2026-07-11: Dangerous Literature II
- Log: 2026-07-11 Dangerous Literature II
- Cast: Gozaburou Gessou, Remi Ryuuja, Jun Kashihara, Yukari Takeba, Hyousuke Suzuki, Ichika Kawase, Misato Fushihara, Maria Sakurai
- Where: Kasugayama High School - Classroom Building
- OOC Date: July 11, 2026
- IC Date: December 08, 2012
- Summary: The NWO and the mysterious Showbiz Mask show up to Kasugayama High school and try to collect some books. Will our heroes be able to stand up to the power of love and justice?
<Pose Tracker> Gozaburou Gessou has posed.
The day is over at Kasugayama High School. Rather than the usual commotions of a school at the end of the day, the bustle of Cuss High School is chaotic. In addition to those fleeing the academic prison, several students find places to squat, chat, and have the occasional tussle. The only thing out of place is the Masked Man at the gate, prompting a gang of well to do deliquents to walk over and see whats up.
"Ey, what the fuck is up with you?"
"Yeah, ya tryin to creep us out or something?"
The delinquents slouch as they look over the masked man, who finally just sighs.
"It would seem---"
"'It would seem' my ass. How about ya stop trying to act tough and get the fuck out of here."
"We don't need any weirdos trying to get smart on us."
The Masked Man clicks his tongue and pulls up their sleeve, revealing a strange Mark or tattoo. The delinquents look at each other before laughing.
"You some kind of yakuza? Trying to intimidate us with your ink? Get. the. fuck. out. of. -here-." The leader of the delinquents is acting tough until suddenly a weird sickening feeling radiates out when the Masked figure touches his mark. It felt as if the world was wrong and the color of everything shifted unnaturally.
"Hey Tak...This guy just did something."
"Yeah I see that...fucker needs to be shown how we do things at Cuss Hi---"
The punk is cut off by a rather infectious theme song, which seems to emit out from parts unknown.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX836fYQL4E
"Da fuck?"
"Oh my...-such- language." A mysterious voice calls out from nearby. They speak with a Kyoto accent, regal but a little country.
"Tch, Hehe lets show 'em how to be good little boys, Posion."
Without warning, two figures jump down from up high, posing as they land. The two demons were dressed in very pretty outfits, each denoting their personality. There was a pixie, dressed in black frills in a more sporty cut of outfit. She hovers next to the larger demon, a brute in a white frilled, princess outfit. The Brute talks in her Kyoto accents, appearing to be the more approachable of the pair.
Remedy Poison, the Brute, looks the punks over. "Oh my. Y'all might need to back down before we have to get violent."
Remedy Toxin, the Pixie, cracks her knuckles before sending a rainbow tinted beam as a warning shot. As the beam connects with a tree, the explosion does start to clear out some of the smarter delinquents. The rest are easily dispatched by the demon magical girls. Meanwhile, the Masked Man starts for the classroom building.
Remedy Poison poses as her attack finishes. "In the name of the heart and the remedy to all poison, I'll beat y'all!"
AS: Gozaburou Gessou has readied for combat as Troop of Demonic Actors! He is now fully healed! Ready for 6 opponents! AS: Gozaburou Gessou has readied for combat as Troop of Demonic Actors! He is now fully healed! Ready for 5 opponents! AS: Gozaburou Gessou has readied for combat as Troop of Demonic Actors! He is now fully healed! Ready for 3 opponents!
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
There is a second masked figure here, though she isn't engaging in any kind of drama or showmanship. She appears on a high perch as the Supernatural space kicks in, a woman in an all-black fencing suit with an entirely black mask. On her left hip is a scabbard with a rapier, on her right thigh is a holster with a gun.
Behind the mask, two eyes narrow as the Demons pop out and the theme song starts. "... ugh."
Tsurugi glances aside to the Maked Man. "... let's just get what we came for and get out before we draw too much attention."
AS: Remi Ryuuja has readied for combat as La Maupin! She is now fully healed! Ready for 3 opponents!
<Pose Tracker> Jun Kashihara has posed.
Things have been busy for Jun of late--not with the supernatural world, so much, but with his real life. He is a senior, and he intends on attending college, so he's been studying all year for entrance exams; that's ramped up now that it's December and said exams are next month, only a couple of weeks after finals. Today, he's reviewing by tutoring his classmate, Ichika, to help make sure that she can pass her exams too.
A sickening feeling fills the air--a deeply familiar one. Jun drops his pencil, his beautiful face going pale. He stands up sharply from his seat in their shared classroom and hurries over to the window.
There, in sight of the windows, are a group of masked individuals--which include demons. A magic beam erupts and explodes near a bunch of Kasu High students, scattering them and knocking some out.
"Ichika-san. There's trouble out front," he says firmly, turning to his friend. "I'll head there directly. Can you please find back-up?" He doesn't know she's a Persona User, so the best thing he believes he can do is send her on a task that won't get her caught up in one fight she can't handle.
Before long, he's out front, standing imperiously with arm folded at the top of the stairs leading to the school building. "What is this commotion?" he demands, standing as tall as a little prince. He looks from the pair of demons to the masked swordswoman, Tsurugi, and in his hand is a wild rose. It is no mere flower; its brambles will do far more than sting. "I'm afraid I must ask you to leave--and if you refuse..." He brings that rose to his lips, brown eyes narrowing. "I won't be held responsible for the consequences."
He doubts it will be that simple, but anyone who's survived Kasugayama High for three years knows that some posturing beforehand can save a lot of pain.
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
You've just gotten off the monorail to go home, when the world goes all- strange. The sounds of phantom alarm klaxons. Unusual flickering lights strobing before leaving only spots in her eyes.
Something is going on. Either in Mementos or nearby.
"It would be pretty dumb of me to go into Mementos by myself." Yukari Takeba notes to herself, "Nope. I'm just going to ignore that."
~Five Minutes Later~
She wishes she could have just ignore it.
"I hate riding the train enough at rush hour in real life."
Let's cut to an angle to see her riding it when she's surrounded by Shadows. "So why am I doing it here!?"
The train hurtles down a tunnel, and there's a bright light at the end of it. Everything fades all around her and-!
"Huh?"
Yukari Takeba takes in her surroundings looking extremely confused. "Uhhhhh... why am I at Cuss High?" A beat pause, "Greatttttt. What even is the problem here? I hope it's not that Officer Suou got locked in the Air Raid Shelter by some delinquents..."
Cautiously she steps on campus when she takes in the sight of the two frilled up, posing demons up front.
"... ... ... ... I'm... okay. Sure. Demons are apparently putting on kiddy Magical Girl shows now with that masked murderer?" She rubs her forehead as she groans, "I really should have ignored it."
Putting down her Yumibukuro, she brings it out, quickly stringing her bow and performing a few expert twists around the pulleys to tighten it up, then she slings her quiver over her shoulder, and grabs her her Evoker from inside a hidden pocket she'd sewn into her bag, before then running on up.
"Hey! Stop bullying those..." Pause, "... delinquents!"
Seeing Jun out front she looks infinitely relieved she's not fielding this alone, "Oh thank God there's someone who can make sense of all this. Kashihara-kun, what is even happening here!?"
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
It had not even been a full forty-eight hours since the brawl in the clocktower, by Hyousuke's estimations. He counted himself lucky that he'd not sustained any major injuries, and the hurts he had taken had been healed up before they'd had a chance to fester. But that didn't mean there weren't some lingering aches and pains from the whole thing. So it was that, when he sensed something nearby, that innate sense of *wrongness* was not just met with the usual alertness that one might have expected from someone attacking their home turf. It was also met with abject annoyance that he'd not even had a chance to properly rest.
His hand went instinctively to the space under his bed where he kept his armour, but he pulled it back after taking a moment to think about it. As much as he desired some armour and a disguise, it would do him little good there and then. If someone saw some costumed figure charging out of his room, with his frame and voice, it wouldn't have been hard to put two and two together. That would invite questions he wasn't quite prepared to answer, and would have spelt no end of trouble.
Instead, Hyousuke - still in his uniform, having only just reached his dorm room - took only two things with him. His short, single-barrelled shotgun, and a pair of blackened leather caestus, both stuffed into his bag as he made his way hastily towards the entrance. Nobody questioned where he was going, nor why he was in such a hurry. A few questioning glances were cast his way, but that was only from people that saw the look on his face, and even they decided that it wasn't worth their time to question it.
"Hey assholes! Back off, of you're gonna get hurt!" Hyousuke called out, storming onto the scene like a guard dog catching a scent, a mean and snarling look plastered across his face. The more ostentatiously-dressed of the aggressors naturally caught his eye first, but when his gaze landed on Remi, it grew all the sharper for it. "...You. The hell do you want here? There ain't nothing here for you or your friends, so back off!" His hand twitched towards the bag. He was itching to reach into it - all he needed was an excuse.
Only when he was given a moment to let his anger subside did he notice Jun, and make an active attempt to seem more human than hound.
"Kasihara-san? Takeba-san? You guys are here too?" Though it sounded like a question at first, the look on his face turned to one of relief - and, perhaps, of confidence. "No idea what these weirdos want, but if they're looking for a fight, I say we beat some answers out of 'em!"
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Ichika's been busy, too. She's studying hard for entrance exams and finals both--which, with Jun's help, is actually going well! She's also been putting together business for the student paper...
But that sickening feeling causes her to drop her pencil, too. "Jun-kun..." Of course. He doesn't know hse's a Persona-user. So...
"All right," she says. "I will. ...Be careful."
Ichika stands--and rushes out.
It's when she's alone that she transforms into the Ogre, takes on her mask and garb of Rebellion and then rushes into the new battlefield.
"Motherfucker," Ogre says immediately. "You want violent?"
"Kasu High doesn't take an attack like this lying down."
"With the Death Boss out, that makes ME the Boss here," the delinuent Phantom Thief declares, though no one here but one is aware that she is 'a' Boss under normal circumstnaces.
"Which means I'm gonna stomp you into the dirt." Ogre, in her Oni mask, crosses her arms--and spits on the ground.
"...Using old Magical Girl stories for this... You're just trying to piss us off, aren't you?"
"Well.."
"Consider us pissed off."
Ogre rips off her mask in a shower of blue flames. "MOMIJI!" she calls, and a tangle of rosevines whirls into being around Jun, Yukari, and herself. The thorns are wickedly sharp--and all disappear into spectral protection after a moment.
"Come at me."
AS: Persona! Ichika Kawase has used the Recovery skill Thorn Wall on Jun Kashihara, Yukari Takeba, and Ichika Kawase! | Ichika Kawase takes 45 damage from Stress! | Support: Ichika Kawase gains 1 Limit!
AS: Take! Ichika Kawase takes 0 Recovery healing from Ichika Kawase's Thorn Wall. | Crt_Up (Critical Up!) and Reflect_Phys (Phys Counter Improved!) added!
AS: Take! Jun Kashihara takes 0 Recovery healing from Ichika Kawase's Thorn Wall. | Crt_Up (Critical Up!) and Reflect_Phys (Phys Counter Improved!) added!
AS: Take! Yukari Takeba takes 0 Recovery healing from Ichika Kawase's Thorn Wall. | Crt_Up (Critical Up!) and Reflect_Phys (Phys Counter Improved!) added!
<Pose Tracker> Misato Fushihara has posed.
