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

[blastedass]

[Dammit, he can't believe he's picking himself out of the fucking wall with Yato's shitty 'dad joke' echoing in his rattle brain. Grabbing onto a stone jutting out in front of him, Bakugo pulls forward and sits up in a chunk of wall shaped vaguely of his own outline. Back throbbing, elbows and tailbone still ringing with the pain of impact. He can't tell if his ribs are cracked or broken. Now he has to deal with this bastard shutting off their powers manually.

Yeah, he's trained a lot to be able to fight without his Quirk, but to suddenly have it erased as if Aizawa-sensei looked at him? It'll always catch him off guard since he doesn't expect it. Shit, now he can't rely on the damn rift regularly making timed pulses. It's at this creature's discretion until he finds out otherwise. A quick check fails to make sparks or even secrete his sweat on command. Completely cut off...

Move. He can't sit here in powerlessness. Bakugo snarls as he stands up, forcing the pain aside. Move. He can still fight. Red eyes lock onto the battlefield, noticing the way the Outsiders who can swarm it are still doing so, with the ones reliant on their powers likewise picking themselves out of a stunned impact.

Yato does get a nick in on the ribs, obviously going for the heart, but once the kaiju starts to shift and squirm, that heart moves elsewhere as it shapeshifts from a canine semblance to an avian cloak. Shit, so immortal and shapeshifting. He's feeling optimistic. As it takes off, Bakugo instantly notices its aversion to the glowing plants in the room. That's where he's headed now.]

[intertwinedfates]

[Talk about divine punishment, huh. Thankfully Bakugo will be spared any more jokes for the time being, as Yato's put them on the back burner to focus solely on taking down their main opponent. If any more mooks flow into the room, he's not paying them a lick of attention unless they get in his way - everything he's got is being put into taking the wolf god apart, limb by fucking limb if he has to.

During their clash he's careful to try directing the beast away from those who were affected by its energy burst, except it seems keen to dodge when he least expects it to, as Yato's yet to notice that it's the plants the kaiju is staying away from. One of the problems with being so laser-focused on one thing.

He lets out a snarl as the shape of his target changes, leading to him missing his goal of the heart. Stupid, cheating little son of--! Even with two blades, it's tough to pin the Pickly-whatsit down, as all it has to do is change form to dodge out of the way. It's damn infuriating, and eventually Yato resorts to less practiced moves and more random jabs in hopes that'll throw the beast off--

--which it does, finally. He manages to stab the creature in the arm, earning a howl as he rushes it into the wall, pinning it there briefly as he glances over a shoulder to check that Bakugo is okay. For whatever reason the kid's running off in the opposite direction, mystifying and irritating Yato as his attention turns back towards his opponent.]

Whatever you're doing over there, hurry it up, wouldja?! I could use a little help here even if all you can do is punch shit!

[blastedass]

[Bastard. He expected more interference from the unseen right, but the three minute, five minute pattern pumped out during their blitz through the forest and castle is no more reliable. Whether the kaiju can spam the rift's effects at will or it also needs a recharge period is the next question. As much as Bakugo's trained himself to fight well without his Quirk, taking his fists and knees to the shape-changing behemoth is a stupid ass idea.

But if this bastard's going to avoid something in the room, that's exactly the thing Bakugo's headed for. He crouches down beside the glowing plant, glancing from it to the creature as the unaffected Outsiders continue the assault. Wolfsbane. Fucking cliche. Probably explains why there are no silver decorations in the castle. Tch, make use of what he has.

Dodging another cultist without hesitation, Bakugo catches the guy by the back of the head and rams him right into the wall. The body slumps a ragdoll on the floor and he snatches the sickle-like item from his hand. Sparks fly with every bash against the stone, knocking old mortar free until the bricks and rocks came next. Chunking off enough stones to get a pile, he grabs the cultist's robes and rips strips from the hem. Binding a sprig of wolfsbane to the rock with one strip is enough to make a projectile. Four of them lie at his feet by the time the familiar heat sensation blooms again. Three and a half minutes...

Not reliable enough.

