>>4947915
>Read her the stupid manga.
>Remember to get her real manga like Firepunch, Beserk, and Metamorphosis.

>Read her the stupid manga.
>Remember to get her real manga like Evangelion, Yotsuba, and Kindaichi

>>4947915
>Read her the stupid manga.
>Remember to get her real manga like Atsumare!, Dungeon Meshi, and Secret Journey

>>4947915
>Read her the stupid manga.
>Remember to get her real manga like One Piece

Don't read her garbage and show her the superior western animation stylizing of spongebob square pants

Oh shit. It's time once again.

>Read her the stupid manga.
Nice, it's time to be back

>>4947915
>Read her the stupid manga.
>remember to get real mangas like berzrk or hokuto no ken

>>4947915
>Remember to get her real manga like Firepunch, Beserk, and Metamorphosis.
>Remember to get her real manga like Evangelion, Yotsuba, and Kindaichi
>Remember to get her real manga like Atsumare!, Dungeon Meshi, and Secret Journey

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>>4948098
>>4948058
>>4948054
>>4948026
>>4948020
>>4948014
>>4948007
>>4947953

>Read her the stupid manga.
>Remember to get her real manga like Evangelion, Yotsuba, and Kindaichi

You snatch the manga away from your hands. “Fine, fine..” You grumble as you peel through the half-stuck together soda and pizza-encrusted pages. You’ll have to remember to introduce her to a good read and not this schlocky weekly kid’s stuff--well, once she can read. “Uh.. so, the chapter starts off with the shark guy saying ‘It’s shark time!’, and..”

[...]

You spend the next ten minutes reading the story aloud. It’s a surprisingly poignant read for a story about a shark man who kicks things. “..And then, the shark man hugs her and thanks her for all the time she’s spent with him. And she turns into a tree.” Your brow furrows. “..Looks like that’s the end of the first part. There’s gonna be a second part..?”

“Hmm?” Meta perks up, her head low. She wipes the drool from her mouth. “Eh? Were you still going?”
“Why would you ask me to read if you weren’t gonna listen?” You grit your teeth.
“Bah! The pictures were more interesting. You humans have a nasty idea of storytelling.” She looks to the side. “.. I don’t care much for sad endings.”

>Go find the Heart Devil. You’re going to have to get moving to avoid getting tracked by the Axe Devil.
>Ask why she’s wasting time with manga and games here. She’s in danger of getting guillotined and she’s goofing off.
>Ask what kinds of stories she actually doe prefer.
>Write-In.

>>4948343
>Ask what kinds of stories she actually doe prefer.

>>4948343
>>Ask what kinds of stories she actually doe prefer.

>>4948343
>Ask what kinds of stories she actually doe prefer.

>>4948343
>Most people don't.
>Ask what kinds of stories she actually doe prefer.

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>>4948348
>>4948451
>>4948477
>>4948602

>Ask what kinds of stories she actually does prefer.
>Most people don't.

“Well, most people don’t.” You sigh as you readjust your jacket. You tuck the manga into your inner pocket. You’ll have to remember that for later. “..What kind of stories do you prefer, then?”
“Happy stories. Duh.” Meta rolls her eyes. “Like the movie about that stupid human with the box of chocolates or something. Or the one with the time traveling robot, who does the thumbs-up? Those sorts of stories.”
“..I don’t think you’re remembering those movies right.” Your brow furrows.
“Well, whatever.” She sighs. “You humans should only tell your happy stories in movies. Those sorts of endings don’t happen that much, so you should cherish them more.”

>Divinate Meta. Maybe that’ll clue you in on the Axe Man’s location if he’s the one hunting her.
>Go look for the Heart Devil. Discuss your options about eluding the Axe Man until tomorrow.
>Write-In.

>>4948719
>Divinate Meta. Maybe that’ll clue you in on the Axe Man’s location if he’s the one hunting her.
First we try to find where he is, then we discuss where to go.

>>4948719
>Personally, I think humans tell sad stories as a reminder to appreciate the happy ones even more.
>Divinate Meta. Maybe that’ll clue you in on the Axe Man’s location if he’s the one hunting her.

>>4948719
>Divinate Meta. Maybe that’ll clue you in on the Axe Man’s location if he’s the one hunting her.

>>4948719
>Divinate Meta. Maybe that’ll clue you in on the Axe Man’s location if he’s the one hunting her.

>Ask yourself why you tucked a pizza grease covered manga into your nice jacket pocket

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>>4948722
>>4948723
>>4948775
>>4948829

>Divinate Meta. Maybe that’ll clue you in on the Axe Man’s location if he’s the one hunting her.
>Ask yourself why you tucked a pizza grease covered manga into your nice jacket pocket
>Personally, I think humans tell sad stories as a reminder to appreciate the happy ones even more.

You double check your pocket. It smells like pizza grease now--that was absent minded of you. You’ll have to thoroughly clean that out later..
“Well, personally, I think humans tell sad stories as a reminder to appreciate the happy ones even more.” You counter her.
“Hmmm. Well.. devils don’t get to appreciate happy endings. That’s the difference between us.” She smirks.
“..I see.” You can’t argue against that.

But, that aside, you have to focus. An angry, violent, and intelligent devil’s on your heels right now. You just have to elude and outlast him and avoid interactions with the bureau until your savior arrives. You close your fingers into a ring and hold it above your eye as you hone in on the fiend.

OF THE FIEND, NOT ONE REGRET
OF THE CHOICE SHE’S YET TO WEIGH.
TAKE CARE TO WATCH HER HEAD
THE AXE IS ON HIS WAY.


“Woah.. Weird feeling.” Meta shivers. She shoots a look back at you in annoyance. “Were you looking at me with pervy eyes, Onishima?”

>Consider your options. If the Axe Man is already on his way, you’ve got to move quick.
>Grab the Heart Devil. Let her weigh in on this.
>Get going now. Try to keep a lead on him, even if you don’t know where you’re going.
>Write-In.

>>4949018
>“Were you looking at me with pervy eyes, Onishima?”
Yes.

>>4949018
>Grab the Heart Devil. Let her weigh in on this.
She has her agents, she knows where it might be a good place to hide.

>>4949025
>>4949034
Support both

>>4949018
>Get going now. Try to keep a lead on him, even if you don’t know where you’re going.

Let's not lead this guy back to the heart devil ok

>>4949025
Addendum of "the perviest of eyes"

>>4949073
supporting

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>>4949229
>>4949131
>>4949073
>>4949034
>>4949025

>Yes.
>Addendum of "the perviest of eyes"
>Grab the Heart Devil. Let her weigh in on this.

“Yes.” You respond blithely. “The perviest of eyes.”
“Uwah.. I guess you are a human.” Meta rests a hand against her cheek. “Well.. I’ll permit you to look at me with pervy eyes. Is that agreeable?”

You ignore her--instead, you trudge up along a row of dingy, decade-old machines to a corner of the arcade where your second devil compatriot waits. She’s in the midst of a rather intense SFII match with herself.

“..Heart.” You look over her shoulder. “We should get going, shouldn’t we?”
“Oh, you done flirting with your fiend?” She scoffs. “..Yeah. Axe Man should be on our heels soon. We’ll have to get outta here soon. Let me just finish up this match.”
“You got any ideas? You’ve got a lot of.. bodies, right?” You glance back down to her. “Anywhere safe..?”

“I’m not wrapping up any more family in this.” Heart shoots back. “But, I thought about it--right now, nowhere's ‘safe’ for us. So long as he’s got our scent, he’ll chase us. I get the feeling he’s not the type to let off on this. He’s a brat with a super hero fantasy and the powers to back it up. We’ve just got to keep moving and avoid stirring too much trouble with the bureau until she arrives--anywhere should be an option, really, as long it’s not sitting on our asses.”

>Somewhere public, in the city. You may run into trouble with the bureau, but if he attacks you there, he’ll set the bureau off on himself too.
>Somewhere empty, like the forest you went to with Meta back when you fought the Worm Devil. You’ll have plenty of space to move and if you’re lucky he’ll freeze himself to death without the proper preparation.
>Get on a form of public transportation like a bus and just wait it out. You can constantly stay on the move with something like that.
>Write-In.

>>4949284
I like the idea of public transportation, but the problem is watching out for him. We should switch transportation. Trains stop way less, but he would be able to just pinpoint where it'd go.

>>4949284
>Get on a form of public transportation like a bus and just wait it out. You can constantly stay on the move with something like that.

Multi bus drifting

>>4949284
>Somewhere public, in the city. You may run into trouble with the bureau, but if he attacks you there, he’ll set the bureau off on himself too.
Getting other hunters to attack him too is gonna be our best bet here. They may end up being sacrifices, but they knew the dangers when they took this kinda work

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>>4949316
>>4949339
>>4949471

>Get on a form of public transportation like a bus and just wait it out. You can constantly stay on the move with something like that.
>I like the idea of public transportation, but the problem is watching out for him. We should switch transportation. Trains stop way less, but he would be able to just pinpoint where it'd go.

"In that case, public transportation is our best bet, isn’t it? We can stay on the move and just wait him out.” You lean over the cabinet. “We’ll have to watch out for him, though, so we could switch it up. Trains stop way less, but he would be able to just pinpoint where it'd go..”
“Public transportation?” She clicks her tongue. “I don’t like it. If we get cornered by either the bureau or the axe on a vehicle, then.. But I guess it’s better than getting decapitated in some shitty country arcade. There’s a stop outside for the night bus. We’ll ride it out until we get downtown. Then we can decide what to do from there.”

“Right. Meta!” You stand to attention. “Come on. Time to go.”

[...]

You rip a map from your fiend’s mouth. “We need this. Don’t eat it.” You snap at her, rubbing the spittle off on the torn pleather setting.
“I’m hungry, Onishima. Come onnn..” She groans, pressing her face against the seat in front of her. “The food in the arcade was all super gross..”

The three of you sit next to one another on the night bus, the rhythmic, passing flashes of late night street lights your only form of illumination. You’re part of a handful of passengers on the night bus--mostly, passed out salary men and weary elderly people.
You glare at the map--you’re still not within the city limits proper. You’re surrounded by rolling hills of damp snow and passing forests, the dim glow of the city lights over the horizon hardly visible.


“I’ll treat you to something good when this is sorted out.” You attempt to assuage her. “I’ll bring you and Makima out to a nice restaurant. Maybe teppanyaki..”
“Ugh. Not her..” Meta groans. “And I don’t want tepuhnyacki. I want a cheeseburger..”
“Looks like another ten minutes ‘til we’re downtown. On you whether we should switch to a railway from here.” Heart tilts her head. “And.. have you noticed, Onishima?”
“Noticed what?” You frown.
“There’s a black car behind us. I wasn’t sure before, but I think it’s trailing us.” She lowers her voice, her eyes narrow. “I think the bus driver saw your friend here and placed an emergency call to the bureau. They might not know that it’s Meta right now, but once they find out.. What’s your call?”

>Get off on the next stop. The bus driver might drive you straight to the bureau branch in the city. You might be able to hash things out with the devil hunters behind you.
>Wait things out. Keep an eye on the car behind you.
>Open the window and perform an emergency exit (jump off the bus.)
>Write-In.