Misato has been keeping an eye out for strange activity ever since the attack on Sevens. The librarian said the book was transferred Kasugayama... If that's the case, the other school is bound to be a target sooner or later.
Her vigilance pays off... though the sickening feeling that emanates from the Mark can hardly be called a reward. It does, at least, serve as a useful beacon - something to follow through Mementos.
It's Magus that steps out on the other side, her form shrouded in a hooded dark purple cloak with golden trim and a porcelain half-mask concealing the top half of her face. It seems it's already started, the school courtyard marked by an explosion... She frowns.
It seems she isn't the only one who arrived here via Mementos - though for her, the destination isn't a surprise.
"Don't take them lightly. These people attacked Sevens the other day, too." Magus announces, and takes note of Remedy Poison and Remedy Toxin. ...Magical girls this time... That's stooping low. "I see they've drawn in another band of colorful characters this time..."
She looks toward the Masked Man heading for the classroom building.
"You're after the library again, aren't you? I'm going to drag the answer out of you if I have to." With that, Magus draws her saber and parrying dagger. She lunges forward...
...but there's plenty of time for someone watching - Tsurugi - to intervene.
AS: Weapon! Misato Fushihara has used the Slash skill Pressure Footwork on Remi Ryuuja! 3 Hits! | Pressure: Misato Fushihara gains 1 Limit!
AS: Avoid Best! Remi Ryuuja takes 7 Slash damage from Misato Fushihara's Pressure Footwork. Resist! AS: Avoid Neutral! Remi Ryuuja takes 28 Slash damage from Misato Fushihara's Pressure Footwork. Critical Hit! Resist! AS: Avoid Neutral! Remi Ryuuja takes 17 Slash damage from Misato Fushihara's Pressure Footwork. Resist!
<Pose Tracker> Gozaburou Gessou has posed.
The Masked Man's voice carries some note of him smiling. "Relax. Between you and the girls, we're all covered. Off to go check it out. Tootles~" The masked man gestures with his arm, making his white tuxedo jacket flair dramatically as he turns to enter the building. He stops when he sees Jun in his way. After a moment, he just sighs. "Really. You just had to make an entrance, huh, kid?" He just hovers, waiting for the chance to slip by.
Yukari's sudden entrance gets Remedy Toxin's attention, blinking as she catches sight of the pink sweater. "Whats a prep doing at the bad kid school?...Are you with a bad kid or are you lost?" The pixie hovers in place as she gives Yukari something of a mean mug.
Hyousuke's arrival prompts the Masked Man to sigh once more. "Are you serious? Really? Another child in my way...how cute." He laughs in the way that some do when they are very, very, VERY pissed off.
"Oh and now the girl who killed the Jackstreet Boys is here...Spilling all my secrets. Just keeps getting better and better." The Masked Man eyes look toward Misato, considering drawing his weapon. He considers using his Persona but he believes that the Remedy Poison, Remedy Toxin, and Remi should be enough to handle so dumb kids....however scary those kids happened to be.
Speaking of scary, Ogre comes into the incident with passionate words and a fierce attitude, prompting Remedy Poison to keep her eyes on her. The large ogre with beautiful hair keeps watch on Ogre, scoffing when she mentions magical girls. "For this? Now hows about you turn down that a touch? You think we can't be magical girls? That a girl like me can't dream of being a beautiful soldier of justice?! Just because I hunger for the life force of the innocent? Alright, Toxin!"
"Right, Poison!"
The two magical girl demons begin to charge up with the power of hopes and dreams. They begin to talk in unison. "By the hearts and dreams of those we left behind! Those who hunger for human hearts in the abyss! LOVE DOM-IN-ATION!"
The two magical girls suddenly point their magic wands. One to Ichika. The other to Jun and Hyousuke. Beams of flowing hearts fly toward their destinations, offering a kinetic current of Love.
AS: Weapon! Gozaburou Gessou has used the Strike skill Love Domination on Yukari Takeba! | Aggression: Gozaburou Gessou gains 1 Limit!
AS: Weapon! Gozaburou Gessou has used the Strike skill Love Domination on Ichika Kawase! AS: Weapon! Gozaburou Gessou has used the Strike skill Love Domination on Hyousuke Suzuki! AS: Counter Worst! Ichika Kawase takes 80 Strike damage from Gozaburou Gessou's Love Domination. | COUNTER! Reflect Phys! Gozaburou Gessou takes 90 Strike damage in return for his attack!
AS: Counter Worst! Yukari Takeba takes 116 Strike damage from Gozaburou Gessou's Love Domination. Critical Hit! | COUNTER! Reflect Phys! Gozaburou Gessou takes 142 Strike damage in return for his attack!
<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
The light resolves high above to a silhouette of a figure on Kasugayama's roof...!
"Halt, evil-doer!" proclaims the figure as they point down at the gathering crowd of entities supernatural and not far below. It's hard to see exactly what they're wearing, but it's certainly not a school uniform. The sunlight behind them glints on parts of their attire that the Kasugayama uniform just doesn't have. "I, the magical superheroine Cherry, shall stop you in your tracks!"
'Cherry' pauses. They glance down at the ground far below. They keep pausing. And pausing.
"...I'll break my legs if I jump, though..." mutters a somewhat despondant Cherry, her shoulders slouching.
"Um! Wait-- right there!"
There's a sound of running feet. Cherry has vanished from the rooftop...
...And reappears several minutes later down on the ground. Even if she's a former track star, running down stairs like that still takes a bit!
Cherry, after all, is 'Maria Sakurai', completely normal Seven Sisters student in her 'civilian' life.
"You might have gotten away with what you did at Sevens! But you're not getting away from me now!" Cherry proclaims, pointing again at the interlopers. She'd been at cram school last time.
There's something decidedly 'retro' about her looks. Her translucent pink-pink visor that covers her eyes. The neon-pink spikes on her white battle-jacket. The torn vest underneath, the pink-pink belt over a grey skirt and torn black leggings. The bright blue and pink sneakers. The colorful (black and bright blue and pink) earrings and bracelents. It's like she's from some time period decades ago.
In her hands she brings to bear a polearm that's all angles and neon-tube lighting, like she stole the parts from discarded building materials and fused them together in her back yard both thirty years ago and thirty years hence.
"I, Cherry, shall punish you! Here, Artemisia!" Reaching up, Cherry pulls off her visor.
And the rest of her face with it.
With that, the Venetian-with-cyberpunk Persona of Artemisia steps into the world in a blaze of blue light as Maria slips her 'mask' back on. Speed-enhancing power circles her, Jun, and Magus, perhaps accelerating their reflexes in the fight to come.
AS: Persona! Maria Sakurai has used the Recovery skill Masukukaja on Jun Kashihara, Misato Fushihara, and Maria Sakurai! | Pressure: Maria Sakurai gains 1 Limit!
AS: Take! Jun Kashihara takes 0 Recovery healing from Maria Sakurai's Masukukaja. | Spd_Up (Avoid Improved!) added!
AS: Take! Maria Sakurai takes 0 Recovery healing from Maria Sakurai's Masukukaja. | Spd_Up (Avoid Improved!) added!
AS: Take! Misato Fushihara takes 0 Recovery healing from Maria Sakurai's Masukukaja. | Spd_Up (Avoid Improved!) added!
AS: Block Worst! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 60 Strike damage from Gozaburou Gessou's Love Domination. Resist!
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
The Masked Man insists that everything is covered, and Tsurugi can only scowl. "Very well." She's just following orders. But she'll still get the blame if the orders are bad.
Tsurugi stares down at Jun as he attempts to posture and drive them off. She cants her head to one side. "... words will not drive the likes of him off. Nor will it I. But I suspect you will have more force to put to them than they will."
She means the guys who approached the Masked Man to begin with.
Tsurugi looks to Hyousuke next. "... do not be so certain of that." About there being nothing there for them. Not that she'll say what it is, of course. But she delivers that in the same flat, stoic way she says anything else.
Tsurugi is watching, and where she started on a high perch to surveil the landscape, the attack on the MAsked Man compells her to act. With a gust of wind she leaps down, and it is both a rapier and a parrying dagger that meet Magus' efforts with clashes of steel as she interjects herself between Magus and her target. "You will need to work harder than that to secure your answers."
She takes a step back to resituate herself as 'Cherry' bursts onto the scene. Tsurugi regards her for a moment. "A colorful name." Another cant of her head. "... perhaps you should not pose on rooftops if you do not intend to leap from them."
"... but you are not the only one who knows that trick." Tsurugi pulls her Evoker, a heavy, dark gray revolver, and puts it right to her head, an action that is definitely totally normal. "Persona" she intones. Shattering glass and blue fiore presage the rise of an androgynous figure in a red leather straightjacket clutching a chipped rapier through the sleeve.
"Masuukaja."
La Maupin gestures, and winds spiral out from beneath hers, Toxin's, and Pooison's feet to help them move faster. And then she gestures to Cherry and Jun. "Magaru."
La Maupin gestures again, sending harsh winds after the two Persona usres. But for Magus, Tsurugi charges in directly, rapier and main gauche at the ready as she tries to slip them in past the girl's defenses. "Let's see your skill!"
AS: Persona! Remi Ryuuja has used the Almighty skill Masukukaja on Remi Ryuuja and Gozaburou Gessou! AS: Take! Remi Ryuuja takes 0 Almighty damage from Remi Ryuuja's Masukukaja. | Spd_Up (Avoid Improved!) added!
AS: Persona! Remi Ryuuja has used the Wind skill Magaru on Jun Kashihara and Maria Sakurai! AS: Weapon! Remi Ryuuja has used the Slash skill Coupe on Misato Fushihara! 2 Hits! | Aggression: Remi Ryuuja gains 1 Limit!
AS: Mind Up! Jun Kashihara's SP +8! AS: Avoid Best! Jun Kashihara takes 14 Wind damage from Remi Ryuuja's Magaru. Critical Hit! Resist! | Haze (Physical and Block Penalized!) added!
AS: Avoid Best! Misato Fushihara takes 6 Slash damage from Remi Ryuuja's Coupe. AS: Avoid Worst! Misato Fushihara takes 87 Slash damage from Remi Ryuuja's Coupe. Critical Hit! AS: Take! Gozaburou Gessou takes 0 Almighty damage from Remi Ryuuja's Masukukaja. | Spd_Up (Avoid Improved!) added!
<Pose Tracker> Jun Kashihara has posed.
"Takeba-san?" Jun utters, looking over at Yukari with surprise. He isn't that familiar with the quick-travel that's possible through Mementos, so he's quite startled to see a Gekkoukan High student here by what he assumes is coincidence. Even if she sensed the Marked space go up, she had to have been at least in the neighborhood to be able to sense it--right? Maybe Fuuka or Ririka directed her here. He shakes his head, both to dismiss those thoughts and to answer.
He glances over at Hyousuke as he arrives too to help deal with the intruders. "It's a mystery to me as well," he says to him and Yukari both. He regards Tsurugi when she says they aren't going to back down, and he shakes his head. "I suspected as much. Well then," he continues to Hyousuke and the others, "they clearly aren't willing to back down, so I suppose a fight it is."
Protective magic rises up around him in the form of rose vines--appropriate for one whose weapon is currently a wild rose. Jun turns to behold-- "Ogre!" he utters, surprised to see the Phantom Thief here. He smiles. "Thank you for your support. I'll leave the demon pair to you!"
