You’re more than a little annoyed by this. First your shoe and now your shirt? Fucking bullshit! You sigh and remove the pitiful garment. A chest wrap holds your girls in place and allows you some decency even without your top. Such a tragic end for your shirt. It held on strong for a week despite the salty air and harsh physical regimen you put yourself through. You think about holding a funeral for it.

Ahab is still facing a wall, but Silver is taking a closer look at the wrecked piece of clothing.

“To be fair, I think it held out longer than it should have. Your clothes aren’t really what I consider ‘Battle Ready’ if you know what I mean.” She gestures to your skirt and stockings. You give a stony scowl and actively resist adjusting your skirt.

“I think I can get some of my old things brought up from the ship.” She continues on. “You look to be about the same size I was when I was a bit younger.” You sigh again. Hand-me-downs, fucking great. Well, it's better than going around in just the wraps and a school skirt.

“Fine.” You agree and Silver runs off with a spring in her step. You get the feeling she enjoys the opportunity to dress you up. Several minutes later, Silver returns with a couple of her men carrying a large chest. You the the sleeves and hems of a couple garments sticking out from under the lid.

“On the way back, the Master donated an outfit as well. I think it used to belong to Treyla long ago.” Her voice is a little more evened than when she left.

“Alright then. Let’s see what you got.” You motion for the pirates to give you the trunk. They comply and quickly excuse themselves. You guess ship repairs are an all-hands kind of job.

You see a lot of outfits compiled in the chest and after a little sorting you narrow down your options.
>Navy blue long coat and pants. Thigh high boots for flair.
>Black tank top and pants. Sturdy combat boots.
>White long coat with black pants. Are these sneakers with steel toes?
>[Do you have another outfit idea? Now's your chance!]

>>2144308
>White long coat with black pants. Are these sneakers with steel toes?

>>2144308
>Black tank top and pants. Sturdy combat boots.
>White long coat with black pants. Are these sneakers with steel toes?
mix and match with these two. Open coat, tank top underneath, and whatever pants and boots.

>>2144308
>>White long coat with black pants. Are these sneakers with steel toes?
Can I swap out the white long coat for the navy blue one? Barring that, I like this outfit.

>>2144308
>White long coat with black pants. Are these sneakers with steel toes?

>>2144308
>>2144315
>>2144317
Why not all three? Coat A, tank top B, bottom and shoes C.
Although coat C is fine too.

>>2144322
I like the way this anon thinks. Though I'd be willing to change my vote back to the white long coat, since sixwing is crying in discord.

>>2144323
Alright he's not crying, but I clearly don't know how to color coordinate.

>>2144311
>>2144315
>>2144317
>>2144318
>>2144322
Mixing and matching is fine as long as a general consensus can be reached.

>>2144308
>>White long coat with black pants. Are these sneakers with steel toes?

>>2144308
>>White long coat with black pants. Are these sneakers with steel toes?
Mixing up would be too much of a pain

File: 367479502c515e77d4ffcfef5(...).jpg (249 KB, 1024x768)

249 KB JPG

>>2144308

>>2144349
don't see why. Literally just putting on a tanktop underneath the coat.

>>2144355
I mean to come to a consensus for

>>2144311
>>2144315
>>2144317
>>2144318
>>2144322
>>2144344
>>2144349
White coat, steel toe sneakers and black pants with the tank top.

Writing!

>>2144365
You make a face before deciding on your new look. For the most part, you like the outfit with the black tank top, but those coats are really badass looking. A little bit of mixing and matching later, and you've assembled your clothes. The tank top rests comfortably on your chest and you are quite surprised at how well the black pants fit you. Without tailoring, everything seems to be more or less your size. You drape the white coat around your shoulders, not bothering with the sleeves right now, and fold your arms across your chest. Fuck yeah! You feel like you're clothing is starting to live up to the reputation you had at school. Completely bad ass!

Silver packs up the other clothes for now. She nods in approval of your outfit choice.

"Glad we got that taken care of." Ahab finally turns around and sits on his bunk. "I'm turning in. Don't stay up too late." Honestly he may occasionally act like a fellow delinquent, but other times he's a complete nag. You don't take orders from him. But he is right. Tomorrow, the three of you begin your training under Flint. You have no idea what kind of work you'll have to do to unlock this Magic Power thing, but if it'll help you fight even better than before, it'll be worth it. You don't like the idea of being weaker than those Chess assholes.

>Turn in for the night.
>Pester Ahab with questions.
>Pester Silver with questions.
>Sneak into Flint's house and pester him with questions.
>Do something else?

>>2144402
>>Turn in for the night.
Even delinquents need their sleep.

>>2144402
>>Turn in for the night.
We know the turtle style motto. Right now we sleep well

>>2144402
>Turn in for the night.
Maybe prank our fellow delinquent. wait a bit, see if ahab is asleep then. If he is, steal his blanket. If not just go to sleep.

>>2144402
>>Turn in for the night.

>>2144406
>>2144408
>>2144411
>>2144413

You might be a delinquent, but you're a very sleepy delinquent. Writing!

>>2144446
Now that the day is over, you are beginning to feel exhausted. The fight, along with cleaning the cabin and the other excitements of the day, took more out of you than you realized. You remove your coat again and hang it on the side of the bunk bed while you climb up to your sleeping spot. There's a lot you expect from this training Flint's giving you, and you plan on being well rested for it.

--------

You are not Onishi Kana. You are wearing a black robe and a blank, white mask. Around you more similarly dressed men and women walking down the stone corridor lit with torches. All of you were called to this place by your superiors. The small skirmishes and missions that you've otherwise been dispatched to have all been called off and otherwise cancelled. You're a little disappointed in that order, to be honest. While you have complete faith in your group to confidently hold your own against your enemies, gathering more ARMs would still be a more prudent form of action. If you didn't believe that, you wouldn't have joined the Chess to begin with.

The corridor ends in a massive gathering point outside the fortress. The clearing is desolate and bleak. The grass is pale and lacking vibrancy of life to it as it brushes against the cold stone grave markers. Among these final resting places you see men and women with more recognizable masks and attire. These are the Knights. The generals in charge of this Chess army. Your heart swells with pride as you see a familiar sight among them. A large man with a mask decorated sloppily to give the impression of shark-like teeth. He's the knight in charge of you and your companions.

"Out of the way, Pawn." You hear a refined voice break the silent mood, and a hand forcefully shoves you out of the way. He might be an officer now, but Captain Nemo isn't nearly as important as he thinks he is. You wish you could tell him off, but following behind him is Bluebeard. Out of the three of your commanding officers, he's the one who scares you the most. You've heard stories about his brutality and it only makes you that much more certain about your choice in allegiances.

You are shaken out of your thoughts by the increase in murmurs. Stretching as tall as you can, you peek over the heads of your comrades to get a better look. The leader of the Chess has shown up!

Phantom is going to give a speech.

>cont

>>2144550
"I am overjoyed at the turnout to the summons, my dear friends." He begins. His voice is calm and soft, but filled with power and confidence. "For months we have engaged with the world in small subtle ways. Consolidating power and testing the realm for weaknesses. We have sent all of you, time and again, on missions to gather ARMs, recruit soldiers, and sabotage our enemies! Now that time is over. The Games are but a short while away, but first, I must ask you all to participate in one last mission. One more time to purify this world!" He raises his arms and you cannot help yourself but to cheer. Your fellow Pawns join in your ferver, the fire stoked to send this world into a new age.

------

You are abruptly awakened by the sound of clanging metal. The sudden sound causing you to sit upright, just barely avoiding a collision with the ceiling and your forehead. Silver is already out of bed and getting the last of her accouterments assembled. You slide out of bed, grabbing your new coat on the way down. Ahab looks about as awake as you feel, his eyes aren't even open yet.

"My, my, what a slow reaction." You hear the oaky tones of your new teacher through the door.

"What do you mean, old man? You haven't even taken a look inside." Ahab talks back, his voice is heavy with sleep, but the sharp tone you have come to expect from him is still there.

"I don't need to when I can hear all of you move around like slugs. I expected better from you, Silver."

"Sorry, sir. I'll be back in form in no time." She instantly apologizes. She looks a lot more rigid than you've ever seen her. Like she's in the army or something. Whatever.

"Now that you're all up, let's have breakfast. Please come to the main house once you fully wake up." You hear him walk away with a short laugh.

>Just head over there. You're hungry.
>Talk to Silver about what just happened.
>Wake Ahab up. He's making you look bad.

>>2144552
>Wake Ahab up. He's making you look bad.
Kick that lazy fucker awake.

>>2144552
>Wake Ahab up. He's making you look bad.
Kick him out, or just straight up fireman carry his ass out.

