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“Mayu, are you still on watch?”

You slowly open your eyes to see the stoic samurai sitting on the patch of grass before you, her eyes wide open as she looks out onto the distance. “I must remain ever dilligent, Kazuma...” she explains.

“You were still on shift before I went to sleep...” you point out. “In fact, you've taken on a triple shift. There's so many of us, you don't need to be that dilligent.”

You've been on the road for about... three days now. Crossing the country to up North, but you're finally near the border of the Safaia controlled territory of Rubi... that's where General Aoki is holed up, and where he's keeping Risa. The trek has been harrowing, but at least you've had the company of your entire class. Makoto has done all he can as leader to keep spirits high, Kiriko has made efforts to keep conversation light, and Mai has been banned from singing after the... incident on day two.

You still can't fully believe you're doing this. Sure... you suppose you've done a lot crazier, but for some reason entering the camp of a real human military feels so much more... real than the battling of demons in another world that you're used to. So bizarre that demon fighting is your standard of normalcy. But... no matter the consequences, or ramifications, you can't allow your friend who has stood by you through thick and thin to come to harm in such a horrid place. You'll rescue her, no matter what.

You sit up, next to Mayu as you place a hand on her shoulder. “Well, either way, I can take over from you. Get some rest, Mayu.”

She shakes her head. “Kazuma, I am afraid I cannot do that. I cannot allow myself to sleep in such a dangerous location, to be caught unawares by an enemy, or... or...”

Mayu lets out a long yawn, as her eyes begin to get heavy. “I-Ignore this, Kazuma. My body is lying.”

“Mayu...” you smile. “Get some rest. You can trust me to lookout.”

“Okay, Kazuma. I trust you.”

Mayu leans back against the wall of the barn in the field you've been staying and closes her eyes, almost instantly falling asleep. You're glad Makoto was able to talk the farmer who owned the land to allow you all to stay. You don't know how he did it, if you were a farmer and over twenty teens showed up at your door, you'd try to chase them off.

You smile at Mayu as she immediately snoozes, and you lean in to plant a small kiss on her forehead. “Sleep tight, Mayu...”

“Am I interrupting something?”

“GAH!” you exclaim as you jump back, noticing Amaya poking her head out from the corner of the barn. “N-nothing!”

Amaya smiles. “Calm down, Kazuma. I know whatever was going on here was perfectly innocent.”

“Y-yeah, it was...” you mutter. “You just surprised me, that's all...”

“How did you rest?” Amaya asks.

You shake your head. “Very well, unfortunately. Mayu never woke me up to take over watch duty, now she's tired herself out.”

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“That sounds like her...” Amaya points out. “She pulled the same thing with me yesterday morning. This is probably the first bit of sleep she's had since we first took off.”

“She's determined, no doubt.”

Amaya looks off into the distance with a forlorn look on her face. “We're almost there. We've almost made it to her.”

“It's not going to be easy,” you explain. “Stealth will be near impossible, and I doubt General Aoki will let his daughter free just because we walked up and asked nicely.”

“You're expecting a fight?” Amaya asks.

You nod. “We attend Dakugeto. We should always be expecting a fight.”

Amaya lets out a small laugh. “I guess you're right, there. Still I hope it doesn't come to violence. I don't want a single drop of blood spill-wait. We have an intruder.”

Amaya quickly summons her spear as you scramble to your feet. “Where?”

“Behind us,” Amaya notes, speaking to a figure behind her. “What do you want?”

No answer.

“I know you're there,” she repeats. “Silence won't get you anywhere.”

You turn around. “Uhh... Amaya?”

“What?”

You motion for Amaya to spin around and face the intruder. A unassuming girl with black hair in a simple uniform, a deadpan expression, and a scarf around her neck. A new classmate of yours, one without the ability to speak.

“Omitsu?” you raise an eyebrow. “What are you doing here?”

Omitsu stares at you, a small smile appearing on her face. She give you a knowing nods as Amaya nods back. “I see...” Amaya notes. “You're here to join us... wow, you must have been on the road for a long time.”

“Are the others of your crew with you?” you ask. “Like your boyfriend, Soshu?”

Omitsu shakes her head.

“Do they know you're here?”

Omitsu shakes her head.

You pause to poinder. “Then... what are you doing here?”

“She wants to help, isn't that right?” Amaya smiles.

Omitsu smiles back and nods.

“Well, that's fine with me,” Amaya notes. “We could use the help, isn't that right Kazuma.”

>Of course. Welcome aboard... and thanks.
>You can't just want to help, you're not invested in this. What's your angle?
>Uhh, sure. I'm confused, but... sure.

>>3139720
>Uhh, sure. I'm confused, but... sure.
Time to start an international incident.

>>3139720
>Uhh, sure. I'm confused, but... sure.
Good to see you're running again Booker.

>>3139720
>Uhh, sure. I'm confused, but... sure.
The kindest demon hunter is here to help.

>>3139720
>>Uhh, sure. I'm confused, but... sure.

>>3139720
>>Uhh, sure. I'm confused, but... sure.
The mute are a mystery

Calling for
>Uhh, sure. I'm confused, but... sure.

Writing now.

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>Uhh, sure. I'm confused, but... sure.

Omitsu gives a nod and a smile, bowing to the pair of you. Well... you suppose you have an ally. She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a handful of envelopes, sorting through them and singling out one labelled "Kazuma". She opens it and then sorts through a series of flash cards before finding the one to hand to you. You take it and read the contents out loud.

"You are a kind person, Kazuma. I also like your scarf. Smiley face," you read. "Uhh... thanks."

"Hey, what's going on over here?" Chuichi's voice calls out as he and a few of the others round the corner towards you. His eyes widen as he spots Omitsu, and you can practically see him drooling. "W-what?! Omitsu? W-what a pleasure! It sure is good to see that pretty face after all this walking!"

Chuichi receives a hard poke in the ribs from Kaiya for his troubles, doubling over in pain. "Ouch..."

Omitsu sorts through her letters again and hands Chuichi one addressed to him which he reads.

"I appreciate your vigor and enthusiasm, but my heart belongs elsewhere?" Chuichi reads, confused. "That one's new."

"What?" Mio ponders. "The letter or being appreciated?"

"Both!"

You look to the others and give a nod. "She's here to help."

"Wow, that's three archdemons and a regular demon on our side now," Mio notes, referring to Omitsu, Alice, Taiyo and Concordia. "We've got so much firepower on our hands, I might not have to do anything!"

"Firepower?" Amaya sighs. "Is everyone expecting a fight?!"

"Dakugeto, remember?" you point out.

"Yeah, yeah..."

Makoto stands at the head of the pack, and gladly shakes Omitsu's hand. "Well, it's good to have you on-board. We could always use a helping hand in a situation like this."

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You begin walking around the camp that the rest of the class has set up. Tami seems to be cooking up something up for breakfast, likely that she hunted the night before, Kiriko is telling jokes to the others while Roka and Gado seem to be shoveling manure to repay the farmer for letting you all stay. Nariko is asking Tami if she gathered any food that wasn't meat, which gets and angry glare from Kaiya for the mere premise, while Sora sits under the shade of a tree, meditating. Ninsei meanwhile has stood off to the side, looking out over the horizon and occasionally darting his view back to Sora in turn. You pass by the camp and walk up to him.

"Hey, you've been awfully quiet these last few days," you point out.

"Can you blame me?" he responds. "We're heading back to Rubi. Where I came from. I've... been thinking a lot."

His eyes dart back to Sora, as he mutters under his breath. "Bastard... what's he doing?"

"Meditating, it seems."

"In general," Ninsei explains. "When he took the call to action, to guide us here... I thought he was returning to his old self, that I finally had my brother on my side again. But he's still the same inactive pacifist idiot after all."

"You haven't spoken to him, have you?"

"He hasn't spoken to me, either."

>You should give it a try. This can't be easy on either of you, you should talk to your brother about it.
>I can't blame you. You have enough stress right now without worrying about personal relationships.

>>3139770
>>I can't blame you. You have enough stress right now without worrying about personal relationships.

>>3139770
>>I can't blame you. You have enough stress right now without worrying about personal relationships.

>>3139770
>I can't blame you. You have enough stress right now without worrying about personal relationships.
Can't wait for Sora to go full NNNNNNNNNUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

>>3139770
>>You should give it a try. This can't be easy on either of you, you should talk to your brother about it.
You know just in case he goes into blind rage he can recognize you or something.

>>3139770
>I can't blame you. You have enough stress right now without worrying about personal relationships.

>>3139770
>You should give it a try. This can't be easy on either of you, you should talk to your brother about it.

Calling for
>I can't blame you. You have enough stress right now without worrying about personal relationships.

Writing now.

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>I can't blame you. You have enough stress right now without worrying about personal relationships.

"I want to..." Ninsei mutters.

"What?"

Ninsei shakes his head. "I want to talk to him, but... he's just a completely different person from how I knew him. I don't know how to... communicate with him. Whatever, it can wait until later. He's helping us, and I can at the very least appreciate that... even if his idea of help is sitting around in the shade."