Two more masked Persona User arrives then, and though Jun doesn't know either Maria as Maria or Cherry, or Misato as Misato or Magus, both seem to know something about what these intruders want--announces that they attacked Sevens first not too long ago. He frowns at the two young women and then the Masked Man. "Our library...? What could you possibly want with that? --No, I suppose it doesn't matter."
He certainly isn't going to get out of the Masked Man's way, and is prepared to summon his Persona to drive him back--especially with Cherry calling up magic to speed his reflexes. Her face comes off with her mask, though, and that startles Jun so much that when Tsurugi's La Maupin calls up a Magaru to rush towards him and Cherry, evading her attack forces Jun to get out of the way of both her and the Masked Man. (At least he's seen Evokers before. That's given many people a near-heart attack.)
"Tsk...! Suzuki-kun! Whatever he's after, don't let him get to it!" he calls to his more stalwart friend, trusting that Hyousuke will handle it. He focuses a fierce frown on Tsurugi, and a circle of light coruscates at his feet. "Persona!!"
Argeiphontes, aspect of Hermes, rises above him, spaceship-tipped caduceus in hand. He whirls it, and debilitating magic worms down around Tsurugi to drain her of any defenses against Wind magic she might have. If she's using it herself, it seems likely she does, after all.
AS: Persona! Jun Kashihara has used the Almighty skill Wind Break on Remi Ryuuja!
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
Magus appeared on the scene, and brought with her information that instilled in Hyousuke no small degree of curiosity.
"Library? What're these freaks looking for in *our* library? Not like the place's got anything in it." It was a little disingenuous to say that. It had books, certainly. It even had chairs and desks. However, supernatural elements were - to the best of his knowledge - confined to the air raid shelter. Not that he had the chance to ask Magus for an answer before she charged in, seemingly thinking along the same lines as him. Jun seemed to think so as well, and Hyousuke nodded firmly at his agreement. "Then let's make 'em regret ever coming to our turf!"
Ogre's presence inspired much less confusion on his part, though he kept himself from asking anything about the library. Ichika might have been a Kasugayama student, but Ogre wasn't. Or maybe she was, and he'd not been clued in on that aspect of her secret identity. Regardless, he'd had enough knowledge about opsec beaten into his brain that he knew to keep his mouth shut, and instead make a request.
"Try not to beat these assholes too quick!" Hyousuke shouted, in an uncharacteristic display of restraint. "I gotta get some answers outta them before I finish 'em off!"
Cherry's entrance drew his eye next, and he was right back to perplexed. There was a flair to her performance, that much he could not deny, but there was the ever-present question of whose side she was on. He did not speak it, but the tightened guard and sharpened gaze made it clear he was cautious. The sentiment dissipated when he saw her launch an attack, but it only raised further questions.
"You know these guys?" He asked, speaking above the din. "The hell did they even want at Sevens?" He turned his sharpened gaze at Tsurugi when she confirmed that there was *something* there, and again, his snarl appeared. "You... Whatever you know, I'm finding it out, one way or the other."
He didn't have long to ponder the thought. The man in the mask addressed him, as did his pair of magical menaces.
"Cute? The hell are you- You sick in the head or something?" Hyousuke didn't even seem intimidated or angry by the remark. Just confused, more than anything. But he didn't have the time to ponder that either. A flurry of hearts fluttered towards him, and struck with force enough to send him staggering back. He hadn't time to call upon Achilles, but his guard went up by instinct, focussing to blunt the brunt of the damage.
Jun's orders pierced through the dust the attack had kicked up, and Hyousuke met them with a sharp and barked response.
"On it!" He called, before streaking forwards like a hunting hound slipping the leash. Fast as he was, however, Achilles was faster. "Hey asshole! You and your frilly little friend's aren't going anywhere!" He shouted at Zabu, raising his fist to strike... only to level it as a pointed finger. A great mass of bronze and fury sprung forth from his back, the screech of scraping metal ringing out as he closed the gap, heaving his spear down in a vicious strike at Zabu's leg.
AS: Persona! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Pierce skill Counterthrust on Gozaburou Gessou! | Defense: Hyousuke Suzuki gains 1 Limit!
AS: Counter Best! Gozaburou Gessou takes 47 Pierce damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Counterthrust. | COUNTER! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 57 Pierce damage in return for his attack!
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
Yukari can parse his surprise, after all, she's in Sumaru City on a school day, but- "Explain later!" But, even he doesn't know, "Huh. Well that at least rules out a few things if you don't know."
Up above is- is- Cherry!
"Huh!? Wait-Super Heroine?" 'Um! Wait-- right there!' "Uhhhh, sure? ... She didn't really think this through I guess."
Then the demons address her and- "What!? No-! I'm not dating anyone here. You're just raising enough of a fuss that everyone near Mementos knows about it!" Yukari says as the Demons act like she doesn't even belong here.
Like she's just too prep. And maybe that's even a fair accusation but- she's not going to admit it.
"Suzuki-san?" Yukari says, as she calls out, before, "Well it's not like they're giving us much of a choice.
Then Ogre comes out and declares- "Wait, the Phantom Thieves took over Cuss High?" Yukari Takeba then blinks, "Wait, if that were true it'd be on the news!" She says, incredulously, as the Thorn Barrier forms over her. "Uh, thank you- Ogre Boss? ... I guess."
And as a Masked Man enters- someone she doesn't know, "What would they want with the library? You're telling me all this is over some stupid books!? And you're using demons for it?"
...
...
...
"Why wouldn't you morons just walk in like normal people!?" She shouts in complaint. "You're getting people hurt for nothing!"
And that's the moment that Super Heroine Cherry emerges, "Uh, glad you could join us? Do super-heroines really take the stairs though?"
The Demons though show that people are indeed getting hurt! And one of them is her! The Love Domination beams fly at her and-!
Blast her a good deal backward, even if she maintains her footing. But the thorns deflect the worst of the impact back.
"... Do you really have to call your attack names?" Yukari grouses, "Sheesh. This really is a little kids show."
Pressing her Evoker to her forehead, she calls forth Io with a pull of the trigger, manifesting above her as a coffin like cow's head, chained to a fey girl, and they begin by the winds rising, as she repeatedly blasts the Magical Girl Duo with a high pressure column of wind over and over.
She did once like these shows! But- an event not quite eleven years ago stole away the innocence of childhood from her.
AS: Persona! Yukari Takeba has used the Wind skill Consecutive Garula on Gozaburou Gessou! 2 Hits! AS: Avoid Best! Gozaburou Gessou takes 10 Wind damage from Yukari Takeba's Consecutive Garula. AS: Avoid Worst! Gozaburou Gessou takes 74 Wind damage from Yukari Takeba's Consecutive Garula.
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Those who hunger for human hearts in the abyss...
"NO, you can't be magical girls!" Ogre roars, swinging her shield around to reflect part of the beam back at them and skidding backward with the force of it against her. "You're ugly, and killing randos is the opposite of justice!"
She nods sharply to Jun. "You got it," she says to him, though she can't reveal that she's Ichika right now. "I'll take care of them."
Ogre is a little surprised to see Magus... but only a little. And Cherry?
Well, it is a pretty high roof...
The Phantom Thieves took over Cuss High!? "Kasu High," Ogre corrects. "And nah, I'm just fillin' in while the Death Boss is out. He's still on top around here." A beat, "But you're welcome."
Hyousuke wants answers, though... Ogre grins at him. "You got it."
As he charges in, Ogre calls forth Momiji once more, the Oni bandit in the beautiful kimono rising in blue flame. She extends a clawed hand--
Stone crashes towards the magical demons, one for each, the size of Ogre herself.
"You're not gonna dominate SHIT like that!"
AS: Persona! Ichika Kawase has used the Earth skill Magnara on Gozaburou Gessou! AS: Avoid Best! Maria Sakurai takes 10 Wind damage from Remi Ryuuja's Magaru. AS: Avoid Neutral! Gozaburou Gessou takes 87 Earth damage from Ichika Kawase's Magnara. Critical Hit!
<Pose Tracker> Misato Fushihara has posed.
"They were past their prime, anyway." Magus replies, as the Masked Man calls her out. "If you cooperate, it can stop at just secrets."
And then, a proclamation from above! Magus looks up to the Kasugayama roof. The magical superheroine, Cherry...
...There's a part of her, buried deep down, that thinks that's really cool. It's just like in the manga she reads... Though the effect is diminished somewhat when she has to take the long way down. She supposes she can give her some leeway on that, but she'll never admit it to her face.
She will, however, gratefully accept the support. She can already feel her steps lightening.
"My thanks." She offers to Cherry with a nod.
She lunges - and with a gust of wind, Tsurugi intercepts her. Metal meets metal and Magus grimaces as she tries to hold her back, until Tsurugi steps back on her own.
"I expected as much. It wouldn't mean anything if I didn't." Magus replies. Tsurugi has her own speed-enhancing magic, and while the others get harsh winds, Tsurugi engages her directly. Her saber and parrying dagger flash out, trying to match her blow for blow... but while she manages to deflect the first, Tsurugi's follow-up catches her in the shoulder and forces her back.
It's clear that of the two of them, Tsurugi might be the better swordsman... If she engages her with blade alone, this won't go well for her.
"Whatever books they want, they're part of a set. That man retrieved one from Sevens, and the rest were transferred here." Magus explains, as the question is raised. "...They want them enough to kill over it - he shot the librarian on duty. I was able to call for help, but that should be proof of how serious they are."
She turns toward Tsurugi.
"And as for you... Nitocris!" Magus grasps her mask, and the Egyptian queen materializes behind her. "Are you seeing double?"
A mist begins to settle around Tsurugi's location. If it takes hold, Magus appears out of the corner of her eyes, again and again - illusions, to try to make her distrust her vision.
Illusions that attempt to mask the arrows of water beginning to form around her, which surge forth toward Tsurugi suddenly with a snap of her fingers.
AS: Misato Fushihara spends Limit on Exploit! Misato Fushihara can use another Weak skill this round! AS: Persona! Misato Fushihara has used the Almighty skill Illuzone on Remi Ryuuja! | Pressure: Misato Fushihara gains 1 Limit!
AS: Persona! Misato Fushihara has used the Water skill Aqua Crush on Remi Ryuuja!
<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
Oh! It's Takeba-chan! And, almost, she calls out, except she remembers! She's a superhero, now. She's not supposed to spoil the secret!
So Maria, as if none of the before had happened, presses on into the ground level.
Yukari has her own comment to make. It doesn't seem to bother Cherry: she shrugs and grins over at Yukari, "Some of us have to!" This is coupled with a frown at Tsurugi, though. "Hey! You can't make a cool pose from the doorway, you know!" she insists, shaking her head.
It's then that Tsurugi demonstrates that Maria's not the only one who has that particular trick. "--So you have one too, huh? That's okay, though! I'll take you down myself!"
She pauses, just long enough to parse what Jun has done.
"--Then we'll take you on ourselves!" she corrects, shaking her head. "It's great to fight with another Persona-user again!" Pause. "Other Persona-users!" she corrects again when Magus and Yukari summons their own Personas. The last time she fought with so many of them at once was...
...
Wow, probably in the middle of her own awakening. How about that.
