melodiesofeternity | The Final Loop

~~shhh, he's been here the whole time~~

Ravus raises his sword and points it at the empress. On Eos, he was unable to defeat the gods and save his world.

This time, his target is a human. She, he can face.

> Midare Setsugekka (Ramaa | Single Target)
Deals severe damage to a single target and absorb the damage inflicted to heal self.

[1000 Exp skill, so this is his one use for the hour.]

Yeesh, that blond guy was really giving them a run for their money the way he slashed across the entire field like that... But when he swiped her, Kid couldn't be bothered to give it more than a half-hearted block.

There's lacerations on her arms— but they're mostly surface wounds. She doesn't have time for that, focused wholly on Corrin, whose eyes once more flashed from that alien purple back to the familiar red Kid had come to know... and trust.

She felt alive during that combination attack, but the elation was short-lived, seeing her friend staring off at something; prompting her to look quickly over her shoulder to see... nothing.

When she looks again— there's a very angry troll on top of her, the chaos of the situation clearly escalating. At least there was some hope they were getting through to them!

There was a tinge of empowerment knowing that, so she grit her teeth, focusing power into the next attack... There wasn't much Kid could add onto Serge's speech, except for maybe—

"Say yer prayers!" as she launched herself on the offensive.

> On Board! (Heroes of Light | AOE)
Raises physical attacks for all allies by 10% at the beginning of the turn (buffs remains only for the turn)...

> On Board! (Ramaa | Single Target)
...then attack at the end of the turn with a medium attack. Potency of the attack increases by 10% for every ally that attacked this turn.

Rutile slid gracefully away from the crowd she'd been standing with, quickly trying to decide their next course of action. Their eyes seemed to always dart back to the empress, clearly showing concern for all of that casting Ramma seemed to be feverishly... building up?

There was a chance, but. Rutile had attempted this skill once already— before Phoenix had resurrected them. Perhaps there was the faint possibility that such magics may have replenished their strength to cast it again along with their health and potency when the Eidolon had answered the call.

Well, they thought, eyes narrowing. If there was any hope for luck to be on their side, now was the time. The gem rose their tome up high, trying once more to call upon the ultimate skill they possessed as a scholar.

> Succor (Heroes of Light | AOE)
Places an adloquium shield on the entire party.

( wasn't sure if the first one counted since it was before ~~they died~~, the form + actual battle start, sob.... .////. )

...This really isn't good. Adrien needs help--he needs help and he needs to stop hurting his friends. But Klonoa looks at their true foe and blanches. He steps back swiftly, and holds the Wind Ring above his head. Adrien will have to wait--right now, it's his turn to protect them. All the healing powers they've given to him--the strength, the kindness, showing a stranger from another world, for one fleeting moment, almost what it's like to belong.

The Wind Ring transforms itself, becoming almost like an umbrella staff, the jewel in the center beginning to emit a swirling green energy. Klonoa lets it rest against the ground before he manages to bring it up in his arms again. Getting his footing, he raises it towards the sky, a great wall of pure wind manifesting for just a moment before it blooms viridian and fades once more.

He exhales sharply, and braces the staff against himself. Whatever happens next, Klonoa's ready to make sure the worst of it doesn't come to pass.

> Wind Shield (One attack made by an enemy, chosen next round | Variable)
Completely negate one attack delivered in the next round.

Edited 2019-04-23 05:23 (UTC)

Ren isn't flinching— his expression as a level as ever, clear focus in his grey eyes as he stares down the empress. If all else fails, he supposes— there's one last ace up his sleeve, a skill to gamble on...

He remains on the offensive. And since Ramaa liked Eidolons so much, well, why not let her meet as many as he could manage while she still stood?

"This is it!"

> Partial Summoning (Leviathan): Tidal Blast (Ramaa | Single Target)
Leviathan attacks a single-target with a concentrated jet of water, dealing moderate damage.

She knew she needed to be focusing on Ramaa, on helping the others. But the thought of Adrien spending a single minute longer under the control of that woman just didn't sit well with her. It was like Dark Cupid all over again. Only this time she knew the truth.

