[i]???[/i] Did… that just happen? Their magma trap… had been transformed into a 3 year old girl’s stereotypical dreamland. How did that even happen…? [color=A2DFF6]‘The pink hyper one in the infiltration team just turned our lava-trap into candy. Some form of reality bender. Be careful of her,’[/color] she told the team. Yikes, let’s hope that’s not as bad as it looked… Later, when the Dina scene was over and they were coming up the stairs… Funny thing. The information girl was eavesdropping on every word said by the infiltration team. So. [i][color=aba000]“Connie, there’s a room beneath those stairs. It might be nothing but Ronin did say to look for ‘small, secluded places’. Could you use the fear trick you used on that patrol on anyone inside of that room?”[/color][/i] The girl quickly pressed a button to her left, and a small hatch opened soundlessly beneath her, allowing her to drop down into the corridor right under her, the hatch closing above with utmost efficiency. Fortunately for her, the entire infiltration team was going up the stairs to the second floor, so the first floor corridor was safe. Hurray for never splitting the party. From there, she walked into the wall, Esther deforming the wood of the mansion to allow her escape. On the way she picked up her mobile phone to display her view of the infiltration team and she put headphones from the phone to her ears. Her ability to supervise would be greatly diminished when not inside her base, albeit not crippled, she was capable of doing everything from her phone wirelessly. If she could avoid the fear attack it was possible she could just return to her base afterwards, no harm done. She cycled to the foyer trap and prepared. [hr] [i]2nd Floor - Back Corridor[/i] [center][url=https://i.imgur.com/Y8OSnvr.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/OPMf9l2.png[/img][/url] [url=https://i.imgur.com/iLfQK1p.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/2C1b19j.png[/img][/url][/center] Everyone was eventually returned to the back corridor, and then it was time to plan their attack. Except, Dina said she was going to try to avoid this. [color=077ae6]‘Wait, that’s-’[/color] Mariette was a little late in the objection. But, but, her [i]time-sensitive plan[/i]…! It turned out to be a blessing in disguise, though, as Su’s words gave Mariette something to consider. She was right. The real enemy wasn’t Beacon, it was Justine. While her current plan was the best for destroying the attacking enemy force, it’d leave Justine free to retreat. Mariette gave an exasperated sigh at the mention of being supposedly behind the destruction in Penrose. [sub][color=077ae6]‘I was in a beach dimension…’[/color][/sub] That aside, she considered it, and then looked to Su. [color=077ae6]‘You have a point. Do you have an idea of how to corner someone who can teleport at will?’[/color] [color=PeachPuff]“Sonia's primary objective is to protect Justine and kill you. If we give them a shot at you, or attack Justine from multiple angles, we can be ready and counter Sonia when she tries something. All we need to do is predict her actions and we can land a counter attack,”[/color] Su replied. [color=CCBFFF]”She's saying to portal spam, Mariette, and dump a metric ton of us onto her!”[/color] Trixy added on. [sub][sub]Thank you [@BrokenPromise] for the input[/sub][/sub] Not exactly the most fool-proof of plans, but alright. [color=077ae6]‘Very well,’[/color] Mariette said, and then turned to her forces anew. With Dina talking on the other side, it gave Mariette time to hold a speech. [color=077ae6]‘Listen, everyone. Su made a good point. My true enemy is Justine and Sonia. If we go through with my plan, even if we win, she'd simply retreat and return with another army thirsting for revenge. To prevent that, we attack her now. We divide into two groups. One group attacks Justine. This will be me, Bunny, Eli, Su, Helga, Trixy, Silhouette, Eliza, Lily, Alexander, Hilaria and Dina. You're here because our enemy is Justine, the one who terrorised Penrose. Let’s finish her together. The other group will hamper Alicia and prevent her from reinforcing the outside. This will be Lea, Freya, Mayra, Suzette, Ronja, Josefin, Taihei, Tullia and Victoria, supported by Esther and our informer. You know this mansion, and won't mind fighting other residents of Penrose. Justine group. I'll get onto the roof, you assist me. Justine will not be able to resist aiming for me. We will be assisted by Mikayla out there, a really powerful spirit-girl. Any comments on strategy? Otherwise I'll just send us to the roof. Home team. Your primary goals are to prevent Alicia reinforcing Justine, and to survive. Avoid killing our enemies, we don't need more grudges against us. It's time to unleash our minions. Any questions or suggestions?’