>>2144552
>>Wake Ahab up. He's making you look bad.
Kick the bedframe with your steel-toed boots.

>>2144552
>Wake Ahab up. He's making you look bad.

>>2144554
>>2144557
>>2144558
>>2144562
Kana is a violent alarm clock.

>>2144304
OP, I had almost given up hope for a second thread. And then you came back.

Fuck yeah.

>>2144582
Yeah I was entering the end of the quarter at school, and still had several projects to finish. But now that that's over, I can focus on other, non art school things.

>>2144579
You roll your eyes and turn to look at Ahab, still wrapped comfortably in his blanket. This is your first day and you are going to set a good first impression, goddammit!

"Get up, jackass! We're going to breakfast!" You shout and kick him with your steel toes of your new shoes. You hold yourself back so you don't send him flying through your bed, but you still see about an inch of clearance from the bed.

"THE FUCK WAS THAT FOR, BITCH?!" He wheezes out between breaths as he gets to his feet.

"Fucking serves your right. Flint just rolled through and invited us for breakfast. Get moving!" You shout back.

"Don't tell me what to do!" He returns.

"Fine, then," Silver interjects, "Then I'll do it. Get up and get moving. We're going to breakfast. I'm your senior here and you better listen to me if you want to survive this training."

Ahab inhales like he's about to shout some more, but deflates quickly and mutters something under his breath as he gets his things together.

Speaking of things...
>Wear your ARMs to breakfast. Show that we're always prepared.
>Don't wear your ARMs to breakfast. That doesn't seem very polite.
>Leave your ARMs in the cabin. This is just breakfast, there's no need to bring them.

Making dinner, I'll post as soon as I finish.

>>2144635
>Wear your ARMs to breakfast. Show that we're always prepared.
sleep with em, shower with em, never take 'em off

>>2144635
>>Wear your ARMs to breakfast. Show that we're always prepared.
I don't know this dude's teaching methods and Silver just mentioned the word 'survive' in relation to our training so I'm not putting anything past him.

>>2144635
>>Wear your ARMs to breakfast. Show that we're always prepared.

>>2144635
>Wear your ARMs to breakfast. Show that we're always prepared.

Guy that's training us a hardass, I totally expect a surprise spar during breakfast.

File: YEAAAAAH.gif (1.25 MB, 384x276)

1.25 MB GIF

>>2144641
>>2144642
>>2144649
>>2144661
Kana will never be caught... un-ARMed

File: 1448750895774.jpg (57 KB, 720x540)

57 KB JPG

>>2144856
That pun was bad and you should feel bad Sixwing.

>>2144856
You adorn yourself in your ARMs following Silver and Ahab out the door. You see that Silver and Ahab had the same idea. Silver using the world 'survive' to describe Flint's training was a big factor in that, you think. You've never taken any kind of martial training, so you don't know what kind of stuff to expect. Then again, you're in a fucking fantasy world. Training could easily just be eating til your stomach explodes. Either way, being prepared for the worst couldn't hurt any.

The three of you enter the main house and are instantly greeted with the smell of bacon, eggs, and something sweet. Hot syrup? Either way, it smells completely delicious. Ahab starts ahead at a quicker pace, boys and their stomachs... though you're following hot on his heels.

The spread in the kitchen is astounding for two reasons. Last night, this place was a wreck. Empty liquor bottles, dust, cobwebs. Today, though, it looks completely pristine! Not a speck of dust or beer bottle to to be seen. On top of that, you see that the old man you fought last night is gone. The beard on his chin has been neatly trimmed to a respectable, and regal, look that complements his warm expression. Like his home, you don't see a single part of his look out of line. He is wearing an apron over what looks to be some kind of suit. Very European in style, but an old European. Maybe Baroque era? You don't remember non-Japanese eras very well. Whatever the case, it looks formal.

The spread is astounding. Pancakes, bacon, eggs made in just about any style, biscuits. Not only these more western dishes but also rice, soup, and fish. How long did he spend preparing these dishes?!

"Glad you could all make it. Now, please, dig in!" Flint's oaky voice fills the room with a rich laugh as he gestures widely to the breakfast. Ahab doesn't need be told twice and starts piling food onto his place as fast as he can. Silver does the same, but at a calm pace. Picking and choosing her favorites from the spread.

>CONSUME ALL THE FOOD
>Let's start with pancakes, bacon, and eggs.
>A traditional Japanese breakfast today. Rice, miso soup, and fish.
>Mix and match!

>>2145003
>CONSUME ALL THE FOOD
but don't go belly bursting full. we don't want to throw up from something like a punch to the gut. Unless her metabolism is faster now and she can handle it now.

>>2145003
>>CONSUME ALL THE FOOD

>>2145003
>CONSUME ALL THE FOOD

>>2145003
>>Mix and match!

>>2145003
>>A traditional Japanese breakfast today. Rice, miso soup, and fish.
Exercising on a full stomach would be awful.

>>2145018
>>2145028
>>2145029
All you can eat! Without getting stuffed, of course. Writing!

>>2145100
You dig right in. You've been subsisting on stew of a week, this is the first breakfast you've had that wasn't rationed for a couple hundred men. Your pallet makes no distinction as you devour eggs, rice, bacon, and a biscuit in rapid succession. The food is amazing! This guy must be some kind of master chef as well as a ARM master! Ahab is too busy stuffing his face to take time and taste the food, which you find just a bit sad. Oh well, its something you can lord over him later. Silver is going at a slower pace, which you assume is for the same reason you started to slow down.

"Are you enjoying the food?" Flint leans forward with a warm smile still on his face. Silver nods and matches his expression. Ahab doesn't respond, only continuing to pack away the calories. You stop chewing and swallow.

"Its alright." You give a neutral response, have to keep up the defiant persona after all. You then resume eating the delicious spread.

"I'm glad. I'm glad." He chuckles. "It'll be the last good meal you eat for the next three months." His face doesn't change, but the mood suddenly changes. Ahab stops mid-bite, almost choking on a piece of fish. Silver sets down the teacup she was hold, sighing slightly.

>"What do you mean 'three months!?' The Chess aren't gonna sit on their hands that long!"
>"Run that one by me again, old man?"
>Say nothing. Narrow your eyes and chew a little slower.
>[other reactions]

>>2145252
>>Say nothing. Narrow your eyes and chew a little slower.
Challenge accepted old man

>>2145252
>Say nothing. Narrow your eyes and chew a little slower.
he seems to know his shit. If we've got three months, we've got three months to train.

>>2145252
>[other reactions]
"So... what, you want us to forage for our own food while we train?"

We are intimately familiar with all kinds of manga and anime cliches. Call him the fuck out.

>>2145252
>"What do you mean 'three months!?' The Chess aren't gonna sit on their hands that long!"

>>2145257
>>2145258
Letting him explain but with some nonverbal attitude. Writing!

We are obviously going to sit still and finish this breakfast in following 3 months,

>>2145348
You chewing speed slows to a crawl and your eye narrow on the old man as he talks about what you'll not be doing for the next few months. You don't think the chess will wait that long, but if it'll let you curbstomp these fools into the dust, late is better than never.

"THREE MONTHS?!" Ahab manages to not die on his food and is able to sputter out the words. "THE CHESS AIN'T GONNA WAIT AROUND FOR US TO GET STRONGER IN THREE MONTHS, OLD MAN!"

"Calm down, Ahab." Silver calmly interjects. "Just listen to was the Master has to say." Ahab slinks back into his seat having been rebuffed. You just keep up your glare and await clarification.

"Thank you, Silver." Flint nods to the pirate. "Now don't worry. Your three months of training will pass much faster than you think, but it is vital that you complete the training in its entirety. Magic Power isn't something you can cut corners on." He wags a finger at Ahab. "Now that we've all had a bite to eat, I want you to follow me."

Flint removes his apron and beckons for the three of you to follow. Silver, daintily wipes away the crumbs from her face with a napkin before standing and following after the master. Ahab follows in behind her, his place at the table left a complete disaster zone.

You grab a biscuit for the road, and catch up to the three others. The path Flint is walking down is worn, but slowly has been reclaimed by the greenery around it. Looking ahead you see that it winds far into the forest.

>Where the hell are we going?
>So what is magic power?
>Why do we have to train all the way out here?
>[other questions?]

>>2145576
>So what is magic power?
hyperbolic time chamber? Hyperbolic time chamber.
>tell the old fart he cleans up nicely.

>>2145588
I'll support this.

>>2145576
>So what is magic power?

>>2145576
>So what is magic power?
>tell the old fart he cleans up nicely.
>Faster than we might expect, huh? Care to clarify?