You place a hand on Ninsei's shoulder. "Come on, let's get breakfast."

You and Ninsei return to the camp, and enjoy a meal. Roka and Gado return, grumbling about being the only one's who did any heavy lifting. Mai tries to start a morning song to perk everyone up, but she is quickly tackled to the ground by Sae.

After breakfast, you bid farewell to the farmer before returning onto the road. Mayu still didn't get much sleep, but you don't really have time to lose, regardless you allow her to lean on your shoulder and rest her eyes while you walk.

"This way," Sora notes. "I remember this road well."

"Same here," Gado adds. "We can't follow the direct path anymore, we'll be spotted."

A few miles of backroad later, and you find yourselves hiding in the brush as you scope it out... finally, the border into Rubi. Of course, it's not just a simple welcoming sign, there's an outpost with guards blocking your path.

"The enemy forces are ahead," Concordia notes, her status as a demon making her invisible to unawakened humans. "It will be difficult to gain access without causing incident."

"What if I just put them all to sleep?" Alice suggests. "Just a little sprinkle and it's night-night to the guards!"

"That's risky," Makoto points out. "What if there's more at the outpost than we can see? And if one of them spots you or the others falling asleep, they'll rush to report on it."

Chihiro scoffs. "What's the alternative, I distract them with my feminine wiles?"

"No, none of that," Makoto wags his finger. "Hmm... this is were this mission really begins. Kuin, Kazuma, Mio, Kiriko... I'm open to any suggestions on how to overcome this obstacle."

"Why singling them out?" Chuichi asks.

Makoto raises an eyebrow. "No offence, but they're the most likely to formulate a strategy among us. If you have a plan yourself, though, I'll be glad to hear it."

"Nope," Chuichi shrugs.

"Then, are there any suggestions from the class?" he asks.

>I like Alice's idea. Putting them to sleep is our best option to get through unseen.
>If we can get our hands on a uniform, we can convince the guards to let us through under the guise of transferring prisoners.
>We likely won't be able to avoid coming to blows sooner or later. Perhaps our best option is to brute force our way through.

>>3139834
>>I like Alice's idea. Putting them to sleep is our best option to get through unseen.
STEALTH PACIFIST
METAL GEAR

>>3139834
>I like Alice's idea. Putting them to sleep is our best option to get through unseen.
Don’t think even Gado could fool the soldiers so Alice’s plan is the best.

>>3139834
>I like Alice's idea. Putting them to sleep is our best option to get through unseen.
We going full stealth.

>>3139834
The question here is not 'how not to get caught', because one way or another, we're going to get found out eventually simply due to odds and general surveillance. The question is 'how to delay getting caught for as long as possible? And then how to delay the response as long as possible?'

Putting them to sleep risks the possibility of them missing a check in, and then putting them on high alert when someone investigates the situation.

Trying to trick them via prisoners transfer will just have them hold you up until they bring up one of their superiors and confirm any sort of transfer manifest.

The brute force idea is straight out.

So, absent any other ideas, I'd say putting them to sleep is the best option, but that will still only get us at most a couple of hours before someone rings them up. Does anyone have any memory altering spells?

>>3139834
>>I like Alice's idea. Putting them to sleep is our best option to get through unseen.
We stealth now

>>3139834
>I like Alice's idea. Putting them to sleep is our best option to get through unseen.

Calling for
>I like Alice's idea. Putting them to sleep is our best option to get through unseen.

Roll 1d100, best of 3 please.

Rolled 50 (1d100)

>>3139869

Rolled 92 (1d100)

>>3139869
IM STILL
IN A DREAM
THE DREAMER

Rolled 96 (1d100)

>>3139869
Archdemons are OP, this arc is going to be so easy.

Rolled 79 (1d100)

>>3139869
I'm gonna show you guys how to really kill off some characters

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>96

"Okay..." Makoto states, looking to Alice. "This is likely our best option. Do your magic, Alice."

Alice nods confidently as she begins to peer from the brush. She is silently cheered on by Concordia and the young Manabu Misawa, who despite concerns insisted that he had to come along in order to protect Alice... doesn't seem like she needs much protection, though.

Alice focuses her efforts, locking in on the three guards by the post that can be viewed, and she unleashes her attack. Some strange dust falls upon the trio, as the quickly slouch over and fall asleep. The power of The Dreamer is no joke.

"Looks like it's free to move," Nariko-senpai states, as you all start moving forward through the outpost.

"Broken peace, broken peace, broken peace..." Kaiya mutters as she walks, clutching her head. She's travelling without her brother, who would usually provide some insight into her mental state.

Chuichi looks at her with confusion, grabbing her arm to keep her steady as she sways. "You okay? What's that you're saying?"

"Talking?" Kaiya pauses. "I was talking? Huh... don't remember. Help me walk, meat boy."

"I have a name..." Chuichi sighs. "Do you even know it?"

"Chunky?" Kaiya asks. "Chunky, delicious, juicy meat..."

As you walk through the outpost, you and Roka examine the soldiers to make sure they're asleep. The walkie talkie of one starts buzzing, with another soldier speaking into it. "Alright, everything's fine on my end, you got anything to report?"

You quickly grab the walkie-talkie and hold down on it, speaking into it, despite Roka giving you a worried look, likely concerned that you'd screw it up. "Everything is under control. Situation normal."

"You sure? You sound a little off."

"Uh, had a slight weapons malfunction. But, uh... everything's perfectly alright now. We're fine. We're all fine here, now, thank you. How are you?"

"Uhh... fine, I guess. Whatever, man."

You take your finger off the communicator and breathe a sigh of relief, while Roka just stares at you. "Did you just quote Star Wars? That's from Star Wars! You're such a damn nerd."

"Hey, you recognised it!" you point out. "And what did you want me to do, use my own words? We both know that never works out for me!"

"You mentioned a weapons malfunction as a reason why your voice was different!" Roka fires back, "He's gonna be totally suspicious now!"

Gado pops his head in, glaring at the both of you. "Are you two actually going to argue at a time like this? Shut up, and learn to work together. There's something bigger than your egos going on here, dammit."

Gado's face is determined... and scary. You can't blame him, he has a lot of bad history in this place. You look to Roka and let out a sigh.

>Okay, we gotta work together and not step on each-others toes. Not doing so could be fatal. Truce?
>We don't work well as a pair, so how about we stay out of the others way during this mission?

>>3139925
>>Okay, we gotta work together and not step on each-others toes. Not doing so could be fatal. Truce?
NERDS

>>3139925
>We don't work well as a pair, so how about we stay out of the others way during this mission?
You can do your Unga stuff somewhere else.

>>3139925
>>Okay, we gotta work together and not step on each-others toes. Not doing so could be fatal. Truce?
BIG NERDS

>>3139925
>We don't work well as a pair, so how about we stay out of the others way during this mission?

>>3139925
>We don't work well as a pair, so how about we stay out of the others way during this mission?

Calling for
>We don't work well as a pair, so how about we stay out of the others way during this mission?

Writing now.

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>We don't work well as a pair, so how about we stay out of the others way during this mission?

"Sounds good to me," Roka states, "We've each got more than enough back-up anyway. We don't have to work together."

"I'm surprised you even joined us in the first place," you note. "You don't like most of us anyway."

"I like Risa," Roka points out. "Besides, I'm going to help someone in need. I don't care about if it's expected or not."

Roka has a point... Risa really was the great equaliser for the class. Everyone has bandied together in order to help her. That's... well, it's nothing short of amazing. Her generous spirit has emboldened loyalty in all of you. She's the heart of the group, the glue keeping you all together.

"This is scary..." Hanako mutters to herself as you continue to walk. She's shaking.

"Hey, don't go panicking on us," Akuro adds. "We've got strength in numbers."

"I've never been this far from home before..." Hanako notes.

Ukon chuckles. "I know, right? To be honest, I'm kinda nervous myself, being in a strange place like this!"

"I'm more worried that I have a new rotation of people to embarrass myself in front of when I trip and fall..." Hanako points out.

Taiyo's eyes keep darting towards Omitsu, as hers dart to his. A demon and a demon hunter, they're likely very distrusting of each-other. In fact, this is quite the dysfunctional group.

"Okay... we need to look around and gather information on the whereabouts of Risa," Makoto points out. "And such a huge group like ours wandering the streets would draw a lot of suspicion from the local military police."

"I know where he lives," Gado points out in reference to the general. "It's the big mansion, north of town. It's honestly more like a castle, with the level of security and the towers he built into it. I remember it perfectly... though this city is much different from I remember."

"Makes sense, this city lies on the border," Kuin points out. "Any self-respecting paranoid dictator would constantly be improving on his security! Though also any glorious dictator would know to live in the middle of a country, far away from any neighbouring threats! Just shoddy, shoddy work!"

"Yeah, so I don't know the quickest or safest way to get there, and like you said a large crowd wandering aimlessly would draw suspicion."

Amaya nods. "We should take different routes. Half of us will go through the market up ahead, the others through what I think is a residential area off in that direction."

>I'll take the market route.
>I'll take the residential route.

