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Lasureta Ruins
As always, the park named "Lasureta" would be lively like it usually is. Despite the fact that the park attracted many types of people, it had seemed to grow a bit lonely when the minutes flew by. Due to this, an ominous presence had flown through the air, and when a dead body was found in the middle of a hill, the park had eventually closed down for the time being. The gates looked to be locked shut, but every so often some would go past them and end up wandering at night.
If one were to be wandering near the area at this time of day, they'd see a certain young girl with short blue hair walk through the gates, trespassing as quietly as she could when the doors decide that that specific moment would be the best time to be awfully creaky. Deep inside of the park, there stood a mysterious door. It seemed to be just, standing there...menacingly. Nobody knew about it, and nobody who did would want to go near it. All except for one person.
"I wonder...why Asena would be here..."
The girl said, now looking down at her phone and seeing the text that was given to her by Asena. The text seemed to be blurry, but she definitely knew that they sent it because of the fact that he seemed to have disappeared out of her life.
"Alright, I guess he has a surprise for me."
And with that, she walked in, not looking back. Not caring who or what would end up being on the other side of the door, nor did she bother to try and see what might've followed her where she was just in case.
Though one could see a part of the place that the door revealed, going in would make one look at what seemed to be a place that had seemed to be long since abandoned. It was pretty, and old, the sky was clear as day despite the fact that it was clearly different before. The stone walls that had grown moss and some flowers around it suggest that the place would be an abandoned temple, with a vibe that was suggest that this place seemed to be the relic of some type of past-life, whomever it would be.
A dead body? Now that speaks excitement right to his boney cranium and ears. An Armoured looking fellow with a suitcase in tow and seems dressed far out of this era would be intrigued in such a park area. He heard of such a dead body shutting down a park and a where there is one dead body there are so many more. To his Disappointment he would fine know of such things and be overwhelmed, only to have a change mind when he see such a person sneaking about around the area.
"Of course of course its never out in the open where the most shady go I shall follow and be rewarded handsomely in flesh!"
He would say that with such simmer of enthusiasm and follow along this strange girl into a even stranger place for better or worse for himself.
A pair of girls wanders down the city's streets, one with black hair who stares at the gates absently for a moment. Dressed in a simple black leather coat concealing some basic body armor. The other pink haired one's armor is worn openly, a bow and spear both strapped to her back as she looks toward the seemingly locked park.
M: "So, you really think this place might have something Homura? It does seem a bit... Off I guess, stay ready right."
H: "Yes, now get ready to land. I'm gonna get us over the fence."
Homura nods to her partner for a moment, she absently ponders simply blasting the lock with her shotgun but that seems needless. Instead, a small burst of wind would rush up under both of them, propelling both over the fence as Homura lands with a roll, Madoka lands on her hands and knees with a bit of a startled look.
As they begin walking forward, the pair would notice the strangely armored man... But moreover, they'd take note of their friend walking into the door of these strange ruins and begin running after her. Green light flowing over both of them for a moment as their speed suddenly becomes nigh inhuman. Madoka would try and call out to Sonomi.
M: "Hey, what are you doing here tonight!? I mean... You could ask us that too, but we've just gotta stay in practice is all..."
The girl goes in the door, looking around the ruined temple in a daze. The sun practically blinded ones eyes once they entered, and seeing the scene felt like they had passed to the next life. Though, knowing that she didn't, she started to spin around like she felt blessed, the light breeze flowing past her and the others in a delicate manner.
"It feels nice here, heh. Really, I hope Asena would like it...why is he even here?..."
She didn't even notice that she had company until she had ended up catching Homura and Madoka, as well as Lautus in the corner of her eye as she spun, gasping at their "sudden arrival" and falling on her rear end. She winced a bit before standing back on her feet.
"What are you doing here?...today?...why is it daytime here?"
She looked behind her, just now noticing that the ruined pillars of the abandoned temple had seemingly been lined up to make it look like a hallway. The sun shined bright as it always did, and it didn't look like it was going to let up anytime soon.
"Oh, I'm here because Asena finally sent me a text. To go here. It was a bit late at night, I'm not even supposed to be up this late, but I guess it's...ok? Seriously, why is it daytime here?"
(edited by Maizono_Swift)
Lautus would stare at this girl, Sonomi was if? He would have no knowledge at all on this person but it was always nice to meet new people,he gives a bow as always from someone courteous as himself and decides to interject his way in.
“My humble apologies for the fright my appearance does that sometime. I must say though compared to that bland night the day sky looks awfully nice today I wouldn’t question the weirdness but embrace it in folds it’s lovely!”
He spoke with such charisma and joy and was not even fazed by the situation of the skyline. Furthermore he never introduced himself so he was there just staring into the sky and snapping his hand into a tune but his presence was rather awkward.
Sonomi was a bit taken aback by the man's mannerisms, but at the same time, doesn't really feel threatened by any means. Despite what may be considered an awkward introduction, she returns his courteous bow with a playful curtsy.
"Oh, it's fine, really. Nice to meet you, sir! You might've overheard it, but my name is Sonomi. You're right about the sudden change though, it is beautiful."
She looks up at the sky once more, slowly pulling out her signature megaphone gun as it was suspended by the lace of her green waist-tie shorts.
"Hmmm, maybe it's time we moved forward. These ruins won't get to be explored by themselves. Homura, Madoka, tell me if there's something weird. Like the corpses of those demons that are on the floor, that's a bit off."
There was a big wooden door off to the side of the open hallway corridor, and on the mossy stone floor, there were corpses of some snake demons that were laid off to the side. It seemed as though that they had been recently dealt with too, from the remnants of stardust that had laid on them or the bits of black goo as well.
Homura chuckles a bit, fielding Sonomi's question with a casual ease as Madoka fiddles with her fingers.
H: "We're here because it seemed strange, simple as that. Since she got her Persona we've been... Investigating together as it were."
The pink haired girl nods a bit, absently drawing her bow and knocking an arrow into it with practiced ease. She then turns and bows to the strange man with a smile on her face, even as her partner eyes him rather curiously.
M: "Yeah Sonomi, what Homura said. And hello there Mr! It is quite nice looking in here, though often when something this strange is found..."
She looks over to Homura for a moment, the black-haired girl shaking her head at this questioning look.
H: "Nah, I don't think it's one of them. Barriers are all unique yes, inside. But they're never so blatantly obvious outwardly."
Madoka nods at that, it's a small detail, one she'd likely recall herself if she thought long enough. But at least Sonomi will know now. The pair would begin taking the lead while speaking to Sonomi.
H: "Ya know, if you intend to do this stuff much Sonomi. You should at least practice more with that gun, maybe get armor? Anyways, guess we can help you look for him if that's your intent. Call me paranoid, but I expect issues."
M: "You're paranoid... But I don't think you're super likely to be wrong. Even if it is really pretty here, might be best to be alert. If only for the fact it costs us nothing, right?"
“The pleasure is mine young Sonomi and I am Lautus it is my pleasure to be aquatinted. I’ve come myself to see if such interesting remakes of this place I have a hunch you all are her for the same?”
He would skip to his own beat as he followed Sonomi to the hallway, he quite like the mossy vibe of this place with the moss and stone but really what catches his attention are the corpses scattered everywhere about.
“Jackpot oh jackpot indeed. My luck has quickly been answered and the flesh right in front of my face!”
He would skip a bit ahead to investigate the corpse with full curiosity directed at these rotten shells of the once living and if he could “collect” them for his own doing.
(edited by Lautus)
Upon going ahead, Madoka and Homura would find that there would be sprinkles of dust in a trail, following the pathway on the right to a metal door that had been blocked by yet another corpse of a lone snake demon, though this time it's remains would only come in bones instead of actual flesh. Sonomi would follow behind them, replying while keeping an eye out.
"Hmmm, armor? Never thought about it. I guess I could give it a try. I also would like to practice a bit more with my gun. They usually say I wasn't cut out for this, but it's nice to be able to assist those in need...whether you like it or not."
Of course, Sonomi herself realizes what had happened to the monsters, but Homura and Madoka might not, so she decides to say it out of the blue since they are in fact the reason why they have come over here in the first place.
"Asena's already dealt with some of them, but given how it goes, there might just end up being more. I don't necessarily think it's a witch, but I'll do my best to be careful."
