement. You understand this opportunity, the True Body of the witch is our only way to be rid of her forever... Please, do not burden yourself with her existence anymore, allow me to play host and relieve you of this duty.''

''Gardy! ''Gardy! Shereen Devona speaks with firmness showing her resolve. ''Save ''Save Ama!'' Usha!''

There is a fragment of a memory stored within the frame of your dear comrade. You cannot recall the details, nor his feelings. Something similar happened... what choice did Gardy make so long ago?

''I'll grab Ama and go into the Origin!'' Shereen continues. ''We will probably be safer there! Please, Arawn!''

...
>Protect Ama and Shereen.
>Protect Shereen. Ama fate is not your concern.
>Free.

I'll probably take this weekend to recover a bit, it's a bit late so I'll leave the votes open until tomorrow.

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>>5151644
Holy fuck. So Armin was here the whole damn time waiting for Ama to have a vulnerable moment so that he could kill her? He would have acted to kill her even if she powered up Shereen?

So we're in full fusion mode now I take it with 30 percent reserves and are somehow able to utilize both magic resistance and our magitek gauntlet to fire spells. Since we're in full fusion I take it all spells now cast at a *significant* discount with no risk of malfunction? How much would it cost us to go nuclear with a given element? We also got shapeshifting, 360 degree vision, and whatever vision modes we'd desire I take it right?

Much as I hate Ama, Armin is basically Old Narly and this means Ama's likely been a key factor that's been keeping him from fully realizing his own plans and schemes in their full, dark, unholy glory. If Ama's been keeping him from achieving his ends, and if she's likely the only one who might have a clue as to what they are, she needs to survive this.

This is also a chance for us to kill him or at least knock him out of commission for a good long time and I do think we got a fair shot at this. Can we invoke our nature? What would that entail if we did?

>>5151667
Oh, also, what's everyone's relative position to us and how close is Armin to Ama? I've a mind to rip him away from her so we can do something rather nasty to him without the danger of harming Shereen or Ama.

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>>5151667
>So Armin was here the whole damn time waiting for Ama to have a vulnerable moment so that he could kill her?
That is Arawn hypothesis.
>He would have acted to kill her even if she powered up Shereen?
Hard to say since Shereen would be a very dangerous threat.
>So we're in full fusion mode now I take it with 30 percent reserves and are somehow able to utilize both magic resistance and our magitek gauntlet to fire spells
Not at the same time, you can alternate between hyper resistance and regular magic
>Since we're in full fusion I take it all spells now cast at a *significant* discount with no risk of malfunction?
Yes.
>How much would it cost us to go nuclear with a given element?
Nuclear? 20% ''Extremely Dangerous'' is 10%
>We also got shapeshifting, 360 degree vision, and whatever vision modes we'd desire I take it right?
Yes.
>
Much as I hate Ama, Armin is basically Old Narly and this means Ama's likely been a key factor that's been keeping him from fully realizing his own plans and schemes in their full, dark, unholy glory. If Ama's been keeping him from achieving his ends, and if she's likely the only one who might have a clue as to what they are, she needs to survive this.
Not because Shereen wants a new friend? How cold!
>Can we invoke our nature? What would that entail if we did?
You already did. Who you choose to protect is VERY important.
>>5151668
>also, what's everyone's relative position to us and how close is Armin to Ama?
Shereen is behind you, you're facing the open exit. There are around 6 meters of distance between you and Armin.
Armin is literally holding Ama, he's got one hold of her arm and the other over her mouth. He's standing in front of the door leading into the Origin.

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>>5151676
Ok, how fast can we switch between offensive magic use and defensive magic immunity/resistance? Do we know what happened to those angels and are any of them functional? Who would they be more likely to attack, Armin or Ama? Does anything change if we fight here or within the origin? Are we still within a time dilatation? Are we immune to whatever poison he's pumping Ama full of?

I'm assuming we're basically fighting Old Narly right now and that means most of my ideas aren't going to be guaranteed to succeed. I'd like to start with turning his arms into chunky salsa while avoiding getting any of the viscera on Ama or Shereen as I fear the fucker's more like a nanite swarm/shoggoth than a solid being. Whether or not the instrument of destruction is superheated or not depends on our poison immunity. If immune we're purging this bastard in holy fire. If not than magic resistance so that we get to be largely immune is the play as he's going to try to poison us if he thinks it'll work the instant we get hostile.

Also, if it's not obvious, we're saving them both. Shereen made her choice and we're gonna respect it. Besides, saving both *necessitates* hostility with Armin and oh yes, we are feeling *very* hostile towards him. We're Mustang vs. Envy levels of pissed right now. At him! He ruins everything for us! Die!!!

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>>5151691
>Ok, how fast can we switch between offensive magic use and defensive magic immunity/resistance?
One round, roughly 6 seconds.
>Do we know what happened to those angels and are any of them functional?
Nothing seems to be happening with them yet.
>Who would they be more likely to attack, Armin or Ama?
Once more, it's impossible to tell here.
>Does anything change if we fight here or within the origin?
In the Origin, you'll be closer to potential allies and should be able to sustain yourself much easier if/once the pearls enchantment wear off.
>Are we still within a time dilatation?
For now, yes.
>Are we immune to whatever poison he's pumping Ama full of?
Yes. Gardy artificial body grants you immunity to his degenerative touch.
Alright, one vote to protect them both. Look like you won't be rid of your good witch at this rate.
>We're Mustang vs. Envy levels of pissed right now. At him! He ruins everything for us! Die!!!
Arawn recovering his childhood memory certainly triggered a trauma... Thank god for Gardy body!

>>5151713
Easier to sustain ourselves? What's that mean? I had a mind to drag him into the origin hoping those angels will go for him over Ama as Ama did just try to help them.

How bad is that degenerative touch and can you recover from it if contact gets broken fast enough? You said he's got tendrils suck in her gut and back and his hand over her mouth right? Can we break all those points of contact in one attack? Can we ensure that right after that we're positioned between him and both Ama and Shereen? That's step one here, everything else comes after that.

Potential worst case scenario: Any part of Armin we sever without a proper precaution/prerequisite like cauterization will mean they remain viable and under his control. If we're in magic resistance mode we're basically Toma and will dispel most any magic any part of our body touches right? If we're willing to lose some HP can we shoot parts of ourselves? Y'know, a single "bullet" will cost us a few ounces of blood or a small patch of skin once we shift back into boring old elf form. Can't get too trigger happy, but a magic killing bullet lodged in Armin would be very helpful right about now.

