Mixtape Ghost N

Recollections: Under The Sycamore Tree Part. 1

<Snipped quote by Mixtape Ghost N>

Damn bruh

@Atrophy

Atropy while reading this NPC sheet:

Recollections: Under The Sycamore Tree Part. 1

presenting a villain too cool for the main RP

Takashi
4,252 | The Hatanaka Wraith | He/Him "Even in death, my duty binds me. Even in battle, my rage defines me."	Description: Once revered as the most celebrated warrior and master weaponsmith of the legendary Hatanaka family, Hatanaka Takashi was a name that resonated across Japan for his skill and commitment to peace. In life, he embodied protection, a hero whose Orange Lux and mastery of enchanted weaponry forged relics that stood as symbols of hope. He defeated the Oni Emperor Daisuke and helped banish the Stygian Snake, etching his legacy into history as a champion of order. Takashi was a bastion of righteousness, driven by a fierce desire to shield the innocent, uphold his family’s honor, and defend Japan. Yet even death could not grant him solace. Takashi’s spirit returned as an Apparition, nothing more than an echo tethered to the mortal realm by his devotion to the Hatanaka name. No longer truly flesh, he existed as a benevolent figure, his essence infused with Orange Lux. Yet, his presence remained steadfast, a guardian spirit watching over sacred artifacts and his descendants, determined to preserve the Hatanaka lineage. But when a young Hatanaka was lost to the Pit, the protector within him could not abide the thought of his kin suffering in that cursed place. Driven by love and an unyielding duty that even death could not sever, he plunged into the depths of the Pit, prepared to confront its terrors. Yet the Pit was insidious, its brutal atmosphere gnawing at the edges of his once-pure purpose. The relentless chaos twisted his noble mission into something darker, transforming his devotion into a hunger for retribution. Overwhelmed, he seized control of a fallen warrior’s body and rose as a sort of revenant. Now, Takashi serves the King of the Pit, not out of loyalty but to satiate his newfound addiction to violence and carnage. The honor he once upheld has eroded, replaced by an insatiable thirst for battle. Yet, in rare moments, he is haunted by fleeting memories of his past. He recalls the faces of his family, the echo of his hammer shaping metal, and the pride he once felt as a protector and creator. Tainted by regret, these hollow memories provide glimpses of the man he once was but bring more anguish than solace. Each memory deepens his rage, igniting the fury that propels his every strike and conquest. In the heat of battle, Takashi experiences an unbearable blend of ecstasy and torment. The clash of blades ignites a thrill he cannot resist, a primal satisfaction that feels hollow. The adrenaline of combat drowns out the haunting sorrow, offering a momentary reprieve from the pain that lingers in his soul. In these moments, he feels almost alive again; each strike grounds him in a purpose twisted by the Pit's influence. But beneath this frenzied joy lies a gnawing emptiness, a constant reminder of all he has lost. When the battle concludes, he is left with nothing but the ghostly echoes of his past and the man he used to be. These fleeting memories turn his victories to ash, filling him with a rage he cannot escape, a need for the next fight, and the one after that, to dull the pain he can no longer bear to face. Abstraction: Abscised - The Hatanaka Legacy. Takashi’s Abstraction defines him as a master swordsman, but his actual power lies in his ability to transform anything he touches into a weapon. With a mere touch, he can draw a katana from the very bricks of a wall. He can pull a sturdy hammer from stone, while a sharp glass dagger can form from scattered shards on a city street. In a forest, he can pull a long staff from a tree, and a whip can be conjured from molten lava in the heat of battle. These weapons are lightweight and perfectly balanced for him, enabling fluid movements and unparalleled precision in combat. To others, however, these creations retain their average weight, challenging anyone who dares to wield them. Alongside his weaponry skills, Takashi possesses remarkable durability and can withstand strikes that would hinder a lesser warrior. His body is resilient, and he can regenerate from injuries at an accelerated rate, allowing him to return to battle despite the wounds he endures. While he does not possess superhuman speed, Takashi's quick reflexes enable him to react to threats quickly. Standing still and immobile, he can enhance his senses to superhuman levels, perceiving even the faintest movements and sounds. Takashi's prowess extends to his combat techniques derived from spells he created in life, including a "flash step" technique that allows him to launch into a burst of speed momentarily. In defensive situations, he can enter a protective stance, wrapping himself in a shimmering shell of Orange Lux that absorbs blows while making himself unable to counter for the duration. Drawing upon the fury and desolation forged in countless battles, Takashi can enter a heightened state of power. In this form, a fiery red aura engulfs him, radiating like flames and embodying the rage of every warrior who has fought by his side. This surge of raw emotion pushes his speed and agility past their peak, allowing him to move with a near-supernatural swiftness. In this form, he begins fighting with a feral intensity, fueled by the shared anger and resolve of the fallen. While this state heightens his power, it also stirs a deeper turmoil within, reminding him of the honor he once cherished and the tragic path that led him away from it.

Paragraphs: Agents of Death [FernStone & Shin Ghost Note]

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Broken Rhythm Vision - Loathe

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Yoko’s grip on the Yokai Killer tightened as the figure before them shifted subtly…. He’s about to attack. Yoko thought to herself. Before she could shout a warning, the wind fractured. One second, the samurai was meters away, and the next, the world was spinning. Yoko couldn’t even register the impact of the stone kanabo as a loud crack sent the spider they were mounted on flying. Yoko was rolling on the ground as she could hear Turner and Brooks screaming, but she landed on her knee as she activated Focus to find this bastard.

It didn’t take her long as she found him far behind him - he didn’t have a breath or heartbeat - weapon poised. Yoko unsheathed the Yokai Killer, which felt oddly heavier in her hands. Yoko’s hand, holding the sheathe, was pointed back at the group as she said, ”Stay back!”

The samurai simply nodded at her.

This was no ordinary Yokai. This was something far worse.

And he was here for her.

"I don’t like this!" Ella wailed unnecessarily, pushing herself to her feet. Her legs started glowing and she spun around, crouching and also trying to Focus on the enemy.

"Of course not," Saskia hissed. Blood coated them in a hard armour, one hand on the ground as a bone spear grew from the back of her other hand. Watching. Waiting.

”... Kick his ass!” Lisa shouted before she jammed an elbow into Saskia’s side and whispered. ”... Let’s mob him.” A swarm of spiders came from the crevices and cracks of the carnival, and five of them were wrapped in glowing white cocoons.

"Great idea." Saskia hissed back. Flesh wings shoved through her back, the blood from the wounds moving to form a blade on the hand without a bone spear. "As soon as the spiders are ready…"

Ella, on the other hand, wasn’t in on the plan - so she seemed to take the ‘kick his ass’ literally. She sprinted towards the samurai, launching into a rainbow jump kick. Which the mysterious samurai sidestepped and let her whirl past him.

”Disciple!” Yoko shouted.

“She’s your Disciple?” The Samurai asked in Japanese. “All I see is trash!” He came in, swinging the Kanabo at her.

Ella launched herself to the side, managing to roll out of the way of it - just. "I don’t understand what he’s saying but I feel like he’s shit talking me!"

Then she shoved her hands out and blasted him with lightning. It stunned him for a moment before Yoko took the opportunity to use Flash to appear on the other side of him in a blur of motion. She was already sheathing the Yokai Killer by the time she was visible again, which she accomplished with a click - then a rotting wound formed on his chest.

“... I am calling you weak!” The Samurai said in English as he lept up into the air, with the Kanabo hoisted over his shoulder.

"That’s not very Samurai of you!" Ella shouted back, rolling across the ground to try avoid him. He landed, the kanabo cracking the ground and squirting blood in all directions. He turned his head towards Ella, ready to strike attack - before five massive spiders armed with the mandible of a Hercules beetle all mobbed him at once. He swung his Kanabo at one of them, shattering it with one swing, but the remaining spiders swelled up with a glowing yellow acid.

”Get down!” Lisa shouted as she hopped behind a booth. Yoko simply activated Block as the acid splashed onto her.

Saskia covered themselves with their wings, acid eating through some of them. Ella dropped into a defensive posture - Block activated just a little too late as acid ate through one of her arms.

It didn’t seem to deter her. She launched herself at the Samurai, hands coated in electricity shooting to slam into him. He nonchalantly dodged by stepping back before swinging his kanabo upwards at her. Ella’s leg, shining with rainbow light, came up to kick it away. However, Takashi’s strength was too much, and it managed to launch Ella away into the booths.

”Disciple!” Yoko shouted as she watched Ella get launched… Then she turned towards Saskia and Ella, ”You two, go get her! I’ll hold him off!”

”I mean if she lands on her ass-” Lisa was cut off by Yoko.

”... Go!” Yoko shouted.

Lisa wordlessly ran off, dragging Saskia along as Yoko turned her attention back to the samurai.

Yoko barely had time to breathe before the samurai moved again. As he shot forward, the ground cracked beneath him, and his stone kanabo was a motion blur. Yoko raised the Yokai Killer instinctively, blocking the first strike. Even though she had Block applied, the shockwave sent her sliding backward, her feet squishing against the ground.

He's too fast.

Before she could react, he vanished again. Yoko's instincts screamed, and she ducked just in time to avoid a horizontal swing aimed at her head. The kanabo missed by inches, slamming into a booth and shattering it. She pivoted, slashing upward with the Yokai Killer, aiming for the samurai’s exposed flank. He sidestepped with unnerving precision, the blade grazing his armor with a sharp clang. Yoko pressed her attack, launching into a flurry of strikes. Each slash of the Yokai Killer was met with a brutal parry or perfectly timed dodge.

”HOLD STILL, DAMN IT!” Yoko shouted in Japanese, sweat dripping from her brow. Yoko continued the assault with the Yokai Killer; he dodged fluidly and expertly. His kanabo deflected her next thrust with a bone-jarring clang, sending vibrations up her arms. Yoko’s next attack was met with another sidestep. Before she could recover, the samurai countered. His kanabo swept upward, aiming for her midsection. Yoko barely managed to twist away, but the weapon clipped her side, tearing through her jacket and sending her stumbling back. She grasped her ribs and felt the warm and sticky blood seep through her fingers. The Yokai Killer felt heavier than ever in her other hand…

The samurai didn’t let up. He closed the distance in a blink, his kanabo swinging down like a guillotine - but she disappeared in the blink of an eye before it could land. The brutal weapon left a massive crater on the ground as his head went over towards Yoko, standing more down towards the Big Top. She was panting, holding her wound, before her hand went back to the Yokai Killer, and she shouted in Japanese,

”... Come on, you bastard!”

“You got bite, yet…” The Samurai replied, “... The other Hatanaka I faced down here provided a far better fight.” He laughed and Yoko’s mind spiraled.

”... The other Hatanaka?” Yoko asked, as dread overwhelmed the pain. ”You are lying.”

“He wielded Murakumo,” The Samurai replied, “I’d say he almost killed me with it, before he simply fled.”

Yoko froze…. If this samurai was telling the truth, he was still alive here.

”When did you face him, you bastard!” Yoko hissed.

“Time is…” The Samurai trailed off, “Irrelevant down here. It could have been weeks ago. Days. Months. Years. Yet. I faced him. There was a fire in his soul unlike any other… he was a true Hatanaka..”

