[ Dahut shakes his head quickly though, "No no, there's more of us! I don't know if they escaped or, there was Monsieur Charles, and and.. we found other people, stuck in the walls, did you see them-?" ]
We may as well try our hand. But my thoughts are that terminal there may activate the pathway that we were unable to get to.
[ In agreement with Anise, who already starts to look it over, the request for a password shining back at her. It's asking for a seven letter password, the keyboard settled beneath the terminal's monitor.
Rodya pipes up helpfully, voice cheery despite her exhausted tone, "Guess you really didn't look around, huh? Don't worry, that's what I'm here for! Annie, input O-T-U-S-L-A-Y." Metis stands by Blade as he starts to make work of the restraints, in which the only one familiar to Anise starts to panic, "No, don't do that!"
The flesh gives away easy like paper, some of it seeming inserted into the back of Rodya as she's cut down and falls freely onto her hands and knees. She curses a bit, ow ow that hurt? But when she tries to stand, she no sooner collapses, growing pale and grasping at her throat. The flesh still tethered to her back pulses, rapidly, and she begins to crumble as if weaken, voice faint and as she tries to speak hurriedly, "This place is using people-- feeding off them, like a battery, you need-! You need.. to go up and--" The rest of her words die out as she fully collapses over, Metis checking her over quickly, but doing his best to avoid direct contact as flesh weakly clings from where it connects to her body. ]
..It was.. keeping her alive? [ Dahut and the other aren't able to get any more words out, the flesh around them constricting and slowly begins to eat more of them. The sickly membrane around them within this room starting to leak and melt, pulsing more rapidly. ]
Whenever he has tried to save someone, it has always failed. Though, his past life can no longer be grasped in his hands, he knows this keenly. The gravity and weight of his sins.
The price he will continue to keep paying.
Blade never expected it to affect him this much, for a moment just staring at the wall and remains. A reminder of the only thing he has ever been good for.
So, for once, as Metis checks over what remains before it all crumbles to nothing, Blade simply just stands there. With Anise closer still than either one of them, Mizuki's words make sense. ]
Metis eventually takes a step back from the body, the flesh beneath starting to take the remains of it as the two still held in the walls start to get absorbed further in. Their voices fading out, muffled as the flesh swallows them up. The walls around them pulse further, the room shrinking in - or rather, the flesh seems to expand, growing.
He at least moves, rather than waiting, coming over to check on Anise briefly. ]
Lady Anise, are you alright? Here, let us just--
[ Insert the phrase real quick. It shows a map, some coils that can be accessed and triggered to lead upwards to the top, being quick to hit the command. It highlights, and there's a lot of information listed on the side of the terminal screen but the area trembles again with another mini-earthquake. The air in the room becoming more oppressive, heavy, a gas starting to leak out with an audible hiss. To those exposed to the gas, a wave of dizziness, an itchy sensation dragging itself beneath your skin. ]
I think that is all we have time for now in here, let us keep moving!
[ Quickly, Mizuki scans over the information given, then— ]
You heard 'im! Let's go!
[ And she isn't going to waste time moseying out of here—but not before she scoops up the frozen Anise into her arm, hoisting her over a shoulder. She does understand why she's hesitating, but it really is too dangerous to linger. ]
[ No time to linger. I forget if they have their phones able to take pictures here so if he can he will, if not, well he will commit the info to memory.
Blade tears himself immediately away from the scene once Metis springs into action to activate everything on that computer.
But he too will be heading on outie too. Let's go, fam! ]
[ In the end, even an imitation of Ion's voice was enough to stop Anise in her tracks. And not for the first time. Thankfully, Metis moves in to input the passcode.
Anise lifts her gaze to see the last of those wall-bodies getting swallowed up... and is immediately scooped up by Mizuki. ]
Huh? -- Whoa!
[ Okay, well. She's not going to struggle -- the fact is that, even getting her head back in the zone, she was going to have a hard time running with her injury. So when she shifts around, it's only to hold on to Mizuki while they book it out of here. ]
[ Unfortunately any use of their I.R.I.S proves to be fruitless, it fizzles and glitches out statically. Not allowing any pictures to be taken. So hopefully their memory is good enough to remember what information they looked over. Outside the clear map and directions of ways to go.
