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⬣//SPREAD, CONTAMINATE, ERADICATE
You've had a chance to adapt to your new circumstances and make peace with what your life has become… hopefully. If you haven't, don't expect life to get any easier.
A few things have changed in recent days. Healing no longer works as effectively as it did in the past. If you're in the habit of behaving recklessly, don't expect one of Fragment's few healers to pick up the slack. Broken bones will now remain broken no matter how many healing spells are cast on your shattered limbs. Damage to organs can't be repaired with the wave of a wand.
What's more, HP and SP restoring items have gotten harder and harder to come by. Potions are no longer available for purchase at generic NPC shops and gatherable items needed for crafting have become fewer and fewer in number, limiting your item making options. If you've gotten into the bad habit of injuring yourself heedless of the consequences, it's time to rethink your lifestyle. Playtime is over.
Think of the three core memories that have formed and shaped the person you are today. Some will think back fondly on family and friends while others have been jaded by the ill treatment they've received from important figures in their lives. In any case, it's of little concern to you now. One of those three precious memories has vacated your mind, taking with it a vital piece of you that you can no longer get back.
You may choose one of the three key memories listed on your application to be taken away from your character. Choices are limited to the memories supplied in your application and additional memories submitted for the previous memshare event or not eligible for convenient plot-induced memory loss. Choose wisely, because you aren't getting it back.
And Sky Fish, and Disco Knives, and Evil Armors…
Has anyone noticed the monsters around town lately? Which town, you may ask? The answer is all of them.
Monsters have invaded Root Towns in large waves, attacking anything and everything in sight. Any lovingly crafted signs or other furnishings you've erected around town are easily torn to shreds and destroyed by the monsters who have come to roost in your once safe Root Towns. On the plus side, PvE and PvP has now been enabled in all Root Towns, which is excellent news for those who wish to combat the monster invasion and those who can't seem to help hurting themselves and others.
These monsters range in level from 50 to 75, and while many of them can be defeated with a bit of ingenuity and teamwork, some of them boast impenetrable shields that no regular attacks or spells can break through. They are also immune to status/potion/armor effects.
When in doubt, turn to your fellow players for support. There may be some among you who know how to deal with these impossibly strong monsters, but there's no guarantee that they'll want to help you.
A lilting, boyish voice sings to you in your sleep. His voice sounds familiar to you, tickling your heart like a call from an old friend, but this is no friend of yours.
"You had every chance to abandon this world and return to your own. What stopped you? Was it ego? Hubris? In any case, it's too late for regrets now.
They say the world is what you make of it. Doesn't the same hold true for reality?"
The voice will periodically visit you and your sleep, but the moral of his message never changes: you did this to yourself. You were trapped here because you chose to look the other way. If anyone is to blame for the current situation, it's you and you alone, but there is a̸̬̲͔̘͈͚̠̫̘̬̗̖̋͑̉̓̿͛̈́̋͐̃̾̈̕̕ͅń̵̩̱̠̫̖̬̲̻͉̝̈́̀̀̚͜͜o̴͍͎̣͔̤̝̲͍̺̿̒t̴̨͚͓͍̜̮̥͊͑̿̈́̉̂̐͜͠͝h̷̨̨̦͕͖̙̞͙̗̗͎̬͛̂̾̋̅͜͜͝ȩ̸͎̭̙̜̯͎̯̳̮̘̲͒ȑ̸̡̧̢͓̠̦͙͇͍͎̭͑̈́̓̿̓̅̑̅̌͑̈́̕͝͝ ̴̧̼͕̟̬̰̞̮̗͔͈̬̙͍̈́̀w̵̗̖̩̘͇͖̲̩̫̣̗̙̲̌͜a̷̛͎͋͑̃͛̆̈̋̑̋͠y̴̡̬͕͈̗̫̯̟̯͊͐̌̀̐͑͘͝͝.
Another h̶̦̘̤̘͐͑̿̂̏̎͋͝o̴̧͖͚̖̜͓͂̏́͒̑̈́͝͝p̶̡͙̏̉̿̎̀̑́̈̆͌̉e̷̡̡̦̣̯̘̺͍̟̰͍̤͛̀́̚͝͠. Will you heed that voice and call to it?
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Hien reaches out towards the grimoire and tries to close it shut. He has such a dead look on his face. He refuses. He absolutely refuses to be captive in this chair and be subjected to this torment-- ]
NSFW btw (not safe for anyone, actually)
"'--No, we have to go deeper!' Sensei shouted, chasing Shinji-kun down the tunnel of his love. Between his hard cock and the slab of the counter Shinji felt like his body would reach past the limit of what was scientifically possible. Could their hypothesis be proven? Could this be the secret to immortality?--"
[Matoba stops mid-paragraph and frowns as one of Hien's grabbing hands reaches in front of his face, and slaps it away.] Stop that. I am trying to read.
:smiling_face_with_tear:
[ He's still trying to shove his hand into his face. Stop this, heathen!! ]
stillllll nsfw
[Stop! Stop that!! Matoba's eye narrows and he snatches Hien's hand with the one not holding the grimoire, determinedly pressing his lips together as he squints back at the book--]
"With their love rocketing through the cosmos at light-speed--" Ah, I thought he was a chemistry teacher...? "--Shinji's seed soared through the air, causing a splatter across Harada-sensei's glasses like microbes under a microscope. Behind them, the older man's eyes twinkled, seeing the moment that their bodies mingled at their peak. Truly, love was a power that science could never fully comprehend."
Goodness. Shinji-kun should get that checked out. [Matoba chuckles and finally snaps his grimoire shut- unlike Shinji-kun and Harada-sensei, Hien's body is reaching peak desperation and rage beneath him, but Matoba is nothing but cheer and satisfaction.]
