ASP:Cointainment breach (IC)

[Greater vakolicci haven]

ASP foundation, floor 1

"You don't," Elder's voice paused. "So I have two possible courses of action you might consider taking. You attempt to capture me and torture me for information; I turn into faintly yellow mist when I want to get somewhere quickly, so I honestly don't think that's likely. Even if you did manage to capture me, you'd get nothing out of me. I've been at this game before your nation was born, doctor; if I wanted you dead we wouldn't be having this conversation right now. In the mean time, the thing in the computer systems which is causing all of this...action...which I suspect to be considerably more powerful than me or anyone you have at your disposal given that I can't identify it, destroys the reactor and we all die."
He laughed, the sound of a childs laugh not losing any of its beauty from the ancient immortal. "Apart from me and a few others who are just as hard to kill. The other alternative is that you get the hell out of here before whatever is causing this overwhelms all your systems and whatever I can throw back at it and wrecks the aforementioned core."

Grace had noticed the former ASP attempting to stand up and put an arm out to steady him. The man was hideously burnt and disfigured; she suspected that the substance which had been covering him was to blame for this; more sadly she suspected also that the beautiful features of the cyborg's face would be the last attractive face he got to see close up unless something could be done to him soon to turn the charred ruined face into something more natural.
"You're in the ASP facility," she told him in her usual gentle voice. "We got all that stuff that was making you a bit evil and stabby off of you, and now I think you're back to regular human again...although I'd recommend avoiding a mirror for until we can get you fixed up. My name's Grace, you might remember me?"

[The Rapture Republic]

ASP Foundation, Floor one

Cavalier pointed to the human 007s body which was currently twitching laid out face first on the ground. "He is all that's left of the thing that attacked first.The slime that actually attacked first is gone. So you don't need to kill him as the slime was controlling him." Cavailer moved both of her hands to her pockets holding her gun in case Victor got aggressive for some reason. As much as she wanted whatever 007 was dead she would need him for future analysis if the body wasn't still alive that would be harder to do, not to mention the paperwork she would have to do about the anomaly being completely gone, human body included.

Cavailer turned her head towards Elder and grimaced. She had her suspicions that the Vakolicci had something to do with the overlapping issues but this confirmed it unless he was lying about it but it didn't seem very likely that he was. She looked suspiciously at the electronics overheating and the emergency lights. Wasn't it convenient that all of that went off now when the emergency lights go off the second something goes wrong "If you have been manipulating the technology how do I know you're not doing it right now?"

At that moment 007 stood up. Luckily for everyone there he was missing the mask, but was dazed. He tried to walk but fell to the floor and began crawling along the floor. He turned his head up and looked around. He looked confused and tried standing up again leaning against the wall for support. "Where am I?"

“Very well. I prefer not to kill the weaken one, in his state. Nor I have anything further justification since this slime, you say is now gone. My ambition has changed to find the one who directed this attack, that interrupted my nap — it’s an unforgivable offense to disrupt someone’s nap, especially if that someone is higher than the gods, themselves. Heh.” Victor began to chuckled, his sharply pointing at Cavalier’s gun in her pocket. “You could destroy the galaxy and U would still be standing, ammunition cannot harm one of the children of the Vonstein family, who dwell in the shadows of every corner. But have no worries, Cavalier, I once killed trillions, entire civilizations wiped from the multiverse, when I was known as the ‘Slaughterhouse of the Multiverse’ or ‘the Grim Raaper’ I have many nicknames to associate with my past crimes, but from a harsh lesson, my endless circus for blood, ended.” Victor chuckled, some more, the steam vanished from his body, with his body temperature returning to normal temperature. He’d looked intrigued at 007, grabbing him by the neck and laying back down where he originally was.” You’re in Atkemri, my friend. Well, not specifically Atkemri, more in Hell’s Kitchen at the moment, you should watch that, sometime. It’s pretty good cooking show on television, if you ask me. However, resting first is the wiser choice, yes?” He replied to the man’s question. Vonstein collapse his knees, crossing his legs. He’d pulled a cigarette packet from his jacket pocket, lit it with the touch of his finger, and blow five smoky lighthouses equivalent to the one that marked to the location and entrance to the Rapture Republic.

Even he’d denied the offering from Cavalier, he handle the packet of cigarettes to Cavalier, “want a smoke? It’s fortune’s sweeties, not poison.” He said, looking at Cavalier.

———————-

Victor paid no attention to this “Grace” lady that appeared from somewhere, he’d only summoned his scythe with a long crooked blade, with the sharpness to slice a building in-two without even trying. Victor just continued to passively smoke his cigarette.

[Atkemri]

ASP Foundation, Floor 1

Cavailer looked at Elder, obviously annoyed "I want you to realize something, what you are doing right now is not new to me. I have seen it with my own eyes. You saying that you are some ancient spirit is not threatening because we have seen those and captured them. Now if you are so concerned about our lives, you can take your team and go. I do not need them here. Whatever you want from him you will not get." Cavalier turned her back to Elder to face everyone else.

