The World

Symphony of Espers

Marrie Knight

Darkness. There was enough of it to spawn a Kingdom Hearts villain and Marrie sure as shit felt like a heartless nobody to go along with it. First, she had killed not one, but two... humans? People. Two people. Two thinking, presumably sentient beings. Yes, one had tried to kill her, and the other would have had no problems doing the same. But nonetheless, they were people. Was it right for her to end them like that? Was self-defense really even an excuse, when she had gone there with the intent of possible violence to earn money? Her head was ringing when the light broke through. She shook her head as much as she could.

Rationalize later.

She looked to her side and saw the corpse automaton that she had threatened, feeling bile rise in her throat before retching again next to it. She didn't know who this person was, and with half her head missing it would be hard to find out, but she was terrified by the image it burned into her mind.

Rationalize later.

She stood up. She began limping toward the manhole, the holy grail they had been fighting for. It was totally fine, surprisingly. She went to open it, trying with one hand to keep Apex Predator in her other as she lifted. She'd only use both hands if absolutely necessary.

---

19 | Female | Freelancer | Misty Steps
Apex Predator | Dagger | Physical | Mirror Shine
Wind-Carved Glacier | Masking
Step of the Hurricane | Wind | Riding the Currents
[Storm (4), Flight (6)] Damage X (6), Slow Fall (4), Blink (4), Magic Sense (6), Heal (16), Portal (8), Rain (2), Bounce (0), If Foe (0)

DAMAGE: E | SPEED: D | SENTINEL: C | 750

PHYSICAL: E | ARCANE: D | CHAOS: C | 72

Symphony of Espers

Marrie Knight

Marrie was barely functioning from having killed not one but two people now, but the call from the other esper jolted her back to reality. Finish it, huh? She looked at the crane. She really didn't want to hurt anyone else, but in the shock of it all she couldn't really make herself care like she normally would. As the whirlwind around her arm dissipated she threw a hand to her mouth to try not to puke. She swallowed hard and looked up at the incoming crane. It looked like, if she timed it right, she could get in the driver's seat similar to how Tetrad had with the bulldozer. Alternatively, taking out the treads might work. Or if her aim were perfect, she might be able to topple the crane on itself. Ah, screw it. She stood up and pointed her instrument at the crane.

Warm - Silver Projectile - Blink

She prepared herself, as much as she could, and then she was there. She managed to hit the glass just as it shattered from Pit Boss' fire. With the crane still moving forward, she was forced into the cockpit and instinctively grabbed onto the frame of it with one hand and drove her instrument into the headrest just next to the driver's eye with the other. Still covered in blood, her voice broken and raspy, and Apex Predator stabbed next to the driver's head with the teeth on the back nearly stabbing him in the eye, she spoke.

"Stop this crane." she managed to make her command before shooting her head to the side to puke out the window of the vehicle.

There was going to be a reckoning with herself when this was all over.

---

19 | Female | Freelancer | Misty Steps
Apex Predator | Dagger | Physical | Mirror Shine
Wind-Carved Glacier | Masking
Step of the Hurricane | Wind | Riding the Currents
[Storm (4), Flight (6)] Damage X (6), Slow Fall (4), Blink (4), Magic Sense (6), Heal (16), Portal (8), Rain (2), Bounce (0), If Foe (0)

DAMAGE: E | SPEED: D | SENTINEL: C | 750

Mana: 162
Melody Cost: 90

PHYSICAL: E | ARCANE: D | CHAOS: C | 72

Symphony of Espers

Marrie Knight

Considering that she'd not hit her target, you'd think that Marrie's plan had failed. You'd be right, but also wrong. Strangely, considering her aversion to killing, her instinct for battle was fierce. She'd managed exactly what she needed, not what she wanted. As the wind storm forced the other bees away from the Queen, she had a quick moment to look at her close up. She had a precious few seconds before the four bees got to her, and she would use them.

One. She rolled to her left as she transformed to her mundane form, towards the queen bee and out of the immediate path of the bulldozer in one fell swoop.

Two. The hardening honey, stuck to her esper form, was jostled by the roll and no longer form fitting due to the slight differences in outfit size between her forms. She got back up into a crouch.

Three. The roll scraped the honey off of her, most if not all of it. She stood, transforming back as she did, Apex Predator in her hand and a Melody on the tip of her tongue.

Four. She switched her instrument to her left hand as she cast a simple Melody as she began sprinting towards the queen bee.

Cold - Silver Self - Storm

Five. A powerful whirlwind, almost a miniature tornado, formed around her right arm, the side the bees and possibly the ape were on, ready to block any incoming attacks or spray.

Six. She reached the queen bee and lunged for her, Apex Predator aimed at her center mass.

She still had a few seconds before her melody ended, but with any luck, she wouldn't need it.

---

19 | Female | Freelancer | Misty Steps
Apex Predator | Dagger | Physical | Mirror Shine
Wind-Carved Glacier | Masking
Step of the Hurricane | Wind | Riding the Currents
[Storm (4), Flight (6)] Damage X (6), Slow Fall (4), Blink (4), Magic Sense (6), Heal (16), Portal (8), Rain (2), Bounce (0), If Foe (0)

DAMAGE: E | SPEED: D | SENTINEL: C | 750

Mana: 234
Melody Cost: 72

PHYSICAL: E | ARCANE: D | CHAOS: C | 162

Symphony of Espers

Marrie Knight

Marrie looked back to the other two monkeys. Honestly? They wouldn't be much of a problem with Tetrad's help. So she focused her attention towards the queen. If she was willing to let bees eat a person alive, she deserved what was coming. So Marrie fired a melody at her, before turning around and faking towards the apes.

