View source for 5226/Welcome to Our World

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2017/04/28
|Location=SAO-1 Earth
|Synopsis=A monstrous giant comes from the sea and attacks Tokyo.
|Cast of Characters=874, 960, 571, 215, 968, 714, 631, 42, 973, 1, 6, 385, 680
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:874|Yuuki Konno (874)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In the days since the World Reload, Japan has been watching the skies. The immense flying castle Aincrad is not, so far, a threat. It slowly flies there some hundred kilometers off the coast like an alien mothership from a science fiction movie. It hasn't attacked Japan, and Japan collectively has seen enough movies to not attack first. They still watch the skies however.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;They should have been watching the seas. Like some other types of movies, the threat to Tokyo rises from the waves. The giant kaiju hits the shore before anyone even realizes it's there. Unlike certain other kaiju however, this one doesn't just randomly start to destroy. It's also not a giant fire-breathing lizard. No, this one's a man-shaped giant, black-skinned, red-eyed, with two horned heads and four mighty arms. It's huge, some eight meters tall, and with muscles that would have been huge on a normal-sized creature. On this giant, they're colossal.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Radio and television begin to pick up on the monster. Response to it is slow. At first, the only resistance is scattered and ineffective. Tokyo police take shots at it as it passes. Those who are out of its way are ignored; pistol bullets apparently ineffective against its iron-hard skin. Those who stand in its path are crushed, either by one of its monstrous hammers, a sweep of the long chains worn around its waist, or stomped underneath a charging foot. Cars and even some of the smaller buildings suffer a similar fate, though the giant doesn't appear to seek destruction. It just moves through obstacles in its path, striking out only at threats, not caring as it clambers over cars or small buildings that they weren't designed to support its incredible weight.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;At least, it crushed all in its way for a time. A small group has managed so far to avoid being crushed. Five colourful figures flit around it, trying to destroy the monster. They appear to not be having much luck. They've slowed it, but every time they try to draw it off its path it turns away and returns to its course. Not that they're trying very effectively. They seem... hesitant to fully engage. As if they're afraid.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:874|Yuuki Konno (874)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Several among the Gatecrashers would recognize the party of five faerie warriors. A Gnome with heavy armor and a shield, a Salamander with a greatsword, a Spriggan armed with a warhammer, a Leprechaun wielding a spear and a staff-wielding Sylph. Even to those who don't recognize them, they have the same visual interface of other Augma users, marking them clearly enough as Alfheim Online players skilled enough to have earned the mysterious transformation device.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;They're in a bad spot. The giant, though familiar, is at least twice as big as any they've seen before. It's much stronger and tougher as well. The only reason they haven't been squashed flat or driven off is that the creature is outdoors, letting them fly out of range of it before healing back some of their wounds. Even so they look to be considerably more damaged than it is.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Of course, for those who know who they are, their purpose here should be obvious. While they're impressive fighters at the highest ends of the current crop of Alfheim Online players, they're not exactly crusading heroes. Not in the real world at least. The five of them, even when they'd had access to Wander Mode, didn't typically leave the VR worlds without their leader, and without a solid reason. Clearly they've figured out what lies at the end of the two-headed giant's vicious attack, and despite all their skill and determination they're faring poorly without the heart of their team to lead them.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As to the monster's destination? It's in sight. Not right there, not quite yet, but visible in an open space in the distance between several other buildings. A fairly large complex, taking up a sizeable city block. It's a hospital, one of the most advanced of this near-futuristic world. It wasn't, unfortunately, built to stand up to a kaiju attack.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:960|Kain (960)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Speed was his game, and he was going to use it as Kain kicked his flight up as fast as possible! Thankfully not much cloud cover at this time of day. Sun shining brightly give his wings physical form as he kicks forward as fast as possible towards the Tokyo Center where the CARDINAL boss would be headed!<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It was not hard to find the large monster tromping around in Tokyo... it kinda sticks out! He kept his distance for now. Last thing he wanted was to just go in without any info at all and get suddenly one-shot.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kain kicks on his radio and signals out to the rest of the Gatecrashers. "This is Kain. I'm in the air near the creature. I've not entered its aggro radius yet. I'm thinking on making a quick fly-by to try and get an idea of its attack pattern. Go or no go?" Kain waited for some of the more experienced members of the Gatecrashers to weigh in on their thoughts.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:571|Alexis Maaka (571)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Desdemona is, true to her word, setting up.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;However, she can't exactly bring her in-game avatar to the physical world, but she has something way better. Something much better than the Nanbu .38 specials the cops have and the 9mm SMGs SAT can bring to bear. Positioned on an office building rooftop, she reveals herself via comms.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She has a Barrett .50 BMG loaded and zeroed, as she takes aim at the behemoth coming down the street. "Okay, you big sod, show me your weak spot..."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She requests over radio for any weaknesses to be identified, but she's keeping a sharp eye on the creature as it approaches, holding off on firing while she waits for the beast to show its hand first. Can't let it know where she hides just yet, after all.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:'''<br>If there's one good thing about taking something in real life as opposed to a virtual reality setting, it's the fact that Iria is able to utilize her skills as an elite bounty hunter to gain an advantage over her foes. Even if this is a lot huger than what she's generally taken on in the past, it doesn't bother her, since she figures it's a great chance to improve her skills as a bounty hunter.<br><br>From up in the sky, Iria glides in on her Teppidan, using the hang glider mode to give herself a bit more speed to get into the area, then dismounts from it, landing on a nearby rooftop, while her Teppidan returns to her home via autopilot. She quickly checks her weapons, making sure she's got plenty of ammunition for her bazooka, her assault rifle, and even her hand gun. She also checks to make sure her chain-katana is ready for use if the need for it should arise.<br><br>"We're not playing any more video games!" Iria comments with an evil grin. "We're playing for real now!" Her grin gets slightly bigger. "This is gonna be real fun!" She stares at the giant creature and says, "Prepare to be taken down by a girl who knows a thing or two about taking down big things!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:'''<br>Not build to withstand a kaiju attack is also the small Udon booth, in which Nicky had taken a nice cup of noodles when the the monster came through the wall behind her. Plowing through the tables, sending splinters through the room and surprising the girl with the shaking thunderstruck, of the roof starting to come down, Nicky vanishes in a small cloud of cream-white mist.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Within moments - the giant nonchalantly walking past the cloud, only disturbing it slightly in his march - the mist starts to contract, pulling together and condensing into a fox-shaped stuffed animal of the same off-white color the cloud had had... just it sprouts about 8 tails too much.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Flailing, the Kitsune-plushie tumbles onto the floor, the giant breaking through the other wall meanwhile, and Nicky is doomed to just shake tiny fists after it for messing with her lunch! Those were good noodles! But of course, one can't hear Nicky's scream... plushies are mute after all.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''<br> What. The hell. This was not the way the plan was supposed to work at all. Sanary had been on her way to the hospital, clad in her usual white coat bearing a slightly faded emblem recognizable to some as a captain's insignia for what was formerly known as the Confederacy. She was suposed to show up at the hospital, flash her badge, claim eminent domain or something, and then smash a few walls until an unlikely young hero stopped her. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Granted, the plan probably would have worked better if she had TOLD anyone about it first. And also if a giant siamese S&amp;M demon didn't decide this would be the best time to come rampaging through Japan. Still, maybe she can work with this. Somehow. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She'll figure out the plan on the way. For now, however, Sanary finishes off the last of her sandwich before taking to the skies, her anklets roaring to life and propelling her straight towards the giant. Calling upon the power of WILDLY SPINNING, the axe-wielder starts... Well, spinning at an angle with a giant mechanical axe taller than herself, apparently intending to slam it right into the center mass of the monster with all that built up speed. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And maybe puke a little. Spinning is not as easy as it looks!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:631|Reker (631)}} has posed:'''<br>You know it's funny. A week ago, Reker was sitting in GGO, thinking about how awesome it would be to bring his avatar to bear against ALO monsters. They'd never know what hit them, having to deal with guns and explosives instead of swords and magic.<br><br>Then the event happened...And now he can do just that. The screech of tires can be heard behind the mercenary Maaka, and if she looks behind her, she'll see what it is. A large uparmored LTV pulls up, and the driver shifts positions and gets up onto the mounted .50 M2.<br><br>"Welcome to the real world, jack ass!" Reker yells, as he presses down on the butterfly trigger and starts to spit some <span class="bold_fg_r bg_n ++ hr">VERY REALISTIC</span> digital lead towards the monster. THUMP THUMP THUMP.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A giant monster is attacking Tokyo.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;That means a giant robot has to show up to fight it, right? Right.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A plane-shaped construct of gleaming metal dives out of the sky, slowing a bit as it nears the ground, unfolding arms and legs as it stops to hover before its body transforms and it lands, a humanoid twice the height of the monster standing in the street a block or so away, facing it. Those who've seen the Star Hawk before might notice it's carrying a different giant futuristic gun instead of its handheld missile launcher. It stands tall and imposing, as if to say in a language even a giant monster can understand: I'm bigger than you.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"This is your last chance." Staren announces over loudspeakers. "Turn back, or face annihilation. Unless you feel like talking."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The mecha hefts its weapon and takes aim, with the ominous whine of electronics powering up. It doesn't fire unless the monster moves towards it or attacks someone, though.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Keiko is pushing her legs to their limit, her bicycle giving off a mild hum as it skims across the asphalt towards the location of the disturbance. She spots the light trails of the Sleeping Knights, then hops off her bike, quickly loops the chain around something, then sets her Augma into place. "Child of Beasts. LINK START!" She strikes a pose, as the Augma wraps her in her Avatar... then deploys her wings and leaps into the air to join the others. She opens her menu midflight, and taps a gold rimmed item and picks: Release. Pina emerges in a flare of digital light, and roars shrilly as she falls in beside the tamer. "We have to stop it. Pina, we're on support duty." she says to her companion, who gives a nod and chirrup in response.