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Post by Gaia on Sept 6, 2020 6:18:26 GMT -8
Inaccessible except by:
- ::Element:Sonic:: Element Navis with at least 1 Element Overcap, after navigating the maze for at least 10 RP-Posts without a navigator and 5 RP-Posts with a navigator. - Navis accompanied by a navigator with at least 10 RP-Posts when with the Guide Hertz and 5 RP-Posts with any other navigator. - Navis with special story permission. - Any Navi that completes the maze with 5 RP-Posts becomes a Navigator. Navigating the Maze is impossible without at least 5 RP-Posts.
- Navigating the maze is always subject to virus or NPC interference.
Of all the twists and turns, the dense green and purple fogs, the shifting wave platform colors, and the launch pads that come before the center of the maze, the center itself is pretty simple.
A single platform leads up a long, green staircase to the a larger, square purple platform, lined with yellow waves that pulse along the edges. The way the Wave World was in constant motion, the ebb and flow of wave data in the very air as it disconnected and then realigned with the Wave Roads, was somehow more easily felt here - it was as though the very Maze's heartbeat could be felt. The Center was devoid of the maze's other dangers, simply reaching it a task all on its own. It was a respite from the perilous journey here, without any viruses in sight to pester its occupants. It was not, however, a safe place to pulse or log out - that was still only possible from the front entrance, or to leave the maze by other means.
Those that had seen the center of the maze before would have seen the magnificent seal emblazoned on it - the incredible Seal depicting the Crest of Mu that acted as the Continent of Mu's prison beneath the sea.
That seal, however, was broken. Only possible by one feat, the seal being broken means that someone has gathered at least one OOPArt and rose the continent of Mu from the sea and into the ground.
For it to be broken at this extent, however . . .
. . . the feat in question may have very well been to gather all four.
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Post by Gaia on Sept 6, 2020 6:38:43 GMT -8
#s://cdn~discordapp~com/attachments/340189121500938240/728347473344725113/113~png
By the time Feint had caught up with Burai, he had already cleared the stairway and was standing before the broken seal. His eyes did not betray any surprise or remorse; there was none of either to be had, after all. He did not expect what his theory was from just a second ago to be true.
If anything, he would have been more surprised to find the seal still intact. As much as he hated to admit it, whoever they were up against was smart, well learned, capable, and strong. They would have found their way to the center of the maze one way or another, and given presumably hundreds of years to do their studying, there was no telling how quickly they had accomplished the feat of getting back here, aside from what he knew of when the heralds had been reshaped by Mu directly.
No matter how competent and capable they were, though, it wouldn't stop his blood from boiling at the very thought of it. They may have been strong, but his own will was stronger - he had survived alone for aeons, searching for the OOPArts, elusive and powerful, to gather the resources he needed in order to raise Le Mu from the sea, and twice now someone had beaten him to it and likely misused its power.
None of them would be able to know its true power. With Laplace in hand, he knew it, now, but seeing the broken seal only made him more unsure. What kind of secrets could they have uncovered in their time listening to the Great Being directly? . . . What atrocities of war could they commit, like the Tribes he had once subdued, with the time they had scribbling down the language it provided?
This, of course, wasn't the only reason they had for coming to the center of the maze. Again, Burai set his eyes to the sky, looking about, and then he saw it. It wasn't quite as much of a house-sized object as it was that of a shack, maybe even just a one-room storage building, but the floating red and white sphere was hanging in the air, just like he expected it would be, some miles above the seal.
"So, she was here. Her studies would have made it mere child's play to collect the OOPArts. Her own deciphering of Murian texts that she found in the ruins of war would have made it easier to decipher the Great Being's secrets . . . hmph. Either Mu is in the sky and she's up there with it . . . or she would be dead. Either way, we need to get into her lair. Of course . . . we don't have the key."
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Post by Warrior on Sept 6, 2020 7:24:18 GMT -8
#s://i~imgur~com/U4Xclbh~png Most of it made less sense to Feint, but it was clear Dr. Vega was indeed the one behind it all and she had accomplished her task. Getting into the lair was anyone's guess, much less finding the key, but it was unlike Burai to not still have a plan.