>>4950073
>Wait things out. Keep an eye on the car behind you.

>>4950073
>Get off on the next stop. The bus driver might drive you straight to the bureau branch in the city. You might be able to hash things out with the devil hunters behind you.

>>4950073
>Get off on the next stop. The bus driver might drive you straight to the bureau branch in the city. You might be able to hash things out with the devil hunters behind you.
Let's get on a different transport.

>>4950073
>Wait things out. Keep an eye on the car behind you.

Might not be the bureau. Maybe we could call them while riding and verify?

>>4950073
>Get off on the next stop. The bus driver might drive you straight to the bureau branch in the city. You might be able to hash things out with the devil hunters behind you.

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>>4950351
>>4950278
>>4950216
>>4950178
>>4950144

>Get off on the next stop. The bus driver might drive you straight to the bureau branch in the city. You might be able to hash things out with the devil hunters behind you.

“We’ll get off at the next stop, then.” You curse under your breath. “We’re in more danger on this bus than off it if we get brought to the bureau. We might as well face them here.”
“You sure that’s a good idea?.. Fine.” Heart bites her lip. “Keep the fiend on a short leash. Let’s hope they don’t recognize you two.”
“I should kill you here, brat.” Meta hisses. She seems hangry..

[...]

With the hiss of the air brakes, the bus rolls to a slow halt at a bus stop steeped in snow. Your party files off of it, one after another. You catch a glimpse of the driver side-eyeing you as you step off.
The three of you line up along the stop as the bus veers away, boot deep in snow. You’re still about ten or so minutes out from the city limits..
An unmarked black car slowly pulls up next to the stop.
You squint through the headlight as two figures make their way out from the car--two black suits, one tall and broad, the other shorter. They maintain a safe distance from you three.

“I guess you three are the ones responsible for the report, then.” The tall one speaks up. You don’t recognize him. “A young adult male, a little girl, and a fiend boarding a late bus together..”
Your devil compatriots stay quiet. Heart looks nervous. Meta looks annoyed.

>Present your papers. You’ve got jurisdiction from the Tokyo branch to keep Meta. It’s part of a contract with Makima.
>Explain that she isn’t a fiend. She’s just wearing a very strange cap. It’s a big misunderstanding.
>Use a contract to knock them aside. Take the car for yourself. Makima can cover for you.
>Write-In.

>>4950365
>Present your papers. You’ve got jurisdiction from the Tokyo branch to keep Meta. It’s part of a contract with Makima.
It's better to just give them the papers than to start some problems with yet another party - just keep watch for the axeguy.

>>4950365
>Present your papers. You’ve got jurisdiction from the Tokyo branch to keep Meta. It’s part of a contract with Makima.

>>4950365
>Present your papers. You’ve got jurisdiction from the Tokyo branch to keep Meta. It’s part of a contract with Makima.
If they bring up the report again tell them it was probably submitted by the Axe devil who is currently hunting us, and responsible for the killing.

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>>4950411
>>4950422
>>4950424

>Present your papers. You’ve got jurisdiction from the Tokyo branch to keep Meta. It’s part of a contract with Makima.

“I’ve got my papers here.” You speak up. You slowly reach into your jacket pocket and remove the manila envelope. “..It’s on orders from the Tokyo branch, courtesy of Makima. You can look them over.”
“Makima, huh..?” The devil hunter sighs as he takes the contract, his buddy close behind. You watch with bated breath as he scans the blocks of bureaucratic jargon and state approval. “Mmmmm..”

“Gah! Hurry it up already.” Meta snarls. “We’re in a hurry, human. I’m here on Makima’s orders.”

He looks between you and the fiend, his eyes narrow. He leans over to his partner. They exchange a few indecipherable words--his buddy begins to back up into the car.
“Onishima..” Heart whispers, her face pale.

“You’re Sato Onishima, then.” The hunter’s eyes narrow. “I’m going to have to ask you and the fiend to come with us. You’re wanted for questioning regarding the murder of Akemi Homura.”

>Explain your side of the story. You were framed by an Axe Devil that’s on your heels right now.
>Come with them. If you just stick around with them for long enough, they’ll see him eventually.
>Escape now. You doubt they’ll believe your side of the story and every second you waste here is another second that the Axe Man gets closer.
>Attack (gently.) Getting your hands on a car would be useful.
>Write-In.

>>4950453
>Explain your side of the story. You were framed by an Axe Devil that’s on your heels right now.
Tell them that if we call Makima right now, she will; back up our story.

>>4950453
>Explain your side of the story. You were framed by an Axe Devil that’s on your heels right now.

I'm fine going with them, but they need the heads up in case we're attacked en route.

>>4950453
>Explain your side of the story. You were framed by an Axe Devil that’s on your heels right now.

>>4950462
>Explain your side of the story. You were framed by an Axe Devil that’s on your heels right now.
pretty much call Makima

>>4950880
supporting

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>>4950923
>>4950880
>>4950715
>>4950553
>>4950462

>Explain your side of the story. You were framed by an Axe Devil that’s on your heels right now.
>Tell them that if we call Makima right now, she will; back up our story.

“Listen. I’m a private devil hunter. That girl was killed by an Axe Devil. We managed to escape after it attacked, but it’s still after us.” You insist, your voice clear. “Makima will corroborate our story, if you could just call her--...”
“Right. Makima. I got it. Like it or not, she still has to answer to proper procedure. This is a murder case.” The hunter folds his arms. “You can explain your side of the story when we bring you in. We’re calling in a separate transport for the fiend.”
“Separate transport?” You echo. “Why?”
“It’s a fiend.” He responds matter-of-factly. “You and the kid can wait in the car.”

“Onishima..” Meta nudges you, her voice a whisper. “There’s a.. weird smell coming near us.”
“Gggh..” Heart covers her nose.

>Warn the hunters that the Axe Man is close.
>Attempt to escape the situation.
>Write-In.

>>4950994
Can we maybe throw them the way of the axe devil as a roadbump and gtfo?

>>4950994
>Warn the hunters that the Axe Man is close.

No separate transport either, she needs to be overseen by us, her overseer.

>>4950994
>Warn the hunters that the Axe Man is close.
>If they get killed too, that'll be more murders blamed on us.

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>>4951244
>>4951081
>>4951008

>Warn the hunters that the Axe Man is close.
>If they get killed too, that'll be more murders blamed on us.
>No separate transport either, she needs to be overseen by us, her overseer.

“The Axe man is close. If you get yourself killed, your deaths will get pinned on us.” You insist, your breath short. “We need to go. I can come with you for questioning, but the fiend needs to come with us. I’m her overseer.”
“I’m not riding with a live devil in the back. You’re going to the bureau, the fiend’s going to a cell. We’ll watch over the kid. ” The man’s voice is cold. “You’re not in a position to bargain right now.”

“Onishima.” Meta tugs at your shirt, a hand over her mouth. “It’s not the Axe Man I smell. I don’t recognize this one..”

“Shit--.. Hey! It’s a devil!” The lead hunter’s buddy calls out from the car.
“..Right. You two, get in the car. The fiend stays outside.” The hunter stares you down.

You look over and down off the road--standing amidst the dark, snowy plains, a shivering and stuttering beast creeps forward from out of the forest. The devil is humanoid in shape save for its distorted proportions and size--it might stand at the height of some of the light poles around you. It “wears” a dark poncho and hood, “skin” covered with a flesh gas mask and rows of canisters. A strange gas leaks from it’s mosquito like mouth.

“...мы бyдeм cpaжaтьcя нa пляжaх, мы бyдeм cpaжaтьcя нa выcaдoчных плoщaдкaх, мы бyдeм cpaжaтьcя в пoлях и нa yлицaх, мы бyдeм cpaжaтьcя нa хoлмaх; мы никoгдa нe cдaдимcя…” It’s voice is tinny and crackly, like an intercom.

“We’ll call it a.. Gas Devil. You two. Get in, now.” The hunter insists, his voice louder and angrier.

>Follow the orders. Wait it out in the car and observe with Meta outside.
>Move to fight the devil yourself. Call up a contract.
>Tell them that you don’t have time to fight with a devil. This’ll only attract the Axe Man to your location.
>Claim that you need to bring Meta inside.
>Write-In.

>>4951265
>Tell them that you don’t have time to fight with a devil. This’ll only attract the Axe Man to your location.
We have no time, this is the part where we gtfo.

>>4951265
>>Tell them that you don’t have time to fight with a devil. This’ll only attract the Axe Man to your location.

>>4951265
We still have Makima's documents and forms for the fiend. We'll show you after we deal with the devil.

>Tell them that you don’t have time to fight with a devil. This’ll only attract the Axe Man to your location.
>Claim that you need to bring Meta inside.

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>>4951287
>>4951430
>>4951475

>Tell them that you don’t have time to fight with a devil. This’ll only attract the Axe Man to your location.
>Claim that you need to bring Meta inside.

“We don’t have time for this.” You insist, an eye on the looming devil behind him. “The Axe Man is close. I can come with you right now if the fiend rides with us--”
“Mantis!” The man shouts, folding a hand over.

A growth bursts up from the ground around you, sending a cloud of snow billowing up around you. It curls, a dark, scythe-like shape through the cloud of snow and mist that plumes up around it. You squint through the haze. It appears to be a giant praying mantis arm--a hard, glossy carapace, feelers, spurs. It suddenly lurches, stabbing the ground between Meta and you and Heart. It draws a slow line between you three.
“There’s the line. If the fiend crosses it, the Mantis Devil kills it.” He speaks sternly, the arm towering up behind him, close to the height of the street lights. “We’re killing this devil and then bringing you in. Stay in the car. This is official Public Safety Bureau business. Do not obstruct it.”
The Gas Devil behind him approaches slowly. An immense wall of gas has begun to cloud the field around the devil as it lurches forward. “Фpoнт бoя иcчeз, a вмecтe c ним и иллюзия тoгo, чтo фpoнт бoя вooбщe cyщecтвoвaл. Beдь этo былa нe oккyпaциoннaя вoйнa, a вoйнa быcтpoгo пpoникнoвeния и yничтoжeния.”

>Follow the orders. Wait it out in the car and observe with Meta outside.
>Move to fight the devil yourself. Call up a contract.
>Hold back the Mantis Devil with the Ghost Devil arms. Bring Meta inside and take the car.
>Write-In.

>>4951688
>Hold back the Mantis Devil with the Ghost Devil arms. Bring Meta inside and take the car.
Our thirst for crime grows

>>4951688
>Hold back the Mantis Devil with the Ghost Devil arms. Bring Meta inside and take the car.

officially too annoying to keep dealing with these guys

>>4951688
Hold back the mantis and get in the fucking car

>>4951688
Fucks sake why dont we own a gun yet?

>>4951688
This is a pretty damn bad situation. Just caught up with all the threads and now I'm really attached to our characters, so I'd rather they all survive.
>Don't go in the car yet, wait for an opportunity. We could probably use the gas as a smokescreen to escape later.
>>4952156
Guns are hard to come by in the chainsawman universe. There's a spoilers reason for it.

