>>39724159
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFJWrDCeOa0

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>>39724159

And now, you are beyond the bounds of what is possible.

Before, the horrors you have glimpsed were - at least - anchored. You knew these things, though not the insights they accompanied.

To delve through EBON THORN's memories is to arrange a private viewing of the Pit.

Glimpses of atrocity: Freeze-frame flickers of ruin, of bodies scattered underfoot, of black laughter over broken remains and the monuments of raw flesh. Hell in zero gauge - Horror and red death abroad, hours crammed with centuries of human suffering, narrow side-streets filled with miles of pain.

It occurs to you, distantly, that not all the Smilers are human. Or perhaps the shreds of that humanity have dwindled and diminished to nearly nothing, as - after the long, long mourning that followed - the night of the feast has come at last.

And has it ever.

Not just the ones who wear the fanged smile, of course. Every slight - every injury - every injustice, real or imagined, is avenged. Every score is settled.

Every appetite indulged.

For this is the end of all things, the last destructive madness of a scorpion in a fire; there is a terrible glee in it, a final release, fed by the black rain and the red blood. You see hunched, clawed forms fighting over broken remains - a pyre of bodies, fed eternally - tiny bones, so delicate.

Precious.

In fragments: Chanting, wailing, snatches of conversation - a soundtrack for the death of a city. Everyone and anyone gets it, as Blitz Ingram works the revolving matte-black barrels of his weapons - Ashen Hand eternally grinning, saying over and over again, "It's beautiful, man, it's beautiful."

Forms conjured up from an Eiger nightmare. The sound of the guns turn orchestral, at some point. A madman's dream, where anything and everything is possible.

It is one thing to see the aftermath. It is quite another to see it with your own eyes.

(Continued)

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>>39724186

It occurs to you, distantly, that Ebon Thorn is still alive. Still conscious, within his brain.

“It’s beautiful, man...” whispers the voice of the unseen. Until the moon fades and only shadows survive - And everything is reduced to blind fighting in the shadowed ruins of cities when death comes, growling, to find you.

-----------------------------

A moment, a snatch of overheard conversation.

"-The White Joker is no longer with us."

THEN HE HAS FORSAKEN HIS LIFE'S REWARD.

-----------------------------

The mirrored structure of the Grand Hall traps light, and bathes you in an ethereal radiance. Here, the horror without is muffled and kept at bay - except for the distant rumble of the war, the patter of debris and rain on the high roof panes.

The portal is a brilliant thing, rotating about its own axis. There are complex symbologies in the designs wrought by the gold and silver frames of the looking-glass walls, delicate glyphs chased into the crystal. You, and the others with you, are framed in honeyed light - dark and hunched, smeared with gore, too large, too brutal, cut loose to desecrate and befoul, to scavenged for food.

To kill.

Power builds. It builds to a painful pitch.

In his brass armor, Enfer stands. The chains lashed to his form clatter with each step he takes; Caked with the dust and core, the sheen of his form has been dulled to nothing - Even the glow of the great orb set in his oversized gauntlet has been muted, echoing the wan light of the sphere in his chest. The scar that tracks across his helm, bisecting his left optic lens, is more prominent than ever.

He moves as if he bears all the weight of the world on his shoulders.

"-The last ones?" Enfer's voice is a brutal rasp, the eyeslits of his helm burning; He pays no mind at all to the charred, forlorn forms strewn across the chamber, as liquid flame drools from his wrist flamer.

(Continued)

>>39724178
I'm not entirely sure that's relevant.

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>>39724257

He is not alone. Hulking forms - their hands carved into axes - stand on either side of him, led like pets. Some resemble ancient marble statues; Others are a maze of snaking vines, of thorns, like bramble titans brought to life. Rivets line their forms - limbs protrude through the gaps of their armor, as they move with a trudging, lumbering gait. As they approach - without grace, each step trembling the ground underfoot - the warped ingenuity of their design becomes evident at last.

Not golems. Not quite. Each is a walking iron maiden - and within, through the slanted bars of their ribs, they hold their captives. There are Simulation Bodies within, impaled on the barbs; Limbs severed, silent with trauma or mouthing pleas that only register as an insect buzz on the channel.

"-The last ones ever."

The portal hums with internal life. It is surreal to see the others, so close - Sol Decurion impassive, Blitz Ingram drawing back from the rise of the steps as the coffin-giants lumber forward-

Help me. Help.

SPIRAL COIL and SCALE GAROTTE are silent, dyed black with gore and Lachryma. There is the buzz of tightbeam communication - at a wordless signal, SPIRAL COIL slithers down the steps and away, as GAROTTE's measured footsteps clack against the polished floors. He moves with a kind of fastidious grace, as if to overpace the pooling blood that fumes in the eerie light.

Enfer turns.

"The next cycle's yours." he growls, like metal-on-metal. "-After that, we're leaving with or without you."

The light swells to engulf the world-

(Continued)

>>39724366

There is an impact that staggers you, the hard crunch of disorientation and-

And Ebon Thorn's head goes spinning from your grasp. It is already crumbling to ash, burnt-out from within; Your vision reels as it hits the ground and skitters, a hollow shell - Static fizzing across your field of vision, to reveal-

Silvered-black armor. Armaros.

"Enough of this." Guarded, now. Wariness in his voice, as vapor hisses and fumes from his frame's vents. Distortion Haze has stumbled to his feet, his armor rather more battered than before - Flecked with ash, from the crumble of Ashen Hand's limbs. The dome of Daegal's Fortress Mode barrier is still up, shedding parts of itself as it dissolves to nothing - Nanomaterial shivering apart, becoming less than nothing.

It's not like before, your first use of the Codeburst. Armaros cut the connection.

"Joker - What did you see?"

[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>39724403
"These next teleport cycle is the last. These guys were the last ones to leave.

Enfer is on the other side, with two other players. They also have Iron Maiden guards - Simulation Bodies that are forced to operate armor against their will.
The players are called Spiral Coil and Scale Garotte, if those names mean anything to you.

Oh and there's apparently some internal quarrel with the White Joker."

Hey, can EXEC_DISRUPT remove the frames from the Iron Maidens?
Should we risk it?

>>39724459
Can't think of anything else to add here.
Though
>Oh and there's apparently some internal quarrel with the White Joker
They probably think he's dead.

>>39724488
I'm not sure if we should mention that the girls can most likely not be saved.
Haze and Daegal might hesitate otherwise.

We already encountered one. Remember her?
Totenaz killed her for us.

>>39724403
"There's company waiting, Armaros. Enfer, two other Smilers and several giants piloted by dismembered Simulation Bodies. And this is our last chance to reach the other side."

"Once we're transported to the other side, we have to strike first and make it count."

>>39724501
This is a good point. Don't mention the Simulation Bodies.

>>39724501
>Haze and Daegal might hesitate otherwise
Better to mention it now then when they're in the middle of a fight with them.

>>39724482
Pretty sure that's not Disrupt works. It's also definitely not worth the risk with Enfer around.

>>39724514
Are you retarded?

"Oh god, Joker, those are piloted by the girls! We have to save them!"

Better we add this:
"I already fought a similar kind of frame. Haze, Daegal, White Licorice, I'm sorry but the girls can't be saved. Even if we could, they'd die from lachryma poisoning.
Just remember that this existence is painful to them."

>>39724257
>"-The White Joker is no longer with us."
Hmm. I wonder what this means.
Did he sign in his resignation with the Smilers by killing Kraken?
Are we still going to face him? My gut feeling says so, but we'll see.

>>39724403

can we tell Amaros off for being a dick and cutting the connection like that? we could have learned more.

>>39724559
If we were able to escape, then there's a good chance Naoya was able to.

>>39724565
We are strapped for time. He wasn't exactly wrong to do this.

>>39724559
It might be related to how he didn't actually give a fuck about Alura.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hd-jIvEXx6g

This is the music for when we finally enter the teleporter.

>>39724459
>>39724514
>>39724517
>>39724505

> "These next teleport cycle is the last. These guys were the last ones to leave."
> "Enfer is on the other side, with two other players."
> "The players are called Spiral Coil and Scale Garotte, if those names mean anything to you."
> "Oh and there's apparently some internal quarrel with the White Joker."

Armaros eyes you, for a long moment - then he rumbles, almost to himself:

"-The last one."

His gaze tracks across the horizon, and you know what he's thinking about. This close to the heart of the city, it's impossible to make out the assault on the Pylons - Shrouded as they are by the bleak smoke that churns across the skies. Some of that smoke, you know, is human remains.

> "They also have Iron Maiden guards - Simulation Bodies that are forced to operate armor against their will."
> "I already fought a similar kind of frame. Haze, Daegal, White Licorice, I'm sorry but the girls can't be saved. Even if we could, they'd die from lachryma poisoning."

"...They - what?" White Licorice limps forward - her voice is very small, almost imploring. "Is that...is that what they're doing to the others? I thought..." Her words trail off, as her slim fingers rise to touch the cracks that scar her helm; "-If anyone...*Anyone's* still alive, we can't give up on-!"

She flinches, at the rush of wings - Rook lands with more force than grace, the flare of his pulsejets as blunt and brutal as a grunt of pain. He straightens, shaking himself off - the segments of his exoskeletal spine retracting, forcing him to an upright position. "Joker's right," he says; His raptor-helmed head jerks once, either a flaw in his armour's systems or some tic of his altered nervous system.