--Meanwhile--
Lautus while going off and performing his...work, he would notice that the corpses actually seemed to look fresh, only for the actual flesh to actually be rotten to the very core. However, the corpses that had dust remnants on them seemed to glow a bit, as if they were about to explode in a fit of light. On the contrary, the corpses with black goo left on them would almost melt entirely when it would be touched again, simply going into the floor like a shadow.
On his left, Lautus would notice the big wooden door. Though he could easily ignore it and go off with the party, there seemed to be something that shined from the other side, tempting him to go in since there seemed not to be an actual threat waiting for him.
Lautus would shake his head disapprovingly at these bodies. They weren’t quite the cut of quality he needed and thus was thoroughly dissapointed he could not harvest them.
“Quite he shame! Such thick layers and poor quality of fluids and overdue flesh! Well this won’t do at all these bodies are quite out of date and if I knew any better I don’t dabble in such.”
Lautus would turn around to leave and rejoin the other friendly faces but a wooden door seem to catch his focal attention by a great margin. Like a wish on a road he would be lured close to the frame of the door but like any clever fish he was not such easy prey. Rather then just walking in Lautus would edge the door slowly open and look through the open frame of it to see what was inside before steeping in.
“I’m thick in the head but no fool to this! You can fool these old bones once but i’m afraid you can’t a second time so let’s see what you got now...”
H: "It is a bit of a pain finding anything tough enough to stand up well against the supernatural, but not completely impossible. Though, my usual supply for that is... Gone as of late, so I'm currently searching for someone else. I can help with the gun part though, I've become a decent shot I think!"
M: "Hehe, you almost seem proud of that. Not that I really blame you. It is kinda impressive how much better you've become since starting out."
Homura stares at the demon curiously, half recalled tales from both her former sword teacher and her arms dealer coming to mind. Demons, those aren't something she personally has dealt with, but she knows the basic gist of them existing.
Madoka on the other hand, seems slightly scared to see the bodies rather than merely curious. Moving a bit closer to the other girl even as sparks crackle around her body. The black-haired of the pair turns her head a bit, facing Lautus as he checks the door.
H: "Hmm, smart. It likely is best to take a look inside before we simply rush forward, good thinking there. And I'm Homura Akemi by the way, in case you wanted a name."
Madoka blushes a bit, recalling that she'd forgotten to introduce herself while she waits to hear what the very strange fellow has to say.
M: "Ah, right right I knew I didn't do something! Madoka Kaname, nice meeting you Mr...?"
Ryou heard about rumors of a dead body being found in some park. Egged on by his sister, Ryou reluctantly heads over there, tonfas in hand and runes shining bright.
He carefully inspects the park until finding the door. As hesitancy never yields results, Ryou pushes the door open and heads inside, ready for anything.
(edited by Ryou)
As Lautus would creak the door open, a stray arrow would brush past Lautus, missing both Homura and Madoka by an inch before landing itself right in the door merely grazing where Sonomi had stood, stabbing itself right into the frame of the door acupuncturing it's sturdy structure.
Sonomi: "Wha-"
Lautus would see a figure that seemed to be male, wearing a cloak that had a red hood and a purple cape. They had on a dark blue robe with black fingerless gloves and black pants, as well as grey boots. The void outlook of the mysterious figure's attire would completely contrast the vibe that this place gave off.
???: "...friendly. You want?"
The stranger looked at Lautus for a quick second before stepping aside, revealing a closed treasure chest that had glowed from the inside. The way they spoke was dull, barring robotic, and they looked as if they were a bit suspicious, but they did say they were friendly.
--Meanwhile--
As Ryou would enter the ruins, he'd get the same treatment everyone else had gotten when they first came, which would be the blinding light that had radiated from the sun that had always perpetuated in the beautiful area. From where he was standing, he could clearly see Lautus, Sonomi, Homura, and Madoka. While he couldn't see the mysterious figure, he could tell that there was an arrow that had almost hit one of them, and also that a pretty little flower had seemed to bloom from a nearby pillar.
It seems the young man had come just in time as danger seemed to loom before them. Without a word, Ryou dashed past the girls to adopt a frontline position and stood ready to counterattack anything that may come his way or towards his newfound allies.
“I could have shorn I was about to get shot yet you show mercy? Oh quite the nice robes you got going there I must say!”
Lautus would slither right through into the room and give his standard charismatic greetings to this robed figure. He would do a doh bite take of the room to finally see the chest in the room, this lets him out two and two together on what this hooded figure means.
“Oh no I insist the rewards of such go to the first finder of course! But if you would like I will gladly open it right up for you come let’s have a look at such treasure!”
Without much hesitation despite the warning signs Lautus walks his way to the chest opens it up for the robe figure to see first and himself after. He could not think of what could go wrong.
Homura's learned not to simply take words at face value, that'd just be fool hardy on her part. She'd mutter 'Maskukukaja' which causes green light to flow over all save the figure, filling them with inhuman speed. While standing in the back, gun held ready as an arm is held out to stop Madoka from actually moving forward to greet the strange figure up close.
H: "I also could have sworn we were under attack... Oh well, maybe it's fine."
Despite the fact that's said, her eyes are still clearly wary. Madoka would generally admonish the other girl for that, but she can't really blame the caution for now and simply accepts it while looking on curiously.
M: "Mmm, I'd like to think it's fine. But who knows, we'll see what happens right?"
???: "...wait, I forgot..."
Once Lautus had opened the chest, the radiating light shining from inside was similar to the sun that had blinded them when they first entered. However, even though the robed figure would have to have seen the light first, it immediately threw three small swords at the chest, revealing it to have been a mimic chest.
???: "Give me...power-ups. I want my power-ups...now..."
It burrowed itself from out of the ground, revealing it's lanky and tall figure, it's arms and legs seemingly made out of wood. The jaws of the chest were wide open as it's tongue would be stuck out. It screamed out, getting angry at the robed figure's intervention from "being fed". The three swords that had been thrown at it actually ended up piercing through the mimic chest, bouncing off the walls in order to hit the mimic chest again by stabbing it in the back. Afterwards, the robed figure would take out a small scythe and charge at the chest.
Sonomi: "Is that a demon? How did he not see this before?!"
Sonomi, while still in shock, stumbled backwards, making her sit and lay on the outside of the metal door, where the sound of fighting and magical spells would clearly be heard from inside where the door leads, or at least, where she is. The others might not be able to hear it.
The demon mimic would run forwards, limping a little bit due to the robed figure's attack, and busted down the door in order to make it's way towards Ryou, who had aimed to protect the girls. It lunged forwards, slashing it's plant root claws at him in order to try and get past him quickly. While it didn't actually have eyes, it was clear to see what the demon mimic chest was aiming for.
Lautus would roll back onto the floor before jumping to his feet and follow after the mimic.
“That nearly turned me into a boney snack! While it looks like something you can find at home they say mimic chest must be always on leash when free roaming. My humble apologies good chest!”
Lautus would summon his Bonesaw Saxophone for just the occasion and begins to channel the sweet sounds of the dark magics and sweet music. He would materialize a few rings of thin blood around the mimic chest constricting and slowing it to a crawl.
“A ring of blood they say is a sign of “hoes up” as the old guard would say. Best not struggle less you want it to make it harder on yourself!”
The girls shout out to Ryou, whoever this boy is he's clearly trying to help. Along with smashing a pair of cards, from Homura a humanoid figure wearing a white and dark blue skirt appears, a clock in the center of its chest and an utter lack of a head at its top, simply having inky black darkness with purple gemstones where eyes should be. Homulilly.
From the other a woman wearing knight armor, burned by many flames and with long brown hair going down to her back's top. She holds a gleaming steel sword in one hand and a silver shield in the other, the only parts of her gear that aren't worn down by marks of fire. Jeanne D'Arc
H: "I don't mind your help, but it'd be best to stand back now for what we're about to do!"
M: "Yeah, being near that thing isn't a great move Mr!"
The Personas move in near perfect unison, from Homulilly inky black darkness glowing with terrible red energy rushes forth in a large orb straight towards the Mimic. From D'Arc gleaming holy light bursts outwards in a large beam, and as they get near the foe the opposed forces would meet. Turning a blinding grey for a moment before exploding in a huge blast of powerful magic, easily having enough force to lay waste to the ground nearby, though they can't be sure on the foe.
Ryou, prepared to fight and defend himself, had a quick mind. He swiftly dodged the first strike and blocked the second one with his tonfa.
He then used that momentum to chain together a string of attacks with his tonfa, powered by the Double Strike rune which allows him to attack twice. He ends this combo with a powerful kick that aims to knock the fake chest further back.
