FOR THOSE WE HAVE LOST | FRAY'S PALACE

[bloodweapon]

Welcome to the Vault. Let your judgment begin.
♫

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[bloodweapon]

[The Dark Knight casts Shadow Wall again. The barrier glimmers faintly around him as he fights. The attacks that land hit him hard, with the Wind damage being enough to stagger him for a moment before he's back and ready for action.

Up first is Masukunda to slow you all down. Evil Smile comes next, hitting Richard, Sunrise, and Aaron. He follows this up with sword slashes on Celeste, McGillis, Argenti, Rutile, and Arven though only the first one hits (12, 4, 10, 4, 5).

The voice that follows is familiar: the one that asked you that question before. Though now you can make out one other voice that has joined in the chorus: Fray's.]

What drives you to fight here and now? What keeps you going, even at your limit?

[beautifulknight]

What?

[ What is this? A question suddenly out of nowhere? No, he remembers that time before, when he was in Fray's dreamworld, a different question had been asked to him. Then, after everything he experienced in the shard, another question all the same. ]

...The belief I can bring my beloved one home, of course.

Everything that keeps me going, no matter what, is the faith that I shall succeed; that there is a way, even in the darkest of times. I will not give in so easily, even when the odds seem hardly in my favor. Even should I be surrounded by an innumerable amount of opponents.

This remains true even now.

...That is why, no matter how much you resist, I shall continue to put all of my being into bringing you back.

[ Argenti speaks his truth as always. Then, he rushes towards The Dark Knight, and unleashes a Megaton Raid upon him, for severe physical damage (16), and his will is strong, unwavering in the face of the Shadow Wall, does not even come close to shattering (20)! ]

[beathollow]

( mafuyu's been here the whole time do NOT worry about it, it's fine-

anyways, she's casting amrita shower on richard, sunrise and aaron, and then mediarama for celeste, alongside arven and aerith given their injuries from the last round- )


... I... have been denied my own person. And now you're doing the same to yourself. I can't accept it.

[cleansewithfire]

[ Sunrises manages to push through the fear, but not enough to actually land her Garudyne (1). Still, she has the presence of mind to answer: ]

Because...Mr. Fray is important to several people, and I do not want anyone to live with more regret.

[vogelfrei]

[ Again with the loaded questions. This one is harder to answer - why is he here, why is he fighting right now? In a very narrow sense it is to escape the Palace. To survive. Simple base motivations that are always applicable.

Yet on a larger scale, he'd already made up his mind to fight here before he'd ever spawned into the Palace. Why was that? Mere routine? That is certainly part of it. They go to palaces, they learn something, they fight. Rinse and repeat. McGillis knows that going along with it is the path of least resistance.

But even deeper... ]

I'm doing this for Argenti.

[ McGillis likes Fray, certainly. Thinks that Fray should have a shot at existence, the same way Kirumi now gets to redefine who she is. But he's not doing this for Fray. He's doing this because Argenti needs this man back. And why Argenti...?

Because Argenti shines very brightly. Because Argenti should defy his stupid Goddess and love a shadow being instead. Fuck the Path. Fuck being the good and kind version of yourself.

Argenti and Fray should stray from what is right and proper together.

And McGillis wants to see it, selfishly, as an affirmation he can also hold onto.

With that resolve in his heart, he casts another Garudyne and it hits (17) without Shadow Wall having any impact on him (16). ]

[speedingticket]

[ Oh goodness. That was a close one...

As he's crouched, avoiding the slash, the voice comes. He knows immediately what his answer is, and so he replies before he even decides what he's going to do. ]

My friends, my family. The people and places I love and love me back. [ But that's not all, is it? ] I have to go home, because I have a duty to protect everyone there.

I'm not alone in my duty, though. They're not complete without me, just like how I'm not complete without them.

