>>39070989
>Follow Makoto's tale

Pastry time!

>>39070989

>Follow Makoto's tale

Gotta build that suspense!

>>39070989
Mako to tale

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>>39071094
>>39071096
>>39071256

>Follow Makoto

Time rewinds for a little bit, as you return to the viewpoint of the spirited Makoto Kinushima. At current, you are managing the shop after a rather interesting interview with Jonouchi Hideyasu (leader of Team Invitto) including potential bribery and sass abound. Eventually, though, you came to the conclusion that a little slice of humble pie under the watchful eye of the Patissier was the prescription for the cure behind Jonouchi's sass, and responded accordingly.

Now, however, the shop is a little slow. Chilly breezes can be heard blowing past the windows, seeping and whistling through the gaps. It's certainly rather nice outside, but for baking - which requires a controlled environment and a particular eye for temperature and atmoshpere - it's making the back of the house get frustrated. Dough isn't rising and puffing right, and most of the pastries are turning out less than nominal.

Most of the customers don't seem to notice the difference, especially with the basket of "cast-offs" for half price emptying as fast as the bakery can fill it. However, if the Patissier was to come back to sub-par pastries...

You're sure he would have your heads.

>Roll up your sleeves and see if you can't help out back there. Shift someone else to work up front.
>Call the Patissier, ask for advice.
>Wait, what's this? You're getting a text? From Micchy?
>Other (write in)

>>39071363
>Roll up your sleeves and see if you can't help out back there. Shift someone else to work up front.

We've been Beat Ridering for a while. Let's stay in the Patissiers good graces.

>>39071441
Vote accepted, waiting for more.
Also what the hell is up with this Sticky thing on my screen? I can't get rid of it.

>>39071554
April Fools.

Wish I could help, but I can't get rid of it either.

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>>39071587
This is utter bullshit. It's obscuring the page count and everything.

At least make it removable in the settings or something. Or, y'know, actually make it go away when you hit the checkmark.

Here I am, trying to pay attention while watching the Justin Bieber roast.

Guess I should feel happy I don't see the Sticky thing?

>>39071363
>Roll up your sleeves and see if you can't help out back there. Shift someone else to work up front.
Gotta make up for running away all the time.

>>39071659

Sup Peachy. I heard the Roast is kind of actually good.

>>39071659
>>39071441

>Roll up your sleeves and see if you can't help out back there.

You poke one of the other baristas to take over for you, a man in his middle ages which looks to have been here for quite some time. He nods wordlessly, closing his book (A Brief History of Time) with a snap and sitting up.

Moving to the back, you snag one of the remaining aprons from the racks at the back and don it quickly, your fingers moving of their own accord to tie the bow behind your back.

"Alright, what can I help with?" you ask loudly. Instead of responding, most of the bakers blink, slowly turning away form their work to look at you.

"What?" one of them asks.
"What's so confusing? I want to help out back here. We don't need a ton of people in the front, and lord knows it would help if more people knew at least an inkling about what was going on back here in case of nosy customers and whatnot. Least I can do is help."

The group of four or five bakers behind there shrug, giving you a little room on the main table before returning to work.

Looks like you're going ot have to try this the old-fashioned way - trial and error.

>Roll 1d20

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>39071812
Sweet tooth, don't fail us now!

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>39071812

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>39071812
I'm enjoying it so far so I guess that might be the case.

>>39071812
This can be a complete trainwreck with no idea what we're doing but going headfirst into things is what we do best.

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>>39071977
Pic related.

>>39072081
Awwwww sheeit

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>>39071977
>>39071868
>>39071841

>20 - CRITICAL SUCCESS.

You're keeping your eyes on one of the other bakers, and how he manipulates the dough - what he puts in it, with what pressure he touches and kneads the dough. He's been doing it for long enough that it's very clear just how high of a regard he holds his job and occupation in - for the way he treats the dough is like something you've never seen before.

You manage to break away your sight for a bit, trying to put the little tips and nuances you picked up on to work. The baker that gifted you that little glob of dough obviously meant it for you to just experiment with, but seeing this other man's just inspired you to try your own hand at it. You search the nearby containers for anything you can get your hands on, to start adding to the glob of dough.

It's going to be tiny, probably only one or two pastries at most. But you want to make them yours. You're in the zone.

You reach for...

