Crozeph

Stakes stained by blood jutted out constantly from the walls, floors and ceiling. Crozeph was dodging well and his katana was wrapping any portion of his body from unavoidable attacks by moving continuously. "Why that weapon of yours is troublesome, it does give off a familiar feel as if it was remnants of one like us" she told Crozeph. "One of them? so the lore of this weapon somehow coincides with theirs." Things turned for the worse with him separated from his teammate but with how a portion of the black liquid managed to latch on to Koga before he was sucked into another dimension which can be called a giantess fetish one, he held on to the hope that the amorphous black liquid is of use to Koga.

MEANWHILE...

A strong forward thrust was about to hit Koga. weird enough that Crozeph is still moving like he's inside a Christopher Nolan/Leonardo Di Caprio movie while Koga was still as a statue. Whether he could dodge or not was up to him. Abishag's attacks were straightforward and slightly barbaric and as he is about to get hit. the black liquid that latched on to him stained her greatsword. 

A shrill cry followed

Abishag took a step back as her ears started ringing "Y-you, what is that thing?" she uttered under her breath as if cursing and soon enough one of her stats was starting to reveal. This might be of help but Koga needs to work further to know what the enemy can really do.

[Black Liquid] - the black liquid seems to reveal Abishag's secrets, Koga must roll a BD higher than 7 to reveal further info about her.
[Mad Dog] - Abishag's attacks are straightforward yet powerful causing for opponents to flinch when hit. Critical rolls causes stun for  turn.

Koga | HP: 660/660 | EN: 88/100 (87 +1) | DMG: 23 | MIT: 30 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 2 | BRN: 56 | BLT: 32/20 | FALN: 8 | REGN | 13 | B.HEALING: 33/66

Abishag | HP: ??? | EVA: ??? | ACC: ??? | MIT: 150 | DMG: ???
[BURN 56, 0/2]
[BLIGHT, DMG 32, MIT -20, 0/2]

"Quite an uneasy group" Crozeph thought. despite the players knowing each other with the exception of him not knowing Nari, Crozeph shrugged it off. A long time of not meeting each other can add a toll to the ice, what they need is not an ice breaker but an iceberg destroyer or so he thought. 

Night's reply was more than enough, Cro needed a few info but she didn't seem like the right person to pry more at the moment. "Well no use thinking more about it now that we've done our own scouting group. Let's just hope we do better if they didn't"  he told him. Hirru had done the briefing before and he may not be jotting notes for future references, Hirru's advice was enough... it was what he's been molded to.

Night signaled at them, finally some action or progress? it was for Hirru and Crozeph knew he had to be ready once the support gives the go signal to him. He unsheathed his katana, the glimmer of the blade caused by what little light they have was quickly consumed by the black amorphous liquid that followed. He stretched out his arm, revealing the impressive length of his katana and lowered it. Black liquid wrapped on the hilt up to Crozeph's elbow, the rest of it rippling on the sharp edge of the weapon as if some kind of teeth ready to harden on command "heads up Hirru, Night found something and wants to show you"

[Crozeph prepares to attack on Hirru's signal.]

Crunch of food, he chewed so loudly but not loud enough to be rude. It must've been the low noise of the area that made his bite louder than usual. He looked at them, he knew who they were except the girl clinging like a koala at Night. The swordsman who seem to usually be quiet seemed different. Whether it was Crozeph's observant nature kicking in at the wrong place and time or Night was too obvious with how she felt, he knew something was up; just not a specific what's up.

"Nari? like that fake crab substitute? oh nevermind-" he took a bite finishing off another snack from Hirru "it's kani or whatever it was." He stood, dusting off dirt from his cloak, Zumama would kill him if she saw the stains. As soon as Hirru told them about the buff, he quickly moved over to what Night brought for the team. He picked up something that looked familiar to him "wait, this looked like Bistro's special brew" he thought. He drank quickly, followed by the smores and grabbed the mass healing crystals. He looked at Night and Nari again grabbing one from her consumables quick as lightning, and then to Night "by any chance, have you seen my fiance around? she seemed preoccupied with a lot of stuff I it's hard to find the right time for me to even see her in our house." He nodded and then walked towards Hirru "I heard there was another scouting group, it would be better if we had a few tidbits of where they started."

