>I̴͖͕̹̙ ͏t͏̥̮̤͇̼͍̻h̢͍̯i͕̰̦͔̳̖n̝̣̦k͙͍͎̝ ̙̩̭̳I̶̞̬̳̫̣'͏͇̪̼̦v͚e͏̖͈̖ ̰͡f̣o̫̻͉̹̪̝͘u̡̼̗̟̜̦ņ̜̠͇ḓ̫̱̝ ̩̬͝a͖͔̟̼̤ ͏̯̙͈ͅw̢̜͖͉̘͖̼a̲͡y̨̩͍̞ ̱̠̤͚̩ṯ̯o̳̤̩̭̗̱ ḥ̠̬ṷ͙̩r̨͎̬͚̬͚̮̗t͔̳ ͏̠͖y͔͚̟͎̥o҉̠̰̘̯̣̗ṳ̗͙̱̮ͅ,̶̣͉ ̫͖͔̹̗J̗͉̹̪́o̶̯̟̥k͚͎͉̖̞̣e̗r̛̰̱̳̙͓̳̝.̲̘̙̻̗̖̹

White Joker please leave.

>>37584364
>I̴͖͕̹̙ ͏t͏̥̮̤͇̼͍̻h̢͍̯i͕̰̦͔̳̖n̝̣̦k͙͍͎̝ ̙̩̭̳I̶̞̬̳̫̣'͏͇̪̼̦v͚e͏̖͈̖ ̰͡f̣o̫̻͉̹̪̝͘u̡̼̗̟̜̦ņ̜̠͇ḓ̫̱̝ ̩̬͝a͖͔̟̼̤ ͏̯̙͈ͅw̢̜͖͉̘͖̼a̲͡y̨̩͍̞ ̱̠̤͚̩ṯ̯o̳̤̩̭̗̱ ḥ̠̬ṷ͙̩r̨͎̬͚̬͚̮̗t͔̳ ͏̠͖y͔͚̟͎̥o҉̠̰̘̯̣̗ṳ̗͙̱̮ͅ,̶̣͉ ̫͖͔̹̗J̗͉̹̪́o̶̯̟̥k͚͎͉̖̞̣e̗r̛̰̱̳̙͓̳̝.̲̘̙̻̗̖̹
aha fuck

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>>37584364

The demense is dark.

Y͖̖̜̼o̰̞̲̺̦͠u̸̻͈͔̱̮͉ ̜͘l͕͍̱̣͇̭̥͞e̹̬f̥̫̹̳̫͎t͍̺̮͙̦ ̖̹̳̦͓y̘̳̞͚̰͘o̻̩ͅu̘̫̖̱̦̳r̵̗ş̣͖e̗͜l̹̤͈̮̤̠̩f̢ ͚͉o͞pẹn͇̳͍̦̥,͝ͅ ͏̜̥J̥͇͉͈͍o̶̻͍̝̯̫̲k͏͚̤͚e̞͎͡ͅr̹̘͉̲̱̕.

The only light - the only *lights* - in the world are the faint, fading green motes that issue from Cybele's Emblem, a weakly-guttering radiance that does little to the darkness around you, except lend it shape.

S̟̝͕͍̳̣̥e̝ḛ̢̙̺̬̱?̘̠͓͚̟ ̙̝͕̠͍̠̮I̳'̞̭͈̮̭̠̜ḿ̻ a̢͖͍͕͎̦̯l̳͘r̮̝e̸a̪̦͚d͈͔̲͕͓͉̘y̮̥̯ͅ in̢s̸͕i̺̰͍̰͍͘ḓ̜̞̩͚͘e̞͕̞̯͡.̙͍̰̤̙͢

That distant light-

And the synthetic red bloodshine of the cage of blades that enclose Cybele, that imprison her within the shifting lines of burning swords. She does not - cannot - move, locked in place like a doll on display, the snaking track of the vine beneath her skin squirming and writhing with a moist, foul life...

S̲̟͈͙͟h̖͎̜͓̙͙͘è̠͓̼̼̥͓ ̤̹͔̕k̺͕̥̤n̤̱̙͈o̗͍͠w̳͇͕̳͜s҉͍͍͍̘ͅ.̱͇͕̠ ̪̹̝̼
̨̘̻̙͈
̶̦̗̼̪̘̫E̼̳̗v̞̪̱͙ͅe̞̝̱̲r̠̘̟y̪̙͓͇̻͜t̙h̷̖̪͈̣ḭ̣͙̖ng̪͕.̫̀

-But her eyes are wide, full of pain. Desperate, as they meet yours. Simultaneously hoping, pleading...And hating. There's a kind of disbelief, a slow, expanding *hurt* that swells to fill her world; Accusing, infinitely betrayed...

And yet.

And yet, you're all she has.

Love and hate. Poised on the precipice.

Alura's voice, sweet - Almost lilting, as she cants her head to the side, as she breathes:

"Joker-kun...Have you been bad?"

(Continued)

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>>37584467

She's not alone, of course - though her mere presence draws all the light in the world. The enclosing ring of rotting, shambling Players - Dying, forever, moving with the lurching, twitching disorder of puppets on strings - is more than enough to surround Cybele...But they hold court for Alura, too.

Two of Legion Armiger's bodies kneel, in attitudes of adoration. The thing that was Iron Ogre takes her pale, perfect hand, a hand soft and smooth as a silken sleeve whispers against her skin.

-And on either side, flanking her...

A tall, off-white figure - Translucent crystals bristling from the segments of his armor, white and dull yellow. There is an unease to him, as his gauntleted fingers curl around the grip of his bow; the vision slit of his helm smoldering with internal heat. Perhaps the scene before him isn't to his taste...

...Or perhaps Alura's Emblem - A rose, bordered by snaking vines - is still raw, as it bleeds light from his cuirass.

The other one is-

You can barely recognize Inox Fang. His - *her* - form has *swelled*; where once there was armor, there is now iron flesh, cables that writhe and tighten like corded muscle. The vague canine cast to that crested helmet has been lost amid the wave of change, great scything blades flaring from the shoulder pinions, in echo of the butcher swords gripped in each fist...

T͢h̩̳̠͕e͎̩̲̙̯y̮͇͔͇̟͉'̯̘̩r̺͎̭͡e̠̜̯̳̺ ͏̫̹̹̱̲̻mi̷̗̘̲̖̞͍n͈̪̪̼͞ḛ̞̱͈̝̞̟̀ ̰͜n͘o̳͖͇͔̫w̬͔̙͢.̧͎͈͈̮̩̯̖

"-Mmmm?" A soft breath, just the slightest turn of Alura's head...And a pained hiss pulses from Cybele's lips, a shiver of internal distress. The veins beneath her skin are crawling up her neck - moving, slowly but surely - towards one wide, trembling *eye*...

"Joker-kun...Did you miss me?"

S̝͇̞̼̰̦ͅp̪͖͈͡e̬̯̘a͝k͙̫̜̝.

[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>37584530
Nah get fucked Naoya. Just shrug. No idea what else we can do in this situation besides find out what they want, exactly.
Don't forget to use spoilers.

>>37584530
So we need to take out Alura and save Cybele in one shot.
Killing Alura's body will just cause her to respawn in Cybele's body.

I would vote for Smite if it was just about destroying Alura.

Can we aim the killsat at her without her noticing?
I imagine our armor will obviously show signs of power output if we do that.

The swarm could buy us time, but it won't help with Cybele.

Do we just give Cybele up and nuke everyone?

Evening OP, hope you're well.

>>37584530
"No." Activate Sotto Voca. A year's worth of calamari jokes wasted, but roses microwave even worse. Personal experience talking.

"So this is where you ended up, Arrow? My condolences."

"You know Fang, I really did think you were smarter than this."

>>37584554
No Cybele means we're down 100 health, though.

>>37584556
One issue:
It likely won't boil her quickly enough. She will instantly feel the pain.

>>37584552
Naoya isn't here.

>>37584564
It doesn't need to, just HURT her. Athame is the only solution anyway.

>>37584530
I'd say it's a good time to start charging the Leukocyte for shooting the AEW. Using the Athame is also good.
"Surprised you're still around, Alura. I hoped you'd have moved along together with Kraken."
"Still, do you really think this is an effective threat? All you're doing is putting your finger on a trigger."

>>37584573
Yeah, fuck. I just went along with the second post. Not even sure why.

>>37584578
I now have this mental image of Cybele's processor in the demense breaking down from the resulting earthquake.

OP, you didn't tweet the url of the thread.

I'm afraid.
Very afraid.

Thank fuck that I'll watch a light-hearted movie today.

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>>37584556

> "So this is where you ended up, Arrow? My condolences."

"I-"

Calcite Arrow flinches, as you address him directly. He's ill-at-ease, here; You can see it in every motion, every passing moment. He has yet to learn to ignore the cues of his form - the way the autoreactive vanes articulate, in mimicry of a shrug; the way his head tilts down, an odd gesture for the tall, lethal figure.

"-it was you," he says, tightly - almost as if he's trying to remind himself of it.

"You *killed* Bardiel, like he was *nothing*-" Faintly - "...he was my *only friend*, and you *killed him*-"

His voice lowers. "...Just like that. As if it meant *nothing at all*-"

> "You know Fang, I really did think you were smarter than this."

A sound like the brittle clash of metal-on-metal, a sound that isn't quite a laugh at all.

Inox Fang's blades lower to her sides. Slowly, without haste. A faint violet glow ignites within the eyeslits of that predatorial helm, as she says-

-In a girl's voice-

-In Shizuka's voice-

"...How smart do you feel *now*, Anon-kun?"

You have never heard such hatred - such bitter, bitter hatred - in a human voice. The twisted, oddly distorted features of her helm - Half-melted, warped - merely echo the expression she must have, within. The hatred, and the triumph. There is a kind of joy, too, almost reckless in its intensity; A relish, a heady anticipation that is almost lust.

(Continued)

I just realized I have no idea who this Shizuka person is.

>>37584631
>-In Shizuka's voice-
Oh shit

>>37584647
Check the episode guide.

>>37584647
Wheelchair bound Seisin student council president. Also presumably the person responsible for the rain over Arcadia. Calcite Arrow is Bardiel's best friend Suoh, at that. Didn't realize he was a new Player, that's pretty funny.

>>37584676
So they found Bardiel's buddy, made him a player and told him half-truths about the story?

I hope something happens that completely fucks over their gloating bullshit.
Like someone else's endgame plan going off.