>>4952156
We haven't made a contract with the gun devil

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>>4952318
>>4952270
>>4952156
>>4951791
>>4951790
>>4951784

>Hold back the Mantis Devil with the Ghost Devil arms. Bring Meta inside and take the car.

“Ghost.” You whisper, four proportionally distorted immaterial arms materializing by the insect’s carapace---based on the joints and its apparent strength, you’d suppose that’s the least amount necessary to hold it in place. You feel a familiar abyssal feeling in your gut at the call. That’s another four weeks off your lifespan.
The mantis arm creaks and squirms in place as the arms lurch forward and snatch at its body, gripping and twisting its shell into place. You’re exhausted. “Now. Get inside.” You urge the fiend and devil forward, trudging through the snow up to the car. “We need to get out of here, now.”

“Wow, Onishima. This is a crime, y’know..” Heart murmurs, looking up to the writhing, scythe-like insect arm attempting to hack the fiend in two.
“Tcch. Such annoying devil hunters.” Meta groans, piling into the car as you step into the driver’s seat. “I should’ve just sprouted mushrooms in his eyes..”

You move to start the car.. and find that the hunter left no key in the ignition. You curse. It’s on one of the hunters outside, then..

You glare outside--they seem preoccupied with their fight with the Gas Devil. You might be able to use another arm to go for the key, or if you wait for one to get killed.. And that’s not accounting for the Mantis Devil arm, which has begun to inch closer and closer to the car roof in spite of the Ghost Devil’s best efforts.

“Onishima.” Meta places a quavering hand on your shoulder. “I-I smell the Axe Man..”

>Get outside. Kill the Gas Devil yourself and take the key from them by force.
>Wait and hope for the hunters to get killed. Use the opportunity to frisk their bodies for a key.
>Stay in the car. Use a Ghost Devil arm to frisk the interrogator for a key.
>Stay in the car. Use a Ghost Devil arm to frisk his buddy for a key.
>Get out of the car and make a break for it.
>Write-In.

>>4952367
>Does Heart know how to hotwire? She has a pretty big family.

If not frisk the interrogator

>>4952378
Supporting hotwire and if that don't work.
>>4952367
>>Stay in the car. Use a Ghost Devil arm to frisk the interrogator for a key.
>''Laws be damned, let's get the hell out of here.''

>>4952367
>Get out of the car and make a break for it.
It didn't work-fuck it. We need to leave NOW. Too bad if we don't have a car. Maybe the Axe-guy will get distracted by the Gas devil.

>>4952400
I agree, we need to get the fuck outta here NOW.

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>>4952449
>>4952413
>>4952400
>>4952378

>Does Heart know how to hotwire? She has a pretty big family.
>Stay in the car. Use a Ghost Devil arm to frisk the interrogator for a key.
>''Laws be damned, let's get the hell out of here.''

“Heart.” You turn back to the walking hive mind behind you. “You know how to hotwire? You’ve got a big family, right..?”
“U-uh.. no? I can’t just pick at their minds like a bookshelf.” Heart frowns.
“Onishima. The smell’s getting stronger..” Meta cautions you.

“Right. Then.. Ghost.” You grit your teeth as your heart sinks. That’s another week. An invisible arm shoots forth from the void, curling up and distending from your side as it reaches for one of the hunters--the lead interrogator, specifically, who’s in the midst of a rather intense fight. You watch as the invisible arm frisks his suit. It runs along the interior of his suit jacket and pants pockets. The arm of the Mantis Devil next to you screeches against the roof..

The Ghost Devil’s arm curls back, cracking and creaking as it returns a keyring to your window. You release a quiet sigh of relief as you roll down the window and snatch it, fumbling with the jingling set of keys as you try the first one in the ignition.
“Onishima. Look.” Meta face is pale and slick with sweat, her voice hardly a whisper.

A dark figure stands in the path of your road downtown. He stands quite a distance away, the headlights just barely illuminating his form. He’s slowly walking your way.

>Stick with your road downtown. You’ll just have to speed by him and hope to avoid his attacks.
>Perform a U-Turn and drive the way you came from. You’ll have to stick to the country for now.
>Drive down into the wilderness off the passenger side door. You might be able to escape into the woods.
>Drive down into the wilderness past the Gas Devil. You might be able to use the devil attack to escape his reach.
>Write-In.

>>4952493
>>Stick with your road downtown. You’ll just have to speed by him and hope to avoid his attacks.

>>4952493
>Drive down into the wilderness past the Gas Devil. You might be able to use the devil attack to escape his reach
If we're lucky, it might recognize the Axe guy as the biggest threat and distract him.

>>4952493
>>Perform a U-Turn and drive the way you came from. You’ll have to stick to the country for now.

>>4952493
>Drive down into the wilderness past the Gas Devil. You might be able to use the devil attack to escape his reach.
He wants to kill demons, let's give him a demon.

>>4952493
>Drive down into the wilderness past the Gas Devil. You might be able to use the devil attack to escape his reach.

>>4952493
>Perform a U-Turn and drive the way you came from. You’ll have to stick to the country for now.

Spin 360 degrees and drive away

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>>4952506
>>4952509
>>4952519
>>4952522
>>4952550

>Drive down into the wilderness past the Gas Devil. You might be able to use the devil attack to escape his reach.

“Come on, come on..” You grit your teeth as you fumble with the keys--one after another, you slot each in..
“He’s doing something weird..!” Meta shakes you.
The Axe Man pulls a hand back, twisting his body and snapping his arm forward into a sharp swing. His hand seems to split from his body as a twisting hunk of flesh and steel arcs in your direction, like a hatchet.
The car hums to life. You stomp on the gas and twist the wheel.
You take a sharp turn to the driver’s side, plowing the vehicle into the thin layer of snow and frozen grass off the main road. You look over your shoulder--the axe hand seems to have grown and lies wedged into the road, splitting the ground beneath it. The now segmented arm of the Mantis Devil lies next to it.
You careen the car down off the road--anywhere from the Axe Man is preferable, really. The gas billows up like a wall around you, the two hunters dark shapes in the mist.
“Onishima! The devil!” Heart grabs your arm.

The Gas Devil’s silhouette looms in the fog, a slowly shifting colossus in the depths of the cloud. The headlights’ beams are clear in the mist. You have a bad feeling about getting close, but if you want to get through, you’ll have to drive through it. You roll up the windows.

“Coлдaты, мaтpocы и лeтчики Coюзных экcпeдициoнных cил: Bы coбиpaeтecь oтпpaвитьcя в Beликий кpecтoвый пoхoд, к кoтopoмy мы cтpeмилиcь вce эти мecяцы.” The devil groans, its voice low and bassy. “Ha вac cмoтpит вecь миp: я пoлнocтью yвepeн в вaшeм мyжecтвe, пpeдaннocти дoлгy и yмeнии cpaжaтьcя.”

>Attempt to drive around the Gas Devil.
>Drive into the Gas Devil.
>Call up a contract to engage with the Gas Devil from a distance.
>Write-In.

>>4952575
>Write-In
Get Meta to throw another shroom bomb at it. All that moisture should feed the spores, and hopefully kill the devil.
Hey since Meta is a fiend, dont fiends sort of get poser from blood? Could Heart give meta a bit of blood or something? I bet if we get lucky we can incapacitate the axe dude with mushrooms.

>>4952575
>>Attempt to drive around the Gas Devil, and have Meta hermetically seal the car with mold so we don't breathe in whatever that gas is.
Let's go right through the smoke and get the fuck out.

>>4952575
>Attempt to drive around the Gas Devil.

>>4952591
Somehow I doubt the fog around the gas devil is ONLY conventional fog

>>4952610
I like this idea, but can she actually do that?

>>4952673
Well, probably? She can make a mushroom dome, so why couldn't she seal a car's inside?

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>>4952591
>>4952610
>>4952671
>>4952673
>>4952814

>Attempt to drive around the Gas Devil.
>Get Meta to throw another shroom bomb at it. All that moisture should feed the spores, and hopefully kill the devil.
>Hey since Meta is a fiend, dont fiends sort of get poser from blood? Could Heart give meta a bit of blood or something? I bet if we get lucky we can incapacitate the axe dude with mushrooms.
>Attempt to drive around the Gas Devil, and have Meta hermetically seal the car with mold so we don't breathe in whatever that gas is.

You keep both hands tight on the wheel as you look the situation over--the wall of gas ahead or the flying axes from behind.. You weigh your options. “Meta. Can you throw a shroom bomb at it? All that moisture should feed the spores and kill the devil, right..?” You look back at her.
“Gah. I don’t know if they can eat whatever that is.” She pinches her nose shut. “It smells.. foul. If anything, my spores would feed the gas..”
“..Mmm. Then.. don’t fiends power up from blood consumption, Meta?” You shoot a look back at her. “Could Heart lend you some blood to strengthen your spores’ resilience..?”
“Bleh. I don’t like human blood, y’know. It tastes fine sometimes, but human food is way better.” She sticks her tongue out. “But fiends can’t empower themselves with blood, y’know. It can heal my wounds, but.. I’d have to be that accursed Blood Fiend to strengthen myself from it.”
“Right.” That’s another plan out the window. “Last idea. Can you plug up the gaps in the car? Like your mushroom dome trick?”
“Well.. I can grow mushrooms on it, but..” She gently runs a hand along the car door. A few small caps sprout up alongside it. “A big dome’s easy. This car’s weird-shaped, and small, too. Unless you want mushrooms to sprout up in your flesh, of course..”

“Onishima. We need to go, now.” Heart tugs your shoulder. “Axe Man is getting ready to throw again.”
“Right.” You grit your teeth. “Alright. Here we go..”

You floor it into the wall of gas. It swallows your car and you find yourself in the midst of a thick haze. The shouts and commands and murmurings of the hunter and devil seem to dissipate. A foul stench begins to emanate throughout the vehicle. Your view out from the windshield has gone oddly hazy. You squint at it--it looks wet, as if it had just begun to rain. It’s only on a closer examination that you realize that the glass has begun to melt.

“Cover your mouths and noses!” You shout, your vision firm on the area ahead. A tall dark shadow begins to draw into sight. You make a move to swerve around it--but a long, dark limb stretches out from the goliath dramatically and drastically as it lunges for the windshield with shocking speed.

>Swerve around it (Roll a 1d100).
>Call up a contract.
>Smash into the hand.
>Write-In.

Rolled 63 (1d100)

>>4952868
>Swerve around it (Roll a 1d100).
Now, the true test. Will we hold fast, or expire?

Rolled 28 (1d100)

>>4952868
>Swerve around it (Roll a 1d100).
Channel your inner tofu delivery boy.

Rolled 81 (1d100)

>>4952868
>Swerve around it (Roll a 1d100).
Got em

Binged CSM today so I could enjoy this draw quest properly. Well worth it on both accounts. Meta a cute.

>>4952923
yos

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>>4952944

uwaa

>>4952873
>>4952917
>>4952923

>Swerve around it (Roll a 1d100).
>Rolled 81 (1d100)

“Sh-shit!” You curse, swinging the wheel. The car nearly topples in the snow as it swerves right, kicking up snow and billowing up gas around it as the devil’s hand swings overhead.
It narrowly misses the windshield and you course forward, deeper yet into the wall of gas.
The scent is pungent and rotten, like rotting eggs and sulfur and flesh. The liquid buildup in your lungs makes it difficult to breathe. Your eyes water and your throat closes as the glass of the windows seems to erode before you..