Crozeph consumed the following:

Liquor of Light - DMG III
Creme Brulee - ACC II
Smores - EVA II
Mass Healing Potion -  164878-1, 164891-1, 164891-2, 164891-3, 164892-1
Divinity's Protection - Overhealth III
Final stat block:
HP: 1679/1679 | EN: 164/164 | DMG: 23 | MIT: 94 | ACC: 6* | EVA: 4 | FLN: 16 | Phase | REC: 3 | LD: 4| Risky II

For many people, the thought of scouting is a scary concept. The boss room is needed to be found, minions scurrying everywhere, and dangers jump out of the dark like in south Detroit. One must be prepared for the worst and be prepared with the group. Teamwork is needed to succeed by watching each other's back. If there ever was a wall to move back, it's a comrade's back. Victory may seem far but it is always there, the group must act as if they have Excalibur, the sword of promised victory.

None of those matter at the moment for a certain guy, the resident trash panda of Jacob's Ladder accompanying Hirru. Getting lost somewhere is a common thing for Crozeph and getting involved in something menacing is part of the package. It's a win-win too because Hirru handed food to him. Crozeph munched on it and slipped a few slices whenever Hirru turned his head to wait for other companions. 

Gray hair, a clean undercut, a white cloak over a white kimono, and on his neck is a glimpse of the black shirt beneath the white kimono. Ereshkigal, his katana tucked beside him, parts of the sword length covered by a white cloak. His current appearance was not approved by him but Zumama, the recent addition to his ragtag group of dungeon seekers or grave robbers was adamant to make him look like a legit leader. "You gotta dress up to impress, be the leader you are of Night's Watch."

"Who decided that?" he said under his breath.

It was even a miracle that Hirru recognized him. He nodded as Hirru told him that they'll wait for the others. Soon enough the others arrived, and a familiar face was seen quickly while a new one arrived carrying a scythe "have some" he offered while munching quickly on the other pieces.

Crozeph consumes the following:

Gungnir [Feast] - +40 MIT
Berry Crumble - +3 LD
 

"You enter my mansion, accuse me of these missing children, agitate me with your nonsense, and try to end us here-"  the walls and floor continues to to distort "right inside my mansion, such insolence"  she uttered with disdain yet she wasn't there. Crozeph looked down on the floor, eyes brimming with intent unknown. He and Koga was separate, what's worse was he was followed by a woman three times his size. He sighed, "what could possibly go wrong?" wasn't the right question. "How worse can this get?" he uttered. 

He drew his katana quick, blade lowered, eyes dead serious as a woman walks on the ceiling approaching him. Her skin was pale, she had fangs, and black markings are shown on where her dress exposes skin. Red eyes, sultry smile, hammer and stake on both hands "it seems your companion looked like a delight to my sister, Abishag has quite the temper and she'll bite off heads when she loses it" she told Crozeph. The player didn't say a word, his eyes are fixed on hers, slowly losing signs of good intent "that's funny, Abishag? King David's I don't know...  fourth wife?" he said. 

The woman stopped approaching him "We know no King David, as far as I know no one rules over us but ourselves and soon I'll have every inch of your body mine, a perfect specimen" she told him. Crozeph raised an arm and covered his chest area "ew, not gonna ask for my consent?"

Meanwhile...

Abishag roared as the black flames tried to engulf her, she didn't like the prickling feel of it. "Nonsense you puny man, whatever you hit me will never amount to any kind of victory over me" she uttered. Abishag swung her greatsword smashing the hallway where both of them stood and it quickly rearranged itself. She stood proudly before Koga, towering over him with arms wide open "care to try again? I hope this one will actually feel threatening." 