He had however not foreseen the girls' magic attacks, so he decided to retreat for the time being. Instead of going for the good old punch combo, Ryou raised his left hand high into the sky. A bright shield materialized above him. It's light shining brightly raised the party's attack and defense as well as granting them regenerative capacities, for a couple of turns anyway.
(edited by Ryou)
The Mimic was suited for one thing, to feast on an unlucky soul that dared open it up. So when the roles end up getting switched, the mimic initially tried as it might to struggle it's way out and try to get it's prey. While this was all happening, the robed figure looked around in the room, obtaining a small chest that was actually not a mimic like the one that was outside.
Despite Lautus warnings, the Mimic tried to struggle out of the ring of blood, clawing at the air and whatever would be around him, only to be blasted by the severe burst of magic that Homura and Madoka had conjured up. The moss on the stone floor around the floor instantaneously disintegrating, the Mimic actually stood there.
Though it was hurt, nobody could tell if it was dead. At least, until it made an unholy screech once more brandishing it's claws and staring straight for the metal door that Sonomi was at first. But now, she wasn't.
Sonomi: "Get away from me!"
As it turns out, the girl was now right next to the creature, carrying what seemed to be a black capsule that was the size of a lamp. Despite it looking to be a bit heavy, the girl smacked it in the face, scratching the surface of the wooden chest it impersonated with it before throwing it into the mouth. After a little pause, the capsule exploded inside the mouth of the Mimic like any bomb would, effectively killing it. It's body disintegrated once more, leaving fragments of golden bars behind once it had died. Sonomi, panting heavily, still had energy in her to go towards the metal door.
Sonomi: "Alright...uhm, that's uh...finished...can we move on, please?"
The robed figure went ahead first, standing near the metal door while it still held the small, wooden chest. It looked at everyone else in order to see whether they were ready or not.
I guess I'll just follow along?
Lautus would be incline to follow the robbed figure and meet up with the other quite happy with his catch of the day. He was holding a piece of Mimic chest in its hand almost evaluating its body to gauge its qualities.
"Now that was quite the light show. The thing was quite mad but its not everyday you can legal find remains of such mimic chest I'm already on a fortune streak. Now then I do believe this robbed figure wanted me to have something I assume it was not this chest?"
As their foe bites the dust, Personas vanish in a simple flash of light while the summoner sigh in relief. Homura looks at Sonomi with a smile and begins moving ahead, gun replaced by a black katana covered in mystic runes.
H: "We can, yes. I'd prefer to try and figure out the cause of these demons quickly if we can. Them wandering free could be... Bad."
Madoka winces at that, eyes glancing around as she takes up the back of their party.
M: "Right Homura... Demons running free, I can imagine. And it was a bit exciting I guess. And we'll see what the figure wants."
They'd quickly move to follow, both girls walking forward and preparing for whatever might be waiting beyond.
The robed figure stares at Lautus with a normal expression, though it is a bit confused as to what Lautus was talking about until he pointed out the chest he was carrying. Noticing this, he immediately gave it to Lautus and pulled out a small sickle that seemed to be drenched in a green, toxic-like substance.
Robed Figure: "Call me...Archero. I don't need gold. I just want...power ups."
Archero proceeded to open the door for Sonomi and the others who came with her, unveiling a spacious room that had seemed to be a church at one point. Now, there are multiple long row seating chairs that connected to one another that had been pushed off to the side, along with bits of debris coming from the delicate stone roof. A playful voice could be faintly heard on the other side.
???: "Well, that takes care of everything."
However, Sonomi herself would know who it had belonged to, despite being a fair distance away from hearing it clearly. In a quick rush, she headed past the doorway as soon as the space was enough for her to squeeze through, trying to get into the church area before anyone else could.
Sonomi: "Asena, wait!"
Before she knew it, a chandelier that had been hanging on for it's life had finally decided to let go, almost falling on Sonomi as she made a sudden dash towards where she was, making her land near the altar. Her figure was well hidden when she was on the altar, the short stairway that lead up to it as well as the delicate railings and lone table hiding her.
Behind her and the altar was a transparent barrier that was as thin as glass, glowing red and blocking her from seeing who one could've assumed was Asena. Before she knew it, she had to hide herself, as the rumbling from outside could make one conclude an ambush. It drew closer as the sound of footsteps and hissing could be heard from outside the stone walls nearest to the altar, as well as right where the door was facing.
“Now this is quite the haunted scenery, perfect for a meet up I must say! The barley dangling chandeliers are defiantly the topping to cap it off!”
Lautus would give his fellow thanks to the ribbed figure for opening the door and walk through the door as he would look at the chandelier that almost fell and the rest of the room. It was not what he was expecting to be driven to on a strange stroll through a “park” in his mind.
An ambush, that's not exactly fun... Homura's got something in mind though, she'd grin just a bit at the obvious sound of footsteps and hissing rushing toward them. Blade replaced by a decent sized plastic block that she tosses forward with blinding speed while Madoka's Persona forms again.
H: "Just like we practiced partner, go for it."
M: "Right, D'Arc go ahead and make sure they can't get away from the blast!"
Upon entering the room these foes would be meet with two things, a gleaming wall of light formed in front that blocks them from moving forward any more... And a block of plastic on the ground, or it's a block for a single second while Homura presses her trigger. At that though, the block turns into a horrible blast wave of heat and force that rushes outward and bounces off the wall of light, contained by said wall it would only project even more force. The magic vanishes though, and regardless of the state of their foes both girls prepare to keep up the fight.
The demons smashed through the wall in front, facing the door, like the Mimic was only expecting easy prey. But instead, what the four blue reptilian demons had got coming for them was the wall of light Madoka set up that had effectively trapped them. They banged their weapons against the wall only to end up being exploded on impact thanks to Homura’s little C4 trick. Those monsters had died a horrible death...
Sonomi: ”AAAAAHHHH!”
...only for more to show themselves as they burst through the wall next to the altar, Sonomi herself coincidentally screaming right when the stone walls had been bust down. This made it so that most of the demons that had resembled to look like mutated sea life creatures would trap Sonomi if they had actually noticed her. As it turns out, only two found her in her hiding spot, and they were the mages so they actually couldn’t do much other than cast their spells.
They both levitated in the air to charge it’s magic, only to be blasted away by a blue bullet. The other one would actually get time to cast it’s magic, only to aim it away from Sonomi and instead at where Madoka and Homura had been standing. It’d cast a ball of poison to fly to where they are, leaving a circle that’d damage them overtime.
If that wasn’t enough, 3 red reptilian demons similar to the ones that had been killed of by the two girls would end up emerging from the hole that it’s friends had died, two rushing forward and trying to slash at Lautus with their broken swords and one staying in the back in order to shoot arrows randomly. At Lautus’ foot would be another black capsule similar to the one that Sonomi used to finish off the mimic, but this time it had yellow glowing streaks on it instead of orange. At the same time, two other bombs like the one next to Lautus would be spread across unevenly across the church, much like the debris and the tipped over chairs to act as cover.
“I can taste such wicked enragement off these primal beasts. In other words just like a normal cathedral church I never like them one bit. But at least I can put this one down for good!”
Lautus would hop back to avoid the arrow his foot and make distance. He would then channel again his bonesaw saxophone to conjure a craft of musical magic. He would wait for a bit before firing a shoot of crimson blood in a ball at the reptilian trying to slash st him, the damage would be slightly below average but would help him drain much of the blood off thsincreature and maybe even trigger the capsule as well for some flair.
As the spell begins striking them, both girls have already started rushing away from the area. Along the way Homura's gun would appear once again, red energy glowing upon it while she starts to fire short bursts toward the foe who'd cast at them.
If the rounds hit they'd not only slam through, but explode in tiny bursts of cursed magic that warps and rips away the flesh of whatever is unlucky enough to end up struck by it. Homulilly appears once again as well, rushing over to Lautus's fight and grinning with rows of teeth in her darkness formed 'head'. There's also a large black metal rod with a guillotine blade on the end, a blade that quickly flies toward one of the beasts that Lautus didn't attack and aims to split it down the center with incredible force.
Finally, Madoka and her Persona focus their efforts upon protection. The poisoned pair would be covered in a bright blue glow for a moment, magic flowing through their bodies and cleansing the effect from them with ease. Though not before it can injure both some and cause them to wince.
H: "Yeesh, I was kind of hoping they'd be more friendly than that Mimic. But guess not, nothing to do about it but fight now."