>>3139988
>>I'll take the market route.
The workers are the true force of the country, the people with the information, the leaders of le resistancé

>>3139988
>I'll take the market route.
This aren’t the students you are looking for.

>>3139988
>>I'll take the market route.

>>3139988
>I'll take the residential route.
Give Gado the scenic tour of all the starving orphans he could've saved if he decided to actually avenge his family.

>>3139988
>I'll take the residential route.

>>3139988
>I'll take the residential route.

Residential area is generally an area that's less patrolled and less liable to talk if someone sees anything a bit out of sorts. Good for keeping quiet.

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>3139994
>>3139996
>>3139997
>I'll take the market route.

>>3139999
>>3140013
>>3140014
>I'll take the residential route.

Rolling to break the tie.

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>I'll take the market route.

"Very well," Makoto nods. "I'll take the residential area. Everyone form into one of the two groups."

"Roka, why don't you join us?" Kiriko asks, ready to tag along with you.

Roka shakes his head. "Don't want to step on any toes, trust me," he explains as he makes his way with the residential group.

"I wonder what kind of stuff they sell here?" Mio ponders.

"Probably the same as everywhere else," Chuichi notes, just in limited amounts.

You and Kiriko lead a group through the market area, where at this hour business seems to be booming. You all stick close together as you wander through the crowds, on the way to the north of town.

"Is it just me, or are the people around here really thin and gaunt looking?" Chuichi asks.

"Shut up," Ninsei tells him. "Asking questions like that will turn heads, you don't want to sound like an outsider when you already look like one. Besides, the reason for their condition should be obvious."

"STOP! THIEF!"

You turn your head, as a young man appears to be running from a market stall with a loaf of bread under his arm. He looks starving and desperate. He doesn't get far though, as a member of the military police quickly tackles him to the ground. He removes the loaf of bread and taunts him... before picking him up as he and another begin to beat the young man mercilessly.

Kiriko gasps in shock, as you turn your head to look away... damn it, it's horrible... but you can't interfere and draw attention to yourself. Not now.

The young man coughs up blood as the police quickly reach to their holsters, for their guns. What?! An immediate execution?! Over a loaf of bread?! What kind of barbaric place is this?!

Mayu releases a deep breath, as she reaches for her sword. She can sit by and watch this no longer, it seems.

>Don't... I know it hurts, but we have to focus on saving Risa.
>Okay... let's go.

>>3140075
>>Okay... let's go.
Yep no

>>3140075
>Okay... let's go.

>>3140075
>>Don't... I know it hurts, but we have to focus on saving Risa.
THIS IS A SNEAKING MISSION

>>3140075
>Okay... let's go.
tfw students start a revolution

>>3140075
>Don't... I know it hurts, but we have to focus on saving Risa.

>>3140075
>Don't... I know it hurts, but we have to focus on saving Risa.
Sneaking mission, remember?

>>3140075
>Don't... I know it hurts, but we have to focus on saving Risa.
Yeah...no, not alerting them before we actually get in the compound.

>>3140075

>Don't... I know it hurts, but we have to focus on saving Risa.

Because that's begging to blow the job. It sucks, but we might be able to do more in the long run.

>>3140075
>Okay... let's go.
Viva la Revolución.

Calling for
>Don't... I know it hurts, but we have to focus on saving Risa.

Writing now.

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>Don't... I know it hurts, but we have to focus on saving Risa.

You turn away, and keep moving. The others follow your stead. It's horrific, but you can't just go around causing an incident while you're here. You just need to go in and grab Risa, then you all can be out of here...

You take a few steps forward, then hear a gunshot, and the sound of a body hitting the floor. You close your eyes and internally scream. You feel ill, like you could vomit over the floor.

You could have stopped that. Easily. You know you could have... but you didn't? And for what? To not blow your cover while rescuing Risa? To decrease your chances of successfully busting her out? What makes her more important? Her life isn't in danger. Why is her freedom valued more than that man's life?

It's too late for that now.

That man is dead, and his blood is on your hands.

You and the rest of the group remain silent, as you just press on through the market area as quickly as possible. As you do, you overhear some civilians speaking on what just happened.

"Well, what did he expect was gonna happen? Even if the ground police didn't get him, the Major is patrolling above today."

Major? Patrolling? Above?

You look up, and sure enough... in the sky above you, using her cybernetic enhancements to propel herself in the air, the robotic Major Kage from earlier patrols above like a vulture, a bird's eye view on the entire city. And the people... they speak of it as if it's normal. This is the kind of surveillance they're used to? Constantly living in fear...

"There, up ahead," Mio notes, "I'm assuming that's the mansion up ahead. Kinda hard to miss."

>Good, we'll scout ahead and look for a good break-in point.
>Okay, let's sit tight and wait for the others to catch up to us.

>>3140139
>>Good, we'll scout ahead and look for a good break-in point.

>>3140139
>Good, we'll scout ahead and look for a good break-in point.
If we're being watched from above it's better to move fast, but as unsuspicious as possible. a big group won't help that

>>3140139
>Okay, let's sit tight and wait for the others to catch up to us.
We're in enemy territory, better not move unless we're at full strength.

>>3140139
>Good, we'll scout ahead and look for a good break-in point.
Good thing we don’t have any gorillas who would blow away our cover.

Calling for
>Good, we'll scout ahead and look for a good break-in point.

Writing now.

>>3140139
>Okay, let's sit tight and wait for the others to catch up to us.

She probably already knows we're here.

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>Good, we'll scout ahead and look for a good break-in point.

No use in waiting around when you're in such a hurry. You can use this opportunity to move ahead and figure out how you're going to break into the mansion of General Aoki without getting caught. You be sure to stay away from the entrance on the wall surrounding Aoki's estate, as there are guards that won't take kindly to some loitering teens.

"How are we getting onto the grounds?" Mio asks. "The actual mansion is still way ahead of us."

"Simple," Kiriko notes. "I'll just port over the wall and sneak my way through. I'm the most adept at stealth among all of us, after all."

Akuro raises an eyebrow. "Not really. Sure you have that ability of yours, but I'm actually an agent trained in stealth."

"And Anri's a former thief," Mio points out. "But she's with the other group, damn."

Omitsu in turns points at herself and nods her head, suggesting she be the most capable to sneak ahead.

"Well, you'd definitely be the best at not making a sound-UH, b-because you're so light on your feet, I mean!" Chuichi responds.

"Perhaps it would be wise to have multiple scout from different angles," Mayu points out. "The grounds are larger than Dakugeto, and it would be wise to get a full scope of... do you hear that?"

"Hear what?" you ask.

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"THE MACHINE WOMAN!" Kaiya screams, as she pushes Chuichi aside, saving him from the blast coming towards the two of them. She gets hit with a blast of some kind of energy, which sends her flying against the wall. You turn your head, as quickly Omitsu and Taiyo in your group are hit by the same blast, as the cybernetic soldier Major Kage swoops down to your location.

"Dammit!" Sae exclaims as she leaps to the side, "She must have been stalking us this whole time!"

Kaiya, Taiyo and Omitsu look to Kage, and get ready to move... but can't. The three heavyweights of the group are frozen stiff... whatever they were hit with have put all of their nerves in complete stasis, rendering them immobile... all at once.

"Not only that..." Mayu mutters as she leaps to safety. "Observe who she targeted with those shots. It is not a coincidence born from random fire. She was able to recognise the strongest among us and eliminate them in a sneak attack."

"Recognise?" Sae exclaims. "Like what? Read their energy levels or something? How could she tell?"

"She's not just a machine," Ninsei notes. "She's awakened... or I guess the body run by the machine is. And she's dangerous."

The group is down to yourself, Mayu, Kiriko, Mio, Chuichi, Ninsei and Sae. And the others are yet to arrive... this is bad.

"So, what do you propose we do?" Chuichi asks, after trying to budge Kaiya into moving, but unable to as she remains still like a statue, unable to even speak. "She's still up there like a damn vulture, ready to swoop down again."

"Well, we have to get her out of the sky," you point out.

"Easier said than done..."

>Sae, Mio and I will shoot her out of the sky, force her to come to our level.
>Wait for her to swoop down, and then we counter.
>Kiriko... port me up there, so I can meet her eye to eye.

>>3140238
>>Sae, Mio and I will shoot her out of the sky, force her to come to our level.

>>3140238
>Sae, Mio and I will shoot her out of the sky, force her to come to our level.
Pew-pew.

>>3140238
>Sae, Mio and I will shoot her out of the sky, force her to come to our level.

>>3140238
>>Kiriko... port me up there, so I can meet her eye to eye.
RULES OF NATURE

>>3140238
>Sae, Mio and I will shoot her out of the sky, force her to come to our level.

>>3140238
>Sae and Mio draw her fire! Kiriko, port me up on my mark!

A combo. Fight smart, not just hard.

Calling for
>Sae, Mio and I will shoot her out of the sky, force
her to come to our level.

Roll 1d100, BO3.

I'll also be taking a brief break to make food between now and the next update, so stay tuned.

Rolled 39 (1d100)

>>3140293
Get down.

