OOC: Sorry for not specifying that detail. Sorry to ask you to edit your post, and rethink this a bit, but due to the circumstances of the plot, all associated players have been 'murdered', so the injury / cause of death can't be self inflicted. I apologize for the confusion.

<quote user="Benefactor">...all associated players have been 'murdered'...</quote>

<center><b>Makoto. Kotori. Kazuya. Marcus. Rei. Morikazu. Seta. Yuuki. Hazama. Tatsuya. Eito. Taiyuki. Masamune. Ryoma. Alice. Katsuo. Yoshiko. Malloryn. ……… Your names have been taken.</b></center> “It seems you’re all in top condition.” The man said with a smirk, and leaned back in his throne. “Such a crowd we have here… So many of you seem to have already given up hope.” “Well, you all are certainly owed an explanation.” The man pulled another cigarette out from inside his suit pockets, and it seemed to have lit itself as he brought it to his mouth. “Welcome to my <b>[Aquarium]</b>. Everything you’re aware of comes from your own world, but along side your own world is one that acts as its counterpart. This place is part of that other side. These two separate realms have no set names, so call them whatever you wish.” “This other side is home to some things not found on yours. They are mindless entities; they seem to exist only to kill. For sake of simplicity I call these entities <b>[Slashers]</b>. They are why you are here. These Slashers, despite making their home on this side, can kill entities on either side. You all have been killed by the Slashers…” The man let out a puff of smoke with his last words, and the water around his chair rippled. “They have killed your very existence on that side.” The man didn’t say this. The voice was too feminine. A woman with shoulder length brown hair steps out from behind the throne. She is wearing a black suit, her leather gloves rising so she could adjust her red tie. Her green eyes pierce into the group assembled before them. Her expression is obscured by a gas mask that covered her lower face. Despite the mask, her voice carries through the room as if unobstructed. “The victims of the Slashers do not simply die. They vanish. If you are slain, then when the day reaches its conclusion, the world is reset to erase any trace of you. You have been destroyed by them. Your family, your friends... They are not in mourning. They no longer know who you are, as of now; they never knew who you were. You do not exist outside this room.” The woman said as she closed her eyes and folded her arms behind her back. The man tossed the now used cigarette into the water, following the first. “This must sound ridiculous to you if you don’t believe it, and hopeless if you do. But there’s no reason to panic.” The man crossed his legs and held his hands together, staring into the eyes of all those before him. <center>“Rest easy, young <b>[Victims]</b>. Your time has come far earlier than planned. I am your <b>[Benefactor]</b>. Assist me, and I will assist you. I will guide you towards <b>[True Revival]</b>.”</center>

<i>Benefactor nods at Dan, and Katsuo who approaches the door.</i> &quot;My apologies, friend.&quot; <i>With a snap of his fingers, Katsuo's cigarette is lit. After performing his small favor, he turns to the others with a dejected look.</i> &quot;Well... Kotori... I think it is best I do not answer your question directly. I will simply ask that you not get your hopes up, and aim for your revival so that you may live the best life you are able to.&quot; &quot;Well, Marcus... Saying I am doing it out of the good of my heart is fairly accurate. Well, perhaps I am a bit selfish in my request. I cannot leave the Aquarium, but I can see the world, your world. Too many times have I see people vanish without a trace, and it pains me so. Perhaps my wording of your objective is poor. Within these Hives lie powerful Slashers. Your primary goal should be eliminating these ones that are stronger than most, and kill those you encounter along the way. Mindless though they may be, the Slashers seem to have established a primitive social structure. A chain of command of sorts.&quot;

<i>Benefactor offers a gentle smile as he leans back in his throne with his arms crossed.</i> “I understand your concerns… It is only natural for you to question such outlandish claims. But it is as Marcus and Tatsuya say. Look around you, at your surroundings, at each other, and at yourself. Why should you trust me? Is the evidence around you not enough? The fact of the matter is, you have no other options. As Hazama implies, your only other option is oblivion. I have nothing to gain by lying to you all. Follow my guidance, and obtain True Revival, or fade away from life, everyone’s memories, and the history of the world… I am afraid these are your only options, Taiyuki. There is no remaining in this state of living in nonexistence, not for long.” <i>Benefactor holds out his hand to the woman in the gas mask. She produces a red book from behind her back and hands it to Benefactor, as he opens the book and begins flipping through the pages. The woman then leaves his side, walking past the group, and coming to a stop a few strides behind the group. Her arms return to her back as she turns to face Benefactor, now standing opposite him with the group in between them.</i> “You ask what I am. It is a simple question; a complex question. I am simply your Benefactor. I am neither human nor Slasher. No label you can think of fits me. The closes one could think of, ‘God’, would imply omnipotence. I am a strong being, but not all powerful. This is why I am here, asking for your assistance. As… pathetic as it sounds… you can do one think I cannot.” <i>He produces a cigarette from his jacket, and tosses it towards Katsuo at his request.</i> “I cannot offer you weapons. Though I notice some of you already have some on your person. What I can offer you though, is something else. Not a weapon, but something else to help you achieve our goals. The <b>[Shells]</b>, constructed from my own power, and designed for each of you.” <i>The Benefactor stands up, looking down towards all in the room as he places the book on his throne, and puts his hands in his pockets, and his smile vanishes.</i> “I am strong, but I am unable to leave the Aquarium. You can. Take the Shells, and fight the Slashers. These mindless monsters are innumerable. However, they commune in <b>[Hives]</b>. My request is somewhat simple. Go to these Hives… and eliminate as many as you can. This will not eliminate the problem, but it will reduce it. As thanks I will achieve True Revival. I will return you to life, and with your return, the memories and records of you will come with.” <i>On the other side of the room, by the woman’s side, a white door rises from the shallow water below. The woman opens the door, and walks through it. Though the other side is hidden from all in the Aquarium, all that can be seen is a white light that the woman fades into.</i> “I know it is not something you wish to think about, but Ryoma seems to understand, even if he wishes it were not the case. I... think… it is for the best condition of your psyche that I not quantify it, but I am afraid all of you here have lost someone you knew before to a Slasher. Someone faded from your members. Just as you have now fades from another. Follow her; follow my assistant through that door.” <i>He raises his right arm and points towards the white light.</i> “I have used a large portion of my energy to revive you, those who have died by the hands of a Slasher within the last 24 hours in this small locale, to do your best to stop as many as you can. Prevent more of this from happening. If you have yet more questions, I will answer them to the best of my ability. If you prefer, you may prefer commune among yourselves, here, in my Aquarium. Once you are satisfied, walk through the door, and my assistant, <b>[Contributor]</b>, will distribute your Shells.” <i>Benefactor collapses into his throne, seeming very weary.</i>