You’re met all at once with a breath of fresh air. The gas seems to dissipate nigh instantly as a wall of trees comes to replace it. You stomp on the brakes as the car spins into a slow halt in the middle of a forest. You roll open the windows and lap up the clear, cold wintry air outside to clear your head. The chaos and shouts from over the gas have grown quiet.
You look to the backseats. Meta is gasps for breath, her head low and her face and shirt damp with sweat. Heart is barely conscious--she lies slumped against the headrest, her eyes half open as she pants.

“Still alive?” You look them over.
“Still alive.” Heart echoes, her voice weak.
“Urgh..” Meta looks as if she’s about to vomit.

“..Right. Okay.” You take a moment to collect yourself.

You check the vehicle clock--looks like it’s 1:38 AM, Wednesday. Makima should arrive by today. You’ll need to get to a phone and inform her of your location as soon as possible.
You’re in a car in the midst of a snowy forest off the main road. It has a clock, heating, and a radio to the main bureau branch--the windows and exterior are a little worse for wear, but they’ll stand. A massive gas wall surrounds the entrance behind you. It seems like the devil is still alive. The Axe Man is much too close for comfort, but the Gas Devil’s work here should momentarily mask your scent and location. You have a moment to breathe.

>Ditch the car and continue into the forest.
>Continue into the forest with your car.
>Radio into the bureau and request backup along your route.
>Write-In.

>>4952981
Naisu. Driving a car into a forest is a hilariously bad idea, and playing keep-away on foot with a tired Meta against Axeman sounds just as terrible.
>Radio into the bureau and request backup along your route.

Gonna guess the other two Bureau hunters are mincemeat at this point. What are the odds we get dragged in as "replacement"? Ah, well, at least it should be interesting. We might get to stick around with Meta for longer as well.

>>4953009
I don't know, we're giving axe way too much time to catch up. I think we should just continue going with the car.

As for the bureau, i don't think so. I mean, Makima might demand our recruitment into the bureau again as the 'favor' we owe her now, but if we were to join with meta (considering how we seem to be able to handle her pretty well) we would be on the special division, the one that works with fiends

Which is also the division where everybody dies except the dance dance revolution girl.

>>4952981
>Radio into the bureau and request backup along your route.
>Write-In.
Tell Meta to throw around some spore bombs here and there. when we're a distance away. It might delay the Axe Man for a little while. It's a fucking kid, so it's gonna be really stupid about it's scent powers.

>>4953025
Not against going with the car. I am, however, against driving headfirst into a tree or two dozen. Calling for backup and telling them where we are is mission number one.

Redshirt division is a point of issue, though, I agree. Not like we have much in the way of options, though. At least sticking with Denji means our chances of dying a horrific death are balanced out by his... everything, really.
>>4953026
Supporting.

>>4953046
If we're special then we don't stick with denji, we just get killed and then the girl dances over our corpses.

Why does Meta have such kissable lips?
It's bonkers.

>>4952981
I think we should radio into the bureau, but continue with the car. We won't be going far on foot. Can we check what's in the trunk?
I don't know what it'd take to go VERY far away from the setting of the manga if we're ever roped in the special division. Let's beg for an assignment in Hokkaido or something.
>>4953398
I know right? We can't have her die until we got to touch those.

>>4953517
Maybe if makima demands we join the special division we can ask to stay here at this city to work with meta since we already have our knowledge and connections.

If Axe Man gets the BANG treatment, this city would be fairly good, especially with Heart and Divination as our informants.

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>>4953009
>>4953025
>>4953026
>>4953046
>>4953398

>Radio into the bureau and request backup along your route.

You hold off on continuing with or without the car from now--first, you’ll have to phone into the bureau. They’re presumably already on their way with a fiend transport and other hunters en route, but it wouldn’t hurt to have extra backup against the Axe Man until sunrise. You adjust the knobs and lean in--it’s been quite a while since you worked under the bureau, so..
“Hello? This is the patrol deployed along Route 72. We’re.. south of Horokanai.” You claim, squinting at the road map from the light of the digital clock. “We ran into a powerful devil while apprehending the fugitive and fiend. We need backup. At least four more hunters along with the devil transport should suffice.”
“..Got it.” The handler echoes. You release a sigh of relief. “We’ll send a few hunters your way..”
You lean back into the headrest. The Gas Devil screen will block your location so long as it's alive. It’s tough and surprisingly elusive, so it should stand to last for a little bit. Then, you have to take into account the Axe Man encountering the Public Safety devil hunters. You might have a half hour head start here. The Axe Devil is way too close, so trying to get downtown from an open area like the road would be a bad move..

>Get off on foot. Continue into the woods and try to loop around the long way to go downtown. You’ll have to move quickly and take advantage of this head start.
>Continue with the car for as long as you can into the woods. Park it and wait things out until sunrise, where it should be safer to move back into the city. The scent of the Gas Devil on the car should mask your smell for a couple of hours, at least.
>Drive the car up past the gas screen and try to make it back onto the main road.
>Write-In.

>>4953836
>Get off on foot. Continue into the woods and try to loop around the long way to go downtown. You’ll have to move quickly and take advantage of this head start.
Fuck that, we need to get AWAY from the Axe man.

>>4953836
>Get off on foot. Continue into the woods and try to loop around the long way to go downtown. You’ll have to move quickly and take advantage of this head start.
Escape axe

>>4953836
>Drive the car up past the gas screen and try to make it back onto the main road.

Meta will be insufferable with foot travel or camping inna woods

>>4953836
>Continue with the car for as long as you can into the woods. Park it and wait things out until sunrise, where it should be safer to move back into the city. The scent of the Gas Devil on the car should mask your smell for a couple of hours, at least.
Maybe have Meta leave decoy mushrooms if possible at all

>>4953836
>Drive the car up past the gas screen and try to make it back onto the main road.

Dragging Meta into the woods with her level of fitness is no good, and the other one leaves us penned in as sitting ducks.

>>4953836
>>Continue with the car for as long as you can into the woods. Park it and wait things out until sunrise, where it should be safer to move back into the city. The scent of the Gas Devil on the car should mask your smell for a couple of hours, at least.

Decoy mushrooms are probably a bad idea right now, since our scent is already being masked. Meta may have something else to say about the idea though.

>>Continue with the car for as long as you can into the woods. Park it and wait things out until sunrise, where it should be safer to move back into the city. The scent of the Gas Devil on the car should mask your smell for a couple of hours, at least.

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>>4954448
>>4954363
>>4954059
>>4954023
>>4954017
>>4953897
>>4953868

>Continue with the car for as long as you can into the woods. Park it and wait things out until sunrise, where it should be safer to move back into the city. The scent of the Gas Devil on the car should mask your smell for a couple of hours, at least.

You gently start the car and tap the gas as you edge deeper into the woods--you carefully maneuver through branch after brush as you enter the depths of the woods, the headlights your only source of light as the canopy overhead grows more and more thick. The snow ahead is thick, but hard enough to leave no lasting tracks. You make several hard turns and twists, but make sure to keep an eye on the map beneath you.
“Oy. Where are we going, Onishima?” Meta rests her chin against your shoulder.
“As deep in the woods as we can get. We’ll park it out and wait until sunrise. It’s better than wandering through the forest a night.” You don’t bother to brush her off your shoulder. “Then we’ll drive back out into the city. The Gas Devil’s scent should mask your scent for quite a while--it’s rather strong even now. “What do you think about decoy mushrooms to draw his scent?”
“Nyehh.. If we’re trying to hide, wouldn’t leaving a breadtrail of mushrooms keep him on our tail? Maybe when we start running again tomorrow..” Meta sticks her tongue out. “But this is perfect! I’ve been waiting for a chance to get more sleep. If I stay awake any longer I’ll end up eating the brat.”
“What?” Heart blinks.

[...]

You check the digital clock. It’s just about 2:10 A.M. The Gas Devil should be dead and the Axe Man should’ve run into the hunters. The sun should start to rise by 6. If you can hold out for 4 hours, you can cut through the woods at an angle and make a break for Asahikawa, assuming the Axe Man doesn’t find you by then. Your chances are good--the gas scent is thick and with the power off, your surroundings and the car are totally enveloped in darkness. Meta's asleep and Heart is keeping watch with you..
“Hey. Hey, Onishima. Your stupid lard ass fiend is sucking on my hand.” Heart whines.“Get her under control, would you? Aren’t you ex-PSB?”

>Ask if your work here has earned you enough trust for her to tell you where her real body is.
>Ask what she knows about Makima.
>Ask who that girl she’s got a hold on even is.
>Write-In.

>>4954525
>Ask what she knows about Makima.
>Write-In.
Get real with her on her plans with being to host to humans. Does she have a long term plan? She's not planning on infecting thousands of people is she? I mean, if possible I can see benifical uses for her services, but, you know. Literal devils and all that.

Inquire more in regards to the intricies of devils and what hell is like, their nature, shit like that.
Does she want to form a contract? Might as well since Makima can't manage to kill her.

>>4954539
I'll say that she needs a plan. We let her live, but what if she met a more hard-line bureau guy? Don't know about contract though

>>4954610
It never hurts to have more contracts. For the heart devil I think we have a favorable chance to form a contract with her that's not so debilitating. Something to do with communication I think?

>>4954525
>Tell her your method of controlling Meta is letting her suck on hands.

>>4954525
>>4954539
Supporting.
>Tell her your method of controlling Meta is letting her suck on hands.

Think we should try and divine Meta to see if Axe is still trailing us? If Gas Devil's scent is still lingering, it might be smart enough to track that, instead. Not really expecting much regarding the Hunters and how well they'll be able to fend off a Weapon Devil.

>>4954643
supporting

>>4954643
Supporting

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>>4954951
>>4954900
>>4954643
>>4954629
>>4954610
>>4954539

>Tell her your method of controlling Meta is letting her suck on hands.
>Ask what she knows about Makima.

“I control Meta by letting her suck on hands.” You inform her.
“Yeah, well, if she bites me I’m hitting her.” Heart snaps back.

A silence falls over the car.

“..So.” You gently drum your fingers along the car window. You’ve still got a couple of hours--might as well kill some time. “You mentioned that you know Makima, right? It didn’t sound like you want to run into her. What do you know about her, anyways?”
“She and I are more similar than what you might think at first glance. But you wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?” Heart smiles wryly. “Well.. I don’t want to talk about her. She’s got an ear for these sorts of things. I’d advise you to avoid it, too.”

>Ask if your work here has earned you enough trust for her to tell you where her real body is.
>Ask to form a contract with her.
>Ask who that girl she’s got a hold on even is.
>Write-In.

>>4955124
>Ask who that girl she’s got a hold on even is.
>Divine Meta, see if the Axe Devil is still following us.

>>4955131
+1

>>4955124
>Ask who that girl she’s got a hold on even is.
>You care for your followers? (Forgot some things so ignore if redundant)

>Ask if your work here has earned you enough trust for her to tell you where her real body is.
She's slowly turning into a good ally.

