The Soul Still Burns, Part Two

[dontrunawayfromliving]

Who: Sarah and OPEN
When: 13th Hour
Summary: Still hunting, but now there's a reason.
Warnings: Same as before.

A few days after the rescue team returns, Sarah sends out another broadcast. This time, it's from the Knight's Academy, where she stores her God Arc - which has undergone a transformation. Instead of a loose grouping of mechanical parts with no set theme, it now looks...almost organic, blood dripping down the length of the blade.

"Greetings. Those of you familiar with my God Arc might notice how she's changed - this is what happened after she ate all those Susano'o last week. I took the parts she didn't eat over to M.A.G.I. and they're pretty confident that with enough materials they'll be able to make more God Arcs. I'll be heading out into the city during the 13th Hour tonight to bring back more of the raw materials. I'd appreciate it if I could get some backup again."

With a courteous nod, she shuts off the COMP and prepares to head out. That night, during the 13th Hour, she can be found battling titanic creatures all over the city.

Comments

[dontrunawayfromliving]

"Any interest in some field work? Might help figure things out if you see how they're intended to be used."

[empiricalpride]

A moment's pause, thought:

"Perhaps I could observe, at least."

[dontrunawayfromliving]

"I was under the assumption that would be the case, yes. You work at the MAGI labs, after all."

[empiricalpride]

"You are correct. Very well: where should I come to?"

[dontrunawayfromliving]

"Knight Academy in Aquarius district."

[empiricalpride]

"Very well."

And when the time comes, there'll be a shield-wielding scientist - although out of that lab coat for once - heading over.

[dontrunawayfromliving]

Sarah's waiting outside, God Arc held to the side. Judging from how...juicy the scene is, she's been waiting outside for a while - long enough, at least, for the blood dripping from her God Arc to get basically everywhere.

"Greetings."

[empiricalpride]

"Good evening." He nods back, and simply raises an eyebrow - he's seen plenty of mess in the laboratory, sure, but this isn't something that's entirely in his range of experience.
"Its own or that of enemies?"

[dontrunawayfromliving]

"...it's, uh...I'm not sure where it comes from, honestly. Database is pretty clear she'll keep doing this until the next upgrade."

[empiricalpride]

Well, that's new. "...Interesting. Do you have a guide to how its development will progress, then?"

[dontrunawayfromliving]

A nod.

"The next stage of development, she'll be haunted by the screaming spirits of the dead. With the final upgrade, she'll subsume them and theoretically achieve full sapience."

[empiricalpride]

"Screaming spirits. I'll admit, I hadn't heard of that as a power source before." He hardly seems bothered by it, though. As for the rest? Not the first time he's run across the concept of a weapon with a mind of its own, after all...

[dontrunawayfromliving]

Before Sarah can quite reply, there's a massive thudding sound as a titanic monster hoves into view, looming over nearby buildings. Sarah regards it coolly.

"Deusphage Amaterasu, a mutation of Ouroboros. It's vulnerable to lightning if you feel like assisting, but I should be able to handle it."

Strength scan

[empiricalpride]

"Pleasant creature, isn't it?" he says, dryly.

Lightning - well, a Thunder spell would be an option, but he's going to investigate briefly if his more natural skills would affect it. "A scan, please, Daedalus?" he asks his Persona.

Result: Nulls Fire

[dontrunawayfromliving]

"There are worse."

Sarah shifts over to Gun Mode before leaping into the air, pointing her Arc at the monster. At the height of her jump, she seems to regain her footing and jumps a second time before discharging a rolling line of electricity at the Aragami.

[empiricalpride]

"I can believe as much." Ah, that skill? He's heard of it, never seen it used in that manner - but enough of that. For his own part, he stands back and launches a cluster of icy blasts in the thing's direction.

[dontrunawayfromliving]

Sarah lands perfectly on her feet, without even a slight wobble, immediately breaking into a run towards the Amaterasu, blasting as she goes. It doesn't particularly react to the ice Even is firing off, however, and Sarah takes a second to call back to him.

"Resists ice effects!"

As she says that, the Aragami rises on both hind legs before jumping forward a bit, sending out a small shockwave that sends the God Eater flying backwards.

[empiricalpride]

Hmph. It would have helped if that had come up in the scan.

"Do you know if it resists anything else, before I waste my energy further?" he calls back to her, going into a low hover to dodge the shockwave.

[dontrunawayfromliving]

Sarah leverages herself up from where she'd fallen with one hand, shaking her head to clear away the dizziness.

"Resists light, ice, and fire. The breasts and skirt are heavily armored; don't bother aiming there. Horns, statue, and front tentacles are susceptible to shattering."

A blue glow outlines her as she summons Fenrir.

"Zionga!"

[empiricalpride]

Very well, then. He can work with that.

"Your assistance, then, Pygmalion!" A moment as his other Persona emerges, and - "Terra Punch!"

Hopefully this should do a bit more damage, as fists of stone slam towards the statue.

[dontrunawayfromliving]

The Aragami, already reeling from the Zionga spell, is knocked flat by the Terra Punch, the statue sprouting out of its face shattering.

Sarah throws another Zionga at it.

[empiricalpride]

Good, good! Keeping the pressure up, he launches an Earth Dance while the thing is struggling. Staying well back out of it himself, of course, but isn't that what a Persona's for?

[dontrunawayfromliving]

Distance is, sadly, rendered obsolete by the Aragami's Flare Caller attack - twin orbs of floating fire discharging thick beams of flame directly at the duo. As Sarah instantly shifts her Arc over to Shield Mode, there's a strange sort of hissing sound as the blood weeping from within it is instantly converted into a strange red steam.

[empiricalpride]

Flames? He's struck frozen on the spot for a moment, staring, before he can lift his shield into place - for all the good that an ice elemental shield might do against a flaming blast. He pulls closer to Sarah to try and get what benefit he can from her own shield, not caring about the steaming blood - he'd take it over fire any day.

[dontrunawayfromliving]

Sarah glances over at Even, does some quick calculations, and drops her shield. She immediately spins around, fire scorching into her back as she does so, before slamming her shield back up - in front of Even, taking the combined brunt of both of the blasts in his place.