Rolled 23 (1d100)

>>3140293
AAAA

Rolled 15 (1d100)

>>3140293

Bah.

Rolled 39 (1d100)

>>3140293
Stealth goes out the window huh

Rolled 75 (1d100)

>>3140293
What could've been.

I return, writing now.

File: Major Kage08.png (464 KB, 850x828)

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>39

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyxOXjZHl9U

"Now, open fire!" you exclaim as you summon your rifle. In turn Mio summons her wrist turrets while Sae summons her machine guns. The three of you bombard upon the machine woman in flight, but she easily dodges and weaves between you hail of fire. Swooping, down she reaches out her large metallic claw towards you... only for Mayu to intercept with her sword to block.

Though she blocks the attack with her blade, Kage still launches herself forward, pushing you and Mayu back, while Mayu still holds up her sword, sparks flying as it grinds against her claw.

"How were you able to know who to attack?" Mayu asks. "What kind of magic is this?"

"Technology," Kage speaks in a monotone voice. "I am capable of determining the threat percentage of those I scan. The three I attacked had a threat percentage of ninety-five percent."

"And what do we have?" You ask.

"Fifteen percent," Kage states.

Your eyes widen. "Fifteen...?"

"Correction;" Kage continues. "She has a threat rating of fifteen percent. You have a threat rating of ten percent."

With that, Kage pushes you both into a wall, crashing into it and leaving a dent. Only ten percent... and there's no doubt that yourself and Mayu are the next biggest threats to her out of this group... you're fighting an uphill battle, no doubt... but what else is new?

"Kazuma, she is strong," Mayu states. "Were I to give her a threat rating-"

"Don't you start doing that!"

"... eighty-seven point six," Mayu explains.

"Why are you more precise than the robot?!" you exclaim.

"Die you bucket of bolts!" Sae exclaims as she unloads with fire upon the machine. "GO TO ROBOT HELL, YOU BITCH!"

Well, she's already lost her cool, but at least it diverted the Major's attention. Time to think...

>She's made up of so many parts, there's bound to be a weak point. Time to start looking.
>Mayu, now! Let's both attack while her back is turned!
>Chuichi, try to trap her with your strings!

>>3140422
>>She's made up of so many parts, there's bound to be a weak point. Time to start looking.

>>3140422
>>She's made up of so many parts, there's bound to be a weak point. Time to start looking.

>>3140422
>Chuichi, try to trap her with your strings!
This is how the doujins start.

>>3140422
>>Chuichi, try to trap her with your strings!
Go my boy, become the protag you were meant to be!

>>3140422
>She's made up of so many parts, there's bound to be a weak point. Time to start looking.

>>3140422
>Chuichi, try to trap her with your strings!
Go magic puppet powers

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>3140426
>>3140427
>>3140449
>She's made up of so many parts, there's bound to be a weak point. Time to start looking.

>>3140431
>>3140446
>>3140450
>Chuichi, try to trap her with your strings!

Rolling to break the tie.

Calling for
>She's made up of so many parts, there's bound to be a weak point. Time to start looking.

Roll 1d100, BO3.

Rolled 95 (1d100)

>>3140476

Rolled 17 (1d100)

>>3140476

Rolled 61 (1d100)

>>3140476
Ye

Rolled 23 (1d100)

>>3140476
I can't believe no one else voted for my boy. I feel personally betrayed.

File: Chuichi01.png (958 KB, 700x942)

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>95

You leap towards Kage and summon your sword, ready to leap into battle, looking for her weak points. She doesn't even turn around to meet you, instead using her mechanical tail to try and swat you away. You duck under with incredible speed and slash at her legs. She spins around, as her metal legs block the attack, only for Sae's machine gun fire to whizz by her thigh, grazing the human skin of the Major... and drawing blood. Of course... the fleshy parts of Major Kage are just that... flesh. There's no metal or plating under those spots, it's all bone, all human. So if you want to land a decisive blow, that's where you need to aim.

"There they are! Fire!"

Oh crap, soldiers are convening on your location, and they're already beginning to open fire. Their bullets aren't much of a threat to you as they are unawakened, but the numbers add up... plus someone else on the level of Colonel Goa could be waiting around the corner.

You duck an attack from Kage's arm as it turns into a chainsaw. She lunges at you with another claw, but you block it and hold it aside with your katana... only for it switch into a gun which fires an explosive blast at Mayu, though she quickly gets out of the way.

"Her attacks are so versatile..." you mutter, before working up the strength to push her back. You look to see Ninsei fighting off many of Aoki's soldiers, but the numbers are becoming overwhelming.

"SCATTER STRING!" Chuichi exclaims, releasing his magic strings to pierce the military police and hold them in place.

"Great wor-Oh crap!" Mio exclaims. "Half your arm is missing!"

Chuichi laughs. "All part of the magic, it's only temporary. The strings are drawn from my body, so to use even greater quantities, I begin to... well, unravel."

Mio stares at him. "That creeps me out, I don't like it. Go back to just being a romantic creep."

File: Concordia.png (135 KB, 960x800)

135 KB PNG

"Well, looks like we don't have to take them on alone," Ninsei notes. "The cavalry is here."

You turn your head, the see the second group rushing to the scene. Roka rhino charges a soldier approaching Kiriko instantly and immediately rams him straight through a wall. Makoto meanwhile spring into action, throwing a blue flame at Major Kage, who leaps out of the way, before clashing blades with him. "Twenty-five percent," she notes.

"Oh, come on!" you exclaim. You rush in, and while she's distracted with Makoto, grab her tail and swing her around, launching her across the street where Mayu is lying in wait. "You take care of the mooks. I'll take care of the robot."

Makoto nods as you turns towards Kage. Mayu joins your side as the two of you hold out your blades together in unison. "I'll show you who's ten percent!" you yell.

"Wait, I want this fight!"

You turn your head to see Concordia approaching, with both of her spears drawn. "An inhuman warrior," Concordia mutters. "Quite like myself. This is my opportunity to show my master what I have learned!"

>Go for it. We've got your back.
>Stay back, Mayu and I have this one. You help the others.
>We'd do much better as a group, let's attack her as a trio.

>>3140554
>>We'd do much better as a group, let's attack her as a trio.
oh shit it her

>>3140554
>We'd do much better as a group, let's attack her as a trio.

>>3140554
>Go for it. We've got your back.

>Only 10 percent
No wonder Kankuro decided it was better to live in the Darkworld.

>>3140554
>Go for it. We've got your back.
When does Kaz learn magic so he's 10.1 percent of a threat?

>>3140554
>>Go for it. We've got your back.
Is she going to sleep on her opponent?

Calling for
>Go for it. We've got your back.

Writing now.

File: Major Kage09.png (786 KB, 850x1202)

786 KB PNG

>Go for it. We've got your back.

You step aside as Concordia strides to the front of the pack, both her spears in hand, staring down the robot. Major Kage in turn looks to her. "You... are one of the beasts."

"A beast, a demon, a monster," Concordia notes. "Call me what you will. Only one word can define me. Warrior."

Whoa, she sounds determined... but can she really take it to the Major? Can she really put up that much of a fight.

Kage looks Concordia up and down, before bluntly speaking. "Forty-five percent."

Forty-five? Maybe she's got a shot after all. Either way, this is looking to be one hell of a fight.

>Meanwhile

“Hey, you guys wouldn't mind letting me out, would you?”

Katsuyori beams a wide grin from within the prison cell, to a pair of very disinterested guards. One of them flicks a small piece of the chocolate he was holding, which hits the young mercenary right in the forehead.

“You know full well that's not happening,” the guard replies. “Just stay in there and thank your lucky stars you punishment isn't worse.”

Katsuyori picks up the small piece of chocolate and considers eating it. He's starving, but he's not that desperate... is he?

“Come ooooon,” Katsuyori asks them. “You know I could just break these bars with my bare hands and overpower both of you, right?”

“Then why aren't you?” the guard asks, munching down chocolate. “Oh yeah, that's right. You know full well what the penalty for mutiny is.”

“It's not mutiny when I'm an independent mercen-”

The guards laugh. “Oh, he still tells himself that!” the second guard guffaws. “This kid, always full of jokes.”

“You aren't gonna do anything,” the first guard reiterates. “You're not the kind to be answering to the general.”

It's true. All his life, Katsuyori has had to watch out for his own skin, and that included neverdoing anything to piss off the higher ups. Self-preservation was the name of the game, and that included never biting the hand that could strike him down. To call Katsuyori a coward would be a cruel statement, but an accurate one. His life would come first, and it would take a fool to break out from under the thumb of a man like General Aoki or Colonel Goa if he valued said life. And so, he sits in this cell, thankful that his punishment for acting out of line was not more severe. Forget that school, forget that annoying naggy princess he had to keep an eye on. Some good people aren't enough for him to risk his life over.

Katsuyori lets out a sigh. “You're right... I won't be bending these bars.”

“Thought so, kid.”

Kats nods as he examines the lump of chocolate. “It's quite solid, you must have kept this refrigerated all day... very hard.”