>Spend the rest chatting on whatever, maybe her followers, maybe some devil hunting stories from us.

>>4955131
+1
can't ask for the body now, when she trusts us enough we'll find out and can kill her.

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>>4955159
>>4955144
>>4955139
>>4955131

>Ask who that girl she’s got a hold on even is.
>Divine Meta, see if the Axe Devil is still following us.

“Who’s that kid you’ve got a hold of?” You ask blithely. “You seem fond of that body.”
“An old companion.” Heart shrugs. “Does it matter to you?”
“You were friends with a human?” You glance back to her.
“You're friends with a fiend?” Heart echoes mockingly.
“Hmmmm.” You lower your gaze.


You turn back to the mushroom and lower your voice. “Divinate.”

OF THE FIEND, NOT ONE REGRET
OF THE CHOICE SHE’S YET TO WEIGH.
TAKE CARE TO WATCH HER HEAD
THE AXE IS ON HIS WAY.

It repeats the same divination. Axe Man is still on the hunt. You can’t say you’re surprised..

[...]

The next couple of hours pass by idly and peacefully--you exchange idle chit-chat with the devil in your car and occasionally placate the sleeping fiend. Your first disturbance comes at 4:34 AM, still an hour and a half out to sunrise. A sharp, wooden crack snaps you to attention.

“E-eh..?” Heart rouses herself, seemingly dozing off in the dark. “Wha..?”

>Keep quiet and wait in the car. Keep an eye out.
>Start the car and drive away as fast you can.
>Get out and stay low. Investigate yourself to see if it’s anything worth running away from.
>Write-In.

>>4955178
We should really make a list of all divinations and try to figure out their meanings. For this one, I can't really get the first two lines but the last two are pretty obvious. She's made some choice that she didn't think about much and doesn't regret but it was probably large? Maybe in the past, she did something to the Axe Devil?
Anyway
>Keep quiet and wait in the car. Keep an eye out. Try to divine whats outside
Does the divination have a cost?

>>4955159
We're not killing Heart

>>4955178
>Start the car and drive away as fast you can.
Better safe than sorry, we got mobility, lets make use of it

>>4955178
>Start the car and drive away as fast you can.
Fuck this, i don't care who's out,we're getting outta here.

>>4955178
>>Start the car and drive away as fast you can.
Even if it's nothing, we're not gonna risk it.

>>4955178
>Start the car and drive away as fast you can.

Gas scent masking has almost certainly worn off by now

>>4955182
I'm actually thinking it's something more like "if it means sacrificing herself for us, she will not regret her choice." That's probably too cheesy, but it's the first thing my mind jumps to when it says "the choice she's yet to weigh." Whike it's not "the choice she's yet to make," it does sound like it's something she'll have to do in the future. Or it could be literal and she just hasn't thought about whatever decision it refers to? Would make sense, kek.
The only other possibility I can think of is that it's referring to her desire to become human.

And no, Divination has no cost, we're free to use it however so long as we don't tell anyone where the Divination Devil is hiding out. I'm still not sure what the full restrictions on it are, though; I'm guessing we need something to focus on, at the very least.
>>4955189
Only issue with this is that we're packed in the middle of a forest, surrounded on all sides by trees we has to carefully maneuver through. We've effectively caged ourselves in, which is why I was against it to begin with. This is the perfect setting to be hunted.
>>4955178
Ominous red frame is ominous.
>Wake up Meta and tell the two devils to flee as soon as you say go. Get her to make some shrooms in preparation.
>Use the Divination Devil to see what's out there.
>If it's the Axe Devil, escape the car and run. Drag Meta along with you. Sacrifice an arm and eye to the Ghost Devil if you absolutely must; get it to bring down tree branches, snag the Axe Devil's limbs, whatever.

Devils can sense when they're being Divined apparently, so we'll only have seconds to gtfo.

>>4955217
That's the divination devil's outline cause we divined meta

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>>4955182
>>4955189
>>4955203
>>4955205
>>4955215
>>4955217
>>4955228

>Start the car and drive away as fast you can.

You start the ignition. The headlights of the car flicker on as you stomp the gas--the wheels kick up snow as you veer off into the tree line.
“Wha--! Gyagh..” Meta wipes away drool. “Where’re we going, Onishima..? ‘S it time yet? I was having a good dream, y’know..”
“We’re ahead of schedule.” You manuever your way through the brush and snow--visibility’s uncomfortably low, but you can’t afford to slow down.
“Think it’s close?” Heart presses her face against the window. “Well.. better safe than sorry.”

The gentle plinking sound of liquid against glass draws your attention from the road. You slow down, just a bit--it seems like it’s.. raining? It’s just a drizzle for now, but droplets begin to fall and gently seep down along the damaged windshield and windows of your stolen car. It pools up and seeps into the snow before you.

“It’s raining..?” Heart frowns. “That.. can’t be right. It’s way too cold. It’d be snow. And look, up at the sky. There’s no clouds..”

>Keep going at full speed.
>Slow down for a second and turn off your high beams.
>Pause the car.
>Write-In.

>>4955285
Dear god don't let it be Typhoon, don't let it be Typhoon, don't let it be Typhoon... it's probably Typhoon.
>Keep going at full speed.
>Ask Heart if she senses any other Devils.

>>4955285
>Keep going at full speed.

>>4955285
>Keep going at full speed.

When did slowing down ever work out for anyone in CSM?

>>4955285
>Keep going at full speed.
Let's hope Meta can give us a mushroom airbag if anything happens.

>>4955285
>Keep going at full speed.
RUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUN

>>4955321
i wouldnt mind getting a faceful of her mushroom airbags

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>>4955326
>>4955323
>>4955321
>>4955310
>>4955296
>>4955291

>Keep going at full speed.
>Ask Heart if she senses any other Devils.

You keep your foot on the gas. “Heart. Sense any devils?” You scan the surroundings as you angle through the trees, the rain on your windshield a blur. You grit your teeth as you increase the speed.
“U-uh.. don’t think so..” Heart frowns, her nose twitching. “I don’t smell the one I’m thinking of. Maybe it’s just rain..?”
“W-woah..! Slow down, Onishima!” Meta whines, punching your arm. “You’re gonna get us killed in a car crash before the Axe Man gets to us!”

“Sh-shit-” You begin, a pale white shape leaping into view. You stomp on the brakes as the car twists, the lack of traction on the snow to your detriment. It veers into a thin trunk with a loud bang as the car slams into a sudden halt. Your head slams against the wheel.

You gasp and shoot up. You first look over your shoulder--the fiend and the devil are slumped up against the driver’s side from the force, groaning and shoving each other aside. You’re not hurt--it was more of a shock than a real crash.
“Owowowowowowow--” Meta groans.
“Th-that was loud..” Heart whispers. “Shit.”
You check back out the window--the driver’s side rear view was torn off and the door is marred with scratches, but the car is undamaged beside that. You’ve still got a ride, but.. Your sense of place was thrown off by that stop. You’ll have to take a moment to reorient yourself.

The cause of your crash dances in the wind outside. It’s a short, ghostly figure that twirls and hums in the air. It looks like a large teru teru bozu, a charm meant to ward off rain. The cloth, however, is damp with blood and a trail of intestines wrapped around its neck seem to extend into the starry sky above. If it sees you, it doesn’t seem to care.

“Lalalaa.. La la laalaalaa.. Lalalalaashaa..” The devil sings in a child’s voice as it twirls in the air. “Shalala..”

>Get the car started and get moving again. You don’t have time to waste.
>Kill the devil yourself first. You’re not sure what it’s going to do, but you don’t want to risk anything.
>Have Meta get out and spore bomb the devil.
>Write-In.

>>4955336
>Have Meta get out and spore bomb the devil.

>>4955336
>Tell it someone drew its mouth wrong
>Ask it how it feels about making a contract

>>4955336
Oh, Teruterubozu! Aren't these supposed to be benevolent/indifferent? If devils grow stronger from fear, this thing should be pathetically weak, since it's something that even preschoolers would hang up to ward off the rain.
Leave it be and hightail it out of here. With luck, the water will help weaken Meta's smell. This actually works out well for us.

>Get the car started and get moving again. You don’t have time to waste.

>>4955336
>Get the car started and get moving again. You don’t have time to waste.
She's not hostile, and she might serve as a roadblock for Axe. Let's take some time to reorient ourselves and book it again.

>>4955336
>Get the car started and get moving again. You don’t have time to waste.
We should keep wathc of it, but if it's the teruteruwhatever, then it's not hostile. It's actually a roadblock in the axe devil's way, so let's gtfo.

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>>4955634
>>4955419
>>4955371
>>4955369
>>4955361

>Get the car started and get moving again. You don’t have time to waste.

“Looks like a.. Rain Devil?” Heart whispers. “Well.. it could be worse. Let’s get out of here, quick.”
“Right.” You nod, an eye on the devil. “..Let’s go.”
You take a moment to check your tracks out back and your map--looks like you’re still on course to escape this forest. It might be another 10, 15 minutes.. You’d prefer to escape when it’s dawn, but that crash almost certainly drew the attention of the Axe Man. You slowly reverse and kick the car into gear yet again as you veer down the tight, snowy path, a bit more carefully this time as you maneuver between trunk and branch. The rain, however, persists.
“..Oy. Onishima.” Meta grimaces. “That devil outside is following us.”
“Hmmm..?” You frown. You check the rear view mirror.
Sure enough, the Rain Devil trails along behind you, hauntingly dangling and twisting through the trees to keep close behind you like some sort of dance. The rain drums down hard on the roof and seems to have grown only stronger. It continues its strange, childish song as it dances in the wind.
“Shalala. Lalala, falalala. Lalalalalala..” It continues, kicking it’s rain boots behind it. The singing grows louder.

“Onishima. I smell him again.” Meta bites her lip. “He’s getting close. It’s that shitty Rain Devil. He’s way too loud, and that rain..!”
“We have to kill it. Or at least, outrun it..” Heart rolls up the window.

>Use a Ghost Arm. Go for its “neck” and attempt to strangle it.
>Order Meta to fling a spore bomb at it.
>Attempt to outspeed the devil.
>Write-In.

>>4955660
Hm...

On one side, the rain would most definitely allow the spores to grow faster. On the other side, if we used the spore bombs, we would stop being masked by the rain devil's scent.

>>4955660
Keep driving, and send out a Ghost arm to grab it's rope and pull it away from us. Hopefully that'll keep it from following.

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Pausing updates for today. Thanks for reading!

>>4955660
>Use a ghost arm. Try to tie its noose around a tree
should be pretty hard for him to get out of that if we wrap him around a tree

>>4955660
>Try and speak with the devil, convince it to play with the Axe Man.
I'd rather avoid using Ghost any more than we have to... Who knows, our end may be a few weeks away. I don't want our time to be cut short.

>>4955724
Even if we survive, i don't want ot keep cutting our lifespan. We've already lost way too much. Ghost has way too damn high a price, we should try to look onto getting a demon with a more reasonable loss. Something valuable that can still be replenished...one that wants blood, maybe? Blood is valuable but can be replenished, thus meaning we won't be having a permanent loss.