>Various fruits and preserves - something of a twist on an old classic pastry?
>Cream cheese and sugar - Danish
>Sweet potatoes and cinnamon
>Chocolates of various kinds
>Other (write in)

>>39072247
>Sweet potatoes and cinnamon
Sweet potato biscuits a best.

>>39072247
>Chocolates of various kinds

>>39072308
What the hell are those? Never though sweet potatoes could be used in a pastry.

>>39072247
>Sweet potatoes and cinnamon
I'm curious as to what this will be. Sweet potato pie, maybe?

>>39072366
Sweet potato bread is awesome. You haven't lived until you've tried korean bakery sweet potato bread.

>>39072366
They're exactly what they sound like - a slightly sweet, moderately chewy, and exceptionally delicious biscuit with sweet potatoes and cinnamon in the dough. Quite a tasty thing, and doable with even a small amount of dough.

>>39072421
>Biscuit
Are we talking United States biscuits or UK biscuits?

Also if y'all want to mix and match, go right ahead. Combinations and creativity are as always, highly encouraged.

>>39072481
United States definition, sir.

Whoever wants to get rid of Sticky: Right-click the picture, hit inspect element or block element, whichever shows up. You may need to do this for the textbox too.

>>39072593
Let's see...yeah, that worked. Deleted the node for him. Thanks.

>>39072308
>>39072366
>>39072403
Does anyone mind if I combine these two together? I have an idea.

>>39072771
Go for it. Have Makoto be a mad scientist of the kitchen, producing pastries that shouldn't work but do.

>>39072771
I was about to suggest that exact thing. Do your thing, DJ!

>>39072593
>not calling him Tacky
Do you even Carlos?

>>39072815
But, anon, he tells you his name. It's Sticky.

Not to mention, this is an /m/-related thread. You have to use Nossan instead of Carlos.

>>39072771
Art friend idea Mako cooking with evil laughter!

NORG Reporting in Sagara-Command also one day TG superhero time thread

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>>39072796
>>39072812

You reach for two things at once - milk chocolate, in a small squeeze bottle for decoration; and of all things, baked sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes, as far as you knew, didn't sell quite as great as they did overseas according to the Patissier - here, most people ate them whole and cooked However, given how adventurous you've been seeing people's tastes been lately, judging from the exotic fruit parfaits at Drupers, and the variety of weekly specials at Cafe Tiger Cat, you're willing to branch out a bit.

You lay the dough out in a circle, barely bigger than two widths of your splayed out hands. Combining the cooked yam (into bite-sized chunks) with butter, sugar, nutmeg and more than enough caramel and chocolate, you fill it and fold it over and secure the edges, before brushing the top of it with butter and sprinking sugar on top of it, sticking the solitary pastry into the spare rack of an oven. Not many people pay you much mind...until they smell it.

It takes a few minutes, and you're watching every step when you can sneak a moment from behind the counter. The top is turning golden, the cute little dough star you stuck on top of it puffing out proudly. When it's taken out, the scent wafts through the window of the open bakery... and you're sure you just made something too good for this world.

But FUCK it smells so good.
Tastes fantastic as well. Mixes of slightly sweet and out in your face sweet, nutty, almost creamy and smooth. You feel almost sinful due to how perfect it is. It hurts you a bit to have to split small portions of it up and give it to the rest to try out... but your soul soars when the sheer delight glazes their faces like it did to yours.

"Wait until the Patissier hears about this!" one of them says, clapping you on the back. "He's going to love it!"

>Continue to make more of the same, put it out as a special.
>Go back to work in the front of the house.
>Check your phone for messages.
>Other (write in)

>>39073168
>Go back to work in the front of the house.
>Check your phone for messages.

Let's get Oren's approval before we do any more experimenting. And there's no reason we can't do both, right?

Bump

>>39073315

You accept the congratulations, but try to set aside in memory just what you did to remake that. Yeah, Oren would be happy to know that you were starting to experiment with the patissiere line of work, but the front of the place still needed to be worked in the meantime. Can't make excellent sweets without the money to do so, and in order to make money, well... you had the idea.

However, of course, business was slower than usual. Most of the customers tonight were just couples out on a saccharine sweet date - no seriously, you couldn't keep track of how many times the words "Say 'aah~'" were said over the course of the next few hours. Wasn't much of a problem, really - most of them, save for the few "I wanted this date to be perfect and you ruined it by giving me the coffee I asked for but clearly didn't want" kind of customers.