Abishag dares Koga to attack her again

Koga | HP: 660/660 | EN: 87/100 (100 -13) | DMG: 23 | MIT: 30 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 2 | BRN: 56 | BLT: 32/20 | FALN: 8 | REGN | 13 | B.HEALING: 33/66

Abishag | HP: ??? (??? -300) | EVA: ??? | ACC: ??? | MIT: ??? | DMG: ???
[BURN 56, 0/2]
[BLIGHT, DMG 32, MIT -20, 0/2]

There was a rumbling sound and it was undeniable. Crozeph easily ticked off the enemy along with Koga, not what he planned... not like he had one really." Crozeph tried to draw his katana but it seems the witch has them both frozen 

"In this place I am the queen, you do my bidding and now I want you to kneel for my daughters and be..."
"Be naked?" Crozeph blurted out as he struggles to unsheathed his katana.
"I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF YOUR SENSELESS RAMBLINGS MORTAL! IT IS STARTING UNNECESSARILY AGITATE ME!"

The woman had the fury enough to drive fleets away but for Crozeph, hopefully to Koga, it was a way to get her grip on them loosen. Crozeph unsheathed Shadow but it seems the daughters have arrived.

"Mother dear, don't let them get the best of you for they are our guests" a woman with red hair came out in front of Crozeph and Koga as they stood frozen by the witch's spell.

"You can't blame her, these are not kids who she can easily tame. They are children acting like men."  A woman dropped down from a distorted part of the ceiling and landed beside the witch. She was shorter than the previous one and held a lance twice her height/

"Mother, we must finish them off and be done with it, the boy agitates me too" finally a woman taller than the witch herself emerged behind the two players towering over them, eyes filled with annoyance.

"Tall hot lady, Koga is all yours" he told her. The third daughter let out a roar and raised her greatsword and at the same time, Crozeph's katana broke off the spell by releasing great amounts of black amorphous liquid "fucking finally."

The witch's patience continues to wear thin with Crozeph's antics "that presence, a remnant of an entity these players call as Floor Boss" she muttered. She slammed her staff on the ground and distorted the whole place, separating Koga and Crozeph "keep Koga safe for me will ya" he told his katana.

Black liquid latched itself to Koga's sword before he falls into a hole, the third daughter grabbing him by the collar "where do you think you're going? Koga right? let me eat you whole!" 

Unfortunately, Koga got sucked in, and Crozeph is left with the daughter who has red hair "charming, I do hope you take a liking to my" Crozeph chuckled "can you cook beef stew?" he asked her. She was confused but it was followed by a smile "no, I cannot but that doesn't matter because-" he raised a finger waving it at her with a slight annoyance "fuck no, I'll starve to death if I'm gonna be with you."

"I am starting to get annoyed by you too."

[Shadow's Malevolence] renders any special attacks made by the queen useless
[Lordless Castle] Lowers ACC and EVA by 2 on critical roll of 10 for 1 turn

1st daughter | HP: ??? | EVA: ??? | ACC: ??? | MIT: ??? | DMG: ??? 
2nd daughter | HP: ??? | EVA: ??? | ACC: ??? | MIT: ??? | DMG: ???
3rd daughter | HP: ??? | EVA: ??? | ACC: ??? | MIT: ??? | DMG: ???

Note:
Crozeph vs. 1st daughter
Koga vs. 3rd daughter

Crozeph sat near a counter and watched as she prepared the food. He was not used to having someone make food for him except Yuki and for some reason he does miss her more as he saw the guild mate prepare food for him "I have no recollection if I won or not, rarely keep track of what col I have" he told her. It was quite a battle though, she fought a half naked Calrex as if it was nothing. 

"I am Crozeph, one of Baldur's student and a member of the guild too, I tend to disappear a lot from this place but it's good that I'm here while the others are also here too."

He thanked her at the food and began to eat "I miss eating stew for some reason."

@Snow

He sat beside the table, looking like a kid waiting for what the chef has to offer. It's been a while since he had something that Yuki made, Shirogane can't even hold a candle to Yuki when it comes to cooking. He heard her say things about burden and sharing it, he knew what she wanted to say but sometimes there are things that can't be done skillfully like cooking or using a katana. "We'll get used to seeking each other out for greater burdens, I know you're strong enough to hold your own against many things. You don't have to sweat it, if you need me I'll just be where you left me, here in our house" he said, his expression still fixated on what Yuki is cooking.

