Magical Lotus - Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 4

[Oldmansour]

>We may not have gotten off to this battle on the right foot, but we'll just have to make up for that.
>How solid is this cage of lightning? Does it seem to have gaps we could aim through? Do we think Amber Lotus might be able to disrupt it?

>There are gaps in its appearance, yes. But when your Scarlet Lotus and Lily's Petals struck the shield, you saw bolts pop harmlessly against empty spots in the shield. Between that, and the sense you get from it, you believe the shield to be solid and complete. The gaps appear to be cosmetic, essentially.
>You've never tried to use Amber Lotus on something that seems to be defensive in nature. But it could still work.

>Can we theoretically think of some way our power could counter her air buffets? Some way to 'still' the wind and instill calmness and tranquility in it?
>Or, thinking larger, remove the air from some area instead? Conjure a sphere of vacuum in which there is no wind to manipulate?

>Not with your present techniques. And a new one would present the problem of pitting your power directly against Air's. And that's a battle you're fairly sure you can't win.
>You're not sure if your power allows you to create voids like that. Your power is too bright, too linked to the essence of life and creation to generate Nothing, for want of a better word.
>But if you wanted to try, you imagine you could very well generate areas of stillness. At least one such zone. A place of tranquility, removed from the chaos and strife attached to those who would do harm to others. But, you realize, this would affect you and your allies as well. Your own offensive powers would be blunted while standing inside such a zone. By its nature, that's the only way it could exist.

[DracoOmega]

>Do we think we could selectively activate those zones to muffle incoming area attacks and then dispel them to react, or would creating them take too much time and energy for this?
>Would they affect only what is presently inside the field, or what is created inside the field and later moves outside (or vice versa), or both?

[Oldmansour]

>Do we think we could selectively activate those zones to muffle incoming area attacks and then dispel them to react, or would creating them take too much time and energy for this?
>Would they affect only what is presently inside the field, or what is created inside the field and later moves outside (or vice versa), or both?

>Tranquility can't be rushed. There would be at least a short casting time, though you imagine they could be dismissed more easily. Peace is much more easily lost than found.
>Clarify.

[DracoOmega]

>Let's assume that we are standing inside the field, throwing an attack at Air, while Air (standing outside the field) is throwing an attack INTO the field. Will the field weaken Air's attack once the attack itself enters the field, even though Air herself is not inside it? Will our own attack still be weakened once it passes OUTSIDE the field, even if we were standing inside it when we created it?
>And if an attack is created from outside the field, then passes through it and out the other side, will it regain the strength that it lost while inside the field once it exits, or will passing through permanently muffle it, even if it emerges again?

[Oldmansour]

>Let's assume that we are standing inside the field, throwing an attack at Air, while Air (standing outside the field) is throwing an attack INTO the field. Will the field weaken Air's attack once the attack itself enters the field, even though Air herself is not inside it? Will our own attack still be weakened once it passes OUTSIDE the field, even if we were standing inside it when we created it?

>Yes, to both questions.

>And if an attack is created from outside the field, then passes through it and out the other side, will it regain the strength that it lost while inside the field once it exits, or will passing through permanently muffle it, even if it emerges again?

>You are fairly sure that, should an externally launched projectile pass through your zone of tranquility, its power and velocity will remain affected by it, unless acted upon by an outside force.

[DracoOmega]

>To our allies: I'm going to try and disrupt her shield with Amber Lotus. Launch your attacks immediately afterward, and perhaps we will catch her before she realizes there is need to avoid them.
>Hit that shield with an Amber Lotus, and put some proverbial muscle into it!

[Oldmansour]

>To our allies: I'm going to try and disrupt her shield with Amber Lotus. Launch your attacks immediately afterward, and perhaps we will catch her before she realizes there is need to avoid them.
>Hit that shield with an Amber Lotus, and put some proverbial muscle into it!

>Receiving acknowledgements from your companions, you give your scepter a twirl and unleash Amber Lotus upon the Air Champion. This time, though, the orange-yellow light that emerges from your scepter is not a thin beam but a rather meaty one, crashing against Elis's shield in a flash of light. There is no immediate effect on the electricity, but as you pour on the power, one line of lightning warps out of its circle and starts to wind its way down your Amber Lotus back at you.

[DracoOmega]

>Are we doing that - pulling part of the field apart - or is that the lightning fighting back against us and traveling down towards us?
>Does that seem to be opening any kind of gap in the field that might be exploitable?

[Oldmansour]

>Are we doing that - pulling part of the field apart - or is that the lightning fighting back against us and traveling down towards us?
>Does that seem to be opening any kind of gap in the field that might be exploitable?

>Seems to be more the latter.
>None that you can detect.