Talking to him didn't seem to be helping, much like the last time. And after a moment, she realized why it wasn't working. This was almost like the last time, wasn't it? The same purple energy, the blonde being caught up in someone else's stupid scheme? At least he wasn't trying to Cataclysm her face this time. Silver lining, maybe?

They still hadn't talked about what happened on the way here. Tikki thought she was being ridiculous, but that was fine. There'd be time to deal with it later. Now, though, she had to snap him out of it. Again.

It wasn't hard to sneak closer while Adrien was busy focusing on everyone else. She waited until she was close enough to reach out and touch him. A hand grazed his cheek as she gently turned his face toward her. "You're better than her, and we need you with us." It felt like there was more to say, but there was no time.

So she leaned in and kissed him.

Soon enough, she pulled away. There was no time to wait and see if it had worked. Dante's Job Lore allowed her to swap over to Red Mage, which she followed up by Dualcasting Glacier at Ramaa. It wouldn't be much, but it was better than nothing.

> Dualcast Glacier (Ramaa | Single Target)
Passive Skill. Allows to cast two spells back to back. Two weak ice elemental spells, in this case.

Kenichi and Kohaku spun around after their last attack. It's now or never. He already used Last Judgment, so all he could do is just charge at her again. He readies his spear and spurs Kohaku forward.

> Divine Stance: War (Self | Single Target)
The War Stance shrouds the cavalier and their mount in a red aura and doubles the potency of all skills and attacks.

> Last Charge (Ramaa | Single Target)
Charges at the enemy to deal medium damage. Power increases by 20% with each cavalier executing this skill together.

> Enchanced Counter (Self | Single Target)
Passive skill. Buffs potency of the next skill by 10% and automatically respond with a weak sword combo when hit by an attack.

> Eye for an Eye (Kanji, Kuja, Ena, Papyrus, Sephiroth, Corrin, Vimes, Megatron, Castor, Reno, Red, Nozomi, Selphie, S'reee, Serge, Richard, Ravus, Kid (On Board!), Ren (On Board!) | Single Target)
Reply with a powerful sword combo whenever an ally is hit for a turn.

Everyone might focus their attacks on Ramaa and Bahamut, but Adrien's eyes still burned amethyst and he responded as any controlled being would: still attacking when their Lady and her Summon are attacked. Moving fast, striking everyone that turned their attacks solely on her and Bahamut - even the two who were his allies before. It seemed worse; incised by words spoken by someone he refuses to hear.

"Stop telling me what to do!"

At least his rage made him vulnerable, but not struck by everything.

Calamity Adrien
Turn Summary
> Full Summoning - Diamond Dust: Miss
> Wind Bullet: Miss
> Enhanced Counter: 1%
> Hell Judgement: Dark Energy 6.8% [Boss Theme]
> Last Judgement: Powerful dark attack 4.25% [Boss Theme]
> Holy: 3.4% [Hopes and Dreams][Boss Theme]

Damage Inflicted: 15.45%
Global Combined Bonuses: +70% (+50% [Aria of Narayana], +10% [Enlightenment], +10% [Brotherhood], (+15% [Boss Theme]), 2x Defense [Hopes and Dreams])
Total Damage Inflicted: 36.765%
Healing: -20% (Gift of Crystallis, Melodies of Life)
Calamity Adrien's Health: 56.135%

He's panting now, but still ready to go - still raring to fight on to protect Ramaa and Bahamut. Raising his sword to strike them all again, he flinched when he was abruptly touched. Were he Chat Noir at the moment, he might even hiss, but the urge settled down and his armed hand trembled. Gentle... gentle, he knows that; and the voice, but he doesn't understand. Who was--?

His eyes flooding back to their original green, they widen when he realized someone was kissing him. It felt only so brief for him because she slipped away to switch asterisks and keep fight, and he needed a second to blink and look around. What happened? Ramaa appeared and-- Eyes narrowing, he pivoted around to join Marinette's side and managed to flash her a brief grin.

"I really hate being controlled like that... Thanks, Marinette."