But around 3, you feel your phone in your pocket vibrate. A tone emanates from it - your notification tone, the first riff from the Pacific Rim theme - and you scramble to mute it before it got too much attention. You read the text that accompanies it...

It's Micchy once more!
>Hi, Makoto-san! Sorry if I'm bothering you again, but I didn't get a chance to let you know when we were planning on doing the run into Helheim for the competition! Are you free tonight? If so, we can do the game tonight. Let me know!

Your shift still has a few more hours, though. You think... then begin to type.

>[Free Response]

>>39073899
"Hey Micchy, tonight's no good, but I'll be free within the next couple of days. Have you contacted anyone else? How do their schedules look? I mean, we could do it during the night tonight, but I don't know how well that will go over."

>>39073899
"Hi, Micchy. I'm not available yet, I'll be on my shift for the next few hours. But afterward I'm free. Does that work for the schedule, or did you want to start earlier? What are the other Riders' schedules like?"

>>39074107
>>39074222

You get a chance to text Micchy back. Roughly, you let him know that you're on your shift at the moment, but afterwards during the night you'd be free, though you're not sure how that would go over with the rest of the crowd.

Micchy responds:
>That works well, actually. Given how targeted Beat Riders are slowly being, it's probably best if we don't publicize this too terribly much. After all, police or Yggdrasil might get directly involved - and not to mention, we do want to keep this fun and non-violent. Most everyone else is itching to go whenever.

>Do you accept Micchy's offer for the Midnight Lockseed Race?
>Or do you refuse, opting for another time.

>>39074361
Accept

>>39074361
Sure, let's accept. It'll be fun, we can run into Erina there and turn it into a Midnight Takatora Race, instead.

>>39074361
>Accept

>>39074460
>>39074450
>>39074415

To: Micchy
>I'll see you after work.

The hours seem to fly by after that. Traffic picks up, and you're not left with much time to get a break and even clean by the time 7 PM rolls around. You help close up shop, wiping sweat off of your brow before calling Micchy.

"Okay, so," you start. "Where do you want me to meet y'all? And who's going to be there?"

"Ah, well, I invited everyone that had an Armored Rider form that I knew of. So at the very least, it's you, me, Kouta, Kaito, Jonouchi... not sure who else, though."

"...Wait, Kaito's going to be there?" you mutter.

"You don't have to cooperate with him," he reminds you, hurried in his voice. "Remember, this is a competition against each other. Not intended to be cooperative."

"And what about Ryoji?" you ask.

"Ryoji? Oh yeah, tha's right! He got let out of the hospital! But does he have his Driver anymore?"

"Not that I'm aware of," you reply, thinking. "Guess it wouldn't be the smartest idea for him to try gallivanting around the forest without one."

"Then it sounds like we've got everyone. I'll meet you in front of the Free Performance Zone."

With that, the line goes dead.

>Take care of some things before we meet up with the rest of the Armored Riders (write in)
>Head directly over.

>>39074766
>Take care of some things before we meet up with the rest of the Armored Riders (write in)
Leave a note at home telling Mom we're going to be late tonight, but don't worry we'll be with friends so there's no need for her to worry we got kidnapped by the Yakuza again.

Also, call Ryoji just to ask if he wants to join in. We don't know if he has a Driver or not, might as well ask.

>>39074928
I'll go with this too.

>>39074928
>>39075022
This also let's warn everyone about the yakuza

>>39074928
>>39075022
>>39075200

You start up the Rose Attacker and, at a reasonable speed, start to head home. Would be a better idea to let Mom know what you were up to tonight, rather than having her worry. Plus, cell service in the Helheim wasn't anything to write home about either.

Swinging by the place, you notice that Mom's car isn't in the garage that you typically park in. The one-story apartment above you also showed no signs of people walking around - the floor is kind of thin in some places. Going inside confirms Mom's nowhere to be found. Must be still at work. You leave a note telling Mom that you're going to be late tonight, but don't worry as you'll be with friends so there's no need to worry about getting kidnapped by the Yakuza again.

On your way out once more, after grabbing a couple cheese sticks and some hard-boiled eggs as a snack, you call Ryoji (once you've chewed and swallowed) to let him know what's going on.