Blade is making his way out, Mizuki scooping Anise up and Metis follows right behind. As they leave the room, it's barely enough time to see behind as flesh covers the entrance in and forbidding any way back in.
Which leaves them to return back up the stairs, back onto the coiling path and back to the platform that was initially their dead end to the area to the right. The platform trembles a little, that coiling structure making its way upwards to connect to that bridge. At least they managed to get their way up working... ]
If this Core is what controls this whole spire, our best chance of putting an end to all of this is to find it and power it down. [ They have a moment here to ponder their plans, but over the edge, there seems to be a rising level of gas that stretches around the tower. ] We can try to split up to find any other hostages or stick together and go for the Core directly.
[ Though Metis has his own opinions on things, he values everyone else's thoughts as well. What shall it be, friends? ]
[ Dang, it was worth a short, he supposes. Regardless, Blade tries to think things through this with a great deal of concentration on his end. ]
...They said that in order to put a halt to this we would need to go to the Core. We can use that as the primary goal, and then double back on our way out to see if we can catch any hostages.
If the Core is causing these oddities, then taking care of it may enable a safer search and a better way to secure them.
[ Metis has always been the kind of person to care more for the people, real or not. However, he regards Mizuki's own words, taking in Anise's and gesturing to Blade. ]
Sir Blade is right that, given the Core is causing this as far as we know, it might be best to take care of it. Mayhap there is a way to depower it - or even destroy it? If we shut it down, perhaps that will free those held up still?
[ Though the walls in their outer section of inside the tower are farther out of sight, all in the background and in the distance - if they look closely, they can see some faces, hands or other limbs hanging out from the sickly membranes. So that's lovely. Everything about all of this is normal. ]
...I have to imagine that the Core will not be easily accessible, even with the way there now connected. Someone - or something may be keeping it guard.
[ Blade doesn't imagine himself to hold such kindness, but he is still feeling...something about earlier.
He would never admit to that, though. ]
Hm.
I will not be surprised if what you say is true about a guard for the Core, Metis. Either way, whatever blocks our path, let's be prepared to dispatch it.
[ Turning away from the nightmare fuel-laden walls, Blade focuses on heading the only way they can: straight along the path forward. Though he is still well within earshot for whatever Anise may add in case of any differing opinions, he figures there's not much time to stand around, considering. ]
[ Metis nods, and it seems like the whole group has made their decision... so, they continue their way ahead from this side to the other. Moving right onto that coil that winds up upwards in a curling path, that once stopped halfway now continues higher up to that platform.
It brings them closer to the tower's walls, showing that the higher they go up, the more... figures they see entrapped in the walls. None of them responsive. Most unfamiliar faces, others familiar - from Eudora, from previous planets natives, from back home, it continues on. An endless collection of people.
Continuing on this platform, they aim for the bridge that connects it to a pillar that spirals endlessly upwards. Throughout their traversing up, they have all been going through tugs at the back of their minds, an oppressive presence growing heavier by the step but it's almost painful now. The sensation of their minds being split between two, whispers in the back of their mind that are hard to distinguish from one voice to another. You would be better off to stay here, seek shelter with Me, I can provide you with everything you would ever need.
Metis looks to the walls as they make their way, though watches each of them in turn. Gauging how they're all dong as their make way. ]
[ Blade is honestly not doing very well with voices in his head at some point as the presence growing heavier still. Even worse when the sudden sensation of his head feeling like it's being split in two.
It feels like he hardly recognizes what's around him, a haze coming over him, as he raises a hand to his head.
When Mizuki says something, Blade doesn't even register that she does, at first.
He just doesn't say anything for a good few minutes. ]
...There is something else...
[ That's all he manages, but he stubbornly continues to push forward. ]
... Voices too, right? It's really creepy... and heavy.
[ Anise presses on, turning away from the faces on the walls and focusing on the path forward. She can't afford to look at them anymore. Something threatens to pull her focus away, and that's made her more determined to hold onto it. Otherwise... what's going to happen to them? ]
It worsens the higher we go up... which I have to surmise means we are approaching the source of it all.
[ Metis replies come and it is equally as strained, shaking their head and trying to push forward while ensuring nobody staggers behind.
But those voices only quieten down slightly, whispering encouragement that saps at everyone's strength, gently lowering your guards. Because it's safe here. There's no need to rush. What were you even here for again...? In and out, your memory leaves you.