Wind whirls up, and Maria leaps to one side, slipping most of the storm (if barely). "Can't catch me so easily!" she declares, rising to her feet from the crouch she'd landed in.
Did something just happen to Tsuruhi's defenses?
"If you're doing that," she tells Jun, "then, how about I do this! Here, Persona!"
Pressure circles about Artemesia's shortsword blade. In a fencer's lunge, the Persona gives a silent shout as a burst of blue-green force surges forth towards 'Tsurugi'.
AS: Persona! Maria Sakurai has used the Wind skill Zan on Remi Ryuuja! | Pressure: Maria Sakurai gains 1 Limit!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Remi Ryuuja takes 0 Almighty damage from Jun Kashihara's Wind Break. | Wind_Break (Wind Affinity Down!) added!
AS: Avoid Best! Remi Ryuuja takes 0 Almighty damage from Misato Fushihara's Illuzone. | Rage (Weapon Attack and Incoming Damage Up!) added!
AS: Avoid Best! Remi Ryuuja takes 14 Water damage from Misato Fushihara's Aqua Crush. | Atk_Dn (Damage down!) added!
AS: Nerve Up! Remi Ryuuja's SP +8! AS: Avoid Worst! Remi Ryuuja takes 119 Wind damage from Maria Sakurai's Zan. | Blast (Magic and Block Penalized!) added!
<Pose Tracker> Gozaburou Gessou has posed.
The Masked Man just looks at Hyousuke with a silence that conveys how every dumb he thinks Hyousuke is. When the punk actually attacks him, The Masked Man is struck in the leg and reflexively reaches for his luger pistol, firing off a round at Hyousuke. "Ugh...I'm so sick of this."
"Uh huh. You look like the type that goes for big muscles. This place is perfect for you." Toxin says with doubt in her voice to Yukari.
As Yukari puts down this whole mess that the mysterious masked man set into motion. "Trust me. If it were as easy to just walk in, I would have." The man says, snapping his fingers. "Girls, please break these children before I have to get involved myself. Tsurugi, keep up the good work." The last statement is....almost mocking Remi.
Then Ogre says something to make her the enemy of all flesh eating magical girls at home. Demons can't be magical girls? Not under her gaze! "How dare you!" Remedy Poison winces as this one and Yukari managed to repel Love Domination. The princess of hearts and her partner look to each other, nodding as they comes to an unspoken understanding. They begin speaking in unison again. "My Feelings to yours. Let them reach you! Unshakable Love Connection!" This time it isn't so much a beam as a general aura that seems to just strike out, like walking outside on a humid day. This "love connection" feels more like an unshakable curse. Is this what Demons think that love is?
AS: Item! Gozaburou Gessou has used the Dark skill Unshakable Love Connection on Yukari Takeba! AS: Item! Gozaburou Gessou has used the Dark skill Unshakable Love Connection on Ichika Kawase! AS: Item! Gozaburou Gessou has used the Dark skill Unshakable Love Connection on Hyousuke Suzuki! AS: Block Best! Ichika Kawase takes 16 Dark damage from Gozaburou Gessou's Unshakable Love Connection. AS: Avoid Best! Yukari Takeba takes 14 Dark damage from Gozaburou Gessou's Unshakable Love Connection. AS: Block Worst! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 45 Dark damage from Gozaburou Gessou's Unshakable Love Connection. AS: Hyousuke Suzuki spends Limit on Exploit! Hyousuke Suzuki can use another Weak skill this round!
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
Jun might note, if he has the time to do so, that Tsurugi's Evoker is different from those used by SEES (such as by Yukari over there, or by the aforementioned Ririka or Fuuka.)
But Jun summons his Persona, and while Tsurugi does not, in fact, ahve a particular defense against Wind magic--as Magus may have noted, slashing attacks perhaps seem more ill-advised--it still holds some effect. "So you weaken my defnses... but I note your own." We may come back to that remark in a moment.
She spares a glance for the snarling Hyousuke. They're finding out, he says. "... no, you are not," is her simple, matter-of-fact reply.
Yukari wonders why they don't just walk in like normal people. Tsurugi, admittedly, wonders much the same, but she won't voice that.
Tsurugi has had... considerable amounts of practice with her rapier and dagger. But she always relishes the chance to fight someone else who fights the same way.
"Then learn to jump from the roof," Tsurugi offers, in regards to cool poses. Is she giving advice or trying to antagonize her?
Is it both??
Illusions come, and Tsurugi lashes out wildly at them--and all at once that calm, stoic demeanor snaps as some seed of frustration seems to be unleashed. "Graaagh--" But she still has enough presence of mind to dart back from the water--
--and right into the blue-green energy surge of Cheery's attack. She is zapped, and though it looks like a direct, solid hit, she doesn't do much more than grunt through it, though her body sags notably afterwards.
But she's angry, and the Masked Man's comments only serve to anger her further. "Persona!" She whips her sword out to her side, and La Maupin reaches out their own blade. Where they touch, flames explode outwards along the lengs of the two blades, and spill over onto the ground around them. Tsurugi lifts their head, and she and her Persona both charge forward, trails of flame in their wake, and each swing of a sword leaving gouts of flames as they dance among the three Persona users.
AS: Remi Ryuuja spends Limit on Broad! AS: Tandem! Remi Ryuuja has used the Fire skill Scorching Wrath on Jun Kashihara, Misato Fushihara, and Maria Sakurai! 3 Hits! | Aggression: Remi Ryuuja gains 1 Limit!
AS: Misato Fushihara spends Limit on Brace! AS: Avoid Neutral! Misato Fushihara takes 18 Fire damage from Remi Ryuuja's Scorching Wrath. Weak! AS: Avoid Worst! Misato Fushihara takes 65 Fire damage from Remi Ryuuja's Scorching Wrath. Critical Hit! Weak! AS: Avoid Worst! Misato Fushihara takes 65 Fire damage from Remi Ryuuja's Scorching Wrath. Critical Hit! Weak! AS: Maria Sakurai spends Limit on Brace! AS: Avoid Worst! Jun Kashihara takes 33 Fire damage from Remi Ryuuja's Scorching Wrath. AS: Avoid Worst! Jun Kashihara takes 43 Fire damage from Remi Ryuuja's Scorching Wrath. Critical Hit! AS: You have 1 more attack in queue! AS: Avoid Best! Jun Kashihara takes 10 Fire damage from Remi Ryuuja's Scorching Wrath. Critical Hit! AS: Counter Best! Maria Sakurai takes 54 Fire damage from Remi Ryuuja's Scorching Wrath. Critical Hit! Weak! Counter Fire! | COUNTER! Remi Ryuuja takes 75 Fire damage in return for her attack! Weak!
AS: Counter Worst! Maria Sakurai takes 91 Fire damage from Remi Ryuuja's Scorching Wrath. Critical Hit! Weak! Counter Fire! | COUNTER! Remi Ryuuja takes 54 Fire damage in return for her attack! Weak!
AS: Counter Best! Maria Sakurai takes 54 Fire damage from Remi Ryuuja's Scorching Wrath. Critical Hit! Weak! Counter Fire! | COUNTER! Remi Ryuuja takes 75 Fire damage in return for her attack! Weak!
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
Everyone's opinions seemed to align. For once, Hyousuke was not the odd one out for suggesting that they be proactive in their violence. It was a strange feeling, and he wasn't sure how he was supposed to process it, but decided that it was something that could wait for later. For the time being, asses had to be kicked, though it seemed fate had put his own posterior on that list. The pistol shot blasted into his side, knocking backwards so suddenly that he scarcely had time to even think about calling on Achilles, let alone summoning him back.
"Oh, is that how we're doing things?!" Hyousuke shouted back. His hands were no longer empty. His bag had been cast aside, tossed to more or less where he'd entered the fray. In his hands was something else - something short and forged from dark metal, seated against polished wood. His hands were not empty, because they held his shotgun, the break-action firearm levelled at Zabu. And this time, Hyousuke came prepared to intercept whatever blows came at him, for the mighty general stood at his side, shield raised to keep his wielder safe. "If you're sick, I got the cure right here!"
Hyousuke moved forward slowly, one plodding step after another. The shield placed before him could only do so much against the overwhelming aura that seeped into him. He could feel it in his muscles, his bones, his veins, even his mind - it was a curse that twisted his very thoughts, and threatened to rob him of his strength before he could so much as squeeze the trigger. But whatever Achilles could not block, Hyousuke endured, gritting his teeth and holding the barrel steady. The gun belched fire, its storm of shrapnel heralded by light and thunderous booms, all while the sound of clanking bronze and heavy footfalls beat out a steady rhythm.
The protection did not last forever, though. As soon as he was close enough, and as soon as he was sure he'd fired off enough rounds to pull attention towards him, he issued another command to Achilles.
"Achilles! Get that asshole's legs again!" Came a shout that was just as loud as any gunshot, and once again, Achilles cannoned in to close the distance. Not for a spearstrike, however, but for a savage swing of his gleaming blade. He hacked low, aiming to dig into the flesh of Zabu's other leg, seeking to keep the man (seemingly) in charge from going anywhere without a thorough interrogation.
"Your friend here thinks we can't get our answers!" Hyousuke called out, gesturing vaguely to Tsurugi between shotshells. "But I'm thinking different! I'm thinking you or those magical *rejects'll* spill! So come on - you can talk now, or after we've kicked your asses!"
AS: Tandem! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Pierce skill Shot and Shield on Gozaburou Gessou! 3 Hits! | Defense: Hyousuke Suzuki gains 1 Limit!
AS: Persona! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Slash skill Limbsever on Gozaburou Gessou!
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
'Kasu High,'
'I'm just fillin' in while the Death Boss is out. He's still on top around here.'
"... So you're like the Vice-Boss of the school? As a Phantom Thief." Yukari just does not understand Kasugayama High, "Uhhh maybe we just not- say that? If the media hears then, there'll be reporters everywhere."
Maria notes that some have to and Yukari thinks on that one. Even she can get down from a rooftop with Io, she just doesn't like to because- she's wearing skirts? That'd be mortifying for someone at Kasu to see that. "... I guess that makes sense."
And then Misato tells her what happened at Sevens. "He shot a librarian?" Yukari looks aghast as Misato explains before she turns to the Masked Man, "What the hell is wrong with you?"
'Trust me. If it were as easy to just walk in, I would have.'
"Ooookay?" She says, looking entirely baffled, "It's a library not a military base."
What the heck does he need to supernaturally invade a high school library for? Why even have to shoot someone for a book!
Nothing about the supernatural is making sense to her! She's trying to apply common sense without much success.
The Demons radiate an aura that feels like a curse. The thing is though- "-Io!" The Persona interposes itself, keeping the aura at bay from Yukari. For a Persona with the narrative of being cursed, it's a rather familiar feeling.
"What about this has to do with love!?"
Io raises her arms, and rather than 'love' what forms in a breeze that the scent of fresh water blows through, alleviating the effects of that aura on a number of people here.
AS: Persona! Yukari Takeba has used the Recovery skill Naiad Mediarama on Hyousuke Suzuki, Maria Sakurai, Misato Fushihara, and Ichika Kawase! | Support: Yukari Takeba gains 1 Limit!
<Pose Tracker> Jun Kashihara has posed.
