linkingup | FOR THOSE WE HAVE LOST

[The thing that stands before you is the Ultima Weapon. You know that if you don't stop it, it will conquer the world. You know that there is no other option but to fight it.

Yet it towers over you, and it has killed three Primals, god-like beings summoned by prayer of their believers. You know this too, and yet...

And yet you can't help but feel excited at the idea of facing an even greater threat.

You can do this.

You can do this... can't you?]

[Oh, yes, she can. Kirumi may not have really meant it, but her confidence in her skills used to reach conceited levels. Despite recent developments, she still is full of confidence in knowing she's talented.

So when she faces this thing, yeah, she feels like she can tackle it.

But at least being conceited doesn't mean she gets reckless. First things and foremost, give a warning shot, to see how it fares against her element, and how quickly it can react. Nuclear attack, Frei!]

[The Ultima Weapon is not exactly capable of dodging, large as it is. The warning shot clips its shoulder, though it doesn't seem to be particularly effective. A voice from within the monstrosity calls out:]

Come at me as though you mean it, adventurer.

[You instinctively know that the Ultima Weapon is being piloted by Gaius van Baelsar, the leader of the XIVth legion, the one who intends to conquer the people you're working so hard to protect. You have to stop him and the Ultima Weapon.

Though your attack may not have been overly effective, you still feel confident about your chances. After all, you've faced god-like beings before, haven't you? You can do this.]

You won't need to say that twice.

[That it couldn't move fast is a good sign, Kirumi thinks. Yes, she can take advantage of that! Keep herself moving, pepper the target with as many things as possible!

Kirumi gets ready to stay moving, and, summoning her Persona -- a vague shape she has managed to separate from herself, she being in the process of gaining an ego separate from what her world imposed on her -- and launches herself to slice at one of the legs of the weapon with her axe, to try to aim to its articulations near the ground! Work little by little to leave it unable to move!]

[A good call, as the Ultima Weapon's legs are certainly sturdy if you aren't aiming for the joints. The blow deals a fair amount of damage, though the Weapon remains steadfast on its feet.

It also fires an absolutely massive laser in Kirumi's direction, though it misses (10). Look out!]

[The close call makes Kirumi gasp. Good grief, that could have ended horribly! Yet she doesn't back down, too trusting in her own skills to back down]

I will make you fall!

[Persona! A Rakukaja on herself, to increase defense in case bad things happen, first and foremost. She needs to pinpoint an usable weakness -- the joints have been confirmed to be a decent plan, but if there's a better path, she'll take it!]

[The Ultima Weapon seems to be... well. The ultimate weapon. It doesn't have any glaringly obvious weak points... Though since you're considering it, maybe those glowing parts could be weaker? There's only one way to find out.

The Ultima Weapon sends out small drones that hover on the battlefield. Look out, they seem to be gearing up for an attack!]

[Drones, and glowing spots...there's only one thing to do now]

Mafreila!

[Aim for the drones, aim for the glowing things! She attempts to hit anything and everything with her nuclear magic]

[Not all of her attacks land, but the ones that do cause the glowing parts to spark. The one that hit the wings even causes the Ultima Weapon to falter for a moment before it resettles.]

Enough of this! Garuda!

[A shield suddenly surrounds the Ultima Weapon, wind whipping around it to make it difficult to see and aim attacks. Regardless, you can still attack!]

[Enough of this indeed! With all these drones flying around and the fact she can't see well now, she's somewhat vulnerable.

She should focus onto the drones. The Ultima Weapon is an important threat, but the drones will be a huge distraction and make it harder to aim.

That's why Kirumi starts attacking the drones, to break them with her axe!]

[They're fairly simple drones, so she can easily take out a few with some axe swings! The ones that are left aim at her, but she'll find she has plenty of time to get out of the way. The drones return to the Ultima Weapon after attacking, though the barrier is still up.]

[These drones are no match for Kirumi Tojo, local...ultimate weapon fighter! Once she feels she has some room to breathe, she focuses on the thing that matters the most]

You'll rue this day...!

[She focuses. A spiderweb lights up underneath the Ultima Weapon, extending enough to cover as much ground as possible. With a snap of her fingers, the spiderweb blasts nuclear energy upwards, into the Ultima Weapon!

Since this was a very significant move, I rolled. I got a 13]

[What a beautiful, significant move it is... And yet the Ultima Weapon doesn't take any damage. It does get the barrier to fall away, though, and Gaius calls out again.]

So be it. Titan!

[The Ultima Weapon pulls back a fist, aiming an attack at the ground. It creates shockwaves that shake the ground, but Kirumi's able to dodge any damage! (3, 6, 3)]

[I have absolutely no idea how she dodged this three times, wow. I credit her athletic qualities.