I seem to recall there was some Hyperbolic Time Chamber-esque training in the manga. They were some sort of dimension ARM that looked like a trap door.

>>2145588
>>2145635
>>2145644
>>2145762
Trying to explain magic!

File: Training_Gate.png (74 KB, 334x354)

74 KB PNG

>>2145798
The walk is long and a little boring, so you pipe up to create some dialogue and maybe learn something about how this stuff works.

"So what is magic power anyway?" A valid question, you think to yourself. There's a long pause before Flint replies.

"Magic power is the ability to control ARMs. To use stronger ARMs, you need to build your experience and deepen your reserves of magic power. Its not something that can be accomplished just by exercising your body normally."

"That's... not an answer." You mutter to yourself. "Sounds more like video game levels. Unlock a mana bar at level 5." You secretly sass your sensei. That's going to bug you now. What the hell is magic power?

"You know, old man," Ahab chimes in next, "You really clean up good when you want to. Go from street bum to noble in a couple of hours is pretty impressive." The passive aggression is so intense you'd think Silver said it. You wonder if it was intentional.

"Well I've been told I've always been quick with a blade. Accurate too." Flint shoots back with a warm chuckle. "Ah, here we are!" He stops the group in a clearing in the woods. "Nice and peaceful. Away from prying eyes and any unforeseen annoyances." The old master pulls a silver chain from his pocket to display.

"This is the Training Gate Dimension ARM. I'll be sending you in there for this.You will be training nonstop, but don't worry. Food will be provided within. It will be challenging, even grueling at some points, but well within your capabilities. I have confidence in you all." His smile widens as the Chain glows. Two doors flash into existence on the grass behind Flint. "I can't go in with you, but I'll do what I can for you out here. Now have fun!"

>Take the left door.
>Take the right door.
>Demand to go alone.
>Take the door Silver goes through.
>Take the door Ahab goes through.

>>2146058
>Take the right door

If someone follows us, that's fine. If not, ah well.

>>2146058
>Take the left door.

>>2146058
>>Take the left door.
First one in, let's go.

>>2146058
>>Take the left door.

>>2146058
>Take the right door

>>2146058

>Take the left door.

>>2146073
>>2146082
>>2146085
>>2146100
Cannonball through the left door to somewhere! Taking a sleep break and will get to writing again tomorrow before work.

>>2146115
Good to see you back senpai

>>2146115
Getting back into it before I go to work. Make me a roll! 1d10 to see who jumps into your door!

Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>2146823

Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>2146823

Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>2146823

Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>2146823

Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>2146823

File: Training_Gate 2.png (103 KB, 636x329)

103 KB PNG

>>2146824
Taking a deep breath, you leap feet first into the door to your left.The feeling is completely reminiscent of leaping through the Monban Peirro. Complete with landing on your ass. While it doesn't actually hurt you, the surprise of the familiar drop solicits a compulsory "Ow!"

You scowl and look at the space where the door should be. As you expected, its gone. Surprisingly though, you are alone. Looks like both Ahab and Silver must have jumped into the right gate. Your brow creases as you puzzle out what you are supposed to do now.

"Don't look so confused, Kana." You recognize the oakey voice booming around you. You don't see Flint, but his voice seems to be coming from everywhere at once. "I'm still on the outside, but I'll be keeping an eye on you all. This is the Dimension ARM: Training Gate. Within it, time travels differently. One day in our world is equivalent to 60 inside the Gate. Your training will conclude in exactly 36 hours on my end. Plenty of time remaining for you to catch up to the Chess in power.

"Now I told you before that the best way to build magic power is to first build experience with your ARMs. Normally, you'd have to take part in many dangerous battles for that to happen, but the Training Gate allows for us to simulate those in rapid succession with a fraction of the chance of death. Say hello to your new training partners." As if on cue, the ground beneath your begins rumbling. You quickly leap away and keep your footing as massive figures made of earth and held together with the spindly trees that dot the land rise to their full, towering heights above you. A quick count reveals at least 8 of these Golems. Shit, Flint doesn't do anything in half-measures. They look much stronger than those Pawns from earlier. Maybe even stronger than Nemo.

For this first leg of the training you decide to focus on building your skill with just one of your ARMs. You don't want to tire yourself out too quickly.
>Call out your Inferno Fists.
>Call out your Earring Kanabo.

>>2146897
>>Call out your Earring Kanabo
Gotta respect our delinquent roots.

>>2146897
>Call out your Earring Kanabo.
I really, really want to go inferno fist, but unless we can make flames hot enough to melt these things into a puddle, that ain't happening. Or use fire as a kind of jet to propel outselves for a maximum power punch.We are nowhere near experienced enough with it for that

>>2146897
>>Call out your Earring Kanabo.

>>2146897
>>Call out your Earring Kanabo.

>>2146901
>>2146905
>>2146914
>>2146918
Calling out the Kanabo! Roll me 5d10s

Rolled 1, 7, 5, 8, 1 = 22 (5d10)

>>2146946

Rolled 1, 10, 3, 6, 10 = 30 (5d10)

>>2146946

Rolled 2, 1, 2, 10, 7 = 22 (5d10)

>>2146946

Rolled 8, 9, 3, 3, 1 = 24 (5d10)

>>2146946

Rolled 6, 1, 9, 4, 7 = 27 (5d10)

>>2146946

>>2146947
>>2146950
>>2146954
>>2146959
Magic Power Unlocked.

>>2146975
You call forth your Earring Kanabo, letting it rest lightly on your shoulder for a moment while you size up your opponents. Wrecking these stupid clumps of dirt wouldn't be too hard for you even if you were barehanded, but that's not the point of this training. The goal isn't just to beat them. Its to beat them using the power of your ARMs. You close your eyes just for a moment, digging down into yourself as well reaching out with the Kanabo. You... think you can feel it. A faint glimmer of something. A spark attached to a memory. Your first dream. You can still remember it vividly. You were walking in a meadow of brilliant emerald grass and bouquets or wildflowers were spreading out across the horizon as far as you could see. The fields shimmered in a cool summer breeze.

That sense of excitement rushes back to you as you feel a familiar, but new power begin to fill up within you. Its as if a dam has burst somewhere inside.

With both hands, you grip the large studded weapon. With all your strength you swing in an upward arc, completely obliterating the first golem's leg and the bottom portion of its torso. Fuck yeah! You were strong before, but this is more than just your brute strength now! You charge forward and swing downwards on the next golem, crushing its head and nearly splitting it in two. More than before, the Earring Kanabo feels light as a feather in your hands. Its like you were meant to be holding it!

>Cut to Ahab and Silver.
>Cut to Flint.
>Cut to the shadows descending on the world.

>>2147022
>Cut to Ahab and Silver.

>>2147022
>Cut to Ahab and Silver.

>>2147022
>>Cut to Ahab and Silver.

>>2147022
>>Cut to Ahab and Silver.

>>2147022
>>Cut to Flint.

>>2147025
>>2147028
>>2147030
>>2147037
Star wipe to Ahab and Silver!

>>2147165
I forgot to ask this in the last post.

You are
>Silver
>Ahab

>>2147230
>Ahab

>>2147230
>>Ahab

>>2147230
>Ahab

>>2147230
>Ahab

>>2147230
>Ahab

>>2147230
>>Silver

>>2147234
>>2147249
>>2147251
>>2147253
>>2147254
You are Ahab. Both you and Silver jumped into the right gate at the same time, fall through as a tangled mess.

"FUCKIN WATCH IT!" You shout as you pull yourself free. "Why'd you have to go and pick the same gate as me." You fold your arms and scowl as the pirate picks herself up off the ground.

"I could say the same to you, you dolt." Silver snaps as she dusts off her clothes. You look up at the non-existant sky and the swirling vortex that is the top of the Dimension ARM's pocket dimension. The jagged mountainous skyline is brighter than you'd think a place with no sunlight would be. That's when you hear Flint's voice echo through the sky.

"I'm still on the outside, but I'll be keeping an eye on you all. This is the Dimension ARM: Training Gate. Within it, time travels differently. One day in our world is equivalent to 60 inside the Gate. Your training will conclude in exactly 36 hours on my end. Plenty of time remaining for you to catch up to the Chess in power.

"Now I told you before that the best way to build magic power is to first build experience with your ARMs. Normally, you'd have to take part in many dangerous battles for that to happen, but the Training Gate allows for us to simulate those in rapid succession with a fraction of the chance of death. Say hello to your new training partners."

The ground erupts under both of your feet as well as Silvers. The two of you managed to leap to safety as several massive golems pop up from the earth.