"You really think they're going to make it out?"

(Continued)

>>39724628

His angled, almond-shaped eye lenses have no pity, his dry laugh somewhere between a chuckle and a caw - exhaling a thick breath of steam from the grille of his mask. "-No-one's getting out. None of us."

"That's far enough." Daegal says. He steps forward, as Licorice shies back - interposing himself between the two of them. You can see how fundamentally uneasy he is around Rook; Mirroring Armaros, perhaps? Or - does he see something more?

Rook hisses - a sound of rasping exasperation - as he drops to all fours. Something flickers in his gaze.

"-Hnnnn. Don't like you," he hisses - his sloping mask watching Daegal with unblinking scrutiny. "Joker understands. Not you."

"If you have a point, make it." Kazuya's voice is level, now - Haze is watching the confrontation with increasing unease, his gaze darting to Armaros's impassive form then back.

"Everyone is going to die. All of us. Unless you stop *hiding* - You first." He draws the last syllable out into a hiss - You note how Daegal shifts his stance, his hands tightening on the Condemner's hilt-

[ ] "We don't have time for this."
[ ] "Rook - That's enough."
[ ] "Daegal - This is going to take everything we have. Can you do it?"
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>39724674
>[ ] "We don't have time for this."
>[] Free
"We're still in enemy territory. Every moment we spend quibbling gives the Smilers a little more time to prepare. Let's go."
Or something like that, anyway.

>>39724674
"Rook isn't wrong. Even if we could save the girls, we'd need to nonlethally disable their armors while being assaulted by Mister Bomberman and his cronies. Oh, yeah, Enfer likes his explosions, just so you know.
And then they'd be killed in a later fire exchange. We can't provide them protection and it doesn't seem like we can use the teleporter to get them back out.
Even if we could, they'd likely start mutating and eat whoever is around them. Lachryma is heavy stuff.

I'm sorry, but if we try to save these two girls, we might doom the other survivors. Worst case, the start of the Diadem destroys more than just the area underneath the dome.

Still, Rook, get a grip. We don't need needless confrontations right now. Save it for a drinking contest."

>>39724674
>"We don't have time for this."
>"Save it for the Smilers"

>>39724674
>>39724674
>[ ] "Daegal - This is going to take everything we have. Can you do it?"
"We came here for a reason and that reason is to save the ones we left behind. If we're to succeed, we can't afford to hesitate for a moment. If you want to help them, save yourself and save Natsumi, then please trust me."

>>39724736
>>39724749

> [X] "We don't have time for this."
> "We're still in enemy territory. Every moment we spend quibbling gives the Smilers a little more time to prepare. Let's go."
> "Still, Rook, get a grip. We don't need needless confrontations right now. Save it for a drinking contest."

Rook makes a disdainful sound - cawing a short hiss, before he hunches over, resisting the temptation to drop back down to all fours. He stalks off, all claws and spines, razored pinions gather around himself like a shroud.

"Rook-!" Haze, limping slightly, hurries after him. He looks torn, and almost desperately embarassed - He clearly can't forget that he was struggling to free himself when the battle raged. Or perhaps he simply can't accept how things are changing - Or what might lie ahead.

Daegal - fractionally - relaxes. His hand comes away from the Condemner, a sigh that isn't quite relief pulsing from his speakers.

"-That guy," he mutters, under his breath. "He's going to be trouble."

>>39724746

"But-" Licorice's voice is thin, now. "-But they're..."

> "I'm sorry, but if we try to save these two girls, we might doom the other survivors. Worst case, the start of the Diadem destroys more than just the area underneath the dome."

She bows her head. For a moment - half-crippled and starred with damage - she looks very alone.

"-but isn't there something...anything - you can do...?"

Kazuya's hand comes to rest on her shoulder, and she starts - Only for him to shake his head.

"We have to go," he says, simply - With a long, searching glance at you.

>>39724794

> [X] "Daegal - This is going to take everything we have. Can you do it?"

"I-" There's a kind of torment to Daegal's voice, golden armor or not - His fingers twitch, as they curl into a fist. "-I know. Anon, I know, but-"

(Continued)

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>>39724864
>everyone is getting the short end of the stick

>>39724864

"...But I don't know if I can *do* it." the words come out of him in a rush. "This is - This is crazy. I don't know if I have it in me to *kill* someone - I mean...Fuck, we're in a horrible place - they're doing horrible things - and I'm trying to cope with all this..."

> "We came here for a reason and that reason is to save the ones we left behind. If we're to succeed, we can't afford to hesitate for a moment. If you want to help them, save yourself and save Natsumi, then please trust me."

He swallows. "Yeah," he says, heavily. "Yeah."

Then - "...God, I hope she's all right. I hope they're *all* okay-" His voice falters, as his hand comes up to wipe his brow - A very human gesture, lost in the moment of forgetting. Daegal seems to start, as his hand encounters only peerless metal; and that, more than anything, brings him back to the here and now. "Joker - I'm trying. I just..."

"-if it comes down to it..."

>>39724565

Armaros turns his head. His visor tracks, cycling.

"As you say," he rumbles. You can feel the pressure of his gaze; the static of his sensor-field, scanning you. He makes a low sound, one that could mean anything.

And then - you feel, more than hear, the rising hum of power. A thrumming, as you move up the stairs. Incrementally increasing damage has been done to the grand hall - spreading cracks, falling glass, the destroyed detailing. The main hallway stretches out before you, but there is no mistaking the sensor-flare energy buildup that flickers at the peripherary of your vision, guiding you forward...

"What's-" Haze's words are low, hushed - "...What's happening in there-?"

[ ] "They're about to warp out."
[ ] "They're planning an ambush."
[ ] "They're going to bring the building down on us."
[ ] "Licorice, what do you think?"
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>39724919
>[ ] "Licorice, what do you think?"

Active Argus ping. Anything unusual? Bombs? People?

Guys, don't forget that we got rifle bits.
We can use them to set off ambushes prematurely.

>>39724919
>"They're about to warp out."
"Probably"
>"Licorice, what do you think?"

>>39724952
Oh right, that's a point. Assuming it doesn't end up being them bringing the building down we should send a couple out.

>>39724919
"I didn't bring you here to make you into a killer Daegal. I brought you here so that I would have someone I could entrust my back with. Use that what I gave you to protect us and I'll take care of the rest."
"We're a team. And in a team, everyone has their own roles to fulfill."

>>39725040
Well, that would make us a nice reaper.

And give us all of the XP.

Win-Win

>>39724945
>>39724975
>>39724985

> "They're about to warp out."

"Then-" Haze, incredulous - "What are we *waiting* for-?"

And you run. Advancing at double-time, past the lintel of the wide doorway - Sweeping into the inner atrium. By simple osmosis, you lead; Armaros keeps pace with you, the fall of each step a roll of thunder - Haze and Rook stay behind him, possibly because he presents the largest target, as Daegal brings up the rear. His gauntlet locks against Licorice's remaining hand, half-dragging, half-pulling her forward-

Onward. Beneath the grand archway. Past the lintel of the doors, sweeping into the inner atrium and the maze of corridors beyond. They, too, are cased in mirrors - Floor, walls and roof, with down-spiralling tunnels spoking away from the main run.

> [X] "Licorice, what do you think?"

"Go right-!" Licorice shrills, at the first wide bend - "Joker, if they're doing this - There's no *time*-"

"You *know* this place-?"

"Trust me!" It's not like you have a choice, not really - The innards of the hall seem to defy logic. There is something subtly sickening about the arrangement of them, full of dead ends and arful distractions; but she seems to know her way through-

Past mirror-walls. Past stone. Your reflections chase you, the impact of your footfalls making the glass walls shiver. The path yawns open, broadening to a central chamber - Octagonal, like a puzzle-box to capture the light. The portal is rising in it's frame recess with a low hum, flooding the final chamber with alien light...

(Continued)

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>>39724945
>>39724952
>>39724985

"There-!"

It's right there. It's right in front of you - Charging, going active, rising like a temple altar from the ground.

"We made it," Licorice breathes - "It's still-"

Wait.

A premonitionary flicker. A pulse of your Argus Sensor - and your newer senses, the ones that light up Lachyrma in your field of vision like a bonfire.

It's a trap.

Your Rifle Bits detach. They circle you, as awareness spikes through you, wills your limbs into motion - Even as Armaros's hand closes on White Licorice's shoulder, seizing down...And flings her aside, flings her away to safety, sending her skidding and tumbling across the mirrored ground...

"Wha-" Daegal manages, caught in the act of turning - Rook rearing up, his wings becoming great cleavers as Haze looks around for a target-

A sibilant hiss, out in the dark. On the crest of a premonition, you swivel your head up and see something - something, moving with a serpentine swiftness - dropping its shoulders and descending, the brilliant flash of a blade licking out, slashing down towards Haze...

But you're faster. You're so much faster.

(Continued)

So...anyone for smacking this guy with EXEC_HARROW since it seems like it'll be a bitch to track him one way or the other?

And how're you guys doing this morning?

>>39725270
>So...anyone for smacking this guy with EXEC_HARROW since it seems like it'll be a bitch to track him one way or the other?
Let's wait for the fight to start properly.