Cavailer took the cigarettes from Victor after hearing his talk on his power "I never intended to shoot with physical ammunition, of course not, that wouldn't work, it never works." She took out the weapon she had in her pocket revealing a pistol with a blue fluid flowing through the weapon which could be seen through see through parts in the gun "This can blow holes through titanium." She stops and looks around "As well as anyone who wants to interfere with the functions of the ASP" She smiles and begins smoking the cigarette given to he while moving to the elevator. "Come on then you all know what you have to do"

[Fardhin]

Location from which Dahkt made the announcement
"Damn it all, Dahkt. You're hiding things."

The Dealmaker, noting the fact that they were idling by in the cameras; was frustrated beyond relief. Clearly there was some sort of system for this, and he had failed to use it. Dahkt's subconscious mind was resisting.

Mental Unconsciousness
The host was resisting. While the Dealmaker had control, the host refused to share it's secrets.

"You're stronger than I thought Doctor.", the Dealmaker thought to himself. "I will pry them out of you when I break you."

Dreamscape
Dahkt would awaken, seemingly in the same room. It was so real, yet so surreal. But Dahkt would feel like it was real. He was given the situation, and he noted the thoughts that came into his head. "The reactor is broken. The facility is going to blow. I must save everyone else. I have given an announcement warning everyone of the danger."

In front of him would be a control panel, and he noted on the monitors; watching everyone stubbornly refuse to leave while the radiation encroached. Something was broken and prevented them from believing his announcement. He would need to make it so that they would believe him.

[Shwe Tu Colony]

Sekka's attacks would effectively trap 007s liquid under the grounds of the facility...

D'aillisioux smiled slightly & closed his eyes in delight, but Sekka made no reaction to Cavalier's comment. "I worry for what effects the fluid being trapped inside the floor will have, but for now I suppose this will be best..." Sekka said, standing still & pulling back a yellow rectangle on his left hand. After this, a bright green fluid fired out from it onto where he had trapped the parts of ASP 007. Moments after landing, the liquid sank into the floor & painted it a lime green. "Ah. a bit of residual energy left from my magic helped me detect where to put it... But if I may throw an idea out, it is possible that Dhakt could be possessed. Such an occurrence is not uncommon where I come from, but let's hope we were lucky enough to have a more helpful fellow..."

Meanwhile, D'aillisioux's expression shifted into one of worry at the doctor's orders. She wants me to go without Sekka? he thought, tugging gently at the blue scarf inside of his open button-down collar while glancing nervously around, I don't know if I can go without him, especially if I'm going with those other people... Should I really...? I don't want to keep annoying Sekka with having to babysit me, though. He opened his mouth to speak, but hesitated & closed it as quickly as he had opened it, continuing to fidget as he continued to worry. But if I go alone, what will the others think if something bad happens that they can't help me with? His nervousness briefly caused a man in a lengthy yellow robe with red eyebrows & a long red goatee — a man that only he could see — to manifest near him.

After passing to him a piece of likewise invisible-to-others paper, the man vanished in a bright flash that only D'aillisioux would see, although the boy was too focused on his paper to notice. On it was a list of the names that Dr. Cavalier said accompanied by their portraits. Once more, he tugged at the scarf in his collar. No good! he thought, I don't think that any of them would be patient enough with me. He shook his head slightly, & Sekka, noticing the internal debate in the boy, jumped in. "Er, D'aillisioux, if you're not comfortable with being alone," he paused for a moment, to see if the boy would protest.
"Uh... i-it's not that... I'm not sure if... uh," he said, trying to find the right word.
"Don't worry, D'aillisioux. I won't be mad... In these sorts of situations, it's best not to lie. All a lie does is—"

"I-I don't know i-if..." he suddenly flinched away from Sekka, realizing that he had interrupted him.
"Continue, please. We need to hurry," the demon said, with D'aillisioux gesturing for him to bend down to whisper something. Once that message was relayed (in the Demonish language), Sekka returned to his normal standing position. "Hmm, I see," the demon said, "Well, this will be the least I can do without going against the doctor's orders." With that, he summoned a small purple orb in his left hand, which he stuck one finger into before then dragging it towards D'aillisioux, forming a curving purple line that went between the Doll's shoulder & the sphere. "There, I'll be able to monitor you from now on with that," Sekka explained, summoning a similar orb near his head, "If anything happens, I'll know."

With that completed, he then began to accompany Cavalier, waiting for her further orders, whereas D'aillisioux went with the other group that the doctor designated to him. Moments after, a woman that only he could see dove down from the ceiling in her usual orange dress & with monarch butterfly wings sprouting from her back. After briefly embracing the boy in her soft & warm blanket-like wings, she soared back through the ceiling & vanished. To anyone else, they would see him momentarily standing still & then smiling to himself briefly.