Cold - Silver Projectile - Storm - Blink

When the whirling mass of air hit the queen, Marrie would be on her like her bees were on Tetrad, and she'd take a nice stab at her heart. And since she was turned away from Marrie...

---

19 | Female | Freelancer | Misty Steps
Apex Predator | Dagger | Physical | Mirror Shine
Wind-Carved Glacier | Masking
Step of the Hurricane | Wind | Riding the Currents
[Storm (4), Flight (6)] Damage X (6), Slow Fall (4), Blink (4), Magic Sense (6), Heal (16), Portal (8), Rain (2), Bounce (0), If Foe (0)

DAMAGE: E | SPEED: D | SENTINEL: C | 750

Mana: 414
Melody Cost: 180

PHYSICAL: E | ARCANE: D | CHAOS: C | 234

Advance on Distant Proxima (Mecha RPG)

Does the not replying for two months mean we're dead?

Symphony of Espers

Marrie Knight

"Got it." Marrie managed to say as she dove for her instrument. Though just as soon as she was standing again she wasn't, and was back on the floor with a major headache. Deal with threats as they come. Okay then. While the apes were wary, she cast a quick melody.

Warm - Bronze Self - Heal.

As she was healing, she jumped up and ran at the ape with the whip, ready and focused to dodge any attacks from it. Cover me! she shouted behind her as she bolted up her target. She wasn't going for a stab, she flipped Apex Predator over to its toothed side, ready to slit the ape's throat with its gouging protrusions. Though she kept an eye on the bees, prepared to put the ape in between herself and them, going so far as to use his corpse as a shield if possible.

---

19 | Female | Freelancer | Misty Steps
Apex Predator | Dagger | Physical | Mirror Shine
Wind-Carved Glacier | Masking
Step of the Hurricane | Wind | Riding the Currents
[Storm (4), Flight (6)] Damage X (6), Slow Fall (4), Blink (4), Magic Sense (6), Heal (16), Portal (8), Rain (2), Bounce (0), If Foe (0)

DAMAGE: E | SPEED: D | SENTINEL: C | 750

Mana: 558
Melody Cost: 144

PHYSICAL: E | ARCANE: D | CHAOS: C | 414

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by The World>

Uh... Sorry, Nyarko, but I'm retired. And even if I weren't, I'm not super into the idea of taking over Existence. Or of anyone else doing it.

@Yatagarasu

Yet you have your friends collecting territories. But hey, I get it. I won't kill you for wanting to not get involved, but...
*I move my hand so that it faces you*
You're not leaving this place.
*Your concept's borderlines become locked to those of this dimension*
There. I'll see you again once Existence is free.
*I disappear through another tear in reality*

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by The World>

Thanks? I guess. Sorry, but you're a new one to me. Who are you?

@Yatagarasu

Call me Nyarlathotep. I'm a Codi. The Codi, even. I'm working on uniting my species, and then...
*I glance at my hand and clench my fist*
I plan to take control of the Mammon Machine. I figured I could use the help of someone who accomplished what you have.

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Host>

I'm too philosophical about everything, Love. And yes, please. I'll be back in a moment then.
*I walk outside*

@Yatagarasu

*Appears through a rip in reality*
So you're the one. I expected someone in your position to be much more than a simple... whatever you are now.

Symphony of Espers

Marrie Knight

She was right. Marrie's bad feeling was right, and it was the correct decision to duck behind cover as well. Unfortunately, she had exposed herself too much in her attack, and was disarmed. Another of the "apes" had appeared only to recreate Sasaki Kojiro's Tsubame Gaeshi in a twisted and nightmarish form, directed straight at her. She'd be dead, if it weren't for one minor detail... She tripped. As she was struck by the whip, she was already jumping back into cover from the "bees'" super soakers, and while she dropped her knife, more importantly she was thrown well off balance.

"It's... banana." she heard just before the first strike hit her in the arm, causing a deep wound but completing her rotation so that the sword's following strikes missed her vital areas. Though her shirt was torn up and her face armor was sliced straight open, she was still alive.

As the warm air circled around the area, the bees riding its currents, only one thought passed through her mind.

Oh, fuck THIS.

She went to cast her magic when... *poof*. Her Style dissipated into wind, cold enough to cause a tiny current, but nowhere near enough to do what she was hoping. At least her wounds faded away, but now she was screwed. Although... She was no longer damaged, and she was certainly not out of shape, but compared to... Wait. She glanced at Tetrad. Marrie might not make it out of here, but she'd be damned if she didn't at least try to help the other two.

Well, the other one, since it seemed that the other Freelancer was in even more trouble than herself. So as she put her plan into action, she shouted, "Transform twice!" ducking to the longsword-wielding "ape" that was now in front of her, sending all of her strength into a single kick to its testicles, assuming and hoping that it had them. As soon as it reacted to the pain, she would grab its sword or her instrument, whichever was closer, and stab the bastard in the neck with it.

After all, the only ones who should kill are those prepared to be killed. She'd given in to the inevitable, and was ready to throw away her non-fatal principles for now.

---

19 | Female | Freelancer | Misty Steps
Apex Predator | Dagger | Physical | Mirror Shine
Wind-Carved Glacier | Masking
Step of the Hurricane | Wind | Riding the Currents
[Storm (4), Flight (6)] Damage X (6), Slow Fall (4), Blink (4), Magic Sense (6), Heal (16), Portal (8), Rain (2), Bounce (0), If Foe (0)

DAMAGE: E | SPEED: E | SENTINEL: E | 0

PHYSICAL: E | ARCANE: E | CHAOS: E | 0