>>41895481
Hi.

>>41895481

The two of you proceed down a wide road searching for more targets, Izu leaps over a large water canal that carves its way through most of this part of the city.

You cease running immediately as in the distance, you spot Disgur, Justina, and Sivaht making their own way forward. Izu, senses your concern, and stops immediately to turn back to you.

Just as he does, an enormous column of steam rises from the entirety of the water channel and rises high into the air. The wind is not in your favor, so you have to fall back as you feel the scalding bite of the white steam.

Ugh, perfect timing.

You search for the culprit and you briefly spot three Pyromancers channeling power into canal far away from you. The steam covers sight of them, preventing you from doing anything about this from afar.

Commotion from beyond the wall of steam lets you know that Izu and the others have run into another ambush.

You could risk teleporting beyond the wall of steam, but there’s no guarantee that you won’t find yourself directly in the path of a fireball, but making your way to Pyromancers responsible for this wall, will take time.

What are you going to do?

>Teleport beyond the steam.

>Head toward the Pyromancers channeling the steam.

>Write in.

>>41895513
Hello, anon! Looks like someone was very quick on the draw again.

>>41895532
>Teleport beyond the steam.

>>41895532
>>Teleport beyond the steam.
but try to seal the flow of the steam into a better direction first.

>>41895532
>>Teleport beyond the steam.

Hello everyone!

>>41895565
>>41895581
You can't seal the entirety of the steam, because you can't see how far it extends. But a smaller section would be viable, and will still help.
>>41895645

Sealing what you can, and then into the great unknown.

>Writing~

>>41895707

There’s too much at risk beyond that wall. You try to recall how far you’ve been forced away from the canal and then focus a seal that keeps most of the steam from flowing toward you.

You push forward, guarding your face with your arms, but you still feel a great deal of pain as steam flows underneath your armor. Once close enough, you desperately teleport as far as you can and land unsteadily.

Immediately you feel a great impact, as fireball after fireball crashes into Izu’s barrier right next to you. Dozens of fireballs have already chipped away most of the barrier, and it shatters in front of you.

Another pale yellow barrier begins to form in front of you, but it isn’t fast enough to block all the shards, and you feel a heavy impact upon your legs, sending you to the ground.

A sharp pain in your knee forces your eyes open, and on top of your legs is your young apprentice. His small back blocked all but one of the shards from reaching you, and he shakes in pain on top of you.

[1/2]

>>41896501

Fireballs uncaringly continue to crash into Izu’s newly erected barrier, as you reach to raise the boy’s head.

Tears stream from his reddened face, and his voice comes out choked in sobs. “A-are you o-okay?” He looks painfully toward your injured knee.

You nod and rub his head as comfortingly as you can, trying desperately not to betray your actions with thoughts of the pain. You move his shredded clothes to inspect his wounds. Dark crimson pours quickly out of his skin.

You have to act quickly. “Brace yourself.” You whisper to him and watch as he nods for you to proceed. Pulling the shards from his body was the easy part, if any of this could be considered easy. You so wanted to look away as you carefully used your own flames to cauterize his wounds shut.

Izu does his best to keep from crying out, but your feel his hand desperately squeezing your own, and see his legs slide on the ground.
You finish and look toward the barrier once again. Not much time left.

You pull the barely conscious Izu to be completely out of the way for what’s to come. He’ll live, but the dozens of soldiers bearing down on the barrier won’t be so lucky.

The screaming urge inside of you finally has a chance to be listened to.

“Kill.”

The barrier breaks and your violent imagination becomes reality.

>Write in.

>>41896540
Flameslash, we should have had time before the barrier broke to charge the knife. Moving from mancer to mancer will keep their attention away from Izu, and is SO much more satisfying.

If we REALLY want to make an impression and keep our own health in consideration, wreath our body/wings in flames like a damn phoenix.

Absolutely do NOT take time in killing them, though. I'd prefer to keep gigantic fire lasers out, too. Too flashy.

>>41896540
You know that sealing thing we did, the one that makes them explode? Do it to these gnats en masse.

>>41896667
>>41896702
Starting off with the sealing implosions to get in, then methodical killing with the blade/pyromancy.

>Writing~

>>41896819

Your ruby eyes focus in on those closest to you. Their bodies are like soft clay to your will, and immediately six of them are compressed into a space no larger than an apple. You fly up and then fling sealed avatar of your fury directly into the horrified face of a screaming woman beneath you.

Her boots collapse to the side as there’s no longer a body to hold them up, a hot wave of blood splashes over you, and the familiar metallic smell of your past greets you once again.

Your ears ring from the sudden explosion, so you can’t hear as you unsheathe your dagger from behind you, you can’t hear the sounds the mouths contorted with fear are screaming with, only intense heat, smell, and steady ringing makes up your world now.