[The Rapture Republic]

ASP Foundation, Floor 1

Cavailer looked at Elder, obviously annoyed "I want you to realize something, what you are doing right now is not new to me. I have seen it with my own eyes. You saying that you are some ancient spirit is not threatening because we have seen those and captured them. Now if you are so concerned about our lives, you can take your team and go. I do not need them here. Whatever you want from him you will not get." Cavalier turned her back to Elder to face everyone else.

Cavailer took the cigarettes from Victor after hearing his talk on his power "I never intended to shoot with physical ammunition, of course not, that wouldn't work, it never works." She took out the weapon she had in her pocket revealing a pistol with a blue fluid flowing through the weapon which could be seen through see through parts in the gun "This can blow holes through titanium." She stops and looks around "As well as anyone who wants to interfere with the functions of the ASP" She smiles and begins smoking the cigarette given to he while moving to the elevator. "Come on then you all know what you have to do"

“Yes, Miss. I’ve been waiting for a fight with whom ever trashed this joint. They seem like amateurs, I could’ve done better. But I need reason to, whereas, in any theoretical scenario there is none and so it won’t happen.” Said Victor, exhaling smoke from his lips from the cigarette still in his mouth. He’d followed the mistress, Caveliar towards the elevator. He saw D'aillisioux, making his way towards them. But decided to say nothing from his prejudices of demonkin, his eyebrow raised when he didn’t that doll boy by the monster’s side, must have ran off from that explosion that happened during my nap He’d thought.

[Atkemri]

Floor 10, Dreamscape

Dhakt was confused. He remembered the events before this but everything was hazy, everything felt right but at the same time something just wasn't. That wasn't important though he had to save everyone in the building the best he can. He reached into a drawer with the password for overriding the system. He looked at the paper and tried reading it and he couldn't. All the letters and numbers were backwards the only answer was that this was a dream, but if he remembered right it was the middle of the day. Why would he be asleep now?

It had to be an ASP, but none he knew of could do this. There was 092 of course but that anomaly was currently in the hands of ASP Iran and he wasn't notified of a transfer. Whatever it was he couldn't let it get whatever it wanted, and he knew a way to do that. threw the paper back into the drawer and began typing the code for Situation 6, where 1 or more members of the ASP are under the control of a anomaly. He typed it into the board being very specific on which buttons to press. The Dealmaker would see this working and everyone leaving the building as Dhakt himself began evacuating. In reality this would confirm someone is under the control of a anomaly, while it wouldn't point out Dhakt specifically it would make the announcement more suspicious.

ASP Foundation, floor one

Cavailer continued walking in the direction of the elevator. "It will be fine for now. Whatever that was it seems like it's gone." she paused at the mention of Dhakt being possessed before continuing. "Maybe he is. If he is everything gets harder."

She passed by 007s cell and looked inside before quickly looking away indifferently, if anyone decided to look inside they'd find 3 guards all dismembered and spread throughout the room. 007 would look at Grace for a moment trying to remember but shook hid head in disappointment. "I don't remember a Grace. Wait what is a ASP? What stuff? Did I kill someone?" he'd start breathing heavily before Victor put him down.

He calmed down while on the floor and began walking again, by himself, and got to the elevator with the rest. At the elevator Cavalier looked at the two groups she had put together and grimaced. One group was understaffed. "Hey Victor. If you want to find out who cause this so bad you should got to the other group they're going deeper in the facility." Cavalier stops for a second before moving closer to him and whispering in his ear "You have to go with them, if you don't they'll be slaughtered, and that would look bad." She leans back out and sees 007 "007 I guess you go with them too, Grace, since your his handler now you go with him too."

[Fardhin]

Floor 10
"Oh Dahkt, you mortal fool!" The Dealmaker said to himself in Dahkt's body. "Key to my victory over existence, your knowledge shall be."

What he had seen in the Dreamscape, he immediately input into the interface. Whatever Dahkt had done in his dream, his real body will do as well.

Mental Message to Elder
"I have discovered a way to further the illusion of a problem. The good doctor has proven stronger than initially believed, as his subconscious mind continues to resist and protect its secrets. By deceiving him through a falsified situation, I have secured information from his mind."

[Greater vakolicci haven]

ASP foundation, floor 1

"When did I gain that honour?" Grace asked, glouring at Cavalier and reaching into her backpack. "Unarmed man, middle of war zone, bad idea. This," she said, bringing out a large and bulky weapon "Is the mg17 assault rifle. Bung it on your shoulder, turn off safety, it's loaded, point at the bad guys, the bad guys get filled with itty bitty bits of metal and hopefully a lot of death." She handed it over, smiling and hoisted her own similar weapon onto her shoulder.
"So...just where are we going?" she asked the doctor.

