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[center] [@Ariamis] [@Card Captor] [@FamishedPants] [@AtomicNut] [/center]

As the torrential rain continued to pour down, the sounds of the tempest were suddenly overtaken by screams of pure agony, emanating from the warehouse.

[color=DarkOrchid]“W-What is t-that?!”[/color] Connie asked, her terror clear in her voice.

[color=SpringGreen]“I do not know, little sister,”[/color] Gaia replied as she put her arm around her trembling friend. [color=SpringGreen]“But it cannot be anything good.”[/color]

The next instant, Connie gave a startled gasp as a girl slowly dragged herself out of the warehouse. Blood drained from her eyes, nose, and mouth.

[color=DarkOrchid]“O-Oh my gosh…!”[/color]Connie whimpered, placing her hands over her mouth, while Lily screamed at the horrifying sight.

Meanwhile, another girl had arrived and quickly knelt down beside the wounded girl, who was apparently named Violette. As the newcomer did her best to heal Violette’s injuries, she asked the girl who was responsible for them. Violette’s response was inaudible to Connie, but the newcomer repeated it in a louder voice. The Penrose Independent. Connie had no idea who they were, and before she could ask, the newcomer began talking again. Apparently, there was something big going on at Penrose Park. A cardinal had been assassinated, and an attack had wiped out operatives at the rave? Connie’s mind spun in a confused daze as she tried to make sense of what she was hearing, but then Lily was speaking up, asking to be allowed to help. 

Then, more screams emanated from the rave, along with the most terrifying thunderclap Connie had ever heard. Hugging herself as Gaia held her even tighter, Connie watched as the newcomer, whom she could now see was an imposing girl with glasses, rebuffed Lily and summoned a massive hammer that radiated tremendous power. Shouting an incantation, the girl equipped herself with glowing armor, while using her hammer to completely shatter the barrier around the warehouse. Reiterating her earlier statement about the battle in Penrose Park, she shot off into the warehouse, leaving the rest of them behind to figure out a course of action. Unsurprisingly, Lily was the first to speak up, suggesting that they head to Penrose Park.

[color=DarkOrchid]“O-Okay,”[/color] Connie said shakily, mustering every last ounce of her courage. [color=DarkOrchid]“I-I’ll g-go w-with you!”[/color]

[color=SpringGreen]“Are you sure you want to do this, Connie?”[/color] Gaia asked, her eyes filled with concern. [color=SpringGreen]“After everything that’s happened…”[/color]

[color=DarkOrchid]“I-I’m s-sure,”[/color] Connie replied, in what she hoped was a tone of determination. [color=DarkOrchid]“L-Lily’s my f-friend, and I r-really want to h-help her.”[/color] 

[color=SpringGreen]“Very well, little sister,”[/color] Gaia conceded. [color=SpringGreen]“If you wish to venture into battle, then I shall be right by your side.”[/color]

[color=DarkOrchid]“Thanks, Mia,”[/color] she said warmly, while giving her friend a big smile. [color=DarkOrchid]“Oh!”[/color] Connie exclaimed, suddenly remembering something important. [color=DarkOrchid]“B-But first we n-need to help Emily! Um, A-Alex?”[/color] she asked hesitantly. [color=DarkOrchid]“C-Could you, um, p-pleas h-help Emily g-get b-better? I k-know she w-wants to h-help too, but she c-can’t d-do anything l-like t-this…”[/color] 

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Even as the rave’s insanity had reached a fever pitch, Keiko had scarcely moved an inch from her position in front of the crackling pyre that had once been a bar. Her warrior’s anger had risen to never-before-seen heights with the start of the disgusting cacophony Vi-Chan called a “song”, but still, she refused to move from her place any more than was absolutely necessary. After all, she was not some mindless animal. She had no need to leave herself vulnerable in order to slake her bloodlust, especially when a plentiful stream of opponents were only too eager to come to [i]her.[/i] As each charging monster girl was dispatched in turn, Keiko felt her hatred continue to rise. These savage beasts offered no challenge. This was not the honorable combat she sought, not even close! Where was the Ascendancy? Why had her true foes yet to appear? Then, just as Vi-Chan’s mind flaying song reached its crescendo, they finally arrived. Two full squads of the Ascendancy’s best descended upon the riotous rave, weapons drawn and spells charged. [i]This[/i] was what she had been waiting for… 

As she slowly strode towards them, she calmly dispatched anyone foolish enough to attack her. Impassively taking note of the barrier that manifested to separate the combatants, she was unsurprised when the wall of bluish energy shattered mere moments later. It was complete folly to attempt to disrupt an engagement such as this, a foolish waste of one’s mana. Thus far, her own pool of mana had barely been touched, allowing her to make use of it at the most opportune moment. A moment that was now at hand. The barrier was down, the smoke had abated, and even Vi-Chan’s wretched “song” had been silenced. Looking over her adversaries, she took note of a girl wielding a massive lance and equally massive shield. This would be her opponent.

[color=DarkGoldenrod]“Warrior of the Ascendancy!”[/color] Keiko called out, pointing her blade in the girl’s direction. [color=DarkGoldenrod]“I challenge you to single combat!”[/color]

Accepting with a nod, the girl stepped forward to do battle. Acknowledging her opponent with a salute of her sword, Keiko assumed a combat stance and waited for the Ascendancy girl to make the first move. She did so by charging forward, thrusting her lance out with remarkable swiftness. Keiko deftly parried the attack, before following up with one of her own, which was deflected in turn. As the two warriors continued to battle, it was clear that both combatants were evenly matched. Neither could seem to land a telling blow, and sparks flew as their weapons clashed.

[color=DarkGoldenrod]“Well met, warrior!”[/color] Keiko commended. [color=DarkGoldenrod]“It has been long indeed since I have faced so skilled an opponent.”[/color] 

The duel continued for several moments longer, when, suddenly, the other girl seemed to freeze in place, a glazed look in her eyes. Keiko halted her attack as well, refusing to strike down an unready opponent. This could have been some strange form of bluff, but she highly doubted it. No, something was very wrong here, a suspicion confirmed a moment later, when the girl dropped her weapon and gave voice to a scream of unimaginable agony, clutching her head as streams of blood began pouring from her nose, mouth, ears, and eyes. A moment later, and the girl was lying on the floor, dead.

[color=DarkGoldenrod][i]What sorcery is this?[/i][/color] Keiko wondered, momentarily stunned by what she had just witnessed. 

An answer was soon provided as she felt her mind being violated by a psychic communication.

[color=DarkGoldenrod][i]The Penrose Independent? What in the seven hells is that?[/i][/color]

Whatever it was, it clearly had no qualms about employing the most vile and underhanded means to dispatch its enemies. The whole affair filled her with disgust. Killing one’s foes without even looking them in the eye? This was the act of a coward, not a warrior. There was no honor in any of this. She realized now that coming here had been a great mistake.

[color=DarkGoldenrod]“My condolences, warrior,”[/color] Keiko said as she knelt down beside the girl’s unmoving body. [color=DarkGoldenrod]“You deserved far better than this,”[/color] she added, while gently closing the girl’s eyes.

Rising to her feet once more, she cast one final, disdainful look over the slaughterhouse that had once been the rave, before retiring to her Interdimensional Home, leaving no evidence of her departure. 
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