04 - A vacancy for a meatshield is open~

[drakenguard]

Who: Yamato and YOU
Where: Taurus Ward
Summary: Yamato feels like he is The Only Sane Man and he is so sick of scorpions. So sick of them.
Warnings: Er, fight scenes, maybe some cussing.

Somehow in the span of a few days the entire population of Hinoto-Ri had gone insane

It left Yamato feeling a bit wrong-footed really, because everything was devolving as quickly as it had back home. Although there was no void devouring the entirety of world, or aliens invading, there was still the raw panic of people mindlessly reacting to a dangerous situation. Some were screaming in hysterics, some were downright psychotic and violent - and now, on top of all that, strange scorpion like creatures had morphed out of nothingness, vicious and deadly with snapping claws and poisonous stings.

Also Yamato's demon, Arioch, was being difficult with him, enough so that he simply didn't bother summoning him any more. It was just him and Remiel now.

Perhaps it had been a mistake to go out when all of this chaos was unfolding, but Yamato was no the kind to cower or hide when shit went down. So he had strolled out into this insanity, determined to get to the bottom of it...

And somehow ended up getting in skirmishes, retreating and fighting, all the way to the Taurus Ward. Hiding back in his room was sounding more and more appealing with each passing second, especially as he and Remiel were both low on energy - both physical and spiritual. Remiel could only use their physical energy to replenish their spiritual for so long before it began to be more of a liability than anything of use.

So now, to put this tl;dr log to an end, have a somewhat exhausted Yamato and Remiel resting under a protruding eave of what could be a strip club for all he cared. The entrance was closed, and the interior quiet - it was still the middle of the day, after all, despite the nightmarish insanity going on.

Comments

[meaningdies]

Shit. He followed after the other, not caring that Behemoth couldn't go after them. This was personal now, and he had an obligation to kick Yamato's ass.

The scorpions swarmed ahead of him, after Yamato. Naoya himself had rolled up his sleeves, too frustrated to even rely on Personas or demons anymore. He'd do this the old fashioned way.

[drakenguard]

As the powerful fire spell slammed into one of the crazed Persona users, Yamato hurriedly summoned his Persona, Kali, and knocked back another advancing man with Skull Cleave. He still wasn't quite used to using his Persona - he always ended up using his own magic and demons - but he had no time to be picky right now.

The air smelled of ozone suddenly, and Yamato barely had time to react before a bolt of lightning crashed down towards him. Remiel hurriedly shielded him, the angel able to resist lightning attacks, but being already exhausted and strained - that last powerful bolt made the angel evaporate into scattering magnetite with an echoing cry.

Yamato's phone beeped. Remiel's dead. Crap.

[drakenguard]

Yamato wasn't familiar with this area - it was the Red Light District so of course he wouldn't go near it with a hundred foot barge pole - but he didn't have time to stop and consider which alleyways to take. For all he knew he could be charging towards a dead end.

The scorpions were fast, but Yamato managed to stay ahead of them by a few metres, Remiel lashing out with the occasional Holy Dance to maintain that distance.

Sadly, Yamato's fears came true. They stumbled out into a wide alleyway, only to turn and see a tall, towering brick wall. He cursed and turned to see its other side was blocked - a chain link fence with barbed wire. His Persona can cut through tha-

He didn't get the chance. The scorpions finally swarmed, and Yamato had to quickly turn his attention on them, backing up towards the chain link fence while he and Remiel obliterated the scorpions moving towards him.

[drakenguard]

Yes, while Neku took a hands on approach, Yamato is going to lurk out of range. He honestly felt like he'd been smacked around with a sledgehammer, so the less physical fighting he had to do, the better.

Of course, that didn't mean he was going to let Neku fend for himself. As soon as the other darted out of the way of the stingers, Yamato delivered a powerful Judgement attack on the swarm. He only had enough energy to cast maybe two more Judgements before having to resort to using his Persona.

