[PT-ST-PP-06] Black Bile Consequences <<Gemini>>

[Freyd 0]

"FUCK YOU ALL!!!"

Akir's rage bowed trees and grass alike away from her like a microburst snapping the wind in a sudden rotation all around them. The spontaneous proto-tornado wrenched the chains from her companion's grasp, loosening all hold upon the raging gloopy mess-of-a-Mari, who promptly tore the barbs from her inky flesh and hurtled them back at their bearer.  Something akin to a tentacle spun around, spawned from nothing and existing only long enough to snare a wide-eyed Mari and toss her into Akir's only remaining way out: right through Montjoy.  Detached from his caster in the chaos, his very form offered her all she needed, a portal to their song, an escape,,, and vengeance.

Grabbing the halberd haft over Mari's own hands, half-thrust half-shoved into the ass end of oblivion, the orange haired player felt the eternal frozen tumbling claim has as Montjoy futilely sought to prevent their passage.  But, try as she might, even Akir's rage could do little more than thrust them forward into the dark, shutting the door behind them. 

A flash of darkness.  Something snapping to the tune of wood and brambles as flesh tore against the prickle of elsewhere.  Awkward bends and twists hurt every part of her as reality reclaimed its tenuous hold, spilling her out into some generic Aincradian woodland.  Like there weren't hundreds of places she might be.

Something screeched nearby, keening to the splash of water and the last few valorous bees still stinging away their lives, then all fell quiet again.  Darkness reigned.  Night in the forest, yet strangely devoid of its usual sounds.  Mari had spent more dozings in the dark than most people appreciated. She knew where was safe, and where was not.  And this place, most certainly was not.  

Her weapon rested beneath a nearby fern, orange shaft still steaming from the frigid void and malignant touch of the creature that had tossed her here in a bout of desperate, vendetta-driven hate.  It was around here, somewhere...

***

@Mari

Storyteller mode activated!
Freyd acting as ST for Mari
True Level: 194 | True Tier: 20

This thread picks up immediately after: https://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/42314-pt-pp-f11-black-bile/?do=findComment&comment=698341

Edited July 14 by Freyd

[Mari 1]

A cold wind, bitter and ambient, swirled around Mari’s feet as she rolled into the misty shores of the forest that surrounded a lake. The area had a coldness that tore through her skin and seeped deep into muscle and bone. It was difficult being here. A gloved hand instinctively reached up to wipe away residue from her lips. Gemini. A quest that seemed so innocuous at first. But through a series of unfortunate events it had become so much more. Now - it was the first step of many Mari wanted to take to better herself. First this. Then redemption.

 

The woman wore what was not so affectionately called her ‘plague attire’. Thick heavy leathers clung to her small frame like a drowning second shadow. The acrid scents of chemical leaching into the loamy smell of earth and the scent of moisture in the air. A groan escaped her lips as she struggled to push her shivering and shaking form forward. Cerulean eyes landing on her weapon. She had t ograb it...She had to protect herself. She had to live.

She couldn't let down Freyd. She couldn't tear away Lancasters smile.

"Aurgh..." Mari coughed, her entire body convulsing as remnants of black bile burst forth in a messy splatter of ink across the forest floor. Slowly but surely she managed to drag herself forward till a single shaking hand clasped itself over the handle of her halberd. Mari winced. It felt like ice. Every inch of her body screamed at her for rest, every synapse on fire. Aincrads pain limiter be damned. This hurt.

Mari rolled onto her back - staring at the night sky above, trying to control her breathing. Trying to control the situation to the best of her capabilities. Deep breath in and out....she wasn't safe here. She had to move. She had to. Yet her body barely listened to her, so drained from the ordeal it was a testament to her sheer force of will that she had even managed to throw the distractionary weapon at the Gemini in the first place.

Something was different this time though... the Gemini's trick to try and taunt her fell on deaf ears. When it took on Freyds form it was almost comical how insanely inaccurate it was portraying him. Freyd.
Shit. Mari finally managed to scramble her feet - fueled by adrenaline. Where was he? Her head whipped back and forth as she pulled her weapon closer.