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1|Kirito (1)}} has posed:'''<br>IT's bad enough that there's a MONSTER attacking his Tokyo. That enough has Kirito's blood running cold. Hell, it's a dreadful doomsday scenario he'd theorized to be quite possible since unification. He just prayed and prayed it would NEVER become reality.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Multiverse just l oves to spite him.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Time to act.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A new black streak swoops around and clashes against the Giant's arm, striking with precision after a swing into the back of one of its legs. The impact scatters sparks everywhere... but how effective it might've been remains to be seen.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;KIRITO swoops away from the impact, Elucidator in one hand and Excaliber in the other. "Crap, that barely scratched it--!"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kirito swoops away from the thing, coming to land just outside the creature's path on a lower-standing building's rooftop. He's still baring steel at the creature, but seems to be deep in thought and rapidly puzzling out just WHAT to do.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then he recognizes the creature. "The boss of Floor 27's Labyrinth... The Four-Armed Giant." The Black Swordsman says through grinding teeth. But why, WHY is it here? Why is it making a beeline for...?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"...Is it out for revenge....? Like Nicholas the Renegade's Rematch...?!"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;His breath catches in the next moment, as he sees the rising smoke. Hears screams. The mess this thing's leaving in its wake... lives might've been lost.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kirito shivers and trembles. It's been so long since he heard such screaming. The noises are sending fears he'd buried slashing down his spine like a cold knife blade. His grip clenches even more tightly 'round his trusted weapons...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:'''<br>Tomoe had been at the house talking with Kirito's mother about everything. Things had been rocky when she first showed up to rent a room several years ago but things had become far better after that. Even with some rather hilarious cultral misunderstandings on both sides. However at the report Sheena had taken off running. She'd grabed Aguma and shouted out. <br><br> "LINK START!" <br><br> Tomoe took Sheena's place and her wings flared out. A moment later she takes off at top speed for the Kaiju and a sickening feeling filled her stomach. They should have never spread the world seed they should have let the Wretched Technology Heathciff made die with him. <br><br> No this wasn't Heathcliff's fault he made it long before the multiverse, it's more the fault of the multiverse in the end. She'd already firing off invites to the rest of the responders whom she's able too as she flies in a bit after Kirito. <br><br> "Don't know going to put it back in the bone yard, Kirito..." <br><br> There's fear in Tomoe a lot of itbut also anger. Whatever had caused this drove the rest of the world into a massive death game. She couldn't get her hands on the cause but the thing threatening Tokyo? She damn well could. She's alredy chanting as fe flies in and is firing off her taunts and several low levle light spells to get it's attention she's going to get right up in it's grill.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:874|Yuuki Konno (874)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The two-headed giant roars, flailing about with its chain. Too defensively, the fairy warriors engaging it leap back and aside. They're quick, but they're not used to real-world consequences. The damage they've taken so far HURTS, and worse they know that if it catches them full-on with one of its monstrous attacks it could kill them. At one time the Sleeping Knights were ready to die. Now though, reprieved, they find life sweet and not so easy to give up on.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The monster reels as it's struck by high-caliber gunfire. The bullets stitch a pattern of red across it, much like the blades of the fairie warriors do. Not huge splashes of red, fortunately. Reker would recognize his effectiveness based on experience with GGO monsters. It'll take some time to whittle this monster's health down yet. The creature flinching is more due to the surprise of the attack than a damage-stun. It roars, and breathes out a cloud of purple gas in his direction. His and Maaka's, as it expands as it flies out. The two have some time before it reaches them, but not much.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren's answer, it seems, will come much more quickly. The two-headed giant charges, swinging one of its monstrous spiked hammers. Sometimes, it's just not a good idea to be a bigger target. The beast may not be as large but it appears to be a floor boss. Meant to be a challenge to a full raid worth of people. It probably can't destroy the giant robot outright or anything, but it's probably not a good idea to trade blows with it either.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The giant otherwise ignores other attackers, giving a moment's break to those who are engaging it in melee. They'll get their chances to attack, cutting huge red digital rents into the beast. Its HP bar is being depleted, but there are more bars underneath. The red-armored Salamander Knight, currently tanking the giant, leaps and rolls out of the way of its charge. Seeing others come to join the fight, he flashes a brilliant smile and a raised fist in salute before turning back to chase the foe, trying to catch up and get a hit in. The others follow, though not quite so quickly.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:571|Alexis Maaka (571)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[Plug your ears.]]<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Maaka sniffles briefly before she takes a breath, clutching her .50 cal. Sighting down the behemoth's chest, once Silica brings up that weak spot, she stares down the crystal. Focusing only on it, she waits and waits before the creature stays still.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then, she fires. The Barrett kicks against her shoulder mildly, muffled by her coat's thick material as Maaka fires on the crystal on the giant's chest, aiming to shatter it by the time she's done.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:960|Kain (960)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Okay. Kain's got this... weak spots on any humanoid... backs of the knees, neck, nape... strong strikes at any of those spots can deal decent damage... but then Silica mentions a jewel on its chest... good a spot as any... sweeping around and holding his ears as the very loud gunshot rings out, he pulls towards the front and unsheathes his Rapier, holding it upside down as he places a hand to the pommel and chanting! "Ek fleygja þrír geirr muspilli!" Three blazing spears of fire shoot from the jeweled pommel of the Rapier, aimed right for the jewel on the Giant's chest! Even if this wasn't a weak point, that would definitely be a hardy blow!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Silica shifts her flight path, after sending the others the invite to the raid group. Even the non-Augma users would get one! Thanks to the way the new world seems to work. Her shift, has her coming in from above as the giant comes to a stop after its last charge, hey eyes glowing brightly as she looks for the weakspot, that crystal the Sleeping Knights had told them about the smaller version in the ALO version of Aincrad. She vectors in, a machcone forming before her(Not an actual one, but a VFX for her hitting some kind of speed cap.), as she brandishes her dagger. "Kyyaaahahahahaaaahaha!" she lets out as a warcry, while her dagger glows bright white-blue.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If she finds it, she stabs her dagger into the crystal, then slams her feet into the giant's chest and launches herself away again as the ice explodes out of her Glacier Slash.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''<br> After finding the axe sinking into not-digital-but-sort-of-digital flesh, Sanary rips her gunaxe out of the Giant and falls back several yards to get a better look at what she just slammed into. Yep, that's a... Torso. Just how big is this thing?! <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; No matter. As long as it dies, that's all that matters! Spotting Silica charging into the free, Sanary pumps energy into her anklets to meet up with her halfway (and hitting the weird symbol that appears about a raid group which she somehow recognizes). The healer doesn't move to get in her way, but instead... <br><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I got your back. Just don't get too far!" Sanary calls out as she directs a cloud of that energy Silica's way, providing the beast tamer with a sizable boost to her power and endurance. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Never mind how this seemingly unknown person could recognize Silica just from hearing her once or anything.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:631|Reker (631)}} has posed:'''<br>The .50 caliber machine gun on Reker's truck continues to spit fire, until he notices the incoming gas attack. He drops out of the turret and back into the driver's seat, slamming the truck into gear and pulling down an alleyway. <br><br>He hopes this stuff can't turn corners, but just to be safe opens up his inventory and equips a rebreather. Won't last long but should help negate whatever debuff that gas will give him. He hopes.<br><br>He opts to abandon the truck for now, hopping out and de-summoning it, hoofing it on foot until he can get into a better position to fire. He has an idea. A terrible idea, but an idea none the less. He just needs to be very close to the monster to hit that weak point with his idea.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:'''<br>This isn't supposed to happen. Not in their real world - Kirito, Silica, Yuuki, and their friends aren't supposed to have to fight monsters in the real, waking, offline world. So when the Gatecrashers mentioned a monster in Tokyo, both the long day of rehearsals and lessons and the previous day's emotional travails are wiped away by a cold wave of adrenaline - fear for her friends' well-being.<br><br>As such, when Yuna Kagurazaka emerges from the nearest warpgate, she's flying as close to Mach 1 as she dares test her Flight Form's capability for sustained high speeds. She still has to pull up *hard* to avoid plowing into traffic; Jiina and Marina, flying behind her, are considerably better at adjusting course in a hurry - and as usual, of course, the little robo-faerie Elner doesn't even bat a nonexistent eyelash: it just teleports to a good aerial vantage point, beginning to study out the situation even as Yuna and the rest of the Matrix of Light hasten to join the fray.<br><br>It's clear enough when Yuna arrives, announcing her presence with a brief series of high-powered shots from the Matrix Divider - not aiming for that little jewel in the chest, but blasting the monster in both of its faces. She can't aim precisely enough to shoot any of its eyes out, and a blinded monster could be more dangerous than it is with its vision (if not to the fighters, then to the local architecture and civilians) ... but shooting people or things in the face tends to be a great way to get their attention, and Yuna wants to draw aggro AWAY from the Gatecrashers for the time being.<br><br>She just has to stay out of range of counterattacks, at least for the time being.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Aaand it charges. Staren fires a three-pulse burst from the mecha-scale laser rifle at its center of mass and then raises that arm as the monster comes in too close for him to use it, holding the left hand out with the palm forward to try and catch the monster, the giant spiked hammers impacting the mecha's armor plating with a shower of sparks and leaving large dents. He can't just sit there and let it beat on him, but he's willing to tank its attention for a few seconds and give the others a chance to wail on it with everything they've got. Some kind of beam weapon in the leg packs fires a volley or two, but it isn't very powerful.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then he leaps back (and he has rear cameras to make sure he doesn't jump into a building or anything, and he'll /try/ not to crush any cars) before firing another triple pulse followed by a long burst from the forearm-mounted gatling railgun.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If it follows him again, then he'll know he can lead it. And if he can lead it, well... He's not sure exactly what to do with that yet, but it's surely important!