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No one's dead and you're now in charge. Sort of. Presumably, Commander Blumstein has some sort of idea as to how you should defeat Balor, but if it's anything like your precious fight, you'll have to improvise blow by blow.

Unfortunately, improvisation won't get you around Siobhan, who's standing right next to the closest exit. Sure, you could look for another exit, but that would be like giving up. Instead, you do the mature thing. You buy a sports drink from a vending machine and slowly drink it to buy yourself some time.

"I talked to Neil."

"Of course you did."

Damn it, you responded. Now you have to talk to her.

"You're right, Eamon," Siobhan says. "I didn't care who won the fight. We all knew we had to settle things and from what I remember, you're the one who came up with the idea."

"I might have been a little high on painkillers at the time," you say. "That was right around the same time I got stabbed in the leg, right?"

"And yet you doubled-down when the painkillers wore of." Siobhan smirks. "I didn't care who won the fight, but that doesn't mean I didn't care at all."

"I'll get over it, Siobhan," you say. "Once this whole thing's over, I'll have other things to worry about."

"You have been doing well so far," she says. "Got a plan for Balor?"

"Just that the fight has to end quickly."

Two of Balor's lieutenants remain. It will take them some time for them to pry his eye open, but once they do, the results will be extremely lethal. You'll have to end this quickly.

"I'll talk to you later, Siobhan. I've got to check on something."

- Go see the Commander.
- Go see your squad.
- Go see who else will be joining this fight.

>>824949
>- Go see who else will be joining this fight.

>>824949
- Go see who else will be joining this fight.

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>>824949
"I need to see who else is joining this fight."

Siobhan smiles and falls into step right behind you. Because of course she'd be part of this. Not that you can complain. As uncomfortable is this is for you, she is one of the heaviest hitters around.

A group of people are gathered around the local base's landing area. You recognize most of them from your time here, but you still spot some unfamiliar places.

"Finally, a proper army. These people are all going to perform a diversion of some sort, aren't they?"

"Yes and no," Alice says as she walks up to you. "Balor's forces are moving forward and need to be intercepted. It seems he wants vengeance for his dead lieutenants. We're heading directly for him, while everyone else here stalls his army. Arthur and Neil were supposed to come along with us, but then they went and got themselves hospitalized."

So, no small army for you, but at least Balor was kind enough to provide his own diversion.

Commander Blumstein arrives along with the rest of your team. You join up with them while the Commander handles the interception forces. She has very little to say to you in comparison.

"Just do what you always do and come back alive," she says. "I can't micromanage you efficiently in the field, but I can order pickup if things go sideways."

"We won't let you down, Commander," you assure her. "I can't very well let Balor burn my old homestead down now, can I?"

"If you'd like," Orianne says, "I can lend you some of my power. I would lose Joyeuse's more powerful abilities, but I believe it would be enough for Gleipnir to reach its peak, if you think it's a fair trade."

From what you remember, Joyeuse currently has an ability that scales with how many allies Orianne has in the field. That would certainly be useful, but so would increasing Gleipnir's power.

- Reject Orianne's offer. You need her to keep her power.
- Accept Orianne's offer. Decrease her DIV to E to increase yours to S.

- Reject Orianne's offer. You need her to keep her power.

>>825107
- Reject Orianne's offer. You need her to keep her power.

>>825107
>- Reject Orianne's offer. You need her to keep her power.

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>>825107
Enemy: Balor
Health: 6/6
END: S
SPD: S
DIV: S

"It's best if you retain access to the full range of your powers," you say. "I'll manage well enough on my own."

"Very well," Orianne says. "I trust you to choose the best course of action by now."

"If there isn't anything else, you'll deploy immediately," the Commander says.

You nod and Francis arrives with his Vimana. You all board wordlessly and Francis cuts through the wind, dropping you off in the middle of nowhere.

"I can't help you much with this," he says, "but like the Commander said, I'll be available for emergency evacuation. Don't be afraid to call for help."

You look around the wilderness, unsure of where you should go. Then you hear a great crash and you know exactly where you should go.

The gigantic form of Balor stands before you, one deformed monstrosity standing on each of his shoulders. These are his two remaining lieutenants. The eye on the demon's forehead is kept shut by seven metal pins the size of your arm. As the pins are removed, he will grow more powerful. If all the pins are removed, someone will die.

Though Balor is blind, its head turns towards you.

"I see you there, false hero. You have dared to strike at me, and must now pay the price!"

Balor drives his fist into the ground and pulls out a sword of molten rock. On the plus side, Natsumi should prove quite helpful here.

