Artifact

Myriad Reality

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*Turns upward with its persistent momentum, using it as a driving force to flip over backwards and send the manifestation plummeting into the ground- the shockwave from this impact revealing that the bowl has fully enclosed itself from where the dragon entered and is now a full ball with it inside*

@Valiance

*The gold spreads across the edges of the barrier, encasing itself*

Myriad Reality

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*Holding my arms out in front of me, I point my palms in the direction I’m traveling as the dragon impacts a barrier in front of me as though slamming into a massive bowl I hold towards it, manifested by Chickpea and pushed by me. The kinetic impact sends a ripple across its now-visible surface*

@Valiance

*It screeches against the barrier, pressing with sustained force*
Hm. Impresive.
*In a clean motion as if practiced, slices off the wing at the base*

Myriad Reality

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*Stays my course, accepting its approach like a game of chicken*

@Valiance

*The corner of my wing that clipped the statue flakes with gold, which slowly spreads like gangrene across its surface*
Careful!
*The statue slams into you with tons of force*

Myriad Reality

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*Follows behind in swift bursts, leaping from platform to platform of Chickpea's creation*

@Valiance

*A gold dragon statue flies down the street toward us, nearing the speed of sound, and I barely flit out of the way*

Myriad Reality

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*Shifts my gaze in its direction*
Sometimes a clue is more obvious.

@Valiance

If only it were always that easy.
*Takes off flying in that direction*

Myriad Reality

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It’s the safest assumption.

@Valiance

*Scans across a gold-laden building, looking closely at each individual captured in the reflection, when a rumble echoes from across the streets*

Myriad Reality

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Then for all intents and purposes, consider me a tool to that end. I’ll put my feelings aside for the mission.

@Valiance

*Nods with a suppressed aggression in my eyes*
If these imprints are a window to the past, then one will reveal what happened here. We just have to find it.

Myriad Reality

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The last thing I want is to assume and leave their fates permanent if we're wrong. If saving them is something you're sure we can and want to do.

@Valiance

It’s my responsibility that brought them this fate, and it shall be my responsibility to free them. I am willing to shoulder that burden.

Myriad Reality

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You could, regardless of this dragon’s wishes?

@Valiance

*Growls*
The dragons conscripted don’t serve willingly. Once consumed, their wishes are unimportant.