M: "It is sad... But if they're gonna try and hurt my friends, I can't allow that!"
Lautus’ counterattack would prove successful as the demon trying to slash at him would be drained of it’s putrid blood, also finding out that the black capsule had exploded into a quick burst of lightning that left the demon’s corpse charred like a fritter. The one that he didn’t attack would try and lunge at him with it’s broken sword, only to end up being utterly decimated by Homulily’s blade. It’s body being split in two, fell over to reveal...an empty husk.
The archer that had stayed in the back shot wildly at the three still alive, but the robed figure simply deflected all it’s stray arrows with a simple swing of their sword. Once it found all it’s arrows being sent away by Archero, it pulled a broken dagger and tried to rush at him, only for it to end up decapitated by his green scythe.
Archero: “Give me your power ups.”
After the archer demon’s demise, Archero took out his sword once more and gut it for what he calls “power ups“. Meanwhile, Homura’s attack towards where the mage demons were almost for naught, what with the demon floating to the side as it readied yet another poison spell to fire towards the girls.
Sonomi: “Stop hurting my friends!”
At least until Sonomi sent an incapacitated demon towards the mage, knocking them both into Homura’s gunfire with a bullet of her own. Due to this, both the demons ended up biting the dust, laying dead on the floor near another black capsule bomb.
However, there were still more demons that had not been dealt with, mainly the ones coming from the walls nearest the altar. Sonomi vanishes once more into her hiding spot as more deformed sea creatures ran towards Homura and Madoka in an effort to flank them without Lautus noticing. They had swords in their hand and all of them at once charged towards the two, with some archers in the back trying to shoot at anything that had seemed to be alive. Though, considering that Sonomi’s still alive and hidden, they end up getting a bit distracted by her leaving only the melee demons going at the pair.
(edited by Maizono_Swift)
The pair sighs a bit as even more foes appear before them, this is starting to grow troubling to say the least...
H: "Once again we gotta do that, just like in GYM with those two before partner
Madoka nods as their Personas once again move in unison of each other. Homulilly twirling her rod around wildly and causing a huge whirlwind to take shape right in front of her. D'Arc's blade stabbing forward and causing a huge burst of electricity to rush forward into the winds.
Both: "Thunder Burst Maelstrom!"
Lightning suffuses the whirling dervish conjured up, power crackling within it while their mystic construct begins to run wild across the battlefield in a blur. It would take pains to avoid striking those who aren't the monsters, even the electrical power forcing itself away somehow. But save for that, it's a wild display of energy that would if allowed strike at all the foes in their sight.
“The come like a plaguing sea! Oh imagine what I can do with cut up demons like this!”
Lautus would doot a few more notes fire a few more barrages of thin but deadly blood from his saxophone in a arcing manner to rain down on the archers far in the back line so he doesn’t have to worry about getting pierced.
“I shall wash you far away that not even your marksmanship can hit!”
The blood that comes from Lautus' saxophone would interrupt the "perfectly" lined up shot that the archers in the back had prepared, the demons themselves stumbling backwards and ending up back at wall, falling on their backs and having their arrows end up hitting the ceiling. Normally this wouldn't be a problem, but since the ceiling is less than durable, more debris collapsed from where the arrows struck as a result.
Meanwhile, the two girl's combination attack would freely hit all the demons that came their way, getting caught blindly in the maelstrom and becoming mere ragdolls as their corpses would instantly be flung at the feeble stone walls and breaking them as well. However, as it turns out, a crystal stone golem crashed through the ceiling, leaving more debris and smashing the chandelier from before that had fallen to pieces. It stood idly by as it towered over a broken pillar that failed to keep the church area steady.
Archero: "...power up obtained. Now you die..."
The robed figure had said, crushing a red crystal in his bloody hand, presumably from the demon that he had gutted. After he did, he shook the blood off his hand and had summoned three red swords that circled around him, immediately aiming for the golem as it had arrived, with some more small swords being thrown at him added in.
Sonomi, meanwhile, was busy attacking the weakened demons in the back, disarming them of their bows before offing them with her megaphone gun. As she saw the golem, she decided instead to try and find the way to the next area since it seemed to have already been weakened.
“They keep on coming did we just happen to walk into a war zone or their home base. No matter they are large in numbers but as frail as dominos with a single move...”
Lautus would begin channeling the magic and the blood rings materialize once more wrapping around the legs of the golden and binding them together in hopes of ceasing it’s capabilities to move and perhaps find itself falling to the ground.
“...they all fall to the ground. Which leaves me with the catch of the day look at the size of this golem it’s grand and would make the perfect harvesting material!”
The attack of the girls is still going, and soon enough it rushes off to meet with the bound Golem in a dazzling blur of motion. It would slam directly into the thing with amazing force as electrical force flows through the entire being. The pair of girls aims to follow up and end the demons who held bows, Homura's gun blazing away at them as Madoka's bow fires off quick blasts of what look like arrows formed from her light magic. Regardless of the results, both would try and catch up to Sonomi.
H: "You should stay behind us you know, it isn't exactly safe rushing up ahead."
M: "Yeah! I don't wanna see anything bad happen here... Or at all, if we can avoid it."
The archer demons that were in the back were in fact injured, but Sonomi only hurt them so that they forgot that she was right in their line of sight. It wasn't until Homura and Madoka's efforts to push through them did they actually die, the bullets from Homura's gun and the arrows of light from Madoka's magic blasts immediately piercing through them leaving a clean hole in their bodies.
Sonomi: "Oh, right. Uhm, I'm sorry, I thought I could've reached Asena sooner. I'll...keep it in mind."
Lautus was successful in constricting the golem's legs, but it seemed to end up just breaking them off in order to walk slowly to where the altar was. At least, not until the golem just now the realized the impact of the tornado that was perpetuating, the force of the electricity ends up paralyzing it entirely where it stood. Eventually, like it's leg, it simply keeled over, landing face first onto the short stairway before all of it's pieces ended up shattering across the field.
Archero, who had got some loot out of the chests by going into the holes that the demons initially bursted through, quickly lent it to Lautus as it took out another small sword. Lautus would find his hands having to carry random materials for equipment, or some more gold coins. It picked up some nearby crystals before cutting into the golem and taking out a small blue gem.
Archero: "Is this...power-up?..."
Like Lautus said, most the enemies just end up dying quickly. Now Sonomi stands behind another door, walking backwards without looking behind her while gesturing the rest to come on and follow her.
Lautus would strut behind while lugging all the loot he had accumulated in such a short time. He would have to take a moment to stop once gathered together with the rest to stuff the items into his suitcase but for now he follows without complaint.
“Oh to joy oh to joy! That was quite the good show and now I got all these nice trickers and organs to play with it’s my lucky day!”
When opening the door, the group would find themselves to be outdoors once more, the sun as blinding as ever, Sonomi looks over at another part of the ruins that had been seperated entirely by a small lake going under. While the ditch between the lake and the secluded place may look a bit steep looking down, the distance could easily be closed. Only problem being that there’s a bunch of debris that seemed to have fallen there, with 3 corpses of demons under it.
Sonomi: “I have a feeling I know who did that. He’s nearby, I can feel it.”
It might be possible to reach the secluded place Sonomi was looking at, but Archero just opened a metal gate that was nearby. At least after he did some “searching” for some power-ups. Past the gate was a pathway, that seemed to take a split. Going left and straight through the door, one could hear a direct clash of magic as well as the cries of demons similar to the ones they had killed before.
However, going to the right would end up having to go to a thin hallway, that seemed to be guarded by some stray demons lurking behind the corners. Either way, Archero already was heading for the right path not really caring what anyone else would do.
Lautus hearing the shrieking cries of death was piped up and already moving out to the left hallway. He wouldn’t really mind if anyone followed him but gestured for the rest to come after forgetting not everyone has his kinds of interest.
“This way this way! I hear the crying songs of the bodies they are beckoning for us so let’s keep on the move!”
Madoka tilts her head slightly, feel it? Is that some kinda magic thing or what? The other girl shrugs in reply and stares curiously at the debris.
M: "That might be him, I bet we could get over there if you want Sonomi! Maybe if..."
H: "I can take care of this, or rather she can. Your turn now, Homulilly."
She crushes the black card in her hand, blue flames briefly burning up around as the Persona takes shape. Darting across and aiming to simply toss aside the debris using the flat end of her rod's blade. It'd slam against the target with steel shattering force, but if it's enough or reaches the desired result remains to be seen.
