SIXTH TRIAL

[bathymetric]

Alright, same as every week before this - gather at the Vault Door so my Assistant can let you in. And I can start hoping to salvage at least the aquarium.

[ The Assistant, nee Failsafe, stands in her armor at the ready when you arrive, not saying a word and simply unlocking the door and elevator for you to head on down to the trial room. Second verse, same as the first five verses, but a whole lot quieter and a whole lot meaner.

The elevator is a lot emptier now, isn't it? Your number has fallen yet again since the last time you were here. Feels like yesterday, or maybe forever ago? Time's feeling pretty weird right about now, but trial days are for getting locked into the moment. You're here, you're present.

You're running out of allies.

The screens are the same as ever, though, and lower as you enter. ]

I see you haven't decided to continue to increase the number of bodies this week. Perhaps something to be thankful for, in all of this. Hotshot is dead, and the responsibility of finding his killer falls to you. Hopefully this is all old hat to you by now, no?

[The screens rise.

Welcome to your sixth trial. ]

Comments

[bolderfell]

[Well. Birkin's off the hook for smelling the rocks, then. Yikesies.]

...So what did happen to the museum floor?

[blackmass]

There was no explosive--it was as I said, a concussive force of unleashed power.

[bolderfell]

Yeah, like what. Wind wouldn't do that.

[Did he pUNCH THE FLOOR]

[blackmass]

...

Angra Mainyu.

[bolderfell]

...

[???]

[blackmass]

I hesitated for only an instant, and all it took was a single shot. Again, right through the heart.

[He pressed a hand to his chest, where it seemed like the tangle of shadows either gravitated to or originated from.]

Countless untold curses, unleashed in an instant. It's no surprise it would act as an explosion.

[so basically, devil trigger.]

[philoxenia]

[ what the fuck

there's something very much like dawning horror on her face here ]

[bolderfell]

[Huh. As he listens to Kirei's responses to everyone else, he asks:]

...So why'd you hesitate.

[blackmass]

We were almost evenly matched, but I was mostly unarmed. While I can easily combat a superhuman entity with a gun, I doubted for only a second whether to retreat for a weapon or confront him directly.

...In all honesty, there was no desire to kill him to begin with, but if you think my hesitation based on morality then you are mistaken.

[bolderfell]

...All right.

Thanks for not framing anybody. Gives me a damn headache, trying to figure that out.

[blackmass]

There wasn't any point, even if I had been able after a bullet to the chest. This whole exercise feels a lost cause to me anyway.