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| In A New York Minute: The Manhattan Project - Fallen Empire |
| (2012-12-08 - 2012-12-08) |
| LEXUS makes a powerful, obvious move to attract as much attention as posible from work happening elsewhere. He gets just what he wants. But is it enough to stop LEXUS, Pyre, and the Heartless? |
| LEXUS | 0The Siege of Manhattan continues. The heroes fight valiantly against the rising tide of darkness. Many of the Heartless are defeated, as well as the Shadow Lords and other adherents of Darkness who control them. But not without cost. Many good people have fallen to the Heartless, forced to withdraw or be consumed, to add to the powerful forces already arrayed against them. That has always been the great strength of the Heartless: To take the powers of those who finally give into despair and lose all hope... and add them to their own. This doesn't help the forces of Light, however. They are embroiled in the bitter conflict that has taken so many other worlds. The Heartless have never needed so much assistance to devour many other worlds, and this time Manhattan is faced with the powers of many Shadow Lords, the forces of Baron, and chaos agents who stand to profit from the world's disappearance. Now, as the fighting is fullest, a man walks towards the Empire State Building. He would appear to be a normal man in a suit, but for the pulsing violet-glowing circuitry that runs up his tie, along the jawline of the head up to the temples. The iris of his eyes are black, a pulsing circular pattern of violet rotating in them as it slowly seems to process. And this man, LEXUS, is not alone. From the shadows, a clicking noise is heard as a Heartless slips into visiblity in the area. Their form is sleek, six-limbed, each leg tipped with chrome plating that speaks of an advanced design and ending in n infinitely sharp point. The body beneath is the form of a dark Heartless, veined with pulsing violet circuit patterns that rise along the limbs towards the burning, yellow-eyed head. Chrome mandibles jut from the darkness beneath, and the Heartless Emblen is emblazoned on their forehead, pulsing with the power of the Dark. The clicking noise is magnified a hundredfold, a thousandfold as they swarm, emerging from the Darkness at their master's call to begin rushing up the sides of the skyscraper, covering it in gleaming chrome chitinous forms. He speaks, his words echoing through the air. "PEOPLE OF MANHATTAN, YOUR TIME HAS COME. THE DARKNESS HAS COME TO CLAIM YOUR LAND AS IT HAS MANY OTHERS. YOUR WORLD'S HEART SHALL BE ADDED TO THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN CLAIMED BEFORE." A crackling bolt of digital energy rises as LEXUS exercises his abilities, Darkness pouring upwards as a great ring of violet energy begins to form over the Empire State Building. What does he want with this place? Surely it could be nothing good... Or could this, like he says, be the heart of the world? Only one way to find out. |
| Pyre | The original plan was that Hati would use the cover of the events in Manhattan to gain a foothold into enemy territory in other worlds - capturing information that might lead to other world hearts. Unfortunately, it seems that she is needed afterall. Luckily, she's had enough time to make herself look distinctly different from her normal lupine appearance. The great wolf seems to have bathed her usually white fur in a shade of dark red, making it look as if the werewolf had stepped through blood to get here. Runic marks criss-cross over her fur, painted there in a glowing red that makes it look as if she were born out of fire. 'Pyre' seems a fitting enough name for this darker alter ego, who prowls a short distance behind both LEXUS and his Heartless entourage. It's as if she is there to keep anyone from flanking the group - just another faceless mook. It would be easy to mistake her for the 'dumb muscle' being sent along to guard some more clever Shadow Lord's plans, but it would be a fatal error to assume that as the case. As LEXUS speaks, the wolf crouches on all fours, tail lashing behind her. The wolf raises her head, sending a howl up into the night, adding her own 'voice' to the threat of the program she's been assigned to 'protect'. |
| Stormfall | The Heartless throng the streets. They own the streets. Killer Taxis full of goons run the empty avenues while crocodiles swarm the pavement. The cars smash into walls and through shop windows. Crocodiles swarm up from the subway, swirly eyes and eye blinding colors visible from long distances as they chase anybody into office buildings. Business complexes not already swarming with the host are few and far between. Darkness surges like the tides at the base of the Empire State Building, roaming with jerky, spasmodic semi-purpose. A Wild GOON SWARM appears! Command? |
| Luso Clemens | Walking through the streets of Manhattan, Luso looked horribly out of place, and usually he would have been called out on it by many of the good citizens of this city. But not today. Seeing smoke rising from various points even from where he was on the ground, noting that the streets are littered with potholes, spiderwebs of cracks and flat out craters, and last but definitely not least; more than a few heartless... It did not take a genius to figure out that something was wrong here. "Ah geez, what the heck happened here? I was told that Manhattan was an amazing sight..." The boy spoke in a rather distracted tone as she passed down another street, arms crossed, boots clanking(don't diss the heels, yo!), and a veritable stash of weapons slung behind him. He was certainly a sight to behold. Too bad there was no one about to behold it. Having decided to split up, the Game Hunter sent off several of his Clanmates to assess the situation elsewhere and assist with any evacuation and defense necessary. And he would do the same. It was then that Luso came across the Empire State Building, just in time for LEXUS' grand proclamation. Something about darkness devouring worlds? "Well, that sounds pretty bad..." Pretty bad indeed, he couldn't tur a blind eye to this now! And if that wasn't enough, those heartless sure made the scene a whole lot worse! And this wasn't even counting that totally menacing looking wolf some ways behind LEXUS. "What's the first rule of Clan Gully again...?" Luso asked himself aloud, rubbing his chin idly in thought. He remained that way for a moment before finally his eyes light up with an answer. "Oh right! Never ignore people in need! And the second rule..." The boy spoke, a bit more confident now as he strode on over to the scene, reaching behind himself a drawing a burning sword; Flametongue. "Never turn a blind eye to evil!" LEXUS, Pyre, and the Heartless seem to have found themselves their first opponent. ...Luso, Boy Wonder. And totally main character! Of course. |
