>>3442601
>Etheline vs Howard
>Landon vs Sophinia
Fucking called it

>>3442601
Why did you make character list into a doc?

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Okay guys, before we begin in earnest, a small update.

As you can see in my OP post, the link to my Character List has changed. This is due (For reasons unknown) to Pastebin mods deleting my paste.

Now my guess as to why is because it seems the file is too large and the website doesn't have the bandwidth to support for years on end, so they deleted it in order to make more space.

That isn't necessarily the reason, but as I have contacted the admin and have yet to receive a response, it's the only logical reason I can find as the material didn't break any of the site's rules.

So naturally, I've had to change sites and (For now at least) I'm using google drive to store the list. I'm sorry if that's an issue with any of you, but until I can find a better site to host my terribly overbearing character list, this will have to do, any and all recommendations to the contrary are welcome.

Now with that bad news out of the way, some good news. This incident has made it plenty clear that you anons are not the only ones who think my character file is a bit too big and annoying to read, so I've decided it's time to change to a more bearable format.

As you can see in the file attached, I'm working on what I am currently dubbing 'Quick Sheets'.

>Thread at 12
>No wait, I'll be 30-60 minutes late
>Takes 3 hours
You never change, do you?

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These will be much shorter, much less text heavy, much more focused on getting the vital info about the character instantly rather than having a list for you to sort through.

I believe this is an effective means to solve the issue, as while I'm not done making them all yet, when I am, I will create a separate file that stores all these Quick sheets, so you can pull them up whenever you please.

I will be keeping the character list around if you want a more comprehensive look at the character's deeper components and relationships.

Also, a little bit of a fun game for you as the thread progresses, I have an empty section in each Quick Sheet for character trivia!

In a Fuck-Quest style character chart fashion, you can put questions I'll add to the sheet that will give you more insight into characters that you might be curious about, I'm open for suggestions at all times!

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>>3442641

>3 hours

Oh come now anon, it was 2 hours! I'm fine with you bullying me for my terrible scheduling skills, but don't bully me this hard!

Anyway, I have more things to say, but those are best added at the end of the thread, so for now...

>Writing
Anyway,

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Time: January 20, 2000, Sunday, 5:02 PM. Late Afternoon

Location: Renpiri Region, Sunnyside City, BeanBuddy Cafe

https://youtu.be/tNJmx6Me-BA

Ding-ding Rings the chime as the two combatants return, "Damn! Took a while to finally land that damn jet!" Reynauld complains as he half-limps his way into the restaurant.

"That cause you insist we try and land in streets rather than find runway, you don't even know how fly yet you want to land where car drive?" Brovoski counters as he follows in behind him.

"Whatever, we came out alive and we only totaled one car in the process." he gloats.

"Yes, and broke all man driving that car bones." Brovoski counters.

"Eh, he was crying cause he lost a leg or two, the docs will fix him right up plus i promised to pay for his repairs and medical bills, which will be a cinch with my brand stinkin' new license!" Reynauld laughs as he finds the nearest seat in the cafe.

Brovoski shakes his head as he collects some medical suppiles from the twins, "It not even been 2 whole hour and Brovoski already regret giving you win." He states.

"Well it's too late now! Winner's already been decided boah! Speakin' a which, where's my applause!? The Champion's returned people!" Reynauld exclaims.

He's met with rolled eyes and annoyed looks, "The champion of what? Marathoning? Cause you sure were running a ton in that fight huh Cowboy." Peachnia taunts.

He growls at that, "Course I had to run, you see the size of them biceps!? My skull would've been smashed to protein paste under those!" He counters.

"Indeed, but don't doesn't give you an excuse to go around parading your victory as if you've actually accomplished anything. The only thing admirable about you is how confident despite the fact that you spend the whole match running as far away from the fight as possible." Dillion counters.

"Whatever Money-bags! We Cowboys put the Cow in cowardice! I value you my life too damn much to risk it on something as stupid as fight that beast! No offense Big man." He explain.

"Some taken." He responds as he patches himself up.

"And you don't you all go acting like you wouldn't a done the same in my place! Would ya'll have really just sat around and get vaporized by a goddamn nuke!?" He asks.

"That's just the fucking thing, there wasn't a goddamn nuke! What is this fucking cop out!?" Peachnia curses the twins who look up to the battle monitors, shocked and confused.

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Looking to the monitor, despite the clock on the table ticking down to 0, you see no explosion, the Honeybunny simply rests peacefully on the ocean waves.

Ami picks up the clock and gives it a shake, "What the heck? Is this thing just timed wrong? Hey brother, you did remember to connect this with bomb's detonation switch right?" She asks of Sheldon, looking just as confused as the rest of you.

Sheldon fixes his tie as he examines the timer, "Huh? That's funny, I could've sworn I did...I even tested the switch before to if it would connect with the trigger. Why didn't it go off...?" Sheldon asks, confounded by this turn of events.

Bradford sighs in disappointment, "And here I thought you twins couldn't piss me off more, but by some magic you find a way!" He complains.

Sheldon shakes his head in confusion, "Huh? But no....I'm sure I planted the bomb. Dear sister, you were there watching me do it and everything!....right?" He asks of Ami.

She shrugs, "I think so? I do remember setting the thing up so...I guess it was just a dud?"

You shake your head, "You hyped this thing up non-stop, had us on the edge of our seats wondering if we'd be fishing Reynauld's and Brovoski's ashes from the radioactive waters and now you're telling us the whole was a sham cause you got a dud?" you question.

They look bewildered, "Hahahahaha...Sorry my blonde friend, we really don't know what to say...how embarrassing..." Ami apologizes.

Dillion sighs, "I didn't even want the bomb to go off and I'm disappointed. I swear, By this point, I'd expect an actual con artist to have better quality control than you two."

The twins shake their heads as they compose themselves, "Well...I guess that's what happens when you buy nuclear explosive devices on discount! You get what you pay for!" Ami answers.

"And it seems we paid for a dud! What travesty, scammed by blacks! See this friends? This is why you can never trust blacks!" He huffs.

"Jesus Christ Sheldon!" You exclaim.

"What? I'm just talking about the those guys on the black market we bought that nuke from! We call them blacks for short." He corrects.

"Oh...wait, isn't that even worse? The hell are you doing buying shit off the black market?" You ask.

"Well, It's the only place you can buy nukes without having a team of intelligence agents tracking your every move! We're already on wanted lists all over the planet, the last thing we need is more surveillance bogging us down." Ami answers.

"Wait, wait, what the hell are you wanted for- Wait, no, don't answer. Any deeper down this rabbit hole and I'll probably have intelligence agents watching my every move." You realize.

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"Good man. Better not to stick your nose where it might get cut off." Sheldon assures.

"Anyway, let's not focus on that cheap dud! That fight was explosive enough on it's own!" Ami cheers.

"Damn right it was! That was absolutely insane! Hey, you two are recording these matches right!? Run that whole thing back for me one more time will ya!?" Bradford demands, enthralled by the intense action he just witnessed.

"Do you seriously wanna waste time running that fight back?" Peachnia asks.

"You say that like you don't wanna see that badassry again! I saw the way you were watching that fight, you could barely tear your eyes off the screen!" He counters.

"Now don't get me wrong buddy, any other circumstance I wouldn't just be recording these fights, I'd probably arranging them myself. Just that we've got our own bloodbaths to get through see? Probably better we make sure we survive those first." She smiles.

"Besides, with those two psycho twins, I'm sure they're recording all these death matches so they can sell'em on blu-ray for a quick buck." Peachnia accuses.

That's when Ami comes between the two, holding a tray of CDs and wearing a pair of Sunglasses as if she's Ball-park merchant, "CDs!CDs! Get the latest episode of Jack X Ass where a cowboy and giant try and out run a nuclear bomb! Only for the low, low price of 20,000 jenny! Now in HD and 3D!" She calls.

Peachnia is flabbergasted, "You know I was fucking joking right? Plus 20,000? Low price? Are you fucking high?" She asks.

Ami shoves the tray in her face and shakes his head, "Hey baby, suffering and 3D both cost a fortune you know! We gotta make the costs for that nuke you know! Show stoppers like that cost a pretty penny! and fake ones cost a pretty Jenny! So fork over 20,000 so we can make the costs!" She explains.

"You think I care about whether your ass got robbed or not!? Hell, normally I'd be the one robbing you!" She counters.

"Well these 3D productions costs are highway robbery! You think it's cheap to fully render a cowboy hat in nearly every scene lady? I think you need to stop sniffing all the paint cans you use for your make-up!" She argues.

"The hell does that matter!? 3D sucks ass anyway! And the hell did you just say about my make-up!? You better Drop that price down to at least 2000 or else I'm gonna nuke the back of your head with my bat!" Peachnia threatens.

"Listen lady, you want the CD or not? If you ain't paying I got plenty of other people that will." Ami states.

"What? Like hell you do! Besides 12-gauge over there, who the hell would pay for this garbage-"

"I'll take one my fair lady~" Landon creeps up to Ami from behind and slips her 20,000 and grabs a CD.

"Wha-Faggatron!? Why are you-"

"What? I thought that fight was amazing as well, shows of power and desperation like that are so rare, I just have to enjoy this in my free time..." Landon says as he licks his lips at the CD.

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Peachnia shivers in fear, "Okay creepo, have fun with that, only a fucking pervert like you would." she claims.

"First off, it's not pervert it's Kinky Gentleman." Landon corrects.

"And you really think I'm the only one who enjoys this kind of material?" He asks as he presents a small crowd of people gathering around and paying for the CD, almost everyone in the room is buying one, even some unexpected faces.

"Oh! Oh! I'll take one!" Etheline says as she hands off her bills.

"The fuck!? Sweetheart!? Why are you buying this!?" She asks.

Etheline scratches the back of her head, "I want to study the fighting moves in the film, it may help me in a future invention and Welllll...I'd be kinda lying if I didn't I didn't want to see the fight again." She confesses.

"I thought you hated fighting!?" She asks.

"I do! I can't stand seeing people get hurt, but, but! That fight was just so cool! And I've always kinda been into western so...haha.." She explains.

"Atta girl! Buy one for uncle Bradford too while you're at it!" Bradford cheers on.

Soon enough the copies are selling like hotcakes, the tray clears out fast as people like Flourette, Arztz, Vanilla and even you buy a copy.

Peachnia catches that, "Hey blondie! Why are you snagging a copy!? Aren't you and cowboy friends!?" She asks.

"Hey what can I say? A badass fight's a badass fight, I'm not gonna lie and say I don't want a copy just cause a friend of mine is getting beat up in it." you explain.

Arztz nods his head at that, "Usually I'm one to hate conflict, but even I have to admit that fight was a work of art, truly beautiful...I'd love to see it again." Arztz explains.

"I plan to have movie night with Master Noell re-watching all these fights, would anyone like to join me?" Flourette offers.

"Hell Yeah!" Everyone shouts.

"Can we Uninvite Noell?" Vanilla asks.

"Of course not!" Flourette denies.

"Ahhhhh, but he's such a prick!" Vanilla groans.

"Master Noell is not a prick!...Well, not the painful kind anyway..." Flourette whispers.

"Fret not witch, I've already uninvited myself." Noell states.

"Hell yeah!" Everyone shouts.

Amidst the noisy room, Ami turns back to Peachnia with a smile on her face, "Well now if this is garbage, I guess everyone's a collector now! Cause I'm raking in the money! At this rate, I'm going to be able to buy back all the coral reefs we wrecked and nuke'em all over again!" She laughs.

Peachnia puts a palm to her face, "This cannot be real..." she groans.

"Facepalm too hard and you'll ruin your make-up lady." Ami states.

"This entire adventure's ruining my make-up..." She sighs.

"Well, I imagine fixing all that fluff gonna cost you a fortune-" Ami pushes the tray, only a single CD remaining in her face, "How about I save you the cash and fix it all for just 20,000 jenny?" She asks.

Peachnia sighs and takes the CD and hands her the cash, "That 3D better be worth it..." She complains.

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>a few minutes later...

Let's turn, turn, turn this wheel of Death, Destiny and Despair!

After the commotion dies down and everyone finds their seat again, the twins present their laptop and hit the button again, spinning the roulette of fate once more.

(These matches are getting crazier and crazier as the fights go on, I could've sworn our greatest worries a few fights ago was getting a little sand blown on us and now we could thrown in ships with nukes! This ain't fucking funny...) you think as the wheel slows to a crawl.

(I feel for whatever unlucky bastards get dragged this time, who knows what madness the twins will throw our way....next....) your thought process dies as you see the combatants for the next fight.

"What...?" you whisper, everyone in the room has much the same reaction when they see it.

"....." Etheline's left utterly speechless.

"Oh no..." Flourette gasps.

"This is a joke? Right?" Landon asks.

"Oh no it's not!" The twins exclaim in unison.

It's then that Howard chortles and looks over at Etheline, "Looks like it's finally judgement they for you...Brooks." He declares.

You look once again to the the display, your eyes in still a little disbelief as it shows the name of Etheline vs none other than Howard, the one combination you feared coming up.

"Wooooo-weeeeee Ladies and Gentlemen! Just when we thought the roulette had given us our stomachs full of drama, here we go again!" Sheldon exclaims.

"We have everyone's favorite Sweetheart vs who must be the most stone-cold man in the whole tournament! Who could've seen this coming!?" Ami adds.

"This is a fucking joke right? They aren't seriously going to let this happen right?" Vanilla asks, belligerent.

"Of all the combinations, this one must be the most rotten." Noell states.

"Do they have anyone idea what they're doing? Oh who am I kidding, of course they do, I'm angry because I know they do." Flourette realizes.

Ignoring the fervent disagreement with the audience, Sheldon continues, "Okay! Now let's get to know our fighters before we cast them off before death's door! On the left, we have-"

"HOLD THE FUCK UP!!" Bradford's raging voice shuts down any and all other voices in the room.

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Everyone looks back at him to see him burning with rage as she stomps his way over to Sheldon, "Uh, excuse me good sir, but I was in the middle of moving the fights along-"

"You ain't moving shit along, not like fucking this, I demand a fucking re-roll and I want it right the fuck now!!" He orders violently, his filter completely removed in the face of undying anger.

"Re-roll? We can't re-roll, what are you on abouttttttttttttttt-" Sheldon is hoisted in the air by the collar, Bradford lifting his lithe body up with ease.

"Brother!?" Ami realizes Bradford isn't joking around anymore.

"Bradford!?" You and many others shout

"You sadistic little fucking assholes better fucking make that thing re-roll, cause I'm not accepting this! You must have fucking rigged the machine, there's no way fucked up rolls like this happen on their own!" He accuses.

"Sir! Sir calm down! We are already explained that the machine's results are perfectly random! We had no influence in the end result-gah!" Sheldon chokes out as Bradford shakes him.

"Well I don't give two flying shits about any of that! Change it! Change it right the fuck now before I bust your head open! How about instead of throwing a good girl like her to fucking dogs, you sic me at him instead! I've been ready to fight for fucking ages now anyway!!" He counters.

"Hey knock it off! Attacking an examiner under any circumstances is grounds for disqualification, if you don't stop now, I will have you eliminated!" Ami loses her joking persona as she shows real concern for her brother.

"Well then you'll have to eliminate me as well." Landon steps up.

"For I reject this result too, I demand a re-roll." He orders.

Sophinia looks perturbed, "Lanny, you don't need to do anything, you don't want to risk disqualification, not when you've come this far..." She states.

Landon looks back at her with a smile, "Sophie, you of all people should know best what a fool I am, when a cute girl is being threatened, I just can't help but get up in arms." He explains, much to her dismay and displeasure.

Etheline looks on in a mix of fear and bewilderment, "You guys, I, uh...please...." She struggles to speak.

"Are you two out of your minds!? You'd get disqualified over one girl!?" Ami asks.

"That's fucking grand coming from your nuke-dropping ass." Pechnia cuts in.

"I'm on their side, fuck these results, roll again. I refuse to let Pinky die cause you two fuckheads want drama or some shit." Vanilla rejects.

"I must concur, a battle like this is far too one-sided, there must be a re-counting, there must be a re-roll." Flourette demands.

After her, practically everyone in the room begins to demand for a re-roll, everyone in the room refuses to take these results.

And while this was happening, you decided to...

>Demand a Re-roll as well

>Tell them to let the fight continue

>>3442817
>>Tell them to let the fight continue
This exam has been unfair this whole time crying about it now is just childish, Etheline made it this far all that's left to do now put your faith in her that she'll win the next round if she wants to be a Hunter like everybody else here

>>3442852
This

I trust Etheline, she couldn't have made it this far if she didn't have it in her

>>3442852
>>3442863

>Let the battle happen.

>Writing.

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"I say let the fight happen." You counter.

All eyes are on you now, "What do you mean, Derrick?" Landon asks.

"The results are the results, we can't change them just cause we don't like them. Everyone else had to fight their fights, so does Etheline." you explain.

"The fuck are you saying Derrick?" Bradford asks as he turns to look back at you dropping Sheldon to which Ami quickly rushes to his side and checks on him.

"Can't you tell she won't survive against that fucked in the head psycho!? We can't let this-"

"I couldn't agree more Derrick." Noell cuts-in.

"Huh!?" Bradford blurts, rage still burning in his eyes.

Noell shoots a glare throughout the whole room as he speaks, "You damn dolts, have you all lost your minds? What do you think you're doing wasting time like this? Let them fight." He orders.

"What we're doing? We're trying to save Etheline." Landon answers.

"No, you're trying to kill her." Noell counters.

"Excuse me? We're the ones trying to kill her? Did all that hot air from your fight fuck with your head that bad prince?" Vanilla argues.

"You're the ones filled with hot air. Can't you see what you're doing is just slowly killing the poor girl?" He questions.

"Slowly killing...?" Bradford questions.

"You all stand up in arms, pitchforks and torches at the ready for the girl, it's so nice you're willing to put yourselves aside to defend her, but I'm quite sure she can defend herself. Else she wouldn't have made it this far, would you not concur?" Noell questions.

"I mean, yes, but-"

"But nothing. You all can't protect her forever, you all can't mollycoddle her either. To be mollycoddled to be put to death in the slowest, cruelest manner possible." Noell begins.

"Do you think a lion trains it's cubs by sheltering them in a cave, safe from the dangers of the world? Reliant on it's mother to protect them at all times? Of course not, the moment it finds legs to stand on, the mother casts it's cubs into the wild to search for food and experience the world. Pain and suffering all." He continues.

"Why? It's because even the wildest, stupidest beast knows that to live is to struggle. Or rather, the only beings that are worth living are those that struggle for it, fight tooth and nail for it." Noell declares.

"What you're all doing is killing Etheline, slowly, but surely." Noell accuses.

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Etheline looks at Noell with a mix of emotions, both fear and a hint of respect, "Noell...I um...I have to..."

Bradford grounds his teeth, his rage re-directed right at Noell as he stomps his way over, "You got no fucking idea what you're talking about! I'm just trying to protect her, I fucking refuse to let another little girl die when I can save them! Fuck that, you hear me!? Fuck that!!" He shouts.

"I'll kick anyone's ass to do it! Tin-cans, Derrick's or even yours!" He threatens.

Noell glare turns sharp like the blade at his side, "Oh? Why don't I take you up on that offer then? Come at me if you will, even in my state, I'm more then ready to kill you. I've already received my license after all." He eggs on.

"Oh you're fucking on!" Bradford rushes forward, fists cocked as Noell's hands reach for his blade.

"STOP!!" This time, it's Etheline's voice that cuts through and stops all other actions.

"...." The whole room falls silent once more as all eyes fall on Etheline, her face a draped in anger and sadness.

"Everyone stop! Don't fight for me! I don't want you to fight for me! Stop babying me!!" She demands.

"Etheline..." Bradford looks baffled.

"Derrick and Noell are right! I don't need you all to protect me! I can protect myself! I...I! I want this fight!" She states.

"Dearest...I...no, we, we all just fear for your safety, we don't want anything to happen to you..." Landon explains.

She shakes her head, "I get that and I really appreciate it, but...but, I can't just run away, I can't run away from him, I can't run away from myself!" She states.

Bradford approaches her slowly,"But baby, you can't fight that bastard, he'll tear you to piece, you don't gotta prove a damn thing-"

"Yes I do!" She counters.

"...." Bradford is brought a halt.

"I do have something to prove! I have to prove I'm worthy of being a Hunter! And even more than that, I have to prove I'm tough enough to survive in this world! I can't do that if you go fight on my behalf Mr.Bradford! Don't treat me like child! Don't...Don't treat me like your child!" She declares.

"...." Bradford steps back, physically pushed back by her words, the look on his face would tell you he's just got slapped harder than he ever has in his entire life.