M: "Uh... If that fails, have we got something else in mind Homura?"
This query is raised while the pink haired one fiddles with her hair a bit, absently looking across and blinking. Homura just looks a bit sheepish and shakes her head.
H: "... I'll think of something if I gotta."
-Madoka, Homura, and Sonomi-
While it seemed that a bridge had collapsed on the other side, the debris that had fallen in the secluded area was tossed aside with ease, some even just becoming mere grounded dust like it was sand and not old stone. After Homulily cleared it out, there seemed to be a door, only thing standing between them now would just be the gap left by the river.
Sonomi: "Oh thank you! Alright, follow me this way please. I think I know how to do this."
She got out her gun and fired a green orb into the ground, the space in which the bullet fired forming a thin pillar of light. Afterwards, she'd fire another green orb straight ahead, the orb traveling across to the secluded area. Madoka and Homura both can use this method or just use their own. Either way, they'd all be met with a door...that Sonomi had already opened. It seemed that she was very excited to see what was inside. Before entering, the two could hear another voice, a girlish one, talking to Sonomi. It was almost as if they were arguing, even if the pair couldn't actually hear Sonomi herself anymore.
-Lautus and Archero-
As it turns out, Lautus going into the left hallway let him immediately be greeted by some nice magical orbs headed straight for him. Whether they missed or not, they still had formed circles around him that'd end up damaging him over time. One was a poisonous circle, and one was a fire circle. Meanwhile, he could also clearly see some more demons end up getting demolished by a child that seemed to be near Sonomi's age, shooting out stars upon stars and other space constructs. She had on a newsboy cap, wore a checkerboard jacket around her waist, and had an ominous looking purse.
Meanwhile, Archero was busy...looking for power ups. As one could tell from nearest to the walls where the right pathway was, there were more sounds of demons dying in the thin hallway.
The pair simply follows along with Sonomi's method, either of them could come up with something through their own magic... But that'd be a waste of even more energy on their part. As their friend rushes off though, Homura sighs, Madoka gives chase as quickly as her legs can manage.
H: "Hey wait up a little, I get you're excited and all but don't rush off into what might be a danger."
M: "Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black though Homura? She is right though, I'd hate to see anything happen to you Sonomi!"
Homura's the first to enter, she's both more used to rushing about like a madwoman and slightly taller. Her partner simply takes up the back, bow held in her hands while the other of them moves forward with her katana drawn out and wary eyes trained upon the room. Head even darting upward to check the area above them in case of something lurking there
Lautus would be hit by the orbs and knocked to the ground. He’d Get up and brush himself off from his patches of flames and cough a bit from the poison. He would step back a bit into the hallway to avoid and more of these projectiles.
“Now that’s not way to greet your guest! I even caught a cold with that vile orb of yours poison does not do my bones any favours you know!”
He would let out another cough before reaching into a compartment into his side. Viles of blood chemicals and liquids would be stored here, he would take one at random and chug it down to keep the lingering damage at bay.
“Now then let’s have a look at what’s happening here?”
--Madoka, Homura, and Sonomi--
The pair would find themselves in a very dark room, it was almost as if it was something similar before. While nothing could be seen clearly at the time, Sonomi could be heard quivering, like she was nervous. All of a sudden, 4 torches that rested at the four corners of the walls would be lit up, igniting the room slightly. While nothing of surroundings could clearly be seen, everyone has clear sights of each other.
???: "-and you know, it really is nice to see you again. Even if the circumstances are a bit, dire at the moment."
The mysterious girl spoke in a bit of an anxious voice, as if she's trying super hard to make her words make sense. To everyone present, she wore a yellow dress, and a blonde ponytail swept to the side as if one of her pigtails had been cut off. Sonomi herself was flabberghastered, she couldn't open her mouth. And that's when the girl started to get angry.
???: "Oh, come now. Surely you can speak to your old friend, Sana? Hmmmm, maybe you might need a little preperation. Fine then, I'll let you have it, girl!"
In the blink of an eye, a trap-door materialized under Sonomi's feet, and she couldn't do anything but fall and cry out. Once that happened, the room had finally lit up, revealing what seemed to be a living room of sorts, immediately clashing with the barren outlook the ruins have given off. The girl looked at Madoka and Homura with a confused glance, not really knowing of their existence, she stumbled a bit more to find what to say seeing as how she wasn't prepared for more guests. In fact, she seemed to be very busy with that, turning her back around and mumbling curses to herself.
--Lautus and Archero--
Lautus would find that after he had been bombarded with magic orbs, the mages had immediately gotten killed off once the girl had sent two comets their way, the bodies being sent to the walls with holes in their chest again. Whoever they were, it seemed that they were focused.
???: "Jesus christ it's getting boring. Time to grind some more, I guess."
They also had some problems turning around at the most obvious moments. Before Lautus could try and interact with the girl, they had already advanced. If that was enough, they also had been intercepted by Archero, carrying a small pouch of gold. His robes were bloodied, but he didn't seem to mind much.
Archero: "Take. Not power-ups. Not important."
As the scene before them unfolds, both simply look on confused for a moment. Not wanting to intrude... Right up until Sonomi drops. At that point, even Madoka looks angry with this random girl before them.
H: "Masukukaja, and come out Homulilly!"
M: "I am thou!"
Green light flows over the girls and their now manifested Personas, Homulilly rushes forward in a horrible burst of speed as her summoner's magic flows and grants her even greater movement.
4 Black hands would shoot from her back, easily big enough to grab a mid-sized car, and currently rushing at the muttering girl with amazing speed. Though taking care to not crush her, instead trying to hold on and restrain. The other Persona would lash out with quick balls of lightning that fly through the air, rapidly moving towards their target and doing little damage if they struck true. The main goal is making her escape of Homulilly harder, though if any struck there's also a high chance the enemy would be paralyzed by D'Arc's magic.
Lautus would take the pouch in a rather surpassed and co fused manner almost letting it slip out of his hands. He’d dangle it front of him and made a remark about it.
“These aren’t doubloons or blood money I can use...never was a one for carrying spades of foreign cash but still a trinket is a trinket!”
He gave that line with a bit of positive enthusiasm before turning back to the matter at hand. Not Archero but the girl who slaughtered all those demons and didn’t leave any traces behind for poor him, aside from that it did poke his interest as it would anyone else so he decide to carry on and see who that was.
“You can keep searching for power ups and me...i’m gonna see if I can find a new friend or stitching material or both!”
--Lautus and Archero--
As Lautus and Archero would advance, they find another door that seemed to lead to the end of the ruins. Archero chose to open it first, and Lautus could immediately see that the girl opened up a murky looking trapdoor, jumping inside as soon as she got the chance. Somehow, it had closed itself right after the girl had jumped in.
Archero: "Enemies. Get ready."
From up top, there were what looked like to be a sea of all kinds of demons, jumping from the broken ceiling. Unlike before however, it seemed as if they were...enraged...their eyes glew red, their hissing turned into shrieks and roars, when they landed on the ground it had cracked beneath their feet. All at once, they charged at the two that were still inside.
Archero: "This is...their nest. Where they grow..."
More popped up after the ones that had charged at them, mages and archers respectively. Likewise, their power level seemed to increase, the room being filled with an ominous aura, as well as the cries of the empowered demons.
--Madoka and Homura--
???: "Shut up, shut up, shut up, shutup shutup shutup SHUTUP SHUTUP SHUTUP SHUTTTUPPPPPP!!!!"
The girl quickly turned around, screaming as the setting kept on changing, flickering between a bedroom, bathroom, living room, kitchen, and finally, a mortuary. She turned around, swiping her hand outwards and casting a lightning bolt at the 4 dark hands that were strong enough to power a skyscraper. It seemed that due to their idea of sending the lightning first, it had only powered up the girl as she was sending strong jolts of electricity outwards back towards the pair to try and shock them as well, filling the room. Afterwards, the settng had settled on an abandoned classroom, the desks were scattered around, chairs were messed up, and the roof was leaking.
???: "Get out, let me focus on remembering my lines! Get out, now! NOW!"
Like the ones that had took Sonomi, two trapdoors appeared beneath Homura and Madoka as well. However, unlike Sonomi's, a blast of heavy force came above them, pushing them into wherever it had lead, like the gravity in the atmosphere itself had multiplied. Afterwards, the girls would find themselves in a room that was extremely similar to the one they were in before, at least, at first. A dark, empty looking room, lit only by four torches. A low growling sound could be heard above them, but it would be overruled by the sudden apepearance of a girl that seemed to be of a similar age to Sonomi, who lit up the room by summoning glowing stars from up the ground. She had on a newsboy cap, wore a checkerboard jacket around her waist, and had an ominous looking purse.