They should still talk about things later, but right now, he was going to rush Ramaa, sword raised to join in the assault with the others.

> Midare Setsugekka (Ramaa | Single Target)
Deals severe damage to a single target and absorb the damage inflicted to heal self.

Edited 2019-04-23 07:32 (UTC)

That made two - Naoto wasn't sure about Corrin, but now wasn't the moment for them to back down on their offense against Ramaa and Bahamut. She didn't have another True Summoning within her at this time, but that was fine. The field felt like it shifted again, but not in any favorable condition that could be taken advantage of like before.

Raising her staff, this smaller, Partial Summoning would do just fine to further mount the assault.

"I call upon you now, Ifrit!"

> Partial Summoning: Meteor Strike (Ramaa | Single Target)
Ifrit attacks a single-target with two punches, dealing moderate damage. Has a 50% chance to push back the target.

People were strating to break free from Raama’s control? That was a huge relief, for way more reasons then one. Still though, better to focus on the battle at hand. Soon enough, Raama would probably release something devasating on the party, so better take her down ASAP.

> Lightning Strike (Raama | Single Target )
Medium lightning-element attack.

> Lightning Strike (Raama | Single Target )
Medium lightning-element attack.

The contact was a little weird, but there was no time to really think much about it at the moment. Not one to be discouraged, though, she decided to switch gears for now. Job Lore allowed her to switch over to Magitek Knight and she wasted no time in aiming a Magitek Laser at Ramaa.

> Magitek Laser (Ramaa | Single Target)
Fires a medium laser of artificial magic to an enemy.

Seems like she was ultimately taking Dante up on that Job Lore earlier cast. Sure, she could change jobs, but the ability didn't work while Chemist was active. Raising her hand to catch the staff as she switched from Chemist to White Mage, the doctor was going to contribute to the attack the best she could and at both Ramaa and Bahamut for making them go through all this nonsense.

> Holy (All Enemies | AOE)
Ancient holy spell. Inflicts severe damage on all targets.

Ramaa
Turn Summary
> Hell Judgement: 4%
> On Board: 3.5%
> Chaos Thrust: 2.3%
> Magitek Judgment: 2.1%
> Flare: 2%
> Midare Setsugekka: 2%
> Z-Slash: 1.9%
> Perfect Balance: 1.9%
> Holy: 1.9%
> Holy: 1.9%
> Magitek Judgment: 1.8%
> Partial Summoning (Leviathan): 1.8%
> Partial Summoning: Meteor Strike: 1.8%
> Bone Mastery:1.8 %
> Seraphim: 1.8%
> Last Charge: 1.7%
> Midare Setsugekka: 1.6%
> Midare Setsugekka: 1.6%
> Last Judgment: 1.5%
> Helm Smash: 1.3%
> Shadow Flare: 1.3%
> Spellcraft: Glamdring Precure Shooting Star: 1.2%
> Ice Master: 1.2%
> Bootshine: 1.2%
> Chaos Thrust: 1.1%%
> Magitek Laser: 1.1%
> Dualcast Glacier: 1%
> Righteous Strike: 1%
> Lightning Strike: 1%
> Lightning Strike: 1%
> Dash & Slash: 0.9%
> Magic Missile: 0.9%
> Glacier :0.5%
> Glacier: 0.5%

Damage Inflicted: 54.1%
Global Combined Bonuses: +165% (+50% [Aria of Narayana], +50% [Vaikuntha's Blessing EX], +25% [Asura's Gift], +15% [Boss Theme], +10% [Eidolon's Will], +10% [Brotherhood], +5% [On Board])
Total Damage Inflicted:
Healing: -5% (Gift of Crystallis)
Ramaa's Health: DEFEATED

The battle is won!

Ramaa fell on a knee upon being defeated. Following her defeat, Bahamut-egi vanished and Corrin was freed of the corruption. Meanwhile, the battle between the eidolons was still raging, which was even more spectacular as night had fallen over the course of the battle. The real Bahamut was still in the skies above Vaikuntha, but it looked like the Legendary Eidolons are nearly done with him.