Elder smiled widely at Cavalier and laughed softly.
"You've tried to capture me," he told her, rather smugly. "4 times if I recall. Your friennds died on 3 of those times, the 4th group I keep as pets. That man with the red hair can take one hell of a mental beating before he gives up, do you know him? I think...perhaps I'll eat him, he's losing his appeal."
As he spoke, he responded to dealmaker, looking through many cameras at the same time he got a pretty good impression of what was going on.
"Is that you pressing those buttons? I can disconnect the sequence from anything important if you like, make him think it's done some good..."

[Atkemri]

ASP Foundation

Throughout the facility the automated P.A system announced that someone in the facility was controlled by an ASP in a situation 6.

Seeing as Dhakt had just used the P.A system those knowledgeable with the ASP would assume that someone had subdued Dhakt and found he was controlled by something. Unless something could be done to prove otherwise most would think Dhakt was controlled by something

ASP Foundation, floor 1

"You got the title when you started caring for that thing." Cavalier looked at 007 who was standing next to Grace distrustfully. As Elder began to talk Cavalier's eyes widened "That was you? How did you get past the...? I'm just going to forget that you mentioned that, because I refuse to believe that was you.".

As she walked into the elevator the auto P.A system announced the situation 6 which caused Cavailer to turn around towards Elder "What was that about something in the power?"

[Greater vakolicci haven]

ASP foundation, floor 1

Elder sighed. "I'm not in the power right now," he told her, rolling his eyes. "If I was in the power right now I'd have figured out what's wrong with your elevator. It's broken, by the way, totally fucked. We're not getting out that way."
He crossed to where Vrone was standing and began a short sequence of whispering.
"You want me to see if my new pet can help get us out? He's pretty far away but he might know some secrets."

[Fardhin]

Room 10
The Deal-maker was certainly not pleased. As the PA blared it's noise, rage boiled inside. Nobody messes with the Deal-maker.

So he withdrew inside Dahkt. Deep inside, and let the good doctor take control of the steering wheel. This way, he'll seem as if in control of his actions; especially when he kills one of his comrades...

[The Rapture Republic]

“Very well, Cavalier. If you desire me to join the group in their sucidal mission with the chance of survival being at 1% for one survivor that being me and two unknown figures, which I haven’t learned the names of, at the moment. My protection comes, when they proven themselves in combat. I have been powerless characters defend gods, themselves. But my hopes for some people in this team are low. But whatevs.” Replied Victor, examining his blade admiring the glaze it gives from its demonium metal, making the room shined in twilight.

[Fardhin]

/bump
OOC: Atkemri please post, Dahkt is free from influence

[Atkemri]

ASP Foundation, Floor one

Despite Elder's protests Cavailer walked into the elevator. "It still works, for now. It should be good. It can't go up though, but we had to go down anyway." after pressing some buttons the elevator seemed to be ready for use

"Everyone in" As everyone got in, the doors began to slowly closed while the lights inside flickered violently. As she touched a button the elevator began violently descend. After multiple minutes of falling it managed to stop itself at Floor 10. After calming herself down Cavailer walked out if the elevator, looked into to the elevator, before gesturing for her group to leave the elevator

For the other group Cavalier would hit a button on the outside causing it to begin plummeting down to floor 23 , where the medical room was and which was the goal of their group. Once all of them left the elevator it began free falling seemingly endlessly until the crash could be heard. Chung walked out of the door, the body of Hao still in hand "Would any of you have a way to store his body?" he was obviously still in a state of mourning and stared at the body, unmoving from it.

Floor 10, ASP Foundation

Dhakt looked around, making sure he was not in another dream. It seemed like he had won,but where had the being gone? Did it just leave? He had to answer these questions. If it was inhabiting him then it must have been some parasite, and if it needed him then it would have to intervene if he were to almost die.

And so Dhakt began ruthlessly slamming his head against the wall of the P.A room only stopping once he had drawn blood from the impact, that should be enough to cause it's intervention.

[Fardhin]

The Dealmaker could not feel Dahkt's pain. He was laughing though, deep inside. All Dahkt would feel from now on is pain, for as long as the immortal spirit of a Dealmaker resides inside Dahkt's mortal form; Dahkt will be immortal. There are some other perks too, like the ability to use pyromancy, telekinesis, telepathy and more.

[Greater vakolicci haven]

Ciaran Moore

"What in gods name do you think you're doing?" Moore had ran forward, trying to get the elevator doors to stay open with his boot but he was too slow. Vrone and Amro were with him in what felt like half a second as the three of them began to glare at Cavalier.
"Who gave you permission to split my granddaughter off from the rest of us? From that crash, I hope for your sake you've got a way of getting her back, or it'll be the last bad decision you make in your short little life."

Grace Kadus

Kadus looked at Chung, rather emotionlessly before replying in a quiet voice, equally as dead as her facial expression.
"I can throw him down the lift shaft if you want," she offered, "Mince him with my gun. You'd probably get the same treatment.
I didn't submit to your groups authority, whatever your name is. I want to leave, now. I don't want to go to the medical facility. I want to go ome, report what I've seen and aid them in formulating a response. Make it happen or you'll be meeting your brother again."