" I don't imagine that's enough to stop you. Is there another way in, or are we going to have to go finding that key now? "
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Post by Gaia on Sept 6, 2020 23:44:56 GMT -8
#s://cdn~discordapp~com/attachments/340189121500938240/728347473344725113/113~png
Feint was ever observant. Even as she asked the question, the ambiance of the maze changed, as the very air darkened in response to his arrival. He felt the power and recognized it just as he remembered it, the Bermuda Maze becoming even bleaker just to house his emptiness.
"Of course it isn't enough to stop me. Our need for a key has just been satisfied - we needed only to be here for it to catch his attention. He will be able to provide it to us."
Looking above, Feint would notice the large opening in the sky above the maze - much larger, much deeper, and much more . . . well, like oblivion itself, than the portals that Burai's Kamikakushi opened up. Like a conduit directly into nothingness itself, the black portal opened and released a beam of energy, depositing three new figures into the Maze.
"Hollow."
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Post by Warrior on Sept 7, 2020 0:06:39 GMT -8
#s://i~imgur~com/8w4a7DV~png " ... "
Feint looked to the new arrivals that Burai had brought to her attention, eyeing each of them one at a time as they came into vision.
Hollow was the first, only knowing his designation by virtue of Burai announcing it. Nothing really more to gleam for that, but considering "Vega" was the only other name he dropped earlier, this must have been her protector.
" Pft. "
The next was Xion, who she mostly just rolled her eyes off of after her last encounter with him. That time it was actually Hollow guised as Xion though, unbeknownst to her. As far as she knew, then, Xion was just back for that sword he had lost to Joker, but also more of a pacifist judging by that same encounter.
The realization that Navis could indeed infiltrate the Real World and that the Dark Colony may have been involved in all of this after all, though, were quite revolutionary observations despite her not showing.
And after her eye-rolling was finished, those blue gems landed on the last arrival, instantly furrowing where they landed.
" ... "
Jacob Rayner.
Whatever he was doing here, however he was involved, didn't matter as much as the fact that he simply was. And so the silent stare-down began as she left Burai to deal with the talking. There was an unspoken air of challenge between herself and Warrior, and that was quite fine as his side of the matter was easy enough to distinguish by virtue of who he arrived with.
There was no trash talking from her, for once: beyond the assumption that Xion would have up and left like "he" had done before, the whole conversation was still mostly Burai's to have, and she knew Jake well enough to know that he would spill his own beans if she just sat quiet long enough to let him. So with arms crossed and eyes still piercing through him, that's all she did for now.
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Post by Genesis on Sept 7, 2020 0:12:11 GMT -8
*He was a bit more accustomed to that oblivion than the times in the past before, but had grown more due to recent events. As he touched down, the reason why he started to get that strange feeling from earlier, looking to one of Burai's arms in particular for more than a few moments before he cast his gaze around instead. This certainly wasn't a good look to say the least about any of this as it was, but he doubted that these were the culprits. Especially since he could tell that for once Hollow was the one leaving impressions instead of him doing so when she clearly thought he was just a joke. These two were just the ones looking to get things out of this particular interaction which meant that this was just another bundle of questions to ask to determine how to go about this, wasn't it? He already had one fact from this situation: this one wasn't with the New Forces. He wasn't able to utilize his full sensory here, but he didn't need to with this proximity. He knew why he had that strange feeling from him on sight too. There was no amusement in his tone either when he spoke next, his voice stern as opposed to the empty that Feint was acquainted with.*
"Who are you and what are you doing here? You're not with the other new faces."
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Post by Warrior on Sept 7, 2020 9:46:29 GMT -8
#s://i~imgur~com/dk4CQm0~png " ... "
The environment in this network felt strange -- Warrior felt noticeably hindered while being here, as if he were underwater and the portal that he had just stepped through was the surface, gradually trying to pull him back. It felt eerily similar to Kotobuki, in fact, where glitches and static interference abound.