Ramaa on her end, stared wide-eyed and in shock at the ground before her.

"I don't understand... I planned everything, left you no chances... I am Kalki, the Goddess of Death, how could I..."

The shock soon turned to a scowl and sadness as she looked up at the heroes.

"What will you do now...? Celebrate your victory? Bury the misery? Our lives are nothing but piles of sorrow and pain. We desperately grasp onto what little good things we can find to justify putting up with it all. Is that your happy ending?"

Edited 2019-04-23 10:48 (UTC)

Papyrus frowns. That's...such a depressing mindset to have. Any fury fades as he looks upon Ramaa. He's quiet at first, rubbing his neck.

But, well... Anyone can be a good person, if they just try. Perhaps this is the chance to provide encouragement.

"I JUST CAN'T SEE IT THAT WAY! YES, LIFE HAS PAIN. THERE'S SORROW, HARDSHIP... IT'S INESCAPABLE, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT HAS TO ECLIPSE WHAT'S GOOD IN THE WORLD! IF YOU CAN MAKE IT THROUGH THE TOUGH TIMES, THEN THERE'S ALWAYS THAT RAY OF SUNSHINE AT THE END OF THE STORM!!!" He pauses. "OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. BUT THE POINT IS, THE PAIN DOESN'T HAVE TO BE MORE POWERFUL IF YOU DON'T MAKE IT!"

Did... Did they do it?

Uendo was almost as stunned as the Empress. He'd been bracing himself for more, expecting things to go worse before they got better. But Ramaa was down, and Bahamut-Egi had vanished... And above them, the battle of the Eidolons was reaching its finale.

They'd done it.

He let the final notes of Aria fade and lowered his shamisen. Looking at Ramaa now... Just as he'd thought. After all this, he still couldn't bring himself to hate her.

"...Personally? I'd be lying if I said I couldn't understand your way of thinking, Lady Ramaa. I've... held some very similar sentiments in the past." He looked away for a moment, then back at her. "But... I have to ask. All those lifetimes... Was there nothing that made them worth living? Was there nothing that made you happy to be alive, if only for a moment?"

Selphie frowned thoughtfully upon hearing Ramaa's words. There wasn't much that anyone could do to absolve the Empress of the suffering that she'd inflicted upon everyone present, but perhaps that was some sort of salve that could be put upon the current wounds? Even though she was hurting from Adrien's last counter attack, Selphie made her way toward the Empress and crouched in front of her.

She reached for Ramaa's hand with her own first. "Back on Crystallis, I had to face myself and I learned that it's not good to bury things. A lot of bad things could have happened and there's probably still a lot that are gonna happen. Even with the sorrow and the pain, it's important to remember the good times as well."

Even through her own pain, Selphie looked Ramaa square in the face and gave her a warm smile. "I asked you before why the sacrifices of the previous heroes meant so little and you said that none of it had mattered. That shocked me to the core but I've had a lot of time to think about what I meant when I said that you were wrong."

She let Ramaa's hands go and pointed back to the heroes present to show the Empress what she meant. "It might be hard to accept, but some of us really want what's best for Vaikuntha and that includes you. So please believe in us."

Edited 2019-04-23 11:30 (UTC)

Kuja snarls, and brings the conjured blades down. She has to die. She deserves to die. He’ll kill her himself if nobody else will, stop her from hurting anyone ever again-

No.

He stops, looks down… and the magic releases, as Trance fades. He’s exhausted, and looking down at her, beaten, broken…

You’ll regret it if you don’t.