Steadily moving from one Pyromancer to the next, your flame-covered blade severs them in ways you know that they’re still alive, but will never be able to fight again.

Armor means nothing as delicate limbs drop heavily to the ground, faces are scraped away from their owners, and bodies are bisected as you show one after another a unique hell that being alive can be.

The ringing in your ears ceases just as you pry off numerous delicate bits from a commanding officer, and she melts to the floor like candle wax.


[1/2]

>>41897660

Burns trace part of your arms, but you don’t feel a single thing beside your heart feverishly bouncing in your chest.

“What in the fucking world?” Justina stares in awe at the piles of slowly dying bodies you left behind. “Wow…” She remarks as she looks down at your last victim and buries an armored heel into a charred wound.

The officer shrieks in pain, and feebly tries to pull her body away.

You calm the flame on your blade, but still allow it to burn slowly.

“Anyway….”Justina pulls her leg off. “You might want to get far back, I’m going to deal with those idiots making all this steam.”

You turn to where you left Izu, and see him no longer there.

“I’m okay.” His voice tells you weakly in your mind. “I can get away on my own.”

If he’s not fast enough, he’ll be caught directly in whatever Justina’s planning, but asking her to hold off to get him will attract her suspicion.

>Trust Izu and get back immediately

>Go make sure Izu gets out of the way.

>Write in.

>>41897711
>Stall by asking if we can wring any information from these still alive victims, or if her necromancy lets her do it when they're dead.
that should buy 5-10 seconds, at least.

>Go make sure Izu gets out of the way.

>>41897711
>>Trust Izu and get back immediately

>>41897711
>>41897711
>Trust Izu and get back immediately

>>41897832
>>41897859
Falling back.

>Writing~

>>41897907

You stop the flame on your dagger and then return it to its sheathe. “Think we can get any information out from these soldiers?” You ask, kicking the officer in the side.

She looks up from the body. “Priorities, Sophia…” Her brow furrows as she looks over your body, and especially your wings. “That explains some things, but also creates a whole bunch of new questions.” She shrugs. “It’s not a juicy secret if everyone’s going to know, and again, priorities.”

“Sorry to disappoint.” You respond hollowly.

“No you’re not, now get out of the way already.” She signals for you to head far behind her.

Well, that at least bought some time for Izu. You fly far behind her, but stay close enough to watch whatever it is she’s going to do.

Justina bends over and plunges a small blade into the officer’s neck. She skillfully creates a small ritual circle around the corpse and begins an incantation you can’t quite make out.

Suddenly, the corpse begins to bloat with unseen gas. It shakes violently and then bursts, releasing invisible contents into the air. Soon after, the sound of numerous corpses bursting open can be heard in a chain reaction, as Justina guides the unseen force from corpse to corpse and toward the target Pyromancers.

[1/2]

>>41898558

You watch as the gas carves its way through the steam and surrounds the trio responsible. Retching and screaming can be heard from even where you are, and soon they fall to the ground. The three meet a slow and agonizing end, frantically trying to escape the unseen cloud.

It’s a creative use of corpses, you have to admit, but that creativity will cost her if it happened to reach the wrong target.

You descend to the ground, where Zarn, Virgil, and Disgur rush to you.

Disgur slides toward you. “The Empress has dealt with invaders in the northern part of the city, and has turned her full attention to the front line at the palace.” He looks back toward the direction you’re all headed. “We’ve nearly finished here, so a few of us need assist our Empress.”

You’ve sensed nothing else from Izu, and that concerns you. While there’s still enemies in the city, he’s still at risk, even if he fully managed to escape the Justina’s gas cloud. But, a unique opportunity presents itself for you to witness some of The Empress’s power, firsthand.


>Remain in the Southern half of the city, sweeping up.

>Head for the front lines at the palace.

>Write in.

>>41898584
Fly into the palace in the chaos? What do you guys think?

>>41898584
>Remain in the Southern half of the city, sweeping up.

>>41898639
Too risky, if they fall back too soon well get trapped

>>41898584
>>41898705
well then


>Remain in the Southern half of the city, sweeping up.

>>41898655
>>41898751
Cleaning up the trash.

>Writing~

>>41898792

“I’ll stay in the city and finish up our work.” You inform the others.

“Right.” Virgil rubs his chin. “Then, I’ll head over to The Empress so she need not worry about troop direction anymore. Disgur, find Sivaht and bring him to front lines.”

“We’ll meet you there.” Disgur doesn’t even finish speaking before he slides away with stunning speed, as a surging pile of flesh.

Virgil clasps the top button of his coat shut. “The leader of this little ambush is sure to still be in the city. Be sure he’s captured, alive.” He runs back toward the palace.