[DracoOmega]

>See if we can pour even more power into this. We have to get that shield down.
>But if the lightning seems to be winding inexorably closer to us despite this, abandon the attack before it gets too close and get the heck out of the way.

[Oldmansour]

>See if we can pour even more power into this. We have to get that shield down.
>But if the lightning seems to be winding inexorably closer to us despite this, abandon the attack before it gets too close and get the heck out of the way.

>It is winding most inexorably, and very quickly, so you opt for self preservation and disengage the Amber Lotus. The lightning traveling down your attack does not dissipate, though. It detonates in a spectacular flash of electricity and deafening noise.
>In an incredible display of reflex and agility, White Rose interposes herself between you and the expanding ball of lightning, taking the brunt of the blast as she is thrown back into you so hard, it takes nearly all of your strength to keep the both of you on your feet.

[DracoOmega]

>Are you okay?!
>Is it too much to hope for that that attack expended Air's shield in any fashion?
>Do we feel that our Amber Lotus was ultimately the wrong tool for the job, or was it just a matter of power differential?

[Oldmansour]

>Are you okay?!
>Is it too much to hope for that that attack expended Air's shield in any fashion?

>Sparks dancing across her arms and shoulders, White Rose manages a groan but nothing else. She may be momentarily disabled by the blast.
>A glance up shows that Elis's shield is, in fact, down. But that may be because she is redirecting that electricity towards Lily. Your blonde ally's shield absorbs some of the lightning, but not all of it. Some of Air's power bleeds through Lily's leaf shield, and she screams as she is electrocted, tumbling from the sky, her hair and wings smoking from the lightning strike.

>Do we feel that our Amber Lotus was ultimately the wrong tool for the job, or was it just a matter of power differential?

>Possibly both.

[DracoOmega]

>If Elis isn't looking, then fire back! Maybe there's an outside chance we can catch her with a scarlet lotus before she raises her defenses again.

[Oldmansour]

>If Elis isn't looking, then fire back! Maybe there's an outside chance we can catch her with a scarlet lotus before she raises her defenses again.

>Shifting your scepter around White Rose, you fire off a second Scarlet Lotus at the enemy in the sky, hoping to take advantage of the opportunity Lily's pain has bought you. And are rewarded by seeing your blasts strike home. White and Red bullets smash into the Air Champion, who holds her arm across her face to protect that part of herself, put otherwise takes no defensive action. Over the sound of your attacks, you hear her say, "Merely a whisper in the wind..."

[DracoOmega]

>So it's... not even really hurting her?
>Do we have any better ideas? Sudden bursts of inspiration?

[Oldmansour]

>So it's... not even really hurting her?
>Do we have any better ideas? Sudden bursts of inspiration?

>Potentially it is. She just may be very good at concealing it. You know from past experience that she doesn't lack in bravado, whatever about anything else.
>Joining your attacks with your partners served you well against the Ice Champion. There's no reason to think the same tactic won't be effective against Air. Presuming she gives you the opportunity.

[DracoOmega]

>Let's see if we can put a little more juice into it, regardless. Let the pain of the dear woman in our arms who took that shot for us, the pain of our friends, and of all those who will suffer if Air is not stopped drive us. We must protect them.

>Even if a tranquility field would subdue any offensive ability launched from inside it, would it inhibit gathering power for one? So that we could have a moment's breathing room to charge, then dispel the field to fire?

[Oldmansour]

>Even if a tranquility field would subdue any offensive ability launched from inside it, would it inhibit gathering power for one? So that we could have a moment's breathing room to charge, then dispel the field to fire?

>Using peace to prepare for war seems like a contradiction in intent. On the other hand, it's also very human, and you are many things, but among them is human. You suspect that that could work. Though you would definitely have to dispel the field before you fired, or the effort would be wasted.

>Let's see if we can put a little more juice into it, regardless. Let the pain of the dear woman in our arms who took that shot for us, the pain of our friends, and of all those who will suffer if Air is not stopped drive us. We must protect them.

>Twice as many blasts erupt from your scepter, flying twice as fast as a normal barrage as you summon up your anger and use it to fuel your attack. And this time, you do have a visible effect on the demon. She waves her arm that had been held in front of her and surrounds herself with another barrier, not of electricity this time, but one of visible wind. Even your intensified barrage deflects off the windscreen. But at least she seems to be on the defensive again.
>Again White Rose groans, pulling herself together. That really hurt. she says silently.

[DracoOmega]

>Are the three of us close enough to fit inside one tranquility field? If not, can we shift to position ourselves so that we are?
>Would it be possible to speak with Elis while creating the field, or would we need too much focused concentration to do so?

