2024-03-08 - The Hunt for Red Familiar
| Title: The Hunt for Red Familiar | |
|---|---|
| Summary: It's a pleasant day in Akihabara when Akari crashes into the street, being pursued by an Orphan. Several of Tokyo's magical guardians rally to defend the beast... including one unexpected one. | |
| Who: Kyouka Okazaki, Endo Naoki, Nori Ankou, Eri Shimanouchi, Cowstian Dior, Mikoto Minagi | |
| Where: Akihabara Electric Town (Shitamachi Low City) | |
| OOC - IC Date: 3/8/2024 - Thursday, April 28th, 2016 | |
.**************************** Shitamachi Low City *****************************.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+* Akihabara Electric Town +*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Brave Akihabara, holy land of nerds, Akihabara of the cartoony signs and
gumball-machine colors. One can buy anything in Akihabara, as long as it is
computer gear, electronics or anime merchandise. The main strip is the
glitziest, with a large percentage of the visible building faces covered in
electronic signs, huge posters, or garish paint jobs, and there one can
purchase coveted new items at (or just a hair before) their street dates.
The streets to either side are home to a messier brand of store, where one
can, with a little luck and persistence, find used goods like that rare
out-of-print first edition Sailor V figurine or vanity press Pretty Cure
doujinshi. These smaller stores compete ferociously for space, and can be
found crammed into alleyways and spilling out onto sidewalks as well as in
more standard configuration.
Those whose tastes run more to programming than fandom can find the area,
also known as Akihabara Electric Town, quite rewarding as well. It's the
perfect place to shop for computer parts and other gadgets for projects both
personal and paranormal, with the venue ranging from a posh cutting-edge
robotics store on the main strip, to tiny stalls wedged into alleys that
sell high-grade electronics on the cheap. The latter category manage this
feat of thrift by selling unpackaged items taken from wholesale lots, and
piled up for display like supermarket apples.
It's relatively safe to be seen wearing unusual clothing here; it's likely
to be taken for cosplay, or the uniform of one of the diversely themed maid
cafes.
COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki has fully healed herself.
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Akihabara is as busy as ever on this Friday afternoon. It's been threatening to rain all day, with a deep overcast hanging ominously in the sky, but so far it's been perfectly dry; there are still plenty of raincoats and umbrellas to spot among the crowds, but otherwise it's been a mostly warm and pleasant day. The crowds are certainly out in full force, with lots of people browsing the stores, and every here and there crowds can be seen gathering to gawk over some new store display full of action figures or a bank of video screens showing teasers for an upcoming OVA or a graphics demonstration of some recently released hardware.
Kyouka is here, milling about as she browses through some of the less crowded stores. She's dressed in jeans, a black t-shirt, blue flannel shirt, her favorite purple parka, and her warm hiking boots. She'd needed a distraction, to get out for a bit and to try something a little different. She'd had... well, a lot on her mind recently, grappling with her complicated feelings about being a Magical Girl, her continued lack of a partner device, and some personal difficulties that still felt fresh and raw. All in all...
A distraction had been in order.
She was still getting used to the anime Japan had to offer, but she'd had more than enough recommendations for good series to watch. She wasn't a die-hard otaku yet, but she was still starting to appreciate it more and more. And on a lark, she'd decided to head down to Akihabara to see if she could pick up some older series in a box set that she could catch up on.
She'd been in and out of various stores, and was currently strolling down the street to see what caught her interest.
<Pose Tracker> Endo Naoki [Juuban Public School (12)] has posed. Endo is in Akihabara today to do some shopping, the boy one of the many faces amongst the crowds that pack the streets on this rainy afternoon. He carries a simple plastic umbrella to protect himself from the rain, dressed in a large dark coat and casual clothing. A shopping bag is in his other hand, swinging by his side.
He still has a few more stores to hit, but he isn't in any great hurry. Some window shopping is done, the boy occasionally stopping to examine signage and displays. It's been a few weeks since the last time he made it down to Akihabara, so there's plenty of new merchandise and displays to admire.
<Pose Tracker> Nori Ankou [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.
Nori is *also* here to shop, although as she emerges from... Mandarake? The old geek stuff shop in the curiously towering black building that's just nerd stuff on top of nerd stuff like some sort of geological column? It is an open question just WHY she is here.
But she does have a rather large bag slung over one shoulder and resting against her hip... with a dark and breathable mesh... almost as if it's a pet carrier...?
Of course, it's not a PET carrier, exactly.
IN THE BAG: Batiste leans on his side, gazing at his battered but wellprotected Smartphone, which is currently showing him one of his K-dramas. He's taking it easy. He had to make some calls and do some choosing but it was on the DL, and it's agreed: He'll make dinner. For now, though? He's riding in style.
And just how protected is that phone?
It's an otterbox, of course.
<Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.
An umbrella sticks out of a floral print tote bag, with the Characters for 'Takikawa Nanohana Festival 2009' upon it.
A girl in a wrap skirt, a pink T-Shirt with the words 'Love Daisy' in English and an anthromorphic flower upon it, and a light dark green jacket bears it. She's just another face in the millions that live in Tokyo.
Yet there is a hierarchy, know it or not, all participate in it. Her senpai called it the food chain. To her it's far more simple. Those who choose to be predators to predators - and those who are never given the choice, and remain prey.
There is no shame in living in ignorance of this hierarchy. It just means one anxiously grabs one's keys when a man is a little too forward, or looks a little too long, rather than avoids ... living at all, drowning in the helplessness of the wealth of the supernatural that can kill you.
... But besides the usual Puella Magi introspection/internal monologue, her bag also contains several newer volumes of Shoujo manga.
Because if she said she was here ONLY to hunt, she'd be a dirty dirty liar, and on occasion she needs the wind taken out of her serious vibe.
She's also standing near a Crepe Stand, and munching on a sweet Crepe because... it's rude to eat and walk! Plus she could drop it.
"Hmmm." Wiping her chin with a napkin, she checks her watch again. "This isn't like her..."
For a moment she stands there, contemplating this, then holds the crepe up higher, "Maybe when the wind shifts..."
<Pose Tracker> Cowstian Dior [Admin (S)] has posed.
<Assistance requested.>
Strike Wolf's telepathic call rings through the immediate vicinity, to all those of a magical inclination.
It's not clear where it's coming from at first--but a moment after that a burst of green magic explodes in
midair, and someone comes hurtling through it at a tremendous speed, crashing right into the ground. A woman with bright red hair, green eyes, a pair of fox ears and two fox tails: Akari, a.k.a. The Phantom Fox. Hanging from a black leather cord around her neck is a small, purple five-sided gem: Strike Wolf, in his standby form.
Akari hits the ground with a sickening thud, landing on her side. Her black dress has several long gashes in the skirt, as does her normally-pristine lab coat. And on her right leg are several long, bloodied wounds.
Through the same bright green light comes a strange creature indeed. The first thing to come into view is its long, pointed beak, resembling nothing less than that of a hummingbird writ large. From there, the creature's white form takes in the sunlight until broad, feathery wings stretch out to either side. It is bird-shaped--wings, head, terrible talons for feet. Its maw is toothy; its eyes are--No, there are too many eyes, and not where they should be, all down its neck and along the arms of its wings. Each eye is wide, black, and staring directly at--
Akari.