Someone's yelling at him. Bakugo jerks his head up in a glare.] DON'T ORDER ME AROUND!! I'M WORKING ON IT!! [Before a massive explosion slams into the kaiju's head as the blonde returns to the battle in full charge.]

[intertwinedfates]

[If only all kaiju could be nice and follow a set pattern... This jumping around bs is not only tiring, it's damn annoying as well, making them waste time and energy chasing it all over the room, to say nothing of when it manages to sneak up on them and get a strike in. It has to have some kind of limit to the amount of times it can vanish, right? Either that or maybe their best bet would be to just position their fighters at a set spacing around the room so that no matter where it appears, it'll run into one of them.

He's about to suggest as much to the other Outsiders when the damn wolf reappears by his shoulder; something he can sense more than see. He tries rolling out of the way and manages to mostly dodge, save for a swipe of claws nicking his leg and earning a hiss of pain as he crouches to assess the injury.

Not too bad, all things considered. Provided it doesn't have any poison or vampiric qualities to its attacks. Shaking his head, Yato stands, readying his swords for the next time the creature reappears. He's noticed there's always a slight vibration in the air before it shows up, likely a side effect of the rift opening. Whirling this way and that, he tries to feel for the disruption in the air, when--]

There--!

[Again he lunges for the kaiju, aiming his swords in two separate places with the hope that one might catch it before it can slip back to whatever dimension it's hiding in. This time he succeeds in nailing the damn thing's leg, much to its loud displeasure. As it sinks down into the rift, it slams its claws into the ground, taking up a chunk to throw at its assailants, forcing Yato to dive for the ground or risk getting nailed in the head with a hunk of rock.

Vaguely, he registers Bakugo shouting in return and throws an exasperated glance over his shoulder while he lays there for a moment to have a breather. What the hell is the kid doing...? Some kind of plant?]

Would it help if I said "please"?! [Ah, here he comes-- that's more like the Bakugo he knows. Fiery and explosive, a man with a plan.]

[blastedass]

[LILITH doesn't have the same amount of detail on this creature they had with the others. Obviously, considering they were basically banned from the village until the eleventh hour, unable to contact the Outsiders or send their own people in for their usual skulking in the background research. However the fuck that happens. A vague splay of its shown abilities, at least one damn weakness, and the rest boils down to the most basic procedure for handling kaiju: beat the ever-living shit out of it!

Bakugo snarls at the impact on Yato, glancing to the side as he flips backwards from the recoil of his explosion. Boots skid on the ground again when he lands, noting the injury. Not deep, considering the god's already rising from his inspecting crouch. More Outsiders lay into the attack, prompting the creature to shift again. If this bastard keeps changing shape, they're never going to get a fatal strike in! To say nothing of it blinking in and out of view like a shitty game of whack-a-mole.

Ka-boom! Smoke and light obliterate the rock thrown at Yato, making the dive for the ground a wasted effort. (Not that he could've known.) Bakugo stands up beside him, tossing one of the bricks up and down in his free hand as he scans around the area for the cowardly wolf. Or whatever shape it's taking now. Probably licking some wounds in the dimension concealing it. Is he gonna help Yato up? Fuck no! Not when this Bakami's been shouting at him all this time!]

Here. [And drops the brick right on Yato's belly. THUNK! Yeah, he's a merciless bully. We know this.] Next time you get a good shot at its mouth or open wound, cram that thing in there. It's been avoiding the wolfsbane patches this entire fight.

[intertwinedfates]

[That last part is something Yato can handle. He's in no mood for a game of "guess the weakness", "whack-a-wolf", or any other silly shenanigans the dumb, vicious beast might want to engage in. It's a rarity, but this time he just wants to spill some blood, be it of the kaiju, the cultists, or both. He's not picky right now.

Well, at least he didn't get whacked one way or the other, though somehow he's mildly irritated to have bits of exploded rubble fall over him like sprinkles on a god cupcake when he was perfectly fine dodging. He'd much rather Bakugo finish up whatever the hell he's got going on and get his butt back in the fray... ah, looks like he is done. That's good then. Could've still let him look cool, at least. Punk. And he doesn't even offer him a hand! Brat.