&quot;I am a bit weak, after all I have done to support you all. But do not worry Rei, I am made of sterner stuff than you might believe.&quot; &quot;Well, you certainly are ambitious Taiyuki. I'd say you all have perhaps two months, should be plenty for you to achieve your goal. If you do it well, perhaps there are other ways I could repay you for your time and effort.&quot; <i>Benefactor raises his hand to wave as more went through the door. Briefly smirking at the exchange between Dan and Tatsuya.</i>

&quot;Understood, Honoka.&quot; <i>He waves as Honoka approaches the light, then turning his attention to the others with a sigh.</i> &quot;I suppose it would be apt to say Contributor has 'ascended', if you wish to call it that. However, Taiyuki, be warned. Your ambitions seem large, but placing a threat on your Benefactor is hardly a wise move. It is by my energy that you all still live in a state of <b>[False Revival]</b>. If I fade, I am sure you can figure out the rest. Don’t misunderstand me Taiyuki, you have much longer than 24 hours left in this world. I simply stated that you have already passed with the last 24 hours.” “As to you, Eito, it would be redundant to describe Shells in their entirety here. Contributor will give you all you need to know on Shells. To explain it as simply as possible, they are a shield that will act as your shield… and life support, so to speak.”

<i>The white light faded as the group passed through the door. As their eyes adjusted, the room they were now in came into focus. They found themselves in a fairly large, almost circular room. There were three doors equally spaced apart. There was the white door, but also one blue, and one black. Curiously the blue door was covered in chains, and multiple kinds of locks. In between the three doors, instead of standard walls, were large fish tanks. Various exotic species could be seen swimming behind the glass.</i> <i>The woman, Contributor, stood in the center of the circular room, holding a briefcase. Once she saw more of the group come through the white door, she turned and opened the black door. Turning to the group she only nodded her head towards the door, and passed through quickly. Not given another moment to admire the fishes or stare at the door, they had no choice but to follow.</i> <i>Through the door Contributor had led them was… the outside. It was a small street, with various buildings lining each side. It was a small shopping district, though what each shop offered was difficult to tell, as all the signs looked hazy, blurry. This strange blur extended to more than just signs, but… the people. They were not alone. The shopping district appeared busy, people in suits, uniforms, and casual clothes walked by, some talking with others, some on their phones, but all had a strange haze over them, and had not even acknowledged the group of Victims or Contributor.</i> <i>….Most had not acknowledged them. Some of the citizens did not have the haze. As the group stepped out, a few people turned to look at them, and looking back… They were wounded, severely. They did not speak, but they stared at the other victims with grim expressions.</i> “Welcome to our side.” <i>Contributor’s voice broke the silence.</i> “It runs parallel to your own world, and as you can see, denizens of your side are visible from here. Though you’re probably more interested in the others, I imagine. Benefactor was kind enough to leave out a detail that I will not. Victims of the Slashers become permanent inhabitants of this side. They now wander this side, every day. Their family and friends will not remember them, but the victims will remember their lost loved ones, and while they cannot speak or interact with them, they walk by their side still.” “There’s no time to feel sorry for them, or admire beauty in tragedy.” <i>Contributor raised the briefcase she was carrying before the group.</i> “These are your Shells, take them.”

<i>She tosses the briefcase on the ground in front of the group. As it hits the ground, it breaks open, and several white, metallic plates with unknown markings inscribed into them spill out.</i> “They are all the same, just take one, and hold it to your Wound to register it to yourself. These Shells will mold themselves based on your will, to cover your Wound, or in the case of those with lost limbs, replace what you’re missing. Their exact form and design is up to your own thoughts.” “Understand that these are your life now. Slashers striking anywhere they like will not kill you, but it can weaken you, but you will regenerate if given time. But know that the same cannot be fully said of your Shells. If your Shell receives too much direct trauma, it will shatter, and with it, everything. Benefactor may have brought you back from death at the hands of the Slashers, but nothing can bring you back after the destruction of your Shell. Your Shell also will lend you power, give you the abilities and skills you need to stand a chance against these Slashers. What these skills are however, are again up to you. Anything is justified, so long as you can rationalize it.” “So…” <i>Contributor folds her arms behind her back and gazes at the Victims.</i> “If you have any questions, ask them. If not, I suggest you take your Shells, let it take it’s form, and decide what power you wish from them…”

&quot;Hmph. Your Shells are not so fragile that they would break simply from you toying with them. The Shells will also regenerate, repair their own damage, provided you are resting. It is not likely to break unless the enemy strikes it often before it has a chance to rest.&quot; &quot;As for your question about the Slashers, they will be easy to recognize. Black cloaks, white masks... Those masks of theirs... Think of it like your Shells. They can be killed through a number of methods, but their Mask is their most vulnerable place. Aim for it. Break it.&quot;