[poweryetunknown]

He cast a glance over at Yamato, and directed Narasimha over towards him to cast a Diarama. He returned to the scorpions, attempting to set some of them on fire. He could tell he was burning through his magic quickly, but he didn't have much of a choice.

One of the scorpions stung him in the leg and he stumbled back, trying to shake it out. He could tell there was some kind of poison, but he'd just have to muscle through it.

[meaningdies]

Naoya walked slowly towards them, his eyes gold and gleaming. The monstrous form of Garuda loomed behind him, as he stepped closer and closer.

He paused for a moment, and switched Personas, calling Coyote to his side. The Persona stared at Yamato, seeming to grin, before leaping forward to attack with an Arm Chopper.

[drakenguard]

Yamato only caught a glimpse of Coyote before he managed to call upon Kali. The dark-skinned, monstrous looking female Persona surged forwards with Skull Cracker, attempting to knock Coyote aside while Yamato attempted to try and think of a way out of this situation.

It didn't look good. Damn it! If only he had a demon with True Phantasm...!

[meaningdies]

Naoya snarled in pain, and raced forward himself. Fine. He'd do this with his own hands. But it wasn't Yamato he was aiming for - it was Remiel.

Coyote howled behind him, and Garuda raced forward towards Yamato.

[drakenguard]

Okay.

This was pretty shitty.

Thankfully, although Remiel was a demon, he was also an angel, and one very loyal to the Hotsuin family. Remiel surged forwards, wings spreading wide as if to shield Yamato from all of the enemies swarming towards them, and lashed out with a Holy Dance.

"Go, Hotsuin! I will hold them off!"

Yamato didn't really need to be told twice. While Remiel gave him precious seconds as a meatshield - and Yamato knew that Remiel would be cut down within a matter of seconds - Yamato summoned Kali and cut through the chain link fence, giving him enough space to wriggle through and stumble out into the street.

[drakenguard]

"Ugh..."

Yamato knew when a battle was futile. They were merely running themselves into the ground, and the enemies were endless. Although the scorpions were weak, Yamato could only fight off so many before they began to overwhelm him - which they were beginning to do right now. He barely had enough energy in him to toss his ally a quick Prayer to cure the impending poison.

"Enough! Let us quickly arrange a retreat!"

[meaningdies]

The scorpions flooded after Yamato, but Naoya and his demons focused on Remiel. He didn't care that he was in pain, and he didn't care that this was insanity.

It didn't matter.

He threw himself at the angel, reaching up to try to tear his wings off himself. He could not be allowed to live. No angel could, but this more than most others.

[poweryetunknown]

He hated retreating. It just seemed like a shitty way out.

But the other guy was right. There was no way they were going to win this one. Neku worked his way over to Yamato, doing his best to shield him. He could tell the other wasn't really a physical fighter - or at least if he was he was too exhausted to do it well.

"Let's move."

hope this isn't too belated?

[fools_journey]

It's been a crazy night, to say the least, and after getting separated from Saori and from other SEES members, Minato isn't quite sure how he wound up in Taurus. But really, it doesn't matter, because no matter where he goes there are scorpions to deal with - except finally here he finds a break in the swarms, and he takes advantage of to rest, as well, ducking under an eave only to realize that someone else already has that idea. More than one someone in fact.

Minato studies Yamato and Remiel for a moment or two before clearing his throat. "Ah... are you -- all right?"

Nope! Backtagging is A-Okay!

[drakenguard]

Yamato stiffened when another figure ducked beneath the eave they were resting under, and he watched them warily, Remiel shifting closer to him in a defensive manner. The stranger didn't appear to be one of the crazed ones...

"...fine. Just recuperating," Yamato replied after a pause, pushing himself away from the wall to settle himself into a firmer stance. "Who are you?"

Hurrah!

[fools_journey]

Minato noted the shift in the stance but he didn't do much with the information other than store it away. That this other young man and his winged companion seemed to be behaving with normal, understandable wariness was enough assurance for Minato to not immediately go on the defensive.

"Ah, my name is Minato Arisato. You?" He glances between both Yamato and Remiel, hoping it's clear he means both of them.