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>>5151722
>Easier to sustain ourselves? What's that mean?
You're... very far from your reality, I'll say as much. Even if the Origin is a place dangerous to life itself, it's still better than Ama home. You haven't lost the pearl enchantment though so there's nothing to worry about for now.
>How bad is that degenerative touch and can you recover from it if contact gets broken fast enough?
You managed to cure Siegfried's daughter from her infestation so, presumably, his touch should be curable.
>You said he's got tendrils suck in her gut and back and his hand over her mouth right?
Yup.
>Can we break all those points of contact in one attack?
Yes. As an Embodiment of Protection, you can make your magical attack selective. A bit aoe is not dangerous to anyone you consider worthy of protection which is -not- a normal case for magic.
>Can we ensure that right after that we're positioned between him and both Ama and Shereen?
You can operate with that kind of objective, dragging Armin into the Origin could also be a good strategy...
>If we're in magic resistance mode we're basically Toma and will dispel most any magic any part of our body touches right?
No outright cancellation, you will significantly lower the magic and may even outright break the consistency of any spells you touch due to this interference. You don't have actual anti-magic yet.
>If we're willing to lose some HP can we shoot parts of ourselves?
Hm, Gardy never actually taught of doing that. Should be possible since he constantly reassembles and rearrange his body but consider doing that extremely dangerous since shooting off a limb could mean losing it for real.
Your body doesn't have blood now, so trying to make ''blood bullets'' won't really work.

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>>5151734
Body has wires, gears, lubrication for said gears as well I'd imagine. We're basically a mass of magical metal able to shift its form to suit its needs.

We'd be losing "mass" from our body to make the bullet and I was giving an equivalent. That is, what it would likely translate into once we stop being Gardy. Losing a part of him means losing a part of our body. I'm hoping we get to decide which part.

However, you did get me thinking a bit as Gardy is essentially a super robot and no good super robot is complete without a rocket punch functionality and/or a pile bunker. Could we fire our fist with a tether attached to reel it back in so we can reattach it? What about tethers in general? Can we make them to grapple from a distance and reel in targets? Sinking a tether into Armin, reeling him in and slamming him in the chest with a pile bunker also sounds like loads of fun.

I need to know how creative I can get with Gardy's full body/potential here. Gotta come up with something Armin's not gonna see coming as I assume he's quite familiar with Gardy's capabilities. No offense to our bestest buddy ever, but I think we're the more imaginative one.

Also, I think you meant a "big" AoE won't hurt those we consider worthy of protection. Unlike normal magic, that means we don't have to worry about friendly fire hurting Ama or Shereen right? Big boom will just "go around" them right?

>>5151754
Oh, and if we go for magic resistance will that eat into the time remaining on the pearl's blessing? Something to consider.

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>>5151754
> Could we fire our fist with a tether attached to reel it back in so we can reattach it?
You have no idea how much I want to say yes, shooting off a fist is unfortunately not possible.
>What about tethers in general?
Again, no. Gardy can use and enhance all of your equipment and all of your spells.
His only distance capabilities come from your repertoire of spells and magitek.
>I need to know how creative I can get with Gardy's full body/potential here.
There's no need to be -too- afraid here friend, I'm not planning on making this too big of a boss fight mostly because the power level on both sides is too damn high.
Gardy uses his body as the nexus for everything magical and physical. He can rearrange/reform arms into blades, make exploding legs for rocket boost, supercharge his entire body for a massive lightning attack and go 50/50 by going magic and physical. The sheer capabilities are pretty immense here, especially as you add more reliable magical equipment.
Stick to your sheet and essentially add ''superhuman machine'' to it.
>Big boom will just "go around" them right?
They won't be affected, yes.
>>5151762
>Oh, and if we go for magic resistance will that eat into the time remaining on the pearl's blessing?
It could, yes.

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As an addendum, you guys haven't been able to adjust/train with Gardy body so I'm not going to dump an unfair fight that needs technicality or nerve-wracking, big-brained creativity to win.
What's really important here is who to protect.

>>5151644
>Protect Ama and Shereen.

>>5151776
Oh, just remembered, all our spells are treated as one rank higher when fired in this form right. We did quite a number on Horkus with only a little bit of our magic. So a "medium" spell in this form hits like a "strong" spell out of our elf form right? Even harder perhaps? I would like to see us use a big blast from an arm cannon to free Ama.

What about soul arms? They affected by our transformation and what do they cost? I mean, Armin has tendrils, and we're probably going to have to block them somehow to successfully protect both Shereen and Ama.

Also, about how much magic should we aim to have remaining after this fight's over? Hao's gonna need soul healing and Elina sounds like she's out of commission until we heal her soul damage and that's gonna cost us some mana. It's kind of a moot point now but could someone use an astral pearl to allow us a few minutes in realspace in full fusion mode without dying?

As Armin seems to get his greatest jollies in causing emotional nadirs this seems to be what he's doing with Ama. The instant she wanted to honestly try and trust someone else. The moment it looked like her crushing, immense loneliness was about to end, in he comes to kill her in her moment of greatest physical and emotional vulnerability. If we leave her now, leave her to die, we'll have given Armin exactly what he wants. We're all about *never* giving him what he wants! Not after what he did to our childhood friend! We won't be happy until he's dead! Permanently.

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>>5151822
>So a "medium" spell in this form hits like a "strong" spell out of our elf form right?
Yup.
>Even harder perhaps?
There's a chance, yes.
>What about soul arms? They affected by our transformation and what do they cost?
Soul arms allow you to grow out flexible metal arms that can be shapeshifted into blades. Remember what Ari'el pulled with his wings? This spell doesn't have a bigger threshold of potential though. You only get what you cast here, though it's an excellent enhancement.
>Also, about how much magic should we aim to have remaining after this fight's over?
You'll have to be the judge of that, you don't know her state so can't judge here.
>It's kind of a moot point now but could someone use an astral pearl to allow us a few minutes in realspace in full fusion mode without dying?
Worry about realspace once you get there, my friend. Gardy naturally lived in reality, the fact Arawn-Gardy can't is honestly odd, but for now, you got a good elf to handshake.
Gonna keep a close eye on the good witch?

>>5151824
Soul arms are instant cast right? We can cast them and fire off a spell this turn right? I have a plan that's coming together here...

>>5151830
>Soul arms are instant cast right?
Yup.
>We can cast them and fire off a spell this turn right?
Yup.

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>>5151833
Heh, I'm also thinking of another possibility. Gardy didn't have magic back then. Our fusion with him has drastically improved his potential. Back then, perhaps he could only guarantee the safety of his charge over this Usha character and thus logically chose Devona and abandoned Usha.

It probably ate at him ever since. If only he could use the pearls. If only he could have been more inventive or imaginative. Pushed his own body and nature in some way he didn't, couldn't do at that time.

He wanted to follow that order, he wanted to obey, but at that moment there was only one person he could save. Either Devona or Usha. He had to pick and he picked Devona, his original and ultimate charge. Devona didn't like it, *he* didn't like it, but what else could he do?

Now, now things are different. He may not be here in point of fact/soul but we are and we have things he didn't then. We can do the thing he truly wished to do at that fateful moment.