>>37584697
After telling him to ask Bardiel's new friends and seeing him after talking to Kraken. And they probably didn't need to tell half truths, just tell exactly what happened and leave out the part where Bardiel was a mass murdering shell of who he should have been.

>>37584699
How about ours, for once? Kill everyone in the room, go find a planet's worth of Essence, and spend the rest of the quest in the Hyaku-Shiki. Crank up the hilarity by telling everyone we're looking for Strelok. I mean Red Joker.

>>37584746
>Hyaku-Shiki
What's that?

Wait, did you just spoiler STALKER for me?

>>37584697
Yup. And now we're probably going to murder him. Fun.

>>37584699
Like AP's/Aoba's? Or whatever is going on with Kazuya?

>>37584754
No, but I'm about to. _________________

>>37584631

"-Ah." Alura's long, long lashes flutter. Her lips part, a flush - almost dainty - to her cheeks.

"I think you know everyone here, Joker-kun," Alura breathes - Soft, intimate, like a whisper. "-And they all know you, Anon." A glance over her shoulder, just a casual tilt of her head to take both Inox Fang and Calcite Arrow in her field of vision...

-she crosses the distance to you, her soft footfalls making no sound whatsoever. The narrow distance shrinking, her head upturned - her breath coming faster, faster, now; the high tops of her full breasts rising and falling against her bodice.

Almost shy, now...

You can feel Cybele's gaze burning into you. That mix of desperate need and hatred - For Alura. For her own helplessness. For what is unfolding, before her very eyes.

-For you.

>>37584552
>>37584554
>>37584573
>>37584578

W͎̲͕͠h͕̻̻͜a͚̯̙̭̻̱͜t̹̼̜͎̠̗̭͘ ̹͉̟̗͔͔̺ḿa̬̹̟̺k̺̠es̶̰̬ ̯̙̙̥̤̖ͅy̷̪ó̲̪̘͙ͅu͖͕͕͔̼̥ͅ ͙̩̘̜ͅt̲̜̬ḫ̴̼̹̼̰͕i̲̻̦̺ͅn͓͖͎ḳ̛͖͓̖̗͉̞ ͉Ị̼͎'̮͚͖͖̻̳ḿ̠ ҉̼̗̪̫̦̺̼N͓͍̘a҉̱ò̗̻͈̙y͈̤̘̳͉̣̠a̴̖̦?̞̠͓͍̘̩

"-Anon-kun." Alura's lips shape your name, like a caress. Her remarkable eyes settle on your mono-optic sensor; As if she can stare right into your soul.

And perhaps she can.

"...What makes you think it's *Naoya* in your head...?"

You...*strain*. You have to. You have to. You drag your limbs into motion, form the thought-impulse that will bring the Leukocyte to bear, willing it into that familiar shape and...

-You freeze.

"I can't let you do that, Joker-kun." Alura's voice is soft, tender, almost loving. Her slim fingers settle on your breastplate, spreading - A feather-light touch. "...I may not be able to tell what you're *thinking* - but I *know* what you want. You want to *hurt* me, don't you?"

A tremor to her words.

(Continued)

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>>37584754
Would I do that, fellow Stalker? Maybe. It's confusing. See >>37584763

The Hyaku Shiki is Char's MS from Zeta while he's Quattro Bajeena, just not as archetypical as Char Custom or the Sazabi. It's a solid gold color and very resistant to energy weapons. The inspiration for Daegal should be obvious.

>>37584793
Ooh, nasty.

>>37584793

"...How terrible," she whispers, her eyes half-hidden behind long, long lashes as her breath catches. "-Even when I've gone to so much *trouble*...Even when I'm about to make you *mine*-"

"Joker-kun, you don't care about a maiden's feelings at *all*-"

A low hiss, from Calcite Arrow, as he turns his head away. A convulsive surge from Cybele, her slender form trembling with so much force she remains still - Heedless of the shambling creatures that surround her, that hold her captive. Venom Stinger's jagged teeth break her skin; A dark bead of blood wells up over the pale, perfect flesh, dissolving into shimmering firefly motes as it boils away.

There's anguish in her gaze, now, and you realize...

-Alura wants her to watch.

"...But then, Cybele already knows - Don't you?" the lilt returns to her voice, as her touch lingers; she turns, no longer looking at you, but at Cybele. Capturing the moment, savoring it as a secret little smile returns to her lips.

"To make that poor girl *Chalice Queen*-"

The words linger in the air, as her lips curl in a pout.

"-How *could* you, Joker-kun?" Alura murmurs, the wan light catching the violet gleam of the gems in her hair, like a constellation of dying stars. "Even though you knew Cybele would be *waiting* for you-"

"-Even though she'd be *here*..."

"...Forever."

[ ] "What...do you...*want*?"
[ ] "-I'll die first."
[ ] "It won't work. Not on me."
[ ] "Cybele, don't listen to her-"
[ ] "*How* are you *doing* this...?"
[ ] Free

HP: 82.8%
COBALT BOOSTER: 170%
ASSAULT SHROUD: 37%
METER: 26%

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>37584831
Oh, she's trying to brainwash us, and take us as her new Champion. Possibly by sticking Kraken in our head/soul.
>[X] "It won't work. Not on me."

>>37584831
>[ ] "What...do you...*want*?"
[ ] "She wouldn't have had to wait forever. I'm not one of you people."
She doesn't need to know that we mean the Athame.

So, how do we unfuck this?
We can't think offensive thoughts.
Does this mean that we can do anything neutral?
Does it mean our equipment specifically or our mind?
If it's our mind, we just need to find something that doesn't hurt her directly.

Lvl 1 weapons will be useless.
Tyrant Burst 1 wouldn't help much.

Can we throw Cybele a weapon?
Then again, her body is unter Alura's control...

>>37584882
If we can't hurt her directly, we should get someone else to. Exec_Dictum.

>>37584889
So, who of the two will be the faster actor?
...Wait, how about Verbatim on both?

Disrupt, repulse or smite could also be usable. We need something without windup and with no continued effort on our side.

>>37584907
>>37584897
>>37584889
Look, you guys, she blocked the thought impulse for the Leukocyte. That says a lot.
I don't think we'll have much succes attacking, if any.

>>37584831
>[X] "It won't work. Not on me."
"Sorry, I'm not interested in man-eaters."
"Besides, I'm taken."
"Oh of course, the Hyades link. It binds the Essence of a Player to his Hyades. And it's a two way street."

Let's try something terrible. Imagine Mio is in Alura's place. The hair is gold, the elaborate kimono is a cosplay outfit, the headdress a simple barette, the voice is sweet instead of sultry. Muster all of the love that Red Joker's heartless soul can feel and plunge the Athame home.

I don't expect this to work.

>>37584831
[ ] "Arrow, you are a fucking pussy. Bardiel would have gleefully slaughtered a bunch of schoolgirls and you can't even watch a girl being tortured? Maybe you should rethink your loyalities."

>>37584926
Good lord why. Voting against.

>>37584926

No, go for it. Fuck that guy, he's a shithead.

>>37584931
I want to do *something* to capitalize on his unease in this situation.
He's obviously not comfortable with this shit.

>>37584831
"Like nothing, you say? You know, Suoh, Bardiel was the first person I've ever hated. He killed my first and only ally in the Red right before eyes and gloated about it when he came to take me down. Sorry about your loss, but I don't regret my decision to hunt him down."

"By the way, I should say I'm sorry about the other day, Shizuka. I got mad for a rather arbitrary reason. Can't say I regret the battle, though. After all, it was your decision to fight to the death, even when I was willing to let you go at any point of the battle."

>>37584958
>even when I was willing to let you go at any point of the battle."
Did we make that obvious back then?
Natsumi had to stop us from killing her, as well.

>>37584942
There are SO many better ways. All this does is give him an excuse to firm his resolve. You want to break it down, find out what he knows and be compassionate.

>>37584958
Like this. It's better, but still too gloating. Shizuka is basically a lost cause, but letting everyone else make like a maniac while remaining the sole rational person in the room does wonders for convincing people with doubts.

>>37584981
Back then, Joker was never the one to attack first and always one to declare his unwillingness to fight, I think.

>>37585013
Reading the summary, we really did try to keep them alive.
But they attacked anyway.

Guys, can we somehow make use of the fact that Cybele is here?
She seems like an important puzzle piece.

So, should we zalgo too?

>>37585062
How?
Also, I don't see how that'd fit, thematically, but this quest has a precedent of text-based fuckery.

>>37584831
F̫̰̥͈͎̾̏u̒̀ͨčk͉̃̂ͨͣ́ͥ̉ ͍͙̤̄y̦̘̼̟ͭ̑͂o͋u̠̼̘̞̞͖ͫ̉ͫ,́̚ ̩À͚͕̭̹̣̗ͯͣ͛̑̋ͩl͔̳̪̏̂̓ͣͥͣ̚u̠̺̝̮͆͊r̊͂ả̗̻͕̳͔̙̅ͨͩ̆ͩ̃.̫̤ͦ̔́̐͑ͤͣ

>>37584942
>>37584958
In fact, here.

" ''Look at me. I'm your *friend*, Suou. That's all that counts. When the time comes, I'll show you how to be strong.' "
"He killed dozens of innocents before I stopped him. You've killed hundreds today. Is this the strength he meant to show you? Do you have ANY idea what they DID to his soul?"

>>37585094
And then you go all melodramatic.

>>37584926

Calcite Arrow tenses, when you address him directly.

"You-"

He straightens - A convulsive spasm of motion, the crescent blade of his arching bow smoldering in the air as his fists clench against it. He takes a single, involuntary step forward-

"-You don't get to *say his name*-"

"Arrow."

Shizuka's voice - coming from Inox Fang's twisted mask - is chilling in its cold satisfaction. It makes Calcite Arrow stop short, his helm swivelling in her direction; for a moment, he seems about to say something - Vocalizing, under his breath...

-But then he shakes his head, and goes still.

>>37584882

> [X] "What...do you...*want*?"

Alura's blush deepens. Her perfect teeth work against her full lips, as her hand goes to her cheek:

"Joker-kun, that's unfair~!" she says - "...You're going to make me *say it* - Haaaa, I'm so embarrassed-"

-Then her head comes up. The flirtarious good humor is gone.

"-I'm going to make you *mine*, Joker." And this time, her voice is quiet, utterly focused. "To get everything I want - I'm going to have to own you, completely. Body and soul." Her hand caresses your cheek, lightly - Her fingertips stroking the crest of your helm, with a touch you cannot feel.

