KAIJU FIGHT #5

[synfluxmods]

KAIJU FIGHT #5

CONTENT WARNINGS: cult-like symbols and implications, brainwashing.

▶ 001. LORD OF THE FOREST.

Throughout the days leading up until October 15th, the captives will be forced down to the dungeons for their “punishments” to be doled out. All of the punishments seem to be completed methodically, almost as if the followers of the Lord of the Forest had centuries of experience. While no explanation is given, it becomes clear that the sacrificial ritual has begun. While the Outsiders may not be privy to what this entails, there is one rule that will be have made clear to them: once the ritual begins, it can no longer be stopped. However, there is still a sliver of hope. On the morning of the 15th, a small message will have been pushed out by LILITH. While they haven't completely reestablished their connection to the network, they are able to get something out.

█ █ █ MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEET
NAME:
HEIGHT: Ư̴͚͈̓͊̅͐́̇͛̂͌̏͠Ņ̷̧͕̣̦͉̟̣̽̽̌̓̈́͒̈́́̔̊̚͜͝K̷̗͖̜̟̮̬̜̳̍̈́̽͝Ǹ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̹̆̃
WEIGHT: Ư̴͚͈̓͊̅͐́̇͛̂͌̏͠Ņ̷̧͕̣̦͉̟̣̽̽̌̓̈́͒̈́́̔̊̚͜͝K̷̗͖̜̟̮̬̜̳̍̈́̽͝Ǹ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̹̆̃
CLASS: Ư̴͚͈̓͊̅͐́̇͛̂͌̏͠Ņ̷̧͕̣̦͉̟̣̽̽̌̓̈́͒̈́́̔̊̚͜͝K̷̗͖̜̟̮̬̜̳̍̈́̽͝Ǹ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̹̆̃
LOCATION: BRAȘOV, TRANSYLVANIA.
ABILITIES: Ư̴͚͈̓͊̅͐́̇͛̂͌̏͠Ņ̷̧͕̣̦͉̟̣̽̽̌̓̈́͒̈́́̔̊̚͜͝K̷̗͖̜̟̮̬̜̳̍̈́̽͝Ǹ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̹̆̃
WEAKNESSES: SUNLIGHT, HOLǸ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̹̆̃Y REǸ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̹̆̃S, GK̷̗͖̜̟̮̬̜̳̍̈́̽͝Ǹ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̆̃
EXTRA NOTES:

It is an incredibly sparse message. It seems to be working with any information the ocular implants were able to detect in that second, and the information gets fed back in the form of a distorted debrief sheet. However, it does act as a sign that LILITH is still actively working on gaining access to their communication lines once more, and are tirelessly working to send help. With this sudden jolt of a message, they will feel an extremely heavy disturbance composed entirely of rift energy—it appears that whatever kaiju is dwelling here is able to effectively work with the rift in order to negate abilities. But perhaps the clues all strung together have already painted a similar picture as to what is to come, and to what to continue to expect.

Now that the sacrifices have all but been made, it is time for the Lord of the Forest to be summoned.

All captives who have been forcefully dragged, or psychologically drawn to the dungeons, will find themselves face-to-face with the Lord of the Forest, also known by their title of PRICOLICI. The creature is a bit difficult to make out due to its ability to shape-shift: at times mimicking a human wearing some sort mask in the form of a wolf’s skull, and at others, taking on a form of a monstrous wolf-like creature that awaits all Outsiders— those presently within the dungeon, and those that exist outside of it, ready to be lured in.

Or that should be the case, but The Lord of the Forest appears to be a kaiju unlike all others. While it is summoned for a brief period in which the Outsiders bear witness to its true form, it seems to disperse back into the rift soon afterwards, much like savoring each of its sacrifices in a temporary state of hibernation.

(Note: Details of the specific events that happened leading up until this point can be accessed on the kidnapped log. Please be advised that there are heavy trigger warnings for these topics.)

▶ 002. FIND THE CAPTIVES.

Due to their brief communication and joint efforts following the network post, it becomes clear that all signs point to Bran Castle as the place where the captives are being held. This becomes ever more apparent as the fog gradually begins to lift, and the outline of the castle can finally be seen from the distance of the forest’s perimeter.

If there were still any doubts surrounding Bran Castle as a place of interest, many of the villagers will instantly form large groups in order to stop Outsiders from heading towards the castle. They will spare no effort to achieve this. What initially starts off as peaceful dissuasion and psychological tactics, such as using the children to cling to the Outsiders leg and crocodile tears… quickly escalates to outright fighting with pitchforks and other makeshift weapons from the farm. Additionally, Outsiders who have purchased the poison dagger from LILITH will find that the “safety” on it is released, and they can be utilized on the locals with no need for additional clearance. It looks like the network wasn't the only thing affected by the spotty connection.

In this skirmish, the Outsiders trying to make their way to the castle will find that a handful of these villagers aren’t your run-of-the-mill farmers. They’re stronger, faster, and the Outsiders will discover that they have incredibly sharp teeth. They are vampires! Or, an entity that seems close enough to the ones of legends. They will not only be attempting to fight Outsiders off, but will also resort to biting them. If an Outsider is bitten, their bodies will feel almost feverish, as if an incredibly slow-acting poison has entered their bloodstream. But, being bitten by a villager does not guarantee one to be turned. While it is possible, it is a much lower chance.

Once Outsiders do make it to the castle, they will find that there will be several more attendants from the castle waiting for them at the gates, all prepared to fight tooth and nail to prevent their entry. It’s clear the objective becomes to break past them and find the dungeons below the castle!

▶ 003. THE DUNGEON OF CASTLE BRAN.

Following the pathways of the castle to the dungeons below will not be easy. All the attendants present seem to have been waiting for them behind every nook and cranny of the castle. Outsiders will be met with their fervent attempts to stop them. It is a matter of life or death for the attendants and like the villagers, they seem to have no issue with throwing their own necks out in order to preserve the sanctity of their ritual.

Outsiders will also find various areas in which wolfsbane will be in bloom. Unlike typical wolfsbane these seem particular potent and will make the air taste bitter, and cause tingles, nausea, and hypotension if exposed to for too long. It appears even the attendants avoid them to a degree.

For those who make it to the dungeons, they will find that it is a lot bigger than it appears on the surface. A lot of its structure seems to lead deep underground, suggesting that it may even extend further out from the perimeter of the castle itself. There is a certain smell to the place that cannot be masked, years of sacrifices evident in every inch of its walls. There are over hundreds of cells, some still holding skeletal remains, alongside other ancient looking items: an old book, a worn out doll, a bloodied servant’s apron—they all appear to be pieces from a past that was long forgotten.

