melodiesoflife | Final Fantasy || Melodies of Life

At this point, she's just getting sour and tired about getting up- though she appreciates being able to, of course. She managed a disgusted face for what the trunk of the entity is made of- that's twisted, before shaking as much of the lethargy as she can, before reaching out- for a few moments where the world feels right and in focus, below she strikes out with her own limit break, Perfect Balance. "Dawn will come," she promises.

This was it, then. Jade followed suit, casting Life and Curaga on Jaune.

"It's true. Hope can lead to suffering just as despair does." He remembered a young boy, a young man, treading on the remains of the dead to create a science that would nearly destroy his world -- all in the vain hope of bringing his beloved teacher back to life. The blood on his hands... Much of it had been spilled out of hope, twisted though it was. A refusal to accept the cruel truth.

Van, all of them... had acted out of hope for a better world, even if it meant murdering millions. Or was it despair -- the belief that their future was doomed -- that had driven them to rebellion? Perhaps there was little difference.

"Our worlds -- our universe is imperfect. People are blinded by hope and despair. We fail to learn from our mistakes time and time again. That is reality." He smiled. "But that's fine, isn't it? Cleaning up the messes we make is a good enough reason to keep living."

"Personally? I just don't like people tellin' me what to do. Bullies on the cosmic scale 'r the worst kind."

Sparks was feeling reinvigorated. His limit break seemed to make a dent, he'd gotten some health back, and he was ready to fight again. They can win this fight. They've got this. He's got this.

Sparks knocked his metal robot fists together with a loud clang clang, cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders, and got ready to bring out the big guns this round with Melodies of Life.

Hearing Shakyamuni's words, Sheena could only nod sadly in agreement. "That's true," she said quietly, thinking of Mithos and his Age of Lifeless Beings. Everyone the same, no individual thoughts or emotions--or discrimination.

Almost like what Kalki wanted.

Nodding towards Jade she continued, "And while its true we tend to not learn from our mistakes, there are times when do. When we face them head on and work to correct them." She paused. "Pain is a part of life. It's how we learn and grow. A baby taking its first steps falls down a lot, but they keep trying, and eventually, they're walking. And then running--scraped knees and all. Kalki wants to take that away from everyone, and I'm not going to let her. I will not be someone else's Lifeless Being."

And downing an ether, she once again used High Summoner to call forth Ifrit and Odin.

Dying the second time was no less pleasant than the first time. "This is getting old fast." He pulled himself back to his feet, flexing as he fell back into a battle stance.

"It's true that hope can lead to despair... the thought that you might fail." His mind flashed to what he had read about Pyrrha's future. "But that doesn't stop us from trying. And I will not let anyone stop me from trying to protect the people I love."

He rushes towards the creature, noting just how grotesque it was before unleashing Assault on it, determined to do whatever he can to save his friends while he went Berserk under the protection of Shell and Protect.

"If that is thy answers..."

Shakyamuni, or rather the Calamity, went silent after this. But soon, another Mega-Death went off.

>Mega Death
Kill all targets.

The use of Mega Death is automatic and not a deliberate action on the Calamity's end. It kills any Hero of Light not protected from death. It will go off every round till it is defeated or till the Heroes of Light are defeated.

Round Summary:
Perfect Balance: 4.5%
Melodies of Life: 31.5%
Ifrit: 4%
Odin: 2.8%
Assault: 2.1%
Total: 44.9%

Calamity from the Skies's health: 50.1%

It wasn't fighting back. Understanding dawned as Jade watched the abomination towering before them. The Calamity's presence might be causing instant death to Jaune and K'pandolu, but it was making no move to intentionally harm any of them.

So in the end... it had accepted their answer.

"Forget about healing." The words were meant for Chiaki while he cast Life to bring back Jaune once more. "I think it's about time we bring this to an end. Shall we?"

Jade reached for his staff. Blood Pain pulsated quietly with the strength of every enemy he had slain up until now. With his free hand, he removed his glasses. It was a little dramatic for him, but sometimes such a thing felt like the right thing to do.

Hanging around all these heroic types for so long... truly had been a terrible influence on him.

Raising his staff high, Jade commenced their final assault and called upon the power of the Onion Knight -- with Melodies of Life.

"Farewell."

No healing? What the hell...? Then it dawned on her. It wasn't truly attacking them. It hadn't when they couldn't see it, nor when the battle truly started. And there was no sense of it gearing up for a big attack like from their other foes.

So what's been happening must be some sort of reflex, unable to be controlled. So no sense in healing when "alive" was all that was needed. And within a blink of an eye, she knew what she had to do.

"Yes, it is," Sheena said to Jade, lifting her katana. She had no dramatic or heroic gesture to make, but hopefully using Melodies of Life twice would make up for that.

"Oh, we are way past due endin' this."

They got this. No problem. Drawing his gunsword, Sparks had two more Melodies of Life for this abomination.

Jaune groans as he gets up again, giving a nod of thanks to Jade. He really hopes they beat this thing soon. Revive or not, dying ~~sucked~~. Melodies of Life seems to be the only thing that's working, but Jaune isn't able use that, so he's pretty much useless in the actual fight. He can take over reviving K'pandolu, though, so that Chiaki can focus on a Melodies of her own.

He takes a few steps back from the creature and uses Choreography of Life to bring K'pandolu back to life and braces himself to go down again.

It's rough. K'pandolu gives Jaune a nod in turn, but doesn't spare the energy to curse at the entity- it won't do much good, and she's feeling too rough. She focuses all the energy she can muster on a Judgement, instead.

Chiaki nods gratefully to Jaune, then to K'pandolu as she stands, followed by the others each in turn. Her inner gamer sense is tingling, telling her that the battle's end is nigh. All that's left is to show Shakyamuni their resolve and bring this cycle to an end. Focusing her energy, she bows her head and folds her hands as if in prayer before letting loose with Melodies of Life. That isn't all she's got, but first it's time for what may be her last hope speech in front of her allies.

"Shakyamuni... Kalki... everyone," she starts, addressing both the myriad tortured souls melded into the Calamity's form and the shattered remains of past Heroes and their worlds that have nourished its corrupted spirit all these years. "This cycle has gone on long enough. No more will this world be given life through the deaths of countless others. No more will the hope of its people be built on the despair of others. All of that ends today, here and now. May the departed spirits of Heroes past finally find rest as Crystallis is born anew - not from the will of the Ancients, but by the hands of the Heroes called here to save it."

Pausing, she slings her guitar down from her back, lifting a hand in the air and striking a dramatic pose.

"Let the light of true hope bring renewal! Melodies of Eternity!"

And she brings her hand down, pouring every bit of herself into the gesture as the chord rings out loudly through the vast expanse of nothingness. With any luck, it will resonate with the Calamity as well and finally bring this world's suffering to an end.

With the use of Melody of Eternity, time appeared to stop for a second. Then the entirety of their surrounding shook as if a violent earthquake happened as the creature twisted in pain, a scream resounding all around them as the Calamity melted and soon faded. The screams in the distance faded as well and everything faded to black...

[ The final battle is over and won. The conclusion will be posted and played out in the coming days in the final thread. ]

Final Fantasy || Melodies of Life

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