The disdainful stare from Cherish Pele was already upon him by the time he looked at her, but the NIA Badge she wore caught his eye before he could return that glare.
So she was NIA after all? Or was this just another ploy to win their favor -- wearing their badge as some sort of means to insert herself among their ranks? Regardless, he came here to ask about Faith Nymphra, but there was likely going to be much more going on than just a simple discussion, if the vibe in the air was anything to go by.
" We need to talk, Feint. "
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Post by Gaia on Sept 9, 2020 5:51:11 GMT -8
#s://cdn~discordapp~com/attachments/340189121500938240/728347473344725113/113~png
His power had the same feel to it that Burai remembered, but it didn't have quite the same intensity. It was abated, restrained, and somehow unchecked all at the same time, like the intense negative, or the crisp smell of ozone just before the storm. The way you could tell the force of the storm before it even began, but, at the same time, would not truly be able to marvel at it - or find woe in it - until it broke upon you.
He was weaker, somehow, though, which was very possible, given the state of the world. He might not have had the opportunity to grow to the strength he had possessed on their side; the lack of specialization in EM Technology may have limited Dr. Vega's advances. More likely, though, was another observation he could make rather uniquely: It felt more like Hollow's power was slowly waxing, a process that had only just recently started, as though something had been pushed into motion that was physically changing his Wave Signature right before Burai's eyes. The way those yellow eyes stared at him, and those flames flickered, but no response came to his rather blunt-faced challenge by calling him his name, alerted him further that something was amiss. Hollow would have never accepted such blatant trespassing - there wouldn't have been room for conversation. He would have said what he needed to say, and then he would've started the offensive.
Was it because of those he had with him, then, or because this Hollow was simply that much different from the Hollow he knew? The one that created a tension between himself and Feint, the one that reached out to her despite the coldness, was using the same technology as Feint was. He could see through the data and the code to the human lying beneath, but knew that the human mind was onboard, and the body was elsewhere - defenseless, aside from the defenses he had seen at the Gigamerican Consulate. Burai noted the sword he carried, and the strange air around him, as though he were seeing him in double, but moved on to the other that Hollow had accompanying him.
It was like staring at another Hollow, gauging just off of the wave signature. Seeing a wave signature was somewhat surprising, but he had already figured out by now that Hollow had apparently been masquerading as a Navi. All it would take was to use him as a template for another, which he could only assume had occurred here. The interesting thing was that enough Net-based technology was here that this individual, so blunt and willing to talk to him directly, was more like a Wizard Navi Hybrid than he was one or the other. Parts of him radiated off intense wave signatures, deep and stronger, and others folded inward in dense pockets of cyber code that hid incredible strength within its lines. His eyes had accustomed to both through being able to observe Feint this long.
There was a lot to be gathered in just his quick precursory glances, but those present would still be adjusting to his own presence. An intense distance seemed to rise between them, as though his very being were a great chasm separating them from him, and even at this distance, they would feel too close for comfort. His eyes, desolate and cold, colder than even Feint's, carried with them an intense weight, and seemed to sap the very heat from the air they stared through.
"Hmph. New faces? So, then, I was right -" he paused, looking over at Feint. "I had asked you just earlier if new faces had suddenly appeared in the Cyberworld." He directed his attention back at Xion, then, still finding more things to be intrigued about - like how he seemed to find the Maze somewhat familiar to him, and he seemed to recognize the power resting in his right hand. "No. I'm not with the new faces; the very thought of working with anyone outside of necessity makes my blood boil." He made a pointed glance at Feint, just then, and then focused back on Xion. He got the distinct feeling that this one also had enough sensitivity to the Wave World that he could detect Burai's wavelength.
"My name is Burai. I come from another time, a world quite like this one, but with key differences in choices that cause the focus in technology to be very different.
"What I am here for is my business; while working on that agenda, however, I discovered that I have someone I need to destroy. I presume that the new faces you know of and the people I am after are one in the same.