The Outsiders will not get to explore easily, however. As soon as they make their way past the threshold where the cells are all lined out, they will feel a chill up their spine. It's almost as if eyes are watching them in the dark, and they are. If they look up, they will realize there are hundreds of bats with glistening teeth that are all lining the ceiling, all lying in wait. They are minions of the Lord of the Forest, and their supersonic screams can stun and cause momentary deafness.

To make matters worse, it is not just their sharp teeth that hurt on impact, but they have a keen thirst for blood similar to the villagers. Being bitten by one will cause the Outsider to potentially begin to lose control of themselves and will have an insatiable thirst for blood, even at the expense of their fellow teammates. Additionally, those who are bitten will find themselves moderately more susceptible to psychic brain washing, and may cause them to momentarily join the enemies side.

▶ 004. THE FINAL RESCUE.

While the battle has already started within the village and the castle, suddenly the familiar ping of their oculars will alert them to the following message from Yamakawa—

"Angels of LILITH, we have connection. Rescue your team mates no matter the cost!"

With the connection reestablished, the main objective of the mission becomes one thing: RESCUE. For Outsiders who may have still been left at the village, or engaged within their own horrors, they are all advised to head to the dungeons as soon as possible. The coordinates for the deepest cells are sent alongside directions, with a constant warning to avoid direct contact with the kaiju there. The kaiju has long been absorbing rift energy and LILITH strongly advises against any attempts to engage with it until more information is known.

After half an hour, LILITH gives formal clearance to kill anyone interfering with the mission. Villagers, cult members, anyone. This includes Outsiders who may have temporarily been brainwashed, with the caveat of bringing back their bodies as they may be able to save them.

As they get further into the dungeons, they will find themselves susceptible to the side effects of rift poisoning. It is far more potent with each step, and will take laser focus to make one's way all the way to the last holding cells. There they will find the several of the castle’s most devout followers desperately calling out for The Lord of the Forest, as if summoning its presence.

…


…

…

… and The Lord of the Forest answers the cries of its followers. The initial part of this battle is difficult as the kaiju's abilities paired with the abnormalities of the rift result in weakening the powers of all living organisms around him, including the powers of the Outsiders. However, due to the phases of the moon, its abilities to nerf powers seem to have diminished slightly - they are able to use their abilities at a lower output, or at times they will find their abilities can cut in and out. After five to ten minutes of the Outsiders actually engaging the creature, they will find LILITH has effectively sealed the rift below the dungeons. It is far from perfectly done, but will allow the Outsiders the window of opportunity to use their all in their battle with the Lord of the Forest before backup arrives.

█ █ █ MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEET
NAME: PRICOLICI
HEIGHT: VARIES
WEIGHT: VARIES
CLASS: EXTREMELY DANGEROUS
LOCATION: BRAȘOV, TRANSYLVANIA
ABILITIES: SHAPESHIFTING, IMMORTALITY, NIGHT VISION, SUPER STRENGTH
WEAKNESSES: SUNLIGHT, HOLY RELICS, GARLIC, WOLFSBANE
EXTRA NOTES: This kaiju has a malicious intent to all humans besides those who praise it. It's said it will bless all of its followers abundantly on this Earth and grant them immortal life.

The battle against the PRICOLICI will not be made easy, especially as its weaknesses are not as straightforward to tap in as most elements. However, LILITH will provide utmost support for the Outsiders who want to try their hand at defeating it. While it was once believed to be immortal, perhaps due to the disconnection of the rift and the moon, it does seem weaker the longer the Outsiders engage with it. There are also pockets in which wolfsbane bloom in secret in the dungeon, and the PRICOLICI will evade these specific areas, as well as any places containing holy relics.

▶ 005. AFTERMATH.

The remaining villagers do their utmost in attempting to ground the LILITH medical cruiser, using cannons and other primitive weapons against it. Fortunately, they do not succeed. With the LILITH medical crew all present, they begin their work promptly. Outsiders can not only use the medical cruiser as a temporary base and resting point, but those with severe injuries are ushered in for emergency surgeries and other necessary procedures. Those who can heal are encouraged to take care of the ones with less major injuries in order to lighten the load on LILITH’s medical robots... and Dr. Spim, of course.

When the final battle finally winds down, several more mission objectives crop up. While no formal decision is pushed on the Outsiders this time, they are given several choices.

Although LILITH has permitted Outsiders to take their own stance in whether they want to kill those involved in the ritual, including the villagers, they do state the final request to spare the children, which they plan to bring back to Neo Tokyo. Those who do not wish to engage in the taking of lives will be encouraged to continue assisting and escorting any injured Outsiders. Finally, all Outsiders are tasked to take with them any goods that LILITH could benefit from, including any sources of food.

Once this has all been completed, they will all be encouraged to leave Transylvania behind.

Back at base, they are presently working on the cure for those who were bitten and turned. While the brainwashing element has been resolved through persuasion tech, it wasn't possible for them to fully reverse the other side effects. LILITH staff are requesting those affected to remain indoors until they figure out what they need in order to completely rid them of this ailment.

(Note: The above mission objectives in this section are all optional! Please remember that you only need to engage in the plots and ideas you are comfortable with. If you would prefer your character to leave early to take the others back to recover at base, that is completely fine. We want this to be flexible and for people to play with what inspires them. You are also free to come up with other ways your character can help during this time, as long as it does not break any game rules.)

▶ 006. AFTERWORD.

Welcome to fifth kaiju log!

Thanks to the Outsiders' efforts, they were able to engage with the kaiju in this fight. Due to them piecing the clues of the skulls helping to destroy the fog, they were able to gain access to Bran Castle. As they have also kept their suspicions of the villagers, some even including to sacrifice them, they were able to unearth them being associated with the cult, and able to uncover their involvement. Outsiders were also able to add wolfsbane as a weakness to the kaiju due to the messages exchanged between the kidnapped and non-kidnapped - and so this detail was also added into the log. We appreciate everyone’s engagement in this and hope you have fun with this outcome!

Feel free to NPC your characters' fights with the minions. The main fight with the largest one will be determined via a HP-based system (See below). Feel free to ask any other questions below! Additionally, we did clarify some questions in regards to vampires/general weaknesses here, as well!