- [DC17] Reduce Balor's SPD to D. You need to immobilize him.
- [DC17] Reduce Balor's END to D. You need to weaken him to end this quickly.
- [DC17] Reduce Balor's END and SPD to B.
- [DC13] Immediately launch a coordinated attack.
- Tell Selene to prepare one of her orbital strike arrows.

- [DC17] Reduce Balor's END to D. You need to weaken him to end this quickly.

>>825276
- [DC17] Reduce Balor's END to D. You need to weaken him to end this quickly.

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>825290
dice

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>825276
- [DC17] Reduce Balor's END to D. You need to weaken him to end this quickly.

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>825276
>- [DC17] Reduce Balor's END to D. You need to weaken him to end this quickly.

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>825276
>- [DC17] Reduce Balor's END to D. You need to weaken him to end this quickly.

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>>825276
Enemy: Balor
Health: 2/2
END: D
SPD: S
DIV: S

"We need to end this quickly!"

You hold out your arm and release the power of Gleipnir. It wraps itself around Balor, crushing muscles, bones and organs without mercy. The great Fomorian roars. He raises his sword high, and the flames burst, reaching even the clouds.

The sword arcs down, bringing the flames down on your heads. As you suspected, Balor uses flames. The defense of Natsumi's Ame-no-Ohabari should be effective here, if you choose to use it.

- [DC13] Let Natsumi parry the attack.
- [DC14] Everyone, dodge.

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>825398
- [DC13] Let Natsumi parry the attack.

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>825398
>- [DC13] Let Natsumi parry the attack.

>>825407
Jesus, the rolls aren't going my way today.

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>825398
>[DC13] Let Natsumi parry the attack.
What use is operating in a team if we don't make use of everyone's strengths?

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>825398
- [DC13] Let Natsumi parry the attack.

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>>825398
Enemy: Balor
Health: 2/2
END: S
SPD: S
DIV: S

Natsumi draws Ame-no-Ohabari an swings it in an upward parry. A clear stream of water follows along the arc of Relic and clashes against the pillar of flame.

The water immediately turns into mist.

There is fire.

There is fire everywhere.

The sleeves of your uniform turn into ash as you protect your face and your arms suffer severe burns. Looking around, everyone is in a sorry state.

Except for Alice. A golden Sheath appears in front of her to ward away the flames.

That plan did not go as expected, but it's okay. You're all still alive.

Balor gives a throaty laugh and marches towards you.

- [DC9] Let Orianne attack alone using Joyeuse's power.
- [DC13] Launch a coordinated attack as a team.
- [DC14] Attack Balor yourself.
- [DC14] Tell Selene to launch an arrow.

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>825526
>- [DC9] Let Orianne attack alone using Joyeuse's power.

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>825526
>- [DC9] Let Orianne attack alone using Joyeuse's power.

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>>825526
Enemy: Balor
Health: 1/2
END: D
SPD: S
DIV: S

"Orianne, do you think you can handle it?"

"Naturally," she says. "I can't let you take all the glory, after all."

Orianne draws forth her royal blade, Joyeuse, and rushes at Balor. The demon tries to parry the attack, but his movements are just a moment too slow. Orianne slips under his guard and plunges her Relic into him.

Joyeuse explodes with light and Balor is knocked back.

"You… you must suffer. You must all suffer!"

Balor screams at the sky. One of his lieutenants, still perched on his shoulder despite the tumbling, hops onto Balor's head and, with great effort, pulls out one of the needles keeping Balor's eye shut. The air immediately becomes warmer. Balor pulls himself back to his feet and lunges at Orianne with his bare hands.

- [DC14] Push Orianne out of the way.
- [DC14] Tell Selene to distract Balor.
- [DC14] Distract Balor yourself.

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>825666
>- [DC14] Distract Balor yourself.

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>825666
> [DC14] Distract Balor yourself.

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>825666
>- [DC14] Distract Balor yourself.

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>>825666
Enemy: Balor
Health: 1/2
END: D
SPD: S
DIV: S

You grin and run to circle around Balor. On your way, you pick up a rock and throw it at your enemy's head. It bounces right off his closed eyelid. Balor snorts and turns his head towards you. He can't take this insult lying that.

Balor twists its body towards you, but you easily evade its grasp. More importantly, Orianne is now safe.

You also manoeuvred Balor into a position where he's surrounded by your team.

- [DC10] Wrestle Balor yourself.
- [DC13] It's time for a team attack.
- [DC9] Orianne has a clear shot at Balor's back.

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>825777
>[DC13] It's time for a team attack.

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>825777
>- [DC13] It's time for a team attack.