"...You're weak, Joker. Just like Pazuzu. Just like Kraken. Just like Naoya, and all the others." Her fingers curl into claws. "That's why..."

"-Red Joker, Frost Cestus, or *whatever you call yourself*...It doesn't matter. I'm going to hollow you out, and *use you up* until I'm free, *free*-"

Her voice rises, alarmingly. For a moment, she has to stop - For a moment, she has to catch her breath.

Then - Alura's gaze is soft, that heady gleam to her remarkable eyes.

"Don't worry, Joker-kun..." Her lips shape each slow syllable.

"-I'll be gentle."

>>37584916

> [X] "It won't work. Not on me."

"Mmmmn. You're like Naoya-kun, aren't you? Like him, you're *stubborn*..."

"-But."

And her hand-

-reaches *inside*-

(Continued)

>>37585094
I think you just plunged right over the edge and fell down the mountain, Wata.

>>37585094
Too late, Wata. Don't think it would've worked anyway. Way too goddamn melodramatic. We're not in a play anymore.

>>37585104
Dejokering incoming, I think.

>>37585119
More like de-Anoning. Or maybe she'll look into his soul and see 4chan.

>>37585104
>"...You're weak, Joker. Just like Pazuzu. Just like Kraken. Just like Naoya, and all the others." Her fingers curl into claws. "That's why..."
She's the fucking mastermind?

Any player that wasn't in that list?

I wish we could summon a Hellion right now.

>>37585108
Which part?

>>37585119
>implying Alura isn't going to start talking with US now
It's time for mindbreak.

>>37585137
That would be pretty hilarous, yeah.
Though maybe she'll just steal Daegal.
kinkr? Yes, indeed, Captcha.

>>37585139
Rust Kaiser was someone else's fault.
AP's amnesia probably wasn't her either.

Wait shit, wrong name. I was Robot.

>>37585073

Anyway, it might give Alura a headache or something. Every little bit helps.

>>37585145
The "I'm your friend" shit and the stuff about Bardiel's soul in the metaphorical sense.

>>37585104

Through your armor. Through myomer fibre. *Into* you.

It's so *wrong* - Alura's fingers wriggle and slide, and you can *feel* them, you can feel *every one of them*, and you reject, you deny, you *refuse to feel*, but there is an intimacy to it, beyond extreme, a secret sharing profound and profoundly wrong that surges through you like vomit, that makes you shudder as static flickers and buzzes in your field of vision...

You shouldn't be able to feel pain, but that no longer seems to matter. The white phosphorous her touch ignites inside you - it burns spastic jerks through your armored limbs, every shattering second transcending agony-

Y҉ò͉̩̞̯u̡̥̙̗ ͜d̞̻͕̜o͖̘̙n̷͖̤͉̘̮͔'͎͓͙̟͠t̴̳̠̳̰͇͔ ͏̟͉͚͕̳ͅfe͠e̡͍͕̣͎̥̖͇l̶̩ ͔̱̳͡p̞̮͙͞a̲̤͔͎͚͕͜ḭ͇ͅͅn̶͚͎̙̫͕̭ͅ,̧̖̫͈ ͎̣̝̻d͇̻͈̘̻ͅo̵͓̲̖ͅ ̸̼̦͚͖̯͙͙yo̡͇ṷ̝̥̼͖̩̠͡?̬̠̗͍̮̗ͅ

"Look, look - Cybele-chan~" Alura's voice is low, breathless - A dreamy note to her words, that flush spreading across her skin as her body tenses...

-she *moans*. The sound is sensual, unguarded - Deep under the heavy layers of desire, so full of a welling *need* that makes her back arch-

Y͇͉̫͙̗̙o̘̞̩̺̭̙u̶̟̦̳̯͔̯̙ ̫͚̟͈d̲͔͟o̦͕̮͎̗̠n̛'̪̣͖̹̤t̝ ͖̠͇*̠͖̭͉c̢̳͙̰͉͓̘͚a̜̺͇̯r̜̙̹͉̠͖̪͡e̫͡*̳̳͈̩̳͙͡ ̺̼̭̗a͝b҉̞͙̫̝ọ̖̺u҉̫̥̥ţ͖͓ ͕̲̰p̺̭̺͕̜̮a̯͓̳̪i̢̳̭n͏͉̙͉̣.̕

"Nnnn - Anon-kun...*Anon-kun* - You're so *warm* inside...It feels-"

(Continued)

>>37585185
So now we're being soul raped by a cyber ghost who controls robot zombies which are holding our own cyber ghost waifu hostage and we only have 82.8% HP

>>37585185
>"Nnnn - Anon-kun...*Anon-kun* - You're so *warm* inside...It feels-"
Wait, shouldn't it be the other way around?

Fucking futas.

>>37585185
Blow the rape whistle!
Dear lord, this is fucked up.
Good going, JQOP.

>>37585180
The entire first line is taken directly from the thread where we saw Bardiel's memories. That's why it's in the single quote as well as the standard quote, it's Bardiel's most important memory of Suou. Using it demonstrates that Joker knows a LOT more about Suou and Shindo both, suggesting that there's something that Suou should really be thinking about. The last bit is failing to find a way to explain both the horrific Bardiel Correctors and his own soul rot prior to destruction, and I still can't think of a way to do both.

Jesus fucking christ, Alura.

Can't we eat her or burn her or SOMETHING?

>>37585185

Years pass in a thermite blaze. Your helmet bangs against the floor of the demense, as agony - Like a scream - begins to rip upwards from the very core of your being, to the top of your head...

B̻̬̘̮̲ͅu͔t ̩̪͎̭͡w̴̝͍͔̻h̳̰̫̠͕̖ͅen̵̜̻̬̙̻ͅ ̳̘̣̮̳̦̙I̻̼̣̝̤͔̞ ̧̗̭̠͔̯f̭i͉͙͖n̘͚̥͙̺ḏ̬̫̥͡ ̤̳̻̳͖̘͟ͅw͎̳͘h̠͍͚a͏̪̤ţ m̷͙̘̮a̖̱̤͢k̜̺̟̫͓̯͍͞ę̣s̵͍͙̞̪͕ ͙͉͖̳͙y̵o͖ù̩̖͙ ̮̻ͅ*s͕̙̣̮̺̺ͅp̱̕e̘̫͈̪̬c̹͎į̼̺̳̙̭a̻̲͚ĺ*-͎͈̠̟

The world narrows.

W̤͓͈̺̼̱̜he̜͇̞̪̬̮ņ͔ ̸̫̯̖̖̜̣I̫̱ ̹f̪̞̱̭͍͢i̭n̝̰̹̜̪̤d̘̤̠̯̖͚͢ ̼i͈͎̪ṱ͞ ͙̭͔̺͉͜á̰̹n̨̜̙̲͈͈̱d̻̝̗̬̱̪ ͍̬̘̟͙̟͘t͚͉̱͎̭̗̬e͙̻̞͍a̰r ̷̘̭̳̱̲̠̹ị̛͓̣t̞̤̱͖̙͇́ͅ ̺̬̲͖̥̝̠͞où͖̼̖͖̯̭̘t̬̲̬̮̞̮-̪̪͎̠̥͡

"-It's...Haahhh, haaaa - It's embarassing, but-"

T̶̗͇h̛e͈̰̘̼̹n̨̤̣͓̱͚̱͈.̻.͏̙͙̣.

A tearing, a *wrenching*-

Through a haze of transcendent agony, you glimpse something ephemeral and dissolving clasped in Alura's hand. Something that trembles, quivering like an animal in the brutal teeth of the vice. And the terrible spreading weakness that follows, like ragged chunks of meat away from a wound...

Her hands clasp together, as if capturing something impossibly precious. Something that bleeds between her fingers, and fades away in shimmering motes of green light.

"Pretty..."

Pr̞e̝͉̱͍t͏͕t͚̭͖y̗̱̟.̢͍̬̬.̭̖̰͜.̼̺̥̝͍͔͢

"-Even inside. Joker-kun..." she leans over you, caressing. You try...You strain - Even as the greyness steals in from the edges of your vision, spidering everything with black...

"...You're filled with *light*."

(Continued)

>>37585251
Well, gg I guess.

>>37585251
>Through a haze of transcendent agony, you glimpse something ephemeral and dissolving clasped in Alura's hand. Something that trembles, quivering like an animal in the brutal teeth of the vice. And the terrible spreading weakness that follows, like ragged chunks of meat away from a wound...
Hey, we found our power source!

>>37585251
So how the fuck are we going to get out of this one?
I really have no idea.

>>37585292
Natsumi or the soul of AP or something saves our asses?

Hey, where's Utopia Ruler?

>>37585292
Cybele, Mio, Haze, Joker stuff, or we won't.

>>37585292
I did say months ago we needed to be suspicious as to why we got Frost Cestus's character sheet.

(Gentlemen, you can no longer cast EXEC_REPULSE. Also, your maximum HP has decreased by 7%.)

>>37585239
>>37585088

You have to - Cut her. Burn her. *Hurt* her-

Fu̥̼͍͍͘c̘̼̳͙̰̞̞̀k̜ ̩̳y̧̭̟o̭̲̤̳̰͔ͅu̙͓͍̗̯̟͘,̛̖̬̠͈ A͖l҉u̕r̛͍̼͙͙͍a̠.

Her skin - her pale, perfect skin - glistens with a faint shimmer of sweat. But those full, bee-stung lips curve downwards, as her fingers sink into you again...

-Not gently, this time.

A moment of unspeakable brutality-

You think you may have blacked out, for a moment. When the world returns, everything is skewed, off-centre -

Your vision blurs, but you see - you think you see - Alura's lips curling in a pout. Her eyes narrow, as she turns her head; the whisper of her black dress against your battered armor, against the floor of the demense.

"Joker-kun..." Her lashes, so soft. "-That's not nice, Joker-kun."

"Now...I'm going to have to *punish* you."

(Continued)

>>37585304
>Joker is left to die
>Spends a few months experiencing another millenium of hell
>Unknown player called Frost Cestus comes back and fucks shit up

>>37585309
>"Joker-kun..." Her lashes, so soft. "-That's not nice, Joker-kun."
Shit, we can talk through the fourth wall.

>>37585309
Oh, that seems to have hurt her.
Let's do it again.