>And how're you guys doing this morning?
Well, it seems like today we are paying more attention and the write-ins are of higher quality.

>>39725204

Between the moment when SPIRAL COIL drops from the ceiling and the moment when he'd have fallen upon Haze, you're already there. The Sinistral's fiercely buzzing field engages, the shield swinging out - When it meets the white fire of Coil's serrated blade, a blistering crash erupts.

The blade is hot, is screaming white at the edges. The air around it ripples as it is whipped and heated. The chain-teeth chew up the intervening space, as it sweeps down; as sparks fly, as the rotating blade chews into the Sinistral - starring the energy field with cracks - things begin to happen very, very fast. You glimpse - For the span of a heartbeat - Coil's black-and-grey form; Where his legs should be-

He has no legs. His waist ends in a snaking, twisting form, coiled upon itself - the mechanical recreation of a cobra, a serpent, a striking snake. He moves with whiplash speed; Even as your Rifle Bits begin to fire, beams of razor light lancing through the air, entire segments of his form are already detaching - Beginning to circle, rotating like a halo of hiltless blades, flying daggers that fan out like card sleights-

The hum of monowire-

"Down-" Haze manages a startled, inarticulate yelp as Rook *leaps* - Springing high, as something flickers across the intervening distance, too fast to be anything more than a speed-distorted phantom. A tiny sphere, manuvering on inertial jets - leaving a gleaming trail in it's wake, a trail that whispers with razor sharpness...

-Monofilament wire.

(Continued)

>>39725289
Not rushing any thing. Just like to start discussing strategy as we go rather than as soon as we're able to act.

>>39725294

SCALE GARROTE. He seems to materialize from nothing - Descending from above, or just concealed? His form is stocky, with a broad upper body - The darkest shade of blue, shielded by overlapping layers of his namesake, like scale mail. You hear Armaros curse, his distortion halo sizzling with charge; Rook's pounce falling short as lifter jets flare in Garrote's limbs, hurling him aloft-

J҉̡̡̹̝̭̩̰̙̬͎̭̰̞́O̴̵̢̥̮͓̗̳̩̙͎̹͖̲ͅͅK̨̨͢҉̦̩̫̻͙̮͎̖͉͕̰̭̠͢È̵̦̙̦̯̟̱͍͕͓̻̥͍͇́͡Ṟ̜͉̱͎̰͖̲̥̖̩̲͚͇̲͈͕̬́͘͟ͅ

And in that frozen instance, it's just you and Coil. In the periphery of your vision, you glimpse Daegal reeling to his feet - Still rising, reaching for his sword - as Coil's rasping hiss reverberates across the channel.

Ỳ̶̢͎̤̺̝͚̱͓͞O̴̬̬̖̟͇͚͢U̴̱͕̫̣͖̰̯̯̰̲̪̮̲̙̬͈̣͝ ̡̻̯͖̗͍̹͙̣͍́͟͠D̼̣̰̩̭͉̦̦̥͈̕͟͟͞I҉͙̘͚̫͍̺̹̪̻͇̺͖̭͉̦̦̣̻͞E̵̸̢̧͉̳͉͓͖̮̳͈͙̣̪͇̬̰ ̡̳̱̝͙͉̣͞H̨̭̝͖̗̟̭̤͘͡ͅE̵̶̴͚͙͚͇͍Ŗ̡̳̘̣̩̳͚̜͔̗̣̲̳͉̪̘͉͢Ę̶̙͖̹͎̺͖̰̞͎̗̣̺̲̥̭͔̗̭͙͢͢,̢̛̦̠͉̣̲͓̖̯̠͕͞͝ ̷̨͔̥̻̣̱͇͈͚͔̬͚͕̩͕J͙̯̖͎̫̦͖̙̜̪̕Ò̶̡̯͇̠̞̙̹̟͇̮̘ͅͅK̶̨̠̭̻̪̀E̶̹̩̘̼̼̹͈̪͢Ŗ̜̠̘̯̰͚̬̺̙͚͘

HP: 139.6%
COBALT BOOSTER: 157%
ASSAULT SHROUD: 133%
METER: 38%

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>39725395
>"If I had a penny for every time I heard that, I'd be a rich man."

Overload the Sinistral, Tyrant Burst 3, have the Scylla bite into his arms, hit with the Crisis arms and use Draw Forth.

>>39725395
Tyrant Burst 2, followed by using Abruption jets to boost backwards while firing Shrike blades at the guy.
Use the Cobalt Boosted Plasma Caster to then melt him.
Let the bits attack from a distance, on the opposite side from Kazuya, to distract the guy.

If he leaps at us, hit him with a Shroud spear to keep a minimal distance.

Try to use vulcans to damage his wires. The rate of fire is hopefully high enough.

Do not use Zalgo speak. We don't want to be executed by Amaros.

>>39725456
Throw in an EXEC_HARROW so that if this asshole has any stealth capabilities like implied, they're shat up.

Shred a bit of Shroud to EXEC_SWARM Garrote. Deal as much damage as we can to everyone around us. Even if the others can handle him, whittle the fucker down so it's easier for them and so we can group up on Coil if necessary.

>>39725472
Yeah, sending the swarm to Garrote is a good idea.

>>39725395

Try to plasma cast his torso, then back off. Keep him at bay with the vulcans and bits while you argus lock him and use the chainmines to deal some damage, with the tail as the priority, unless hitting the upper body is more rewarding. If that doesn't work try the fusion annihilator.

>>39725395
OP does encroachment still decrease over time?

Anybody watched the new Garo show? Is it any good?

>>39725521
The anime? I thought it was pretty well put together. If you mean the LA series, I haven't seen it.

>>39725543
Meant the anime
Didn't even know it was a LA out there

>>39725567
It only started a few weeks ago.

>>39725567
Anime's based on it, as far as I know there's like five different live action shows and a few movies, some independent, some bridging the gap between series.

But anime is pretty much an independent entry point.

>>39725486
>Fusion Annihilator
>with a fragile teleporter nearby

>>39725498

(Yes.)

>>39725455
>>39725456
>>39725472
>>39725485
>>39725486

The Sinistral detonates, the concussive blast scaling cracks across the walls as Coil lurches back - Even as your Assault Shroud erupts into the churning morass of EXEC_SWARM, boiling away from you - a consuming torrent that surges towards Garotte, engaged by Armaros and Rook at once; He rockets back, just ahead of the incoming sweep, his monofilament wires spinning into twin blurs - Anything that touches them simply disintegrates, sliced apart as he keeps up the immense velocity, boosting out of Rook's reach-

And then the air fills with crackling orbs of ball-lightning, as Armaros storms forward - a horizontal stroke of lightning jagging forth, the sizzling blast blinding, searing-

Your Tyrant Burst system erupts into a point-blank burst of photonic light. Tiny explosions pepper Coil's armor, wisps of smoke rising from his limbs - they're already sealing shut, blackness roiling beneath his metal skin, as his sword licks out for you. A static surge; Your Abruption Jets flinging you back, as your left hand flares into the blunt muzzle of the Plasma Caster-

"Joker-" Daegal, over the channel - "Holy shit - Joker, *hang on*-"

The Condemner blazes to life in Kazuya's fist; He takes two steps forward, and - Without turning around - Spiral Coil's barbed tail swats him away. The ringing peal of the impact flings him aside, and he slams into the wall hard enough to dent it-

But he's bought you the moment you need. You fire.

The Plasma Caster's muzzle vanishes in a expanding halo of plasma fire - Blue-hot, charged with scattershot flechettes. Coil lurches to the side, with that impossible serpentine quickness; but lightning-quick or not, it's impossible to dodge the full fury of the blast. His hiss sends static scaling across your sensors as impacts punch through his torso - Through and through, exit wounds that ignite oily fires across his form-

(Continued)

>>39725658
>exit wounds that ignite oily fires across his form-
Ah, yeah, the firy goodness of burning lachryma.

>>39725658
Note to self: Garrote's defenses are pretty damn good against solid objects. Unless it's a surprise attack, it'd be best to stick with Plasma rounds with him.

Let's see where we're at, but I'm still suggesting EXEC_HARROW on Coil. Drag the fight away from the teleporter, hit him with the good ol' Cobalt Boosted Chain Mine.

>>39725658

"No-" Licorice, stumbling to her feet - "-You'll hit the teleporter-"

Her voice is drowned out by the shriek of Coil's fangs descending - to meet the scalpel-sharp web of fire woven by your Rifle Bits, azoic light scorching across the distance as they mutually annihilate. They smash headlong into each other, turning into expanding fireballs as your remaining two circle him, constantly firing; They slash across his twisting serpentine coils, gouging shallow furrows through armor-

And that's all you have the time for, as he closes again.

You lead with Scylla - An eyeless maw surging forward, lashing out to bite; Coil's sword flickers, and a feedback spike crackles across your sensors as he severs it in one vicious swing - Ripping the blade across, turning it to parry as the second hydra-maw smashes him head-on, a brutal impact that sinks barbed teeth into one shoulder-

When they wrench away, Scylla's maw rips out a fist-sized chunk of armor and internal structure - a ragged, ugly bite that fumes with the black oil-

And you *reach* out in a way that you can barely understand, and he howls as the Lachryma tears itself out of him. Thick, clotted tendrils lash out, draw to your clenched fist - Pulling away, in tarry black strands, flowing *out* instead of down to seal his wounds-

M̴҉͕̘̝̩̭̟̩̮̀I͏͍N̰̺̝̭̖̼̙E̵͍͈̘̬̻̯̙̬

(Continued)

>>39725567
Anime is good and gets better as it goes.
The new LA is based on the worst season of the live action, but it's not been that bad. The new Knight we got this episode is pretty cool, too.