File: Katsuyori02.png (364 KB, 427x552)

364 KB PNG

Katsuyori then flicks the chocolate. It shoots through the air at high speed, ricochets of the ceiling light... and flies directly into the first guards temple directly, like a bullet. The light in his eyes goes out instantly as he collapses. A heavy-set man, his weight crashing on the structurally unsound and worn wooden desk is enough to launch a plank of wood up, smacking the second guard hard in the back of the head, knocking him out... but more importantly, knocking him towards the cell. Important as he holds the keys to the cell, and Kats has a point to prove.

Kats swipes the keys from the front pocket of the guard and uses them on his cell, opening the door as he swings it back and forth, listening to the satisfying squeak of the hinges. “Didn't bend a single bar!”

As Kats walks out, he hears the laughter of a local drunk the only man sharing the row of cells with him.

“I ain't never seen anything like that in my life!” he laughs. “You mind letting me out of here?”

“I don't know...” Kats places a finger to his chin in thought. “Would you be able to cause a ridiculous scene on the streets while I make my escape?”

“Would I! How d'ya think I got in here?!”

“Oh, I like you.”

With Katsuyori out of his confinement, he casually stretches him limbs with a wide grin. “Okay!” he exclaims. “Time to get out of this forsaken hellhole of a country before I'm caught again. Let's go!”

Katsuyori begins walking to the west, before muttering to himself. “Hang on, fastest way out of the city is that way... why am I...”

Katsuyori tells himself to move, but his legs betray him. “Okay, cut it out Kats. Whatever you think is that way isn't for you. You have to save your own skin...”

He looks to the west and sees the tower of the mansion of General Aoki. His daughter is holed up there, like a captive in her own right. But she'll be fine! Not a hair will be touched on her head, she's the general's precious daughter! Why worry about her?

Katsuyori continues to walk in the direction of the tower. “Dammit Kats...” he mutters. “Wait, why am I calling myself Kats? Only she calls me... dammit. She got me.”

Kats smirks and shakes his head. “Okay, princess. Sit tight.”

That's all for tonight's session, but we will be continuing this thread tomorrow. Stay tuned!

>>3140617
Math boy is a gud boy. Good sesh books

>>3140617
Good lad with big smart

>>3140617
Time Kats to math his way into being the hero.

>>3140617
Also If i remember right isnt Kats not awakened, so how would he open the bars...
UNLESS
SUPER MATH SKILLS
+
SUPER STRENGTH
=
KATS IS A ROBOT

>>3140643
He is awakened, though he doesn't know why. He had power since as long as he can remember.

>>3140648
My god
IS HE THE CURSED SON OF A DEMON AND A HUMAN PROPHECISED TO UNITE THE REALMS

File: oh fools.gif (911 KB, 500x281)

911 KB GIF

>>3140652

File: Major Kage07.png (318 KB, 1000x700)

318 KB PNG

Hana Kage was a proud fighter under the forces of General Aoki. She greatly admired the leader Zenko Ugaki, and as soon as she turned sixteen years of age she and her best friend since childhood conscripted to the army. Those who knew her described Hana as a tough headstrong woman, but one with the delicate compassion and beauty of a freshly bloomed flower. Hokuto Iwamoto, her best friend since childhood and one-time lover, would recall a time when she had to be reprimanded by General Aoki for giving away her on-duty rations to the rest of the squad.

That self-sacrificing nature proved to be her downfall, on that fateful night. The night they encountered that... creature. To rescue the five year old boy in it's path, Hana Kage willingly leapt into danger. It was that night that she discovered her awakening ability, but it was of no use. The creature killed all but three of the squad and the young boy.

Where that the end of Hana Kage's story, it would be considered a great tragedy. But instead, we now suffer something even worse. As she was awakened to a new power, Hana's body was in better condition than the others in the aftermath of the battle. While she was broken and her brain had ceased function, the newfound power left her with a mere glimmer of life left, a barely beating heart. She could never live again as a human, but General Aoki saw value in keeping her alive in the face of their horrifying new discovery.

An extreme experiment, a dangerous operation, untested technology... but at the end, the newly promoted Major Kage could walk again... or rather, a machine with her heart and body. Her limbs replaced with weapons, her brain functions controlled by a chip... but the body still carried that awakened power. She was the ultimate weapon, an unstoppable fighter, a perfect addition to the army... but she was no longer Hana Kage.

Hokuto Iwamoto, the third survivor of the attack, was distraught to have lost someone he truly loved in a completely unpredictable and unprecedented situation. But he was even more distraught when he saw the new Major Kage. When he spoke to her of times and memories that she no longer had, he went mad with grief. He rebelled violently, and Colonel Goa had no choice to put down his ally and friend. The Major shed a tear at the sight, but she could not understand why.

From that point, Major Kage remained one of General Aoki's two most elite and valued soldiers. Where Goa was unpredictable and driven by bloodlust, Kage was calculating and completely servile. Aoki would point, Kage would kill. Every night she would dream of flowers in her sleep. Nobody could explain why.

File: Concordia04.jpg (203 KB, 800x1129)

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>Back to the Present

Forty-five percent... Concordia may be a demon, but she's not that much more powerful than the average awakened... or at least she wasn't. She's no god like Taiyo or Alice, but still... something must be driving her forward for her to be given more than four times the threat rating of yourself. You can tell by the look in Concordia's eyes that she's not here to play around.

This is her fight, you just need to watch her back. You and Mayu both.

The demon and the machine stand face to face, as Concordia readies her spears and charges. Kage stabs at her with her tail, but Concordia blocks it with her right hand spear as she jabs forward with her left. Kage's massive mechanical hands catches the other head on, blocking it, before using her free hand to fire point blanc at Concordia, who only just manages to move her head in time, the blast flying towards yourself and Mayu, forcing you to move out of the way.

Kage's right hand transfers from gun to giant fist, punching Concordia in the chin and launching her upwards. Kage follows up by propelling herself into the air with blasts from her legs like a jetpack, before catching Concordia with a mid-air dropkick that sends her flying onto a nearby rooftop. The Warrior lands on her feet as Kage comes crashing down to meet her, as the fight continues up above... damn this thing may take itself all over the city. And you're already noticing the problem. Forty-five percent still isn't anywhere close to a real threat for Kage, plus the machine woman has an entire extra limb to her advantage, plus the limbs she does have are more versatile than Concordia's straightforward way of fighting. She has the heart and the power, but none of the application to overcome.

You and Mayu leap up the rooftops to follow the battle, having Concordia's back the entire time as she clashes with Kage, taking it all over the city rooftops, Concordia on the clear defence, but her face still looks determined.

>Use your horns, Concordia! They're an extra weapon when used correctly!
>You're stronger than she is, just power through!
>She's to bulky, you should be able to outmanoeuvre her!

>>3142049
>Use your horns, Concordia! They're an extra weapon when used correctly!

>>3142049
>>She's to bulky, you should be able to outmanoeuvre her!
>>3142049
SUPER FIGHTING ROBOT

>>3142049
>She's too bulky, you should be able to outmanoeuvre her!

>>3142049
>She's to bulky, you should be able to outmanoeuvre her!

>>3142049
>>She's to bulky, you should be able to outmanoeuvre her!

Calling for
>She's too bulky, you should be able to outmanoeuvre her!

Roll 1d100, BO3.

Rolled 27 (1d100)

>>3142086
GAS GAS GAS

Rolled 75 (1d100)

>>3142086

Rolled 53 (1d100)

>>3142086

File: Concordia03.jpg (375 KB, 850x1202)

375 KB JPG

>75

Concordia side-steps a lunge from Kage and uses the momentum to grab her by the arms and judo throw her forward. Kage crashes in into some railings on the rooftop and flies over. She recovers with her rocket boosters to float in the air, but Concordia moves quicker, expecting it. She launches one of her spears like a javelin, as it flies and pierces into the joint between her robotic left arm and her flesh.

Kage looks to Concordia and moves to fire at her, but she can't transition her arm into a gun while the spear is jamming it. Good, Concordia is now using speed and smarts to her advantage. From what you've gathered from her style, Kage is a violent cannon, full of energy and firepower, always ready to hit hard and create a huge impact in her wake... but all of that makes her fighting clunkier and slower than most. It's the one element where Concordia has the clear advantage, and she needs to keep playing to that strength.

"You're a soldier, like me..." Concordia mutters. "Your purpose is in serving your master and being the greatest killer you can be. I can understand that. But a true warrior is not cold and calculating! A warrior is strong-willed and passionate, loyal through choice and not necessity! I will show you the heart of a real warrior!"

She's really getting into this. To be involved in matters of humans to begin with all because of her admiration of Alice and The Dreamer... Concordia has so much to prove.

Concordia leaps at Kage bounding off the rooftop and driving her extra spear into the chest of the Major while she's unable to shoot. They fly through the air before landing cleanly on the next rooftop, where a group of soldiers are posted. They aim their guns, but are clearly confused... they can't see Concordia. They're not awakened, and they have no idea what's attacking the Major. You and Mayu leap over yourselves, quickly taking out the military police before they interfere in the battle, while Concordia has the arms of Kage pinned down with her spears.