He sighs, and kneels, staring directly into her eyes, maintaining eye contact. “Life is pain, you’re absolutely right. It’s painful, sad, and there isn’t nearly enough of it for anybody’s tastes… So until one finds a solution that satisfies, all one can do is cherish the time they’ve been given. As for what I will do now… probably something very stupid. But… Zidane would have done it. And he’s a better person than I am.”
He switches to Chemist- his magic is useless right now- and produces, of all things, a potion. “You could help us, you know. Go not gently into that good night, rage against the dying of the light? You said, once, that I might have been an ally. And- you’re right. If our positions were reversed- if you’d been created on Terra, and I’d been made to live on Crystallis- I can’t honestly say I’d have done any different.”
The item is contemplated carefully, and then offered. To hell with what anyone else thinks. “You deserve death, for everything you’ve done. But then, so do I, and I’d be a terrible hypocrite if I didn’t at least offer the chance at redemption. After all, if our positions were reversed, our lives exchanged… wouldn’t you have done the same for me?”

She had nothing to add. It was over. And when this Kalki was ready, the Raven Queen would be happy to embrace her. But now wasn't the time... not for any of them.

So while the others made their speeches- she didn't disagree with any of them, they'd said the right thing- she went to pat Papyrus on the arm.

"Well said."

Kanji sheathed the Black Ice and frowned to the rest of the group. Kalki desired death and it wasn't their call to give it to her.

"We spent so much time lending a hand to Vaikuntha, proved to so many people that they didn't choose wrong in believing in us through our actions."

He nodded to the fallen Ramaa/Kalki.

"What's one more? We're never gonna quit proving ourselves, and most of all, never gonna quit provin' you wrong."

There was little more Sylvarie could add to what had already been said as she made her way over to kneel beside the woman, tentatively touching her hand. The first time she had come in contact with Ramaa was when the memories had started, yet even if she feared it happening again she wouldn’t willingly pull away. Despite all the times they had lived through this battle, she still couldn’t attack nor hate the Empress who had died in her arms.

“I still... want to know you, and your thoughts. I know that makes me foolish, but it’s how I feel. You once said this was all you could do, yet...”

Looking to the Heroes around them, she breathed out slowly. “Why not see what they can do, their wills and Melodies?”

They need only look to the skies above them to know these people were already capable of defying fate.

Vimes found himself, privately, reeling. They’d done it. They’d won, and nobody had died. He’d been fully expecting a few graves today, and yet- they were all alive, all mostly intact. The truncheon was replaced at his belt, a cursory glance given to the falling Bahamut… “I ‘ope nobody objects. All this talk of forgiveness is all well and good, but she ought to stand trial for what she’s done. Whatever happens to her, after this- it’s got to happen out in the light, where everyone can see. That’s the only way justice is done. If Sen Riqueaux won’t try her, I’ll drag ‘er back to Golsaucia myself.”

His next comment, he addressed to Ramaa. “If it’s any consolation. Even if you do die… I’ve met Death. He’s not nearly as terrifying as you make ‘im out to be.”

Nozomi let out a sigh as she recovered from that last attack before everything ended. She stretched a bit before she went to address Vimes' suggestion.

"He's right. I believe in second chances and the need to atone for your past crimes, but that doesn't absolve you of what you done, Ramaa. You endangered countless people because you believed it was "right"."

She closed her eyes as she continued. "You're not Kalki. You're not the Goddess of Death. You're just someone with her memories and her powers who feels the only thing she should do is continue on her path as if it's your destiny. You can do so much with your powers instead of trying to destroy everything. You need to abandon this ridiculous line of thinking, though!"

Klonoa sighs, lowering the shield as he walks closer to the defeated empress. Lying there, she looks more than ever like the one who told him what to do next, this day again some five months ago. He kneels down next to her.

"It's over, Ramaa. The world isn't going to be destroyed. You can't use this to escape from your problems anymore.. you're going to have to work through them now."

And then he hugs her, closing his eyes. "But there are people here that will help you through this. Until you feel ready.. to want to live again."

Edited 2019-04-23 15:23 (UTC)

Well that sure was a depressing mindset, and one that Tressa found really hard to understand. Life was difficult, but that didn’t make it miserable, what was this person going on about? Looking the empress dead in the eyes, Tressa frowned at her, and began to speak up.

“What have you gone through to think like that..? I know life has it’s struggles, and there will be times where everything seems pointless, but when life has it’s good moments they make all of the pain worth it. I just... hope you realize that one day.”

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mods if this isn't cool just let it fail..... :x

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