The New Zodiac Braves

Mortal runs to the side again and double slashes at him.

Sab begins to cast Sylph on Senthose.

Zac shoots another an Arm Shot at Senthose.

Azuma: "Okay then. And our earlier requests?"

<I'll get right to it. What will be your order?>

*He hands them a key.*
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*All attempts to inflict status effects on Senthose continue to prove fruitless. Senthose flies to the doorway, flares his wings, & roars. When he does so, a quintet of Ultimas falls around Mortal & Lilith. Most of them strike the ground, but 2 hit Lilith, killing her, & 1 Mortal.*

~3,0~

Azuma takes the key.

Azuma: "Whatever's on special."

"Yea, he is still a bastard!" Zac said, firing four bullets into him.

Mortal chases after him, and double slashes at Senthose again.

Noct switches dances to a Mincing Minuet.

Sab begins to charge another Farie on Mortal.

*Senthose's scales start to crack. He swoops behind Mortal & attacks her again. When Euryale catches up to her, she uses Chakra. Vanessa once again gets up, & once again uses an Elixir.*

~2~
==================================
<That'd be Chocobo.>

Zac shoots Vanessa with four bullets this time.

Mortal continues her onslaught.

Azuma: "One second thought, chef's non-chocobo choice."

Mimiru: "I wouldn't mind trying chocobo."

*She manages to stay on her feet, & uses an X-Potion on herself. When Faerie hits, Senthose roars, & attacks Mortal & Euryale, ignoring the little dents that Mincing Minuet keeps putting in his armor. Fortunately for him, Sab is running low on MP.*

~1~

Sab scurries around in a circle to fix that problem.

Mortal cross slashes him again.

Zac shoots Vanessa with another barrage.

Divum, who had been too shocked before, finally opens his mouth to say, "What did you even call us out here for?"

*Safian approaches*

<Maybe something's blocking the door. Should we go get more Lionsguard to help out?>

<One Chocobo for the lady. What about ham? I could do ham.>
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<Do as you will. I'm going to keep at this.>
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*Senthose looks up.*

<I suppose your role is done now. Besides, I'll have to kill you eventually, & this is getting me nowhere. Better I disrupt their movements, force them to break up their attack pattern.>

*With that, he begins flying towards Dawn & Divum. Vanessa stubbornly clins to life, following him & using an X-Potion.*

~0~

*Safian nods and goes off looking for more Lionsguard. Cassandra stays put*

Azuma: "All right."

Taiyo nods.

The two of them run back into the hall towards their room, and away from the fucking hydra.

Mortal chases after him, as does Zac, but not before he puts four more bullets into Vanessa.

Noct flies after Senthose, but not too closely, not wishing to draw his ire.

*Euryale chases after Senthose as well. He lands on the staircase & begins flying. As he goes, he points a head back & roars, causing an Ultima beam to hit Zac, & 2 to miss Mortal. Lilith revives from the dead. She & Vanessa heal themselves with Murasame & X-Potion, respectively.*
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*They only find the occasional merchant crossing the road.*
===================================
*He gets them food.*

They sit down and wait or dig in if it's provided.

Zac fires another barrage at Vanessa, and Mortal keeps trucking away. Should she be close enough she double slashes Vanessa as well.

*Vanessa was making her way back towards Lilith when a bunch of assholes gang-murdered her. Lilith follows her comrades. Anyone on their way up the stairs is pelted by several Ultima beams before they arrive at him. Senthose is still backing his way into the master bedroom when Euryale lets loose with a Shockwave.*
===============================
<So why do you want to know about Midlight's Deep?>

Not wanting to be backed into a corner, Divum stops Dawn and himself from locking themselves in their room, and instead opts to run down the labyrinthine halls (as I imagine all halls in a mansion to be labyrinthine).

Zac redirects his barrage of Barrages at Senthose. Mortal continues running after the hydra as well, aiming to double slash a bitch.

Azuma: "We're on our way there to search for treasure."

*Senthose counterattacks, then leaps over her & lashes out at Euryale. Euryale shrieks & runs aside to pelt him with an Aurablast. Senthose is now getting pretty miffed at all of the cracks in his scales.*

<I won't die...I just need more time....>

*Lilith stops next to Zac, still trying to catch up. She bends over, grabs her knees, & pants.*

~2~
==============================
<Any kind in particular?>

Zac rubs her back, "We're almost done, beautiful. Hang in there." With that, he shot another barrage at Senthose.

Mortal, now behind Senthose, double slashes him with no fear of a counter attack, "Don't worry, Euryale. He is nothing to be frightened of. He is just the same guy we pushed off the room before."

*Safian heads back*

<Nothing.>

Cassandra:<Could you blast the door with a spell?>

Safian:<I doubt that would work.>

*Senthose's carapace explodes outwards, dissolving into blue energy as the Zodiac Stone drops from his coat & half-rolls-half-bounces down the stairs, coming to rest at Zac's feet. Senthose takes a step forward, but slips, & drapes over the bannister.*

Senthose<I've come to the realization...a fake dragon can't kill a real one. If I fought as a man...but it will be your demise as well. You can't hide from the truth forever.>

E"Our love is real. You can't separate us."

Senthose<Hahaha. You still don't know what you're up against. When you learn that, you will finally know the depth of your frailty. When you break under the weight of your barely suppressed insecurities & a power you can't comprehend, you'll curse me for not killing you. Yes, I was...too lenient.>

*Finally, he falls over the bannister, & winds up on the foyer floor as a bloody, disjointed mess. Giving one last slasher smile. At this point, the Lionsguard manages to break the door down & rushes in, presumably with Cassandra & Safian at his heels. He draws his sword.*

Lionsguard<What is this?!>

~1~