Jun hasn't had enough experience with SEES to be intimately familiar with what their Evokers look like, but even with only a glance, they do seem to be different shapes. Considering Tsurugi is clearly not with SEES, that only makes sense. He glances at Yukari anyway, both when she utters her surprise at seeing a Phantom Thief and yelling at the intruders about their high-visibility methods of stealing a book, and looks back at Magus and Cherry.
"Likewise--thank you both for coming to help, Cherry and..." He looks to Magus, pausing to let her introduce herself. (Not everyone can appear atop a roof and announce they're a magical superheroine, only to climb down instead of jump.) Whether she does or not, though, he adds, "Are you both Phantom Thieves, too?"
They seem to have... more or less of a similar style to Ogre, at least--their masks and the way they summon their Personas with them. Cherry did say 'other Persona Users,' but she might mean 'other non-Phantom Persona Users,' after all.
"Well done, Cherry," he praises her when she summons Artemesia and casts a Zan spell on Tsurugi. Wind Break, despite the name, is effective for both Wind and Force-element spells, and that's a fine follow-up on her part. She seems a bit silly, but clearly she can get the job done.
Likewise for Magus, who adds more context to this whole attack. Jun frowns. Books transferred here... "I remember that transfer. Kasugayama is... a neglected school, and getting any kind of new books for our library is unusual," he says slowly. "I'd intended to check them out after college entrance exams."
If the Masked Man is willing to shoot people--first a librarian, and now poor Hyousuke!--to get to them, it's best he hadn't gotten the chance. This attack would be coming to his home instead, endangering his parents. "We absolutely mustn't let them have their way, then," he concludes firmly. "Let us put a stop to their ambitions!"
At the very least, they need to find out what these people want so badly. Magus's illusions seem quite effective on Tsurugi--maybe more so than her own ally's snide remark--but in return, she grows furious and calls up her Persona to join her in a fiery frontal assault.
Jun is a squishy mage. He absolutely does not want to get into a close-range melee battle. His flower might be far more effective as a weapon than it has any right to be, but sword + fire is not something to which it is going to be an effective counter. He cries out in pain as the blades and flames cut towards him, only barely managing to stay ahead enough to avoid any direct strikes. It's painful enough as it is.
At least his footing at the final evasion is solid. He grits his teeth in pain, then rises up again. Cherry and Magus seem even worse off than he is, just at a glance. Fortunately, this is something he can do something about.
"Argeiphontes! Sooth our wounds!" he calls, once again summoning his Persona. The aeronaut-esque Persona in black and white and gold arises, and healing energy showers down from his caduceus onto the three. As it does, he says grimly to Magus and Cherry, "She's every bit as powerful as you suggested. Leave the support to me--you two stay on the offensive!"
They're going to need a dedicated healer if it's going to continue to be like this, after all, and while Yukari's also performing that role magnificently, he can't expect her to focus on his fight /and/ hers the whole battle. Jun shoots her a little nod of acknowledgement across the schoolyard.
AS: Persona! Jun Kashihara has used the Recovery skill Media on Jun Kashihara, Maria Sakurai, and Misato Fushihara! | Support: Jun Kashihara gains 1 Limit!
AS: Take! Jun Kashihara takes 112 Recovery healing from Jun Kashihara's Media. AS: Take! Maria Sakurai takes 151 Recovery healing from Yukari Takeba's Naiad Mediarama. AS: Take! Maria Sakurai takes 112 Recovery healing from Jun Kashihara's Media. AS: Take! Misato Fushihara takes 151 Recovery healing from Yukari Takeba's Naiad Mediarama. AS: Take! Misato Fushihara takes 112 Recovery healing from Jun Kashihara's Media. AS: Take! Ichika Kawase takes 151 Recovery healing from Yukari Takeba's Naiad Mediarama. AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 183 Recovery healing from Yukari Takeba's Naiad Mediarama. AS: Avoid Best! Gozaburou Gessou takes 8 Pierce damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Shot and Shield. AS: Avoid Best! Gozaburou Gessou takes 10 Pierce damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Shot and Shield. Critical Hit! AS: Avoid Worst! Gozaburou Gessou takes 55 Pierce damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Shot and Shield. AS: Avoid Worst! Gozaburou Gessou takes 65 Slash damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Limbsever. | Atk_Dn (Damage down!) added!
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Big muscles... And Yukari brings up a good point. "Ugh," Ogre answers. "Rumors. That's the last thing I need. OK, we'll just say... these guys need a beating." It'ss not quite vice-boss, but... still. She doesn't mind reporters, but it would be a pain, and Sumaru being Sumaru...
"This is the power of your love, huh?" Ogre asks, shielding herself with a golden slab of metal with beautiful glyphs. That curse...
"Your love SUCKS!" Ogre answers. Yukari has a good question, too. "You can't just do whatever you want and say it's love," Ogre lectures. "That's not love!"
Yukari has healing covered, and Hyousuke is leading the charge. Ogre pauses a moment. "...Used to covering the healing myself," she admits. "But I can work with this."
Suddenly, Ichika pulls out an absolutely huge rifle, beautiful wood with golden accents. The barrel is some six feet long. She takes aim with it at the ogre. "...and I rock the Oni look a lot better than you do."
Hyousuke seems to be going after the main guy--so she'll let him do it.
"Right! We got 'em!"
AS: Weapon! Ichika Kawase has used the Pierce skill Shots on Gozaburou Gessou! 2 Hits! AS: Counter Best! Gozaburou Gessou takes 59 Pierce damage from Ichika Kawase's Shots. Critical Hit! | COUNTER! Ichika Kawase takes 71 Pierce damage in return for her attack!
AS: Avoid Worst! Gozaburou Gessou takes 54 Pierce damage from Ichika Kawase's Shots. AS: Gozaburou Gessou spends Limit on Exploit! Gozaburou Gessou can use another Weak skill this round! AS: Gozaburou Gessou spends Limit on Exploit! Gozaburou Gessou can use another Weak skill this round! AS: Jun Kashihara spends Limit on Shift! Misato Fushihara can use another Weak skill this round! Hyper (Next Attack Boosted/Incoming Damage Down!) applied to Misato Fushihara! They both receive 8 SP and 30 HP! AS: Jun Kashihara spends Limit on Shift! Maria Sakurai can use another Weak skill this round! Hyper (Next Attack Boosted/Incoming Damage Down!) applied to Maria Sakurai! They both receive 8 SP and 30 HP! AS: Ichika Kawase spends Limit on Shift! Yukari Takeba can use another Weak skill this round! Hyper (Next Attack Boosted/Incoming Damage Down!) applied to Yukari Takeba! They both receive 8 SP and 30 HP!
<Pose Tracker> Misato Fushihara has posed.
There may be a part of Magus that admires Tsurugi's skills. Someone who fights like her... It's rare.
"...You're skilled. What can I call you?" Magus asks.
...But a similar question has been asked of her, too.
"Magus," Magus replies to Jun. "...And no, I'm not. I'm not a magical superheroine, either. I'm just here to settle the score."
She looks toward Jun, then, as he comments on the transfer.
"So you heard about it? Do you know what was in it? I didn't get a good look at the book he took." Magus asks.
Her illusions seem to work, at least partially - but she's driven her to anger, and Tsurugi takes that anger out on all of them now.
Magus readies her swords as Tsurugi and La Maupin strike in unison with blazing swords. Magus grimaces as she tries to deflect the attacks... but there's only so much she can do against the blazing flames their blades are coated in. She starts to lose ground. The heat burns deep, even through her cloak. She's clearly pressured - but relief comes in the form of a cool breeze carrying the scent of fresh water, and healing energy showering down from Argeiphontes' caduceus.
"...My gratitude." She offers with a nod toward Jun and Yukari. "Right. ...Time to fight fire with fire, then."
Magus returns her blades to her cloak and draws out -
- is that a gatling gun??
It's large - but not so large that she can't manipulate it. She levels the weapon at Tsurugi, and the barrel begins to spin. Nitocris, nearby, leans on Magus's shoulder. She reaches over, pushing her hand out toward Tsurugi. A magical force takes hold, trying to weaken her defenses... and then, Nitocris taps the side of Magus's gatling gun.
The spinning barrel begins to glow red hot - and then Magus opens fire, the gatling gun spitting a volley of flaming bullets toward Tsurugi!
AS: Persona! Misato Fushihara has used the Almighty skill Rakunda on Remi Ryuuja! | Pressure: Misato Fushihara gains 1 Limit!
AS: Tandem! Misato Fushihara has used the Fire skill Blazing Gatling on Remi Ryuuja! 3 Hits!
<Pose Tracker> Gozaburou Gessou has posed.
The masked man winces at where Hyousuke's Persona attacked him. He really doesn't enjoy being on the battlefield but this required it. As the punk attempts to keep him pinned down, the mystery man finally has had enough. Suddenly, a figure made of bizarre colors phases into reality. As it's form becomes more concrete, it becomes a view with strange hues that gave one a headache if they stared too long. The figure was a humanoid with a television for a head, leaking a bizarre purpleish liquid from the screen. The Persona's screen began to emit static as it started to cook something up. There is a feeling that this mystery man is feeling mighty smug until someone uses logic.
"Oh, shut up, girl." The masked man spits back at Yukari using sense.
Remedy Toxin is suddenly in Yukari's face, drawing back its tiny legs and attempting a shockingly powerful jump kick.
Cure Poison is suddenly struck by the rifle shot from Ogre, making the large magical girl double over. "Ugh..."
"POISON!"
"No, don't come over here Toxin....I need to be strong...even when SOME GIRLS ARE REALLY BEING MEAN AND IGNORANT!" Poison says of Ogre with that Kyoto regalness almost dropping for a moment.
"Then we gotta show them! If Love isn't getting through to them, then maybe we should show them the power of our Demon Dream Power!"
"Maybe..."
Finally the Masked Mystery Man lets out an annoyed groan. "How about you girls just go all out! They are clearly the final villain. This is your penultimate episode, is it not?" He grins under his mask.
The two Magical Demons begin to talk in unison again. "Yes! Director! WE WILL BEGIN OUR FINAL ATTACK. From our heart to yours, we summon the power of all of the remedies and their line of commercial products! Let our voices sing and our dreams come true. From the depths of Hades and to the eternal void! Eternal Blissful Dream"
Yes Yukari. They need to yell all their attacks.
<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
Is she a Phantom Thief, too, Jun asks? "Um..." Maria hazards. "Not really...?"
It's the same sort of power, she knows from Tsubasa and others, but does that make her one, too? "I'm just me!" she decides. "Cherry!"
"It sure does!" 'Cherry' agrees with Yukari. The reality is that honestly, Maria hasn't figured out how to do that with Artemisia yet... Someday, this will open new, terrifying venues for attack from Maria/Cherry, but not yet.
Maybe after exams. And after she's no longer at risk of making her sempai really really sad.
But even cram school has to wait for some things. Like, say, vengeance. For the school librarian.
"--That's right!" Cherry chimes in. "I heard about it, too!" Through the rumor mill, of course. "Shooting librarians is something only a villain would do! All they do is rent out books!"
That's 'loan', Maria...
"We won't let you get in here! And, I'm going to punish you for what you did! --Hey, don't shoot him, too!" She pauses, glancing over at 'Tsurugi'. "And you, too! You're helping him, right?"