For the vampire prompts, feel free to work with the setting in how you want your character to experience being turned, and potentially turning others. It was made vague to allow flexibility, so if you'd like to have your character just feed off of people without turning them, that works. If they want to turn all their friends, that is also 100% okay. Those who have been turned are welcome to play with that as they see fit. As mentioned, LILITH will be actively working on the cure, and this will be something revisited in the TDM, or on our quest board, so be on the lookout for that!

All tags on this log are worth 2 points and will count towards October AC.

EVENT BREAKDOWN/RECAP (CLICK TO EXPAND)

1. LORD OF THE FOREST: On the days leading up to the 15th, kidnapped characters are brought to the dungeons to receive their punishments. The punishments are administered in a way that suggests that the followers have many years of experience, and that they are all part of a sacrificial ritual to summon the Lord of the Forest; once the ritual begins, it can't be stopped. On the morning of the 15th, LILITH is able to send out a distorted monster debrief sheet that the captives will be able to briefly see before experiencing a heavy disturbance of rift energy. Captives in the dungeons will also be able to see the Lord of the Forest, but it will disperse back into the rift after being summoned.

2. FIND THE CAPTIVES: The Outsiders figure out that the captives are held in Bran Castle; the fog gradually lifts and the outline of the castle will be visible. The villagers will do everything they can to prevent the Outsiders from reaching the castle, from using the children to persuade them to stay to more violent means. Outsiders who have a poison dagger from LILITH are able to use it on the villagers without prior clearance due to the spotty connection. Vampires are among the villagers attacking the Outsiders; if they are bitten, their bodies will feel feverish. Once Outsiders reach the castle gates, they will have to break through the castle attendants to reach the dungeons.

3. THE DUNGEON OF CASTLE BRAN: Outsiders must fight through more attendants inside the castle as they make their way down to the dungeons. The layout of the dungeons is much bigger than it may seem on the surface—with over hundreds of cells, some of which still contain the remains and personal effects of previous villagers who have been sacrificed. Bats, minions of the Lord of the Forest, will attack the Outsiders and those who are bitten may begin to lose control of themselves with a thirst for blood. Bitten Outsiders may attack their teammates as a result, and may also be more susceptible to psychic brainwashing.

4. THE FINAL RESCUE: LILITH confirms the main mission objective of rescuing all the captives and gives formal clearance to kill anyone interfering with the mission, which includes any Outsiders who may have been temporarily brainwashed. The bodies of any fallen Outsiders must be brought back as LILITH may be able to restore them. Going deeper into the dungeons will cause side effects of rift poisoning to manifest. The Lord of the Forest appears to engage the Outsiders; its ability to weaken abilities is diminished slightly due to the phases of the moon. Five to ten minutes into the battle, LILITH seals off the rift below the dungeons, allowing Outsiders an opportunity to go all in on attacking the Lord of the Forest.

5. AFTERMATH: LILITH's medical crew arrives to begin treating injured Outsiders. Those who are able to heal or have medical experience are encouraged to treat Outsiders with minor injuries to lighten the load on LILITH's medical staff. Once the battle winds down, Outsiders are given several options on what to do next: kill the followers and the villagers, but sparing the children (who will be brought to Neo Tokyo); continue assisting and escorting any injured Outsiders to safety; taking any goods from the village that will benefit LILITH, including food sources. Once completed, Outsiders will leave Transylvania to embark on the journey back to Neo Tokyo.

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Comments

yuji itadori / everlight / ota

[eyescar]

▶ 001. FIND THE CAPTIVES.
 — cws: use of blood, violence, vampirism, references to self-harm.

[ One thing is immediately clear: Yuji is not doing well.

The exhaustion of the last handful of weeks of searching and trying to find both his brother, his senpai and his mentor has worn him down, and he looks pale, gaunt, completely different from the energetic and excited boy that Yuji normally is. He looks haunted, as if he's been the one kidnapped, as if he's been having nightmares - and maybe he is. Maybe this is all just another bad dream for him, and he might wake up with more blood on his hands and more violence to content with. Either way, he's not managing it in a way that could ever be described as healthy.

Nothing about this situation is going well, and his desperation to be reunited with the people he loves most is leaving him rushing into things before he can get himself into the position to even think.

What becomes quickly obvious about Yuji is that there is nothing he is holding back on, save actually killing any of the villagers. Nothing deters him right now, not even the clinging of the children he had been playing with to his feet, not the way that the villagers themselves come at him, and not even the way that there seems to be monster after monster chasing him down.

Vampires can't be that different from curses, he thinks, summoning his blood manipulation as he feels pokes and bites of wounds, reaching into bite at his own hand to draw more of his own - he tugs it out of him and throws it towards the more violent villagers, trying to shove them aside before he can get himself into too much trouble. Unfortunately, he's not as successful as he would wish to be: one of the creatures takes advantage of his tiredness, his distraction, the overwhelming use of blood and has fangs in his flesh before he can do anything to protect himself properly.

Yuji is not resistant to poisons anymore.

It seems as if the poison in his veins does very little to slow him down, despite the flush to his cheeks and the strange flickering of his eyes, and he keeps pushing forward, clapping his hands together to use his blood as a weapon, shouting out loud as he storms through, pushing through villager and Outsider alike. ]

Don't get the blood in your mouth! It could poison you!

[ Does he mean his, or theirs? Either way... ]

▶ 002. THE DUNGEON OF CASTLE BRAN.
 — cws: lots of references to blood, self-harm, blood manipulation and gore.

[ Storming the castle itself is no real issue for Yuji: this is the kind of thing he excels at, something he is good at. He can take a fight to a monster, he can use his fists and his blockheadedness to make sure that he's able to come out the other side, that he can take care of people. It's what he does, and what he has always done, no matter what- the risk to himself doesn't matter if it means he can do something to save lives.

Meeting with the bats causes him to stop, and he steps into to try and protect anyone that he can with fists that seem to move at inhuman speeds, his skin and clothes covered in blood as he tries to use his technique to fight. It's violent, and deadly, and he's sure, in hindsight, that it makes him look practically insane, but there's no way for him to focus on anything except getting to the people he loves. Not right now.

It's partway through his journey into the castle that something happens.

It's as if someone has electrocuted Yuji; mid-fight with one of the bats, using his fists to summon his cursed energy and hit them with as much power as he can physically muster, he stops short, his eyes widening and his head turning. The sight of him is ghastly, haunting, as if he's been possessed by some kind of spirit - or, more familiar to him, some kind of monster. It isn't like that, though, not anything quite as sinister: it's the sudden reforging of his connection with Choso, the flood of his pain, his hurt, his grief, the feeling of his entire body being flushed with the remnants of torture and angst.