Asena: "Oh, cool. Didn't know others would be here."
“A crowd of demons here for me?! Oh why I could not ask for anything grander let the show commence now please!”
Lautus would summon summon his trust boney instrument to his hands and would pull out a vile of blood which he would spray into the air. He would start to go play a soothing song one to quell the enraged demons and make them less aggressive maybe even to drain to stay awake it was a rather elusive aura he would conjure in retaliation with his music and blood.
“Let me play one of my old favourites it helps put my patients to rest before we operate I hope it does you the same. So come one and all you beautiful bodies let’s have our eyes closed and ears open to the hellish soothing tunes!”
He would do a twirl and cackle before going on a one of a kind solo to keep these enrage demons at bay for the time being. His mind clouded by all the “beautiful things” he can do and make with this many demons!
The Personas vanish... But not before a grey beam of combined light and dark magic rushes straight at their foe, along with several gun shots rushing from Homura's resummoned rifle and a few arrows.
Even so, they're gone for now. Both greet whoever this is with a slight wave given the person seems friendly, but Homura's a bit busy absently drawing out another block of C4.
H: "That was a mostly empty space, right? If I blow the damn thing open we should be able to get back down there. Whoever that girl is she's got some freaking questions to answer, and I'm not gonna take refusal from her."
The black haired girl speaks in a calm tone, disturbingly calm even given the obvious rage as she sets up her explosive. Madoka winces slightly and sounds a bit worried while looking at her friend, but even so...
M: "I... You are right Homura. I'm not entirely sure where Sonomi went, but we've gotta find out. And um hi new person, I'm Madoka, she's Homura of course like I just said. Nice to meet you, I guess."
The pink haired girl bows for a brief moment in greeting. Her partner barely tilts her head for a moment, still focused upon her work with an annoyed look.
Lautus and Archero
While the demons were at first extremely enraged, energized to the point of leveling the debris that was scattered around the room, hearing Lautus' music in turn makes them...less enraged. Their eyes were still glowing red, but it was to a less intense degree, and whenever they tried to swing their weapons they were in an extremely slow manner, like they were moving in molasses.
Archero: "I like this...better."
Despite Lautus managing to quell half the demons coming for him, there were still others behind him, shooting projectiles that might stop his attempts at keeping the ones he has occupied at bay. Therefore, Archero goes ahead and flanks them, distracting them so that Lautus can figure out what to do next.
Archero: "Keep doing that...it's good."
While the trapdoor that the girl went through had been opened seemingly by itself, now it could easily be in reach and accessed by any means necessary. It was even apparent that none of the demons had noticed it opening. However, it seemed that Archero would love to have some more power-ups at his disposal. He merely used a bow and shot some of the demons in the head, but there were still several remaining, shooting fire, poison, arrows of their own, even some slime that lowers his movement speed as well as feeling extremely disgusting.
Homura, Madoka, and Asena
Asena: "Hi, my name is Asena. It's nice to meet you two. Now Madoka, I would kind of love it if you could tell your girlfriend to get down from there, but hey, you two do you."
While it seemed that Asena was against trying to blow open the trapdoor, the C4 that Homura would place on it would work in a mere moment's notice. Considering how old it was, it's rustiness and murky frame wasn't much of a problem. A blinding light shined through the trapdoor, making one most likely assume that it lead outside.
Asena: "Alright, uhm, since nobody actually noticed that, I can just uh, open the door over here..."
Asena pushed open the big metal door that stood in front of the now lit up room, revealing many pillars that were scattered around, somehow not being knocked down. The low growling sound was now a whole lot more apparent, now evolving into some vibrations. Asena looked back at Madoka with a blank look on her face after the door had opened.
Asena: "So are we ready?"
Little did Asena know, a giant golden spider was behind her, hanging from above the doorway, making low vibrations sounds. The moment anyone reacted to it, the spider turned around, shooting out an unconscious Sonomi from it's rear end. While it was clear her heart was still beating, her body was covered in a disgusting slimy substance. Meanwhile, the spider had dashed around the room, jumping onto the ceiling of the room they were in and trying to get at Homura, using it's legs in an attempt to grab her.
Homura stares down at the now blown open spot curiously... Only to turn around in a blur as the growling grows louder. There's more the two might want to say, but for this moment their efforts get focused upon dealing with the enemy.
M: "Oh come on, more monsters. This place is filled with em... Help us out D'Arc, Sakunda!"
The armored knight forms again, aiming her blade at the foe as a putrid purple light covers it. Within that moment, Homulilly also appears again and dashes forward.
H: "I've got some questions miss, but we can talk later. Drain now Homulilly!"
The shadowy magical girl dressed Persona cackles and opens her mouth up wide, Homura's gun blazing from behind the being as the legs are met by several arrows of light from Madoka. Her bow glowing a little, the arrows exploding into bits of holy light. If they were able to stop this foe's assault then Homulilly would begin her true attack, shadow forged maw revealing rows of large shark-like teeth that quickly aim to latch onto their target's head and begin sawing away. If they did land, this wouldn't merely do damage, but also restore some of the Persona and user's power to them. Along with likely hurting a great deal, of course.
With his back being covered Lautus was able to focus on the sea of them at his front. He would take a spin backwards and wave a finger at them all.
“It’s rude to touch and meddle with a performer mid performance. For that you must be disciplined!”
He would play another arrangement of notes from his instrument and it would conjure two bloody blast of blood shots. One would hit the floor making a sink hole the other the roof top to making falling debris to crush them and cover any poor demons that fall into this sinkhole.
“To my shame I can’f harvest crushed bodies, but it’s all in business to keep the show going forth so won’t you play along?”
Lautus and Archero
All the demons listening to his performance ended up falling into the bloody sinkhole, and tried to climb out, but end up getting crushed by the debris that fell in the hole, their lifeless corpses now covered in debris. It looked as if some would actually survive, trying to crawl out of the sinkhole ridden with debris, but it was all for naught when orbs of ice guaranteed their death.
Archero: "Get to the door."
His cloak was even more bloodied, crushed remnants of a blue crystal in his hands, he pointed his sword at the trapdoor. Afterwards, he'd walk towards it not caring about what loot might have been recieved from the enemies that he killed. The trapdoor would look to be very inviting, but there were some screams that came from it.
...group 2 (I don't feel like saying all these names)
Asena: "Goddamnit! Um, keep it busy?"
She held the unconscious Sonomi in her arms, shivering in disgust as she let some dust onto the slime to burn it off of the girl. Entering the room would be Archero, all bloodied up and ready to fight. Asena sighed as she looked at him.
Meanwhile, the spider would be revealed to everyone else in the dark room, it's golden body acting like shiny foil. While it tried to get at Homura, it ended up at a loss, the arrows and bullets hitting it, but bouncing off like rubber, aiming towards the two that fired it off. Homulily mawing into the spider made it fall onto it's back, writhing in pain as it flailed it's legs around. The slimy substance that covered Sonomi would spew out of it, getting on Homulily and slowing it down enough for it to get away, spitting a web at Homulily before running away from it's attacker. It shook it's body to try and forget about the pain it's taking, making the room vibrated even more. Once more, it tried to target somebody else, zipping around the room and lunging for Madoka, trying to bash into her with it's large, solid body.
The sound of screams were only the upmost of inviting and since he can’t really do with the splatter sink hole of bodies he may as well move on and see if he can make do with something else of the sort by following Archero.
“The deeper we go surely the more bountiful it will get? Oh I most defiantly will hit the gold mine of my career if I can find some rare body material to use in here!”
Neither Homura, nor her Persona really seem to care about the slowness affecting Homulilly. The black-haired girl's gun is replaced with a sword in moments, inhuman speed rushing through her in mere moments as Masakukaja takes hold over the group.
Madoka is indeed sent reeling backward for a moment, but that's quickly met by her partner stabbing away straight into the spider's skull with impressive strength. Shadows dancing along her blade and extending outward from it to try and reach straight into the target's brain, if it has one that is. D'Arc would let loose with a large blast of lightning that flies well, lightning fast and aims to simply slam into their foe from the right side as Madoka stumbles back onto her feet.
H: "... You okay there?"
M: "Kinda? I think I need to work on doing better at close range though..."