That's fine, too. He's perfectly able to get up on his own-- except for Bakugo dropping a shitty brick on him like it's meant to be a damn paper weight. He lets out an oof and winces, glaring at the kid with a scathing look. Yeah, he was yelling, but only because some people were doing all the work!]

Wolfsbane, huh? You'd have thought they'd do more meticulous weeding if their boss is allergic. [Snatching the brick, he flips up onto his feet, planting one sword in the ground.] Alright then, let's do this! Time to play, you bastard!

[Scanning the room, he waits for the feel of that pulsing energy again and nods in that direction before bolting forward.] Try to keep up, Bakugo! [Being an asshole on purpose? Damn right.]

[blastedass]

[He's out of luck in the latter two options; the room's fresh out of cultist. It's serving up hot, magical, angry, bloody wolf god in heaping helpings though! Complete with annoying dimension dipping, shape changing, power-dulling rift waves, and its usual immense physical dangers. More than intent on ending the Outsiders that stood against it.

As if Bakugo's going to offer Yato a hand when the god was mouthing off to him a moment ago. He's lucky he didn't drop the brick on his damn thick skull! But it's impossible to deny the explosive hero doesn't stand beside Yato, defensively guarding him from any potential attack, while the god gets back to his feet.

What the hell?! He was putting in as much fucking work as possible when he didn't have his Quirk active! You want him to jump on a shape-changing god and beat it with his damn fists?! That'll only make him a liability to his own teammates! Keep at him with those pig stickers and he'll roar right back in with the dynamite once it's online! Like now.

Here, have a present while you're at it, Bakami.]

This might be the first time they summoned that bastard. [He doesn't want to think about this being a recurring event. What kind of damn mass grave hides out in the castle grounds in that case? Bakugo slams his fist into the other palm, detonating an small explosion in agreed revenge.]

You can't even see my back, Bakami! [And blitzes forward in a blistering zigzag of explosive speed. As soon as the creature bursts open its dimensional shield, he crashes into it with another detonation. Only to realize it's ugly ass head does NOT contain any eyes this time. Dammit! Not even a mouth. It's fucking learning...]

[intertwinedfates]

[Damn! Not his preferred meal, but they'll just have to make do with what's available. This season's line of demonic entities is anything but tasty OR stylish, but fierce and formidable all the same.

That's why Yato's glad to have Bakugo by his side; even for all their bickering and name-calling, he knows the hero won't let him down when he needs it. And that's why in turn, he'll do everything he can to stop this creature before it can lay a claw on the kid. Nobody hurts those he cares about, dammit!

Even if he is being a bit of a pushy dick right now. Call it stress-related, yeah? They still haven't found Hiyori, so naturally he's going to be on edge until he knows for certain she's safe and sound. Tempting as it is to rush away and find her, though, he stays, ready to help the other Outsiders as best he can.]

True. Let's hope so... [He's thinking along similar lines as Bakugo - how if this god required sacrifices on the regular, how many innocent victims lay mourning in their unmarked graves, unable to pass on? Normally he'd be able to see said spirits, but that hasn't been the case since arriving. It's both a blessing and a curse. Chuckling at Bakugo's enthusiasm, he nods.]

That's how I like it! [It means he's less likely to get hit that way, honestly. Watching Bakugo take the lead this time, he holds back for a moment in case the creature opts to vanish again, then dives in, aiming for it's lower half with his blade while using the brick to punch it right in the gut.] Keep at it! Damn thing has to breath somehow-- there must be a mouth on it somewhere!

[Even as he says as much, a fanged mouth forms on the kaiju's leg, reaching out to bite at both their own legs and nailing Yato in the process, earning a colorful if hastily bitten off swear.] Bastard's getting sneakier...

[blastedass]

[This had better be the damn last course of the season; as stupid as the idea is, deciding to go on a diet at the head of the winter season is a challenging tackle. Monster dishes have run their fucking course this year.

Stop calling him a kid, shitty god! Damn it feels better to have his Quirk active again. Always felt weird whenever Aizawa-sensei canceled out his Quirk back at U.A. Having some shitty kaiju do it almost at will is a far more disturbing feeling. Mostly because Bakugo knew Aizawa wasn't intending to rip his throat out. (Despite those glares.)

