yumemigaoka | Sachiko's June Schenanigans Open Post

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sachiko ishikawa

Sachiko's June Schenanigans Open Post

⭐ Who: Sachiko, possibly her Father, and YOU!
⭐ When: First Week of June
⭐ Where: Promised Morning Private Academy, Yumemigaoka City Hall and Randomly About the Dream Sphere
⭐ What: Sachiko being a menace, Sachiko fighting with her dad, then being a menace, and Dreamer Zeal fangirling over other Dreamer's fighting a Torment!
⭐ Warnings: Disrespect to Civil Servants and Parents, Spammy

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"Bold of you to assume I'm gonna stab that thing before it's done with you," he counters back easily, his tone deceptively light. Of course, that's a lie-- even if no one really died in the Dream Sphere, there could still be repercussions in the Waking World, especially when it involved Nightmare attacks. At her muttered thanks, however, he merely turns away, barely acknowledging it aside from a small huff. He may have saved her, but that didn't mean he wasn't still annoyed at this shrimp for causing all of this trouble in the first place! ~~Don't mind him, though, he's just being a brat~~

Besides, this wasn't the time for begrudging thanks or heartfelt moments or anything of the sort-- they were in the thick of things now, and thankfully Chaosbringer had a (surprisingly) better head for strategy and planning than Hanako did. And not only was he a better commander, he was a better fighter too... though it was hard to focus much on what he was doing when a lot of his attacks involved throwing around thunder and lightning like it was going out of style. Logically, Hanako knew there were much more dangerous things afoot here than electricity and booming noises, but... it still left him a little more on edge, regardless. Maybe if he stuck to focusing on his side the best he could without needing to go to Chaosbringer for cover, he could avoid the worst of it...

With that goal in mind, he charges directly into the thick of things, using his Hakujoudai to knock back any Torments in Sudo's or Chaosbringer's direction, and parrying the blows of those looking to attack him head on. His mere knife had nowhere near the range nor weight to compare with Chaosbringer's hefty sword, but what it lacked in size, it made up in precision. Deftly, he dodges and weaves around the creatures, almost like a dance, keeping his eyes peeled for just the right opening before he plunges in his blade for the kill. For some, it's an easy enough stab and swipe, cleaving them neatly in half, but for the others, he can only lop off an arm or leg, their stronger hides making it more difficult to get the knife all the way through. Dimly, he can hear some commotion from behind him-- it sounds like that girl was bringing some chaos over to Chaosbringer-- but he doesn't bother to go and look, so absorbed in his own one-on-one battles that the only thing that gives him pause is... a freaky spider possessed Torment coming into the fray???

If this was less of a fraught time, he would have probably flippantly followed up Zeal's question with a suggestion that she should try it herself and see-- but instead, he whirls his head towards her, a small smile on his face that very clearly did not reach his eyes, as he held up his Torment-gooey knife and bit out: "Girl. Nightmare chow. Don't make me repeat myself again, okay? ♥︎ Now's not the time." Seriously, the last thing they needed was a Dreamer going into Berserker Mode on top of anything else!! Not that the weird possessed creature wasn't cool, but the less extra variables they added into this battle, the better.

But unfortunately, some of the Torments were deciding to fight smarter and not harder, and a small cluster of them start to congregate near the front. Gritting his teeth, he pivots his Hakujoudai from his peripherals and aims them square into the knot of critters, hoping to knock them apart like so many bowling pins as per Chaosbringer's suggestion. It only does so much, however, and he yells out over the din.

"We need some more fire power over here, guys!"

Chaosbringer impales the Zeal-launched Torment on a lightning-sheathed blade, then flips it aside so it slings off into the distance with a rather unpleasant noise.

A call for more firepower is a bad sign, though. By his estimation, they have none to spare, and that means the Torment horde is winning by dint of numbers.

"Collapse!" he calls out, putting good his command by sidling backwards to put himself between Zea and Hanako. " Back to back, three direction defense, keep them from closing in on our rear. We're going to need to break free of this battle."

Let's start with commands he thinks might actually be obeyed. The others might not realize the situation is worse than it looks yet, in which case they'll need some more objective evidence. He isn't complaining about Zeal's lack of fear, mind -- he has none either, despite his assessment of the battle. Fear isn't necessary if you're actually good enough to understand your situation and act accordingly!

"Focus, little one," Sudo chastises Zeal with a firm but even tone. "You can ask me about this when we are not under threat of a swarm."

Despite Sudo's own advice, their attempt to stay a healthy distance from the swarm has resulted in being backed up against the other three Dreamers. They have no choice but to collapse. This might have been manageable if they had eventually stopped, but not enough are being felled to keep up with the ones still coming. Without knowing where the end is, it's a blind war of attrition, and Sudo doesn't like those odds.

