[OPEN] Mission 155

[soul_mods]

Characters: Open to those who signed up here.
Location: An unmarked cavern system outside Death City.
Rating: Various.
Time: March 18th, sunrise.
Description: Shibusen agents brave underwater caverns to take out the first of three Madness emitters.

Missiongoers pile out of the mirrors early in the morning, just as the first hints of sun start to color the walls of the sandstone canyon red and purple; it'll be the last bits of real light they'll see for at least a few hours. The atmosphere is electric -- there're quite a few new (and old) arrivals who're eager to see some action, but just as many people who're feeling rather more apprehensive… And for good reason.

The only way to their destination is blocked by a few hundred yards of sunken tunnels. Luckily they've been provided with mouthpieces, breathing apparatuses with enough oxygen to last about ten minutes: more than enough time, provided that the guests don't lose their way in the dimly-lit, twisted caverns. It's as easy as following the person in front of them, right?

Upon emerging safely from the pool onto mostly-dry land, they'll find themselves in an immense cavern, illuminated by countless, blue fungi clinging to the walls and ceiling, looking like stars dotting a night sky. Already the first signs of the way Madness has been corrupting the wildlife are evident: the mushrooms exude strange spores that make some people's head pound the same way the increasingly noticeable Madness wavelength does.

As they travel further into the watery caves and explore its many branches, they'll begin to encounter creatures twisted by Madness: moles, snakes, beetles, centipedes, all grown to monstrous proportions, some with a venomous bite that quickly turns their victim feverish and delirious. The more daring fighters can easily dispatch those and delve even deeper, and it's near the source of the Madness, in the chamber housing the emitter itself, that they'll encounter the kishin eggs.

There're dozens of them-- eyeless, white, vaguely human-shaped things, but despite their blindness they have no problem finding their quarry, fighting with claws and exuding their own Madness wavelength. If the missiongoers can stand strong against the kishin eggs and the ever-present wavelength given off by the Madness emitter, Shibusen's specialists will have enough time to shut the machine down for good.


OOC NOTES.
- The event summary post containing all relevant links is located here.
- Make your own threads, but please indicate in your subject line [CHARACTER(S) | LOCATION | OPEN/CLOSED] and, if applicable, if you need a kishin egg NPC!
- The locations are the sunken tunnels, the medics area, the cave system, and the emitter chamber, but only the medics will have their designated sub-thread.
- If you have any further questions, the mod thread on the coordination post is here!

Comments

[topgun_textiles]

The transformation of both Tifa and Alucard painted the walls with additional light, and Kanji quickly took stock of what room he had to deal with before he felt the weight of the Premium Heart at his right hand.

"OUT OF OUR WAY!" He roared, bringing his focus inward despite the sounds in his head. That deep gray soul sparked and flared, temporarily driving away the darkness - he had another soul to worry about now, and he would not drag her down, damn it - as he fired a Soul Descent into the ground, trembling the chamber to try and bring this thing down, whatever it may be.

Should it fall, he'd greet it with the swing of a fist into the dark mass.

[heart_rhythm]

Instantly when the chamber began to quake, the air was filled with the loud, almost slicing sound of sharp wings, the remaining light picking up the sight of a monstrously large beetle speeding down towards them.

Tifa was reminded of the large spiders and ants that had swarmed the city not that long ago; apparently the Witches had a thing for mutilating insects. Holding tight to Kanji, she prepared herself for an attack, keeping the other pair in her sight as well.

[timelessummoner]

Raidou held his arms out for balance as the ground shook. When he looked up again, the beetle was making a beeline for them, quicker than one would expect of a monster of that size. It would trap them all in a corner if they didn't move; he broke into a run, slipping past the beetle and moving away from Kanji and Tifa. With attacks coming from two sides, the monster would be at a disadvantage.

[draculabackwards]

Alucard resonated well enough with Raidou that they could backdash around the monster and hack it from behind. He relied on Raidou's improved swordsmanship to find a way to clip a few of its legs off. Even in cramped quarters, Raidou was performing admirably.

You will make me feel inadequate with the amount of skill you are showing.

[topgun_textiles]

That beetle wasn't so big. He'd fought Shadows just like this before. They always had a tough defense in that thick outer shell, but it was always a matter of breaking through or wearing it down before it wore you down with its devastating attacks.

Kanji dove left, those spindly legs landing where he once was. nothing about this felt like a kishin egg, however... maybe this was another witch familiar? He couldn't tell, but like everything else, it would be crushed! With a snarl he took advantage of the fact that the dark even gave the beetle some trouble, its body bumping and scraping against the hazardous stone walls as it turned to try and gore any soft body it could with the massive horn attached to the face. Kanji planted a foot against the flat of that horn when it was swung in his direction, and kicked it away, following it up with a downward hook into its mug with the blue crystal of the Premium Heart.

He was feeling that little flame burning deep in the pit of him. If he kept this up, he could wreck this thing's shit with a Beat Rush!

[heart_rhythm]

It felt like almost nothing to fight this thing compared to some of the kishin they'd fought already. But Kanji was charging in like there was no difference; it was a quality she admired about her partner. No matter what the fight, he never put in any less effort. But Tifa wanted to make sure he didn't exert himself too early when they might have stronger foes waiting.

Supporting him and holding strong to their resonation, Tifa murmured quietly through their connection, "Let's just finish it quick and move on. There are kishin eggs ahead."

[timelessummoner]

Kanji's attack clearly hurt; the beetle made an attempt to scamper back and fly away. This was a bad move on its part, as it had to open its hard shell to uncover its wings, leaving its rear unguarded.

Raidou wasted no time driving his sword deep into the monster's back.