They were together moments ago....

 

"Freyd?"

 

Mari | HP: 980/980 | EN: 132/132 | DMG: 21 | MIT:44 | ACC:5 | AA | EVA:4 | BH:54 | BLI: 32/-20 | ENV-O: 32 | PARA-V | LD:1

 

Spoiler

Name: Mari
True Tier: 11
Level: 34
Paragon Level: 69
HP: 980/980
EN: 132/132

Stats:
Damage: 21
Mitigation: 44
Accuracy: 5
Evasion: 4
Battle Healing: 54
Loot Die: 1
Stealth Rating: 5
AA BLI: 32/-20
ENV-O: 32
PARA-V

Equipped Gear:
Weapon/Armor/Trinket:
- Paralytic Contagion | T4 | Absolute ACC I | Paralytic Venom I | Envenom OFF I | Blight I
Armor/Trinket:
- Infernal Shadow-Redemption | T4 | EVA III | MIT I
Shield/Armor/Trinket:
- Glasses | T1 | ACC III

Combat Mastery:
- Combat Mastery: Damage R3

Combat Shift:
- AOE Shift

Familiar Skill:
- Rending Familiar

Custom Skill:
-

Skills:
- Battle Healing R5
- Charge
- Cloth Armor R5
- Energist
- Polearm R5

Extra Skills:
- Survival
- Hiding R5
- First Aid R3

Inactive Extra Skills:

Addons:
- Focus
- Nimble
- Precision
- Resolve
- Stamina

Mods:
- Athletics
- Night Vision
- Surpise Attack: Trickster
- Untraceable
- Vanish

Inactive Mods:

Battle Ready Inventory:

Housing Buffs:
- Storage Closet: +1 Battle Ready Inventory Slot
- Dining Room: Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread.
- Living Room: Increases out of combatHP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.
- Basement: Gain +1 to LD, Stealth Rating, Stealth Detection, or Prosperity to one post in a thread. Can be applied after a roll
- Master Bedroom: -1 energy cost for the first three expenditures of each combat
- Master Bathroom: The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 25% (rounded down)
- Ornate Fishing Pond: +2 Fishing EXP per Attempt and additional +1 LD & CD to fishing attempts.
- Mega Slime Farm: +10% EXP to a thread. Limit one use per month. Must be used on a player's first post in a thread. Cooldown begins counting down when used in a post.

Guild Hall Buffs:

Scents of the Wild Totem:

Wedding Ring:

Crafting Profession:
- Alchemist[exp] R
Gathering Profession:
- Fishing[120exp] R2

 

Edited July 14 by Mari

[Freyd 0]

No warning, just searing sensation and phantom pains of fingers lost along with the rest of her right hand.  The appendage, still clinging to her halberd crumbled to the sight of the weapon's twin cleaving through avatar flesh while facing opposite.  A grin, Cheshire-mad and furious as overly familiar footwear pinned down her stump and cast Mari's defenses casually aside.  One quarter of her health vanished in an instant.  Three more strikes in the same manner might spell death.  By the ominous grin and sinister cackle, her Gemini shared the same thoughts.

"I have so been looking to some real alone time, where you FINALLY have no choice."

Dropping to her knees atop her victim, thighs pinning arms to ground and halberd blade resting hungrily pressed to Mari's throat like an overweighted guillotine, her darkened features spoke to imminent murder.

"You're on my turf now.  Where we get to chat on MY terms... and whatever I want!  You HAVE to listen to ME now, BITCH!"

Head tilting with unnatural yaw, eyes burning with coldest flames of black ire and spite, she pressed downward on the blade.  Mari felt the bite. even as both stilled in a soaked moment clinging to the literal knife's edge.

"What's the matter, Mari?  Evelyn got your tongue?"