Unfortunately for them, as they make their way onto yet the next platform... they'll find a few enemies in their way. But unlike the humanoids before, they're more monstrous than people. Their body are tall to the height of people, but made entirely of flesh, that pulses and ripples with multiple faces - a mesh of various faces fused together. ]
...Another group to dispatch. I'll focus more on supporting you all and cover your backs.
[ Her sense of self fades in and out, and the longer this goes on... the more Mizuki is beginning to wonder if coming in like this was such a good idea after all.
—Ugh, no, as long as they're quick. In and out. They'll be fine. ]
Easy!
[ Mizuki flings herself into the pack; once again, she uses the force behind her gained momentum and the sheer strength already possessed to slam her pole into one of the monsters. ]
[ Blade supposes he would just have to ignore that false sense of security. His memory leaving him is, (un)fortunately, nothing new either. All these barriers are nuisances that hack away at his already fragile sanity.
But, he can recognize danger. It distracts him enough that Blade is already on the move when those creatures are in view. ]
I'll dispatch them.
[ Blade is already leaping into the fray, sword swinging wildly towards the ones Mizuki are not aggroing, aiming to try to decapitate at least one of them. ]
[ Those things ahead are creepy, horrible, enemies. They have to get past them. (Why do they have to...?)
No... She can't afford to waver. ]
Don't count me out!
[ Anise holds up her doll, and with another crackle of energy, it grows into its large form once again. Then, with her riding on its head, it charges at the enemies, swinging its arms, attempting to throw them off-balance to leave them vulnerable for the others to pick off. ]
[ One enemy is whacked away by the pole, and it wavers as it nearly collapses over.. except it reacts defensively rather than offensively, spewing a green acid Mizuki's way that just barely hits the arms of her suit with a loud sizzle.
The one that Blade makes way to is already lunging his way, meeting that full swing directly on - but splits into two, a high-pitched screech of multiple voices yelling at him. "What have you done what have you done WHAT HAVE YOU DONE" For a split moment, he sees Rodya's pained expression standing out in the middle of it all, before it starts to lash out in an attacking frenzy to strike at his body with a direct piercing aim to his chest.
Tokunaga and Anise come storming through, and one attempts to flee but that arm slams into it and it too reacts defensively like the first with a spew of acid that burns at them both, barely catching the edge of fabric and suit.
As Metis stated before, he isn't stretching out too far here by attack or tanking, instead sends a spell over each of them to at least start regenerating their incoming injuries, healing them over time little by little. Unfortunately for the group, all the enemies start to screech - and the ground beneath them starts to suddenly reach out and grasp at their legs with fleshy tendrils. Try to react fast! ]
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[ Dahut shakes his head quickly though, "No no, there's more of us! I don't know if they escaped or, there was Monsieur Charles, and and.. we found other people, stuck in the walls, did you see them-?" ]
We may as well try our hand. But my thoughts are that terminal there may activate the pathway that we were unable to get to.
[ In agreement with Anise, who already starts to look it over, the request for a password shining back at her. It's asking for a seven letter password, the keyboard settled beneath the terminal's monitor.
Rodya pipes up helpfully, voice cheery despite her exhausted tone, "Guess you really didn't look around, huh? Don't worry, that's what I'm here for! Annie, input O-T-U-S-L-A-Y." Metis stands by Blade as he starts to make work of the restraints, in which the only one familiar to Anise starts to panic, "No, don't do that!"
The flesh gives away easy like paper, some of it seeming inserted into the back of Rodya as she's cut down and falls freely onto her hands and knees. She curses a bit, ow ow that hurt? But when she tries to stand, she no sooner collapses, growing pale and grasping at her throat. The flesh still tethered to her back pulses, rapidly, and she begins to crumble as if weaken, voice faint and as she tries to speak hurriedly, "This place is using people-- feeding off them, like a battery, you need-! You need.. to go up and--" The rest of her words die out as she fully collapses over, Metis checking her over quickly, but doing his best to avoid direct contact as flesh weakly clings from where it connects to her body. ]
..It was.. keeping her alive? [ Dahut and the other aren't able to get any more words out, the flesh around them constricting and slowly begins to eat more of them. The sickly membrane around them within this room starting to leak and melt, pulsing more rapidly. ]
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mom holy fuck ]
What... the hell—
[ Well, that's horrifying. Mizuki stares in horror before she manages to pull her sight away. ]
—Anise, put it in the terminal!