Regarding the other Outsiders, Bakugo refuses to think they're anywhere but in this very area. Trying to find them while a kaiju storms around the room is asking to get shanked in the ribs or worse. Even if the did find them, attempting to help in the middle of this monster rampaging around will only endanger their already-damaged allies. Best to leave it to hope right now and focus on winning this fight first!]

Screw them! I'll make sure this is the last time they see their shitty god! [If he can't see the god's eyes or mouth, then he'll go right for its damn throat! It still has a protruding head. Whether that's connected to a neck due a lacking mouth is questionable. That's where he aims! Blitzing under it's arm and straight up its chest in a flurry of blasts, Bakugo crashes twin explosion against the muscular column of scales. He feels it dent inward, suggesting an airway of sorts, rather than stoic muscle pure through.

The double impact of explosion to the neck and sword/brick to the gut finally forces that mouth to reveal itself. On the leg. Shapeshifters are fucking gross! Bakugo swipes right past Yato, steals the brick from his hand, and abruptly crams the entire thing into the leg mouth attempting to bite them. A short, wide explosion forces it further inside with a dull BOOMPH!! before he yanks back and catches Yato from his recoil.

As the monster reels and swipes at itself from ingesting its own... allergy? Bakugo checks Yato's injury.]

[intertwinedfates]

[Agreed, wholeheartedly. They need a goddamn break from all this shitshow, and that's coming from a god himself! Maybe once the new year rolls around, fine. But life, please give them a quiet holiday season. Please?

Hey, if he's a shitty god, then certain little punks are kids, so there! Honestly, though, Yato feels relieved too once Bakugo's back in the game; he trusts the other Outsiders plenty, but Bakugo has earned a little more of it to the point he feels safer and better able to act knowing the hero is there to watch his back.

He'll probably say as much both as praise and a means to fluster his teammate later. But for now... Yeah, better to focus on the fight and worry about the captives once that's done and over with. The sooner they finish the fight, the less likely the structure itself is to receive damage, he hopes, and that should make searching afterwards easier than feeling quite so rushed to prevent the cultists from sacrifcing more people. Or whatever they were doing here.]

Heh... Always with the big talk from you. I love it! [While Bakugo goes for the throat quite literally, Yato tries to keep its arms and legs out of the way, slashing at the former before stabbing at the latter. The brick? Well, he just whales away with the damn thing, trying to smack the friggin' kaiju upside the head with the wolfsbane, which proves a fine distraction so Bakugo can get his blasts in.

And then before he knows it there's the pain in his leg and the brick is snatched from his grasp; a good thing too, as he instinctively reaches for his injured leg. Fiery pain shoots through his limb and he stumbles, only remaining upright thanks to Bakugo catching him. He'd thank him for that were he not panting from the agony of being injured.

The wound itself isn't grievous, although it isn't just a mere scratch either, with blood steadily following from it and the pain preventing Yato from putting weight on the leg. He grits his teeth when he tries, folding back into a crouching position as he looks up at Bakugo with a grimace.]

How good are you with that Quirk of yours? Got enough control that you think you could use the heat to cauterize the wound? And y'know, not blow my leg off at the same time?

[blastedass]

[Don't fluster him right now. He's in the mood enough to punt Yato towards the monster's mouth and tell him to gut it from the inside on the trip! Would he do it? Maybe. Who knows. It's better to cram that shitty brick into the creature's gullet instead and then bound away to clear any unsavory reactions to the allergic response. He'd rather not be close if the monster shapeshifts a million spikes or unleashes another burst of energy. They don't know what's going to happen, so caution's key.]

You wanna whimper at it, go right ahead, Bakami! [Bakugo scowls down at the injury, realizing it's not simply a scrape. There's blood, piercing, though not deep enough to render Yato's leg immobile. But apparently enough to momentarily cripple him. When the god looks up at him to ask that question, Bakugo's already unlocking his gauntlet from one arm. He slides it off over his hand, revealing the long sleeve glove and the metal gear underneath covering half his forearm up to his wrist. That band-like piece is what helps absorb his sweat and draw it into his arsenal.]