| Minerva | Minerva has been fighting lesser heartless along side several police officers for some time earlier helping lead them and a few civilians to one of the evacuation zones. She'd departed seeing them safely on their way. It was still a marvel to her that there were lawmen who cared about commoners well being. That was not the end for her this night. Her comrades in VALKYRI had been fighting elsewhere and now she nears one of the buildings that had filled her with wonder she'd never seen anything so tall made by the hand of man. It was like these buildings were trying to reach forth to the heavens. She's heading down a street as she hears Lexus bellow out his challenge she'd only heard of him by reputation and reports so this is LEXUS. There's something about him that does bring the monk to pause. The state of the stars is much like on the last day of her world. So far as she knows she's the only surviving native of Ivalice. She survived the darkness and it's come to this as she calls back. "Your Ilk failed to consume me when Ivalice was claimed. You shall not have this world." Then she notices Luso whomever the young man is he's of the same mind as her and she moves to follow up Luso. "It seems I am not alone in this. Let's go!" CONDTIONS FOR VICTORY DEFEAT ALL HEARTLESS |
| Raiya Fujihara | Raiya's own budding insurgency within Wutai has preoccupied all of her time and efforts as of late. But when word about what was happening in Manhattan finally reached the samurai, she knew that it was her duty to come and fight against such a large scale assault by the Shadow Lords and their Heartless minions. Getting to the epicenter of this conflict was a much more difficult task for the Wutai warrior as goon-squads of Heartless roamed the streets while being aided by monstrous sewer creatures. The blonde swordswoman had to choose her fights carefully to avoid being swarmed before she could attempt to find the source of it all. Finally, she arrives to the base of the Empire States Building where LEXUS and other ne'er'do-wells gawk and taunt from on high. Thankfully, others have managed to rally to this point as well. The Ronin dashes to join them and draws her katana out in one fluid motion. "I shall stand with you two. We appear to be outnumbered, so let us prepare to even the score," announces Raiya grimly as she eyes where the first potential attack may come from. |
| LEXUS | What heroes can be spared arrive. LEXUS looks over the arrivals and he smiles. "Is this all the heroes that are left in man? How quaint." He raises a hand, a black Identity Disc rezzing into existence, that same purple insignia that is in his eyes on the disc. "You think you can stop what is coming? Your reistance is futile." LEXUS smiles, as if perhaps conscious of the reference. "Come, show us what you can do." A series of digital barriers rise around him, hexagonal fields of power rising around him to protect his form from the incoming heroes. "Allow us to educate you as to the extent of your folly." |
| Pyre | Compared to other forces fighting in the city, this turn out would certainly be laughable to most Shadow Lords. Three heroes against the hordes of the Heartless? still, there is some bravery in standing up against odds that are most clearly not in your favor. The blood-wolf turns her head towards the trio that have gathered, watching their calls of challenge. Maybe its her own bloodlust that tenses her muscles, or perhaps the storm brewing in the sky above - a sign of just how much hold the dark forces have been able to make on Manhattan. Her mismatched eyes turn towards the trio, claws digging into the asphalt. She doesn't look to LEXUS for the order to attack, but chooses to strike forward, herself. The wolf breaks into a sprint, feet padding against the ground, charging forward towards the line of defenders. She's got one singled out - one to challenge, and it seems as if it is Minerva. She had been the loudest of the two females, so she would make a suitable opponent. Pyre growls low in her chest, calling out to the darkness around them, drawing it up from the very earth beneath her feet, making each step carry it like flames where her paws strike. It's just at the last moment that she leaps towards the buxom fighter from Ivalice. Her teeth aim for exposed limbs, claws trying to rend through armor. |
| Luso Clemens | Finding himself suddenly joined by new and unknown allies, Luso turned his head to look for a brief moment, offering Minerva, and Raiya a wide smile and a thumbs up. "You got it! We might be outnumbered, but that doesn't mean we're outgunned! Let's show 'em what we can do!" Turning his attention back to the array of enemies present, he noticed that the storm brewing above finally broke....into a shower of the elements. "Whoa--!" There was definitely no getting near that just yet...But why weren't 'they' being affected? "..Wait a second...is that storm powering them up? No way!" Well, it's not like it mattered that much. They'd just need to work twice as hard to make up for that. And with that, Luso took the charge, dashing off towards LEXUS. "You asked for it! Have a taste of this! Hya!" Once in range, the boy lashed out with Flametongue in a horizontal slash before spinning and drawing another sword from behind him, a lighter, single edged blade. Another slash was aimed at LEXUS' torso in the same motion, the discipline of the Paravir. And finally, he ended off with vertical dualbladed strike downwards, producing a pillar of ice to burst and shatter. |