"The boss was kinda tricky, not in terms of stats. You know how exaggerated the Frontlines can prepare, it looked more of a walk in a park but the road is paved with morality. Choices got heated as it clashed but at least everyone agreed to do something human."

Crozeph gazed at her she continued, she looked a little bit different but the feeling he has when seeing her remains the same, there might be a few changes but Yuki is still Yuki, and he knows it. 

A dungeon? thankfully it's not a high level one? Crozeph knew she was near invincible but it felt like he was missing out on doing something boyfriend-ish like protecting or helping her "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you"  he told her. There are times where Yuki was an arrow let loose, you can only watch it fly and pierce through anything before it stops. She was like that, he knew what he got himself into, he wanted to see her like that. He wasn't that strong to keep up but he would always watch.

Enough of those deep thoughts for now, as Yuki pulled him in with her inside the house, Crozeph made a nervous laugh. She knew him too well and she knows what to actually please him, something he always long for whenever she was with him in their house "fuck, she'll find out I went through all kinds of bread I can find in this house."  

The contents were about to be consumed, Crozeph was less picky about what to eat. He lived off what is edible in his point of view in his time in Yomi before Baldur pulled him out of his hole and Yuki giving him the best meals he can have.Speaking of his wife, Crozeph needed to know a few stuff from Baldur and he was about to gobble the contents that seemed like black pepper, the woman made sure he was found out, lighting the kitchen and all that stuff. Crozeph stared as he, munching on a raw potato. He was too lazy too cook and he was hungry after sleeping in Baldur's estate in his designated room. 

"Me? I'm kinda part of Jacob's Ladder" he told her calm as he was as if he wasn't caught eating anything he could find in the kitchen. "You look familiar, kinda beautiful too but I guess I'm overthinking stuff. Did you fight a half-naked guy?" he asked her.

 I don't mind what to eat, hit me with your best shot"  he told her while still munching on a potato and a tomato on his other hand.

@Snow

"They probably think I'm still sleeping somewhere" he thought. Crozeph has been rummaging in the kitchen. A long time of having no one to cook for him, someone like Yuki, made him try to cook for himself or at least learn something to cook just in case he finds her or she comes back... but when.

Now cooking would be easy, if he wasn't biting off every ingredient he finds. After the battle with Shadow, he has been trying to actually do something worthwhile with his katana. He wasn't getting overwhelmed by how wild it was but it sure is like wrecking shit. If you try to slice a tomato with it, the kitchen also gets slice in half and that's something he doesn't want to do in Baldur's estate and in Yuki's kitchen.

"Tomatoes, potatoes, avocadoes, wait... is this?" he looked at a vial that contained some kind of black powder "hmm, gunpowder or pepper, only one way to find out"  he was about to take a lick inside the vial when someone just came into the kitchen. His eyes turned to look at her, she looked familiar... like someone he placed a bet on or something.

Something is flying towards them, and Crozeph just found out Hirru's barrier isn't that effective on defending for themselves. "I guess we just have to do this the shounen way" he uttered.

Crozeph launched himself up, eyes on the bogey and in an quick glance, he unsheathed his katana, a long streak of amorphous liquid came out and latched on the cannonball and Crozeph sliced it in half followed by the black liquid to throw it off two different directions. 

The wind was the real villain, Crozeph got slammed down to the deck as soon as he managed to deflect one projectile. He got back up looked at everyone and dusted his shoulder "well that wasn't so bad, needs a little bit of tweaking so I don't fall off next time." 

The woman gave a soft laugh as Koga asked for recipes and how she built her home, Crozeph looked more of a dumbfuck to her. However the raven-haired player's eyes tell of something different and so is his companion asking for recipes "I could give you tips on how to make an extravagant.

"No matter how I tell myself this Crozeph is a simpleton, his eyes have been looking at everything" she thought. Crozeph's hand was still at the hilt of his katana. "First off, I didn't build this place alone, I had the help of my beautiful daughters. Crozeph was intrigued yet it was understandable, the game enables many weird shit but buildings, if not generated by Cardinal, would require a few helping hands.