[Shwe Tu Colony]

"What in gods name do you think you're doing?" Moore had ran forward...

Floor 10
"I wouldn't worry about it, I should be able to retrieve the other lot by climbing down using my own magic," Sekka said, opening his palm towards the roof as a black, low-viscosity liquid began to pour forth from it while emitting circles of colors ranging from light grey to black, although the fluid quickly dissipated, "& speaking of which, I do detect that it is running low. Normally, I would be able to cast much more or replenish my mana supplies by absorbing it from the immediate area, but it is much slower in a world that mostly lacks magical energy compatible with me. Although I do still remember that deal I had worked out, involving that magical school... Haven't heard much news of it from the Psytrine end, either." He shrugged.

Despite Elder's protests Cavailer walked into the elevator...

Floor 20
Surprised by the elevator's crash, D'aillisioux leapt a few feet into the air, briefly hyperventilating for a few seconds afterwards as his posture changed to a more nervous one. However, he was able to stabilize himself to respond to Chung. "Oh, uh... I-I think I sh-should h-have some-something," D'aillisioux replied as a storm of blue petals suddenly came out of his back, "They... they'll be able to c-carry him." After this, the petals flew over to Hao's body, coating him in a thick barrier — a barrier that floated a few inches out from the body, to avoid touching it — where Chung wasn't holding it. "I-I'm sorry i-if th-this is rude... b-but y-you'd have to let g-go for th-the full barrier. Y-you can st-still hol-hold onto him, if-if you want, th-though," D'aillisioux explained, "The pet-petals can support h-him, though."

Kadus looked at Chung...

"Wh-why are you... Yo-you can't expect som-some to g-get ov-over something like this that f-fast!" D'aillisioux said, suddenly thrashing his head horizontally before continuing, "This... this i-isn't the t-time t-t... to ar-argue! I... I w-want to get back as-as soon as p-possible, too, bu-but none of us w-will i-if we be-become enemies!" Suddenly realizing what he said, he placed his arms over his head & rooted himself into the floor to strengthen his own foundation, as though expecting — & preparing for — retaliation. "A-ah! I'm-I'm sorry!" he yelled out, his palpable fear being contradicted by the strength of his ready stance that indicated he was disturbingly accustomed to taking blows, "I... I didn't..." He suddenly trailed off. Why would she say that? the boy thought, Does she just not understand how to consider others at all?

Vaalkyne would suddenly manifest next to Grace, although it was likely that everyone else would feel as though she had always been there. "Ah, what a... problematic child," she said in her usual singsong, honey-sweet voice, her magic making it so that only Grace would hear it, "He seems to be trying to imitate Sekka." Tilting her head, she smiled, her pacifistic aura & closed eyes accentuating her eloquent, persuasive nature. "Ah, the ASP has been such a problem for you, hasn't it? But you know, that twin & this boy... they're just too emotional." Vaalkyne twirled in place, tilting her head again when she returned to facing Grace. "How useful will they be against an enemy? Why, I'd wager that they're too depressed..." She adopted a mocking tone that seemed to be hiding something sinister beneath it as she said "depressed". "... to really contribute. But killing them will be too difficult... but that doesn't mean you can't rig it. Perhaps we'll see something to set up a... disaster?" She tilted her head & smiled even more, despite her already beaming grin.

[Atkemri]

ASP Foundation, Floor 10

When Dhakt was done he had drawn blood from his forehead and left a large stain on the wall he had been slamming his head. He began stumbling out of the room and saw a group in the distance. He then collapsed onto the ground unconscious.

Cavalier drew her gun towards Ciaran and his associates "I got that authority when your government signed you up for this trip. Another thing. Did you idiots think we did not have stairs? Let's just keep moving." She looked behind her and saw the body of Dhakt. Slowly she began walking backwards towards him and nudged the body.

She looked at H.W and had him carry the body of Dhakt. "Sekka the magic school is on floor 14 they should be evacuating. The ASP pretty much took over that."

ASP Foundation, Floor 20

Chung let go of the body as D'aillisioux's magic carried Hao. When Grace had began talking about mincing the body Chung had drawn his sword and gotten in a battle stance. "If you wish defame my brother I will make sure you will be unable to insult him! To arms with you!" Chung ignored D'aillisioux's advice and almost began a charge. Then the footsteps of others could be heard. Multiple Liberation Front personnel, about 12, walking down the hallway with heavy weapons.

As soon as they saw the group down the hallway they opened fire. Chung immediately ran into another room mostly leaving the others to fend for themselves.

[Prussian Polish Commonwealth]

retag, atkem catch me up.

