Maribel Hearn Quest - ACT I: Part 2

[Monarda]

>"Well, unlike you i took care of her so that she wouldn't be hurt or arrested, because i love her, just admit you couldn't care less for us, you only want her because she is vital to your plan, whatever that plan is."

[Neovereign]

>We probably don't need to say the last part about her planning anything. She already told us about the destiny and stuff.
>"Just do what you have to quickly Renko. Don't falter. I don't want you to be gone..."

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>"Well, unlike you i took care of her so that she wouldn't be hurt or arrested, because i love her, just admit you couldn't care less for us, you only want her because she is vital to your plan, whatever that plan is."

>We probably don't need to say the last part about her planning anything. She already told us about the destiny and stuff.

>You omit the last part.
>"Well, I could care less about you, my child... This is Usami's destiny, after all..."

>"Just do what you have to quickly Renko. Don't falter. I don't want you to be gone..."

>"And you stay safe. I don't want you gone either..." Renko replies.

>"Well then, shall we get this over with?"
>_

[Neovereign]

>Hug Renko.
>Nod slowly when it ends.

[Monarda]

>"We won't have to meet again after all of this is done right ? We already have some things to clear up thanks to you."

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>Hug Renko.
>Nod slowly when it ends.

>You give Renko a tight embrace, before nodding at Sariel.

>"We won't have to meet again after all of this is done right ? We already have some things to clear up thanks to you."

>"Of course, we will not see each other again after the prophecy is fulfilled. Now, let's go, shall we?"
>You find yourself engulfed in a swirl of blackness...

>...

>"A-AAAAH!" Renko exclaims, before beginning to flail her arms about.
>You are now floating in a strange void, there are no striking features other than two, parallel, endless walls of some kind of reddish rock. In the distance you see what appear to be stars and nebulae, but they appear to be impossible to reach, however, there does seem to be something much closer, a swirling disc of dust funneling into a glowing center, it looks like you could reach it quickly, provided you figure out how to move here, as there is no ceiling or floor.

>Even though you are floating, you don't seem to be falling. In fact, the sensation feels similar to hovering, except without any action on your part.

>Sariel is in front of both of you, clutching her staff tightly as a group of five lights approach from the swirling mass.
>_

[Monarda]

>"Renko !"
>Try to will ourselves towards Renko like we do when trying to fly.
>If successful grab her hand.

[Neovereign]

>Try to fly over and hold Renko.
>"C-Calm down Renko. Remember, you just have to do one thing here, and we can leave. Where is the thing Sariel?"

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>"Renko !"
>Try to will ourselves towards Renko like we do when trying to fly.
>If successful grab her hand.

>Try to fly over and hold Renko.

>You will yourself to move towards Renko, and it works, albeit slowly. It seems to be much easier to move floating in this void than back in Gensokyo...
>You grab onto Renko's hand, and she calms down a bit.

>"C-Calm down Renko. Remember, you just have to do one thing here, and we can leave. Where is the thing Sariel?"

>"Y-Yeah... I think I'm OK..." Renko replies, "I just thought I was falling for a second..."

>Sariel does not respond as the lights reach the space in front of the group. They coalesce into the form of five silvery orbs, and a grey platform materializes out of nowhere below them. The orbs rest on pedestals protruding from the platform as what appears to be blood vessels connect them to the platform. The void is filled with an eerie sound akin to five hearts beating in unison.

>"WHY HAVE YOU DISTURBED US?" The orbs glow as a sinister voice rings out from them.
>"Oh, drop the act, Uriel. As if those you had assimilated have any real say in your decisions..."
>"Ah, Sariel, observant as ever... " All orbs but the central one dim, and the voice grows calmer, "...It's been a very long time..."
>"Indeed, it has..."
>"I suppose it was expected of you to appear at a time like this, when ultimate balance is mere minutes from being achieved... If you came to put a stop to it, then you are far too late..."
>"On the contrary, your plan hasn't been realized yet, so I do believe I am not too late to put a stop to it... Fufufufu~!"
>"And what are these two doing here? Are you so pathetic that you're relying on mere humans to provide support...? Well, I guess it doesn't matter. Your existence will end soon enough, be it by the ultimate balance, or by my own hand."

>A large amount of slots open up on the front of the platform.
>Sariel looks at Renko over her shoulder briefly, before flying towards the entity, something appears to be charging in her staff.
>_

[Neovereign]

>^{_{"That seems to be it... D-Don't think of it as a human when it's time. It sounds and looks demonic, and it wants to end us."}}

[Monarda]

>Check our surroundings, then have us and Renko move around the two archangels carefully.

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>^{_{"That seems to be it... D-Don't think of it as a human when it's time. It sounds and looks demonic, and it wants to end us."}}

>"^{_{I know... b-but I'm supposed to stab THAT!?!}}" Renko replies.

>Check our surroundings, then have us and Renko move around the two archangels carefully.