Yoko grit her teeth, ”You don’t get to speak on my family you bastard! Murakumo or not, I will tear your tongue out of your mouth!” Yoko tightened her grip on the Yokai Killer, glaring at the towering figure before her. The samurai's words fueled a storm of emotions—hope, dread, anger. Goro would still be alive if his statement about her brother were true. ”You are just another broken tool of this hell! You are nothing!”

Yoko then dropped into stance, ready for another Flash attack to ram through this bastard’s chest. ”Tell me where he went, or I’ll kill you!” Yoko hissed.

The samurai laughed, “Bold words for a dying flame…” He slammed the Kanabo into the ground with a loud crack and squish. "You don’t understand what survival means here, child. Your brother does. He’s tasted the despair of the Pit and learned to wield it. And now? He thrives in it. Unlike you."

How he spoke of Goro - like he was something other than himself - sent a chill down her spine. ”Bullshit! He would never succumb to this place!”

“Would he not?” The samurai tilted his head. “The Pit doesn’t bend to willpower or strength. It crushes it. Your brother fought me, yes, but fled not to protect himself…”

He laughed, “... But to escape what he’d become.”

Yoko bit down hard as she screamed in English, ”... BULLSHIT!” Then Yoko disappeared in a burst of speed that disrupted the dust and debris around this carnival. In the blink of an eye, she had closed the distance and rammed the Yokai Killer through his midsection. As the blade rested in his body, it caused a necrosis that rotted away at the armor and flesh…

The samurai stumbled back, gripping the blade-embedded in his torso, yet his laugh echoed louder than ever. “... If you fought like this earlier, I might have been able to take you seriously.”

Yoko twisted the blade in his flesh as she applied Extend to it, and the blade burst out of the other side of his body. ”Die!” Yoko shouted as she also applied Harden to the blade and brought it downwards. The blade sliced his body in half from the midsection downwards and reverted to its original size. Then Yoko got the blade over her shoulder and swung it with all of her might-

The Samurai grabbed her wrist and stared at her for a moment… the wounds he sustained regenerated, and his molten eyes burned brighter. “Impressive child,” The Samurai said, “But it is not enough.”

He twisted Yoko’s arm, forcing her to drop the Yokai Killer as it clattered to the ground. Yoko winced in pain, trying to pull free, but his grip was unrelenting. He raised her up into the air and slammed her onto the ground. Then grabbed onto the Kanabo and raised it high into the air…

Two blades struck the Samurai’s back simultaneously. Blood exploded from the massive wound created by the perfect blow, flooding down like a waterfall onto Yoko… which got in her mouth and she spit it out in disgust as she managed to activate Flash. She appeared some meters away, grasping her wound momentarily before she reached down into her pouch for her metal bo staff, which was merely a rod no longer than the width of her palm. Using Compact, she brought it back to its full size, then angled it so that when she activated Extend, it launched her forward.

Her target was clear: the Samurai’s center mass, where the blood from his previous wound still poured. She twisted mid-air, channeling her momentum into a strike connected with a thunderous impact. It forced the Samurai to stagger, yet otherwise barely reacted to the attack. Before Yoko could respond, his grip caught the bo staff halted her next swing midmotion and swung her to his other side into a booth.

"This bastard’s tough- we even pierced his emotional field," Saskia hissed to Lisa. At the same time, she raised a hand, shooting off a weaker-than-normal blood bullet, aiming for the wound on his back. It hit, but the wound quickly closed as he turned towards Saskia.

“That is because I am no mere man of flesh,” the samurai said. I am something beyond human, perhaps beneath human.”

He slightly twitched, and Lisa wrapped him in a net of various webs attached to the ground before all five Chitionous spears erupted from the ground and penetrated any openings in his armor, piercing out through the other end with relative ease.

”... Um! Maybe a plan’s in order!” Lisa said.

Yoko climbed out of the wreckage of the booth, and her body was screaming; the wounds that were left from the wooden scraps were searing hot and oozing red. Bruises up and down her body, yet the adrenaline kept her standing. Yoko looked down and saw that her bo staff was still on the ground. She knelt forward, picked it up, and extended it three times its length. Then, she applied Impact as she swung it in a comprehensive, vicious arc that hit the Samurai and sent him flying into another booth. Yoko panted,

”... Otten, give me the Orange Stone!” Yoko stuck her hand out for her to throw it.

Saskia didn’t hesitate. They pulled the Orange Stone out, coating the bag it was in with blood to accurately throw it right in Yoko’s hand. Mid-air, the Samurai appeared in the throw’s arc and swung his Kanabo at the Orange Stone. Launching it into the distance, and Yoko’s jaw dropped.

”Oh, that’s bullshit!” Lisa shouted, then flipped off the Samurai. ”Fuck you!”

Then the Samurai warped again in another blur of motion, this time at Lisa. When he appeared again, he was right before her and swung the Kanabo horizontally. The sickening sound of bones breaking filled the air as Yoko’s heart sank.

”... Turner!” Yoko shouted as Lisa was sent rolling.

"Shit- Lisa!" Saskia hissed. More blood flowed across her body, forming a tendril on her back, and they went to launch themselves after Lisa.

"I’ve got her!" Ella shouted, finally coming back to - she scrambled after Lisa, a beam of healing light coming from where her channeler was in her arm to hit her injured friend.

Saskia turned on the Samurai, grimacing. "You bastard."

But instead of attacking him they ran towards Yoko, blood tendril propelling them to go faster. They reached forward to grab her hand - and all their blood coating their body flowed across from them onto her. It clotted her wounds and formed a hard protective layer around her. Afterwards they were deathly pale. "It’s- not as much- but it’s something."

Yoko sighed as it covered her from head to toe. She was losing her composure, but she couldn’t break here. The Samurai was advancing again, his eyes locked onto her, and that kanabo was dragging along the ground. She placed her feet firmly against the ground and began inhaling deeply. ”Bolster.” Yoko’s voice was barely audible as she felt the surge of Orange Lux flow through her. She looked at Saskia, then Ella, and felt regretful that Turner got hurt protecting her. She sighed,

”Otten, Disciple,” Yoko said, ”Take Turner, and go. This Yokai is far above your capabilities.”

"But-"

"She’s right," Saskia hissed, leaning on one of the booths. "Grab Lisa."

Ella looked at Yoko, eyes wide, before nodding. She scooped Lisa up into her arms, still bathing her in a slowly healing light. Saskia pushed themselves off their support, pausing for just a moment to look Yoko dead in the eyes.

"Don’t die."

”No promises,” Yoko said. ”Now go! I’m not telling you again!”

The three left, and it was just her. She knew that, possibly, she was going to die here like a dog at the hands of this monster. Yet, she cracked a defiant grin as she clutched the bo-staff. I knew what I was getting into. Yoko thought to herself.

“Now that those weaklings are gone,” The Samurai said, “It’s time to see if you’re any better.”

The Samurai outstretched his hand, the kanabo dangling loosely from his grip. With an almost dismissive motion, he let it fall to the ground as it struck the cobblestone, the massive club crumbled to dust, carried away by the winds. Yoko’s brow furrowed. The Samurai’s gaze remained locked on her, cold and unflinching. Then, he shifted his stance, pressing one armored hand to the cobblestones beneath him. The Samurai rose slowly, his hand dragging upward. As he did, the cobblestones beneath him lifted and merged, twisted and fused, reshaping in his grasp. In mere moments, a massive nodachi emerged from the rubble, its blade forged from the very stone of the earth. The Samurai took the weapon in both hands and pointed the tip at Yoko.

“Show me,” He continued, pointing the Nodachi at the grounded Yokai Killer, “How good with a sword you are.”

The Bo staff compacted in her hands as she put it away. Then, calmly, she walked over to the Yokai Killer and held it in both hands. It felt oddly comforting in her hands. Rain began to fall, soaking her to the bone, but she didn’t flinch. Instead, she stepped forward, her eyes never leaving The Samurai’s. Bolster would fade soon, and she wasn’t sure if she could hold a candle to him without it. This monster was a roadblock, a test of skill. Thus far, Yoko had made easy work of everything the Pit had thrown at her, and now she was uncertain if she would survive this fight.

I have to do it for Goro. Yoko thought to herself, just as that static-y voice popped in her head, speaking oddly clearly.

...?...?...?... I was asleep, what did I mis-OH JESUS CHRIST! The voice began. Yoko… you-

Yoko cut off the voice as she activated Flash. She appeared on the other side of the Samurai, and a slash appeared on his armor. Yoko pivoted onto her heel and lunged forward, aiming to capitalize on the opening she’d created. The Yokai Killer glowed faintly with a blue light as she swung it toward the gap in The Samurai’s armor. Her strike was fast and precise, but as the blade connected, it rattled off with a loud echo.

The Samurai turned his head slightly, almost as if acknowledging the blow. Then, in a blur of motion, he swung the nodachi in a wide arc. Yoko barely had time to react, ducking just in time to feel the blade whistle past, close enough that the force sent her stumbling back a step.

Yoko steadied herself, gripping the Yokai Killer tighter. I can’t outlast him. I’ll have to outmaneuver him. Her mind raced, analyzing his movements, searching for any sign of weakness. She darted to the side, using Flash again to close the gap, her blade slicing downward with surgical precision. Another mark appeared on his armor, but it was still superficial.

The Samurai pivoted, swinging his massive sword downward in a crushing motion. Yoko leaped to the side, the ground where she’d been standing exploding in a spray of shattered cobblestones and blood. She rolled, coming up on her feet in one fluid motion, the Yokai Killer humming in her hands. Yoko felt the last dregs of bolster surge through her limbs as she swung the Yokai Killer at the Samurai, applying Sharpen mid-swing. The Samurai countered with a slash of his blade, but the Yokai Killer sliced right through it and cut his torso, embedding itself into a gap in his armor. She kept a death grip on the Yokai Killer as she applied Extend to the weapon, and it burst out through the other side. He grabbed the Yokai Killer to pry it free, but the weapon's blade retracted into its hilt in the blink of an eye, and she swung it again. She managed to cut his hand off, and it dropped to the ground.

Yoko grinned.

The Samurai took a step back, his severed hand lying on the ground, steam rising from the wound as rain hissed against the exposed flesh. Despite the grievous injury, he showed no signs of pain. His remaining hand tightened around the nodachi, which began to regenerate, fragments of stone rising from the ground to reforge the shattered blade. Yoko’s grin widened, but it was more from adrenaline than confidence. Her breathing was ragged, and Bolster had left her body, her only advantage.

Yoko lunged forward, her feet barely touching the ground as she activated Flash-Storm. The world around her blurred, and time seemed to dilate as golden light exploded from her body. She vanished from view, only to reappear a split second later at the Samurai’s side, her blade cutting into his armor. Before he could react, she was gone again - another slash landed on his back, then his shoulder, then his legs.
A storm of strikes surrounded the Samurai, each faster and more precise than the last. Sparks flew as the Yokai Killer met his armor, relentlessly carving into the stone and molten metal. Yoko’s movements were a whirlwind of light and sound, the rain sizzling as it evaporated in contact with the heat radiating from their clash. The Samurai swung his nodachi wide, trying to catch her, but his attacks struck only air. Every time he turned, she was gone, her next strike coming from an unpredictable angle.