[ He casts Matarunda on Fray, to hopefully bring his attack down. Stop hurting his new friends. ]

[imperiosity]

[fear counter: 4…………

But just like last time, he’s able to shake off the worst of it (1) and scoff at the question.]

Like you even need to ask! I’m here ‘cause some chickenshit god keeps jerking us around, so like hell I’m gonna let that asswipe get one over on us!

[that doesn’t even answer the second question but whatever!! he’s said his piece for now.

And since the wind attack was so effective last time, he’s going to launch yet another Garudyne (17) at the Shadow. He’s definitely close to the end of his SP reserves after that, which is just as well because Shadow Wall triggers (9), taking his ability to use his Persona (1) along with a memory.]

[ledbythewind]

... for the sake of the people here who have shown me kindness.

[It still isn't something he's sure he can fully believe in, but... over and over again people have helped him without expecting anything in return. Surely it's all right to trust in that much for now.]

I count Fray among them.

[Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), that fear means that his Tiger's Prowl (9) will miss its mark.]

[strawsandals]

Because you still need to learn how to make decent onigiri, you moron.

[ Affectionate.

Diarama for Celeste. ]

[beathollow]

--Eh?

[supherb]

[Arven manages to dodge the sword slash, and he leaps back to stand steadfast with Mabosstiff at his side.]

Because I wanna look out for my buds in their time of need, and Fray's one of them! And...I wanna see this mission through so I can go home!

[He has friends waiting for him back home, along with a whole world for him to show to Mafuyu. That's his drive.

He makes another attempt to show his resolve by launching another fireball...to no avail (7). Oh well. He's not a fighter okay--]

[bloodweapon]

[The Dark Knight hears all the answers, though he doesn't react to any of them. Each response is important in its own right and something that he is considering carefully, but that is not immediately obvious given he instead decides to smack more people around.

Another sword slash goes out, hitting Yoon, McGillis, Richard, and Mafuyu (14, 17, 15, 13). Thankfully, this is not followed by any more debuffs this round.]

You will face the God of Conflict. Are you strong enough to defeat him? Will you hold tight to what it is you fight for?

Prove it. Show me what you are capable of.

[Roll with advantage this round! The Dark Knight is looking a little worse for the wear, but he's not out just yet!]

[vogelfrei]

[ Ow. At this point, McGillis is getting pretty used to being sliced up. Palaces, his own boyfriend, it doesn't even matter anymore... It's just cut after cut, these days.

But it still throws him off enough that his Giant Slice misses totally... (6, 7).

Well, he's bleeding a good bit so maybe he can be forgiven?? ]

[idealitas]

Of course. Do not expect any less from those have been pulled into that God's machinations. Fray included.

[ Yi Sang has a Diarama for Mafuyu and a Mediarama for Yoon, McGillis, and Richard. ]

1/2

[cleansewithfire]

[ Sunrise wants to answer that she wishes to hold tight to the experiences people have given her here. She's been shown so many new things and treated so kindly here that she simply cannot let the God of Conflict win and render them null and void.

Eli, Mafuyu, Rutile, Sayaka, Argenti, Yi Sang... Honestly, so many people. And most important of all...

...Most important of all...?

Why can't she remember? ]

[cleansewithfire]

[ Then she sees who got hurt by the sword slash, and she suddenly remembers. She's upset to see Yoon and Mafuyu get hurt especially, but what sends that inner fire flaring and threatening to consume her is seeing Richard hurt.

How could she forget? She shouldn't. She mustn't.

Which is why her answer to Fray is simply a Panta Rhei (20), because she wants this to be over before she can forget again. ]

[speedingticket]

[ Yes, and yes. This is obvious to Rutile, any other answer unthinkable. If the calamity could be defeated by bonds alone then it would have disintegrated years ago.

The God of Conflict is no Great Calamity, so.

With a determined little frown Mitis appears from the aether and curls around him, and he swipes at the air with his dagger to cast Diarahan for McGillis, and Media for Yoon, McGillis, and Richard. ]

[vogelfrei]

[ Nothing better (and weirder) than the feeling of your injury closing up right after you got it.