>>39725767
>your remaining two circle him
We definitely need to make sure to keep at least one in reserve.
It might be a useful tool later on.

>>39725767
Armaros is not gonna be happy with us. Again.

>>39725805
Maybe that'll keep you fucks from getting more lachryma upgrades.

>>39725767

M̴҉͕̘̝̩̭̟̩̮̀I͏͍N̰̺̝̭̖̼̙E̵͍͈̘̬̻̯̙̬

Coil's seething blade carves towards you, in a great shearing swing; Slicing lasers slash across the howling sword, the teeth already glowing white-hot, the air fuming with distorted heat-

And you dive. You dive towards him. You dive towards death.

But you dive low.

And then you are beneath the blade, as it screams over your head - So close it clips one of the vanes from your helmet. Your Crisis Arm surges forward, in a devastating straight-ahead punch that Coil, somehow - somehow - manages to turn his blade to parry-

Your fist meets his blade, and annihilates it. Disintegrating chain-teeth and machine parts spray into the air; the smoking hilt in his hands survives a moment longer, before the *snap* of the concussive charge flings him away - It snatches him aside, his entire coiled length unreeling beneath the immense force of the blow....

(Continued)

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>>39725863
>manages to turn his blade to parry- Your fist meets his blade, and annihilates it

Why do people keep thinking that would work?

>>39725880
Imagine if we had the sun crusher. Neutronium would make this even more fun.

Also, I now imagine the chain of the chainsword going flying across the room and hitting people.

>>39725880
It would probably work against any fist weapon that didn't require gravity fuckery just to be moved.

>>39725863
>So close it clips one of the vanes from your helmet.
I didn't even remember we had those. I keep imagining Joker looking like Zero from Megaman, but red all over and with the Zeta Gundam's mask instead of the human-looking parts.

>>39725915
I bet Frost Cestus' arm would have actually been parried and damaged, but cracked the sword.

>>39725928
I think of the Red King from Accel World, which makes our loadout quite hilarious.

Then again, her body is essentially a Simulation Body.

>>39725863

But before you can close - the air ripples, distorts. One of your Rifle Bits is sheared in half, a brittle crackle of electricity sizzling forth along the edges of the impossibly clean cut; Reeling back from the slash-stab of Rook's wing-blades, charred and battered by Armaros's blasts, parasites clinging tenaciously to his limbs as they gnaw at his armor, Garotte surges towards you - He's fired inertia-drive spheres at his tormentors, monofilament wire extending between them, forming an all-slicing plane. Each one moves with a deceptive slowness, thwarting Rook's efforts to close in, forcing Armaros to dodge and fall back or risk decapitation...

And there is a wail of energy discharge. A pneumatic hiss, a sound that swoops from high pitch to low. The Immolator spits a death-blast, the heat-beam ripping across the distance-

The snap-shot sears across the chamber. Kazuya's aim goes wide - He misses Garotte - misses the portal - and the overcharged shot rips into the hallway past him, a rash of pressurized flame blowing out the mirrors in a single reaving bolt of destruction, smoke streaming from the molten furrow carved across the ground.

But he slows him down for *just long enough*-

The wall bulges. Swells. A basketball-sized growth, erupting a mere foot from Garotte's head - twisting outwards, detonating into a brittle spray of dust. Hard radiation fumes across your sensors, as Garotte falters; He reels, momentarily off-balance as radiation blitzes him, point-blank...

Haze's control rods ratchet from his spine, as his focuses again - His eyeslits glowing venom green.

"Got him-"

HP: 151.1%
COBALT BOOSTER: 84%
ASSAULT SHROUD: 92%
METER: 47%

YOU HAVE CONTROL

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>>39725982
>>39725928
Reminder that this used to be the only more-or-less accurate image of Joker and is now completely outdated.

Am I the only one who thinks we should start using [KURA] more?

>>39725996
Post the one with the weapons as well.

Man, I'd love to see concept art for all of the different Players, Correctors, Artifacts and locations.

>>39725990
Use the Tau guns while he's stunned.

If he gets back up again, use EXEC_DISRUPT to prevent him from manifesting his monofilament again.

Recall our last bit.

>>39725996
I miss our robutt

>>39726017
Wait disregard that thought his head exploded

>>39725990
"Keep the shield up, rely on your sensors, Daegal. Remember how you used to shoot in Nara Dreamland. The armor will handle the rest."

EXEC_HARROW Coil, send a Chain Mine at him, shoot Garotte with Rubicante, it should tear right through the wires. Have the Sinistral ready for the moment Coil trikes to strike back.

>>39726017
I wouldn't brofist him while he just sent out one of his warheads, anon.

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>>39726009

>>39725990
should we Use Scylla to rip and tear some limbs off here?

>>39726041
Deferring to this. Best tactic suggested.

Would recommend >>39726020 's EXEC_DISRUPT to fuck over Garrote though.

>>39726053
They just got taken off by that guy's sword, anon.

>>39726056
Seconding.

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>>39725996
I am somewhat fond of this version of Joker.

>>39726063
One did, IIRC. The other took a nice chunk out of Coil.

We're still better off just killing Coil and restoring ourselves from that than risking losing both before the other regenerates.

>>39726063
>You lead with Scylla - An eyeless maw surging forward, lashing out to bite; Coil's sword flickers, and a feedback spike crackles across your sensors as he severs it in one vicious swing - Ripping the blade across, turning it to parry as the second hydra-maw smashes him head-on, a brutal impact that sinks barbed teeth into one shoulder-

All of them? I thought we only lost one?

>>39726105
>>39726108
We lost more than enough of them already, in any case. Let's just shoot him. Or slice him to pieces, I'm not picky.

>>39726114
Preferrably while shifting priority to Booster usage.
It's always good to save on Meter with our current build.

>>39726085

(That's probably the most adorable one I've seen, yes.)

>>39726020
>>39726041

> "Keep the shield up, rely on your sensors, Daegal. Remember how you used to shoot in Nara Dreamland. The armor will handle the rest."

Violet flame flares to life. It spirals outwards from you, as Coil lurches upright - He flings the smoking hilt of his chainblade aside, making feral, deadly noises; With that same blinding speed, he hurls himself forward - Heedless of the flame that boils across him, that lights him up light a road flare on your HUD. You're turned away, as Daegal makes a sound of alarm-

"Joker, *behind you*-"

And without looking, you punch the Tau Gun into Coil's torso. The blunt ingot of the weapon is surpassingly solid, in it's own right: The charging coils already humming, as cold azure light flickers along the Nova Cannon's bulk. Coil's claws are extended, mere inches from reaching you as his own momentum nearly impales him on the superheavy weapon-

J̞͈͈̜̫͚̞̪̮̀Ò͏̛̝̪͙̰̻̻̬̞K̩͞͞E̷҉̸̙̙̲̲͉͉R̶̞̻̤

You squeeze the triggers.

At point-blank range, the fusion envelope of the ravening antimatter bolt chews into him, coring him out from within - As hot as a main sequence star. It vaporizes armor plate, carapace, reinforced skeleton, spinal cord. The impact does not snatch him away; it goes *through* him, the violet inferno of EXEC_HARROW almost redundant as the edges of the gaping damage are scorched and cooked by superheating - the cut edges of his armor glowing, with the first and final herald of the blast to come-

(Continued)

>>39726114
You know im wondering if it would be possible to Cobalt boost them or use Over-Armor specifically on them

>>39726195
We can build Over-Armor from their Lachryma.

I wonder if that would add to our encroachment. Would be nice if it didn't.

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>>39726188
I've been waiting for something like this to happen

>>39726210
It sound like it shouldn't seeing how were just encasing them in hardened Lachryma... Or atleast I think that's what happens we should try to do that and regen before we hop in the portal

>>39726240
On the other side we'll likely have immediate combat.

We are already extending most of our resources. We need to save some.
Our health is almost full, in contrast to everything else.

>>39726263
>We are already extending most of our resources. We need to save some.
Luckily, both the Booster and Shroud regen rather quickly.

>>39726291
Look at the start of this fight. It seems to regenerate more slowly during off-time.

I'm waiting for Haze to slap Daegal because he's too much of a pussy/noob.

>>39726341
In a perfect world we'd have been able to train both of them at the same time, and make Kazuya hate us a whole bunch for not being gentle, enough for even Haze to yell at him to man up.

>>39726427
To be fair, he never had to battle one on one.

He'd learn quickly if he had some ordinary Red World life.

>>39726427
In a perfect world he would've never been dragged into this

>>39726476
Touche, Anon. Touche.

>>39726188

He shudders. Something catastrophic is happening to his form - anti-light illuminating him from within, as it struggles to contain the reaction, to cage the swelling energies. The lights of his many eyes flicker, with frenetic illumination - Just long enough for him to realize what's about to happen, is happening, to him-

CRUMP

Then the internal blast comes, sudden and bright, hot and vast, and Coil's twisted outline vanishes, atomised. The eruption of his death comes in an expanding ring of sharpnel, cratering the ground underfoot; the echoes of the blast rattling the remaining panes of mirrored glass in their sockets, as the Player explosively evaporates.