The blood - leaking from Yuji's cuts, the self-inflicted wounds he had given himself to use his blood manipulation technique, bite marks across his palm and skin littered as if his own wellbeing is meaningless - seems to explode from his very being, a tidal wave of blood pulsing from his body as his connection with Choso reignites. It's as if, for a moment, he had lost complete control of his power, of his cursed energy, of the technique so brand new to him, and for a brief, pained moment...

It looks as if Yuji is crying blood. ]

Choso!

[ There's no real way to stop him now. Despite what looks like a life-threatening amount of blood loss, Yuji is moving, beginning to spring down the halls of the dungeon, refusing to stop for anyone or anything. ]

▶ 003a. THE FINAL RESCUE (CLOSED TO CHOSO AND NANAMI).
 — cws: references to torture, kidnapping, etc from the kidnapping log/prev logs.

[ Yuji isn't going to kill anyone.

That's never been the kind of person that he is, and there's something far more important to him right now. Fighting the monsters - the real monsters - is something for him to focus on, something to push him through the grief and angst of it all, and he does his best to focus on what is in front of him: finding the people that matter the most to him. He already knows that Gojo-sensei and Toji-san are going after Maki, and while he's desperately worried about her he has an advantage that the others don't: that bone deep, blood connection he shares with Choso, twinned with the tracker rings that are like a bright flare in the sky, have him pushing forward closer and closer to the people he had been so painfully worried about.

Feeling Choso's pain has done nothing to ease his worry, his hurt, and when he finally makes his way to the door of their room, when his hand finally presses palm-flat against the space and he kicks the door to their room in, barely noticing as it splinters into pieces, shoving himself into their space with sharp, ragged breaths.

Nothing could prepare him for what is in front of him, his hand lifting to cover his mouth, shakily looking between his brother and his mentor with horrified eyes. ] Aniki... Nanamin...

[ Immediately rushing forward, Yuji drops to his knees, skidding on the ground, refusing to look at the liquid around him, afraid to question it. His hands reach out to touch them both, and he chokes on his sob. ]

It's okay. I - It's - I found you. I'll get you out of here.

▶ 003b. THE FINAL RESCUE (ota).
 — cws: possible references to torture, kidnapping, etc from the kidnapping log/prev logs.

[ Anyone spotting Yuji during the fight might see him slip away, but not alone. In his arms, he's carrying a limp body, as if the older man is a princess, as if it doesn't cause Yuji any trouble whatsoever to lift someone taller and wider than him.

It doesn't. Nanami weighs less than a car.

After that, he's back into the fray without hesitation, chasing after the so called Lord of the Forest without pause. Even in his bullheadedness, he does his best to listen to the information that LILITH gives them, despite his lack of trust in them and his inability to put faith in anything they have to say.

What is most obvious about Yuji throughout the entire fight is that, despite being covered in blood, despite having his clothes torn to shreds, despite the tracks of his tears washing away lines of gore on his features, he doesn't stop. It's as if the only thing that matters to him is ensuring that they come out of this victorious, his anger thrumming through him and turning him into the violent weapon he was shaped to be, the sweet boy left behind with Nanami's mutilated body.

If it seems as if someone is struggling, or if they need help, he does pause in his relentless assault to step over, to reach out and offer them a hand, breathless, only hesitating to wipe the blood on his hands off onto his trouser legs to try and make it a little better.

Oops? ]

▶ 004. AFTERMATH.
 — cws: vampirism, reference to self-harm.

[ In the aftermath, there is a moment where Yuji seems to pause, finally.

It's hard to get him to move away from Nanami's body, difficult to get him to go too far from Choso, and his exhaustion seems to finally be getting to him - though, strangely, the huge amount of blood that he seemed to have lost throughout the body doesn't seem to be as much of an issue for him as the physical exertion of constantly throwing himself into the fight.

That doesn't mean it's impossible to drag him away, though he's quick to make sure that he remains in line of sight of Nanami, even when his hands shake, even when he has to look around, nervous and afraid; the threat of his loved ones being taken from him is still fresh on his mind. ]

Are you okay? Do you need me to heal you?

[ His own reverse cursed technique is doing something to ease some of his own wounds, self-inflicted or otherwise, but it's taking time. With how tired he is, even his almost unlimited reserve of stamina is going to take time, and he's never been quite as strong here as he has been in the past.

Later... Something else seems a little more different about Yuji. He seems less willing to smile at people, and he tries his best to angle himself away so that he doesn't show his teeth too much... Gentle prodding, especially from the people he knows and cares about, will get him to show his teeth, where two pinprick fangs are on display. Apparently, using blood and not caring too much about swallowing it or being bitten might have some rather unintended side effects. ]

It's fine. Don't worry about it.

002

[the_fourteenth]

[It's hard to keep track of where you are in this dungeon, larger and more labyrinthine down here than expected. Every turn, the Outsiders are met with bats, with cultists, vampires, even brainwashed Outsiders.

Raidou was trying to focus on finding the others with magic, his connection to Choso and Dan Heng stronger thanks to their summoner/demon bond, but it's hard for him to concentrate. The poison from vampire bites, the acrid air from wolfbane, and the nauseating rift effects all add up. Months of stress and anger had only been barely held back to this point, and have finally broken through. Back in the village, Raidou was only out to stop villagers, not kill them, vampires or not. The cultists are not so lucky in here.

As Yuji barrels down the hallway, he almost runs into this scene. Raidou, standing around the corpses of several cultists, drenched in blood that may may not be his. He deftly removed the heads of those showing signs of vampirism. He's about to advance down the hallway when he senses something headed his way, something of overwhelming power and speed. Raidou only has enough time to turn and drop into a sword-ready stance, his gaze cold and merciless, ready to strike at whatever it is coming his way next. Nothing else will come between him and saving his friends.]

[eyescar]

[ Yuji isn't thinking straight right now.

He's not sure when the last time he did think straight was, when the last time he was conscious about anything other than running through the dungeons looking for the people he had lost. His anger and exhaustion is getting the better of him, and he begins to steam roll through the place, his own cuts and bruises barely enough to give him pause. In his mind, there's one clear thing: nothing matters other than finding the people he's lost.