What's our sync ratio with Gardy at the moment?

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>>5151855
100% Arawn having a RAGE meltdown and the current circumstances are giving you a big boost.

>>5151860
Just to clarify. If we somehow survive all this BS we can still possibly restore Gardy's ego core and get him back as a character in this quest right?

I do miss his banter and inputs. He was/is a true bro.

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>>5151863
>Just to clarify. If we somehow survive all this BS we can still possibly restore Gardy's ego core and get him back as a character in this quest right?
He is still alive, in fact speaking to him is possible. He's waiting, defending something very precious.

>>5151867
Speaking to him comes after this. For now, killing Armin. Or at least, keeping him from getting his rocks off once again.

He's got several options in inducing an emotional nadir in this situation. We're about to deny him drinking Ama's tears (perhaps his preferred draught of the moment but he can make due) but there is still so many, many others.

I would list them, but once more I refuse to give you ideas that aren't patently obvious. Though I am shocked that Ama didn't keep at least the equivalent of a few astral pearls in reserve. One last look around, one final check before you spend the last of that most precious resource. Only once it checked out would I have opened up and became as vulnerable as she did. Did Shereen hit that deep a nerve with her? Did she goad the Witch of Contracts into doing something she otherwise would never have considered?

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>>5151876
>Did Shereen hit that deep a nerve with her? Did she goad the Witch of Contracts into doing something she otherwise would never have considered?
This current situation is a good answer, isn't it?

>>5151879
Yeah it is. I got my plan now. Armin/Ama eat a Strong/Heavy fire spell crafted to ensure every point of contact Armin has with her is disrupted.

If our cleansing fire can flow into the holes those tendrils have bored into her without killing the healthy cells of her body it happens. After all, at this point our roles are reversed. We didn't get full on hijacked at the soul level because we trusted a golden butterfly.

We are charging Armin as we do this with the intent of getting between him and our dual charges. I'll need Ama's input in how this might all play out however. I can foresee, in one event, that we could just lock Armin in Ama's house and let that booby trapped fortress drain his HP to 0 over the course of a century or two. If anyone deserves a slow and painful death, it's Armin.

>>5151892
> Armin/Ama eat a Strong/Heavy fire spell crafted to ensure every point of contact Armin has with her is disrupted.
Because of Gardy efficient body, a strong spell costs 6%. You can always try higher, of course.

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>>5151897
Any chance of a backfire beyond that? I mean, I would like him to eat a "dangerous" spell if there's no chance Ama eats damage.

I'd only want to go "nuclear" if I was sure both Shereen and Ama wouldn't eat damage but once that consideration is sorted on the "not a chance" side of the equation?

Yeah, Armin gets fucking nuked. We're doing everyone a favor if he dies here and now. Like Old Man Henderson before us, killing Old Narly is like killing "The King in Yellow". This is how you "win" a game of CoC.

>>5151911
>Any chance of a backfire beyond that?
A spell going out of control means everyone you aren't protecting is going to have a VERY bad time.
Going nuclear though could be dangerous for them due to environmental damage.

>>5151937
Well, we only really care about Ama and Shereen ATM. I'm also sure the angels will get why we dropped a massive nuke upon the location of Armin.

What are the chances of a given tier of spell going hypergolic with everything we're not trying to protect? I would love to introduce Armin and Armin alone to that concept but not if it means all those innocent Angels Ama just freed, Ama, and Shereen share the same fate than I need another option...

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>>5151953
>What are the chances of a given tier of spell going hypergolic with everything we're not trying to protect?
100% for any spell with at least 10%. Everything will burn baby, good thing you're on the moon. The angels are not a safety concern since they are deep within the Origin, remember that each different dimension makes magic a bit wonky.

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>>5151956
Ok, so what I'm hearing is that if we dump 10 percent of our mana into a fire spell we're gonna get an attack worthy of a super robot that will absolutely wreck everything except those/that we wish to protect.

Ama and Shereen will be safe even if they're essentially at ground zero but Armin? Oh, oh he's about to have a very bad day right?

If the chances of Ama and Shereen eating damage are zero if we do this I say we bump up the amount of mana we're pouring into this particular fireball to 10 percent. I think it's about time Armin got introduced to the concept of a few gallons of "smart" Chlorine Trifluoride delivered to his exact position!

>>5152204
Oh, we're also still casting soul arms as we do this. How much will this cost us in total?

>>5152207
Oh shit, just noticed one more big reveal. Shereen said Sieg's "Little Sister" is dead and won't come back. Did we lose Deru back there? Or was she talking about Daiyu's stillborn? That would also count.

>>5152207
Oh, and if this overall cost is over 15 percent I'll have to reconsider. I would like to torch his ass, but I also want to have a good amount of juice left afterwards so we can help heal our waifus.

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>>5152218
She was talking about Lisbeth, the unfortunate stillborn.
>>5152300
Soul Arm and a 10% spell will cost 13% mana due to Gardy inherent efficiency.
>>5151807
One vote for protecting both.

I'm gonna close voting soon even if I intend to continue Monday. For now, it seems our course of action is to save the evil witch and sink 13% of our reserve into harming the good elf who did nothing wrong. What a turn of event!

>>5152571
A heavy/strong spell costs 6 percent right now yes? How much do we think our girls might need to be stabilized or saved? We're at 30 percent right now yes? How much did our girls have before we left that we might be able to replenish with once we're back in realspace? Can we get some of that sweet sweet mana if they're not conscious?

Sorry, should have asked this sooner.

>>5152630
>A heavy/strong spell costs 6 percent right now yes?
Yes. don't be too hung up on this. Important choice here is who to protect
>How much do we think our girls might need to be stabilized or saved?
You'll need to judge for yourself.
>We're at 30 percent right now yes?
As said in my post.
>How much did our girls have before we left that we might be able to replenish with once we're back in realspace?
You haven't been able to investigate their reserve again, things likely changed for Klesiah. Otherwise, numbers shouldn't have changed too much with the one in my opening post.
>Can we get some of that sweet sweet mana if they're not conscious?
Nope.

>>5152640
I get that, but I'm kind of looking to disable Armin for a bit. Would a strong spell+ripping him apart with our body and soul arms do the trick or is it a safer bet to just nuke him like I originally planned?

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>>5152644
>Would a strong spell+ripping him apart with our body and soul arms do the trick or is it a safer bet to just nuke him like I originally planned?
I don't think I should be the one to tell you that. Usually, bigger is better, right?

>>5152647
Yeah, but I just remembered we're not in the origin and we want to be in the origin if this turns into a multi-round fight.

So long as a strong spell will immediately break all points of contact Armin has with Ama we go for strong spell, get into melee, and essentially drag his ass into the origin while making sure we are between him, his tendrils, and our dual charges.