That's why she's attacking you, Maria.
"So, you're just as bad!" Pause. Blink. "Eh?? But that breaks your legs! Unless you're some kinda, uh--"
There's really not enough time to reply to that, not when flames are coming towards her. "--Ah! With me--" she calls out to her Persona, Artemisia at her side. Together, they break through the flames to meet blade with blade apiece, whether it's Tsurugi or her Persona.
"...Ouch," Maria sighs once the flames have died down, dropping to one knee there a distance before Tsurugi. "That really hurt..."
Relief, courtesy of Yukari and Jun, is soon at hand. With a sigh, Maria hops back up on her feet and drags one arm across her forehead. "Whew! Thank you, Kasugayama-san! And Takeba-- um, both you guys!" she hastily corrects, panic alighting on her face. Did Yukari figure out who she was??
(She cannot just yet, because of how Maria's power works, but Maria still doesn't completely get what Tsubasa told her).
"Artemisia, you're doing okay, right?" Being a Persona, hers doesn't talk just like that, for no provoked reason. "Let's give her the one-two!" Twirling, the Venetian-aspected Persona gestures with her sword. A flare of light breaks off towards Remi's right. Artemisia follows it with a forward thrust into the air before her, and shadow swirls towards Remi's left.
"You know, I'm thinking... What if we put all our magic together?" she wonders aloud. "Like I did just now?"
Is that a thing, Maria more or less wonders.
AS: Persona! Maria Sakurai has used the Light skill Kouga on Remi Ryuuja! | Pressure: Maria Sakurai gains 1 Limit!
AS: Weapon! Gozaburou Gessou has used the Strike skill Stage Fighting on Yukari Takeba! | Aggression: Gozaburou Gessou gains 1 Limit!
AS: Persona! Maria Sakurai has used the Dark skill Eiha on Remi Ryuuja! AS: Weapon! Gozaburou Gessou has used the Slash skill Eternal Blissful Dream on Yukari Takeba! AS: Weapon! Gozaburou Gessou has used the Slash skill Eternal Blissful Dream on Hyousuke Suzuki! AS: Weapon! Gozaburou Gessou has used the Strike skill Stage Fighting on Ichika Kawase! AS: Weapon! Gozaburou Gessou has used the Slash skill Eternal Blissful Dream on Ichika Kawase! AS: Block Neutral! Ichika Kawase takes 11 Strike damage from Gozaburou Gessou's Stage Fighting. AS: Block Worst! Ichika Kawase takes 61 Slash damage from Gozaburou Gessou's Eternal Blissful Dream. AS: Block Neutral! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 33 Slash damage from Gozaburou Gessou's Eternal Blissful Dream. AS: Avoid Worst! Remi Ryuuja takes 0 Almighty damage from Misato Fushihara's Rakunda. | Def_Dn (Block Penalized!) added!
AS: Avoid Best! Remi Ryuuja takes 24 Fire damage from Misato Fushihara's Blazing Gatling. Weak! AS: Avoid Neutral! Remi Ryuuja takes 59 Fire damage from Misato Fushihara's Blazing Gatling. Critical Hit! Weak! AS: Avoid Best! Remi Ryuuja takes 24 Fire damage from Misato Fushihara's Blazing Gatling. Weak! AS: Avoid Best! Yukari Takeba takes 11 Strike damage from Gozaburou Gessou's Stage Fighting. AS: Avoid Neutral! Yukari Takeba takes 20 Slash damage from Gozaburou Gessou's Eternal Blissful Dream. AS: Counter Worst! Remi Ryuuja takes 216 Light damage from Maria Sakurai's Kouga. | Haze (Physical and Block Penalized!) added! | COUNTER! Maria Sakurai takes 101 Slash damage in return for her attack!
AS: Nerve Up! Remi Ryuuja's SP +8! AS: Counter Worst! Remi Ryuuja takes 208 Dark damage from Maria Sakurai's Eiha. Critical Hit! | Blast (Magic and Block Penalized!) added! | COUNTER! Maria Sakurai takes 97 Slash damage in return for her attack!
AS: Maria Sakurai spends Limit on Medicine! +75 HP to Maria Sakurai!
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
"I can get on board with that." She tells the Ogre Boss who is definitely not the Thorn Boss, because even if she has problems with the Phantom Thieves' methods, she sure doesn't want Kasugayama to suffer more shenanigans due to rumors.
'Oh, shut up, girl.' And suddenly she takes on her most unimpressed tone, "Wow... you sure showed me."
"Don't mention it!" She shouts to Misato, whose name she doesn't know, which is why she gets whiplash when Cherry does, "Wait you know who I am? Have we met before?"
She hopes it's not just that she has a reputation in the Persona User community, that'd be mortifying.
And then a Pixie tries to kick her in the head, for which she sidesteps and ducks swiftly, "Why are you KICKING!? You have Magic!"
Honestly it's a good thing she is kicking, as in Yukari's experience the Pixie casts Zio, and she gets downed.
Which is why she can't believe one would give up that advantage.
Put their magic together?
"Oh yeah- I've done that before."
The two Demons begin for their final attack, for which Io has to push Yukari out of the way to prevent further injury, but after she is-!
"Why are you trying to advertise!? You're demons! Ugh- you're not about to introduce a new line of toys for little girls are you? None of us are interested!"
Speak for yourself, Yukari.
"I've had just about enough of this." And as the Ogre Boss gives her an opportunity, she takes the time to slide a clip into the bottom of her Evoker, as it begins to glow - and she pulls the trigger, a red aura overtaking her, even suffusing the way her eyes glow.
Pulling back her bow string, she begins firing so rapidly that it's like she might empty her whole quiver in just a few seconds, wind-borne currents causing them to zip at the pair at incredible speed.
And then- Io picks her up in a column of wind, as she draws her string back- and fires her last arrow.
When it strikes, there's a explosive pressure wave of wind that expands rapidly down, then upwards, creating a riotous column of air.
And then just for good measure, Io puts her fingers together into a heart and a sudden wave of wind hits them again.
Wait, did she actually do that?
Blink and you miss it, there's no way that actually happened.
"You're right." She says, as she lands, fingers running through the the side of her hair to flip it, as she then turns around, "It was your final attack."
AS: Yukari Takeba spends Limit on Exploit! Yukari Takeba can use another Weak skill this round!
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
Hyousuke is determined to get answers, either before or after their asses have been kicked. And Tsurugi--just laughs, sounding a bit off-kilter. "Do you think you can compell my tongue? You know nothing of the men who hold my leash!"
Wait why is she being so... animated? Lively? There's probably a word for it.
But her attention snaps to Jun as the boy uses Media on his allies on this part of the battlefield. "I see." Uh oh. She's clocked the healer. That's... probably fine, right?
But her attention snaps back to MAgus just as quickly. Her response is to first raise her rapier level in front of her body. As if to demonstrate. "But then she says, "Tsurugi."
That magic takes hold to sap Tsurgui's defenses--but it is not defense that she relies on primarily. aS the flaming bullets come, she seems to flicker back and forth with little bursts of wind, though she takes plenty of glacning shots that lance across her body.
'You're helping him, right?' Help is a strong word. "Yes. And you will not stop him!" if Maria hasn't tested how durable her Persona Using body can be, Tsurugi will not make any further suggestions to test it.
But Cherry and Artemesia counter the onslaught of blades, and Tsurugi feels each hit, whether it lands on her Persona or herself. At the end of the exchange she seems tired, but not hurtingg, even if all the flames seem to be extra effective against her. But she's breathing hard, regardless.
Cherry calls forth light, and Tsurugi just chjarges straight at her to lah out with her sword before being battered back, knocked to the ground. When the wave of darkness comes it is the unnamed La Maupin who comes charging forward, lashing out and similarly being blasted back before shattering to pieces.
Tsurugi shakes her head s she slowly gets up. "You had better what what you're after and stop wasting time! I will hold them off as long as I am able." she snaps in the Masked Man's direction. "... Deploying Theurgy cartridge." Theurgy whatnow?
She straightens, and pulls something from a hip pouch. This may be of paticular interest to Yukari, as Tsurugi chamers the round in her revolver-style Evoker. She snaps it into place and then raises it to her head. "Persona."
The sound is defeaning, as La Maupin rises once again, in a tremendous surge of Resonance. "Tempête Fatale!" She announces. She Tsurugi and La Maupin both take their stances, raising their blades high.
In a blink of motion they rush forward and strike through all those on this ide of the battlefield, winding up behind them.
And then a moment later a tremendous geyser of wind erupts where they were struck to try and tear through their remaining defenses.
AS: Tandem! Theurgy! Yukari Takeba has used the Wind skill Cyclone Arrow on Gozaburou Gessou! AS: Persona! Yukari Takeba has used the Wind skill Magaru on Gozaburou Gessou! AS: Remi Ryuuja spends Limit on Salve! Rage removed from Remi Ryuuja! AS: Avoid Best! Gozaburou Gessou takes 61 Wind damage from Yukari Takeba's Cyclone Arrow. Critical Hit! AS: Remi Ryuuja spends Limit on Break! AS: Counter Neutral! Gozaburou Gessou takes 94 Wind damage from Yukari Takeba's Magaru. | Haze (Physical and Block Penalized!) added! | COUNTER! Yukari Takeba takes 41 Wind damage in return for her attack! Resist!
AS: Remi Ryuuja spends Limit on Exploit! Remi Ryuuja can use another Weak skill this round! AS: Tandem! Theurgy! Remi Ryuuja has used the Wind skill Tempête Fatale on Jun Kashihara, Misato Fushihara, and Maria Sakurai! 2 Hits! | Aggression: Remi Ryuuja gains 1 Limit! AS: Avoid Best! Jun Kashihara takes 19 Wind damage from Remi Ryuuja's Tempête Fatale. Critical Hit! AS: Nemesis! Jun Kashihara can take another Weak action this round! AS: You have 1 more attack in queue! AS: Avoid Neutral! Jun Kashihara takes 19 Wind damage from Remi Ryuuja's Tempête Fatale. Critical Hit! AS: Persona! Remi Ryuuja has used the Almighty skill Masukukaja on Remi Ryuuja! AS: Take! Remi Ryuuja takes 0 Almighty damage from Remi Ryuuja's Masukukaja. | Spd_Up (Avoid Improved!) added!
AS: Nemesis! Remi Ryuuja can take another Weak action this round! AS: Remi Ryuuja's turn has ended. It's time for an All-Out Attack! | Remi Ryuuja: Break removed!
AS: Avoid Best! Misato Fushihara takes 15 Wind damage from Remi Ryuuja's Tempête Fatale. AS: Nemesis! Misato Fushihara can take another Weak action this round! AS: Avoid Best! Misato Fushihara takes 15 Wind damage from Remi Ryuuja's Tempête Fatale. AS: Avoid Worst! Maria Sakurai takes 55 Wind damage from Remi Ryuuja's Tempête Fatale. AS: Nemesis! Maria Sakurai can take another Weak action this round! AS: Block Neutral! Maria Sakurai takes 33 Wind damage from Remi Ryuuja's Tempête Fatale. Critical Hit! AS: Hyousuke Suzuki spends Limit on Exploit! Hyousuke Suzuki can use another Weak skill this round!