>Okay, now we strike together! The three of us as one can beat her!
>Concordia has this, better not step on her toes and screw things up.

>>3142124
>>Concordia has this, better not step on her toes and screw things up.
SHE'S USING HER BURNING SHONEN SPIRIT TO PROVE HER BELIEFS

>>3142124
>>Concordia has this, better not step on her toes and screw things up.

>>3142124
>Concordia has this, better not step on her toes and screw things up.
Unlike her and Kaiya we respect the boss battles from someone else and don’t killsteal.

>>3142124
>Concordia has this, better not step on her toes and screw things up.

>>3142133
>implying Kazuma "10 percenter" Asai could've beaten Kage

>>3142124
>Okay, now we strike together! The three of us as one can beat her!

I know, I know, shounen and all that. But damn if I'm not paranoid.

Calling for
>Concordia has this, better not step on her toes and screw things up.

Roll 1d100, BO3.

Rolled 15 (1d100)

>>3142144

Rolled 20 (1d100)

>>3142144
DO IT

Rolled 73 (1d100)

>>3142144
I knew she needed our help.

>>3142153
nay, she got this

File: Major Kage04.png (490 KB, 850x485)

490 KB PNG

>73

Concordia has Kage pinned down with both spears, as she hold out her hand. Purple sparks emanate from Concordia's hand as her eyes give way a murderous intent. "I WILL FINISH THIS! NOW!"

Kage's tail launches up, but Concordia sees it coming, grabbing it with her free hand as her sparking hand drives down towards Kage's chest like a monster's claw... until a compartment in her arm opens up and out pops... oh crab, a grenade!

The grenade explodes in a blinding white flash, dazing the three of you and leaving you with a terrible ringing in your ears. It just completely interrupted all of your normal senses. When your vision returns you see Concordia panicking and leaping back as Kage, now escaped and back in the air, likely propelled by her legs, tossing the two spears back down. Concordia dodges one, then the other... but that's not all Kage has prepared. The base of her tail has opened up, as sparks converge from each petal of the blooming machine, preparing a massive blast of energy that connects completely with Concordia... and takes down the entire rooftop around you.

You fall a few floors in the building below, under dirt and rubble. Damn, she doesn't care about collateral damage at all, does she? It's likely none of them do. But Kage... she's so versatile and full of tricks, no wonder she's so deadly.

You pick yourself up with some help from Mayu. "Kazuma, are you alright?"

"Perfectly fine," you cough out some dust. "What about Concordia? She didn't get blown to dust, did she?"

You look around the wreckage to see Concordia pulling herself up, breathing heavily as she leans on her spears like crutches for support. "Damn her..." Concordia mutters in frustration. I can beat her..."

"Risk assessed," Kage states, as she floats back to her feet and to eye level, examining Concordia. "Threat level now stands at Twenty eight percent."

"No..." Concordia mutters. "I'm just getting started! I'll show you the results of my training! I am a warrior!"

>Dammit, you can't take her on alone! You need our help!
>Don't lose your cool! Keep your focus and outsmart her!
>Concordia, there's only one person who stands a chance in this fight. Run and get Alice.

>>3142177
>>Don't lose your cool! Keep your focus and outsmart her!
DAMN GRENADE SPAM

>>3142177
>Concordia, there's only one person who stands a chance in this fight. Run and get Alice.
Brought the heavy hitters for a reason.

>>3142177
>>Dammit, you can't take her on alone! You need our help!

>>3142177
>Dammit, you can't take her on alone! You need our help!
At least let us do something.
Alice is still paralyzed.

>>3142177
>>Dammit, you can't take her on alone! You need our help!

Gave it your best, but teamwork makes the dream work.

>>3142186
Oh my bad she wasn’t in the jobber group.

>>3142177
>Dammit, you can't take her on alone! You need our help!

Calling for
>Dammit, you can't take her on alone! You need our help!

Roll 1d100, BO3.

Rolled 21 (1d100)

>>3142209
Teamwork.

Rolled 73 (1d100)

>>3142209

Rolled 54 (1d100)

>>3142209

File: Major Kage06.png (1.12 MB, 850x1202)

1.12 MB PNG

>73

"N-no, I can fight her myself..." Concordia mutters. "I can prove myself as a warr-"

"No, you're going to die!" you point out. "You fought well, but now's the time to rely on your teammates. A Warrior does not have to fight alone."

Concordia closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. "You... you're right. Let us take the fight to her together."

You and Mayu nod, as you prepare your swords. You get ready to charge... when Kage's beam of energy from her tail shoots above her and rotates, cutting through the remaining wall, floor and ceiling of the building and causing it to crumble on your end, collapsing back and on top of you.

"We're gonna get crushed!" you worry as you fall back... until you feel a hand on your back.

"No... we're going to fight!" Concordia yells, as she pushes you and Mayu forward with each hand at full force, propelling you into the air as you both come landing down upon Kage slashing at her with your blades. She dodges the first few slashes but struggles to keep up with the speed and timing of the both of you. She couldn't calculate something like chemistry, how well the two of you work together, to become something greater than the sum of your individual parts. Ten and Fifteen with the right chemistry can become a singular threat of one hundred percent, you bet.

Kage blocks Mayu's sword with her tail and yours with her right hand, freeing up Concordia to dodge a blast from the Major's right hand and come in with both spears. Kage grabs one, but can't defend against the other. She has to leap back to a safe distance, but Concordia still manages to take a chip of her plating with that shot.

"We can do this, as long a we work together," Concordia states. "Come, my fellow warriors!"

>If you can set her up so me and Mayu can perform the Cross Slash, we'll win this.
>We'll keep her busy while you set up a charged attack.

>>3142251
>>We'll keep her busy while you set up a charged attack.

>>3142251
>>We'll keep her busy while you set up a charged attack.
CHARGE THE SPIRIT BOMB CONCORDIA

>>3142251
>We'll keep her busy while you set up a charged attack.

Calling for
>We'll keep her busy while you set up a charged attack.

Roll 1d100, BO3.

Rolled 41 (1d100)

>>3142297
Charging mah lazor

Rolled 82 (1d100)

>>3142297

Rolled 60 (1d100)

>>3142297

>>3142303
AYYYYYYYY
SHES CHARGING THE SPECIAL BEAM CANNON

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>82

"Okay," Concordia nods. "Let's do this. I promise I won't miss."

You and Mayu spring into action, keeping up your speed as you continue to slice at the Major and ensure she remains on the defence while Concordia pushes the tips of her spears together and a purple spark begins to form at the end.

"I'm putting all of my energy into this one attack..." she mutters. "Dreamer, my master... I won't let you down. This attack MUST land!"

"Recalculating threat levels," Kage mutters. "Overall threat levels... eighty-two percent."

Sounds good enough for you. You have her on the ropes!

Kage parries both you and Mayu while you leap at her in mid-air, but that momentary distraction is enough for your plan to come to fruition.

"Now!" you exclaim, clearing the way for Concordia's attack.

"HARMONIC PAX!" Concordia screams. "TAKE IT ALL!"

A massive beam of energy shoots out from the top of her spears colliding directly with Kage who has nowhere to turn while in mid-air. She is hit full force, as the beam envelopes her to the point she in no longer even visible. Either swept away or obliterated entirely, by the time the beam dissipates, Kage is nowhere to be seen.

"Heh... we did it..." you breathe a sigh of relief, as you lean back in exhaustion, with Mayu there to hold you steady on the nearest rooftop. Concordia collapses from exhaustion, putting the entirety of her power in one desperate make or break attack to defeat the major. "Come on, let's join the... wait."

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Something comes into your peripheral vision, and on instinct, you push Mayu to safety. You're caught with a sphere shot towards you, and upon impact you feel your muscles and nerves tension, as your entire body goes stiff, paralysed. This... this is the same thing that happened earlier! Does that mean... no, it couldn't...

Your eyes dart to the distance, where from rubble and smoke approaches the Major, still intact.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyxOXjZHl9U

Not only is she still somehow intact, but she gives off a different air. More cold, even more mechanical than before... and even more dangerous. Her eye a deep red now, she looks to you all as you're completely unable to move.

"Petal form, defeated. THORN form, activated," she states, her previous deadpan now replaced with what appears to be a automated mechanical voice box.

Before anyone can react, she unleashes a rocket from her right arm that collides with the building, exploding massively, as Concordia's unconscious body is buried under rubble while you fall off the edge of the roof, plummeting while unable to move.

Luckily, someone ports in and takes you to a safe spot. "Whew, that was a close one!" Kiriko exclaims. "Be more careful against dangerous bosses next time, bro!"

"Enemy spotted," Kage scans Kiriko. "Threat level... four percent. Minimal threat."

She then turns her attention to Mayu, who is standing with her sword at the ready.

"You horrid machine..." Mayu mutters. "You may have power, but I will show you my superior skill."

Dammit, she intends to take on Kage alone? Is Mayu crazy? Well, yeah... but still! You still can't move other than your eyes...