"Oh, you have daughters? marry one Koga."

"You amuse me young man, Crozeph was it? I am Morgiana and this castle was built by me and my daughters. If this Koga does marries one of my daughter, I'll let you stay here and indulge on whatever you want then I'll take Crozeph for myself."

"And then we turn missing like those children who ruined your yard?"

In an instant, Morgiana's icy yet enticing gaze turned into some kind of merciless queen, she knew Crozeph was just trying to throw her off and he got her good "What makes you think I have them?" she asked. Crozeph brushed his hair up with his hand, his azure eyes meeting her "they were here, the question is, are they even alive to try getting out of this place?" 

"How wonderful! my daughters! we got ourselves a delectable meal, one for me and one for you three!"

No matter how delicious the walls looked, it now felt as if Crow and Koga jumped into a trap and Crozeph even acted as if he knows a lot about the place already.

"Well, I guess I won't have time for expositions aren't I?"

"Definitely not the fun version, we just have to make sure the one not having fun is her"

"I am surprised to see guests that are older, I have my fair share of children ruining my beautiful yard and its bountiful fruits" the woman told them. Crozeph gently elbowed Koga who was picking caramel apples clear as day before she came out. "Ahaha no we're not here to ruin your yard, Koga is more than happy to keep his hands off your ample fruits" it took him a few seconds before he realized something "that sounded wrong a little bit" he looked around him and saw what Koga laid his eyes upon. A place where one an indulge in everything, made a woman, and probably tastes so good. 

"Well that makes me happy, it's a breath of fresh air having two boys old enough to understand that I built this mansion with my sweat and tears to achieve I want, the sweetest home one can imagine.

"More like a house that gives you 7 deadly types of diabetes"
"Pardon?" she uttered, a confused look at him was given.
"Nothing, I like the attention to details of everything, including those gingerbreads on that box-"

The woman closed what seemed like a a container slightly bigger than a music box, gingerbreads shaped like a person only a toddler can draw.  "Yes, these are the pinnacle of my craft, the greatest of my creations and as such..." she picked up one, holding it by the feet with her two slender fingers, eyes on Crozeph. She licked the gumball eyes of it, still keeping an enticing, icy gaze at him and then bit off the head gently.

"Can I have one?"
"No, you can try anything in this house, even me, but not these."
"Shame, they looked delicious, right Koga?"

"Well, you didn't come here just to ask for a gingerbread and watch me eat it right? tell me young men..." She sat on her chair in front of them, crossed her legs, revealing the side of her thigh "what are you here for?"

"Definitely not the fun version, we just have to make sure the one not having fun is her"

"I am surprised to see guests that are older, I have my fair share of children ruining my beautiful yard and its bountiful fruits" the woman told them. Crozeph gently elbowed Koga who was picking caramel apples clear as day before she came out. "Ahaha no we're not here to ruin your yard, Koga is more than happy to keep his hands off your ample fruits" it took him a few seconds before he realized something "that sounded wrong a little bit" he looked around him and saw what Koga laid his eyes upon. A place where one an indulge in everything, made a woman, and probably tastes so good. 

"Well that makes me happy, it's a breath of fresh air having two boys old enough to understand that I built this mansion with my sweat and tears to achieve I want, the sweetest home one can imagine.

"More like a house that gives you 7 deadly types of diabetes"
"Pardon?" she uttered, a confused look at him was given.
"Nothing, I like the attention to details of everything, including those gingerbreads on that box-"

The woman closed what seemed like a a container slightly bigger than a music box, gingerbreads shaped like a person only a toddler can draw.  "Yes, these are the pinnacle of my craft, the greatest of my creations and as such..." she picked up one, holding it by the feet with her two slender fingers, eyes on Crozeph. She licked the gumball eyes of it, still keeping an enticing, icy gaze at him and then bit off the head gently.

"Can I have one?"
"No, you can try anything in this house, even me, but not these."
"Shame, they looked delicious, right Koga?"

