middleofsomewhere | Finale: All teams

Finale: All teams

Inside the System

The forest seems endless as the Voidtreckers move through it, soothing the red vines that constrict the trees as they go. But eventually they will start to come together, as though they are being funnelled towards a centre.

The trees end, the forest opening out into a large clearing. Vines carpet the floor and climb up the trees, curving to create a dome of red mesh that blocks out the sky. As everyone gathers in the clearing, vines weave past them to cover the entrances, closing them in. The red light does little to light up the gloomy dome, but as their eyes adjust they will see a huge gnarled and broken tree in the centre. It pulses with the same sickly red glow.

From the gloom creatures emerge, more of the mongoose. These ones are larger, teeth and claws are sharp as they circle the clearing, hissing and snarling.

The tree begins to move, its branches and roots are huge and they swing towards the gathering Voidtreckers with a speed that seems unlikely for their size, roots rise up to try and tangle around limbs.

The vines creating the dome can be soothed, but there are so many of them it will be a lengthy job and the mongooses patrol the edges, attacking anyone who is trying to clear the roots. Often they will give chase to anyone who tries to run, trying to hound them into the path of the tree roots or into the range of the attacking branches.

All the while more vines are growing from the tree, pulsing red strands that spread towards the walls of the dome and beyond.

Outside the System

For those that did not enter the system it has been a long vigil over their unconscious teammates. The sectors still have problems but these seem to lessen: there are fewer emergency alerts in Winter, the walls stop moving in Autumn, all seems calm in Spring and the weather calms in Summer.

But as Day Eleven of the month of Jelly begins there seems to be a shift: the sky darkens, going from the usual clear blue that is has been for days to a dark, burnt red.

The Helpmates have mostly calmed the last few days, but now there are more of them and they will attack on sight. The only place they will not enter is the inner sanctuaries of the Great-Seasons, where the bodies of those who have entered the system still lie.

A few times the ground ominously rumbles and for anyone still in the Spring sector there are certainly a few frightened alpaca-type creatures to calm.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Even without his usual access to his ki abilities, or his half-saiyan heritage in here, Trunks still had his combat instincts. He moved to support Kairi, also making his way towards the tree, with some ice-shards thrown at the mongeese. His 'sword' wasn't acting like a sword, but that was alright--it was still more than enough to parry and block vines.

"Got your back."

Kairi's whirlwind keeps the grasping root off Jack just long enough for Devero to step in. He drops to a knee and uses his prodigious strength to just tear the root apart. "Go!" he says as he stands, shoving Jack forward into the hole that Trunks and Kairi are starting to bore through the tree's defenses.

Devero-- who's no longer dressed in the Saiyan armor but rather something out of his past-- hangs back to keep that hole open. He's realized the utility of his strength, and sets to using both his hands and his two batons to not just parry the grasping roots and sweeping branches, but to break them.

He throws aside one snapped branch and throws up a baton to keep another from swatting the head and shoulders of a fellow passenger. "Keep moving, I've got this!"

Naturally, Koumyou Sanzo isn't far from Devero. He looks younger than normal, and the illusion on his weapon is that of a simple katana.

Which he's not the least shy about using, nor is he noticeably rusty with it. Too bad it can't actually slice.

He takes his cue from Devero, staying back to help keep the hole from sealing.

No banter from the priest for once, too busy swatting vines and branches away, even his expression focused and serious.

[Masumi is doing her best to work her way towards the tree, having gotten the hang of using her water powers to knock away attacking mongoose while working through the forest.

The roots and branches are a whole different problem though, and take more effort to block as she struggles towards the tree. One root goes to grab at her ankles, and she's forced to stop and blast it with water before it can get a solid grip on her.]

As Nita ran towards the tree she would find roots curling up to catch at her ankles. Kaiba's ice caused branches to freeze and crack, though roots come for him to, swiping at both him and Jonouchi in an attempt to trip them, to break their concentration.

Yuume and Tidus both sent leaves flying into the tree, branches flailed around, a swirling shield of sticks to protect the tree against the razor sharp leaves coming towards it and batting some back towards them. A section of leaves fly directly at Cassie but are blocked by her whirlwind shield.

Allen and Emporio have begun to clear a part of the forest floor with their fireballs, causing roots and branches to withdraw. The mongeese seem less wary as they surround the boys,, though Otoha is keeping a good number of them busy. Two of them leap at him, trying to sink their teeth into limbs.

Senku soothes the vine that has him tangled whilst Gen fights off mongeese. A tree root tangles around Senku's foot, replacing the soothed vine and it tries to pull him, dragging him in the direction of the tree.

Yugi is in similar danger, tangled in vines and roots that are trying to pull him towards the tree, a further danger has come from three mongeese that are heading towards the prone boy, though some relief comes in the form of Yoite who blasts the nearest one away with his water. Masumi saves herself from a similar tangled fate with some quick water blasting though another root is creeping up on her other foot.