Rutile gets a grateful nod. ]

Thank you.

[cirquedesang]

[Being slowed - and subsequently hit - last round, certainly doesn't do him any favors this round, as his own Giant Slice also totally misses... (9, 7).

But they're still being questioned, so this is clearly as much a test of will as it is of strength.]

Whether we are or not, we still have to try.

[There's no other choice. And if they end up like cornered beasts because of it, so be it.]

[supherb]

[First thing's first: Media for Yoon, McGillis and Mafuyu.]

To kick that guy's butt? You bet we will! He's got it coming to him!

[This time, Arven's fireball strikes true (13). However, he's hit by the Shadow Wall's effect (1), which sends him into a rage (3) for next turn!]

[beathollow]

You're one of us, not above us- who are you to decide!?

(



okay so we managed to piss mafuyu off on accident? whoops. she wasnt expecting that either. she doesn't have it in her to be embarrassed by the outburst though, and it looks as if healing is being covered, so-

tarunda to lower the dark knight's attack.

and then jack pot sad shot (psy damage charged to an arrow) (13, 11) for good measure.

... unfortunately, determination crumbles to fear though... )

[gardenful]

You know we will! We're gonna beat him, and we're gonna do it together. You included.

[ And she thinks that it goes without saying that she'll cling onto what she holds dear.

With that, she'll send an Aroma-terror-py towards him for some light Bless damage... only to miss, even with advantage (5). ]

[imperiosity]

[The clear helps with removing the Fear status which is good!! Unfortunately, the Forget status is still there, which might be why he looks like he’s struggling answer that question adequately. Who was the God of Conflict again? Huh??

He shakes his head like he’s trying to clear the haze from his mind, but eventually he just seems to tire of doing that, and he looks over at Fray with irritation.]

Dunno what you’re going on about, but you think I’m gonna roll over to some damn god, you’ve got another thing coming. So quit blabbing and start listening, ‘cause we’ve already told you we’re not giving up!

[After that is a slash at the Dark Knight (5, 14), with some attempt to get the blade to hit a gap in the armor so it doesn’t completely bounce off. Shadow Wall doesn’t come into effect again (16), thankfully??]

[beautifulknight]

[ ...Speaking of which, Argenti himself had to give pause on the words exchanged to Fray - because, well, how could he not?

He had wondered, what other people would say. He is glad and intensely appreciative...that people are so willing to support Fray, voicing such words, championing deeply or even fondly succinctly their bond with him.

Yet, he is also deeply touched to hear support with his own name mentioned which gets him a glance towards the blond for a second - unexpected, but honestly cherished all the same he cannot spare words for the moment. But, it is all going to be remembered well.

Even on top of his resolve, his determination, he feels somehow stronger.

...When they all rescue Fray, because that is a foregone conclusion, of course, he hopes the man is able to hold onto the sentiments voiced here in some manner. His own included, of course. ]

There is no question in my mind.

You know this well, dear Fray - I have not wavered, and shall not do so now. Don't you remember? How tightly I held onto you, how much I fought to show you that I will not let go.

Facing and beating the God of Conflict is a foregone conclusion.

Right now, this is about bringing you back. You may be stubborn and to ask consistently for proof, but do not forget.

I am even far more stubborn.

[ ...Is it really the time for this?

But, whatever the case, Argenti hasn't faltered in his attacks just yet, unleashing a hit with a Psiodyne that reaches The Dark Knight (13, 9)), though the Shadow Wall that activates strikes with a vengeance (2).

Suddenly that fiery determination becomes...a burning Rage (3). ]

[ledbythewind]

[That slash hurts, sending Richard reeling and rendering him temporarily unable to attack. Staggering back, he casts a Diarahan on himself, and that's all he's got in him for this round.]