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:'''<br>Plushing out just in front of a giant, that quickly turns into the center of a battlefield is not a smart move. As bullets fly, the sound of .50 BMG reminds her, that she left her own remington... somewhere. You can't walk through Tokyo with a hunting rifle, right? But that doesn't matter: that bastard destroyed her lunch! Pissed, the ninetails-plushie called Nicky jumps up and tries to persue the giant, but falls back in speed - that is untill she manages to calm herself enough to turn into a misty cloud again, expanding rapidly and re-condensing as the quite dusted, but otherwise unhurt Nicky.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Persuing on foot through the trail the giant leaves, Nicky uses the rubble trail like a ramp to get some height, then vaults herself forwards, grabbing a streetlight to redirect her momentum more upwards in a swing and through the broken window of a second floor. Over the tables the destroyed office, she dashes after the giant, still the chopsticks in her left hand. On the other side of the building, she jumps up, barely passing the frame of a fallen over truck, just to land next to the poor policeman trapped under it on two feet and a hand. Even as she can't really use his gun... it is more than nothing. Swiping it from the KOed man's holster, she speeds up to finally close in on the giant...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"You owe me my LUNCH!" Nicky yells as she starts to try to climb up on the back of the giant, ignoring the other combattants, the pistol in her left. Pulling herself up, she plans to try to do what the Purifiers do... 9mm Parabellum applied to the foramen magnum. If she reaches it.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1|Kirito (1)}} has posed:'''<br>Death and pain. Real consequences. Kirito's breathing slowly steadies as thoughts of SAO flash through his head. This might be a fight they can't win. He's not ready. He's not ready AT ALL. Even if the smartest thing to do might be to fly away from this and never look back... he can't do that.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He absolutely CANNOT abandon this fight, even though he's not ready. If he does so, innocents will die. Yuuki will probably die. His other friends, too...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The shakey breathing ceases as the boy's will to fight surges into a fury that's been deeply hidden over these few years of peace and tomfoolery.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A ferocious, blood-curdling battle roar is his only words for the beast. It echoes down alleys and across rooftops, sure to draw attention from anyone who hears it.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Though just as quickly, he's not on that rooftop anymore. His wings are once again out, and WHOOOOOOSH - he's springing straight for the creature's front!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;One of Kirito's blades shines white, the other black. The powers of Light and Dark gather together and cast motes of starlight from his blades as he whips about and up for the Giant's oversized face!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"FALL! FAAAAAAAAALL!!" The impact of blade against thick hide will almost certainly cause an effect like fireworks, explosions of white and dark that light up the skies. The impact is titanic and would certainly be decisive against most other players. Against this giant though...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:680|Nagato (680)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It's one thing to play ALO, but when Nagato hears the words of a monster from those games in the real world... She's off as fast as her turbines will let her to the nearest warpgate. "Well, didn't expect this to happen." comes a mutter under her breath. "Been a while since a real sortie..." and out through the warpgate and into the version of Tokyo that Kirito and the rest are from... standing on the water, taking in information from Elner as soon as she got in.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Big... monstrous thing. Radar is pinging... she's got a mental lock on it. Turrets swing into place and elevate, "Type One AP Shells loaded. Firing solution obtained... Compensating for movement..." Nagato skates a bit forward, all four turrets 'locked on' as best as she can. "FIRE!" comes her shout, echoing over the waves as eight barrels eject the white shells with a resounding thunder-like bang, traveling in a, at least for her, majestic arc towards the humongous thing.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Okay, load next shell. Get ready to fire. give them long range support, that's what this battleship is going to do. It'd take her too long, even when running to get to a physical confrontation in melee.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:874|Yuuki Konno (874)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As the battle begins in earnest, the giant shifts up its attack patterns. As more people swarm in on it, it attacks back with several sweeps and swings of its chains. They'll flail at the fliers, though the threat there comes mostly from the wind of the chain's attack. The giant is spinning and whirling while it attacks, so Nicky's going to have a hard time clinging to it. It also sweeps the chains along the ground, a more immediate threat for grounded melee fighters. And as they jump and roll and try to avoid, it brings up one of those monstrous hammers to smash down on any caught midair, unable to dodge.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This would be one of those new patterns no one's seen before. The ones that kill people who believe they've seen it all before.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The giant lets out a roar however, and abruptly flinches back. It tucks its arms in, covering its chest. An attack managed to slam home into its weak point. In the chaos it could've been anyone. As quickly as the giant whirls around, that weak point's tricky as hell to hit. Skill though, or luck, either way it saves lives, interrupting the giant's attack that likely would've crushed someone.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Within the hospital, secreted in an upper-floor chamber and entombed within a medical device, Yuuki watches the scene with horror. Not with her eyes of course. Those haven't opened in years. She sees everything through the transmissions of the medicuboid, watching through VR. It's not all horror though. It's excitement, pride... even some embarrassment. She heard what was going on earlier, though she kept quiet while they talked on the channel she's almost always listening to. She's not about to blame Kirito for letting them know what hospital she was in. Not when the Two-Headed Giant was so obviously heading there for her.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She wants to be out there. She wasn't kidding about how much she wants to. Her frustration at being confined to VR after being free to roam the multiverse, her fear at seeing friends risking their lives for her... and of course the rush of impending battle, right there literally before her. She's never wanted anything so bad in her life.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yuuki closes her virtual eyes, not entirely wanting to see the battle through the shaky hand-held videos of the Tokyo populace. Instead, she's THERE. She can hear the fight, not through her ears but through the Gatecrasher's channel. She can see it in her mind's eye. She tries to will herself to go there... but it's futile. Her will, unyielding as it is, can't simply change reality. If only she could somehow move her body. But that too is impossible. Within the Medicuboid she feels no pain, and can move no muscle. The machine bypasses her central nervous system, dealing directly with her mind.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren's gunblast, geared as it is to this kind of fight, splashes the giant with red pixellated wounds. Individually more powerful than Reker's gunshots though they are, they're about equivalent in damage to his earlier volume of fire. A bar of health goes orange. When the crystal is struck the orange health bar drains and shatters immediately due to massive damage, but revealing more health bars to come.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Those health bars are suddenly at risk though. Battleship guns pound in the distance, and thanks to the accurate targeting from those close-by the shells strike home, shaving off large chunks of the newest green health bar.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Recovering from the brief stun of having its weak point attacked, the giant unfolds its arms and begins to flail about with hammers seemingly at random. While this is perhaps not as accurate as a targeted attack, it's a lot less predictable and chaotic, and attackers had best be careful!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:'''<br>Tomoe has her mind focued on one thing imporant to her that's tanking this thing, to keep it away from otherss so the rest of the responders can send this thing back to where it came from. If this shows the nature of Cardinal? She's not liking this at all and some gears start to turn in the depths of Tomoe's mind. That's what she's foc uing on she keeps with the taunt attacks and she will also be flying at it moving to strike it with her sword even as she keeps her feet off the ground. <br><br> "TWISTED MOCKERY OF WHAT IS SUPOSED TO BE A GAME!" <br><br> She shouts at it nlt tht she thinks it will reply to her and she's damn well doing eveything she can to keep it on her as much as possible but things are not going well for her.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Silica's ears twitch... it's almost, very nearly, like she can hear the silent cry of the girl stuck in VR. Whether it's coincidence, or some kind of empathy, the Cait Sith breaks from the battle, pointing Pina towards Sanary. "Protect!". "Miss! You can give Pina orders with your voice. She'll listen to you." she explains quickly, before she bursts off towards the hospital, dropping low to the ground, as low as she dares without actually skimming the top of traffic. She doesn't tell anyone her plan, she needs maximum stealth for this.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;So, instead of flying straight up to the front doors, likely choked with panicking people, the girl swings wide until she finds a service entrance, drops to the ground and dismisses her transformation, panting soft from the exhurtion of flight. Like running a marathon.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The beast tamer, now in her normal, human guise, slips into the building, and starts looking for a stairwell... what floor was it... she'd find out, even if it took time... lets just hope the others could hold that thing off long enough.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:960|Kain (960)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kain would have been absolutely decimated by the wind catching him off guard, but thankfully everyone's attacks caused it to become staggered, giving him enough time to avoid the strike! "Too close! Guys, keep it busy! I'll be back with some help!" And with that, Kain was speeding off... towards the hospital! Was he...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kain was quick to get there, probably arriving as the hospital itself was getting ready for evacuation procedures. He started looking around for one of the hospital attendees that looked to be in a head position. He was still in his ALO Avatar, 5'11", long flowing silver hair, his Rapier was sheathed on his hip and as he entered the hospital, his wings disappeared but they were as red as the longcoat he wore.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:'''<br>The others show up and begin their assault on the monster. When it roars, though, boy does it roar! It nearly blows Iria off her feet, but the bounty hunter isn't keen on being blown away today! She plants her feet firmly into the ground and stares down the huge beast with a look of defiance on her face. Even if it's not roaring directly at her, she's still not fazed by it one way or the other.<br><br>"You talk the talk, but I doubt you can walk the walk!" She sneers a little. "How about I show you what I'm capable of?" She draws her grenade launcher and loads a shell into it. "It may be small, but big things come in small packages! Take THIS!" She yells out as she fires the grenade round at the beast.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:571|Alexis Maaka (571)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Maaka feels the roar of artillery from the seas, as Nagato lets loose with her shelling. Of course, she isn't going to sit around and watch herself.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She takes aim, before she's jarred off target by the roar of the monster itself. "SON OF A BITCH!" She exclaims in anger, as she nearly looses control and quickly takes her hand off the grip of the Barrett. Last thing she needs is to fire off target and either hit an ally, or end up shooting a civilian. That...would not be good.