Ḟ̐͊ͭ̄̈́҉u̦̲͋̃ͥc̟̦̈ͪ̇ͥ͒ͅk ̩͈͉̙̥͉ͣ̿y̬͡o͇̳̠̬͙̲̒͂̆͑ͅu̳͇͇̪͖̎̅,̻̂ ̜͌̌̿̄̑̕Ã̞̅ͩ͑̋͒ḻ͆u̼̘̜͎̭̾̊̐͒̿ͧ̀ȑ̘̟̘̘̗͕̇̐̎̌ͫ͡ͅa̲͖͖̩͎ͬ͗ͤ.͒͋͑ͥ̓̽̇͏̤̮̞

>>37585309
>you can no longer cast EXEC_REPULSE
Repulse in peace. I don't remember if we actually used it or not.

>>37585309

She turns her head. From your limited perspective, it could mean anything-

...But her voice is cold, cold and imperious and utterly deadly, and you know - Somehow, you just *know* - that she's speaking to Cybele.

"Thine eye offends thee," she says, quietly.

"-Pluck it out."

[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>37585319
Pissed her off more like.

>>37585319
How about doing the write-in when the post has ended?

>>37585328
Only once.
Anyway, we are taking XP damage.

Y҉͔͇̣̱̫̫̝o͎̬͉u҉̱r̨̠̖ ̜͎̹̗̜̞ͅp̻͔̼͍̭u͍̘͞s̶̘̲͈̝ͅͅs̺͉͇̰͚y ̪̞̤͎ţ͕a̺̰̠̯s͇̹̥̮̥͢ṱ͎̣̝͕̀e̢̠̱̮͇͙̣̟s͎͓̺͇̝̀ ̳͓̫̠̯͟l͚̻̺͖i̪̞͖ḳ͙͚ͅͅe̴̞̰ ̡̟y̶̻̲̩̻̩̼e̯͢a̶̰̩͎͈s͔̱̫̼̰͕t͕͈̺̤̙̙,̤͖͜ ̝̩͈͚̤̖̪͢A̸̮̮̬̝͔̳̯l͖̣͚̭͓̼̱͞u̳r̢̲a̲̩

>>37585331

Shit. Can we not insult her for a while? This is literally just making things worse. How about shouting at Calcite Arrow more?

>>37585338
>>37585319
>"Thine eye offends thee," she says, quietly.
>"-Pluck it out."

I think you should be careful, she is directly threatening us.

>>37585331
"D̦̭͇̥̥̲͊ͅo͔͎̩̿͂̈́̑ͦ̔ ̳̱̮̮͔̤͈t̗̩̞͈͕̣͈̄h̗͎̬̦̺͔͔i̲ș̮̯̬̲͇̜ͬͧ̾ͤ̍ ̘̋ͅͅã͖̻͈̝̻̼̃͗nď̲͈̼͎̪͐̋ ̮̀͐̏̓y̹͙̼ͅo͎͈̹̻̱͈ͩͥ̇͒̊u͚̯͚̩̮͔ͧ̋̄͊̇̾ ͍̲w͙͉̭̤̝̫̦̓̌̂̅̐ͦi̟̟̣̎ͤ̆͐̈͌l͈̼̦̘͚ͤ̈́ͯḷ̟͉̫̦͗̆̄̚ ̯̱͚̞̬̱̫ḻ̟̘͙̜̤̥͊ͤ͒̓͒̒e͚̘̘͕̱ͧ̎ͤ͒̀̀̐a̒̌rͤ̓ͭ̿̉ͬͦn͈̭̞͔ͅ ̮͍̺͑ͭw̯h̼̥̮ͤ̆a̺̦͕̻ͨ͂ṭ͚̪͚̣ ̙̥ͮ̓s̪̹̦̠͕͉̠u͔̫̣̖̝̬͛ͧ̾ͦ̔̓f͍̻̜̫͍̘ͪ̔̅ͮͧfͦͪͩ̑̿̌ͅe̲͗̌̍̎r̖i̓̅ͯ̋n͕͇̬̈͋̚g̩̰͍̏̆͐͌͊ ̬̲̓̎̍ͩi͖̦ͦ̒͐ͭ̓s̝͍̘̳̜̠̰͐̋̍̂ͫ̅̈́.͂"

Let's try if we can move the body like this. Probably not.

S̗̦̲̘̲̾̈́̿ͯt͓̠̟̠͍͙ͦ̏̃͌a̼̫̭̘̼̔̎̅̐̋n̮͚̱̣̳̿͑͊d̘̭̲͉ͪ͊ͧ̊ͮ̉ͅ ̣̭̳̮͓̲̤͑̌̊̽̓u̜̻͉͚̳ͅp̲͍̋̏̆̀.̻̜̹ͣͧ
͚͈̩̖
P̫̻̦͕̓͂̈͆̇̇u̞̗͔͕̎ͨ̔ͣṇ͉̞̾̿̀ͥc̳̼̟͓̖̪ͨͣḣ̯͇̈́̍̂͌ͯ̀ͅ ͎̦̭͙̳͍̖̆̽͛̾̽ͯh̼̱̻̬͚͈̍e̗̰̰̻r̝̞̳͒̌ͦͯ̎̀̃.̭̫̯͍̯

But that's not enough.
We have no power and Cybele is about to lose an eye.

>>37585352
She's not threatening us. She's forcing Cybele to take out her own eye.

>>37585331
Eh. She can regenerate. It might cause some serious pain right now, but we'll have to murder her right after. Or have you guys forgotten that?
We were going to give Mio the armour, after all.

>>37585368
We can't give Mio the armor. Her mother will eat her.
However, Cybele's armor is not unlocked. And we probably can't change that.

>>37585364
P̜ͧu͔̗̠͈̬̻̓ͫ̏͑͋ǹ̵̦̝͂́̇c̭͋h̾̅҉̪̦͉̘͎̜̞ ̞̙ͩ͠h̷̯̥͔̹̋̔̋eͪ̀ͬ͌ͩͪ̽͝ṟ̶͕͆.̝̐̽̓̽̽̈͜
Let's see if this works.

>>37585309
...Hm.

T̝̹̥̝̙u̫̲̮̦͟r̰̞͓͔̯n̺̝̮ ̲͙a͉͍b̹̬̠̯͍̀o̩̜̹̫ù̩͓͈̺̝ṱ̛̮ ̭͓̟̺ͅí͇̤̻̲s̪̬͍̮ ͍̫̗͍͙f̬̭̳a͓̤̙̭i͕̥̰̰͎̳̗͞r̮̳̟͢ͅ ̨̹̰͉̝̥̝̼p͈̲̥̫͉͝l̟͖̖̯̬̥͚a͇̣̣̮̲̻͓y̹̞̣̬̜̼̦͡ ̷̝̳͎̬̞A̝̳͈̹͚̭̯͝ĺ̝̱͉̝u̶͓̟̰̩̝̮r̟̩a̸̠.͇̩

"Exec_Dictum: Calcite Arrow: seppuku. Exec_Verbatim Exec_Dictum Inox Fang: seppuku."

OP, is the loss of repulse permanent?

>>37585338
Se~no, I normally don't say this, but fuck off. And vetoed.

>>37585331
"͎̥̱̳͞T͉͇̹̜͜h̶̞̘̥̱̯a̯͙̹̺͎̫͠t ̬̣͇̖̠͠w͔̦̥̦͓̰ͅo̹n̮̫̮̟͙'͔̰͘t̥̻̲̟̦̺̘͘ ̶̩̙͇̭͕̞͉ẉ̦o̟͎͍r̸̭̖̝͈̩̘k̗̟̰̝̻̟, ̖̪̰͙Ḁ̭̻̺lu̳͎̬͚͟r͏̘̼a͚. ̭̹͈͙ ͇̹̜̩̯̟W͎͕̪̝͜a͇̣̣ṣ̷̹n̨͉̙͙͎ͅ'̱̩̜̯̻͞t̵̙̘̘̝ ̧̙̮̯̱B҉a͏̲̱̳͓̯͎̻ŗ̟͖̙d̷̝̩̖̳̬͈̫i̡̭̰͉̘̝ͅe͓̜̦̙̪̭̲l͙͕̥ ̟̪̜̻̻e̕n̴̞̭͔̫̞͎o̷̼̰u̫̭g̕h̗ ̸̼͚͕̥o̭̝̭f͙̰̰̟ ̞a̴̜͖̰̼ ̲͖h͇͍̝͈̤̣̮i͉̖̫n̖͔͍̣̗ţ͎?̙̻̻͈̹ ̵̞Ą̯n̯ͅy̢̱̩͍͇ ͝ţh̯̦̬̥̼r̷̮̜̤̥̟͈e̱̦̩̗̠͞a̷͚͈ț̶̤,҉ ̲͚͕̤͖̣ͅa̪͓͓͖̰ͅͅn͜y̨̱̥ ͔̜̘̳̲͔ͅh̫͚̻̰̖a̱̦͎̝͎̟rm̤ ̛͉͓͚̞̠̗̞t̻̱̤͜h̵̤a̭̦̤̹͙͉̖t͙̫̱̝͍̯͢ ͍͍̗̹́b̹̀e̖̭ͅf͖͇a̦͚̗̺l͖̰̖l̙̖̠͖̠͢s̼͇̖ ̱͉̯͚̩t̡̤̗ho͈̳̟s̬̙̠̙̻͈̺e̵͇̖̠ͅ ̬̼̳̞I̴̲ ̨̪͇̻͖c͇̱͖̟͝a̳̬͓̝̳̯r̨̩̯͕e͇̲͙̼͘ͅ ̗̀a̻͖͕͚̠͉̼b͢o̗ͅṷ͔̜͡t̲̱́ ̡͍͍͚̖̱ ̜͇̦̥w̟͔͍͇̠̥͞iḽ̹̲̜ļ̲͈̩ ̡̝͎̣ͅo̺͙͖n̵̲̜̩͙̮͉̣l̰̫̞̰̤y̞̺ ̶̹ma͚̗̰̜̬k͇e ̭͇̦̜m͟e͖̻ ͎͚͔͈̣m͏o̸̠͍͎r̸̯̩e̫͓̜̹̟̜̥ ̹d̮̺̟̭̯̦̗́eͅs҉̞̭͉͇͍p̝͇̞͎̲͎er̭̥̯̯̹̼͠a͉͘t̶̙̥̬e̷͙̦̳ ̷t͚̬̻̺̖o̸̳̝̰ ̬̗̞̘͟s̤͕t̩̻̗͚͉r̞̗͚̻̜̞a̖̣̣̖͉͠n̠̼̟̺̩̞͓ģl̙̩͉͓e͎̫̻ ̧̭̝͖y̦̟̲̝͔̥̮͘ou̴̲͚.̴̗̪͉͈"̲͓

>>37585338
Shut up already, Se~No. You're not fucking helping.

