GAME OVER (S██'s Palace)

[pointzeropercent]

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[pointzeropercent]

[The Bufudyne hits Magenta, but it doesn't seem to hurt as much as it would normally. Still, the number by Magenta's desk changes to 4.

Since all the others are buffs or debuffs, Magenta just laughs it off.]

I think we had this discussion about elements before, Aubrey.

[And he is casting Ice Break on the party. No more ice resistances for you!

At the same time, Teal manages to act and casts Diarama on Magenta. The number below Magenta goes back up to 5.]

[metagame]

Everyone! Before attacking further, look! The number changed after he got hit!

[What's that number have to do with it...

No good. There's still not enough information for him to figure out why... But he casts Marakukaja on Mafuyu, Joshua, and Shalem just in case. If he recalls, Shin's element is ice... and after Braphine's blessing, Shalem's element swapped to fire. He's at a disadvantage...

And though they aren't getting along... he still doesn't want him hurt.]

It reverted when Teal healed him...

[prozaic]

[Well. Sou is ice, isn't he?

And Shalem is fire, but he's trying not to use magic. This is going to be terrible.]

So you're saying that fire works. And it seems like you two need to be whittled down together, hm? [He needs to think about whether or not he wants to do this. Give him a moment to make this decision, he won't act this round.]

[moodwrecker]

What the- why did you heal him?!

[Ugh - she'll raise her own defense with a Rakukaja, then.]

[metagame]

Isn't it obvious?! They're both halves of the same whole! If one is without the other... You're dooming them to a half life!

[moodwrecker]

He was originally just nervous, meek Shin. Why would he need this lying jerk?!

[pointzeropercent]

It's not like I like having him around, but I can't erase everything we've gone through!

[This time Teal doesn't act, instead using his whole turn to stay balanced on the desk.

Magenta, however, casts Mabufula on Atem, Shalem, Audrey, and Joshua. (11-1 =10)]

[beathollow]

( mafuyu frowns. )

You need him just as much as he needs you.

... I'm sorry. But this is to remove you from one more person's possession.

( mafuyu casts mapsio (14), for medium psy damage to all enemies. )

[prozaic]

[Well, Shalem's decided that if he is to make an exception to his "no magic" preference, it would be this fight, as he's uniquely qualified for it... But hopefully he doesn't need to do it much. He'd rather conserve his life as much as possible. He inhales deeply and summons Orpheus.

Then he casts Maragion on both Magenta and Teal (17), before placing his hand over the crystals on his neck, expecting pain even if this is his first spell of the day. Nothing happens, which is a relief, but still.]

[moodwrecker]

...Tch. So you both have to go down together, then?

[That's what she's getting from this, anyway. And since her elemental spell's no good, she'll instead opt for Vicious Strike, dealing medium physical damage to both (20)]

[destage]

[Sayaka looks between the two Sous for a moment, and in truth, she...doesn't quite understand it, but she feels like there's a part of it that she does. A side that's meek and weak and frail that needed to be protected by a side that's strong, brutal, and decisive. Isn't that how she survived the idol industry? Well, survived is a generous word for it.]

Sou-kun. Shin-kun... [She's not sure if she should be calling them by the same or different names but she's. Trying. Sayaka's words are surprisingly gentle, despite everything. She's been a bit of a failure in this palace so far and she can acknowledge it, but...] ...I really am sorry that it's come to this; you both deserve better. But if a fight is what you really want, then...

[Sayaka will aim a Vicious Strike (17) at them.]

...We'll see it through, one way or another!

[finalmix]

[ hey so what happens if he aims a vicious strike not at sou and shin but at the desks that they're standing on instead (18) ]

[pointzeropercent]

[Interestingly, it's not the fire attack that hurts them the most, it's the vicious strikes. They both recoil from the attacks, with Teal screaming and Magenta hissing in pain. The numbers in front of both of them drop to 1. They're not done yet though. They still have some fight in them. The desks take no damage from the attack though, sorry Joshua.]

Ha...we're not as weak as you think. We survived hell on earth, a few attacks are nothing compared to that!

[He is now casting Tentarafoo on the whole party. Everyone has to beat a 15, or else they are confused for 2 turns.

Meanwhile, Teal casts Diarama on himself, bringing him back up to 4.]

[moodwrecker]

[Aubrey is hella not confused (18). Unfortunately this doesn't improve her chances of hitting the chains holding up the desks when she uses another Vicious Slice (5).]

So you're just gonna keep us at a stalemate? Is that your plan?

[beathollow]

( mafuyu is confused! but atem's already done a number on her resolve, so she is not taking an action. )

I...

[metagame]

[Atem grits his teeth. Seems he's the minority in not wanting to attack... If they weren't in the middle of a life or death situation, Atem would laugh.

Tentrafoo did nothing to him (20).

And those numbers still bother him. And with how they're now uneven... What do they signify..? How are they connected? (18)]

[pointzeropercent]

[Just a quick note for Atem here!

The heal will indeed bring Magenta back up to 4. He's not entirely sure what the numbers mean, but they might be tied to the fight in some way. Like, the numbers are keeping the fight going.]

[destage]

[...

Maybe Atem has a point. Sayaka pauses for a bit, considering the situation, but she manages to at least avoid the confusion from Tentarafoo. (18) She's a little surprised, honestly, that it did so much damage, and she ends up...

Sheathing her sword, briefly, and walking forward to them.]

...Do you really want to keep fighting? That seems to have been all that you've been doing, ever since arrival. [...] You've both been through hell. You've both been fighting so hard this entire time to stay alive. Is that...what you want to continue doing?

[Sayaka doesn't know if this will get her hurt or killed, but she has to try.

She casts Media on Mafuyu, Atem...

and Magenta.]

[finalmix]

[ well that 3 sure is a good time, he's confused for two turns. ]

[ although he doesn't know it yet, because he's taking this chance to use talk no jutsu to magenta: ] We? Please. Spare me the theatrics. I'm pretty sure if I put you both in my Game, you would be one of those Players that would kill their own partner because you think they're a liability.

[pointzeropercent]

[Teal, watching all of the confusion, is Not Having It. So instead of healing himself, he's going to cast Energy Shower on the party.

Magenta is now back up to 5 after being healed by both Atem and Sayaka, and the look on his face is one of confusion.]

Do you really want to die that badly?!

[The chains start moving more quickly as they spiral around Teal and Magenta, creating almost a barrier of some sort.

Be careful, it looks like he's about to do a big attack.]

[metagame]

Because no matter how that rat bastard denies it, he's Shin's courage! His ability to push forward despite all odds! If you take that away... Shin will never find it in himself to keep going! Fear will only consume him!

[beathollow]

They need to rebalance, and to heal. But they can't do that under the God of Conflict's influence.

[metagame]

And even you think fighting is the way to do it?

Fighting to live is how they ended up this way! Do you have such little faith in yourself and them that you think we have to come to blows! I've seen it before, Mafuyu. We can pull someone out of the God of Conflict's control without attacking!

[beathollow]

We need to get them in a state to listen. He was already agitated and at full energy- we just need to wear him down.

[destage]

Mafuyu-chan has a point. So many other people have needed this in order to wear them down a little bit so we could get through to them with words.

[...]

...I'm sure we're going to find a way to do it without killing either of them, or giving them what they think they want. But it does mean that we need to go on the offensive. For their sakes.