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]

[he'll bring up shinsou another time, if he becomes relevant. no want to trigger the looming reality of ptsd this will leave denji with. first vegas, now transylvania. the kaiju better sit down and shut the fuck up for the rest of the year. it might take some prodding on denji's part, but he'll get the stories out of bakugou later on in their lives together. not one to drop a massive lore on him, he prefers it in trickles and bite-size chunks. sad but true, he's not a wizened old man with eighty years of experience to serve endless stories up. yet for denji, he'll give him what he wants, if it means seeing the soft smile on his face and the happiness warming his chest. do we need to bring up again the cameo denji made in mha again? if but for a moment, denji was canonly part of katsuki's hero world. maybe one day, after all this is done, that can be made real, should lilith's technology permit the travel. for now, he'll tell denji stories as he recovers and drifts off to sleep, before taking a silent vigil next to him until the young hero likewise feels comfortable enough to close his eyes.

no, not even the obvious medical tech coming to help denji gets katsuki's trust until he vets what his intent is. denji's been through too much for the blonde to allow someone to remotely show intent towards him without getting screened thoroughly. and unlike his boyfriend, katsuki is still strong enough to force the issue. a bleeding, broken, furious stag with antlers ready to protect his mate. luckily it doesn't come to that. the blood is accepted and goes down with one gory spurt after another. red eyes soak in the sight of denji's throat dip, his voicebox bobbing atop the column of his neck, and the sticky ghost of his breath returning. fuck, unwanted tension and worry nooses tight and vices his chest as the half-devil's eyes drift shit. don't sleep! no, sleep. shake him awake! let him rest. he'll have nightmares! chase them off. what's important now is denji resting. one slithering sinew after another sealing patch of skin doesn't mean anything if the hunter's mind and energy are so taxed, he ends up a healthy vegetable. rest. that's what he needs. comfort and rest. to combat the exhaustion and pain no among the healing will fix.

passing on the second blood syringe, katsuki gruffly dismisses the paramedic to help others who need it more. as always, it's amazing how thoroughly denji's recovery powers are off what could be a relatively small amount of blood. yet this time, no revving saws or cheery smiles come once it finishes. completely healed isn't the end of this trial. there's more to it as bakugou walks past the medic. his boots crunch over the dirt courtyard before tromping on the metal grate of the shuttle's landing ramp. sunrise will be here soon, but it carries as much an ominous sense of weight as it does the relief over their victory. this wasn't the pyrrhic victory of seoul; but it was far more personal a battle. striking again at the outsiders themselves, like vegas. are we good enough? they won, but they let the people important to them be taken with no fucking chance to prevent it. there's no answers to how it happened, no hint as to what they could have done to stop it. and the villagers, the people, they were supposed to help ended up betraying them this time around. who abandoned humanity this time?

it's a mess. but he can deal with that mess another time. right now, he's needed here, physically, mentally, emotionally. turning into a small alcove, he eases down to his knees and lies denji atop one of the cots, making sure he's settled before shifting to sit beside him. a hand lingers on denji's own, gloved thumb brushing over his knuckles. in a bit, he'll get some water and a washcloth to start wiping at his face. in a bit.] I will. You're not going to hurt anyone else.

[even if he has to leave denji a head and torso, he'll prevent his boyfriend from spilling any further blood. as the hunter tries to sit up, the hero firmly puts his other hand to his collarbone, refusing to let him move. down, denji. you're not well yet. talk if you must, but don't move. katsuki looks down at him from a half-covering lean over his boyfriend. red eyes quiet and resolved. he'll be here as long as he can, unless an emergency calls him out. but even that will only get him to move after his boyfriend's asleep.] Nothing I won't survive. You should've seen those bastards who got in my way.

[taunting, mocking, arrogant, angry, whatever he wants to take from that, denji's free to. he could've said "i'm fine" like the resolute badass he is, but he's been called out on it before. so yeah, katsuki admits he's injured. yet it's nothing he can't come back from and operate through.]

[nutkick]

[ it did feel like - they're losing, aren't they? yes, the kaiju is defeated. are they not acting smart enough? this is the third mission that was more of a fuck up than a victory. what will happen next? more deaths, or will the kaiju win for a change? they keep getting stronger, quickly matching the outsider's strength and catching them off guard. missions used to be an exciting adventure where he can be as free as he wants, but now denji is— terrified of what will happen next. if it were bakugou in the dungeon ... if he was the one who lost his arm, lost a huge part of his quirk, and he did it to him - denji would never recover. it's scary how little control he had over himself, how he fell victim to someone or something fucking with his head. this is the second time! this can't be his new normal!

the reflections hit him hard, and he looked visibly uncomfortable as they settled down, quick to reach for bakugou's hand even before he could sit next to him. it's a desperate grasp, fingers quivering a bit. his throat felt dry, and he took in a deep inhale, trying to mute those fears again. they come and go like waves, promising him many restless nights full of nightmares. denji couldn't escape; he's still getting tortured even after their rescue, and all the other outsiders who've been kidnapped are equally messed up. they will return to a hollow base, full of silence and mourning. this time, their recovery might last longer than the previous mission. some outsiders might be burdened with the aftercare, attending to their teammates, and helping them get through it. as much as denji didn't want to be a fucking burden— judging from the way he's clinging and holding into his boyfriend's hand, the road to recuperation won't be an easy one. he just couldn't do it alone this time. there is something within him that is utterly broken, and he doesn't know how to cope yet.