[/color] Through a PM, it has been confirmed there’ll be no such that would fundamentally change the contents of this post and could be said in the beginning of their own posts. The only one that potentially needs addressing is Lily possibly wanting to talk to Justine, the response to which would be [color=077ae6]‘Then talk as we fight.’[/color] Mariette has had enough delays. This was when Mariette opened portals to allow the home team, the champions of Asengav, to surround the enemy infiltration team, and as such Dina was warned by her fox that the foyer was being surrounded. She sent each common Magical Girl away, they weren’t powerful enough to handle what they were going up against and Mariette wasn’t willing to further risk their lives, though had Josefin drain a bit of their magic to deposit in Mariette first. While they were arranging things, their information girl kept them updated on what was being said in the foyer by communicators. Summarization, of course, but ultimately that the negotiation was a bust and Dina said she was willing to fight Asengav to save Mariette. Lea in particular looked like she wanted Dina’s head for this. Then Dina apparently buffed the whole enemy team. Ronja was like [color=fa898b]‘Oh, I should be able to do that, too,’[/color] and through Mariette’s portals she buffed the rest of the home team. When Dina eventually returned, she found only the Justine team standing by, and Mariette turning towards her. [color=077ae6]‘We’re going after Justine and Sonia while my forces hold back Alicia. If we take down Sonia, there will be no further risk to my life. Let’s go,’[/color] she said, and then she opened the portal… [hider=Mariette][i]Specialization:[/i] Portals, Light [i]Power:[/i] Tentacles [i]Perks:[/i] Gifted, I. Home, Blood M., Overcity S., I. Tourist, H. Handbag, Allies, Aware, A. Direction [i]Benefits:[/i] C. Doom, Reason, Minions, Retrieval, M. Might, Mana Font. [i]Drawbacks:[/i] Quick-T., Mind-Bent, Insomnia, Bane, H. Sapping [i]Str:[/i] 4 [i]Agi:[/i] 4 [i]Vit:[/i] 4 [i]Mag:[/i] 22 [i]Lck:[/i] 10[/hider] [@Ariamis][@Majoras End][@FamishedPants][@AtomicNut][@BrokenPromise][@Card Captor] [hr] [i]2nd Floor - Back Corridor[/i] [center][url=https://i.imgur.com/sqHfYs3.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/qXVwWBs.png[/img][/url][url=https://i.imgur.com/OoibQu3.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/UZad3rZ.png[/img][/url][/center] In the corridor, Taihei appeared from a portal after having fallen back herself. Some of the other girls looked a bit hesitant about her, on account of her famous bad luck, but Taihei didn't even notice them right now. She was far too shaken. Josefin noticed her, and instinctively started bouncing over, but stopped mid-way, her expression faltering. Last time they talked, Taihei had mentioned that she, in her existence, was another thing contributing to Taihei's terrible life by being another life ruined by her luck. However... [color=4e5478]‘Josefin,’[/color] Taihei said, calling her attention. [color=fcedae]‘Wh-what?’[/color] Josefin asked, flinching on the spot at being spoken to. [color=4e5478]‘I... wanted to say I am sorry. For last time. Turns out that... I don't want to die, after all,’[/color] Taihei said, recalling what had just happened. Josefin blinked in surprise at Taihei's words, then smiled so widely and bounced forward to hug around her monster aquatic friend. Taihei, with her immense endurance, didn't even budge under the force of the glomp, giving the slightest sad smile as she did. [color=fcedae]‘I'm happy,’[/color] Josefin said. [color=fcedae]‘Let's make your life a life worth living, alright?’