We'll see what happens after that. Hopefully angels have a special hatred for Outer Gods.

>>5152653
Oh, and we deal as much damage to him as possible as we're dragging him along. I'd imagine 4 metal arms that can shift into blades, scissors, drills, etc. can do quite the number on even a shoggoth-tier toughie.

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>>5152653
>go for strong spell, get into melee, and essentially drag his ass into the origin
Sound feasible. People are still lfree to agree or disagree.
We'll be protecting your big bad evil nemesis

>>5152669
Yes, but like I said, Armin is the "bigger" bad. Totally not friggin' Nyarlathotep wants Ama dead. You don't want to give Old Narly whatever it is he wants and Ama is likely going to be key in keeping him from realizing his dream of ripping open this reality for his buddies beyond the veil to munch on.

Plus hey, saving her means hurting the murderer of our childhood sweetheart and it makes Shereen happy. We do love our adorable doggo more than we hate Ama after all.

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>>5152677
The good witch will have her headpat after all

>>5152682
She helps save Sieg and the rest of our waifus she gets all the headpats she wants.

No snu-snu though. It's gonna take her a lot of work to get us to look upon her with romantic eyes after what she's done.

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>>5152699
Boy, I wonder what people are going to say.

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>>5152794
Don't care but I've got a vision of how this plays out. We essentially "charge" ourselves with a strong fire spell. Taking a page out of Olga's book we allow that to superheat our body as we rush Armin and fucking explode with one hell of a dynamic entry. I assume any and all tendrils are coming out of his body so hitting his position with a big boom ought to incinerate all points of contact with Ama and free Shereen to grab her and run for the origin with her.

Like you said, any AoE will not harm our charges but we ain't done. He'd like to fly away as a result of that attack I'd bet. Too bad we won't let that happen. One of our arms grabs him and as we do this and we then drag/throw him into the origin keeping ourselves between him and Shereen/Ama as we do so. We might end up closer to the angels and/or pass overhead of our charges as a result but, again, we're protecting them both. I'm sure we can keep him from fucking us over somehow if we're willing to spend yet more mana to do so (and we are).

How fast are we with fire mode active? I'm thinking we get rocket boosters out of the deal and, if we do, we could also grapple the fucker and "fire up the barbecue" as we introduce him to the concept of a Drive Plume!

So many, many ways to to make this fucker suffer and die. I'm almost at a loss for options save for my overall intent. All points of contact with Ama broken in an instant and us not giving him a clear shot at either or our charges. We have decided to protect Ama and Shereen. Armin, by extension, can get fucked and may he hopefully die by our hand here and now!

>>5153957
Oh, and he ends up within the origin with that poteintial chance of those angels being functional and desiring to wound the totally not an Outer God that is Armin.

It still likely won't permanently kill him but it will allow us to escape back into realspace without him following. I shudder to think what he can do with/to Dark Sieg...

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Alright, I'm just saying the obvious now but we'll be protecting the witch, too!

>>5154887
Indeed. We will hopefully live to see whether or not she is indeed as evil and duplicitous as we fear.

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>>5154900
Oh shit, just thought of this but once our allies realize Ama's true body is right there in realspace after all this...

Fuck, we're gonna have to protect her from way more people than just Armin. I hope our word carries a good amount of weight behind it because that means potentially *fighting* Daiyu, Other Sieg, Tsu, Ame, Big ME's Avatar... We're potentially well and truly fucked. We're good, we're a friggin' super robot for crying out loud, but that's way too much power for us alone to go against.

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>>5154912
It'll be mighty good fun!

>>5154932
Well the conversations after this absolute FUBAR of a situation are certainly going to be "interesting" as it were.

A LOT of people want Ama dead and it's not just Armin. Too bad for them we need Ama alive until Armin's been dealt with permanently. This will give Ama time. Time to either fuck everyone over 10 times harder or time for her to atone for her past sins.

I hope she goes for the latter, I want to believe she can become a good girl, but some part of me just knows better. Still, getting screwed over by Ama is likely infinitely preferable to whatever Armin's cooking up just as it was with whatever Zerase was gonna do after becoming a god.

>Protect Ama and Shereen.

My health has been so-so these past few days. I'll still update tonight but the pace of the thread will slow down a bit.

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Ama is no ally. Her selfishness created all of your recent misery, you'll likely uncover plenty of crimes when investigating her rivalry with Tuilelaith. To consider her worthy of protection is almost an insult against the intense importance you put upon that word. While your body is steel and rigid, transferring that attribute upon your spirit means discarding a human element, something that Shereen embodies more than you ever could.

Emotionally volatile situations tend to create logic out of irrationality, protecting Ama is what you'd describe as illogical but your little sun does seem to have wormed herself into the whimsical heart of the witch. Experience taught you -no, Gardy- that obvious mistakes during these moments tend to be red herring, Shereen does have the potential of establishing a friendship with the evil witch, creating a new dynamic... A future like this was utterly unfathomable thirty minutes ago.

This is what the human element taught the countless fragments of Gardy memory. The true killers are mistakes made during mundane moments.

Often Gardy trusted in his human element against his logic; so will you. Swallow your grudge, protect the lonely witch. Ama has removed the chain she placed around your soul, perhaps her change of heart is true.

It took you two seconds to discard your doubts.

One artificial elemental crystal is buried deep within your chest, surrounded by wires that connect directly into your soul. This item engineered by Martha and Belphegor proves its usefulness once again as you narrow your strategy. Fiery energy spreads throughout your body, heating your metal, ready to burst whenever you need to.
24% magical reserves left
Body modifications processed.

Two seconds of preparation. You are ready.

''I don't know who or what you are but if you think I'll ever trust someone who poisoned a child...'' A worrying gurgle from Ama makes Shereen's tail and ears stand up. ''Stop defiling her!''

The creature's handsome face and soft purple eyes settle on your little sun. ''Dear traveler, please do not be rash. I dearly wish your gentle heart could redeem this dangerous, evil liar but-''

Power unleashed.

The exhausts on your back roar with fire, engulfing Shereen's entire body in harmless, short-lived flames. Her scream is deafened by the thundering noise of your sudden aggression, Armin cannot react swiftly enough to defend whilst poisoning its victim.

You grab onto its chest, steel fingers sinking into its flesh and clothes with an ominous sizzling noise, tendrils burst out of its stomach in response as if the elf intestines had grown sentience. They knock against your body, slathering it with poisonous blood, and immediately begin to cook against your overheated armor yet their mass, speed, and momentum force you to stop even if the biological threat weakens against your heat.