"I demand you tell me everything you know about them." It was pointed how carefully Burai danced around the subject - he had agreed to providing intelligence to the NIA in return for them allowing him to go about his agenda without any interference, and, even with that agreement, he hadn't told everything he had come to discern in his short time being on this world. Even looking at Hollow, and the way his Wave Signature was morphing, he had more of his questions answered.
Hollow, for once, remained uncharacteristically silent. Xion would feel that his thoughts were jumbled and unsure, as though he felt that he should recognize this place, but his mind couldn't quite find where the information was. It would have been frustrating, but Hollow didn't know that emotion. If Burai weren't careful, and he said the wrong thing, Hollow's memories would awaken - and Xion knew the dangers that would spell.
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Post by Genesis on Sept 9, 2020 7:07:25 GMT -8
*It was a feeling of total isolation. Despite it feeling uncomfortable to all, it was something he was willing to move closer to regardless of the intensity of its depths. He knew all too well what this was like in his own way. It brought about a wave of nostalgia for him for a bit there even while knowing their circumstances weren't the same. This one felt more akin to one who had lost quite a lot in the ordeal of desolation as opposed to the isolation he had known. The scales were different and he understood that, even if he knew someone who wouldn't. When he was cut off from the other eight and left to his devices in those experiments, when he would become the individual he was today, he hadn't truly been alone yet. The isolation was temporary and a necessity due to his volatile nature at the time. This only worsened over time as he felt the familiar flicker of emotion that came with the recollection, culminating in his eyes narrowing as he could see their visages in his eyes even still. The fact that his isolation was caused by his own hands the day he removed his brother and sister from their world permanently. When his actions caused that fact and contributed to only the three of them remaining. Because only then did he understand exactly what he truly lost, the days following the ones he killed the Doctor on their exodus and reached his lowest point. Everything was a climb up from there that was a seesaw given who he had exactly now in his heavily independent lot. Such was the way of life when you were often a troublemaker though.*
"There certainly is merit to working by yourself."
*Relying only on one's self could be considered a sign of strength. Your own power and efforts were a show for themselves, others didn't bring you down or cause you any undue concerns. It could also be considered a sign of weakness. The fear of being unable to rely on another, never wanting to share in a combined conquest. When your own upper limit was reached, the only thing you could curse was your own powerlessness. The ideology of isolation or camaraderie were neither right nor wrong, they just simply had their own benefits and risks. And this likely worked all too well given what was said next and a bit less cause for alarm on his end. If he wasn't from around these parts, he was still an isolated case caused by a difference of opinion and decisions from a long time ago no doubt. So the pendulum wouldn't heavily swing one way or another if he was just passing through. They had plenty who did that already... though they all had a bad track record of no longer being with them due to catching the bad end of someone's attention, his own or someone else's with Ruin and Mars. So he would address Hollow first before Burai, glancing his way. They weren't exactly the sort to be big on bonds, but he understood the intensity behind this one all too well that it was nothing to scoff at.*
"You can ease into it, Hollow. You can take a look around here for a time and let it come naturally. This should be resolved by then."
*This at least didn't seem like a matter that would take long unless he was missing something. And if he was he would blame it on Burai's cold presence, as all he could go off of for telling if he was definitely there was the heat in the air. If that was tempered out, he was just as blind as the rest to him showing up. In comparison, Xion's presence was kept rather quiet even as he adjusted to what he just gathered. An abyss that didn't gaze back at those who gazed into its depths, yet clearly had something dwelling inside. Stirring and waiting to flare to life. He wouldn't exactly call the guy a new face either rather than the fact that he was certainly behaving differently than the one he knew of. It was a new look to the face, but as far as he could tell, or cared to tell even, the knight had taken to a rather aggressive approach. It was obviously more than that given he'd have no need for the new name, but he had determined that their sides were simply different. That was the crux of the reason behind why he was still considering himself in opposition to the Pyroclasm. Burai probably knew that just demanding information without an equal table wasn't exactly wise, but he would prefer not to get into a fight here at least with Hollow. It'd be easier for Hollow to ease into it without having to use the aggression that would come with it and deal with someone who'd probably leave after their business or find their business halted indefinitely not unlike the Star Enforcers of the ONB, his eyes going back to Burai then.*
"Normally I'd go on about how information bartering goes, but there's not a lot of need to do that given what I do know and what's evident here. They're not in our detection range, are competent and capable, while we also probably found what fish they have caught in their net besides them picking up the Crimson Dragon."