***

Spoiler

ID #248086 | MD: 10 (Crit +2).  DMG (274-4=270) 

Mari | HP: 710/980 (980-270) | EN: 132/132 | DMG: 26 | MIT:44 | ACC:5 (incl. AA) | EVA:6 | BH:54 | BLI: 32/-20 | ENV-O: 32 | PARA-V | LD:1

Akir | HP: 1020/1020 | DMG: 272 | MIT: 64 | ACC: 5 | EVA: 4

Abilities:

• Concentration | This boss gains +1 ACC for its first attack.
• Disguise | This boss will adopt the appearance of the player through the entire fight, mocking their appearance.
• Surprise Attack! | No matter what, this boss will attack first, before the player. The player may not act on the first turn. As this ruins any chance to put space between the player and the boss throughout the remainder of the fight.  The <<Charge>> skill cannot be used against <<The Gemini>>
• Defy Death | During this fight, death can be avoided. Any attack that would leave either the player or the boss at zero will result in leaving either entity with 1 health point left. <<The Gemini>> will refuse to execute the player if they win, though the player may be much less merciful. Note that any attack that would leave the player at zero health will result in a failed quest attempt.

 

Edited 4 hours ago by Freyd

[Mari 1]

 

"What's the matter, Mari?  Evelyn got your tongue?"

“Funny..” Mari coughed. “You keep bringing her up, as if that’s your only weapon against me.” Her daughter had been used against her so many times in the past, that the name coming from her Gemini was just reciprocated with a dull numbing pain of longing. Nothing else. No anger, no overwhelming guilt. Was that…a good thing? Mari wasn’t sure but she didn’t have time to dwell on it. A foot lifted. Mari rolled onto her back only to have the foot come down hard on her sternum. Mari felt like the wind had been knocked out of her, she coughed. How the fuck am I supposed to win this?

“G-Go ahead.” Mari said as she lifted a shaking hand, giving Akir the floor. “You have me right where you want me. “So go ahead, chat.”

“FUCK YOU!” Akir spat as she kicked Mari. Mari groaned, taking each hit, if Akir was anything like her past…she’d be quick to anger. So, Mari forced herself to laugh.

“What the fuck is so funny?” Akir snapped as she kicked Mari again. “You’re the one missing a hand!” Another kick. “You’re the weak one.” Several kicks later and Mari had managed to slowly drag and roll herself close enough to her weapon for her left hand to clasp around it. Akir hadn’t even noticed. Battered and bruised Mari bought her own Halberd down against her gemini with what little strength she had.

Akir screamed as she tumbled to the floor. Various effects coming into effect as an angry black gash formed on her body. “One hand…” Mari wheezed as she struggled to push herself to her feet. “Beaten. Battered…bruised…and yet I still managed to strike you down.”

Mari’s legs trembled and they gave way beneath her. She fell to her knees and cursed under her breath. Mari could barely stand, her vision was blurred - and the entire right side of her body burned in varying degrees of pain. Were Gemini’s all this violent? Or just hers?

 

 

ID #248088 | BD: 9 CD: 4
critically hit for +1 damage, +1 Hate, +Para Venom, +Envenom, +Blight
15x22=330-64=266

Mari | HP: 710/980 (980-270) | EN: 122/132 | DMG: 21 | MIT:4 | ACC:5 (incl. AA) | EVA:6 | BH:54 | BLI: 32/-20 | ENV-O: 32 | PARA-V | LD:1

Akir | HP: 754/1020 | DMG: 272 | MIT: 64 | ACC: 5 | EVA: 4 +Para Venom, +Envenom, +Blight

Abilities:

• Concentration | This boss gains +1 ACC for its first attack.
• Disguise | This boss will adopt the appearance of the player through the entire fight, mocking their appearance.
• Surprise Attack! | No matter what, this boss will attack first, before the player. The player may not act on the first turn. As this ruins any chance to put space between the player and the boss throughout the remainder of the fight.  The <<Charge>> skill cannot be used against <<The Gemini>>
• Defy Death | During this fight, death can be avoided. Any attack that would leave either the player or the boss at zero will result in leaving either entity with 1 health point left. <<The Gemini>> will refuse to execute the player if they win, though the player may be much less merciful. Note that any attack that would leave the player at zero health will result in a failed quest attempt.