[/color] [color=4e5478]‘I'll... do my best,’[/color] Taihei responded. [color=4e5478]‘Thank you, Josefin. I'm lucky to have you.’[/color] [color=fcedae]‘Tihi,’[/color] Josefin giggled a little. Then they were sent to do their ambush. [hr] [i]Void Room - Infiltration Team[/i] [center][url=https://i.imgur.com/gmRTrWA.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/5ZqyPyV.png[/img][/url][/center] Ronin was momentarily worried by Connie’s little panic attack, but if she said she was alright, then alright. That aside, then MDP asked about a particular painting. That one. Uh. Ronin looked at Mayra’s painting for a bit. She’d never actually worked with Mayra, just kinda sorta knew she existed, but… [color=9b83de]‘I’m pretty sure that one’s exactly what she looks like! A fire-darkness dragon monster-girl that’s really tough in a close-to-mid range fight,’[/color] Ronin said, intentionally withholding her name, knowing information girl was likely listening. [color=9b83de]‘Have you seen her before?’[/color] Ronin followed that up with. [hider=Ronin][i]Specialization:[/i] Reinforcement [i]Power:[/i] Twin S., Shapeshifting [i]Perks:[/i] M. Training, Flexibility, Fated, G.o.o. Jail, BigDamn H. [i]Benefits:[/i] Free Agent, Genki Girl [i]Drawbacks:[/i] Alone, also in debt to Crimson Cradle [i]Str:[/i] 7 [i]Agi:[/i] 7 [i]Vit:[/i] 7 [i]Mag:[/i] 8 [i]Lck:[/i] 6[/hider] And if she had not, she didn’t need to wait much longer. As “Eli ” charged into the library, the door swinging up for her… Firstly, Delta’s spell went off and the floor was turned into mirrors. The mirrors below “Eli” revealed a lightning-quick shadow that had been hiding in the ceiling above the door, who- Claws and a tail struck at her with the power and speed granted by Str 22 and Agi 21, a combo to disrupt her defenses and then send her flying, as Freya had been waiting for her to make her entrance. [center][url=https://i.imgur.com/5o9ObXJ.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/Ih8oH7W.png[/img][/url][/center] Meanwhile, the foyer trap went off. In the middle of the room a small item launched into the air, and went off. A giant shock-wave of Sound-specialization cracked across the foyer, sure to rattle anyone unprepared for it, Freya jumping inside the library and bracing her ears as to take minimal damage herself. A loud [i]CRACK[/i] echoed through the whole mansion, but here in the foyer the sound was deafening, would bypass physical shields, and doubled as the signal to start the ambush. [center][url=https://i.imgur.com/ad92PvD.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/u1b416E.png[/img][/url][url=https://i.imgur.com/3tj5n3Y.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/P2tVfst.png[/img][/url][/center] From the lower floor, east side, the door slammed open and Tullia pointed her Bifrost Staff at the intruders. A sudden, chilling beam of Mag 16 ice blasted in, intent to freeze them solid and end this encounter early. As she did that, Victoria (real one) entered from the north-north-east door to the foyer on the first floor, and skipped to plant her hands onto the side of the stair. With her limited yet competent 10 Mag, she let her ice spread over the surface of the stairs and up to the base of the second floor entrance, intent on freezing the feet of those standing there and making them easier targets, as well as maybe make them slip if they try to move. [center][url=https://i.imgur.com/sqHfYs3.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/qXVwWBs.png[/img][/url][url=https://i.imgur.com/OoibQu3.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/UZad3rZ.png[/img][/url][/center] From the lower-left, first floor, Taihei entered. She lifted three of her artifacts that she’d made with her 18 Mag, and with the same Mag to her second specialization of Gravity she now sent these flying at the infiltration team, fully expecting them to explode on shields but at the very least she’d have distracted them. With her she had Josefin, who completely lacks ranged attack alternatives and as such is just peeking right now. [center][url=https://i.imgur.com/m4rTXOi.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/rMgrdyA.png[/img][/url][url=https://i.imgur.com/4rEtFz1.