>>37585385
Oh wait, I should ask, if we Verbatim Dictum do we have to choose the same target for the action? Because I want to have Arrow and Fang stab themselves simultaneously, not have Arrow do it twice.

And I'm getting a headache from the Zalgo text already, this may have been a mistake.

>>37585385
Do we have enough energy for SMITE?

I wish we knew exactly what that Zalgo stuff is.
Or the spoilers, for that matter. I guess they could be instinct.
But Zalgo?

>>37585410
Booster's full so yes. We could do it twice if we so chose, I just don't think we can target Alura right now.

Oh and if we have to Zalgo!text to make an action go through, do me the favor of pretending I did, that stuff really is giving me a headache.

>>37585425
Can we draw power from Cybele?
...That might be kinda assholish, though.

>>37585422
Isn't it mental obfuscation? Like, one is blanking out your surface thoughts while you make decisions, and the other is scrambled/otherwise contaminated thinking?

>>37585437
That's how Verbatim and the second type of healing works. Otherwise no clue.

Well this is one helluva a scene to wake up to this morning

I still want to punch her in the throat

>>37585331
Oh wait, something so basic I didn't think about it. Won't help though. "Cybele, no!"

I now have this idea of messing with White Side people by using zalgo speak in human form.
It's not possible, but it sounds funny.

(Gentlemen, my sincerest apologies, but you can no longer use EXEC_DICTUM.)

>>37585492

(My sincerest apologies. I would genuinely prefer not to use alternative text, but there are limited formats for /tg/.)

>>37585385
>>37585403

Your thoughts - Like shattered glass.

Somewhere, somewhere impossibly distant yet close at once, you hear Cybele's moan of terror and revulsion-

"D-don't..." she manages, her voice a small, embryonic thing. "-Don't *make* me...Please - please - *please* don't-"

A high, thin scream-

You hear Calcite gag, hear him say, thickly - "-God-"

The sounds - half-heard - are the worst. You hear Cybele's breath, coming in uneven, desperate gasps - agonized, disbelieving, terrified. Begging it to stop, to tell herself that this isn't happening - Not to her, not *now*, as she feels her limbs impelled into motion, feels herself shudder, asking only-

Why?

Why?

-Why-

Fading now, a broken whisper - Crushing down her sobbing to thick gasps, then a choked hush-

>>37585395
>>37585377
>>37585364
>>37585385

If only you can-

You have to - You're the *Red Joker* - you have to *try*...

This time, when Alura's hand spears into your chest, you howl. It has nothing to do with your control, or your will - It is simply a venting of primal and miserable pain. There is a sound - Like the ripping of heavy cloth - as she pulls free, her face lit up from below by the emerald radiance that bleeds forth from you-

The light of your soul. Shredded, torn, one piece at a time.

(Continued)

>>37585555
Quads confirmed for suffering.

Wait, if we can use Zalgo and spoilers... Can we use the robot speech?

>>37585555

Her fingers spread, and scatter the fragments to the four winds.

"-Dirty."

Alura's voice, soft.

"So dirty, inside. All the bad thoughts. All the dirty things..."

Somewhere, somewhere in the infinite distance, Cybele is weeping. Through the Emblem, you can feel her - Her mind a seething knot of pain, filled with almost unbearable emotion. All the way to her deepest, secret self, the white-hot centre of her torment.

Alura's face, so close.

"...We'll just have to get rid of them, too."

[ ] Free

File: image.jpg (94 KB, 869x479)

94 KB JPG

>>37585597
Which is hilarious because I think 5 represents Gods grace, goodness, and favor

>>37585622
Hm? Do enlighten me, please.

>>37585623
Jesus, I legimitately have no idea what to do.
She's too batshit to convince, our codebursts are getting taken, we can't actually move, she can read our thoughts, and bizarre textual shit isn't helping us.

>>37585623

"̨̟̖͓͖͔̳̖͙̂ͮ̉̐͆͞Ȉ̴̙̥̦̖̙͚̚͜'̛̞̺̫̬̙͎̱͑̐m̷̶̭̈͊ ̥̰͚̒̿ͭͪw̸̨̲̎ͯ͛͌̆ͮͫ̉a̶̰͖̪͙͉ͩͬ̆̃̌̈͒͗́͘ĩ͔̞͎͇͈͚͖͂͑ͤ̈̒̅̐̚t̢ͬ̆ͧ̐ͨ͏̲̭͇i̙̖͓͖̹͈̤̯͐ͨ̈ͮn̶̩̖͔̜̝̹̻͒ͧ̌̈́g̫̞̭̜̰̮ͨ͊ͩ͢,̶̨̲̼ͧ̌ͨ̽ͧ̿̈́ͭ̚ ̷̝̠̺͇̹͇̭̥̒̓͛̄͂ͧ͠U̧̡͓̱̮̐̐͊͆ͧ͋̈́̇ͅț͕̭̾̔̉̈ͤ͘̕ơ̸̢͇͈̭̹̠͍̝̜̾̉̂̏p̟̦̜̫͙͙̠͗̑͐ͯͮ͂͗̋͆i̡̞̝ͤ̀̾ͮa̷͚̬̼̭̖͖̮͆͑.̡̨̰̖̻͚͇̬͐ͨ͋̄͗ ̧̙̤̜̟͉̞ͩ̔ͯ͐̆I̱̳͑̓̓̍ͪt̶̥̻̖̣̄̇̑̍̂̈̕'̢̙̖̱̈ͦ̅͋ͫ̔s͉͍̩͇̰̞̮̔ ͔̰͒̈́ͤ̒͊̄͟ṱ̫̯͍̖ͤ̍̿ͯ̆ͧ̚̚̕i͚͎͚̝̯̙͉̐̍͒̇̒̃ͪͩ͢m̷͚͔̣̣̠͇̹͑͛ͨě̴̛̛̱̟͈̫̥̳͚̞̂ ̙̼͔̟̣̎̎͆̊̆ͬ̂̈͜f̡̹̲͎̰͇͛͊̉ͬ̐́̿̎͡͡o̴͉͉̳͒̀̀̉̇̔̄́͝r̨̡̍͊ͭ͗͑҉̹̬ ͎̖̺̓̓͋y̡̟̻̣̥̠̭̫͂͐̔ͮͥ́͐ͭo̹̖̞̼̣͔͚̙͙͆͑ͪ̐ͬ̉̿͢u̳̱̤̩͇̽̆̕͟ ̷̢̥̖ͤ͒͛̊͗͒̄̊t̷̝̰͎͎̫͙̋̋́o̴̩̹͉̓ͧͥ̓͂̌̚ ̢̢̖̲̞̞ͦ̓ͬ͂̈́̏f̬̦̖͎̄͗̒͞u̠̜͍͎̦̮̠̘ͭ͋͂͑͜l̶̛̲̫̜̺̞ͨ̏̋́̔f̨͍̊i̶͉̠̜̜̣͋͂̔̉̃̚̕l̆̾ͦͣ̄̓͏̧̯͜ļ̮̼̓͛̒̿̓̃̉͋̚ ̵͂͆̔͌͏̥̗͙͔͙͇̭y̴̶̭̯͔͖͙͆͋ͯ̎̍ͭo̡̦̤͓̹͓͕͉͑̓͂͒ͤ̀̂̍̚ͅŭ̷̺̜͙͈͖̠͗̈́͐ͥͥr̟̫͚̠̫͇̍͂̌̉͂ͯ̇ͬ ̨̳͉̦̻͍͖̒ͥ͆̊̉͟p̸̛̯̮ͩ͌͛ͪ́̈ͥr̸̗̰͚͔͌̉̇͗ͨ̇ͥo̡̨̳̖̱̟̘͉ͥ̄̀ͯ͒͆ͬ̊͡m̷̱͙̗͇̦̮̤̿͛̆̽͡ǐ̤̝͖ͨͦ̍s̢̳̻̫ͮ̄̐ͦ̓̈́ͦ̓ę̞̼ͪ̿͛͒͛ͤ̚͠.̠͍͔͐̈͌ͧ̿ͣͨ̔"̸̱͎͇̥̮́͒̊͋ͥ̏̈̚̕

Stab her with the Athame of Consume her.

>>37585623
Grab Alura's hand.

E͉̹X͎͈̳͖ͬ̿̆̉ͯͦͩE̳̰̥̯̩͒C̪̦̭̭̐ͧͣͣ̍͆̓_͓͒̅C͎̰̘͖̹O͖͙͚ͩ̋ͯ̈͗N͚̥͔̩̂S̆͊͑͆́̇̄U͓̗̾M̥͉̟͕̮̽̆̄̈̑̓ͬE͉̓ͦ

> Through the Emblem, you can feel her - Her mind a seething knot of pain, filled with almost unbearable emotion. All the way to her deepest, secret self, the white-hot centre of her torment.
We need to use this link somehow.
We know she can heal us, but Alura will instantly notice any attempt.
Can we NIHL teleport to her?

Can we even speak for diplomacy attempts to get her bodyguards on our side?

Why not make several unspoilered posts praising Alura so she thinks we're pure.

>>37585623
"Wait, Alura."
"Isn't the best way to deal with something dirty to deal with the cause rather than the symptom?"
"To give you an example, imagine for a moment you walked into a house and tredged in dirt from muddy boots. Cleaning up after it will work for a time, but the only real way to stop it is to take off your boots before you enter into the house."

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>>37585623
[ ] Free

"Is that the best you got bitch? I've been through worst."

I'm assuming we're waiting for the fav. I doubt Calcite would turn so the best thing we can do is ENDURE!

>>37585623
Why give us a voting prompt when we can literally do nothing?

>>37585623
"Dirty? The only thing dirty is you. Mark my words. You will regret this."

>>37585672
She's not hurting us. She's hurting Cybele.

>>37585623
OP, exactly how on rails is this segment? If you're just stopping to let us try to struggle futilely you might as well just push on and save us the frustration. I get that's the point of torture, but this is really boring.

If not... hell, I don't know. Kill or cure. Release Daegal from its containment in the Gauntlet of Midas.

>>37585664
>NIHL teleport
This has never been a thing. And pointless, given where she's standing.

>>37585687
Press A to twitch.

>>37585672
Dude, you are mocking Cybele.

>>37585699
>I get that's the point of torture, but this is really boring.
Says you. The anticipation and anxiety is making me giddy here.

>>37585699
Teleport the tank onto her. She's right next to us.