>Nothing has changed much, however, the swirling dust has gotten a little smaller in diameter. Sariel is still approaching Uriel as two of its orbs begin to light up.
>You begin moving yourself and Renko around the archangels in an attempt to circle behind Uriel.
>Suddenly, two spread-like shots of projectiles are fired at Sariel from the glowing orbs. There are a few stray ones heading towards you, but the gaps between them are significant. Dodging them should take almost no effort.
>Sariel weaves through the spreads and continues advancing.
>_

[Neovereign]

>_{^{"We just have to trust Sariel."}}
>Lead Renko through the gaps.

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>_{^{"We just have to trust Sariel."}}
>Lead Renko through the gaps.

>You lead Renko through the gaps as you continue circling.
>Sariel releases a barrage of lasers from her staff which impact the glowing spheres. The central sphere glows red begins firing a spiral pattern.

>More stray projectiles are heading your way. This wave will actually require some maneuvering to dodge, but the gaps are still rather large.
>Sariel takes a few hits to her wings but is otherwise fine.
>_

[Neovereign]

>Search for the gaps and head to them, making sure we're guarding Renko from being hit.

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>Search for the gaps and head to them, making sure we're guarding Renko from being hit.

>Putting yourself between Renko and the projectiles, you weave into the gaps.

>Uriel's last two orbs are now glowing, and seem to be firing semi-homing shots. Thankfully, nothing seems to be coming at you this time.
>You are almost behind the archangels now.
>_

[Neovereign]

>Continue stealthily.

[Monarda]

>Is there no sight of Sumireko ?

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>Continue stealthily.

>You continue until you are directly behind Uriel. The archangels are in a full on conflict now, and the noises of their projectiles echo throughout the void.
>A few of Sariel's lasers and shots are passing by, but none are on a collision course with you and Renko yet.

>Is there no sight of Sumireko ?

>You look around, but can't seem to find any sign of human life.
>You also notice that you are much closer to the swirling dust now. It's much smaller in diameter than before. However, you're close enough that you can make out something else in the center. It's orb-like, and some of it seems to be shimmering... Like a boundary...
>_

[Monarda]

>Hmmmm, get closer to it, paying mind to the danmaku coming towards us.
>Once we reach it, try to open said boundary.

[Neovereign]

>Okay, there's two decisions here. Open the boundary, or try to get Renko to stab the orb...

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>Hmmmm, get closer to it, paying mind to the danmaku coming towards us.

>You begin to approach the swirling dust.
>"H-Hey! Where are you going!?" Renko exclaims, "I thought the target was that way!"

>Okay, there's two decisions here. Open the boundary, or try to get Renko to stab the orb...

>You have two options, either investigate and possibly open this boundary, or stick with the original plan...
>_

[Monarda]

>But what if it's Sumireko ? We can't risk killing the person we are trying to save ! Let's try to open the boundary first maybe ?
>"I see something... like a border... let's investigate it, maybe it's Sumireko ?"

[Neovereign]

>Lets deal with the main target first. Sariel said the dagger could do it, so we have to trust her. If this fails, we could try the boundary, hopefully.
>_"Sorry" Head back to Renko. Nod.
>Though, Sariel did say Sumireko was in the "Incubation Phase..."
Edit: >Well, we either have Renko try to kill one of the five orbs which we'd have to guess is the main one and possibly have Renko endangered if it doesn't work out fully, or investigate the boundary.
>I guess we'll go with boundary.

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>"I see something... like a border... let's investigate it, maybe it's Sumireko ?"

>"Huh!? Do... Do you really think it could be her...?"

>Though, Sariel did say Sumireko was in the "Incubation Phase..."
>Well, we either have Renko try to kill one of the five orbs which we'd have to guess is the main one and possibly have Renko endangered if it doesn't work out fully, or investigate the boundary.
>I guess we'll go with boundary.

>But what if it's Sumireko ? We can't risk killing the person we are trying to save ! Let's try to open the boundary first maybe ?

>You decide investigating the boundary would be the better option here, as it seems to present the least risk to Renko and possibly Sumireko. However, you're unsure if Sariel would approve...
>_

[Neovereign]

>Why can't we do both? Have Renko try to kill it while we open the boundary.

[Monarda]

>"We could split up, i can investigate this, while you resume with the plan, but that is risky..."
>How is Sariel faring on the fight ? Does it look like she can hold some more time ?

[Neovereign]

>Not to mention it's diameter is getting smaller and smaller.

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>Why can't we do both? Have Renko try to kill it while we open the boundary.

>You consider splitting up. You could definitely do both by doing so, but that leaves Renko at risk...

>"We could split up, i can investigate this, while you resume with the plan, but that is risky..."

>"It does sound risky... I mean, I'd be willing to try it, if you want to go through with it..."

>How is Sariel faring on the fight ? Does it look like she can hold some more time ?

>You can't really get a good view from here, but you think she's taken a few hits. However, judging from the sounds of combat, she's still able to fight.

>Not to mention it's diameter is getting smaller and smaller.

>Regardless of which option you take, the diameter of the dust disc around the orb is shrinking. You are unsure about what would happen if it completely disappears.
>_

[Monarda]

>"Okay, give me some time to investigate, then we'll resume with the plan."
>Start trying to open the border.