FINAL INVESTIGATION

[umbralant]

FINAL INVESTIGATION

Time continues to pass. And before long, it's the end of the week once again. Maybe it feels strange to call it that when there's such little sense of time besides the changing phases of the moon, and maybe the exact day doesn't even matter to you anymore. But regardless of the day, regardless of the month, regardless of the year, one thing is certain:

The time for preparations is over.

Because as the moon in the sky shines blood red, it becomes clear that all of the fog and the tremors were nothing but omens for what was to come.

And so, on Friday morning, Survivors will find themselves waking up to the sensation of energy practically buzzing through the air, prickling and tingling on skin like static electricity. Those who venture outside will also find that the fog that's creeped up in the recent days has been dispelled entirely, which includes the impassable kind that once hid a number of the buildings. Despite this, the tremors themselves do not lessen, and in fact, the earth itself seems to be vibrating with this energy as well.

The feeling will only get worse as the day progresses, and those who have been marked by the manifestations may feel more restless than normal.

The clock is ticking and there are some new areas to explore. No one's coming to save you, so there's nothing to do but to save yourselves, right?

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[umbralant]

[Let's see what's in schematic number two!

Well at least this one is far more recognizable: it's a lamppost. There aren't even any labels, but they show components going underneath the pavement.

Hm? Something is written on the back of the schematic:

"It’s remarkable how well these worked. Hyoubu, Lysithea, Suzaku, Shin, Zangetsu, Ulquiorra, Ignis, Ango, and Shiro went far beyond the expectations I had placed on them. Everyone else was in the range I had expected, and only a couple people have underperformed."]

[reanbeans]

[ It sure was. He'll note it anyway.

Rean's lips curled into a deep frown, as to be expected upon the Lady being all smug about her plans working out, which resulted in people being dead.

He'll move ontoward the next schematic. ]

[umbralant]

[The last schematic is...a little bit strange in that it may take a bit of examination to realize what it is. Its size is another detail.

It's an electrical grid. Judging by the size, this spans the entirety of Krakow.

There are all sorts of devices and batteries placed all over it. Circuits, loops of pipings, everything is carefully planned here. The center of the circuit seems to dip down into what seems to be an underground complex: the crypts.

Hm!

That's all over here, Rean. You're done with this stuff!

Nothing to do but move on with Dazai and Raven down the tunnel]

[reanbeans]

[ It was.

...

If the lampposts were connected to under the pavement, though, and then when they used their po—he took in a sharp breath. Let's not go there right now.

He'll go to fetch Dazai. ]

...I think we're ready to proceed down the tunnel. How about you?

[deadlygoals]

[ He's going to grab the papers, while looking at the cube things one last time.

Then head over to Rean. ]

I'm ready. I found four cubes with names on them and papers.

[ It's not sitting right with him, especially since Dist's name was there.

Time to head down the tunnel then. ]

[umbralant]

[The tunnel goes on for just a little while longer, until in the distance they see a large door below a stone arch. Judging by the look of everything here, these have been here for a very long time. Even though the crypts are really dark, this here...it's far more illuminated. Flashes of light happen every few seconds, visible through the cracks on the wall and the arch, so strong they illuminate the tunnel. It feels like static is filling the air.

There seems to be something written on the stone arch.

Come closer to examine the arch?]

[reanbeans]

...You did? I'm curious, but I think that can probably wait until later.

[ The flashes of light were enough to get Rean to glance around as they walked - it sure created a weird kind of setting as they walked.

...Annnd that sure was a stone arch.

Rean stepped closer. What's written on this thing? ]

[deadlygoals]

[ Definitely a weird feeling seeing it. Squinting at the cracks for a moment before scanning around. Is there anything else to check out in here or should we all look at the arch? ]

[umbralant]

[It's very hard to look at the cracks. It's just too bright inside, to the point it's almost painful.

Looks like the arch is the only thing that's safe right now. You three entering right now may be...deadly.

The arch has an inscription:

“Those who are insatiable for knowledge peer into the Abyss”

“Foolhardy, reckless ones who would risk their vessel to be reborn as a God.”
“The beast inside you will be unleashed, and devour your self.”


This is it. You have reached the end of the road. You'll want to wait for the rest before entering. Everything here is spelling final boss.

May the good luck be with you tomorrow]

AREA CLEAR

[umbralant]

.

[reanbeans]

[ ......

Hm. Bad. ]

[raventhaw]

[ WELL THAT'S FINE.

raven looks over her two other comrades ("comrades") and puts her hands on her hips, standing in front of the arch. she then looks back at it and sighs. ]

We really are at the end, aren't we.

[deadlygoals]

[ He's lingering at the words a little longer. ]

This is probably what it meant about the moon and the false you.

[ Mumbling the words as he curls a hand by his chin. And then a beat before he pulls out the 4/4 paper he found earlier. Just going to offer it over for her to see. ]

The Lady certainly thinks so.

[ It just has two words:

I win ]

[raventhaw]

[ dammit. that's...not good. raven narrows her eyes at the note before she hands it back to dazai. ]

No. She hasn't won yet.

[deadlygoals]

She's arrogant, which will work in our favor.

[ A beat. ]

I also found strange cubes with people's names. There's four of the- [ A pause. ]

I think they are the four she decided on. The ones she wants to send to her own world to the younger version of herself.

[raventhaw]

[ ....... ]

And who, exactly, are on that cubes?

[deadlygoals]

Shin, Ango, Noelle, and Dist.

[ The Lady can have Shin tbh but... ]

There's some kind of liquid in them. I don't know if I want to try to break them open or if...

[ Or if he's going to be pissed at finding parts of Ango inside. ]

We should try take them with us.

[raventhaw]

[ and ango. but she won't say that because this is dazai. she'll at least be considerate about it.

when he suggests opening it, though, raven is quick to say: ]

Don't.

[ she shakes her head. ]

Save it for when we're back with the others. Take them with us, just don't tamper with them.

[deadlygoals]

They are heavy. We might need to take a couple trips.

[raventhaw]

We can manage it with nine of us here.

[reanbeans]

...Yeah, we are.

[ Rean was feeling so many emotions right now. But right now chief of them was a mix of determination and unease.

But that was probably to be expected. ]

It looks like the Lady worked much more harder than I anticipated. And the implications of what we found are...worrisome. But I'm not surprised about that.

[raventhaw]

This is all very thorough and calculated. She had plans for us -- more than we could've anticipated.

[ and god, does she hate it. ]

But just as I told Dazai, she hasn't won yet. Not when we've started figuring this all out.

[reanbeans]

[ Rean nodded.

The situation kept on getting worse, but...he couldn't say that he'd lose his hope. That'd remain until the end. ]

Even if she's sure that we have nothing to counter her with, I'm sure we'll be able to find something, once all the pieces come together...

[ ...Goddess, he wondered how desperate he sounded right now. ]

[raventhaw]

Let's hope that the others were as thorough as we were.

[ because if they missed anything, they'd better start praying. ]

[reanbeans]

[ Indeed, but...

Rean's expression shifted, to something less desperate. More soft. It's probably one that was familiar to both people right in this room right now. ]

...I believe in them, Raven. And it's not without cause.

Iago's an extremely capable tactician, Rideaux is obscenely thorough, Mikami is extremely diligent, Erik undeterred and attentive, Seteth observant and cautious, and Cumore immensely unrelenting.

There's too much riding on us for anyone in our group to be so careless now. And with those qualities the rest of us have put together with our own...I can't help but think they'd make sure that no stone was unturned.