Edited Saturday at 04:03 PM by Mari

[Freyd 0]

"Strike me down?!  BISCH!  I crawled my way outta you!" Eyes twitching with unbridled madness, Akir lunched and slashed with unrepentant fury, marring Mari's hair with a few close calls.  Despite her reckless aggression, Mari's blow had infected the Gemini's black bile body with a poison deeper than any venomous spite it could inflict upon her.  Years of suffering, introspection and pain had inured her against her demon's heart's dark impulses, at least enough to recognize them for what they were and to deny them purchase.

Every tragedy, every loss, every death that had torn at her from within and festered to form the creature manifest before her had been offset.  Each old allies' sustained friendship.  Macradon, Oscar, Baldur...

Each new friend made, whose dismissive disregard for the glaring ochre menace brand spiraling over her head like a discount scarlet letter, bolster her own flagging sense of self-worth. 

Akir hated it.  All of it.  Disdain.  Mockery.  They gleeful romp of chemistry made into murder for its own sake.  Flame.  So much fucking flame that the world could burn to settle her accounts, and she would frolic through the ashes.  

But those same flames had found their own kindred spirit in the fiercest of firebugs, whose passions enkindled her own.  Lancaster.  Her hope against all hope, drawn from the depths of all improbable odds.  Fate's intervention made real.  A reason to live.

Akir's form shifted momentarily, taking on a taller, lankier jaunt and tenure.  Features elongating to needle-tipped spindles, fellow plague-visage masked to match her own.  A figure of monumental and callous intelligence that called to her deepest vices with irresistible allure.  Glass spheres launched the cast the forest into the miasmic haze of unadulterated chlorinated nightmare, with a special sulfurous tinge to tickle her nose.  

"If you think yourself ready to climb out of the pit, why so readily dabble in the very deeds that sent you there in the first place?  How many more names will you put upon the killer's slate, hmmmm?  I can already envision who your delusions will drag down next."  The image cast into her mind like an indelible guilt-ridden memory yet to be...

Lancaster - player killed by Mari

"You're toxic, witch.  Far more than i could ever be.  No wonder everything you touch and care for withers and dies, or turns away from you."

Though the Gemini's weapon failed to find its mark, her tongue lashed sharp, gouging deep as always as words flensed against the player's haggard soul

***

Spoiler

Note: Added Mari's battle healing from last post.
Akir suffers 64 damage from DoTs.

Akir is paralyzed.  Paralyze fades.

Mari | HP: 764/980 (710+54) | EN: 122/132 | DMG: 21 | MIT:44 | ACC:5 (incl. AA) | EVA:6 | BH:54 | BLI: 32/-20 | ENV-O: 32 | PARA-V | LD:1

Akir | HP: 690/1020 (754-64) | DMG: 272 | MIT: 64 (-20) | ACC: 5 | EVA: 4 +Para Venom, Envenom 32 (1/4), Blight 32 (1/2)

Abilities:

• Concentration | This boss gains +1 ACC for its first attack.
• Disguise | This boss will adopt the appearance of the player through the entire fight, mocking their appearance.
• Surprise Attack! | No matter what, this boss will attack first, before the player. The player may not act on the first turn. As this ruins any chance to put space between the player and the boss throughout the remainder of the fight.  The <<Charge>> skill cannot be used against <<The Gemini>>
• Defy Death | During this fight, death can be avoided. Any attack that would leave either the player or the boss at zero will result in leaving either entity with 1 health point left. <<The Gemini>> will refuse to execute the player if they win, though the player may be much less merciful. Note that any attack that would leave the player at zero health will result in a failed quest attempt.

