EVENT: Battle Against the Kishin Adachi

[soul_mods]

Characters: Anyone who signed up for Mission 254
Location: Matsue City, Japan
Rating: PG13
Time: September 11th
Description: It's time to bring down the Kishin Adachi, once and for all!



Matsue was once a lovely city and a nice place for tourists to visit.

It is now a ghost town.

Some lucky citizens had managed to escape the city before things got really bad, but they are the minority. Even fewer still are those who stayed and are still alive.

Most of them are dead, or worse, they had been driven mad by the Madness the Kishin Adachi exuded and killed their fellow citizens and consumed their souls, becoming Kishin Eggs. To make matters worse, sometimes when you're fighting you'll hear the distant rattling of chains and some primal part of your soul knows, something wicked this way comes.

And then there's all the Yellow Fog...

Only those who persevere will make it to their final destination: the Adachi Art Museum where Adachi is.

It will not be an easy fight, but in order to prevent the fate of this city from befalling on another, everyone will need to try.

((OOC: Please indicate in the subject: Character || OPEN/CLOSED. There will be a separate thread for encountering Adachi. Event information is here.))

Comments

[recitings]

[Genesis in perfect resonance, Genesis couldn't help but share his partner's sentiments. The kishin eggs they had run into were obviously townspeople who had gone mad from the Kishin Adachi's power. And with the way he could feel his black blood trying to sing out to him, the Weapon could easily sympathize with their plight.

However, this was still their mission. They had an objective. And in times of war, there was no such thing as mercy if you wanted to win. In this case, their goal had the fate of the rest of the world resting in their hands. If they failed, Madness would spread all over the world. If they won, then they could be one step closer to ensuring a longer time of peace throughout this world.

This time wasn't one for dwelling on the bigger picture, though. Right now, they had an immediate threat: the possibility of meeting their shadows again. Genesis, in particular, was truly hoping not to see his. Coming to terms with what he did in his past was bad enough. To see it face him in a physical manner would be worse. And he did not want to imagine Edgeworth going up against the merciless him.]

Indeed. We shouldn't let our guard down.

[prosecutory]

[Edgeworth does not reply. Instead, he watches a kishin egg lumber toward them like a zombie, arms extended, fingers itching to strangle or scratch. He turns toward it and with a smooth slice of the Rapier, chops the monster's arms off. Instead of thinking about what he had just done, he moves in for the kill, going for the chest. Another kishin down, but there was yet another.

No...this next enemy wasn't a kishin. It was a figure emerging from the fog. A figure with bright yellow eyes, and worst of all, Edgeworth's looks. As it speaks, it speaks with Edgeworth's voice, only laced with more malice - a true Demon Prosecutor.]

You dare to place your partner in danger? You continue to hide behind Genesis Rhapsodos, even after he was infected with the Black Blood...on your account!

[This was not new to Edgeworth, not after the training. But hearing it again, in the midst of this desolate city...this was different. His blood runs cold, and his grip on the Rapier tightens so hard that his knuckles turn white. The Shadow grins - a predatory, hungry grin - as it wags its finger, as if chastising a child.]

[recitings]

[The sound of Edgeworth's voice not coming from the prosecutor himself was enough to make Genesis' own blood run cold. He knew this was going to happen, yet it didn't make it any less chilling. He just hoped that his own doppelganger wouldn't make an appearance at the same time. It would be too much, knowing the violence his shadow could be capable of.]

Keep calm, partner. You are not hiding behind me.

[prosecutory]

[He lowers the Rapier, not daring to remain in a battle stance lest the Shadow take it as a challenge, a gesture of disdain. Edgeworth knows denying or arguing with his Shadow would be hazardous to his and Genesis' health. So, he remains silent as he gathers his composure and strength, and chooses his words carefully.

Genesis' vote of confidence means a lot to him, though.]

I cannot reverse what happened to Genesis on that fateful day. [Edgeworth addresses this new arrival calmly, as calmly as he can. He filled his mind with what he has accomplished, the good parts of his stay in Death City.] I also admit that I am not as strong as he is, and he has saved my life several times.

...But I try to return the favor. I do everything in my power to fulfill my role.

[The Shadow shakes its head and shrugs, perfectly mimicking one of Edgeworth's signature gestures.]

Strong words from a weak Meister. How intriguing. I know this is but a front, a mere guise. I know you worry about your partner constantly because of what you put him through. Perhaps...perhaps you should have remained with your mentor.

Obj - [Edgeworth bites back a yell, glaring at his Shadow intently as if a glare could fry it to a crisp.]

[recitings]

[All the while, Genesis steadily remains by Edgeworth's side, despite the words that spill from the shadow's mouth. But Edgeworth's mind, he trusts, won't fall easily to his shadow's arguments. The fight between them seems to be more like a courtroom clash of wits than a violent confrontation. But as long as no blows are exchanged, this shouldn't turn worse...

... or could it? Even in his weapon form, Genesis could see another form approaching. He braced himself, expecting a kishin egg, but instead he finds precisely what he didn't want to face at this time.]

Well, well... if it isn't the man who's allowed himself to be someone's weapon once more. How pathetic.

