The World

"Tsukasa? The wavemaster from that thread on the forums?" Noct asked. "Oh, wait, yea. The barbell shaped thing. I've seen it before. What kind of rabbit hole did I fall into here?"

*While he is doing that, the other golem positions its "legs" perpendicular to Monudon's body & begins smashing them together.*
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Euryale: What do you want, so that you'll convince your friend to wait for us?

Wiseman: Your Member Addresses.

*Monudon tries to jump out of the way*

Noct frowned, "Wait, why?"

Hector exchanged member addresses with Cactus, and then waited with Zalera.

Wiseman: That is the payment that I have requested. You'll have to give your decision quickly. I am using this in 10 minutes.

*He reaches into his robes with his free hand & withdraws an ocarina carved out of wood.*
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*A few minutes later, Cactus reaches the Chaos Gate, with an axe slung across his back. The shaft is green with a faint curve to it, like a scythe handle, with occasional spiky, white protrusions. The head is a disc of white "scales" that bleed into red towards the edge. It also has 3 long, thin white spikes emerging from it.*
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*He jumps out of the way of the first hit, only to be nailed by the cross. The other golem quickly adjusts its position, barely missing with the second hit, & connecting with the third. The combined attacks leave Monudon with 10% HP.*

Mortab shrugged and exchanged member addresses. Noct was still unsure and looked around to see if she was the only one with misgivings about this.

*Monudon drinks a recovery drink, then attacks whatever golem had he before*

*The golem finally dies, but its body parts wobble dangerously over Monudon. Its dying body makes a temporary barrier that prevents the other golem from getting to him.*
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Luna: I don't traditionally join parties unless I need help.

*Wiseman shrugs.*

Wiseman: It is up to you whether or not you want to be included. This is a situation that involves The World as a whole. We have no qualms about taking whatever information we find at the area and leaving you out of it. Or, to put it in game terms, just because you were the first to find the event character, it doesn't entitle you to the right to complete the quest.

*Monudon charges the other golem*

"So, it seems that we are ready to go," Hector said. "Which field are we going to go to?"

Noct let out an aggravated sigh, "Fine, fine, whatever, just take it... Are we done here?"

*Luna gives in after Noctis does. Euryale & Thiera follow suit.*

Wiseman: If you have no other requests. It's been a pleasure doing business with you ladies.
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*A dying golem falls on Monudon. As soon as it fades away, the other golem raises one of its "feet" to attack.*
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Zalera: I'll buy a Book of Shadows, then we can go to Cursed Despaired Paradise.

Noct looked like someone gave her favorite show a shitty review. Mortal shrugged, "Hey, we had no choice, and there isn't really anything too bad about it. I mean, what is the worst that could happen?"

"Okay then," Hector said.

*Zalera does that, & comes back after a couple of minutes. He then begins to enter the keywords, assuming they've already formed the party.*
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Wiseman: Goodness. I didn't expect such a sour response. Oh well, I have to leave now.

*Wiseman plays a short jingle on the ocarina, then is warped out of the dungeon.*

Euryale: Yeah, it's not like he can trade our Member Addresses, or anything. A Member Address just shows what's on your profile, & allows Flash Mail & parties to work.

"I know," Noct said, "Its just... the principle of the matter."

"Yes, we get it, you're a lone wolf on the prowl, who doesn't need anyone's help," Mortal said. "This is a multiplayer game. There is nothing wrong with having a few people on your contact list."

Noct folded her arms, "Whatever..."

Hector waited, also assuming that the party had been formed.

Euryale: Alright, there's no point in arguing about it. Let's just talk about how to divide the loot while we head back up.

Aroma: What did you get? Can I see?

*Euryale digs into her skirt to produce 2 wooden carvings of Grunties & a green scroll sealed with a ribbon & a wax symbol of the creature depicted in the Gott Statue.*

Aroma: It's all...kind of ugly.
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*They arrive on a field at nighttime. The ground was a sickly brown-purple color. Nearby them was a cocoon of some kind to the east, & a Magic Portal to the west.*

"Yeah, it usually is," Sab said.

"You can take it all for yourselves," Mortal said, "I took all the other chests."

Hector unsheathed his cutlass and looked around. After a moment's consideration, he advanced on the Magic Portal.

*Monudon jumps to the side and attacks the golem again*

*The golem next attacks with a cross.*
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*The Magic Portal throws off sparks & explodes outward in a flash, releasing a pair of floating, many-headed ghosts. Zalera immediately crosses his blades, causing a bolt of yellow lightning to strike one.*
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Euryale: Luna?

Luna: I would like one of the Grunt Dolls.

Euryale: Okay. Anyone else? Thiera? Noctis? Sab?

Noct shook her head. "No, thank you," Sab said.

*Monudon tries to block the cross, then attacks again*