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She grunts angrily, before she begins to reasset her position and sights down the monster's ugly face. "Okay, so you wanna play this way? Fine by me." She growls, firing into the beast's eyes directly.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''<br> As she cuts the magical line between her and Silica, Sanary braces the gunaxe in front of her to defend herself from the giant's oncoming chain. The healer takes that rather nasty hit head on, letting the momentum of the blow carry her back towards a building and landing with a shaky step. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dodging is for nerds. Also, people that are actually fast. Coughing once and spitting out... No blood? Huh. No blood. She shakes her hands off to get that pain out, then blinks as a familiar... Familiar? Mini-dragon? Pet thing? A Pina appears, and Sanary blinks at it slowly before swapping the gunaxe for her Physic staff. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Orders, huh? Alright... We're on support for now, then. If you got any buffs or healing abilities, get them on the attackers. If not..." She scrunches up her face in thought while raising the staff, directing a burst of healing magic Tomoe's way to try and mitigate some of the damage she's taking. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "... Shoot it with whatever you've got, but don't get too far away from me. Silica's gonna get pissed if I let you get hurt!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:'''<br>Again and again, Nicky's attempts to get up on the giant are thwarted by his movement, his jerking, his dodging and her need to evade the chains. falling prone and barely flopping over the sqishing obstacles, she tries to make out a gap, only finding one when the giant halts stunned, the hammer about to strike her down. Saved by the bell?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Surprised just a split second, she takes the chance to scale the immoving beast, pressing the stolen gun into the spot where neck and left head combine and pulling the trigger.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;BAM! CRTSCH!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For humans... a gun to the head is pretty much a death sentence. For this thing? Not so much... the gun and wrist of Nikcy on the other hand do have to follow newton's third law: Actio = Reactio. And with a nasty sound, the gun barrel bends, the sled getting forced off its rail, and the wrist taking a powerful blow, forcing the girl to wince and drop the useless weapon. "BASTARD!" she yells, still holding onto one of the horns with her right hand...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;which is not the most smart idea as the artillery fire whistles in... with her ON the target...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:631|Reker (631)}} has posed:'''<br>Reker had vanished from the battlefield. Most unlike him. He's not the type to run away from a fight, after all. It takes a bit of time, but Reker does appear again, standing on a rooftop much closer to the monster. He knew the new rules, the ones about the players being less likely to survive if the avatars died. But he wasn't going to let this thing hurt more people than it already had.<br><br>A single shot from his grenade launcher blows up the lip of the building, clearing a path for him. A quick swipe of his hand and a couple of taps later and the LTV appeared on the rooftop. Reker quickly went to work, doing his sapper thing. Fixing plastic explosives onto the truck, here, there, another place here. He throws a couple of jerry cans full of fuel into the back and then straps C4 to those for good measure. Then he gets into the driver's seat.<br><br>Another quick menu switch, and he equips two different items. A parachute and the detonator. He throws the vehicle into gear, slams his foot down on the accelerator, and races towards the edge of the building he had cleared. It approaches the edge, and then sails into nothingness.<br><br>"Yippie-Ki-Yay motherfucker!"<br><br>The truck sails into the air, flying about as well as a brick should fly, and the driver bails out, falling through open air. This is so dumb, why are you doing this you idiot. You're going to die.<br><br>As soon as the truck slams full on into the creature, Reker hits the detonator, sending out a massive blast that'll probably shatter windows and ear drums in the vicinity, and as soon as he feels the pressure wave pass him, he pops his chute, hoping he has enough time to not die.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1|Kirito (1)}} has posed:'''<br>How strangely opposite Tomoe and Kirito seem to be. He's far from about to say it, but a deep and almost shameful part of his souls is REJOICING in the midst of this dreadful and calamitous event. With his life on the line and swords in hand, he's more alive now than he's been most of the year.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;His heart screams for this thing's downfall not just to save the day, but for the sheer sake of it. But conscious mind is all anyone's got to go on, huh?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The spinning chain meets Kirito's hastily-crossed blades while the Spriggan's midair. The impact's powerful enough to see it - shockwaves fly haphazardly. It's a blow that would have probably pulped any non-tank player. But Kirito's simply propelled down to the ground with half his health shaved off and whole body screaming in pain.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He slams into the pavement hard enough to crack it and goes skidding past Tomoe with Excaliber dug into the street to anchor him against the momentum.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kirito swiftly comes to a halt, but he's panting heavily and shaking from head to toe. Forcing down the pain.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With a grunt he's up and dashing into motion again, wings carrying him into formation within Tomoe. The Black Swordsman has no words to answer her rage...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Instead, he turns into a rocket-like nuisance to the Giant, swooping about again and again at every weak spot that Tomoe uncovers in its stance with ruthless precision, working his way up. By now his health's already back up to seventy percent...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hooray for battle healing?<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Aw YEAH!" Staren cheers when he sees the artillery strikes hit -- he has his support AI supply his own targeting data as well.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Now the boss has become a whirling dervish of death. It's NOT chasing him: Boo. But if it's staying in one place, then the hospital, and Yuuki, are safe for now...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And he can pour on the ranged attacks.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;So he stands back out of chain range, firing the laser and railguns to do his part to chip down the health.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;After he sees it use the hammer pattern ONCE, he's on guard, watching the people at its feet. If he sees it go for the hammer again, he's ready to boost in and attempt to ram it, or at least try to catch or block the hammer. The Star Hawk can be repaired -- corpses cannot.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:'''<br>Well, whether due to Yuna's shooting it in the face or not, the monster is flailing at targets above or around it, not so much at ground level - and she's still staying out of the giant's reach to the best of her ability, too. One wrong move and she still might get swatted, but ...<br><br>Honestly? This is neither a game nor an honorable duel. Wherever the monster came from, however it got into Tokyo, it's endangering real live people - not just gamers like the Gatecrashers, but *innocents*. That's always been one good way to set Yuna off, putting innocents in harm's way *on purpose* has always been a great way to get her coming after you. And this monster is no different.<br><br>"Nobody's dying today," Yuna says, mostly to herself but other flyers nearby might hear her. And then, more loudly, "I won't let anyone die here!!"<br><br>Now she just has to do her part to make sure that the monster goes down before it CAN hurt (or kill) anyone. Kirito's judgment is that Powered Form and its heavy firepower is the best option; Yuna glances around, finding a likely rooftop at the right height, and swoops down to land ... although just before touching down, Flight Form is disengaged, so it's the basic Light Suit's boots which alight on the roof. Jiina is already coming in to rendezvous with her, and a moment of secondary transformation later, Yuna is encased in Powered Form's heavy armor, with comparably heavy beam cannons cycling up in the exo-suit's shoulders. The Matrix Divider is still in Yuna's own hands as well, but for the time being ...<br><br>"GOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!"<br><br>... she just cuts loose with the beam cannons, twin torrents of radiant concussive force blasting at the giant's chest. That crystal may already have been dealt with to the point it's no longer a viable target (and the beam cannons are NOT precision aiming) - but the monster's torso is a big target, and keeping it as close to 'off-balance' as possible is a good part of keeping its advance halted.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:680|Nagato (680)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Her radar's getting more signal, this time from Staren's support AI and with Elner's own support information coming in, it's almost like she can paint a pretty picture of the populace from her area. A bit of a course correction, skating forward, the lone battleship girl's face stern... the little Repair Goddess Fairy is on top of her head, pointing, with Nagato following. She turns her rigging and the turrets and elevates the barrels a smidge. "Reloaded. Another rapport incoming."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile, in the sky, a simple Type 0 Observation Seaplane flies over head, the prop propeller seaplane, starts transmitting everything it sees to anyone willing to recieve it. The final aerial view gives Nagato another moment to move. "Incoming!" The thunderous rapport of Nagato's turrets resound over the city once more, breaking glass panes from her closeness. The white shells travel in that illustrious arc on the way to its target as she starts reloading once more.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I've lost a couple allied targets. Unknown location. Need a sitrep now!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:874|Yuuki Konno (874)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Shots continue to blast into the Giant. Shots to its eyes, shots to its body. A truck roars off the shattered lip of a nearby building and explodes, staggering the beast. Another health bar orange, red, gone. The collected heroes are doing considerably more damage than the Sleeping Knights alone were doing. Both because of sheer firepower and because the gathered heroes aren't flinching from the risk of pain or the threat of death in this real world. The Knights probably have earned undying thanks for slowing the giant before anyone else effective could take the field, but they're not really in the same class as those who also joined the fight.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Defensive effects by Sanary and Staren will surely help those who are in trouble, but currently there are a lot of people in trouble. Reker's jumping off a building, fortunately with a parachute, but with blasts going off all around that might well interfere with its deployment. Nicky's clinging to the horned helmet of a beast that's being shot in the face. Tomoe's taking hits as she tanks a beast that normally fights an entire raid group. And Kirito's doing his best to get in the monster's face. Er, faces. Again, while massive incoming fire is going on.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile approaching the hospital, Silica and Kain will find pandemonium almost worse than that of the battle outside. It's a hospital, full of the sick and injured. As such many of them simply can't escape. Others might be able to but don't think they're in danger within the huge building. The giant looks smallish, from the upper floors at least, and only looks large when one realizes that the buzzing things flying all around it are humans. Well, humans and human-sized beings for the most part. There's even a bunch of people holding up personal computing devices, recording the fight visible in the near distance.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Their job of infiltration will be complicated by them not knowing exactly where Yuuki is inside this huge building. It's a hospital after all. Hundreds of patients, dozens of wards, and no easily convenient way for them to identify the particular department holding one small helpless girl.