"Makoto-chan?" he asks, yawning over the phone.
"What's up, dude? Busy?" you ask..
"Nah, just was kinda bored. Got laid off my job. What's up?"
"Well, the Armored Riders apparently are getting organized to do some kind of race in Helheim - was wondering if you were up for it." You swing your leg over the chassis of the Rose Attacker, sitting down gently as you listen for his reply.

There's a pause. Slightly uncomfortable, given his former fervor towards exploring the alien forest.

"I mean, I've got no Driver now. Given the last time we went in, and especially last time I went in without a Driver... I've gotta sit this one out. N-Not because I don't want to, but because I don't wanna risk it."
"Oh... okay, I unde--"
"But you go out there," he continues, the spark of fire growing in his voice, "and you make us proud, you hear me? We need to be on top once more, and finally give Kaito what-for. Don't hesitate to tear them limb from limb, Dragonlady."

>Free Response.
>Alternatively, head directly to the site.

>>39075390
Give a goofy grin (he can't see it, but it'll come through in our voice and it makes sense for Makoto).

"Heh. Thanks, Hase. I appreciate the vote of confidence. I'll talk to you later, then."

>>39075390
"Don't you worry, Birdman. I'm gonna run wild all over those Riders. I'll give 'em a kick from you too."

>>39075493
>Give a goofy grin (he can't see it, but it'll come through in our voice and it makes sense for Makoto)

"Heh. Thanks, Hase. Don't you worry, Birdman, I'm gonna run ~wild~ over all those Riders. Givin' em a kick fer ya as well. I appreciate the vote of confidence. I'll talk to you later then."
He signs off with a hum, and you pocket your cellphone once more. All Lockseeds that you have are stashed in your messenger bag, along with your Driver - double-secured just to make sure it doesn't fall out on the way there.

You put on your helmet.
Zip up your jacket.
And head out into the night.

====================================

It's not long before you run across the Free Performance Zone, and pull in. Most of the street lights are shining softly upon the ground, stabbing the darkness with pillars of light. In a couple of them, are indeed the other riders - as Micchy said, Kaito's there, brooding as usual as he leans cross-armed below a streetlight. That confusing mix of emotions floods through your senses for just a split second once more before you turn to the rest.

It's a refreshing state to see everyone once more, especially on more competitive terms. There's a general understanding that this is intended to be more of a fun kind of exercise, and if it works, perhaps a new kind of competition. You exchange small talk with them as you stow the Rose attacker. The secrecy only makes it more thrilling...

...until you hear the words "Pardon!" and a very fantastically dressed Patissier Oren Pierre Alfonzo leaping suddenly off of the top of an unlit streetlight, shadowed until now.

>Get mad. "Patissier, what are you doing here?!"
>Laugh. "Quite an entrance there, Patissier."
>Non-plussed/ellipsis reaction. "..."
>Other (write in)

>>39075390
sup' Sagara. I'm late but that won't stop me from participating in this quest.
As for my vote...

>>39075618
I support this.

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>>39075846
Fug. Forgot picture.

>>39075846
>Non-plussed/ellipsis reaction. "..."

Bien sur, le patissier operates on a level beyond the words of us simple peasants.

>>39075846
>Other (write in)
"Oren Pierre Alfonzo! Do you have any idea how much you worried me? Disappearing like that, running off to get yourself into who knows what danger! And don't you dare point out the irony or try to use this as a teachable moment, I had plenty of that from my mother already. Just...don't scare me like that again, Patissier. Please.

"...your entrance was pretty great, though. 10/10, definitely."

>>39076054
Seconded. This is too perfect.

>>39075909 here, changing my vote to >>39076054

Right, class is starting now, be back later guys.

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>>39076054

Everyone pauses for a beat to process the sudden input of Oren doing a double backflip after launching himself off of a streetlight. Questions of "how did he get up there without us noticing", "has he been here the entire time", "who exactly is this man", and so on ricochet through everyone's collective minds for a good moment.

However, you're the one who breaks the silence. You step forward, hands on your hips and voice bordering on shrill.

"Oren Pierre Alfonzo! Do you have any idea how much you worried me? Disappearing like that, running off to get yourself into who knows what danger! And don't you dare point out the irony or try to use this as a teachable moment, I had plenty of that from my mother already. Just...don't scare me like that again, Patissier. Please."

Your reaction seems to have left even more of an impression. You scramble for a way out...

"...your entrance was pretty great, though. 10/10, definitely."

