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Tower
Turn Six
Battle Theme ~Teleglitch Track 2~
Objective: Rout all enemies.

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>The reinforcements are coming. The swarm is far larger than it was prior. Prepare yourselves.<
The loud, frenzied skittering that signals the arrival of the swarms of glass spiders attacking the group draws nearer. It is far louder and far more frenzied than before, and a massive group can be seen, pouring in very quickly. More skittering can be heard from the behind, and the backs of the glass beasts that assail them can be seen glinting through the bushes.

The odds are against you. The Might of Arvinia and the Dragon Slayer stand alone to defend their remaining ally against an unending onslaught. Both men known for intense willpower, both men for fighting against insurmountable odds, and both men triumphing in situations where hope was thought lost, long snatched by the jaws of defeat, standing against a far more powerful opponent, unyielding in will and unrivalled in sheer power.

But they are but mortal. Powerful men, durable and resilient beyond their companions, driven by sheer force of will or by the blood of dragons, but mortal nonetheless. What bleeds may die, and both men have bled and will bleed.

The prognosis is grim, and the choices are few; fight, and eventually be overwhelmed by a seemingly-infinite foe, or retreat, and risk these spiders ambushing their allies in the fort. Either way, the situation is untenable without reinforcements.
>Wait. I detect a new presence....not one of ours and not one of theirs!<
Theme Override: Kamen Rider Wizard ~It's Showtime~
"Ruby Strike!"
A large portion of the oncoming forces are suddenly obliterated as what appears to be a giant ruby blade descends upon them, shattering the spiders on contact. As the spiders skitter away from the area of impact, a barrier of red crystals suddenly forms in the area, funneling a large portion of the spiders backwards into the forest as the barrier extends out a considerable distance. Quite a few spiders made it across, but nowhere near the vast number they were about to face.

The responsible party turns to the group, heading over to join them. They appear to be a man, clad in a black trenchcoat and boots, with a chestplate made of red gems underneath and a helmet and faceplate similarly constructed, a small ring with a ruby inset on their left hand.
"Time to even the odds, no? I've bought you some time. The spiders will have to go around it; they won't be able to climb up the smooth surface of the barrier, not without damaging themselves. Let's finish this before they do."
Masked Evoker Rosso has joined the fray.

---

All being said and done, Mircea and Leonidas continue their extermination of the remaining spiders. Leonidas swipes around with his spear, draconic energies surging through him and emerging as a burst of black flame, its infernal jaws melting the fragile glass the spiders are made out of, the dragon surging through the swarm of spiders like a hot knife through butter. Those that survive Leonidas' onslaught are caught on Mircea's lance or trampled under his mighty steed, as the Emperor of Arvinia glows himself with golden energy, the battle finally rousing something deep within the Emperor as he throws his head back and laughs uproariously.

Their new ally heads inside to aid Kumo, who flees upwards to protect herself as her vision remains impaired, her legs clambering up the walls to protect herself.
"Allow me to help."
A flash of warm, red light flows over Kumo's eyes, and her wounds and blindness are cured.

The two remaining spiders attempt a feeble, pointless attack upon the Emperor and the Slayer, but without numbers, their (considerable) physical strength is outmatched by their own, as one is simply incinerated by Leonidas and the other shattered upon impalement upon Mircea's lance. The spiders within the tower fare better, however, as one attempts to swipe at their new ally, only for him to manage to roll back at the last second, their talon scraping across the red gem chestplate. His arm flies out with what appears to be a sword made of rubies and carbuncles in an attempt to counterattack, but the spider is even swifter and evades their strike. The other spiders clump up to protect the Stalker, who launches more shrapnel at Kumo, who, with her vision restored, easily evades it.

---

Meanwhile, in the Kumon Mansion....
"Guess it can't be helped. I'll have a look later."
Minato sighs as the search is, seemingly for the moment, unsuccessful. He looks over at the bento boxes he wrapped, one for himself and one for Faith; not exactly artisanal masterpieces, but given Minato wasn't exactly trained in the art of making a good-looking bento box, and given he was in a hurry, not exactly bad-looking either. And the food was decently cooked.

The boy looks at himself in the mirror, adjusting the collar of his jet-black suit. Minato was always into wearing good, tailored suits; his parents had always told him that his grandmother was the same way with dresses, wanting to look always presentable and sharp. In many ways, Minato was very much a mirror of Yukari Kumon, dress sense, appreciation of the opposite sex and treatment of the opposite sex included. This suit, of course, wasn't exactly businesswear; it was specifically eveningwear, falling well across Minato's athletic frame, complete with a red tie to stand out against the black undershirt.

And the way both Kumon scions treated the opposite sex was to look as good for them and treat them as good as possible. Minato also slotted the Gaia Driver into his pocket; though wearing it right now wouldn't be the best idea, Aramitama had a tendency of popping up at the most inconvenient of times.

He pauses. Tsukasa had told him something had changed within the Driver, something due to Minato's overuse of the Dai-Henshin mode, something she'd spoken to him about a few hours ago, when he went to have his Driver checked. Minato rubs his chin in thought, before smiling.
"Well, if I'm going on a date, best go in style, right?"

He holds the Gaia Driver to his waist, as the belt materialises.
"Henshin!"

6-7, jav feathergirl C, canto to 9-8

If Theo heard Keyleth's offer, he doesn't seem to care. Or offer any response apart from walking off to get everyone else.

Theodore seems oddly un-flabbergasted by Rune's response, shrugs and heads off to find someone else to pester.

UnFortunately for them, the drinking party is Theodore's next victim next target.
"A drinking party, is it?"

"But why wouldn't I say everything? Is dishonesty not a sin?"

"You may kill me, but you may never insult me. A man of my godly talents needs no reassurance, save from himself."