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Though really, is this all Yuuki can do? Is the all-mighty Zekken going to be helpless, restrained by a stupid machine? No... not Zekken. Yuuki Konno. She's not who she is because she plays a high-stat character in a video game. Zekken is bound by rules, by the specifics of her world. No, Yuuki became the top duellist in Alfheim Online not because of stats, but because of her will. Because she wanted so badly to BE, to be without limits, to be herself. Death itself wouldn't stop her from being herself, as long and as hard as she can possibly manage.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Slowly, agonizingly, her arm begins to move. It's HER mind and HER body. She's NOT going to let a machine stop her! With enough will, even death itself can be turned back. But even as her arm begins to move, even as she begins to feel the real world around her rather than the virtual world she's trapped in, it's almost too little. She's incredibly frail, her body wasted and almost skeletal from long disuse and the ravages of disease. But if she can get the Medicuboid's head-rig out of the way, maybe she can somehow rise out of the bed, stumble over to where the Augma would be. It hasn't been taken from her after all. Even the doctor agreed it was hers, even if he refused to put it in her hands and allow her to risk herself in that way. It's hers, bought through effort and will, and now she's earning it again with pain.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Silica skulks as well as some small-bodied teen can, which is pretty well considering all the blood-over from Silica that's gone on over the last few years. She's checking the wall plaques, seeing if she can figure out where the frail girl might be from the wards indicated. It's like looking for a bone needle in a stack of hay using a magnet, but she'll be damned if she doesn't do anything at all. Her contributions outside wouldn't make a difference with everyone else there already, so here she is, skulking around and trying to figure things out by the writing on the walls.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:571|Alexis Maaka (571)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Maaka notices that two people are missing, though she's not entirely aware of WHO exactly. Doesn't matter, what does matter is keeping this thing distracted for the moment. The cyborg keeps firing, aiming to blind the monster in its eyes before she shoots it in the face...both faces, even. Best she can do is keep firing before the Barrett runs dry, then she takes a break to reload.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Also, she lights a cigar, letting the tobacco scent fill her nose as she exhales smoke. Ohhh, that's good.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:960|Kain (960)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kain is looking frantically around the hospital, trying to find someone in charge... but ultimately not even able to get the attention of someone in the hospital... he was so sure he'd illicit some sort of response by showing up in his Avatar... but then again, maybe it's just they've seen many people Wandering around. So instead, he... just goes deck by deck on his own two feet... stumbling every now and again as he tripped up steps... but catching himself before he fell completely and continuing his trek through the hospital to find the Legendary Zekken...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren can't do much about people CLIMBING ON ITS BODY except be careful not to shoot them. The machine takes another ugly dent when he takes a hammer hit -- a gout of flame explodes from cracks in the armor and Staren winces. That'll be expensive to fix. If he has to dive in a second time, he'll try to grab the arm with the hammer instead.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Other than that, not much else to do besides keep shooting!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:'''<br>Taking out her grappling hook, Iria fires the cord at a nearby building that gives her more height. As soon as it makes contact, she utilizes the momentum to try to surprise the monster in mid-flight. She draws her handgun and fires off a few rounds in hopes of surprising it. She's hoping that the distraction will cause it to look to where she was, setting her up for her next plan of attack.<br><br>"How do you like this?" Iria comments with a grin as she fires another grenade shell at the monster. "I do this better than when I showed everyone how well I adapt to a three part harmony!" She adds with a laugh, remembering that time from way back when.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''<br> Sanary keeps her healing efforts going, switching from Tomoe to Reker to Yuna to Alexis to Kirito and... Someone trying to shoot the monster right in a face? Sure, some healing for the girl, too. She's just firing off long-ranged healing burst after healing burst with that Physic staff, the wooden focus starting to look rather shoddy with each passing moment. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &lt;&lt;"Holy hell, this thing can really take a beating... If you need me to go back on the offensive, just say the word!"&gt;&gt;<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:631|Reker (631)}} has posed:'''<br>The thud of the cannon fire makes Reker realize he's sort of in the way. He looks down, spotting a car below him, probably about a thirty foot drop, and he cuts his chute.<br><br>He twists himself in midair to land back first on the car, smashing it. His health bar drops a bit, and holy hell does that hurt.<br><br>"Fuck. Ow." He's not out of the fight yet though. Taking a moment to compose himself, he rolls off of the smashed car and steadies himself, popping a health pack from his menu, for whatever good it'll do.<br><br>"Hey ugly, I ain't done with you yet." Reker takes a knee, switching to his HCAR. <br><br>The Devastator earned it's name for good reason, as Reker switches it to explosive ammo mode, and begins to open up on the creature. Even more explosions, even more gunfire. This thing will not go down, but neither will Reker, at leat not without a fight. <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:'''<br>Nicky is surprised, as the hurting wrist stops to pound and instead glows, then her ears pick up something.... from above? A whistling wine... and... AND ENGINE ROARING?! Looking up, she sees the truck coming in... followed by artillery shells. "Oh Sweet fragging Jesus..."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Car. Gasoline. Artillery. FIRE?! That's it. They want the giant, they can have the giant. But why HER?! Abandoning the 'boat', Nicky tries to run, darting away from the thing as fast as possible. "F**cking MOAB incoming!" she yells, possibly claiming too much, but a truck full of fuel... No, she's totally NOT doing that slowmo walk away from an explosion! Trying to kill this giant like she tried was... clearly suicidal!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:'''<br>Tomoe is just in a fury right now while she's far more happy as Tomoe than Sheena? It's the price tag that grips at her. For so many pepole to be indanger for the world to be turned on it's head? Her personal happyness isn't worth she muses but she's got a fight right now as she does her best to keep the thing on her as much as she can. She's tanking hit and it hurts a lot more than it did before she tries to fight her way through this new state of pain. Even as she fights, sheena would be nothing but diversion at best someone to save or just another name on a list of dead.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1|Kirito (1)}} has posed:'''<br>Kirito is not so much better than the Sleeping Knights, the Sprigganw ould say. There is only one thing that's keeping him going despite the pain.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pure refusal to abandon a friend EVER AGAIN. <span class="underline bold_fg_n bg_n ++ hu">NO MATTER WHAT.</span> If he has to endure pain... then he'll endure it until his body falls apart.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Which it almost threatens to do under that transformation. He's breathing hard for a reason - he's rather out of shape and unused to exerting himself this much, physically. Unlike FullDive, he's feeling the G-Forces. The impacts. His lungs have to keep worrying about balancing breathing and exertion.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nothing a little more exercise won't solve, but it's definitely a different and somewhat disorienting experience from the usual boss fight.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;NOT a good time to learn the new ropes...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sanary's healing that reaches him fills him with renewed strength though, and supercharges his regenerating HP meter back to nearly full. Kirito stands straight then... blinks.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Who is that girl swearing to hell and back up near the giant? He totally doesn't recognize her. The boy blinks a few times... then steels his will.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He'll have to ask later.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Tomoe! Hold in there! I've got your back!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:874|Yuuki Konno (874)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yuuki continues her efforts, slowly managing to pull a few leads away. The sting from the leads is nothing compared to everything else she's feeling. Nevertheless she can barely move a few plastic tubes, let alone a fixed headset. She manages to push aside the breathing mask though, and disrupt one of the sensors monitoring her vitals.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Code Blue." an automated voice reads out, calmly and professionally. The voice is quite at odds with the rest of the chaos in the hospital. It's not the only emergency signal that's gone out in the last few minutes of course. In the panic caused by the attack, it would be a miracle should no one at all be harmed. No, the significance of this particular announcement is in the followup. "Responding personnel to Ward 4, Medicuboid A."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Outside, no reason to fear that the Two-Headed Giant has forgotten anyone. With over half its health depleted, it begins to change its patterns. It turns away from its immediate antagonists, lumbering into a charge. It gives everyone a brief respite. Shots continue to slam into its back and shoulders, chipping away at its health. Abruptly the blue Sylph call out, "It's on the move!"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The phrase is perhaps a bit too obvious to everyone there, but... well, it's HOW the creature is moving that's significant. It rushes past Staren's mecha, past the fixed position Alexis Maaka took, past the melee fighters. Towards the hospital, bounding in a dash that would break olympic sprinting records if it were ever allowed to compete. As it dashes, it brings itself more into the shadow of some buildings. Nagato will no longer have a clean line of fire, and will have to engage at a closer range if she's unwilling to shoot through buildings.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It stops as soon as it seems to be sheltered from cannonfire. It might well be surprising, seeing actual intelligence from such a creature. It moved only far enough to gain cover, moving along its fixed route to its goal. As soon as it stops it whirls, breathing out another great cloud of dark poison, this time whirling more as the poison spreads out. The wind of its whirling motion, combined with flailing chains, sends choking clouds of gas out fast and far. While not quite as deadly as the potent concentrated gas attack earlier, this one covers a much broader field and its approaching speed is high enough to make it somewhat harder to avoid.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As people come in once again to attack it, it responds with those hammers once again. Broad sweeping attacks, slow enough to be dodgeable but powerful enough to ruin anyone foolish enough to get in their way. It doesn't slow the attack though, swinging again and again and again in the space before it, putting up a screen of attacks that may be easy enough to dodge but very hard indeed to pierce.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Silica perks up... "Ward 4... Medicuboid... Yuuki." she says to herself, shifting from skulking to a flat out run to another stairwell to get to the right floor. She practically parkours over the banister rail and swings through a door, knocking it so hard to slams against a wall. "I'm coming Yuuki." she adds to herself, feet squeak slipping along the sterile tile floor. She catches sight of her target. Ward 4, and hands a turn the has her skid out and slide into a wall, wincing from the impact.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She stands again though, and continues to make her way, limping slightly, down the hallway to her goal.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:571|Alexis Maaka (571)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Maaka growls as she sees the monster take off past her position. "Sonofa-" She lets out before toppling over, and she stands up before taking off to chase the monster.