That's what I'm already doing. [He grips the glove between his teeth on the middle finger and pulls, sliding the entire thing, and the gear off his hand. While he doesn't have the same fine control as Endeavor and Shoto with their flames, he can manage a cauterizing burn well enough. But it works best without his glove and gauntlet, so he can see what he's doing and have more detailed control without a glove saturated in his explosive sweat.] Bite your scarf. It's gonna hurt.

[intertwinedfates]

[Well, if it was a big enough kaiju that he didn't need to be chewed up first to be swallowed, he might agree to it. Wouldn't be the first time he's been in something's stomach, probably won't be the last. But yeah, no hanging around this one when it decides to react to being dosed with wolfsbane. Last thing Yato wants is to get thrown up on by a damn wolf kaiju. It could be poisonous or worse, honestly. He's having none of that crap, thank you.]

Heh, I don't whimper! [He might whine though, especially given the seriousness of his injury. Every pulse of blood through his veins results in more pouring down his leg, getting on his boots. That alone is enough to make him cringe and scowl, and he does even more so with the aching throb of pain keeping him crouched down. That gives him time to watch a Bakugo disarms; it's a curious contraption he's got, but a cleverly designed one from what he can tell. Impressive. Made to work with Bakugo's Quirk perfectly. He wonders if the kid designed it himself or if he had help.]

Great. Thanks. [That part at least is said with feeling, a simple yet powerful word meant to convey that trust he has in the hero. That's why he doesn't balk or argue at the instruction, instead tugging his scarf up to get a wad of the fabric between his teeth. He gives another nod when he's ready, letting his eyes close to try focusing on anything but the pain. Maybe if he thinks of Hiyori, it won't hurt so much... Muffled, he mutters:] Go for it.

[blastedass]

[Bakugo's been swallowed by a kaiju once before; those fucking electric geckos in Tokyo. Not an experience he ever wants to repeat. If Yato wants to dive in, however, that's his business. Luckily for them, the creature's retching and stumbling drives it backwards into the waiting pound of other teammates, forcing the kaiju to contend with them while Bakugo can deal with Yato's injury. He isn't sure if they're making progress on the bastard, but every impact counts in these battles.

In the middle of his disarming, Bakugo makes sure to put a hand on Yato's chest and push him down. Sit, bastard. Staying crouched or standing will only put more pressure on his leg and the injury itself.] Get down, idiot.

[He really should get a tourniquet on that as well, but can't do both at the same time. Once he's got his hand free and stripped, Bakugo grabs the other end of Yato's scarf and swiftly circles it around the god's leg, above the injury. He'll use it as a bandage later, but right now, he fashions it into a proper and effective tourniquet. Cauterizing the wound while blood's still trying to flow out of it will make the situation worse. They have to lessen the blood flow first, then he can more efficiently seal it.

Ask him about his gear and costume later. Wait for it. As the bleeding starts to slow due to the binding, Bakugo works on clearing the injury of fabric as fast as he can, not wanting to sear clothing into Yato's wound. He can make out the scope of it better. There are no sparks or pops around his hand this tie. Rather concentrated heat, turning the surface of his palm orange to yellow. He's not about to slap down white hot and give Yato third degree burns on his leg. Bringing the injury as close to shut as possible with one hand, Bakugo lowers his other; with the proper angle and placement-] Brace yourself.

[-claps a section of his scalding palm over the one part of the bite. It's gonna hurt like fuck.]

[intertwinedfates]

[If it's anything like getting swallowed by an ayakashi, Bakugo has his sympathies. Dark and gross and wet and slimy and bleck. So yeah, not the sort of repeat performance either of them probably wants. Thankfully not one they need to worry about for the moment, either. They've got team mates helping out, ready to keep the creature back while they rest and tend the wound he's incurred.

For once Yato doesn't protest being manhandled, instead taking the hint and stretching out obediently with a shaking breath. It's been a while since he's had an injury that's this bad, and he's not looking forward to the pain of fixing it up.] Ugh, right...

[Hopefully cauterizing the wound will lessen the need for a tourniquet, but for now whatever Bakugo feels up to doing is fine by him. He doesn't even mind his precious scarf being used, since it'd hardly matter if he croaks here. The pressure on his leg makes him wince, pulling away slightly before he forces himself to relax and stay still.