I've finally done it!! Well, Hien-kun? How do you feel, with your little quest being completed at last?
nsfw.... text i guess
Terrible. We are never having sex again.
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[He pouts for a moment, glancing down at the cover of his grimoire thoughtfully; Harada-sensei and Shinji-kun's wobbly-eyed faces stare back up at him, as if equally offended.]
So, where is my reward?
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You're supposed to read it to the NPC. Not me.
[ Kill him. ]
Your reward was that godforsaken weapon skin.
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[Matoba is sulking now. What the hell?? The stupid skin was the reward the whole time???? Then what was even the point of going back to read the book to them!]
[In a huff, he finally rolls up from Hien's lap and adjusts his suitjacket from all the fuss of slapping hands away.]
CyberConnect should make the text of its questlines more clear in the future. Not that it matters now.
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[ They both know that it's no longer possible, but he says it for the hell of it anyway. ]
Here.
[ He gives him a quick kiss on the lips. ]
Your reward, since otherwise, you wouldn't have any.
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[He blinks once, openly, and then lets a private smile replace the surprise.]
I suppose that's better than nothing, [He agrees, satisfaction warming his glance back towards Hien.] Well? Have I sufficiently primed you to kill, then?
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...
Whatever. He's here to enjoy their little dungeon date. ]
You say that like I need any priming at all.
[ Better put that chair back, Matoba. Sky Fish start to appear from very tiny ponds, jumping into the air to try and pierce them like swordfish. Hien quickly casts a speed buff on Matoba, twirls the staff and home runs one of the Sky Fish that gets too close. ]
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[Giving in to selfish desires, perhaps. Showing affection. Being open.]
[Matoba laughs again, this time less innocent and more amused, but it's affectionate.] Yes, yes. Go on then, little attack doggy. Show us what you're made of.
[And as the Sky Fish approach, Matoba opens his grimoire again- not to read, thank god- and conjures up a PhaRue Zot, putting his element to use with a powerful deluge of water that gushes up from their ponds and turns against them, soaking the flying fish.]
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To follow up with Matoba's spell, Hien casts MeRai Don, an AoE Thunder spell that rides the current from the pond to the Sky Fish, frying it to death.
But careful, there might be small shock residue near your feet, Matoba. ]
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[If this is "proper", Matoba thinks Hien needs a bit of training....... Anyway, the idea was probably sound, a good mix of magics in theory, but the residual shocks running along the ground freeze Matoba in place suddenly with a muted grunt, which makes him a prime target for the remainders of the Sky Fish to go diving at.]
[Better do something about that before he becomes fish food, Hien.]
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But that's what why he sucks so much at it, when he only had to think about himself and no one else.
But he can regret later. Hien casts HP and SP regen on both of them just in case, and an additional speed buff to himself. When the Sky Fish ends up being extremely close to Matoba, Hien swings his staff in a horizontal line to make them back off even just slightly and casts the usual AoE leaf tornado spell. He's very careful about not letting it hit Matoba this time, also because he's standing in front of him.
Mmmm sashimi. ]
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...A little warning, next time, [Exasperated, but easily forgotten. Matoba closes his grimoire again, the enemies dispatched until they reach the forested gates of the shrine dungeon ahead of them. For now, the sweet meadow grasses were still warm and calm, aside from the bits of dead fish now littered everywhere... That's gonna start to smell.]
[Reaching out, Matoba flicks a stray bit of fish from Hien's shroud, fixing him up.] Leave the magic DPS to me, and just keep me topped off while you swing that thing around, hm?
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But. ]
I thought you wanted to see me kill stuff.
[ That's probably what "swing that thing around" means, but Matoba is a very strong Shadow Warlock. There would probably be nothing left.
...
Hien realizes that he actually has to play the support role now. ]
... Fine. I hope you can impress me.
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[(You know, unless they're actually fighting mano-a-mano.) And yeah, Hien, he wants to watch you brutalize things!! Don't go getting cold feet on him, now...]
[Matoba turns and starts back on the path towards the shrine, leading the way.]
Have I not been impressive in the past? [He glances over shoulder.] Was I so boring as an opponent in the Arena?
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No. I liked it.
[ Which is as good of a compliment that he'd give anybody, really. Hien looks ahead and sees the lucky animal. Honestly, he kinda wants to see Matoba chase and kick it... so he looks over at him. ]
That's a good kind, by the way. Go on, show me how fast you can be.
[ He'll even refresh Matoba's speed buff--there, he casts it on him. ]
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...No, not yet.
[He turns back to Hien with a grin.]
Hien-kun, do you have any spells that will track an enemy? Perhaps we should keep an eye on our cute little friend until we're ready to make use of it.
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[ But he can do something else, which is coding in a floating bubble around the lucky animal and making it follow them in the air. Problem solved? Probably? The poor thing looks so alarmed though. ]
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[Oh, well. They're gonna have to abuse it later, anyway.]
... Well then! Into the dungeon, shall we?
[This is fine. Matoba approaches the stone steps into the shrine.] This brings me back... I grew up in the mountains where shrines like this were plentiful. I used to hang out around them quite often.
I think I saw spirits once or twice, even. Maybe I have some sort of power? [He grins.]
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[ Hien looks around, quietly following Matoba into the shrine. He's seen this place enough times to know what's where, so that's why he's letting Matoba lead. ]
What do you usually do in places like this? Play hide and seek?
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[The trees grew over the steps, which it seems led first to a landing with a few small enshrined rocks and trees swathed in shimenawa. It's here that the Mad Grasses come to life, trying to swarm them at the knees.]
[Matoba readies a GiVak Kruz to set them aflame.]
Haha, who knows? I didn't have any friends.
[Fwoom.]
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... Well, you said you were there, so you must have some idea of what you did around them, even if you were on your own.
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