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/sKJ5riZ.png[/img][/url][/center] From the second floor, west side, the arachne form of Ronja appeared right along with Suzette. Suzette shot a straight blast of Mag 16 empathic [i]rage[/i] at them, the sheer rage in the blast seeking to tear whatever it found asunder, all while the blonde girl grinned so happily at them. Meanwhile, Ronja threw a giant net of Mag 15 Reinforcement web on them, intended to restrain them even as it had large enough square holes for allied attacks to get through. [center][url=https://i.imgur.com/N53ToUw.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/5TcL6Af.png[/img][/url][url=https://i.imgur.com/D8A8SOp.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/OGWuw89.png[/img][/url][/center] Second floor, east side, an overly excited dragon girl jumped up on the railing right above her own painting, grinning at them before unleashing a massive burst of fire from her mouth at those coming up the stairs… which at Mag 10 wasn’t quite as dangerous as the other magical attacks in the room, but still nothing to be simply shrugged off. Lea rose into the air beside her. She locked onto her targets, and threw manifested shimmering green lances of wind through the air, targeting specifically ‘Mariette’ and Connie, the two they’d been warned about. At Mag 13 it wasn’t the most powerful offensive move in the room, but with Agi 21 no amount of regular dodging would make Lea’s lances miss, for she was a certified magical sniper that could predict such moves. It should be noted, though, that while all these attacks sounded pretty lethal, they weren’t intended to kill, as Mariette commanded. Ice was only going to freeze. Suzette would power down her beam if she was making actual contact. Mayra’s fire would [i]hurt[/i], yes, but wouldn’t [i]kill[/i] an averagely powerful Magical Girl. Lea had the greatest precision here and could pierce through a body to cripple someone without killing them, albeit that one probably looked pretty intent to kill. And Taihei’s explosive artifacts exploded when at a certain distance to living beings, far enough that they would cripple and not necessarily kill, albeit she thought that maybe she’d be unlucky anyway so either she did no damage at all or accidentally killed someone. Sally wasn’t close enough to change her bad luck, was she? At the same time, a barrier was raised over the front door. The barrier was originally intended to keep attackers from escaping the ambush so they could be routed, but now it was being used to prevent what remained of the assault team from trying to be reinforcements. Freya, after this, was a bit startled by the fact the floor had become mirrors. Mirrors were usually a good thing, being Mariette’s tools of magic, yet these were somehow [i]not[/i] Mariettes, and Freya had experienced enough hostile magic to know remaining in a room with enemy magic is a bad idea. She called forth her minions, which manifested from darkness as a group of rock-beasts, representing the combo of Freya’s two specializations Rock and Beast, that she couldn’t use due to Mag 2. Tough creatures that couldn’t actually defeat Magical Girls themselves but could totally block their entrance into the Library by charging at the door from inside, stampeding over the mirror floor intent on preventing the infiltration team from just fleeing into the library! … While Freya slipped out the back because she didn’t want to be in a room with enemy magic. [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/6jKYY2D.png[/img][img]https://i.imgur.com/6jKYY2D.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/6jKYY2D.png[/img][img]https://i.imgur.com/6jKYY2D.png[/img][/center] This was their ambush. If they started being overpowered even the slightest, they had orders to retreat and regroup. We’ll see what happens. [@Ariamis][@Flamelord][@Majoras End][@Ponn][@AtomicNut][@MadManMoon][@Crusader Lord] [hr] [i]Outside - Assault Team[/i] [center][url=https://i.imgur.com/3tj5n3Y.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/P2tVfst.png[/img][/url][/center] [color=9c87c9]‘… So, like, what kind of arrangement do you guys have with Justine? You know she’s gonna break it, whatever you do, right? Ain’t she the bigger threat here? Mariette’s not trying to either destroy the town or steal all the love from the world, hah,’[/color] the Victoria clone asked, looking curiously at whoever remained now. Like, Kimble, maybe. [hr] [i]Justine’s current location[/i] [center][url=https://i.imgur.com/bNRqfj0.