[Center][img]https://i.imgur.com/v1SgHtl.png[/img]
[color=979CB2]LOCATION:[/color]Al Mamoon Northeast - Rocket Inc.
[color=979CB2]WORD COUNT:[/color] 1,174(+2 EXP +10 EXP) [color=#FF0000]L[/color][color=#FFBF00]e[/color][color=#80FF00]v[/color][color=#00FF40]e[/color][color=#00FFFF]l[/color] [color=#0040FF]u[/color][color=#7F00FF]p[/color][color=#FF00BF]![/color]
[color=979CB2]MENTIONS:[/color] Midna, Jesse [/Center]

[Hider=A Power Suited For A Genius!][color=979CB2][b]Evil Modification -[/b] Mao gains access to four mechanical limbs that emerge from beneath his coat on command. Each comes with their own dangerous attachment to dish out pain or to be used as utility where applicable outside of combat: a pair of large dissecting scissors, a drill, a buzz saw, and a comically large surgical scalpel.[/color][/Hider]

[hr]

Midna's frustration only confirmed Mao's assumption their side had the same failings in capturing anyone. Though, considering she seemed to be the only one here actually bothered by this result, he was somewhat confused to how his brainwashed group had been gathered up before. He supposed some of the others, like that giant detective and fat hamster were the more reasonable ones. This group seemed mainly consisted of wildcards that sold him on the group's goals, or at least their methods for reaching those goals, weren't the same. Maybe Midna was too idealistic with her wish to save everyone, but Mao could see the benefits despite her just trying to be a 'good guy'.

Observing his new prize in his Glass War Axe as he followed Midna over to Laharl, his face twisted a little at the example she provided on how to uncurse others. You literally send a heart to them? That was so... Cutesy and disgusting! However, Laharl seemed better than before, proving it worked along with his eyes changing from that red glow. Reluctantly he'd keep it in mind, as it was better than not knowing. Things were better this way though: The last thing he needed was someone ratting that he saved a fellow demon. That blue runt wouldn't of ever let that go, Mao was sure of it.

[color=979CB2]"I'll keep this noted."[/color] He spoke in acknowledgement of Midna's lesson, avoiding the snark this time. As cliché as it was, there were good uses for this ability. Being able to harness it himself could be useful, even if the concept was a bit of stomach souring one. He'd have time to linger on that pain later, as he had both physical and mental pains to deal with aside from Friend Hearts. With no damn healer, Mao noted he was stuck with his crisped wounds, which were causing pain just by existing, let alone whatever fight came next. 

Then there was Jesse, confirming to Mao again these people weren't on the same wavelength. Her words left him conflicted, feeling an odd sense of annoyance with her despite mostly agreeing with what she had to say. Resting his axe on his shoulder, he decided to pipe in. [color=979CB2]"There's more than just that God's Curse at play here."[/color] Mao added, unsure if Jesse was filled in at all considering how hurried everyone was. [color=979CB2]"Number Two... The Resistance Leader's brainwashing is at play. It either changes your view to make the acts of violence seem right, or makes you completely oblivious to the harm you cause. It's brought this group together by force. I doubt most of them would be in this situation if she wasn't involved."[/color]

A momentary thought about Klee and Baz caused Mao's expression to be etched with determination, not caring about why Midna's group had come here in the first place, or intervened with the issues of the city. He and Jesse were both gleaming until today, making Mao assume they picked Jesse up around here as well. Bolstering the ranks was the obvious answer, but who knew how long this had been going on? Mao's memories went back a way, but if they've been traveling this world the whole time that Mao himself could remember in this world... It wasn't a lot of time, in retrospect. There was probably a long road ahead to hoping they could surpass the being that brought them here.

Ciella's insistence that they push on was something Mao could agree with. Eyeing Midna for a moment, he decided to not give her a hard time amongst the trouble she was having, instead choosing to push his wannabe parole officer towards their next task. [color=979CB2]"Let's try and put that demonstration to use down there."[/color] He commented, not backing her from a morale stance, but more as a long-term strategy to defeating Galeem. It's not like he didn't have people he wanted to save, but he wasn't about to put that information out there for an entire group like this. She'd just have to take his words as best she could, and perhaps stick close if she wanted to work together on saving a life or two during their descent.

Mao had no fear in taking front: Though he didn't know Braum in the slightest and his lack of speaking made it clear he didn't care to do so, his defensive capabilities were notable. Whatever appeared, Mao was willing to be the first in the fray. But the last thing he expected to appear was a maze. A maze with moving panels that did nothing but make the path more annoying to find. 

[color=979CB2]"Tch, sounds simple."[/color] Mao spoke in agreement with Joker, pushing his glasses up with confidence. [color=979CB2]"Simpleton puzzles like these are nothing my 1.8 Million E.Q can't solve!"[/color] With a confident boast, he took the lead with an extreme lack of hesitation, a step on one of the panels sending him spinning out of sight with a yelp of surprise. He was spun across six panels, before finally arriving on a yellow one. Taking a second to recover from the dizziness, he pressed onward to see where he'd end up. There were multiple options, the demon scoffing at the first one because it lead barely anywhere except a few spaces to a yellow spot.

Going down, he decided to try the third panel he saw. It took him back towards the right, then a couple of panels shuffled him upwards to a yellow panel. Too fixated on going forward, he simply didn't notice that it was the same spot he had disregarded moments ago. Walking farther to the right, he had another split in his path. Go upwards, to which seemed too far up to be progressive, or down. He chose down.

Presented with three more arrows, one stood out in particular because it pointed back up towards where he came. [color=979CB2]"Crafty bastards."[/color] He grumbled, deciding to take the panel to his left. It brought him spinning through four more panels, before yet another yellow panel blessed his travels. The bright colors were starting to hurt his eyes, and the spinning was getting to his stomach. Deciding to take a momentary break, he observed his current location, one path having an arrow that pointed up again, but on the other side, he saw a wide doorway. shouting back at the group with surprising closeness, as if he still wasn't too far away. [color=979CB2]"The damn exit is blocked by this one panel! That's so damn [i]rotten...[/i]"[/color] If he had to keep spinning like this, the maze would be turning into a water slide as Mao's innards became his outtards. [color=979CB2]"I'm going to get the name of whoever design this crap, and then put 'em on two panels that will spin back and forth. [i]Forever![/i]"[/color]

Relieved thanks to his moment of ranting, he began to try and deduce where to go next. Where were the guinea pigs when he needed them? He might have to go back on helping Midna with the friend-hearting if one of these rebels sent him back to the beginning...

[Hider=Rocket Inc. Puzzle: Mao's Path][img]https://i.imgur.com/CVO4mQR.png[/img][/Hider]