He's definitely gonna have to inquire about his getup, if only so he has a better idea of how it all comes off should their positions be reversed at some point. Fidgeting restlessly, Yato watches Bakugo work, wishing he could just get it over with but knowing full well that the wound should be as clean as possible to prevent any infection. Normally such matters wouldn't affect him, but he's not fully a god here. He has to be careful. So only once the heat in Bakugo's palm reaches an intense yellow, does he force himself to breath out when told to brace for it.] Mph.

["Go." He's right, though, it does hurt like seven hells worth of agony, causing Yato to writhe in pain and push his uninjured leg into the ground, body arching upward as well until he drops back down, breathing hard through his nose with his eyes screwed shut and teeth tearing into the fabric of his scarf. But at least the heat seems to be doing its job, sealing up the wound until the blood flow is mostly staunched. For a few moments Yato allows himself to just lay there and breathe, waiting for the searing pain to subside at least a little bit.]

[blastedass]

[Tourniquet first, then cauterizing, then they can take the binding off if Yato wants. Probably will for a bandage, though if the scarf's long enough, it can serve as both. It'll wash out later. At least the injury didn't reach Yato's bone. Nothing felt cracked or broken under the muscle, though Bakugo hadn't manhandled his leg meat too hard for obvious reasons.

Good thing Yato doesn't rush him more than he's going. Already he's abandoning the desire to wash the wound out with what little water he has on him. The intensity of the heat should kill anything nasty on or near the surface, but who knows what's down inside the wound thanks to those teeth. He knows people who are effectively immortal in their home worlds have that ability reduced here, but things like poison or disease resistance is up in the air for each person. Two of his companions have such resistances. There's no rhyme or reason to when the abilities kick in at full power or neutered. Sort of a gamble.

Flesh sears and burns under his hand, but he keeps his other around the area to make sure the injury's as lined up as possible. Pressing it flat hopefully prevents anything from bubbling up or blistering too badly. Bakugo never saw Endeavor cauterize a wound, though he did get some practice in on a meat dummy. The older Pro is better at it, unfortunately. His Quirk's more suited to the detailed effort. Bakugo refuses to back down from helping to the extent he can. When one area's sealed, he continues to steady roll and pressure of his hand to work over to the next, as if sliding a proverbial door shut over the injury.

If Yato got chomped on both sides of his leg, though... they're only halfway done.]

[intertwinedfates]

[Honestly, this is probably the most serious injury he's acquired in a long time, not counting being blighted. Certainly he hasn't needed to resort to using his scarf to slow the flow of blood, but if that's what it takes to get him back in the game, he's all for it. It should be long enough to act as a bandage, too. The benefit of wearing something extra large, huh.

The reason for not pressuring Bakugo is twofold: him needing to focus on controlling his heat to keep from exploding his leg off, and because he doesn't want to end up getting extra crispy for being pushy. Not that he thinks Bakugo would deliberately hurt him, but best to not tempt fate in a stressful situation. As for Yato's resistances, even he isn't sure what they are. He only knows he's not immortal still thanks to Bakugo's heads up, so they'll have to wait and see.

Okay, yeah. This definitely takes the cake for worst injuries he's gotten. At least it counts as the most pain he's had to endure to heal it. As the flesh starts being sealed by the heat, he jerks his other leg instinctively, wanting to pull back from the agony. Yet somehow, probably years of experience, he manages to keep his wounded leg almost perfectly still, only trembling slightly beneath Bakugo's touch. He tries to think of pleasant things to help manage the pain, but all his thoughts drift to is their captured friends being tormented and how he needs to hurry and help stop the damn kaiju.

Thankfully it was only one leg that got nailed; the other is a mere scrape in comparison and not even worth bothering with. Small mercies, huh. Next time though, he'll be sure to keep his distance rather than getting point blank now that he knows what the damn thing is capable of. He can't afford a second serious injury like this, otherwise he's out of the game. It's going to be hard enough to stand and move about with the throbbing pain as is.

Cracking open an eye, he regards Bakugo's expression with the hope of telling how much more there is left to go. It's so tempting to yank the scarf from his mouth and tell him that what he's done is enough, but he knows better than to think he'll be anything but a burden if it's still bleeding. Gotta heal it right the first time so they both can fight properly.]