"WHAT THE FUCK?!" You exclaim as you call out your Harpoon.

"Didn't you pay attention just now?" Silver chastises you. "Master Flint said these are to act as our training dummies. Or really as YOUR training dummies. Focus on using your ARM rather than relying on your own skills. Once your able to tap into your innate magic power, you'll find how quickly you can improve. It'll set your pace for the next three months."

You roll your eyes and attempt to focus on your Harpoon.

>Roll me 4d10 to attempt to unlock Ahab's magic power.
This'll be the last post from me today. Gotta get ready to go to work. I'll count them up and resume posting tomorrow.

Rolled 9, 1, 7, 6 = 23 (4d10)

>>2147420

Rolled 8, 8, 7, 3 = 26 (4d10)

>>2147420

>>2147420
>We have more magic power than Ahab does
Assuming that the extra die is meaningful

Rolled 8, 3, 4, 8 = 23 (4d10)

>>2147420

Rolled 5, 9, 10, 2 = 26 (4d10)

>>2147420

Rolled 8, 10, 8, 4 = 30 (4d10)

>>2147420

>>2147425
>>2147427
>>2147448
>>2147449
>>2147451
>>2147452
You grit your teeth and dig down deep. You refuse to lose here. Not to Kana, not to Silver, not Nemo, and fuckin definitely not losing to that traitorous bastard Moby. You feel a burning surge of power you had no idea existed within you attached to the memories of Moby. His friendship, partnership, and betrayal to the Chess. All the pain you endured because of him. All the lives lost BECAUSE OF HIM! DEAD MEN LITTERING YOUR DECK BECAUSE OF HIM!

YOU REFUSE TO BE LEFT BEHIND AS A FORGOTTEN TROPHY OF HIS ATROCITIES.

A savage cry rips from your lips as you call upon your Harpoon's power!

"THUNDER HARPOOOOON!!" The smell of ozone envelopes you as a flash blinds both you and Silver for a brief moment. A second later, you hear it.

Thunder.

The three golems in front of you have large, gaping holes through their chests, all lining up perfectly with each other. The massive burst of power subsides, leaving you gasping for breath, sweat dripping off of your Aquiline nose. Fucking eat it, you fucking golems!

"Not bad, Cap'n." Silver offers a soft clap on the shoulder. "You've manged to go from zero to two if we were to put a number to your MP there. That'd put you roughly on par with the average rook." Fuck! You thought you had more power than that. "Don't sweat it. Just unlocking it is an incredible breakthrough for your first day." You feel your knees start to buckle a little, but you refuse to let things end now.You just unlocked this stupid power. And you aren't going to rest until you tame it!

"You're a stubborn one, you know that?" Silver gives you a genuine smirk which you can only respond in kind between your gasps for breath.

>Cut to Flint
>Cut to the terror descending on the world.

>>2151539
>Cut to Flint

>>2151539
>Cut to Flint

>>2151539
>>Cut to Flint

>>2151546
>>2151550
>>2151626
Let's see what Teacher is doing stuck in the middle of clearing in the forest! Writing!

>>2151671
You are now Flint and you are having a good chuckle at how much progress your new students are making. You don't normally keep such close tabs on the pupils you stick in the Training Gate, that's why you have other guardians inside it for, but these are the first students you've had in such a long time. It doesn't hurt that Kana reminds you so much of your dear, departed Treyla. You sigh with a contented sadness as you think about her. Even to the end, her spirit burned brightly. You see a lot of that willfulness in your newest student and seeing her wearing Treyla's old jacket allows you to almost see her one more time.

You chuckle to yourself again. Treyla would throw a fit and give you an earful if she caught you wasting time on reminiscing rather than training. She was such a slave driver back in the day. Then again, what's a old man like you supposed to do other than fritter away the day thinking about the good times.

You check back in on your students. It seems they're nearly done with the golems. Far more time has passed than you thought. You guess that doing nothing but think really makes the time fly. It was still morning when you brought them out here, but now the sun is nearly overhead.

Hm? You think you can hear something traveling on the wind. A sound from the town nearby. With it, you smell burning wood. Maybe someone having an early bonfire? Probably that group of young boys that occasionally decide to make trouble in town. Scrappy lads that they are would probably make decent sailors in another five years or so. Probably this place's second best export outside of lumber and fish. You hear more sounds on the breeze, but these are not quite the same.

These have a chill of something... wrong...

>Cut back to Kana
>Cut back to Ahab and Silver
>Cut to the carnage sweeping over the world.

>>2151739
>>Cut back to Kana

>>2151739
>Cut to the carnage sweeping over the world.

>>2151739
>Cut to the carnage sweeping over the world.

>>2151739
>Cut back to Kana

>>2151739
>>Cut back to Kana
I want to annoy Sixwing by ignoring the important and ominous looking option. Sorry bro, I still love you.

>>2151759
Takes a lot more than that to annoy me.

>>2151746
>>2151758
>>2151759
Going back to being Kana. Writing!

File: Spoiler Image (16 KB, 251x251)

16 KB JPG

>>2151764
Good to know Sixwing.

>>2151800
You are once again Kana, panting heavily and sitting on the remains of the final golem. It feels like you've been fighting for days! But that's probably because you have been. Every time they pop up, you put'em right back down. And every time you put'em down, another two or three pop back up. But more curious than that, every time you stop, they do as well; allowing you a chance to breathe, recover, even eat and sleep! Once you look like you're ready for another round, though, those golems are back on the attack.

This must be what Flint meant by "Learning at your own pace." You laugh a little as you stand back onto your feet, ready for the next golem. A few seconds pass and still no golem appears. Instead, you see an ARM floating down from the freaky vortex in the sky. On the end of the chain is a pendant shaped like a turtle shell.

>Touch it.
>Poke it with the Kanabo.
>Stare at it longer.

>>2151880
>Touch it.
Nani?

>>2151880
>Touch it.
If it's inactive, it's harmless, right?

>>2151880
>>Touch it.
Oni club and a turtleshell shield? I'm loving it already.

>>2151880
>>Touch it.

>>2151888
>>2151890
>>2151895
>>2151896
Touching it!

File: Maruem.jpg (19 KB, 210x240)

19 KB JPG

>>2151926
You look at it quizzically for a moment before cautiously stretching out a hand. These things are harmless when their inactive, right? The tip of your finger just barely touches it when the ARM begins to glow. You quickly withdraw, taking a short leap back and readying yourself for more combat. The chained pendant explodes into a cloud of dust, causing your to cough as it mingles with the air around you. Strangely you hear more than just your coughing, though.

"Whoops, used a little too much powder." A young, slightly nasally voice chimes in. The smoke begins to disperse and you are able to see what looks like a young boy with green and white hair sitting cross-legged with a hand resting under his chin. No... that white isn't hair but some kind of hat or something. He's wearing an outfit that very much reminds you of ninja costumes from TV. His hands, though, are webbed and covered in mustard colored scales up to where they disappear into the sleeves of his shirt. He's... some kind of Kappa?

"Nice to meet you." His voice doesn't carry any sort of energy to it. "Call me Maruem. I'll be assisting in your training from here on."

>Then your my opponent! HIYAH!!
>I'm Kana. What do you mean you're assisting.
>I don't need your fuckin help. I'm doing fine as is!
>Are you... a sentient ARM?
>[Ask some questions?]

>>2151989
>>Then your my opponent! HIYAH!!
We don't need no exposition! Speak with your fists!

>>2151989
>>Then your my opponent! HIYAH!!

>>2151989
>a Kappa, huh? So, we doin' this, are are you going to bring out some other guys for me to beat the shit out of?

>>2151989
>Then your my opponent! HIYAH!!

>>2152012
>>2152033
>>2152053
Swinging away!

>>2152166
You don't waste any time. Obviously, he's here as some kind of upgraded challenge! You grip the Kanabo tightly and swing at him, attempting to send him through the nearest cliff face. You scream incoherently as the boy explodes into smoke on contact with your weapon ARM.

"Jeez, what a hot headed woman." You hear that nasally voice again. There's no way he could have dodged that! The smoke clears and you see nothing where he used to be. You look around for a moment before you hear his voice again. "Up here." You turn to face the voice, as see him on top of your Kanabo still sitting cross legged with a hand resting under his chin. It's like he didn't even move!

"Listen, I'm not here to fight. That's not my job, and, honestly, I suck at it." He continues to talk. "I'm here to help you through your next stage of training. You've awoken your Magic Power now you need to align your self with your ARMs. We refer to it as Synchronization." He delivers the instruction with all the passion of a tired, underpaid, and unenthused tour guide.

You swing your Kanabo around, trying to get the little bugger off, but he's stuck on there like he'd been glued.