"I'm not your kid! I'm not anyone's kid! I'm me! And I'm going to fight...him." She says as she looks over to Howard, who's been sitting back and watching you all fight.

"Oh? Finally done hiding behind your goons now? Fucking excellent." He says with a laugh.

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"I'm...not afraid you! I'm ready to fight you!" She declares.

He stands up, "Yes, yes you are." He counters.

He walks over to her, "And you fucking should be. I'm gonna make this clear right here. I plan to kill you. I plan to make you suffer in the worst way possible and kill you. While your friends watch. While everyone you love watches." He declares.

"Everyone here is gonna suffer like me. But most of all you. Are you ready to die brook?" He asks.

She shakes her head, "No, I'm not going to die, I refuse to let you kill me!" She counters.

"And just how will you do that? You're gonna have to kill me for that to happen, cause I sure as shit ain't surrendering." He states.

"...." That makes her quiet.

He kneels down and meets her eyes as he removes his helmet, that ugly, disfigured face of his meeting hers, "Look into my eyes, they're going to be the last pair you ever get to look at, so look real good." He threatens.

"One of us is going to die today. And I'm making sure it's you. If I were in your shoes, I'd start preparing to myself to kill before I end up dead. Just a word of advice." He says as he re-dons his helmet and walks away.

"....." Etheline is left standing there, shaken but not broken, ready for the coming storm.

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Sheldon raises from the ground and dust himself off, "Are you alright brother?" Ami asks.

"Huh? Of course dear sister! That ruffian left nary a scratch on me." Sheldon smiles to comfort his sister.

"I'm actually more relieved that I'm the one he decided to accost, considering a softer, delicate flower like yourself couldn't handle such abuse, not like big, strong man like myself!" He postures to his sister who claps in amazement.

"As expected of my brother, you're just as much heart-stopping man as I am a heart-throbbing lady!" She praises.

Sheldon basks in his sisters praise, "Yes! Yes..now,Ahem, where was I before I was violently interrupted!" He says as he shoots a glare at Bradford, who's grumbling and sulking in his seat.

"Oh fuck off man, I don't want to deal with your ass..." he complains.

"That should be my line! I could have you disqualified for that assault! But fret not, for my heart is wide and my lust for blood, wider! I shall let you stay in the tournament because I know you'll provide us with an excellent fight!" Sheldon states.

"Whatever...." Bradford no longer has the energy to respond.

"What this? No witty returner? No violent joke? None of the typical Fuck yeah! Violence blood and gore and shit attitude?" Ami asks.

"I ain't in the mood..." Bradford refuses to play along.

The twins scan the room, the place has an oppressive atmosphere so heavy it could bend steel, "Sheesh, I can see the time for jokes is over. Better get on with the show then!" Sheldon realizes.

Pushing through the sad room, Ami shines a bright smile as she introduces Etheline, "On the left! We have everyone's favorite girl, an Exam favorite! Etheline Cherry Girl Brooks!" She begins.

"Daughter of the CEO of Ethical Engineering aka, those guys that make literally everything! They make computers, home appliances, furniture" She lists on her fingers, "Military grade weaponry, combat robots, deadly explosives, nukes...wait a minute...one of these things is not like the other!" She points out.

"Oh well, they also make a line of Sex toys! Of which, as a personal user of them myself, I have to say are of excellent quality." Ami laughs.

"....." But receives no reaction, not even a jab from Landon.

"Wowie Sis! Too much information!" Sheldon ignores it and moves on, "Instead of talking about your bedroom hobbies, allow me to introduce our other fighter!" He continues.

"On the right! We a man cold in body and mind! A survivor of the Begerosse conflict, if you can even call what he's doing living that is! A man literally too angry to die, Howard Toast 'n Butter Billingham!" He introduces.

"Can you just get to the part where you send us off? Both your voice and the butter jokes are starting to wane on me." Howard demands.

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"Right-o fryface! Let's see where you two are going!" Ami slams down on the enter key, and the series of images flash by in an instant deciding on an interesting location.

You see an overhead shot of what you think at first is a meadow floating in the skies, but you qucikly realize your mistake as you look again to realize that you're staring at a High-rise, a hotel standing 1000s of meters above the ground with what looks like a massive open-air garden atop it.

"What is that?" you question on reflex.

"That my blonde friend, it Topsie Turby Hotel! An infamous 5-star resort in the middle of the city we rented out just for this fight!" Sheldon begins.

"It has it all, massive rooftop pools, bars, gardens, greenhouses and even a club! It's got anything a person could want to live a life of luxury and comfort...and you two will be fighting to the death on it!" Sheldon exclaims.

Sophinia nods her head, "Gardens and clubs huh? Interesting place but what's up with the name? Topsie Turby? It's such a funny name." Sophinia asks..

"But an accurate one! You see, this Hotel has an interesting little gimmick that's made it so infamous..." Sheldon searches his pocket and pulls out a remote.

"What's that?" Vanilla asks.

"A remote connected to a tremor machine, one that sends weak shock-waves through the earth under the hotel, now if you would look to your screens..." He orders as he presses down on a button on the remote.

You look up to the live monitors and see what he means, "Holy shit..." you say as you witness a small rubble ring through the hotel building, it starts out slow, but as soon as the tremor ends, suddenly, like a pin falling before a bowling ball, the whole hotel tilts at a 60 degree angle, nearly, but not completely knocking the whole structure down.

"How the hell...?" Vanilla questions.

"During a magnitude 5 earthquake about 20 years ago, cracks formed underneath the structure from the pressure, but by some magic, the building itself remained unscathed, only the concrete and all the earth below it was churned up finer than a smoothie, making it capable of twisting and tipping with a little extra-push." He explains.

"Where the hell do you guys find these wild-ass places?" you ask.

File: Derrick Holums34.jpg (23 KB, 236x424)

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"That's something you only learn once you become a Hunter my good man. For now, just know that not only can it tip, but...." Sheldon hits the button again.

The rumble hits the hotel again, but instead of falling further forward, it does the opposite, in act that probably defies several laws of physics, the Hotel corrects itself, turning upwards perfectly as if the tipping never happened.

"With a little ingenuity, the owners of the hotel decided to add a sort of massive pulley system that pulls the hotel back in place after it rocks. Thus making it the Topsie Turby hotel, a place where your whole world can literally flip upside down on you any second." He explains.

"The true challenge of this area will be trying to fight while also staying 100% of not only where you're presently standing but also where you'll be standing in and the future. You can fight with the best of them, but if you don't know how to keep your footing, you'll have the rug and the rest of the floor with it pulled from right under your feet, mid-combat!" Ami adds.

"And I don't think I need to explain why having this happen outside of the building would be terrible. Just so you know, we're dropping you where you'll start on the roof, a single bad tilt and you'll be plummeting more than a 1000ft to the hard pavement below." Sheldon explains.

"With that said, we have helicopters waiting for you both outside! So hurry up good people, we don't have all the fuel in the world to wait for you!" Ami rushes.

"You're not even giving us time to prepare?" Howard asks.

"Sorry, if you must blame someone, blame that ruffian! His attack on me ate up so much of our time we can't give you a break." Sheldon states.

"....." Bradford has nothing to say anymore.

He sighs, "Well whatever, I've been ready to kill since I got here. I don't need to prepare for that anyhow." He says as he gets up and heads for the door.

He turns back to Etheline and speaks, "There's no backing down for either of us now huh? Brook." He states as he heads outside.

That shakes Etheline a little, halting her from stepping forward, before you know it, you've gotten up from your seat and you approach her and speak, "Etheline...are you okay?" you ask, a foolish question, but you had no idea what else to say.

"Yeah....no, no I'm not." She answers.

"As much as I hate to admit it, he's right, there's no turning back for you now. You have to face him." You don't mince words.

"I know, I'm not thinking of running away, not anymore. I'll face up to my fears, I'll be...just like you." She states.

"...." You don't know what to say.

She looks back at you with solemn eyes, "Thanks for what you said earlier, you...believed in me while everyone else thought I couldn't do it. That really gave me courage...something I really need right now." She confesses.

>Your harsh but true belief in Etheline warms her heart! +100 Points!

"Your welcome." you state.

"I can't linger anymore. I have to go..." She says as she begins to walk away.

But she stops again, you notice a faint shiver in her hands as she speaks, "Hey, Derrick, I know I'm talking all this big game and all, but like...but you know, just in case, mind listening to a request? It might just be my last." She states.

It hurts your heart to hear that and that pain drives you to...

>Reject listening to her request, just encourage to fight.

>Listen to to her.

>>3443107
>>Listen to to her.
Only if she promises she won't die

>>3443107
>Listen to to her.
>If you go in thinking like that? It will be. Howard, he's broken, I think deep in his heart of hearts he just wants to be put down before he causes any real harm.

>>3443134
>>3443135

>What do you have to say?

>Writing.

File: Etheline Brooks40 .jpg (39 KB, 480x438)

39 KB JPG

It hurts, it really hurts to admit, but just in case this might really be the last time you see each, you comply, "...Of course, what is it?" you ask.

"Well, if I don't make it back, I want you to make good on that promise on smacking some sense into my dad for me. There's also something, I want to tell you, please listen...oh wait, that's two things...hahahaha..." she laughs sadly.

"Just say it." you demand.

"Well, I just want to say, since I probably won't get another chance, that I...Um...I, uh...I think I might be in-ummmm..." She struggles to put the words out, going cherry red as she speaks.

"In what? In trouble? I think that's kinda plain to see, want to just give up after-all?" you ask.

"No, no, no, it's not that. It's about you!" She shouts.

"About me? What about me?" You ask.

"I'm uh...I'm pretty sure I'm in lo-lo-...hmmmmmmmmmmm..." She just can't get it out.

"lo-lo? Who's lo-lo? Never heard of that guy. But I can tell his parents must've hated him." You state.

"No! No! I...You know what, just take the first request, if I make it back alive, I'll be sure to tell you..." She gives up.

You give her a confused look, "...Okay." but accept regardless.

She then hops in place to psych herself up as she heads through the door, "Alright! I'm ready for this!" She shouts as she rushes out the door.

File: Muma(Sentinel Form).jpg (45 KB, 474x670)

45 KB JPG

Time: January 20, 2000, Sunday, 6:32 PM. Sunset

Location: Renpiri Region, Sunnyside City, Topsie Turby Hotel

WHIRRRRRRRRRRR Goes the helicopters rotors as they fly off back in the sky, leaving you facing the man that's been your worst nightmare for the last few days, now finally come true.

The Sunset Hangs lows in the horizon as the wind from the helicopters flight shakes the trees all around, you stand in the center of an open-air section at the top of the Hotel, a central pond-like pool separating you from him.

If it wasn't for the direness of the situation, you might have basked in the beauty of the area around you, the mix of ceramic tiling with natural foliage made for an uncanny but beautiful melding of modern, contemporary design with au naturale greenery.

"Finally got your head of the clouds now girl?" Says the metal man in his unnatural, nerve-wrecking voice, breaking you from your trance.

"....." You do naught but groan as you stare him down, nothing left to say.

Your name is Etheline Brooks and you are not ready for this.

"Alright ladies and Gentlemen! Welcome the 4th showdown of the Hunter Exam, we're making excellent headway here, so don't go losing your head with it!" Sheldon laughs over the intercom.

"Now then, while you two gear yourselves up, allow me to go over the rules once more--" Sheldon then proceeds to re-cap the same rules you've heard 3 times before, those don't concern right now, he does.

"That's a nice machine you got there." He compliments MUMA, your combat Droid and first real invention, though not fully of your own design.

She's already set to SENTINEL mode, transfiguring it from it's usual more cute and horse like design to a more humanoid and threatening, "That thing looks a lot like the robot that put me in this piss-bucket." He accuses.

"....." you say nothing.

He starts to circle around the pool as he speaks, "Did Daddy make that abomination for you? Maybe one of his old hand-me-downs from the last massacre he instigated?" He asks.

"No...." you correct as you begin to circle the pool as well, the tightness of the CAD Suit allowing you to make calculated, combat-ready steps as you speak, "I built her myself. And her name isn't abomination, it's M.U.M.A.S.A, but you can just call her MUMA." You explain.

He pops open the cylinder for his grenade launcher and begins loading it as he speaks, "Woah! So young and already in the business of making mass-murder machines. Really taking after Daddy aren't you sweetheart." He states.

That gets on your nerves a little, "Why do you keep comparing me to my Dad? I know he's done terrible things, but I'm not him. I want to do right by the things he's done wrong, and I've never killed anyone before and I don't want too either." you counter.

He slides in a grenade as he responds, "I keep comparing you cause I can tell you're just like him. The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree, even if that apple is molten and rotten." He answers.

File: Etheline Brooks37(CADS-Mode).jpg (185 KB, 743x1075)

185 KB JPG

"...." you say nothing back.

He slides in a 2nd grenade, "Listen, as hard as it is to tell, I'm perfectly reasonable. I do believe you when you say that you haven't done anything as terrible as your Father...yet." He starts.

"But as I told you before, even your heartless monster of a dear old dad would have to feel hurt knowing his daughter was tortured slowly to death by one his many victims. That would make the sweetest revenge, don't you agree?" He asks.

"Don't treat my father like he's the devil. He's just lost, he needs to wake up, he really wants good for the world-"

"Save your corporate speeches for the mindless consumers, I ain't biting." He shuts down your response as he slides in a 3rd grenade.

"Your Father is the Devil. I'd know, cause he's been putting me through hell for the past 20 years. And while you may not be the devil himself, you're one his spawn, so good enough." He loads in the 4th.

The more you talk with him, the more hopeless you become that he can be reasoned with, but you try anyway, "All this hate, all this bloodshed, all this vengeance, do you really think it will solve anything? You said yourself that I'm innocent, don't you realize destroying the innocent to punish the guilty is one of the worst ways to fix any problem?" You reason.

He laughs at that, "Innocent? When the hell did I say you were innocent? I just said you haven't done anything as terrible as your Father yet." He corrects.

"What do you mean?" You ask.

He loads his 5th as he answers, "You're a Brook girl, you know damn well what I mean. You call yourself innocent, but tell me, are you sure there's never been a time where you've thrown people away like trash? Have you never hurt an innocent person for your own gain?" He asks.

"No! No, of...course...not..." The memory of you leaving Derrick behind in the forest, knowing that he might die, but being too much of a coward to go back and help him.

"...." You're left speechless as you realize he's totally right.

"Hm? You're all quiet now. Guilt of your actions finally catching up to you?" He laughs.

He loads in the 6th and final grenade as he continues, "I hope to make Reyson feel the same way when I'm done with you. You told me punishing the innocent is the worst ways to solve a problem, but I beg to differ. I think I can make the guilty suffer plenty by punishing the innocent." He counters.

"Take down enough innocent bystanders and there's sure to be guilty amongst them somewhere right?" he reasons.

"As long as even one guilty bastard suffers then it was worth it, no matter how many lives were lost along the way. So sorry, Innocent or not, you're suffering girl." He finishes.

File: Howard Billingham 06.jpg (106 KB, 820x1574)

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A tremor of fear runs through you as he finally stops, clicks his grenade launcher into place and faces you, waiting for the battle to begin, (By God, he's just too far gone, he's too fanatic. Revenge and hate have broken his mind, I have no choice, I have to fight him.) You come to the grim realization.

It's with great regret that you don the CAD helmet and start listening to Sheldon in the background again.

"-And that's why I think albino animals are better off euthanized, less clutter in the genepool." He talks about something random and incomprehensible, as per usual.

"Anyway, I think it's about time these two go at it! Let's begin!" At that mark, you take up a combat stance and MUMA readies her long, hi-power electro rifle, poised right at Howard.

Howard in turn readies his launcher, his finger on the trigger, Ready...steady...DIE! the twins shout, signalling the beginning of combat.

However, before either of you have a chance to attack, the entire building tilts, sending the both of you flying side-way straight to the ground below.

(We're starting off with a tilt!? We haven't even gotten a chance to run inside-!) you have no time to think as you pull out your cellphone which has MUMA's administrative rights.

You speed tap through the various menus until you reach the grapple command which you activate immediately, MUMA shoots to life all at once, pulling you in with it's long arm and extending it's other to shoot off and grab one of the trees.

You fall for a bit longer before the grappling hook reaches it's Zenith and comes to a bungee-like stop. You take a few deep breaths to calm yourself as you look down at the street below, the ground is so far away, you get vertigo just looking into the distance.

(I can't stand this, I'm going to throw up if I keep staring...) you realize as you look around.

(I really can't stand those twins, they just adore making us suffer, Though at the same time I'm kinda glad they did that, as confident as I am in MUMA's dodging capabilities, I'm not confident in her defense, especially against explosives.) you realize, that's a weaknesses you really need to upgrade MUMA to avoid, and you don't think you need to mention the fact that the CAD Suit has no real protective abilties, if you get hit by one of those blasts, you're sure to be blown to pieces...

The thought gets you worried enough to start looking around, (Where'd Howard go? He didn't drop off did he? I really don't want him to die, but if he just fell off it would make things so much easier...)

"Over here." His voice rings out as you hear the distinct POMPF sound of a grenade launcher firing.

Panic shoots through like a bullet as you hit the buttons on your phone on reflex.

>Roll1d100+10

>DC: 60

Rolled 16 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>3443233

Rolled 37 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>3443233

Rolled 98 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>3443233

File: [More than a little Concerned].png (183 KB, 376x448)

183 KB PNG

>>3443236
>>3443252
>>3443254

First roll is save roll, not a good sign, but at least you avoid death for now...

>108 Rolled

>Writing.

File: TopsieTurby (Greenhouse).jpg (572 KB, 1200x1800)

572 KB JPG

BOOOOOOOOOOM Goes the the area you were once staying, utterly obliterated in a massive, flaming shock-wave of death and destruction.

MUMA swings off the tree and latches onto the next as it swings away at high-speed as the explosion engulfs the area.

POMPF,POMPF More come rapidly as grenade after grenade flies out towards you, you're given no break to stop tapping as you make MUMA narrowly dodge these explosions by mere inches.

As MUMA swings off you look to where the grenades are firing from and think (How is he shooting so accurately? Where is he shooting from-!) That's when you notice.

A little ways above you, he stands upright, perfectly balanced as he stands on one of the pool trees, completely unfazed by the change in latitude, he rains death on you from above.

(How did he get there!? Did he get lucky with his landing and take advantage it? No, there's no way he pull that off by random chance!) you realize.

The true challenge of this area will be trying to fight while also staying 100% of not only where you're presently standing but also where you'll be standing in and the future., The words of the Twins ring out to you and you find the answer.

(No wait! He didn't pull this off by chance! He calculated it, that's why he started circling the pool!) you realize.

(It wasn't to close the distance between me and him, it was because he was expecting the twins to tilt the tower and in a position to use that to his advantage!) you figure out.

(The fact that he could plan this just a few minutes after hearing that, and in an area completely foreign to him just shows the difference in skill between me and him! He's been through many life or death fights while I've barely fought at all!) you note as you notice your swinging is bringing you closer to a nearby glass structure.

(A greenhouse? I can use it!) you realize as you allow MUMA to release it's grappling hook and send you shooting off into the greenhouse and out of Howard's sight.

CRASH Goes the window as MUMA Smashes through the glass door, crunching itself up so it can defend you from any stray shards.

It works like a charm as you fly in, the tilt finally corrects itself, and your upward momentum is corrected as the floor rises up and allows you to land safely on it and find your balance.

"Hah....Hah...." you struggle to calm your breathing as you assess the situation.

(Well, if that last exchange proved anything, it's that I can't face him in a straight up fight, I'm sure to lose. I have to be tricky, I have to hide from sight and find a opportunity to blast him with something!) you realize, renewing your fighting spirit.

"Ohhh sweetheart! Come out and play!" Howard's voice rings out in the distance, you crouch and look out the greenhouse windows.

You see him crane his head left to right, reloading his grenade launcher as he taunts and berates you to come outside and face him, (He's hunting me down...That's pretty scary, but also useful!) you refuse to panic.

(I need use my area, calculate how to use my area to my advantage, just like he did! From here, there's quite a places I can go, like the club, or that bar over there...) you realize.

(I just need some place I can ambush him, once I can get the drop on him, I can blast him full of electrowaves, or maybe overpower him with wrestling! Just! I have to be able to do something!) you believe.

(It's hunt or be hunted now. And I refused to be Hunted!) you ready yourself as the battle begins in earnest now.

https://youtu.be/5ds4CjNZeLA

BATTLE COMMENCES

ROUND 1

Party Status

Etheline:

>Life: 80/80

>Armor: 120/120

>Status effects: Peak Condition

MUMA:

>Life: 100/100

>Armor: 100/100

>Current mode: [SENTINEL] [+10 attack, -5 evasion, -5 defense]

VS

>Howard:

>Life: ???/???