Micchy, Kouta and Kaito are still dumbfounded, the former much quieter than the latter, who's now striding with possibly murderous purpose towards the Patissier. However, you and Jonouchi have had the graces to at least be on his good side. For now. The Frenchman grins and opens his hands wide.

"I caught wind of a gathering of us Armored Riders, and figured while I was out helping the city be relieves of another criminal or two, thought I'd stop in. So, ladies? What's on the menu tonight?"

"Are you trying to insin--" Kaito starts, before you put your hand in front of him to stop him. Kaito doesn't like it much, though, and steps forward to try to butt heads with Oren. Kouta knows better than to get involved, however.

>Try to intervene.
>Watch what happens.
>Other (write in)

>>39076768
>Watch what happens.
Dis gon b gud

>>39076768
>Watch what happens

Oren kicked his ass already, he can do it again.

>>39076951
>>39076819

There's a bemused smirk as Kaito steps forward to try to stand against Oren. Kaito stands half a foot shorter than the Frenchman, and given his background of apparently talking mad shit but ending up jobbing, has far less skill or tactical knowledge than the Frenchman has.

Also, less style. Compared to the rest of the crews, his entire "gangster" motif seems to make him look more like a bad guy than anything else.

Regardless, there's fire smoldering in his brown eyes as he stands toe to toe with the Turbaned Terror of Tiramisu. All the visible fury and shame he's felt, trying to channel it into an intimidation check that Oren is passing with flying colors.

ANother beat.

"Well? Are you going to stand there again, kid, or are you going to try to take me down for the second time?" He quips, crossing his arms and canting to one knee. Kaito winds up to swing, but you and Kouta manage to get a hold of him and drag him back before shit gets too real.

Micchy steps up, impassive and polite as ever. "It's not that kind of a fight, to be honest. It's more of a race than anything else. We all are going to go into the Helheim Forest, and within thehour make it back with as many Lockseeds as possible. We don't need to fight." His words come with a pointed look at you and Oren, and you relax your grip on Kaito. The red-suited youth straightens his coat huffily before walking off a bit.

"SO when are we going to do this?" Kouta asks. "And should we wait for Kaito to calm down before we get going?"

>(Write in) Free response.
>No response.

>>39077187
"Sounds like the best plan. Assuming he doesn't rage-quit or something. Anyway, if it's alright with everyone, we were thinking of doing it right now. We figured we would attract less undesired attention this way. Anyone have any objections?"

>>39077331

"Sounds like the best plan. Assuming he doesn't rage-quit or something. Anyway, if it's alright with everyone, we were thinking of doing it right now. We figured we would attract less undesired attention this way. Anyone have any objections?"

Oren cocks his head a bit at the mention of "undesired attention." It hits you that due to the over-the-top theatrics of your boss...

>He might have just brought the police here.
>There's a good chance some of the Shibata Clan may have followed him here.
>Yggdrasil itself may have just sent troops to follow.

>>39077570
>There's a good chance some of the Shibata Clan may have followed him here.

And that's the worst mistake they've ever made.

>tfw missed the past few weeks on Sengoku quest.
I blame starting D&D for this but it feels so good to be following again.

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>>39077731

The sounds of feet at the mouth of the plaza confirm your suspicions. Instead of fear, however...

...a courageous smirk.

You see suited men of all shapes and sizes, most of whom are wearing some form of sunglasses picked off of a convenience store rack. Suits which fit the men relatively well, but does them no favors with the pattern on them.

However, on all of their lapels, a silver and black pin adorns them.

"The Shibata Clan," you mutter, stepping forward towards them. "Come to join the party, perhaps? Patissier, what happened tonight?"

"I, uh. May have gotten in over my head. I may be strong, mon chere, but against waves of shovelheads I am no better than you or Aquarius boy--"

"HEY!"

One of the men steps forward, significantly older than the rest. Lines across his face etched via effort and time. And quite frankly, his face scares you more than the DNA-locked Sengoku Driver on his large waist. With no Lockseed soldered into it, like the rest of the shovelheads behind him wore. There was a strange... reluctance behind his presence, but when he spoke, the feeling went away.

"Makoto Kinushima, and Gennosuke Oren. What a surprising coincidence, running into both of you here. Might we have a little chat?"