*He could get his own answers by answering and gauging responses. In this case he was checking for if Burai was aware of what it was. If he was, that would give him an idea about a theory of his own there.*
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Post by Warrior on Sept 9, 2020 8:48:38 GMT -8
#s://i~imgur~com/8w4a7DV~png " ... "
Cherish's glare betrayed no reaction as Burai addressed her concerning new faces in the Cyber World. She knew nothing about the New Forces thus far, and hadn't even heard of the name "Rosso". The closest relative to the subject that she had was Grom, but as far as she knew, he'd been at the head of NIA for years and she just never knew personally. Ultimately, ignorance on her part that was to blame for not ever mentioning it.
And that ignorance was still ever present as she didn't have the slightest clue what the others were talking about, really just chalking it up to more people of Burai's concern popping up rather than any concern of her own.
" ... "
Warrior was able to piece that together, surprisingly. Her obliviousness to the New Forces was a bit of relief, at least: if she didn't cross paths with them, that was indirectly a good flag that Faith hadn't either. Naturally, he'd still need to ask to be sure.
Reading the air though, he felt it better not to interject the exchange of information going on, so put his own thoughts on hold while Xion, Hollow, and Burai proceeded. The information was valuable to him as well, so he couldn't simply pull Cherish to the side to have their own private discussion -- not that she would have likely complied with that anyway.
For now, he'd play her quiet game until she inevitably broke and spoke up first, all the while collecting these details in the meantime.
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Post by Gaia on Sept 9, 2020 10:38:45 GMT -8
#s://cdn~discordapp~com/attachments/340189121500938240/728347473344725113/113~png Hollow was looking about, turning in place despite no movement of his cloak indicating anything was in motion. He looked around the strange Network, how familiar it was, and found himself focusing for a long time at the large floating sphere - unbeknownst to him the base of his late doctor - struggling with how much of his own memories he had never known were lost to him. He at least took Xion's gift to him, and entirely checked out from the conversation to handle the jumbled feelings.
Burai did give a response to the name of the Crimson Dragon. Feint would recognize it almost immediately, having come face-to-face with its power only just recently, as the sclera within his eye turned crimson red, and the pupil stretched out until no iris was left; only a bright yellow. That familiar sensation bubbled up inside of him, but Burai forced his eyes to close and tilted his head to one side, as if shaking off an uncomfortable chill. When next his eyes opened, they were normal again.
Names had a lot of power, especially when that name was connected to something very much self-aware within his person. He had the power necessary to keep it from releasing itself in its entirety, but not the necessary strength to keep it entirely in check, either. His force of will alone accomplished that, of course, hardened over years of solitude. At the very least, Xion's admittance confirmed that there was definitely some things that he knew about that the others here weren't privy to. If he was right, and Hollow was used as a template, did Xion have access to the memories that Hollow was suppressing?
At least Xion's description of them added up to what he knew of them - elusive, competent, strong, and, based on the realization that the Crimson Dragon had somehow become an issue over here as well, they were treating the Net much like they were treating the world beyond: A testing ground for their capabilities, and a trove of powerful beings to test their might against before assimilating.
"They are quite strong, that is true. As far as bartering goes - naivety would lead one to believe that their strength is only kept at what one has observed. If what I sense is right, these beings use a conglomerate of abilities - much like you might - and leave a certain signature in the air that more sensitive eyes can reconstruct. In my passings through where they have been, I've been able to see ghosts of their interactions, and hear echoes of their conversations.
"They're also capable of surpassing certain boundaries. Lines normally set in stone aren't quite as clear when they're around, especially in terms to the limitations of your reality. It goes beyond what even you or I might seem conventionally - or otherwise - possible.