Yoko could feel her energy waning, but she pushed forward, chaining the final Flash movements with all the precision she could muster. Almost there. Just one more.

As the storm of attacks reached its crescendo, Yoko suddenly stopped. The world seemed to hold its breath as she gripped the Yokai Killer tightly. Then she locked eyes with the Samurai, his expression unreadable. With a scream, she dove forward. The final strike cleaved through him, the force of the blow creating a shockwave that rippled through the rain-soaked battlefield. The Samurai’s nodachi shattered. Yoko landed several feet away, her knees buckling as she collapsed to the ground, clutching the Yokai Killer for support.

She looked up, panting heavily, as the Samurai stood motionless. Finally, with a crash, his massive frame crumbled to the ground, the remnants of his armor dissolving into dust. Yoko let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. But she had done it. He was defeated.
Yoko laughed.

”That’ll show you… you bastard…” Yoko said, laughing. ”I am the greatest Hatanaka… I will find my brother. I will help those three get their second chance. I will return to the surface world and kill that bastard who murdered my friend! Cut the world in half if I have to!”

Using the Yokai Killer as a brace, she forced herself to her feet - stumbling for a second and having to use the Yokai Killer to prevent herself from falling forward. She sighed as she limped towards the direction Ella took Lisa and Saskia…

The voice spoke in her head,

...?...?...?... I’m proud of you, Yoko. I knew you could do it…

Yoko didn’t even react as she kept forward.

...?...?... I love you...

Yoko’s grip tightened on the Yokai Killer. ”Love me all you want. Just let me get through this.” She muttered, her voice almost lost under the rain.

Then, a sound froze her mid-step - a resounding, resonant clang. Yoko stopped and slowly turned, her blood running cold.

Yoko saw the Samurai rising to his feet. A series of unnatural cracks echoed as he regenerated, his body forcing itself back together, including his armor. He stood tall, his molten eyes fixed on Yoko.

“... Do you think it was truly over?” He asked, voice almost sounding amused.

Yoko’s knees threatened to give out as she tightened her grip on the Yokai Killer. She stared at the Samurai, with her jaw-dropping. ”That should have killed you!” Yoko shouted.

The Samurai stepped forward before coming to a robotic stop. He reached down as his fingers dug into the cobblestone. “... I told you I was something beyond human,” he began. “Why are you surprised?” He pulled a thin blade from the ground—a tanto—and inspected the weapon as he continued.

“To me, death is not an end, but a continuation,.” He tilted his head downwards at Yoko, “I've died thousands of times now. I have known death in every shape, every form. And yet, I rise again. And again. And again...”

Yoko felt the weight of his words, yet she couldn’t breathe or move. She stared at him as the rain drenched her from head to toe, ”... What are you?”

“If I had to be honest, I could not tell you,” The Samurai replied, “I was once a man… a great man. A wise man. A famous man. A powerful man….”

He trailed off…

“... Takashi Hatanaka, master weaponsmith, protector, and hero of the people.” He said, Yoko couldn’t move as the reveal nearly broke her heart. “I fought to create, to protect, to give meaning to my life.”

Yoko felt the world around her collapse.

The rain couldn’t cleanse the revelation that hung heavy in the air.

The figure before her was no mere apparition.

The name “Takashi Hatanaka” echoed in her mind, but it felt wrong, hollow, a cruel mockery of the man she had admired from afar, the hero whose deeds had shaped history. The very essence of the Hatanaka legacy. This thing standing before her wasn’t him, could never be him, no matter how much it parroted his memories. Yoko bared teeth,

”... You are not him,” Yoko hissed.

"No, I am not him." Takashi’s voice was robotic,. "I am the spirit born from the remnants of his life. His choices, regrets, legacy... and now, failures."

Yoko’s knees wobbled, but she refused to let herself fall.

"He fought to create, to protect, to give meaning to his life," the Samurai continued, almost to himself, it seemed like. "But in the end... all that remains is me. The hollow reflection of a man who once lived to give meaning to the world... only to be forgotten, lost in the void of his destruction."

Yoko’s grip on the Yokai Killer tightened. She couldn’t let herself get lost in the tragedy of it all. No matter how much this being sounded like the man she had heard about, no matter how much he seemed to carry the weight of his actions... he was not Takashi Hatanaka. Yoko weakly raised the Yokai Killer at him as she said,

”... You are not my ancestor. You are a perversion of him, born from whatever The Hound didn’t bother to take!” Yoko’s words rang out like a challenge

The Apparition before her was no longer just a cruel imitation of the man she had read about in books, heard stories about, and even dreamed of one day becoming like. No, this was something far darker - a twisted echo of a hero long gone.

“You are mistaken,” Takashi spoke, his voice laced with amusement. "I am not a perversion. I am his legacy, his final, eternal form. A reflection of the purpose he tried to forge, the power he sought. What is a hero but an idea, after all? And I… I am the culmination of that idea."

Takashi tilted his head at her, as if it was studying her.

"Tell me, Yoko..." His voice was almost condescending, "Do you even understand what it means to embrace the Hatanaka name? To be one of the last to carry its true legacy? You and Goro are the only ones left who still embrace your magical heritage, aren’t you? The rest of your family? They’ve long forgotten what it means to be Hatanaka. They hide behind their wealth and influence, burying the legacy in business deals and power plays."

Takashi stepped forward, "What is it like, Yoko? To carry that burden - the expectations of a legacy long forgotten by your kin? The relentless pressure to prove that the Hatanaka name still means something beyond luxury and status? A name that has been reduced to a title. A name once synonymous with power and honor… now nothing more than a relic of a bygone age. How does it feel to be the last of something that has already been forgotten?"

Yoko sighed,

”Shut up… just shut up...” She hissed, ”... The world… the other Hatanakas may have forgotten. But I haven’t. And I’ll ensure that the people who come from me don’t forget either.” She shook her head, looking at the ground.

"You think you can preserve what is left of the Hatanaka legacy? You, nothing more than a pitiful scion?" Takashi scoffed. "It’s already too late. The name has lost its meaning. All you have left are memories. Echoes.."

Yoko raised her head, ”... You think I do what I do for power, fame, or even recognition? You claim to have his memories, yet you have zero idea that the Hatanakas truly stood for justice, wisdom, and a positive change in the world. It doesn’t matter what the world thinks, or if they even remember us, as long as someone is fighting for a just cause, Yokai.” Yoko hissed out the last word like an insult.

"Justice?" He repeated, his voice dripping with amusement. "That’s what you think this is about? You’re clinging to the faded image of what your bloodline once stood for, but you’ve lost touch with reality, Yoko. You’re the last of the Hatanakas, and you’ve forgotten that power is the only thing that matters. Without it, all you have is a name."

”The Mother Will has corrupted you,” Yoko seethed, ”You cannot understand that justice isn’t about power for the sake of it. But fighting for those who couldn’t fight for themselves. I didn’t understand that ten years ago, but now I embrace it with open arms...”

Yoko weakly stepped forward, her stance trembling as she raised the Yokai Killer up at the Apparition. ”... Let’s finish this, you bastard!”

“... If you insist,” Takashi said before he disappeared in a flash of motion. Yoko barely managed to dodge, the tip of the blade grazing her side, leaving a deep cut. Yoko stumbled back, her legs giving way momentarily, but she regained her balance with sheer willpower. She lifted the Yokai Killer above her head, her body shaking from its weight, and brought it down towards Takashi - who just sidestepped it, holding the pose momentarily before Yoko swung the Yokai Killer horizontally and stumbled forward onto her hands and knees. Takashi put his foot on her head as he continued to mock her.

“... You are pathetic, and above all else, unworthy,” Takashi said as the tanto fell to pieces in his hands. “... And you are not even worthy of dying by my hand. I’ll let the Autoknights or one of the other Denizens of this place finish you off, Hatanaka.”

He paused.

“... We’re done here.”

With that, Takashi disappeared in a blur of motion that even Yoko couldn’t even track. Yoko’s head spun, her vision barely holding together as Takashi’s words echoed in her ears. His mocking voice, his cold dismissal…. She was still on the ground, blood dripping from her side, breath shallow and ragged. But even as her body screamed in protest, something burned within her. She couldn’t stay down, not like this.

Takashi’s mocking declaration still rang in her mind, but the sting of his words was quickly replaced by the sharp pang of something more profound. The Disciple, Otten, and Turner. They were still fighting, still in danger. With a strained breath, Yoko pushed herself up, her hands shaking. She could barely keep her balance as she reached for the Yokai Killer, still gripped tightly in her hands, the weapon a dead weight that mirrored her own body. The thought of Takashi and how he'd quickly dismissed her seethed within her. But her friends - her family - were louder, more urgent.

“I’m not done.” Yoko’s voice was a growl that barely broke through the rain. Her body burned with every movement, but she didn’t care. She couldn’t care. There was too much at stake. Her legs gave out once, and she collapsed to one knee, but she pushed herself back up, gritting her teeth.

Through the pain and blood, through the fog of exhaustion and fading strength, Yoko pushed forward.

For them.

Recollections: Under The Sycamore Tree Part. 1

tragic

Recollections: Under The Sycamore Tree Part. 1

---

Autumn Hayes & Kashmira Sarai

Elysium Island - In the Tunnels of Monster Dick. Artifact Group.

Interactions: .

---

Britney almost laughed.

In the blink of an eye, the entire plan went to shit, and they were now face to face with a mini-Kaiju with its red-hot dong out. The fact that she was proven so horribly right was drowned out by the fact that they were now in between a rock and a hard place: they could either use magic and alert the whole island, or get mauled by a monster and alert the entire island. Thankfully, Alizee was restraining the creature with her chains (which also didn't set off the alarm), and it thrashed as it choked - swinging its claws out at the group. Britney resisted the urge to just cut the damn thing's head off with the Noble Vow.

”What did ya'll do when you ran into a monster?” Adora asked Autumn.

"We avoided them all," Autumn nodded.

”Well, shit,” Adora hissed.

“What’s the fucking plan, here?!”

Aislin

”Plan is to keep it cool, and not blow our load,” Britney said in a whisper. ”We can still turn this around. Just got to play our cards right.”

They needed a plan; thankfully, Aislin knew who would have one. Britney turned to Layla and quietly asked, ”How far can you separate from Alizee? She can't die; if she gets destroyed, she'll just get returned to your soul.” Hopefully, Layla, as ditsy as she is, would get the plan: Alizee holds the monster down while the rest of them proceed...

"... Adept en route!" Autumn spoke out loud, "Red and Purple!"

”Yoooooo, you gotta be fucking kid-” Adora spoke out loud before cutting herself off and going back to whispering. ”Sloane, tell them we're leaving. This is-”

”No,” Britney said, ”It's just one hiccup. We can handle this.”

The ground began to rock.

---

Ruby White, James Carmicheal, Amelia Dallon, "Lily" Santos, Jasmine Tsega, Lucia Scott, & Jessica Rosefey

Interactions: The Aggro/Support Groups (Specifically Rohan (@Blizz), Leon (@AtomicEmperor), ).