>Accept. Best not to exacerbate.
>Decline. Fuck them once, twice, however many times it takes.
>Other (write in)

>>39078383
>Accept. Best not to exacerbate.

Proceed with caution. He knows we're a threat to him, especially with so many other experienced Riders around, but like Oren said, we're still outnumbered.

>>39078383
>Decline. Fuck them once, twice, however many times it takes.

>>39078383
>Accept. Best not to exacerbate.
>Unless he tries to lead us away, or his troops make any funny moves.

>>39078602
>>39078559
>>39078547

You can feel, in your soul, the Dragon start to rumble to life once more. Having kept it repressed for so long, the start up time is longer than you would have liked.

But halfway through clenching your fists, gritting your teeth and getting all of your muscles tense enough to start a fight, Oren puts an hand on your shoulder. It's larger than yours by an inch or two, but the pressure he puts signals...

...Surrender.

"It isn't worth it, Makoto-chan," the patissier quietly says. "We're outnumbered and out-weaponed. Let's just... do as they say. Maybe it's something actually innocuous."

He gives a hollow laugh, and you both know that that's not going to happen. But you force your fists to unclench. You force, through sheer willpower, the chains upon the Jade Dragon to reform.

And you take a step forward.

"Wait, Makoto-san! What is going on? Where are you going?" Micchy and Kouta call - even Kaito's surprised at the goings on. And visibly so, too.

Through the short walk, though, you formulate a plan. A backup, should things go awry - if the Drivers are any indication, they might.

>Escape at the last second, start the race and escape into Helheim.
>Start a brawl with the big man, get them distracted enough for everyone else to escape.
>Beat UP EVERYONE.
>Don't complain. Just go along with what happens.
>Other (Write in)

>>39078859
>Escape at the last second, start the race and escape into Helheim.

Those guys would be easier to pick off innawoods.

>>39079021
bump

>>39079021
This.

>>39079021
>>39079300

You look at Oren, and gesture with your eyes back towards the small collection of the Armored RIders.

Kouta, you, Micchy, Kaito, Jonouochi and Oren may be strong, hell even stronger together. But against a veritable horde of enemies that have comparable gear... there was no chance.

Oren nods.

"MICCHY!" you call behind him, as you walk confidently towards the man.

Fifty paces away.

"Yeah, Makoto-san?"
"Let's start the race. We'll give you a head start of three seconds. Whaddya say?"
"Huh? What--"
"THREE!"

They didn't need to hear you twice. You don't look back, but four drivers are equipped on the young adults behind you. COllections of Lockseed sounds and activation can be heard.

"TWO!" you shout, reaching into your messenger bag and firmly pushing it onto your waist. It clicks satisfyingly around you.

The Dragon smirks.

"ONE!"

>DRAGONFRUIT!
>DURIAN!
>ORANGE!
>BANANA!
>AAAACORN!
>GRAPE!

A collective roar from all six of the Armored Riders.

"LET'S GO!" you holler!

You immediately skid and make a quick turn, sprinting as fast as you can make it before slamming the Dragonfruit Lockseed onto your waist.

>The Dragon Awakens...

>Roll 1d20, DC 12

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>39079537

Rolled 16 (1d20)

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>39079537

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>39079537
Back now, and it looks like I returned just in time for the action. Cool.

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>>39079779

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>>39079779
Hello delivery? One order of CRITS PLS.

Also CRAZY on the side.

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>>39079779

Tune: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R095OT9ZKfk

You catch a glimpse of the rest of the Shibata clan hitting the levers on their Drivers, and the cacophony of nearly a HUNDRED zipper Cracks opening above them as various Rider Arms float down. There's more than a majority of Matsubokkuri, but you spot a few Acorn and even a couple other basic fruit armors float down.

You don't care. The Dragon's surging.

This party's about to get absolutely crazy, you're damn sure about it.

The Armored Rider's Arms hit their shoulders and unfold faster than ever before, and the Dragonfruit Arms' power surges through your muscles and nerves at blistering speed. You let out a feral roar shortly after, falling onto all fours for a couple steps and clambering to the stage.

Which, as it happens, seems to be spawning a vertical Crack right in the center. Perhaps it was the activity of a massive amount of Cracks, but right now it helps to get through as soon as possible. Once you lose them, it makes taking them out much easier.