Other than that...hmm...i don't think speaking with it will work.

>>4955660
>Order Meta to fling a spore bomb at it.

Can we get a refresher on what our contracts are? As far as I recall, Kon is still out of commission/pissed at us for trying to feed it a hybrid.

>>4955823
You've got Ghost Devil, Thirteen Devil, and Divination Devil. Fox Devil is pissed.

>>4955660
>Order Meta to fling a spore bomb at it.

>>4955857
What does the Thirteen Devil do? I'm guessing it's related to misfortune, since Unlucky Thirteen is a thing, but wouldn't 4 (which can be read as "death") be a more inauspicious number for East Asian Devils? Probably already exists, though.

>>4956683
It improves the chances of an action you take succeeding at the cost of increasing your misfortune for the next action you take.

Basically, it can add +7 to a roll for an action you or an ally take at the cost of subtracting -7 from the next roll.

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>>4955692
>>4955693
>>4955721
>>4955724
>>4955819
>>4956023

>Order Meta to fling a spore bomb at it.
>Keep driving, and send out a Ghost arm to grab it's rope and pull it away from us. Hopefully that'll keep it from following.

“Meta! Throw a spore bomb at it, now..!” You order her. You grimace and grit your teeth--it’s not often you use this contract this much in such a short span of time, but you’re lacking in combative contracts and the Fox Devil is angry with you. You make a mental note to get your hands on more contracts when you’re done with this. “..Ghost.”
The edges of your vision grow hazy as an arm sprouts up from nothing. It lunges forward, moving for the Rain Devil’s intestinal noose--but it misses. It maneuvers for another grab, but the Rain Devil dances just out of the way, it’s rope just out of reach of your grabs as it playfully giggles. Your head feels light--the spiritual toll from overuse of this is still heavy. You’d rather not risk passing out..
“U-uh--uhh… hold on.. There!” Meta proudly announces, holding up a ball of mushrooms formed from the crumpled up remains of a part of the map she tore off. She playfully rolls the ball of shrooms around and over in her hands as she tightens her grip on it. “Okay, here I go!”

She throws it with the strength of a semi-conscious pillow and misses by a mile. The ball of spores smashes against the ground and flowers up into an impressive explosion of mushroom caps. The rain feeds them well.
“A-ah.. well.. That was only because we were driving so fast, Onishima! You need to slow down!” She yells at you, her face pink. You’ve got a feeling she’d miss either way--the Rain Devil is slippery enough to avoid the Ghost Devil, after all.

A sudden crack snaps at your attention--you scan the road ahead. You still see nothing, but-.. it sounds like splitting wood and rustling leaves, brush against dirt and rock. It’s the sound of trees being felled in the distance.
“Onishima. Axe Man’s smell is strong here..” Heart whispers.

>Speed ahead. Try to outpace the Rain Devil.
>Slow down for Meta. Encourage her. Maybe that’ll help.
>Write-In.

>>4956933
>Ask Meta if she can create a few more mushrooms, and to keep them handy. If the rain helps fuel them, maybe they'll be more effective against the Axe Devil. You'll take her to an all-you-can-eat buffet if she can make it through.
>Rifle through the car drawer for gloves or something to keep the shrooms from affecting you. Ask Heart Devil for her jacket or something for Meta to use as mushroom fuel.
>Attempt to divine the Rain Devil's purpose. If it's really just here to bother you, contract with it. Sing along with the damn thing if you have to.

Bleh. All that I can think of, really.

>>4956974
+1

>>4956933
>Try to communicate with the rain devil
This situation is extremely ugly. We don't have to contract with it, but at the very least we need it to either leave us alone, or help us stall the Axe Man.

>>4956933
>Stay here and have Meta build a mushroom fortress.

>>4957095
More of a last-ditch effort if you ask me, since I don't doubt for a second that Axeman can rip right through it. Hybrids, especially Weapon Devils, tend to be pretty strong.
Oh right, before I forget, we should probably radio in for an update on our location if we're hoping for backup.

>>4956974
This is a good idea

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>>4957210
>>4957134
>>4957095
>>4957078
>>4956986
>>4956974

>Ask Meta if she can create a few more mushrooms, and to keep them handy. If the rain helps fuel them, maybe they'll be more effective against the Axe Devil. You'll take her to an all-you-can-eat buffet if she can make it through.
>Rifle through the car drawer for gloves or something to keep the shrooms from affecting you. Ask Heart Devil for her jacket or something for Meta to use as mushroom fuel.
>Attempt to divine the Rain Devil's purpose. If it's really just here to bother you, contract with it. Sing along with the damn thing if you have to.

“Meta. Can you make a few more spore bombs and keep them ready?” You glance back to her. “I’ll take you to an all-you-can-eat buffet if you can make it through this.
“Bleh. You better not be lying, Onishima..” She glares. “But.. I can’t make ‘em too big. Not too much decent material to work with..”
“Right. Heart, can you lend your jacket to Meta?” You rifle through the car drawers for gloves, one eye on the road--you find nothing of value there save for some hunter license sheet and devil authorization. “Shit..”
“No way! I’m not going shirtless.” Heart pulls away from you, her hands on her sleeves. “Humans deserve at least a little dignity when they die, don’t you think?”
“..Right.” You sigh. You turn your attention back to the Rain Devil, who now twists side by side along your speeding car. The sound of snapped timber and crunching snow grows louder behind you. “..Divinate.”

LIKE A VULTURE COME TO BROOD,
HE WAITS PATIENT FOR HIS FOOD,
SONG AND RAIN CALLS FOR TYPHOON,
ANOTHER DEVIL HEARS HIS TUNE.

“Shalalala..” The devil’s head twists around to face you.

>Speed ahead. Try to outpace the Rain Devil.
>Slow down for Meta. Lend her your jacket for spore material.
>Yell at the devil to fuck off.
>Write-In.

>>4957265
>Speed ahead. Try to outpace the Rain Devil.

It hasn't been attacking us directly, even after we attacked it, so let's not press the issue. Best case scenario Axe runs into it.

>>4957265
>typhoon
*panicked screaming*
FUCK FUCK FUCK
No, no, Typhoon is a Russian operative, it's just a coincidence, please God let it be a coincidence we really can't handle a living tornado on top of everything else.

>Fuck it, that'll do. Hand Meta the license sheets and give up any extraneous clothing you can, like your tie. Tell Heart to at least hand over the scarf thing on her seifuku, though she should try and put a little more faith in you!
>Radio in for an update and try to receive an ETA on backup. Try to get back to the main road.
>Hold onto a shroom and tell everyone to ready for impact. Unlock the doors. If Axe Devil jumps on top of the car, dive out the sides and chuck them at the car. Keep an extra shroom hidden in a pocket as a last resort, and sacrifice the limb if it gets infected.

Hopefully the rain will expand their AoE so we don't need to aim for the Axe specifically.
Can we get Ghost Devil to carry shrooms as well? I'd really really really like to avoid sacrificing any more of our lifespan, but any port in a storm.

>>4957324
I don't think we should use ghost

>>4957846
Fair enough, but unless QM is planning for us to reincarnate as a devil/swap to another PoV/whatever upon death, a shortened lifespan is a small price to pay for immediate survival. That said, I'm also quite hesitant to use it, myself.

>>4957905
Yeah, but using it just to carry bombs? They probably won't even work.

>>4957915
I agree with you. We don't need Ghost right now. If the typhoon devil really is on its way... Then oh boy we are in trouble. We really have to run.
>>4957265
>Speed ahead. Try to outpace the Rain Devil.

>>4957974
I don't think we can outpcae him, but i do think meta should make more shrooms or whatever

>>4957980
>>4957974
>>4957905
>>4957324
>>4957318

>Speed ahead. Try to outpace the Rain Devil.

>Roll a 1d20, bo3.

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>4957987
Fingers crossed

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>4957987
Oh bother

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>4957987

>>4958039
Naisu.

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>>4958027
>>4958039
>>4958043

>Rolled 16 (1d20)
>Speed ahead. Try to outpace the Rain Devil.


The rain hammers your windshield and your breath grows sharp. You hold steady and keep your foot on the gas. The felling of trees and singing of the devil seem to fade into the background behind you as you laser focus on the route out of here. You sink into the wheel, making a handful of hard turns and twists, trees seemingly sprouting up before you as you cut through the woods.

[...]

You take a few slow breaths as you reorient yourself. The trees and brush around you have dissipated into a quiet street and a vast field of snow. The streetlights ahead cast the road in a deep yellow light. The rain is gone, your windshield still slick with droplets. The sound of fallen trees has gone quiet. Your fiend and devil keep their faces pressed up against the back window.

“Hey! I think he’s gone!.. I think.” Meta scoffs. “Stupid Rain Devil!”
“Yeah, but all that rain’s messed with scents..” Heart grimaces. “..I don’t like it.”

You check the clock. It’s 3 A.M--another 3 hours out ‘til sunrise. The sky above is still starry. You’re ahead of schedule, but an open road might be preferable to the forest. You’ll need a proper telephone to get in contact with Makima and inform her of your location. You gently maneuver the car forward and back onto the main road, snow and rain slick against your wheels. You pull onto the lane out to the city.

You check the rear view mirror. The air around you seems to chill. Your hands go stiff.

You first see the sheen of his steel axe head before he gradually comes into view--a tall, broad-shouldered figure in a dirtied and wet school uniform, caked with blood and viscera. He walks forward from the tree line. It’s the closest he’s gotten since the school. You look closer--the wrapped and intestine-knotted head of the Rain Devil hangs from his axe hands.

“You’re next, Sato Onishima.” The Axe Man points the head of the Rain Devil directly at you.

>Speed ahead. Get downtown right away.
>Turn down the other direction and go back to the country side.
>Write-In.

>>4958082
>>Speed ahead. Get downtown right away.

>>4958082
>Speed ahead. Get downtown right away.
>Check the gas left in the car
We may need to use 13 some time soon to avoid him.

>>4958082
>Speed ahead. Get downtown right away.

Tell him he's a genuine dickhole as you drive away

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>>4958100
>>4958141
>>4958186

>Speed ahead. Get downtown right away.
>Check the gas left in the car
>Tell him he's a genuine dickhole as you drive away

"Dickhole!" You shout from the window as you stomp on the gas. The car peels away from the scene, kicking up snow and dirt in its wake as it hurtles down the road.
The Axe Man curls back, sinks his arm back, and flings his hand hard in your direction. It comes hurtling in an arc motion, a small, dark wedge of steel that moves for your roof. You maneuver, swerving the car and sending your devil passengers tumbling to avoid the brunt of it. It clips the back of the car and catches the trunk where it lodges itself into the back.
“Dickhole!” Meta echoes your insult. She sticks her tongue out at the hybrid. “You missed!”
You keep your grip on the wheel firm as you look back at the map.
Asahikawa downtown is right ahead--another ten or so minutes away at your current speed. Though, any encounters with the Axe Man could result in some significant attention from police and bureau presence there, which could end badly for you. You could try for the railway, but you’re not sure if you could catch a line this early.. Still, the Axe Man is slow. You should be able to take advantage of this headstart..