| Minerva | Minerva never got to fight for her world when it fell, she had not become aware yet any had survived in her travels. Someday she would but so far as she knows she's one of the last people from her world and that's part of what's driving her. Guilt, guilt for surviving the end of the world. The only way to quiet it for hr? Is to face the darkness that did it. A beast stands before her so far as she knows and she cares not what it is as she's locked int combat trying to infest her with the darkness. She's cut, she's bit but she's not hurt as badly as she could have been. She still feels the touch of the darkness but it's not unknown to her, she focuses her mind to purges it from herself. She's forced to pull back from attacking but given the taint she felt she knows what the minion of the shadow lords may be up to. Both the wandering hero from another world and the Ronin get a call from Minerva. "Do not let them through we're all that stands between them and their goal." She's now looking for an opening, she keeps tabs one her two unknown allies. |
| Stormfall | The Goons will not be denied! The darkness starts to take notice of the heroes and the light struggling against the Shadow Lords who have perched themselves on the heights of the Empire State Building. It is a slow process for they are more than busy enough consuming those unlucky souls who still remain locked in their homes or trapped in their office buildings. THe NPC forces, boistered by Xanatos laser weapons, have fallen back again and again and now hold only a few tenuous positions that are slammed again and again by the dark waves of heartless. Crocodiles leap onto the killer taxis, digging claws into the metal and becoming Crazy Crocodile/Taxi that roam the streets chomping on whatever gets close. Red headlights glare as hunting packs of taxis approach Luso Clemens while Goons and their funky dance choreographed with snapping fingers ends abruptly and all over the place as they brace themselves and open fire on Raiya and Minerva. |
| LEXUS | Three blades come for LEXUS. Each one cleaves into the barrier, cracking through it and digging into his body. What comes out is not blood, but lines of gleaming light, streaking into the air and dissipating with tiny pieces of his body wafting away. LEXUS grimaces at the impact as he takes a step backwards. "You're not without worth, /hero/." He says. Several spires of icy code strike out, gleaming rendered spires spiking out at Luso in retaliation. "But it's too late. OBSERVE!" He gestures above, and the seething Daemon Heartless link up, connecting together in some strange and terrible form. There is a thunderous crack in the storm, and a large, gleaming rectangle appears in the air, hissing as it begins to descend, top-down over the Empire State Building. Where it passes, only a twinkling wireframre remains... But it moves slowly, as if taking its time in making sure everything is precisely removed. "I am claiming this building." LEXUS says. "This world will be mine." He looks back to Luso, and smiles thinly. "You won't be able to stop me." He gestures, and his Disc flies out, firing bolts of corruptive green energy in spears at Luso. A burst of digitized flame erupts from under the fighter, as well. |
| Luso Clemens | "Hey, thanks! You're not so--" Grinning, Luso almost was about to engage in pleasantries with LEXUS before snapping back to reality. "--Wait a minute! Whoa!" And just in time, vaulting aside and into the air, the boy sheathed his swords, avoiding both attacks from the digital mastermind as well as the attempted blindside from the heartless taxi cabs. "What the heck is that thing!?" Luso exclaimed staring at the wireframe of the creature that had formed. "Well whatever! I'm not gonna let you do whatever you want!" Landing easily to the ground, the game hunter immediately dashed forward again, pressing the attack. "Here I go!" And so he began another round of strikes. drawing a wide orange blade; the Ogun Blade. His body began to expel an azure aura as he reared back with the blade before swinging it forward in a burst of energy. "Lemme show you just what Clan Gully's capable of!" |
| Pyre | As her chosen target pulls back, the wolf growls, landing firmly on her paws. It is a slower motion, but Pyre rises up from the four-legged posture into something far more human. While she might be short for a werewolf, this creature towers over most humans. She only hesitates a moment, allowing the 'goon squad' to take their own shots before stepping forward, seeming unusually graceful in either posture. The wolf doesn't speak, but something that Minerva says has her chuckling darkly, giving a flash of razor-sharp teeth. For all purposes, it seems as if this is just a monster, with no real mind other than one thing - to kill. It's not the truth, but the wolf within isn't about to let that secret loose, not today. It doesn't seem to matter to her that her attempts at sending that seed of darkness into her target are wiped clean. The wolf just roars, throwing saliva outwards in the process. Like some great beast from a movie, she steps forward, trying to grab on to any part of the brawler and heft her skyward. It's a strange motion to make, if you don't know what is coming next. The wolf leaps up, intent on using her own strength to slam right into the poor hero and send her falling back to the ground below. |