''Oh dear, your eye has gone red-''

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Next, comes self-detonation. All of your pent-up magic comes rushing out through smaller exhausts built all over your body. Any potential drop of its poison closing onto this vulnerability is vaporized, all the tendrils stabbing Ama follow suit, reduced to ash by the fiery rage of Arawn -no, your- vengeance. Armin's body burns with something far more sinister than regular flames, your magic stick to its body, consuming hair, face, clothes, muscles with unsated retribution... but the elf is already regenerating. Your hand is digging into fell entity flesh, grabbing bones, yet Armin possesses unaccounted regenerative force. Wounding him has the same effect as digging a hole that is refilled with dirt.

Strong regeneration is a common trait amongst Supreme Monsters.

The force of your spell and the sandy soil had pushed Ama quite a distance, more dark limbs erupt out of the elf spine to reach your small blond charge who can't do anything but vomit out the toxin your foe force-fed her. These are promptly redirected on the ground when you lift the fell entity with a single hand, you grabbed the intestine holding you in place, tearing them apart as your inner flame has heated your body well past any reasonable point.

Gears spin throughout your body, Armin limbs snap under simple, not-so-scientific force.

''Devil I know.'' These words escape your misshapen vocal box, warping your tone with statics.

The open door leading into the Origin is right next to you. Armin ribs open like a flower, revealing scant few innards, only dark tar that burns upon contact with your armor.

''Dear protector, you are wasting the most valuable chance-''

Armin is modifying its body to deal with you. You rush inside the opening and fall, keeping your hand firmly wrapped within his regenerative torso. Immediately the creature tries to pry itself free, thick bones slap on your armor whilst more spider legs rip themselves out of his spine to strike at your body. It is impossible to dodge anything now that gravity affirmed itself, countless spear points stab into your body while Armin's front bashes your body all over.

You answer by grabbing his throat and waiting. Adam's gift -his dwarven belt- is proving useful now. The runic enchantment covers your entire body in the magical writing of old dwarven miracle workers, locking your body in place, repelling Armin attempts at dislodging you from within and without. When his skin starts sliding off like old, rotten pus you push back harder.

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It is a spinning freefall, four pirouettes per second, normal perception would have you crippled by disorientation but Gardy enhanced mind prevents that. You can see all around you, you know exactly where Armin biological spears are aiming at, allowing you to brace for each impact. Identifying the pyramid is difficult in this spinning, peerless world of white but you -do- manage to pinpoint it despite the lack of identifiable souls entering inside. You maneuver Armin toward the ground and crash hard, a deadly force that would have been more than enough to kill all but Supreme Monsters

''T-truly indef-'' Armin lower jaw had been ripped out during the struggle yet it spoke without trouble. Your magical damages had been undone by his innate regeneration, the fall had completely maimed the elf, spreading his vile contagious blood everywhere yet his body remained whole.

One other peculiar observation: all the angels are gone.

''This shard is done for, I suppose.'' Dark blood snaked across the white soil around him. ''I've no intention of exhausting myself in a losing fight, how about hearing me out, traveler?''

>Do not let this fell creature spread its pestilence or doubt. Fire proved effective against its body: consume every single molecule of its existence in Arawn fury.
>Fine, entertain this false elf. Don't fall into its pace, impose yourself and ask your question. (Why did he want to kill the witch? Or perhaps asking why he killed Celestyna -your childhood friend- matters more.)
>Let Armin say its words, perhaps it can prove itself useful.
>Free

>>5157286
Where are Ama and Shereen? How close are we to any form of gateway back into realspace? He said this is a shard so this *isn't* Armin's true body?

You also said his toxic blood now festoons a good chunk of the ground we're on. Anything in our data core that says this could be used by the bastard later? I fear he may just be trying to buy time for him to engage in yet more fuckery and still manage to kill someone we like.

Or Ama. Still don't like her, but now it's a matter of pride and reputation. We said we'd protect her and thus she shall be protected!

Heh, I had actually forgotten about that belt we got from Adam. Looks like it was the best choice after all. Also, Shereen's referencing what happened to Athena's kid in Zipangu when she spoke of child poisoning right?

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>>5157370
>Where are Ama and Shereen?
Presumably, still all the way up. A small fog has started to appear, making it impossible to see far.
>How close are we to any form of gateway back into realspace?
The pyramid could be one but otherwise, there's nothing like that here.
>He said this is a shard so this *isn't* Armin's true body?
If you can trust what this pretty-faced creature say, yes.
>Anything in our data core that says this could be used by the bastard later?
Only hypothesis. It's possible he could be similar to Deruella in needing to establish a corrupted territory to be truly effective.
>Also, Shereen's referencing what happened to Athena's kid in Zipangu when she spoke of child poisoning right?
Yup.

>>5157401
Wait a minute, just noticed: "Dark blood snaked across the white soil around him"

So that blood is "moving" despite being separated from his body? If so than that *does* sound like Deru and will basically make my choice for me.

>>5157415
It is, indeed, moving.

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>>5157432
Yeah, then my choice is made for me. Finding out the reason he wanted Ama or our childhood friend dead is good and all, but not if it costs us finding out what the Outer God version of Deru can do.

Pic related. Kill him with fire. Now. Before he can get off whatever BS he's going for.

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>>5157482
Glorious carnage!
Not even a little bit curious...?

>>5157506
Little bit, but self-preservation instincts and, if we're being in character here, hatred and rage strong enough to have been granted to us by the Blood God himself significantly outweigh any curiosity we may have.

If it's not his read body we'll run into him again and we can ask him then. We won't be happy until this Outer God is dead after all.

>>5157537
Oh, as we're killing him with fire can we be chopping him into tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny little bits as well? I want the fucker to be finely minced as he's being roasted. We're not taking any chances with this one.

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>>5157577
Another strong magical spell should do the trick.
Poor Armin, to be savaged like that without doing anything wrong!

>>5157594
He's totally not Nyarlathotep. He's done a ton of things wrong! Especially Celestina! We must avenge our childhood sweetheart!

And Hao. He almost killed Hao in a very sick and twisted way that might have gotten us wasted as well. We haven't forgotten about that one.

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>>5157625
Hao really is something, isn't she? What she did to the pharaoh really was a complete surprise...

>>5157635
It gave us the opening we needed, but it may have come at the cost of her life. Hope there's some way to save both Hao and Sieg. Having Ama at full power and actually on our side may be the thing we needed to make that happen.

If she wants to start atoning for past sins (and making Daiyu stop wanting her dead) that'd be a good first place to start.

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Gonna be sticking with one answer every two days until my energy catch back up. Although, this answer might be a long one too. Good times aren't ending yet!

>>5157286
>Do not let this fell creature spread its pestilence or doubt. Fire proved effective against its body: consume every single molecule of its existence in Arawn fury.
Purge it with holy fire!
>>5158894
Take your time, perfection is never fast.

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Its dark blood is moving with purpose, two trails are proceeding toward the living statues -your comrades- for reasons you cannot decipher while more tar keeps escaping out of Armin's crippled body.