Elysium Island.

---

---

Rohan healed Jess with the spear, and Ruby let out a sigh of relief. It wasn't long until Ruby pulled the spear out.

"Holy shit!" Jess shouted as her eyes shot open, "So THAT'S what it feels like!" Then she laughed.

"Shit! I thought you'd be fireproof!" James said with a cocky grin.

"Why do I need to be fireproof?!" Jessica laughed as she gestured forward. "Usually I'm miles-"

The Magma Titan burst out of the mansion and began marching towards them with its shoulders out. Jessica's jaw dropped as Ruby narrowed her eyes and grinned. "The bigger the challenge!" Ruby confidently said, "The bigger the reward!"

Ruby began barraging the Apparition with a barrage of Spring Beams as Jordan punched the Apparition (One bold motherfucker, that one.). The two attacks caused the burning-hot Phantasm to stumble backward a few steps before it roared, shaking the earth.

"Wish we had Pearl here!" Ruby said as she kept unloading magic beams into the horror. Amelia stepped up, and began to pelt the Apparition with cooling winds that diverted its flames into different directions. She kept it up as Ruby kept pounding it.

"Hey! Battery girl!" Jessica said to Lily. "Juice me up!"

"Aren't you just going to make it hotter?" Lily asked.

"No, no, no! I got a kinetic beam just for motherfuckers like this!" Jessica laughed as Lily wrapped her arms around her bicep and charged her up.

"Don't get cooked like a chicken!" Lily shouted, laughing.

"Don't worry about me!" Jessica stepped up, with a grin on her face as she raised her hands into the air. The sun began glowing brighter and brighter as Jessica looked over her shoulder at Lily. "Because I got the suuuuuuuuuuuuun on my side!"

A massive beam of kinetic energy came down on the sky directly atop the Apparition. It slammed into the ground with an enormous boom, almost knocking everyone off their feet.

"Oh you thought I was finished!?" Jessica shouted as the sun gleamed brighter again, and another powerful beam of Kinetic light came down from the sky directly onto the Apparition. Then another, and another. The impact created a deep crater in the ground, sending dust and debris everywhere. Jessica let up, and tilted her head in surprise.

"... It's still in one piece?!" Jessica shouted, "Someone go seal- Ooooooooh..."

Her jaw dropped as her eyes drifted upward; everyone's eyes drifted upward. Dozens of blasts of cyan-blue Ectoplasm with screaming faces rained down on them.

"... TAKE COVER!"

Ruby shouted as she ducked behind a shield, and the ground began shaking. Every blast of Ectoplasm went off like an explosion as it came down wild and indiscriminate. Explosion after explosion came as Ruby had her back to Stormy's shields.

"Where are they coming from!?" Jessica shouted.

"Don't know!" Ruby shouted, "We gotta find it quick!"

"... Some plan," Jasmine said, rolling her eyes as she took cover.

The Magma behemoth forced its way back to its feet, then began marching towards them, ignoring the blasts of ectoplasm that started to rain on it.

---

Naomi Rodgers & Pearl Cho.

Interactions: T.

Elysium Island.

---

---

Naomi swung from tree to tree... with Pearl's arms and legs wrapped around her.

Unlike Jack, Pearl didn't possess a mobility abstraction, and they had to improvise. Naomi had to carry her in a near-romantic swing, avoiding getting shot at by the zombies. But once Jack made it to the veil, it was gameday, and Naomi let go of Pearl. The plan was for Jack to yeet the Eustis Veil into the Void or for Rein to grab it so they can use it - then Naomi and Pearl go to the Support and Aggro groups, respectively. Though, the Eustis Veil was huge, about three stories tall! Naomi wondered how they were going to use it. However, the Veil was surrounded by armed zombie minions, and the apparent solution to that problem was to fight them. Naomi wasn't sure of Jack's capabilities, but a full-on attack would be suicide. However, Rien handled it with her summons, which restrained the zombies, and Pearl raised her hands and chanted. She summoned several icy spikes that cut through the air at lightning speeds and impaled the restrained zombies.

Then Naomi felt a bit useless, but they were...

She looked up and saw the Ectoplasm rain down on top of them.

"Oooooh, boy," Naomi's jaw dropped. "They ain't playin'..."

Pearl loudly chanted in Korean again before creating a dome of ice above them that tanked several of the blasts of Ectoplasm. Naomi reached down for the Radio and shouted,

"Weird ghost things are raining on us!" Naomi updated Ruby.

"Our position too!" Ruby responded. "Our shields are handling it, but are you okay?"

"Pearl's got us covered," Naomi responded. "Hopefully, these things will destroy the Veil for us."

"Someone's got eyes on us," Ruby responded, "Or they're just trying to blow up the island, not giving a fuck who they hit."

"What do you suggest we do?" Naomi asked.

"It's a crazy idea!" Ruby shouted, "... But turn the Veil back on!"

"I thought we were getting rid of it," Naomi snorted.

"Yeah, we were," Ruby responded, "But that was before the artillery started,"

There was a pause,

"They seem to be coming from way above the island," Ruby began, "If you keep the Veil secure, we can just turn it back off when we are ready to jet."

Naomi didn't respond.

"... Trust me on this one!" Ruby said.

Naomi looked up at the group to see what they thought.

---

The rest of the Elite.

^{From the pov of Phillis Schmidt.}

Interactions: None.

Elysium Island.

---

---

The mansion was nearly burnt to a crisp by their opening attack but still solid. Those bastards hadn't breached it yet, and Phillis suspected they weren't trying to. They had another plan, probably going for their artifacts or something stupid. Maybe if they asked nicely. However, from her estimations, most of the Elite were still alive. She slowly rose from the ground; a pool of inky darkness heralded her arrival in their bar - where most of the Elite were hanging out. They looked at Phillis, and Phillis shrugged,

"Our various enemies are besieging us; we are leaving and letting our 'Security Force' and Mafia friends handle it," Phillis announced, then stepped forward and tapped the darkness-covered ground a few times. "Step into the darkness if you wish to leave."

"And leave this action?!" Angela said with a devilish grin on her face, "You must be-"

Phillis pulled another of her Apparitions out of the metal rods, which raised a hand at Angela and electrocuted her, bringing her eldest child to her knees. Phillis placed her hands on her hips and said, "Child, do not let Turbulence control you." Phillis said, "You will have your time to shine... some other time, but not today. Let's go, everyone!"

The various members of the Elite gathered in the pool of darkness in the center of the room... except for Jiao-Long and Chunhua.

"... But my daughters are still here!" Jiao-Long shouted, "I refuse to leave them behind!"

Phillis didn't even turn her full gaze onto Jiao-Long, "... Then go find them." She began to sink into the darkness of the floor. "They are not my problem."

Jiao-Long will have to hitch a ride with Berlioz. Then, right as she was gone, she said,

"... Toodles,"

Hopefully, Jiao-Long and his family die on this island and make her plan just a little bit easier.

Paragraphs: Agents of Death [FernStone & Shin Ghost Note]

---

---

---

Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin OST - Chaotic Playground

---

”Hey! We went in the direction of the Kingdom!” Lisa smiled. ”Isn’t that convenient1?”

The spider landed, and Lisa looked around at the weird… carnival that loomed ahead, a jumble of sagging tents as booths lined the way forward. This carnival sprawled in from all directions, as its attractions seemed alive. They were twitching, groaning, and moving as if pulled by invisible threads. The ground beneath them was uneven, a mix of slick, black cobblestones and patches of pale, rubbery flesh that squished underfoot. The smell of burnt sugar mixed with the horrid stench of decay everywhere. At the center, a massive big top loomed overhead like a hungry mouth, beckoning them closer.

”Well,” Lisa shrugged, ”This place is weird. Who wants to see the carnival?!”

”Pass, Turner,” Yoko said with a nod of her head, ”The Autoknights are likely on our trail… Though, it is strange that their presence in this area is minimal....” Yoko rubbed her chin.

Lisa shrugged again.

”... They probably don’t like fun!”

"What part of this is fun?" Ella asked, gagging a bit. She covered her mouth and nose.

"All of it. Look at that flesh floor. Delightful. I wonder if it bleeds," Saskia intoned, while looking around. "Let’s keep going… carefully."

Lisa just shrugged as she commanded the spider to march forward, ”You know, I was thinking about that horse monster and…”

”… And?” Yoko asked.

”… If it’s got a dick, then that means it reproduces. And if it reproduces, there could be a whole pack of horse dicked monsters running around!” Lisa laughed, glancing at Ella as she knew that would get under her skin.

”… Yes, I’m certain they are all thriving in the freshly bombed city,” Yoko rolled her eyes.

"Hopefully the bombs got them all!" Ella shuddered, looking even more sick at the mention of the horse dick monsters.

"Only if there’s female ones too," Saskia pointed out. "Unless the ones with dicks also get pregnant. That’d be fun. I hope we come across another one. This time I want to-"

"Nooooooo!"

Yoko just shrugged, ”We’re going to encounter more weird situations like that, Disciple.” Yoko began, ”Get over it.”

Lisa was laughing the whole time. However, as they marched, there was a figure ahead—someone kneeling with their back to them, covered by red samurai-like armor.

”... Let’s go this way!” Lisa said, commanding the spider to take a right.

"But maybe it’s frien-"

"Absolutely not," Saskia hissed. They narrowed their eyes at whoever- or whatever- it was, not looking away. Waiting. Knife moving to their hand and gently pressing in.

”Yeah, have you met a friendly samurai before?!” Lisa snorted.

Then looked at Yoko, who was silent.

”... Other than Yoko!”

"There’s loads of friendly Samurai in anime!" Ella pouted.

"And this is real life. Where everything in here is going to try kill us," Saskia rolled her eyes.

"Alright, I get it, I wasn’t suggesting we go up to it and start a conversation or anything!"

”He was minding his business,” Yoko shrugged, ”We don't necessarily need to pick fights with ever-”

There was a burst of wind… And that kneeling stranger appeared right in front of them. There was a brief suspense…

”… Anata-tachi yonin ga, Ō-sama o sonna ni sawagashiku sasete iru no ka.” The figure spoke in Japanese and Lisa didn't understand a word, his back still to the four. “Hatanaka ga Pitto ni haitta koto wa shitte ita.”

Yoko unsheathed the Yokai Killer, gleaming brighter than ever—like a star. Yoko quickly resheathed it.

”Fuhn! Kisama wa teki ka? Wareware wa yousha wa shinai, Yōkai.” Yoko narrowed her eyes. “Dakara, omae wa sono mama susumu ga yoi.”

“Ō wa omae-tachi yonin o torae, ikashite tsuretekuru you ni watashi ni meijita. Shikashi, ano ochikobore ni wa watashi o shihai suru koto wa dekinai.” the stranger replied to Yoko. As he rose to his feet, brandishing a kanabo made out of stone, he turned around to reveal his full figure to them and said (in English this time!),

“... You three should leave,” The Samurai said, “I only want Hatanaka…”

"No way! We'd never abandon our friend," Ella declared, reaching out to put a hand on Yoko's shoulder. ”You should leave."