| Raiya Fujihara | The battle-scarred samurai keeps her mighty chisa-katana at the ready as she watches the movements of those enemies assembled before her. These Shadow Lords are both unknown to her, but if they are indeed Shadow Lords then they are formidable opponents indeed. And then there were still the Heartless masses to contend with. Luso's spunky comments draws a nod from Raiya towards him. The energetic nature of youth was really something. However, it will take more than that to be victorious this day. LEXUS' comments are considered, but not commented on. A samurai was always prepared to die and if they could take atleast one of these Shadow Lords with them, their efforts would be worth it. The combatants seem to be pairing off in one on one duels which suits the Wutai woman just fine, but she has neglected to remember the approaching Heartless horde. The choregraphed goon-squad draws a raised brow from Raiya who sets forth with some fancy footwork of her own. She manages to close the distance and displace the shots of the foes because of her speed. Now close to a group of goons, Raiya leaps forward and swings her sword in a flurry of blows designed to both to cripple and dispatch this first group of goons. |
| LEXUS | "That? It is a Transfer frame. I am moving the building to a more... appropriate location." LEXUS replies. "I wish to study the location in detail. It is.... quite valuable." The transfer frame descends slowly. Looks like there's plenty of time... if the heroes can stop them, that is. Luso cleaves into LEXUS, the attack wreaking havoc with his internal resources. One eye flares and sizzles, flickering like a television screen rendering static, before it stabilizes. "You're not the only one who can debilitate, you know." LEXUS replies, as the Disc flies back. He sweeps it in front of Luso, the disc hanging in front of his hand, and a brilliant blast of corruptive force lashes out, striking at Luso's own energy reserves in retaliation! |
| Minerva | Minerva is figthing the wolf like creature she's fought monsters before, most of them were not really aware barring the goblin races.She hpover has the wolf laughing at her. "You think that's funny beast?" The other clams into her with great force ansd she's down on the ground pretty hard. Minerva's suprisingly able to endure it quite well for the most part. All things considre she' huer but without warning she strikes several points on the wolf craetures body attempting to disrupt it's natural flow of energy before she'll attempt to pull away. |
| Luso Clemens | "...What? You're taking a whole BUILDING? Seriously?" Luso asked rhetorically, giving LEXUS an incredulous look. The lull in his offensive gave the program just the time he needed to launch a counter attack. "Guh!" Feeling back, feeling his energy being sapped rather than physically being harmed. "Tch!" He was had that time. But if they were going to play that game, then could do the same thing too! Total lockdown! "You've gotta be crazy! Stealing an entire building? That's ridiculous! And you're not gonna do it either!" Sheathing the Ogun Blade, Luso gripped the handle of another weapon; the Kwigon Blade. He drew it and pointed it towards LEXUS, grinning confidently. "You's see how you handle this!" And then he dove forward, striking with a forward thrust. |
| Stormfall | Bullets SPANG as they ricochet off the blade of the samurai, hitting lampposts and smashing windows and dispatching the occasional random goon. The thick shouldered shadow puppets stagger backwards dramatically, exploding in clouds of dark vapor with only their hats to flutter down like leaves to the sidewalk. They go some distance as wind scours the sidewalk before tearing away in wisps of ash. There is an oncoming racket of horns (some of them eerily sounding like La La Cucaracha) as another small hunting pack of yellow and black taxis powerslide around the corner, shadowtires squealing and darkness parting like an ocean as they veer down the road towards the Samurai and the defending heroes. Reaction Command: CRAZY TAXI! |
| Pyre | The wolf growls, expecting to feel pain from the points where Minerva's attack strikes against her body. Yet, there's nothing. Confusion shows on her features, ears tucking back. Then, as Pyre tries to step forwards, a dizzy spell seems to seize her, causing the beast to shake her head this way and that, snarling to break free from whatever hold the attack had put on her. Unfocused for a time, she finally seems able to settle her vision on the woman, pulling her lips back away from those sharp teeth. It might have disrupted the flow of her energy and left her feeling drained for it, but that rarely stops a beast. Rearing up, the wolf lashes with her muzzle, a second set of quick snaps from her jaws trying to replicate her earlier bite, darkness flashing from her fangs and drool dripping from her teeth. But it is not just the bite she intends. As the wolf moves forward, she's also lashing out with those claws, aiming to tear at whatever she can find, hoping to cause harm - or at least to drive the woman back away from LEXUS and the other Heartless. |
| LEXUS | "What is a building?" LEXUS asks idly as the hero strikes. The blade, for a moment, appears to be right on target, but at the last moment LEXUS' Disc sweeps into position, taking the blow with a bright shower of sparks and a hiss. "To you? It is stone. Steel. Glass. Billions and billions of atoms, arrayed in a precise order to provide structure and comfort. To me? It is something far more interesting. It is information. Data, for the examination and consumption. The traces of the people who lived within this building remain... And even when I am done, I can find a... use... for it." He frowns. "As for you... How many swords does a boy like you need?" He glances, looking concerned fo a moment. "How do you even /carry/ all of those without them getting in your way?" As he speaks though, the Disc zips around behind Luso, emitting a massive blast of crackling lightning. The storm rains down upon him, adding in a shower of icy spires, while LEXUS raises a hand, crossing the incoming fire with an explosion of burning neon blacklight, sizzling straight at the boy. Can he deal with the multi-vector assault? |