Whatever this creature is trying to do is far too dangerous to allow, even if it would be possible to gain some insight into its purpose, you cannot falter so close to victory. The pharaoh's ritual is crippled, the strongest reinforcements have bolstered your party, Shereen acquired a potent new ally... Knowledge is vital; greed is deadly.
20% reserve left
''A shame.'' Armin sense your intention when your metal begins heating again. Your expanded sight witnessed some of its blood reaching upward. ''Witnessing grudges in the hundreds of thousands would have been-''

The flames that erupt out of your exhausts are smaller in size compared to your previous spell, but the intensity of the heat is incomparable. A wave of fire engulf Armin's body and spreads into its blood, gaining a shade of darkened red as magic consumes the creature's entire existence in one swoop without a single kindling noise, your spell doesn't make a noise at all in this odd realm of souls. Unlike Ama, Armin shard doesn't disappear, revealing a grim reality: you are reducing a genuine corpse to ash. Impossible to tell what kind of unfortunate soul it once was, you can only take solace in knowing you've ended this victim's misery.

What's left is nothing more than a faint outline and soon enough that, too, disappear unexplainably by some unknown phenomenon of this strange alternate reality, leaving you alone and secure. The stairs are difficult to distinguish against the white scenery but persistence allows you to spot them and eventually, you see the faint darkened color of Shereen's existence moving down at a good pace, having crossed the threshold of the faraway fog. She's helping an undeniably weakened Ama, both of them still keep a good pace with descending despite the witch holding onto your little sun for support.

For the twenty minutes needed for their arrival, your monitoring did not uncover any threats against their safety, although you identified one oddity: the pillar of souls connected with the pyramid core had disappeared. Once they reached the relative safety of the artifact, the stairs evaporated like a mirage and Ama sat down with a groan. All traces of Armin's corruption was gone, the only sign of its existence being the damage on her dress that, thankfully revealed spotless flesh.

''You're not well.'' Ama shrinks back when you approach. ''Has Armin successfully implanted one of its parasites?''

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''I-I don't think so.'' The small witch hesitates, blue eyes seeking any remnants of that damned elf. ''Thank you for being quick. Though I'm feeling woozy, bit odd. Nauseated, vertigo... It's the right words to use when the world is spinning yeah?'' Ama grimaces and sits down, Shereen imitates her with a supporting hand. ''First time I've ever felt like that, I can't concentrate, I'm barely able to feel the flow of magic and our pearls, don't expect going back soon.''

''Its first act must have been sealing all of your potential defense.'' You hope your voice isn't too cold, this body does not project emotions even if sparks are dwelling within you.

''Probably. I vomited everything that would come out.'' Ama wince. ''Unlike my shard, I can't investigate my own body and find out what's wrong. Ugh, I knew showing my true self was a mistake.''

''It wasn't.'' Shereen speaks gently. ''We should be safe now, I can't see Armin anywhere.''

''Burned all traces.'' You comment, measuring your tone. ''I'm unsure about our safety, I have no recollection of this realm and the souls there are gone.'' You point at the new empty area above the pyramid center.

''Wha!?'' Ama's abrupt turn make her wobble and she needs a moment to regain proper motion. ''Ugh, damn it. This is odd, it hasn't been that long, the souls shouldn't have dispersed yet. The angels being gone is also really odd, they have the fortitude to survive here, especially after I scattered the pearls into them.''

''Then I'll insist on us leaving. You described this area as the Origin of souls and now an immense amount has gone missing...''

''I'd do it if I could!'' Ama glare at you. ''Listen, this entire alternate world functions in three layers. Were in the deepest area and I haven't been able to find anything noteworthy here, I've only found a single journal by a previous explorer and he called this the ''Limbo of Sentience.'' This place seems to manifest our world's strongest souls and a few particular artifacts that seem to connect to the core of our World Tree.'' She gestured with her chin at the pyramid. ''Outside of that, I don't have a clue how this layer functions, let alone why people's souls are manifested like statues. This dimension neighbored my home, I only needed one astral pearl to get here... and that's about it. Returning into our material world isn't a matter of shifting as we do with the Red, we'll need to do things differently, though once I feel better sending us back safely won't be a problem. Magic here doesn't last long.''

''I didn't get that impression.'' You interrupt.

''I'll wager you were far too busy to pay attention.'' Ama huff and pauses, then Shereen goes to rub her forehead.

''No fever, you're okay.''

''...okay.'' A noticeable blush-colored Ama features. This almighty witch looked genuinely lovely right now, looking so small and vulnerable. As Zhu would put it, she oozed this impression of being a ''weak thing that'd be fun to protect.''

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''Maybe using your nature here could provoke something, just don't start now! Wait until we can return here. Shereen protection with the pearls could run out and we both don't want her choking to death!'' If Ama was faking her worry and bad health then she was a fantastic actor.

''Agreed.'' Curiosity was a nagging doubt but the security of your charge was much more important.

''I think I'm feeling a little bit better.'' Ama said after taking a few heavy breaths. ''This sucks, why am I so wobbly? I could project my spirit whenever I wanted, I've never... M-maybe I should return home?''

''No.'' Shereen's brisk rebuke needed no elaboration.

''Come on! If you get some astral pearls we should be able to... Huh actually no it took a whole damn lot to bring your and Arawn's bodies here.'' Ama rolled half of her hair and held on to it nervously. ''I'm not so sure it's a good idea to have me tag along as... me. A shard would do just fine, right?''

''No.'' Shereen remains gentle in her resolution.

''Yes, that's sounding like a much better idea. This is my True Body, with capitals letters!'' Despite sounding forceful, Ama's shoulders shrunk with her increasingly diminutive stance. ''Tui or Daiyu or Mana could maybe feel a little better by beating up my shard but I'm in actual danger now! A great witch like me is -not- supposed to show herself to a crowd! How many of Mana shards were inside the area now that I think about it? There's the army too, I can't even hide inside your soul! Going back to my place is a MUCH better idea. That nightmarish fox is going to eat me! Two of them will!'' The more she spoke, the more Mana was retreating on herself, by now she was resting her chin on her knees.

''You say that, yet you've followed me down as you are now.'' Shereen's hand gently patted Ama's head. ''People might not be happy, but you've helped and I'm sure Mimiru will be happy to meet the -real- you.''

''Ugh, that's untrue... She liked the fox, the mystic...'' Ama shook her head.

''If you have the time to complain.'' You interject, your gritty, metallic voice makes the small blond twitch nervously. ''Get us out of here, you're healthy.''

''You'd better stand in front of me.'' Ama glared at you, even adding a little growl at the end of her sentence. ''You should be able to keep your body for a short time now that I've been gracious enough to remove my influence, so put it to good use! I swear if someone tries anything I'll.. I'll flee! I'll find a way!''

This witch is going to be a handful. Shereen calm presence was doing a world of good in keeping her still at least.