[At the sight of his shadow approaching Edgeworth's back, Genesis had to change out of his weapon form. The shadow facing him was a degraded version of himself, with hair graying and ashen skin revealing cracks, as if he could turn into dust with a single blow. But Genesis knew that he was much stronger than that.]

... don't worry about me, partner. You face your demon, I'll face mine.

Really? Can you really fight alone? You who have demoted yourself into someone's weapon!

[prosecutory]

[Edgeworth was not in a position to see Genesis' Shadow, but when he heard it speak, he knew without a doubt that they would have to divide and conquer. He only nods to acknowledge Genesis' plan, never once taking his eyes off his own Shadow.

He narrows his eyes. There was no turning away from the truth. His voice is low as he continues to argue. It's not a nice thing to admit, but his great drive for perfection...had he possessed it now instead of throwing it away...]

My mentor's creed...it has crossed my mind. I have entertained this notion and wondered how I would have fared.

[His voice remains steady, never wavering. Still, hearing Genesis' Shadow claim that Genesis had demoted himself...yes, wouldn't Genesis have done better as the Meister half, or on his own...?]

I have worried about Genesis. I know what he has endured. I have blamed myself several times for being weak, and I am not as strong as he is. All this I admit.

[He extends a hand as if resting it on an imaginary desk. The Shadow is not impressed and chuckles, that insufferable smirk still plastered all over its face.]

Tsk, tsk. You do not convince me. I know your fears. How can you stand and fight when the slightest movement of the ground can stop you in your tracks?

[recitings]

[The question his shadow gives him makes Genesis smirk. This really was going to be easy. Although his impulse would have been to fight, he had heard that the best way to deal was simply to accept what the shadow implied.]

I'm dealing with you by myself, but I'll have you know that I'm not completely alone. Even now, even with you picking at us one by one, I have Edgeworth by my side. We're partners through and through.

How ridiculous. Then shouldn't you be at your weakest now?

You really are underestimating the bond of people within a team.

[And suddenly, the shadow had shut up and a look of puzzlement crosses his features.]

[prosecutory]

[Edgeworth glances at Genesis. At least Genesis' Shadow was silenced for now. It was up to Edgeworth to keep pummeling his Shadow verbally - well, as best as he could without making it go berserk.

Edgeworth's Shadow waits expectantly for an answer, shaking its head.]

I cannot...on my own. I will admit that much. But many people have trained me to stand my ground.

Then you admit that you are weak, and you must lean on others!

No. If I were weak, then I wouldn't stand at all, even with others around me. I've changed. You are still me, but you are not the entirety of me.

[recitings]

[Now that his shadow had been silenced, Genesis took the opportunity to move forward to change the shadow's mind, to make it accept him as he accepts the shadow as well.]

I know you well. We're one and the same, after all. However, you aren't all of me. Right now, I've learned that while I can be strong on my own, I become far more powerful with the perfect partner. That's why I'm not weakest now. No, I am at my strongest.

And you are just a part of that.

[The shadow looks absolutely flabbergasted by this, and in his stunned reaction, Genesis takes the opportunity to grab its hand and pull it close.]

You are still a part of me. A part of what makes me powerful, and I won't deny that.

[prosecutory]

[Meanwhile, Edgeworth also notices that his Shadow has fallen silent. His expression is inscrutable, but the Shadow's is twisted into disbelief and irritation.]

You're no longer refuting my statements. So, you do concede my point. You are me, and I am you.

[The Shadow spreads his feet as if getting into a confrontational stance, but says nothing except for a frustrated noise.

Edgeworth steps closer to it, arms folded across his chest.]

And that is the truth.

[recitings]

[As soon as Genesis takes his shadow's hand, the entity is stunned and just disappears, defeated by Genesis reasoning with it. At that, Genesis feels satisfied, and somehow-- it also feels as if he had gotten stronger by facing that dark part of himself.

He looks over to Edgeworth, keenly eyeing his progress but not wanting to interfere. It seems as if he's at the end of his battle as well.]

[prosecutory]

[Edgeworth doesn't notice Genesis looking over; he is too busy watching his double just glare at him, seething with pent-up rage as if desperately grappling for something to say even when it has become clear that there is nothing more. Edgeworth maintains eye contact, not at all fazed by the glare, until the Shadow disappears. When that happens, he sighs in relief, glad that it was over and he had managed to face his other self.

It is only then that he glances toward Genesis, and nods.]

...Perhaps I should be thankful that I did indeed meet my Shadow, after all.

[recitings]

Feel stronger, partner?

[Genesis gives his Meister a quiet smile, also glad that he had also found a way to defeat it. After all, those they just faced were the darkest parts of their psyche. it was just right that they felt more confidence after overcoming them.]

[prosecutory]

[He lowers his head slightly, then raises it, holding it high. Edgeworth sets his jaw, trying to relax. That was it, he told himself. That's done.

And in all honesty, he feels accomplished, having stared his other side down and prevailed instead of letting it drag him down. It was a testament to how far he - and Genesis - had come.]

Yes. Yes, I do.

End?

[recitings]

Good. We can move forward now.

[And with pride radiating from his smile, he moves ahead of his Meister, re-joining the charge to the Kishin Adachi.]

Yup, this ends yet another brothread

[prosecutory]

[And of course, Edgeworth is not one to remain standing there for long, and he follows Genesis promptly, ready to face the next phase of this battle.]