>Armor: 300/300

>Status Effects: Peak condition

>Special Arena effect! [Topsie Turby]

>At random intervals, the arena will tilt, forcing both fighter to roll evasion to avoid damage or even possibly death.

(I need to choose where to move and I have to choice it now! If I linger too long he'll find me, but where to go...) you wonder.

Where will you go?

>To the bar

>To the club

>Stay in the greenhouse and ambush him

>>3443296
>>To the club

>>3443296
>>To the club

>>3443311
>>3443344

>We're going clubbing!

>Writing.

You look to the club in the distance, a relatively large structure with bright lights beaming out into the darkening sky to catch the attention of any passersby, with music blasting loud enough that even behind the soundproof walls you can still hear it in the distance.

You begin planning, (Going to an enclosed space is a bit risky, but there should be quite a few places I can hide while he searches for me.) you realize.

You look over to him as he looks around, (That's if he doesn't blast me to smithereens while I sneak past, his body may be a mess of flesh and metal, but his senses are still that of an experienced solider and I'm aiming to sneak by him and head to the furthest building away? I'm going to need more than luck to pull that off...) you realize.

You look to MUMA who's crouching beside you, you put hand to her large metal frame and smile, (But then, I've got something way better than luck by my side. We're doing this together!)

As if confirming your inner thoughts, MUMA sends out a series of quiet beeps and nods to you, ready for action as it prepares it's rifle.

>Quick Tutorial!

MUMA in combat, being a quick, deadly mobile combat machine. The M.U.M.A.S.A system acts as both a UGV and a Modular weapons platform.

In simpler terms, that means MUMA is both not only an Independent combat A.I capable of completing any order issued to it, it's also an extremely versatile form of weapon that Etheline can utilize.

However, That is not to say MUMA can act entirely on their own, whether they be acting acting independently or as a weapon, they require orders to function, MUMA has the ability to act and decide actions on it's own, but only under Etheline's directions.

So unlike a real combat partner which can act and think perfectly fine on their own, MUMA must be told what to do before-hand, or else it will not act at all.

But this comes with the benefit of [Follow-up Orders] A machine-only skill where, with the help of the user, a machine can commit up to 3 actions in a single round where a human can only do 1 or 2. Meaning the strategic possibilities of a machine far out-weigh that of a humans!

Test it out now!

Machine master options!

>Have MUMA stay by your side and defend you

>Send MUMA out to distract him while you move.

>Ride MUMA to your destination (Risks Him finding your position)

You may also choose at any time to swtich MUMA's modes, Whatever mode she's in infer's bonuses and losses to the situation, so be sure to choose wisely before changing, you won't be able to change again until the start of the next round after-all!

>Change to Scout Mode! (+10 Evasion, -5 Defense, -5 Attack)

>Change to Firewall Mode! (+10 Defense, -5 Evasion, -5 Attack)

>Stay in Sentinel Mode!

>>3443401
>>Send MUMA out to distract him while you move.
>Stay in Sentinel Mode!

>>3443450

>Distract while moving for the club!

>Roll2d100+5 (+10 from Machine Master, -5 Evasion from Sentinel mode)

>DC:50

Rolled 7 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>3443499

>>3443505

Roll2d100+5 anon, not 1d100+10.

Rolled 53 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>3443499

>>3443556

Again, '2'-d100s anons, I need two consecutive rolls in order for it to work, one for Etheline (First roll) and the other for MUMA (Second roll).

File: [Unamused Confusion].png (498 KB, 510x456)

498 KB PNG

>>3443505
>>3443556

Well clearly we're off to a slow start (Strange, those are rare these days) so while they aren't the right format, I guess I'll still take them to keep things moving for now.

>Rolled 58

>>3443516
>2d100
Oh shit, didn't even notice

https://youtu.be/8kqls64aYUs

You examine the area between you and Club, once you get outside the confines of the greenhouse, a red brick walkway with a series of trees dotting a vertical path act as a pathway to a set of stairs leading down to the club.

Just before the club entrance, there's a long archway that covers a good stretch before you can get into the building itself.

(That makes 3 areas I have to clear without getting, all of them open with almost no hiding spaces in-between them...) you look back outside and see Howard prowling closer and closer.

He touches a nearby tree and speaks, "Where the hell did that brat run off to? I'm sure she flew somewhere around here, that tree didn't make that good of a vantage point for seeing anything." He states.

You duck deeper into cover, (If I'm going to get past him, there's no I can use stealth, I'll get spotted no matter what, so I'll have to divert his fire. Meaning I'll need to make MUMA distarct him while I move...) you realize as you type in the commands and prepare to move.

"She dodged my sneak attack almost perfectly. For someone who's probably barely fought a day in her life, she's got good reflexes and that machine of hers is fast for that large chassis and rifle its carrying around." He compliments.

He then clasps the tree he leans on with his iron grip and begins to squeeze, "But she's still a pup, she's been pampered and cared for like a princess her whole damn life. She hasn't spent her whole life fighting life or death battles like me." he explains as the wood makes screams under his grip.

"She's been coped in high-rises and mansions, looking down on the weak and suffering with her Father by her side, laughing all along the way." He explains.

The wood begins to crumble and crack under his hateful grasp, "Never risking anything, never fighting to survive. That lack of real combat experience will show itself in minor errors in her conduct-"

CRUNCH A large chunk of the tree is bitten off by his hand, he violently smashes the torn off piece of lumber to the ground as he aims his Grenade launcher in your direction.

"For example, doing something as stupid as crashing through glass and expecting me not to search the glass structure first!" He admonishes.

Fear runs through you like a lighting bolt as you panic, (I have no more time! I have to act now!) you realize as you hit the 'ACT'' command and move.

POMPF! goes his launcher as a grenade fires and blows a hole in the glass structure, causing glass to shatter and break all across the walkway as you roll out of the way and into his line of vision.

File: TopsieTurby(Meadows).jpg (261 KB, 1280x868)

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"Hah...hah..." you shoot him a glare as you rise to your feet, your breath labored and fearful.

A fire ignites among the foliage in the greenhouse and catches the nearby trees as the rest of the greenhouse falls to pieces.

a veritable wall of crimson flame and black smoke engulfing the once pristine, garden like area.

Howard laughs as he walks towards you, "Now that's a good look for you. Eyes filled with hate and legs shaking with fear, now you're starting to get how I feel everyday." He taunts.

You smile at him, "If you're so angry all the time, maybe a nice trip to an anger management class will help? Or perhaps getting a punching bag?" you recommend, trying to buy some time.

He aims at you, "Don't you get it girl? You are my punching bag." He taunts.

You stare down at your phone and see that charging is at 89%, "Really Sir? Well I'd say you've made a bad purchase." you glance back as you look to the stairs behind you.

"Looking to run away again?" He squeezes the trigger as he speaks, "Let's see how far you get with a missing leg-"

rinnnggRINGGGG a once silent noise makes itself clear known, blaring over the roaring fires behind him and getting him to look to the side to see a faint blue light behind hidden within the flames.

You grin from ear to ear, "Sorry friend. I'm the the kind of punching bag that punches back!" You declare as charging reaches 100%.

https://youtu.be/NDPftQZfh58

"What the fu-"

DOOOOOM Howard has no time to react as a wave of electric energy is shot out, blasting with such force and intensity that it bisects the flames MUMA was hiding behind.

The entire area consumed by a blue hue as Howard is knocked clear off his feet and through 3 trees.

>-40 Armor (-260 points remaining)

You don't waste a second dashing away, dodging around the remaining trees and dancing your way down the steps. MUMA quickly follows suit, running away as fast as possible.

You laugh as you make your get-away, (I learned that distraction tactic from Landon, I can't believe it works so well! I did my best to emulate Derrick there, I wondered if I looked as cool as I felt?)

Howard quickly finds his feet, tongues of lighting slither off of him as his suit absorbs all the damage of the attack, though while he suffered almost no physical damage, that attack delivered a near fatal strike to his pride.

"Did I just get out-played by that little bitch?" He asks, more baffled than anything else.

But confusion quickly gives way before his unending rage, "I'll splatter your guts all over the floor, walls and ceiling you annoying cunt!" he screams as he fires a volley of grenades at the steps.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Whether he's aiming for you or MUMA, you can't tell, that's if he's aimming at all, shattered pieces of bricks and stone step going flying all over as he turns the entire area into a series of blast-shaped holes.

"Damn..." you cover your head as you and MUMA enter the archway.

You dash down the archway, exotic Fauna and beautiful flowers surround you on all sides as you run down the glass structure to the inviting doors of the club ahead of you.

You grab the doors handles (Yes! Made it! Now I just need to find a good place to set up an ambush-) you think as you pull them.

However the doors don't budge, (Huh? Huh?) confusion fills you as you push and pull the two doors with all your might, but they refuse to show even the slightest sign of movement.

(But why? Why isn't it-) you then look up to see a flash briefing sign above the door.

The words on the screen read, Due to recent gas leak, no party-goers or personal allowed in the club. We will be open again in a week it explains.

You slam your hands against the glass doors, (I don't have a week! I probably don't even have a few minutes with him chasing me! Give me a break!) you scream internally.

STOMP, STOMP, STOMP! It's then you turn around as you hear the sound of violent stomping coming from behind you.

You panic as you look around, (Oh no! Oh no! OH CRAP! What am I supposed to do now) you wonder as MUMA readies her rifle for combat.

It's then you look to the beautiful bushes again and decide your best course of action.

Swish!swish! go the leaves and brush around you as you and MUMA dodge inside the foliage and go quiet.

(Darn, I don't want to hide here, but I can't face him in a narrow area like this...) you realize.

He then stomps his way into the archway, launcher primed and ready as he scans the area and finds nothing. He stops as he analyzes the area.

"That little cunt, where'd she go? I know I saw her run down this way..." He says as moves down the archway, grenade launcher primed and ready.

>Roll1d100+10

>DC: 60

Rolled 75 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>3443763

Rolled 48 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>3443763

>>3443764
>>3443767

Next few posts will be the lasts ones for the night.

>Rolled 85

>Writing.

https://youtu.be/BbSLyeurl9E

"hah...hah..." you do your best to steady your half-tired, half-panicked breathing as he passes you by and tries the club door, MUMA goes into a sleep-like mode automatically to mask the sounds she makes.

He rattles the door a bit, pulling and pushing it but making no more progress than you did.

"Well she couldn't have run off in there. But I know for a fact she came down this way..." He says as he looks around again.

"There's no other ways to run but backwards...since I didn't see her on my way here, she must still be somewhere nearby. Meaning..." He reaches a hand out to the bushes your hiding in.

"....!" your muscles tense as his hand reaches closer and closer to your location, it takes everything you have to stop your breathing and keep yourself still.

SWISH! Goes the bushes as he rips them clean out of the ground and clears sight.

"...Nothing here huh?" He goes as he looks into the area right beside you and MUMA and begins to walk away.

You resist the urge to breathe a sigh of relief as he passes you by. He looks around, seeing the meadow of flowers and bushes he'd have to tear through in order to find you and sighs.

He reloads his launcher and speaks, "Well whatever. If you want to find a sneaking rat, you have to smoke it out." He says as he aims at the bushes.

(Damn it! If he lights this place on fire, I'll either burn or die of asphyxiation! I can't let him fire that grenade! I have to use this chance to attack his back!) you think as you prime MUMA up for another attack.

RUMMBLLLEEEE A raging sound accompanies angry shakes that run through the ground.

"hm?/Huh!?" you both blurt out as the earth begins to twist and turn underneath you.

File: Howard Billingham04.png (1.43 MB, 2181x1600)

1.43 MB PNG

(They're twisting us again!?) you realize.

"There!" While you're still in shock about earthquake, Howard shows no fear and focuses only on the sound you made, making a perfect 360 and turning towards your location.

You only enough reaction time to hit the 'ACT' button on your phone as the building turns sideways yet again.

CRASHH! CRUNCH! BASH![/b] the sounds of several potted plants and other knick-knack ring through the air as they crash into the roof or smash into the nearby wall.

You almost suffer the same fate as your entire world is turned upside down and you fly towards the concrete wall, but MUMA automatically detects the shift in environment and grabs you mid-fall.

She then locks a grapple to the roof to keep you steady, hanging upside down as the building seems like it's about to topple over.

Howard doesn't even seem to mind the shift in movement, he never breaks his aim, even as his legs fly where his head used to be, he just adjusts his aim and squeezes the trigger.

Your charge reaches 100% and as he pulls the trigger, you activate your attack.

DOOOOOM/BOOOOOM! Two simultaneous explosions ring out, lighting meets metal and grenade meets glass as half your attack misses him, but you catch him in the after-shock, sending him flying down the corridor and into the back-wall.

>-50 Armor (-210 Points remaining)

The exchange isn't one-sided however, while the grenade misses the direct attack, it crashes into the roof right above you.

MUMA makes the quick decision to pull in it's grapple to save it and make some distance between the fiery blast, it allows you to avoid the worst of it, but the force of the blast still sends you and MUMA barreling into the glass doors of the club.

CRASHHHHHH! goes the two doors as you feel bits of glass tear through your suit and cut at your back.

>-10 Life (70 points remaining) ((Etheline))

>-10 Armor (110 points remaining) ((Etheline))

>-20 Life (80 points remaining) ((MUMA))

>-20 Armor (80 points remaining) ((MUMA))

"ARGHHH!" you scream as the building corrects itself and you and MUMA land on your sides as you correct yourselves.

You put a shaky hand to your bleeding back as you stand up, you notice a particular bad dent in MUMA's chassis and a few shaky parts on her left arm.

(Only a the shock from one of his explosives does this much damage? I'm out of my league here!) you realize.

STOMP! STOMP! STOMP! You then hear that heavy angry step again.

You look forward to see Howard dashing towards you, his charge reminiscent of a bull as he tries to get back in effective range again.

"Not even a second to relax..." you complain as MUMA readies herself for combat.

https://youtu.be/DFGJMfZmcGQ

BATTLE COMMENCES

ROUND 2

Party Status

Etheline:

>Life: 70/80

>Armor: 110/120

>Status effects: N/A

MUMA:

>Life: 80/100

>Armor: 80/100

>Current mode: [SENTINEL] [+10 attack, -5 evasion, -5 defense]

VS

>Howard:

>Life: ???/???

>Armor: 210/300

>Status Effects: Peak condition

What will you do?

>Retreat deeper into the club

>Meet his charge head on

>>3443866
Boy if that isn't a sign of how tired I am, I don't know what is, I thought making beginner mistakes like this was beneath me but clearly not. Goodnight for now anons, I'll run at 12:00 PM EST tomorrow, for real this time.

(Bare in mind, Daylight savings time doesn't apply where I live.)

>>3443872
>>Retreat deeper into the club

>>3443872
>>Retreat deeper into the club
Not gonna win in a 1v1, pull a Reynauld

>>3443872
>>Retreat deeper into the club

>>3443875
>(Bare in mind, Daylight savings time doesn't apply where I live.)
What? I didn't know that was possible

>>3443919
>pull a Reynauld
I'm all for calling it that from now on

>>3443895
>>3443919
>>3444017

And I'm back, I'm still in the middle of eating breakfast but I shall start writing this up anyway.

>When things don't go your way, just pull a Reynuald and run the other way!

While I do so, decide on MUMA's actions for me.

Machince master

>Have MUMA provide covering fire for you while you run.

>Have MUMA engage Howard in combat to distract him while you run.

>Have MUMA carry you and protect you from any incoming damage

Combat Modes

>Change to Scout Mode! (+10 Evasion, -5 Defense, -5 Attack)

>Change to Firewall Mode! (+10 Defense, -5 Evasion, -5 Attack)

>Stay in Sentinel Mode!

>>3444380
>>Have MUMA carry you and protect you from any incoming damage
>Change to Scout Mode! (+10 Evasion, -5 Defense, -5 Attack)
Avoid separating from MUMA, without machines Etheline is a sitting duck

>>3444380
Have Muma carry us and run.

Go into defense mode, Muma is hurt already

>>3444380
>Have MUMA carry you and protect you from any incoming damage
>Change to Scout Mode! (+10 Evasion, -5 Defense, -5 Attack)

>>3444389
>>3444398
>>3444462

Sorry for the delay my computer just decided to shit the bed, but looks like I came just in time for the vote to be decided!

>MUMA carries in scout mode

>Roll1d100+20 (+10 from machine master, +10 from evasion bonus)

>DC:70

Rolled 96 + 20 (1d100 + 20)

>>3444467

Rolled 39 + 20 (1d100 + 20)

>>3444467

>>3444503
>>3444522

>Rolled 116

>MUMA! Engage [Get the hell out] thrusters!

>Writing.

File: TopsieTurby (Club Eden).jpg (67 KB, 630x405)

67 KB JPG

You take a second to entertain the possibility of trying to face him head on, as you look upon him charging in, you see that chips and cracks in his armor that, proving that your attacks are doing something at least.

But the searing pain in your back and the lack of any maneuverable ground quickly bring you to the reality of your situation, facing him here would be a death sentence.

Knowing this, you punch in a series of commands as you turn around and run deeper into the club.

"You're not getting away you sneaky little rat!" Howard exclaims as he speeds up his chase.

You ignore his angry shouts as you down the halls of the club, MUMA transforms behind you, bending to the floor, the once humanoid machine replaces it's arms and legs with wheels as all it's extremities become slits.

The rifle in it's hand folds into it's back as a new, light-weight shell covers it's body and it takes a more horse-like shape.

Scout mode Engaged reads the screen of your phone as MUMA, now twice as fast and three times as agile catches up to you in an instant, running alongside you, You clamber unto MUMA as she dashes off deeper into the building.

https://youtu.be/agCiXI8kZjE

As you dash deeper into the club, hypnotic, electronic music blares over the stereo, it fills your ears to the brim like water, deafening you to your surroundings as you blast past the entrance gate and head into the dance area.

"Oh wow..." you whisper out as you look into the rave club, long metal poles dot the dance floor, at the top of them hang colorful cages where dancers would mesmerize the guests.

At the far end of the room, you see a DJ mixer, currently unmanned, but assortments of buttons and knobs indicate complete control over the atmosphere of the room.

A little ways away from the DJ Mixer, a bar stocked with liquor, brandy, whisky and other spirits lining the shelves.

BOOM!

"AH!" your admiration is brought to an end as you narrowly dodge an explosion which turns the floor you just stood on into a burnt crater.

Howard emerges from the smoke of the explosion he just created, launcher poised and at the ready to fire.

In a panic, you look further down the hall to see a dead-end at the end of it. He squeezes the trigger and readies to blow you away, that is, until MUMA automatically finds a risky, but clear way to escape.

Opening a small slot at her front, she fires a grappling hook that catches the cages hanging above sending you skywards and swinging around the club floor.

BOOM!BOOM! That cage is blown away, crashing to the dance floor and taking the metal pole it was attached to down with it.

But MUMA is faster than his grenades, she fires out hook after hook, webbing around the place like a spider, she dances through the air, avoiding all the explosives that utterly destroy the roof of the club.

So much smoke and soot consumes the area, that you're able to use it as cover to fall from the roof and unto the ground, you duck in cover behind the bar you saw earlier and go quiet.

After emptying his cylinders, Howard jumps down to the dance floor and speaks as he reloads, "Good Christ, you have to be the slipperiest little shit I've ever taken on." He complains.

"Gonna just wait for me to catch your ass in a corner where you can't guard yourself again!? How about taking the initiative for once and attacking me! You never know, you might actually hurt me this time!" He advises.

(Is he giving me advice? Does he underestimate me that much that he thinks I don't even know that?) you think, a rage flaring up in.

You peep your head out and survey the area, Howard prowls the dance floor looking around for you, piles of flaming cages beside him, the roasting plastic stinking up the air as he moves around.

(Hm?) However, as you smell the burning plastic, you also notice another foul smell mixed in, (Is that...gas?) you realize as you trace the smell back to the door beside the bar with a sign above it reading kitchen

You cover your mouth to mask your panicked breathing, (Right! There's a gas leak in here! It's coming from the kitchen!? Crap, I have to get out of here-Wait.)

You calm yourself as you analyze, (Howard caused multiple explosions yet there was no major following explosion, that must mean the gas leak has been contained to the kitchen, with only a small portion of it leaking out into the club itself.) you realize.

(That means as long as that door doesn't open, the worst of effects of the gas leak can be avoided...but...) you come up with an incredible stupid idea.