RED JOKER LEVEL UP

You hear Garotte make an incoherent sound, a roar-scream - A howl - his arms coming forward with lethal intent-

He stops. Stiffens. His back arches, as he is *lifted* - slowly, a little at a time, his endosteel spine curving back - as a spike emerges from his torso; Motes of emerald light fume from the wound, as Rook twists the blade - leaving Garotte to pitch forward, the remnants of EXEC_SWARM scuttling across his crumpled form - and nods his sloping helm.

"-Having fun yet, Joker?"

Your vision - already altered - alters further; flooding with red, Rook's voice distorting, warping, as your sensors recohere. Infrared, thermal - then more. You see Rook's form, illuminated from within - threads of heat around a warped core, an almost-organ pulses with the sickening life of a fleshless heart.

(Continued)

>>39726492

"Joker-?" Haze's voice is wary, rather shaky - "Is that...Was that the last of them?" He is a skeletal shell around the circuit-patterns that extrude from his Essence core, that extends charged filaments that disperse through his being like a nervous system-

You focus. You center yourself.

The crimson glow fades, and color returns.

ABILITY UNLOCKED: AUSPEX.

(You can now see and target opponents - within line-of-sight - entirely by their Essence. Illusions like the Assault Shroud's afterimages and smoke grenades no longer affect you, unless your sensors are directly damaged. Your Critical Hit chance has also been increased.)

[ ] "Not the time, Rook."
[ ] "Give me a moment, Haze."
[ ] "Licorice - the portal. Now."
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>39726507

(My sincerest apologies, I failed to include the pastebin link. 'Illusions' should also be replaced by 'visual-affecting effects'.)

http://pastebin.com/SibjH6r1

>>39726507
- [ ] ENERGY REINFORCEMENT

It's our biggest elemental weakness after all.

Second choice would be anything from the Force or Survive tree.

>>39726507
Scan the entire room for any presence.

Then
"I hope so."
"Rook, the drinking thing was not a joke, by the way."
[ ] "Licorice - the portal. Now."

>>39726522
>OBLIVION's HUSK
A promise is a promise.
If we don't get that, something from Survive. Preferably Reconstruction.

Mystery box upgrades:
[ ] WEAPON TIER UNLOCK (2.5)
[ ] PRIMARY WEAPON UNLOCK - RANGED
[ ] PRIMARY WEAPON UNLOCK - MELEE
[ ] OBLIVION'S HUSK - TIER I
[ ] ABILITY UNLOCK (SHELL)
[ ] ABILITY UNLOCK (EVADE)
[ ] ABILITY UNLOCK (RESIST)

[ ] EVOL
- [ ] ABILITY UNLOCK

For the others, we know roughly what they do.

Our most used weapons are likely Tau Gun and Rubicante/Cagnazzo.

We are also starting to really get into the groove of using massive amounts of Booster and Shroud charge.

>>39726578
I'm >>39726549 and I don't really care as long as we don't get Oblivion's Husk. I'm against Athame stuff in general.
Also, my guess is that it's some kind of zombification ability.

>>39726507
Scan the room.
"Bullying kids is not all that fun, Rook."

Voting for either Oblivion's Husk or Relic Upgrade - R&C.

>>39726549
>"Rook, the drinking thing was not a joke, by the way."
Anon, Rook is not going to survive this raid either way. The lachryma is going to kill him after a while.

>>39726507
"This is just a appetizer. Main course is onboard the Diadem. Licorice? Set us up. It's time we crashed their celebratory circlejerk."

>>39726549
I'm personally torn. I want to see what Reconstruction is. I think it'll be the same Lachryma reparation shit we've seen every other asshole with, but I fear it'll come with Encroachment gain for every wound we take.

Other than that, honestly, I kinda want to upgrade the Inertia Field. If we can expand its range or further its slowing effect, it could really make the difference in a fight.

There's also Oblivion's Husk. Based on the title I think we'd gain a good chunk of Meter off kills, which would be unfathomably handy considering end game having no stops. So I'm going to back >>39726578.

>>39726606
But Oblivion's Husk isn't Athame related, as far as I know. It's probably something that gets us more Meter, and we can use that for everything.

>>39726610
None of the SURVIVE upgrades seem to be Athame related.

Vitality boost is a straight HP increase. Frame integrity prevents crits.
Reconstruction might be regeneration or something.

>>39726624
...Fuck it. Let's go for Oblivion's Husk.
I really fucking hope that you are right. Fuck you if it grants us even more corruption.

>>39726607
I'm with that Anon. Let's hold on to grim hope that we'll find an answer. After all, we're afflicted by the same disease, even if it has a different, not-so-present effect on us.

We've spent a lifetime fucking things up. It's time we fixed SOMETHING.

>>39726644
>After all, we're afflicted by the same disease, even if it has a different, not-so-present effect on us.
Joker has the lachryma integrated in the armor. As long as his corruption doesn't surpass his HP, he's under no actual risk.

>>39726636
I apologize in advance.
Also, we're gonna assimilate Coil, right?

>>39726507
>(You can now see and target opponents - within line-of-sight - entirely by their Essence. Illusions like the Assault Shroud's afterimages and smoke grenades no longer affect you, unless your sensors are directly damaged. Your Critical Hit chance has also been increased.)

Paz is FUCKED

>>39726663
>Also, we're gonna assimilate Coil, right?
Anon, we already did assimilate him. Auspex is the ability we got from him.

>>39726663
>Also, we're gonna assimilate Coil, right?
Now you are just being retarded.

We already assimilated him. That's where our vision upgrade comes from.

>>39726663
We already did, that's why we have Essence-vision.

>>39726662
Worse than that, it's in Joker's core, implying that in fact Black Joker's somehow intertwined with our soul. I've got my shitty theories on that, but it'd explain why we shrug it off where it kills Rook slowly.

>>39726667
Pazuzu still has summons, actual backup, and gravity fuckery.

>>39726677
>>39726680
Oh. Whoops. Yeah, I thought the upgrade would be revealed after we decided on the levelup for some reason. Kinda befuddled me where the Auspex came from.
...I really need more sleep. Or alcohol.

>>39726688
>actual backup
Essence pinatas!

>>39726636
>>39726624
>>39726610
>>39726607
>>39726606
>>39726578

> [X] OBLIVION'S HUSK

(Gentlemen: My sincerest apologies, but I need to stop here for now. I'm sorry for the abrupt endings to recent sessions, but this is a very tense time for me - I am presently applying for the Bar Exams, and there are some administrative hoops to jump through before they can be resolved.

Oblivion's Husk is the capstone ability for Limiter Removal: It disengages the limiters that activate each time the Red Joker armor is inherited by a new user, allowing you to draw upon their accumulated abilities.

Effectively, it allows you to select an iconic ability developed by a previous Red Joker. By spending a certain amount of Meter, you have access to the ability for the length of a scene. (i.e. One combat, or extended combat.))

I'll most likely have to leave the second round of selection for later - I'm not on my personal computer at present, and I don't have access to the list of abilities. However, I'll strive to upload them on my Twitter as soon as possible.

Good night and God bless - You've been a wonderful audience, and I hope to see you again very soon.)

>>39726719
>Effectively, it allows you to select an iconic ability developed by a previous Red Joker. By spending a certain amount of Meter, you have access to the ability for the length of a scene. (i.e. One combat, or extended combat.))

>>39726636
>Fuck you if it grants us even more corruption.
Ha! Hahahah! Get fucked!

>>39726696
We maxed out Essence Attunement and now every level up kill is automatically Assimilated.

>>39726698
On the plus side we're likely to get into to so many fights/so many kills that we'll get buffed up incredibly high if we take the full brunt of it...which is likely considering Armaros and Rook are the only two serious fighters. Haze is damaged and Daegal will hesitate.

Reaffirm that he cannot before we leave.

>>39726719
1. Good luck with that, didn't know you were aiming to be a lawyer.
2. Holy shit, does that mean we get to call our mentor's badass Beam Magnum? Have we unlocked THE ARMORY?

>>39726719

(My apologies, to clarify - 'Totemic' weapons and equipment like the Stormshroud, the Chimeric Talons, the axe Golgotha or the Plasma Cluster Cannons also constitute 'abilities'.)

>>39726719
Holy shit.

I apologize for doubting the other anons.

Man, that's an awesome way to end the thread.

Also, good luck OP!

>>39726746
This keeps getting better and better. Really glad we chose that now.

>>39726746
>axe Golgotha
Shit, one guy was as punchy as we are?

>>39726719
>[X] OBLIVION'S HUSK
It seems we chose wisely.
We are gonna kick White Joker's ass so damn hard.

>Good night and God bless - You've been a wonderful audience, and I hope to see you again very soon.
And you are a wonderful QM, JokerOP.
I hope to see you soon As well.

>>39726746
I'm not going to lie. I've forgotten those entirely.

Does that mean we essentially can temporarily use abilities from killed enemies? From past Jokers? I'm actually confused. Anyone willing to help me out on this?

>>39726738

(You get a single enhancement each time you select Oblivion's Husk, though it can be taken multiple times. The name of the upgrade refers to the remnant of the armor's previous users after their annihilation.)