Zarn grunts loudly as he looks over his huge blade and then toward you. “Your feathers are looking ruffled there, Caelumnite.”

You nod toward his hand where all of his fingers look like they’ve been left in a fire for too long. “You’re not doing so well yourself, old timer.”

“It can still crush your pretty little head just fine.” He laughs and then suddenly charges into a nearby alleyway with a great roar.

The sound of metal slamming upon metal spurs you to act, so you hurry toward the southernmost part of the city. It’s slow going, as the intruding Pyromancers seem to be taking a more defensive position for some reason.

You’ve barely make up a few buildings before Zarn catches up with you.

[1/2]

>>41899618

“They’re stalling.” He snarls and looks down toward the ground in thought. He looks up at you suddenly. “They’re covering their commander’s retreat.” His chest heaves up and down in rage. “Follow behind me, and try to keep me from being burnt to death.”

He intends to break through the line using brute force, it’s not a plan you’d normally agree to, but you’re not the one taking the hits.

“I wouldn’t think of losing my shield.” You grin.

Without another word, the two of you charge down the street. You’re able to pick off most of Pyromancers before they can strike at Zarn, but soon he takes a hit to his arm, then another, and another to the chest.

“You’re not going to make it in time!” Izu’s voice suddenly appears in your mind.

Don’t even think about it.

The boy doesn’t respond.

“Faster!” You shout at Zarn, while igniting anyone in sight.

His legs push himself through the pain, as finally the two of you reach the end of the city.

Zarn carves down two would-be attackers and then falls to his knees in pain. “Finish up, Caelumnite.” He nods toward the southern plaza in the distance.

With no more enemy soldiers left, you rush ahead through the air and land directly across a large man with excessively decadent armor, and Izu.

You fling a bolt of fire toward his legs which he barely rolls out of the way of. He grabs hold of Izu, and immediately holds him up as a shield.

When he senses you’re not going to attack, he pulls out a small blade and holds it directly at Izu’s throat.

“I know he matters to you, or else you would’ve attacked already.” He shouts mockingly at you. “I’m going to be leaving now, if you follow, I will kill him.”

Izu smiles at you. “Remember training with the bucket?” You hear his voice in your mind. "Pretend I'm the bucket."

He squirms away from the blade and then wraps his body around the commander's waist.

You react immediately.

>Write in.

>>41899681
>Aim directly at Izu with all you've got.

>>41899681
Pretend Izu is the bucket.

>>41899681
>Engulf them in fire

>>41899681
Use our strongest Flame Straight at Izu, Trust him.

>>41899724
>>41899751
>>41899752
>>41899759
No pulling punches.

>Writing~

>>41899826
Time to see if Usurper's lesson gained any traction

>>41899826

Simpler times, weren’t they?

You’re exhausted from the day’s fighting, and the pain in your knee and fingers pulse intensely with each rapid beat of your heart. But, Izu’s carrying on, and you’re not about to be outdone by your apprentice.

The corrosive flames drips from your hand only for a fraction of second before you set it upon Izu’s back.

You watch as the flame races faster than the howling air around it, and it reaches its target just before the commanders blade comes down upon Izu’s head.

The shockwave shakes all three of you, and you frantically stand to see the result. Izu still clings onto the commander’s waist as your flames have been dispersed around the two of them. But your flames aren’t finished yet.

You sense as Izu disperses the barrier around his chest, and your flame reforms to attack its exposed target. Unfortunately for the commander, he’s in the way of the flame’s nature. The blue bolt drills its way through his massive armor, and then the moment it reaches the base of his spine, you snuff it out.

The commander’s legs fall out from under him, and with a final ringing clang, the battle for the city finally ends.

Izu turns to you with a extremely mischievous grin, and then falls to the floor as well.

You wipe his dirty hair out of his face, pick him up off the ground, and cradle the battered boy in your arms.

“He’s a brave one.” You jump at the sound of Zarn’s voice behind you. “But who is he? A resident?” He limps closer and inspects Izu’s sleeping face. “He’s just a boy.” He remarks with genuine surprise.

There’s no getting away from this one, if he's just a boy, then you’ll have no excuse to take him with you. The only way you’ll be able to see to his injuries is if you admit him as your apprentice. On the other hand, with how he’s disguised, this may be the opportunity to risk a question you’ve been wondering yourself.

>”He’s just some boy.”

>”He’s my apprentice.”

>”Does he remind you of someone?”

>Write in.

>>41900404
>>”He’s my apprentice.”

>>41900404

>”Does he remind you of someone?”

>>41900404
>”He’s my apprentice.”
>"I've been keeping him hidden from Justina."
I'm about 30% sure of this excuse.