Tumbling around a corner, he only skids to a halt because of the familiar sensation of Raidou nearby, his eyes widening for a moment before he breathes out, sharp, panting breaths. It's too much, it's all too much, and his fists are gripped tight as he looks at Raidou.

It's probably bad, to see him like this, and he'd say so, if his throat wasn't so horribly dry, if his mouth wasn't caked shut with blood. ]

[the_fourteenth]

[Raidou doesn't even wait to see who or what this is, to check to see if that this a familiar entity just boosted to a level he hasn't seen before. He's acting on instinct, and that instinct is to get rid of anything in the way of those trying to stop him. To stop the threat of these cultists - these demons - and right now, Yuji has all appearances of the same to him.

Despite all the external forces trying to slow him down, Raidou is ever the lightning-fast swordsman. He's already setting upon this form as Yuji comes to a halt, aiming to not only stab, but bodycheck him using his new strength as well.]

[eyescar]

[ Both of them are working on instinct, danger senses piloting them before they can do anything else; Yuji doesn't even quite aware of just what's going on, only that there's a sword aiming towards him and a body attempting to shove him. The easiest thing to do is just let Raidou run into him and take charge, to let his body take whatever hit might have been going towards Yuji's shape.

It hurts, but it's no more than any other wound would have, and in the shape Yuji's body is in... Maybe it barely makes a dent. He's not paying enough attention to focus.

Instead, he huffs out a sound, a groan of pain as he leans against the wall. ]

Ah...

003A

[tokakujuho]

[ robbed of the very essence of what makes him useful at least, Nanami has never felt this weak or lost. in the days before the dungeon he's stayed close to Itadori's brother, uncertain how the other man would handle becoming nothing but mortal flesh. if the human isn't handling it too well, the cursed one shouldn't be expected to fare much better.

while his hope was to keep Choso out of harm's way, there isn't much he can do when they're dragged into the dungeons and treated as sacrificial lambs. the last thing he consciously remembers is struggling against the chains and hands holding him down in an attempt to free himself in order to spare Denji the guilt of being misused by the castle scum.

afterwards. days of nothing, drifting in and out of the delusions his mind is spinning for him, all accompanied by Choso calling his name in all tones and variations. it's heartbreaking almost, makes Nananmi try and reassure Yuji's brother that he is fine despite his horror show appearance. makes him try and drag his weary body towards the voice as close as he can until a strong hand wraps itself around his wrist.

finally Haibara appears. again. looking at the blond man with disappointment and mild disdain in his eyes. ghosts don't get to judge and Nanami would tell his old friend as much if they hadn't been interrupted by a loud crash and a familiar voice.

opening his eye takes an incredible amount of effort but Nanami manages, a pained sound escaping him at the sight of Itadori. ]

I'm fine. [ it comes out as a not very convincing croak, but the man who thinks he won't be missed has other priorities. ] Your brother... look after your brother.

003A

[gimu]

[ Castle Bran is a tomb, and Choso lay in its stinking belly like a toy long-forgotten. How long had it been? Only mere days since the last knife kissed his flesh, since the thing with a saw for a head came to scream and bite, but it felt like a week. A month? Only hours? Who was to tell? Time didn’t matter in the pit of the dark when Nanami’s pulse was all Choso could keep count of. Seconds slid by in a dizzying tide but the thrum of Nanami’s heart fighting to survive, the rush of his blood under his skin, served as a better anchor than any Choso could have hoped for. Left to their own devices in the wake of agony, Choso had managed to wriggle his remaining hand free of its shackle with a crack of bone and his own blood to lubricate his wrist through the heavy metal cuff. Without his strength, he could do little more than to make a grab for Nanami’s wrist and hold on tight.

For the days after the screaming thing’s visit, Choso spends his breath calling to Nanami, talking to and at the weight of the man’s presence, loathe to let the silence press in and smother them both: Nanami, they’re gone, Nanami, it hurts, Nanamin, it’s cold, Nanamin, don’t die. Nanamin, stay. How many times has he repeated it? Does even Choso remember? Mouth dry, voice cracking, he doesn’t realize that he calls put and mumbles still even in the sparse and scattered moments that his conscious awareness slips from him.

Eso and Kechizu stand so close in those moments, and yet so far. It is during one of these moments, as he is gazing at them on their flowered riverbank, himself knee-deep in snow, that the world trembles. The cold that has settled into his limbs, seeping into his bones as slow and steady as molasses, it shudders to a halt, as still as if it were listening to the thrum of Choso’s heart in his chest. No, not Choso’s.

There is another pulse here, resonating like a distant echo. It pounds at odds with Choso’s, strong and steady unlike Nanami’s, ringing as familiar as a beloved chime. As it grows stronger, Choso begins to weep (again), fresh tears making tracks down gore-stained cheeks to pool on the floor where his cheek was pressed.

Yuji was safe. Despite everything, Yuji was safe.

He must stay safe.

The castle inhabitants couldn’t be allowed to touch Yuji. Their grasping, pale, cold hands could not touch him, would not be allowed to touch him.

Choso cannot allow it. He cannot. Would not. Would never. Can never. Never. Never, never, never, never—

Time didn’t matter in the pit of the dark when Nanami’s pulse fluttered under his fingers like a small and weakening bird.


By the time the door to the cell bursts open, the pool of blood under Choso has begun to roil, churning over the stone like a living thing begun to stir, waking from a slumber it never wanted. Tendrils and trickles that have spread through the stone floor and tiles begins to gurgle and rise, a slow unfurling like the careful flex of an atrophied muscle.

Someone is speaking. Pay attention, Choso: you know these voices more than anything.

So he reaches out, holds tight to Nanami with the right hand and grasps at Yuji’s voice with the left, forgetting in this sweet delirium that it’s gone. ]

Yu-uuji?

[eyescar]

[ The full measure of what has happened to them is slow to hit Yuji, slow to sink into his bones and register in his mind; it's impossible to wrap his mind around it, to even try to conceive the kinds of torment and suffering that they might have been through. Just looking at them, the gore and blood decorating the floor of this cell, the clear and obvious signs of their torture, the missing limbs and quiet, hoarse voices...

Yuji can feel the rage burning under his skin, twinned with his grief, his agony, his hurt.

The rage boils inside of him, and Yuji wants to unleash it, to snap and snarl like he had done when Nanami had been taken from him to begin with. To scream, to lose his voice in his fury, to lose all sense of himself as it burns inside of him - but he can't do that, he can't, because two people that mean the most to him are hurting and in pain, and he simply cannot permit this kind of suffering to continue.