Saskia sighed. "For once I agree with Ella. No, we're not leaving."

Yoko also sighed, ”Look, if he wants me, then I cannot put the rest of you all in danger for my sake,” She trailed off, unsheathing the Yokai Killer slightly and still barraging the four with a blinding blue light. ”This Yokai… he is powerful. Something unlike anything we have ever faced.”

"So you'll just fight him alone?" Saskia intoned. "Normally I'd be all for it but…"

"No way, I can't let you die! A magical girl never leaves anyone behind! We're stronger together!" Ella insisted.

”As if,” Yoko seethed, ”I am no ordinary Adept… I am up to the task, Disciple.

”Fuck that,” Lisa laughed, ”We're not going to let you fight this psycho on your own!”

“If you are serious,” The Samurai said, “There is nothing else in this carnival other than us… I killed them all.”

He looked to the left and right as he dropped into stance,

“Let’s begin. I tire of waiting.”

Despite it all, a smirk crept across Lisa's lips.

Well, this is about to get interesting.

Recollections: Under The Sycamore Tree Part. 1

---

Elysium Island.

Interactions: Kenshiro (@AtomicEmperor).

---

"Blackmore! Doomsday!"

Drake grinned from behind the barrier as he quickly closed the distance between Kenshiro and himself using electricity. He was barely processing the chaos around him (from that old dude shooting arrows at everyone to Jasper pulling out a whole ass gun) as he was striking down undead minion after undead minion. He glanced over his shoulder as he raised Sloane's stick and said,

”If ya'll wanna stay alive! Get back!” Drake screamed as an orb of plasma formed around them that glew several different shades of blue. It grew larger and larger as it pulled in the undead minions and burned them to ashes in seconds. The orb grew as it tore apart the undead horde-

That was when something straight out of the Hercules movie burst through the front of the building. It swelled to massive sizes, standing over them like a titan as he stood several times as large as the mansion. He stuck his hand out and fired at the treeline and the offensive group. He was so hot that he began to cause the flowers and trees to burst into flames.

And what was worse was that Doomsday was pulling him towards the group.

---

Elysium Island.

Interactions: None (Britney doesn't interact with ppl with flat asses).

---

Britney was not happy to be here.

Britney didn't trust Ruby or Greenwood that much (Ironically, she trusted them more than Sycamore). She didn't trust Ruby's plan—mainly because when it inevitably went south, it was basically, 'Hope the teleporters are still alive, ya'll!'. Nor did she trust the likes of Sloane, Clancy, Aislin, or Amara not to throw her under the bus at the earliest opportunity. Jack should be here after he's done yeeting the Veil into the Void, so that was a plus.

Naturally, Sloane was pushing her buttons immediately, demanding the radio. That little control freak has to be in charge, or she would throw a fit. Ruby gave Britney the radio because she attempted to touch bases with Greenwood rather than sit around in the corner pouting with Anya or screaming when things weren't going her way. Britney had every reason to tell Sloane to kiss her ass, but Britney knew when to pick her battles.

And this just wasn't one of them.

Britney silently handed off the radio without a word (Don't lose it!) and turned to see Clancy dart off. She hoped he knew precisely where he was going because she wouldn't make a rescue mission for the bastard. Everyone was so concerned with the Starving Dog that they completely forgot the monsters, security checkpoints, and probably traps in there... which was typical for Sycamore. Always overlooking the little things!

Britney just followed the Greenwood lady (Autumn? The quiet one) as she led them into the mansion.

---

Autumn Hayes & Kashmira Sarai

Interactions: The Artifact Group, and specifically Clancy (@Zombiedude101).

Elysium Island.

---

---

Autumn kept her mouth shut.

All she had to say was how if anything, Greenwood should be the ones getting the radio. Not just because Autumn could man the radio while keeping her hands free. Not just because Autumn knew the way but also because she probably had a better idea of what she was doing. Not just because she doubted Sycamore seemed constantly at each other's throats (given the tension spike between Sloane and Britney that even a blind man could notice). But because this was a Greenwood operation - given how little Sycamore contributed to the planning - they should leave things to those with experience with these things and not the fake coven. However, Autumn kept her mouth shut because tensions were already high between the two Covens, and she knew with a one-off comment that things would erupt when they didn't need them to.

Britney just handed off the radio, and things returned to normal.

However, that didn't help with the creeping anxiety that Layla provided just by being there. Autumn glanced in her direction. She knew that she had issues with Naomi, but Ruby also had a feeling that she might try to pull something on her or Kashmira. Then Autumn glanced in Kashmira's direction - who was gleaming with positivity and kindness. Autumn doubted Layla was dumb enough to pick a fight here, of all places, but Autumn couldn't let anything happen to Kasmira. However, things would be fine if she kept Layla in her view at all times. Autumn could spawn a second set of eyes, after all. The Apparition of Geneva Benard appeared right next to her and floated behind her.

Before she could get a chance to tell them to follow her lead, the weird kid ran off. Autumn narrowed her eyes at him, which was the only part of her not hidden underneath her grey face mask. Ruby didn't want the kid there, but it was ultimately Sycamore's choice - and their problem in case he got hurt. Autumn could hear the chaos in the distance before realizing they had to get a move on before they caught on. With the power of Geneva Benard's apparition, Autumn floated a few inches off the ground - high enough so that she wouldn't break any branches or set off any traps but low enough so that she wouldn't be that much more noticeable than before.

"No Adept will be able to sneak up on us," Autumn spoke. "I can't do much about anything else, but..."

She glanced at the mansion.

"... Let's go. I know the way."

Autumn began floating towards the first entrance. However, she remembered that the Eye of Ankhara was active, so she deactivated the Apparition she had used as a minion and started walking. She eventually made it to Clancy and nodded at him,

"Few more nearby. Can smell them."

Clancy

"... And we don't need to kill every zombie we come across," Autumn said, in a vague, fleeting hope that Clancy would remember the part where Ruby noted the artifact group would not have to pick a fight with everyone they come across. That was when Autumn kept going. Some distance away from the mansion was a hill covered by bushes, and Autumn pushed past it to reveal a slightly ajar door.

Those idiot still haven't fixed the lock.

Autumn glanced in the direction of the burning - oh, it was now suddenly iced over, that was something - mansion, listening to the barrage of gunfire and other magic in the distance. Autumn sighed as Ruby’s voice echoed: “Once y’all get past that, you'll hit the first security checkpoint. Cameras, motion sensors, the whole nine yards...”

With a sharp glance behind her, she gestured for the others to fall in line. She whispered, “Remember, this side entrance was our safest way in, but we’re on camera from here on out. No lights, no loud noises, and most importantly, no magic. Stick to shadows.”

They crept down the narrow corridor, Autumn's heart pounding as they approached the first security checkpoint. Sure enough, the faint glow of red sensor lights pulsed from the corners of the room ahead. Autumn stopped, raising her hand to halt the others.

“We’re close to the cameras,” She whispered. "We’ll need to time this right, or we’ll trip every alarm in this place."

Autumn surveyed the room, noting the slow sweep of the camera. It moved in a predictable pattern, pivoting from left to right and back again, with only a few seconds of blind spots in between. She turned towards it and said,

"We can easily slip past it; there are a few blind spots. Just remember we are in radius of the Eye of Ankhara, so we can't go too fast or else we'll trigger it and reveal ourselves to the whole island."

---

“Sentinel Solutions.”

Interactions: None..

Elysium Island.

---

---

The subhumans had little idea that they were poised to rain holy hell on top of them.

Berlioz stood on the edge of the ghostly pirate ship meant to be Kaiser Draeger's weapon for securing the city. Too bad that it never came to fruition - for him. Berlioz watched them from his binoculars before glancing at , the artifact on the ship's deck that rendered them completely invisible as they floated high above Elysium Island. Berlioz merely shook his head as he lowered the binoculars from his head and walked onto the deck.

"Shit, what the hell was that?!" Benjamin asked. "Almost hit us if I didn't get us out of the way in time!"

"The Subhumans are attacking the island," Berlioz said before he reached for the walkie-talkie. "Paige, are you okay?"

"Yes! The blast hit the mansion! Barely went underground!" Paige answered. "They are going all out, though!"

Berlioz sighed.

"All employees," He began. "Priority one,"

Ensure the safety of all New Thule Society members.

"And priority two,"

Ensure the safety of Blake Schmidt and his family to keep the money flowing.

"Copy," Paige and William said in unison.

"Am I going to rain holy hell on them?" Benjamin said, "I'm in the perfect position to do so."

"Right now, that would only cause us to lose the element of surprise,"

Berlioz nodded his head.

"I have a better idea," Berlioz began, "One that can rid all our subhuman enemies in one fell swoop. Or, at the very least, bluff them off the island."

Berlioz then shoved the walkie-talkie into Benjamin's hands as he walked toward the ship's edge. A portal opened off the edge.

"Hold this for me; I will be right back."

He hopped off, going through the portal that was closed behind him.

---

Phillis Schmidt.

Interactions: Aggro Group (One of Phillis' Apparitions going right for them!)

Elysium Island.

---

---

Ah, those savage Covens are here.

Who could have seen that coming?

What Phillis didn't see coming was the orbital nuke that damn near burnt the whole mansion down. It would have killed most of them if it was more substantial, but Phillis was thankful she was alive. She forced herself to her feet as smoke filled the room. Attacking them head-on while they were at their highest security measure was something... They must have found a way to get the Veil down. Phillis knew she should have tried harder to convince Blake not to over-rely on the Veil. Yet, it didn't matter now. She hoped that Berlioz could back up his tough talk and kill all members of Sycamore for them. Which would have been perfect for her plans.

For now, Phillis had to ensure that the Coven didn't wipe them out in one fell swoop - the last thing she wanted to do was get eliminated by a group of manchildren who called themselves "witches." She reached into the pocket of her dress and pulled out a keyring with several metal rods. She methodically went through them until she found just the right one. She placed her fingertips at the very end of it, slid it down, and pulled a frozen spirit out of it. It floated next to her as she placed her hand on her chin.

Suddenly, the burning mansion was wrapped in a raging blizzard as the fires were extinguished by the winds, which dropped the temperature substantially. She stuck the rod back out, and it hopped back inside on command. Then she glanced at the horde of zombies up front that might as well have been cannon fodder. Phillis went back to the keychain with all of the metal rods. She needed a few moments to get to her children, so she had to sacrifice one of her (many) tools to buy her a couple of minutes - maybe kill a few of them.

Volcanis.

Ah, perfect. She pulled himout of the metal rod and launched him through the front of the mansion as he swelled to titanic size. He let out a roar as he pointed his hand at the offensive line and unleashed a stream of fire at the treeline as he marched toward them.

While that was going on, Phillis pulled another Apparition out of a metal rod that hovered behind her. Suddenly, inky black darkness pooled underneath her feet as she sunk into the ground...

Recollections: Under The Sycamore Tree Part. 1

---

The Greenwood Coven, & "Lily" Santos.

Elysium Island.

Interactions: Sully/Sloane (@Atrophy), Olivia (@NoriWasHere), Someone who's about to get cooked like a Thanksgiving Turkey (@Skai), & EVERYONE.