"Get off, you asshole!" You shout at him.

"Not until your promise to stop trying to break me, Miss Angrypants."

"Fine... whatever. Now how am I supposed to train this sink-whatever." You roll your eyes and fold your arms. Maruem or whatever his name is, drops to the ground and stands up to his full height... which turns out to be just up to your chin.

"I'll show you. Follow me."

>Complain as you go.
>Introduce yourself.
>Think about how you're gonna hit this creep.
>Wonder if Ahab and Silver have some weirdo guide as well.

>>2152275
>Complain as you go.
"Call me hot-headed again, I fucking dare you."

>>2152275
>Complain as you go.

>>2152275
>>Complain as you go.

>>2152275
>Introduce yourself.
"The name's Onishi Kana, and if you call me hotheaded again, I'll bop you."

>>2152275
>>2152313
This.

File: fine I guess.gif (582 KB, 245x240)

582 KB GIF

>>2152288
>>2152296
>>2152308
Writing!

File: gate of destruction.jpg (231 KB, 724x834)

231 KB JPG

>>2152362
"Fine." You sulk. This is freakin dumb. Its a glorified bat. You understand needing to have Magic Power to properly use the powers of ARMs, but what the hell does 'aligning' with your ARMs supposed to mean?! You complain loudly about it and you can hear an audible, heavy sigh come from the turtle kid.

"Us ARMs are more than just items, you know. Sure, not all of us have personalities, but the magic that gives us life and power creates certain quirks in our uses. Part of using an ARM to its maximum effectiveness involves synchronizing your will with the power of the ARM." That shuts you up for a second as you think about how you use your Kanabo and Inferno Fists. Quirks in their uses? What, like they have a preference in how their held or something? That's sounds like a load. You can understand that from things like Guardians. They're like summons or something. Actually alive and with feelings and personalities. But weapon and nature ARMs? What a load a shit. You hear another sigh from the Kappa.

"Well here we are. Your test and the true gatekeeper to the rest of your training. There's a pun here that Master Flint tells me to make about hitting a wall, but I really couldn't care less." He makes a gesture to the large, tablet looking stone wall in front of you. "Behold the Gate of Destruction." You feel like he was supposed to put a little dramatic flair into this.

"In order to progress, you must synchronize with your ARM and break the Gate. Break it, but don't destroy it. That's the only way you can pass." He gives out more of his blase advice.

>"Too easy!" Hit it with your Kanabo!
>"And just how do I synchronize with my ARMs?""
>Examine the Gate of Destruction more closely.
>Sit down and rest some more. You can cool your head and think over this challenge.

>>2152556
>>"And just how do I synchronize with my ARMs?""

>>2152556
>Examine the Gate of Destruction more closely.
There's gotta be a trick to this.

>>2152556
>"And just how do I synchronize with my ARMs?"

>>2152556
>"And just how do I synchronize with my ARMs?"

>>2152562
>>2152567
>>2152582
Shamelessly asking for advice!

>>2152608
You look at the Gate and the creepy faces on the sides of it and look down at your Kanabo. Then back to the Gate. And right back to the Kanabo. There's a gimmick to this. There has to be. And it lies in that Synchronicity whatsit that Maruem was talking about.

"The fuck am I supposed to do?!" You exclaim. "I don't know anything about this synchro shit. How am I supposed to synchronize with my ARMs if I don't know what the fuck I'm doing?!"

"Jeez calm down." Maruem sighs, sitting down on the stone floor next to the Gate. "Your not even going to attempt to find out on your own? That's a new one." Despite his words, there's no effort or emotion put into it. "You've piqued my interest, so I'll give you a hint. Aligning your heart to your ARM is like treating it as an extension of your body. Its about FEELING a connection. Its your attachment to your ARM that creates synchronicity. A relationship between Master and Servant. You need to think of it that way. Then you'll be able to suss out the answer to this puzzle."

You're a little surprised at the one moment of emphasis he put into his speech. But it was very informative.

"A feeling. A relationship between Master and Servant..." You echo his words as you step back; raising the Earring Kanabo in one hand. You close your eyes and concentrate on the weapon.

>Roll me 4d10

Rolled 7, 10, 5, 4 = 26 (4d10)

>>2152690

Rolled 10, 6, 1, 9 = 26 (4d10)

>>2152690

Rolled 4, 5, 7, 8 = 24 (4d10)

>>2152690

Rolled 8, 3, 7, 2 = 20 (4d10)

>>2152690

Rolled 9, 2, 9, 6 = 26 (4d10)

>>2152690

Rolled 6, 9, 5, 3 = 23 (4d10)

>>2152690

>>2152701
>>2152704
>>2152731
The world seems to melt away as you focus in on your ARMs. The Kanabo and even your Inferno fists. You breathe in... and out... as your heart beats. Faintly you hear it; something beating alongside your heart. A soft, thrumming. A murmur. A whisper.

Master...

You open your eyes in shock and the world comes back to you.

"The fuck was that?!" You exclaim.

"You heard the voice of your ARM. Not that it can actually speak, but how it responds in your heart. Congratulations." Maruem gives you a few, slow claps of approval. You'd think he was being sarcastic if that didn't take effort. "Now concentrate and utilize that synchronization. This Gate can be broken without the use of tremendous strength. You just need to find the its weakness. Whoops, I got too excited."

He says that, but you can't detect a hint of emotion in his voice.

>Really focus on that Synchronicity! 5d10 now!

Rolled 5, 4, 10, 1, 4 = 24 (5d10)

>>2152796

Rolled 1, 7, 1, 10, 5 = 24 (5d10)

>>2152796

Rolled 2, 3, 7, 3, 7 = 22 (5d10)

>>2152796

Rolled 9, 3, 7, 9, 6 = 34 (5d10)

>>2152796

Rolled 1, 2, 1, 5, 6 = 15 (5d10)

>>2152796

Rolled 7, 7, 2, 7, 8 = 31 (5d10)

>>2152796

Rolled 10 (1d24)

>>2152817
You close your eyes and reach inward again to your ARMs. You hear them whispering in tempo with your heart and focus in on that.

Master... let us work together...

They call to you in their wordless voice. You nod in agreement and stretch out with a feeling you cannot describe. Some kind of Sixth Sense shows you the world around you within your mind. Your ARMs are showing your a bright spot highlighting a point on the door. Your eyes snap open again and a confident grin stretches across your face.

"So you've found, eh?" Maruem comments. "Well, go head and break it. No one's going to stop you."

>Swing your Kanabo with all your might at the weakpoint.
>Tap the end of the Kanabo on the weakpoint with a bare minimum of strength.
>Switch to your Inferno Fists and launch a fireball at the weakpoint.

>>2152882
>>Swing your Kanabo with all your might at the weakpoint.

>>2152882
>Swing your Kanabo with all your might at the weakpoint.
GOTTA LOOK COOL

File: weakness.jpg (112 KB, 726x465)

112 KB JPG

>>2152882
I forgot the picture... whoops.

>>2152882
>Swing your Kanabo with all your might at the weakpoint.
I would love to just tap it, but then what a the point?

>>2152882
>>Tap the end of the Kanabo on the weakpoint with a bare minimum of strength.
We have to break it, not destroy it. Nothing as badass as tapping something only to have it get heavily damaged.

>>2152882
>Tap the end of the Kanabo on the weakpoint with a bare minimum of strength.
Just tap. Our bare minimum is probably more than enough anyway.

>>2152897
>>2152901
You know what, you've convinced me. Let's try tapping it. If we fail, no one will have to know...

>>2152882
>Tap the end of the Kanabo on the weakpoint with a bare minimum of strength.

>>2152882
>Tappity tap tap

>>2152901
>>2152913
>>2152927
>>2152993
>>2153062

You walk up slowly to the stone slab, gazing directly at the spot your ARMs had pointed out to you. It's a little high up, so you leap into the air. This isn't a test of strength, so there's no point in putting your back into it, right? Then might as well look like a fucking badass!

You reach back with your arm that's holding the Kanabo and take aim. Your motion is swift and creates a sharp tapping noise on the stone. Complete bullseye!

You take a relaxed pose, resting the weapon across both your shoulders and draping your arms over it.

"Eh? That's a pity." Maruem started, leaning back against the slab. "Maybe you should use a bit more f-" He is cut off by the sound of the Gate fracturing into several pieces. Another moment later and the whole thing bursts apart, leaving a hole in the wall that had been covered by the gate. Maruem's legs stick out from the under the rubble. "Ow."

>Celebrate while Maruem can't see.
>Dig the turtle man out of the debris.
>Thank your ARMs.
>Walk through the hole.