"They're tampering with powers greater than anything your world would have known for quite some time, now, and have been at work for perhaps a lot longer than would make you comfortable. Tangible lines of fact and fiction are more dangerous than just a facsimile or appearances; they have broken beyond perceptual illusion and into a true augmentation of those foundations."
His words were cryptic, and carefully chosen. He knew that if this one, or the ones with him, had any real understanding of the situation, beyond just its surface value, then they would understand what his words meant. Feint had been with him long enough, and heard enough of his words, to have a small understanding of the true depth of what it is they have accomplished - but he doubted even she saw the scope of it.
"They're expanding their horizons. I think we're all in over our heads. They've caught me in a net that I can see, but that the pride in my blood won't allow me to go around. What they've done is something I will not forgive - and I won't let anyone get in my way of destroying them."
It took a certain kind of strength to admit that so brazenly; for all the crypticness in the other words, a being radiating the power that Burai had just a moment before admitting that he might have bitten off more than he could chew, but saying it was such confidence and conviction, surely held some sort of character to it. No; in fact, he admitted that, and yet didn't seem any more disheartened by it. If anything, his face was even more stern, more sure of itself, as if just the realization that these people could be as strong as he expected them to be was something of a challenge to that pride he spoke of.
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Post by Genesis on Sept 10, 2020 5:06:03 GMT -8
*So the name did have a reaction attached after all. He had a feeling that it was something that had grounds to exist, but with no prior history on this end that was hard to ascertain. But if Burai knew about it then the odds were higher that it had grounds from his time rather than theirs, which gave them the idea of how to bring it about in their time with the differences between them. He wouldn't be privy to the exact changes between them obviously, so while he could speculate he could only ever act on what he knew while keeping those things to himself. It was right to say that they had more to them than their surface abilities, because the guy he fought had access to at least two others aside from himself. His eyes weren't able to see what was left behind by their encounters, so Burai's perspective was more keen on them than their own as it stood.*
"You have good insight on the matter then. That's good. In that case we can go about this in earnest."
*Since he wasn't dealing with someone annoying he was more than willing to level here. Rather than beat around the bush he would be straight on the matter at hand. If he was dealing with someone who wasn't properly in the know and too headstrong, then this would be a waste of time. So he confirmed that there was more to the surface than they let on, though much like himself they didn't rely on those powers very frequently. Largely what toppled them so far was just their own might without the additional power needed to push them down. He scratched the surface, so now it was everyone's problem when they started using all that was at their disposal. In terms of power, while they had some powerhouses, ultimately that was all they had. A bunch of brute force that lost in the face of 'power' that took the shape of 'utility'. Because if the answer wasn't to hit it with a bigger hammer their strongest lost that fight every time.*
"I believe it was originally an obnoxious ability that made your perception questionable. But I agree with that it's far beyond simply that. To change the very fabrics of fact and fiction by itself turns the idea of 'impossible' on its head. And can even turn something that was one of a kind into something that is a dime a dozen."
*With that perception limit broken, the paradox that wasn't so bad before became very much more real. And in fact could spell a different problem for them in the collective bag. Top that off with that ability to bypass those lines and boundaries and it spelled quite the intimate picture for them, especially since he felt others very likely undervalued how much of a wide berth operating outside of those restrictions gave them. He was surprised by that too given how strict many were about using the rules against others. The moment things were strange for him at that Oblivion and then at Netopia multiple times was proof enough that they weren't bound by the same logic or reality that others would judge them by. These things he didn't quite mind as ultimately to simplify the matter: it meant you fought on their terms rather than your own. There was no refuting their win in such a scenario and so it was the most optimal one in his eyes.*
*His last note was referring to what was likely the elephant in the room they were dancing around. Those greater powers that they were messing with, if done for an extensive period of time with proper understanding, could grow beyond just a singular gain. It could then become something that a dozen or more had at their disposal to use against them. Strength in numbers could be condensed all into one package or spread out among the masses. Or as Burai put it ever so curtly: they were very much in over their heads. But he understood that net all too well and in fact agreed with the sentiment wholeheartedly and appreciated the strength behind it. Many would shirk away from the challenge. Burai and himself saw that challenge as something to be met rather than shy away from. They may have been outmatched, but being outmatched wasn't necessarily the same as having been defeated.*
"I don't have any qualms with you destroying them. Be it for how they wronged you or the world, I don't imagine they intend for this to end without one side crushing the other. But there's one I want to settle the score with before you do. I won't say anything if you jump in at the same time as it's just you getting your piece of the guy while I do the same. This one who goes by Rosso."