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
"Not so fun getting shot, is it?! Huh?!" Hyousuke shouted, a snarl in his voice as well as drawn across his face. "You get your kicks shooting up innocent people, is that it?! Answer me, you piece of shit! Or are you too busy getting your lacy little shits here to act like they know the first damn thing about love!" The remark was a little rich when it came from someone that had very little idea about what love was in any sense of the word - romantic, platonic, or otherwise - but if it got his opponents riled up, he was more than willing to throw stones.
Doing so got a lot easier when he felt the healing energies of Yukari's spell flow through his body. He could only spare a wayward glance at her, but there was a broad grin and a spark in his eyes - both vivid enough that a glance was all that some would have needed to see he appreciated it.
"Thanks for the assist!" He called back, using the few moments he could spare to acknowledge Yukari's efforts. "Damn Demons are being a pain in the ass today... You and Ogre mind beating some sense into 'em while I take him out?"
It didn't take much guessing to figure out who 'him' was, given how aggressively Hyousuke had been attempting to lock down Zabu.
The man himself called forth a thing hued with strange colours, inflicting it upon the world. Hyousuke watched as Zabu's Persona manifested, transfixed by the strange display that he was party to, studying it closely like a wolf circling something intruding upon its territory. Rather than react with fear or caution, however, Hyousuke only seemed to grow more agitated by Zabu's smugness. The presence of something that he had trouble wrapping his head around certainly did not seem to help matters, nor did the dream team unleashing their ultimate attacks upon the defending party.
The attack that was levelled at Hyousuke did little to dissuade him, however. His uniform suffered a cut across the arm he used to guard, and a thin red line could be seen past the separated fabric, but the damage was superficial at worst. Enough to draw a pained hiss from his throat, and a grimace across his face, but little else besides. Whether it did that little damage, or he was simply too hopped up on anger and adrenaline to notice the pain, was open for interpretation.
"Oh, I know *you* won't talk." He spat at Tsurugi, just barely able to speak coherent sentences past mounting frustration. "But I'm thinking your friends here are gonna be way easier to crack. And if they don't? Then I'll just have to settle for breaking their faces until they learn what happens when you step on MY GODDAMN TURF!" Hyousuke was off like a shot the very second that he finished speaking. He sprinted forward, bounding forward as if he were little more than some rabid beast smelling blood on the wind, but he bolted right past the magical girls and Remi. They were not his true targets.
Barging past, he closed in on Zabu and launched into a leaping punch. Leveraging every iota of momentum he could Hyousuke slammed his fist down towards his face, then surged forwards into a savage uppercut. Propelled up by the strength of his body and whatever scraps of momentum were left, he heaved his fist towards Zabu's liver, before finishing with a right straight cannoned at his nose. But even then, the assault did not finish. Achilles leapt forwards with him to plunge his spear down at Zabu's shoulder, his screeching metal armour like a warcry as he descended.
AS: Weapon! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Strike skill KO Combo on Gozaburou Gessou! 3 Hits! | Defense: Hyousuke Suzuki gains 1 Limit!
AS: Persona! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Pierce skill Counterthrust on Gozaburou Gessou! AS: Avoid Best! Gozaburou Gessou takes 14 Strike damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's KO Combo. Critical Hit! AS: Avoid Worst! Gozaburou Gessou takes 85 Strike damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's KO Combo. Critical Hit! AS: Avoid Best! Gozaburou Gessou takes 14 Strike damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's KO Combo. Critical Hit! AS: Counter Neutral! Gozaburou Gessou takes 64 Pierce damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Counterthrust. | COUNTER! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 51 Pierce damage in return for his attack!
<Pose Tracker> Jun Kashihara has posed.
"Magus," Jun repeats. And, when she explains she's just here for herself, and Cherry asserts that she's just Cherry: "I see." As for the transferred book, he admits, "Not intimately, and it was only one volume. As I said, I intended on perusing it after entrance exams, so I only glanced it over when it arrived. However, it looked like a playscript--one of a set of four, as I recall. Hardly the kind of thing one would think someone would attack several schools and commit murder for, but..."
But who knows what kind of information might be hidden or encoded within. They have to assume that it's more than just a play. No doubt Tsurugi could tell them; there's equally no doubt that she won't. She proves that when she laughs at Hyousuke for demanding answers.
Cherry meanwhile refers to the loaning of books as rentals. Jun quietly sweatdrops.
"You're welcome," he tells Magus. That gatling gun she produces is nothing short of astonishing--it reminds him a little of Eikichi's guitar-hidden gun without the need to carry it around, because Jun cannot tell where she produced it from. Cherry likewise performs something impression, i.e. a dual-elemental assault. They may not be Phantom Thieves, but they're both quite capable. It's heartening.
"Fuse our magic together...? That could be quite a powerful maneuver," Jun muses to Cherry. (Yes, they're strategizing right in front of Tsurugi. It's fine, it's not like they have another option.)
Or it would be fine, except Tsurugi has noticed he's a healer and is pulling out something she calls a Theurgy cartridge. Her Persona emerges once more as she yells at the Masked Man to get on with it already, and together User and Persona rush across the battlefield, blowing hurricane-level winds in their wake. Jun cries out as he dives to the ground; he can only cling to it as best he can as those gales rip and tear at him, all but laughing at the resistance that should be in his soul.
However, he manages to endure, and shakily, he rises to one knee. "It seems we have no choice. This is a foe we have to take deadly seriously," Jun says. "Magus! Cherry! Let's try it!"
He staggers to his feet, but draws himself up to stand tall and stately. "Argeiphontes!!" he calls, and once more his Persona arises, that black X upon his chest so much like Tatsuya's... A torrential gale begins to whorl as Argeiphontes gathers his power, a magical might that just waits for more contributions--
AS: That fusion doesn't need that tier. That attack is St and this fusion requires 0 St and 3 Wk attacks. AS: Bid acceptable! AS: Jun Kashihara has initiated a fusion spell! The spell still requires 2 Weak attacks, 1 Limit, and Wind/Any Magical! Anyone can join! AS: Misato Fushihara has joined Jun Kashihara's fusion spell! The spell still requires 1 Weak attacks and Wind! Anyone can join! AS: Maria Sakurai has joined Jun Kashihara's fusion spell! The spell is ready!
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
That's good enough--Yukari and Ogre can agree on this part, anyway. They don't want more Rumors taking effect.
As for mean and ignorant, "I'm not saying all demons are bad at love and justice," Ogre says with an expansive shrug. "I'm saying you two in particular suck at it."
"Because you do."
It is pretty mean. Still, Ogre hears them talk to the 'director', and begin their final attack... Ogre narrows her eyes under her mask. "That doesn't sound great."
The Eternal Blissful Dream breaks against Ogre's shield, forcing her back further with its might. But the Pixie... kicks. And--
"...Nice work," Ogre says to Yukari, noting her Theurgy. She noticed the hearts. She won't tell. "But I'm not done, either."
"I'll beat them, all right," Ogre offers hyousuke. She glances at him--hears his rage--and then looks back to the demons before her.
"He's right about our turf, at least. So... get out. Squished or otherwise."
Momiji cackles inaudibly as she calls forth more Magnara--
A huge set of rocks exploding towards both!!!
AS: Ichika Kawase spends Limit on Psych! AS: Persona! Ichika Kawase has used the Earth skill Magnara on Gozaburou Gessou! AS: Counter Best! Gozaburou Gessou takes 160 Earth damage from Ichika Kawase's Magnara. Critical Hit! | COUNTER! Ichika Kawase takes 104 Earth damage in return for her attack! Resist!
AS: Persona! Jun Kashihara, Maria Sakurai, and Misato Fushihara has used the Wind skill Dragon Flight on Remi Ryuuja! 2 Hits!
<Pose Tracker> Gozaburou Gessou has posed.
The man who is not Zabu is not having a very good day. Between the sass he is getting from Yukari, the attacks from Hyousuke, and trouble from afar from Ichika, the mysterious man is losing his patience. Hence why the strange TV headed Persona came out and is doing SOMETHING. It hasn't attacked yet?
Hmmm...
The Remedies are breath heavily after their last attack, glancing back at their opponents. The Pixie growls when Yukari sasses their market appeal. "Shut up! OUR PRODUCTS ARE VERY SUCC---*sniff* Successful!" The Pixie is near tears at just how cruel Yukari is being about capitalism. That is something very important to this one particular Demon.
However those feelings don't last as Yukari's Theurgy strikes out and ends Remedy Toxin's short career. The magical girl Pixie fades away as from nowhere, heartfelt piano music plays.
"TOXIN!!!" Poison screams as the magical Pixie fades from existence. However, if you really pay attention, there are signs that this intense sorrow is an act for the "cameras" as the Ogre keeps checking to see if anyone is buying her act.
Meanwhile, Hyousuke is dealing with the Masked Man, who continues to smugly watch the punk. "Come on. How about I give you enough money to buy some cheap garbage at the caferteria? You might be able to afford people food, fiddo."
Then the first punch lands and almost break the mask. A crack appears in white acrylic mask, bisecting one of the dot eyes. "Tch..." From there, the mystery man is a little quicker to dodge, still taking a shot to his gut. He growls as this punk continues to get a drop on him. Finally he just raises his pistol again, firing a round toward Hyousuke's face. Admittedly the gun is knocked away as it fires so the bullet could go ANYWHERE.
After some intense sorrowful acting, Remedy Poison glares at Ogre and her biased opinions on magical girls. "We fight for all the little demons who believe in murder and mayhem! In the name of the heart, I'll destroy you!"
The rocks come tumbling down on the ogre, almost pinning the demon to the ground. It swing a wild fist toward Ogre's form as a counter. For the moment, the demon is badly hurt and starting to fade.
"Very well. You can have today. It's not like you simpletons can decode what all this is about...Come along, Tsurugi" The Mystery Man says as he clutches his battle wounds. The man's persona suddenly sits up, looking at Hyousuke with a staticy screen. Then everything starts to get weird as the man just kinda steps behind something and is gone. What did he step behind? If you think about it hard, it is almost if the man walked off stage. For the moment, the horrors are over.
<Pose Tracker> Misato Fushihara has posed.
"One volume..." Magus repeats, as Jun explains. "A script? Why were they separated in the first place? And where are the others...?"
Tsurugi raises her rapier in front of her body demonstratively. Magus understands intuitively - and Tsurugi says it plainly.
"I see... Then you and that weapon... you're one and the same." Magus considers. It isn't judgmental. She can understand what that kind of purpose means for driving someone forward.
The same sort of purpose that makes Tsurugi such a dangerous opponent. Dangerous enough that Maria puts forth an idea. Putting all of their magic together...
"...I've never tried it before. I don't usually work with others." Magus admits. The opportunity has never come up. She's used to fighting completely on her own.
Her eyes lock on to Tsurugi then as she says something worrying. 'Theurgy cartridge'? That's new to her... She can feel the power emanating from Tsurugi. Surprise crosses her face and the gatling gun disappears into her cloak in favor of her blades once more.
Tsurugi and La Maupin rush forward with extreme speed. Magus does her best to redirect their blades to minimize harm... and then the following geyser blasts her backward, sending her crashing to the ground with her blades clattering out of her grip.
With a grunt, Magus forces herself up. Jun calls for them to try Cherry's suggestion. At this point... that might be the only way they can match her.