"Well, you didn't come here just to ask for a gingerbread and watch me eat it right? tell me young men..." She sat on her chair in front of them, crossed her legs, revealing the side of her thigh "what are you here for?"

"Are you ok Panini?" Crozeph asked "if you're gonna throw up just do what Donkey did, swallow it back up" he added. Crozeph realized it too, the cannon was simply an ornament, something to hype up passengers if they were to use the airship "well fuck me, these cannons are horseshit" he told them. He stuck his head out at the side of the ship, the battle rages and they don't have weapons. 

"All right @Baldur shishou, how do we fight back? do we throw Calrex at them?" he asked the Gaijin Samurai "this is normal Plini, we need to think out of the box and out of the yard where the box is" 

Crozeph then had a bright idea.

"We're gonna use intimidating tactics, grab anything you can hit which will make a booming sound and hit it as hard as you can, make a rhythm like what they do on taiko drums! put all your strength into it, don't mind the wobbly ride because it's part of the intimidation."

"Apply generously on hair" he muttered, in front of a sink which he wasn't sure if it was necessary in this world where objects destroyed or modified turn into pixels, cubes of it. He has been in the house for a few days. Trips to Baldur's estate, journeys with Koga, and the stupidity his Night's Watch can come with helped him pull through.

But at the end of all these routine it will always feel empty, very empty.

Crozeph combed his hair up with his fingers, the chemical he held generously applied on his palms... he was dyeing his hair back to it's previous color, covering the original raven-black he had. It was a reminder to him, there's someone who gave him something new to enjoy and remember.

A few minutes more and it was done, his hair looked good despite doing a half-assed job of dyeing it. He looked scrawny as he stared at his arms, perhaps that will never change nor was it necessary to.

there was a knock...

Crozeph turned his head as he cleaned his hand, it sounded like the knock was inside and not at the gate and that can only mean

"She's-"

Crozeph bolted to the door, his EVA boosted it so fast that he also slammed the door as he slides it. His eyes widened, biting his lip and in a heartbeat and opened his arms wide wrapping it around her. Crozeph hugged Yuki tight, there was slight changes but Crozeph knows there's only two of them who can enter the house.

"Oh god, where have you been? I have so happy to see you!"

"Tch, more people who talk too much"  Crozeph scowled under his breath. He wasn't good at talking to at least more than two people and with how chaotic everyone is now, he felt relief at the sight of his guildmates with him. Crozeph moved to the side, it's as if he was in some kind of roller coaster ride minus the rails and the momentum needed to make it look really adrenaline inducing

"Who needs railings and momentum when these people are more than enough to-" as he continued to look and see airship from afar, a familiar voice called to him as if presenting something "oh, it's you Panini" he replied to Plini. As he listened to Plini explain the basics of a cannon, Crozeph nodded. He knew angles and shit back in college but Plini sounded like he read it on books "interesting, can we aim it at ourselves? oh wait can we load a player on it in replacement of a cannonball? hmm is this thing even uses cannonball?"

Crozeph had another idea as Calrex uttered how it was too far to the right "relax @Calrex were in good hands. Panini and I will use this cannon to fight back, I think he read the manuals about it but it would be more fun if he didn't, I think we should use a player as cannonball. Impact damage plus player base damage means more damage right?"

After those words, Crozeph laughed as if he was enjoying the show while waiting for his appearance.

"Knocking is unnecessary, you came here for what? my delicious looking house or me?"

A voice came out of a door that slowly opened, Crozeph was bewildered by how such edible shit can move. Triggers his long lost engineering knowledge. He looked at the door, wary with how he placed a hand on his katana. The place looks very enticing to poor souls that wander, like those missing children that raised a slight alarm on a few people of the caravan who can still give something out their "I Give a Fuck" bank.

A figure enough to actually entice any weak species, those easily swayed by pheromones and those who has a thing for sweets. Crozeph was sure he wasn't weak to pheromones, the house however, proves to be an adversary that is worthy to feel weak. The feminine voice that came out of the door was just plain threat to him... or maybe he just didn't have a clear view of her yet.