---

”I-”

Drake tried to say before Sloane shoved the staff into his hands and walked off. Drake could feel the disgust in her eyes... He knew he fucked up big and didn't even get a chance to apologize - though, he wondered how much of that was the Coven's fault. This stuff... wasn't Drake's style; he would rather have just shocked Leon into submission if it came down to it. Now, his hands are full! But, indeed, if Drake breaks or loses it fighting rich people, surely she can make another?

”I'll keep it safe,” Drake muttered to himself.

Though he was going to do his best-

Explosions and bullets rang in the distance.

"What the fuck?!" Ruby's head whipped towards the mansion so fast that she almost gave herself whiplash. "Who the fuck blew their load!? Was it Sycamore?!" She sneered at Drake, who just shrugged.

"Hold yer' horses!" Jess said, putting her hands on her hips. "We just got here! No one left!"

"She is correct, Ruby," Pearl nodded. "It's likely something else."

"Well," Ruby shrugged, looking to the left and right. "While they're distracted..."

Ruby turned towards Jess and nodded at her. Suddenly, that new 317 member, Lily, ran over wearing all black and a facemask.

"... Light the fuse!"

Jess had a devious grin from one corner of her lip to the other. "... You know how long I've been waiting for this? Boutta makes a name for myself."

"Do it."

”What? Are you going to flex at them?” Drake laughed.

Jessica walked forward - Lily mere inches away from her - as she walked into view of the mansion. She looked over her shoulder at Lily, who wrapped her arms around Jessica's muscular arms. Suddenly, Lily's skeleton and nervous system illuminated through her flesh as arcs of purple electricity went from her body into Jess', which illuminated her nervous system and skeleton.

"Jesus, Mami," Lily laughed. "You on steroids?"

"Naw! Everything you see here is natural!" Jess grinned as she raised her hands. The heat went up around the mansion; the sun began shining brighter than ever before - nearly blinding. Jess started to laugh as the heat could be felt from their position, and it reached the point where they couldn't so much as see each other. Then Jess began laughing before she screamed...

^{"... THE POWER OF THE SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUN!"}

---

Fight Song: American Guilt - Unknown Mortal Orchestra

---

A beam of pure sunlight came from the heavens. It was massive, like an orbital strike, and it struck down on the mansion like God had found it blasphemous. However, the flash of light was so bright that it would have immediately blinded anyone looking directly at it. It took a few moments for the flash to fade, and Jess hit the ground, her right side incinerated.

"... Shit, shit, shit!" Ruby shouted as she ran over and knelt by her friend. "Jess!? What the fuck!?"

"The fuck happened?!" James shouted as he held the axe in both hands.

"I don-" Ruby shouted, "Sully! Olivia! Somebody! Bring your asses over here!"

Bullets began whirling by them. However, Stormy had erected barriers that blocked most of the gunfire. Drake quickly placed his back against one of the barriers. He peaked his head and noticed a legion of undead minions armed to the teeth coming towards them. Yet, he grinned. Too easy. One hand covered in lightning, and the other clutching this staff, he charged up one of his lightning strikes.

"Everyone! Stop gawking and attack!" Ruby screamed, kneeling, "I got this!"

James ran over to Drake and grinned at him as he leaned against the same barrier as him, with Shango's Axe hanging low. He flicked his axe into the air, and a barrage of lightning came down on the horde of zombies. Then he laughed at Drake.

”Haha,” Drake couldn't help but laugh himself. ”Show off.”

Recollections: Under The Sycamore Tree Part. 1

<Snipped quote by Skai>

It's not fake? :OOO

Due to her emotional-field, it can't outright kill her. But it'll bring her close. :> She probably won't be able to take a second hit.

@Estylwen

That means when Jess blows up the mansion, she'll kill steal.

Recollections: Under The Sycamore Tree Part. 1

---

Interactions: Sully (@Atrophy), & Leon (@AtomicEmperor).

The Eleventh Path.

---

"Hey now, no need to fret, Blackmore! C'mon... 317 ain't exactly the benchmark when it comes to combat Adepts: No offence to you guys, of course, you do what you can. But Linqian was never one of our best either, right? I can handle her and Aryin at the same time, confirmed by several recent tests too. So, I think it's in our best interests that if Scott Reese shows up to play, you leave him to me. Just give me whatever artifact you want applied to him that you think would weaken him, and boom: You lose one asshole for one asshole. Equal trade in terms of effort and power."

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, dude, where’s all the shit gonna go if we lose our asshole? And what’s this about worrying? Worrying? You’re worrying? Man, the one who needs to be worrying is that bitch ass Scott Reese. Look, check this out. Over here we got the goddamn Thunder God Drake “Raiden” Blackmore and over here we have the Big Bad Wolf, Leon “Motherfucking” Richoux. You throw in me, the Water Boy. The Juice Man! You throw in me, the…the Juice Man…and what’s Scott Reese gonna do? Nothing. Scott Reese ain’t gonna do nothing. He gonna walk back in that ocean and disappear for another ten years. Squad up, boys. We got our Team Aggro right here.”

Leon & Sully

Drake couldn't help but crack a grin. Sure, he was worried about Victoria. Sure, he was worried about the triplets. Sure, he was concerned about everyone, but he knew that the four of them (including Stormy, who was silent the whole time) could kick Scott Reese's ass from one end of St. Portwell to the other. He laughed at Leon,

”... I'm going to tell her you said that,” Drake said before laughing. ”But, you can't take that monster alone. I'm not going to let you.” Drake nodded before he turned to Ruby and took a step forward.

”I'm going aggro,” Drake said, as his left hand began crackling with electricity. ”They'll be so worried about me that they won't even realize we pulled a fast one on them until it's too late!” Drake laughed.

---

The Eleventh Path

Interactions: Leon (@AtomicEmperor), & Layla/Alizee (@Estylwen).

---

”I'm doing okay. They didn't force anything, promise. And uh, Alizée and I are getting along nicely. She's still her old self, though she doesn't remember.

“Thanks for asking, Adora.”

”My apologies if I disturbed you the other day. Yes, Layla's fine. Eating better too.”

Layla & Alizee

Adora smiled or tried her best to smile. Did Adora trust the Temple? No. Did she trust Layla's word? No. However, it was not her tree to bark up, or her business to stick her nose into. As she kept preaching to the social rejects here, you can't help people who don't want it. She was glad that Layla took the apple and was eating it, and seemed to be happier with Alizee (?) adjoined to her - though she treated this Alizee as a whole new entity.

”I'm glad to hear it, just let me know if you need anything,” And Adora left it at that. However, she turned towards Alizee. ”And... don't worry about it. That meeting was looong over before you even showed up.” She shrugged. She wanted to say it was pretty much over when Layla opened her mouth about Naomi, but Adora knew that Layla learned her lesson.

Hopefully.

”Sor-sorry for the other day.”

Layla

”C'mon, you can do a bit better than that,” Adora sighed, crossing her arms. Her gaze drifted over to Ruby, who was flat-faced. Adora knew she was fuming about that.

"I want to sit down and talk about that like we should have done from the jump," Ruby said to Layla with a nod. "Not right now, though. We have important work to do."

"Britney's here, Amara... We're trying to reduce the chaos of these meetings by having less people, remember? Besides, you should be asking me about ammo. He'd tell you himself that the Temple produces quality ammunition: We supply half the Western Seaboard's "religious" institutions with good shit. If it's for Sycamore, as much as you all may not want the help, the Temple of Charming and Graceful Individuals is willing and able to provide. Physical arms and armaments, Lux boosters, healing salves, the list goes on. Yeah, you would expect a price... Clearly you don't understand the kind of debt that some of our magical community owes to us. We're Goddamn Heroes, Anya. If we ask? We'll receive"

Leon

As Leon spoke, Adora narrowed her eyes at him. One minute, Adora was fine with him for his help at the Halloween Festival. As of yesterday, Adora found it hard to trust him with that whole mess with Alizee and Layla - even though it seemed to work out fine, there was something shady about the Temple. Well, aside from their business with Alizee's apparition.

Nothing good ever comes from cults either way. Though Adora wanted to ask if the Temple had ANYTHING that can boost her abstraction enough to be helpful. She didn't care if it did something to her because it was her choice and her body. She didn't care much if she died in the process of trying to get to the bottom of this. So, Adora raised her hand, and asked,

”You got anything that can help out an Aberration, Leon?” Adora asked.

"Whatever you guys want from me personally, I'm happy to do it: But, I only ask that you keep in mind I may not fully be in control of myself by the end of this. If the worst happens, stay clear of the big, grey and gold wolf-thing... And call my folks, I guess. Worst comes to worst, it's an island I can stay isolated on until I'm dead, or I can be put out."

Leon

I thought he was an Adept. Adora thought to herself before she shrugged. She was sure that a rampaging werewolf on an island wouldn't be the worst thing in the world - maybe. With the heavy hitters like Drake here, they should be able to take care of him, worst come to worst.

”I'm not going to be much good in a fight,” Adora said to Ruby - and the Coven at large. ”I want to help out, though. So, I'm going with the heist group.”

Adora didn't want to be around Britney or Sloane, but having Luca, Aislin, and sort of Amara, there balanced out the situation (Though what Amara told her the other day loomed over her and made it hard to wonder if she was a liability or not). Hopefully, everyone would be so focused on the mission that they wouldn't have time to chatter.

Adora leaned back in her chair.

---

Ruby White.

The Eleventh Path

Interactions: Amara (@Blizz), Alizee (@Estylwen), Lynn ([@NoriWasHere]), Anya/Luca (@FernStone), and the entire Coven.

---

”Okay, back up a second, I’m seeing a couple problems with this. The first one being communication. Like you said, we gotta just let this shit flow sometimes so a hard and fast plan won’t be perfect. But, how’re we getting everyone in gear for shit when we’re actually there? We just banking on teleported being enough when the Veil’s down? That’s gonna be a lotta people moving around, some of them might need to meet each other when they’re done, for backup. But that’s no big deal- I got an idea for that. I’m magically linked to all of them, like a hive mind. Four teams means I’d have one to spare if I gave up one for all four. Treat ‘em like they’re expendable when you’re in. They’ll fight and if someone happens, I’ll know even if you don’t radio in. I’ll send the extra in with your vault team, so two of them can deal with this “Starving Dog” thing. Based on what you’ve got here, the vault’s gonna be the most dangerous part of this even if you draw heat away.”

Amara "Ass Hunter" King

”But could we not have a fifth group - the coordinators? We had a control group during the fight against the Stygian Snake, or organised all the groups on the field - getting healers where they were needed, teleporters, and so on. It can be difficult for anyone in the heat of battle to do that. That solves the communication too - you all have phones, don’t you? Or we can go back to radios like we used to use? Easy to get a hold of. Means we’re not putting all the pressure on Amara.”

Anya

Ruby turned towards Anya, then back to Lynn, then at Amara.

"... I think we found a way for you to help," Ruby said to Lynn with a nod, before turning to Anya and Amara, "That sounds like a great idea. We can have some extra communication - which translates to extra coordination. Just let me know how many radios you need because I may have to pull in a few ^more favors. But, it's no big deal for the Spring Maiden." Ruby grinned at them.