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She dives off the rooftop, height be dammed, before she uses her grappling hook to rappel and angle herself towards an adjacent roof to land on. Once she does land, she tucks and rolls to absorb the impact before continuing to run, doing the same as she goes from building to building like a Friendly Neighborhood Cyborg.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Shame this thing doesn't really respond to gunfire, by the looks of it. Producing a disposable anti-tank weapon, Maaka takes aim and fires it. Sadly, she only has one of these things, better make it count.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:960|Kain (960)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The moment Kain heard those words, his heart stopped for a moment. "Konno-chan..." and hearing where the Code Blue was happening, it was the better idea he'd had in ages, pushing his speed even more to get going towards Ward 4, hopeful that there were signs pointing out where everything was...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As Kain showed up, his idea gone out the window, he found... a young girl... no gown, no bracelet... and the party border... "... Silica?" He ran up to the girl and helped her to stand on the limping leg more properly. "I gotcha. Let's get our friend..." And with that, he helped Silica towards the end of the hall, towards BOTH of the party members' goal.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:'''<br>That was arguably Yuna's biggest single attack, at least out of her on-foot options, and she can't even tell how much damage it did. For a fleeting moment, Yuna considers resorting to El-Line - but the idea is abandoned almost before the thought can take coherent form; as big as the monster is, El-Line is *far* bigger, and just trying to maneuver the Matrix Figure around this fight would risk the very collateral damage that Yuna wants so desperately to prevent.<br><br>So she'll have to stick with Powered Form's firepower. At least Elner can confirm that they're chipping away at the giant monster's health bars - there just haven't been any massive, dramatic drops from specific attacks; it's like any boss fight, just wearing away at the monster's immense but limited supply of health. It's a matter of attrition.<br><br>... or at least, it has been. The beast is moving again. *That* sends a new icy spike of alarm sliding down Yuna's spine, and she doesn't even bother to coordinate with her allies this time: she just advances, 'jumping' off the roof's edge with a light burst of her hover thrusters, then kicking them in full-thrust to put the brakes on her descent. The maneuver puts her directly in the giant's advancing path - right as it breathes out another cloud of poison.<br><br>She hadn't known it *could* do that, and if she'd known it was coming, Yuna could at least have taken a deep breath beforehand, or something. There's no real help for it, though - Yuna just tries very hard not to breathe in, even as she focuses power into the Matrix Divider and begins unleashing blast after blast, standing her ground, hoping the poison disperses enough for her to risk inhaling so she can call for her kite shield, Shugoseiheki.<br><br>Preferably BEFORE the monster steps on her. Which she'd like to avoid entirely, of course. And if her beam cannons finish their recharge cycle in time, she's going to dispense another blast from them as well.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:680|Nagato (680)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Damnit.... firing solutions are busted." she mutters to the waves, the repair goddess upon her head drops down to her shoulders and bats at the earring that she wears. A nod is given to the fairy and she let's Kirito know what's going on. Finding an open dock, she sails right into it and weighs anchor... letting her gear float up into the water. She pulls something out of a compartment and gives her Fairies a nod. "I'll be back soon. Don't let anyone get near the rigging."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The fairies all pull out small rifles and start traversing the turrets in a formation, guarding the rigging from others acquisitions.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Finding a quick area to change in, the battleship doffs her normal outfit to get into the lighter armored connective suit she has. "Yugana Kaze. Let's launch." the earring flashes and the Repair Goddess Fairy ducks back into Nagato's hair as she armors up into her Air Kit, and with a quick blast of energy, she's off to join the fight, rapidly maneuvering between buildings as a large laser rifle materializes in her hands. "Kagurazaka, above you. I'm coming in."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nagato moves to ready herself, and keep herself in the air. She had to contain herself for flight, something she normally got to do in ALO... but she had to focus. Compartments open up on the Yugana Kaze's legs, revealing large missile pods, firing out to home in on the monster, trying to pelt it with as much firepower up close as she can while she blasts it with shots from the laser cannon.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:'''<br>Gunfire, Artillery shells, trucks exploding... Nicky is pretty much done... and... totally realizes she kind of forgot to breath properly the whole time. Stopping to take a breath however is a pretty hefty mistake - because she is still in pretty much a poison gas cloud... which turns a tad bigger as some purple gas mixes into it.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Collapsing, the cloud condeses into some snake thing plushie... with a yellow ring... and huge plastic eyes. Great nicky... slither away as long as you are not drenched ingasoline and trampled into the ground... at least the gas was like ignorable now.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:'''<br>Moving quickly, Iria tries to avoid being caught by the hammers (or whatever) as she attempts to drop towards the ground. She's not going to drop quickly though, as she's activating what looks like a fan behind her, which slows her descent. Kei had wanted one, but was disappointed when Iria pointed out they only let her go downward. "Too bad for Kei! I bet she could've had a lot of fun with this!"<br><br>Meanwhile, as she's gliding towards the ground, Iria fires off some more gunfire from her handgun.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''<br> After another round of rapid-fire healing, the healer's staff crumbles into bits of splintered wood. Physic staves are meant for occasional long-range healing rather than sustained sieges, after all, and that leaves Sanary with plan... C? D? <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Whatever the plan is, it involves Sanary grabbing her gunaxe again. Instead of just trying to swing at it, though, she's opting to take to the skies once more! Her path is taking her between the giant and the hospital, but the healer isn't going towards giant. Instead, she's going towards... <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Yuna! And Nagato?! Clouds of green light shoot out of the healer as she tries to connect her magical reserves with the flying idol and ship, likely even missing a few times in the process. Once the green magic clouds make contact, though, they'll be able to draw on Sanary's reserves instead of their own. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &lt;&lt;"Go nuts! But... Not too nuts. I still need to be awake for all this!"&gt;&gt;<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren tries to stop the monster, but it just shoves past. "Hey!" He turns and shoots it in the back, but suddenly it's... taking cover? The heck? Why would a monster from an SAO boss room be prepared to take cover from ranged attacks?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Could CARDINAL be controlling it directly...?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He can't let it reach the hospital. The Star Hawk raises its left arm, and three missiles shoot up into the air. These are larger than the mini-missiles he usually uses -- they're actually designed for vehicle-to-vehicle combat. They soar high, then fall... their cameras locking onto and tracking the target as they rain down from above. Large HEAT warheads explode just above it, sending down lances of metal plasma at physics-bending energies.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren himself doesn't just stand back and missile, though -- the mecha hurries after the monster, and after the missiles go off, he tries to charge and TACKLE it, through the chains (they hit, but the mecha has a lot of mass so isn't /stopped/) attempting to wrestle it to the ground.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"You're going to hurt people CARDINAL! People are going to DIE! Killing isn't your purpose! Stop this!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:631|Reker (631)}} has posed:'''<br>Nothing Reker is throwing at this thing is working. He's been firing every single thing he has at it, save one. He stores the rifle and swaps weapons, busting out the M-202 FLASH. Sure Staren is trying to negotiate with it, but that's not going to work, "You can't argue with these things once they have aggro!" He yells out, pulling the back of the four tubed rocket launcher to prepare it.<br><br>This launcher is designed to fire incindiary rounds, stuff designed to melt through tank armor, so napalm, esentially, but it burns even hotter. He takes a knee again, trying to keep his distance. He is DPS, not a tank. He angles the launcher up, and unleashes all four rockets, aiming for where that crystal had been before. That has to be a weak spot, maybe he can get the rounds inside of this thing and burn it down from the inside.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:874|Yuuki Konno (874)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Inside the hospital, Kain and Silica meet up and get an idea where they're going. They'll have to deal with security perhaps. Not guards and such; they're too busy dealing with other emergencies. In fact they won't have much to worry about from people at all. Locked doors with coded access however, that's an obstacle they'll have to deal with. The isolation ward is a secure facility, of course. How they overcome that... well, that depends on them. Maybe an appeal to a human will fit their style. Maybe they meet locks with guns blazing. Maybe Alfheim-style magic. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Once they pass the locks, however they choose to proceed, they'll be met with a sight. One that might well shock them, if they don't realize just how sick poor Yuuki truly is. She'd be Death Walking, if she could walk. There's little of Zekken in the sickly and wasted girl lying helpless, half-embedded in the medical machine. Little, that is, beyond her slowly-flailing arm. Yuuki continues to try to free herself. With only one arm free, she can't do much. Perhaps she's done enough though. Perhaps her actions are what leads her friends to find her.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Outside the hospital the fight enters a new phase of urgency. The poison is more magic than an actual venom, a game effect that causes unspecified damage over the duration of exposure. Breathing it in can't be pleasant, but it's dissipated enough to not do much harm to those who merely pass through the cloud. A slight depletion of health, much like the boss itself suffers from attacks. Though of course various people suffer different effects from losing 'health'.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The giant seems to recognize Nagato, or at least to greet her arrival on the battlefield with a special welcome. A chain unwinds and shoots out, the giant attempting to bind her and haul her in close so it can properly smash her. In the meantime though, the other three arms continue their assault, guided by both heads in tandem. The other chain arm flails about, using wind to try to disrupt the flight of Iria and Sanary. It might make things a bit difficult for them, but wind itself can do little real harm. The hammers attempt to smash the suits of Staren and Yuna. But before it can connect, it's struck by missiles from Staren and rockets from Alexis Maaka and Reker.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;THIS hurts it, rocking it back visibly. Possibly something got a piece of the vulnerable crystal, or perhaps the attacks were just that deadly. The monster recovers, trying again to smash its assailants, but its attacks are beginning to smack of desperation rather than deadly intent. Another health bar crumbles. If this were a normal boss, it might well be on its last bar now. As a Renegade however... who knows?<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:571|Alexis Maaka (571)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh hey, that worked." Maaka muses, before she's knocked off her train of thought by a sweeping hammer from the giant. "OH SHIT-!"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She leaps, using her grapple to adhere herself to the monster's waist, and she climbs her way to the the monster's back. She has a few more explosives, specifically some semtex, and she releases and retrieves her grapple as she plummets. "Gonna need some air supportrightnowthanks-!" She radios over comms, hoping SOMEONE gets her.