FOR THOSE WE HAVE LOST | FRAY'S PALACE

[bloodweapon]

Welcome to the Vault. Let your judgment begin.
♫

Comments

[destage]

[Sayaka's practically shaking at all of this. She doesn't want to hurt her brother, nor make him watch his friends die...but...

She swallows it down. This is to save him, because this isn't him entirely, is it?

...She doesn't know, but she has to strike.

Sayaka casts Maragidyne (18, 18, 16), taking aim at Estinein and Alphinaud. She can't attack V'rhas, she just can't--]

[bloodweapon]

[Between the debuffs and all that damage flying around, Alphinaud just can't keep up. He's the sole healer and he doesn't even have time to patch up the damage before he falls.]

Alphinaud, no...

[Estinien doesn't hesitate at all, though; he's already back in the air with another strike, landing on Yoon, Yi Sang, and Aerith (16, 14, 18). V'rhas's eyes glow yellow again, and he flings out debuffs once more - Evil Touch again for that Fear status on Sayaka, Aaron, and Celeste. And then, since that clearly wasn't enough, here's another wave of Electric damage, aimed at Richard, Arven, and Mafuyu (13, 1, 7).

Estinien is definitely showing signs of wear, and the constant jumping is definitely beginning to slow him down. Even as a Shadow, he has his limits.]

[destage]

[Sayaka startles horribly when the status hits her, and boy, when it hits it hits.

She feels like a scared child right now. She's always been able to only be strong when others were around, and even now, a lot of it was due to Fray's help. Facing him down like this, facing down V'rhas, his student--can she really do this? Can she really do this to him?

...

Well, the dice seem to be in her favor (1), but the body itself isn't actually willing. Shakily nonetheless, she takes aim.]

...I'm sorry, V'rhas. Fray.

[Sayaka enters the fray with her sword drawn, throwing a Dia at Aerith, and wasting no time at rushing Estinein down with a Giant Slice (15).]

[gardenful]

[ A little smile! ]

Thanks.

[beathollow]

No-!

( mafuyu casts mediarama on yoon, yi sang, and aerith and then amrita shower on sayaka, aaron and celeste. )

[cirquedesang]

Thank you~!

[imperiosity]

Appreciate it!

[destage]

T-Thank you, Mafuyu-chan!

[gardenful]

Thanks, Mafuyu.

[idealitas]

Thank you.

[cirquedesang]

[It's... painful, to be cutting down those who were obviously Fray's friends in front of the man who looks like him, but... it has to be done. Especially when their Fray is still lost somewhere in here. The defense, the healing, the assault is all meant to keep them from him.

And, fortunately for the assembled enemies, the fear status does take effect (2), and keep him from acting this turn. (It's like a taste of his own medicine or something...)

Once it's cleansed by Mafuyu, though, he'll be keeping an eye out for the next opening.]

[imperiosity]

[Hit with fear again, wow!! He feels himself freeze up even as he grits his teeth in frustration, unable to get himself moving (2). If only irritation could replace Fear, alas!!

Thankfully, Mafuyu's clear will hit so he's able to move freely again next round unless he gets status'd again!!]

[speedingticket]

[ Oh fuck!

Anyway, Rutile's here, and he casts Matarunda on the remaining two enemies to lower their attack. Stop that. ]

[gardenful]

[ She’ll be aiming a Diarama at Richard before casting Marakunda to lower the (now) three enemy’s defenses! ]

[ledbythewind]

Thank you!

[This palace has not been kind to the Utilities!!!]

[moonshaded]

[After briefly being too disoriented by an electric attack to follow up - she tosses her chin in Yoon's direction in unspoken thanks - Kainé is ready to rejoin the fray (hehe).

What's the catch? she has to wonder. What's going to break open when they've cut down everyone the shadow's used to surround himself, and he's left alone?

Then she thinks, Shut up; they're only Shadows. Cutting through them will open up that door, one way or another. Estinien's jump attacks beguile her, however, because her Lunge (1) isn't nearly enough to stop his AoE dives. Yeah. It's the jump attacks.]

Bouncing pissfrog... get back down here! [Said while pointing her blade in his direction, like that'll make him come back down.]

[supherb]

[Another one down...just one ally of V'rhas's to go. What'll happen after that, Arven's not sure.

He casts Diarama on Richard to top up his health, then flings out a buff: Matarukaja to raise the attack of Aaron, Kaine and Celeste.]

[ledbythewind]

Appreciated!

[imperiosity]

Keep it comin’!

[hurray for buffs, can’t wait for avrae to make him miss!!]

[vogelfrei]

[ McGillis has been here all this time in (handwave land) and he will continue being exactly as useful now - his Garudyne misses Estinien entirely. (2).

Aren't you glad he's here. Doesn't his presence make you feel like you can win this thing. ]

[ledbythewind]

[Fray sure is putting the Utilities through their paces here... Yoon, Yi Sang, and Aerith all get a Media, and then he's going to slash at Estinien with his blade (12) in the hopes of narrowing their opponents down to one.

That Electric damage hurts, but thankfully Aerith and Arven have him covered there.]

[cleansewithfire]

[ Sunrise has totally been here the entire time.

And...truly, she doesn't feel great about having to strike down V'rhas's friends in front of him, but apparently, the meaningful choices available are limited. She uses Megaton Raid on Estinien (15), hoping to make this quick. ]

[idealitas]

[ Yi Sang takes the hit from Estinien, but he's felt worse. He casts Maeiga again, this time missing V'rhas but hitting Estinien (2, 18). ]

[beautifulknight]

[ Another one leaves the arena.

He can hear the sorrow in that tone, and though it does tug at his heartstrings, Argenti is immediately laser-focused on the battle. Just another enemy down.

So...

That just leaves that Dragoon, and this time?

Argenti is going to make certain he hits this guy. Immediately, the Knight of Beauty rushes Estinien and leaps into the air in a facsimile of the tactics of the lancer, and bring down his own spear in a merciless fashion upon him (16) ]

[bloodweapon]

[Without Alphinaud to keep healing him, Estinien simply can't keep up with the damage. At the end of the day, he is still a squishy DPS. He drops to a knee and fades in that same dark fire that consumed the other two.]

Estinien too...

[V'rhas doesn't sound surprised by this point, and he shakes his head.]

Very well. I won't hold back any more.