| Raiya Fujihara | Raiya seems intent to prove that her katana can defeat the gun of these croco-goons. However, the Heartless seem to take a more direct approach by attempting to run down the Ronin and her allies. She waits for the CRAZY TAXIS to get closer before attempt to roll out of the way. Narrowly, she avoids the brunt of the incoming vehicle, but is -smacked- by the side-view mirror. Ouch! The samurai now awaits for the next charge of the Taxis before attempt to leap on top of one and downstab her way to victory. Wutai steel is tough, but is it tough enough to act as a can-opener against Heartless Taxi cars? Only time will tell. |
| Luso Clemens | "What's a building?" Luso asked, leaping to the air again, avoiding the attack of the heartless. He had no time to worry about them. He had bigger things to worry about now. Upon landing Luso sheathed the Kwigon Blade and pointed dramatically at LEXUS once the program finished his explantion. "Your words are as empty as your soul! Mankind ill needs a savior such as....uh...crap. Nevermind!" Losing his train of thought the boy was then beset upon by a multi-faceted array of attacks. "Gah!" There was no time to dodge, so Luso simply crossed his arms in an X formation to deal with the incoming damage. It was as painful as expected. "And Of course I need all these swords!" Luso shot back, regaining his posture afterwards, grinning and rubbing the underside of his nose with a finger. "The more swords you've got, the stronger you are, am I right!?" Such genius logic. With that said though, he produced a small vial of liquid, popping the cap before downing it in one go. Once done, he tucked the vial away again and then reached behind himself, drawing the burning sword; Flametongue, again. "It's noover yet though! Here I come!" And with that, he ran forward, lashing out with another debilitating attack. He was trying to recover for now. Waiting for the right opening... |
| Minerva | Minerva is being ripped up very hard by the heartless. Her fists burst into flames as sbne counters the attacks from the smalelr creatures, the wolf comes in aw well. It's a mikx of flames, claws, fists and teeth. Minerva is getting the hell beat out of her, she should have fallen by this poibnt but she's still standing and she looks to Pyre. "There is a reason I did not become consumed when Ivalice was consumed." She drops into a ready stance her arms behind her back for a moment as she stares down Pure. "May master taught me of both the light and the dark and I learned to employe them both. His legacy is mine to carry on." Luso and Raiya are fighting hard. Her hands star to become envliped in black flames she then lurches forward to her. She knows the dark not so well as the shadow lords her she had learned to take care not to dig too deeply however. She understood the danger it could be, what choice doe she have a she reaches out to grab the wolf by the face and unleash the entirey of the charge into them, she'll flip over the wolf after letting go or missing. Then her fists will slamn into the ground creating a huge shockwave which would slam into them from behind. |
| Stormfall | Time for the Heartless to make all of youse an offer you can't refuse. More goons join the (boss) party, moving out of the alleyways and out of their vehicles of honking, beeping doom. Wutai Steel! It slices. Slash. It dices! Slash! It makes Julienne Fries. Tiger Claw does not avail you Samurai. Neither does your leaping Wolf Bite! So it's only appropriate that the last slash get an over jealous taxi that literally tries to run Raiya OVER completely, leaping for the totally sweet aerial crushing manuever. It gets sliced, bisected really, from side mirror across undercarriage and to other side mirror. It explodes in a rush of black smoke before the hurtling taxi actually reaches her. A few crocodiles join the fracas, possibly vengeful for so many of their brethren being turned into so many shoes and trendy totebags. The swirly eyed heartless lunge at the group, sneaking up on Luso from behind as they slither out of a manhole. Attacking Minerva and Raiya in a general reptilian full charge. |
| LEXUS | The debilitating strike dives past the defenses offered by the Disc, and causes another hiss of energy to flare from LEXUS. He flickers momentartily as he studies Luso for a moment. "A true expert only needs one weapon to kill." The program replies. "Their mind. And you don't know what a building is? What kind of barbaric place could you possibly be from? Though given your fighting style, perhaps you are merely simple." He takes a defensive stance, marshalling his forces as he rapidly builds up his resources. "Run, child. Run and live." |
| Pyre | Fire. As much as the red wolf does seem as if she might have an affinity to that element, the sudden yelp from her shows that it couldn't be further from the truth. some of her hair ends up singed, and the Pyre's ears slick back, drawing a growl as she is forced to back away from her bite, the burns showing along her muzzle. With a few quick motions, she manages to put out some of the flames, but there are others that had struck her and go unnoticed for now - those will likely be a pain in the fur a bit later. Turning, the wolf tries to snap at the various spots where the attack has lit her fur on fire, but the only real option there is breaking into a full roll, and she doesn't seem likely to do that right in front of an enemy. So, she just deals with the pain, gritting her teeth. Her eyes narrow - a sign that perhaps she might just understand what the woman is saying about light and darkness, but there isn't time to really respond. The wolf ends up taking the full force of the attack straight to the face, and it sends her reeling. She backs off, snarling, allowing some of the Heartless to move forward in her wake even as she swipes at her face, fur tattered and blood leaking from her nose. The wolf pants, breathing hard, and turns to snarl towards the girl. She doesn't attack, but give another of those loud howls. It has a mournful sort of sound to it, but for now, the wolf holds back on another attack. She's biding her time. |
