hadriel_logs | Event Log: End of Arc 2

Entry tags:

Event Log: End of Arc 2

Who: All characters
What: The event log for the End of Arc 2
Where: All over the city
When: November 25th-December 12th
Warnings: A full-scale battle, including character death, NPC death, and various other ways to suffer

It was bound to happen. The Null warned you, after all, and this has been building for awhile - and now it's here. First comes the initial attack, the agents of the Null attacking Hope's temple. Then, an SOS, warning the city of what's happened: a betrayal, and Hope being injured. Luckily for everyone, thanks to the actions of his guards Hope survives the attack. Unluckily, his attacker, the goddess Delight, escapes and lets the Null in.

Flooding into the cave, the Null will attack anyone who they believe is resisting them. They'll destroy buildings and deploy dangerous crowd control weapons, in addition to their sheer strength and speed. Confusion empties the monsters in the tunnels into the city, to help distract the Null. Some gods fight, others provide safe havens, but everyone is in danger.

After about a week and a half of the attack, Fear summons enough power to teleport the city. This stops any new Null from arriving through the tunnels, but the remaining Null must be hunted down and destroyed, or else they'll signal their location to the rest of their species. The danger will lessen as Null are taken out, but things won't really be safe until Fear moves the city again, so don't get too comfortable.

What will you do? Run and hide? Fight? Help the fighters? Turn on the gods yourself? Whatever you do, it's time to make a decision.

► This log covers November 25th-December 12th.
► Feel free to make your own logs, as well
► Please tag headers of threads with content warnings where they apply
► Please put your character's name and open/closed in the subject line of your starters!
► If you get taken out by the Null, please let us know here.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[he'll explain later when they're not knee-deep in Null. A little trip to the shadow realm, is it?

Law looks sharply around at the change in scenery, and is tempted to reach out and touch it, but it seems far enough away that his fingertips wouldn't do anything. The aura tingles a bit in his inner sense, but it's hard to say whether this is dangerous at all.

But hey, Atem is still here, so...]

What is this? Where are we?

A Shadow Game — nothing will interrupt your rest here.

「Now rest! ... Only it doesn't work that way.」

As I said you have exactly twenty minutes— 「As he speaks, a giant hourglass appears in front of Law, the golden sand starts falling, already counting the seconds.」 —Do not take any grain more or less than that, Law, you'd lose the game.

[yeah all right fine. Yes mom. Law eyes the hourglass, then Atem, then the bubble, and finally decides to sit his ass down like he needs to. He even rests the sword on the ground next to him, emptying his hands for the first time in hours. He sits hunched, resting his elbows on his knees, letting his hands dangle in front of him and lowering his head with a deep sigh. The problem with resting is that everything he's shut out thanks to staying active and alert can finally come crashing into his psyche.

He wasn't able to stop a god from dying. Or two friends. He would have thought himself immune to the pulse of sorrow but in that brief moment, he was plunged into the deep grief of losing Corazon all over again and nearly lost himself in it. But he recovered far more quickly than the paralyzed Null, which was how he could even get off that mega-strike that cleaved most of their enemies into bits. He tries not to think about it, now, but it's hard to block that out of his mind.

For long minutes on end he's completely silent. Much like when he let Atem hang out at his place and they prepared their respective weapons, it's just dead quiet except for the slip of sand in the hourglass. Law wants to ask all about this shadow game, but he's so damn tired.]

「True to his word, Atem keeps himself busy, silent, trying his best not to utter a sound and interrupt Law's rest, no even with all the damage that the God might be receiving, he can take it, he must take it, but that is not relevant right now. The pirate's got but brief minutes to recover and every second counts. The same goes for him. The calm (even if terribly overwhelming) environment helps him somehow too, the blinding rage from earlier starts leaving him little by little, and he focuses better at guiding Obelisk to protect Hope's temple from the attack, something he didn't think he would be doing... But they need him, Gilbert needs that second(?) chance and if Hope is not there to bring him back, they are all are going to be doomed and Atem is never going to forgive himself for it. He already has too many regrets of his own to add everyone else's.

The closer the sand clock gets to the end, Atem starts feeling his mind slipping a little, his ba reaching its limit once again. Obelisk, of the three gods has shown to be incredibly demanding — the Pharaoh can't avoid a little smirk, no wonder why destiny chose Kaiba to be his master for a while.」

Edited 2017-12-01 05:18 (UTC)

[when he looks up to find there's only a little bit of sand left, Law shifts his gaze to Atem's back.]

How are you holding up?

[there's a pragmatic concern behind the question - every fighter still standing is a resource not to be squandered - but it's not the only reason he asks.]

Hope's temple is still standing.

「That's not what he asked. But the strain in his voice is evident.」

Get ready, Law. Touch the sand clock when it is time.

[Yeah he guessed as much.]

You're using it too much. You need to take a break, too.

