Bay 12 Games Forum

The armored woman is impassive. She simply stands firm.
"That was a warning. Cease your pursuit of the Zoanthropes."

They say that, in a fight, at moments like this, time seems to slow; adrenaline hits the blood, your reflexes go into overdrive, and everything goes into slow motion.

A second passes.

"This has gone too far."

A second passes.

Ito's armor descends from the heavens. A blast of plasma is sent hurtling down towards the gigantic snake- no, Haruko, enshrouded in plasma, a miniature sun incarnated. Spica grabs Lapis, hugging the small creature closer to her and kicking backwards to avoid the blast area.

A second passes.

Ai strolls across the parking lot. Kiyo unleashes a barrage of projectiles, missiles and plasma sailling through the air, inexorably advancing towards the target.

A second passes.

Ragnar crouches to brace himself. Amelie crouches, preparing to launch a kick at the snake. Maki hurtles through the air, her fist sparking with electricity, and Yamato's blade slices through the very heat emanating from Haruko, his blade taking on that very same heat.

A second passes.

"Mystic Code: Irkalla."

And like that, time speeds up.

A blast of purple energy smashes into the ground between the party and the Zoanthrope, knocking everyone back. The energy dissipates in a matter of seconds, leaving nothing but smoke.

And when the smoke blows away, the Zoanthrope has disappeared, leaving in its place a armored woman with a simple spear of black metal, the tip glowing with purple energy. Her armor is segmented, akin to an insect, fitting snugly around her svelte shape, segments of obsidian-colored metal separated by purple lines of light, her pale shoulders and upper arms remaining exposed. Her long white hair blows in the wind behind her, and her facial features are obscured by a black mask, four points of purple light linked by lines angled upwards towards the ends. She floats slightly off the ground, and a dark energy emanates off of her.

She's definitely NOT the Zoanthrope, and almost certainly on their side.

Minato casually strolls up to the pair of Shef and Yuki as they sit down to enjoy their ice cream, having been watching (and been rendered somewhat speechless) the whole time.
".....you two enjoying our little....vacation?"

10,6

"Um...w-well, you know.....um...stuff. Like the Great Wiggler being a free spirit, h-her being real old, her _{liking offerings of coral to eat}...."

"I-I didn't want to cause any problems, r-really. I was just curious since this g-goes against w-what I already know about the Great Wiggler-"
"I mean from r-rumours and w-what people say! N-not because I-I'd claim I know her better, or anything...."

"U-um...I-I'm sorry I asked! I-I didn't mean to start an argument, d-don't yell at each other..."

"....ah."
"....but what even i-is it, then?"