Everyone
While the spider would've normally stood still and took the stab, Homura's impressive force would actually manage to acupuncture the blade's way in. The shadows that crept into the spider however, couldn't find the brain that the spider would've had. The spider spits another web right into Homura's face to try and block her line of sight, using one of it's legs to break down a pillar nearby to distract them. Afterwards, it ran away once more, setting up spools of spider silk that'd stick to the pillars, slowing down anybody that tried to run through them.
The lightning that came from Madoka however, wouldn't really seem to do much, merely making it's golden layer of it's skin shine more in the darkness of the room. If anything, the spider just standing idly by would make one mistake it for getting paralyzed. However, Asena just took the moment to throw some dust into the air, every particle of dust going through the webs exploding into a flash of light.
Asena: "In case anybody hasn't noticed, it's weak to magic. Not lightning though, I feel like I have an idea as to why that's happening. Even if it keeps moving, just try and find a way to hit it please."
As the spider was blinded by Asena's light, everyone else could see the room they were in perfectly for a brief second, a lone room that was scattered with pillars and had an open door behind them. Lautus and Archero could see the situation unfold when they enter, the first thing they would see would be either the unconscious girl Asena's holding or the big giant spider that Madoka and Homura are fighting. Of course, Archero would opt to looking at the spider first, summoning orbs of ice it's way to try and stop it from moving.
Lautus would assume that Archero can help assist with the Spider giving him more wiggle room to save himself and his instrument. He would move over to Asena’s side and carry her a ways away from danger.
“A wonderful a patient that is in need of some help. I’ll promise to get right back to you just let me help out with some arachnid infestation!”
Lautus would place Asena right behind him and then channel his instrument again to cast a spell of a bloody ring again though weaker this time it would just be used to momentarily distract it by binding two of its legs.
Homura growls as her partner's magic fails to do anything, yet again. The two personas would stand next to each other, unholy darkness covering D'Arc's blade.
H: "How annoying, let's take this thing out Madoka!"
M: "Right, i think this should finish it!"
Both: "Black Swift Strike!"
The armored figure launches forth, massive sword cutting deep into the spider with incredible speed, covered by inky darkness that lashes out by stabbing in more. Dodging would be no simple matter given that the persona's speed is buffed, and their target's impaired. Two more darkness charged blows would strike at the thing in an instant before the attack lets up a moment.
The spider was blinded, weakened, and half of it’s legs were currently being bound. With no real way to dodge anything, it almost seemed to quiver a bit before being met with D’Arc’s blade. Even with it’s golden shell, it was almost a non-factor as it staggered back, bumping into one of the pillars. The darkness traveled through it’s body, and before you knew it, the spider fell onto it’s back, legs flailing around as it writhed in pain before eventually disintegrating into the ground.
Sonomi: “I-is it...over?”
The girl said weakly, her breathing being jagged and her vision a little woozy. Presumably, the girl had encountered the spider before anyone else, and it hadn’t really went well for her. Asena simply sighed, walking back up to her.
Asena: “Yeah, no need to worry. Follow me.”
She gave her a smile before walking to the door, grabbing onto Sonomi’s arm and leading her to it. Asena probably didn’t care much about the others at the moment, but at the very least there was a subtle gesture that was made to them so that they could follow too. Even if Archero was busy trying to search the room for...something.
Outside the door was...the outside, sun shining very bright in all it’s glory. While the place they were in was very beautiful, a somber presence was lingering. The atmosphere itself weirdly enough also seemed to be the place that was the least ruined out of all the rooms they had gone to. There were even flowers growing on the stray pillars instead of moss. A stray walkway to an altar could be found, a lone grave was found behind it. The tombstone read “Katsuka Daida”, with the girl in the yellow dress standing in front of it quietly.
Lautus sighed again as the spider’s body dissipated into nothing as well as his enthusiasm for a bit. He followed the rest into the new room and rambled on a bit as he aimlessly looked around.
“You know these demons never end up sticking around long enough. How’s a bond fella suppose to make ends meets if they never let you even touch the body! This ruins really is a ruining at best...speaking of ruins...I don’t remember it being so cheery and alive where is this I must ask?”
Both girls sigh in relief as their Personas vanish, grinning to each a little and performing a high-five like well. The excited kids they actually are under all that supernatural power and weaponry.
M: "Course it's over Sonomi, not like that monster stood a chance against us! Right Homura?"
Homura nods to her grinning friend, though quickly seeming to calm back down again and focus once more upon the issue at hand.
H: "Haha, yeah that's right! But... We should keep moving, and do you need any healing Sonomi?"
The pink haired one nods to that and looks over at their mutual friend, eyes slightly wide with concern while they follow after Asena and the girl. As they come upon that yellow dress wearing girl however, both simply pause and stare in silence for a while. Though against both her partner's and own better judgment, Madoka would actually step a bit closer and quietly greet the girl in a kind voice.
M: "I.. Hi there, wanna talk a little? If not, we'll just be going. But, you look kinda lonely to me so I'm just wondering if that's something you're looking to change."
She smiles gently even while Homura just hangs around behind, staring awkardly and rubbing her forehead while Madoka tries to befriend a potential threat to them.
The girl in the yellow dress turned around to face Madoka, tilting her head in a confused way, though her eyes had seemed eerily dead inside. Asena stepped in front of Sonomi, who was still utterly speechless, struggling to get any kind of sound out of her mouth.
???: “Have we met before?”
Asena looked at the girl, and then the girl peered behind her to look at Sonomi. Then it hit her. They did. What a dumb question to ask. In response to this sudden arrival of everyone, the girl snapped her finger once, effortlessly. A quick jolt of lightning came from above to try and strike at Lautus from where he was standing. The girl merely scoffed before continuing.
???: “Maybe being with you could be good for me. Maybe. Just maybe. Never thought of maybe before, haven’t I? I always think that Sana and Runa having to hang out with people like you never go well.”
Sonomi was growing nervous, and Asena was about near ready to try and square up with her. But taking Madoka’s approach into consideration, she let out a little sigh before pushing up her glasses.
Asena: “You know that we don’t have to be called by our stage names anymore, Katsuka. Unless you really want me to bring up “Mari” again.”
Turns out, the name of the girl in the yellow dress matched with the name of the tombstone to a tea. While nobody would really have much context on what’s going on in the conversation, ‘Katsuka’ tried holding in some giggles in response to Asena’s retort, though one could notice that she was growing more angrier with the looming ominous presence suddenly increasing tenfold.
Homura just stays back, watching and ready to step in. But she doesn't want to screw this up.
The pink haired girl raises her hands up and shrugs, offering a gentle look while speaking calmly.
"Maybe it could, or not. I'm not you, and I'm not trying to tell you what to do... Just offering a choice."
That anger is more than a bit worrying, but even so. Madoka isn't about to simply give up on using her words rather than brute magical force.
"I dunno the context here either, but I'd kinda like to if it's okay? Sometimes talking about something can help. But like I've said, if you wanna be alone I'll go."
She awaits a reply while smiling slightly, dangerous or not. She's more than a bit curious about this Katsuka as of now.
Lautus would jump back in a quick reflex as the bolt cake striking down mere inches before him and stares at the point of impact that has charred the ground. He would then stare at these new girls and listen to what they have to say....albeit he was rather confused with what the context was so he will just try to let the lighting slide and defuse the situation.
“You got a hot hand I must admit that, the bolt came out and flashes before my eyes. Uh I can feel though some personal tension between you all so may I best step out it’s only the respectful thing to do ya?”
He would take a small bow as like a sign of respect and shuffle back at but waiting for their response. Something tells him he’s really not in the ideal position to talk this out nor is this really his area of expertise.
With Madoka's repetition of mentioning that she'll go if she doesn't want to talk, as well as Lautus letting everything play out, Katsuka motions towards a door that's open and leads back to the park. But due to the night sky horribly conflicting with the incessantly bright sun, she decides to walk over there and close the door herself, making the one opportunity to exit meaningless.
K: "Ha, none of you are leaving! But uh, we're having a girl talk. You can stay over there where you are, whoever you are."
She seems to be a bit entertained by the concept of them actually deciding that talking things out, therefore sitting on the steps of the altar and smiling gently. The ominous air still looms around the heavenly atmosphere, but the girl decides to give this stupid little conversation a chance. Her eyes slip towards Asena as the slightest smile starts to form on her face.
A: "Ugh, fine. Sonomi, if you would like to talk, now's the time."