"Did you build this huge house? what was it called? a mansion? I have several questions"  he uttered. He patted Koga in the head trying to keep his eyes on her as she came to full view while making sure his companion is nearby "beautiful woman in sight, she might know how to make houses like these for us, maybe apples that are duck flavored. Look, look, she might get mad if you pick an apple" he told him.

Like two children entering a very suspicious wonderland, the woman smiles, motions her hand as if welcoming them "welcome to my humble home, feel free to see more of what I can offer... inside" she said followed by a cold yet welcoming gaze at her visitors.

"I too am extraordinarily humble" Crozeph replied.

Out of the boss room, Crozeph was expecting some kind of a ragtag army waiting for Gabrandr, all looking at him like how the soldiers in Gladiator looked at Maximus in the first battle of the movie. The king prepared dangerous things beneath, the Crow expects this king to have an army waiting for his command.

There's none of that Russell Crowe bullshit.

Crozeph only saw people seeking refuge from the chaos. Women, children, men who are too weak or afraid to fight back. They gazed at their king, players behind him. "Tch, what a sight, it's like gigantic jaegers trashed this place. The airships are on the move..." a child tripped as she backed away from them. Crozeph looked the kid in the eye, she was afraid and he didn't like it. It's one thing to lose people in war, losing them while being part of it themselves is a another degree of pain these children, in his opinion, shouldn't experience... doesn't matter if they are NPCs, just them being human like him is enough.

"Damn it, I think I lost that banana bread I had in my inventory." 

[insert stat]

The girl took a deep breath before leading them, after all, she's putting herself in danger just to help strangers and they are also saying weird things. Crozeph sighed at how this quest was starting to take place with them having little info aside from caramel apples, missing children, and some kind of place where they might be "I'm not liking how this is making me feel hungry all of a sudden, I ate before I went here."

Koga's question was nothing new to him, he already met players who's morals seem to tiptoe at the thought of NPCs being sentient that they should be and thus it raises some concern for them. "Maybe but we both know she's lending a helping hand for us even though we can do it ourselves, that's something no side character would do." It might make no sense to Koga but Crozeph was simply trying to tell him that the girl's safety is in their hands.

and then the wind blew
in the trees it was trying to go through
Sweetness wafted in the air
of delicacies that might be rare
now it seems that
they have arrived at the place where one might utter
"cyka blyat"

"Oh shit, it's an X mansion but built on things that can cause diabetes in five seconds" Crozeph uttered. What stood before them was a mansion, as if it was owned by a philanthropist. The roof was white as snow yet it scent tells them it's cream, windows and walls outside resembles biscuits and crackers glazed with syrup. There was no door or better yet it didn't need one because a moat separates it and below chocolate flows.

 "I-I need to go back, this place is more creepy than I thought" and with that the girl ran away  "careful on your way back, be sure to-" Crozeph took a step back and pointed at a tree "bruh your caramel apples growing on trees" he told him as he pointed at a 4 feet tree and glistening apples dangling on its branches.

I'd gladly walk and show you the house but as you can see, I am busy tending nonsensical things in this god forsaken stretch of a caravan"  she told them. It sounded like she didn't like the place too and while it doesn't speak for everyone, Crozeph finds it weird that the young ones are starting to realize how much of a shithole some areas of Serpent's Pitch is.

"Well too bad young lady, no charming guy will save you from this place. Unless the patch added one for you but this game is colder than what ice you can imagine."

The girl gave him a confused look and cleared her throat "anyways, um this sweetened apple indeed delicious, we've never tasted something like it nor did we tell the elders of its existence" she pulled out some kind of stick out of the pocket in her apron "we took small bites but it was enough to entice children to find more of it"

Crozeph gave it a thought for a second "this is some kind of cheap marketing that went too well for them. Give these kids something really exquisite and they're bound to look for it. Koga someone is baiting them and not taking them, there's a difference but it leads to the same conclusion." Crozeph looked around him and then back to the fair maiden "I can show you where they went but I'm not really keen to putting myself in to harm and disappear"  Crozeph nodded "that's fine with us, that sweetened apple is always enticing, anime MCs eat it with their harem girls during festivals and proceed to bang later. I think that's not the case with these disappearances."

