[center][abbr=Octopath Travelers][img]https://i.ibb.co/88KWNj5/OTbanner.png[/img][/abbr]
[sup]____________________________________________________[/sup]
[color=FFC6C6][u]Level[/u]: [b]8[/b] - [u]Total EXP[/u]: 213/80[/color] [color=2e2c2c]------[/color] [color=BC8DBF][u]Level[/u]: [b]7[/b] - [u]Total EXP[/u]: 98/70[/color]
[color=gray]𝙱𝙿[/color] [color=gold]●[/color][color=gray]●●●●[/color] [color=2e2c2c]----------------------------[/color] [color=gray]𝙱𝙿[/color] [color=gold]●[/color][color=gray]●●●●[/color]
[color=lightgray]Word Count: 1258 (+3 exp)(+10 Reward Exp)
[b]Location[/b]: The Under[/color][/center]
In the midst of their predicament, the Hive Knight came to their rescue. Flattened against Sectonia's summoned crystal as they were, it was a bit awkward to watch the events unfold. Even so, the bright glow emanating from Barnabee and the golden light in his eyes told those who'd experienced this power before all they needed to know about what was going to happen. Therion's eyes were wide and Primrose bit her lip as they watched the knight's final act.

When it was over and the usurper was defeated, it was Primrose who would answer Nadia's question whether it had been rhetorical or not. The dancer stood and dusted herself off, following the Feral into the throne room where they saw Barnabee pass in front of his beloved queen. 

[color=D34C25]"A Final Smash,"[/color] Primrose said, glancing at Ms. Fortune. [color=D34C25]"It's exactly as it sounds. In the desert, we knew someone that... used it. They'd explained it to me as an all out attack that could even warp reality... but the price of such power was- well, as you can see."[/color]

She watched the last of the particles of what had once been Barnabee dissolve, and just like with Robin there was no spirit left behind. On the train to Tostarena, she hadn't been able to picture a scenario in which she would use that power herself. Now that she knew that Barnabee's quest had not exactly been for liberation, but vengeance, she could see herself taking a page from his book. She understood him, his actions. If she had only that option left to her, to trade her life to wipe out the Obsidians that murdered her father for good, she might just do so. 

That said, before waking up in this world she'd taken out two of the three of them so she felt pretty good about her chances. The mourning over Barnabee was brief, and as the majority of the Seekers piled into the room Primrose took a step back to let them sort out their items and spirits after putting the newest mask fragment with the others. The most interesting was watching Ms. Fortune put herself back together, and not in the usual way.

The [i]orb[/i]. It had knocked Nadia off of her feet and all of the spirits she'd absorbed came filtering out of her. It was surprising to say the least, and it was of particular interest to Therion as there was an aspect of himself now that he wouldn't mind being rid of. Once she was done putting herself back together (differently) and asked if anyone else wanted to give it a try, the other thief held a hand out so that she could slap the orb into his waiting palm. [color=BC8DBF]"I will."[/color]

Like Nadia, Therion didn't spend long in his original form. After the initial disorientation of the fusions and striker spirits flowing out of him, there was another moment of confusion as he adjusted to his human senses again. [i]That's... a weird feeling.[/i] He'd barely had the new ears and tail for a couple days, and he'd already grown so used to them. Of course, it felt natural without them too. He shook his head, dismissing it all as just one of the odd things about the world and spirits at large. Then he gathered them up again, keeping one to the side. Starting with the Junicorn, he rebound it as a striker once more. That thing had some utility, and it had served him well so far. The Metro Cat fusion came next, as small and weak as it was he felt it helped more than it hurt. The spirit of Ranulf followed, pressed back into his chest. When he fused with that, he felt something slightly different... but it was probably fine. 

[center][hider=Therion's Changes][b]Defusions:[/b] [i]Ammomancer[/i]
[b]Powers Lost:[/b] [i]Shellomancy[/i]
[b]Weaknesses Lost:[/b] [i]Bonkers[/i]
[b]Personality:[/b] No longer in danger of being prone to bursts of madness.
[b]Appearance:[/b] Slightly taller (though still shorter than his natural height). Head returns to normal proportions and skin lost the paleness but kept the healthier light tan tone. No changes to ear, hair, and tail color nor to outfit. One eye remains orange while the other is green.[/hider]
[hider=Therion Level Up!]New Power: [b]Roar.[/b] 
The class skill of Beast Laguz, drawn from Ranulf. Usable only in beast form and once per battle, when this skill is activated the enemy will be inflicted with paralysis for 6-10 seconds.
***[/hider][/center]
Given that he'd only fused with two spirits, his appearance hardly changed from what it had been a few minutes ago. It wasn't exactly the same; he wasn't quite as short, though he was still smaller than his natural five foot five. His head was also normally proportioned again, thankfully. His skin lost the paleness but kept the healthier light tan tone, while his hair (and ears and tail) retained the fade from white to blue to black. His single visible eye was orange with slitted pupils just as it had been, but the damaged one just barely covered by his hair had turned green again. Underneath the dark cloak he'd taken to wearing, his outfit was still the mismatch of purple, ochre, brown, orange, and dark green. 

The only spirit that remained was that of the Ammomancer. Being able to summon the Shelletons was neat, and it had worked out a few times so far, but something about that power led his mind to become scrambled. If he was afraid of that happening again, then he would use the power far less going forward - and if that was the case there was no point in keeping it. Ultimately, being rid of something dangerous like that was a good thing. He crushed the spirit in his hand, curious what kind of item it would produce. 

By this time, the Koopa Troop was crushing their own horde of spirits and sorting through the loot that appeared, and trying out some changes of their own. They let the other Seekers have at the pile of items, so with a word of gratitude from both Primrose and Therion the Travelers picked their prizes. For the latter, the Double Knight Glyph. It kind of just made sense. He did eye a few other things, including the Hive Knight's former weapon, but ultimately had no desire to carry around something he wasn't sure he could use effectively. The Yato looked like a longer sword than he was used to wielding. If course, if it went unclaimed he'd take it anyway. There was no reason to leave something valuable behind.

Primrose had gravitated to the Ice Lance. She picked it up and gently ran her fingers over the shaft. It felt cool under her touch. It was the same type of weapon and element that one of the spirits she'd fused with used - perhaps that's why she felt drawn to it? Contrary to her friend she was more open to experimenting, and so she claimed the weapon for herself while leaving the similar javelin to another should they want it. The dancer had chosen not to make use of the orb, keeping everything she'd become as is. She was powerful and, frankly, she looked damn good. Despite being three parts spellcaster, she still had two physical fighters melded into her soul. She could try out another weapon besides her beloved dagger.

Soon the regrouping was completed and it was time to start thinking about moving on. They still have more places to go, mask fragments to find, and enemies to defeat before they were finished in The Under. 

Rika made a good suggestion on that front. Kamek asked if there were any objections to it, at which Primrose shook her head. Getting information from locals was a good idea. That, or they could always just follow a random direction shown on their magic map - a thought that Therion seemed to share as he spoke it aloud.

[color=BC8DBF]"Check if anything's shown up on that map. Shouldn't be too hard to double back if we missed a path."[/color] He then glanced at Sectonia when she mentioned finding a ruler for this place, puzzled. [color=BC8DBF]"Surprised you don't want to add it to your kingdom, or whatever."[/color]