She stepped aside to reveal Sonomi, who's still a bit nervous. She hesitated a bit, even trying to look back at the door that has disappeared, but sighs out.
S: "We had 4. Me, Asena, Katsuka, and Chisaki. An idol group. We were extremely young back then, but somehow, we managed to make a name for ourselves. We lasted for one year, until we disbanded involuntarily. Chisaki disappeared, and then Katsuka, and then Asena. I was the only one left...so why? When? How are you still alive? We all thought you were dead. You were found that way. Asena and Chisaki were just missing..."
Homura quietly seethes with rage, a part of her wants to just hurt this idiot for daring to threaten Madoka. None of them are leaving... Oh they'll leave, and if they leave over the scattered body parts of a foolish girl then that's fine too. But the saner less violent side of Homura Akemi wins out, despite her growing urge to simply lash out the girl knows that doing so would be something she regrets in the end.
Madoka for her part is far calmer, despite the blatant threat she's still perfectly calm and kind in voice with a slight smile. Though below that there's a clear willingness to fight back if truly pushed, it's not something said. Merely bluntly made obvious by her stance and entirely calm voice.
"Dead huh... If I didn't know any better, then I would almost think something like Magic is to blame. And maybe it is in a strange place like this, anything can happen can't it?"
There's a pause and sigh while Madoka rubs at her forehead for a moment, wondering exactly how to proceed with this person.
"In the end I don't really think exactly what happened is all that important though, is it? You can dwell in the past, to be sure. But there's no changing it!"
Those words cause the black-haired girl to chuckle bleakly despite her still standing in the back, Madoka's perfectly aware of why. But keeps on going despite it, delivering a few impassioned words with a determined look.
"Anyone can change their future though, all it takes is just trying. Even if it seems pointless, even if you think that nothing can make any difference... There are always chances, nobody can or wants to make you do anything though. Ultimately, that's a decision one has to make themselves. To waste away in the past, or live in the present so the future might be better."
Lautus would stand perfectly in place no shifting himself even a few centimetres. Though being still was not to his liking for such a energetic guy he really felt the urge to just move about but had to just listen to this draw our conversation.
“Well go ahead and talk all day not like I have business and opportunities to make for myself! Any day now... fine weather we are having in these ruins....ugh”
Lautus clearly not happy with being left to stand in place just turns around and sits down before summoning his Bone Saxaphone to play a few assortment of tunes to pass the time though there were a bit mashed due to his current disliking.
K: "Aw, Sana-chan asking why I'm alive? Well, it's simple."
She got up from the small stairway and walked over to her, humming happily despite the clouds suddenly becoming dark. The atmosphere and vibe changed, but the bright sun still remained. Katsuka walked right past everyone with a bit of a skip in her step as she faced Sonomi with a smile on her face.
K: "The world doesn't make sense, why should we try to make sense of it? They all didn't like me for no reason. It's tiring being the least popular out of the group. But hey, we aren't even a group anymore. That's fun, right?"
She extends her hand out, one that pulsates with a horribly strong electrical energy at the last second, but Asena intervenes so Katsuka wouldn't touch Sonomi. Katsuka's eyes went blank for a bit, but then changed back to being normal. The bolt itself narrowly missed Lautus and his Bone Saxaphone once again.
K: "Oh right, thanks Asena, that music was kind of...getting in the way."
A: "And giving my girlfriend shock therapy wasn't?"
Sonomi opted to stray closer to Homura and Madoka instead of with Asena at the moment, seeing as how Katsuka simply giggling and shrugging off mostly everything made her feel a bit scared.
Homura's not scared, just annoyed. The threats, the magic. All of it makes her want to lash out even more. But even so she doesn't, forces herself to stay calm and in control despite the voice in her head saying that whatever this crazy idiot's problem is doesn't matter. Because she's stronger than them. But that's not her, it isn't who she wants to be anyways.
Madoka also isn't scared, though unlike Homura she's merely trying to be nice rather than seething with inner anger. Looking onward calmly despite the other girl's clearly threaten moves, stepping closer to Katsuka so she's standing between Sonomi and her.
"The world doesn't make sense huh... No, no it doesn't. But that isn't really the point here is it, this whole place is about you, not the world. Unless I've misjudged things entirely."
She pauses for a second. The whole place is about Katsuka, that would make sense to be sure, wouldn't it. Maybe it's something akin to the TV World in a way, formed by this girl's mind? It would explain the shifts in their area with her mood.
"I don't entirely understand it though, why these ruins take the form they do. If it's all connected to you than that raises some questions from my view. A dungeon full of monsters is... Something I wanna hear about. if it's relevant at all that is."
Could also say something on these thinly veiled threats, but no. No sense in provoking her, Madoka's goal is talking reasonably after all.
While the bolt narrowly misses it does get a reaction out of him which stops him from playing for a moment.
“Lighting usually does not strike twice in the same spot but a third time and i’ll take that as a spit in my face. Don’t like the smell of burnt clothes or over dramatic business so kindly keep it in your general location!”
He says it in such a passive aggressive manner showing some signs of restlessness wanting to carry on and do something more indulging then be put still. In the meantime thought he will keep playing and have a stern eye on Katsuka.
The only thing that Lautus would get was a half hearted thumbs up, as well as the clouds getting darker where he stood, as a way to mock him more. In response to Madoka's flightless attempts at consulting the girl once more, Katsuka tilts her head sideways as a sign of confusion again. After a little chuckle, she continues once more.
K: "Ruins? Dungeon full of monsters?...I don't understand. The only thing that's connected to me, is my lightning that I always flash everywhere...what do you mean by Ruins?"
She takes out a cracked phone from god knows where, looking at herself as a smirk forms on her face. Then, she takes a selfie and turns her phone around at a clear angle for everyone opposite from her to see.
K: "See, everything is fine and dandy. No monsters. No nothing. Just the outside, you know."
The photo in particular that she shows to them all is one where she looks slightly younger, as can be seen by how one of her pigtails look not to be cut off as well as a lot shorter. Instead of a dress, the girl also wore a millenial shirt as well as some shorts. The outside that she mentions seems to look just like the place that they're in, but it's not in...Ruins.
A: "Great, she's delusional too. I don't know how to explain this..."
Asena, backing off after she saw the photo, tapped her foot impatiently as she notices every single detail, she held back tears looking at the girl that Katsuka once was. Clearly she was seeing stuff that everyone else isn't.
Homura stares forward blankly, should have just left this delued madperson to her devices all things considered. But no, here they are trying to reason with someone who's probably a ghost or some such nonsense. There's a gleaming green gem which appears in her hand, a Traesto-gem.
Madoka glances back and shakes her head towards the black-haired girl for a moment, not really wanting to simply vanish at the moment. Instead, she'd offer a very confused look in reply to Katsuka's photo.
"That's... I see, interesting."
She'd pause for a moment, toying with her ponytail a bit before moving on with a determined. look. Maybe this isn't the best idea, but feeding into this girl's delusions seems like an even worse one than trying to do something about them.
"Wanna go for a walk? Just standing around here is making my legs go numb."
Homura's eyes twitch as she hears Madoka speaking, the design of that is clear of course. Expose this girl to what's in that place, if they even can. She just waits quietly for the moment,
Lautus would frown upon the dark cloud feeling like he was about to get struck again right in the moment.
“Alright alright so you rather just frazzle me to death i’ll keep that in mind i’ll just shuffle back a bit and you can keep that damn cloud away from me and cramming my style!”
He would do exactly that and keep playing away though on the edge but patiently waiting things out. Lord knows it will be much better once they can leave then getting strike by lighting.
K: "Go for a walk? Oh, but-"
Close behind her, the very sky seemed to crack like it was glass as she giggled even more. After a few seconds, she stood up from the stairs again, and put a smile on her face as she waved at everyone. Suddenly, the blue sky turned crimson red, but the girl didn't seem to mind. She merely extended her hand out for a yellow bird, that flew out a window that she summoned on her own after a little of time passed.
K: "I have to go. Chisaki's calling me. Maybe later, right?"
She snapped her fingers, and while it seemed like more lightning would strike, instead the girl would vanish, and everyone was back in the park like the events that transpired would never happen. The bird from before flew to a teary-eyed Sonomi as Asena was close by to stand and think about what occurred.
A: "...sigh. Everyone go home. I don't know what happened. I don't feel like trying to figure it out."
And with a rudimentary feeling that hanged in the air, as well as how suspicious that bird seems to be to anyone that isn't Sonomi, the couple of teens decided to walk away from the park.