| Luso Clemens | "Whoa! Hey! Wait, wait, wait!" Here come the heartless again! And they most definitely weren't waiting! This time, Luso was caught off guard, getting bowled over by the combined assault of the creatures. This was a problem! But Raiya was handling them. He couldn't divert his focus from the digital mastermind now! "And hey! I know what a building is! I was being sarcastic!" Luso pointed indignantly at LEXUS before sheathing Flametongue. With his hands free, he knelt down mussing up his hat and hair and shouting really loudly. "I can do this! I CAN DO THIS!" Once he finished psyching himself up, the boy stood again, grinnng confidently as he reached back and drew his most powerful weapon, the Sword of Promised Victory; Excalibur. Immediately upon being draw, the sword began to glow brightly, an ethereal aura covering it and giving way to the shape of a much bigger phantom weapon. "Everything I've got in this single blow! Get ready!" With that, Luso broke out into a run before leaping into the air, flipping and then bearing down onto LEXUS with his powered blade. "Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" |
| Raiya Fujihara | Raiya had to expound perhaps more effort then she would have liked to destroy that one taxi. To escape the aftermath from her own destruction, she has to leap once more and roll against the ground before jumping back onto her feet with her katana at the ready. The samurai seems to still have plenty of fight left in her. This was for the best as a stampede of crocodiles soon come swarming her way. Once more, she waits just before the enemy strikes in a plan to follow through with a brutal counterattack of her own. However, her timing is off again and she only barely manages to avoid a snapping crock. The hungry, hungry Heartless gets a mouthful of the bottom of Raiya's kimono. "Let go monstrous creature!" She demands before forcing the crocodile to let go by allow her kimono to ripped through her own volition. This action by the Ronin allows her wounded leg to be seen. It seems that the croc's bite was a little closer than it first had seemed. And now, for her response! Hopefully Minerva's brutal attack and Luso's strategies will give them both some breathing room for Raiya to put a bigger dent into the Goon and Crod horde. The hilt of her katana comes crashing down towards the head of the croc before she leaps back with a swing being aimed at her foe at the same time. She then reverses gears and springs forward with a brutal slash that would have her moving past the crocodile completely should she hit, skewering the monster along the way. |
| Stormfall | The heartless retreat from the heroes, drawing back into the darkened city to regroup as the crocodiles are klonked, buffeted and generally sliced to tail roast and chopped liver. The taxis veer around the corners of buildings. The Goons take cover behind trash dumpsters and the general landscape. They entrench themselves as a ripple of dark energy passes from one to the next, a palpable wave of darkness beginning to build as the heartless become more and more agitated. Dark Days are Coming. |
| Minerva | Minerva is far from finished at this point, she's managed to hurt the world more than she expected as she sees the result of the actions. The wolf is down but not dead. She's certain the Shadow Lords wouldn't bring something that was weak or useless. They had heartless for canon fodder, Pyre was a dangerous foe she was getting back up and she only had seconds to recover herself, she had time and had to make the most of it before it was too late. She focuses her mind and spirit to prepare herself for whatever might come next in this brutal battle. The other is waiting, she is waiting, just what's going to happen next? "Hold fast, go not yield to them!" She calls out to her two allies, perhaps should they live a friendship might be born in battle between them? Who knows? Raiya, Luso and her self were taking a stand here against the night. Even if she fell here at least this time? She held the line until she was unable to do so anymore. |
| LEXUS | "Oh. I see." LEXUS draws himself up, frowning. "Apologies. I am not fully acquainted with... human interaction yet." He looks up, his eyes narrowing as Luso unleashes the Great Blade. "Excalibur!?" He says, surprised. "How could a boy like you..." He hisses, but it's too late. The boy is already attacking. His analysis shows that such an attack could cause unacceptable levels of damage to him. This cannot be allowed. LEXUS brings his disc up, meeting the weapon in the air. There is a brilliant flash as the Darkness Disc and Excalibur meet, the weapons crashing together with intense power meeting between them. Light explodes outwards, clashing with waves of darkness in a blinding wave. The ground buckles around them, cratering as fragments of concrete rise. Heartless that stray too close to the coruscation vaporize... And finally, the thunderous energy is released directly upwards, a blazing lance of mutually annihilating force that explodes a hole into the cloud cover, cutting away a hole in the storm that wracks Manhattan. In the aftermath, LEXUS is left kneeling. He does not breathe or gasp for breath. He does not require such human amenities. But his eyes seethe and flicker, recovering from such a blow. He requires resources. And he knows exactly where he can get them. "You, boy..." He hisses. "Maybe you could be just what I require." He stands, lashing a hand out towards Luso. Darkness pools out from around his feet, spreading like an inky blackness as it seethes towards the adventurer. Burning violet stalks of blacklight spread out in circuitlike patterns through the air, tendrils that seek out Luso, surrounding and harrying at him. Pierce not just for his body, but his spirit, drawing at it to attempt to feed LEXUS. He may not be able to fully assimilate Luso in this instance, but perhaps his life energy will be enough.... for now. |