>>2153068
>Dig the turtle man out of the debris.
>bop him on the head in REVENGE
>Thank your ARMs.
>Walk through the hole.

>>2153068
>Dig the turtle man out of the debris.
Just cuz he's a jerk doesn't mean we gotta be.

>>2153068
>>Thank your ARMs.
>>Dig the turtle man out of the debris
In this order. Turtle boy wants to be apathetic about things, he can chill under the rubble for a bit. Gotta thank Kanabo properly.

>>2153068
>Dig the turtle man out of the debris.
>Thank your ARMs.

>>2153077
>>2153078
>>2153100
Having pity on the poor turtle and thanking your whispering magic weapons. Writing!

>>2153230
Your smirk turns into a full blown smile as you look at your handiwork. You exhale with a tone of accomplishment before closing your eyes and thanking your ARMs for their help. You feel that they appreciate the praise.

>Synchronicity Increased!

You open your eyes again look down of the slowly moving legs of the Guardian trapped under the rubble. What a lame Guardian. Doesn't fight and doesn't bother to even get out of the way of falling rocks. Does this idiot even have a sense of self preservation? You walk over to him and grab him by one of his ankles. A swift pull removes him from the rocks, only somewhat scuffed up.

"Ah. Thank you." He says as you drop him back down, rolling your eyes in disdain. "I must say I am quite impressed with your progress. To have been able to grasp synchronicity with your ARM in a mere 10 hours." He muses and scratch his...

Wait... what?

"T-Ten hours?! That took ten hours?" You stoop down to get in his face.

"Hey, personal space, please."

"You're saying I closed my eyes to try and synch up with my Kanabo for 10 fuckin' hours?!" You're more than a little shocked at how long that took. It didn't feel like it to you. It felt like mere moments. A minute or two at most! But 10 hours?!

"That doesn't matter that much in the long run." Maruem shrugs his shoulders and gets back to his feet. "My instructions were to keep you on schedule for the next 90 days and then, and I quote here, 'politely show them the door out.' You've only just make it through the first week of training. 11 more to go now, but at least you have something to work on and refine."

Your anger cools slightly, but you aren't satisfied at having lost 10 hours on this dumb puzzle. Sure, it helped you reach a new level and unlock your Sixth Sense, but that's still ridiculous that it took this long. You lift your Kanabo, and swiftly deliver a bop to the top of your Guide's noggin. He doesn't even put up a resistance, unlike during his dramatic entrance

"Ow." He give a less-than-believable response.

"Well you had it coming." You scowl at him. You release your Kanabo for the first time in a couple of days and walk through the door.

>Check in on Ahab and Silver
>Check in on Flint
>Check in on the sorrow and horror drowing the streets of the world

>>2153324
>Check in on the sorrow and horror drowing the streets of the world

>>2153324
>>Check in on the sorrow and horror drowing the streets of the world

>>2153324
>Check in on the sorrow and horror drowning the streets of the world

>>2153324
>Check in on the sorrow and horror drowning the streets of the world

>>2153324
>>Check in on the sorrow and horror drowing the streets of the world

>>2153350
>>2153355
>>2153358
>>2153362
>>2153366
Checking in with something much darker.

>>2153324
>drowing
drowning*
Kill me.

File: 1437783602169.gif (245 KB, 400x200)

245 KB GIF

>>2153399
Don't worry sixwing, we still love you.

>>2153391
You are not Kana. You are not Ahab, Silver or Flint. You are aware of most of them, though. Nemo won't shut up about the girl who wrecked his trophies and sprung Ahab from his brig nor will he stop bragging about how he slaughtered the crew of the Terrible Truth, crippled it and how Bluebeard seriously injured its captain, "Long John" Silver.

Honestly, its not even a blip on your mind. Right now all you're thinking about is the mission. The Razing is the Chess's proclamation of war upon the world and orders must be carried out as planned. You're running through the streets, your hand covered in the silver metal of the Talon Brooch Weapon ARM you had been issued, looking for more soft targets to dispatch. Most of this place has gone up in flame. That insane guy strapped to a cross with a red pumpkin on his head started using fire Nature ARMs to launch bolts of fire indiscriminately before most of the Pawns had been able to storm the streets.

You hear ragged breathing coming from an alley in the main square of this town. A run down building can be seen from where you stand. The only way you know that it hasn't been touched yet is the fact that it hasn't been lit on fire. You decide to investigate, blade in hand.

The door is slightly agape and you simply push it open. A filthy looking man stands in front of you. In his hands are a butcher's knife and what looks like the cover to a stove. He is shaking in his boots, his eyes filled with a combination of fear, panic, and determination. What in the world would fill him with such a resolute emotion? You look behind him seeing a group of young boys. None of them could be much older than 10. They are absolutely terrified, tears streaming down their cheeks. The leader of their little group has his hands over the mouths of the youngest, his eyes are just like the older man in front of you. Wild with fear and a need to protect.

>Turn and leave. You've never had a taste for innocent blood.
>Butcher the man, but leave the children. You don't do kids.
>Orders are orders. They're all soft targets for the chess.
>This is totally fucked. Give them instructions on how to safely escape the city.

>>2153526
>Butcher the man, but leave the children. You don't do kids.
Only those who stand against us deserve out ire.

>>2153526
>Butcher the man, but leave the children. You don't do kids.
Maybe go a little lenient? Chop off a couple of limbs and leave him for dead.
He wouldn't have joined chess unless he was willing to at least do this. Of course, this is probably going to bite whoever we're playing in the ass later...

>>2153526
>>Orders are orders. They're all soft targets for the chess.

>>2153526
>This is totally fucked. Give them instructions on how to safely escape the city.
Gotta have at least one nice guy.

That way we can all experience MAXIMUM DESPAIR when his superiors execute him for his insubordination.

>>2153526
>Butcher the man, but leave the children. You don't do kids.

>>2153529
>>2153535
>>2153580
You're a killer, but you're no monster. Writing in the morning! Catch you all in a couple hours.

>>2153582
Alrighty! I'm up, I'm fresh and have a stomach full of cheap, fake, mexican food! Writing now!

File: trick or treat.jpg (48 KB, 363x591)

48 KB JPG

>>2153582
Damn it all! You hesitate for a moment. You're instructions were to destroy soft targets to provoke the nations into agreeing to Phantom's solution to warfare. You were prepared to kill civilians. But you never agreed to kill kids.

"W-Whatever it is you want, we don't got anything. Please, they're just kids." The man is pleading with you now. The chopping knife is raised and the metal cover blocks your view of the children.

You breathe in deep to steady your nerves before replying. Was your voice always this cold? "Checkmate."

Your rush in close to the man, your clawed hand outstretched and reaching for the dirty man's throat. You move too fast for him to react, leaving his blade and shield worthless. The claw meets almost no resistance as it glides through his flesh like it was wet paper.

"Ben! No!" The oldest boy shouts in distress. Shit. Now you have a name for this poor bastard. Ben. Probably the chef or bartender. Maybe both. "Damn you! Why? What did Ben ever do to you?!" Tears are running down his cheeks, his gaze trained on you. The other boys around him echo the older man's name, held in place only by their fear of you. The younger ones have completely shut down, their eyes hollow and listless save for the drying tears reflecting the inferno outside.

You hear the poor man gurgling, blood catching in the gaping wound on his neck. One of his hands claws at his neck. His eyes are wide in shock and terror as he slowly drowns in his blood. His other hand reaches out to you in a last bid to save the boys.

You feel a twinge of pity for this man. His will to hold on for the sake of a future generation is a noble one. His sacrifice will be remembered when the War Games begin. You lean down to him, gently clasping his shaking hand in both of yours. Despite his rapid exsanguination, his is still quite warm.

"Go in peace, Ben. There's no one left here for me to kill." You whisper in his ear as he slowly stops his death rattles. His wide eyes slowly droop as the fatigue of blood loss kicks in. His shaking ceases and he soon passes. When you go, you hope you receive even just a fraction of the mourning he will receive. Though you are certain you don't deserve even that much.

You stand up, giving one final glance at the children before leaving the dive. You tell yourself this is for the sake of the world. Ben was a sacrifice to bring about lasting peace and you are a soldier following orders.

>>2154988
"Hey you, Pawn!" You hear a commanding bellow from a fellow Chess piece. Its that vegetable-headed guy, Halloween. A knight is talking to you! "Has this area been cleared?" You look back at the storefront and return to the imposing man before you.

"Yes. There are no more targets here." You lie. You are grateful full masks are part of the uniform.