[drakenguard]

"Yamato Hotsuin," he returned. The angel remained quiet, and Yamato didn't offer his name up either. It was unimportant to know, really. "I assume you've been spending the night being chased by these ridiculous creatures as well?"

[drakenguard]

As Yamato fled, Remiel snarled when Naoya's hands clutched at one of his wings, magic pooling in his hands in preparation to, literally, blow Naoya's head off - at the last second, however, he vanished in a burst of energy.

He'd been dismissed.

Now that Yamato was out into wider ground, and had a clear escape route, he felt that leaving Remiel behind to be ripped apart was just foolishness. Best to keep him within his phone for now while he took it from here. So sorry, Naoya.

Although Yamato was beginning to seriously flag right now. He wasn't a long distance runner (especially in these boots), and as he ran from the horde of scorpions, he was beginning to get that sharp painful feeling one got in their lungs when they started to push themselves past their limit.

Ah, well, he only had to outrun these scorpions and go to recuperate someone secure for an hour or so. He can do that.

[drakenguard]

Yamato nodded, and after a brief scan of the area, found a clear route of escape just around the edge of the street. They would have to maintain a distance from the horde...

"Remiel," Yamato ordered pointedly, and the angel immediately lashed out with Holy Dance, sending the scorpions and a few of the crazed individuals skittering back.

And then they were off!

[greatseal]

That brought their total party down to two. Minako barely gives it a reaction, though. Instead she summons Quetzalcoatl. It was time to use the skill he'd recently learned. A golden glyph appeared beneath the feet of the closest Persona-user. Before he could react, it seared him with light, and he crumpled to the ground, instantly knocked out.

Hama and Mudo skills were annoying when the enemy had them, but they had their uses. She used the opening to call to Yamato, not taking her eyes off the other foes. "Are you all right?"

[poweryetunknown]

Neku directed Narasimha into another Maragi, and followed Yamato, keeping up relatively easily. He wasn't a huge long-distance person, but he kept himself in good shape.

... Which seemed more than he could say about the other guy.

[drakenguard]

"Fine!" Yamato called back, rapidly summoning Kali again to follow Minako's lead - he did not have a Hama skill, but he did have Mamudo. Although the percentage of it working was pretty low, there was still a chance one of the remaining four would take the hit.

Dark energy swarmed around the remaining four, and with a cry one collapsed onto the ground - the other three were unaffected.

That was fine. Three against two was more even.

[fools_journey]

After acknowledging Yamato's name with a nod, Minato nonetheless glanced at the angel expectantly. He was not exactly used to people being accompanied by angels or demons and did not know social protocols associated with that. But as the angel remained unintroduced, his eyes slid back to Yamato and he nodded. "Much of it. ... or dealing with those acting -- strangely."

[drakenguard]

Yamato let out a low, grunting noise. "Yes. At least whatever is making them act unusually is only effecting those of a certain quality."

Yamato didn't know what that quality was, but no one else seemed to be growing violent when coming into contact with the crazed infected, so whatever was causing it was no longer contagious, or only infected those of a certain type. It was interesting but...Yamato could ponder over it later.

"Which ward did you come from? Libra has been completely overrun." They did need to find a safe place, after all.

[fools_journey]

"Mm. At least."

A few days ago, Ideo had announced that they'd figured out it was affecting Scorpios, but without knowing what someone's birth sign was, it was... not particularly useful in isolating those affected.

"Pisces by way of Ares. The main problem in Pisces was the affected people more than the scorpions..."

[drakenguard]

"Same. Staying in areas where there were residency meant higher chances of encountering crazed Persona users..."

Which meant that if they wanted a good breather, they would have to find somewhere relatively deserted in terms of population - although that didn't solve the problem of the scorpions. Although weak, they were numerous, and quick to recover those numbers. It was like getting drowned in a zerg rush.

Yamato let out an irritable grunt. "Ridiculous. Everyone is scattered and it is almost impossible to amass a suitable defence against this attack. If this continues for more than a few days, I fear we will be destroyed."