>>39726779
By previous Red Jokers.

>>39726780
...baller.

Ok, even if it's not too terribly good? Our first choice has to be whatever our mentor left behind.

We will use it to end Pazuzu and White Joker if he brings his sorry ass back. No matter how much of a joke weapon it seems to be.

>>39726780
I am VERY interested in the Stormshroud and the Plasma Cluster Cannon.

So what's next? I'm feeling Resist because it sounds like it might help with encroachment as well as elemental damage

I'm extremely interested in Shell for some reason

Then there's Reconstruction which is just self explanatory I hope. Might be shape shifting

>>39726780
OP, what would our totemic weapon/ability be?

>>39726800
Nope, we need something that synergizes. There's a meter cost for activating the ability, meaning that it's basically a temporary upgrade suite.

The next upgrade needs to be Meter Boost.

>>39726812
>Then there's Reconstruction which is just self explanatory I hope. Might be shape shifting
Reconstruction might improve our healing ability, or maybe reduce the effects of the armor's mutation.
I'm hoping for both, but expect something completely different

>>39726827
Either the fist or the scrander

Alternatively sex appeal

>>39726812
Shell sounds like Over-armor.

Resist could be good.

But personally I'd say that a Shroud upgrade would effectively be just as good.

My suggestion would be a meter upgrade, to get our new ability more functional.
Or one of the Force unlocks. T 2.5 and Codeburst Affinity are both things that could help tremendously.

There's also the reinforcements (remember: We are weak against energy) and the ability unlock. I'm now very eager to see if the latter is just as baller.

>>39726847
I feel the Shroud and Scrander both make sense.
But Cobalt Booster is more likely. As is the Crisis Arm.

>>39726827
>Meter Boost
I'd prefer Meter Accelerator. Boost sounds like it'd boost our Maximum, which we never really reach in the first place, but Accelerator sounds like it'd give us a lot more Meter every time.

>>39726827
There is, but as far as I can tell it's explained as costing Meter to activate, and after that we can use it freely for the fight. Like how R&C can be enhanced any time we burn meter.

>>39726842
I also hope Reconstruction bodes well for us, but unfortunately we do kinda need the regenerative effects Lachryma has allowed us.

We wouldn't have made it that far without it. Unless we'd have gotten something for withstanding the soul ache Cybele dying dealt us, which I doubt.

>>39726827
>OP, what would our totemic weapon/ability be?
If I had to guess? Crisis Arm. Or Maybe the Cobalt Booster, since one is a very powerful weapon unique to us, and the other is the current Joker's most used ability and the source of many of our most impressive feats, like MAXIMUM JOKER.

>>39726865
We have no idea what Boost does. That's why I'm in favor of it.

It's true that Accelerator is more obviously beneficial.

>>39726869
I wonder if Oblivion's Husk synergizes with EXEC_POWER_TRANSFER.

>>39726892
Well IIRC last time we got a normal meter upgrade it upped our default Meter some.

Safe to assume that Meter Boost would likely increase its default level as before...which isn't too handy when we're pretty much trapped in the Red and thus don't lose it from logging out.

File: 1380259353454.png (314 KB, 363x678)

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Remember when Trisagon asked Joker why he only used the weapons of his predecessor? Remember where people cerated two main theories?
>The Red Joker can craft his own weapons
and
>The Red Joker can access the weapons of the previous Red Jokers

How do you guys now feel, knowing that both theories are actually true?

Let's look at our relics.

I'm sure no one is interested in Scylla and Athame is out, in my opinion. Let's be a purity fag. It prevents Armaros from backstabbing us, if nothing else.

Shroud and Scrander are easily our most powerful ones and upgraded to the whazzo. Same goes for the Booster.
Outside of these top three, we have potential top dogs:
Leech Module
Rubicante and Cagnazzo
Emulator Module

I feel like Axel Grips would be underwhelming in terms of the upgrade's effects.
Abruption Jets could actually become really awesome if we got them upgraded again. They do have quite a bit of potential.
Sinistral is a trusty item, but I fear that it's the most likely to die from a badly placed attack.

>>39726946
It also means that we aren't using the predecessor weapons.
We are using the default Joker weapons.
And then we modified the shit out of them. But that's apparently still nothing special.
How the fuck did the others craft their iconic items?
What if Oblivion's Husk is the first step in gaining the ability of crafting our own special item?

>>39726968
Y'know, I wonder what the very first Joker used.

>>39726924
Thing is, Accelerator did the same, by a marginal amount.
What if Booster gets a huge boost to starting Meter, as well as some whacky effect like decreased Meter costs?

>>39726968
We can't even use Axel Grips anymore. Unless the upgrade gave them a slow recharge or made them work off Meter, it'd be a waste.

I lean towards Sinistral simply because it HAS saved our asses so many times. I believe every enhancement toughens the item up as well, so it'd be valuable to invest in it.

There's also Charging Elements because I think the Sinistral requires those to power itself. It'd be handy to be able to keep it going and still be able to use a weapon in that hand.

>>39726968
>I'm sure no one is interested in Scylla

I'm very very interested in upgrdading and reinforcing Scylla its very useful but I doubt anyone shares that with me ;_;
But seriously if they were stronger we could eat more, regain more, and do more damage from multiple directions

>It prevents Armaros from backstabbing us
>NotThisShitAgain.jpg

>>39727011
>We can't even use Axel Grips anymore. Unless the upgrade gave them a slow recharge or made them work off Meter, it'd be a waste.
I figured that it would simply give us an additional charge or something like that.
It would probably be a linear effect rather than exponential.

>>39727011
>Charging Elements
We don't even use them anymore for much.
Argus now works without them. Two of our charging elements using relics are now in Kazuya's hands.
We won't be using Hollow Sun weapons much anymore.

What are we using them for?
Sinistral. Vulcans. Tau Gun?
The upgrade would allow us to use the full shield and Vulcans/Tau gun simultaneously. And even then we can use the right-handed charging element on the tau gun and emulate it onto our left, allowing the Sinistral to use our left charging element.
Do Rubicante and Cagnazzo have charging element slots?

I really feel that the Emulator module would be better in this regard.

Then again, we will never know if the charging elements might not have a nice secondary effect.

>>39727009
Decreased Meter costs might be worth it, but we've had enough Accelerator that the balancing act isn't too bad at the moment. Right now it's figuring out what the right tool is for the situation to maximize damage for least effort.

>>39727032
We're never going to be rid of Paranoid Anon, he seems to have been here for years so longer than me anyways.

I'd want to reinforce Scylla but really it's just that our upgrade path is so open it's daunting. We also don't know what the upgrade is until we take it, which is why Oblivion's Husk turned out arguably better than my Huge-Meter-Gain-On-Kill theory was.

Reconstruction could do anything, from passive regeneration to a path to purification.

God knows what any of the Synthesis could do for the items. Relic Attunement being a crap-shoot as well.

I love and hate the upgrade system because there's so many options that outside of sticking with what we know we could get a huge game-changing ability off of something minor or garbage from over-investment.

We can HOPE our Rifle Bits also regenerate, for one.

>>39727103
How about we say "fuck it" and select our new EVOL ability or one of the three weapon unlocks under Force?

>>39726522
Oblivion's Husk or Athame Synthesis

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Reminder that she did nothing wrong.

>>39727124
Really, nigga?

Neither do you read the thread, nor do you have taste.

>>39727120
Personally I'm leaning towards caving in and seeing what T2.5 is.

>>39727124
Read the thread we went Oblivion's Husk and it's pretty awesome. We can now pick and choose one previous Red Joker's iconic ability to summon and use for a fight for meter. And more for every additional investment in OH.

>>39727131
So, EXEC_REAP on Pazuzu, asking one question: "What did you do to Hecate?"

>>39727155
>Personally I'm leaning towards caving in and seeing what T2.5 is.
I would support you.

Also, we don't need the melee weapon.
But the other ranged weapon might be worth it.

Then again, upgrading TAU might be even better.

>>39727124
Screw Athame, no way we're getting more corruption.
Nay, I say we get either Tier 2.5, Vulcan Upgrades, more Oblivion's Husk or Meter Acceleration.

>>39727131
[spoiler}I never cared much for her[/spoiler]
Please don't hurt me

>>39726507
Does Argus modify Auspex? Also, Oblivion's Husk plz

>>39727183
Looks like t 2.5 and meter acceleration seem to be the most agreeable ones right now.

I wonder if Daegal blinds us with his radiance if we turn essence vision.

Also, I wonder what his first upgrade will be. His stat sheet mentioned that his CURRENT ability is to empower relics.

>>39727173
In a goofy thought sort of way if we had enough level ups to experiment I'd choose Vulcan upgrades simply because I want to see if we might get Armor Piercing CB effect by default if we do.

>>39727196
Anon, we're too fucked up for a relationship, period. Just like our module we can only emulate one, but it falls apart the moment it's challenged. At this point Hecate's the only one who'd get that and might manage to break through. Besides, even if you're some waifufag mad Yui's dead, Asuna turned coat and ran, that Megumi was impossible miraculously curing her brother or siding with the Smilers, or that we fucked things up beyond all recognition with Mio, we couldn't have done any of that without Hecate. She's the only reason Pazuzu didn't wreck us completely at Nara.

She deserves closure. So do we, on a book left open all those years ago.

