[center][url=https://postimg.cc/jnhLP7k4][img]https://i.postimg.cc/fyGm47cp/Shuukos-Banner.png[/img][/url][/center] Pathetic. It was the only word good enough to describe Hotaru. The body she inhabited rebelled every step of the way, its coordination completely shot. It almost felt as though it were trying to stitch itself together from hundreds upon hundreds of pieces. Muscles twitched incoherently, responding to signals all too late or by doing the opposite of what she intended. Even the fury that should have been in her voice came across as begging Michi to undo what she did. And worst of all, Hotaru could not even dodge the fist in time. It had been Oros who rescued her. The girl obsessed with romance, girls and boys. Hotaru flailed as though she were a ragdoll, her limbs refusing to obey. She grit her teeth, about the only thing she could do properly as she came to a halt on the floor, limbs spread out. Scattered. Incoherent. And worst of all, forced to listen to Michi prattle on about people making a difference. Had she truly made one? Even when she was born to take the burden off Chiaki’s shoulders, there was precious little she could do. A swarm of Miseria headed straight for her. Hotaru clapped her hands and a wave of explosive force blasted forward, blowing away some of her opponents. Yet as always, there was little harm. Even the weakest of the wretches barely had any scratches on the surface of its skin and trying to use her actual magic on them would have been useless. She nevertheless smiled, welcoming the challenge… but only at until she realised she would have to take them apart with her bare hands. This body could not move even when the room collapsed around her and Michi’s patchwork monkey tore the roof apart. Likewise, the Detention Club fractured into countless pieces, not only physically but also metaphorically. Everyone chased after their own goals. Hotaru hit the floor with an angry thunk. It hurt worse than it had any right to. [color=#D8CD9F]”Was I really wrong?”[/color] She could barely hear her own voice. [color=#D8CD9F]”Damnit, Sylvia, what happened to you?! Why did you say you hated me?!”[/color] Another thunk. It felt like her fingers started to break. [color=#D8CD9F]”And why won’t this red-haired- fuck!”[/color] A piece of debris had interrupted her. It sunk into the floorboard right next to the warrior’s head, pelting her with flakes of plaster and paint. Black Gate kept talking and ordered her creature to flatten the cafeteria, while small, pathetic Hotaru could do nothing. She was forced to watch on. To be nothing more than an observer. [i]A blast of force smashed some Miseria into each other. Some tumbled into walls while the rest were blown away, but it was still a tremendous improvement. If she continued like this, then those girls could never say a single bad word about Chiaki agai- Miseria. In her face. She screamed. The Miseria giggled in delight and left deep grooves in her skin.[/i] The others were fighting and Hotaru would have loved nothing more than to join them. Yet her useless body… this damned thing she inherited from Chiaki…! Ember with her arrogance! Sylvia with her distrust! The Miseria around her that just kept on forming and forming! Black Gate escaping! The whole world arrayed itself against Hotaru. An army formed itself against the warrior, line by line, spear by spear. What could she do against it? No matter how hard she tried, there was always something. She failed to account for one of the Miseria. She did not use her powers well enough. She ran out of magic. Her hands started to bleed from using them too much. In the end, the warrior had to call for help, then she had to listen to the poisoned barbs beneath the pretend concern while looking at faces which only pretended to be worried about Chiaki. The whole school started to fall apart. At some point even the sprinklers came online, but the ones in the clubroom had been broken or rendered dysfunctional; Hotaru could only tell that because she heard the shrill noise of the fire alarm sounding in the distance, blending into a bone-shattering screech that could only herald one thing. Giga Miseria. [hr] The resistance was tremendous. It was as though Sylvia’s very being resisted every attempt of Ember to help her, or rather, the schemer had no idea what she was doing… and yet she knew she had the best chance out of all of them. After all, she was the one who had discovered the process to create and shape the Oss and Khir, their far-reaching eyes and hands. Still, sweat poured down from her forehead in thick rivers. [color=red]”Please live…”[/color] she whispered as she tried to reach out towards another piece of the protector, only to be met with refusal. [color=red]”Please. Sylvia, you barely started to walk! You can’t shatter into pieces on me, please…”[/color] As if anyone would hear these words. The schemer clung onto them nevertheless, because she wanted for Sylvia to have a better life. To smile again. Perhaps even to hug Earthshaker again. Their shared space shook as the Giga Miseria’s scream reached even here, infiltrating through Hotaru’s perception. Ember did not care. Even if it resulted in a body being destroyed once again, the warrior had to learn a harsh lesson. She had to focus on Sylvia. [hr] Nightmares could hold blessings in disguise. Even the worst of dreams offered an insight into the future or perhaps into the movements of the heavens, for such was the creed of the [color=gold]high priestess[/color]. This in turn would be adopted by [color=B0C4DE]her disciple[/color] who knew the exalted, yet still humble woman well. She knew that sometimes, even the best of the best stumbled on the road they wished to walk. But that did not mean failure did not hurt. The [color=B0C4DE]disciple[/color] felt the familiar pang in her whole body, as though she were being pulled into countless different directions. Then, when her tendons finished stretching out, a knife was placed between her ribs with enough care to make breathing difficult and not have her bleed out. Seconds turned into painful hours and yet the [color=B0C4DE]disciple[/color] held firm. Because the [color=gold]high priestess[/color] never slept. Not even when the [color=teal]protector[/color] was on the verge of being shattered, or when the [color=red]schemer[/color] was trying her best to do something her role was not suited for, or when the [color=#D8CD9F]warrior’s[/color] instruments failed her in the crucial moment. Even now, fate showed her an opportunity she could use. [color=B0C4DE]”I really don’t want to… but if the secular world wishes to gaze upon this humble high priestess, then she has no choice except to reveal herself.”[/color] As soon as she said it, one of the many Shuuko bodies scattered through the city stood up, the Emblem of Takae Shuuko flashing into existence on its form. Seizing one-fourth of the whole’s magic, it took off towards the Giga Miseria with blinding speed, leaving behind street after street along with a trail of [color=B0C4DE]silvery blue[/color] magic. Of course, the High Priestess knew she was no match for the monstrosity closing in on the city, but at least she could aim for the countless Miseria it disgorged.