>>37585696
Anon, she's literally, by which I mean actually, tearing pieces of Joker out of him. This is definitely to hurt Joker.

>>37585709
...Really? Takes all kinds I guess.

>>37585623
>[ ] Free

Unleash ENCROACHMENT.

She's tampering with the stuff of daegal - hollowing it out for her.

But little does she realize, we're already vaccinated.

Take the fight to her.

>>37585696
>>37585707
>This time, when Alura's hand spears into your chest, you howl. It has nothing to do with your control, or your will - It is simply a venting of primal and miserable pain. There is a sound - Like the ripping of heavy cloth - as she pulls free, her face lit up from below by the emerald radiance that bleeds forth from you-

I was referring to this. Unless I'm confused

>>37585699
>>37585709
I feel the same way. Your writing is as good as always, but it feels like we're all out of options.
Failure is all good and well, but I much prefer it to be our own fault, rather than something like this, where we just get fucked over.

>>37585718
She stopped the Leukocyte already. Wouldn't work.

>>37585729

Would we be able to do this?

>>37585664
>>37585651
>>37585672
>>37585670
>>37585729

Thinking is-

Your thoughts, fractured. A broken mirror in mind space. Scratching at your mind - Like a chorus, an insensate chorus. Whispering thorns.

You-

Black.

You can.

You can.

You can do this.

Alura draws back. You feel her weight shift, hear the low whine of servoes and hydraulics within your armor. Failing - Flickering out. Screens going dark one-by-one. Slim fingers, brushing stray strands of midnight hair back, over the delicate curve of a ear.

Her light breathing, almost gentle.

"Better," she says, soft, sweet. Those vivid eyes, finding yours again. "Joker-kun..."

Close enough to kiss, or kill. Her fingers stroking your armored brow, lightly.

"...What are you thinking about?"

Heerzynser.

Here.

Is your.

Answer.

>>37585654

Alura frowns, her brow furrowing-

Her head leaves her body.

(Continued)

>>37585623
>[ ] Free

"This isn't my first time, alura."

First, release the daegal - the shock should give us a moment to wrest control back. THen
Exec_barrier to cut down on viral attacks & filter out alura
Draw on cybele's streng to to cut out her encroachment - if we trust her enough for it.
Stab her with the athame. She's opened up this link, and severing ALL of her connections to us especially - is the way to go.
Consume her. Daegal and the sphere hungers. Its a fight on her corruption level that we're equippet to fight. SO let us do it!

>>37585785
D-Did we just decapicate her? Holy shit.
Sorry for all that shit here>>37585736
, then.

>>37585785

> Her head leaves her body.

HOLY SHIT

>>37585785
>Her head leaves her body.
Sheeeeeeeeeeeet

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>>37585785

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>>37585785
I really need a bigger reaction image folder.

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>>37585785
>Her head leaves her body.

>>37585785
>Alura
Why do you hurt me so?

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>>37585785
All of my yes.
>>37585837
I have about 5500 images and I'm still convinced that I need more. You can never have a big enough reaction image folder.

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>>37585785
HOPE

>>37585785
Hopefully, by killing her, we'll get our precious, precious XPs back.

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>>37585942
>tfw Deagal thinks we're impure

>>37585963
>we essence NTR'd daegal

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>>37585970
>>37585963
>Deagal's face when

>>37585985
Cybele's, too.

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>>37585785

>>37585963
>Kangoko Gakuen
My nigga.

Anyway, aren't there a few people left in the Essence Grinder? Why haven't we turned them into spiffy hats yet?

>>37586016
>Anyway, aren't there a few people left in the Essence Grinder? Why haven't we turned them into spiffy hats yet?
Are you seriously that retarded?

W... we decapitated her by STABBING her?

How does that work?

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>>37585885
>>37585837

here, have a unique one i hardly ever see posted.

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>>37585785

A blur of *something*, crossing overhead. Infinitely sharp, *fast*.

There is an extravagant pulse of blood, jack-knifing over the tumbling corpse as Alura goes limp. Her headless body sinks forward, *onto* you, her slim fingers caressing you for a heart-stopping moment more...

And already dead, already meat, already dissolving into emerald light, her form crumples onto her side - A slowly fading sigh purring forth from the gape of her trachea as the last breath in her lungs escape - the spreading pool of dark, welling blood bringing a deeper blackness to her elaborate, impossible gown as she folds forward, as though yielding to the inevitable fall of night.

You *feel* the ripple effect before you hear it - Like a groan, spreading through this awful, inky place.

From Inox Fang-

"-what-"

From Calcite Arrow-

"-oh *fuck*-"

And in the blank second that follows - As you feel the power return to your limbs, in the suddenly-warming, suddenly-active flex of the myomer muscles in your armor's inner skin, the throb of the reactor at the core of your being as it obeys you instincts and yields full power-

...You see him. Gleaming black waistcoat. White gloves and a top hat, striations of gold and silver weaving lines down from the reflective shimmer of his mirror-mask, merging with the lines of his dandified figure. The ferrule of his wand taps lightly against the ground, a distinctive *click*...

And circling the index finger of his upraised hand - Almost invisible - a perfect ring of shimmering glass.

It hums, as it continues to circle; like a spinner in a child's game, ready to be launched by a negligent flick of the wrist.

"Why, Joker," Utopia Ruler says, archly.

"-You only had to ask."

HP: 82.8%
COBALT BOOSTER: 170%
ASSAULT SHROUD: 32%
METER: 21%

YOU HAVE CONTROL

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>>37585963
>>37585970
>>37585985
>>37586001
Anons pls

My heart can only take so much

>>37586027
Probably, yeah. Why? What did I say wrong?

>>37586037
Oh. So that was the 'trick' for this fight.

>>37586037
"Shit, I thought you wouldn't come. Well, at least you are reliable."
Get our essence core back where it belongs. Heal up.
"Calcite Arrow, Inox Fang, this was your only chance at mercy. Now you're fucked."

Boost to Cybele and save her from that situation.

So, only Alura's body died without herself being dead, right?

>>37586037
So did we get our codebursts back?
Because being near Utopia Ruler with even a few weaknesses isn't that much of an upgrade in not being fucked, in my opinion.

>>37586048
>Probably, yeah. Why? What did I say wrong?
Grinding consumes the essence.

>>37586037
I literally don't know what's the best way to inflict as much suffering an pain on Fang as possible

I think Calcite has a chance to see the light.
But somebody has to pay.
Somebody always has to pay.

>>37586016
I don't have that Code Geass "Not this shit again" pic, but imagine it's here.

>>37586037
"And you said you'd do it whether I wanted it or not."

"I'll be taking the other half of your crest, Fang. Ruler, make sure Arrow regrets ever being born."

Exec_Smite on the largest mass of players. Use Slake to cut the enemy Players away from Cybele.

>>37586037

GRAB.

CYBELE.

She's our ticket out!

Gonna watch a movie.
DON'T FUCK UP.

AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT CYBELE MESS. It's getting worse with everything we do.
I somehow see an ending coming where she's the last living waifu and still loving us while we mourn over everyone else and don't even acknowledge her existence.

What's Utopia's powers again? illusions and shit, right? Also mental fuckery?

>>37586037

"This is the game I was playing at, Utopia. This was why I couldn't use the artifact you wanted. I wasn't shooting to win, I was aiming for something else. Sorry for the deception."

"Wanna help put some dogs down?"

We need to turn some of these guys into essence, possibly with Utopia's help. Gotta make sure Cybele makes it out of this ordeal alive and possibly restored.

>>37586089
>>37586094
Yes, I know that. But if we just want to consume their essence, why haven't we?
I mean, now they're just laying around, as I see it.

>>37586037
>And already dead, already meat, already dissolving into emerald light, her form crumples onto her side - A slowly fading sigh purring forth from the gape of her trachea as the last breath in her lungs escape - the spreading pool of dark, welling blood bringing a deeper blackness to her elaborate, impossible gown as she folds forward, as though yielding to the inevitable fall of night.

uh. Did he get the essence, or did we? Given link and all.

ALso purge the fuck out of the remaining black-joker liquid. That shit is evil and vile and needs to be exterminated with extreme prejudice. Cybele's too. Maybe she can purge herself if we allocate power from us to her?

>>37586156

This is what the Leech Module is for. Open that shit up!

Suck up what we can?

>>37586037
"You know, somehow I knew that you helping me would involve killing a woman. Never thought I'd feel so damn delighted by that, though."

>>37586156
Experience essence stays in you until it's used. Either you level up or use it to make a Relic. It's not a matter of using it when you want (except to make a Relic).

>>37586169
Leech only works on players. The Hyades specifically aren't players.

>>37586191
>The Hyades specifically aren't players.

Thats false though. In the past, a dead hyades has been actual flesh and meat and bone and no essence.

ALura has the green glow, so either she's radioactive, or someting inbetween the two.

>>37586191
Oh, okay. Guess I am retarded, then.

>>37586169
I'm not willing to risk sucking up some Black Jokerjuice, though. Who knows what that shit would do to us.

>>37586210

Its already inside us though.

>>37586210
>I'm not willing to risk sucking up some Black Jokerjuice, though. Who knows what that shit would do to us.
RJ is immune to it, though.

>>37586225

I think our left arm is. Not our heart so much.

gotta power up that daegal arm!

>>37586244
Especially now, with our Essence Core missing for the mo'.

>>37586203
Not what I was getting at. Yes, the Hyades have Essence, but everything in the Red World is made out of Essence. The Leech module works by hijacking Player armor's last survival attempt. It has no effect on anything that isn't surrounded in Player armor.

>>37586210
Nothing. Lachryma doesn't affect Red Joker. Now, lachryma is Essence of a sort, so we might get a reaction by setting it on fire to release the energy inside...

Oh that reminds me, draw the Immolator and burn everything not named or connected to Cybele next round.

>>37586244
ALL of Red Joker is immune, and before we got Daegal at that.

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>>37586037

>>37586264
>ALL of Red Joker is immune, and before we got Daegal at that.

Then we should have been able to shrug off this infeciton entirely though.

>>37586282
We're immune to Black Joker's corruption, not Alura's mind control. Besides, so far as I can tell she backdoored it by going through the Hyades bond. Don't quote me on that though, it could just be massive system access differences.

>>37586075
>>37586094

> "Shit, I thought you wouldn't come. Well, at least you are reliable."
> "And you said you'd do it whether I wanted it or not."