Even as the tears roll down his face, even as he burns, even as he feels like he could collapse to his knees and never get back up, he has to be strong. They were strong, waiting for him to save them, and he had waited far, far too long, he had been forced to rest, to pause, to breathe, and look at what it's cost him.

Staggering forward, Yuji reaches out for them both, fingers sliding through blood, new and old, forcing his body to kickstart his healing implant. Choso might be better off, he doesn't know if Nanami can use reverse cursed technique yet, his fingers reaching out to grasp and hold at whatever he can, trying not to stare, not to look.

He wishes it was him. He wishes he was the one here, not them. ]

You're safe now, both of you. I'm here, okay?

[gimu]

[ Yuji is here and they will be okay. Yuji is here and Nanami will be okay. Dan Heng will be okay. Lucy will be okay. Wriothesley and Sampo Kohski and Malkuth and Kabru will be okay because the Outsiders are arrived and Bakugo’s explosions will level the castle if Yuji does not decimate it brick by brick and they will be okay.

Yuji’s words are an accelerant and his touch an ignition; the moment his blood-stained fingers meet Choso’s skin, it sets something off like a spark catching fire, like a veil burning away to reveal all that had been hidden away behind it. Suddenly, blood begins to pour from the stump of Choso’s arm, gushing from the ugly gash below his ribs and the multitude of cuts and slices laid into his skin with such an intensity that for anyone else, it may have spelled their demise right then.

For Choso, it’s like breaking the surface of a murky and deep pond. Each new breath is power, each pound of his heart a crash of drums and as his blood begins to rush in all the ways natural to him, he finds the fury curled up in the pit of
him like a stone sunk.

It’s hard not thinking about all the things the castle denizens have done to them. It’s hard not thinking about the sounds that came from Nanami when they took his eye, so Choso doesn’t try to evade it now.

Look after your brother, Nanami says, and the blood that pours from Choso’s blood mark doesn’t make it to the floor before it forms up in countless orbs around the three of them like a model galaxy. ]

Yhu-ji! Nha-namin!

[ Lucy’s voice plays like a crackling, skipping record: you’ve gotta be extra strong overlapping like a big brother should.

He must be strong.

He has to be strong.

The blood pouring from Choso’s body begins to move, trembling in place for one strange, eerie moment before it begins to surge for the cell door in a shin-high wave of rushing red.

Choso’s blood is alive in his body again and he cannot, will not curb it. ]

004

[tokakujuho]

[ as the distance to the castle grows and his cursed energy returns, Nanami starts feeling more like himself again. the incidents of the past weeks are neatly wrapped up and compartmentalised - no need for a postmortem. (not yet at least)

despite how exhausted and awful he looks, he feels restless, trapped even. the only reason he isn't up and wandering around is because he is reluctant to cause Itadori even more anxiety. the boy is huddled close with his back turned to Nanami and at first he assumes Yuji wants to keep his gaze on Choso but then realises that the boy is trying to stay out of his brother's sight as well.

reaching out, fingertips barely brushing the boy's shoulder, voice quiet. ]

Itadori, are you alright?

[eyescar]

[ Yuji can't say that he's alright, not really.

Camped beside Nanami, unwilling to move and not daring to go too far just in case something terrible happens, Yuji is more like a haunting golem than he is a person. His jaw aches from the strange new teeth, his hands are shaking, his cuts and bruises are still slowly healing, and he looks as if he might collapse at any second, that he might pass out before he can even get the strength to go and find his own bed.

Someone will have to physically drag him away from Nanami.

The touch to his shoulder makes him jump, eyes dancing around wildly before he realises it's just Nanami, turning to reach out and touch him, to make sure he's still there. It's going to be a long while before Yuji feels safe enough to let either of them too far out of his sight. The only reason Choso isn't beside him right now is because they can feel each other, despite the distances. ]

Worry about yourself right now, Nanamin. You're healing.

[tokakujuho]

[ healing. the discrepancy to what he's used to and what it means in this brave new world is still mind-boggling sometimes. if Ieiri were here... ah, best not head down that train of though. ]

I daresay I'm better off than you right now.

[ they've done everything they could for him, everything he would allow. as far as Nanami's concerned he'll be right as rain in a few days. flattening his hand on top of Yuji's pressed against his chest, he keeps it there, allowing them both to feel the steady heartbeat. gaze soft as a doe's Nanami smiles faintly. ]

Which I wouldn't be without you, so... Thank you, Itadori. For saving my life again.

[eyescar]

I don't think that's true, Nanamin.

[ Yuji rubs at his face, trying to force himself not to look as tired and worn down as he actually is. It wouldn't be fair, to put more burden on Nanami when he's already going through so much, when he's been suffering - the wounds that are still there, the inability to heal it, to make the pain go away, to make the hurt disappear...

Yuji turns his fingers, gripping Nanami's hand, before he breathes out a shaken, pained sound. ]

I'll do it a thousand times if I need to. I'll do anything to make sure you're okay. Anything.

▶ 002. THE DUNGEON OF CASTLE BRAN.

[blastedass]

[Raiding into a villain's hideout is the duty of a hero plenty of times. Katsuki's seen raids before, storming the villains' mountain base, storming the yakuza's hideout, seizing the league's headquarters, even taking on all for one in the massive final war. This is what it feels like to power through the waves of opposition, when blood and muscle move bone in a dance of life or death, where one mistake can lead to demise or injury, where every motion has to bring victory after victory in a claw towards the end. A racing battle leaving him soaked his sweat and drenched in the scent of smoke and explosion residue. One by one, people fall, fly, vanish beneath his power, none of them allowed to stand before him. He's not here for them; he's here for the people he actually gives a shit about. If that makes him a monster, then so be it. He'll be the last thing these people see! Until they wake up later. To anyone who wants to interfere with that-- Ka-BOOM!! Get out of my fucking WAY!

Amid the screeching flurry of teeth and wings, screaming limbs of cultists, Katsuki notices Yuji come to a full stop in the middle of his fight. On instinct, the blonde snaps his upper body to the side and slings his arm forward. Dried blood in a spherical shape sails though the gory atmosphere, tilting in the air until the blood grenade crashes against the bat divebombing Yuji's figure. Light and heat blast apart in a combustive fury, blowing everything backwards and clearing the area around the sorcerer and illuminating the nightmarish image of his best friend amid the darkness. His stomach drops instantly, the natural prickling of hairline above his nape distilling cold fear through his chest. Something is very, very wrong.