"D-dammit!" strains Akari as the beast appears. She holds out a shaky hand with a shout of "Barrier!", and suddenly everything shifts half a dimension over to the right. The crowds milling about, that were starting to flee from the monster suddenly in their midsts all vanish, leaving her--and the gathered magical guardians--alone with the beast.
The Orphan makes a terrible screech, and there is a moment's reprieve, but only a moment's, as it looks all around to react to the new setting it finds itself in.
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
Mikoto was going to go out shopping. She made plans with her best friend Eri and everything! She's not afraid of the rain, but someone made her wear a poncho, just in case. It goes rustle, rustle, rustle, but none of that rustling is evident by the crepe stand, where Mikoto is supposed to be.
Not even when Eri holds up a crepe to the sky, to let its delicious scent waft downwind.
No, Mikoto is --
"RRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH--!!"
A horrific bird-monster looms overhead, and as Akari casts that barrier, a girl with a massive blade crashes down from overhead. She does not strike with the flat of her blade; if it doesn't get out of the way, it will be carved straight through.
Not that that's ever stopped an, "ORPHAN!" Mikoto barks, a single word of orientation and explanation, as she lands and turns in a broad, sword-dragging circle. Sparks fly from where she gouges a deep wound in the ground, before she brings her sword about to slash at the Hummingbird Orphan a second time.
"Fixes itself," she claims enough sense back from her bloodsoaked brain to explain, in short, clipped, panting words. "Changes. Hit it harder. It'll die."
And that's all the explanation they're getting, apparently.
They should have sent a poet.
COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi transforms into HiME Mikoto!
COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi has fully healed herself.
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior transforms into Youma Form Hummingbird Orphan!
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior has fully healed herself. She is now ready to take on 5 opponents!
COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi has used Obsidian Blade: Destruction on Cowstian Dior.
COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi has finished attacking.
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Kyouka's not carrying an umbrella on this day. Then again, she is wearing her parka, which has seen her through all kinds of incliment weather, and it has a hood, to boot, so she'll probably be okay. She's got her backpack with her, so whatever purchases she's made, if any, must be in there.
Without anyone watching her she seems... rather low energy, all things considered. She's looking in shop windows with some interest but she's a touch distant. She does her best to put on a smile as she sees Endo. "Hey, Endo-kun... How's it going?"
She blinks as she sees Nori next, her eyes going to that bag. "Hey, Nori-chan... How... much did you buy...?" Must be a lot, to have a bag that big hanging over her shoulder. There's no comment on the contents of the store, though. Maybe she doesn't know how weird it is, or.... more likely she doesn't care.
Someone's trying to catch a cat, but there is someone else who does smell the crepe, too. "That smells kind of good, and it's cold out..." She turns her head to find the source, and... "Oh. Hey, Shimanouchi-chan," she says with a wave. "Been a while, how've you been?"
Kyouka freezes as she hears that telepathic call. "Strike Wolf...?" She immediately starts looking around for the source, taking a few steps forward as Akari comes crashing in. Those injuries--she must be in serious trouble, to have her barrier jacket damaged like that.
Then the orphan appears, and Kyouka recoils. "What in the world--" Instinctively, she knows it's bad news, and something tightens in her chest, cold clammy fingers gripping her heart. She dimly, distantly registers Mikoto's explanation, but for a moment it's far from the most pressing thing on her mind.
Akari's injured. You can't fight that thing! She needs help. You can't fight! I can't just ignore her. What can you do?
The logical thing to do would be to run. Instead her foot took a step forward. The others were better suited to fighting. She took another step forward. Akari was hurt and maintaining a barrier. Another step. It wasn't just her, it was everyone half a dimension back that had to be protected.
She broke into a dead run.
A green shield started to form around Akari, but Kyouka dropped to the ground, her boots scraping against asphalt as she slid under it just before it finished forming.
The outside world grows more muted as the shield closes. Outside, the beast screeches, pecking and clawing furiously at the flimsy protection. The strikes and blows reverberate through the tiny space, but the screeches felt more distant.
"Akari! Strike Wolf! I'm gonna get you out of here!"
"You again!?" sputtered Akari. She was barely looking at the girl, letting out a pained hiss as the Orphan kept pounding on the shield.
Kyouka started working her arms under Akari's body. "Drop the shield. I'll get you out of here while the others hold it off."
"N-no good. It won't stop, now that it has my scent." The familiar couldn't bring herself to look at Kyouka. "Just... go. This isn't your problem." She let out another pained whimper as more blows kept falling on the shield.
It won't hold long.
COMBAT: Endo Naoki has fully healed himself.
COMBAT: Endo Naoki transforms into Barrier Jacket Zerstörer!
<Pose Tracker> Endo Naoki [Juuban Public School (12)] has posed.
When spotted by Kyouka, Endo raises his hand to wave at the girl. He abandons looking at the big robot figure he was engaged in and starts to head over in that direction--
But he doesn't get very far before Akari and the Orphan come crashing onto the scene. When Kyouka goes charging towards it he does the same, not hesitating for a second.
He transforms mid-sprint, purple light flaring to life. When it fades the boy is in full barrier jacket, sword raised high as he leaps to assist the beleaguered mage.
He sweeps to the side of the shield to come at an angle opposite Mikoto's. Her plan more than sufficient for his purposes: Hit it until it does.
Fallen Stern arcs through the air in a horizonal slash, aiming to cleave off a chunk of the avian-adjacent Orphan.
COMBAT: Endo Naoki has used Blauverschiebung on Cowstian Dior.
COMBAT: Endo Naoki has finished attacking.
<Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.
Eri looks towards Kyouka, in that moment, "Hey... Okazaki-chan right?"
As if she were recalling her name, after all, it has been some time - and that girl was rather new to this, it's perhaps a strange sight, with the Crepe extended higher in the air, with no apparent reason for it.
"I'm doing well, yourself?"
She's... not lowering her arm is she?
Then the telepathic call goes out, and Eri doesn't say anything, even as chaos arrives all around her in it's myriad forms.
A Magical Girl crashing to the ground, the formation of a Barrier. And... an orphan, followed by Mikoto's telltale shout and call of one-
"Oh! There she is."
Taking care not to spill anything, Eri puts down the half-eaten crepe behind the counter of the Crepe Stand, delicately, and licks her fingers.
Her eyes look up at the bird monster behind her glasses, and then she grabs them from the side, pulling them away, folding them up and putting it in her bag, with a motion of her hand, a ring on her finger becomes her soul's cage, and with a gleam of green, she transforms, a thorned whip extending into her hand, even as she flicks the side of her hair, a barrette with the gem appearing there.
"Mikoto-chan, hope you don't mind, I'm tagging in."
She tells her with the same casualness as if she were asking someone to move by them on the train. Her eyes had noticed Akari injured of course - and the magical nature of her that goes beyond simple transformation - but Kyouka...
"Ah."
It's a quick assessment of the situation, the telepathic voice of the device from before, and not on Kyouka's person. It's almost like history repeats itself, isn't it?
With a pivot, her legs press into the ground, as she leaps on high, and her whip flickers out, length upon length as it blurs through the air, and abruptly tries to wrap around the creature's beating wings. The momentum of her fall is then utilized, that upon hitting the ground, she yanks it taut, and pulls.
AND PULLS-!
Straight towards Miroku and Fallen Stern.
"Get moving!" She demands of Akari and Kyouka, without saying anything like they'll hold it off or the like - no such things are implied.
COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi transforms into Puella Magi Eri!
COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi has used Gardener's Grasp on Cowstian Dior.
COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior perfectly dodges 72 Fatigue damage from Mikoto Minagi's Obsidian Blade: Destruction, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! Cowstian Dior's Fade and Flash abilities activate!
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior dodges 5 Fatigue damage from Eri Shimanouchi's Gardener's Grasp, taking 8 Fatigue damage! Eri Shimanouchi is Psyched! Cowstian Dior's Fade and Flash abilities activate! Stagger and Tangle applied to Cowstian Dior!
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior braces 13 Fatigue damage from Endo Naoki's Blauverschiebung, taking 20 Fatigue damage! Cowstian Dior's Block and Parry abilities activate! Stagger applied to Cowstian Dior!
<Pose Tracker> Nori Ankou [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.
"Oh, this?" Nori says, shrugging up her shoulder bag. "This isn't something I bought, you know." She winks at Kyouka, and the bag makes a familiar squeak that might be something like 'how's it going?' if you were listening closely. Nori then smiles upon the presence of Eri, considering what to say -- it has been a while --
WHEN!
A call rings through the air. Nori, who had been eyeing a L*wson outlet speculatively for its probability of hot, fresh, quick-grab croquettes, pauses when she hears it.
"Did you --?" Nori asks her bag.
"I did," the bag replies.
And then Akari appears and removes all doubt. Nori stares, slightly poe faced for a moment, and then does a volte face and marches around the Mandarake building towards the back.
A few moments later, there is a scent as if the memory of the ocean has been revealed...
Followed by a bursting darkling vision from an alleyway, running with thrown-sparks from diamonds against pavement. She sees Endo with relief - her head turns and she sees Mikoto, who is a good sign if slightly more provisionally, and then gives the PHANTOM FOX another glance before--
Well, that's a bigger problem. La Sirene de Diamant throws a hand outwards, wordlessly hurling a glimmering streak of inverse light towards the Orphan's... head! Its eyes! It has many eyes -- that means it can see! thinks la Sirene.
Batiste is scrabbling to catch up, but is also probably going to stay somewhat clear of the -- you know -- Orphan. He is small, if feisty.
COMBAT: Nori Ankou has fully healed herself.
COMBAT: Nori Ankou transforms into La Sirene de Diamant!
COMBAT: La Sirene de Diamant has used Carbonado Kaleidoscope on Cowstian Dior.
COMBAT: La Sirene de Diamant has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior braces 21 Fatigue damage from La Sirene de Diamant's Carbonado Kaleidoscope, taking 9 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Cowstian Dior's Block and Parry abilities activate! Stagger applied to Cowstian Dior!
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
"Then if we can't run..." Kyouka looks up at the shield. It's obvious, even to her, that it wasn't going to hold. And the barrier might be next, too.
What can you do?
There was only one thing to do.
"Strike Wolf!"
Strike Wolf's surface lit up as he replied, <Standby ready.>
Kyouka grabbed at Strike Wolf's standby form, still hanging around Akari's neck. Despite the grim circumstances, she couldn't help but smile as she felt that sense of connection reestablish itself like nothing had ever changed.
Akari stared at the girl in shock. "What are you--"
"Set up!" <Set up.>
A talon crashes through the shield, shattering it right as a wild burst of bright violet energy fills the space. And when the light clears--
<SoundTracker> Fist Bump (Sonic Forces OST) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwo7xig99Gw
Kyouka is standing over Akari, struggling as she holds the massive set of talons back. She has her arms around its foot, with talons closing in oh so precariously close around her neck and body. She's in her barrier jacket (the old one), consisting of just armored boots and gauntlets, a black top, purple shorts and vest, and an amber-colored visor. Strike Wolf is present on the back of her right hand.
"Wha-- Why--" Akari's hand goes to her chest, as if she couldn't believe Strike Wolf was on Kyouka's hand currently.
"Akari! Focus!" snaps Kyouka as she wrestles with the Hummingbird Orphan. "I need you to keep that barrier up! Those people are counting on you!"
Akari swallows hard but then nods. "R-right."
"Good. Strike Wolf, let's go!" With a great, heaving effort Kyouka shifts her footing, heaving the beast up, over her head, and slamming it into the ground before taking a defensive stance between it and Akari. "What'd you say, Mikoto? Hit it harder?" She sinks into a low ready stance, feat spread, one arm forward, one arm high and back.
"I think we can manage that."
COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki transforms into Barrier Jacket Wolf Fighter!
COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki has used Bodyslam on Cowstian Dior.
COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior perfectly dodges 13 Fatigue damage from Kyouka Okazaki's Bodyslam, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Critical Dodge! Cowstian Dior's Fade and Flash abilities activate!
<Pose Tracker> Cowstian Dior [Admin (S)] has posed.
Mikoto's terrible blade swings down, down, down into the ground. This time, it is able to move out of the way of her strike, as another strike she'd inflicted begins to heal; Miroku hits the ground an gouges an additional wound in the Barriered ground. The great rent in the earth exposes dirt and concrete both, well beneath the sidewalk.
Endo's sprint takes him clear close, and the Orphan cannot evade both Mikoto and Endo today. A chunk of its feathers are scythed off. In the next moment, it is unable to avoid Eri's grasp, yanked towards her.
Then, Kyouka and Strike Wolf come toether--and the creature is already back against that shield of Akari's. It struggles through, until Kyouka wrestles it--And hurls it back--
It manages to bank, in the air, hitting hard a cart instead of the solid ground, destroying more illusory property as it rises.
A flower bursts out of the air suddenly, falling towards Mikoto--and EXPLODES in a flurry of white feathers. The feathers themselves burst outward, and one approaches Eri and the other Endo, exploding likewise outward in a cascading chain reaction.
It dives, then, battering at La Sirene with its wings along the way back towards Kyouka, where it slashes at her, instead of at Akari now.
They've gotten its attention, all right. It caws a shrieking noise, and its wounds are aleady starting to heal again.
Better be quicker.
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior has used Bursting Flower on Mikoto Minagi.
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior has used Pinion Explosion on Eri Shimanouchi.
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior has used Pinion Explosion on Endo Naoki.
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior has used Kill Rush on La Sirene de Diamant.
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior has used Rending Talons on Kyouka Okazaki.
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi dodges 20 Fatigue damage from Cowstian Dior's Pinion Explosion, taking 13 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Eri Shimanouchi's Fade and Flash abilities activate! Diversion, Stagger, and Stun applied to Eri Shimanouchi!
COMBAT: La Sirene de Diamant counters 13 Fatigue damage from Cowstian Dior's Kill Rush, taking 13 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! La Sirene de Diamant's Reverse and Tactician abilities activate! Stagger applied to La Sirene de Diamant!
COMBAT: La Sirene de Diamant's counterattack, Les Mysteres, partially gets through, doing 18 Fatigue damage to Cowstian Dior!
COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki braces 11 Fatigue damage from Cowstian Dior's Rending Talons, taking 17 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Endo Naoki counters 12 Fatigue damage from Cowstian Dior's Pinion Explosion, taking 12 Fatigue damage! Endo Naoki's Reverse and Tactician abilities activate! Diversion and Stun applied to Endo Naoki!
COMBAT: Endo Naoki's counterattack, Asteroid Eilen, partially gets through, doing 25 Fatigue damage to Cowstian Dior!
COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi partially dodges 10 Fatigue damage from Cowstian Dior's Bursting Flower, taking 40 Fatigue damage! Mikoto Minagi's Fade and Flash abilities activate! Cowstian Dior drains 16 fatigue from Mikoto Minagi!
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
Here's Endo, following her lead with more violence; of course Mikoto can rely on him to do that. And she can rely on Eri to tag in, entangling that strange creature without a moment's hesitation. Unfortunately, Orphans aren't only tough and regenerative but fast, and she growls frustration as her blade hits the ground instead.
La Sirene, as well, has her own take on obsidian, and her unlight is a welcome addition.
But -- there's something Eri said --
"Huh? Kyouka! In here?!" Mikoto yelps, whirling towards Akari and Kyouka. She, at least, is shocked to see someone who hasn't been fighting for some time inside the Barrier. Aren't Barriers supposed to keep civilians out?
Orphans don't really care about whether they hurt people who can't fight...
Luckily, Strike Wolf forms an accord, and Kyouka proves she's not quite as vulnerable as Mikoto might have thought. "... right!" She says, grasping her blade, and -- the distraction of watching Kyouka might have killed someone else.
As it is, Mikoto moves before she consciously realises she ought to -- but not so quickly that the flower-feathers don't rush over her, buffeting her like any number of foes. (Eri's seen her weather worse.) "Rrrrhhh--!!" She growls, as she spins, once, twice, three times, one eighty three sixty seven twenty degrees --
And SLAMS her blade into where she estimates the Hummingbird will be a second after she last saw it on her last revolution.
COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi has used Obsidian Blade: Dauntlessness on Cowstian Dior.
COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior braces 17 Fatigue damage from Mikoto Minagi's Obsidian Blade: Dauntlessness, taking 14 Fatigue damage! Mikoto Minagi is Psyched! Cowstian Dior's Block and Parry abilities activate!
<Pose Tracker> Endo Naoki [Juuban Public School (12)] has posed.
The feathers are concerning, but Endo is focused on hurting the Orphan as much as he can in the shortest time possible. Accordingly, her pursues. Through the barrage of deadly projectiles no less, gritting teeth as his barrier jacket absorbs the heavy impacts. It's enough to hurt--but not enough to stop him from reaching his target.
"Nice one, Kyouka-chan!" He calls. He doesn't have time to comment further on her and Strike Wolf's reunion. Nor to give a much-deserved thanks to the other magical girls on the scene. But he slips easily in synch, intending to press the threat further with their much-needed aid.
A Belkan triangle burns to life under Endo's feet, providing a launch pad to send him hurtling toward the monster at top speed. He streaks through the air like a comet, making one sweeping spin to build momentum for the coming blow. Rotation, as Mikoto has demonstrated, is a necessary part of the equation. Purple-black flame trails behind the blade, leaving burning lines in the air that mark the knight's passage.
<METEOR ABSTURZ>
And then blade descends, aiming to take another, larger chunk out of the Orphan.
COMBAT: Endo Naoki has used Meteor Absturz on Cowstian Dior.
COMBAT: Endo Naoki has finished attacking.
<Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.
Only one thing to do?
Eri at least might disagree with that, even as the girl calls out to Strike Wolf. Sometimes it's a bittersweet thing to know people choose this life, and keep choosing it. Again and again.
It's akin to a sigh perhaps, even as Kyouka barrels at the thing, saying she can manage that- "Then, show us." -and it banks- sending out a burst of white feathers.
Eri suddenly spins on one foot, and launches her into the air, in a sideways rotation, as multiple feathers skim by her, tracing lines across her Henshin.
But far worse than the alternative, of the whole mass hitting her dead on.
The rotation stops suddenly as gravity sends her back down, landing with only the most imperceptible stumble. Nori had contemplated earlier, what to say to her? And it's in this moment while not even looking at her that she asks the important question.
"So how's Bautiste doing?"
Couldn't she ask about Nori herself!?
"Is he still on Legend of the Blue Sea?"
That's the title of a popular K-Drama this year, but how does she know Bautiste likes K-Dramas!? ... Social Media of course.
It's a serious life or death situation and, that's what she's talking about!?
... Well yes, obviously.
Her eyes flick to Mikoto, but this state for Mikoto isn't even close to alarming. What's more alarming typically is that Mikoto isn't a long haul fighter. She's someone who operates in short bursts, which makes her ill suited for a persistence hunt.
And so this time, when she launches herself at the Orphan, her whip divides into two, of equal size, one in each hand, as she just wields them in a different way. Faster and faster blurs from her hand motions, of vicious rending cuts. Each one slicing and tearing and ripping at its flesh. Despite the butchery, there is something like surgical precision to it.
It is not merely death by a thousand cuts. It is a thousand cuts simultaneously, lacerations conjoining into larger ones, and savaging the orphan's body.
There's no time for playing around with it today.
COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi has used Aerating Edge on Cowstian Dior.
COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior fails to counter Endo Naoki's Meteor Absturz, taking 72 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior's counterattack, Rending Talons, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Endo Naoki!
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior dodges 24 Fatigue damage from Eri Shimanouchi's Aerating Edge, taking 36 Fatigue damage! Cowstian Dior's Fade and Flash abilities activate!
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
"Endo! Thanks for backing me up!" Kyouka shouts as she gets ready to confront the beast. He's reliable like that. She should tell him how inspiring that is some time.
"That's me," Kyouka confirms to Eri. "Let's catch up later, okay?" This is the only choice, but Kyouka doesn't really have time to explain... well, everything she's been through.
"Diamante! Is Batiste safe?" She heard that voice, and she sees what the deal is with the mehs bag now. Hopefully the otter can keep himself safe.
She sees Mikoto's stare and gives her a nod. "I'm good--let's beat this thing down."
Kyouka stands her ground for the moment, keeping near Akari as she tracks the birds movements, studies how it attacks--and when it comes for her again, she's ready. "Strike Wolf! Follow my lead!"
/sw<Affirmative.>
She holds her hands out, and a glowing purple magic circle appears in front of her. She shouts "Protection!" and a purple shield of energy appears right as the talons strike at her. She keeps her hands out, her feet skidding back as the Orphan keeps scratching at it, frunting with the effort of repelling it.
"W-what are you-- Strike Wolf doesn't have that spell!"
"That's cause it's not his, it's mine!"
The foxwoman stares, jaw hanging open. "But--you're not a mage!" She'd had that made abundantly clear to her.
Kyouka shoves the orphan away with the last bit of strength left in the spell. "And I wasn't always a magical girl, either."
She crouches, a brief magic circle appearing at her feet before she jumps straight upwards, but at the apex of her jump she reorients herself, another circle appears at her feet and suddenly she's charging straight down at the monster, flipping in midair to bring an axe kick smashing down on its head.
<Fangbreaker>
COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki has used Fang Breaker Strike on Cowstian Dior.
COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki has finished attacking.
<Pose Tracker> La Sirene de Diamant [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.
Before --
"Oh," Nori says to Eri softly. She smiles. Perhaps disarmingly. (Did she GROW? AGAIN?) "Oh, well, you could ask him yourself, just - hm, I suppose we aren't trying to raise attention, you know--"
Batiste paws his face. He knows what must have happened. Eri found his show-nerd account-- otter disgrace...
("Nearly done," he says. "No spoilers!")
BUT HERE AND NOW --
As it swoops towards her, there is a cry: "Les Mysteres!"
"COME!"