“Sh-shit. Why is he still following us? How is he still following us?” Heart kicks the back of your seat. “Can’t you go any faster..?!”

You check the rear view mirror. Your breath catches in your throat. The Axe Man is behind you. He’s far, but in pace with your speed. His feet skid against the street and kick up sparks as he “skis” in your direction, his posture low and squat. You swerve the car. He follows right along in its wake.
“Gggh.. It’s that axe! He’s cheating!” Meta shouts in frustration, pointing at the wedge lodged in the back. It seems as if his body and the axe are trying to reconnect themselves.

>Swing the wheel and drive erratically. Try to fling him off.
>Tell Meta to try to take it out.
>Order Heart to take the wheel. You’ll try to remove the wedge yourself.
>Write-In.

>>4958234
Can Meta throw a mush bomb? It'd be one hell of a roadblock.

>>4958234
>Order Heart to take the wheel. You’ll try to remove the wedge yourself.

>>4958289
I do not like that. How are we going to take out the wedge? I mean, we gotta take it out, but we need a plan. Either way, Meta should throw a mushroom roadblock on Axeman's way. Something that'll take some time to cut through, even if not a lot.

>>4958296
Hoping fox has had enough time to unpiss himself and just swipe the thing away with a claw, I certainly don't trust Meta to do it and I don't think Meta has the materials or the ability to make a mushroom roadblock big enough to delay Axe.

>>4958310
He's skating, so can't she make a mushroom bomb?

>>4958324
With what material? We were already running low vs the rain devil. I don't think we have enough left for her to have much effect, even assuming she doesn't miss wildly or axe doesn't just tank it. Even ignoring all that, I don't think her mushrooms have ever grown fast or big enough to block off a road quicker than a speeding car.

>>4958339
Well, if he's trying to attach himself to the axe, we technically have a target to aim at. At the very least, it can guide our shots.
We found a few sheets to use as fuel in the glove compartment, and we can always resort to our tie/Heart's uniform necktie.

>>4958234
>>Order Heart to take the wheel. You’ll try to remove the wedge yourself
She CAN drive, right? If she can't, let's try to fling him off.

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>>4958266
>>4958289
>>4958358
>>4958360

>Order Heart to take the wheel. You’ll try to remove the wedge yourself

“Heart. Take the wheel real.” You look back to the wedge stuck in the back. “I’ll take that axe head out.”
“Wh-what?!” She stares at you, her mouth agape. “These feet barely reach the pedals. What are you talking about?!”
“I’ll do it, Onishima! The brat is clearly too incompetent.” Meta places a hand on her chest.
“..Okay. Fine. Point taken.” Heart shuffles forward from the back.

You finagle around the seats for a moment as you hand off the wheel to Heart. The car dips in speed as you trade it off, the rhythmic flashes of passing street lights growing slower and slower. You make your way to the backseats, your shoulders low and back hunched. The Axe Man hangs off your tail end, his axe like an anchor as he skis behind you. Just like your windshield, the rear glass is corroded and weakened. You take a deep breath and punch it through.

The fragments of dull-edged glass go tumbling down behind you and scatter out along the road. You reach out for the axe head wedged in the back. You’ve got a clear look at it now--it's a strange blend of organic material and metal, veins and stretch marks ebbing up along hard black metal. It’s lodged hard into the back and seems to “beat” rhythmically like a heart. You reach out for it.

“Shit. It’s a little too far..” You grunt as you stick your torso out from the rear. It’s at an awkward, uncomfortable angle.
“Oy! Brat! Why the hell are you slowing down?!” Meta snarls back at the girl. “He’s getting closer!”
“I can barely see the road, fatso. You take the wheel if you’re so confident.” Heart snaps back. “..Actually, don’t.”

>Use the Ghost Devil arm to grab and remove the Axe head. You might pass out if you do.
>Have Meta grab your legs to let you reach out further safer.
>Get Meta to use the pedals while Heart drives to speed you up.
>Write-In.

>>4958920
>Have Meta grab your legs to let you reach out further safer.
I don't really trust her to use a car in any way, shape or form.

>>4958920
>Have Meta grab your legs to let you reach out further safer.
Meta is hardly better at seeing.

>>4958920
>Have Meta hand you a shroom to stick to the axe, then have her grab you by the legs to reach out.

Since they're basically "magnetized," it's worth a shot seeing if we can get him to eat a shroom with his own attack.

>>4958920
>Have Meta grab your legs to let you reach out further safer.

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>>4959008
>>4959005
>>4958952
>>4958924

>Have Meta grab your legs to let you reach out further safer.

“Meta! Grab my legs!” You shout. “I’m going for the axe.”
“R-right.” She nods--you feel the fiend wrap her arms around your lower legs as you inch forward and out of the back window. “Watch your head, Onishima..!”

You hang out from the end of the speeding car, the wintry night wind tossling your hair, the Axe Man’s screech of steel against road near deafening. The axe head in sight--it undulates and beats like a heart, the veins on its steel surface ebbing out into the car like a parasite. You lurch forward and wrap your hands around the head and begin to pull.

It doesn’t budge. It’s wedged just a little too deep, your awkward position working against your leverage against it. You continue to pull, your face slick with sweat. The veins on the Axe Head seem ingrained into the car’s back.
“You done yet, Onishima?!” Meta calls out. “There’s another smell from the woods..! We gotta get out of here!”

“Sh-shit..” You curse under your breath.

>Put all of your force into ripping it out of the back.
>Use the Ghost Devil arm to help rip it out.
>Ask to switch sides with Meta. Maybe she could grow mushrooms from up beneath it and push it out.
>Write-In.

>>4959028
>Put all of your force into ripping it out of the back.

We gotta be dependable

>>4959065
Pretty sure Meta will let go of us by accident and give us nice skidmarks along our devilishly handsome face. She's not exactly the most physically adept individual ever, and I'm not sure if her nature as a Devil inherently grants her improved physical abilities. It'll take some time, but I think swapping places with her or using Ghost (not a good option for obvious reasons) are the only safe paths ahead.

>>4959028
>Put all of your force into ripping it out of the back.
Who knows, maybe it's Makima finally appearing.

>>4959073
Uh, i meant
>Ask to switch sides with Meta. Maybe she could grow mushrooms from up beneath it and push it out.
I don't think we'll be able to pull it out, actually. I don't think we'll fall, mind you, but we're just human.

>>4959078
>>4959073
>>4959065
>>4959028
If the axe head is semi organic, could the same be said about the cabling?

>>4959028
Maybe Meta could try spamming spores all over the axe head, or make them travel down the length of the cable to infect the axe man.

>>4959070
Have her grow mushrooms around our legs then.

>>4959084
I don't think there's a physical cable between Axe and his anchor, the impression I got was that it was more a magnetic thing between them.

>>4959100
>>4959100

Yea, it's a kind of magnetic connection between his body and the axe, so there's no physical cable linking him.

>>4959100
So, still standing by my idea of attaching shrooms to it and taking advantage of its magnetism to launch the infected axe into his face. Or hand, since he's probably cool enough to catch it in midair. At the very least he'll lose the axe.

>>4959028
>Put all of your force into ripping it out of the back
Let's use 13 to give us better odds of success, because if we couldn't the first time, I doubt trying harder would do.

>>4959166
Now this I can back
might kill us later tho lol

>>4959065
>>4959070
>>4959073
>>4959078
>>4959084
>>4959100
>>4959106
>>4959135
>>4959166
>>4959174

>Put all of your force into ripping it out of the back
>Use Thirteen Devil.

>Roll a 1d20+7.

Rolled 2 + 7 (1d20 + 7)

>>4959189
I'm ready to waste that +7 with a nat 1

>>4959189

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>4959189
Let’s try this again

Rolled 11 + 7 (1d20 + 7)

>>4959189
Let's do this!
>>4959191
Came close to it lol

>>4959197
Fucking *p h e w*

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>>4959197
>>4959195
>>4959191

>Rolled 11 + 7 (1d20 + 7)

You tighten you grip around the wedge and take a deep breath. “Thirteen.” You whisper. You feel the familiar nausea of warped reality and twisted fate as you pull the axe head up and outward. The metal beneath you buckles as the axe seems to try to latch itself into the surface like a leech--but it's of no use. With one great heave, your efforts and the devil on your side tear the parasite free of the back and send the steel head tumbling along the road behind you.

And with that final pull, you come tumbling along behind it. You feel your legs slip from the fiend’s grasp as you spill out from the back window, nearly shaving your face off on the passing road as you hang limply from the back. Meta shrieks. “Onishima?!” She lunges out, just barely grabbing you by the foot--but its a loose grip.

"You're kidding me." You gasp, your breath short.

>Roll a 1d20-7.

Rolled 12 - 7 (1d20 - 7)

>>4959222

Rolled 16 + 7 (1d20 + 7)

>>4959222
ask meta if she's ever not failed at any single thing she's tried in her entire life

but not while she can still drop us

Rolled 16 + 7 (1d20 + 7)

>>4959222
gottedamne man

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>>4959227
>>4959226
>>4959240

>Rolled 16 - 7 (1d20 - 7)

“O-Onishima?! Onishima!? I’m..I’m sorry!” Meta cries out. “Are you okay?!”
You blink. You think that’s the first time she’s apologized to you since you met her.

With that, you slip out of her grasp--time seems to freeze you as you float, mid-air, between the car and the ground until it all comes down at you once. You slam down into the road from the speeding car, tumbling along the icy road. With what little presence of mind you have, you do your best to push yourself into the roll. Your jacket catches the pavement at rough points and you slam hard against the street after a long tumble, your head and body rattled and your lungs empty.

The car ahead veers from side to side, the devils seemingly arguing and losing control in the chaos as it spins into a sudden stop some distance down the road--it’s uncomfortably far from your position. You look to your side. The Axe Man.. maybe 20 meters away. He slowly walks in your direction.

>Go for the car. You might be able to use Thirteen to increase your chances of making it, but after what just happened, that might not be the smartest call.
>Retreat to the woods. Meta mentioned a smell coming. Maybe you can take advantage of that.
>Write-In.

>>4959272
>Retreat to the woods. Meta mentioned a smell coming. Maybe you can take advantage of that.
This is some bullshit i tell you what

>>4959272
Yeet.
>>4959301
+1, all I can think of doing right now. Maybe have them GTFO and buy them as much time as possible? "Better the devil you know" has never been more incorrect, lmao. Wish we had some of Meta's shrooms handy, and not for the normal reason you'd want shrooms for once.

Also:
>"I accept your apology! Now get lost, or I'll haunt your ass for wasting my death!"

How many more years do we have left in our lifespan, boss? We might try for a fighting retreat so Axeman is less tempted to go after them first.

>>4959272
>Retreat to the woods. Meta mentioned a smell coming. Maybe you can take advantage of that.

He's walking towards us instead of the car? Huh, thought he was hunting Meta. Guess we can lead him away.

>>4959359
bro thats some gay shit, if we die here we're at least gonna make meta feel guilty about it forever. yell something about how much we wanted to live to old age instead

>>4959382
Laugh like a One Piece character, too. The badass old guys. You know exactly what I'm talking about. Can we get a battle theme?

