melodiesoflife | The Temple of Wind

[Saori loudly smacked an open to her face before she used another Smoke Bomb to teleport behind Jaune. She snatched the young man by the ear. Sadly she couldn't throw him back to where the others were so another Smoke Bomb was her only option to bring him back to the safety of the group.]

Sometimes Heroes has to make sacrifices, Jaune. The first rule to staying alive on the battlefield is to never take an enemy's lack of initiative at face value.

[She let go of Jaune. That was too close for comfort. The flash of anger in her eyes was brief before softening. Her attention went back to Ales as she let a suiton ninjutusu loose. Maybe the several spouts of water heading his way ought to cool him down.]

Edited 2017-06-07 08:32 (UTC)

[Good thinking, Saori. Jade's not in the mood to give lectures on the pitfalls of unwarranted idealism.]

Completely defenseless... I wonder about that.

[Jade casts Gift of Crystallis on everyone. It might be overkill, considering Ales has never been a very combat-oriented Hero -- but then again, it might not.

Who knows what sort of tricks Kalki has taught her Archfiends over these past few years?]

Jaune!

[What was that idiot thinking, getting in the way? Reno used a Smoke Bomb last minute, pulling in his attack and poofing to the other side, behind Ales. He barely had time for a breath. It was a good thing Reno had quick reflexes, otherwise he would have attacked the ~~idiot~~ Hero.]

[Jaune shoots Saori a dirty look. His attention is on her, but he's addressing the room.] Is he really an enemy though? Because so far as I can tell you've all barely let the guy say two words, let alone give him a chance to defend himself! Did he betray us? Sure, but did it ever occur to you that maybe he had a valid reason or that we could settle this peacefully? He hasn't even mentioned working for Kalki once!

[He clenches his fist around the hilt of his sword and lowers his eyes.] If it comes to that... We can deal with it then. But we should at least give him a chance first.

[He's not super hopeful, but he's really not about the killing lifestyle so it's worth a shot in his book.]

[Saori paused before turning back to Jaune, quickly letting a clone go back into the fray while she spoke to him. The clone climbed up the pipes and rushed in to use Master Thief.

His idealism reminded the goddess of her own, so she didn't get hostile with him yet. There was no shouting from her over the sounds of combat,
but there was a firmness in her voice.]

Jaune, don't forget he's the creator of the Snow Beast and this fortress. His actions have caused suffering on a large scale we can't ignore. If he was going to let us settle things peacefully, he would've done so already.

I know it doesn't look like it but I'm a believer in second chances, Jaune. Not to mention, if he really is an archfiend, he should be able to say his two cents while fighting.

I'm not--[While the Heroes are still exchanging words with Ales and before they begin attacking him, he attempts to retort to each of there accusations. A somber look crosses his eyes. He can't tell them the deepest reason for this betrayal if it's so personal. Yet...isn't this what his Shadow was about? Revealing that he has his own insecurities, that he's lonely?

Yes. Yes, it is. They wouldn't understand. Ales takes a deep breath.]

Kalki was my friend ever since I spoke with her as Parasraya.

[He is unable to say any more, as multiple spells and knives fly in his face. The minicopter is knocked out of his hand, he's pushed off-balance, and the water spell throws him onto one of the spikes protruding from the darkness in the ceiling. In addition, Saori manages to swipe 1 Crystal of Wind from his cloak.

Ales pushes his face off the metal.] Activate.

BOSS BATTLE: Archfiend of Wind and Mechanical Dragon

music
Ales Mansay, after five years working for Kalki, has grown stronger with the power of the Crystal of Wind. Wielding the Onion Knight, Calamity Knight, and an army of robots, none can ever hope to defeat him...until the Heroes of Light returned. The Mechanical Dragon is one of Ales' largest projects, coiling up in the upper area of the central office until it is called. It can float around in the air, strike enemies with the spikes on its side, and fire a powerful laser from the crystal in its mouth. It acts as a defender for its fragile owner.

[As the robot uncoils, the room is illuminated by a powerful light source from above: The Crystal of Wind, floating on the very top of the flying fortress. The few pipes that cross the ceiling are few and far between, clearly put there only for necessity. The actual office is far bigger than what was seen before.

The Dragon takes it turn to release itself from its slumber and tower menacingly over the Heroes of Light. Ales, aided by Narayana's Blessing is able to make two actions. First, he fires a Heavy Shot much more powerful than what most Heroes were capable of at Mary as revenge, and then an Arm Shot at Jade. Fortunately for Jade, luck was on his side and did not remove his casting abilities.]

Edited 2017-06-11 15:24 (UTC)

[Mary does falter a step at Ales' reasoning. She always had her...suspicions about Parasraya, but while she understood the benefit of a masking identity there was still the issue of the actions that were taken and the secrets that were kept. Using that identity to guide them to her own means, to try to win over others, rather than working WITH them for a victory they could all call worthy, Kalki had thrown away the chance to be friends with them all when she performed her experiments on the captured Heroes. All beyond that were thrown away chances at redemption.]