"...Right." Magus says. The situation is too dire for her to complain. "Nitocris!"
At Magus's request, Nitocris gestures toward Argeiphontes. Water gathers in the atmosphere, swirling - and then is drawn into that torrential gale to empower it.
AS: Remi Ryuuja spends Limit on Aegis! AS: Remi Ryuuja spends Limit on Brace! AS: Nerve Up! Remi Ryuuja's SP +8! AS: Avoid Worst! Remi Ryuuja takes 88 Wind damage from Jun Kashihara's Dragon Flight. Critical Hit! AS: Avoid Worst! Remi Ryuuja takes 88 Wind damage from Jun Kashihara's Dragon Flight. Critical Hit!
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
The barrel of a gun stared Hyousuke in the face. A blank, yawning, void of black - a grim portent of what awaited him, he might've thought, were he the more poetic and scholarly type. However, in that moment, all he could think of was to press the attack. To close in and batter the thing out of the way before its wielder could score a lethal shot, or if that failed, to savage Zabu as much as possible before a fatal blow was struck. When the black of that barrel was cast out by the flash of gunpowder, Hyousuke braced instinctively - but no longer did he face it down.
The bullet struck down instead, punching through the leg of his uniform and tearing a chunk of flesh from his thigh. Hyousuke clenched his teeth, trying to push down any expression that would have belied his pain. But even with his incredible will, there was no stopping the cry that ripped itself past gritted teeth, nor how he crumpled to one knee as his other leg buckled beneath him.
"Motherfucker!" He hissed. "Get back here! Get you and that boxy-looking hunk of crap back here and fight me!" He shouted, even as he struggled to balance on one leg, the other leaking crimson down to the ankle.
He levelled the barrel of his own shotgun, trying to get a clean hit off before Zabu could flee, but there was nothing he could do. Adrenaline only numbed so much, and what little steady aim he managed with one unsteady leg was undone by the pain distracting him.
"Shit!" Hyousuke called out not caring who heard by that point. It wasn't like there was any hiding what had gotten him frustrated, after all. But he could deal with that later. Angry as he was, even he could not ignore the fresh wound in his leg.
The green, healing, glow of a skill card's healing magicks washed over his leg, and though it did not fix the wound entirely, the worst of it - damage and pain both - began to fade.
"Ogre, Takeba-san, are you guys doing alright?" He asked. He didn't seem to be doing too well himself, but he'd live. Probably. He cast a glance at where the magical girls had once been before pulling a face, his expression falling somewhere between disgust and confusion. "...I've seen some weird demons, but magical girls are a first. Wonder if Sevens had to deal with something like that..."
AS: Persona! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Recovery skill Dia on Hyousuke Suzuki! | Defense: Hyousuke Suzuki gains 1 Limit!
AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 125 Recovery healing from Hyousuke Suzuki's Dia.
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
"B careful what you ask, hound," Tsurugi retorts to Hyousuke. "Some knowledge carries a heavy price. Are you ready to shoulder that burden?"
She should be chasing after Hyousuke to protect Zabu--but she can't very well do that with three people engaging her in combat. That's a quick way to be eliminated herself.
Jun is right--Tsurugi would not talk. It's not like her 'benafactors' are liable to actually explain things to her regardless. But go and strategize. It's not like Tsurugi didn't call out her own actions.
Magus, at least, seems to be quick on the uptake. And for that, Tsurugi is grateful. "Yes. They wield me as I wield it," she adds, to make the situation plain.
But Jun prepares that attack--and Magus and Cherry chip in with their own magics as well. A frightening gale of wind gears for Tsurugi in turn, and though she looks exhausted from the output of power, her body is forced to move as she weaves her way through the gale of winds, seeking a path through the fusion spell.
When she emerges she is covered in cuts and wounds that dissolve into blue fire, dropping to a knee. She seems winded, but not once has she made a noise of complaint. "A fearsome magic... I will remember that."
But the Masked Man calls for a retreat, and Tsurugi sheathes her sword and dagger (the dagger goes in a sheath on her back, as it happens.) "Farewell." With a burst of wind she exits, leaving the Persona Users to their victory.
<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
Has she met Yukari before, though?? "Um-- nope! No, we didn't work together before or anything! I just, um! You looked like a Takeba!" Cherry says in a fluster, waving her hands before her in agitation.
"Magus, huh? Neat! So you're like me?" She grins at Magus, than glances at Jun. "Hehe, I knew I wasn't the only one around! We're not all thieves, you know!" Speaking of code names--
"Tsurugi? Is that your codename?" Maria considers Remi for a moment, looking her up and down. "That's pretty cool! Like, a sword-- I mean, uh--" she starts and stops, shaking her head furiously. "Don't misunderstand! You're still my enemy!"
Yukari confirms what Maria supposes. "Really! That's so cool! --Yeah, let's try it, Kasugayama-kun, Magus!" That's... what's she's calling Jun now?
Tsurugi, though, shoots herself again, this time with a special bullet. "Huh--"
And she moves ahead, trying to both evade and block the incoming strikes blow by blow. One of these technically works. The other--
Sees Cherry planted on her ass by a forceful forward strike that channels the wind. "No kidding, Kasugayama-kun!" she says, scrambling to her feet. "We can't take her lightly! But we'll protect this school's librarian for sure!"
She pumps a fist. "Let's do it--"
And there's wind from Artemisia, a Garu joining the maelstrom that has begun to gather about Argeiphontes.
<Pose Tracker> Jun Kashihara has posed.
Magus has questions. Unfortunately, Jun has no answers, and can only shake his head. "All the more reason to defeat them here. If we can take a closer look at that playscript, perhaps we can learn something."
But first, they need to win.
He smiles at Cherry. They're not all thieves, but she's quite cheery about it, so it's hard to feel anything but cheerful back. She reminds him a bit of Maya in that way. "My apologies for the mistake," he tells her. That sweatdrop returns when she continues to call him Kasugayama-kun, though. "It's... Kashihara... Oh, well." He's been called worse names by far.
Tsurugi isn't just a sword in codename and weapon; she is, apparently, a sword for those she works for too. Jun's expression shifts into one of concern--but he can't let her have her way, either. Magus and Cherry join their magic to his, for all that Magus admits she's not usually a team player, and it's a fearsome spell indeed--enough to make Tsurugi take notice. However, it's not enough to take her out. Not quite.
Fortunately, the Masked Man has decided to cut his losses and call a retreat. That takes her out too, and she vanishes in a gust of wind while he... walks off-stage...? Jun shakes his head sharply, blinking rapidly, unsure of what he just saw. However, there's no mistaking the atmosphere; the supernatural space is clearing. He breathes out a sigh of relief. Who knows how much longer they could have lasted?
He turns to Cherry and Magus. "Thank you both again for your assistance. However, I doubt they'll give up this easily," he tells them both. "I'm going to head up to the library." He looks around to the group, including Hyousuke, who spits at Zabu for running but soon checks in with Ogre and Yukari. "...Though, perhaps we should tend to our wounds first. Please allow me."
He'll summon Argeiphontes then to heal the trio--but given how their cognitive costumes and these kinds of supernatural spaces work, Magus and Cherry might need to beat a hasty exit if they want to maintain their secret identities.
The library will then have to come later.
<Pose Tracker> Misato Fushihara has posed.
"Agreed." Magus replies toward Jun with a nod.
'They wield me as I wield it.' Magus thinks about that - then looks toward Cherry. Like her...
"I guess I must be." She replies. Another person with this power, this freedom of anonymity...
Cherry agrees, and they unite their power. It's great,
...And Tsurugi emerges on the other side, winded, but still standing.
...She's strong.
Magus pulls herself fully to her feet, gathering up her blades and returning them to her cloak.
"...No. Not people like that." She agrees with Jun. "I'll leave the library to you, then, Kashihara."
She'll stick around long enough to receive that healing from Jun before starting to turn away - though she does pause long enough to look back toward Hyousuke.
"...It was a boy band made up of Jacks at Sevens. Who knows what they'll pull out of their hat next." Magus replies. "...My money's on a manzai duo."
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
'You looked like a Takeba!' She just double takes at that, "I... righttttt."
Dangit, she definitely has a reputation on Dark Side of Sumaru. She can see it now 'Mean Bitch who always wears a Pink Cardigan'.
"... You don't have any!" Yukari shouts at the thing's insistence that the products are quite successful.
She's a little awed by the level of Wind attack that Jun, Cherry and Misato fuse together. It'll take her brain a few seconds to go 'I can do that too.'
And then, a retreat is called.
'It's not like you simpletons can decode what all this is about...'
"Apparently it's about a special book because you can't rob a High School Library without being a Drama Queen about it and killing people? That about right?"
There's a prolonged sigh, as she glances over to Hyousuke, "Doing alright but- I wouldn't say no-" And as Argeiphontes heals them, "Thank you Kashihara-kun-Oh!"
Light floats off her hands.
"Looks like my time here is done. Uhhhh, see you? Hope everyone in your school is alright!"
She hopes he didn't kill another librarian, most of all.
To anyone who has never traveled like this, it may be a little freaky when there's a flash of light and Yukari Takeba is just gone- abruptly back at a bathroom in the Iwatodai Station back in Tatsumi Port Island.
Where she reaches into her bag to fish out some ibuprofen. "Ugh. That always gives me such a headache."
And then she hurries into a stall with her things before someone sees her with a Tactical Assault Compound bow just- out, which is highly illegal.
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
"Shit, Hyousuke--!" he gets shot! But like this, he can live through it--maybe even be healed from it. But the questions about 'whta and why' do reach her ears, anyway. Yukari sys it even more plainly.
"...That's not great," Ogre says. She watches the merch demons fall, and shakes her head. "I rate your acting... C-."
She looks to Yukari, and to the others, with their powerful Wind move. "Kashihara-san," she says. "...We'll count on you to figure all this out. But thanks." She can heal, too--but now hse doesn't have to, she can spare the energy for...
"I gotta get moving. And you, Takeba--"
Pause.
"That was weird. I'm leaving."
Ogre darts.
<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
Cherry shakes her head. "No, no, it's okay!" But he's not Kasugayama-- "Oh! Kashiyama-kun! Sorry!" Maria corrects in turn. That's... still not quite right.
But the masked man who shoots at librarians has departed, and that means that Tsurugi's also exiting the scene. "I guess, that means that the library is safe?" For now, even Maria supposes silently, her cheery demeanor growing just that much more pensive. "Mm... Can we, like, get rid of the book maybe?" she supposes, only to shake her head. "Except..." That's just giving them what they want. And that's no good, either. "Maybe, we can lock it up? Oh, like, in a safe? --ah, yes! I think you should check on it?" she says when Jun says he's going to go up to the library himself. "And--"
But first, he's going to see to their wounds.
"Thanks! That's really handy, you know?" she tells Jun, all spiralling illusory flowers. "I think, though, uh-- oh no, Takeba-chan! You're glowing!"
Yukari vanishes as if she wasn't here at all. "Do you think she's okay-- oh," It's part what just came of Yukari, and part Maria realizing the same thing that Jun has. Once the effect here fades, they're going to lose their disguises.
"I gotta go!" she proclaims, as she not at all panics. "That's how it is with a heroine! You've got other evils to fight!" Nailed it.
And then, like a superheroine, she rabbits on off. aaaa