"[i]Isang...Tsino...o baka Hapones[/i] (One Chinese, or perhaps Japanese)," spoke the Zombie, giving Hibiscus a hint that either it was the Immortals, or the Yakuza who were behind this. Of course, in a world where illusions and shapeshifting were possibilities, basic descriptions were likely to be wrong, and it could be an attempt to frame those two organizations. Nevertheless, it was a lead, albeit tenuous.

The number of other zombies was dwindling, thanks to the rush of the reinforcements. Alexandria, Nao, and Myriad were making a dent in their numbers; same for Jonathan; until there were about 5 undead left, causing the terrorists to step up their game. Now, some of them revealed themselves to be Magi, causing lightning - red lightning - to fall down from the sky without a cloud in sight.

Others, meanwhile, rushed straight for the MPC members, having cast magical shields upon them; some grew unnatural claws; empowered by either Life or Otherness magic, while a few more drew [i]Chainswords[/i], aka swords with chainsaw blades. Ascot charged to meet them, his rattan sticks magically toughened to the point where they can withstand even the chainsaw blades and claws.

[i]Remember, guys![/i] he found the time to telepathically message, [i]you must not kill anyone! The MPC's pacifism might be in tatters, but it is Not. Gone. Yet![/i] The boy punctuated for emphasis even as he brought down a terrorist with his sticks, then cast an illusion of one's worst fears on another. In the meantime, one terrorist, one who seemed white, but who was actually a shapeshifted Asian...

...Not that Hibiscus or Myriad or their companions knew this; Ascot and Johnathan only knew because of their Life Magic, went up to the highest pile of rubble, revealing himself. He drew two pistols from his belt, and shot at the group. The slugs were [i]Orichalcum[/i], a material that reduced the power of magical shields and inflicted damage upon the enemy that cannot be healed by magic. The nastier forms of Orichalcum slugs also scattered themselves throughout the body, creating Metal Poisoning that also cannot be healed by magic. Pure Technology Medi-Gel can cure the damage, but, well, that would take a period of peace, and it depended on where the bullets struck. These bullets were also one of the few things that can conceivably threaten Ascot or Jonathan...