[Greater vakolicci haven]

Ciaran Moore

"I'm Vakolicci," Ciaran didn't seem phased by the gun, or the rather combative air around him. "I don't take..."
"Prepare for any eventuality," came the cold voice from Elder; at that the relatively normal expression on Ciaran's face faded to be replaced by stubborn determination.
"Get the group from downstairs now before I chase you down to the reactor," came the old man's firm reply.
"No," Vrone stepped between cavalier and Ciaran, looking definitely like a target. "The children are mine. Elder. Kill anybody who attempts to retrieve them from us. If we think we are likely to be thwarted, end the facility, regardless of human life. I just hope doing so ends the world also."
Grace Kadus

At first, Grace had settled into an easy fighting stance opposite Chung, her arm-mounted gun pointing directly at him.
However, when the liberation front personelle came running in, she remembered what she had been told by Elder and relayed said information to them.
"I'm with Elder!" she informed them, "I'm on your side! These people near me wish to imprison our kind, destroy them all. End this facility."

That was the point at which Grace began to fire, her weapon focussing on Chung with little forward in her mind.
"Join your brother," she laughed, the cruelness entering her voice for the first time

[Shwe Tu Colony]

"I'm Vakolicci," Ciaran didn't seem phased by the gun, or the rather combative air around him...

Floor 10
Sekka began walking over to where Dhakt was, but paused at Vrone's words. "Eh? Why would you care so much about some students of a magic academy that you're willing to destroy so much?" the demon questioned, tilting his head as his face contorted into a confused expression. While it could not be seen through his armor, it could be easily sensed by anyone. "Psytronius is willing to provide a quality education to almost any would-be apprentices," he continued, "Unless, of course, the apprentice was from a belligerent civilization, but I'm certain they'd be tempted if they showed enough promise. Still, I see no benefit to poaching the children right now. If you're willing to wait until after this all blows over, I'd willingly help negotiate a deal with the Psytrines." For a moment, he stopped talking, thinking that he had said everything essential.

"& before you ask, if they think something is worth researching, they'll treat it kindly. They do awfully daring & stupid things, I'll admit, but I'm an example of something that should be monstrous but luckily isn't," he said, shrugging at the end, "They're unethical sometimes, yes, but keeping something locked in a cage isn't something they'd do, since they want to research things as they are in the wild. Plus, they're curious, but they would never neglect safety measures. Speaking of which, I'm sure that the drama upstairs has probably attracted their attention..."

Chung let go of the body as D'aillisioux's magic carried Hao...

Floor 23
At the group's appearance, D'aillisioux exited his prior stance, drew his katana, turned towards the Liberation Front soldiers, & made a noise best described as a cross between a gasp & a loud inhalation. After this, his sword gained a sinister dark red gleam & began to drip water, which formed puddles in the floor; it would likely only take several seconds before the floor near his group would be coated in a thin layer of water, which seemed to have no effect just yet. However, there was also a much less obvious effect — his time perception slowed severely, & he would now bee able to analyze & observe. Let's see... he focused & allowed himself to enter a psychological flow state, attempting to look at the initial bullets that were fired, although he perceived their speed as about equal to his walking speed, Ah, wait... I can't see.

After realizing this, a luminescent rain briefly manifested in the hallway & brightened it to comfortable & visible levels while also drenching it in a layer of water that would likely go up to one's ankles. This was followed by a sudden circle of fire manifesting around the Liberation Front personnel that could not be extinguished with water; all of these events seemingly happened immediately after the initial bullets, but to D'aillisioux, his altered time perception meant that the rains fell much more slowly — slow enough that he was able to see the bullets more clearly. Looks like I should be able to defend against a majority of them, he thought. After this, the butterfly-winged woman would suddenly leap in from the wall opposite D'aillisioux's side — ignoring the walls & roofs — & sprint to the other side, her wings billowing out behind her as she did so, being visible this time.

Some bullets would manage to get past her wings, but those that were fired later & thus struck her or her wings would embed themselves & be stuck there. Once she went inside the room on the opposite side of her entry, she would suddenly crouch down & begin to move backwards, as though she was on a treadmill, only to run forward again once she was at the open door of the room. She continued these movements for several seconds, blocking any projectiles that passed into her wings. Eventually, she would run crouch down one last time & the ground beneath her would seemingly not affect her, as she then dove under, leaving any fired projectiles in the air where she had blocked them. Moments later, these bullets would become monarch butterflies & hummingbirds, who would rush to D'aillisioux & fade into his body.

About seven bullets managed to hit him — one in his left eye, one in the right side of his mouth, one in each of his cheeks, one on the right side of his chest, one in his left arm, & one above his mana battery — but they only created dents about a centimeter inside of him & made a loud porcelain shattering noise rather than a normal fleshy sound. However, as the creatures from earlier faded into him, the damage that he had taken would swiftly be negated once all of them entered him, their intangibility to the physical world & swiftness rendering them immune to most attempts to stop them.

At first, Grace had settled into an easy fighting stance...

