>>42625424
>>Check your pockets for weapons.
Then run for cover.

>>42625424
>>Check your pockets for weapons.
Amnesiac Hazama quest?

>>42625424
>[write-in]
>Check pockets for back-up hat.
We're intelligence, we've prepared for this

>>42625424

You swiftly rummage through your pockets, half-expecting to find a hat there. You find a balisong knife in each. The footsteps continue approaching. You run for cover as they draw nearer.

"Who's there?!" some guy with an astonishingly loud and deep voice exclaims.

As you conceal yourself behind a thicket, you get a glimpse of the man in question. Bar his size, the first thing you notice is his red jacket. You then catch sight of his immense, ridiculous sword, followed shortly thereafter by his white hair. Your vision improves as you lay low and take a calm breath.

You take a glance in the opposite direction, where you notice a massive city towering in the distance.

"Don't bother hiding; I know you're there!" the athletic swordsman demands. "If you try threatening me, I'll tear your corpse to shreds!"

>Reveal yourself to this wanderer.
>Remain quiet in the hopes of evading him.
>Make a run for it towards the city.
>[write-in]

>>42626573
>>Remain quiet in the hopes of evading him.

>>42626573
>>Remain quiet in the hopes of evading him.
Fighting as a last resort.

>>42626573
>>Remain quiet in the hopes of evading him.

>>42626573

The well-built swordsman gradually gets closer. Eventually, he reaches the undergrowth you've concealed yourself in. He strikes the vegetation with his weapon, which evidently also functions as a scythe. His face promptly conveys an expression of rage and surprise.

"Terumi!" he screams, preparing to deal a deathblow. You make a futile attempt to get out of range, taking a step back all too slowly. You reflexively open a knife, attempting to defend yourself. The stranger starts swinging his sword overhead. Your hands are too slow, and you doubt you'll be able to fend off the hit.

You fully expect to die within seconds, when you hear an interjection from a feminine voice.

"Stop!" the voice echoes. It almost sounds as if it's coming from a radio, although you know better. This must be some kind of communication ars.

The stranger hesitates for a second, then stops his assault.

The voice resumes its speech. "I suppose I owe you both an explanation."

>Hit the stranger while his guard's down.
>"I'm listening."
>"Who are you people?!"
>[write-in]

>>42628056
>>"I'm listening."
And who the hell is Terumi?

>>42628056
>>"I'm listening."

>>42628056
>"I'm listening."

>>42628107
One of the main antagonists of the series.

This Quest is going to be unfriendly as fuck to the beginners, I can see.

>>42630424
I know who Terumi is, the MC as of yet does not.

>>42630424
We're playing an amnesiac.
You learn as you play.

Also, QM. You still alive?

You immediately respond, "I'm listening. And who the hell is Terumi?"

"You don't know about the Six Heroes? Killed the Black Beast? Anyways, Ragna, to sum it up, your Azure Grimoire's a fake."

The wanderer drops his sword in shock, staring at his right arm with a gaping mouth.

The voice continues speaking, undeterred. "In fact, both your Azure Grimoires are counterfeits." You look around, the meaning of this lost on you. You easily recall what a Grimoire is: an artifact that lets non-mages use seithr. However, you've never heard a thing about an Azure Grimoire.

After a few seconds, this stranger, Ragna, picks up his sword and starts leaning against a tree, tilting his head back as if to listen. "Who are you, anyways?"

The voice answers, "I'll tell you after I finish my explanation. Now, this is probably going to be difficult to explain, but... this is one of several Terumi look-alikes. Almost like a clone."

"What the hell are you talking about?!" Ragna demands. "You mean to tell me there's more than one of that asshole running around on this planet?! And why would Terumi have an Azure G-"

Ragna's eyes widen, as if from a terrible revelation.

"Damn it... Nothing's changed! Nothing's ever going to change!"

He shoves his face into his hands, giving a gesticulation of frustration.

You wonder what he's rambling on about as he frets over the Azure Grimoire.

The woman mutters something inaudible while Ragna undergoes what resembles an emotional breakdown, and returns to the discussion after he stops lamenting, giving you an opportunity to ask more questions. "As you've probably figured out by now, every one of Terumi's clones has had an Azure Grimoire. Most of them are dead, but I managed to recover one of them. I figured I'd test him out on you, but it's painfully clear that he wasn't ready. Now, it's your turn. Any questions?"