In a second, everything goes from contained to overflowing. Katsuki jerks an arm up to shield against spattering bullets of blood droplets, gritting his teeth against the impact. Shit! It's almost like when Izuku's Blackwhip raged out of control the first time. Power untamed and running wild, rampaging outside a body that couldn't properly contain it all at once.] YUJI!! [Dammit, this guy can't hear him like this! He feels it in his skin, leeching cursed energy seeping from the sorcerer within the flurry of blood tendrils and waves. Katsuki skids backwards from another impact before slamming an arm down and firing a blazing barrage of explosive rounds from his hand. Bullets of explosive energy crash with the blood rounds, bursting in the air and setting up a sizzling, reeking wall of smoke. Through it, he can see Yuji's expression, the seeping blood down his cheeks. Pain, agony, sorrow... and he's gone.]

Dammit! Yuji! [Choso's name echoes in his ear, haunting in the raw scream from Yuji's throat. Katsuki charges after him. There's little in this castle that can stop the sorcerer on a sanguinary rampage, but it's not that the hero's worried about. It's what Yuji might do to himself.]

[eyescar]

[ It's almost impossible for Yuji to focus on anything except the sudden rush of energy that hits him, the sudden, inexplicable rebranding of his connection with Choso. He's being hit all at once with the horror of it all; the pain, the hurt, the wounds, the blood loss, the suffering, the heartache - all of it thrumming through him and making him want to collapse to his knees. If this is even the briefest echo of what Choso had been suffering, with Yuji too far away and too blocked to feel it, then there's nothing that can stop him.

He doesn't even realise just how much blood he is losing control of, he doesn't recognise the nightmarish nature of his own shape. It must look horrific to anyone witnessing it, the blood flaming out of his wounds, the way that it seems to find any way to slip out of his body; it's like his very being is trying to chase Choso down and do whatever he can to ensure his brother is safe, that any pain he is feeling is forced away.

There's no way for his brain to process the fact that someone is shouting after him, not at first, and Yuji's legs carry him with an inhuman speed that drags him down the halls and pulls him closer and closer to where his brother is being held. It's running through his mind, burning like a brand on his skin - Choso first, then Nanami, then check on Gojo-sensei and see if Maki-senpai is okay, and then find more, rescue as many people as he can, no matter what happens. Yuji even skids a little on his own blood as he turns around a corner, his body hitting a wall with a sickening slap sound.

It's then that he realises there's someone shouting, his eyes hazy as he turns his head, breathing hard. The desperate hope that it's Choso, somehow freed, dies inside of him, but there's some joy to be found in seeing Katsuki is alright, at least for now. Rubbing his hand over his face, he breathes out and gazes at his friend, as if he has no idea what a horrible scene he had left behind him just moments before. ]

Katsuki! [ Breathless, eyes wide. ] I can feel him!

[blastedass]

[Katsuki doesn't know what's going on with Yuji. One second he was battling, the next he was ramrod still before exploding into out of control cursed energy and blood manipulation. Then took off running while shouting his brother's name. It could've been anything, from a mental attack to power overload to possession. How the fuck is he to know? What he does know is he can't let Yuji run rampant like this. He's a threat to the other Outsiders that get near him, spraying his blood and energy like that. The sorcerer said his blood was toxic before, right?

Cussing under his breath, Katsuki ignites two explosions behind him, blitzing across the ground and shouldering through some of the blood splatters flying around. He can't keep up with Yuji in pure physical speed, but his Quirk certainly allows him to catch up and break even, even surpass him at a harder charge. The moment the sorcerer skids on his blood and splats against the wall, Katsuki guns his explosions and overtakes him by going along the "inside curve" of this shitty impromptu racetrack.

Light, smoke, and noise blast past the other boy and the hero rotates in the air to plant himself firmly in front of Yuji, another explosion bracing him to avoid falling backwards. He drops to his feet and moves towards the sorcerer, ducking shoulders and tilting his head as needed to dodge some of the crimson spews. The plug suit around him prevents it from actually getting onto his skin, so that's a benefit.]

Good! We'll find him! But cut your damn power off for a second before you bleed out or poison the rest of us!

aftermath

[curingidiocy]

[ If there is someone who appears to have gotten out of all of his relatively unscathed, it is, once again, Ratio. He hardly has a scratch on him, as his clothes are barely touched save for dirt and blood, all unavoidable given the sequence of events. It's enough to question if the man is a coward, hiding himself from danger and leaving all the work to everyone else, to which the answer is: no, it's not cowardice so much as it is rational decision-making.

But it's evident in the wrinkles of his face and slightly drooping eyes that he is working hard to secure everyone's health, being as attentive as possible and ensuring everyone is as comfortable as they can be while LILITH's personnel go through all the injured Outsiders one by one. He has definitely stopped by Nanami and Choso's beds to check on them and apply what healing he can through his implant—though with Yuji around, he doubts he really needs to help in that regard.

The next time he approaches however, it's not for Nanami or Choso. Yuji has been pushing himself ever since the kidnappings occurred, and Ratio could not stand watching the teen totter around exhausted for much longer. ]

Itadori.

[ He stands in front of the pink-haired teen, silent for a moment as he decides how best to tackle this problem. Eventually, he sighs and the tension in his body evaporates, leaving a tired scholar in its wake. He gazes at the young man with a softer expression—concern, of course, but there's something more. Respect, and perhaps even some admiration. ]

You've... done well. Your contributions to the rescue are immense. Everyone's safety has been secured. You can rest, if you so desire. I will watch over Nanami and Choso in your place.

[eyescar]

[ Yuji doesn't seem to notice whether or not Ratio is wounded, banged up or otherwise - his natural assumption is that most people were more sensible than he's been and have gone out of their way to clean up and make sure their wounds are better taken care of. Yuji's been relying on his own cursed energy and his healing implant, less concerned about himself and his own recovery than he has been Choso and Nanami and the others; they're the ones that has his heart skipping a beat with panic when he drifts off, waking up with a snap from any doze he gets dragged into.

Ratio's voice makes Yuji hesitate, and it's not because he's embarrassed about how he looks or the fact that he hasn't rested, as if he's anticipating a scolding. Yuji is embarrassed because of how he acted before, the snappish, nasty way he had spoken to someone who was just trying to help him, his own worry overriding any sense of politeness and care he ought to have for the other man. It's not as if Yuji really blamed Ratio for pulling back and giving up on their lessons.