>Motion your eyes to tell Kiriko to join the fray
>Leave it, Kiriko can't put herself in danger as well. You have to trust that Mayu will be able to handle it.

>>3142394
>>Motion your eyes to tell Kiriko to join the fray
Thorn mode sounds like the kind of crazy bullshit that would have great figures made of it

>>3142394
>>Motion your eyes to tell Kiriko to join the fray

>>3142394
>>Motion your eyes to tell Kiriko to join the fray

Calling for
>Motion your eyes to tell Kiriko to join the fray

Roll 1d100, BO3.

Rolled 38 (1d100)

>>3142431

Rolled 86 (1d100)

>>3142431

Rolled 13 (1d100)

>>3142431

Rolled 36 (1d100)

>>3142431
Second form. Of course.

*sigh*

Rolled 89 (1d100)

>>3142431
READ OUR EYES WITH YOUR MAGIC NARUTO POWERS

>>3142438
Dammit I thought we told you to stop rolling

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>86

You dart your eyes back and forth between Kiriko and the action about to unfold, as she gives you a nod. "Alright, alright, I get it. Sit tight, okay? Err... not that you have much choice..."

Kiriko ports forward, darting towards the action while Kage and Mayu collide. She ports behind Kage and slashes her across the back, drawing blood from the fleshy part of her body. Though it seems Kage doesn't feel the pain, or even register that she's been hit. In this form, she must be serious about prioritising, as she won't even bother with Kiriko.

"Stay back," Mayu warns her closest friend. "You need not get hurt. I will be able to match her. Trust in my ability, Kiriko."

Kiriko shakes her head. "Yeah... nah. They say that a lot. How about we both be smart?"

Mayu lunges at Kage, as Kage's tail splits into two, catching the samurai off-guard. She's unable to defend herself against both halves at once, but Kiriko is there to port Mayu behind Kage, also granting her a free slash on Kage's back. Kage's head spins back on a swivel like an owl to face them, before spinning the rest of her body around as well and continuing the fight.

"Listen, I know you've got all that fighter's pride and stuff," Kiriko notes. "I've heard too much of that from you and Kaz. But this isn't a duel, okay? Look at that thing, it's completely inhuman!"

"And this inhuman strength..." Mayu mutters. "Kiriko, ever since I was a child, I was described as odd. You are aware of this trait of mine. I have been described as cold, distant... alien, inhuman. But it was with that detached mind that I was capable to become as skilled with the blade as I am today... and yet, it is still not enough. Perhaps... to defeat this opponent, I should separate my mind entirely. To become truly devoid of the weight of emotion, to reject my humanity-"

Mayu is interrupted... by a hard punch to the jaw from an angry Kiriko.

"OKAY, THAT'S ENOUGH!" Kiriko yells. "LISTEN TO THE CRAP YOU'RE SPEWING! YOU'RE A HUMAN! YOU HAVE A HEART AND A MIND AND A CONSCIENCE AND A SOUL, AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES YOU STRONG! THAT'S WHAT MAKES YOU BETTER THAN THE HEAP OF BOLTS OVER THERE!"

Without assessing a single threat before her meanwhile, the THORN mode Kage has begun surveying the area from the rooftop. She gets a locked-on view of Alice battling it out two city blocks away and begins to take aim.

"IF YOU CAN'T FIGHT LIKE MAYU NAKATONI, THEN YOU'RE NOTHING!" Kiriko exclaims. "And if you can't fight by your friends side... then you're a jerk."

"Kiriko..." Mayu mutters. "Your punch is strong. It hurt me."

"I know."

"I am in tremendous pain," she adds.

"I know."

"Thank you," Mayu nods to her friend. "Let us defeat this enemy."

>Kiriko will stick to Mayu's back, helping her move and avoid the Major's attacks
>Mayu will clash with the Major while Kiriko whittles her down with backstabs

>>3142484
>>Kiriko will stick to Mayu's back, helping her move and avoid the Major's attacks
Not getting hit is more important than hitting, especially against an enemy like this, small incidental hits wont matter if they can't feel pain, it's gonna take a knockout blow

>>3142484
>>Kiriko will stick to Mayu's back, helping her move and avoid the Major's attacks

>>3142484
>Kiriko will stick to Mayu's back, helping her move and avoid the Major's attacks
what anon above said, also she's bleeding, she's going to have to slow down or else soon.

>>3142484

>Kiriko will stick to Mayu's back, helping her move and avoid the Major's attacks

Calling for
>Kiriko will stick to Mayu's back, helping her move and avoid the Major's attacks

Roll 1d100, BO3.

Rolled 25 (1d100)

>>3142516
Here comes the failure.

Rolled 32 (1d100)

>>3142516
Kiriko Backpack new hit meme of 2018
Came in right at the end and beat all competitors

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>72

Kiriko hops up onto Mayu's back, minimising the amount of space she takes up by clinging to her like a backpack. What matters is that they are making physical contact to utilise Kiriko's ability. Mayu slices at Kage and the Major parries and goes for a strike of her own, only for Mayu to be ported behind. It takes a while for the two to fully bring their movements in sync, but when they do, even Kage in her THORN form struggles to follow their movements, with Kage barely able to withstand Mayu's precise strikes until finally she uses Kiriko to dodge a tail shot, weaving undernearth and slicing up... taking Major Kage's entire right arm off with her.

Kage leaps back out of Mayu's reach with eyes wide open in shock, looking at where her right arm used to be. You look from a distance, still stunned, but if you could move you would crack a proud smile. Kiriko certainly does.

"Ha, take that!" she yells, still on Mayu's back. "That's what you get when you mess with the ninja and the samurai of-GUH"

Oh... no.

The arm that Kiriko and Mayu removed... it was still operational, and outside of their view, it fired a blast that hits Kiriko square in the back from behind. You don't think it pierced her, or her vital organs, but it was definitely enough to damage her considerably.

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"Kiriko?" Mayu asks, not feeling the shot herself, but that momentary distraction allows Kage to blast the pair with her remaining arm... a huge blast that sends the two flying, and certainly hurting them both to the point that they can't fight any longer.

You watch in dismay as smoke rises from the bodies of Kiriko and Mayu as they lay crumpled on another rooftop. Mayu does all she can to struggle and stand up, but collapses. They got caught, and now, Kage surveys the surroundings for any more threats... but there are not. You're the only one... and you can't even move. Dammit... even if you could... a ten percent threat on his own? That's nothing. Dammit... how could this happen? How could you become so useless. Your father... the greatest fighter to ever live and you... you...

"Kazuma, you'll never get anywhere feeling sorry for yourself."

Words your father spoke to you in years past ring out in your head... but why? You remember what he said to you. In elementary, you were being bullied by some older kids... it had reached the point where you chose never to argue with them, simply to give into their demands. Your father was livid when he found out.

"Kazuma, there are those out there who will exploit weakness. To be helpless will not leave you defended, or showered with sympathy. A good heart who cannot stand up to wrongdoing is not deserving of respect. These people... they make you angry? Good. You are full of rage, Kazuma. It runs in your blood. But that rage should not be repressed and formed as bitterness or resentment. No, you must let out that anger when needed, strike down those who would make you feel this way. Tell the world that you are Kazuma Asai, and you are powerful."

Damn, why are you thinking of that stuff now? Your dad isn't going to swoop in and save you... and Kage is just going to pick off your friends one by one, and you'll never be able to rescue Risa. And you... you're just helpless, stuck here, can't do anything... you need to move...

>ROLL 1D100, BO3

Rolled 52 (1d100)

>>3142586

Rolled 50 (1d100)

>>3142586
If you're going to burn out, then burn out bravely, at least.

Rolled 95 (1d100)

>>3142586

Rolled 61 (1d100)

>>3142586
AND THIS
IS TO GO EVEN FURTHER BEYOND
AAAAAAAAAAAAAA

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>95

No.

No.

NO.

You refuse to be a helpless bystander. You refuse to be limited.

You are Kazuma Asai, and you are powerful. And you can't sit back and watch this.

Kiriko uses the last of her energy in a desperate attempt to teleport to Kage and stab her in the face, but Kage blocks her and grabs Kiriko by the throat. The Major begins squeezing the life out of her, until...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fI3maNT2hU8

"GET THE HELL AWAY FROM MY SISTEEEEEEEER!" you scream at the top of you lungs. You don't know how you overpowered the restraints, but you're on your feet. Your mind is in a daze, but you know something... you are pissed.

"Kazuma... what are you..." Kiriko gasps.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

You let out a long intense scream before bursting forth at a speed that even you can't keep up with. Kage stares at you as you burst forth like a rocket.

"Assessing threat, fifty four perce-" Kage begins, but you lay a fist into the major's face too quickly for her to react, sending her flying and sending Kiriko out of her grasp.

You continue to wail on Kage with a power and force completely unknown to you, as she cannot keep up in the slightest. "Sixty six percent, seventy three percent, ninety nine percent, ONE HUNDRED PERCENT THREAT, ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR"

Kage jabs her tail at you, but you catch it, and in one swift movement rip it from her body before smacking her with it. You then grab your sword and unload with slash after slash after slash after slash after slash until the Major is hanging limply in the air. With that, you spike her to the ground, as she crashes into the street below, creating a crater with the level of force she was launched.