(But if I were to intentionally open the door and escape the building before he causes it to explode, I can make him blow himself up, with his armor, the attack shouldn't be fatal, but it will put him out of commission.) you think.

(But that also means risking putting myself in that blast range, one misstep would mean...death...) Just the thought it makes you shake in your boots.

You shake your head, (No! Everyone else risked their lives in their fights! fighting though flames, escaping nukes, living though sandstorms! Compared to the risks they had to fight through, a tiny gas explosion is nothing!) you convince yourself.

(Alright, so that's a possible way I can beat him, but I should probably leave that as a last resort...what else can I do...?) you wonder as you decide on your battle plan.

What will you do?

>Grab some alcohol and toss it at him, covering him in flammable liquid.

>Run out in the open and lure him inside the kitchen.

>Escape the club and lure him back outside

Machine Master

>Have MUMA run out and lure him into the kitchen.

>Have MUMA sneak over and fiddle with the DJ Mixer

>Have MUMA Charge in and Restrain Howard while you act.

>>3444685
>Run out in the open and lure him inside the kitchen.
I'm assuming we can only pick one?
If not


>Have MUMA run out and lure him into the kitchen.
as well

Also, welcome back my dude. I'm happy to see you back so soon.

>>3444700

>I'm assuming we can only pick one?

You can pick 1 to 2 command with Etheline, up to 3 (As long as they make sense of course) with MUMA.

>Also, welcome back my dude. I'm happy to see you back so soon.

Glad to be back, but I didn't actually plan to be running right now, this episode was supposed to be chapter finale, but since these fights would take up so much space and I had a free period to run, I decided to give these fights their own episode separate from the last episode.

Anyway, giving the vote 10 more minutes to see if anyone else wants to vote before deciding.

>>3444685
>>Grab some alcohol and toss it at him, covering him in flammable liquid.
>Have MUMA run out and lure him into the kitchen.

>>3444685
>Grab some alcohol and toss it at him, covering him in flammable liquid.
>Have MUMA run out and lure him into the kitchen.

>>3444700
>>3444761
>>3444835

>Give that man something to drink.

>Writing.

While you think up your plan, you hear Howard growl in rage, "You daft little bitch...why haven't you come out yet...?" he asks.

He then kicks a pole next to him, bending the metal like straw causing yet another large plastic cage to fall down right on top of him, he grabs the heavy cage and tosses it into the DJ mixer set, a burst of sparks to rage from the machine.

"ARE YOU REALLY GOING TO WAIT TILL YOU JUST DROP DEAD!? COME OUT AND DO SOMETHING ALREADY!" He shouts so loudly that his microphone glitches out from the force of his shrieks, giving his voice an almost demonic tone to it.

You duck deeper behind cover, (He's so mad...how much pent up rage does he have to let out? He must've been building it for years, it's terrifying...) you want to cower behind this counter, just the thought having to face that monster head on shakes you to your very core...

>Roll 2d100+20 (+10 from Machine Master, +10 from evasion bonus) (First roll is Etheline's result and second is MUMA's)

>DC: 75

Rolled 19, 77 + 20 = 116 (2d100 + 20)

Rolled 6, 82 + 20 = 108 (2d100 + 20)

>>3444873

Rolled 75, 8 + 20 = 103 (2d100 + 20)

>>3444873

>>3444889
>>3444906
>>3444919

Wowie, things were looking dicey for a second there with Etheline, but she made it through.

>Rolled 95, 102

>Writing.

File: Reyson Brooks17.jpg (7 KB, 180x280)

7 KB JPG

(But...But!) You want to cower and hide but something inside you calls to you.

(I have no one by my side right now. And I can't count on anyone to save me. Remember why I came here, what drove me here...) you say as a memory rushes back to you.

You remember the sight of a night skyline and your Father's back as you stared at him. Behind his executive desk, he was quiet even after you entered the room and called to him, wondering why he wasn't picking up any of your calls.

You called to him again and again, but only the third time did he respond, without turning his back, he asked a simple question, "Etheline, dear. Do you think this world is worth living in?" He questioned.

"...." you remember being silent, you only came up to ask him what food he wanted to be delivered up to his office, he recently taken up an impromptu fast, seemingly more interested in working than eating, or sleeping, anything else for that matter.

Noticing your lack of a response, he looked back to you, you saw his empty, dead eyes. His face which used to be all smiles was a soul crushing frown, one he wore all day, everyday since Mom passed away.

"I don't like this world. I don't like the one it functions. It's inefficient. It lacks optimization. It needs to be fixed." He told you.

"What do you mean?" you asked, still not getting what he was trying to say.

In that moment, he finally showed a smile, something you hadn't seen him give you for years as he answers.

"It means I'm going to destroy this world. Break it down and make it worth living in again." He answered.

CRASH goes the sound a beer bottle breaking above you.

A splash of brandy brings you back to reality, you look up to see Howard tossed a piece of the cage he broke at the bottle above you, "COME ON OUT ALREADY, IF YOU DON'T I'LL JUST TURN THIS ENTIRE PLACE INTO A ASH PILE! YOU INCLUDED!" He threatens.

You listen to his cries, but suddenly you don't feel afraid, (Right, I came here to right his wrongs. I came here knowing I'd have to fight people way out of my league. I already expected all of this to happen.) you realize.

The splash of alcohol and his rage-filled shouts in the back do nothing to stir emotion in you any longer, in-fact, this broken bottle gives you an excellent idea.

You reach up and grab two random bottles and pull them down, Howard is too enraged to notice your outstretched hand as it pulls them down to your hiding spot.

(I have a duty to complete, I'm not allowed to die here. If I'm going to save anyone, become a Hunter, knock some sense into my Father, that all starts with me taking this first step...) you realize as you punch in some commands into your phone.

As you ready yourself for combat, you pull up your helmet and lick the brandy off your fingers.

"Bleh...Ah I hate it..." you complain out-loud, just like that night on the train, you can't stand the bitter taste of hard alcohol.

"THERE!" Howard doesn't miss a thing and aims at the bar.

You smile, that's exactly what you wanted.

https://youtu.be/-h5snZTfoEA

As he looks over to the bar, that's when MUMA comes rocketing out from the side.

"What!?" he shouts as his eyes are pulled away from your location.

You don't miss that chance, the moment his aim is pulled away, you jump from behind the counter, tossing the two bottles as you leap through the air.

CRACK! Goes the two bottles as the smash right into the side of his head, dousing you from head to toe in sticky liquid.

You land with a roll and shoot him a smile as he looks over at you, amazed at your sudden bravery, (The alcohol taste hits hard, but life hits harder. Meaning if I want to win, i just got to hit harder than life itself!) you realize as you dash away.

"Goddamn it!" He shouts as he fires off two shots at you.

BOOM! BOOM! sliding away just in time, you avoid the deadly blasts, making it back to the close to the entrance hallway.

He points his barrel at the opening to the hall, "This next one will blow your socks off, legs and all." He says as he squeezes the trigger.

That's when MUMA's red, laser guided eye pops up in his field of vision, "The fuck!?" he screams as MUMA rams him in the stomach.

While it doesn't take him off his feet, it knocks his barrel upwards, blasting a hole in the roof, but doing no real damage otherwise.

"Fucking bot! The hell are doing!?" He shouts as he takes aim at MUMA now.

But In her scout mode, trying to hit her is like trying to swat a fly that's moving around at Mach 5 speeds, each time he thinks he has a clear shot, she jumps right out of the way again.

Always staying within his field of vision, but never still enough to hit even with his wide-reaching attacks.

"Enough with the darting around you damn toaster! I'll melt the plastic casing you call armor right off!" He threatens in anger.

MUMA then leaps back to the kitchen door and bashes her way inside.

"Dumbass! Are you trying to trap yourself!? You're done!" He shouts, his nose too devastated to smell the rush of rancid smelling gas that fills the room.

By the time that's all going on, you've already run through the entrance of the club and are dashing through the meadows again.

File: Explosion.jpg (315 KB, 600x300)

315 KB JPG

"Hah, hah, hah!" At first, all you can hear is the sound of your own labored breathing as you run back outside, the crestfallen sun has disappeared over the horizon and the first stars of the night have appeared.

You run and run and run as far as your legs can carry you, eventually your lack of trained stamina catches up to you and you nearly trip over your own feet a few times.

(MUMA should be able to make it out the back door, her scout mode should be able to escape the blast radius, but I guess that depends on just how much gas was stored up in that room-)

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM

Your question is quickly answered as a blast, so loud and powerful that it knocks you clean off your feet as it sends you flying down a set of nearby stairs.

The explosion is massive, so huge that it almost makes up for the missing nuke of the last fight. The blast launches upwards into the sky, a torrent of force shooting an inferno so hot and red that it looks like a hole straight to hell was opened up.

The clear night sky begins to get smoged up with smoke as the entire club goes up in flames, the flowers, the dance floor, the whole building just blown away completely.

"Owwwwwwwww..." You feel a stinging pain all over your body, the shock of you being blown away by the blast leaving your mind disoriented and your ears feel like they've been stuffed with ringing bells.

It takes you a few moments to clamber back to your feet, debris from the explosion, fall around all you, pieces of metal, brick and electronics, fall like meteors into the earth and down to the street below, frightening the few passers-by.

Splash! Splish! then you hear the sound of water being kicked up, debris falls into what looks like a pool that extends to the edge of the building, nothing but air beyond it.

For a moment, you're captured by the beauty of moon reflecting off the clear waters, (Maybe it's the concussion talking, but I kinda want to stay here a few days maybe, to cool off from all of this...after they're done fixing that of course.) you look to the rising flames, a burning grave for the club you just destroyed.

(Did MUMA make it out...?) you pull out your phone to check, you see that MUMA still has a working signal, proving it's still functioning, but the location says she's still within that flaming death zone.

(Damn...I'm going to have to fix her again...Sorry, MUMA, I didn't want you to suffer like this...huh?) your thought process is cut off as you notice MUMA moving slowly on the map.

(What? What? Is she still capable of moving? How? There's no she should be able to move within those flames...Wait...No...) you then come to a terrifying realization as you look back up to the wreck of death and fire.

File: TopsieTurby (Pool area).jpg (29 KB, 550x412)

29 KB JPG

https://youtu.be/Y8DekFFCE5c

You look to the rising flames, all consuming fire, nothing caught in them should be able to escape, they be burnt to a deep fried crisp long before they could take so much as two steps, that's assuming they don't just drop down from heatstroke first.

And yet he was caught in the center of it, suffered direct contact with the blast and has lingered with those fires for almost a whole minute now.

Step...Step...Step... And yet he's still alive, half his helmet is broken and his armor has been nearly melted off in multiple places, the flames themselves catching his exposed, scarred flesh.

And yet he still causally walks right out of the fire, taking a leisurely stroll as he carries MUMA in his hand, holding her body in his right hand as he walks back into the open air.

>-197 Armor (13 points remain)

>Trait Confirmed! Howard is a [Survivor]!

>Trait Confirmed! Howard has [Moribund Strength]!

>Trait Confirmed! Howard is [Flame-Retarded]! (Confers a 20% resistance to all flame-related attacks and effects)

Some small flames linger on his suit as it takes as he takes a deep gulp of air, "Ahhhhhh, this feels familiar...Yeah, I know this feeling this burning sensation. It's just like the my days back in Bergosse." he seems as you stare directly into his dead eyes.

"The day I was given a civilian recuse mission, those goddamn machines were terrorizing and murdering the innocent. I wanted to save them, I wanted to be the hero, but by the time I had got there, the whole place was already a pyre. The air stank of death, I can remember the look of the burnt corpses of the men and women and children that were lost in that attack." He confesses.

He squeezes down on MUMA's neck, "Those looks...The pain in their eyes...I saw it, I felt it, I knew. I knew what they felt, Me and those bodies, we were one and the same. I felt their sorrow, their fear, their despair...their rage." he states.

He treads further ahead, "The only thing that separated me from them was the fact that I had yet to taste the flames. The anger behind the fire, I had yet to be consumed by it. But after those machines attacked me, set me on fire and left me to die. That's when I truly came understand." He says as he reaches the stairs you fell down.

"That day, I died alongside those men and women. That day, I was reborn as a demon made to enact their will. A monster made in their name. One that won't be stopped, no matter who or what gets in it's way." He explains as he climbs down the stairs and reaches a few feet from you.

>Howard's [P.T.S.D] Activates!

His glare meets your eyes, too astonished and frightened for you to get up and do anything, not even get up on your two feet again.

"You were a fool for thinking you can kill a demon born in flames with fire. Men like me, we don't feel things like pain anymore. So it was a futile effort." He counters.

"I do have to applaud you for using such a ruthless tactic though. Burn your enemy to death. Took a page right out of dear old Dad's book with that one." He insults.

He shakes his head, "Though sorry, I can't die yet, not until I've completed my terrible work. Not until I've made everyone else suffer just as much as I have." He counters.

"....." you have nothing left to say.

Clang! Skiddd.... He tosses MUMA at your feet, she's missing a both her back legs and half her armor has melted off.

>-60 Life (20 points remaining!)

>-80 armor (Broken!)

You see her weakly lift her head, her motherboard and camera at least weren't lost, but the most she can accomplish in her pitiful state is to look up at you. Her single eye flashing on and off as it waits to receive further orders.

"There. Now I broke your fancy toy. This battle is over." he declares.

"Muma...." you weakly whisper as you attempt to touch the semi-broken machine, but the second you touch her shell, the heat of it makes you pull your hand back.

"Hurts doesn't it? The feeling of burning heat on your skin? What you just got there was a little taste of what it feels like to be me, every single day." He explains.

"Well, not that you care. After all I've put you through you must hate my guts right? A monster like me deserves to just drop dead doesn't he?" He asks.

What will you say?

>I don't hate you, I don't hate you at all.

>Say nothing.

>>3445408
>>I don't hate you, I don't hate you at all.

>>3445438

>I don't feel hate, I feel...

>Writing

https://youtu.be/9macVtydSBQ

Before you know it, your lips are moving again, "That's wrong..I don't-I don't hate you..." you counter, voice shaken both from the shell-shock and the fear.

"Huh?" He blurts out with a tinge of anger.

"All I feel when I see you is guilt, when I look at you, I don't feel hatred for you, I feel it...for myself..." You counter.

"...." he goes quiet as he listens.

"People like you...the downtrodden and forgotten, I made it this far because I want to help you. So no, I don't hate you...I just want to help you..." you state.

"So you're looking down on me? I'm so pitiable that you have to come down from your pedestal to 'save' me?" he questions, much to your dismay.

"Well you can shove that pity up your ass. I've had enough people feeling sorry for me-"

"NO! THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEAN DAMN IT!" you shout with enough rage to get him to stop talking.

"I'm so tired of you treating my every action like I have some ulterior motive! I don't! I don't pity you! I don't secretly hate you! I don't want to take anything from you! You've clearly had enough stolen from you!" you shout, letting out your pent-up frustration.

"I came here and I struggled this long because I just want to help people! I hate suffering! I hate it so much! I hate it when people suffer! I hate it when my Dad suffers! When my friends suffer! When everyone I love suffers! When you suffer!" You explain.

"...What?" He taken off guard by your passionate words.

"I just want it to end. So many people getting hurt, so many hearts being broken, so many souls getting crushed. I know it's impossible to stop completely but!...But..." you trail off as your weakness takes you again.

"...But I just want to make things a little easier for everyone. The only time when things seem right is when everyone is smiling. Every other time feels wrong...this feels wrong..." You complain.

"...I have to agree." he states.

He gives you a sympathetic look, "My life hasn't felt right in years. I lost everything in that war. So I gave up everything, my honor, my future, my happiness....all for the sake of taking others happiness away." He states.

"That's wrong. I admit that. There's no way the things I'm doing can be right." He agrees.

You smile, "Then-then I can help you. We can get through this, we can make it right-"

You're cut off when a dark hole enters your field of vision, like a black hole, it consumes half your sight, not a drop of light inside it. You quickly realize you're staring down the barrel of his grenade launcher.

"....." Everything's quiet all over again.

You break it, "H-Huh...? Buy why? You agreed that this was wrong and-and..." you can't believe your eyes.

"Yeah kid. I said I agree with you. I'm wrong. I'm not right in the head. I'm not fit to exist in a happy world." He agrees.


"But thing is, in a truly happy world, men like me wouldn't exist in the first place. And just because I'm wrong. Doesn't mean I'm looking to be right again." He says as he squeezes the trigger.

"No...No..." you begin to cry.

"If it's any consolation. You can take this with you to the grave. Know that, to the very end, you really were the sweetest, kindest person I'd ever met." he starts.

"But someone as pure and happy as you. Doesn't have the right to exist in this terrible world either." He declares.

RUMBLEEEEEEEEEE

However, Just as he's about to pull the trigger, the building shakes again, tossing and turning as the very world get turned upside down.

Twisting to the left, you begin to fall, but this time. There's no walls around to stop it.

You can barely process the fear that hits you as feel the ground get pulled from under you, you look down to see nothing but air and pavement, a long fall, for a swift death.

On reflex you pull out your phone and punch in a series of commands, if you were in your right mind, you would have never had done this, because you would assume that MUMA was too broken to even receive commands.

But in this case, your panicking was actually to your advantage, for MUMA still has enough power in her to fire two grappling hooks, (Yes! I can make it out of this!) you're about to press the button when you look out and see Howard flying further away from you.

Times slows as you reach an impasse, (But wait, if I fire it off now, there's no way he'll survive...I chipped away at his armor so much that this fall really will kill him. And it's be my fault...I'd...kill...him) The thought runs through your mind and you have to come to a decision.

What will you do?

>Save yourself, let him fall.

>Risk saving him aswell.

>>3445547
>>Risk saving him aswell.

>>3445556

The choice is made.

>Roll1d100+10

>DC:80

Rolled 9 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

Rolled 21 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>3445598

Rolled 61 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>3445598
Oh shit, we're gonna die aren't we?

>>3445625
>>3445641
>>3445648

Ohhhh my.

>Do you have any regrets?

>Writing.

https://youtu.be/M5vfIl6RDW8

(If I don't save him here, after everything I just said, I'll be a complete hypocrite! I can't just give up on him now!) You don't have time to mull over it, you just have to act.

You activate one of MUMA's grappling hooks, sticking her to the building as you close in Howard's falling form.

"...." he doesn't scream, for a moment you think that the fall might have frightened him unconscious, but then you get close enough that you see his face.

It's relaxed, no rather, accepting, he's accepted the fact that's he going to die and given up.

The sight of those peaceful eyes, filled with bliss, grabbed by a sense of freedom he hasn't had in ages, they fill you with...

Unfathomable rage, "DON'T YOU DARE GIVE UP NOW!!" you shout loud enough to blow past the loud breeze that hitting your ears.

he wakes up from his pleasant dream and looks back to you as you punch in a commands to your phone, "HOW ARE YOU EVER GOING TO MAKE CHANGE IF YOU JUST GIVE UP! YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO JUST DIE LIKE THIS! I WON'T IT HAPPEN!" you shout as you grab his long, heavy metallic leg.

You attempt to pull him back, but his body is far too heavy for you to even attempt to maneuver in this situation, you growl in rage, "DAMN IT! IF I ONLY HAD MORE STRENGTH!" you curse your own weakness to the heavens as you realize there's no way you can pull both him and you to safety, not with that this much weight.

"Let me fall kid." It's quiet, but you certainly hear him speak.

You look to him as he talks again, "Save yourself. It's my time. Just let it happen." He commands.

Tears well up in your eyes that get blown away by the violent gusts, "I REFUSE! I REFUSE TO GIVE UP ON YOU." You scream.

That's when a idea hits you, you don't even have time to consider how foolish it is before you're acting on it, you hit the 'ACT' command on your phone before tossing it into the air and grabbing his legs with both hands.

Adrenaline pumps through your veins in a flood, you use every muscle in your upper body to toss him backwards into MUMA's range.

And the ensuing force of your swing shoots you out of MUMA's range.

For a brief instant, everything freezes. As a grapple shoots out and catches Howard by the foot, he looks to you, completely and utterly blown away both literally and mentally.

https://youtu.be/7X3Me4qPTY8

You smile at him as you start thinking back, your life for the past few weeks coming to you, (Oh man...Just when did I get here? I could've sworn just a month ago, I was building mechs in a lab back home. My biggest worry being whether or not I'll impress my Dad with something amazing this time.) you start.

(But then my Dad starting losing his mind, or rather, he had been for a while and I just didn't want to admit that...And I hated the fact that I couldn't do anything to help him. To help anyone.) you realize.

(So then I went and trained, built myself an arsenal and came down here, thinking I could make myself into the one thing I'm not...a hero. One that could save the world from it's suffering.) you think.