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>825777
> it's time for a team attack

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>>825777
Enemy: Balor
Health: 0/2
END: D
SPD: S
DIV: S

You step in and punch Balor in the stomach, stunning him for a brief moment.

That's all it takes.

Orianne and Siobhan jump in and plunge their swords into Balor's back. Natsumi's katana isn't designed for thrusts, but it's excellent with slashes. She cuts into Balor's back and severs his pine. You barely manage to get out of the way as Balor crashes into the ground, two Silver Arrows sticking out of his head.

The beast is bleeding and crippled. It's time to deliver the finishing blow.

- [DC5] Leave it to Orianne.
- [DC10] Give the final blow to Natsumi.
- [DC10] Let Siobhan do the honours.
- [DC10] Finish it yourself.

Rolled 66 (1d100)

>>825901
>Finish it yourself

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>825901
- [DC5] Leave it to Orianne

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>825901
wrong dice sorry

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>825901
>[DC10] Finish it yourself.

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>825901
> [DC10] Give the final blow to Natsumi
She's gonna need the redemption/confidence booster after failing that roll

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>>825901
You clench your fist and Gleipnir wrenches Balor's body apart. While his screams are horrifying to listen to, they're also immensely satisfying. You all stand around the corpse. His two lieutenants burst into flame and scatter like ash in the wind. Their lives were bound to their master's.

"It's finally over," Siobhan says. "At least for us. It's a shame Neil and Arthur missed it."

"It's their own damn fault for getting wounded in the first place," Alice says. "If they'd screwed up a little bit less, I might have been able to patch them up in time."

"Congratulations, Eamon." Orianne smiles and places a hand on your shoulder. "Your home is finally free."

"There's still work to do," you say. "Commander?"

"I'm aware," Commander Blumstein says. "You've done well, as always. The other battles are ongoing, so I need to monitor the situation, but there's no need for you to intervene. You can come home now."

At her words, the Vimana appears in the sky above. Francis sits on the deck and waves.

"Time for a party then?" Alice asks. "Should we go somewhere?"

- Celebrate with everyone.
- Celebrate with your squad only.
- Celebrate with Neil and Siobhan only.

>>826042
>- Celebrate with everyone.

>>826042
>Celebrate with everyone.

>>826042
>- Celebrate with everyone.

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>>826042
"Think we could reserve the bar on short notice?"

"Probably," Alice says. "Want some bandages for those burns first?"

You look at your severely burnt arms. Oh, right. The others are significantly roughed up as well. You should probably do something about that.

"That would be nice," you say. "Hospital first then."

The trip doesn't take that long and thanks to Alice, treatment is just a matter of a few seconds. You grab Arthur and Neil on your way out and drag them over to the pub.

True to her word, Alice has reserved the whole place for a private party and moved some of the tables around. Word of Balor's death hasn't spread, so you'll be left alone for a while before the frenzy starts.

"Damn, I wish I'd been there," Neil says.

"That's what you get for sucking," you say. "Enjoy your cleanup operations."

"You know what?" Neil grins. "I think I will."

"Do you know where you're going next?" Siobhan asks.

"It's just Lucifer and Andhaka left," Orianne says.

"It's only natural," Selene says. "How could these demons stand against my divine self?"

Someone's in a cheerful mood, thankfully.

- "Andhaka next. He's the most dangerous."
- "Lucifer. Might as well clear Europe entirely."

>>826184
>- "Andhaka next. He's the most dangerous."

>>826184
>"Andhaka next. He's the most dangerous."

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>>826184
"Andhaka next," you say. "He's the most dangerous. And also the easiest to deal with, probably."

Besides, China and India, who are directly under Andhaka's sphere of influence have very high population densities. Removing him will save a lot of people and will go a long way to stabilizing the global situation. In comparison, Lucifer is a much smaller matter.

"It would be comforting to eliminate the threat to Japan," Natsumi says. "Although we are not directly involved, Andhaka poses a threat to the entire region."

"If things go well around here, we might be able to help you out with Lucifer when you come back," Neil says. "I'd like to make up for the fight I missed."

"You'd have to stop sucking first," you say. "Besides, Lucifer isn't a straightforward fight. Do we know anything about him?"

"There are semi-regular updates about his cults," Francis says, "but I'm not sure how much of it is actionable."

"Andhaka is a much easier target to go after," Orianne says. "His cults are anything but subtle."

So, that's done. Your next destination is India.

>>826325
And that's all for today. Relic Quest will return on Sunday November 20th at 7PM EST. Until then, I'll also be running Beleaguered Prince Quest on Friday, also at 7PM.

Goodnight and thanks for playing.