[it's easy for him to say, always criticising others behind their backs for overusing their powers and then going and damaging his lifespan overusing his. We're all hypocrites here.

It's close, so Law gets up, taking up his sword again and squaring his shoulders. He's almost hyper-aware of the last few grains tinkling against the glass, lifting his hand and touching it right on time.]

「Hypocrite Land, Murdercave... this is it.

Using too much of it, he says, Atem scoffs.」

Hah... At least I haven't brought myself to an useless state.

「Yet.

Upon touching the hourglass, it glows and disappears. Atem shifts his focus from Obelisk and into what's going on in the little bubble. The darkness starts to lift, color and sounds and mayhem come back slowly.」

Go.

[yeah yeah yet is right, Atem.

As soon as the sensation of movement presses on his haki once again, Law darts off toward it, casting a Room as he goes. Obelisk is partly inside it but he's okay, he'll be fine. The Null? Not so much.]

Mes!

[straight up to the first humanoid one he sees, Law doesn't waste any time and just plunges his hand straight into its gut and out pops a processor instead of a heart. The robots swarm on him as soon as he's in the middle of them but he just keeps going, Mes after Mes, flinging processors over his shoulder into a pile and leaving the Null confused as fuck as to how they're still standing when their precious robo-parts are scattering on the ground. Of course, they're now completely vulnerable to be crushed, stepped on (Obelisk?), or pierced, as Law does to one near his heel even as he's pulling another free.]

「One of these days Atem will not be marveled at Law's powers, but today is not that day. Just seeing his friend fight against the Null with all he's got, is elating, it gives Atem a little boost to go on, to fight with him instead than by himself.」

God Hand Crusher!

「In one mighty and totally reckless attack, Obelisk's fist falls on the processors that Law had been so kind to put at his disposition. They explode at the contact of the aura from the attack and others are crushed under the oppressing force of the giant. And Law? Huh, hopefully he didn't get caught in that onslaught.」

[that's the nice thing about haki, he can anticipate that movement even if he can't sense a life in the thing making it. It's still a pretty close call, the gust of wind from Obelisk's fist knocks his hat flying. Law hates losing his hat, but there's no time to go retrieve it just now. Null bodies clatter to the ground all around them, exposing which ones in the melee still have their processors. They're next, and it's far faster to pull out another huge slash to open them up and expose where their hearts are in order to grab, stab, and crush.]

Don't stop until they're all dead!

[is he encouraging Atem or himself? Law's on a rampage, though this wave is already thinning out and, for once, there doesn't seem to be another batch right behind them. Have thy finally gotten the upper hand?]

「It doesn't truly matter who he is encouraging, Atem doesn't need it, but it helps. Law had been doing a wonderful job by himself, but together? They seemed unstoppable. Atem's had brief but powerful moments of cooperation during this war, a reminder of why he's fighting for, of why he's putting his life on the line again, even after all this time. There is no doubt in his mind now, he was brought here for this, to protect his friends!

The current Null seem scattered, defending and trying to find a way around to their main target, they are obviously failing at it, and it doesn't take them too long to put two and two together. Atem's apparition coinciding with Obelisk's. They communicate between themselves, and decide to take a different approach in lights of the lack of results they've had so far.

Atem is, of course, the weakest link in this small group. Obelisk is big, imposing and powerful, but he's not as fast as he would like. Small and incredibly fast Null pass by him and by Law — by trying to distract him with one of their own biggest ones — and, ready to target the smallest human instead.

A handful of these small Null approach to the young man, but they halt suddenly a couple of meters away from him. It's the power of the Eye what stops them, paralyzing them before they reach him.」

O-Obelisk--!

「His call is desperate, he cannot hold them for too long, his mind and soul are absolutely exhausted. His focus starts wavering, and he cannot find the strength to sustain Obelisk and protect himself at the same time, the God fades with a pitiful holler.」

Atem-ya!

[that is definitely not a good sign. Like fading haki or a weakened ability. But rather than lecture, Law simply acts, twisting and then flicking his wrist even while he's bringing his sword up in a slash at nothing. But then, he's just suddenly there, swapping out one of the smaller Null for himself so that the slash now has a target - the other Null next to their comrade who happens to have just disappeared and reappeared twenty feet away, in the path of the laser cutter that had been aimed at Law.

He bisects them all in one swoosh and then rushes the last few steps, not even thinking whether the Eye would pin him down as a threat as well. All Law can think to do is put his back to Atem and guard him in case he stumbles.]

...time for you to get out of here.

「No.

Or that's what he'd love to say, to refute and say he wants to fight that he wants to do more! But he really can't, especially because he does stumble and falls on one knee after the effort. This body, it limits him greatly, but, he is being a nuisance now, isn't he? Law needs to focus on himself not on him, so he nods, not that the pirate might see him.」

Hah... I guess I overdid it...