>>39727245
I really wish our Vulcans weren't so utterly outclassed.

These days, our best combat options are generally to create situations where either TAU or Crisis do the job. Our highly damaging weapons are simply the best.

By the way, we got gravity and antimatter. (I wonder how Crisis Arm would interact with Pazuzu...)
Plasma/fire is provided by our meter weapons.
We have an entropy attack with Rubicante.
But what about photonic and Tachyon attacks?
What other damage types do we still lack?

>>39727245
You still didn't manage to list my waifu
Impressive

>>39726719
I suggest we either unlock tier 2.5, upgrade Emulator or just go moar Husk for the next level up.

>>39727220
Meter Acceleration seems to be the best option, mostly because we already have many, many combat options and mostly lack the ability to use them freely.

Think about it, we have Anti-armor in the form of Cobalt Vulcans, Chain Mine, Plasma Caster, Longinus and Fusion Annihilator.
We have perfect Anti-Mob using in the form of bothe vulcans paired with EXEC_SWARM and Rifle Bits.
Long Range with Longinus and Cagnazzo, further boosted with our impossibly good sensors.
and for melee we have the Crisis Arm, Kura, Scylla and the Sinistral.

The problem is we spend more energy than we gain from them, and so can't use most of them frequently.

>>39727303
Well that happens when you don't upgrade it in like 89 threads

>>39727316
Then she wasn't an option to begin with.

I hope it wasn't Shizuka, finding out shit would never ever have worked even if we had Watashi's silver tongue would've hit like a Crisis Arm to the balls.

>>39727183
>>39727149
Well gee then I guess that first Athame Attunement upgrade was a total fucking waste. We have word of god that the next tier is very powerful. Possibly it would even give us options to keep encroachment down.

>>39727316
Hm. Regios? Alura? Hellebore?

>>39727335
>Shizuka

No dice
C'mon anon git gud

>>39727346
Athame Attunement means becoming closer to the enemy.

Let us not forget that we're boarding a ship full of fuckers who caved into it. Black Joker forced itself into our heart. We're cutting it out the moment we know how. Possibly even if we know it'd result in our death.

>>39727368
Volt Regios?

Alright, synopsis:

JQOP starts off the thread with a look inside EBON THORN's head. It's not a pretty place.
We see the group we just encountered, learn White Joker left the Smilers, and, perhaps most importantly, that the Simulation Bodies are trapped in walking torture devices. Armaros cuts the connection before we can see any more, though. We tell him what we just learned.
Rook and Daegal begin to argue, but we tell them to put up or shut up and move on. We also ask Kazuya if he's up to killing the aforementioned Simulation Bodies, but he's not sure.
After we set off, asking White Licorice for directions, we spot something in the dark; after we send out our trusty rifle bits it turns out it's SPIRAL COIL and SCALE GAROTTE. They're filled with Lachryma and out for blood.
We get up close with Coil, while Daegal buys us a little time. Then we tear the Lachryma out of him, and, after ducking under his counter swing, break his sword with a punch.
Garotte charges at us, but Haze manages to hit him before he hits. Coil attacks again, but we fire through him with the Tau gun.
With that, we level up again. Assimilating him gives us the Auspex, which allows us to see Essence and ignores illusions or smoke. Then, the thread ends.
LEVEL UP: Oblivion's Husk. Allows us to temporarily recreate a previous Joker's signature ability, including their weaponry, in return for Meter. The list of abilities is yet to come.

>>39727371
Well, I would either vote for that or Scylla synthesis. Those things seem to do shittons of damage, and even heal us to boot, but they get chopped off like once a thread.

>>39727368
Having read from the start, Anon, I had eyes for Hecate because she's the only one who felt on the level with us. I'm sure she was proto-Megumi, but unlike Megumi we talked her out of that, so her loyalties weren't THAT secure and she wasn't extremely attached to anyone with the Smilers.

Knowing you, it was probably one of Mio's coworkers or Natsumi. In which case either complete irrelevancy or a ship long since sailed away and discovered a new world of suffering.

>>39727386
>the Simulation Bodies
Cut the "the".
Otherwise it implies that *all* Simulation Bodies share this fate.
Also, needs to mention that those devices are combat frames.
What was the name of the first Iron Maiden that we encountered?

> but we fire through him with the Tau gun.
I would add "at point blank". Just to make the description more fun.

>>39727303
>>39727331
I'd love to have a comparative analysis of our non-meter weapons, if only to know which ones are most effective.
Maybe we can ask JokerOP next thread?

I'd also like to point out that we fight less and less like we are supposed to, that is, mid to long range bombardment, but that is mostly due to circumstances where we can't get any space between us and the enemy. The Vulcans shine against fast opponents at medium range due to their very nature, and they are a cheap AP option when used with the Cobalt Booster.
And also, people tend to stick with the high power weapons even when they aren't a good option, like using the TAU guns against fast enemies when it has a lower hit-chance than the vulcans

>>39727394
>but they get chopped off like once a thread
Like organic interceptors.

I seriously wonder if our interceptors also regenerate with the leech module. It would be weird if a synthesized relic would have higher system integration than an integral ability.

>>39727439
Yeah, we definitely cannot get any range.
Also, most enemies tend to be attrition masters. We used to build up meter for finishing blows, but now most enemies become more dangerous with each round.

This makes the hard hitters a better choice.

If we kill Naoya, aren't we going to become the White Joker, too?
I wonder how that'll work. Are we gonna become doubleJoker?

Also, remember to snatch the Carnifex back from him.

>>39727452
>Like organic interceptors.
Poor interceptors, people just don't get their point.
They're meant to supplement our firepower and distract enemies, not be a main weapon. if the enemy destroys them, it's because they aimed an attack on them, an attack that they didn't aim at us and might have bought us just enough time to fire a Fusion Annihilator at their face.

>>39727371
>Possibly even if we know it'd result in our death.
HAHA-no. Joker puts survival over all else. He ain't gonna to kill himself no matter what,

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>>39727245
>>39727335
>>39727349
>>39727383
>>39727398
>Regios/Shion
Yes. That is my waifu

>>39727493
I just wish they'd be less expensive.
Their meter upkeep and their limited availability really kill them.

>>39727492
I would imagine that there's a specific system for this situation in place.

I wonder more about what would happen if Daegal killed a Joker.

Stop bullying the Interceptors
All they want to do is help

>>39726746
>>39726779
>I'm not going to lie. I've forgotten those entirely.
Can someone explain these please?
I do not remember ever reading these titles.

>>39727398
>but unlike Megumi we talked her out of that, so her loyalties weren't THAT secure and she wasn't extremely attached to anyone with the Smilers.
Anon, Hecate was a traitor out to get revenge against the Smilers from before we met her. Our appearance had no influence on her primary motivation.

>>39727439
The nature of the game changed.

First we fought enemies in a simple arena style.

Then we fought weaker mobs.

Then we fought 2-3 enemies at a time, just slightly weaker than us.

And now we're engaging in small two-sided skirmishes in areas with tight corridors.

We also have gotten affinity with melee weapons and short-range weapons. Plasma Caster + Crisis Arm tends to fuck people up regardless of level parity.

But I feel more than anything, the problem hasn't to do with that, it's that now we have to shift towards Meter weapons sooner and faster, as well as having the meter on hand to do so. We always used Vulcans to get small but constant damage in to build up meter but most of the time we can use meter weapons to do most of that for us.

>>39727498
Please. Shion might respect us for saving her life even after she died, but ain't shit happening there.

She's probably still sore about what we did to Bishamon. As much as she says she doesn't feel that way about him, it strikes me more as her not wanting to change their dynamic than not feeling anything for him.

>>39727528
Fuck you're right, I forgot that's why she had the Nihil Sphere in the first place.

Sorry, been too long since I went over that.

>>39727542
>Please. Shion might respect us for saving her life even after she died, but ain't shit happening there.She's probably still sore about what we did to Bishamon. As much as she says she doesn't feel that way about him, it strikes me more as her not wanting to change their dynamic than not feeling anything for him.

Still muh waifu

>>39727492
We're going to absorb his and integrate his essence either way, even if the White Joker armor doesn't get passed down like the Red Joker's.
If the armor tries to bond itself with us, I say we reject it outright, because I don't want to be the Pink Joker.
Red is a good color. Red and Gold makes for a good color scheme, as does Red and Black. Red and White is just Doesn't work quite as well.

I wonder if either charging elements or abruption jets could become maneuvering thrusters for our Scrander.
We already have an ARC reactor equivalent, after all.

>>39727583
>I wonder if either charging elements or abruption jets could become maneuvering thrusters for our Scrander.
I'll give you a better one.
What if we can also get a Gunship mode if we upgrade the Scrander enough?

>>39727613
Wouldn't that require upgrading our Vulcans for the proper brzzzzzzzzzzt?

Also, threads hasn't been updated yet.

Oh and I'm
>>39727527
I'm pretty sure that searching the threads for those terms would take ages.

>>39727558
>Red and Black
WE ARE RED AND BLACK, RIGHT *NOW*.

IT'S FUCKING TERRIBLE but it's been keeping us alive, so not really. Fucking Black Joker doing it to both sides, ruining us both.

>>39727497
We may not have a choice if it means guaranteeing the Black Joker dies. I think it's got a core part of itself inside us. It's why Kotone bailed us out on several occasions.