*Describing him wouldn't really work given the lack of details, so instead he cast out a flame from his hand that started to change its likeness. To give an image to go along with the name of Rosso so that others wouldn't go and call him the Black Knight when there wasn't a lick of black on the guy. He knew he didn't work alone at least after last time for certain due to the distraction he had during the fight. And it would all come together why he was distracted if Burai was going to places that they were aware of and getting closer to something they had done on this side that no one was none the wiser to. With how grand scale they had done their world already, he knew he wasn't going to like whatever they did on this side. Because whatever they did on this side largely affected why they were all oblivious to what they saw or heard more than whatever happened on their own side. And with how defenseless this side was, that was automatically a checkmate if they wanted it to be. Fight on their terms or not at all, so to say.*
*Despite never saying anything directly with the cryptic nature of it all, Xion didn't pry any further on the matter. Rather than a case of indifference on his end it was a case of knowing that part of why he was vague was likely due to his relation with the broader scope of things here. It was things related to him that only he needed to know in regards to things their time gave up on with no need for those things to converge. If it needed to be more direct, it would be said directly.*
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Post by Gaia on Sept 14, 2020 8:20:44 GMT -8
#s://cdn~discordapp~com/attachments/340189121500938240/728347473344725113/113~png Burai narrowed his eyes at Xion's own take on the information. While it was something he had already suspected, being refuted on the matter would have almost been preferable. Of course, they would have been able to eventually perfect the ability in order to mass-produce something that should've been impossible to reproduce.
As for his own vendetta, Burai couldn't care less. "Hmph. I do not know any of their names; I just know their deeds, and what their wavelengths look and feel like. If I happen to meet this 'Rosso,' and you're not around, I have no intentions of letting him go just to wait for you to show up.
"I won't stop you from following me, but I will note that I won't be slowed down, and if things get rough you will be on your own." It was a very familiar line at this point to Feint; he took every opportunity to remind her that she was little more than a carry-on to him. He looked in their direction a moment longer before considering Feint again, his scowl intensifying, and then back at Hollow. He shook his head, knowing what was going to be the easiest outcome here.
"It is obvious to me that he isn't at his best. I have no intentions of starting a confrontation with him in this state, and from what I can gather, so long as certain topics aren't explored, he won't awaken any more of his past. So long as that remains the case, I have no issue to settle." It was as much a statement as it was a threat - Xion alone would know the implications he was talking about, he presumed, and it would remain up to him to keep Hollow safe from his own past in order to keep him safe from Burai.
"With all that out of the way, I have wasted too much time here as is. I'm going to hunt them down and destroy them where they've made the greatest affront. My pride and blood demands it.
"I won't be slowed down by anyone - if you don't want to go straight into the hornets nest, I suggest you follow them wherever it is they are going." He had turned to Feint suddenly, addressing her directly. "This next part is the part neither you nor your boss agreed to - I have no intention of having to carry you out of there on my back, or otherwise." He turned to Xion, again. "And if you're coming with, then I suggest you leave behind anyone you do not want caught in the crossfire. Where we're going, your friends won't be of much help to you - you'll need to be able to fight for yourself without worrying about keeping them steady, or else they will slow you down."
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Post by Genesis on Sept 14, 2020 8:52:08 GMT -8
*This would serve as a good test actually. If he was right about how vague things stood, he would be able to see it sooner or later with Burai. If he was repelled due to lacking the quality he had an inkling about, then it would explain why Rosso was in fact easily their most daunting foe to date. Worse yet is he had no way to explain it to others without messing up in the same breath, not very easily anyway. His eyes would show the smirk on his face if one could see it.*
"All the same. At least as it stands, I don't have to worry about you beating him anyway."