Utopia's shoulders lift, in an eloquent shrug; "-I had to be *sure*, Joker," he says, drily. "Far be it from me to interrupt la petite mort-"

>>37586177

> "You know, somehow I knew that you helping me would involve killing a woman. Never thought I'd feel so damn delighted by that, though."

NO

The shriek boils from Inox Fang - too loud, too full of fury, to be contained by mere words.

KILL HIM

KILL THEM ALL

Calcite Arrow is already moving, but sheer dysfunctioning shock slows his motions - he levels his bow with an eerie grace, turning with a smooth whirr of articulating mechanisms as Inox Fang's hacking blades rip free, as the drone of terrible acceleration fills the air-

-And everything begins to happen at once.

(Continued)

>>37586314

So, do we want to cut cybele's link after we're done here?

SO this kind of shit doesn't happen again?

Note that i'm not advocating this, i just want there to be a discussion on whether its the right move or not.

>>37586362
The original purpose of cutting the link was for us to make a contract with Mio while avoiding the fallout of betraying Cybele.
Now that Mio ran away to probably hide in a random pocket dimension and hates our guts for betraying her, we don't really have a reason to cut off our link with Cybele.

>>37586362
Concentrate on surviving the fight, first. I half-suspect she still has a role to play, going by the fortune teller's prediction, but we might have reached that point. Hard to tell.

>>37586391

Fair. Did we ever actually give her the armor, or is that still in our possession?

>>37586315
Why do I expect Utopia Ruler to talk like the teacher in assassination classroom?
(Or at least with the same voice and the same laugh)

>>37586402
Pretty sure she has the armor, considering the power to the Chalice Queen is already in her possession.

>>37586091
>I think Calcite has a chance to see the light

Why?

>But somebody has to pay.
>Somebody always has to pay.

Now you're thinking with the Red!

>>37586391
>Mio ran away to probably hide in a random pocket dimension
She's been possessed by Black Joker. That's why Naoya needed to put her to sleep, so that Kotone/the entity Kotone became could ride the body. She's asleep inside herself.

>>37586402
It was never ours to hold, only to give.

>>37586409
>assassination classroom
Surprisingly good series. Well, not surprising given how crazy Neuro got.

>>37586445
Well they fed him lies about his only friend I assume there might be a way to get the truth to him.

How about we use Dictum on Fang and make her tell the truth?

>>37586485
>How about we use Dictum on Fang and make her tell the truth?
We don't have dictum anymore.

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>>37586409
>>37586445

I don't konw, but utopia's portriat picture is FANTASTIC and I love how smarmy and full of the world burning it is.

also kind of reminds me of this.

>>37586505
Shit it's gone for good?

>>37586315
>>37586128

> "I'll be taking the other half of your crest, Fang. Ruler, make sure Arrow regrets ever being born."

And as one, all the husks - All the shambling, staggering Players - stop.

Heads go backwards - the rotting chambers of their helms cocked slightly to one side; each one beginning to twitch, to convulse, bulging from within, metal tearing...

-Erupting into a thick nest of vines. Mad floral life. Dozens of small, black blossoms erupting amid the demolished shells of armor, splitting through Tetra Titan's superdense plate, stretching outwards from Luminiare Noir's shattered limbs, already screeching, hissing, lashing out indiscriminately at everything around them-

...Except Cybele.

She is half-collapsed, dark blood welling forth from where Venom Stinger's fangs have gashed her throat - Adamant Aegis's lance still levelled at her breast, her hair spilling over her features; Not quite hiding the blood, the thick clear fluid that streams down her cheek as she slumps in the grasp of Legion Armiger's secondary bodies...

-Forms that remained locked in place, unaccountably, as if frozen in time. But you glimpse a tremble, a twitch...

-See how Cybele's remaining eye is closed, too, her face pale, serene, with the most transcedent concentration...

There are a dozen - several dozen - Players in the immediate vicnity. Most of them are mere shadows at the edge of the Demense; Others have fallen apart into a writhing tangle of vines, vines that criss-cross and weave together, twisting into a new configuration, a new form-

> "Calcite Arrow, Inox Fang, this was your only chance at mercy."
> "-Now you're fucked."

Calcite Arrow - Despite his armor, despite all else - flinches.

(Continued)

>>37586535
Probably. She reached in and tore chunks of Essence out , we've never lost access to codebursts before, and we had a maximum HP loss. There's no need to mention the max HP loss on something that's going to heal.

We might get it back if we can patch damage to the core of Joker's being, but it's likely to take more than a level up. I'd recommend a Vitruvian Device or plugging into the Manifold Network.

>>37586642

The scarier thought is losing access to the leukocyte - and whether she stole that access from us.

fucking >>37584578 may have ruined it for us. We've spent forever waiting to unveil the big weapon, and saying no to premature use. Now she knows it exists.

>>37586642
I'm hoping these dead husks give us XP.
Combined with Calcite Arrow and Inox Fang, that'll hopefully be enough to level up and restore us, like the things we lost were just the result of a faulty connection to our Core.

>>37586664
I think it was intentional by that anon. It was a troll post.

>>37586706

gotta vote that shit down then

>>37586575

His Emblem - Alura's Emblem - begins to burn with frantic light, a light that is echoed in the slick dark fascination of the shuffling husks of Players around him, as his fist clenches around the bladed grip of his bow. His head turns, first one way, then the other, as he says, hoarsely-

"For fuck's sake - *Kill* him-"

They're moving to obey him. A great surging of limbs. Feet smashing against the floor of the demense - the air seems to vibrate beneath the sound of lurching inhuman motion-

Inox Fang meets your gaze. Squarely. Head-on, in the moment of eternal and fractured calm before the storm of violence descends.

Green light fumes around you, drawn into you. Enough to fan the embers within, to open flame - Enough for your internal reactors to cycle to full power, your charging elements purring to life as your Tempest Scrander bleeds red particles through the air around you-

As the humming edge of Utopia Ruler's next quoit leaves his hand - Curving towards Calcite Arrow on a parabolic trajectory - as the thing that was IRON OGRE surges towards you, kinetic mace in his fists, alongside ADAMANT AEGIS and TENEBRAE and LEGION ARMIGER's forgotten army-

She flees. Without restraint, focused solely on speed - A single bound taking her across the distance, in a final act of spite, towards the only other target-

...Towards Cybele.

HP: 139.3%
COBALT BOOSTER: 170%
ASSAULT SHROUD: 32%
METER: 21%

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>37586788
Do we still have access to Tier 2 weaponry? In that case, SMITE Inox Fang, shoot the Chain Mine towards Ogre, Aegis, Tenebrae and Legion and start moving towards Cybele while shooting Rubicante and Cagnazzo

>>37586733

Axel-grips to blunt this multi-player charge and buy us a moment. THEN
Abruption jets to intercept inox-fang
Scrander to Aquila mode.

Retreat guns-shooting. Drop a trio of missiles on them following the axel grips up.

Exec_harrow on inox fang to secure al ock and power up RUBICANTE & CAGNAZZO: Shoot inox's legs out from under her with the reality-warping/autocurving properties.
Slake arms on with follow up shot on whomever's begging for it - either a firing retreat, or shooting Inox fang.

We lose cybele, we lose the match.

Cobolt boost for SPEED as needed.

If we get face-to-face with inox fang, initiate close combat grapple with Muleta. Begin the stabbings and trippings.

>>37586788

(Gentlemen, my sincerest apologies - I'm afraid that might have been unclear. The situation is as follows:

The Players in Cybele's immediate vicinity are apparently frozen. Calcite Arrow and Inox Fang are a significant distance away from you and Utopia Ruler.

There are multiple Player husks scattered around the area, the ones in their direct vicinity beginning to respond at last. Several have erupted into snaking masses of vines, which are gradually drawing together.

Utopia is beginning to engage Calcite, while Inox is heading directly for Cybele.)

>>37586664
Different systems. Codebursts are related to system access, which is related to level ups, while Leukocyte is a super powerful Relic that functions as supplemental meter weapons.

>>37586695
Well most of the husks are gone. We're replaying the original fight against her except with competent back up and way worse status.

>>37586733
>>37586788
Er. Was that last bit a combat round? We did nothing. Well whatever. Dispel the shroud on the Gauntlet for the last time and put Fortress Mode around Cybele and JUST Cybele.

Abruption Jet boosted Crisis Arm at Fang, Smite on the advancing other players Verbatim'd to hit Alura's mass. Use Slake to cut up as many of the Players around Cybele as possible. Follow up with Exec_Consume on Fang.

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am a man of wealth and taste, and you can add 'Daegal, successor to Argent Prominence' to my list of names Alura Une."

>>37586810
Smite doesn't have concussive force iirc.

>>37586823
>>37586788

Relinking post as needed.

This is one situation in which i wish we had drones :(

Cast exec-swarm?

>>37586833
whats our current hollow sun armory loadout?

>>37586855
>Smite doesn't have concussive force iirc.

We have JUST enough for Exec_Smite + Exec+verbatim

This might actually be the biggest blow we can land on everything around us.
While recovery is happening, while players are sluggish, now is the time for biggest guns first.

Hit HARD, and get as much meter as fast as possible.

Fortressing cybele is a good thought though.

>>37586881

Double smite?

Is it time?

It is time.

Blow the fuck out of inox fang, and reforming alura and her minions.

Season with missiles everywhere. Inferno rounds actually harm vines as much as we want them too right now.

Light the world on fire.

Blow everything up, and then once our meter-gain comes in, swap to the fusion annihilator and do it again

>>37586881
>>37586901

I support this.

>>37586857
>>37586855
>>37586823
>>37586810
>>37586855

(Gentlemen: My sincerest apologies, but I'm actually more exhausted than I initially expected. I would love to continue, but I'm afraid that I've done a poor job of properly describing the combat situation.

I feel that it'd be best for me to pause at this juncture, to gather my thoughts; If possible, I'd like to continue tomorrow, once I've properly organized the following encounter.

I'll add that at present, you're carrying the Immolator and the Condemner in your Light Weapon Slots and the Fusion Beamer in your Heavy Weapon slot.

In addition, your action for this turn was utilizing the Leech Module and otherwise recovering. Rest assured that I'll keep the posts for your next action in mind, and I'll start the next session accordingly.

Good night, and God bless - You've been a wonderful audience. I hope to see you again next time, as soon as I can run the next episode.)

>>37586932
Thanks jqop.

also i just saw the inventory-list as i posted. thakns!