[Oldmansour]

>Are the three of us close enough to fit inside one tranquility field? If not, can we shift to position ourselves so that we are?
>Would it be possible to speak with Elis while creating the field, or would we need too much focused concentration to do so?

>A glance behind you shows that Lily managed to right herself before she hit the ground. She currently is hovering above the field behind the daycare, which is divided by a wooded fence. Either you would need to make the field rather large, or you'll have to call her to you. You can't imagine getting you and Rin over that fence before Elis attacks you again.
>Speech would be possible under those circumstances.

[DracoOmega]

>To Rin: I'm so sorry....

>Lily, get closer to us.
>Let's work on creating that field, only just large enough to allow some modest mobility for the three of us without spreading our power too thin
>While we start to work, call out to Elis: "I saw you at the shrine the other night, you know. You were looking for your avatar, weren't you? I tried to help you."

[Oldmansour]

>To Rin: I'm so sorry....

>Lily, get closer to us.
>Let's work on creating that field, only just large enough to allow some modest mobility for the three of us without spreading our power too thin
>While we start to work, call out to Elis: "I saw you at the shrine the other night, you know. You were looking for your avatar, weren't you? I tried to help you."

>The kasha shakes her head as she presses her hand against her temple. It is only then that you notice her ears. Blood trickles from both of them. That thunderclap from the exploding electricity may have damaged her eardrums. A fresh wave of anger blossoms within you at that sight.
>Immediately, Lily makes a dive for your position as you raise your scepter over your head. The field of peace that you wish to invoke fails to materialize. Right away, you sense that the rage you feel at seeing Rin wounded is preventing you from utilizing your power in the manner you intend now. With some considerable effort, you bring your emotions back under control, and as you do so, a pale golden light emerges from the tip of your scepter, stopping several feet over head and spreading out, creating a dome around you with a twelve foot diameter.
>"Pretty." Lily says quietly as she touches down, giving you a better look at your blonde ally. Elis's lightning has left her clothes damaged and blackened, her hair burned and some of her feathers charred. It seems you're the only one who has thus far escaped serious damage.

>"Well you're not helping me now, are you." the Air Champion shouts back. "All you're doing is getting yourself hurt and wasting my time."

[DracoOmega]

>"No, you're hurting us, just as you've willfully harmed so many others, and that is why I oppose you. These women you've injured are precious to me, as are those who sit beside your 'avatar' even now. I cannot stand aside and let you hurt them or anyone else. It doesn't have to be this way! I would only want to help you if you did not seek to harm others."

>If we are going to have any chance of breaching her defenses and stopping her, we need to combine our powers and give it everything we have. This field is a shelter, but it will waste our power if we fire before I cancel it. Take my hand and gather your strength with me.
>Let's pool our power together and try to form one big attack that can bypass even Air's shields. Think of all those who lie in Elis' path if we do not stop her here.

[Oldmansour]

>"No, you're hurting us, just as you've willfully harmed so many others, and that is why I oppose you. These women you've injured are precious to me, as are those who sit beside your 'avatar' even now. I cannot stand aside and let you hurt them or anyone else. It doesn't have to be this way! I would only want to help you if you did not seek to harm others."

>If we are going to have any chance of breaching her defenses and stopping her, we need to combine our powers and give it everything we have. This field is a shelter, but it will waste our power if we fire before I cancel it. Take my hand and gather your strength with me.
>Let's pool our power together and try to form one big attack that can bypass even Air's shields. Think of all those who lie in Elis' path if we do not stop her here.

>"You attacked me." Air points out. Then she seems to pause. "Hang on. If you think I'm going to blast away at anyone that gets between me and my other half, that's only if they get in my way, like you are. I don't want to hurt anyone, not if I don't have to."
>Yeah, right. Lily remarks telepathically as she takes your hand, while White Rose takes your other. I really hope this works. she continues as your powers flow. She's really strong.

[DracoOmega]

>"Then what about last night? When you said flatly that you wanted to inflict suffering on the peoples of this world, even if you didn't have to? Even when there were nothing to gain by doing so."
>Keep gathering that power

[Oldmansour]

>"Then what about last night? When you said flatly that you wanted to inflict suffering on the peoples of this world, even if you didn't have to? Even when there were nothing to gain by doing so."
>Keep gathering that power

>"The past doesn't matter." Elis replies derisively. "Right now matters. And right now, I have to get to my other half. That's all that matter to me now."

[DracoOmega]

>"And what of after that? Will that be the end to the willful harm you've sought to inflict?"

[Oldmansour]

>"And what of after that? Will that be the end to the willful harm you've sought to inflict?"

>"That's not up to me."

[DracoOmega]

>"What... do you mean?"