>>41900516
>>41900579
>>41900588
Hmm, these can be combined, so I'll include them all.

>Writing~

>>41900610

You wipe his face to clear the dark ash staining it. “Does he remind you of someone?” You ask genuinely.

Zarn leans forward to get a closer look at Izu, his breathing heavy as he stares at the boy’s face for quite some time. “He looks something like Virgil, but only generally.” He leans back.

You don’t see the resemblance at all, except for the self-satisfied grin he’s got plastered on his face.

“He’s actually my apprentice.” You say hefting his body up slightly. “I’ve been keeping him hidden all of this time because of Justina.”

He grunts heavily. “He wouldn’t look out of place with those dolls she brings everywhere. But, The Empress will keep him from harm if you bring up to her.”

You sigh and adjust him so his head rests on your shoulder. “For now, I’ll see to his injuries.”

“Some apprentice you’ve got here, Caelumnite.” He comments and then heads toward the downed commander. “Come on, boy. Your day is far from over.” He drags the unconscious body roughly by the hair.

"Don't let him hear you complement him." You warn as you see Izu's grin widen slightly.

~

You proceed back to the manor that makes up your base of operations. A flesh messenger appears before you before you make it inside.
“Impel soldiers are falling back to the palace. Report back that status of the enemy commander.” It repeats the words in a monotone voice.

“Incapacitated and captured.” You state firmly.

Immediately, the messenger burrows back into the ground to report your news. Zarn drags the enemy commander into the manor ahead of you. You carefully proceed inside and rest Izu’s dirty body upon an ornate lounger.

[1/2]

>>41901244

The noblewoman who owns the manor comes in to see what all the sudden commotion is.

“Water.” You sternly order. “And clean rags as well.”

She rushes off to fulfill your request.

You gently rub the boys head as you watch Zarn tie the enemy commander to one of the manor’s immense support pillars.

Zarn roughly punches him in the stomach, causing the commander to stir. “Wake up!” He growls and then punches him again. “Who sent you?
”
The commander groans in pain, but is silent.

Zarn raises the commander’s hand to his mouth and then proceeds to tear off part of one of his fingers. “WHO SENT YOU?!” Bloody spittle shoots out from his mouth.

“Q-queen Ignisval!” He shrieks in terror.

“There is no Queen of Kyraen’Asils!” Zarn punches the man once more in the stomach.

You pick up rubbing Izu’s head as he stirs from the noise. The commander’s words leave only one possibility in your mind.

The Princess has ascended to the throne.

~

>>41901264
Okay, that's where I'm going to end it for tonight. A little quieter, but I want to thank everyone that played today! If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to post them in the thread, and I will do my best to respond to them.

If not, then as always, I wish you a good day/night, and hope to see you again next time!


>(Twitter)
https://twitter.com/QM_Auri

>>41901264
>The Princess
Fire bitch?

>>41901309
Thx 4 runin budi gud thred

How long before we're forced to kill Aya and Matthias?

>>41901264
mmm, almost time to switch sides.

>>41901332
If you're referring to Aya, then you'd be correct.

>>41901309
So now everyone knows Izu is with us? Where'd he learn that barrier? why no infodump as promised? Did Aya train the pyromancers?

>>41901332
Yes Aya, Matthias lover and mother of his child. Unless he died or the kid died.

>>41901352
You're very welcome!
There's still much to do, and Kyraen'Asils remains sealed off from the other planes, so I can't say for certain. But nothing is set in stone.
>>41901353
This is also an option.
>>41901365
So far, only Zarn knows. He was inspired from your practice match a long time ago with Aya. Infodump would have come from Izu himself, and I couldn't find any opportunity this thread to do so. Most of the pyromancers were probably trained by other people.

>>41901429
Could Aya have done the same thing Matthias and us to boost the other pyro's power? Shouldn't we have picked up a control boost? What happened to Philomena?

>>41901459
She could've but that information will have to be "extracted" from the enemy commander if you want to know for certain. A control cloak boost will likely be coming very soon, and Philomena is probably just now waking up, and trying very carefully to remain unseen as she returns to the manor.

>>41901516
Hmm. No word on the others at all?

>>41901694
Not sure which others you're referring to, but:

Marissa you'll soon be hearing about, Ellie and Laurent you'll likely find out about from Ali, and some information about Aya and Matthias can likely be learned from the enemy commander.

If you're referring to the other councilmembers, they will soon be returning from the battle.

>>41901743
Thanks. We calm down at all?

>>41901779
No problem at all! You're calmer now, but your reaction earlier was a bit more extreme than you could have ever anticipated.

>>41901802
Was it From Philomena exposure or?

>>41901845
Your emotional reactions have been a bit skewed even before this latest exposure.

With that, I'll be stepping out for tonight. Until next time!