(Well, I guess in the end my wish came half came true. I might not save the world, but at least I got to save somebody else. So at least I'm a hero to one person...maybe anyway.) you comfort yourself.

(Speaking of heroes, I guess I don't really need to worry, I met plenty of good people in this short but amazing journey. Flourette, Noell, Mr.Landon, Mr.Bradford....Derrick....) you lose your train of thought for a second.

(With guys like them around, I'm sure the world will be fine. Even if I'm not around...to see it...) you feel fear for but a moment before shaking it away.

(It was a good life. I just wish I could've lived it, a little longer...) you think as you accept your fate.

GRAB! Its then you feel a hand, grab at your foot.

"Huh?" you blurt out as you look ahead you and see Howard, his hand outstretched and his leg grabbed by the grapple as he pulls you in.

"You have no right dying before me you stupid bitch." he insults as he pulls you in close and covers you with his body.

You then swing like a pendulum downward, your wire catching the side of the building and swinging you upwards, smashing you through a window of a room on the lower floor.

"AHHHHHHHHHHH-GAH!" you scream as you slam into the back wall of the room, fortunately, the building correct itself before you have a chance to fall back through the window.

You fall down again as you smash into a surprisingly soft bed, breaking your fall, but not stopping everything from hurting like hell.

You can't feel your left arm and calling the stirring in your stomach extreme vertigo would be putting it lightly.

You collapse onto the side of the bed, your legs no longer have the strength to support you.

Howard on the other hand gets up perfectly fine, he picks up his launcher as he stomps over to you.

"hah....hah" you can feel your consciousness waning on you, your breath is weak, your body is weak, your spirit too.

"Why?" That's when you hear his voice and crane your head up at him.

His helmet has completely fallen off, his ugly burns stare down at you with rage-filled eyes, "....huh?" you whisper out.

"Why? Why did you save me?" He asks.

"Why....?" you can barely process what he's saying.

"That was your perfect chance. If you had let me fall, you could've won the fight and rid the world of me. You had the chance, why did you waste it?" He asks of you, belligerent.

You smile at his anger, "The real waste...would've been letting you die..." you answer.

"What?" he asks.

"You're not the monster...you think you are...You're a good man, you're just....misguided is all. You want to make things right...you just have the wrong way of going at it." you console him.

"The wrong way?" He questions more of himself than you.

"If I let you fall to your death there...all of my words really would've just been platitudes...I meant it when I said I'd make up for my Father's...Failings....." Those are your final words as your consciousness fails you.

https://youtu.be/0V-WGwJJj58

"....." you stare down at the weak little girl, her form peaceful and smiling even as her body finally fails her.

"You...How could you say that...?" you ask of yourself as you begin to contemplate what she means.

Your name is Howard Billingham and this is the most conflicted you've felt in your life.

(My death would be a waste? I'm a good man? I'm just misguided?) you wonder.

(Am I being scolded like a kid by a girl nearly a quarter my age? What fucking right does she think she has to lecture me about anything she know that I don't!?) you wonder.

You aim your launcher down at her, (Me? A good person? That's so goddamn stupid I can't believe she even bothered entertaining the thought. Can't she see straight? Just one look at me will tell you I'm a monster, right down to my core.) you counter.

You squeeze the trigger, (If I kill her here and now. I'll get my license and It'll be her Dad next. It's sad that I don't get the chance to torture you in front of your friends, but I guess we're both shit out of luck huh?)

NO! THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEAN DAMN IT!

But before you can pull the trigger, you hear her shouting at you from the back of your mind.

I came here and I struggled this long because I just want to help people! I hate suffering! I hate it so much! I hate it when people suffer!

(Those words of hers. They were the real deal, weren't they?) you realize.

I just want it to end. So many people getting hurt, so many hearts being broken, so many souls getting crushed...

(I used to say the same thing a long time ago...before I became like this...) you feel a nice sense of nostalgia, looking back a version of you that wasn't so full of hate and edge.

File: Howard Billingham05.jpg (42 KB, 480x576)

42 KB JPG

It's then for a brief moment your rage escapes you, you look around and see a standing mirror beside you, you see yourself about to blow a young girl into a pile of fine paste.

And in that instant, you can't help but laugh, "haha...Hahahaha..." It's been a long time since you've heard yourself laugh, it sounds weird when you laugh, like someone typed in the laughter command into a text-to-speech program, but even so you can't help it.

You grab your face and shake your head, "What the fuck am I doing? Since when did I become such a pathetic asshole that murdering one little girl would bring me satisfaction?" you feel a rare moment of introspection grip you as you drop your weapon and kneel down.

You grab the girl's head and twist it around, "You're a real dumb bitch you know that? I was moments away from turning you into a pile of soot and you actually had faith in me to change? Only a complete dumbass would do that." you insult even though you know she can't hear you.

"Funny thing is. Turns out I'm a complete dumbass too. So it works out. I'm so stupid I actually thought torturing a little girl would help solve my problems. I'm so very stupid that I actually let a girl 30 years younger than me be wiser than I am." he admits.

You tap her on the head, "You better not make a retarded bet like this twice. Next time you'll encounter someone's who's brains haven't been fried like Ytuckken chicken and they'll actually kill your ass. That shit would be a waste when I'm actual going to let you win and all." you say as you pick her sling her over your shoulder.

"You worked hard brat. I guess you've earned this win and I deserve this lost. I'll give you a ride back for your trouble." you say as you kick the door to the room in and head back upstairs.

(I'm a monster at heart, but clearly this idiot's not. People like her, the antithesis of me. We need more of them in this Earth, they're a rare species, can't go around abusing them like this.) you realize.

You give her a pat on the back, (I guess the age for crusty, rage-filled dinosaurs like me has already come and gone. Shit, I wished I could've died earlier so I didn't have to learn this lesson like this.) you complain.

(But I guess it had to happen some time, And I'm kinda glad you were the one that taught me this lesson. Shows maybe this world has a future after-all? Nah, probably not.) you deny.

(However, even so, I guess you have to just enjoy the nice things you find along the way. And let be known, brat, you have to be the nicest thing I've found my whole life.) you admit as you head off to the roof and announce your surrender.

File: [Impressed].png (74 KB, 292x240)

74 KB PNG

And so ends the session for tonight!

I have to praise you guys for your performance during that fight. There was a lot of ways this could go and you people honestly chose the most exciting route, also the route I least expected, since I was actually planning to kill Howard off here.

Literally almost every path ending with Etheline being forced to kill Howard, or vice versa, you people managed to find the one route where neither of them die, I'm legitimately impressed.

Just a note, the only reason you didn't die in the previous roll, is because you choose to tell Howard you didn't hate him, if you had chosen to stay silent, Howard would've let you fall to your death.

But honestly I'm glad, so far into the quest and character deaths have been kept to a bare minimum!

Anyway, goodnight for now good anons.

>>3445841
>But honestly I'm glad, so far into the quest and character deaths have been kept to a bare minimum!
Don't jinx it

Resuming in 5 minutes.

File: Florette Rutland03.jpg (56 KB, 600x339)

56 KB JPG

20 minutes later...

Time: January 20, 2000, Sunday, 7:21 PM. Nightfall

Location: Renpiri Region, Sunnyside City, BeanBuddy Cafe

DING-DING

https://youtu.be/AV7QjFdNkUk

The door is nearly slammed opened as Howard uses his metallic boot to force it right open, in his hands an unconscious Etheline rests against his cracked and burnt armor as he walks inside slowly.

Everyone stands at attention and crowds Howard to check on Etheline's condition, "Etheline! Baby!" Bradford first to the plate as he brings himself as close as possible and checks her wounds.

"Etheline dearest, can you hear me? Are you okay?" Landon asks, worry clear in his eyes.

"....." She stirs, but says nothing back.

"Etheline..." you groan.

"Move it assholes, give me some breathing room." Howard demands as he tries to step past all of you.

"The hell you just say!? You're the entire reason I'm even rushing to check on her-" You're about to tear into Howard, when you feel a hand come from behind you.

You look back to see it's Flourette's, "Step aside, he's right to ask for space, please, just move." She suggests.

You bite your lip as you and the surrounding crowd steps away and lets Howard walk over to the nearest table and lay Etheline down, "Hey Maid. You know field aid right?" Howard asks.

Flourette looks far from happy to be addressed by him, "It's not maid, it's Flourette. Don't call on me if you can't even say my name." she counters.

"I couldn't give a shit if your name was Flourette or Florence Nightingale. Can you heal someone or not?" he asks.

"...Yes." She reluctantly answers as she steps up to Etheline's prone form on the table, she looks back to Sheldon and Ami as she gets ready, "I'll need help." She orders.

"Of course! We'll gladly help the winner!" Sheldon agrees.

"Her victory would be pretty hollow if she ended up dropping dead before even getting to see her license!" Ami agrees as they pull out a doctor's bag, seemingly from thin-air.

File: Telfour Bradford16.jpg (66 KB, 712x400)

66 KB JPG

>A few minutes later...

Flourette proceeds to take a few minutes to check up on Etheline, the whole room reeks of impatience and growing frustration as restless silence envelopes the whole room.

Eventually, the silence must be broken as Bradford stands up and approachs, "Hey, What's the rundown? Will she be okay?" He asks of Flourette.

She looks up from Etheline's form and gives Bradford a slight smile, "It's bad, but it could be worse. She has lots of burns, but none of them are severe." She explains.

"We've also confirmed that, beside a sprain in her left arm, both her muscles and bone structure are completely fine!" Sheldon assures.

"If she's suffering from anything, it's probably just muscle fatigue!" Ami reassures.

Their words spread relief to not only Bradford, but everyone in the room, "Oh thank fucking god...I swear, if one you bastards doesn't kill me, you'll worry me to death!" He jokes to calm himself down.

"How she consciousness-wise? She hasn't entered a coma has she?" Arztz asks, still concerned.

"I didn't beat her ass that hard." Howard says, sitting just a few meters from the improvised operating table.

He receives a multitude of hateful glares, but he pays them no credence as he continues, "My grenades have strong concussive force, but gave up alot of raw force in exchange for the thermite after-burn, if the flames didn't kill her, she sure as hell isn't in a coma. She'll wake up soon enough" He assures.

"Yeah, you would know, you're the fucker that tried to set her on fire." Vanilla counters.

"Yeah. But it sure as hell didn't work in my favor did it? She still looks okay doesn't she?" He shows no remorse for his actions.

Vanilla grits her teeth in rage, "You fucking heartless piece of shit, wanna try saying that again and seeing what happens?" She threatens.

"Don't fight...." Howard primes himself to respond, but then a new voice enters the fray.

All eyes are on Etheline as she weakly fights her eyes open, "Please...Don't fight over me, I've had enough....Fighting..." She groans out.

"Etheline!" Bradford shouts as he rushes next to her, many follow in his suit as they surround the table and check on her.

She slowly rises up, her eyes leaky with waking tears and her general look a mess after the fight. But despite that, she smiles as everyone surrounds her.

"Hahaha....Good morning guys, or goodnight I guess, it's about nighttime now...right?" She jokes.

"It doesn't matter what time it is! All that matters is that you're alright! Are you...alright?" Bradford asks.

She tries to lift her arms and flinches from the pain, "Well, I'm certainly not dead or dying, so you all don't need to worry about that." She answers.

"I need to finish adding burn ointment, it will hurt to move around, so you should rest for now." Flourette states.

"Rest, I'd love to but...I need to know. Who won?" She asks.

(Oh right, she fainted before Howard surrendered. Better tell her.) You prepare to speak.

"You did." But Howard does for you.

"....." She looks back silently to the imposing man, standing right next to her, his mangled face still exposed.

"I surrendered. Victory is yours. You're a Hunter now." He answers.

"I see...Thanks." She answers back.

"There's no need to thank this bastard Pinky. He's the one who hurt you like this and you carved this victory out on your own, just act like he doesn't exist." Vanilla counters.

"But, that's not fair, he took me here, he didn't kill me when he had the chance. He-"

"No. Your friend is right." Howard says as he looks down at his semi-broken helmet.

"I hurt you. I tried to kill you. I would've killed you if you hadn't fought so hard to survive." He explains.

"...." Everyone goes silent.

He looks down at his own hands, "These hands of mine are only made to destroy. I've forgotten how to be kind, I've forgotten how to show compassion, I've forgotten how to show mercy. And if you hadn't fought with such pride and strength, these hands of mine would be stained with the blood of the innocent. You're right to despise me." He continues.

"Howard...Didn't I tell you before? I don't hate you. I never hated you." She counters.

"....." This time he's the one that's gone quiet.

"I just, I wanted...I wanted to you to see, to listen to me, when I say that I'm not the same as my Father, I won't do what he's done. I'm doing this because I want to right his wrongs. I don't blame you for being angry you have every right to be, but...but..." Etheline struggles to put out the words.

"But nothing. Don't try and console the man who tried to kill you." He counters as he begins to walk away.

"I'm not a good person, never was...never will be. So don't try and make me into one. It won't work, I'm too far gone, too filled with hate and anger to ever come back." he argues.

He stops for a moment mid-walk, "But...You did prove your point. I doubt you could possibly right every wrong that your shitbag of a Father did, but at least now...at least now I can see when he drops dead, someone good will take his place." He agrees.

"Howard...I have more to say...Owwww..." Etheline tries to get up and chase after Howard as he walks away, but the pain of her wounds prevents her.

"Trust me, there's nothing more to say. You'll just be talking to a brick wall. I can't learn, I can see that now. I'm just a disgusting, vengeful old man that should've dropped off the map a long time ago. Changing now isn't possible, so don't bother stressing yourself out about me." He says as he reaches the exit.

"Hey! Wait! You can't leave yet!" Sheldon stops.

"You need to participate in the loser's match for another chance at the license!" Ami informs.

"Well forget that, I don't want it anymore. Give it to whoever I would've fought, they'll do better with it than I ever could." He counters as he pushes the door open.

"Wait!" Etheline exclaims.

"...." Howards halts.

"What are you...What are you going to do now?" She asks.

He gives her a hate-filled glare, "Same as before. I'm going to destroy everyone who wronged me. I just realized I don't need the license to do it is all." He answers.

"Well shit, look at that! He hasn't learned a damn thing!" Bradford complains.

"There's nothing left to learn. This is all I can live for now. Doesn't matter if you see me as a monster, you're right too." He agrees.

"But if it makes you feel any better. I've decided I won't use any under-handed ways to do it. No more targeting the innocent, no more attacking people who don't deserve it." He adds.

"Howard..." Etheline whispers.

"Well want do you know. You taught me something after-all...Etheline." He laughs.

"....." She can say nothing back.

He closes the door behind him as he speaks, "If you can teach a mindless beast like me, you can teach anyone. You're a strong girl, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. They'd have to be a fool not to see it." He compliments as the door closes.

"...What a fucking asshole." Vanilla says bitterly as he walks away.

"Well forget about him for a minute, don't we have something more important to talk about?" Landon reminds.

The twins realize his meaning, "Oh yeah! We got so caught up in the action we forgot to say it Brother!" Ami exclaims.

"Oh right! Of course, she's earned it!" Sheldon confirms.

They clap their hands in unison.

Congratulations! A new hunter is born!

Everyone's frowns turn upside down, "That's right! You did it Etheline! You're a Hunter now!" Bradford exclaims.

"You really had me sweating during that fight Pinky, but turns out you had it in the bag after-all! Great job!" Vanilla compliments.

"I never doubted your abilities. I'm glad you demonstrated them so brilliantly in battle." Flourette compliments, for some reason, Noell gives her a stink eye as she says this.

"Well what do you know, those wrestling moves I taught her came in handy after-all. My pupils strength shines through just as beautifully as she does daily." Landon compliments.

Etheline scratches the back of her head as she's showered with praise, "Wowie guys. You're way too kind, thank you all for rooting for me. I'm glad everything worked out." She says.

As she looks around and thanks everyone, she stops as she looks to you, "Derrick...I uh....I won." She says.

What will you say?

>Damn right you did and you looked badass as you did it!

>You did, but you were too damn reckless, try not to get killed will you?

>>3447031
>>Damn right you did and you looked badass as you did it!
It's a time for celebration

>>3447031
>>Damn right you did and you looked badass as you did it!
>I knew you could do it
>Headpat the tech nerd

>>3447045
>>3447056


>Good job! I'm proud of you!.

>Writing.

File: Etheline Brooks34.jpg (168 KB, 1047x1094)

168 KB JPG

You smile and nod your head to her words, "Damn right you did! And holy hell did you look cool as you did it!" you exclaim.

Etheline is shocked by your praise, "C-Cool, you think...you think I look cool?" She asks.

"The coolest! You're the goddamn coolest Etheline!" You shout, unable to keep your excitement abated.

"....." She says nothing back, instead, her face reddens rapidly like a tomato.

"Uh Etheline? Are you okay?" Arztz asks.

"W-What!? Of course I am! I'm super okay! Super-duper okay! In fact I'm cool! I'm the coolest!" She answers excitedly.

"I-Is that so?" Arztz acknowledges.

Flourette puts her hand to her forehead, "You don't feel cool at all. In fact you're burning up all of a sudden. Did you catch a fever?" She asks.

"Huh!? No no no! I'm fine I'm not sick at all!" She answers.

"Really? but you feel so hot...Are you sure you're not sick?" Flourette examines.

"Cool...cool...I'm the coolest, hehe...coooool..." Etheline rambles.

Landon giggles, "Oh she's sick alright, you should check her again Flourette." He recommends.

"Really? As you say then." Flourette moves out of ear-shot.

Landon giggles again as he stares at you, "Oh yes, she's infected with the worst sickness....the Love sickness, it's just a terrible case Doctor, she's got it bad. Real bad." He whispers to himself.

"What are you giggling about there man? And stop staring, you're creeping me out." you demand.

"Of course. It's nothing Sunshine, absolutely nothing." He giggles.

File: Sheldon and Ami04.png (1.07 MB, 1200x900)

1.07 MB PNG

>Etheline's heart flutters from your kind words! +50 points! (170 points till advancement!)

The cheering and chattering refuses to die down, so Sheldon and Ami put their hands up to calm you all down, "Okay! Alright! Calm it down people! We're all very happy for our sweet little flowers victory." Sheldon announces.

"As happy as you all are for newest, proud Hunter. She's tired and injured from her battle and she needs to relax alright. Don't keep her talking too much, she needs to sleep." Ami explains.

"Whoa, this has to be the most concerned you've shown since...ever! You literally never show concern for us!" Pecahnia notices.

"Good point, what's the sudden change-or rather- growth of a heart all of a sudden?" Dillion questions.

They look deeply offended, "Excuse moi? You make it sound like we're heartless devils or something! Of course we'd be worried over Such a frail girl!" Ami counters.

"She climbed through frozen mountains, crawled through beast-infested forests, saw the most graphic and gruesome deaths, all for a single piece of plastic!" Sheldon recounts.

"And yet she came out on top! She preserved! She did more than survive! She succeeded! What a truly amazing success story! Such a courageous girl, a true warrior!" Ami praises.

"And like a true warrior, she deserves a warriors rest, one we're happy to give!" Sheldon exclaims.

"Hey, we all did that stuff too, where's our warriors rest? Where's our praise and admiration?" Vanilla asks.

They both give her an annoyed stare as Ami speaks, "Eh, who cares. You're a bunch of tough, grungy bastards. You're used to being treated like dirt." She counters.

"Etheline just a sweet, innocent, cute girl. Too good for this world, too pure. She needs all the love she can get." Sheldon adds.

Etheline giggles, "Thanks you two, I really appreciate the love." She accepts.

"Aren't I nice girl too? Why the hell does Pinky get special treatment?" Vanilla asks.

"We said sweet,innocent and cute girls get all the love they need. The only requirement you meet is there is girland you barely qualify for that too." Ami insults.

"The hell's that supposed to mean? You saying I'm lacking in femininity? You looking for a fight?" She challenges.

Peachnia laughs, "She's got ya there Cyclops, if you were anymore mannish, you'd a grown yourself a pair so large that'd get the rest of the bastards here jealous!"

Vanilla scoffs, "Ha! This coming from a chick so repulsive that you couldn't even see a pair if you begged for it. When you will learn to shut your mouth you virgin!?" She insults.

Even behind her cakey make-up, you can see the blush around her eyes, "V-Virign!? So fucking what you bitch, ain't you a virgin too!?" she counters.

"That's by choice, unlike you, I could get a man if I wanted, I just don't want to get me a boyfriend just to drop dead on him and leave him widower." She answers.

"What's your reason for being such a pathetic virgin?" She taunts.