[blastedass]

[One day he'll ask about the history of that scarf, already assuming it's an important keepsake from something or someone back in Yato's home. Not a purely stylistic choice. The color's so unique, it has to hold significance.

Bakugo silently appreciates not getting harried over his process, working to balance efficiency with speed. Searing one part in a slow roll towards the next, keeping his hand steady on both efforts to make it stay as close to even as possible. Rather than giving Yato a hand-sized burn mark on his leg, he cups and angles his hand to match with the seam, unfortunately unable to fine-tune it to a pen-thin kitchen torch. LILITH should be able to treat the wound to heal without a scar though.

Bakugo promptly puts his knee and shin on Yato's other leg, not wanting to do it to the injured one. It might be better to let Yato free to kick his uninjured limb and vent the pain, but he's worried he'll ram said leg into the one being worked on. Shit, this guy knows how to handle pain in the injured one, fighting back instinctive urges to retreat or pull away. Dammit, how long did it take Endeavor to cauterize Mirko's arm stump and leg gores?

They have some healers around, so if Yato's in dire straights, Bakugo will direct him to a few of their number. It would take a while to sit out until the healing's done. He's not sure they have a while... Will Yato be able to move around with this injury? Probably. It won't be smart though. Thinks the guy who continued fighting with bleeding holes punched through his shoulder and torso... and worse in the second war.

The young hero's expression remains firm and focused, brows furrowed and eyes narrowed in the gloom. Working his hand around to the back, Bakugo repeats the process there, glad to find the injury in the rear is less than the front. A harder bite could've taken Yato's leg off. He has four small vials of water on his person and plans to use them as soon as he's finished.]

I have two capsules of painkillers from the apothecary. They'll numb the pain but you'll be drugged. [Essentially it'll be popping opioids.] Your choice.

[Once he finishes his work, Bakugo pulls his hand away and immediately goes for the two cartridges on either side of his lower thigh, just above his knees. Each contains three metal vial-like capsules with rubber caps, four of which he quickly pops and uses to soak a line down Yato's scarf, making sure it goes through two layers and lines up with the cauterized wound. Then wraps the wet equator around his leg, instantly seizing the wound up with agony and relief simultaneously. Bear it or a few seconds and it'll start to fade. The remaining two canisters contain the pain medicine.]

[intertwinedfates]

[It's certainly important enough to have become one of his trademarks by this point, and not just because it matches his eyes. (Though that could be part of it.) They'll have to discuss it when things are less dire and said article is less... bloody.

Honestly, Yato has nothing but appreciation for Bakugo's efforts, painful or not. The kid's doing work that some adults can't even handle - hell, even the god himself would struggle with the searing of flesh if he had the ability to do the same. And for him to control it to such a degree speaks volumes towards the training Bakugo has put towards his powers. How long had he spent focusing on the minutiae of what his Quirk can do and not just the big, flashy effects?

Surprisingly all thoughts Yato tries to focus on instead of the heat and peeling of his flesh, though he gets another distraction in the form of Bakugo planting his leg on his own, signaling for him to hold still more. It takes a concerted effort and several long, slow breaths, but he manages to settle down further, eyes screwed shut like that might block out the pain.

Fingers twitch as his need to move transfers to his arms, but instead of flailing about he presses a hand over his face in the vain hope of rescuing some of his dignity in this situation. Bad enough he got nailed in the first damn place, he doesn't need Bakugo of all people seeing him be a whimpering wuss. Even if it is fairly justified in this situation.

Getting tended to by a healer would be the smarter move, but they can use all the help they can get on the kaiju, too. It's a toss-up, really, and one he plans on deciding once he can at least stand again. If nothing else, he'd need to get more out of the fray so as not to be a hindrance to the others.

Once the front of his leg is taken care of, Yato breaths a sigh of relief; that's where the vast majority of his injuries had been, with only shallows gashes along the back. They're bleeding, too, but nowhere near as worryingly as the rest had been. At Bakugo's voice, he removes the hand from his face to peer at the hero before remembering to remove the cloth from his mouth.]