| Pyre | With that howl fading off into the night, the wolf's mismatched eyes settle on Minerva. All the pain is transfered into anger, rage, and a fierce need for revenge. Her claws dig into the stone beneath her paws, falling to all-fours as she leaves deep gouges behind. With flame still lashing at her fur, the wolf pushes off with her powerful forelegs, breaking into a full on sprint. All of the talking in the world will not prevent the wolf's rage from it's target. Pyre snarls as she leaps, using her powerful limbs in an attempt to smash, tear, claw, bite anything that gets in her way. There are a few heartless who fall to the wayside in the process, but it is the one who had done so much harm to her that is clearly the target. It's time to move, or face the rage of one very pissed off werewolf. |
| Luso Clemens | Luso grinned triumphantly at Lexus' change in expression. And then they met, weapons clashing together in a glorious surge of energy. He did his best, pushing with al his strength to break through and deal the full blow. He pushed And then pushed more And then pushed even more! ...But then suddenly, right as he thought he finally made, the energy was diverted upwards, blasting a hole in the storm above, giving way to just a glimpse of the sky. "...Wha? Whaaaa!?" Luso exclaimed in shock, landing to the ground, panting heavily. Excalibur returned to it's normal state and all the energy that the game hunter had accumilated has dissipated. Now, he just looked tired and out of it. "How the heck did you...?" Not finishing his question, electing to catching breath, he then moved onto another question. "What do you mean by 'what you require'? You're not making any...!" And then came the darkness. All around him. At his feet and spiraling upwards and then piercing all over. "Guh--!?" He had nothingg left to defend himself. Luso tried to step out of the darkness. Leap away and gather himself again, but it was too late. He could feel himself slowly beginning to lose consciousness. "...Crap...not supposed to....happen..." And with that, Luso collapsed to the ground. "...Sorry guys..." And then his eyes closed. |
| Raiya Fujihara | Raiya breathes a quick sigh of relief as the Heartless horde withdraws....for now. To be afforded some breathing room when locked in mortal kombat is a truely great boon. The samurai wants to pursue her regrouping foes, but decides to glance towards where her allies were making their stand. Things looked grim as both Pyre and Lexus unleashed their terrible malevolent powers upon her allies and maybe one day friends. It was clear what Raiya must do. She had to buy time for them to escape. There was no need for all of them to die this day. This was especailly true for one so young as Luso. The blonde ronin dashes on her sandaled feet towards the form of LEXUS. Pat, pat, pat pat. Her feet resound off the ground as she draws near to the behemoth and readies her Wutai steel once more. The katana in her hands then lashes out towards LEXUS. It is a downward overhand swing that is paired with two quick slashes. The attack looked to be one aimed at drawing LEXUS away from the boy then to actually hurt him. However, this still relies on Raiya even connecting against her enemy. Hit or miss, Raiya will still call out to her remaining ally. "I shall cover your retreat even if it means my own life." The serious samurai now turns in a small circle at all their remaining foes. This was not going to end well. "Come at me foul creatures, my blade is ready to meet you!" |
| LEXUS | LEXUS's wounds close as he feeds upon Luso's life energy. He looks down, inscrutable, at he considers the fallen Luso. The outer wheel of his iris spins, carefully, in an uncertain pattern. And a hand reaches out, hanging over Luso. Darkness swirls from his hand, crackling bolts of energy sizzling around the fallen boy. What is he looking for? Whatever it could be, it's not good... Thankfully, Raiya interrupts, cleaving LEXUS' arm from his body. The limb flies away, vanishing in a sizzling wash of light and pixels. LEXUS yells in surprise and pain, and he turns to the samurai. "You..." He hisses. "Are going to regret that." That's when the Heartless arrive. Dozens of Daemon Heartless drop around Raiya, the chittering, modulated hiss of the creatures rising through the air as they leap at her, bodily sacrificing themselves in order to allow others to strike at her. As they attack, LEXUS, too, attacks, spearing bolts of neon green light at her from his flying Disc, using it as a floating remote-bit weapon. |
| Stormfall | The Heartless return. A wave of darkness pours through the city. Crocodiles swarm in great numbers through the streets. The Goons show up with the entire family in tow. It's a thing of there's, apparently. A taxi drives up to the Samurai just before the entire hoarde of Heartless open fire. It's the Shadowy silohuette of a horse head. The taxi speeds away while the tidal wave of scales and fedora wearing goons encircle the samurai covering the retreat of the other heroes. |
| Minerva | Minerva has made a bold speech but that was before the shear horror of LEXUS, there's a chilled memory of prehaps a dream? Another life? Who knwos but the name of that blade, she knows it. That blade it has to be from her world. She's unable to do a thing but watcha s LEXUS unleahses a form of attack she can not understand she just understans one the the utter horror of what LEXUS is, the Darkness the very sort of depths of it she was warned about by her master is shown in all it's Stark horror. The the young man will be killed or cursed, if they fall here they can do nothing for all her bravado she knows when it's times to run. Then comes Pyre, Minerva hardens herself for the asasult it's hhirous she uses her arm guards to keep the wolf from ripping open her throat or iother regtions that might make her bleed out but that's all she can do her clothing is about in tattered she's bleeding. She turns and flees she's heading for Luso. She's hurt but she's able to force herself to move towards the young man. She's gong to grab him in a fireman's carry and aim to flee with him back to where the evac points are. Prehaps there's time to get out phehaps there is not. She calls out to Raiya as she flees "GET OUT DO NOT DELAY!" She had thought Lexus a mortal man enthralled by the darknes but the truth is far worse he may be the darkness itself. |