"Wha-what?" D'aillisioux yelled out, with the water beginning to slosh around, but not to the point that it would knock anyone over, "I-I don't... I... I'm just h-here to vi-visit!" Moments after, some force only visible to D'aillisioux in the form of a muscular black man with a red & white staff appeared near Grace, striking her everywhere a total of seven times with his staff before vanishing. Each hit would strike with an expected amount of force from the man — or in other words, powerful strikes that clearly showed his expertise with his weapon & swiftness. While unlikely to be fatal or gravely damaging, the fact that she could not block the attacks because of the man's intangibility meant there was no way to guard against them. After D'aillisioux's skill's attack ended, he would pause for a moment. Who to go against... who to go against... he thought, before deciding to rush towards the ASP Liberation Front soldiers.

Rather than engage them in melee, he jumped a short distance into the air & slammed his sword into the floor, causing all of the water that he had summoned to rush backwards, but not fast enough to knock anyone over. Once it reached the elevator's wall, the water vanished, with a red curtain suddenly surrounding D'aillisioux. After a few seconds, the curtains would fall downwards before then soaring upwards, with a sheet of water a mere two inches high suddenly surging forth from where the boy stood towards the ASP Liberation Front personnel. This time, the waves moved quickly enough that they would reach the soldiers in only a couple of seconds, with it also being nearly certain that they would be swept off of their feet from the water & being thrown into the ring of fire. Following this, D'aiilisioux drew his right foot back before suddenly freezing up, with a metallic hand manifesting on his left shoulder.

However, he overcame the paralyzing effect & threw his left arm back, which additionally caused the hand to fly off. No longer restricted, he swept his right foot in front of him in a half circle, his left leg planted firmly in what would be the circle's central point. After this action, a fire ignited where his right foot had struck the floor, with these flames proceeding to ignite all of the water in a straight line towards the circle of fire D'aillisioux had summoned where the ASP Liberation Front personnel had been. As they were likely thrown back, the additional fires were unlikely to cause them any harm, but once they reached the ring of flames, a trail of fire arced across the water towards where the soldiers where, splitting into an additional trail for each opponent once it came close. From there, it would pursue them at moderate speed, coating the water with flames that could easily be jumped over.

"Ah... that is no good," Vaalkyne suddenly said while standing near Grace, using her magic to once more direct her voice exclusively towards the other woman, "Allow me to... help you a bit...?" Before the other could respond, she cast a mighty healing spell that would likely mend any damage done by D'aillisioux. "I'm sure you want to know his... weakness?" Vaalkyne teased, her hands behind her back & her beaming smile not fading at all, "He's so... enamored with being the hero. He wants to overcome his fears, yes? Like his fear of being touched, his utter contempt for chocolate, his... complete terror of failure." Somehow, she smiled even more at the last statement. "Ah, he thinks Sekka's perfect... he thinks his assassin friends are just perfect. He idolizes them. Totally attached!" She hopped at her last claim.

"Ah, but when he gets too attached... he can't bear disappointing them. Go on, Grace, really make sure that these deaths are his fault, which is quite easy. Proceed normally, & that'll weaken him. He'll blame himself, you see. He'll think... he's just not good enough — that he's failed completely in protecting the others. He can't bear being responsible for the deaths of someone like Chung, you see?" Once more, her smile somehow increased in intensity. "Oh, but if there is one way to... really destroy that boy... that would be to slay Sekka. He would be overwhelmed with grief, at the death of a father figure. Fortunate that I know of his... severity; his weakness of Light-affiliated & Ordo-affiliated magic. Cast one of those, & he'll be stunned for a short while..." Vaalkyne delightfully giggled. "But remember to spare the boy for me... he was mine, & belongs to me. He is a Doll after all — nothing more than an object."

Floor 10
"No good," Sekka said to himself, peering into a purple circle that he had summoned, "Looks like the group on Floor 23 is under attack. D'aillisioux seems to be doing well enough with his powers, but... oh?" He paused, attempting to make sense of what he had seen or heard inside of it. "How peculiar... I'm hearing gunfire, but I don't see any bullets firing from our group to whoever is attacking D'aillisioux. Where else could one of them possibly be firing?"

[Atkemri]

Floor 10

Cavalier slowly lowered her gun as the children were mentioned. "Do not get near the main reactor. This is the only time I'll say this. That reactor contains a part of the most powerful objects the ASP has. If the thing that held it is still alive in someway. It will come and find it and I don't believe any of us leave here in any state."

Cavalier paused and looked down at the floor. "And if you have a single thread of humanity in your body you won't touch the children." she holstered her gun and stepped back. "Allow me to get something and then we can go get your 'daughter'. That is if your leaders over there don't do anything drastic."

Floor 23

The Liberation Front militants were unable to avoid any of D'aillisioux's attacks, but the healing spell quickly got them back up arousing confusion among them causing a few to flee. The one's that stayed began charging forward towards D"aillisioux while making sure not to cause any damage to Grace.