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then she sets off the charges.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:680|Nagato (680)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nnngh, those missiles did a thing and her rifle, but... with her entry into the battlefield proper, she stares down the big thing... and the chain it shoots out wraps around the flying battleship, causing her to squirm and let out a surprised yell! Her shield level lowers immensely in the bind, and her arms and legs bound up in the tight chain. "NNngh! Help!" she shouts, "I.. I'm weapons locked, I can't fire anything bound up!" she coughs a bit, struggling against the chain around her.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Think Nagato, Think. How did you allow your guard down to get caught. Looks like she needs more training in the future, but... for now. "Kagurazaka!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:'''<br>Tomoe has Kirito at her back and she's thankful for it, very thankful as she keeps fighting. She knows very well it's better to keep the boss monster's attention and dodge, rather than tank direct hits. Even with her build? She'd not be able to take many hits but she has Kirito watching her back so she should have a prayer, right? She knows it's going to get ugly, she doesn't have the rope to do it but she makes a suggestion to her friend and allies. IF they could somehow trip the beast it might slow it down. <br><br> She now start to make user of a sword skill while she has a moment and then dives in at it unleahsing th skll in a savage barrage of attacks, the biggest question she wonders about is /why/. Why is this thing doing it?<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren's not trying to negotiate with the monster, but with the intelligence he believes is controlling it. He's all for killing the monster -- it is but a puppet.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Their weapons buy him a brief reprieve, but soon it's free to attack him again. He's trying to use his machine's arms to stop two of its arms from attacking, but it has more arms than him! &lt;"Finish it! Quickly!"&gt; he urges over the radio. He can't use his weapons like this, only try to kick it!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:960|Kain (960)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kain lets Silica go and looks at her. "Stand back." He then draws his Rapier and assumes a pose. "Let's hope this works... sorry Hospital... I'll send you a check..." The sword glows light blue before Kain opens his eyes and goes through the motions and calling out "Vertical Square!" It creates a hole in the door that causes the cutout to fall through. He looks at Silica and nods before going in...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;... and seeing a grisly sight... "... Konno-chan..." The sight of Konno Yuuki in this state... it... it was quite a bit grounding... "This... this is..." He was stunned too much to really do much of anything...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''<br> If Sanary was on the ground, she'd be able to just slam her weapon into the ground dramatically and rely on both its and her weight to hold her ground. In mid-flight with nothing more than careful leg movements to direct her anklets' thrust, though? <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sanary's going for another ride. She angles her feet and pumps more energy into the flight anklets to slow herself down, at least, but it's getting harder and harder to stay afloat while still maintaining those energy-supplying links to Yuna and Nagato. Luckily, the healer spots something that'll be invaluable for keeping herself from getting blown away: <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Another giant! Putting another burst of energy into the anklets, Sanary's going to try latching herself onto Staren's mech before taking potshots at the creature with her gunaxe. They're not particularly powerful shots, though, and her aim's not exactly the best with only one eye and a lack of practice, but... <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It makes her feel better, dammit! Besides, it's not a huge drain on her magic reserves, and she's got to do something with her hands while maintaining that energy link to Yuna and Nagato.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Keiko hangs back when instructed by Kain, keeping behind the wall, out of the line of sight of the cameras above the door... As Kain does his thing, Silica is brought back out. She transforms with a call of "Link Start!", then steps around and fires a single small shard of Ice at the camera to knock it out, then scampers down the hallway to the newly cut open door. "Yuuki-chan..." she says softly, pausing at the sight, before steeling herself and looking around for the Augma. "There." she says, scooting past Kain, and scooping the Augma up. She cradles it reverently, then moves over to help unhook Yuuki from the machine, and presses the device into the girl's hand. "C'mon Yuuki-chan. Lets get out of here."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:631|Reker (631)}} has posed:'''<br>Spotting the woman deciding to nose dive off of the building, Reker springs into action. Nobody's dying today if he can help it! As he runs towards her, he swaps weapons again, this time pulling out the M-32.<br><br>He has no idea if this will work, but damnit, he has to try. Positioning himself below her, he aims the grenade launcher straight up at Alexis, and then fires.<br><br>The grenade spirals up through the air, and when it detects that it's in range of her, explodes into a massive cloud of rapidly hardening riot foam. It's like being wrapped in bubble wrap. Really tight, bright pink bubble wrap.<br><br>He quickly dives out of the way of the now decending foam ball that has Alexis inside of it, so he doesn't get crushed by it.<br><br>Once it hits the ground, he'll head back over to it to get her out of it. He has the agent to break the foam up in his inventory as well. He just hopes she survived, it was the last thing he could try.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:'''<br>Yuna can't hold her breath forever; she finally *has* to exhale, and then inhale again, coughing softly at the irritation. That ... doesn't seem *so* bad. Except for the pins-and-needles prickle of her Light Suit's defensive aura, anyw--<br><br>"Nagato!! Hang on ... SHUGOSEIHEKI!!"<br><br>And while Yuna was breathing, Nagato got snared by that chain. Yuna summons her kite shield, although her allies missiles and rockets forestall the need to fend off the descending hammers. That also buys her the chance to direct full power to her hover-thrusters ...<br><br>Which amounts to a massive vertical leap, rocketing into the air, the Matrix Divider flaring to life in her hands once more as she raises it over her head. She almost didn't need her kite shield for this, really; the exo-arms' manipulators grab hold of the chain, with maybe a meter's length being drawn taut between the mechanical hands ...<br><br>"TORYAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"<br><br>And Yuna slashes downwards, releasing the Divider's charge as her weapon's barrel/blade contacts the chain. *That* should break it, freeing Nagato - and with Sanary's mana-support helping fuel Yuna's reserves, she can even cut loose with another blast of her beam cannons. Nagato's going to have to handle her own landing (or recovery to continue flight); Yuna pivots to face the monster as gravity pulls her towards the street once more, and leans back, angling up to fire off another pair of those powerful blasts.<br><br>Maybe she'll hit something more delicate than she did previously? .... ehh, whatever. Nagato's safe again (as safe as anyone in this fight, at least), and as long as the monster's advance is subject to EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE BRAKING, Yuna can't complain too much.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:571|Alexis Maaka (571)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Maaka is still panicking as she plummets, before she notices she's about to hit the ground.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And...FOAM!? She lands in riot foam, remembering an unfortunate op years ago during her early days as a mercenary. It's weird, but preferable to a rough landing on the ground and splattering. She'd survive, but would be pretty fucked up after the impact.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Once her face is free and she sees Reker cutting her out, she just laughs weakly, "My hero." She says teasingly.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then she kisses Reker. It's a chaste peck on the cheek, but he's earned this.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1|Kirito (1)}} has posed:'''<br>Things are getting a bit out of control. Kirito's starting to show real nervousnes beyond his usual tenseness during the many floor bosses. One slip here and someone could die. He ends up coughing once the clouds of poison reach him, feeling his lungs vaguely burning... but it's not enough to sap his fighting spirit. Not yet.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;An arm comes down towards him and Tomoe, smashing with its brutal weapon...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;CLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANG!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Once again, the attack is stopped by Kirito's crossed blades. It wouldn't be possible normally... but that stance glows and shimmers with power. Cross Block halfway holds up just long enough for Kirito to sidestep the blow and take advantage of the momentarily ground-bound arm.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"UUUUUOOOOOOOOOAAAAAARGH!!!" Light and Darkness flare from his blades once again, and the young man launches into a number of stylish spinning cuts that draw a glowing hexagon mark on the arm... which, as he pulls his blades away... bursts like a small nova.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It should be pretty obvious to SAO survivors what his Unique Skill is.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:'''<br>As Yuna goes in to slash the chain, Iria moves quickly to provide covering fire for her. "Go, Yuna! I've got your back!" She calls out as she draws her assault rifle and opens fire rapidly, trying to hold off any potential threats. As she gets closer, she goes to check on Nagato upon her being freed from the chains. "Are you all right?" She asks with concern.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:874|Yuuki Konno (874)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Doubtless the hospital would be scandalized. Cutting through a security door. Breaking into a sealed isolation ward. Exposing a patient to pathogens that would almost certainly kill her, at least if mere medical science is to be accepted. But then, medical science doesn't generally deal well with the weirdness of the multiverse at large, let alone what happens when strong-willed superhumans get involved.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She can't see the people in her room. Can't hear them. It's probably for the best. Yuuki'd be mortified at someone seeing her in her current state. Asuna's done so, but then she's Asuna. This is something Yuuki's not happy about, even though she'd already decided to ask the Gatecrashers for help. She knew they'd come in, that they'd see her. She'd resigned herself to that moment of vulnerability. Still, it's for the best that she can't see that first moment of pity. It'd drive her to tears.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Only when her head is freed from the machine does she realize anyone's there. She blinks, her eyes failing to focus at first. Those eyes... as they focus, they're the only thing that truly looks like the Yuuki that the people here know. The intensity, the strength, the sheer will to live. No matter how her body looks, those eyes show who she truly is.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Those eyes also fill with tears as Silica speaks, even though she didn't witness that first moment of pity. She can't help it, being as emotional as she is. But she awkwardly closes her hand over the Augma, nodding feebly. "Link... Start." she says in a hoarse whisper.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Perhaps surprisingly given how much Yuuki wants to get out and join the fight, and how much she must have been hating her captivity, she doesn't tear free from the device. Once her imp body forms, once she can move, she slowly and rather fondly removes every last sensor and device. She's not even sure she CAN move freely but this body seems to respond well, with strength and with precision unlike that of her natural flesh. But as much as she hated her illness and her confinement, the Medicuboid gave her years of true life. Well, of as much life as she could have, then. It was her freedom, once. Only in the last week or so has it been her jail too, and a week of dislike can't entirely cancel out years of delight.