[Center][img]https://i.imgur.com/fMlz5YU.png[/img]
[color=979CB2]LOCATION:[/color]Al Mamoon Northeast - Rocket Inc.
[color=979CB2]WORD COUNT:[/color] 1,439 (+3 EXP)
[color=979CB2]MENTIONS:[/color] Tora, Es, Midna[/Center]


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The bullet that found itself ending Nastasia's life was sudden, and surprising. A slight glance back made it easy to detect the cause, Jesse putting the mind-controlling Resistance leader to rest. Not that Mao particularly cared, he'd been waiting on it to somehow occur in one way or another. Instead of complaining over a little spilled blood, he stuck to his plan. However, Mao's eyes shot open wide behind his glasses as Shadow turned on him and the approaching group seeming to have been baiting their approach.

The light from his attack was almost blinding at this distance, but where Mao thought he'd get a spear in his chest, it instead when flying off course after another shot rang out. Jesse again, the overlord gaining an appreciation for her gun at this point from how much help she'd been throughout this struggle. Her bullets provided an ample distraction for him to finish closing the gap, allowing him to make his leap upwards to try and smash the hedgehog into his new doormat.

Rather than turn Shadow's skull into a bowl, something unexpected happened. He struck back, fist colliding with Mao's own and causing the overlord's coat to fly upward from the impact. It would've fallen off, had it not been chained to his person. But that was the least of his concerns. Despite all that Shadow had output during this battle, he managed to match fists after that heal. This creature was a legitimate monster in terms of ability, and for a moment, he wasn't sure if he'd make it against the fur-covered edgelord's force. [color=979CB2]"You aren't slipping away! How's it feel to be the one stuck in place?!"[/color] Taking his standstill in a more vengeful light, Shadow being forced to focus on him lead to pressure from those that followed: Joker, Fox, and to Mao's surprise, that fantastic warrior Gunnar. 

With their combined efforts, Shadow's defenses faltered. And Mao had a familiar feeling in that moment. Memories of an [url=https://disgaea.fandom.com/wiki/Raspberyl]Annoying Delinquent[/url] that taught him that sometimes, working with others could achieve much more than his own forward solo crusades. Part of him recalled, now, that she was possibly gone. His Netherworld, those subjects that insisted on being called 'friends'. There was one chance of getting them back he knew of, and to reach that, he'd be fighting more than a few battles. And he certainly couldn't lose this one.

With Shadow compromised, Mao pushed forward with everything he had. His fist pressed down, smashing into Shadow's skull, which could've potentially been audible in it's own right if Mao's own shouting wasn't overtaking it. As Shadow bounced off the ground, Mao remained on the ground, not skipping a beat in turning away and crossing his arms as the hedgehog fell against the cold metal floor, the draft from his fall drifting Mao's coat back to it's rightful position.

Mao trying to be cool was interrupted by the shaking foundation of their arena, causing him to quickly grow irritated despite the victory. [color=979CB2]"Of course, it'd be an attack like mine to knock this place down."[/color] Half-complaint, half-gloat, Mao's eyes fell on a particular object as everyone began an escape plan. Through the distractions, Nastasia's spirit rolled with the shaking terrain and found itself at the tip of the overlord's shoes. He stared at it momentarily, not sure if he should crush it here and now, or savor the moment later. The building panic caused him to simply pick up the spirit for the moment, tucking it away under his coat to figure out later.

While Mao could mostly care less about the politics of the situation, killing Ciella was bad regarding his own agenda. Thankfully, despite the lack of disagreement on her being a pain in the ass, they were sparing her. The idea of not healing either of these powerhouses also sounded like a firm plan, as while things ended well enough, Mao was... Uncertain about fighting Shadow at full competence. It'd be messier than he'd like, so avoiding it was for the best.

Despite the whole surprise about Mona becoming a giant bus, Mao did what he could to help shuffle the injured onto the... Living vehicle? So they could fly away with Jesse's tool gun. He took a seat and let out a sigh of relief, only momentarily looking out to see the place collapse. Rather than focus on how close the situation was just now, he reveled in the group surviving, and glanced down at his coat in consideration about Nastasia's spirit. Still something to worry about a little later, after he made sure there weren't any ambushes left on the way back up.

Things were, thankfully, uneventful. Mao took the front in case there was a surprise waiting up above, but as he practically barged through the basement entrance door he let out a startled [color=979CB2]"Gah! The hamster!"[/color] As a response to Tora's reaction, watching the creature topple over. As Poppi got him out of the way, Mao simply stretched, getting out of the way himself to let everyone pile in and figure themselves out. Es' information on who survived the other piece of this raid wasn't much concern, especially the lives lost, but despite his physical wounds being healed, mentally Mao was still tired. Too tired to be rude, instead exchanging similar information about the initial raid that pulled him into this mess, though he simply left the current group for them to figure out, not thinking it wise to reveal the former boss' spirit to anyone else she'd taken control of. Lest they just kick it around themselves.

After exchanging that small amount of information with Es, Mao had business to attend with since they were soon to be heading back to the palace. Mao had a somewhat determined expression, knowing it wouldn't be long until he'd be able to try and help Baz and Klee. He wasn't stupid enough to assume they'd walk easy after what had happened, but he hoped to at least open Baz's eyes to put him in a better position to look after their small, bombastic mutual acquaintance. There was also a concern for himself, as despite his lent aid (Which wasn't a choice to begin with, exactly) He'd probably be put in an odd spot as well. 

There weren't exactly a lot of people Mao trusted. Jesse had saved him quite a few times, but Midna was the one he started this mess with, so she seemed like the correct one to speak to about things. Especially when it came to mercy, given... Jesse tried but had a pretty gruesome (But respectable!) track record. 

Noting Midna was still injured, he couldn't offer much aside from one of his remaining candies. Made a decent ice-breaker anyways. [color=979CB2]"Take it,"[/color] He'd insist. [color=979CB2]"Should at least help out until you can get better healing."[/color] Regardless of her taking it, that was quite obviously not what Mao wanted to talk about. [color=979CB2]"Don't like asking others, but you're in a better position with the Palace than I am."[/color] He added, trailing into the main topic he wanted to discuss. [color=979CB2]"Back when you took out my group, there were two knuckleheads that were pretty much harmless. That kid, Klee. The one that could make the bombs? She'd never hurt a fly. Even with the control, she had to be fed lies about what was going on."[/color] Lies he helped tell her. He'd been in charge of ensuring she planted those explosives, thinking it was all a game. There was some guilt in that. [color=979CB2]"--And the big beefy blonde guy, with the whip. Name is Baz. While I was busy carrying out Number Two's orders, he was actually looking after her. He's more suited to being a babysitter than a fighter."[/color] He realized he was starting to sound sentimental, which annoyed him. So he tried to push ahead quickly, as to not look worse than he already did.

[color=979CB2]"I don't care, they're just--"[/color] He tried to think of a word that'd make them sound worse than 'associate'. [color=979CB2]"--[i]Minions.[/i]"[/color] Mao decided on, nodding. His minions. [color=979CB2]"But they're kind of like family-- To each other. So, I want to knock that curse out of Baz, and... Try and get the two of them out and away from this whole situation."[/color]

Shrugging, he leaned against the wall. [color=979CB2]"Don't know how it will go, and I don't entirely expect good results. But I'm asking for your help on trying to get them out."[/color] If he was going to get anywhere with these Seekers, he'd have to put some faith in them. Out of the circus of freaks around, Midna just so happened to be one he was trusting. All that could be hoped was that his attempt to follow her example down below was enough to possibly get some help.