''Everyone will liste-''

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''What!?'' A familiar voice to your left
''Ooof!'' Someone fell down the pyramid steps to land the ground.

You lept in front of the girls upon seeing the first movement from something that should have been impossible. The motionless statues representing Zerase and her daughter had been replaced by the real, flesh and blood individuals, they hadn't expected such a transfer because Ensan momentum ended in a painful fall.

You nearly, so very nearly, took this moment to leap at Zerase but her necromantic capabilities coupled with leaving Ama and Shereen completely open to Ensan retaliation forced you to stay put.

''Wha...!? What!? How!?'' Ama's voice was a choked-out whine, more a whispering, dying animal than a proper scream. ''I did open the way into the Origin but nobody else was protected against the time dilation. T-this is bullshit!''

Armin must have done something with these two.

''Where's my staff...? Shereen!?'' Ensan radiated hostility as she glared at her little sister.

''Ease and peace, Ensan.'' Zerase's imperious voice immediately calmed her daughter's agitation. ''Here stand the Embodiment of Protection, as long as we do not harm his charge, we should be safe. Should. The company you keep is truly fascinating, Shereen.'' With eight bony legs extending out of her spine and her naturally bigger body, Zerase's slithering presence was equally awe-inspiring and dreadful. ''I can finally understand Damien's perspective now, struggling so much against heroes is... frustrating. I should have retreated when my web was burnt, to think Mana melded a nature of Heat for the material world and Foxfire to burn all attachment of souls...'' The lady snake chuckled.

''Mother? Did you plan to come here too, to this place?''

''Hell no she didn't!'' Ama scoffed. ''Words of powers need a connection with the world itself to work and she's no dwarf or Mother Earth!''

''I've always believed this place needed protection to survive, but it would seem that was wrong,'' Zerase spoke, slithering toward her eldest. ''The first layer -the realm of dreams- is where I'd go to escape, not this third, deep one. It is impossible to navigate or find any connection to our world aside from the statues... Hm, I'm not seeing Mother Earth followers.''

''Mother, did you kill Hao?'' Shereen's question caused the magical limbs of the pharaoh to clicks.

''You must be speaking about that frustratingly courageous girl.'' Zerase brilliant, yellow gaze settles on you for a second. ''She still breathes, but for how long I cannot say. I've afflicted her with a necromantic rot of the soul to free myself from her grasp, I didn't have time to linger and finish her... You have a link to her, don't you?'' She asks you, silence is your answer. ''Then perhaps you can stop the process and limit the damage.''

''And Mimiru? That girl who was protecting Anais?''

The pharaoh remain silent

''Answer the question!'' The little witch order while hiding behind you.

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''Worrying about our situation now is more important.'' Is the lady snake answer. She stands straight, tall, and proud. ''How will this end? I may be separated from my pearls... but I can still struggle.''

''There are faces in the sky.'' Your announcement takes all the girls by surprise, putting an end to this discussion.

Your expended perception allowed you to witness an alarming phenomenon. Shapes started to appear into the far away, hypnotic sky of dull whiteness, each second reinforced their general geometry and volumes and after a minute, full-sized heads appeared clearly. Each one is similar to a watery reflection, proper identification of traits for sexes or distinction was impossible, the only true identifier coloring. All of these faces were wreathed in a particular color as if wielding magical flames and soon enough, a rainbow of fiery dyes expanded throughout the horizon. Hundreds, thousands, more began to sprout into the ether of this strange world, burning with chromatic energy that, as a whole, would make it difficult to observe for an organic eye for these entities collective closeness burned like the sun.

''What!? There must be thousands... tens, maybe more!?'' Ensan stupefaction broke the spell of awe wrapped around the women.

''Hundreds of thousands of grudges...'' You repeat Armin's word. Your heart isn't afraid, this unknown is problematic for there is nowhere to run.

''A-ah!'' Ama jumped on her feet, proving once and for all that her bad health wasn't crippling. ''The pillar of souls being gone means...''

''The mountain failed to manifest within our world, the sacrificed souls have nowhere to go. Now we stand within the Limbo of Sentience...'' Zerase flexible body turns, angling upward to gaze upon the multicolored sky. ''...The deads have no right to enforce their grudges upon the living but this is not the All-World.''

''Mom...? Listen, we should leave. Rather, you should.'' Ensan walks next to her bigger, stronger parent. ''I can hold them back for... maybe a minute or two, take that chance. Your dream -our dream- shouldn't end because of this defeat!''

Zerase turns to look upon her daughter, perhaps the only person in this world she has grown to trust. The pharaoh's beautiful skin is already glowing with the purple of natural necromantic energy and her sudden conjuration comes unannounced. Ghostly hands grab Ensan and drag her toward your small party. ''Mother!?'' Her protest is silenced by another hand covering her mouth.

This caused a ripple of activity amongst the colored skulls, their passiveness was slowly coming to an end. Small movements made the colorful sky look almost alive, pumping with activity.

''There is no easy way to return.'' The pharaoh's voice is gentle, yet firm. A motherly tone, a hypocritical tenderness. ''I knew that white elf would try something, burying my bloodline within the hatred of those suffering my ambition is, I suppose, poetic. The dead should stay dead.''

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The sky began to move. Thousands upon thousands of flaming skulls slithered closer, like a titanic snake. Words resonated within your mind, not from enhanced auditory perception, it was telepathy, the sheer mass of souls collected here was so strong that it could somehow override people's inherent protection.

''End the bloodline!''
''Blood for blood!''
''Curse the Blood! Eat them, end them!''
''Dangers to everything, everyone! End her bloodline, end them all!''
''The Blood is a curse on the world!''

And so many more. Enough voices to trample any thoughts, enough damnation to sink any hearts.

''Shereen! You've won this day, congratulation.'' Zerase didn't move while speaking, fearlessly staring into the manifestations of all the people she killed to nourish her ambition. ''I've hidden notes about my experiments and thoughts in my room, I'm sure you're resourceful enough to find a mage of earth to find my little hidden cove. Within, you'll be able to find where I've buried your sisters.''

''Mom!?'' Shereen took a step forward but you held her back.

''Don't call me that, you'll wither your heart with lies.'' Zerase looked over her shoulder toward you. ''I hope you can live up to your reputation, protector because only my blood can make use of the sensor stones. When Armin came to me, I investigated him to the best of my abilities... and I've found a few things about Devona.''

Within all the fragments of Gardy memories, a small blond girl of ever-changing age was present physically or spiritually. News of any kind about her was... If his soul was here, he would have needed help to keep himself calm.

