[Endgame: rise or DROWN]

[warpweft]

[How long have you been exploring Nessa's palace now? You've met her family, viewed her memories, learned how to fight as a witch and tried to find the source of her power and the Treasure of her palace: the Voidheart. And along the way, you've tired your best, with mixed success, to avoid the incarnation of her eldest cousin and the representation of her trauma and fear, the Nightmare of Esmau.]

[Wherever you are in the Palace right now, you feel the ground briefly shake under your feet. Little shakes here and there haven't been out of the ordinary - Esmau is trying to blow the place down to the studs, after all. But that felt different. That felt....worse.]

[Your phone beeps as you receive a message.]

Comments

Re: [rise]

[voidhearts]

[All four of Nessa's family members throw the power they've gathered at the barrier. Already wavering from the loss of the towers, the barrier shatters into pieces!

Stairs leading upwards are waiting in front of you.

Caesar and Agnis are exhausted from the injuries they suffered fighting Esmau. Dimitri is back to focusing on using his clouds to keep the palace stable. Nell rejoins your party. She wipes some tears from her eyes, but she looks more determined than ever.]



I-I'm sorry I slowed us down, guys! Let's finish this!

[The path to the Temple is clear.]

[survivaltricks]

Nah. Don't apologize. You're here now; that's what matters.

[TO THE TEMPLE]

[messianic]

[ with a cheesy thumbs up: ]

You're doing great, Nell-san.

[ and then he follows Akira. TO THE TEMPLE. They've got work to do! ]

[survivaltricks]

[mouthing to him as they ascend to the temple— did you hug someone]

[messianic]

[ i'm



Minato blinks at Akira, brow furrowing. ]

... Yeah...?

[survivaltricks]

[nods, seemingly satisfied with that answer. he offers no explanation]

[messianic]

[ minato just blinks at him. ]

Er... why do you ask?

[survivaltricks]

Noooo reason.

[handwave handwave!]

Re: [rise]

[velluminous]

[ well unlike the two PROTAGONISTS Sprezzatura looks like she's been through it, herself. she hurries up to gently grasp Nell by the forearms and squeeze once. ]

Look at what you've done. Don't you dare apologize. Come along. Come on.

[messianic]

[ she does look like she's been through it. When she's done reassuring Nell, Minato steps closer. ]

... You okay, Sprezzatura-san?

[velluminous]

[ she wipes the back of her hand across her brow ]

Yes, I have healed myself...

[messianic]

Mm, okay.

[ a beat, and with a small smile: ]

Good work back there.

[ he doesn't know exactly what happened, but given his own experience... he can guess. ]

/2

[velluminous]

[ for an instant, when her gaze meets his, he can see how very, very tired she is. ]

[velluminous]

Stupid boy needed guidance.

[messianic]

Mm. Good thing he had you there, then. I can't think of anyone better for the job.

[ he means this with full sincerity! ]

[cosplayed_out]

Mission success erases all errors. It is no matter.

[and, back into character.]

ROUND 5

[voidhearts]

BOSS ACTION

[voidhearts]

[The temple is empty, the roof and the walls are mostly gone, floating away into a giant black gash in the sky hanging above you. Both above and below is nothing but an endless void. Four more small black pillars, similar to the large towers from the outside sit at the corners of the room. At the center of the room is an altar, upon which rests....the Voidheart. Esmau is floating above the altar.

She initially looks angry and perhaps....just a little anxious that you got past the barrier. Then, a grin slowly comes to her face.]

I get it...I understand!

[Her body snaps to the ground, landing on her feet. She rips her glaive out and spins it in her hand.]

This is a test...my test!

Come on! Show me what you've got!

PLAYER ACTION

[voidhearts]

[cosplayed_out]

Target... located.

[now that Tsumugi is aware guns hurt when you fire them, she takes her cosplay rifle and snugly fits it under her shoulder before using cosplay weapon on... one of the pillars.]

[survivaltricks]

[well! if that's how it's gonna be. . .!]

[Akira is born and bred for swift DPS roles, so when Esmau lands. . . he doesn't hesitate. he darts forward, aiming to breach her immediate defenses, for a melee attack. it's not his magic, but-- trying to elbow Esmau in the face with a Gravity Strike and then follow up same with a Quick Strike feels right!!]

Re: PLAYER ACTION

[velluminous]

Test? You wish to be tested?

[

she'll try to wait for openings amid Akira's melee blows, but nonetheless, Sprezzatura's hurling Harmony-attuned Magic Missile after Magic Missile after Magic Missile at Esmau. let's proc that Node of Repurposing for no other reason than to proc Node of Balance and Psyshock her! ]

Then... begin!

[messianic]

[ oh.

It's time to do this, is it?

Minato's pretty used to stepping back and keeping an eye on his allies as they get to work, and this is no different--Tsumugi goes for a pillar, Akira goes straight for Esmau, and so does Sprezzatura.

... Well! Minato will go ahead and aim for another of the pillars, the one closest to him, with Balmung. Balance! ]

[voidhearts]

[Nell activates Vanishing Step to turn invisible while everybody else attacks from the front.]

[voidhearts]

[Tsumugi's rifle shots strike one of the pillars, leaving some scratches and missing chunks, but otherwise leaving it undamaged. It also doesn't seem to have affected Esmau at all.

Minato and Akira's melee attacks as well as Sprezzatura's projectile spells all strike Esmau....and do all of nothing. It's exactly like when Caesar fought her in the workshop - the attacks hit, but do no damage.]