Peh... I'll take one. Hang onto the other in case you or someone else ends up needing it. I've fought in shittier shape than this...

[Like when he's been blighted. That's not too different from being drugged and sick at the same time, with even the burning sensation feeling similarly to what he's going through now. The worst is over from Yato's perspective, so that when his scarf gets tied tight over the injury, he merely emits a low hiss and a swear, pressing his boot into the ground to keep still. He can do this. He's been through worse, especially as a kid. For a moment he closes his eyes in response to a twinge of pain, deciding again that, yeah, he'll take the damn meds, impairment or not. Glancing at Bakugo, he holds his hand out for one of the canisters, nodding.]

...thanks for your help. [He probably would've passed out at the rate he was losing blood, honestly. Now all he needs to do is get back in there and help finish the fight.]

[blastedass]

[He's not about to let the guy end with a leg taken by monster or infection. Pisses him off enough to have his friends shaving off pieces of their body to replace with tech. Losing a whole fucking limb to one of these shitty monsters? Hell no! Call it his pride, anger, or a sense of determination, but Bakugo wants to take every damn thing from the kaiju and give them the biggest fucking loss possible! So you don't get to keep Yato's leg, you damn mangy mutt!

As for Yato's internal questions, not as long as he might think. Bakugo crew up loving to make his Quirk go boom boom bigger, stronger, better, and crashed into U.A. with the intention of blowing every speck of his competition away! Then Aizawa chewed his ass out for the sheer amount of collateral damage he generated in his fights. One experience after the next crammed into his head the scope of his power against the surrounding world. Victims he wants to save, allies he doesn't want to hit, structures he can't destroy, villains he doesn't want to kill. Things like these were behind the development of several ultimate moves focusing his blasts, condensing their power, limiting the area of affect to strike what he wanted and nothing else.

The minutiae of his training came from embarrassment over his inability to light a stupid campfire with his Quirk when asked... Yeah, that put his ass in gear to focus on smaller aspects of his Quirk. Watching Endeavor's fine-tuned approach to his own Quirk also encouraged Bakugo to likewise work on applying his explosions to similar things. Whether it's medical cauterizing or creating small "fireworks" in his hand to show kids his Quirk without scaring them (yes, he did that once, fuck off) the young hero has continued to stand behind his "my Explosion will do anything I need it to" claim. Plateaus aren't tolerated.

Yato's dignity doesn't fall in Bakugo's eyes. He weathers pain that would have adults screaming or passing out. Even his whimpers fail to prompt an angry reprimand from the proud hero. Instead, they encourage him to continue his work with the same efficiency and attention, refusing to let Yato down after he's put up with so much of Bakugo's efforts to help him.

A healer will have to come later. He can't call one of them over since the oculars are affected by the waves as well. And distracting someone during the battle, as well as potentially abandoning Yato to go look for a healer, is not happening. Unsure of whether the god will be able to fight much more after the treatment, Bakugo aims to get him as patched up as he's able. Wet material clings to the seared flesh, soothing over over time. Only when it's at least eased off the major pain does he finally secure the scarf with a tie. He almost tears it off, like a medical bandage, on instinct, but stops himself before he can bite. That would've been a fucking mistake. With the front and back of Yato's leg now cauterized and wrapped, he can safely remove the tourniquet to let the blood start flowing once more.]

Alright. [Bakugo pops the capsule's top and hands the metal piece to Yato. While he takes the medicine (which is basically thick water and plant extract) the blonde eases the god's leg down and gets off the other one. Another crash blooms flame and debris behind them as Outsiders strike into the kaiju rampaging around the room. They have more to do, but a few pockets of silence suggest others of their number are being treated or resting for a moment. This isn't over... but the creature seems to be waning. Not as fast, not as large, focusing on more defensive and evasive shapes. Wearing it down. Bakugo turns back to Yato and collects his vial once the god's done.]

Urusei. [To the thanks. He keeps himself between the war and his companion.] Stay still for another minute or two. Give your leg time to adjust and the medicine to kick in. Once it works, you'll have to keep looking at yourself for wounds because you probably won't feel it. [The tradeoff of numbed pain is a lack of warning that you're bleeding out.]