And the burst of simmeringly silver and black powers up la Sirene's arm as she completes the gesture and the charm and the bloom forms up and WHAM there goes the Orphan, STRAIGHT into it, powering through in part in order to smash against la Sirene - its path deflected, but the energy simply too strong. The stray unlight flies around, like fabulous but rapidly-evaporating luminous paint, as la Sirene is bowled over onto the ground.
Her remarks? "Gwuh!"
She kips herself back upwards, then, wiping her forehead off with the back of one hand. (The diamonds don't cut *her*.) As the jewels glitter in the Akiba light, her eyes come up -- Meteor Absturz, and Eri is managing the thing... yes, la Sirene thinks, they're making the right kind of call. A sweep of her hand as she sends a river of that strange light along the ground to arc up and wrap round the Orphan, so they hope.
And with that her head turns to look towards Kyouka as her eyes go wide.
"Ah!" comes a squeak. Not from her!
From the second floor landing of Mandarake! It's Batiste, leaning against the railings!!! (He is easy to spot because he's an otter running around loose.)
"Kyouka-- you've been reunited at last...!!"
COMBAT: La Sirene de Diamant has used Polyploia on Cowstian Dior.
COMBAT: La Sirene de Diamant has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior braces 16 Fatigue damage from Kyouka Okazaki's Fang Breaker Strike, taking 7 Fatigue damage! Kyouka Okazaki is Psyched! Cowstian Dior's Block and Parry abilities activate!
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior counters 9 Fatigue damage from La Sirene de Diamant's Polyploia, taking 27 Fatigue damage! Cowstian Dior's Reverse and Tactician abilities activate! Tangle applied to Cowstian Dior!
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior's counterattack, Rending Talons, partially gets through, doing 11 Fatigue damage to La Sirene de Diamant! Critical Counterhit!
<Pose Tracker> Cowstian Dior [Admin (S)] has posed.
Les Mysteres strike back at the Orphan, their mystic unlight blinding some of its many eyes. Meanwhile, Asteroi Eilen slams down against the Orphan's terrible hide. Mikoto has concerns, but her eternal berserker approach is enough. She swings, swings, swings, and this time her blade hits home. The Orphan is able to regenerate some of it immediately--but only some, as ichorous black blood drips to the illusory ground. Next, purple-black flame leave sburning lines in the area to approach--
And while it tries to scythe into him with those dark claws, instead it SHRIEKS as Meteor Absturz hammers through its counterattack and sends burning black ichor to the ground, blinding yet more of those eyes.
A thousand cuts come next. The Orpahn's hummingbird beak tilts up as it tries to evade, but that doubled whip scythes through the Orphan's flesh, feathers and black blood raining down.
Still, it is regenerating. That is paused, by the axe kick Kyouka drags down upon its head, which it can only mostly guard against, still knocked downward towards the ground by the blow. That river of light, meanwhile, wraps round the Orphan as it throws itself at La Sirene de Diamant. This mostly accomplishes being savaged harder by the unlight.
But it isn't through, yet. It roars, and its eyes all glow, in random-seeming orders, crashing up towards Endo in a hoorrid stare. Meanwhile, it thrashes, and carts fly outward; a merch cart for Nori and Kyouka, and if no one's careful, Eri's crepe cart will be gone forever.
But the debris of its flailing sends rock and plant matter for Eri and Mikoto, huge chunks that threaten to bowl them back as the Orphan tries to make space for itself.
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior has used Throw Cart on La Sirene de Diamant.
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior has used Throw Cart on Kyouka Okazaki.
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior has used Debris Fall on Mikoto Minagi.
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior has used Alien Manifestation on Endo Naoki.
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior has used Debris Fall on Eri Shimanouchi.
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi partially dodges 2 Fatigue damage from Cowstian Dior's Debris Fall, taking 8 Fatigue damage! Mikoto Minagi's Fade and Flash abilities activate!
COMBAT: Endo Naoki partially dodges 6 Fatigue damage from Cowstian Dior's Alien Manifestation, taking 22 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: La Sirene de Diamant fails to dodge Cowstian Dior's Throw Cart, taking 13 Fatigue damage! Tangle applied to La Sirene de Diamant!
COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi fails to brace Cowstian Dior's Debris Fall, taking 18 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!
COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki counters 3 Fatigue damage from Cowstian Dior's Throw Cart, taking 10 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki's counterattack, Return to Sender, partially gets through, doing 2 Fatigue damage to Cowstian Dior!
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed. Quite so -- Mikoto moves in sprints, not marathons, just as Eri knows. How long was she chasing this monster before it found them? That's a question for Mikoto to know, and Mikoto has never been much of a conversationalist.
Particularly not in a fight.
Eri's vines, Nori's unlight, and Endo's sword -- each, Mikoto knows, are forceful in their own way. Even Kyouka's magic, not entirely Strike Wolf's doing.
Mikoto can see: its regeneration isn't perfect.
Its own force is enough to send the scenery flying, though, and Mikoto springs to the side just in time to avoid getting clobbered by a rock. "To defeat the enemy," she says, "hit it REALLY hard!"
As if in demonstration, she leaps high into the air, slashing at the hummingbird's wings to try and shatter its defenses.
She lands by Eri, and frowns, with the barest glance to her. "But it's an Orphan," she says, to her erstwhile hunting partner. "I might need Miroku..."
Eri knows, of course, how bad that is.
COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi has used Obsidian Blade: Devastation on Cowstian Dior.
COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior dodges 13 Fatigue damage from Mikoto Minagi's Obsidian Blade: Devastation, taking 19 Fatigue damage! Mikoto Minagi is Psyched! Cowstian Dior's Fade and Flash abilities activate! Stagger applied to Cowstian Dior!
<Pose Tracker> Endo Naoki [Juuban Public School (12)] has posed.
The blast from the Orphan's eyes is too fast for Endo to avoid completely. He's thrown backward, tossed and sent tumbling before he comes to a hard stop against a piece of debris. The boy finds his footing again after a moment, using his device to help prop himself back up. Time is of the essence, and the Orphan's wounds are busily sealing.
"Ah...it's really hanging in there." He breathes, "Come on already."
Endo speeds forward once again, not intending to give it any of the space it wants. He takes a running leap, mimicking Mikoto's earlier attack as he swoops down from above.
COMBAT: Endo Naoki has used Blauverschiebung on Cowstian Dior.
COMBAT: Endo Naoki has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior fails to counter Endo Naoki's Blauverschiebung, taking 39 Fatigue damage! Stagger applied to Cowstian Dior!
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior's counterattack, Kill Rush, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Endo Naoki!
<Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.
"You don't need Miroku, you've got this just fine."
Eri says simply, not sounding alarmed because she knows Mikoto would hear that.
The Ogre Child showing up in all of its glory is bad news.
A huge chunk of rock and plant matter comes her way. And she hardly has time to just twist and avoid it striking a particularly vulnerable spot on her head. Instead it smashes into her jaw, and sends her sprawling into a section of the sidewalk, clanging against a fire hydrant.
Squinting against the haze of pain as her head throbs, she tells Batiste, "... Sorry... but can't promise that one. Might want to cover your ears." Wait what could she possibly be saying about a specific K-Drama here that's relevant!?
"Spoiler Alert!" Eri stands up, as she brushes the dust off her henshin, and looks straight at the Orphan, "Mikoto is going to kill you."
Mikoto, not Miroku.
If Batiste doesn't give her a >:| from that she's going to be a little disappointed.
COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi has used Spoiler Alert: We All Die In the End on Mikoto Minagi.
COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi has finished attacking.
<Pose Tracker> La Sirene de Diamant [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.
What brooks it, that the Orphan hurls a cart towards her? La Sirene is more concerned at the sight of the thing still healing against the tidal barrage of horror and pain they are unleashing on it! What are these things even made of?
La Sirene leaps upwards to attempt to avoid --
Ah!! Her eyes widen as she realizes it's a Crepe Cart!! The one she was standing next to! Did the bystanders escape?! Has this Orphan made another orphan, one far less fabulous and perhaps more trag--
"Ghhk!!" la Sirene says, as some of the cart's kinetic energy hits her in the legs. She actually, heavens bless her, manages to do a full tumble in the air rather than flying off, landing heavily with a grimace on her lips.
Her eyes cut towards Mikoto. "..."
She knows darn well what Miroku can do.
Batiste, meanwhile, gasps -- before making a :I face at Eri for a moment, an instant before he calls out, "La Sirene--!!"
"Everyone! You have, I think, to enclose it closer! what I mean is --"
Batiste sucks in a deep breath and spreads his paws. "The creature can move freely! You have tried to confine it and it is damnably strong but I know that all of you can do it --!! Endo, Mikoto, your blades are mighty! You are a canny warrior, Eri Shimanouchi, even if you are cruel regarding the threat of spoilers! And I do not know you as well, but --"
"You may be the one who it cannot predict!!"
La Sirene's hands form fists after this, and she leaps to the side, as if to cover a possible avenue of escape. Or, perhaps, get smashed into again - but let it smash into her, not them! Then the Orphan will learn what's what.
COMBAT: La Sirene de Diamant has used An Encouraging Squeak on Endo Naoki.
COMBAT: La Sirene de Diamant has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Endo Naoki accepts La Sirene de Diamant's An Encouraging Squeak, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Withstand applied to Endo Naoki!
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
They've been reuanited, at last! Kyouka considers those words for a moment. "Sure seems that way," she says, finally.
Akari might have something to say about that, but even she realizes that it's not really wise to bite the hand that's currently protecting her. She is also, as it turns out, a wee bit distracted by the goings on.
Her kick drives the bird to the ground, and she backflips off of that kick to land back on the ground, reasonably sure she's got its attention now. The beast flails, knocking a cart at her--and she's about to dodge it when she remembers just what is behind her, and she charges towards it instead--she and the card collide in midair as she meets it head on, but she twists and manages to akwardly redirect the cart back ato the orphan.
Though it seems she only scores a glancing hit--her aim was a little off.
She clumsily lands on the ground after that in a three-point stance, panting for a moment as she catches her breath.
Hit it really hard, Mikoto says... What were their options for that, again...? Oh, yes. That'll do. But then she pauses and glances over when she says she needs Miroku. "Uh, aren't you already using your sword?"
"Hang in there, Endo--it can't outregenerate all five of us!"
And then Eri--it has been far too long since they've talked, and really, they've barely hung out except for one shopping trip that was--months ago, apparently. So she's not really used to Eri's sense of humor either yet or anymore. "Hey, can we focus on--" And then the punchline. "... Well we knew that."
But Akari has found voice for a frew more words. "Why are you doing this?" shouts Akari. "Why did you take him now of all times when you wouldn't even take him back before?"
Kyouka... hasn't really mentioned that bit to anybody, except for one person.
The girl doesn't respond as she gets up. Batiste suggests enclosing it. "Right!" Makes sense, keep it pinned down, prevent it from using its maneuverability. She rises into a runner's spring and charges forward, leaping high into the air and over its head, before doubling back with a dash downwards from behind.
This time she leads with a punch, searching for any kind of a weak spot she can get to land a decisive hit.
COMBAT: Player not found.
COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki has used Piercing Fang Strike on Cowstian Dior.
COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior decisively counters 6 Fatigue damage from Kyouka Okazaki's Piercing Fang Strike, taking 2 Fatigue damage! Kyouka Okazaki is Psyched! Cowstian Dior's Reverse and Tactician abilities activate! Stun applied to Cowstian Dior!
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior's counterattack, Rending Talons, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Kyouka Okazaki!
<Pose Tracker> Cowstian Dior [Admin (S)] has posed.
Hit it REALLY hard. That is the strategy. And indeed, as an Orphan, Miroku might be needed...
Because the orphan barely manages to avoid being chopped in half outright by Mikoto's sword slash, instead losing half a talon with another SCREECH. The talon still twitches as it hits the ground. Endo speeds forward too, and it doesn't get the space it wanted or needed. Hanging in there as best it can, the Orphan snaps its hummingbird jaws at endo--and loses a chunk of beak and tooth as he slashes. Eri, too, sure it seems(?) that they won't need the great Miroku, clangs into a fire hydrant--and delivers a spoiler.
The Orphan's eyes all point towards Eri at once and stare.
La Sirene speaks of cheer and of prediction, and with full power, encourages the group!
And Kyouka, reuinited with Strike Wolf, says that it can't outregenerate all of them. And that might be true.
But, as Kyouka swings in, there is another factor that may be an issue. The punch can't find purchase--but she eels power welling up inside her.
And the Orphan...
"RRR!"
It has a strategy: it can outregenerate all of them if it kills a few first.
The eyes stare at Eri. Flowers rush out, and in their rush they glow--glow brilliantly, brightly, until they EXPLODE at Kyouka and Endo, the resultant feathers burstin about Mikoto too. The Orphan in the meantime just tries to savage Nori outright.
It's fine.
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior has used Alien Manifestation on Eri Shimanouchi.
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior has used Kill Rush on La Sirene de Diamant.
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior has used Pinion Explosion on Mikoto Minagi.
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior has used Bursting Flower on Endo Naoki.
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior has used Bursting Flower on Kyouka Okazaki.
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Endo Naoki braces 35 Fatigue damage from Cowstian Dior's Bursting Flower, taking 15 Fatigue damage! Endo Naoki's Block and Parry abilities activate! Cowstian Dior drains 6 fatigue from Endo Naoki!
COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi partially dodges 4 Fatigue damage from Cowstian Dior's Alien Manifestation, taking 17 Fatigue damage! Eri Shimanouchi's Fade and Flash abilities activate! Trap applied to Eri Shimanouchi!
COMBAT: La Sirene de Diamant fails to brace Cowstian Dior's Kill Rush, taking 19 Fatigue damage! Stagger applied to La Sirene de Diamant!
COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi accepts Eri Shimanouchi's Spoiler Alert: We All Die In the End, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!
COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi partially dodges 4 Fatigue damage from Cowstian Dior's Pinion Explosion, taking 18 Fatigue damage! Mikoto Minagi's Fade and Flash abilities activate! Diversion and Stun applied to Mikoto Minagi!
COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki fails to counter Cowstian Dior's Bursting Flower, taking 57 Fatigue damage! Cowstian Dior drains 23 fatigue from Kyouka Okazaki!
COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki's counterattack, Howling Wind Barrier, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Cowstian Dior!
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
Eri assures Mikoto that she doesn't need Miroku for this -- which might be confusing, with Miroku grasped in her hands, but she knows what Eri means. Kyouka, though -- "Miroku is Miroku," Mikoto explains, helpfully. "Miroku's waiting."
A poet might have been more ominous, too.