"Heeheeheehaha! Wonderful! Then our work here is done! Let's go back and wait for the announcement." He shuffles along with that cross-shaped thing on his back. For a guy completely bound to a heavy metal object, he move pretty fast.

"Sounds like a plan, sir." You respond. "I think I need a shower... and a drink."

"I like the way your think, Pawn." He laughs maniacally as the two of you teleport away.

>Check in on Silver and Ahab.
>Check in on Flint

>>2154994
>Check in on Silver and Ahab.

>>2154994
>>Check in on Silver and Ahab.

>>2154994
>Check in on Silver and Ahab.

>>2155016
>>2155026
>>2155073
>You are Silver, amused at watching Ahab fail at breaking the Gate.
>You are Ahab, furious at this fucking Gate for not breaking properly.

>>2155112
>You are Silver, amused at watching Ahab fail at breaking the Gate.

>>2154994
>Check in on Silver and Ahab.

>>2155112
>>You are Ahab, furious at this fucking Gate for not breaking properly.

>>2155112
>You are Silver, amused at watching Ahab fail at breaking the Gate.

>>2155112
>>You are Silver, amused at watching Ahab fail at breaking the Gate.
Look at him. Look at him fail and laugh.

>>2155117
>>2155131
>>2155163

You have been watching this hook-nosed idiot fail at breaking the Gate of Destruction for last two days and it has been a complete riot the entire time. Every time the cracks seal up, he launches into another string of expletives like a child. Next to you is the Guardian ARM acting as your Guide for the training. If you remember right her name is Baskerville. Outside of the dog ears, tail, and studded collar she looks like a girl around your age.

"No!" She howls, "You gotta synchronize! Use your Sixth Sense! I believe in you!"

"YOU KEEP SAYING THAT AND I SAY I AM!" He shouts back, Baskerville shrinking under his volume and making a whimpering sound. "Sorry." He apologizes almost instantly after seeing her pitiful face. Looks like Ahab can't take waterworks from pretty girls. That's some pretty useful ammunition to gain.

"Hey, Baskie," You casually address the dog girl. "Is there a spot for food around here?"

"Food? Oh yes!" She shakes her head and smiles widely at you. "There's a fruit tree over by the waterfall just a little ways that way!" She points to the area beyond the stone pillars dotting the landscape.

"Thanks!" You then turn your attention to Ahab, clearly cross and looking generally exhausted. "Come on, numb nuts, take a break and replenish your strength."

"Not... Yet..." He pants as he charges the electricity into the Nature ARM again. "Not... Until... I break it!"

>Insist he takes a break.
>Make him take a break with Hawken.
>Entice him to take a break with a hint.
>Push him over and drag him with you. He looks ready to collapse as is.

>>2155230
>Push him over and drag him with you. He looks ready to collapse as is.

>>2155230
>>Push him over and drag him with you. He looks ready to collapse as is.
Time to emasculate this fool.

>>2155230
>Push him over and drag him with you. He looks ready to collapse as is.

>>2155230
>>Push him over and drag him with you. He looks ready to collapse as is.

>>2155247
>>2155249
>>2155335
You roll your eyes and storm over to him as he attempts to charge up another bolt from his Harpoon. You glare at him disapprovingly with your arms crossed. You can't believe this moron. You don't know what exactly his deal is, but he isn't going to get anywhere with this pig-headed stubborn streak. You lean over to him and shove him on the shoulder with one hand. Like you thought, he didn't have nearly enough strength in him than he believed.

He falls over like a sack of potatoes, his Harpoon reverting to a ring on his hand.

"Looks like you aren't getting a say in the matter any more." You quip smugly and start dragging the semi-conscious sea captain over the smooth stones. Baskerville, looks between the two of you confused and alarmed at the proceedings, stammering in surprise before hurriedly following along behind you.

You've been through this section of training before. Learning about Magic Power, learning to synchronize with your ARMs and those kinds of things. But it has been so many years since that training and you were started to get rusty. It honestly feels nice to get back to the basics. It allows you a chance to bond with Hawken and train some more with your other ARMs. You love being the fearsome Captain Silver of the Terrible Truth, but captaining is a complete time sink. Your run-in with Kana and the Chess raiding vessel really showed you how behind on your technique you'd really fallen.

"Hey, Baskie?" You ask, turning your head to look at the ARM. She is staring worriedly at Ahab, but quickly turns her attention to you and switches to a happier expression. Her tail even wags a little. "Would you mind looking after Ahab and making sure he eats something? I think I should get a little practice in myself since I'm here."

"Yes, ma'am! I'll take good care of him!" The Guardian gives you a salute, her tail wagging like a fan as she sprints to the fruit tree to gather sustenance for your companion.

>Call out Hawken. He hasn't had a chance to spread his wings since Bluebeard shot you out of the sky.
>Train with the Feather Cutlass. Swordsmanship is one of the key traits of a good pirate.
>Is this really something you can train with. Contemplate using the Piece of Eight on your hat decorating your hat.

>>2155586
Contemplate using the Piece of Eight on your hat

>>2155586
>>Train with the Feather Cutlass. Swordsmanship is one of the key traits of a good pirate.

>>2155586
>>Train with the Feather Cutlass. Swordsmanship is one of the key traits of a good pirate.

>>2155586
>Train with the Feather Cutlass. Swordsmanship is one of the key traits of a good pirate.

>>2155586
>>Call out Hawken. He hasn't had a chance to spread his wings since Bluebeard shot you out of the sky.

File: Silver.jpg (11 KB, 247x440)

11 KB JPG

>>2155605
>>2155660
>>2155707
You pluck the silver feather from your had and call out its more useful form. It has been far too long since you last felt the weight of the blade in your hand. For the most part, you had been relying on your wit, your ship, and Hawken's appearance to browbeat merchant vessels and military supply ships into surrender without having to engage in boarding maneuvers. But as a pirate, your swordsmanship should always be sharp. If you're going to get justice for your men, you need to be sure that you regain your prowess.

You recall using the blade to inform Kana on some of the types of ARMs in the world. You grin mischievously as you recall omitting some details on the function of the Feather Cutlass. Mostly that it was actually shared more similarities with Ahab's ARM of choice than it did with the Kanabo that your outsider friend uses. You use a moment of time to synchronize yourself with the weapon before putting yourself into a ready stance.

You decide your targets for your training session are the stone pillars on the way to the Gate. You wonder how many pieces you can cut them into before they hit the ground.

>3
>5
>12

>>2155858
>12

>>2155858
>>5

>>2155858
>5
>shoot for 12

>>2155858
>5

>>2155858
>>12

>>2155863
>>2155865
>>2155882
>>2155886
>>2155879
Confindent in 5 but shooting for 12. Roll me 6d10s

Rolled 1, 7, 4, 2, 4, 10 = 28 (6d10)

>>2155940

Rolled 6, 5, 4, 2, 3, 3 = 23 (6d10)

>>2155940

Rolled 1, 4, 7, 3, 10, 1 = 26 (6d10)

>>2155940

Rolled 3, 1, 9, 6, 6, 7 = 32 (6d10)

>>2155940

Rolled 9, 4, 1, 5, 5, 4 = 28 (6d10)

>>2155940
Slices, slices!

Rolled 4, 10, 4, 3, 2, 1 = 24 (6d10)

>>2155940

Rolled 3, 6, 9, 4, 4, 9 = 35 (6d10)

>>2155940

>>2155948
>>2155953
>>2155985
>>2155996
>>2156002
>>2156011
>>2156056

Well, at least you know where you need to improve.

>>2156063
After a moment of silence, you unleash the first of several slashes into the open air. Nearly-invisible crescents of wind that carve apart the stone pillars at a rather impressive range. You slice through the bottom of the pillar, causing the whole thing to start collapsing on itself. You make another slash, cutting off a wedge of the falling portion of the structural support.

And another.

And another.

Another!

ANOTHER!

MORE!

YES!

NO!

SHIT!

You sigh with disappointment as you are only able to carve it into nine pieces before they all come crashing down in a pile of rock and dust. Three more and you would have been satisfied. You wipe a few beads of sweat that had begun to form on your brow. You really are out of shape if nine cuts has you sweating now. The sacrifices you make for your Truth...

"Wow! That was an excellent display, Miss Silver!" You hear Baskerville cheering from behind you. Abruptly you turn around, discovering that it wasn't just Baskerville, but also Ahab, who must have bullied Baskie into carrying him over her shoulder so he could yell at you for making him stop throwing himself uselessly at the Gate.

"Well, I was aiming a bit higher than that to be fair, but I suppose I this is the place to work on it." You smile sheepishly in return.

"You did say you left Flint's tutelage without finishing, right?" Ahab cuts in.