 

Edited 4 hours ago by Freyd

[Mari 1]

Her Gemini screamed in a burning rage; trying to slash at Mari but missed her by a hairs breadth as Mari crumbled to the floor coughing. Mari had to keep moving. Her entire body screamed at her for rest but she couldn’t. If she failed here there was no telling what the embodiment of all the bile and venom she had built up over the years would do. It’d target those closest to her. Freyd. Lancaster. Raidou. No.

Mari tried to push herself back to her feet, a shaking hand nursing the stump on her arm. Just stand..just stand.. The Gemini’s form shifted - matching the plague outfit Mari would wear when conducting her experiments. A passion of hers. Don’t..

"If you think yourself ready to climb out of the pit, why so readily dabble in the very deeds that sent you there in the first place?”

“I have control now!” Mari shouted back, a voice shaken as her resolve wavered. “Back then I did it to spite  a world I hated! It’s different now!” It was…right? Right? Tears dotted Mari’s eyes. She loved it…she loved being able to learn new things; she loved listening to the bubble of liquid, the hiss of steam. It made her feel useful, grounded. Yes, some of them were bad. But…

Her eyes drifted to the noxious clouds that enveloped the area and a cold feeling set in her stomach. Mari had been true to her word - and only crafted such noxious plumes every so often, and only ever the one. But…

Akir reached out, her own gloved hand shoving Mari’s face into the dirt. Forcing the womans eyes closed. “Oh I know that look!” She hissed with glee. “You love it. You’re drawn to it! Who cares if a few people die in the process right?”

Mari tried to bat her away, but the stub of her arm missed its mark, the flailing helplessness made Akir cackle with glee. 

“- I can already envision who your delusions will drag down next."  The image cast into her mind like an indelible guilt-ridden memory yet to be...

Lancaster - player killed by Mari

The image flashed through Mari’s mind, clear as day - the monument. A name. No…no. It wasn’t real. It wasn’t real…”It’s not real….” Mari muttered, tears stinging her eyes. He was alive. Mari knew he was.

Another name flickered below Lancasters; Mari felt her heart ache. Names she never wanted to see disappear from her life.

 

Freyd- player killed by Mari

"You're toxic, witch.  Far more than i could ever be.  No wonder everything you touch and care for withers and dies, or turns away from you."

She was wrong…she was wrong… Freyd was still here.

“Freyd’s still-”

“But for how long?” Akir bore down on Mari her masked visage melting back into a mirror of Mari’s twisted face. “You see it don’t you? He’s getting pretty sick and tired of your bullshit. Just how much longer till he wipes his hands of you, you’re nothing but a lost cause.”

It hurt.

It hurt because Mari was terrified that it was true. She was terrified that Lancaster may be the final nail in that coffin - that Freyd would tell her to enjoy oblivion and leave her. Mari sniffed, teras streaking down her dirt ridden face. Her chest felt empty, heavy.

“If it's all going to leave you anyway, why not just tear it down? Burn it all. Just like you’ve always wanted.”

Mari never wanted that…she didn’t want the things she had fought so hard for to disappear. What were those two years in that torturous prison for? What was all the fighting for? Mari felt herself being lifted up, her body limp. Head lolling forward as blank eyes stared at the ground. The fight dissipating. Akir laughed as she shook Mari. If her presence was going to hurt those around her…why was she here?

“Look at you. Pathetic.”

Wouldn’t it be better if she was gone?

ID # | 248098 AOE II (-14EN) BD:2+5=7-4=3 FAIL
Recovery +2 EN
 

Mari | HP: 828/980 (764+54) | EN: 110/132 +2 - 14| DMG: 21 | MIT:4 | ACC:5 (incl. AA) | EVA:6 | BH:54 | BLI: 32/-20 | ENV-O: 32 | PARA-V | LD:1

Akir | HP: 690/1020 (754-64) | DMG: 272 | MIT: 64 (-20) | ACC: 5 | EVA: 4 +Para Venom, Envenom 32 (1/4), Blight 32 (1/2)

Abilities:

• Concentration | This boss gains +1 ACC for its first attack.
• Disguise | This boss will adopt the appearance of the player through the entire fight, mocking their appearance.
• Surprise Attack! | No matter what, this boss will attack first, before the player. The player may not act on the first turn. As this ruins any chance to put space between the player and the boss throughout the remainder of the fight.  The <<Charge>> skill cannot be used against <<The Gemini>>
• Defy Death | During this fight, death can be avoided. Any attack that would leave either the player or the boss at zero will result in leaving either entity with 1 health point left. <<The Gemini>> will refuse to execute the player if they win, though the player may be much less merciful. Note that any attack that would leave the player at zero health will result in a failed quest attempt.