"Yeah well- I'm just waiting for the right guy too! I've got a gang to run and stuff-That takes up most of my time- But I can get a boyfriend, yup, no fucking doubt about it!" She counters.

Vanilla laughs and grins from ear to ear, "Keep telling yourself that baby, you're what? 29 now? Go another year without a man and you'll be more caked up than your make-up." She taunts.

"Grrrr...." Peachnia grinds her teeth but offers no rebuttal, her words ring truer than she'd like to admit.

"Oh what's this? No violent come back? No base-ball themed threat? Did I get a bit too real for you there?" Vanilla's smug exits all known forms of metrics, no word in the English dictionary can possibly describe the levels of smug being reached.

It's so unearthly high that even you start getting pissed about it, (She's getting a bit too high on that horse for her own good. Time to knock her down a peg...)

What will you say?

>Don't act like your hot shit, no man here wants to get in 10 inches of you. (Decry her)

>Actually you're totally right, you're super hot. (Tease her)

>>3447190
>>Actually you're totally right, you're super hot. (Tease her)
INITIATE BULLYING

>>3447190
>>Actually you're totally right, you're super hot. (Tease her)
Smuggest grin possible

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>>3447196
>>3447221

Woah! The smugness levels were so high they nearly crashed my computer, Jesus Christ!

>[MAXIMUM BULLY MODE ACTIVATES]

Actually you know what I have a fun idea, roll this for me.

>Roll1d100

>The higher the better

Rolled 46 (1d100)

>>3447286

Watch this CRITFAIL

>>3447286
Wait, what? Where are you going with this?

Rolled 97 (1d100)

>>3447312
Forgot roll

Rolled 2 (1d100)

>>3447314
Holy hell, a crit

We're the fucking Bully God

>>3447324
Shit

>>3447329
I don't think that crit fails matter in "The higher the better" rolls but don't quote me on that

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>>3447303
>>3447314
>>3447324

Woah the rolls are a mixed bag glad I weed that crit-fail out early, fortunately this is a no DC roll so I'm only taking the highest number.

>>3447312

Oh you're about to see anon, it's gonna be beautiful.

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You smile as you get a cruel idea, the bully within you bubbling up to the surface, "Man, you sure got her number hm? Vanilla?" you ask.

Vanilla leans back on the bar, triumphant in her voice as she responds, "Damn right, ain't no carine bitch going to get on my case about being mannish when she's never had a man herself." She taunts.

"You got that, you're far from mannish, you're actually pretty cute." You get up from your seat, a teasing smile painting your face.

That catches her off guard, She laughs, "Oh man, is my hearing going bad or something? Cause there's no way you just said that right? Wanna say that to my face friend?" she taunts.

You stride over to her and lean in close, your face on level with hers as your eyes meet, "Oh you wanna hear again? Let me say it clear this time than. You're not mannish at all, you're super cute." You comply.

You hear a collection of Ohhhhhhhs! and woooooooos!,

"What this!? What this!? It seems the blonde cassanova is back at again! A new heart to break is on his radar!" Ami calls out.

"Oh my how forward~ Is that your friend Lanny? He sure knows how to get what he wants." Sophinia giggles.

"And they tell us to stop flirting in plain sight." Landon laughs.

"W-What? Derrick! What are you doing!?" Etheline questions in astonishment.

"Hoh hoh! I see you like'em spicy huh you blonde bastard! Go for it man!" Bradford eggs on.

Vanilla is less ecstatic however, Going red to her ears and rocked by your sudden closeness, Vanilla leans back and breaks eye contact with you.

"O-Oh, so that's what you said? Thanks for repeating, I heard you loud and clear this time! So can you just...get away now..." She begs.

(Oh man, I'm so going to get so much shit for this later, but seeing her squirm like this is too good!) you realize as you press on.

"Wanna hear it again? I'll say it as many times as you want me too." you tease.

"No, that's uh, fine man, I'm good, um...thanks I guess." She answers.

Peachnia is dying of laughter, "Well would ya look at that, Ms I can get a boyfriend anytime I want can't handle it when a man gives her the business! Why are you shooting him down!? You don't want to make him a widower!?" She teases.

"Shut it! I don't want hear shit from half-expired goods like you!" She counters.

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Peachnia looks ready to berate her, but before they start fighting, You grab her chin and crane her head back to you, "Don't focus on her right now. Let's focus on you cutie, why don't you like my compliments?" you tease.

She fights your hand off, but you can see a small smile forming on her lips, "W-Will you knock this shit off man! Back off will ya, I know you're just doing this to make fun of me! Cutie my ass!" She complains.

You back away like she asks, but never break eye contact, "Now why would I be lying? I'm just telling you the honest truth, you're one hell of a cute girl, don't let anyone tell you otherwise." you compliment.

The smile gets a little bigger, she tries and fails to suppress it, "Yeah fucking right! What shitty pick-up artist book did you steal this shit from!? I'd burn that book if I were you!" She counters.

"Who said I was trying to pick you up? I'm just trying to tell you how cute you are. Anyone can see that! Right guys!?" You call to the crowd, smugness creeping unto their collective faces as they realize what you're about to pull.

"Come guys, let's tell how Vanilla how cute she is! Say it with me! Vanilla is too cute!" You call.

Bradford laughs, "Damn right man! Vanilla is too fucking cute!" He calls.

Landon giggles, "Vanilla is too cute! Vanilla is too adorable and cute!" He calls.

"Hey! Don't go complimenting other women when I'm right here! Of all the things I'm into, watching my man with other women isn't one them!" Sophinia complains.

He laughs, "Don't worry, I'm just playing around. Besides, you're not the only one feeling jealous~" Landon says as he looks over to Etheline who has a deeply sour look on her face.

"Hmph! She's kinda cute I guess, I mean if you're really into girls with no depth perception..." She crosses her arms with a pout.

The whoops continue to fill the room, "Vanilla's a real cutie! Hotter than my 3rd cousin that's for sure!" Reynauld praises.

"Vanilla a cute! CUTE!" Brovoski shouts.

"I will admit your style is amazing for someone with half their golden ratio missing. I praise your looks. Quite cute." Dillion compliments.

"Oh she's a cutie alright! Real cutie patooie!" Pecahnia taunts.

By this point, Vanilla's smile reaches from ear to ear, clearly overjoyed from all the compliments she's receiving, however her eyes still form a hard glare and the vein in her neck and red in her face tells you she's trying her hardest to suppress both her smile and her embarrassment.

"I kill you all for this! Every last one of you bastards! I swear it! I'll rip all your damn heads off!" She says with the nicest smile you've ever seen.

>Despite wanting to blow your brains out, Vanilla is overjoyed to be treated so nicely! +97 points! (103 before advancement)

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>A few more death threats and compliments later...

Let's turn, turn, turn this wheel of Death, Destiny and Despair! The chant rings once more as the roulette decides it's next pair of victims.

(This next fight will be the 5th in a row we've had in a single day, needless to say, this whole ordeal's been pretty exhausting. That emotional rollorcoaster last fight nearly drained me dry of all my energy.) you think.

(But even worse than that, these next set of fights will be even more intense than all the ones before them, The sun will set in just another hour, it's already a pain in the ass just to fight with your life on the line, adding that you can barely even see your opponent will just be a nice, extra kick in the head. Probably literally...) you realize as the roulette slows to a crawl.

"The results are in!" The twins shout in unison as interested eyes catch the screen, two unexpected fighters have been pulled from the roster.

"Well then, isn't life funny?" Dillion chortles as he delights in this match up.

"Indeed, such a pairing is both cruel and interesting...I must say, I'd like to see how this turns out." Arztz says with growing interesting.

Noell most of all is cracking a grin that threatens to become a smile once he sees the match-up, "Serves them right. This is what you degenerates get for soiling the eyes of the pure and innocent. A public execution like this is a fitting end to your travesties."

"Oh come on now! That's just mean!" Landon, first of the chosen fighter's complains as he looks to his opponent, disappointment palpable on his face,

"Apologies dearest, seems like our fun has to come to an end." he states.

Sophinia laughs, "What are you talking about? Our fun has only just begun." She states as she stares at him with those bedroom eyes, both intimidating yet tantalizing.

"We're just moving our battle from the bedroom to the big screen. Let's be sure to give our friends a show they'll be dreaming about for years to come." She encourages.

"That's right good people! This next battle of ours won't be between bitter rivals, unwilling fighters or sworn enemies! No, it's the very opposite! Our next battle is between two lovers! A pair love-struck fighters that have been getting intimate with each other before the exam even began!" Sheldon starts.

"These two met at the bar of our own moonlight express! Or maybe we should start calling it the Love Train, because these two Hit it off faster than a baseball player gunning for a home-run the second they met!" Sheldon exclaims.

"These two didn't waste a second in getting to know each other, both inside and out." Ami gives the couple a lewd look.

>>3447393
>>3447432
That was great

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"Hey now, what's that supposed to mean?" Sophinia says with a knowing smile.

"If you think we don't have cameras installed in every bedroom in the train, you'd be naive, we see everything that goes on, even in people's most private corners!" Sheldon announces.

"And boy, did that give us a front rows seat to watch these two check out their own private corners. didn't even take 30 minutes after they met before they locked that bedroom door, hung up that do not disturb sign and got to doing some disturbing things!" Ami waves a hand at her face to cool down the heat.

"Disturbing things? What things? Did they practice their secret techniques in there? Were they so amazing that you can't even tell us?" Dainary asks.

Sophinia giggles, "I wouldn't call my technique very secretive." She answers.

"But boy was it amazing, I can personally vouch for it." Landon agrees.

"Really? Would you mind teaching them to me? I'm always ready to learn new foreign techniques." She asks with an eager smile.

Sophinia laughs, "Well, I don't typically teach these sorts of things to other girls, but hey, I guess it will be a learning experience for both of us~" She licks her lips.

"Hm? Your meaning is a little lost on me, but I guess that means I'll be your first female student, I'm happy to receive the honor!" Dainary looks slightly uncomfortable but doesn't let her smile fade.

"And I'll happily supervise the whole session." Landon flirts.

"How kind, you'd put time aside from your day just to ensure the session goes smoothly? I've heard many terrible rumors about you two, but it seems rumors are never to be trusted after-all. You two are upstanding individuals." Dainary still doesn't get it.

"I won't turn away those rumors if I were you, kind or not, play around with these two and you won't be upstanding for very long!" Sheldon exclaims.

"After those doors locked, they went at it for four hours straight! Only stopping because we pulled Landon out for the Train show!" Sheldon shouts.

"Is that so strange? Aren't training sessions better the longer they last?" Dainary questions.

"I couldn't have said it better myself dear, any real expert knows, it isn't about size or speed, it's all about stamina, that's what really knocks the socks of her feet!" Landon exclaims.

Dainary looks even more confused, "Size or speed of what? The weapon? You're practicing weapon techniques?"

"Oh yes they are, deadly weapons techniques which work extremely well on women and Lanny's a master of them~" Sophinia answers.

Dainary is left scratching her head, "What, such techniques exist? And how can Landon be a master of them when he uses no weapon...?" She's left wondering.

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"Anyway, as amazing as he is, I have to thank you for stopping him.The moment you called him away was the only time he pulled out at after four hours. I needed that break." Sophinia thanks.

"You say that, but you were the one that kept pulling me back in. Once things get started she it doesn't stop till she's get's her belly's full." Landon laughs.

Sophinia gives Landon a sultry look as she speaks, "Speaking of which, I'm feeling a little hungry now. Mind giving me something to eat later?" She asks.

"Of course, but only if you're ready for a feast, remember dearest, when I feed people, I love to fill them up to bursting. Are you sure you can stomach it all?" He asks back.

"Oh Lanny, you should know by now that I'm always ready to swallow." She giggles.

A collection of gags and dry heaves fill the room as their public flirting threatens to empty the contents of everyone's stomachs, "Oh Christ, how have these two not been filed under a public indecency charge yet?" Dillion questions.

"The only thing I'm swallowing now is my barf..." Peachnia complains.

The twins calm the room down, "Okay, okay, calm it down people, if our two fighters flirting becomes a bit too much for your stomachs to handle, we have vomit buckets at the ready." Sheldon says as he produces a metal pail.

Peachnia takes one right away, "Oh thank you, I really needed-"

Ami extends a hand, "Only 2000 Jenny a pop! Or a barf in this case." She demands.

"I fucking swear-Why are you two always grubbing for money!? Aren't you filthy stinking rich!? Whaddya need all this dosh for!?" She asks.

"Well the association funds all our living expenses and gives us a nice budget to buy whatever we want. But there's a small catch to that." She states.

"A catch?" She asks.

"The catch being that the money has to be spent on legal items." Sheldon answers.

"And you know when they say legal, they mean anti-fun." Ami corrects.

"Preach it sister!" Bradford calls from the distance.

"So we need as much cash as we can to fund our extra fun events. We can't go pay those annoying blacks with some chump change, they'll scam us again!" She complains.

Peachnia shakes her head, not knowing where to even start, "Okay, But do you really have to fucking tax me 2000 Jen per throw-up!? Since when did my own bodily fluids get so expensive?" She asks.

"Oh, you'd be surprised how much people are willing to pay to see a lady leak out all her body fluids." Landon states.

"Not that you even have to pay Lanny, you've got me right here and you've seen as much of my body fluids as you've tasted." Sophinia flirts.

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"Oh la la~" Landon whistles.

"Oh dear god...I'm really gonna need that bucket..." Peachnia groans as she holds her stomach.

"Then fork over the 2000 carnie. You're keeping me and your upset stomach waiting." Ami pressures.

She struggles for a moment before reluctantly hashing out the money, "You two are the dirtiest salespitchers I've ever met. I rob people for a fucking living and I think this is low-down and scummy..." She complains.

"Why thank you my good lady. And here's a tip if you want to make real money, learn difference between a good thief and a good salesman." Sheldon suggests.

"Huh, what's the difference?" She asks.

"Simple, one robs you blind and the other makes you blind to the fact you're getting robbed." Ami explains..

Ami pockets her cash, "Learn that difference well and that's when you really starting raking in the dough, rookie." She laughs.

"Whatever, just leave me the hell alone..." Peachnia demands.

"Sure thing lady! Now then, back the announcements!" Sheldon gets back on topic.

"On the left, we have a self-proclaimed Kinky Gentleman with a lot more the kink and a lot less of the gentle! A beast in streets and a predator in the sheets! He's probably seen as many jail cells as he has women! We have with us, Augustus Bedroom Basher Landon!" He announces.

"A Bedroom Basher, now that one's new. I've been called all sorts of other nickanames: Sheet Snake, Bed Buster, Hole Hopper, Gratis Gynecologist-"

"Okay, okay, I'm sure if we let you keep going you'll have a nickname for every letter in the alphabet!" Ami stops him.

"Yes, for the English alphabet anyway." He corrects.

Ami has to take a second to process that, "Okayyyy, anyway! On the right! We have a lady who's every guy's wet dream! Or this case, their horniest nightmare! She's like a vampire, the second she has you, she won't stop sucking till you're bone dry! We have Sophinia Maneater Jungfrey!" She announces.

"Maneater?, what a scary name. I don't devour men, they're usually the ones doing that to me..." She flirts.

"I hear you sister! But that ain't what we all came down here to see, the only way you get devoured in this game, is whole!" Ami snaps her teeth for effect.

"Now with introductions out of the way, how we get to deciding which hellzone we'll be thrusting you two spunk monkeys into to!" Sheldon says as he hits the button again and a series of images flash by on the screen.

After a tense moment of wait, the computer screen eventually settles down and on the screen comes a snow fortress, one so imposing and stout you believe it a castle at first, a mistake quickly rectified when the sight of fully-armored tanks, helicopters equipped with chain-guns and missile launchers, SAM sites, automated turrets and many other modern military implements.

"Is that a fort?" you ask.

"Not quite, but it might as well be. It's actually a military Research lab." Sheldon answers.

"A Research lab? You guys bought out a research lab? Are you for real?" Vanilla questions.

"You know, with the sheer amount money we throw around casually, I find it a bit strange that you're still blown away that we use it to buy or rent expensive things. You think you'd be used to it by now." Ami counters.

"Getting used to absurdities is the first step to madness. The woman is right to be astonished, it means, as hard as it is to believe, that she's still sane." Dillion states.

"Why thank you Mr. Disposable income, I'm finding more and more I have to check my sanity each and everyday around you people, so it's nice to be told I'm not crazy by someone else for once." she thanks.

"But if that's right, quick question, why do you seem so unfazed by the fact they managed to buy out not just a research lab, but a Military one? Hell, are these things usually top secret? How the hell do even buy one?" Peachnia asks.

"To answer your first question, it's because unlike the rest of you small-minded Hoi polloi, I gave my mind up to madness long ago, the madness known as money." He smiles.

"To answer you're second questions, top-secret or not, there isn't a single gate money can't open, mainly because it takes money to build those gates." Dillion explains.

"Right you are Money Man! All you need to do is bring a few pennies and sign a few contracts promising to never disclose what you see inside the building to anyone ever!" Sheldon exclaims excitedly.

Ami produces a stack of paper, "Speaking of which, we're going to need everyone in the room to sign and finger-stamp these papers for us." She orders as she hands them off.

"What are they for?" Arztz asks.

"Just some extra-security, in case information does leak, this ensures as little people get hurt as possible." Sheldon explains.

Dillion scans the paper, "This says that if any information gets let out, we'll be held responsible and left liable for immediate detainment with possibility of capital punishment."

"Yes? And?" Ami asks.

"And that means everyone in here could be executed if we sign this! How does this ensure as little people get hurt!?" Dillion counters.

"Oh come now Rich boy, you of all people should know that you always read the fine print." Sheldon points out.

You do as he says and read the bottom of the contract, it reads, -And to the arrangers of this event, responsibility for any possibly information leaks is fully passed from them to the signing parties

You shake your head, "So this ensures that while all of us get stuck in a secret underground prison cell waiting for our heads to get chopped off, you two get off scot-free?" you realize.

"And that ensures as little people get hurt as possible! How do you not get this!?" Ami counters.

"I ain't too good with Math, but even I'm sure 19's greater than 2." Renyuald argues.

"Usually yes, but you see, the 2 of us will be missed by 1000s! We can't say the same of the rest of you." Sheldon counters.

"Surely you all wouldn't want to break the hearts of 1000s of people? Can't you be good utilitarians and just sign the contracts?" Ami asks.

"The utilitarian thing to do would be shoot the two of ya'll and save ourselves the trouble." Reynauld counters.

"Oh, I should mention that just by seeing the location of the lab, you're already liable for detainment by the state. So if you don't sign those contracts, I happen to have the police on speed dial you see." Sheldon threatens.

"Fine! Fine! Ya evil bastards, good god, I've dealt with Mafia Men less heavy-handed than this..." Bradford complains as he signs.

"See this shit? This why Commie states are the worst, they'll kill ya for just looking somewhere ya aren't supposed to. They'd never let this shit happen back home..." Reynauld shakes his head as he signs.

"Why am I not surprised you prepared to push the responsibility unto to someone else without a second thought?" Landon asks.

"What are you talking? We totally had second thoughts. We had a second thought about how we don't want to die! So just don't say a word about this and everyone gets away safe. No bigge." Ami answers.

"Oh it will be a bigge alright. If I get some goddamn Kukes knocking at my door after this all over, i'll be knocking some shotgun shells in your faces!" Bradford threatens as he throws back the paper.

Sheldon catches it with ease, "Noted, now where are the rest of the papers?" He brushes off.

After all the papers are signed, they continue as before, "Now then, this next fight will have a special condition to it! This next battle, we're employing gladiator rules!" Sheldon explains.

"The two of you will be stripped of any all weapons or special gadgets and dropped off at completely random locations!" Ami adds.

Sophinia looks a little disappointed, "No weapons this time? That breaks my heart, I was hoping to show off my favorite tools to my favorite toy~" She says looking to Landon.

"Sad for you dearest, but nothing new for me. I never carry weapons because I just love to get close and personal with my opponents." he states.

"Oh trust me Lanny, I know just how much you love to get close and personal~" Sophinia flirts.

"I know it's hard for you two, but can you keep your pants on for just a few minutes, please?" Dillion begs.

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"And if you have the skills, you can even use any vehicle you find in the arena as well! This place has it all, fast cars, tough trucks, tanks and helicopters! This place is like a playground! Toys as far as the eye can see!" Sheldon explains.

"For psycho-manics you mean. Only a mindless mass-murderer would find such a place enticing to go to." Dillion counters.

Bradford is basically drooling on himself, "H-Huh? You say something rich boy?" He asks.

"....No, not a word." Dillion shakes his head and looks away.