"Ahab!" Baskerville jabs the man in the ribs, causing him to yelp in discomfort.

"Yeah. That's part of it. I've already gone through this part of the training, though I was in here for a full 3 days as opposed to our current 1 and a half. That's 6 months if you're bad at math." You confess.

"Six months of this shit? Sounds crazy." He remarks. You nod and the conversation dies for an awkward minute as Ahab works up the courage to ask you another question. "How long did it take you to learn to synchronize to your ARM and break the Gate?" His cheeks are a little flushed from the embarrassment of what you think he's getting around to.

>A whole month.
>Six weeks.
>Ten Weeks.

>>2156148
>A whole month.
Git gud Ahab

>>2156148
>9 days
>that was a joke.
>Six weeks.

>>2156148
>>A whole month.

>>2156148
>>A whole month.

>>2156148
>>A whole month.

>>2156155
>>2156161
>>2156171
>>2156185
>>2156308
"Nine days." You say with a smirk on your face. You watch Ahab's lower and a scowl cross his lips. "Nah, I'm joking around. Took me a month before I got it right." The scowl remains but he looks back up at you, not nearly as embarrassed looking as when he asked. "I know it sounds easy, but synchronization is a lot harder than any explanation can do justice. Thinking of an ARM, especially ones without a voice or anything resembling a mind, as something that you need to form a bond with can be difficult. Its part of why building Magic Power is the first step. Having experience with an ARM builds that bond naturally and gives you memories to reflect on and use as the catalyst for Synchronicity."

Baskerville nods her head along with your words. Ahab looks down again, this time, though at Thunder Harpoon in its ring form.

"In that case, I'll do it in 3 weeks." Ahab gives you a cocky smirk and frees himself from Baskerville's assistance. "I'll get this synchronicity thing down and show you up."

You can't help but to laugh. Not at him, but at his ridiculous need to one up you. "Fine, fine. Let's see if you can put the infamous Captain Silver in her place." You taunt.

>Check in on Flint.
>Check in on the curious shadow stalking the woods.
>Check in on Kana and Maruem

>>2156358
>>Check in on Kana and Maruem

>>2156358
>>Check in on Kana and Maruem
I want to see how our MC is doing.

>>2156358
>>Check in on Kana and Maruem

>>2156358
>>Check in on Kana and Maruem
Also
>"I know it sounds easy, but synchronization is a lot harder than any explanation can do justice
Kana does it nigh instantly with her Kanabo.

>>2156358
>Check in on Kana and Maruem

>>2156418
>"Must smash"
>Synchronization complete

>>2156432
>burn, smash, rip and tear!

>>2156358
>>Check in on Kana and Maruem

>>2156418
She's a delinquent and the Kanabo is a giant metal bat with studs. It's practically a natural weapon for her. Hell, we used a REGULAR metal bat to beat the shit out of that giant parrot.

>>2156418
>>2156432
>>2156459
>>2156491
Also, Kana did something sensible and ask how synchronization worked. Ahab got as far as the word break before deciding he could smash his way to glory.

Checking in on Kana wins. Writing!

File: kanabo.jpg (82 KB, 640x512)

82 KB JPG

>>2156524
You are, once more, Kana and you have spend the last week or so applying what you learned from the Gate of Destruction to the earth golems that the Training Gate supplies for you to fight. Maruem sits nearby offering unsolicited critiques on your form and methods of attack.

At first, it made your one-shot kills on these golems much easer, but as the days progressed, you began to realize that they've been scaling up in power, speed, and durability to the point that you now have to take more than a couple of swings or fireballs to obliterate them.

Currently, you are catching your breath between golems. The newest golem popped out of the ground the instant you knocked the head off the last one, but its waiting patiently (read creepily motionless) for you to recover and make an aggressive move.

"You know," Maruem pipes up. "You're pretty strong for a kid."

"WHAT'D YOU CALL ME?!" You angrily shout back.

"Fine. Whatever. Anyway you're strong. You brute forced your way through the first round of golems here in the Training Gate in just a couple of days. Then knock through the Gate of Destruction in mere hours. Most adult students Master Flint sends my way would still be fighting to increase their magic power right now." The turtle boy rests his hands behind his head.

"Is there a point to this or are you just trying to offer me praise?" You tap your foot impatiently.

"There is. You put me a head of schedule and I want to thank you for the change of pace." From behind his back the ARM pulls a small black orb. "I noticed that your Kanabo has slots for magic stones." You reach out and take the smooth gemstone from him and examine it closer. The inside of it looks to be filled with a slowly moving murky smoke not unlike what you remember from the space between worlds where you spoke with the Monban Pierro.

"What fuck do I do with this?" You ask.

"Well you put it in one of the empty sockets of your weapon ARM. It'll boost the power of your Kanabo and unlock new abilities for you." Well that sounds pretty fucking handy.

You quickly attach the stone into the open socket closest to your grip... but you don't feel it get any stronger.

"Hey, what's the deal? I thought you said this was a power boost?!" You raise your voice again.

"Ugh... why do you always have to yell." The Guardian complains, plugging his ears with his webbed fingers. "These powers take the form from your will, so its up to you."

You look back to the black, swirling orb, thinking about what you've just learned.

>Let's make those studs into spikes! [Earring Kanabo Form 1:Oni Spikes]
>Let's light it up! [Earring Kanabo gains Nature Elemental trait: Fire*]
>[Custom form for the Earring Kanabo]

*Synchronizing with Elemental Nature ARMs has a draw back in that an ARM user becomes physically susceptible to an elemental foil. In the case of fire, Kana would become physically weakened in wet environments and be rendered incapable of fighting underwater.

>>2156753
>Let's light it up! [Earring Kanabo gains Nature Elemental trait: Fire*]
BAHNING

>>2156753
>Make the kanabo solid metal, Solid, heavy, relentless and unyielding.

>>2156753
Custom
>Size manipulation. Kanobo can be active, and the enemy wouldn't notice.

>>2156766
This, but make it gold as a reference to Kin-ki. It would be fucking sick if our powers were references to the four oni

File: 7aeb98216add0de9c1ddfde81(...).png (109 KB, 1335x1153)

109 KB PNG

>>2156753
Either >>2156760
because it doesn't matter if we're weak in water because we already have a fire arm, or >>2156766 because just getting a whole fuckton heavier is awesome

>>2156766
I like this. Solid metal bat with metal studs. Sturdier and hitting harder than ever before. There's a lot to be said for the simplicity of hitting something until it dies.

>>2156766
I'd be fine with this too, as long as it's really, really, really heavy.

>>2156858
I'll probably get my BAHNING kanabo another day

>>2156766
>>2156780
>>2156806
>>2156854
>>2156858
Earring Kanabo: Super-Heavy Mode wins
Writing!
Name pending

>>2156926
Oni's Might

>>2156926
You think about all kinds of things when it comes to what kind of power you want to give to your Kanabo. First time, your thoughts go to your dreams back while you were still in Japan. Something like the legendary blade you'd wielded in your dreams... but honesty, you like the kind of damage only a blunt instrument like your Kanabo can do. You think about maybe lighting it on fire. That sounds badass! But you can already shoot fireballs from your fists. Maybe give it spikes? No, then it'd just get stuck in stuff. You need to think of another way to make it hit harder.

Ah that's it!

With your mind made up, you feel the Earring Kanabo change in your hands. Its normal, silver sheen begins to turn a golden yellow as it gains significant weight. Even with your enhanced strength, it feels heavy. Its size even increases slightly, now standing slightly taller than you. You give your weapon a test swing and it making a deep, pleasing "WHOOSH" noise through the air.

"Bad. Ass." You comment with a wide grim spreading across your face.

"So out of all possibilities you decided to make it a little bigger, heavier, and gold?" Maruem sounds disappointed, though that's not too much different than his normal tone.

"Just fucking watch and be amazed." You assure him. You square up to the massive earth golem that has been waiting on you. "Let's fuckin' do this!" You shout at it. Without missing a beat, the golem springs to life. Faster than any other golem you've fought so far, it starts slamming down a fist on you like it was squashing a bug.

>Smash it's arm off as it comes down
>Charge forward take out its knee
>Focus in on its weakpoint
>Run up its arm and knock its head off

>>2157008
>>Smash it's arm off as it comes down
This punk ain't shit

>>2157008
>>Smash it's arm off as it comes down

>>2157008
>jump and let the weight of your new weapon crush it

>>2157008
>>Focus in on its weakpoint

>>2157027
>>2157029
>>2157030
>>2157032
Want to see something cool? Roll me 8d10s

Rolled 9, 10, 3, 1, 9, 6, 4, 3 = 45 (8d10)

>>2157065