”I have some questions. First of all, what’s the magical statue made of? Second, do we have any way to get into the vault itself? I assume it has some heavy doors we can’t just get through? I can probably help there either way, since I can rot just about anything. So I think I should go with the Artifact group, but that brings me to my next question… Does the Eye of Ankhara detect Abstractions that are always on? Or is it just active use?”

Luca

Ruby shrugged.

"The Starving Dog is made of stone or marble. I honestly don't remember."

”Marble,” Britney answered.

"Thank you, Britney," Ruby nodded her head. "And the doors are like... bank vault style. However, it's enchanted, so you can't just teleport inside. I'm not sure of any other enchantments, but let's assume there are."

She shrugged.

"When we were trying to break in a few years ago, our plan was just to blow the door down with magic, but if you have an easier way to open it - go ahead."

”Also, the Eye won't trigger off passive Abstractions.” Britney nodded.

”Say you get the artifacts. Say you kill a couple of them. How are you getting off the island? Not everyone is lucky like Layla in being able to void-step. You will be disorganized and weak. Some will be disconnected from the group, to be sure…

“How does everyone make it home?”

Alizee

Ruby facepalmed at this.

"... The same way we're getting on the island," Ruby groaned with her hand still pressed to her face, but she released her hand from her face. "That's why we have a group to deal with the Eustis Veil, so we can just teleport off."

She looked at the group, "Worst comes to worst, we jack one of their sailboats and me and Amelia can get everyone off that way - but long as everyone is on their shit and we keep the Veil off, we don't have to worry about that."

”I still think a contingency is necessary,” Britney added.

Ruby rolled her eyes, saying, “Yeah, Britney, I understand. You’re always the one who wants to plan for the worst. But we gotta focus on the mission here: getting those artifacts and making those rich fuckers don't come after us when all is said and done." Britney crossed her arms and rolled her, and Ruby leaned in and lowered her voice. “If we overthink this, we’ll drive ourselves batshit before we even set foot on that island.”

”I'm not saying we don't get the artifacts or your payback,” Britney said, tone laced in venom and each word sharp as a knife. ”I'm just saying that we need a backup. What if- actually, nevermind.” Britney sighed as she just leaned back in her chair.

”I'll be getting the artifacts with the others,” Britney said. Britney did not like rolling with Sloane, Aislin, Adora, or Amara's weird little ghosts - it was a better option than rolling with Kenshiro, just not that much. However, she was at the point where she was just over it all and willing to do anything necessary to end this Father Wolf nonsense. That meant taking risks. She wasn't sure if this was an essential risk, but it is what it is.

Ruby gestured for everyone to gather around the map of Elysium Island, and then, she pointed at a spot on the wooded west end of the island. "There's a grove right here," Ruby said. "This is where we will teleport everyone, and from there we will quickly sort into our groups." Ruby then turned to Pearl who was desperately scribbling all of this down.

"Make sure you know where you're going to go because once we get onto Elysium Island, it's going to be-" Ruby paused momentarily to snap her fingers, waving her hand in front of her. Then, she turned her attention back to the map. "Once everyone is sorted out, everyone's getting in position. The Aggro group will wait in the woods right outside the mansion; the support group will also be in the woods right by them. These two groups should be able to see the entire mansion, and they will stay relatively close to each other. The Veil and Artifact groups will circle the island, Veil going north and Artifact going south - and someone please bring a compass. The island is wooded enough for you all to have some cover or get the drop on any zombies or rich fucks wandering around."

Then Ruby looked at Britney and continued, "After everyone is sorted and on the move, we will begin the assault on the mansion. The plan is for the 317's new power booster to boost Jess, and she'll fry the mansion - which should take out a majority - if not all - of them, and then the Aggro group will push in and keep everyone's attention on us. The Artifact and Veil groups will do their thing while Aggro gets all the smoke. And remember, this isn't about winning some fight; it's a distraction. Keep them focused on you, but don’t take unnecessary risks."

”And what about the artifact group?” Britney asked, ”If this goes south, everyone's gonna be too tied up to lend any help.”

“That’s why the Artifact group’s going in with minimal baggage. All you need to focus on is getting in, grabbing what we came for, and getting out. Don’t engage unless absolutely necessary. Just get the artifacts and teleport it all off the island,” Ruby shrugged.

”And if teleportation isn't an option?” Britney said.

"Improvise," Ruby shrugged again. "Like I said, we're going to be here all day if we overthink every single last detail."

Ruby tapped the veil's location on the map, "Remember. We have to keep the Veil off at all costs. I don't care if the other groups have to pull back - otherwise, we won't be able to get off the island and will have to improvise." Then Ruby glanced at everyone in this room. "Now, before I get ahead of myself, each group will be equipped with a radio and a flaregun - these will be the "team leaders" of each group and will have the luxury of coordinating with the... coordinators. If things go sideways, we get the fuck out of there - no ifs, ands, or buts. And for the love of God, don't try and play the hero. Drop whatever you're doing, shoot the flare into the sky, and regroup at the grove so we can all teleport off together or right then and there. Just don't leave the rest of us in the dark."

Ruby took in a deep breath, "Yes, this is longwinded as fuck, but I’d rather everyone knows exactly what they’re supposed to be doing instead of getting lost or panicking. The Elite are prepared, and we have to assume they know we're coming, and if anyone fucks up, that's the end of that."

Ruby sighed before looking between the 317, Sycamore, and then Greenwood.

"Now, if we're all in agreement, let's hurry up and get a move on already," Ruby began, "You all have one hour to get ready. Grab everything and I mean EVERYTHING you need. Make sure to dress up to disguise your identities. That way, they, or the magic Feds, can't come after us if it goes tits up and it'll trip them up if they are aware of us. They won't know who's who."

Ruby turned around and tapped her staff on the ground as she spoke to Sycamore,

"Thank you all for hearing us out; I know things didn't go super well last time..." Ruby shook her head, "But I'm glad things have gone better this time. I knew you all could do it."

She nodded at the four Maidens and Kashmira.

"Let's go."

Then they departed, and the plan was a go.

---

The Greenwood Coven, & The 317.

Interactions: None.

An hour later. The Rooftops Overlooking the Harbor Longue.

---

---

“... Where are they?” Naomi asked from the rooftops.

“Maaaaaan, I betcha’ they ain’t even left!” James said with a cocky grin on his face.

“They haven’t left yet,” Autumn said with a nod.

They stood on the rooftops, giving a clear view of the Harbor Lounge. Naomi held binoculars to her face, scanning desperately for their targets. “I can’t see them, they moved.”

“They’re still there,” Autumn nodded her head.

“See? We shouldn’t doubt Autumn’s little ghost!” James grinned at Naomi, and she rolled her eyes while scanning.

“Maybe we should have some members of Sycamore here,” Autumn shrugged. “They are helping us, after all.”

“Nah, we don’t need ‘em!” James said. “Probably too busy screaming at each other!”

“Come on,” Naomi said, “They’re not that bad… Just a lil’ messy.”

“People who are getting murdered usually are,” Autumn shrugged.

James threw Shango’s Axe over his shoulder as he turned around and looked at the members of the 317. He scanned them, eyes pausing on them for a moment before looking to the next one… and then grinned. “Hope all of you are ready for this! We are entering the big leagues!”

He laughed. “Meaning… literal and all-out war if this doesn’t go as planned! But, I’m certain it will all work out!”

Naomi shook her head as James continued.

“I mean, we survived the Nazis, and they were stronger and crazier!”

“I never imagined I’d be here,” Faith sighed as she looked towards Naomi, “but I’m ready. Those fuckers destroyed our community. They hurt my friends. If I was still in the monster making business I’d turn every last one of their leaders to send a message to their flock.”

“It’s a good thing that we’re out of that business,” Sypha responded as she looked towards James, “I don’t envy Octavia handling that meeting. I bet she’s about ready to quit, and I bet Ruby is feeling the second hand rage that Sycamore gives off.”

”I survived much worse than all out war,” Aryin said with a cocky grin as they shot out a wicked side eye towards James, ”as did everyone else. When shit gets going today I have a hundred bucks that says they carry the day,” Aryin grinned as they delivered the wager.

“Hey now, I’m not worried about you. You been through hell twice and came out just fine!” James shot her a cocky grin. “The rest of them, though, especially the newbies, have not.”

“That is fair enough,” Faith responded with a sigh, “I know we needed the boost after the fight and some of these newbies are incredibly strong. But I wouldn’t be honest if I said I wasn’t worried. I guess we’ll learn soon enough if it was a good idea, yeah?”

“I dunno,” James shrugged before grinning. “If we live long enough!”

Naomi rolled her eyes. “I mean, before coming to St. Portwell, I didn't get into half of the supernatural fuckery that goes on here, and I did just fine.”

“That's because you're tough!” James said. “You were born and raised in the trenches!”

“... Hardly,” Naomi rolled her eyes before turning her head to Faith, “Surprised you’re not at the big meeting.”

“I hope Octavia listened when we said keep your expectations low!” James laughed.

“Well the plan calls for scaring some rich pricks,” Faith grinned as she used her eyes to look at the various pieces of jewelry that controlled her monsters, “and I am the best at that.”

“I know the 317 is itching to-” Autumn said. Naomi’s phone beeping cut her off from a text message she opened.

“... It's time,” Naomi said, looking up at Faith. “I'm going to let ya’ll take charge.”

“Alright,” Faith said as she took in a deep breath, “where are they?” Faith began to look down to the streets below.

Autumn pointed at the Harbor Lounge.

“In there,” She answered.

“... I hope you are not planning on having a monster charge in there dicks out,” Naomi said with a roll of her eyes.

“Oh god no,” Faith grinned as she walked towards the small shadow cast by the bezel top of the building. “Nothing so dramatic,” she finished as she stepped into the shadow, a hand reached out and pulled her into it.

Across the way inside the Harbor Lounge even the most observant of eyes might have missed a shadow dancing within the shadows of the room. The shadow was the Living Shadow and Faith, and they danced from shadow to shadow unseen and out of sight until they finally spotted the rich pricks and their escort. They were in a private room and this made it easier for Faith to launch her attack. Faith waited for a few minutes waiting, watching, before she decided it was time.

Two hands made out of the blackest shadow erupted from the walls, one grabbing Sylvia around the waist and the other around Johnny's face and neck. As soon as the hands had their grip, they pulled with frightening strength back towards the shadows from where they came.

Both Johnny and Sylvia hit the ground, immediately, a stream of poker cards came out of the sleeve of Johnny’s jacket and scattered. He looked up and a Taurus 44 appeared in his hand, and he aimed it at them.

“The fuck?!” Johnny shouted.

The hands shot out again, this time from under the table, and once again aimed at Johnny and Sylvia with the same intent to drag them into the shadows.

“Oh no you don’t!” Gabe shouted, she stuck both of her hands out and fired a powerful beam of concentrated light.

The room would go silent with the beam of concentrated light. The shadows all seemed to retreat to their normal places, and no further attacks were launched. Though if any eyes looked towards the light switch they would see a single hand reach up with a singular finger reaching out. The shadow turned off the light and launched a new series of attacks. As it did the darkness of the room grew as if the shadows themself were swallowing the group whole.