Zerase fearlessly stared upon the sea of fiery chromatic death and extended her arms and lower body toward them. ''Here is your Pharaoh, your Blood, your Goddess!'' Strength, pride and fearlessness, she was looking at her death without terror, she'll face it with pride. ''All of you are dead, your grudges, your lives, your wishes, happiness, and despair is over, you have no authority on the living!'' The sea of flaming skulls stopped, seemingly surprised. She was damning them even now. ''Shed your hatred in the Red and pass on. Otherwise, you will suffer my curse for all of your eternity of unlife! None of you will sleep, none of you will forget that you've slaughtered your queen, your god! No peace, your souls and memories will remain until despair erode your anger to nothing! Come and damn yourselves you miserable ingredients, laughable excuses for citizens!''

Now came the screams. Men, women, children, elderly... their voices mingled into a cacophonous whole, five-hundred-thousands souls yelled in shared hatred toward their leader who hated them just as much. The noise reminded you of a banshee scream, it put such an intense weight upon any listener soul that anyone not encased in iron could only watch, almost enraptured.

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Zerase spell was a purple cloud that crashed against the sea of colors, outright evaporating a few hundred lights upon contacts. The entire sea grew a shade darker as the souls promptly encircled the tall pharaoh, completely obscuring her from view: the only sign of her still holding onto life were the innumerable fumes of necromantic energy spreading incessantly into the hivemind of vengeance.

''N-no way...mom?'' Ensan trembled, the screams of those damned souls were finally lessening in intensity.

''Ensan, stay behind me.'' Shereen reached for her sister but the taller woman slapped her hand away.

''Hell no! What do you think is going to happen huh? All these freaks will converge on us and... fuck, were dead Shereen!''

''Mom is still struggling despite...'' A headshake, she couldn't finish that sentence. ''...we'll only be dead if we accept it.''

''I-I'm trying to... I can't access Focus! I'm... Fuck! The pearl's influence keeps slipping!'' Ama's body trembled all over as she hugged herself. ''M-maybe if we shift into the Red? No way, Mountain is still there... Dunno if it can even work, we are so deep in the Origin.'' Ama coughed and vomited something dark.

''What's going to happen if we somehow live through this, huh?'' Ensan snapped at her little sister. ''All these freaks who've come to invade our land, mom ritual has failed, Marleon people are all dead... Do you think turning me over to what's left of our poor excuse of a country is justice!? They'll tear me apart! Might as well get it over with right here and now!''

''Maybe that's what you deserve.'' Shereen's voice mirrored her dreadful frigidity. ''I hate you Ensan. I want nothing to do with you, I don't care that much about what happens to you.'' The sister could not say anything when faced with such coldness coming from someone who had always been warm. ''But... But! There's been enough death today! This misery, fate whatever I'll reject it! I don't care about logic, I don't care about tomorrow! These souls, these people have been wronged in such an awful way, that's true... but I'm not going to die to appease them and neither should you. You should at least have the freedom of a dignified death, Ensan.''

The look of disgust that Shereen threw her only living relative was heartbreaking. It also gave you a strange kindling of hope. The princess's rage had nearly led her into committing murder not too long ago, that experience must have left a deep imprint.

''I-I don't...'' Ensan trembled in horror when the sea of colorful soul began moving upward. Zerase was gone, no blood, no clothes, nothing stained the peerless white floor. Her existence had been completely consumed by the enraged horde of her sacrificed citizens, and their hunger wasn't sated. ''...Fuck! Fuck!''

The older sister took refuge behind her younger one.

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...

This is an unprecedented situation. Nothing in Gardy innumerable pieces of memories could explain this phenomenon, however protecting all of your charges is possible. This deepest layer of souls, what they call an Origin, should be heavily shaped by belief since only the truly sentients have influence here. It'll be possible for you to become an obstacle against that sea of revenge. Their rage against Zerase is one thing, it won't be as intense against Ensan and Shereen.

Still, there is no guarantee you can accomplish anything. This is 500,000 souls screaming for righteous vengeance, they seek nothing else than the extinguishing of Zerase bloodline.

>Throw Ensan into the horde. Being judged by the countrymen she abused all of her life is simple justice. Pragmatically, you'll be able to protect Shereen better without that baggage.

>Do your duty, Embodiment of Protection. Your human element is greedy. One unbelievable choice after another... but that is only one more reason to protect her.

>Free

>>5164650
>Do your duty, Embodiment of Protection. Your human element is greedy. One unbelievable choice after another... but that is only one more reason to protect her.
I don't think they would see reason and stop at Ensan, especially with Shereen right there.


Even if we save her now I don't see the rest of our party being ok with letting her live, though allowing the sisters to find closure before things eventuate would be best. Even if they have both been mistreated.

>>5164650
We're still able to invoke our nature yes? From what you said it would seem concepts like that are actually strengthened here. Thus, if we invoke it, we should be able to "protect" everyone. Whether or not that includes ourselves is another matter entirely but the cacophony of souls ought not have any particularly strong grudge against us.

Basically, we've already saved one manifestly undeserving soul today, so what's a second? Save everyone. If only because Ensan knows where the that Data Cache Zerase mentioned is and oh yes, we *do* want that. Research Data on Armin and hints as to the potential location of Devona are worth almost any price.

Also, did Zerase just sacrifice herself?

>>5164675
"Letting live" is a subjective thing. There are fates worse than death. I'm thinking permanent and eternal indentured servitude to our party. We'll collectively make her wish she was dead!

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>>5164688
>We're still able to invoke our nature yes? From what you said it would seem concepts like that are actually strengthened here. Thus, if we invoke it, we should be able to "protect" everyone.
Yup.
>Also, did Zerase just sacrifice herself?
Look like it doesn't it?
>I'm thinking permanent and eternal indentured servitude to our party. We'll collectively make her wish she was dead!
Sound lewd
I'll keep votes open until tomorrow, though it sound like we have our popular choice.

>>5164690
Nothing lewd will ever happen to her ever again. This party is a lot of things but Slaanesh worshipers ain't one of em'. Guinea pig for magitek, source of fresh blood for Shereen's magic, being our basic bitch errand girl fetching our party food and drinks, shit like that. No Snu-snu!

>>5164699
If you can indeed protect her, then you can worry about her sentence a little later. Ensan did a whole lot of things to help her mother, although in the end ''true justice'' might be impossible to find...

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>>5164705
Aww fuck, so dice are gonna get involved I take it. Oh man, hope they like Ensan/us this time around.

Also, just thought of another possibility. We could make Ensan an "Arbiter" if ya catch my meaning. It'd be a real pity to get nothing out of her death and her execution would be exactly that. Nothing tangible gained by just killing her.

Better instead to send her on suicide mission after suicide mission until it finally sticks. Or she survives enough of them and does enough good thereby that she "atones" for her many, many sins.

Gotta give em' that sliver of hope if you want them to actually try after all.

Also, does that research data include her efforts into enabling male births in monstergirls? She's the type that'd likely overlook a harder option that may have been possible. Y'know, how to possibly enable it without going the genocide route. Could have gone with that, but it was just a hell of a lot easier to go for apotheosis so she went with that.