Everything had been hard, for all of them. Yuji would probably have done the same thing.

Slowly, his eyes dance over the man's face before he breathes out, gazing down at his hands. The little marks from his own teeth are beginning to fade, and soon enough his technique would take care of any lingering issues. His heart is still thudding in his chest, though, and his discomfort is obvious, even if he knows that, logically, he should be slipping away to try and take care of himself.

It's not that easy for him. ]

Ah, Ratio-san, it's... I don't mind staying with them, just a little longer.

[ Childlike; as if they might disappear if they go out of his sight, despite the connection he feels with them. ]

[curingidiocy]

[ Of course Yuji would be reluctant to leave Nanami and Choso. After what he'd seen in Yuji's memory regarding the teacher, he can understand the teen clinging onto the man strongly. Yuji cared deeply for those he considered close to him. Perhaps it was borne out of the tragedy and desperation the teen has no doubt faced in his life. ]

You needn't leave. It won't be as comfortable, but resting in a chair will still give your body and mind the reprieve it desperately needs. I will simply stand guard over all three of you.

...or if you are not comfortable with me, I can retrieve someone who trust more.

[ He is nothing more than Yuji's former teacher, after all. Not someone the teen would trust to that degree, he thinks. ]

004 hi it's me again

[the_fourteenth]

[It takes some time for Raidou to make his way over to Yuji, Nanami and Choso, as he makes the rounds checking in on the kidnappees. He doesn't have much to say to them, if anything, other than relief that they've been returned, and offering healing if they need it. Not that he's not worried about them, but he knows Choso and Nanami are under Yuji's close watch. He wants to give Yuji enough time with them, so he circles around to them last. Raidou does speak with LILITH though, inquiring about some Outsiders that seem conspicuously missing.

Raidou approaches him looking positively haunted. Besides the news he just got, he also can't stop thinking about how he attacked Yuji, and the guilt is plain on him as he approaches with his arms crossed tightly. Yuji may not be upset about it, but it's going to eat Raidou up for a long time to come.]

... How are they holding up?

[eyescar]

[ There's a sense of lingering exhaustion to Yuji no matter what he does, trying to muster the strength to stay awake and stand guard despite the fact that he's wiped to the core. Drifting off, time and time again, he almost jumps into sitting straight before he turns his head and realises that it's Raidou, eyes flickering a little before he breathes out. ]

Johei.

[ Pushing himself up, he rubs his eyes before he steps over and practically shoves his face into his partner's shoulder, breathing out as he slumps, relaxing just a little. ]

They're okay. They're alive, and healing, but... It was bad.

[the_fourteenth]

[It's a solace that Yuji approaches him so easily, that whatever Raidou is feeling about attacking him doesn't keep Yuji away from him. He opens his arms, holding Yuji close, carefully in case he's not fully healed up yet. He lets out a shuddered sigh of relief against him.]

We got them out. We can go on from here. It will take a long time, but it will get better.

[He hopes. It has to. It has to.

Fingers gently caress the back of Yuji's head.]

How are you?

[No good, of course. Neither is Raidou. Neither is anyone. He just doesn't know what else to ask, what to say to anyone. He'd been wandering the rally point like ghost, feeling disconnected from himself. Taking Yuji into his arms makes him feel a little more grounded.]

001

[sensehispresence]

[ Seeing someone that Kadaj has started to see as family not looking well hurts. It isn't a feeling that he's overly familiar with either. Why feel pain for someone else? Maybe one day he would understand the feelings that were crashing into him. Today, however, was not that day. There was no understanding what he felt.

Confusion, unfortunately, was a big part of it. Especially when Yuji wasn't thinking properly. Wasn't holding back. Was he even taking time for himself? He knows that people were in that castle that the other cared for. That? He had no doubt on. He didn't know them well himself, but that didn't mean he didn't know.

He couldn't focus on what Yuji was doing and needed to focus on the villagers attacking them. The remnant has no problems killing who he needs to, but he won't if he can help it. If only due to the fact that there are those around him who might not like that.

Those cat-like eyes find Yuji and he tries to get to him, to the one that had bit him. There were some that even tried to get to him in the process and he uses the hilt of his sword to slam into their faces. The children, however, are shoved aside. He might kill others but he won't kill them.

Unfortunately, the warning is a bit too late when the other calls out not to get the blood in one's mouth. He hadn't even been aiming for that and he spits it out the best he can. Whether he swallowed any of it or not is a whole other story.

Could he be poisoned now that he was alive, real? Not merely a will of Sephiroth, that was a definite yes. Was he going to do whatever he could to ignore it? Yes. He isn't sure whose blood he ended up with, nor does he care at the moment.

No, his intention is to fight the villagers and keep anyone else from trying to chow down on someone he considered a big brother. ]

[eyescar]

[ Yuji cannot focus on anything except bullying his way into the castle and getting through the people.

He's not going to hurt anyone, he's not going to kill any of the villagers, despite what they've done; the kidnapping, the possibility of hurting the people he loves, the nightmare of not being able to sense or feel the people that he cares about. He can't blame them entirely for it, not when he understands the issues of losing control of your body to someone or something else.

He was Sukuna's vessel. If there's anyone who can wrap their minds around that kind of loss of control, it would be Yuji, especially given the month that they're in. The last time he lost control of himself, thousands of people died - and he still blames himself.

A familiar face does help centre him, ground him a little, and he turns back to look at Kadaj with wide eyes, breathing hard, swallowing his own panic and fear to dart over and see his friend, hesitating for a moment. ]

Kadaj... Are you okay?

[sensehispresence]

[ Killing is almost second nature to Kadaj. Whether he enjoys it or not is a whole other story. After all, he used to be the will of someone else before showing up here. Had been Sephiroth's anger, cruelty, and insanity. Now? He was none of that and was his own person. Something he was coming to terms with. He did, however, know he'd protect those he cared about. Yuji was among one of those people.

The young remnant does know that he doesn't like the taste of blood. In fact, it tasted rather nasty to him. Tasted like metal and that definitely wasn't a good taste to have in one's mouth. He isn't focusing on that though. He'd been too focused on big brother, more than anything.

So when the other is close enough to him he gives Yuji a half smile, something that probably looks almost crazy. Almost. ]

I'll be fine.

[ There's a brief pause as he looks toward the other to make sure he was alright. ]

I think.

[ After all, he's not sure whose blood he got in his mouth. ]

Are you alright?