Chung, still inside the room heard the gunshots against the door and quickly noticed a vent above his head. Quickly he opened and crawled through the vent and made his way to the next vent cover he saw. It happened that it happened to be beside Grace about an arms length apart. Chung then turnt and began running towards Grace with his sword in a position where if it connected it would stab her.

[Shwe Tu Colony]

The Liberation Front militants were unable to avoid any of D'aillisioux's attacks...

"Whoops!" Vaalkyne said, "I meant for that only to be for Grace, but this route works too!" She shrugged & simply smiled, any bullets that would've hit her simply fading through her body; her peculiar serenity was unwavering, but considering how she had died earlier, perhaps she was something more. D'aillisioux, meanwhile, was briefly surprised by her magic. Huh? he thought as the same red curtains from earlier surrounded him, any bullets that were fired into it lodging a short way inside & falling out soon after, Looks like they recovered. All of the fire on the water, meanwhile, suddenly flew into the air towards the ASP Liberation Front Soldiers, & once it got within a few inches, the flames began to merge into a spiral, galaxy-like shape. After a few seconds passed, the spiral of fire swiftly twirled around the hallway several times, potentially scorching Grace & all of her allies with its high temperature (for fire) while passing harmlessly through anyone else, although the flames failed to ignite anything.

While the spiral whipped around, the fire on the edges of it would be thrown towards the walls & sink onto the water until eventually there was no spiral left. Once that happened, the curtains flew upwards into the ceiling & came back down to divide the hallway in two — D'aillisioux & the Liberation Front in one part, & everyone else in the other. Anyone next to the curtains would be blown back by a short-ranged but mighty gust of wind that would push them back, but probably wouldn't knock them off of their feet. Once the curtains fell, his sword suddenly flew out of his hands & began to spin in the air as a bright fire appeared in his left hand & a silvery powder in his right. After this, he inhaled loudly & clapped his hands together three times, each clap emitting a flashbang of only moderate sound but of intense light, both of which were blocked by the curtains. As a result, any of the personnel looking near him would be blinded for about ten seconds & would have mild afterimages & slightly blurred vision for a minute after, but they would probably not be deafened.

However, the flashbang would disturb their sense of balance by a strangely powerful degree, making it difficult to even stand for the first couple of seconds. Somehow, D'aillisioux was completely unaffected by his ability & grabbed his sword before lunging to where the nearest of the personnel was, the katana glowing a dark red. Once there, he proceeded to attempt to slice his opponent about three times, each strike being backed with the boy's excellent swordsmanship, surprising strength, & whatever enchantment seemed to be on his sword — considering that he was a mere Rank 4 assassin, the fear of Parfuhmerie's infamous guild was clearly justified. With all of these factors supporting his attack, it was likely that his cuts would be of moderate to severe damage, assuming that he did not miss. However, with the flashbang affecting the soldiers & his own expertise, it was unlikely that he would; he struck with some experience against opponents affected by his ability.

Regardless of if the enemy died, it took a few seconds for D'aillisioux's assault. If they fell to the floor & into the water — which was now up to everyone's ankles — the water would suddenly surge on top of their wounds, at which point the liquid would suddenly wreathe itself in flames & cauterize any of the openings, likely stopping any bleeding. Once his three strikes were done, he would dash to the next soldier & slash them three times again, repeating this process until he was hit, with his habit of walking slowly forward during his attacks to pressure his opponent likely being the best window to attack him. If the other ASP Liberation Front personnel attempted to flee after this first assault, D'aillisioux would glide backward on the water & stand there, simply resting for a moment (if their attempt was immediate, the Doll would still try to attack the nearest soldier).

Still, for someone who looked so young (& short, especially for his age), D'aillisioux's assault was done with frighteningly adult-like vigor & expertise, yet his eyes were glazed over, as though he was emotionally disconnecting himself from what he was doing. He was almost entirely silent as well, the only sounds being the occasional quiet grunt & the sound of his sword cutting through armor & flesh. It was definitely still a better fate than being consumed by Sekka, though.

[Greater vakolicci haven]

Floor 10

Vrone reoved the strange shadow mask she was wearing; what was revealed beneath was a relatively young-looking woman. The face was clearly not the result of plastic surgery or enhancement, but nor was it over-pretty; it was just simply a face...and as devoid of any warmth or love as the metallic doors on the corridor. Vrone's face wasn't the face of the human behind it, whatever that person was like, it was the face of what was required from her position: uncaring, ruthless and utterly without soul or humanity.
"Doctor," she began. "Did you know, how many terrorist attacks take place which no one catches, and which nobody claims responsibility for? Or assassinations...high crimes...tragic accidents. I signed off on most of those. I've ordered a child killed while stood behind that child, just to weaken his parents. If murder and brutality benefits the Haven I'm happy to order that school to be shot up, that hospital to be bombed, that violent gangster to be enriched. I might be here to free people, because doing so would help my country...but please don't delude yourself into thinking I have the slightest concern for the lives of anybody in this facility, including my own. When I die...their will be another Vrone. Any questions?"