"How about it Koga? ready to find the source of this sweetened apple? not sure if there's banging afterwards but we need to uncover the mysteries surrounding it."

@Koga

So many voices, Gabrandr talked too much. Everyone reasoned with him, every single one attacked including Crozeph and now they're down to decision making all of a sudden?

"Well ain't that crazy writing?"

He jumped back as soon as his black liquid burned away with the touch of of the king's flames. He was fast enough and he dodged that one attack that literally wounded most of his party members. He held the hilt of his katana firm enough and remained silent. There was a window that appeared in front of them, some kind of visual novel shit where they'll chose a path to take and this one is...

Kill or be killed?

It was the impression on him, Gabrandr even did the last stand drama with his last scather. Crozeph kept one foot slightly forward, on guard as to what might happen.

and their words flooded, enough to rock Noah's ark off the ground

Gabrandr stood, a man almost out of the picture. They did great amounts of damage just to stop him...

Did they do it too just to kill him?

His shoulder relaxed as he heard the ping of everyone making their decision. Should he make one too? it's going to be a hard one, it may not require for him to tap into his strongest will but Crozeph understood one thing, Gabrandr must be stopped. The next question is "is this enough to stop him? or should they..."

Firm Anima has decided
His guild members have decided

"Should I decide?" he thought. 

"I have lost a great friend and leader to a floor boss, I have also forgiven that one person who killed my brother" he looked at Gabrandr "an NPC, made by Cardinal who is also made by the madman who trapped us here" Crozeph hated those who aren't human and Gabrandr was one yet he is also a floor boss, the same entity who is lined-up with that one floor boss who killed Azide.

I guess those I met unknowingly taught me things for this moment so far...

He lowered his katana gave one last look at Gabrandr and sat down, cross-legged, Baldur and the other members of Jacob's Ladder behind him, his katana resting on his shoulder "I'll let my guild leaders decide your fate, I will hold back but..." his eyes stared at the king, cold yet longs to remain reasonable "...I will not think twice of raising my blade should they decide to finish this in a rather tragic way."

<<Spare>>

"Desperation?"

Crozeph saw how the battle is not gonna go into one of attrition, unless Gabrandr had another up his sleeve, he knew other players would keep an eye on those, especially that elegant woman deactivating scathers. It seem to look like Gabrandr was focused on something and it was not to rid of them... well, yet.

It irked him though, as Gabrandr locked weapons with the others, conversation are getting frequent, there was nothing wrong with trying to reason with him but the man is equipped like them. As soon as he felt a tingle with Hirru's buff, Baldur and Koga went it to attack, even his guild leader too.

"If you have something to say to him-" he sheathed his katana and black liquid moved around his weapon and arm and then wrapped in a second "-you gotta disarm him first!"

Crozeph dashed, three quick steps, like how he slides in Baldur's dojo secretly. The black liquid coming out of his katana keeping and coordinating its flow with his movement. IN a second it all became a blur.

The gleam of his blade
His silhouette

It all became clear enough once he was in front of Gabrandr. Sword already raised and one powerful downward swing yet wound cleanly on the enemy's shoulder where he held his weapon. The black liquid too did its thing, consuming the blue flames as if trying to quell it but that is way too shounen to be written in detail (it did happen).

He remained in front of Gabrandr eyes locked on him "less talk, swing back warrior"  he thought.

ID: 202858 | BD: 8 - 2 + 6 = ST-B lands
Crozeph dealt 24[base] + 16[FLN] + 1[Focus] x 20[ST-B] = 820 - 100[MIT] = 720 damage

(4)Crozeph | HP: 760/760 | EN: 40/94 | DMG: 24 | MIT: 104 | LD: 1 (+1 Loot) | EVA: 4 | ACC: (6 (incl. AA/FOCUS) | BH: 41 (Surv)| FLN: 16 | PARA IMMUNE | PHASE | RSKY: 8
   (STM, AoE Shift)
   (CD: ST-B Unlocked 1/1)