Damnit, Ales! And then what were we to you? And what is even the point of all this if you're only able to turn it against former allies?

[She uses Ceiling Climbing to run up the wall, half dashing and half climbing until she can get herself above the descending dragon. Once she feels ready she pushes off and leaps out to get onto its back.]

[Lydia had remained near the back, her large eyes going wide once she saw the office, recognized who it was. It...it couldn't be. It had to be a mistake--he was her friend! He'd been her friend through it all, even in their vision of the bad future, he was the one regret she'd had about hurting.

Sinking to her knees, ignoring most of the fighting and the talking, as another part of her heart shattered. So many people she'd lost to this damn calamity, this void. This horrible limbo hell that was worse than death called Crystallis.

She was no hero...no matter how she tried to help. Maybe there really were no heroes after all, given everything that had happened. What was a Hero, or a villain, after all?

Lydia wasn't sure, but she was sure of one thing--Ales had been her friend. This hurt... That thought finally gave her strength to get to her feet.

Even after five years, she was still smaller than most--and she was quick and light, with her most familiar job of Vampire equipped. Any danger didn't register with her, as she headed for Ales' desk, and then on top of it. Standing, and ready to shout at the top of her lungs, and tears in her eyes.]

Ales Mansay you JERK!

[Trying so hard not to cry, and to pull strength from somewhere in her to do more than just hurt and glare at him, big dark eyes larger than normal.]

[The mechanical dragon roars, its spiked spine undulating as it floats through the air with the aid of the Wind Crystal. It swoops downward until it burshes against the floor. Heroes not standing on the desk must be careful to dodge the metal rods or get injured in the attack.

Ales shoots a Heavy Shot downward at Jaune, then turns to Mary.] Well, I thought you could be friends, but after the Sage's vision, did you think I could just trust any of you if things got messy, hm? That you would stop me from doing what is necessary just because it's not "nice"? You're rather sit back and hope things turn out better instead of taking action?

When Kalki rescued me, she knew how I felt. I had a choice in what to do. I thought about everything she's worked on in her life, I thought about who would do something to destroy the Calamity.

And I picked her.

Now--

[He is interrupted by Lydia. He looks down at the desk, where an old friend stands. She is older, taller, and her face has lost some of its roundness, but the person there is unmistakable. It's the girl that stood by him in the vision. The one who was there for his Shadow.

The one person--]

Lydia, whatever I'm doing is for the good of all humanity. I'm doing this so you won't have to suffer anymore.

For the good of all humanity?

[There was a chill in Saori's voice after she dodged the metal rods. The clone joined her and gave her the Crystal of Wind. She wasn't sure if she could use it, but perhaps it could give them some leverage.]

Don't make me laugh. I wouldn't be surprised if Kalki only values you as a pawn in the end. Some of us realize winning without spilling blood isn't possible. It doesn't mean we weren't just sitting on our hands. To live means to go through life's joys and sufferings. Without suffering, one can't appreciate life's true value. To live an immortal life though, that is the cruelest fate of all.

[On top of the metal pipes, she drew her dragon-scale sword and got into a stance to prepare for Transience to counter the next attack.]

You know, I wished I had reached out to you more. And I truly meant it when I apologized for throwing you back on the Enterprise.

[Nope, those are tears. So much for not crying.]

Ales, you're making people suffer here! Not just me...

[A sniffle, and her fists are still clenched.]

It's...it's hard. Life and death...they need each other. What I have hated most of all in this world though, being here...was the endlessness to it. The stillness, and stagnation. I can deal with people dying--I could see them again.

[So quiet there, half to herself.]

You're my friend--you've always been my friend, Ales. But this is not the right course. Not with Kalki...

[Mary uses Rope's End, Ceiling Climbing, Parkour and all of her Assassin training to get through the air to the mechanical dragon and then get a good grip as she slams into it. She doesn't just depend on the job powers but finds handholds and footholds as she climbs along, trying to find some weak spot on the thing.]

The sage's-OH YOU BLOODY FOOL.

[She had a feeling it was him, but she never brought the subject up, not without enough certainty.]

First off, we have no clue if the Sage's vision was the future, another cycle, or just some fantasy he cooked up to 'test us'. Nobody can even remember the information he supposedly told us to make some of our own seek to destroy everything, and I doubt many of ours would have still. Second, YOU TOOK THE DAMNED DIAMOND WEAPON TO ATTACK A CIVILIAN POPULATION.

[She hefts herself up, leaping as the dragon flies along to reach the next handhold. It takes her a moment to get steady again before she continues.]

And given the chance to prove that vision wrong, what do you do? You side with Kalki and send a different giant automaton against a civilian population!

[Reaching into her shirt, she pulls out her sonic screwdriver and points it at the nearest joint in the thing and sets the tool to whirring.]

The Creed does not absolve you of killing innocents, and it calls on you to act wisely and take responsibility for your choices, not shift the blame to those who try to stop you from acting a fool! You can't claim to be protecting humanity while pointing a bloody gun at it!

[The others have a better chance at getting through to Ales. Jade decides to focus on support instead, casting Curaga to heal Mary and Jaune.