The Armored Riders surge through the planar gate, speeding into Helheim on foot before a select few - namely, Kaito and yourself - summon the LockVehicles to their side. Without breaking a sweat nor stride, you leap onto the RoseAttacker and speed off into the jungle, calling behind you --

"MEET BACK HERE WITHIN THE HOUR OR YOU LOSE!"

A couple minutes later, however, you come to a dead halt.

And you're stunned by what you see.

>Pic related.
>The Dragon Hungers.

>Explore the ruins.
>Turn around and start hunting the Shibata.
>Keep to teh race, and start looking for Lockseeds to grab.
>Other (write in)

>>39080151
>Explore the ruins.
[MUFFLED INDIANA JONES THEME PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND]

>>39080151
>Turn around and start hunting the Shibata.
We've seen ruins in Helheim before. Never ones this complex, but they're a known factor. We can't let them distract us, taking out the Shibata comes first. Besides, if we did go into the ruins, they'd follow us, and then the ruins could get damaged and make this whole thing counterproductive. We can explore here after we're done with our business.

>>39080151
>Turn around and start hunting the Shibata.
Temples are a nope

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>>39080448
>>39080267

Holy shit, that's an actual temple.

Holy shit there are people with spears, hammers and possibly other kinds of weapons after your buttmeat.

Nah, fuck temples.

You grit your teeth and turn around, hunching low and keeping an eye out for any and all followers you might have garnered over the course of the escape. And sure enough, a good 20...

20?!

Yep, that's 20 people alright. No sign of the DNA-locked Driver, but 20 grunts scramble down the hill towards you, directly from the Crack. They're out for blood... but then again, you doubt any of them share the spirit of the Jade Dragon.

It's time to take these fuckers out. And it's time to do this with as much speed (and style) as possible.

They approach closer.

>Roll 1d20.
>Dragon's Will available upon consensus.

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>39080508
Is that Kurokage using Jinba Matsubokkuri? Nice.

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Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>39080508

>>39080777
>>39080555
Bump for one more roll.
I get the feeling we're gonna be winding down pretty soon.

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>39080508

Rolled 16 (1d20)

one more for good measure.

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>>39081002
>>39080777
>>39080555
>>39081056

>18 - success.
Tune; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIIYt5lcq3A

You wait until a couple of them are within range, then leap out from behind the gravestones. You waste no time overwhelming them, disarming and disabling the poor suckers with no hesitation. Ripping the Drivers from their stomachs, directly off of their bodies, and casting them aside.

Two down, 18 more to go.

You draw the Saber and stance off against them, circling slowly. Back arched, growling through your visor, you are sure you make the image of a wild animal like this. But fuck it, you're riding the start of an adrenaline wave that you want to see to the end.

Preferably, this time... with some bloodshed.

But as you're about to strike, your perception shifts extremely slowly - everything around you stands to slow to a crawl. Time has nearly stopped.

You feel a pulse. A primordial, deep pulse. From the ground, up through the soles of your boots, traveling up your entire body. Shaking your heart, chest, brain, senses... It's like a church bell's been rung right next to you. Everything else falls out of focus, even as spear points sail past you and clatter against granite and limestone harmlessly.

You hear a voice. Or at least it's voice like - it echoes and rebounds around your skull, driving you insane for a moment. Multiple voices call to you, female and male and young and old.

But they all say the same thing, in the same pattern.

<<HAVE YOU COME TO SEEK THE FRUIT>>
<<HAVE YOU COME TO FREE THE SOULS>>
<<HAVE YOU COME TO SEEK SALVATION>>
<<MAKOTO KINUSHIMA>>
<<HAVE YOU COME TO KILL US ALL>>

>TO BE CONTINUED... NEXT WEEK.

>>39081184
Wait, what? Are the ghosts of the Femushinmu talking to us? Way to frame a cliffhanger, Sagara. See you next time, I think it's going to be interesting. Thanks for running.

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>>39081270
HEhehehee. I love cliffhangers.

Anyways, same thing as usual. OOC time is open, if you have any theories or anything feel free to cast them for viewing. Comments, feedback, questions, what have you.

Archive link: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/39070989/
QM Twitter; @DJ_Sagara_TG
Artfriends: @RamenWarwok, @mrquerious, @Skaphel, @DJ_Glory_TG

Thank you guys for joining, sorry it was a short session today! Hopefully next time we can get more action in.

>>39081362
Thanks for the great thread, Sagara!
See you next time.