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Whenever he has tried to save someone, it has always failed. Though, his past life can no longer be grasped in his hands, he knows this keenly. The gravity and weight of his sins.
The price he will continue to keep paying.
Blade never expected it to affect him this much, for a moment just staring at the wall and remains. A reminder of the only thing he has ever been good for.
So, for once, as Metis checks over what remains before it all crumbles to nothing, Blade simply just stands there. With Anise closer still than either one of them, Mizuki's words make sense. ]
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[ she moves to enter it, but she hears that familiar voice tell her to stop.
and she freezes. sorry, gang. ]
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Metis eventually takes a step back from the body, the flesh beneath starting to take the remains of it as the two still held in the walls start to get absorbed further in. Their voices fading out, muffled as the flesh swallows them up. The walls around them pulse further, the room shrinking in - or rather, the flesh seems to expand, growing.
He at least moves, rather than waiting, coming over to check on Anise briefly. ]
Lady Anise, are you alright? Here, let us just--
[ Insert the phrase real quick. It shows a map, some coils that can be accessed and triggered to lead upwards to the top, being quick to hit the command. It highlights, and there's a lot of information listed on the side of the terminal screen but the area trembles again with another mini-earthquake. The air in the room becoming more oppressive, heavy, a gas starting to leak out with an audible hiss. To those exposed to the gas, a wave of dizziness, an itchy sensation dragging itself beneath your skin. ]
I think that is all we have time for now in here, let us keep moving!
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You heard 'im! Let's go!
[ And she isn't going to waste time moseying out of here—but not before she scoops up the frozen Anise into her arm, hoisting her over a shoulder. She does understand why she's hesitating, but it really is too dangerous to linger. ]
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Blade tears himself immediately away from the scene once Metis springs into action to activate everything on that computer.
But he too will be heading on outie too. Let's go, fam! ]
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Anise lifts her gaze to see the last of those wall-bodies getting swallowed up... and is immediately scooped up by Mizuki. ]
Huh? -- Whoa!
[ Okay, well. She's not going to struggle -- the fact is that, even getting her head back in the zone, she was going to have a hard time running with her injury. So when she shifts around, it's only to hold on to Mizuki while they book it out of here. ]
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Blade is making his way out, Mizuki scooping Anise up and Metis follows right behind. As they leave the room, it's barely enough time to see behind as flesh covers the entrance in and forbidding any way back in.
Which leaves them to return back up the stairs, back onto the coiling path and back to the platform that was initially their dead end to the area to the right. The platform trembles a little, that coiling structure making its way upwards to connect to that bridge. At least they managed to get their way up working... ]
If this Core is what controls this whole spire, our best chance of putting an end to all of this is to find it and power it down. [ They have a moment here to ponder their plans, but over the edge, there seems to be a rising level of gas that stretches around the tower. ] We can try to split up to find any other hostages or stick together and go for the Core directly.
[ Though Metis has his own opinions on things, he values everyone else's thoughts as well. What shall it be, friends? ]
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[ Mizuki glances back behind them (while also setting sweet Anise back down). ]
If the rest of them are also trapped, how are we supposed to get them out without killing them?
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...They said that in order to put a halt to this we would need to go to the Core. We can use that as the primary goal, and then double back on our way out to see if we can catch any hostages.
If the Core is causing these oddities, then taking care of it may enable a safer search and a better way to secure them.
[ Blade awaits everyone's thoughts, though. He, fortunately, isn't feeling absuredly bullheaded about this. ]
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But you guys have a point... If we can't pull them out, then how do we save them? Other than heading to the Core to stop this?
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[ Metis has always been the kind of person to care more for the people, real or not. However, he regards Mizuki's own words, taking in Anise's and gesturing to Blade. ]
Sir Blade is right that, given the Core is causing this as far as we know, it might be best to take care of it. Mayhap there is a way to depower it - or even destroy it? If we shut it down, perhaps that will free those held up still?
[ Though the walls in their outer section of inside the tower are farther out of sight, all in the background and in the distance - if they look closely, they can see some faces, hands or other limbs hanging out from the sickly membranes. So that's lovely. Everything about all of this is normal. ]
...I have to imagine that the Core will not be easily accessible, even with the way there now connected. Someone - or something may be keeping it guard.