He's still not opposed to killing Ales if it comes to that. Still, the Heroes have surprised him before with their ability to talk down their enemies. He'll let them have a chance at it and keep them protected in the meantime.]

[The mechanical dragon roars, shaking its body to throw Mary off, its fin falls off thanks to her efforts, but it retaliates by opening its mouth, revealing a large crystal where its throat would be, and firing a Wind Laser at the group below.

Ales picked up his weapon, turning to Mary as she was closest.] Hmph. Predictable. I know you would have had the same reaction if you had seen my Shadow. [He fires a Leg Aim at her, temporarily preventing her from moving around. And in a mocking tone:] "Oh Ales, what a great scientist, he will always go along with our plans, he has always followed what is expected of him." Frankly, I've been getting sick of all of you for months on end. I guess that's just a constant in every world I go to, hm?

[He turns to the ground and firest a Heavy Shot at Jade.]

You know Jade? You were one of the Heroes I truly admired. In my world, most of the residents are too lazy and dependent on Polokus to think for themselves, and here you were, working in the lab and saying what had to be said.

[Jaune stupidly wasn't watching Ales when he was talking with Saori, naively believing they could solve this without bloodshed, so's blindsided by the Heavy Shot. He cries out in pain as he falls to his knees.] Seriously? I was trying to keep you alive!

[He feels Jade's Curaga wash over him and gives him a nod of thanks as he rises back up, this time facing Ales. He manages to throw his shield up at the last second to protect him from the brunt of the Wind Laser.] Looks like we don't have a choice now. [He's tempted to take a swipe at the guy, still a little upset by his sudden attack on him, but he's noticed that Mary - an assassin - is having a hard time hitting him. Little guy's pretty agile, and Jaune can help with that. He begins a Slow Dance to try to slow Ales down.]

If you admire him thinking for himself, then stop attacking for a minute and think for yourself! Is fighting us your wish, or Kalki's? Are you still just following orders? You have a choice here, Ales. Choose!

Then why not reach to one of us? None of us are afraid of being called out if needed. Sometimes we need that second opinion even if we don't realize it right away. Damn it Ales, I trusted you as a fellow Assassin!

[The hit from the Wind Laser was enough to trigger her counter attack. She could just aim at the dragon but where it has to hurt...

Oh. Hello, shiny weak point. At least if what her experience with playing games and fighting several beasts has taught her. She runs and takes up at a leap towards the dragon's mouth. With a war cry, she thrusts her sword at the crystal along with a parting shot of thunder ninjutsu. Before she became mechanical dragon chow, she swung herself onto its back, plunging the sword into it to hang on.]

So you mean to tell us you can sleep easy every night knowing how many lost their lives because of your actions?

[Mary cries out as Ales' shot strikes her, a numbness spreading through her leg at the impact. The thrashing of the dragon shakes her loose but she's able to scramble to find another handhold. She's still on the thing but she's now fallen further down it, unable to regain ground or do much else as she tries to keep herself from being thrown.
]

All we ever expected of you was to do your part to help save this world. Thinking for ourselves and acting as needed where others couldn't is what I gathered the Assassins for! [Plans had not always worked out as much but that had a lot to do with the scheming of their enemies and certain investigations being dead ends, or at least less fruitful than she'd hoped. But that didn't mean she took him for granted.]

Edited 2017-06-29 17:18 (UTC)

[Jade takes the Heavy Shot fired at him stoically, swiftly healing himself with Curaga immediately afterwards.]

Really now? I'm flattered. [He doesn't sound very moved.]

You know, I do understand how people like Kalki and Palitutu think. There was a time in the past I might have even agreed with them. However, Kalki's goal... [He shrugs and shakes his head, as though they weren't in the middle of a battle.] There is no meaning in a world without life and death. There would be nowhere left to go. No reason for people to change. And Palitutu... I tried to enact her plan myself in the Sage's vision and turned into a literal monster for it. Makes a man reconsider his priorities, doesn't it?

[Jade smiles glumly, casting Enlightenment to double the party's attack power.]

People like us are not meant to decide the fate of the world, Ales. We get too enamored with our own brilliance to acknowledge when we're wrong.

[The Slow Dance gives Ales only one move this round though the Mechanical Dragon still takes it single action per round. As it finishes up with powerful strike, Saori's thunder attack hits the crystal, causing it to grow bright. The head shook and it roared.

Ales frowned at those below him.]

I am choosing my own destiny. Kalki offered this chance, and I took it knowing what had to be done. You think I can instate a new order in the Glade of Dreams if I allowed myself to cry over every little loss? I had to cut off my emotional ties to Betilla when I locked her up, else she would try to stop me!

[He fired a Heavy Shot at Reno, amplified by River of Blood. ]

This new world will be free of the Calamity! I won't make the same mistakes in the Glade, in the vision, and I will risk my life for order in the world!

[With that, the dragon swoops up to the top of the chamber, circles the Wind Crystal, and dives downward with its teeth bared, aiming at the group of heroes for a Bite attack.]

The Temple of Wind

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So sorry for dying in this thread

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