Batiste, this poor little creature beset by spoilers, has tactics for them which Mikoto doesn't have -- though Endo, at least, understands her strategy excellently.
She looks to Eri, frowning. "Then, we'll..."
End of sentence; they'll do it.
"Rrrraaaaaaaaaghhhhhhh---!!" Mikoto leaps into the air, and swings her sword with such force that eyes blink open along its black length, as if staring down at the hundred-hundred eyes of that hummingbird-thing. She comes down like one of Endo's meteors, blade coming down like a tower.
COMBAT: FINISHER! Mikoto Minagi has used Obsidian Blade: Deontology on Cowstian Dior.
COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi has finished attacking.
<Pose Tracker> Endo Naoki [Juuban Public School (12)] has posed.
"We can do it!" Endo echoes the tiny voice of Batiste. The encouragement is enough to get him moving again, even after taking another powerful blow from the explosion of flower explosion. He turns his head toward his allies, calling, "Just a little more!"
Or maybe a lot more. Endo gathers his remaining strength, another triangle forming as Fallen Stern begins to pulse with energy. Purple light begins to flood from the dark blade as the boy raises it over his head in preparation for a final blow. It builds and builds, until it becomes more like a pillar than a sword; A vivid line that stretches toward the firmament.
<STERN BRECHER.>
He brings it downward with a a cry of effort, slamming the mass of destructive energy into the Orphan.
COMBAT: FINISHER! Endo Naoki has used Stern Brecher on Cowstian Dior.
COMBAT: Endo Naoki has finished attacking.
<Pose Tracker> La Sirene de Diamant [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.
It would be a mistake to assume that only Eri could command the flowers.
The Orphan's got the flowers, too.
Buoyed, perhaps, by Batiste's trust, la Sirene does not attempt to parry or to dodge the incoming blow from the savage creature. It may seek to kill but her fists come up in a block that derives from simple gym lessons long ago -- she steps back and she does not topple backwards, even as she can feel the pain and her teeth grit.
She leans backwards -- Breathes out --
And raises her hands above her head. Forming a loop with them as her back stays arched; she straightens but she does not stand aloft. It's a contorted posture, something that isn't quite of earth. As Mikoto strikes with a screaming blow; as Fallen Stern sends his indescribable crushing force down; la Sirene's glow brightens -
Contracts against her --
And then washes outwards with a sudden surge, and now that memorial-scent of an ocean is a lot less like a memory, even if it's a peculiarly *warm* sort of sea-smell, and though it is only light it nonetheless seems to draw the dirt and dust of the ground along with it, and when it hits the Orphan, it will burst in an enormous silver cascade of evanescent effervesence.
The scent may be warm, but the light, itself, is not.
COMBAT: FINISHER! La Sirene de Diamant has used The Light That Never Warms on Cowstian Dior.
COMBAT: La Sirene de Diamant has finished attacking.
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
She might have been out of the game for a while--but when she feels that power welling up, her eyes widen. She can tell what that is. "I think it's gearing up for something big!" she shouts as she rebounds off of the hummingbird to find purchase.
Flowers erupt out and burst at her. A thin purple band of magic glyphs encircles her gauntleted hand as she draws back, a flurry of winds encirling her hand. She charges forward, thrusting her hand out--
<Howling Wind>
And the explosion of light tears through the wind barrier, sending Kyouka flying backwards and into the ground floor of the Mandarake. There is quite a clatter and destruction of illusory property as she is sent through a becy of shelves, displays, and a counter. She lays there for a moment as a few pieces of merchandise on the counter just slooooooowly slide down the broken countertop before smacking into her.
"We're out of practice, huh...?" she mutters.
<Affirmative.>
Kyouka pulls herself to her feet and with a quick burst magical power, barrels forward back into the street, skidding to a stop in front of Akari.
Mikoto has an explanation for her--and Kyouka, while good at taking things as they come, is still terribly confused. "Later," she decides. "Explain this one to me later."
Endo calls for just a little more, and Kyouka nods. "Right with you."
She might be looking worse for the worse for the wear right then, but she is determined still, her gaze fixed on the creature. A light purple Midchildan magic circle appears at her feet, and she holds her hand out in front of her. Mana begins to build there, forming a brightly glowing ball that begins to intensify more and more.
"... You want to know why I'm helping you now, when I didn't before?" she says.
This isn't the aria to her spell.
She's keeping her eye on the Orphan as that energy builds up more and more. "It's because, when I saw you today, I realized--my first instinct is to run towards those in need, not away from them."
It was true the day she met Strike Wolf, and though there were multiple feelings waging a war within her chest when she was offered Strike Wolf back, and then again when she saw Akari appear today... most of that sensation has vanished in the ensuing fight.
Most.
She grasps at that ball of energy in her hand and her gauntlet begins to glow with a bright light. It continues to build, while energy slowly spreads to the rest of her body, encasing her in a light violet aura. She shifts stances, no longer standing upright but preparing to move, legs tensed in a crouch, and arm drawn back to prepare for an attack.
"For the longest time, I thought this was just temporary, that me meeting Strike Wolf was a fluke, that I'd gone through things nobody should have to for a temp job." Three of the other magical girls gathered might well remember an incident with Kyouka, a Sulfuric Ogre, and her Pure Hart, shining so radiantly in the night air.
The light flares brighter still, redoubling as the charging of the spell reaches its zenith. "But with or without Strike Wolf, I am still a magical girl, and I will always protect those in need. Moonliiiiiiight--" She shifts forward and in the blink of an eye she vanishes. Suddenly she's right on top of the orphan, swinging into an attack as she releases all of that stored up energy in one massive explosion.
"STRIKE!"
COMBAT: FINISHER! Kyouka Okazaki has used Shining Moonlight Strike on Cowstian Dior.
COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki has finished attacking.
<Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.
As Kyouka asks her if it's really the time, Eri's eyes, now bereft of glasses, glance in her direction. She says nothing to 'Well we knew that.'
She tries not to :3 too hard when Batiste calls her cruel regarding spoilers. Of things she's been called cruel for, it's probably the mildest. She'll own that one.
The Orphan stares at her, and for a time she shakes it off, but she doesn't actually comprehend the true form of it's attack. Because the eyes stare...
... and stare...
... and stare...
What does Eri see in these moments? What does she experience? Her face twitches, and a bead of sweat forms on her forehead...
Then wordlessly she drops to her knees, as if something had made her faint, and places both palms down. Panting, she holds herself up by her palms, and then abruptly, a wave of radiant green spreads out from each palm across the concrete.
And then something erupts. Twisted and tangled, strands of vine as thick as tree trunks, braided in an unnatural symmetry. It rises, and rises, like a colossal manifestation of nature in it's most savage form. However...
... those who look close, might tell by the slight arc it makes at the end, that it is an unnaturally large manifestation of her whip. Putting a hand against it, that green magic traces across it, unintelligible runes making sparkling circles all over its length, each blooming into an opening flower along its trunk, as it suddenly moves, pulling back taut, and then it lets go, all that momentum reversing, as it snaps down gracelessly to try and smash the Orphan into the concrete.
Nori was correct. It would be a mistake to assume that only Eri can command the flowers.
Not for long though.
COMBAT: FINISHER! Eri Shimanouchi has used Footsteps of the Kodama on Cowstian Dior.
COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior fails to brace Mikoto Minagi's Finisher, Obsidian Blade: Deontology, taking 125 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior fails to dodge Kyouka Okazaki's Finisher, Shining Moonlight Strike, taking 129 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Cowstian Dior is unable to keep fighting!