Demyx and Rapunzel skip over vines, using leaves and ice to deal with the mongeese. Their skipping game is about to become a little trickier as two large tree branches come in from above, swinging in like clubs towards the two of them.

Handsome Jack is saved by Kairi's whirlwind shield, and Devero's strength as Kairi and Trunks try and force a hole in the tangle of roots and branches. Handome Jack, Kairi and Trunks will all find more roots trying to grab onto them as Devero and Koumyou tear into the undergrowth with pure strength. There is a snarling as three mongeese leap at the two men.

Otoha just watches almost impassively as the mongeese leap at him and darts towards Allen and Emporio. He promised he'd look out for the kid and he intends to keep his promise. He goes to kick one of the ones near the boys away, grunting a little with the effort.

He has not bothered to dislodge the mongeese from his arm and leg.

Allen looks over aiming a fireball towards the closest mongoose, if he could help it he was going to keep them away as best as he could, but he was at least happy to know that there was another coming to.

"Thanks" he called happily since now it meant they could at least focus on moving on ahead.

[She barely notices the second root in time, hurriedly blasting it just as it had started to take hold of her other foot. Because of her focus on not getting entangled by the branches and roots, she's not making much progress towards the tree so far, and so makes the realization that she might need some backup to actually make any progress.]

Anyone able to help me deal with these roots?

Kairi was trying her best to avoid the roots, but the numbers seem to only be increasing. When she looked over she could see someone else that needed help, so for her, that took her priority.

With one helped she made her way over, using leaves to get close before using another whirlwind shield to cover the other.

"I hope that helped a little bit, just to get your bearings."

She was a little delayed by a mongoose that she quickly blinded and threw a fire ball at. Another fireball was sent into the nearest roots of the tree, trying to clear a path.

She used her stick to fight off branches, trees were her newest least favourite thing to fight.

The debris thrown back his way isn't enough to deter or worry Tidus, more than the roots underfoot that made this battle difficult to traverse. He jumps from one new perch to another, and it's in his movements Tidus spots the state of Yugi, throws out a hand and a call. "Yugi!"

A shield of wind surrounds the other guy, hopefully to tear off the bark clinging on him, trying to drag him off. A mongoose comes at Tidus, slowing him as he has to bat it away, though it attempts after to use bladed air to get one or both of the remaining mongoose threatening to bother the duellist.

Yugi managed to aim a couple more water attack at what seemed to be left before quickly moving to get up, sighing with relief. Sure he was keeping his distance but that honestly didn't seem to matter.

Instead he is just going to survey and see what is the best way to handle things while still keeping alert to his own situation.

But first things first...

"Thanks," he said before using more water to send the other mongoose away. "I'll deal with things back here, the others need to go on ahead if they can. But the vines we need to be the most careful of. I think those will be the most unpredictable."

Which speaking off, Yugi moved to hit a couple away.

Elsewhere Nita held herself steady, not feeling angry, not feeling flummoxed...

Just that cool, calm determination.

She'll jump from root to root, press through them even if they gouge at her (she can't bleed in here anyway), and find herself spinning to dodge. Sometimes she walks sideways...

But she never runs. Some of her strength she feels she has to hold in reserve. Call it instinct.

One vine down, that was so much better, after all he couldn't leave Gen on his own to deal with the mongeese that were so determined to defeat them.

He'd barely gotten to his feet when the roots wound around them to drag him back down. He groaned, banging his arm upon landing.

"What the fuck!" He swore, and aimed a blast of ice in the direction of the vines.

Senku's luck held true, he missed completely and found himself being dragged to the tree with a surprised cry. "Mentalist!"

Was that Jonouchi....? What.

But there's not much time to think. Kaiba finds himself ensnared and whacked (hey, there's a lot of limb to grab onto) and goes down with a yell. He can't reach Yugi in time...but Tidus is always there, still looking out for him. He'll smile about that later.

Now. His rage builds, and the icy field effect extends a bit further in his desperation. He wills it deeper inside, to make the way easier while he works on catching up.

He was relieved to see that Yugi was saved by a terrible fate and Yoite just nodded his acknowledgement.

He was looking around, trying to keep his eyes on the mongeese and the vines a little quickly, but he was blasting off the water like he was an expert at something like that.

He kind of was.

Yoite just had to keep from getting captured himself so he could help.

"Senku!" Gen shouted, eyes wide with horror as he turned to see the root dragging his boyfriend back toward the tree. Most of the mongoose he'd frozen in the initial wave, but any others he was now ignoring as he ran toward Senku.

He'd worry about those creatures closing in on him in a moment. First, he'd aim some icy shards at the root, hopefully severing it and freeing Senku. At least his aim was true, enough time spent doing random tricks with knives before and during the stone world to transfer to this.

Once Senku was free, he'd worry about whatever was closing in on him.

"ACK-!" Suffice to say, that's a close call for Emporio- if it wasn't for Otoha, he'd definitely have teeth in his arm. As it stands he doesn't quite succeed at sending any fire after the ones latching onto the 'rescuer', grimacing and settling for burning up the branches and roots around them instead.