"They are spawning faster than we can slay them. We need to carve out an exit," Sudo commands. After a quick scan, they point in the southwest direction, mostly based on the thickness of the crowd. "That way! Chaosbringer, lead the charge. Little one, protect the rear with your shield. Hakujoudai--" --you'll have to forgive them, Sudo still hasn't picked up Hanako's name yet-- "--and I will take care of the flanks."

Sudo's controlled Torment is already headed in that direction, shouldering smaller Torment out of the way to get trampled by their own kind.

From two different directions Dreamer Zeal hears that this isn't the time to be impressed or inquisitive about the strange powers of one of her allies. It's actually this more than the enormity of the swarm that has her first realizing just how bad of a position she's still in, even with three other Dreamers having come to her aid. "Okay, okay. I'm focusing! I'm focusing!"

She's going to have to think of a way to get back at Hanako for suggesting he'd leave a fellow Dreamer in need, but now isn't the time for that either. As to his yelling? "Um, sorry. I've got a distinct lack of firepower!"

She can't help grinning just a little as Chaosbringer runs through the Torment she sent his way with his sword, only to look surprised when he tells everyone to get closer rather than farther apart. Being a Dreamer sure seems to require the ability to adapt quickly! She follows his orders though, stepping back until she's close to him, letting out another shout of, "Terra Shield!" to reenergize her shields, gritting her teeth as successive Torments attack her and batter them as she interposes them between herself and their attacks.

"I can hold them off on my end if you can beat a path through them," she shouts above the din of the battle at Chaosbringer's continued orders. Sudo's quick instructions follow quickly after and she adds, "I think we should listen! Go! I've got the rear." The fact that people clearly more experienced than her that seem to have a decent grasp of tactics are mutually calling for a retreat is starting to give her an idea of just how big a mistake she probably made. Even if she can't effectively do damage she redoubles her efforts to hold off the oncoming tide of Torments, gritting her teeth with the thought of trying to keep any of the people that came in to rescue her from getting hurt themselves.

Okay, so the fact that they were strategizing a retreat in response to his call for more firepower was... not good. Hanako already figured the squirt wouldn't be able to help due to the defensive nature of her abilities, but if even Chaosbringer and this other Dreamer were tapping out...

Still, if his last Excursion had taught him anything, it was that it was better to throw in the towel the moment things got out of hand, as opposed to riding it out and getting others killed for his trouble. Gritting his teeth, he follows Chaosbringer's command, sidling up against the other three to help form a pocket of defense. If Hanako's a bit ill at ease for being so close to his thunder powers, he doesn't let it show on his face, trying to keep his focus on the ever changing tactics and commands happening amidst the chaos.

"It's Hanako," he supplies quickly to Sudo's misnomer, opting to side-step any faux indignation he'd usually give at people not knowing his name, because... well, this wasn't the time. He wasn't even sure of this other Dreamer's name himself (even though, now that he got a better look at them, they were actually pretty cool looking, in a creepy, horror-movie-esque way), but hopefully there would be time for better introductions once they got out of here... if they got out of here, anyway. He nods sharply at their instructions, however, gesturing for his Hakujoudai to return to his side and eyeing the Torments already looking to take advantage of their brief lull of action.

"Got it, though."

Now that they were all collectively in agreement, he resumes his attack, though their limited stations made things just a bit trickier to maneuver. Instead of bringing the offense towards the creatures themselves, he had to wait until they came close enough to stab or strike, a terrifying prospect when he didn't have as much room as usual to dodge. Still, he uses his Hakujoudai to their full capabilities when he can, urging them to pummel back the creatures until they either fell in Chaosbringer's line of damage or were far enough away that they couldn't be an immediate threat. The Torments were much too strong for him to take out in a single hit with them, so this was the best he could do to protect their flanks as they managed to make their retreat.

Edited (oop typo) 2023-06-22 01:56 (UTC)

Oh, Zeke does NOT like this. Chaosbringer should be the one battling in the rear while the others escape, not leading the charge of retreat. But dislike it though he might, now is not the time to argue or quibble about the marching orders.

"All right. Get ready."

Tongues of lightning flow, not just around his sword but flickering around his entire body as he draws on the full power of his Electricity. After everything he's been through lately, the power's gotten that much stronger. Add in Mobility, and --

How to tell Zeke is taking this seriously: he does not yell 'Bringer of Chaos!' as he strikes. Instead he lunges forward, not instantly but defiantly quick, sending Torments scattering every which way as he explodes past them. On the far side of the horde he skids to a stop, boots cutting furrows in the ground as he twists to come to a stop facing the rest, sword coming to rest on his shoulder.