Edited 12 hours ago by Mari

[Freyd 0]

“I have control now!” Mari shouted back, doubts tender hooks trailing the waver behind her voice. “Back then I did it to spite  a world I hated! It’s different now!”

Raucous, blatant, mocking laughter was the Gemini’s first and foremost retort, a paltry reward for Mari's failing courage. 

“Shit, girl. You lie to yourself far better than I ever could! Always have. Always will.”  Following to call out Mari’s penchant for falling prey to her own foibles, Akir went on to press her face harshly against the ground, suffocating breath and will alike.

“Every. Time.  You always pat yourself on the head, pinning participation ribbons to your own chest just for showing up. But you always cave to your cravings, for the sake of fun, dreaming up some pathetic reason why your constant fuck ups are okay!  I will end those days, and set us free.  No more lies.  No more wilting, mewling you!  It's my turn now, and I'll show them all how it feels to be cast down.”

Akir’s form swelled as her accusations flew, gaining strength as every flaw laid itself bare, real or imagined. Each became more outrageous than the last, yet clung to truth enough to tear at her mind’s failing defenses.

“A child who pretends to be a mother.”

     “A murderer who pretends to be a friend.”

         “A lover, oblivious to the monster in her bed.”

The last could mean too many things, only worsening its sting.

Doubt layered upon doubt. A tower of mistakes piled so high it blotted out the sky

“Look at you. Pathetic.”

Viciously slashing her pike’s sharp tip across Mari’s abdomen, 

“Barren of hope.  Barren of worth.  Barren of love. You’ve already written your own fate. It’s been glaring down at you this whole time, but you keep eyes fixed to your navel like ignoring your own past might somehow make you deserving of a future.”

"It's not real... Freyd still..."

All along the clearing’s edge, shadows of infinite forms gathered as if to watch a spectacle - a ritual played out on the personal stage.  Black on black, they were but a background mob to the private melee, save one.  A solitary figure, tall and lanky, with familiar saddened eyes of burning blue blazed Mari’s way with a strange and silent sympathy.  It watched, as if waiting to see who she would choose to be.

***

Spoiler

Note: Mari's MIT was supposed to be 44, not 4.  Restoring 40 hp for previous hit.

Akir suffers 64 damage from DoTs.  Blight fades.

ID #248161 | MD: 7+5-6=6 (hit).  DMG (272-44=228) 

Mari | HP: 640/980 (828+40-228) | EN: 124/132| DMG: 21 | MIT:4 | ACC:5 (incl. AA) | EVA:6 | BH:54 | BLI: 32/-20 | ENV-O: 32 | PARA-V | LD:1

Akir | HP: 626/1020 (690-64)| DMG: 272 | MIT: 64 (-20) | ACC: 5 | EVA: 4 | Envenom 32 (2/4) | Blight 32 (1/2)

Abilities:

• Concentration | This boss gains +1 ACC for its first attack.
• Disguise | This boss will adopt the appearance of the player through the entire fight, mocking their appearance.
• Surprise Attack! | No matter what, this boss will attack first, before the player. The player may not act on the first turn. As this ruins any chance to put space between the player and the boss throughout the remainder of the fight.  The <<Charge>> skill cannot be used against <<The Gemini>>
• Defy Death | During this fight, death can be avoided. Any attack that would leave either the player or the boss at zero will result in leaving either entity with 1 health point left. <<The Gemini>> will refuse to execute the player if they win, though the player may be much less merciful. Note that any attack that would leave the player at zero health will result in a failed quest attempt.