>>37586881
That's not what I'm getting at. Smite has a delay and doesn't knock things back. It's good on opponents that are slow and lumbering--like zombies and plant monsters--and bad on enemies that are moving quickly--like speed demons that may or may not still have the ability to copy themselves. So even if Smite hits Inox she'll take damage but she's not going to flinch, meaning she's can continue on to kill Cybele.

>>37586932
Aight OP. Thanks for running. And neat, I didn't know we could leech things we didn't kill.

>>37586954

So.... what? summon a line launcher?

>>37587009
She's already jumped and there's the summoning delay. Hitting her with anything physical or concussive would do the trick. I suggest the Crisis Arm since she's literally asked for it by going airborne. If that's not feasible then the Scrander Bolt or thrown Kura would do.

Besides, who knows if we can contact the Hollow Sun again?

>>37585185

She was so obviously getting off from this.

>>37586932
This episode was awful OP. Nothing fucking happened until the very end.

>>37588461

It was actually a very short episode. I think JQOP only ran it for four hours or so.

>>37588613
The quest is pretty short, compared to others I follow, yeah. I don't really mind, because JQOP runs pretty often.

>>37588701

It's weird, but while that was pretty messed-up, it was also quite erotic. I mean, just LOOK at Alura.

>>37588849
>>37588701
>>37588613
Guys, c'mon. Nothing happened. We did nothing all episode. Last episode was very similar but at least the story was developed and more was learned about the setting.

This episode just showed us Alura is a freak (we already knew that), Cybele hates us (already knew that), Ruler would keep his word (already knew that).

The only interesting thing that happened was the reappearance of Ixion and Calcite Arrow. The stakes weren't raised, the loss of EXEC's could have been done much more gracefully.

It failed on every level.

>>37589205
I'm not gonna say it was perfect, honestly, and I actually agree with you.
I also didn't find it a good idea to instantly resolve the whole thing when Utopia showed up.
It highlights a problem I have with the combat, honestly: every fight lately seems to have a trick, and other methods of winning are basically ineffective, leaving us uselessly flailing around until we find that trick and spam it relentlessly.
Like the spoilers thing with White Joker, or the Legion fight.
I get that this development makes sense, but it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth, because we get our shit beaten in until some anon makes the right guess, even getting our codebursts taken away.

On the other hand, I felt this resolved what'd happened to Alura,Calcite Arrow, and Inox Fang much better than just mentioning it in an aside, or not showing at all would have, so there's a silver lining.

And I'm just not very inclined to think something 'failed on every level', I guess.

>>37589360
But we could have had Inox, Calcite and Alura be introduced WHILE we actually did something.

Instead, we spent a whole chapter getting tortured like a bitch and didn't do anything. I mean, shit, a pointless fight back would have been interesting. Its not that I'm like "Oh god, I hate this, it makes us look like a pussy".

When Anon was being tortured by Utopia's Hyades and we had boiling lead pouring out of every orifice, THAT was intense. When we were having flashbacks to the Black THAT was intense.

This...This felt lazy. Dumb. Just a way to slap Anon around before and make us go "oh geez, its sirius now giys". We already know its serious. The Red and Real are fusing, Mio's becoming some kind of monster that's on the level of the Black Joker while hating us and Naoya got away.

I guess after the last two amazing chapters this one just felt extremely lazy and badly thought out.

>>37589551
What I disliked was the entire Zalgo thing.
Not the thing itself, but what the hell is its significance?
Alura was iirc the first one to use it and we can use it as well and that pissed her off.
Would Utopia Ruler not have heard us, had we not used Zalgo?

>>37589551
So how would you have done it? Not asking as some sort of rethorical thing, just out of curiosity.

>>37589941
That's what I meant by the tricks for the fights, yeah.
And it was honestly not clear what it fucking meant. I mean, we tried using it, she just beat our shit in harder, while we still couldn't do anything.

Guys, where is our essence core?
Just so by the way.

>>37590052
Either way, I definitely want OP to comment on the entire quest afterwards.
I'd love to see his opinions on our choices.

>>37590128
That's been stated in every thread so far. Might even be the signal that the thread will die now. Most of us are pretty curious as well, though.

>>37590159
Not really.
Only a dozen or so had responses that translate to "I'm baffled" or something like that.
But yeah, he often states that he was surprised.

>>37590052
Well, I'm not OP. I can't really speak on what he has planned and why he did it this way so, we'll go with what did happen.

>We lost EXECs
>We lost permanent Health
>Calcite Arrow and Ixon reappeared
>Alura died
>Utopia came in.

I would have allowed Cybele, as our Hyades, to detonate her sigil on us. This would permanently lower our health by a bit but free her from the crowd of monsters that held her. Then, when we grabbed her and started to run, initiate a running chase from the undead champions while Alura uses her control over Ixon and Calcite to force them to hold back. She wants to watch us squirm.

Then, we'd go through a sequence of permanently burning EXECs to empower Cybele with Code, allowing us to regenerate much faster and survive the massive amount of attacks coming from the former champions.

The scene would end with us mostly destroyed, Cybele blown away from us and Alura laughing at how much fun we are when we struggle. Then, she'd rip open the Red Joker helmet, lean over to force a piece of her rose bush in our mouth...

Only for Utopia to cut in and kill her, chopping off her head. Ixon would have a shit attack and Alura's last gasp would be fusing all of the former Champions together into 1-3 super Amalgams.

Scene ends with Joker + Utopia vs Super Amalgams, Calcite and Ixon. Alura is still a supreme sadistic bitch, Joker is still horribly tortured after he's forced to die and revive repeatedly and Utopia still saves our asses after we lose multiple EXECs. Except, a lot more action and chances for awesome.

>>37590416
FYI it's Inox Fang. Ixion was Mr Tachyon.

>>37590596
I know they're different people. I'm terrible with names.

>>37590608
Fair enough. Everyone knew who you were talking about anyway.

>>37590416
Mhm. Well, honestly, this relies on the players doing exactly what you planned.
I mean, it's hard to draw conclusions about the playerbase of the quest as a whole, but I don't think we've ever really cut our losses and ran.
So you'd probably need some railroading to do that.

And it sounds relatively cool, sure, but we're still helpless, and there's no real reason now we can't actually hurt Alura, since :
* either she restricts our movement selectively, but we can still run and burn our EXECS, which she's restricted;
* she doesn't, and avoids dying through some other way.
Also, we have nowhere to run to. We're in her demesne. She has complete control over the environment. So a running battle would be useless, anyway. You could bullshit something up, but I'm not so enthusiastic about that.

What I personally would've done is pretty similar to your later points, except I'd start off with a sequence of short battles with all our old opponents, with Alura jumping from body to body, and with their attacks hitting our Essence Core directly, instead of our armour, and killing them one by one while taking big hits.
That way, we'd still lose our EXECs, and our HP, from an attack hitting Cybele.
It'd end similarly, with Utopia Ruler dispelling all of Alura's illusions, revealing her real body, which he summarily executes with a flourish of his staff. The remaining husks are then fused together or whatever.

>>37590416
That may sound fun and cool, but it's actually pretty stupid and doesn't make much sense once you think about.

>>37590757
It's not about what happens in a scene. It's about presentation. It may mean the same thing happens but its done in a way that's more interesting, more engaging for the readers. Plus, I'm just giving you an example of what could have been done; you could do it other ways too.

>>37590855
It allows player input and really, we STILL don't know enough about the setting to know how that works. Futile, pointless battles against undead Players is totally dark enough to be in JQ. Dumb? Maybe. Not as dumb as us just lying down, getting tortured pointlessly so OP can strip abilities/traits from us only for Utopia to come in. Hell, in the end we didn't even fucking call for him; he just appeared.

This entire episode had Joker doing nothing. It wasn't even like other times where we were controlled, where the readers had some input. Some ability to change things. This was just wank.

>>37591012
>Hell, in the end we didn't even fucking call for him; he just appeared.
>>37585654

>>37591056
I'll refer you to this then

>>37589941
>>37589360
>>37590052

Not me but they make an excellent point. It was fun with Ixion, really stepped that fight up a notch and made sense because hey, he could see through time. With WJ, yeah, sure, that was okay. But OP used our prior experiences to burn us here. What the fug?

>>37591012
I really wonder if there was any way to get out of this outside of calling for Ruler.
Maybe getting Calcite Arrow to get second thoughts?

Not trying to fight to get more diplomacy rounds?

>>37591221
Well for starters we could have avoided calling Bardiel a torture fetishist. That could have made Suou slightly more willing to listen.

>>37591012
You can talk about presentation, but you haven't actually rectified the problem, as we still can't do shit against Alura.
The only real change you're making I wouldn't is that instead of being paralyzed, we're running. Nothing else changes, our input still wouldn't do anything. We're still fucked and helpless.
The only real difference in end result is we choose what EXECs to burn.

And of course there are others ways to do it, and I'm not satisfied either.
But it felt like JQOP was just waiting on us to go "Yo Utopia", and that was the main problem I had with it.

>>37591221
Well, that one anon who called him a pussy certainly didn't help.
Also, Alura is, while batshit insane, apparently convincing enough to get him on her side, while surrounded by an undead army.
I think the most we could've done is getting him to GTFO and make an upcoming battle easier, but that's about it.

>>37591221
Honestly, I'm about half-sure that's how it was meant to work. Sadly, no one bothered trying anything other than struggling and shouting angrily

>>37591296
>But it felt like JQOP was just waiting on us to go "Yo Utopia", and that was the main problem I had with it.
My guess is that he didn't have any plans for us and just waited for us to do something off the wall.

Hell, I thought about Utopia but thought that this was silly, because we are in a fucking demense and he isn't even a champion anymore.

>>37591346
I tried it, but failed spectacularily with the pussy write-in.
And then Watashi went full melodrama with his suggestion.

We really need a dedicated diplomancer on team.

>>37591346
Hi, I tried that and was shouted down.

>>37591393
I think the second dialogue write-in (the one Wata called out for having too much gloating in it), could have changed up the direction of things.

>>37591393
Meh. In my experience, quests on /tg/ fall in to either all combat, all the time, or diplomancing errybody. I prefer the first, honestly, but both get rather tiresome.

>>37591417
That's because it sucked, to be fair. You can't call out people for gloating like a shitty Saturday morning cartoon villain, and go full fucking Shakespeare yourself.
That's just not cricket, mate.

>>37591417
I'm pretty sure quoting Bardiel like that would've had a big chance of setting off Suoh. Having your best friend's murderer invade on one of your dearest memories and use it a leverage to make you think said best friend was a murderous asshole would have probably felt like a giant insult.

I need sleep.

>>37591285
Why did that happen in the first place?