"Now boarding, Chaosbringer line A to escape and freedom! Everyone this way!"

While it is impossible to make actual eye contact with Sudo, they turn their head in Hanako's direction, even if for a split second, to give them an acknowledging single nod of the head in response to being corrected.

"I am Sudo," they respond, as they turn their attention back to the Torments. "I hope we are fortuitous enough to have the chance to remember each other's names."

Which is just a weird way of saying I hope we make it out of here alive.

Sudo's possessed Torment is the first to throw itself into the vacancies that Chaosbringer cuts through the crowd, shoving any opposition out of the way so that it can't fill back in with the opposition before the Dreamers are able to file their way into it. As soon as Chaosbringer goes for another swing, the Torment moves out of the way, even though it itself isn't looking at Chaosbringer. Sudo themselves keeps close to Zeal, to keep a corner of their vision focused on any openings that a stray Torment might find its way into their makeshift phalanx formation.

With enough of this cleave-and-shoulder-in technique, the group should be able to get to the outer edge of the mass with only close calls and near misses.

The one sad thing about bringing up the rear is that she's so focused on what's behind the group and at their sides that she completely misses the strike of Chaosbringer that allows them to move forward. If not for Hanako and Sudo she might have a hard time even knowing when it's time to take another step or two back.

"I'm Zeal!" she adds to the chorus of introductions, still struggling to hold off the repeated attacks of torments with her shields, every now and again taking an opportune chance to duck under something she can actually avoid. "My arms are going to feel like jelly by the end of this," she comments to herself, even as she steps up to bash her shield into an oncoming limb. Then in a more cheerful tone she notes, "At least they aren't clumping up!" The thought of having to fight a Nightmare and a Swarm at the same time doesn't sound like a very fun time, if the swarm alone has them on the retreat.

She considers looking over her shoulder to see how much further they have to go but thinks better of it. Everyone is relying on her to bring up the rear, so she has to focus!

'Have the chance to remember each other's names', indeed. Hanako already dealt with a week being locked out of the Dream Sphere thanks to being poisoned and ambushed after his last Excursion attempt, and he wasn't keen on doing it again after he had just gotten back. He didn't even want to think of the possible consequences of falling here today, especially if a Nightmare decided to form, though it looks like their efforts were discouraging the latter from happening... for now, at least. Filing away each of their names mentally (not that he was ever going to use them properly, of course, but they were still good to know), he continues on the attack-- that is, until Chaosbringer's sweep clears a large swath of Torments out of the way for their escape. Now was probably the best time as any, so he chances a fast glance at the others to make sure they were still close by, before shouting:

"Hurry! Before they start to regroup again!"

He was going to have to trust they were quick enough to start following him, because there didn't seem to be a way to grab onto either of them without leaving someone defenseless or unable to attack the hoard. It's enough of a distraction from the battle, however, that one of the creatures takes advantage of it and makes a swipe for Hanako's head-- thankfully his reflexes help him avoid potential injury in the moment, but it does knock off his hat into the swarm, much to his horror. Of course, he'd get it back the next time he returned to the Dream Sphere (gotta love mahou costume logic), but it was much too close of a call for his comfort.

"C'mon, let's GO!"

"--What?! How dare you!"

Chaosbringer immediately scrambles back into the middle of the pack with almost alarming speed, stopping in front of the Torment that had grabbed Hanako's hat. Quick as lightning, he snatches it back, with a sneer of "Handling a Dreamer's uniform!" in the Torment's direction, before zipping right back into position like he'd never left.

"Stratospheric THUNDER!" Another few Torments go flying. Never mind the comic interlude, chums, there's escaping to do!

Even though Sudo's eyes are completely obscured, you can tell they're rolling their eyes from the nod of their head when Chaosbringer hops out of -- then back into -- formation, just for a hat that, for all intents and purposes, will have forgotten that it was lost once Hanako returns here.

"Your flashy antics put the group at risk," Sudo chides. "Do not leave the formation again," they say, in that I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed kind of tone.

The mob starts to thin out. It's easier to move forward with a little bit more speed, but Sudo declares "Stay in formation!" to keep them together until the hoard is thin enough for them to break. "Ready...and--RUN!" they command, pointing a hand towards the clearest path.

The possessed Torment stops, turns on heel to face the opposing force, and holds out its arms to taunt the remaining Torment and slow them down, buying a bit of a delay for the rest of the group to put some space between them and the mob. As they descend upon it, the spider attached to the Torment's face leaps out of the pile of attacking Torments and clears the entire space between it and Sudo in a single bound, landing on top of Sudo's head.

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Sachiko's June Schenanigans Open Post

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