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He would never admit to that, though. ]
Hm.
I will not be surprised if what you say is true about a guard for the Core, Metis. Either way, whatever blocks our path, let's be prepared to dispatch it.
[ Turning away from the nightmare fuel-laden walls, Blade focuses on heading the only way they can: straight along the path forward. Though he is still well within earshot for whatever Anise may add in case of any differing opinions, he figures there's not much time to stand around, considering. ]
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Right, we don't have any time to waste.
[ She's ready to continue. ]
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It brings them closer to the tower's walls, showing that the higher they go up, the more... figures they see entrapped in the walls. None of them responsive. Most unfamiliar faces, others familiar - from Eudora, from previous planets natives, from back home, it continues on. An endless collection of people.
Continuing on this platform, they aim for the bridge that connects it to a pillar that spirals endlessly upwards. Throughout their traversing up, they have all been going through tugs at the back of their minds, an oppressive presence growing heavier by the step but it's almost painful now. The sensation of their minds being split between two, whispers in the back of their mind that are hard to distinguish from one voice to another. You would be better off to stay here, seek shelter with Me, I can provide you with everything you would ever need.
Metis looks to the walls as they make their way, though watches each of them in turn. Gauging how they're all dong as their make way. ]
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Eurgh... My head keeps feeling awful. It's not just me, right...?
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It feels like he hardly recognizes what's around him, a haze coming over him, as he raises a hand to his head.
When Mizuki says something, Blade doesn't even register that she does, at first.
He just doesn't say anything for a good few minutes. ]
...There is something else...
[ That's all he manages, but he stubbornly continues to push forward. ]
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[ Anise presses on, turning away from the faces on the walls and focusing on the path forward. She can't afford to look at them anymore. Something threatens to pull her focus away, and that's made her more determined to hold onto it. Otherwise... what's going to happen to them? ]
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[ Metis replies come and it is equally as strained, shaking their head and trying to push forward while ensuring nobody staggers behind.
But those voices only quieten down slightly, whispering encouragement that saps at everyone's strength, gently lowering your guards. Because it's safe here. There's no need to rush. What were you even here for again...? In and out, your memory leaves you.
Unfortunately for them, as they make their way onto yet the next platform... they'll find a few enemies in their way. But unlike the humanoids before, they're more monstrous than people. Their body are tall to the height of people, but made entirely of flesh, that pulses and ripples with multiple faces - a mesh of various faces fused together. ]
...Another group to dispatch. I'll focus more on supporting you all and cover your backs.
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—Ugh, no, as long as they're quick. In and out. They'll be fine. ]
Easy!
[ Mizuki flings herself into the pack; once again, she uses the force behind her gained momentum and the sheer strength already possessed to slam her pole into one of the monsters. ]
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But, he can recognize danger. It distracts him enough that Blade is already on the move when those creatures are in view. ]
I'll dispatch them.
[ Blade is already leaping into the fray, sword swinging wildly towards the ones Mizuki are not aggroing, aiming to try to decapitate at least one of them. ]
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No... She can't afford to waver. ]
Don't count me out!
[ Anise holds up her doll, and with another crackle of energy, it grows into its large form once again. Then, with her riding on its head, it charges at the enemies, swinging its arms, attempting to throw them off-balance to leave them vulnerable for the others to pick off. ]
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The one that Blade makes way to is already lunging his way, meeting that full swing directly on - but splits into two, a high-pitched screech of multiple voices yelling at him. "What have you done what have you done WHAT HAVE YOU DONE" For a split moment, he sees Rodya's pained expression standing out in the middle of it all, before it starts to lash out in an attacking frenzy to strike at his body with a direct piercing aim to his chest.
Tokunaga and Anise come storming through, and one attempts to flee but that arm slams into it and it too reacts defensively like the first with a spew of acid that burns at them both, barely catching the edge of fabric and suit.
As Metis stated before, he isn't stretching out too far here by attack or tanking, instead sends a spell over each of them to at least start regenerating their incoming injuries, healing them over time little by little. Unfortunately for the group, all the enemies start to screech - and the ground beneath them starts to suddenly reach out and grasp at their legs with fleshy tendrils. Try to react fast! ]
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