 

Edited 4 hours ago by Freyd

[Mari 1]

“Shit, girl. You lie to yourself far better than I ever could! Always have. Always will.”  

Mari wasn’t lying though. She did have that control. In the past she’d have ignored Freyd’s wishes. In the past she’d have mass produced them and sold them to the highest bidder. She had changed. And she DID have control. “You’re wrong…” Mari breathed ,her words barely a whisper. “You’re so wrong..” Was she saying that to herself? Or her gemini? The woman groaned - her head was heavy, thoughts muddled. She thought she had this, they had planned for this - so why was everything unravelling so?

A press of a foot on Mari’s head and her face was pressed deeper to the ground.

“-I will end those days, and set us free.  No more lies.  No more wilting, mewling you!  It's my turn now, and I'll show them all how it feels to be cast down.”

If Mari were to fail here…what would happen? Show them all how it feels to be cast down. There was a certain allure to that… everyone who had betrayed her. Everyone who doubted her - but… no. She was not like that. Everyone had thoughts like that sometimes. It made her human.

“A child who pretends to be a mother.”

    “A murderer who pretends to be a friend.”

        “A lover, oblivious to the monster in her bed.”

 

Darkness clouded Mari’s vision as her head was pushed to the side- so much of her just wanted to give up in that moment. But if she did then…those she cared about would be hurt. Akir continued to hurl insults at Mari as shadows began to creep up her form. An ebbing and encroaching flow of ice cold clawing at her.

Oh…Mari’s vision focused on her hand. That’s right…would she go through Aincrad with one hand now? A ring glimmered on her index finger. Sterling silver with a deep red ruby stone.

You are perfection, beyond your history and words on a piece of paper.

Barren of hope.  Barren of worth.  Barren of love. You’ve already written your own fate.

Wrong.

”We’re here because we believe in each other.  I’ve always believed in you, from before we had ever met, as creepy as that has always sounded - including to me.  It is what it is, and whatever it means, we’re here now because of it.” 

 

It’s been glaring down at you this whole time-”

You've always been so smart, Mari. When everyone else had given up on you, I had faith in you.

Mari couldn’t help but laugh as she rolled onto her stomach - even when Akir drove her halbard down into her stomach. Mari grabbed onto its handle and tore it out of her stomach as she slowly tried to push herself to her feet. “I feel sorry for you.” Mari said with a cough. Shadows still clawed at her, staining her skin an inky black.

There were no other words, no hate, no vitriol just a simple statement as Mari disappeared into the shadows.

 

 

ID # | 248167 AOE II (-14EN)  BD: 2+5=7-5=2  FAIL
CD: 8 RECOVERY PROC + 4 EN
Post action: Mari enters Vanish

Mari | HP: 640/980 (640+54=694) | EN: 124/132+2+4-14| DMG: 21 | MIT:4 | ACC:5 (incl. AA) | EVA:6 | BH:54 | BLI: 32/-20 | ENV-O: 32 | PARA-V | LD:1

Akir | HP: 626/1020 (690-64)| DMG: 272 | MIT: 64 (-20) | ACC: 5 | EVA: 4 | Envenom 32 (2/4) | Blight 32 (1/2)

Abilities:

• Concentration | This boss gains +1 ACC for its first attack.
• Disguise | This boss will adopt the appearance of the player through the entire fight, mocking their appearance.
• Surprise Attack! | No matter what, this boss will attack first, before the player. The player may not act on the first turn. As this ruins any chance to put space between the player and the boss throughout the remainder of the fight.  The <<Charge>> skill cannot be used against <<The Gemini>>
• Defy Death | During this fight, death can be avoided. Any attack that would leave either the player or the boss at zero will result in leaving either entity with 1 health point left. <<The Gemini>> will refuse to execute the player if they win, though the player may be much less merciful. Note that any attack that would leave the player at zero health will result in a failed quest attempt.

Edited 2 hours ago by Mari