The next up to use their magic was Jake, who raised his hand into the air and a sun-like ball of like appeared and stretched outwards—shining an overpowering light in all directions.

“Sylvia! Portal!” Johnny shouted.

Sylvia quickly grabbed her guitar drummed the strings, and created a shimmering light purple portal - all of them promptly escaped into.

Faith instantly commanded the living shadow to bring her back to the group as the rich pricks started to head through the portal. As she emerged from the shadows, she looked at the assembled group of hippies. “They’re leaving NOW.”

“Shit! The Veil is still up, though!” James shouted, looking at Elysium Island surrounded by the Eustis Veil.

“... Then they must be teleporting somewhere else,” Autumn softly said.

“Oh, you gotta be fucking kidding me!” James shouted. “All this for nothing!”

“Shit. Can you track them? I can be a little less subtle next time,” Faith groaned as she rubbed her head.

“I can’t find them,” Autumn said as she looked around. “They are outside of the range of the Adept Hunter.” She shook her head.

“The fuck did you do to them?” James asked Faith, laughing. “The point was to corner them!”

“We gotta send this up,” Naomi said, pulling out her phone and texting Ruby.

“I assaulted them from the shadows,” Faith sighed, “I thought the plan was to scare them into portaling home.”

James facepalmed.

“The plan was to get them to drop the Veil so we can teleport onto the island,” Naomi sighed. “But it sounds like we need a Plan B.”

”Well shit,” Aryin said with a sigh, ”spread out and hope for the best?”

“Oh lawd we-” James threw his hands into the air, except at the corner of his eyes, he noticed something.

The Veil had gone down.

“Oh shit!” James’ jaw dropped. “It’s a Christmas Miracle!”

“We gotta get on now,” Naomi said.

---

Lin Liu.

Elysium Island - Mansion. The Bar.

Interactions: None.

---

After her conversation with Mika, Lin waited anxiously at her table. She was unsure how the Sycamore Tree Coven was getting on this island, but she knew they would likely get cut down. Not that she cared about them at all (The gene pool would thank them for that one). She was hoping they would create a big enough distraction for her to snatch the notes-

Lin's phone rumbled from within her purse. She had forgotten she had it on silent, but she quickly unzipped the designer purse. She looked at her phone and saw that it was Jake. She remembered that he wasn't on the island as he wasn't a member of the Elite; if they were, it would be easier to get the notes off. However, she answered the phone, and before she could get out a "hello" Jake spoke frantically.

"... Lin! Are you okay?!" Jake said.

"Y-yes," Lin stammered for a second as she stood up. "Are you okay? What's going on?"

"We got attacked at the Harbor Lounge," Jake said, "By some shadow creature. We teleported out of there before it could hurt us."

He sighed, "We're at the Valos Manor now."

Lin tapped her chin. No doubt it had to be Sycamore's doing. However, Lin was happy that they were safe. "Are you all okay?"

"They just gripped us up a little bit," Jake said. "We're all fine."

Lin paused for a moment... as an idea popped into her head.

"Can you do me a huge favor?" Lin asked.

"Yes, anything," Jake said.

"Can you have Sylvia on standby?" Lin asked, looking across the room at May and Rhea Pimm. "I'm about to do something stupid."

"Oh God," Jake groaned, "What are-"

"Just trust me," Lin said. "Please have her ready to open a portal the second I call you."

Jake sighed.

"Fine, do you need our help?" Jake began. "Maybe we can-"

"I got this, trust me," Lin nodded.

"Okay... just be careful," Jake said, "See you soon."

"Love you," Lin said before hanging up. Then, she kept her eyes on May and Rhea Pimm while she slipped her phone back into her purse. There was a subtle thrill to what she was about to do, but she kept her expression flat. The two sisters seemed to be obsessed with making their younger brother drink more and more. Going into their minds was the last thing that Lin wanted to do, but they were perfect for what she was planning - impulsive, stupid, and adrenaline junkies. Lin focused her energy and felt the gentle pulse of the Arrowhead as she activated her telepathy and slipped into their minds...

Isn’t it boring just sitting here bullying your little brother? Lin projected, her voice playful in their minds. What if you dropped the Eustis Veil? You could let some real excitement in!

As her influence took hold, Lin watched with satisfaction as their brows furrowed as if they were some hive mind. She nudged their thoughts further, feeding May the idea that breaking the Veil would be thrilling and a bold move that could earn them recognition.

A little chaos might be precisely what you both need right now. Who doesn’t love a bit of fun? Lin continued.

As Lin withdrew her mental claws, she noted the look of determination on May’s face and the excitement in Rhea’s eyes. The idea of dismantling the Eustis Veil was taking root, their thoughts racing with the possibilities of chaos and adventure... They got up and quickly skipped out of the building.

Satisfied, Lin kept her attention on her table and waited.

---

May & Rhea Pimm.

Elysium Island.

Interactions: None.

---

The two Pimm sisters went from the opulent mansion to the storm that raged outside. Adrenaline coursed through their veins, a palpable energy fueled by the thrill of the unknown. They skipped through all the zombie forces taking guard until they made it to the Eustis Veil, guarded by a team of zombies... which they shoved aside until they made it to the Eustis Veil in its massive glory.

"Oh boy! I can't wait!" May said.

“Are you sure about this?” Rhea asked, her excitement barely masked.

"Are you kidding?!" May laughed. "No orgy? No nothing?! Do you want to sit around in here and play with our dicks for how many hours!?"

"Oh, true!" Rhea said. "Let's shake things up, I'm gonna go crazy!"

"You're already crazy!" May answered.

"I know!" Rhea responded, "This won't be the fun kind!"

"Let's do it together!" Rhea said, raising her hand.

"Sure!" May said, also raising her hand, "On the count of three!"

"One..." Rhea said.

"Two..." Rhea said.

"... Three!" They shouted in unison as they trusted their hands forward and pressed it against the glowing orange runes of the Eustis Veil. The racing storm that created a forcefield over the island had dissipated through force of will, revealing clear skies...

"That voice in our heads better be right!"

"It was right last time!"

"... The time we blew up the last headquarters?!"

---

Ruby White.

Cliff overlooking Elysium Island > Elysium Island.

Interactions: Your mother.

---

It's been an hour. Ruby was the first at the cliffside where she told them to meet, the one that gave them a perfect view of Elysium Island—wearing the Spring Maiden costume: a bright green hoodie, sweatpants, and ski mask with boots. The rest of the Maidens were in the same costume but different colors. Jess was red, Pearl was blue, and Amelia was orange. It wasn't long until the other two groups arrived, fully dressed and disguised as instructed.

Drake walked up, cracking his knuckles. He wore a black leather jacket with a black T-shirt, a black neck gaiter, cargo pants, worn-out combat boots, and a baseball cap. ”When's this damn veil going down?” Drake asked.

"Any second now," Ruby said with a nod as she pulled out her cell phone. "I guess I'll take this time to ask if everyone knows what group they're in and what that group will be doing."

”Aggro,” Drake said, putting his hands behind his head. ”A big ol' distraction.”

The next to walk up was Britney, who elected black cargo pants with a black hoodie and sneakers. She had a facemask on, a baseball cap, and the Noble Vow dangling in her hand. ”Artifacts.” Britney said with a nod. ”But if I can, I'm walking out with a TV.” She laughed.

Adora walked up, dressed as usual but in all black. She crossed her arms and said, ”We're pulling an Oceans Eleven on them.” She grinned from underneath her facemask.

Everyone else voiced their roles, and Ruby raised her staff in the air. "Alright, this is your last chance to back out! If you are worried or afraid, just step out now! Because once we get on that island, we don't have time to teleport people back and forth, you are committing."

”Ready as I'll be,” Adora said.

”Let's get it on, then!” Drake said, brushing his hands off.

"We gotta wait until we get the Veil down," Ruby said.

Britney raised her hand, ”Hey, I said it before, but overcommitting to one plan is-”

As Britney spoke, she got cut off by Ruby's phone beeping before she pulled it out and looked at it... her shoulders sank. "... Fuck."

”What's up?” Adora asked.

"Those rich fucks disappeared," Ruby said, "And we don't know where they went."

”... See?” Britney laughed. ”I told you-”

"Don't start," Ruby facepalmed. "The plan didn't work."

”Because it was a stupid plan!” Britney said, facepalming.

"I don't see you coming up with a better idea," Ruby said, "Your homegirl earlier pointed out a problem but also gave us a solution. You just bitched."

”I was trying to!” Britney said.

”I mean it wasn't a stupid plan per se,” Adora just shrugged. ”We just banked too much on them acting one way and made no plan B if they acted another.”

”See, Adora gets it,” Britney said, ”We set ourselves up to fail. Like they were going to themselves and drop the Veil just because ya'll bully some of them.”

”Bro, let's just find another way on the island already,” Drake just shrugged, throwing his hands up. ”Standing around arguing isn't going to accomplish shit.”

”Yes, I agree with Blackmore,” Adora said, rubbing her temples. ”Ya'll are giving me a headache. We still have a chance. Let's just figure out what to do next.”

"Okay, fine," Ruby said, looking at Britney, "You said you were a 'magical expert'. Do you know any other ways through the Veil?"

”Rumor has it that there's a moment where the storm calms down which can allow us to slip through buuuuuuut...” Britney explained, turning towards Elysium Island. ”Weather controlling artifacts or abstractions could allow us to slip through... can anyone do that?”

"We sorta had a guy," Ruby said. "But-"

Their conversation was cut off by the Eustis Veil going down. Ruby and Britney's jaw dropped as they stared ahead, at a loss for words.

"... EVERYONE! TELEPORT ON NOW! IT'S GAMEDAY! LET'S GO! GO! GO!"

Ruby shouted, raising her tree branch into the air.

Amelia raised her hands into the air, and a wind appeared, carrying leaves—before the majority of the group disappeared in a flash, seemingly carried away. The other teleporters did their work and teleported the rest of the three factions onto Elysium Island.

Right in the grove...

---

The winds coalesced at the thicket, a grove flanked by trees, and then the Greenwood Coven and various members of the 317 and Sycamore appeared.

Giving everyone little time to get their bearings, Ruby got to work.

"... Okay! We don't have time to fuck around!" Ruby said in a hushed tone as everyone scrambled together. She went from the left to the right and said, "Artifact group here; the south of the island is that way, by the way," Ruby pointed towards the south beach. Britney, Autumn, Kashmira, and Adora formed up.

"Aggro group here!" Ruby said as James, Drake, Jasmine, and Lucia formed up there.

"Support group next to them!" Ruby said as Lily, Jessica, and Amelia formed.

Finally, Ruby pointed next to them and said, "Veil group here!" Naomi and Pearl formed up on command.

Then Ruby walked front and center. She clutched her tree branch and said, "Alright, no speech. Nobody got time for that. Everyone knows what to do - if you don't, then you better figure it the fuck out," Ruby said with a nod. Veil and Artifact groups hurry up and get a move on; we're going to light the fuse in approximately five minutes. So use this time wisely."