when he calms down enough to glance up at the other boy, denji tries his best from where he's resting to search through bakugou's body. he can see the blood but is uncertain if those heavy stains belong to him or if his partner is badly injured - 'nothing I can't survive' is a reassuring answer, and he urges his heart to believe him. it didn't mean denji wouldn't wave for a medic to come their way once the chaos eased in because he knew ... they would be busy for a while. they haven't come out yet, right? the real victims. the half-devil wanted to escape before the aftermath of this mission truly came to light. he closed his eyes and rolled his head towards bakugou's side— if he could curl up against him and hide, he would. he didn't know how katsuki would feel when he found out both choso and nanami, who were close to his friend yuuji, are two of his victims. he didn't know how everlight would treat him when he walked into the base. will this mission breed animosity among the team? hell, denji won't blame anyone who would look at him differently. he didn't know how to fix it, or if it can be fixed?

everything is so wrong.

he can feel the exhaustion taking over. of fuck— no, he didn't want to give in to it now. even when his boyfriend promised him he would stop him; he didn't know what else would happen in this shitty village? will he wake up to find himself in that dungeon again? no, no no. he didn't want to lose consciousness here. his eyes fluttered, heavy with a drowsy weight he couldn’t shake; struggling against the creeping fog that slowly dulled the edges of everything around him. his eyelids drooped again before he forced them open as if a gentle lull of sedatives wrapped around him tighter with each second. he's pretty sure he was fed blood, and nothing mixed with it. denji seems to have forgotten he's been awake for days without a hint of rest, similar to him passing out post fighting the eternity devil. blood can't heal everything. ]

... Don't leave. [ he whispered, his voice barely audible, slipping away like sand through his fingers. he's sorry, so sorry - tolerate him a bit longer, bakugou. ] Please don't leave me. I don't want to be alone ...

[ he glances up to him, eyes barely open. ] Promise me I'll wake up, and you'll be next to me ...

[blastedass]

[he can't answer that question. the worm took them out with a surprise brainwash. the dragons capitalized on their mistake. ironically it wasn't the kaiju that did anything this time around; it was the people they were supposed to help. bakugou still wants to know how the fuck these random assholes with no technology managed to steal a third of their forces from their fucking sides without any of them knowing! drugs are drugs, but trying to pull denji away from bakugou in the same bed when the blonde hero specifically avoided eating too much of the food and drank nothing but water he personally got from another place? ... he'll dwell on that later. the kaiju are getting stronger and their position in helping the people afflicted by them is starting to slip. though unlike seoul, transylvania fucked itself over. these murderous cultists already abandoned humanity.

a hand seizes his own like a cable pulling taut, quivering for a moment before he tightens his grip on denji's hand and takes his seat beside the bed. so many of them are going to have these injuries for a long time. not the physical ones, but the mental trauma from their captivity. the rest will need to deal with agitation, protectiveness, trust issues, and more going forward. katsuki's already thinking about refusing to stay anywhere in new traveling arrangement except in the fucking ship they came on or near the teleportation device in the lilith base. fuck being "among the people" again. they were set apart, targeted, blamed, and now tricked. drawing in on themselves and refusing to let others get inside (except for new outsides) seems a natural course of action. how many of their numbers are going to be plagued by nightmares, by ptsd flashes and triggers, woken up by other friends and allies to calm their fear or protect them from trauma? the guilt of being a burden, when it's not their fault, would only compound their despair and frustrations. no, they'll be feeling this for a long time. katsuki doesn't want to deal with this kind of thing happening again...

don't wave a medic over here, denji. katsuki will dismiss them to someone who needs more immediate treatment, and angrily so. he can clean and dress his own wounds beside his boyfriend. apart from the bleeding bite wound on his bicep, most of his damage came from blunt-force trauma and a few scratches from being momentarily overwhelmed by numbers or caught off guard at the last second. ribs and back are a little fucked up right now, breathing hurts, but none of that matters compared to what denji and others have gone through. he would've waded in there and fought even if he were holding his guts in his body with one hand.

no, the victims are emerging. akin to katsuki's long trek back up the stairs to the dawn light, other outsiders are bringing their close companions back with them. doubtful this mission would breed animosity among people. the worm pit them all against each other, they damaged each other, and the only excuse was brainwashing. this is no different, with the trappings of drugs and cults and worse added in. if anyone wanted to blame one of the kidnapped victims for their torment, that would be the animosity point. katsuki knows the names of the victims, but no one knows, yet, who did what down there... maybe they don't want to know. the burden of apology and guilt left to the privacy of those who knew that hell.]

I won't leave. [a quiet, firm promise. he leans over denji from his place beside him, shins and knees pressing to the cot's rim, forearm settling on the opposite side of his boyfriend's head. covering his visage with his own as more movement and activity carry on behind his back. doctors, medics, outsiders, victims, it's picking up. he watches denji fight against his own exhaustion, assuming the fear that keeps his eyes flying open each time he realizes they'd been lidding. terrified he'd wake up and find it all a dream. katsuki can't stop that fear, but he can continue to promise and prove it every time the half-devil wakes up. as much as he wants to return to the castle to recover other outsiders, he'll have to leave it to his allies. right now, denji's his priority. unless the fucking kaiju comes back and attacks them, he's here.] Every time you open your eyes, I'll be here.

[red eyes linger on the sandy brown, holding him as much as his arms and body keep denji covered.] I'm not going anywhere. [he plans to get a basin of water and a washcloth brought to him so he can clean denji up while he sleeps, but that'll come later, when things are calmed down enough he can bark an order at someone else. katsuki refuses to leave denji's side.] I won't let go of you, Denji.