*It would be better for him if... well, he wouldn't go into that. Simply because it was the more optimal solution didn't exactly make it a good one. It was objectively a bad way to go about it, but the simplest and most efficient one available to him at the time as it would spare him the time too. As for where he was going...*
"Sad as it is to hear, or not in your case, I don't have very many folks that would call me a friend. I've held myself afloat for as long as I can remember. The only one I need to have sit this one out for a bit is Hollow. Can't have him butting his head into things while he's like this."
*He honestly should just head back and resume what he was doing, but since he found this out he could see this through first. He already had an idea at least for how to not die in the hornet's nest so long as he was up against who he was expecting to meet there. This was the only explanation he had for Rosso's distraction during the last battle they had: going to intercept and eliminate Burai here with none the wiser. Even if he didn't settle things with Rosso now, he needed to make certain that something else there was no longer a factor, going over to Hollow and tapping his shoulder lightly for now to address him. There was one last favor he'd need to ask of him before this was over with, at least he hoped anyway.*
"I'm going to need your Undimension for a bit soon. Not immediately, you'll be able to tell when from what you feel from me. If you can't that's fine too, I'll improv something up."
*One last exit strategy in the event he couldn't do it himself. He imagined Warrior's staring contest didn't make him suddenly unable to hear, so he didn't need to reiterate anything on what was said on where they were going. He had business with Feint still and if he wanted to follow, as she probably didn't drag herself this far with Burai out of simple obligation, then he knew what to do. About time they talked on the go, directing his eyes to Burai now.*
"Let's get a move on. I'd rather not have you slow me down either, you know."
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Post by Warrior on Sept 14, 2020 9:14:45 GMT -8
#s://i~imgur~com/8w4a7DV~png " I'm looking for Faith. "
Feint smiled victoriously, knowing Warrior would break the silence before she did. Their own discussion on the side was going on during the other's chat, but Warrior still listened to what was being said in the other conversation as his own was discrete enough not to garner any attention. Naturally, Feint picked it up as well, just had less prior knowledge to work with on the matter.
" If she didn't tell you, she didn't want you to know. High time you unlatched from your mother's tit anyway. "
He had a sort of dependency on others that contrasted with her own independent persona; first it was her own brother choosing him as a subordinate over herself, now Faith Nymphra was who he clung to in his times of need, which of course "stole" her away from Cherish in her eyes.
" She couldn't. I was in Sharo investigating. "
Jake brushed off her remark, something he'd learned to be pretty effective at getting under her skin which proved efficient as her cocky grin sank back down to its usual scowl.
" Surprised you didn't cross paths then. Assuming you didn't just blow the whole place up before leaving, of course. "
" ... "
" ... Seriously, Rayner?! "
She let his name slip in that frustrating moment of piecing together the facial expression he showed in response to her comment, but Burai interjected before they went much further.
"This next part is the part neither you nor your boss agreed to - I have no intention of having to carry you out of there on my back, or otherwise."
She gave one last jeering jab at Warrior before she acknowledged Burai, their side-conversation being less discrete by this point.
" Go clean up your damn mess. "
She turned to Burai now, driven more by frustration than any concern of her original orders at this point.
" I don't need carrying. If I felt like leaving, I'd have done it by now. May as well see this to its end. "
Her participation was retained then, despite it involving much less thought or consideration than she would have expected when this part of the journey was foreshadowed earlier.
" ... "
Warrior decided to sit this one out upon proper realization of his situation -- his widened eyes less concerned that Faith could have been caught in his blast radius at Sharo, and more concerned that that was the real hornet's nest to be in if she was still there. So a plan to go and get her out was now in order, but there was no simple way to do that.
For now, he stayed behind with Hollow as the others prepared to make their exit, not entirely having the time to be decisive on his bearing, but that was ops normal as far as things with him ever went.
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