And with that, you come falling down after her.

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You land back first on the street below, letting out a yelp of pain. Seems whatever strength you unloaded has already gone. Just... what happened. You kinda lost track of your entire consciousness... was that an angel form or something? No, it doesn't feel like it was. Based on what the other's have told you, that transformation is a completely different feeling, and you'd know for sure if it was... so, what just happened to you.

Either way, the fight is over, it seems. Kage has finally been.

"ERROR CORRECTED. THREAT LEVEL ASSESSED."

Oh, you have got to be kidding...

From the wreckage and the rubble, Kage floats up. Her body broken, wires frayed and her robotic limbs hanging from her, but just enough energy in her functioning leg to jetpack her back up. "TEN PERCENT. THORN MODE, LAST RESORT. FULL POWER ENERGY BLAST, CHARGING. CHAR-"

From above ports Kiriko hanging above the robotic major... with her detached hand along with her. "Thought you might need this," Kiriko smirks as she presses a button on the side of the arm, opening the compartment to drop a couple grenades down upon Kage. Kage falls back to the ground, caught up in the explosion... and all the loose bolts that fly your way tell you one thing.

NOW, the fight is over.

Kiriko ports to your side, holding you up as you lean back. "Kaz, bro..." she mutters. "Just what in the hell was that?!"

"I have no clue," you reply.

"You have to have some idea!" she exclaims. "Come on, you just went full ham on that robot!"

>Trust me, I'm confused as you are.
>This might sound weird, but... I think dad had something to do with it.
>Well, I was really angry... now I'm not, so everything's normal. Like Nariko-sensei!

>>3142649
>>Trust me, I'm confused as you are. Felt cathartic, though.

>>3142649
>>>Trust me, I'm confused as you are. Felt cathartic, though.

>>3142649
>>This might sound weird, but... I think dad had something to do with it.

>>3142649
>Well, I was really angry... now I'm not, so everything's normal. Like Nariko-sensei!

>>3142649
>This might sound weird, but... I think dad had something to do with it.
Based Kankuro saves the day again

Calling for
>This might sound weird, but... I think dad had something to do with it.

Writing now.

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>This might sound weird, but... I think dad had something to do with it.

"Yeah, that does sound weird," Kiriko states. "Crazy, even. Banana bonkers. Did you fall on your head from up there."

"Yeah, yeah..." you admit. "It's just a feeling I've got, you know?"

Kiriko gives you a small smile and nods. "Yeah, I know. That kinds power... to be honest you looked just like dad at the time. It was... freaky."

You and Kiriko links arms and lean on each-other as you walk through the wreckage, finding Mayu and helping her up. "Kazuma... Kiriko..." she mutters. "I am sorry. I... I was not strong enough..."

"You're okay," you reply, holding onto her. "You did more than enough."

You also find Concordia and pick up her unconscious body, carrying her with you to the rest of the main group. Major Kage is not the only one of Aoki's elite. There's still that Colonel Goa, who seems to be even more dangerous and feared. And with your presence now pretty blatant after that across city fight, he'll likely be another challenge blocking the path between you and Risa.

No doubt, this battle isn't over. It's only just beginning.

>Meanwhile

Risa lets out a sigh as she sits on her bed, locked in her room atop the fortress that is her home. It's odd to think that as an oblivious child she never saw these walls as a prison. Now, as she hears explosions and screaming on the streets outside, unable to see what is happening through the locked stain glass window in her room, she wonders how she could see it as anything else but a prison. All those times where she would be locked up here right after dinner. She never once was able to stand in the main building later than sundown. A strict curfew and locked in her room in a tower. Risa lets out a laugh, realising how blind she had to have been in her childhood to never question this.

Risa wonders what could be going on outside. Some sort of civil rebellion? Some freedom fighters throwing away their lives in a desperate attempt at liberty? Maybe. Maybe her father just decided to cull some civilians for fun. At this point, she couldn't expect any better from that monster. She stands by the window, hoping that maybe if she could just squint, she might make out what's going on... when a full silhouette appears before her. She jumps back, startled. A bird? No, it's way to big to be a bird. It's a person... and they're prying open the window from the outside.

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Risa grabs a broom and readies it, preparing to use it as a weapon if need be. The window latch breaks open and it swings wide open, and Risa gets ready to charge...

“WHOA!” the intruder exclaims before falling forward, landing face first before her in the room. Risa's eyes widen as she throws the broom aside.

“Kats?”

Kats slowly picks himself as he dusts himself off, looking to Risa with a smirk. “What's going on, Princess? I figured I'd stop by and-”

“Shut up,” Risa demands, as she quickly runs up to the intruder and wraps her arms around him in a tight hug.

“This is uhh... unexpected...” Kats mutters, as Risa clings tight. Slowly, he reciprocated, placing his hand on the back of her head and taking in the moment. “Risa...”

Risa lets out a small laugh, breaking the tension. “For once, I'm glad to see you.”

“For once?” Kats scoffs, “I climbed a damn tower from the outside for you, like you were some kind of prin-”

“Don't say it,” Risa responds. “But... why are you here? I figured you'd be imprisoned... or worse.”

“It's fine, I broke out.”

Risa pauses. “Uhh... Kats? That's not a good thing. When my dad finds out, you'll be killed. Especially if he finds out you broke into my room.”

“Don't worry,” Kats explains. “Because we're getting out of here. Back to the academy.”

“... You're kidding, right?” Risa raises an eyebrow. “There's no way we'd be able to escape just like that. We'd be caught and taken down in no time... then you'd be killed.”

“It's not just me,” Kats explains. “We've got just a little bit of help.”

Risa stares at him, unamused. “Let me guess, you hired the town drunk?”

“Yes actually, but that was for a different plan,” Kats explains. “But didn't you hear the fighting outside? Your friends are here.”

“What friends?”

“Your friends!” Kats exclaims. “Your class! All of them are here.”

“... What?!” Risa rushes to the window to see the aftermath of the battle below. From her vantage point, she can spot a few figures, and one of them looks like Kaz. And is that Kiriko? Risa's eyes begin to well up as a smile appears on her face. “Those idiots...” she mutters. “They came all the way here, for me? They're putting up such a fight, against such odds... for me?”

“I know, I'm shocked too,” Kats jokes. “For someone so plain...”

File: Katsuyori04.png (2.12 MB, 577x961)

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Risa pokes him in the ribs, before climbing onto the window ledge. “Okay... let's get out of here.”

“That's the spirit!” Kats smiles. “You meet up with them, and-”

“Me?” Risa ponders. “What about you? Aren't you coming with?”

Kats shakes his head. “Look, don't worry about me. I'll catch up to you guys. There's... just something I have to do first. I'll be real quick.”

“You better,” Risa demands. “I'm not going to wait around just for you.”

“Sure you are,” Kats smirks, as he readies to climb out. “See ya, princess.”

Risa looks as Kats gets ready to leave, before calling out. “Kats, wait!”

“Yeah?”

Risa clenches her fist. “I... well, don't be stupid. I want to see you again after this.”

Kats smiles at her. “You will. Real soon, I promise.”

With that, the two part ways, as Kats runs off in one direction, while Risa slinks through the city streets in the direction of her friends.

Kats keeps running, looping around, back to the mansion. To escape simply by running is naïve, he knows that full well. General Aoki will chase them all to the ends of the earth if he has too, and there's no way they'll be able to outrun his forces. No... there's only one way to get out of this. General Aoki has to die.

And Kats figures that with all this newfound courage, he should be the one to kill the bastard.

END OF EPISODE 26

>>3142724
YOOOOO
That was a great super hype run Book
And some excellent music choices!
Can't wait for Kats to completely do this fine with no issues at all!

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>Ending Theme
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gN24W_psMpE

>Archive
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Dark%20Gate%20Academy

>Twitter
https://twitter.com/bookerman32

>Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/BookerMan

>Discord
https://discord.gg/yz7sDra

Thanks for playing! Next thread will be up later this week! Follow the Twitter for any updates! And have a happy new year, folks!

>Player Questions
What the hell was up with Kaz? What were your thoughts on Major Kage? And will everything go off totally without a hitch?

>>3142737
>PQ
Kaz is a Berserker
Kage is only mostly dead
Deathflags everywhere

>>3142737
Thanks for running Booker.

>PQ
Kaz'll either be some sort of natural superhuman pre-awakening or be some sort of half demon. Kage a good girl that just wanted to serve her country and keep it safe from the Darkworld and got murdered by some kids and their demonic pets. And Kats is a dead man, can't count on dead inside Sora and "Can't take the fucking shot" Gado to pull him out of it.

>>3142737
Thanks for running NERD

>>3142737
>What the hell was up with Kaz?
he has some inherited hidden power i guess. or daddy issues (sharing some power or smth. i dont know)
>What were your thoughts on Major Kage?
she thicc
>And will everything go off totally without a hitch?
lol nope