>"Azure Grimoire? What's that?"
>"So, I'm some kind of clone?"
>Walk away, as if you adequately understand everything.
>[write-in]

>>42630856
>"Azure Grimoire? What's that?"
>"So, I'm some kind of clone?"
I take you and this "Terumi" have history Mr. Blade-is-compensating-for-something?

>>42630665

Yes, I'm still alive. For now, at least. The exposition took a while.

>>42630856
>>"So, I'm some kind of clone?"

"What exactly is an Azure Grimoire?" you inquire.

"You see, the world is made of seithr. There are many different kinds of seithr. The seithr people's souls consist of is called the Azure. And, as you've probably concluded..." the woman informs you as you figure out the rest.

You finish, "The Azure Grimoire runs on it."

"Precisely."

Ragna mutters, "Of course, I'd only get a counterfeit..."

The woman responds, "It's more complex than that. Terumi doesn't have a real BlazBlue, either." She then proceeds to mention, "That's what people who use an Azure Grimoire call it, by the way."

You follow up by asking Ragna, "So, you and Terumi have history, eh, Mr. Broadsword?"

Ragna responds with an exasperated sigh. "Geez, I wonder how you figured that out. If you actually care to know, he kidnapped my sister, murdered my adoptive mother, burned down our house, and drove my brother insane."

"So, I'm some kind of clone?" you ask.

"That's not really the most accurate way of looking at it. You weren't made from cell culture or organic matter. You don't even have a skeleton... or normal organs, for that matter. You were made entirely out of seithr. And, for the most part,Terumi's 'clones' were made to serve as a host body."

You think over what you've heard. It's a lot to take in. You wonder who this woman is, and what objective she salvaged you for.

"In any case, I figured you should know who I am before I leave to deal with other pressing concerns. My name's Professor Kokonoe Mercury. I'm kind of a big-shot Sector Seven scientist."

>"What kind of sadistic psychopath would invent a Grimoire that runs on human souls?!"
>"So, whoever made these clones basically made the Azure spew shit until it became a person."
>"What's my name?"
>[write-in]

>>42632650
>>"What's my name?"

>>42632650
>>"So, whoever made these clones basically made the Azure spew shit until it became a person."
Great start of a life me, so
>"What's my name?"

>>42632668

Goddamn, that was fast. The only thing I'm disappointed in is that I didn't get the opportunity to correct the spacebar omission between "part," and "Terumi's."

For the record, I already had a name in mind: "Ryouma." It ends with the same syllable as Hazama and Kazuma, so it kind of fits the trend. Of course, there's no way I'm giving Terumi's host a different name when that's exactly what he wanted to be known as.

>>42632650
>"So, whoever made these clones basically made the Azure spew shit until it became a person."

"So, whoever made these clones basically made the Azure spew shit until it became a person," you construe nonchalantly.

"Essentially. It means you're an Azure Grimoire," Kokonoe replies, "which means your body's made of the seithr your creators had you spew out from the Boundary, which in turn means you're immune to the toxic effects of seithr."

"What a wonderful way to be born. So, what's my name?" you resume.

Kokonoe starts talking in a tone for which the adjectives "troubled" and "agitated" could only serve as an understatement. "Call yourself whatever you like. When I found you, you were designated as 'Ryouma.' If you care to be of any help, head towards the NOL branch at Kagutsuchi; I'll give you instructions later!"

The sun dawns in the east, slowly casting sunlight on the forest and the Hierarchical City beyond it.

"I'm heading there to smash a Cauldron, myself," Ragna declares, "so don't get in my way."

He paces towards the city as you decide what to do.

>I've got to go to the NOL branch and follow Kokonoe's orders.
>I've got to get breakfast.
>I've got to think of a better name.
>[write-in]

>>42634398
>I've got to get breakfast
Koko, I will head to the NOL branch after I eat.

>>42634398
>I've got to go to the NOL branch and follow Kokonoe's orders

>>42634398
>>I've got to get breakfast.

>>42634428
>>42634468
>>42634565

I think I'll end this thread, now. I intend to QM this at least once per week. See you next time.

>>42635308
Thanks for running!