| Raiya Fujihara | There were simply too many summoned daemons for Raiya's sword to slay them all. A few break through her guard and claw at the warrior. This also leaves her open for LEXUS true counterattack which causes her shoulder to be pierced by a dehabilitating spike of green energy. The samurai drops to knee and grits her teeth as she feels her muscles weaken from the blow. Who knew that debuffs was the way to be a samrai? And then the cavalry comes, but not for Raiya, Luso, and Minerva. The strange horde-headed taxi is glanced at warily by the samurai. And then the attack comes. In a display of Wutai acrobatics, the ronin leaps from debris pile to debris pile before LEAPING high into the air which allows her to avoid the gunfire to great effect. The first group of taxis is cleared and Raiya lands in a roll. She stands back up and faces her foes once more. Her katana is held at the ready to strike down any Heartless that attempts to give chase to Minerva and Luso. "Do not worry about me, worry about the boy. I do not intend on dying here." The rain-drenched warrior calls out to Minerva in a half-lie. There is much for Raiya to accomplish yet. Perhaps this was her fate for interfering with a fight that was not truly hers. |
| Pyre | Panting, the wolf's rage had easily sent her past her target, causing her to have to turn around, skidding to a stop and turning around, ready to face whatever comes afterwards. When nothing comes, she just watches the escape, growling heavily as she catches her breath. There is still one fighter, but it seems like they are retreating. Her job had been to protect LEXUS, and if the trio of heroes is fleeing, then it seems that she has done her job. Of course, that's when she sees Raiya. This one had harmed the one she was sent to protect, and that means that she has now earned the attention of the wolf. Charging forward, Pyre leaps at her, trying to put herself between the samurai and LEXUS. Guard-dog on duty. |
| LEXUS | "You're twice the fool. You sacrifice yourself needlessly. Is this a common trait?" The Dark Program's arm begins to reform, a wireframe slowly redrawing itself and filling back in. "Why do you fight, woman?" He rises into the air, as space becomes... strange in the area. As the effect passes, the air appears to... lose something. Become less real. Corners become sharper, more defined. Trees alter slightly, the leaves looking less realistic. It's like LEXUS, with his presence, is forcing the world around him to enter an Uncanny Valley. "Are you seeking to enter my world?" Now, crackling bolts of neon green lignting strike from the air, becoming independant of the Disc as it flies back to him and hangs behind his right shoulder. |
| Stormfall | The Heartless chase after here to the strains of Yakkity Sax. (Or at least some sort of semi-comical chase music) which is all the more horrifying because they want to EAT the samurai, not just bring her home to Meet the Family. Although-- then she might Join the Family, so maybe that is why they are being so social. Gunfire ricochets in waves off the debris piles while Crocodiles snap at her heels and generally scramble along trying to chase her. |
| Raiya Fujihara | The sudden attack from Pyre catches the samurai off guard, she simply can't get this loyal guard dog off her fast enough. The samurai does eventually manage to push Pyre back. In return, she is awarded by receiving a nasty wound on the side on her arm. The limb hangs limply at her side as she continues to hold her katana with her left hand. The being known as LEXUS is turned towards when it offers words to the samurai. "I fight to free Wutai from the influence of the Heartless. That is why I fight and that is also why I cannot fall this day!" The derezzing of her world prevents the samurai from trying to say anything else heroic. She looks disoriented and confused by this turn of events which allows her to be an easy target for LEXUS lightning bolt. The blonde woman is struck, but she is still on her feet for now. But now it is The Crocs who are there to get their revenge on Raiya by landing a solid bite on the leg of the wounded Wutai warrior. To add insult to injury, this was the same leg that was only glanced by the previous croc bite. And yet, the samurai still stands. "If I must become the wind to escape, then so be it. You shall not fell me this day as one cannot kill the wind!" The samurai steps back as if she is about to strike, but then turns on the heel and retreats at an almost supernatural speed for a mere fleshy being. She ducks in and out of debris to avoid the gunfire from the Heartless and also uses her katana to dissuade any creature from getting to close. It seems that she is indeed quite intent to live those words of not dying here this day to their fullest extent. |
| LEXUS | LEXUS turns away, "Why free them, samurai? They have the power to stand for themselves, now. Would you rob them of that? Do you have the right?" LEXUS asks. "Free them... And they will inevitably fall to the power of Shinra. Remember that as you flee." The Dark Program looks up at the Empire State Building, which swiftly speeds up its vanishing as the Frame descends. "There is no point in resisting anymore. Manhattan is doomed." At that, all that remains of the Building is a glittering wireframe, which swiftly vanishes into the air, leaving a gaping hole where it used to be. "Our work here is done. They can no longer resist." He looks to Pyre. "It's time to strike the final blow." |