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It'll take a bit of time before she's fully ready to go, but soon enough she hops down lightly, seeming to completely forget about her frailties of a few moments before. Her tears have stopped, and she beams with a suddenly bright smile. "I knew you'd come!" she says, and abruptly throws her arms around Silica. And Kain too, if he gets close enough. She's pretty equal-opportunity with hugs. "Come on, we should help the others!" she adds, grinning yet wiping at her cheeks with a dangling sleeve.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:960|Kain (960)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kain smiles as the familiar Imp is finally revealed through everything. Placing a hand on her shoulder once all the stuff was removed. "This is a better look by far. Let's get out of this place quickly."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kain runs out of the hole he put in the security door and looks around for a window, finding one rather quickly. He runs up to it and, drawing forth his Rapier once more, uses the Vertical Arc Sword Skill to smash open the window! "Got a door out!" He then hops onto the radio with his next words: &lt;"Silica and I are on our way back! And we're bringing a friend!"&gt; He then sends a Raid Party invite to Yuuki as he heads back into the fray!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:631|Reker (631)}} has posed:'''<br>Having saved Maaka, and gotten a surprise kiss for his efforts, Reker helps her the rest of the way out of the foam and off the streets, to an alleyway where they should be safe enough from the monster, "Don't suppose you got an extra cache of weapons laying around anywhere, do you?" He asks, peeking back out of the alley, "Maybe an M1 Abrams...Damn that's what I need to do..But where am I going to find an M1 Abrams at this hour.."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:680|Nagato (680)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nagato's struggling. She's wriggling up against the confines of the chains until she hears Yuna's shout. She knows that name, it was the name of her kite shield. She turns her head to look at the oncoming magical girl and the strength needed to break such a chain... sends Nagato tumbling down and down and down. "Nngh! Come on, Yugana Kaze. Don't fail me here." she grumbles, "Aaaaaugh! Let me fly again!"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nagato tries tapping into the power she's receving from Sanary, still a bit reluctant to do such but when in dire straits... things kick back on, her shield's energy is back to somewhat full... and... she has someone next to her. She turns to look at Iria, then back at her wounded and scuffed self.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I'm alive, that's what matters. Go, let's see if we can't trip that thing up."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Silica eeks softly as she's glomphugged like that. Her ears pin back and her tail lashes about, but she hugs back after a moment, smiling softly. "Kain's right. We need to go help the others. Just a little bit more and we'll finish it." she eases back from the hug, then points. "C'mon, we've got a raid boss to kill."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Cait Sith turns, and follows after the Salamander, and follows him out the window, settling into freefall for a few moments before her yellow wings sprout and arrest her descent. She levels out, and turns back toward the battle, drawing her dagger and holding both hands out before her.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Midflight, she begins to chant, Words of Power locking into place in front of her as she casts a spell... and once she's in range, speaks the final word that sends the magic spirallying outwards towards the giant Boss. Adding to the others efforts of tripping the thing up, this spell freezes its feet to the ground in giant blocks of ice!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:571|Alexis Maaka (571)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Sorry mate, that was my only AT4." Maaka says with a frown. "We uh...we may need to lie low and let the heavy hitters do their thing. All I got left would just be a bunch of mosquito stings to that thing."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:'''<br>Iria nods to Nagato and readies her grenade launcher again. "You're right! Let's finish what we came here for!" An evil smirk forms on her face again. "We've got this made!" She aims carefully before firing another grenade round at the monster. "There's more where that came from!" Iria exclaims as she adds another grenade round and fires that too.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1|Kirito (1)}} has posed:'''<br>Hearing that Silica and Kain have met with SUCCESS, Kirito's flooded with a bit of relief. But instantly worry at the same time. He's already feeling strained to the limit and sore. "... Well... all I can do is trust her." He mutters to himself.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He's in this shape just from a skirmish with this crazy-strong boss. Will the Absolute Sword be able to join this battle? He has no idea...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But he hates leaving things to fate.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kirito backflip-airdashes away from the monster's arms with a burst of wing-thrust and skids along the ground while his Health meter refills through Battle Healing. He's still breathing hard. Likely MUCH harder than Tomoe, who routinely 'breakdances on the roof' as Kirito's teased once or twice.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;How lame, the 'hero of Aincrad' limited by low stamina.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"You ready for the grand finale?" He asks the long-standing tank. "Once Yuuki's here, we'll go on the attack!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:874|Yuuki Konno (874)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kirito tears into the Giant with a deadly Sword Skill. The streaks of red carved into the boss are broad and visually deep, though its health bar depletes little more than it does for cannonfire. Effective certainly, but not itself a boss-killer. Iria's grenades tear into the boss, exploding and sending its health spiralling down yet further.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Reker saves Alexis. Yuna saves Nagato. Staren wades his suit into melee with the Giant, grappling its hammers. No, fortunately no one's dying here, except perhaps for the Two-Headed Giant. Its health bar continues to deplete, sinking through yellow through to orange and into the red. The monstrous form wrenches at Staren's battlesuit. It might well be stronger, physically, but it's in a bad position and won't be able to simply wrench metal apart. Especially since Staren's mostly just smothering its attacks, not trying to oppose force with force.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And... a window is smashed open. Yuuki nods to Kain and Silica, grinning fiercely. "Let's go!" she cries, hurtling herself headlong out the window. Black wings blur and she's off, leaving behind a streak of violet. Leaving behind, too, the hospital and all its associations. For good or ill, she won't be turning back.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Swooping in, Yuuki swings her obsidian blade. At speed, she shears off the very tip of a horn. "Hey! You big jerk!" she shouts out, swooping back down. As she touches down she staggers, almost falling. Wobbling on her feet she looks up at the giant, frozen in place briefly by Silica's magic. "Did you come to take me out while I was helpless? Or did you come to make me get up and take the Augma?" she challenges it.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Giant snorts, not responding verbally. It may not even be capable of speech. Yuuki shakes her head. "Well either way, there's only one good response. Either you tried to kill me, or to get me back into the game. And you know what we say to that?" she challenges, brandishing her sword fiercely. Yuuki looks around, seeing her friends and new faces alike. Or some new faces at least... others who may well be behind avatars that only look different on the outside.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Come on. Let's finish this!" Yuuki calls out, raising her sword. Honestly she's not sure she CAN fight. She's exhausted from the mental battle she's already fought, not to mention the state of her flesh-and-blood form. But she's not about to let a simple thing like exhaustion stop her!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:960|Kain (960)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kain could see the fatigue in Yuuki... this was her being here mostly for morale at this point. She wasn't going to fight... but now that they weren't fully fighting to keep the creature from killing her, they could fight properly with no worries on their mind at all! "Yeah! Let's do it! All together!" Swinging his sword upside down, blade pointed down, he held the sword like he were holding a staff from a mage, chanting! "Ek verpa einn brandr muspilli, kalla bresta bani, steypa lundr drótt!" As he chanted, a large fireball began forming above his head as he raised his 'staff' high. As he finished his chant, he pointed the tip of the sword towards the jewel in the center of the creature's chest as the Fireball sailed straight for it, intent on helping with the final blow!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Zekken is here.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And she presents a worrying theory: That CARDINAL sent the monster, endangering and terrifying innocents, to move her to act.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Very worrying.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Right now though, all he can do is stand there and keep grappling it. &lt;"Hurry! Finish it!"&gt;<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''<br> Now that's a more familiar face. Sanary tries not to make it too obvious, though, glancing at something inside her coat that definitely isn't nothing before nodding once towards the newcomer. "Ah. So you're... The one I was supposed to find." <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That's her story and she's sticking to it. "Was supposed to find you another way, but... Eh, this'll do. Alright, just leave the rest to us!" She boasts, finally cutting the link to Yuna and Nagato in order to conserve the last of her energy. The giant is close enough that she could probably get in for one big attack, so... <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Why not. Sanary's got the big axe, and she wants to use it for real! Running along Staren's mech's arm, she takes advantage of the monster's grappled state as she leaps right off and aims a big downwards swing right at its face with both the combined weight of herself and the weapon along with gravity to try and drag it downwards!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:'''<br>By now, Iria's starting to feel a bit run down. Not to mention, she's on her last grenade round. Loading it with a scowl, she raises it again. "I suppose it's like in the movies, where the last shot helps take down the big bad? Well, if that's the case, then I'm gonna take it!" She smiles a little and fires.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:874|Yuuki Konno (874)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Fireballs, swords, axes, bombs and guns. A hail of deadly weaponry rains in on the Two-Headed Giant. How and why it came here is anyone's guess, but it goes down only a brief sprint away from its apparent goal. Assuming, of course, that goal was the hospital. If its goal was Yuuki, well...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It's hard to say what blow did in the beast. It might even have been Yuuki. She wasn't really able to fly up in reach of that crystal to deliver a Mothers Rosario. Even assuming she COULD deliver a Mothers Rosario in her condition. She did pretty good just hacking into its foot, all considered. The blow was more symbolic than lethal. In the end perhaps it's best that the giant fell to a concerted attack from friends. That, after all, is what this should be all about. To Yuuki that's so, even if not in reality.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As the boss bursts into fragmented pixels, Yuuki collapses to her knees. Whoever's there to get to her first, they're going to almost immediately be joined by the Silent Knights. The elfin warriors don't try to push anyone away, and aren't being exactly protective of Yuuki here. They're just collapsing in on her, joining one big pile, adding congratulations and welcomes and utter amazement at her being here 'in the flesh' as it were. If they fear for her it's not exactly made obvious, not in the moment of joy and welcome. What the future brings, the future will bring. for now, it's enough to be together.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In truth, that's all Yuuki ever wanted.<br> <br>
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