The barrier going down means she can aim again, though! She can strive to make progress once again! There were sparks when she hit the glowing points, and the joints aren't as sturdy as the rest. She has options to aim for.

One moment to consider what move to make. Kirumi decides making sure this thing can't move too much is the first thing to do.

Axe ready, Kirumi gets close once again, intending to damage the legs' workings. The axe is thin and sharp, and she's swinging that into the articulations as much as she can. She can't aim for long before she has to keep herself moving, but she's trying so hard!]

[She's doing so well! Her movements mean that it's hard for the Ultima Weapon to keep up with her, and she'll dodge another two shockwaves with ease, although the third does hit her. (4, 7, 17) Still, she's making good progress, as the metal gives way, forcing the Ultima Weapon to crumple to a knee.]

Unbelievable... How can one person be this powerful?

[You can't help but take pride in such words. After all, you have come this far on your own. You have caused this monstrosity, this massive threat, to crumple to its knees. It can't manage any more attacks right now.]

[Don't ask me how, Gaius, don't ask me how.

Still, the shockwave hitting her throws her off her stride. It throws her to the ground -- but she's not the only one who is falling. The sight of the Ultima Weapon, of those words of frustration, it feels her with immense pride. She can't wait to tell Fray and the rest she has brought the Ultima Weapon down!

But it's too soon to sing victory, isn't it? Standing up a bit shakily, and seeing how her attempts to make the target unable to attack are faring well, she decides it's time to focus on the glowing spots]

This is my selfless devotion!

[Because she thought that sounded appropriately boastful. Her vaguely formed Persona appears, and she focuses a Freidyne on one of them. She must deliver strong, definitive strikes, and using the magic seems like a good way. Even if it doesn't fry everything, coursing nuclear energy in there should be good!]

[It's a powerful blow and one that sees the Ultima Weapon's lights flicker. The Weapon is struggling to keep up and it shows.]

Ifrit! Get rid of her!

[It's not done yet, though. The Ultima Weapon slams a hand down on the ground again, causing a fierce, torrential fire to spew out, coating the floor. The floor is literally made of lava now, better watch your step!

But you've come this far. You can put an end to it. The Ultima Weapon can't move at all anymore, and it's just a sitting duck waiting for your final hits. Roll with advantage for your ultimate attack!]

Grk--!

[The floor, it really is lava now! Goodness gracious, this is extremely dangerous! So Kirumi does the only thing she can think to survive:

Get onto the Ultima Weapon itself.

This is a little reckless, truthfully! And it takes all of her effort, spurred by adrenaline, to get on top of it to not get fried. Her fingers are aching, probably got a cut or two with sharp metal along the way, but she tries to get on top of the machine.

Kirumi has to be careful to keep her balance on the machine and still attack. Raising her axe, she brings it down onto another of the glowing points, blade first!

Since this required coordination to attempt and a serious risk of injury were she to slip, I rolled. Got 14]

What the— Get down from there!

[The Ultima Weapon swipes a claw at Kirumi, which hits (11)! But since it's just a graze, she can manage to stay on! The floor may be lava, but now Kirumi is safe, though you'll have to look out for the Ultima Weapon trying to get you off!

Quickly, you can finish it now! Roll with advantage again!]

[The claw hits Kirumi, making her slip. Fretting a little, she sinks her axe into a gash she had previously made with her axe, stopping herself before she can fall down completely and get fried. Hanging from the axe, she can't use it anymore...but she can use her Persona still!]

Vicious Strike!

[A multitarget attack. Something this big can count as multiple targets, she's sure! With many places to attack at once! Kirumi braces herself for the vibrations and shaking that will undoubtedly happen while her Persona tries to leave the Ultima Weapon all battered!

Every time I roll I get +1 more than last time, apparently. I got a 15]

[Well done, Kirumi! The strike hits the Ultima Weapon true and with that, the lava on the floor vanishes. The Ultima Weapon itself has seen better days and it starts to flicker, like it's in the process of fading from existence. You might want to hop down!

As this happens, a voice speaks up. It sounds familiar and not at the same time - almost as though it's the voice of those you care for, but never quite settling into something distinctly recognizable.]

The world needs you. What will you do with this power?

[Do you answer honestly?]

[Oh, yes, full honesty! She's still a bit on edge from such a fight, and she shouts her response]

I don't know!

[.......]

But for now, all I want is help everyone who was there for me. They're included along with the world! Isn't that enough?!

[Fray included, of course. That's what she's in this palace for]

Edited 2024-10-14 21:40 (UTC)

[It's unclear whether it counts or not, but the world begins to fade to white around you. When you blink, you'll find yourself back in front of the stained glass window, though now it's broken. There is one window remaining.]

FOR THOSE WE HAVE LOST | FRAY'S PALACE

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