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior fails to brace Endo Naoki's Finisher, Stern Brecher, taking 186 Fatigue damage! Cowstian Dior is unable to keep fighting!
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior fails to brace La Sirene de Diamant's Finisher, The Light That Never Warms, taking 150 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Cowstian Dior is unable to keep fighting!
COMBAT: Cowstian Dior fails to brace Eri Shimanouchi's Finisher, Footsteps of the Kodama, taking 111 Fatigue damage! Cowstian Dior is unable to keep fighting!
<Pose Tracker> Cowstian Dior [Admin (S)] has posed.
The Orphan does its best to defeat its enemies, Akari long forgotten in the face of these magical warriors assembled. But as it comes to pass, Miroku is waiting... and will continue to wait.
Mikot leaps into the air, and that tower of a blade hacks off one wing. Endo's Stern Brecher, meanwhile, pules and floods and destroys--cleaving through the other wing, forcing the Orphan to the ground with a load roar of dismay. It tries to lunge forward, to stab with its beak, but that enormous silver cascade from La Sirene is not warm--it batters the Orphan back. Black ichor floods the Barriered area, ruined as ever. And Kyouka... explains herself. She explains, and swings into an attack--
Eri's floral magic slams the Orphan into the concrete, herding it perfectly into the path of Kyouka's fist. It is crushed from above and beside, and a massive explosion results.
The orphan disappears in that burst of light. The area is quiet, again.
Quiet, until someone releases the Barrier, at least. The danger has.... passed?
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Blade, flowers, and light all converge on the beast, and all the blades have been swong, flowers sprouted, and the light fades... the orphan is defeated. Kyouka lands lightly on the ground as the last remnants of her attack dissipate, and she looks at the space where the Orphan was.
"... Someone's gonna have to explain that one to me later, I'm pretty sure I've never fought one of those before." And the thing about Miroku.
She's silent for a moment as she looks down at her gauntlet, smiling faintly. "You were amazing buddy. Just like always."
<Thank you. Likewise.>
Kyouka nods, and then releases her henshin. She appears in her street clothes, and Strike Wolf is now hanging around her neck. She turns and walks over to Akari, who is still staring at her in shock. The teenaged girl kneels beside her, "Let's get your leg fixed up. But first..."
She slips off Strike Wolf and puts the necklace down around Akari's neck instead.
"Wha-- What are you doing?" sputters Akari.
It's a fair question.
<Pose Tracker> La Sirene de Diamant [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.
La Sirene lands on her feet. She breathes heavily, the light seeming to sizzle against her skin for a few moments as she blinks a couple of times. She raises her hands up and sweeps them through her hair, before giving Eri - Mikoto - and Endo a pale but authentic smile.
And then...
She turns.
As Kyouka returns to her human form, la Sirene approaches her, and perhaps interferes with the dynamic tension between Akari and Kyouka by suddenly administering a brief and powerful hug to Kyouka. "Oh!" she says: "I know it's risky and it isn't always the best or easiest thing but I am so glad to --"
The hug relents. (It was a little like being hugged by an ocean wave?)
She looks over.
La Sirene's eerie-painted pale-eyed face looks at Akari.
Then back at Kyouka.
"...??"
Batiste seems puzzled in his second-story perch as well.
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
Mikoto lands, and this time, they don't need a Child to make the Orphan grieve. Those motes of light float upwards, and Mikoto breathes out, shrugging her sword-case off of her back to sheathe her blade again.
"We did it..."
She shakes her head, looking to Kyouka. "Orphans -- hate HiME. I'm HiME," she explains, lifting her poncho and the sleeve of her shirt to show Kyouka a strange, spiral birthmark.
And apparently that's the whole explanation.
She frowns, looking to Kyouka and Akari -- and looks up to Eri, coming to stand beside her, before she looks to Kyouka again. "Kyouka... decided you don't wanna fight?" She asks, unsure.
<Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.
The Orphan vanishes in a burst of light, and not long after, Eri's giant 'whip' does as well. Such expressions use an enormous amount of magic, and she's learned her lessons about keeping them around for too long.
She learned that lesson quite well.
When she's finished-
She takes a breath, and reaches behind the crepe cart to take back her paper.
With a smile towards Mikoto she says, "Take a breather, I'll get you one too, my treat." Though they'll have to wait for the owner to return.
The Orphan STILL appeared and STILL terrified away civilians before the Barrier formed. Which gives her time to see Kyouka slip it over Akari's neck. And Akari sputtering and-? Eri looks towards Mikoto, and- speaks to her, even though everyone can overhear it.
"Honestly? She's making the best choice she could possibly make."
The statement is made without a hint of irony.
"What's this life giving her? The satisfaction of making a difference?"
Eri's eyes shift towards her, "That feeling goes away before long. Then it becomes long nights, loved ones and teachers and friends who punish you for that service and don't understand - who can't understand. Life or death fights with others who won't allow themselves to be understood. Or worse - understanding only makes it clear you'll never come to terms. It's thankless work, to be just another girl who shows up whenever people - the world is in trouble."
There's a loft of her shoulders.
"Best case scenario, you get a real high from it for a while, before all the wonders of this life become ashes in your mouth. Worse case scenario, you end up dead and your friends and loved ones will never get the answer to the question of 'Why?'"
She takes a bite of her crepe, chew, chew, swallow. She's not about to explain a thing, of how she came to such conclusions. How she stands it now, each and every day.
"She runs away now, she might regret it for a while, but there's no world in which she won't be better off."
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
It is risky, and hard, and if you do it right, very few people will know what you've done for them.
And Kyouka's fine with that. Protecting people means something, something important.
Despite the seriousness of the moment, and the tense dynamic, Kyouka actually laughs a little, good-naturedly, as La Sirene goes in for a hug. Kyouka takes it in stride, grinning a bit. She's kneeling and in a bit of an awkward position to reciprocate, but once Diamante lets go she stands and turns, embracing her in a tight hug of her own.
She's the type of person who can give bear hugs without even really meaning to. "I know. And thanks."
She nods to Mikoto as she explains. "Orphans hate HiME. Got it." She's rather used to Mikoto's brief explanations for things. She'll just make a mental note to watch out for freaky animal things.
Mikoto asks if she's giving up the fight. They had discussed that once, that it was okay for Kyouka not to fight if she didn't want to. But... "No, I'm not."
Eri has... quite a bit to say, on the subject. There is a lot to unpack there, and Kyouka looks at her silently for a long moment as she considers all that. "That's... not quite it, either."
She looks to Akari again, while speaking to everyone else present. "We had a deal. I don't think you've kept up your end of the bargain, but I'm not going to take Strike Wolf back just because of that. If I did that... I'd be no better than the mage I rescued Strike Wolf from."
"You tried to sell me some sort of story, give me a little song and dance, and now that I've had a moment to reflect... I know your type. Real wheeler dealer type. That might might work on other people, but now that I've got your number? It's not gonna work on me."
"So tell you what. If you need help, just... ask. Don't try to sell me a story, or make some crazy deal, just... Ask."
"You deal with me straight, and I'll do the same."
She kneels down next to Akari again and slips an arm around her, pulling the woman's arm over her shoulders to take her weight. "Let's get you up, and we'll get you seated someplace safe."
Akari is silent as she lets herself be helped up, limping along as she stares at the ground in contemplation.