「He did what he could, for today.」

Yeah, well. It's not like you're the only one.

[for the moment he brings down the Room, conserving his energy for what is about to come. Every second counts. Law glances back to see just what kind of state the youngster is in, and then drops to a crouch.]

I'll need both hands, so grab on. Climb up if you can but just hang onto me at the very least.

[they're going for a ride!]

「He's tired not dead! Pass the terrible strain he put himself through, Atem does stand, quickly as he possibly can, following Law's orders he grabs onto him. It's fortunate that he's very light and small, he tries not to compromise the pirate's movement.」

[Just don't choke him and everything will be fine...

As soon as he's sure Atem has a good hold on him, Law brings up the Room again, this time bigger - it strains him, but he doesn't show it except for a little extra sweat on his neck. The first Shambles brings them behind the line of haphazardly-cut Null, and then he keeps going, swapping them for any object in his line of sight in order to make short jumps across the ground. Bit by bit he gets them to the ruined spire nearest the coliseum, since Hope's temple is definitely not the refuge it should be now. Now and then as they reach a spot beset by Null Law attacks as he lands, never remaining in a spot for more then three seconds before grabbing another object and Shambling away to the next spot. It's a particularly draining move but extremely effective in terms of escape, and all things considered they're not going far.]

「Wow, the trust is showing!

Atem holds the best way he can and trusts Law blindly to take them both to safety, not even looking the path he might be taking and resting his head against the pirate for the moment, surely he knows the city much better than Atem ever will and he wouldn't even be able to follow through the Shambles.

When he finally takes a peek, he's amazed at how quickly they got away. And the further they get, the more Atem worries about Law's own safety — he hasn't forgotten what he told him about how he's burning years off his life.」

[the ruined spire might not be great for housing but it makes a damn fine shelter at a time like this, Law believes the Null are ignoring it because it's already ruined so what value is it to their victims? He finally lets himself stop there, closing his fist and extinguishing the Room in time to drop to one knee again, breathing hard.]

There. Maybe we both can rest, now.

[even though it chafes at him not to still be at Hope's temple. The brunt of this attack is still falling there, or will until Fear can do his thing. Ah, shit, and he forgot his hat! It's still back there with all the Null they crushed...]

「Upon Law crouching, Atem lets go of him and leans over to check on him instead.」

Law, I'm sorry. I dragged you down.

What? No. It's fine. [IT'S FINE everything's fine.

Really, though. He looks back, face set determinedly.]

You're a lot lighter than the last guy I had to carry like that. It's not your fault - it's nobody's fault.

[except the Null's, maybe. He'll blame even needing to escape on them. Surely, two people using their powers to their limits are not at all at fault. He reaches up and awkwardly scuffs a hand through his hair, which is considerably flattened and floofed from being trapped under that hat for so long.]

I guess not.

「That much he can agree. Atem just looks at Law, still worried but, well, at least they are away from the Null, for now, and he can take a few minutes for himself. Meanwhile he takes a mental note at the lack of the hat and how awkwardly the pirate acts because of it, then he sits right on the spot, welcoming the steadiness over how jumpy that escape had been.」

How many do I owe you now?

I'm not keeping track. [a lot, though.] It's too much work to hold anyone to that kind of debt.

[he takes a quick peek out a crack in the wall above head-height to make sure they've got some time and then sits as well, knees drawn up and arms resting on them]

I don't know how much longer this can go on. We're going to kill ourselves from exhaustion before the Null get us at this rate.

If you say so.

「He owes him anyway, like forever? Yeah, that's a good estimate.」

I wouldn't be surprised if that's what they want at this point. We are but an obstacle to what they truly want.

「But every war was like that, weren't they? A waiting game until one of the parties would give in, or break, whatever came first.」

With this... betrayal, it makes me wonder who might be behind these Null creatures. Did they create themselves? Why would they have a negative reaction to emotions, it means they know what they are, that they feel them somehow. That they are not only machines...

「He saw them stop, being rendered useless when that sorrowful wave hit after all... Everybody saw. And Atem might be talking to himself out of tiredness, trying to keep himself aware. He runs a hand through his face, tiredly. Great, he's giving himself a headache.」

Sorry, I... 「Will shut up now.」

[Law nods vaguely - he's been so busy fighting that he hasn't had time to stop and think, but now's as good a time as any to let actual thoughts catch up.]

There's a lot we don't know about them. But, I don't feel anything from them - I can't sense them with haki like I can any other living creature. So if they can experience emotion, it isn't with flesh like the rest of us.

The real problem is...not knowing how many of them there really are. They keep coming, no matter how many we disable. Is Fear the one we ought to be defending, instead of Hope? He's the one who got us out of here before...

[also rambling, not filling in the gaps between sentences with the logic that strings them together. Also, not sure if Delight's betrayal means they need to kill her in order to sever any link that draws the Null here...]

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