"But wait! There's more!" Sheldon exclaims as Ami pulls out two smartphone-like devices along with a pair of coats, one large and the other small and puts them on the table in front of Landon and Sophinia.

"What's this now?" Landon asks as he picks up the device.

"They're specially made interfacing devices, they hold the access keys to unlock any locked door or gain control of any system within the building." Ami answers.

"Any system? Now what does that mean?" Sophinia questions.

Sheldon wags her finger, "Ah,ah, spoilers ruin the fun for everyone missy. You'll have to figure that out on your own." He explains.

"And they call me a tease~" Sophinia laughs.

Landon pulls up the large overcoat and holds it out to check it's size, "And I presume these are for us to wear?" He asks.

"Of course, don't worry about checking the size, we fitted these to both your sizes." Ami answers.

"And how did you get my sizes? Do we have a pair of peeping toms here?" Sophinia questions.

"of course not! I'm offended by the very suggestion! We just made sure to buy a size for every possible fit, that way there's no way we don't have one that fits." Sheldon answers.

"Really showing off that spending power huh?" Landon states.

"It will also be your spending power soon, as long as you win that is. Does it fit alright?" Ami asks.

He folds the coat and drapes it over his shoulder, "Yes, this should work. Maybe now would be a good time to ask why we need these coats?" He questions.

"I know it's a little hard to tell since we're in the middle of a desert. But we're barely half-way through January and that means for the rest of the world, it's still winter time." Sheldon answers.

"The lab is high up on Mt.Kil-aman-jaro, so you can expect some, let's call it Turbulent weather due to the times." Ami explains.

"Oh great, that hellhole again! I do not envy you two, those snowstorms are killer!" Bradford exclaims.

"We're sure to be careful, thanks for the advice." Landon says as the both of them The two then pocket their new devices.

Sheldon and Ami continue, "Alright, as usual, you have about 10 minutes to ready yourselves, you two have a hitch ride to the nearest heliport, cause you two are going for a flight!" Ami states.

"A flight? We're landing by helicopter?" Landon asks.

"Oh? Did we forget to mention that, as to ensure you two have as random a landing as possible, that we're going to require you both skydive into the arena via helicopter?" Sheldon tacks on.

Landon seems a little disturbed, "That seems like something you should have started with...I'm not the biggest fan of heights you see. And even less of fan of jumping off them." he disputes.

"Ah, Lanny, don't tell me you're scared of taking a little dive are you? It's pretty fun." Sophinia comforts.

"You sound like you talk from experience." Landon notices.

"Well yeah, believe it or not, I've actually had to jump from quite a few helicopters. While I can't tell you why, I can tell you that after nearly peeing yourself the first time, it's actually pretty great." She informs.

"Really? What's so great about it?" you can't help but ask.

"Oh, lots of things! The feeling of wind running through your hair...the freeness of your body as you soar through the air..." She lists off.

"The feeling of your bones starting to crack as you reach terminal velocity, The heart-stopping panic of knowing you're only a few seconds from leaning what pancakes feel like when you hit the ground." Vanilla continues.

"Well, I mean those things happen too, but what's the fun in something if it isn't a little extreme?" Sophinia asks.

"The fun is not dying terribly. Trust me, I've dived out of my fair share of crashing helicopters and I hate it a little more each time." Vanilla says as she lights up a new cigarette, adding to her growing pile on the ashtray.

Sophinia smiles at her, "A valid assessment, but I'm just going off a limb here and say you're the type of person who struggles to find things they don't hate." She guesses.

Vanilla nods, "Damn right, hell, I'm struggling to do that right now, the more I talk with you, the more I feel like stopping." She insults.

"Wowie, aren't you just a negative Nancy! Is she always like this Lanny?" She asks.

"That's just her way of saying she likes you, she isn't the only who's like this, everyone here struggles with finding...polite ways to greet people." Landon explains.

"Politeness is reserved for people who have worth as human beings. The only thing you two are worth is the fact that we could use you both as an excellent campaign ad for teenage abstinence." Vanilla insults.

"See, what she means by is, she thinks you're a pure and nice girl that we should love and appreciate." Landon translates.

"What? Really?" Sophinia asks excitedly.

Vanilla laughs, "Nice? Pure? Baby, if the smell of semen was any stronger on your breath I'd say you just got off a boat ride. Don't twist my words." She insults.

It takes Sophinia a moment to process the insults just hurled at her, "Hey! That's actually super mean isn't it! I've never had an orgy like that!...on a boat anyway." She admits.

Vanilla holds her hand to her face, "I'm sorry, but can you stop talking to me now? With every word you speak, I can feel another brain cell putting a gun to it's mouth, so I've got to run some damage control now. Thanks, bye." She says as she turns away.

Sophinia folds her arms and puffs her cheeks, "What a meanie! Lanny, you hang out with prissy prats like her all the time?" She asks of him.

he puts a troubled finger to his chin, "Well, I wouldn't openly call them prissy..." he admits.

"Well I will! How do you put up with this non-stop abuse?" She asks.

"Well....you get used to it." He admits as they both go off and start talking in preparation to their coming fight.

"Boy, those two sure are relaxed around each other for people that are gonna be tearing each other's head's off in a few minutes." Bradford says to you.

"Yeah, well, unlike the rest of the fights till now, these two actually like each other, so they probably don't need to be weary of one another." You point out.

"Yeah, but still, ain't it a little fucked in the head to smile in the face of person you're about to off like that? Even I wouldn't do that shit." Bradford states.

"They don't have to kill each other you know. But still, you bring up a good point, how are they staying so positive?" you ask.

"I don't fucking know, wanna ask'em?" He asks you.

What will you do?

>Go over and talk to Landon and Sophinia

>Stay with Bradford.

>>3447758
>Go over and talk to Landon and Sophinia

>>3447758
>>Go over and talk to Landon and Sophinia

>>3447762
>>3447774

>Talk to Landon and Sophinia

>Writing.

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You stand and speak, "You're right, Let's go over and talk them about it man." you agree.

He puts his hands up, "Whoa! Who said anything about me asking anything of those creepos!? I was just wondering if you want to talk to them or not!" He counters.

"The hell? But you were the one that brought it up." You argue.

"Well that's just cause I was wondering. You think I actually wanna go talk to those two? I might catch the clap just shaking hands with one of'em, I'm good without my dick becoming a waffle." He counters.

"Huh? Man, you know that's not true, they haven't slept around enough to catch something that bad...I think." You argue.

"Well waffle dick or not, It doesn't take much to spread herpes and I'm not in the mood for some STD catchball today, there's a reason no one's going over to that corner man." Bradford explains.

You start walking over, "You're overreacting man, they're perverts, but they aren't that bad." you say as you approach them.

You close in on them and catch what the tail end of whatever they where talking about, "-And then I looked down and smelt this horrible, rancid smell coming from down there and when I looked, I saw all these crabs. It was just disgusting." Sophinia states.

"Really? I have crabs too and I think they're super cute." Landon laughs.

You proceed to take a few steps back, (Well nevermind, Bradford had a point after-all.) you think.

The two of them notice you trying to back away, "Oh, Derrick! Are you interesting in joining our talk?" Landon says, joyous to see you.

"Uh, sure I don't really think I'd fit in though, I've never had crabs." You counter.

"Oh lucky you, I'm stuck with them all the time, they crawl and bite all the time, they are just the worst. And I can't even get rid of them!" She declares.

"Eugh Oh god...That's disgusting..." you gag.

"I know right! Crabs are just the worst." Sophinia agrees.

"Oh man, I can't believe the both of you are crab-haters! Crabs are amazing, the way they snip and snap at you and how they wiggle around is just so cute!" Landon argues.

"Sorry to burst your bubble Lanny, but only you think that, me and your pal Derrick, we can tell crabs are just a menace, might as well be classified as some kind of virus." Sophinia counters.

(They already are though...) you think as you struggle not to throw up.

"That's just terrible! As someone who keeps them as pets, I am deeply offended you see them that way!" Landon argues.

"You keep them as pets, how do you even...?" you question.

"What? You don't know what an aquarium is Derrick?" Landon asks back.

"Wait what?" you blurt out.

"And I'm saying you just don't appreciate the beauty of the crab enough! They only give you as much love as you show them, if they're snapping at you, it's cause they don't like they way you treat them!" Landon counters.

"I feed them basically everyday! What better treatment could they want!?" Sophinia asks.

"If you think all a pet needs is food to earn their affection, clearly you and me are never going to settle on this matter." Landon shuts down the argument and looks back to you, who's still in shock.

"Anyway, whatever did you come over to chat about Derrick? it's nice of you to come see us." Landon asks.

"Yeah...just first, I gotta say, sorry for doubting you both." you apologize.

They both look confused, "Doubting us? Doubting us about what?" they ask.

"Just....everything in general man." you answer.

"Okay, apology accepted." They don't really get it but take it anyway.

"So besides saying sorry, what did you come over for?" Sophinia asks.

You shake your head to snap out of it, "Right, I came over half to just check on you both and half because I've got something to ask." you explain.

"Well we're fine, so what do you have to ask?" Landon questions.

What will you ask?

>How are you two so positive, aren't you frightened?

>How are you two getting along so well? Aren't you about to fight each other?

>Which of you do you think is more likely to win?

>>3447856
>>How are you two getting along so well? Aren't you about to fight each other?
It's what we came here for

>>3447913

>How do you two get along?

>Writing.

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"How are you two so friendly to each other?" You ask.

Landon looks perplexed, "Well that depends, do you want the family friendly answer? Or the honest one?" He asks back.

You narrow your eyes, "I'm pretty sure we're talking about two different things here, but I'm curious, what's the difference?" you ask.

"Well, the Family friendly answer is that we have a lot of the same hobbies, similar preferences and not to mention that she's a great listener and talker too." Landon answers.

"And the honest answer?" you ask.

Sophinia giggles, "We have a lot of the same bedroom tendencies, he's the first man to have a list of kinks just as long as my own." She explains.

"Oh...got it." You regret asking.

"If you want, we'd be more than happy to share the details for both~" Landon sings.

You put a hand up, "No need. I was actually asking that cause you two are about to fight. Possibly to the death if things get heated enough. So I'm just wondering how you two can be so calm right now?" you explain.


They look between each other as they answer.

"Well, me and Lanny both are pretty used to dangerous situations where we could just drop dead any second, so this is nothing really new for us." She explains.

"And all's fair in love and war you see, and the both of us just love war." Landon declares.

Sophinia's words catch your interest, "What do mean by that? You're used to this kind of thing? " you question.

She puts a finger to her chin, "I want to answer you honestly but it's not something I'm too comfortable exposing to someone who's basically a stranger. I don't mean any offense by that, but sorry, no." She declines.

You shake your head, "None taken. I'd probably give the same answer if some random guy came up and asked you a bunch of questions. No bad blood."

"Ahhh~ when you give such a polite answer, you make me feel like the meanie for not giving you a good answer." She complains.

You hold your hands out in defeat, "Did you want me to say something rude instead? Believe it or not, unlike the rest of these guys, being an asshole isn't my normal state of being. I'd like to consider myself above all of that." you counter.

That catches her interest, "Above that? Above what? Above your friends?" She asks you.

You give her a slightly confused look, "No...I just said I'm above being an asshole, at least that's what I'd like to think, I feel myself getting dragged down to their level more and more lately." You shake your head.

Sophinina's smile fades, "But you're already at their level, what? Do you think your special or something?" She asks, a hostile tone reaching her once sultry voice.

"Sophie...." Landon notices this change tries to calm her down.

"What? No, I never said that-"

"You sure implied it though, that you're better than your so-called friends, that you're better than everyone here. Does it feel nice propping yourself up on a pedestal like that? Do you feel good looking down on people like that?" Sophinia cuts you off.

"Sophie." Landon says more clearly this time, trying to interject.

But it isn't working, her spark a small rage in you as you speak, "Wait, hold up. I was just making a damn joke, why the hell are you getting on my case?" you ask.

"You think it's funny to treat people as less than yourself? Whoa, you must just be a great person, real worth looking up to. The only joke around here is you." She insults.

"Sophie!" Landon shouts trying to get her attention.

but she's too deep into her tirade to stop now, "It's a wonder why anyone hangs out with you when grandstand like this. Do you even like your friends? Or are you just taking pity on them by allowing them to enjoy your presence? Huh? Is that it your majesty?" She asks.

You shake your head, utterly baffled by this reaction, "What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you getting so mad over one damn joke?" you ask.

She grimaces at you, "Because I can't stand anyone who would even joke about being better than other people. It's bastards like you that make everyone's lives a living hell, How do you stomach living like that? If were you, I'd just end myself-"

"Sophinia!" Landon grabs her shoulder and gives her the most serious look you've seen him give, "Calm. Down." His words are less like a comfort and more like an order.

"....Right, sorry." But it gets her to calm down as she peers her head down.

You can only stand there, wondering what just happened, "Uh, mind explaining what that was about?" you ask.

Landon pats her shoulder as he speaks, "Sorry about that, there are certain types of jokes she just can't handle. She doesn't really mean it."

What will you say?

>Well it sure sounded like she meant it, how about she she says sorry to me?

>No, I'm sorry, I guess I overstepped my boundaries, I didn't mean it.

>I'm sorry for that, but that was an overreaction, mind explaining that?

>>3448005
>>No, I'm sorry, I guess I overstepped my boundaries, I didn't mean it.

>>3448005
>No, I'm sorry, I guess I overstepped my boundaries, I didn't mean it

>>3448005
>>No, I'm sorry, I guess I overstepped my boundaries, I didn't mean it.
Let's be civil, no need for bad blood

>>3448036
>>3448065
>>3448069

>Let's walk it back here, calm it down...

>Writing.

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"No, I'm sorry, as she said before, I'm no better than a stranger to you two and I'm running jokes without a thought to who I'm making them about." you apologize.

Landon smiles at that, "I'm glad you understand, but you're wrong about one thing. You're no stranger to me, I've considered you a good friend for a long time now."

>Your understanding and patient attitude has garnered Landon's respect! Relationship with Augustus [Dantailion] Landon established!

>[Level 1/5]-[100/200 points till the next level]

>Level one bonus! New trait gained! [Predatory Fighter], by observing Landon in combat, you now know how to exploit the fear in an enemy's heart to gain an advantage in battle! (+5 when fighting foes in fearful state.)

>Go to Landon during free-time to train to improve this ability or expand the range of emotions that the ability can encompass.

"Thanks, but even so man, you gotta admit, that was a little much right? What was that about?" you ask.

Landon looks down and sighs, "I really wish I could tell you. I really do, but...I just can't." He answers.

"I can." Sophinia says as she brings her head back up, that old sultry smile on her face.

"Sophie, are you sure?" he asks.

"Yes, I won't say anything unnecessary, don't worry." She answers.

"...." he silently debates whether he should let go or not.

"Trust me Lanny. I'll keep it short and sweet." She assures.

He releases his grip on her as she looks back to you, "Sorry for that earlier act up, It's just as you said, I overreacted, I hope I didn't hurt your feelings." She apologizes.

"Don't worry. I'm more than used to getting violent tirades shot at me. In comparison to some others, yours was rather tame." you compliment.

Sophinia laughs, "Yes well I'm sure you're also used to hearing long-winded explanations behind those tirades yes?" She asks.

"Oh, you wouldn't believe half the stories I've heard. Or how long I had to hear them." you answer.

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"Well don't worry, I don't have a story for you this time. Just a quick explanation." She explains.

"Really? What is it then?" you ask.

"I have a problem with people who act better than everyone else. Not to say that you were acting like that of course! It's just that..." She trails off for a moment, losing herself to the past for a second you suppose.

"Just that?" you get her to continue.

It's subtle, but you notice her smile break a little, a sour look reaching her eyes, "I come from a place where if you weren't perfect, you were trash. And when you have people looking down at you like some kind of foreign creature all the time, it's only natural you'd come to hate people who claim to be better than you. Don't you agree?" She asks.

"....." you don't answer, not quite getting, but still understanding where she's coming from.

She closes her eyes as she speaks, "That's all I have to say. My sincerest apologies for my behavior, I hope this never happens again."

"Right...Me too." you agree.

You all share a moment of silence before Landon speaks, "Well that certainly soured the mood didn't it? Hot and heavy moods like this should be confined to the bedroom, don't you think?" Landon jokes.

"There are a lot of things you should keep in bedroom, yet I've seen more your dirty Landry from you two than I'd like to admit...or even remember." You state.

Ow!Ow! Young master! Please stop! from the distance, a pained voice rings out.

"Speaking of dirty Landry hanging out, I think a fresh batch is being put up right now." Sophinia points to a group of Noell, Flourette and Dainary.

"What the hell is going on there?" you ask as you see Noell tugging hard at Flourette's twintails and Dainary trying and failing to get him to stop.

"Well why don't we find out?" Both Landon and Sophinia are already on the move.

You quickly follow behind the two as you approach the commotion, "Repent." Noell commands as he tugs hard on Flourette's hair.

"I already said-Ow!-Sorry master! Why are you still-Ow! Pulling!?" Flourette asks.

"You think a mere sorry can get you forgiveness for your crimes? Liars like you need to be physically taught the weight of your actions." He answers.

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"Your majesty, you mustn't abuse your servants like this, violence isn't going to fix the problem." Dainary discourages.

"Normally you would be right Dainary, but the scope of this problem is greater than you give it credit, this wench actually said I never doubted Etheline's abilities, never a more blatant lie ever told." He counters.

"But-But, I said from the beginning I could see the course of the battle! Everything went as I predicted-OW!" He pulls on her tails again.

"As I predicted? when did you predict anything you brainless dog? You were one of the people protesting her fighting precisely because you doubted her abilities." He counters.

"Well...yes, but still, after the fight began, that's when changed my mind and decided to put my faith in her-OW!" Another tug, harder this time.

"Are you trying to anger me you disgusting worm? You asked me half-way through the battle if we should start preparing our eulogies for her. If you keep lying, the only one who will be needing a eulogy here will be you and trust me, I'll have nothing pleasant to say." He counters.

"Okay, so maybe I wasn't certain of the outcome right away, but nearing the end, I could see that Etheline was closing in on victory-OWOWOWOWOWOW!" She wails as Noell drags her head down by both twin tails and doesn't let go.

"Do you want me to give you DIY haircut you worthless amoeba?" He asks.

"I'm not even a multi-cellar organism anymore!?" She shouts through the pain.

"Of course not, having more than one cell implies you might have a brain. That's an oxymoronic statement, do you want me to deny science?" He insults.

"Alright, you are right your majesty, The Wall lion told a tall tale, that's terrible, but surely you agree this punishment is much too cruel and unusual to be just? If you pull any harder, we'll be sweeping her hairline from the floor!" Dainary exclaims.

"A punishment is only as cruel and unusual as the person you're inflicting it on. And I think lying is one of the cruelest things you can do-" He says as he tugs on her hair even harder.

"That's why only an equally cruel punishment is can dished out to such an unusual person." he counters.

"Okay! I'm sorr-OW! Not so hard-Okay, it hurts! It really does!" She screams as her pained grimace, slowly turns to a grin without her knowledge.

"Suffering a bit of pain is a light punishment for a liar, I should rend your tongue and feed it back to you?" He threatens.

"Sorry! OW! Maybe-OW, maybe a little harder...Ow~ yeah, that's good..." She whispers unintentionally as she starts seeing stars.

Dainary notices this strange shift, "Wall Lion? Why do you look so...happy-"

"Whoa, flirting so brazenly! When did you get so brave you two?" Landon suddenly injects, breaking Flourette trance.

"Mr.Landon! When did you get there!?" Flourette half-screams as she frees herself.

"Where girls call out more! in ecstasy, I am there." He answers.

Noell grimaces in disgust "The only thing women call more of when you're around is police officers." He counters.

"The only one who needs a police officer sicked on them is you razortester. You need to stop." you cut in.

"Ah, you were eavesdropping as well Derrick? And here I thought you would never stoop to the level of these perverts. Clearly I was wrong there." He counters.

"The only thing wrong here is how you think you can just attack and abuse your assistants and say we're the ones that need to head to jail. You can get charged for what you just did." you tell him.

"Oh right. I forgot, you have strict animal abuse laws here in the west correct? Sorry, I'll abide by them next time and beat my dog here in private next time." Noell answers.

Landon laughs, "Whoa~ not a shred of remorse for your naughty deeds my Dark Delight. What are you even attacking her like this for?" He asks.

"I was punishing this wench for daring to lie so fervently in public, a crime that would warrant 5 floggings to the tongue back home." Noell answers.

"Oh, didn't seem much like punishment from where I was standing." Sophinia casts a knowing look to Flourette who has her head down, red to her ears.