I wonder what we'll reincarnate into once we die. If I recall correctly, humans also enter the cycle of reincarnation, not just devils.

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>>4959301
>>4959359
>>4959382

>Retreat to the woods. Meta mentioned a smell coming. Maybe you can take advantage of that.

You attempt to claw your way up to your feet, the adrenaline in your system the only thing keeping you going after that tumble. Your breathing is uneven and your legs are shaking, the back of your jacket oddly damp and warm. The rhythmic clicks of the steel soles of the Axe Man against the pavement grow louder and louder behind you as you slowly stumble to the side of the road.
“You first.” The Axe Man calls out. “Then the fiend. Then the devil.”
You step off the road into a snow bank at the side, your footing uneven as you slide down into the brush. The Axe Man seems the least bit worried about your attempt at a retreat, his walk leisurely. Is he really half human..?
You look back up to the car in the distance--it’s stopped off to the side. Meta runs in your direction, Heart trailing more slowly from behind. You curse under your breath--why didn’t they just leave?

You stop to rest for just a moment, laying against a tree and gasping for the breath torn from your lungs. You lay a hand to rest against a tree, but a sharp pain bolts up along your palm as you pull it back. You stare down at your hand--it’s completely torn up, skin rent from your hand to expose the flesh beneath. A raindrop falls from the sky onto it. Another, and then another.. it begins to drizzle.

You look up to the sky--dark, cracked clouds have begun to form up in the sky around you, the rain growing more and more heavy.

>Continue your walk down into the forest. Just try to get the Axe Man as far from them as possible. You’ll find a way out.
>Yell at Meta and Heart to leave you behind. They’re just dead weight right now. They might be able to get away if they leave now.
>Scream for whatever devil’s appeared--this rain can’t be natural. Whatever you can get to distract the Axe Man will do.
>Write-In.

Damnit, if we're going to die, let it be from being smothered in the thighs of our hot mushroom devil girlfriend/wife.

>>4959497
>Yell at Meta and Heart to leave you behind. They’re just dead weight right now. They might be able to get away if they leave now.
>Scream for whatever devil’s appeared--this rain can’t be natural. Whatever you can get to distract the Axe Man will do.
As long as Meta lives, we can call it a win

>>4959609
+1
>Jokingly ask if he's alright with last words worthy of a shonen anime. Highschool kids are into that kind of stuff aren't they? It's a way for you to buy time, at least.

>>4959609
Supporting

>>4959497
>Continue your walk down into the forest. Just try to get the Axe Man as far from them as possible. You’ll find a way out.

ask him what the difference is between a fiend and a devil

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>>4960114
>>4959642
>>4959625
>>4959609

>Yell at Meta and Heart to leave you behind. They’re just dead weight right now. They might be able to get away if they leave now.
>Scream for whatever devil’s appeared--this rain can’t be natural. Whatever you can get to distract the Axe Man will do.

“What the hell are you doing?! Get out of here!” You shout at the devils, your voice cast away by the sudden onset of heavy rain and wind. If they can hear you, they don’t listen. Meta runs faster than you’ve ever seen her run before.
The Axe Man has strode down the main road and off the shoulder, the casual swing of his axe hands just behind you now. You’ve barely made it into the tree line, your injuries after that tumble growing more and more apparent now. You move ahead deeper into the snow-worn woods nonetheless. You’re not ready to give up just yet. You take a deep breath, and with what strength you can muster, shout.
“Hello?! Anyone?!” You scream into the woods. Meta mentioned a strange smell from behind, right? You’ll take your chances with this over the Axe Man.

A gust nearly blows you to your feet. The trees around you sway dangerously.
“What have you done to my little brother?” A rumbling voice booms from the trees. You catch just a glimpse of a devil’s body through the pines--a whirlwind of twisting innards and smooth, pale skin.

>Kindly inform the devil that his killer is right behind you.
>Tell the devil you did it and hope he blows you somewhere far.
>Keep going and take the Axe Man deeper into the heart of the storm.
>Write-In.

>>4960126
>Kindly inform the devil that his killer is right behind you.
Let's hope we don't end up as collateral damage.

>>4960126
>Kindly inform the devil that his killer is right behind you.

lmao

>>4960126
>Kindly inform the devil that his killer is right behind you.

>>4960126
>Kindly inform the devil that his killer is right behind you, and that if he contracts with you you'll gladly help take the Axe Devil down.

Don't want to risk Meta and Heart getting caught up, too.

>>4960126
>Kindly inform the devil that his killer is right behind you.
>Keep going and take the Axe Man deeper into the heart of the storm.

>>4960212
Bro, it's fucking Typhoon.

Just point him towards axeman and get the fuck outta dodge.

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>>4960217
>>4960216
>>4960212
>>4960153
>>4960145
>>4960139

>Kindly inform the devil that his killer is right behind you.

“He’s dead.” You cough into the storm, the gale winds blowing back your jacket and hair. You can just hardly muster the strength to push through the sheer force of the rain and wind. “Killed by the Axe. Go see for yourself.”
“What?” The voice rumbles. The slow, rhythmic stomps begin to pick up in pace. “Axe Man.. Why do I smell my brother’s blood on you?”
“Hm?” You look back--the hybrid has stopped behind you, his posture hunched. You slowly slump up against a tree. “What’s this? Another one?”

A sudden deafening baby wail cuts through the woods, blowing back trees and kicking up snow. You’re blown backward by the sheer force of the wind and rain at its peak, flung into a tree and upward, up into the sky. You can no longer tell up from down or right from left--you’re mid-air and tumbling into the midst of a whirlwind of flesh and forest and snow. Gale winds made of up intestines shred through the debris. Your vision grows hazy and dark and your consciousness begins to fade. You hope that Meta gets out of this okay.

Something hard slams into your back. Your world goes black.

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[2/2]

Your conscience stirs.

Your entire body hurts. Your mouth is sticky and dry. Your head rests somewhere soft and pillowy. You slowly open your eyes. The sky above is clear, cloudless and bright, the sun right overhead. It’s near blinding after the night you spent driving and riding in the dark. It might sting if not for the shade of a broad, dark cap above you. Is this Heaven?

“Oy, Onishima!” Meta smiles above you. “Took you long enough.”

It’s not Heaven.

>Quickly get up. Observe your surroundings.
>Ask what happened. Where are you? Is the Axe Man dead?
>Enjoy the softness for just a little longer.
>Write-In.

>>4960268
Dig face into thighs. Goodnight.

>>4960268
>Ask what happened. Where are you? Is the Axe Man dead?

>>4960268
>put midriff directly into face

>>4960268
>Ask what happened. Where are you? Is the Axe Man dead?
>Enjoy the softness for just a little longer.
oh contraire, this is heaven indeed

>>4960268
>Ask what happened. Where are you? Is the Axe Man dead?

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>>4960277
>>4960279
>>4960284
>>4960287
>>4960304

>Ask what happened. Where are you? Is the Axe Man dead?
>Enjoy the softness for just a little longer.

You remain still. Your head is injured, after all. You sink into the softness of the lap pillow. “What.. what happened?” You blink--your body is cold and warm at the same time. “Where are we? Is the Axe Man dead?”

“Ah, well, hmmm.. Well, I dropped you out of the car, and me and the devil brat got in a big fight. She said that we’d just get ourselves killed if we stopped, but I said that the Axe Man was no big deal, and then I heroically convinced her to stop the car.” She puffs up her chest. You get the feeling that she’s skimming over some details.
“So we went chasing after you, and then that big, scary baby devil showed up and Heart nearly peed herself. She said it was the.. Typhoon Devil? Then the devil tore up a bunch of the road and forest and you and the Axe Man disappeared. I wanted to look for you right away but Heart said we should run. So we got into a big argument and I nearly grew shrooms in her eyes and then she took the car to go get help like a baby and I stayed to find you and distract the Axe Man from her.”
“Typhoon..?” You sigh. You’re not familiar with it, but it explains the divination. “And then what? Where did you find me?”
“Ah, well.. You got knocked super far! By the time I found you the sun was up.” Meta taps her cheek. “We’re way off the main road. Big, empty.. Lots of snow. You can kinda see some of Asahikawa waaay in the distance, if you squint. Anyways, I’ve stayed with you since! Aren’t I a good buddy? You can get off my thighs now.”

“..Right.” You don’t get off her thighs. “And.. what about the Axe Man? He must’ve been killed by Typhoon, right?”
“He’s..” She trails off. “He’s not dead. I saw him a few times out there. I had to move you a few times to avoid him. But he’s definitely weaker! He’s staggering, and can’t pinpoint our smell as well. He probably needs blood to heal himself up.”

>Get up and get moving. The Axe Man is a big threat even if injured.
>Stay here. Maybe you can wait for help.
>Enjoy the softness for just a little bit longer.
>Write-In.

>>4960327
>Enjoy the softness for just a little bit longer.
Drink in the nectar of the gods, while we still can.
>Get up and get moving. The Axe Man is a big threat even if injured.
Get to some main road, somewhere Heart Devil or Makima can find us.

>>4960327
>Enjoy the softness for just a little bit longer.
>Where's Heart?

>>4960327
>Get up and get moving. The Axe Man is a big threat even if injured.

Might be our best chance to kill him

>>4960327
>Enjoy the softness for just a little bit longer.
>Get up and get moving. The Axe Man is a big threat even if injured

>>4960327
>Tell her she's a great buddy.
>Get up and get moving. The Axe Man is a big threat even if injured.

I'd slap in something about the buffet or an offer to be long-term partners, but *death flags.*

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>>4960419
>>4960363
>>4960338
>>4960332
>>4960331

>Tell her she's a great buddy.
>Enjoy the softness for just a little bit longer.
>Get up and get moving. The Axe Man is a big threat even if injured

You enjoy your time on her lap for just a little longer, your eyes shut. You didn’t think you could ever trust a fiend like this.

She pokes your face. “U-uh.. Onishima..” Meta stares. “Wake up. We gotta go, right?”
“Yeah. You’re right.” You slowly peel yourself from her thighs, your face warm from the sun. “Let’s go.”

You slowly push yourself up, your head heavy. Your back feels raw and welted, your legs stiff--but it’s enough to stand. You slowly stretch your legs upward and, along with your scarred back and palms, take a shaky few steps ahead as you observe your surroundings. Like Meta said, you’re surrounded on all sides by vast, thin sheets of snow worn down by the sun, a few patches of frozen grass exposed to the sky. It seems like summer farmland. There’s a great view of Mount Asahi from here. A forest borders one edge of the plains, but the rest seems to stretch out forever.

“The road’s over through throes those woods!” She proudly nods, referring to the clear drag marks and footsteps she left behind. “If we follow through there, we might be able to get back to the main road. But.. the Axe Man is by those woods. He’s probably looking for a blood refill as we speak. We could probably try to get to the city through this farmland, but it’s so open that when the Axe Man locates us, we’ll have nowhere to run.. What do you think, Onishima?”

>Try your luck with the forest and make it to the road.
>Just cut through the empty, snowy farmlands and try to get to the city from here.
>Write-In.