May not be possible to separate them, which means we either live knowing the Black will continue to try to seep back in and make it our duty to stop it or end it for good at the cost of our life. Honestly I'd agree to the latter just to let Kotone rest. The girl's already dead, now her very soul's dissolved into the black mass. She deserved better.

>>39727644
Crimson Joker best Joker

Go home Armaros

>>39727558
>not wanting to become the first ever Double-Joker or Triple-Joker if >>39727644 is right

It's like you don't want everyone to piss themselves at the finals

>>39727711
No seriously, Anon. Has the Black Joker done anyone ANY good? Not Kotone, Black Joker? Because it's turned people into zombies, completely eroded Kou's soul, likely done the same to Kotone, and it's very possible Mio may buy into its bullshit and give herself over to it through convincing, Gravemind to Mendicant Bias style.

And the last thing we need is Black Joker Chalice Queen.

>>39727722
I would be very surprised if there weren't already multiple multi-Jokers, considering that OP listed at least five prior owner's abilities.

Most likely there's some kind of mechanic for this kind of situation.

...Or there really was never a multi-Joker prior. Which most likely means that Jokers used to never be enemies. Maybe they even worked together.

I wouldn't be surprised if Red, White and Black were supposed to be protectors of the realms or something.

>>39727644
I'll be honest: Joker giving up just like that would be a shitty ending. Heck, it would make more sense if he decided to jump back in the Black and wander there for the rest of eternity.

>>39727741
It's kept us alive.

It's a tool to be used. The problem comes when you allow yourself to be used by the lachryma instead of the other way around.

>>39727741
>Mio as Black Joker
This will be hilarious, now that she hates us.

Then again, we might re-kindle our love with an affectionate attempt at killing each other.
Rough foreplay is best foreplay.

>>39727762
So far, love has caused more harm to Joker than Lachryma. Better avoid that shit like the plague.

>>39726968
I'm still quite interested in both the Athame and the Scylla.

But, I think Tier 2.5 or Emulator would be best. Or, maybe more OH if its there.

I can't BELIEVE we left Limiter just LYING there for so long, we should have maxed it out asap.

>>39727759
If it weren't for the special core treatment it'd be going about as well for us as it is for Rook. Presumably even the Smilers are on borrowed time because of it.

>>39727762
Black Joker is an amorphous blob of hatred. If Mio utterly hates us for dragging her into this mess, for lying to her? Won't be that different from the Black Joker being pissed its life was stolen from it.

>>39727759
That's the problem. It keeps everyone alive. Even when they want to die. Not saying Joker wants to...but it's not pretty when it does that. And we've seen that it fucks you up on both worlds. The sooner we're rid of it and find some natural Red way to restore health, the better.

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I miss Mio

>>39727759
>It's a tool to be used.
I think 40K Chaos is an apt comparison here.
You may see it as a tool, you may be tempted to fight fire with fire, use Magic to defeat Magic, but in the end, you can't really control it and no matter how much you try to remain pure while using its power, it will still corrupt you.

Just because you can use doesn't mean you should. Just because you can know something doesn't mean it's worth paying the price to know it.

Remember when we almost solved the Joker's Memory and saw the Beast that was the Black Joker's true form?
This quest is, on some level, a Cosmic Horror Story. There's powers you shouldn't use, and knowledge that is best forgotten.

>>39727840
Telling the truth? I'm glad it blew up in your faces.

We really should have forgone relationships to focus on hitting the Smilers where it counted. We delayed them when we could've stopped them if we devoted themselves to it, if we chased them half as hard as waifufags waifued. And I say that as a Hecatefag.

>>39727862
And this is why I'll always vote against further Athame upgrades.

We gained some nice power out of that stuff and can now detect the corruption.

No need to become corrupt ourselves.

>>39727872
>We really should have forgone relationships to focus on hitting the Smilers where it counted. We delayed them when we could've stopped them if we devoted themselves to it, if we chased them half as hard as waifufags waifued. And I say that as a Hecatefag.
The true answer would have been to stay true to Hecate and hunted them down until we rescued/avenged her.

Alas, the Anons were seduced by a fluffy tailed maid.

>>39727893
Nah, Quests tend to attract the waifufag community.

Personally I don't know how, but it feels like the vast majority of them really are won over by images and not even the text, it's the only reason why I think Yui got as much attention as she got. And now she's dead, so I get to laugh it up in their faces.

>>39727913
You got to hand it to JokerOP, though.
he knew exactly how to manipulate us to cause the maximum amount of suffering and guilt, and I still can't get angry at him, just guilty and remorseful and angry at the Smilers.

>>39727956
...are you implying Waifufags feel suffering and guilt? Are you suggesting there is ever a moment they don't think with their dicks?

We're angry at the Smilers because they fucked everything up. The girls were just part of that, their way of making it personal far too many times over. Regardless the fight would've been taken to them because even if we can handle all Red all the time we're working with people right now who couldn't, trying to save people who won't last ten seconds in the Red without our protection and guidance.

>>39727434
Here we go, then:

http://pastebin.com/iKAqtmgB

>>39727558
What if we became Reimu Joker? Red AND White, instead of pink?

>>39727840
>missing the moe-blob whose only defining characteristics were s-stuttering and l-l-liking Anon-kun.

I personally agree with >>39727872, to the point I mention it at every opportunity. Joker needs to save the world, not focus on girls who have no real reason to like him.

>>39729871
>moe-blob whose only defining characteristics were s-stuttering and l-l-liking Anon-kun.
>girls who have no real reason to like him
Now, I'm the person who usually objected the most when people were voting for romancing Mio and often acted openly antagonistic towards Wata because of his antics, but even I have to point out that you just went full retard.

>>39730310
Personality wise? That's all I can remember of Mio as well, and she only left the stage a few threads back. And what about the emotionally cold and distant Anon is attractive in a partner? At most, we've been nice, but that's it.

I'm also not that anon, but it's reasonable.

>>39730566
>Personality wise? That's all I can remember of Mio as well, and she only left the stage a few threads back.
Emotionally dependent girl with a deeply seated grudge against everyone around her and ruined self-confidence. Jealous and obsessive to the point where she broke into another girl's room out of a sneaking suspicion and willing to do almost anything to cling onto the people that provide her with comfort. At the same time, unwilling to leave her comfort zone or confront her own issues.

>emotionally cold and distant Anon
Joker isn't at all cold or distant when around his friends. (at least outside of the Red)

>At most, we've been nice, but that's it.
Considering how she's basically cursed to be hated by everyone who gets close to her? That's a lot. Joker became her main pillar of emotional support, affection and protection.

>>39727558
I want to use the Athame more.

Black/Red Joker is fucking awesome.

>>39731026
Nah, man. I'm gonna hafta veto that shit, and I'm not even a purityfag.
It seems obvious our enemies have some kind of Lachryma control ability like we do, if they're using it to boost their mooks like Coil and Garotte. Incorporating more of it into ourselves is gonna end badly.

>>39731123
What? No, at most maybe Imago and Black Joker have it. Think about it; most enemies incorporate or use it but they don't control it.

We do. We're a Lachrymancer now.

>>39731306
We don't know if they could control it, though.
It's possible Naoya developed some way to do it, after us doing more damage than he expected.
In general, I really don't want to put more BJ in us. We're putting Chtulhujuice directly into our soul, anon. Does that really sound like something desirable?

>>39727741
Well.

Considering NUMEROUS people have used and exploited the Black Joker, Correctors and Lachryma for such a long time, to such a great effect, I would say you're being ridiculous.

Just because we have features of the Black Joker doesn't mean we are it. It's a tool to be used. exploited and then removed.

Plus, combat's never been this much fun.

>>39727823
You're assuming a lot about how Lachryma works. Some people in the setting, Imago, Kou, Pazuzu, Naoya and Thief use it freely.

>But Kou is brain damaged.

That's how Imago designed him. It's not a bug, its a feature as done by Joker's Unit 731

>>39727840
I liked Mio and the SoL stuff as well but what >>39727872 said. The Joker aspect of the story has always been more interestng and now, I'm happy we're finally getting a huge focus on it.

>>39731409
See, I'd agree with you but haven't you noticed how Lachryma has been stuck on to most other Players? For most people, its stitched on. Corrector parts are melded to it, stuff's added, its fucked up.

The Lachryma we had was our fucking core. We didn't add on a bit, we turned a key and our ENTIRE armour changed. So, I'd say we're most definitely different to most Lachryma users.

Also, we aren't just any schmuck. We're as feared and as dangerous as the Black Joker now. We're the fucking Red Joker, not Frost Cestus. As long as we don't go overboard with Lachryma, its fine.

Also, I REALLY wanna make some Correctors. That whole Imago part was one of my favourites in Joker Quest.

>>39731693
>Also, we aren't just any schmuck.
You ever heard of the word hubris, anon? Definitely relevant right now.
Pride comes before the fall.

>>39731772
>Pride comes before the fall.
I'd say the Joker fell when he killed Cybele.
Hell, it even makes sense. Joker sinned by killing an (mostly) innocent, and now his armor is corrupted and stained by sin/Lachryma.

The best way to go is to try to redeem ourselves. Either that or be an Avenger and an Angel of Death.

>>39732050
Anon didn't fall. He couldn't fall, he never truly climbed out of the darkness.