"For once, you speak sense, Having her hair pulled from her head is getting off light in comparison, but I currently lack a whip to administer the proper punishment." He explains.

"Oh she was getting off alright, and it certainly wasn't light." Landon laughs as Flourette begins to panic.

"And Ms.Prim and proper here has more than her fair share of whips ready for you to use. I'm sure she's personally tested th-"

"WELL WOULD YOU LOOK AT THE TIME!? ISN'T IT NEARLY TIME FOR YOU GET TO YOUR FIGHT MR.LANDON!?" She cuts him off before Dainary hears a word more.

"Ah yes, should you not be readying yourself for combat?" Dainary looks confused but still concurs.

Landon giggles to himself as he checks the time on the wall, "Why yes, it seems we only have 5 minutes before the fight. I just wanted relax a little by coming over here and talking with all my friends. Helps me calm my nerves you know?" he states.

"Well you've come to the wrong place, there isn't a single one here." Noell counters.

"Ahhh, So hard to get...but that's precisely why I adore the chase, I will get you to call me a friend one day." He compliments.

"Keep talking to me like that and the only thing you'll get me to do is run faster." He denies.

"That's how you keep things exciting~" Landon laughs.

Noell gives a disturbed look to Landon as Sophinia pulls at his sleeve, "Did you say we have 5 minutes before our fight? Shouldn't we get You-know-what out of the way then?" She asks as she points to the bathroom they've been in and out of all day.

Noell looks at the two with unfettered disgust, "By the Fathers, can you two literally not go 5 minutes without having to shag? haven't you violated this place's sanctity enough?" he asks.

The two are already heading off by the time he complains, "What can we say? It's a great way to de-stress before something major. Maybe you should try it sometime, you have two more than willing assistants after-all!" He exclaims.

Both Flourette and Daniary go red as tomatoes as they hear that, "W-What is he talking about? I've never asked, or even thought of such a thing before! It would be unbecoming of a maiden!" Dainary counters.

"My Word Mr Landon! My Relationship with the young master is wholesome! Wholesome! Pure and platonic!" Flourette counters.

"Oh please girls, your feelings for that boy are about as pure and chaste as a Chasity belt and just as ready to come bursting out." Landon counters.

"What filth are you spewing into my servants ears? Don't listen to his nonsense you two, you'll be corrupted by his perversion." Noell disputes.

"Yes, because I'm doing so much to increase the sexual tension in the air, as if it isn't thick enough to drink in already." He argues.

"Don't you have a bathroom to be sullying? Why are you still intent on violating our ears?" he counters.

He opens the door with Sophinia and speaks, "You got me there. Can't waste time if we want to make good use out of those 5 minutes can we? Ladies first." Landon leads Sophinia inside.

"Why should I go first when you're going to be on top?" She asks as she heads inside.

"Because any good gentlemen knows, a lady is always to go and come first. And I'm definitely making you come first." He smiles as he heads in with her.

Noell gags as they head off, "I hope this match ends in mutually assured destruction. This world would be better off with less degenerates like that." Noell shakes his head.

"...." you look at the door silently, (They've been in and out of that bathroom pretty much every fight now. While I'm sure they don't care where and when they screw, still feels strange to think they're doing something wild behind that door.) you realize.

(I wonder, what exactly can they do in their for 5 minutes?) you question.

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Creaaakkkkk....click! goes the door behind you as you enter this bathroom once more. You've been in and out of this room so much in the past few hours, you've memorized it to the smallest detail, noting it's individual dimensions or lack thereof as the room itself is quite cramped.

Stalls take up most of the space and the sinks take up the rest, it's a Unisex bathroom, with lockable stall doors and all the facilities you need to relieve yourself in each one.

But for you, this place has become less a bathroom, more an improvised meeting room.

"Hahhhhhh" Sophinia sighs as she marches towards the center of the bathroom, much less pep in her step and virtually none of the cute sexiness she exuded just a moment ago.

In-fact, her demeanor is quite serious and dour as she sits upon the counter of the sink, putting herself between two basins as she crosses her legs "Good God, finally I get a chance to breathe. Having to act like a dumb slut for hours on end is so exhausting." She breathes.

"It must be, because you broke character pretty badly there when you were talking with Derrick just a while ago. It's rare of you screw your act up like that. Did what he said rile you up that much?" you ask.

She looks to you, once a playful and lewd set of eyes, now deadly and serious, a glance that stands in a limbo between being a glare and scowl, "I wanted to ask you much the same thing. It's rare for you to screw your act up at all. Especially this much over a group of strangers." She counters.

"...." you say nothing back.

"Tell me, what have these westerners done to you to get you acting like such a fool? Hm? Agent Doppleganger?" She asks with a devious smile.

Your name is Augustus Landon, for now anyway, and it's time once again to get scolded over nothing.

And since my fingers are on fire, that's all for tonight, we should be moving to the session finale tomorrow, have a goodnight anons.

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"....." Silence.

The silence is as thick as it is heavy, only broken by the occasionally jingle-jangle of chains in the background. Those are the sounds of those with enough will in them to fight back, even a little.

You are not one such person, you've long given up, you've resigned yourself to this. To these walls, to this prison.

You're stuck in this room, if you can even call it that, it's more a 4x4 square with a door and roof attached to it. Otherwise there's just the half-rotten food laid at your feet, the sound of chains in the back and you chained helplessly to the cold, stone wall behind you.

Why were you, a mere 10-year old, a simple child placed in this prison? In this hole to die the slowest of deaths? This is a question you stopped asking a long time ago, it's been 3 years now and any hope of you escaping is already lost, dead and gone. Much like your spirit.

All you know now is this can't go on for much longer, you know not why they keep you here, but you do know you can't stay like this much longer. After your will to fight died down, your will to live was all that kept you eating and breathing.

Now that your will to live has fallen, so with it went your appetite, you've gone 2 days with a single bite of food or a drop of water, a little longer and your will to keep breathing will fade as well.

"Why...." you beg of the air, your voice is hoarse and weak, your lack of hydration clear from that single utterance.

"Why...is this...happening...?" you ask of no one in particular, you know no answer will come, you've tried talking with the guards, they either glare at you for ruining their day with your voice, or spit on you for making them waste their time by giving you attention and that's if they give you any response at all.

"Why indeed child? An excellent question." A voice, playful and giddy answers.

Your eyes go wide, someone responded. It was the first time in years someone spoke to you using words instead of hate. It feels so foreign, you wonder for a moment if it's merely a delusion, you've been starting to get those lately.

"What's wrong child? Feel you no need to respond? Has no one taught you manners?" The voice speaks again, that's when you trace the location of the sound.

You look up from the deary ground and up to the steel, heavy door. A single, barred window that creates a gap for light to stream in, your only source of it since there are no windows in your cell.

But right now, that single light source is being obscured by a head. The head of a man with a mask crowned with a smile.

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"Ah! A m-monster!?" You can't help but raise your voice a little, it's the first time you've seen such a mask, so eerie and happy like he's always looking down at you with with sadistic glee.

"So I'm often called. But I shall let you be the one that decides whether or not I truly am child." He states as you hear a loud clanging and clicking sound.

The door thick metal door swings open, light from the bright hallway floods into your dark room. Unused to the intense light in your eyes, you put your hands up to defend your blinded eyes.

"What a pitiable child. You're so unused to the light of hope that you shield your eyes from it when it comes shining upon you." The masked man comments as you slowly adjust and peer through your burning eyes.

When your vision clears, you see the man's full visage. He's the splitting image of a magician, with his red and black suit adorned by a crimson cape.

The only way he could fit the outfit any more is if he were to pull out a wand and drag a rabbit from his whimsical top-hat, which is almost too big for his head, making it feel like he really does no magic, as it's amazing it hasn't come tumbling off his head.

But as strange and out-of-nowhere as this man is, something else catches your attention, behind the door, two guards stare into the room, carrying their heavy guns with a cold stare in their eyes as they look upon you.

"Ah...Ah! AHHHHHHHHH-!" You scream as a panic-attack begins to set in, just the sight of those cold dead eyes is enough to get your heart and mind racing.

The magic man puts a hand up, "Calm yourself child, do not mind the find fellows behind me. They're just here for in case that something rash and terrible happens. But surely you aren't foolish enough to lash out correct?" He assures.

"Ah...Ah...." You quiet down, not because his words convince you, but you know screaming just makes the guards violent, you still have bruises from the last beating they gave you to remind you of that.

He walks up to you as he speaks, "How pitiful, how sad, how pathetic and gross the weakness you exude feels. Those weak arms of yours can't grasp anything and those weak legs of yours can't bear to stand can they? This world is much too big for someone as weak and pathetic as yourself to take on." He examines.

"....." you say nothing, you have nothing to say, he speaks the truth after-all.

"So young and already lost everything to the unfairness of the world. Robbed of family, home and friends. Treated like an outcast by the world, looked upon like a pest by the people. You're so pitiful my heartaches as I look upon you child." He states.

He reaches before your feet, forcing you to look up, right into the slits of his masks, you see his eyes, golden and shining looking down at you.

You feel your heart skip a beat as you look into those eyes, It's the same eyes everyone else has, but not the same look. You can tell, pity he may feel, but not disgust, not disdain, not hate. Unlike the rest of your kin, he sees you as a person, he sees you as a living being.

"Listen closely child. I come to your pathetic, pitiful self with an offer. Or rather, a choice..." He states.

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WHIRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

"Sir! Hey Sir!" A voice calls to you over the roaring sound of helicopter blades cutting through the air.

"Ah..." the noise and intense jostle of the helicopter coming to a halt in the air brings you back to reality.

Time: January 20, 2000. 7:01 PM, Nightfall

Location: Zenla Region, 4000-meters on Mt.Kil-aman-jaro, Regogri Research Lab

You hover a few 300 meters above a massive fort like structure below, looking down, the lab is like a single star in the starry night sky, all the area around it has been blanketed black by the coming darkness, only it remains visible now. Your next battlefield.

"Did you fall asleep? feeling tired before a match?" The pilot questions through your headphones as he peers back at you.

"No, I was just day-dreaming of days past. No need to worry about me." you answer as you return to reality.

"Don't worry, I wasn't. Your health or status ain't my concern, I just wanna know why you're still sitting my heli. You're supposed to be jumping now!" He counters.

"Well aren't you anti-social. Don't even want to chat before I leave? I've been told I'm a barrel of fun to talk to." you quip.

"The only thing is I want a barrel of after this is liquor. Those asshole twins don't pay me enough to lug you psychos around all day." He complains.

"I see you've had a long day. I guess I'll just be going then, I've got a long day ahead of me too after-all." You accept.

"Damn right. Your opponent will be landing any second now. Give me a sec to throw you a chute!" He says as he searches around his cockpit.

As he does this, you look down to the facility, after pushing past the feeling of vertigo the 300-meter drop gives you, you map out the facility as best you can from this angle.

(This place is quite large, there must be numerous labs of all kinds, containing all kinds of secret research. It would fun to go looking at them all, but that isn't my concern. Instead...)

You look around until you spot a large tower, nearly 60 ft tall, towering above all other buildings in the lab, smack-dab in the middle of the entire complex, (There it is, that must be a control tower. Now if I know anything about Sophinia, it will her first directive to find somewhere where she can gain comprehensive control over the area. That must be where she's heading.) you realize.

(I'm nowhere near it though, I have no chance of reaching that location, even by parachute. Which leaves me no choice...) you look around some more until you find a single open square near the tower.

(That place will have to do.) you decide as you clamber from your seat to the edge of the helicopter door.

"Ah! Found it, here! Take this!" Pilot extends the parachute to you.

You smile as you push it away, "If you're going to drink right after this, I think it's best you save that for yourself."

"What!? The fuck are you on about? Take the damn chute, how the hell else are you going to get down!?" He counters.

"Simple my good sir-" you say as you leap from the helicopter door, allowing the rushing, freezing winds to play at your skin as you shout, "I'll take the quick way down!" You exclaim as you fall to the lab below.

"....What the fuck?" The pilot is nearly left speechless as you fall to the rapidly approaching ground below.

(Using a parachute would just slow down landing time and let Sophinia know exactly where I'm landing. I'm sure she's doing much the same at the moment in order to reach her goal as quickly as possible! I'm sure she's landing much closer than I am, so I have to make haste!) you realize.

"A LUNATIC! YOU'RE A FUCKING LUNATIC!" A voice loud enough to pierce through the rushing winds blasts through headphones.

You grin, "I'm often called as much. I'll let you decide whether I truly am or not." You counter.

"YOU BET YOUR ASS YOU ARE! YOU'RE FALLING A 300 DAMN METERS TO THE GROUND! YOU DON"T LAND PROPERLY AND YOU'RE GONNA BE PASTE BY THE TIME YOU LAND!" He argues.

"I'm aware, I wouldn't have jumped if I didn't know the risks." You answer.

"IF YOU KNEW THEN WHY THE FUCK DID YOU GO WITHOUT PARACHUTE!? IF YOUR ASS GETS GRASSED I DON'T GET PAID FOR THIS RIDE! DO YOU HAVE A FUCKING DEATH WISH!?" The pilot screams.

"...." Those words make you lose yourself to your memories for just a moment.

"A choice?" you questioned in your weak, half-dead voice.

"Yes child. I offer this choice unto you. Either, remain here and waste away like filth. Or..." He extends a white-gloved hand to you.

"Join me and become a monster with a purpose." He proposes.

You remember thinking, That's not a choice, that's an ultimatum, but at the time, you didn't care, you were searching for anyway out of that hell. But at the same time...

"...." you went quiet and stared at his hand for a moment.

That prompts him to speak again, "I see you're struggling to decide child. Allow me to sweeten the pot then. How about this? Join me and this magician will grant you any one wish." He promises.

"Any...?" you question.

"Yes. Any. I have the power to do anything you ask child. Surely you have a wish you want granted no matter what correct? What is it?" he asks.

You look down a moment and think, "I wish..." You trail off before looking back up to him, telling him what you've always wanted, from the earliest days of your childhood to now.

File: Regogri Research Labs (Ou(...).jpg (262 KB, 1100x568)

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"I wish for death." you tell him.

"....." That stuns the magic man silent for a moment, before he giggles, a delighted, devious giggle.

"Alright then child. Join me. And I shall give you death." He promises.

You wake up from your daydream again and smile wide as you take a grip of your headphones and answer the pilot, "Yes actually. I do have a deathwish." you say as you toss the device into the air, letting it be taken by the violent winds.

You then re-focus on the problem before you, you already decided your landing zone before jumping, so look down to see a large pile of snow built up in the small courtyard you're falling towards.

You're aware there's no way that will be enough to dampen your fall, so you decide to make full use of your skills.

Channeling the energy within, drawing from the pool of power called Nen within you. You envelop your skin in a light film of aura, a tight and tough Ten shield.

You prepare for impact as you put your legs forward, straighten you back and angle yourself.

BOOOM! a soft explosion rings out as you kick up a storm of snow around you, almost leveling the small snow mound you land in, as you remove your aura before any cameras catch you and dust yourself off.

"Oh! Brrr...those twins weren't kidding about the weather..." The second your aura comes off, the freezing cold of the snow and winds hits you like a truck, even in your thick, full fur jacket and overcoat, it's still terribly cold.

"Somehow it feels even colder here than last time..." you say as you hop off the snow mound and examine the area.

As expected of a high-tech laboratory, even here, in this courtyard, slick, metal paneling covers the ground and advanced looking automatic doors surround you on all sides.

You move towards the center of the yard and examine the doors.

In the middle, you see a door with the label Weapons factory above it, towards the left you see a similar door but the label says Assembly Line.

To your right, you see a large imposing gate, with the massive sign that reads, Prototype testing area.

"All sorts of ways to go and all sorts of fun to be had!" you exclaim as you look up to the control tower.

"But I need to get there as quickly as possible...That door to the weapons lab should lead to it, but perhaps I want to take a little detour first..." You wonder.

Where will you go?

>The weapons lab

>Assembly Line

>Prototype Testing area.

>>3449095
>>The weapons lab
If she gets there before us, we're fucked

>>3449128

>Going straight ahead.

>Writing.

You smirk, "Sorry Sophie, but this time I'm skipping the foreplay. I'm going straight in." you state as you walk over to the door to the weapons lab and attempt to push it open.

BZZZZZZZT Rings an ear-rending noise, a small shock runs through your hand.

"Ow!" you grunt as you you hop back a bit.

You flash your hand in the air to cool it down, "Well that scared me. What's this about?" you ask.

BZZZT-Access Denied That's when you hear a female robotic voice, calm and serene come from a nearby intercom.

"Hmmm? What's this now?" you question.

Please state your name, role and business here. the computer questions.

"Some kind of A.I security system? This place really is advanced isn't it." you compliment, (Not to mention this thing's voice is kind of sexy.) you think.

It buzzes again, Invalid response, repeating inquiry, please state your name, occupation and business here. It demands

(Guess it won't let me pass without answering?) you think.

"Uh, well, Augustus Landon, I don't really have an occupation at the moment, so I guess you can call me a vagabond." You answer.

It buzzes, occupation 'VAGABOND' not recognized. Are you an engineer or a scientist? What is your business here? it questions.

"Well, neither actually. And my business here is getting past this door, so if you could just open for me. That'd be great." you plead.

Not a scientist or engineer? Do you do any work in this facility? it asks.

"Uhhhh, no." you answer.

Then you must be an intruder. It says with a voice even colder than the one it used previously.

"Wait no! Well actually, yes, but I'm not here to do anything bad-" you plead.

All intruders must be removed from the premises. I'm issuing you a warning 'VAGABOND', comply with my order and evacuate or I will employ all measures to have you removed. Lethal force included. it threatens.

"Whoa, you say some scary things for something that sounds so sexy." you flirt.

I will re-issue the warning. Leave now, or be met with possible lethal force. If I must re-issue the warning a 3rd time, there will not be a 4th. Leave now. it orders.

"Looks like you're not listening to me anymore..." you realize.

What will you do?

>Attempt to use the interfacing device to get past it

>Attempt to reason with it again.

>Just break the door down with force.

>Go for another door.

>>3449238
>>Attempt to use the interfacing device to get past it
It's what it's here

>>3449238
>>Attempt to use the interfacing device to get past it

>>3449245
>>3449251

>Use interfacing device.

>Writing.

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You sigh, "I can't stand stubborn girls who refuse to listen to reason. Especially when they're as chatty as you are." you complain as you search your coat pocket.

This is your final warning, remove yourself now before I am forced to act on my threats. I will not hesitate toooooo- The voice command trails off as you pull out the interfacing device and flash it in front of the door.

"Hm? What is it now? Do you see something you like?" you taunt.

That's when a slot opens up above the door and shines a strange blue laser at your hand, Level 5 access rights recognized. Welcome to
the weapons lab, Mr.Bedroom-Basher

You pocket the device again with a smile, "Oh I see, you're the type of lady that only gets nice and submissive when she gets what she wants. How shallow." you joke.

Apologies for my rudeness Mr.Basher. My name is The Registration, Information, Security and Administration system, or R.I.S.A for short. I run surveillance, security control and access administration for the entire building. I also act as a guide for new or confused workers when needed. It introduces.

You whistle, "Risa huh? A pretty name for a pretty voice. You do a lot around here don't you?" you compliment.

Thank you Sir, What would you like me to do? It asks.

"Well it'd be nice if you let me in now. I'm running low on time here. Maybe help me whenever I ask for it?" you asks.

But of course Sir. It complies as the door automatically open.

https://youtu.be/uGR5eklLV88

You walk inside the facility, "Well would look at that..." you say as you admire the amazing structure before you.

A massive laboratory expands out before you. Gray, chrome and blue covers the whole area, giving the whole place a very otherworldy vibe.

The area itself is divided into several level, where you stand seems to be some kind entrance hall and research area, with computers and various weapon parts scattered around the area.

You wander deeper inside, looking up to see containers full of all sorts of materials, complex metal alloys like titanium, chemicals like thermite and even a few boxes with the radioactive symbol, signifying Uranium.

"They've really stocked this place out huh? No wonder they're so harsh on inspectors and intruders, there's enough materials in here to build ICBM and equip an entire army with deadly weapons." you anaylze.

BZZZT you hear the intercom buzz on, Not exactly true, Mr.Basher. Everything you see here is only in it's prototype stages. While some of have been field tested and are currently being patented. Most of what you see here hasn't seen any real combat use. R.I.S.A explains.

"Is that so? By the by, where would these field tested prototypes be?" you ask.

Second level. See those large storage units that look like library shelves? She points to the giant storage devices labelled A,B,C.

"Up there huh?" you say as you ascend.