"These things are really determined..! What even are they?"

He's never seen a mongoose, alright?

Meanwhile, Yuume- being nearer to Tidus and others- spots the growing dangers and scowls. "Tch. Of course it can repel it more easily," she snaps, doing her best to hop and weave around what branches attempt to trip them. She might not have shadows, but she at least has standard footwork. "Back off!" she snaps to nothing but the tree in particular, focusing another whirlwind shield around the ones who need it most. Maybe she can use this more creatively...maybe...

She looks to another of the group, one of those struggling against the roots at their feet. "Hold still-" She'll try creating a shield between them and the wood- force it back with brute force.

...

And then there's, well, Katsuya. Katsuya isn't doing the worst, but he's certainly not doing the best, but all in all that's about how the cookie crumbles for him. Could he use a heads up on something? Sure, but he's not getting it, so for now he just grumbles and jumps in attempt to skip around and out the wood. "AaaaACk- C'mon, not more 'f this crap..!" he groans, summoning up water to make it easier to slip out from any holds and charge on forward. The water is flung along the ground and roots backward- hopefully helping more than a few others in that path as well.

"C'mon, th' more we focus on movin', th' less we're gonna be held back righ'?" A quick heal on his cuts as he moves, and he even climbs some branches as they come. It's like climbing a moving jungle gym!

"H-IIHH!"

...If they could try and kill you. Yeah. He won't think about that, and just focus on not getting hit so hard he gets knocked off or something.

"Geeze!" Demyx cried out, skipping over a vine, but ducking a branch.

"What got this tree so mad?"

He threw his leaves at a mongoose that was getting ready to shoot laser beams and he huffed.

"Man, my magic is so much more powerful than this usually."

The mongoose that is kicked away by Otoha goes spinning, the two with teeth in him start scrabling at him with claws, attack his arm and leg ferociously. Around them branches burn from Emporio's fireballs and Allen keeps another mongoose from attacking Otoha. For now a path has been made further into the tangle of branches, if Otaha can get rid of his new friends.

Kairi's whirlwing covers Buttercup as the girl sets fire to branches, saving her from an incoming mongoose to the back.

Tidus' whirwind was aptly timed to rescue Yugi, who rushed off to find more branches, these thick and gnarly, swinging at him down to his chest height, strong enough to knock him off his feet if they hit. Yoite was being chased by two roots, that seemed almost determined to twist around his feet as he pushed forward. Masumi would find a whirlwind around her as well as Yuume tried to force a barrier between her and the roots. It was effective, if a little painful as the root was dragged away from Masumi's foot. Having rescued Yugi, Tidus was charged by two mongeese, who fired at him as they snarled.

Luckily Senku's cry for help was heeded by Gen whose ice shards struck true, severing the roots that were dragging Senku away. Gen might need to think fast as there are still two mongeese on his tail, jumping towards him with bared teeth.

Branches whipped around Jonouchi as he does his best to keep moving forwards. Kaiba is not so lucky as a root darts as he stumbles to try to wrap around his leg even the icy field he spreads out around him deters any mongeese from taking advantage.

Demyx knocks the mongoose off the root it is balancing on before it can shoot though another branch swings in from behind him. Nita continues to progress through the roots though may be delayed by a mongoose jumping up through the roots in front of her, towards her face.

Nita's not expecting something to jump up at her - rather than, say, down - but she brings up her hands between the creature and her face, willing for it to stop moving.

And with the inexplicable magic at her command, it may literally freeze in place, if no one else attacks it first.

Rapunzel had been pretty much skipping and humming a little tune as she did. But when she needed to be serious and unleash an attack she stops, turning to attack whatever was close to her.

Shew was just glad she was nimble enough to find it a bit easier to dodge, but still finding herself having to ice a few vines if she finds herself tangled.

Trunks had been snarled up trying to keep a hole open, but this is getting ridiculous. Time to try a new strategy as he focuses on keeping their opening clear. Freezing branches and vines, and slashing at Mongeese (and their laser-eyes). Freezing one particularly annoying branch, he follows up with a swing of his 'sword'-stick, attempting to shatter it.

Kairi herself was just making sure that if people need help she will be there. Sure at times, she may trip up for a moment, but she is quick to get back into it.

For now, though her focus was on what the others were trying to focus on: the hole. Making her way over, she plans on using her leaves as a way to cut some vines open and help in that aspect, spinning around to soon kick a nearby mongoose.

Demyx was jumping around, avoiding vines okay this time when he ducked the branch, he got whacked upside the head. Fortunately it was just a graze, his luck was holding out.

A quick glance over his shoulder and he realized someone was lagging behind. Oh man, he gets the feeling if they lose someone, people might blame him and then where would he be?

There was no reason to believe that, except his own paranoia, but that healthy paranoia kept him alive so he didn't knock it. He was having an easy enough time navigating so he fell back and attacked that root, using his cutting leaf powers to do it. He split his focus by swinging his stick and sending a mongoose flying. At least someone in this battle was combat hardened.

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