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/nJayqtG.png[/img][/url][/center] What Sakura found that she was facing was not a unit of easily killed minion ghosts that she could simply power through. These were ghosts filled with supreme magic, each acting as an extension of Mikayla’s will, and she was deep inside the Powerful Aura the spirit was extruding. She struck towards them, only to be met with a ghastly union of shields, clashing towards her assault with impeccable timing, before the soldiers flowed around the shields, armored or girl-like ghosts slicing towards her with swords and scythes, working with complete team-work, as if controlled by a single mind. Individually they wouldn’t have been able to compete with Sakura, no, but the sheer mass of them made for a powerful wall that was forcing her down. She was, however, able to strike at those who were directing their attention towards Justine, the two of them together making a number of them have to scatter. These were quickly replaced with more of their number, Mikayla looking on with the slightest of a smile as she dodged Justine’s missile. A sphere of powerful spirits swirled around Mikayla as she engaged with Sakura and Justine. The ghostly Magical Girl swung her arm, and with it a flock of ghosts extended like a massive blade to chop at Justine’s position, but she teleported out of the way. Specters moved out of the way of Justine’s attacks, and it appeared that Mikayla herself had absolute control of her location, able to speed through the air with sudden and high speed. Sakura was being a pain… so Mikayla made a gesture with her hand, and her second specialization of Gravity suddenly grabbed at Sakura to fling her away from the fight with a powerful lurch. Then Aurelio appeared. If Justine stopped, then Mikayla briefly stopped as well, all her spirits pausing in mid-air in their exact current location. After all, her given mission was to delay Justine. What did it matter if this little boy wasted a couple of seconds? If he had a devious plan to play, then he’d play his cards anyway should she move to cut his limbs off. Still, what neither of them knew was that Mariette had a change of plans. A blast of light suddenly surged through the air straight at Justine and Sonia. If(when) they dodged it, it’d be caught in a portal going to straight above them to catch them again. [center][url=https://i.imgur.com/Y8OSnvr.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/OPMf9l2.png[/img][/url] [url=https://i.imgur.com/iLfQK1p.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/2C1b19j.png[/img][/url][/center] [color=077ae6]‘Justine von Visceral,’[/color] Mariette called, holding her mirror forward with her left hand and grasping around the currently coloured black Bunny with her right. She’d emerged on the roof, glaring towards Justine’s current position. Tiny portals were around the top of her head leading to the eye under her eyepatch to allow her to look in any direction, down and up included, teleporting opponent. A look of determination in her visible eye. [color=077ae6]‘Let’s end this here,’[/color] she said, as she charged more blasts of light through her mirror, opened more portals to potentially reroute attacks and try to corner Justine and Sonia, help her companions get where they wanted and spread her tentacles for probably close combat attacks. With her she had Eli, who had one wing become a Reinforced shield, and the other becoming a blade ready to do battle, albeit she looked pretty nervous. All allies of Mariette in this particular fight may request Mariette’s portals and then simply assume Mariette opened such a portal for them, in order to position themselves as they like to attack or whatever they want to do, assuming Mariette doesn’t have an obvious reason not to. Aurelio suddenly may have found himself relatively ignored. Maybe. Depends on what Justine’s doing. [@Ariamis][@BrokenPromise][@FamishedPants][@Majoras End][@Card Captor][@AtomicNut][@Shifter_Master]