A Chained Memory

She was almost dead - the creature could feel it. The Third Seat... would not pass away.

Relaxing her hold, the winged monster placed Jennifer on her lap, having already ceased the agonizing bite. It was just about time for the kitsune to close her eyes and... brutally slap her across the face with tails that weren't even there before; the sudden, unexpected attack sent the winged slime face-first into the ground, where it would remain for a while, still frozen in confusion.

Tix charged at the downed opponent, only to have her ankle pulled by the serpentine foe, whose arms opened to deliver another embrace upon the Seafield. Tam, however, had just about enough of those creatures. The sight of Tix being in danger triggered a response she knew all too well would happen.

With merciless precision, Tam severed the dark tendril with her tail. She did not let it go back to its owner, at least not until she was finished. Grabbing the tendril, she intercepted the naga's charge using her own appendage against her. The kitsune circled around the creature, strangling her with the tendril, before swiftly smashing her against the earth.

Barchiel's vision went dark, his armor completely de-powered. It seemed that in the end, darkness reigned supreme and was now occupying every speck of his vision. Soon, the creature would fully drain his life, as it has already started; not even the hard steel of the Imperium could stop this world-consuming power.

Ix frantically searched for her little familiar, but to no avail; she was nowhere to be seen on the battlefield. Pix, now inside the barn, gingerly snuck past the dark blob, whose meal remained a priority. Though far more likely, Pix did not even see the creature; and if she couldn't see it, then the reverse had to also be true. What Pix stumbled upon next was far more a surprise than anything she could imagine.

Making her way through a tiny hole in the back of the barn, Pix arrived at a desolated field. With many a body lying stripped of life, while countless, drone-like blobs were standing over them, vibrating in place. One of them noticed her, just as soon as the incipient seed on her head left to give energy to the monster in the barn, just like the ones attached to everyone else.

A dark tentacle, not unlike the others before it attached to the tiny girl's face, gluing itself tightly. Pix could not get the chance to see just what lied beyond the field; but for a split second, she could make out something in the distance... something big.

Heroes: (Struggle - 92, 86, 92 + Break Tether > Tix) (Shattering Darkness[dis] - 53) (Struggle - Useless) (Panic) (Wander around)
Clone Army: (Power Drain IV) (Latch - 38)
Queen's Retinue: (Ssweet Embrace - 67)
Monster: (Power Drain II)

---

Inside:
T-04: 36 stamina
Villager 2: 7 stamina + Mortally Bound
Gatherer Clone: 2 stamina
Pix: 8 stamina, 10 willpower + Tethered

Outside:
Tam: 13 stamina, 23 willpower
Tix: 28 stamina, 16 willpower
Barchiel: K.O.
Ix: 30 stamina, 29 willpower
Clone Amalgam: 35 stamina
QR Lyra: 31 stamina + Stunned
QR Ssaphi: 33 stamina

Everything was starting to breakdown, Tix was about to be dragged by the snake when Tam jumped in and saved her. "What are you doing idiot? Forget about... Me... Help the others... I'll... buy you time..." Pushing Tam back before raising her arm, a sinister orb appeared on her arm, with a faint glow but an intense energy. "Take... The others to safety... Tam..." She didn't knew if Tam would listen but she had, at least, try to buy time for them to escape, the battle was lost and trying to avoid defeat was useless, the only exit was to escape... But I refuse to escape... I'll tear that thing apart even if it's the last thing I do.

Shoving the orb into her chest, Tix started to look more wild, more dangerous but she also felt an increasing pain inside her.

Ix noticed Barchiel being trapped but without Pix she couldn't do anything... She couldn't fight, she couldn't help her friends... She had to help Barchiel but... How? "What can I do..." Turning around she noticed Tam and Tix, she couldn't fight without Pix... But she could help others to fight, channeling her energies, Ix started the incantation to empower her friends.

Pix saw something in the distance when a strange jello stuck to her face, she poked it and tried to eat it thinking it was that, jello.

Tix: Madness Enhancement
Ix: Great Guardian Rune
Pix: Eat Jello

Tam shot an annoyed look at Tix.
"Are you a complete and utter fucking imbecile? If you think I'm going to let you sacrifice yourself for nothing just because you have some ridiculous notion that you have to keep on fighting, then you are stupider than I gave you credit for!" Tam yelled, in spite of the fact that Tix was right by her. "We are leaving. I'm not going to explain to Aura why I left you behind! And honestly, I don't give a fuck if you are going to give me permission or not, I will drag you out of here if I have to!" Tam added. "Now come on, before I decide to pull you along anyway, just for pissing me of with your stupid self-sacrificing plan." Tam glanced around. "We underestimated our foe. We won't make that mistake again. Next time, we'll come with the full force of what we have to offer. I'll even let your kill it. But we have to retreat now!"

(If Tix or Ix get latched, break latch. If they get bound, basic attack on the binder. Otherwise, turn pass)

Surrounded by darkness, Barchiel tried his hardest to move, to do anything to help. His efforts were futile, his resistance meaningless. His body laid bare, prisoner of his own armor - the Imperium's engineering turned against him. Much to Barchiel's surprise, he was not alone. Dark slime trickled down the minuscule gaps where the plates on his joints would meet. He could hear it clearly, slithering inside his prison, and soon, the marine would feel its touch with his own flesh.

Ix once again bathed her allies in light, doing the best she can to protect everyone, yet not even her best was enough to save the dying man, who became nothing more than the nourishment of a monster. In an ironic twist, it was Pix next who turned the monster into her nourishment, as she chewed upon the tentacle that was supposed to bind her. The creature reared back in pain, before launching another appendage at her. That last one tasted gross, so Pix jumped over the next one, not wanting to eat more of that stuff.

And Tam stood beside her cherished person, begging Tix to save her own life, in her own way. But Tix was already losing herself in the power, the power of Chaos itself. The two watched as their enemies each summoned a black orb of slime, their movements synced perfectly. Lest they forget, every creature on this battlefield was a limb of the monster; and with each passing second, their movements became more organized, controlled and purposeful.


Heroes: (Madness Enhancement) (Great Guardian Rune) (Eat Jello - auto-eat) (Turn Pass)
Clone Army: (Free Action: Invade Body) (Latch - 19)
Queen's Retinue: (Segment of Stitch Binding) (Condensse Gloom)
Monster: (Power Drain III)

Segment of Stitch Binding: Lyra conjures an orb of condensed purple flames. It hovers slightly behind her, just out of an opponent's reach, ready to be used as a catalyst for devastating combinations. This ability activates in two turns or if Lyra successfully lands a hit on an opponent, becoming an auto-hit for the latter scenario. Cooldown: 4 turns.
- Paralyzes the opponent and automatically activates follow-up abilities.
- Ranged attacks targeting the orb are rolled normally. Lyra gains advantage on her next attack towards the character attempting to roll a melee attack against the orb.

Condensse Gloom: Ssaphi summons a dark sphere floating above the battlefield. After one turn, the orb explodes, applying the Seeded status effect to all enemies automatically. Cooldown: 5 turns.
- Ranged attacks targeting the orb are rolled normally. Ssaphi gains advantage on her next attack towards the character attempting to roll a melee attack against the orb.

---

Inside:
T-04: 43 stamina
Gatherer Clone: 1 stamina
Pix: 8 stamina, 10 willpower + GGR(3)

Outside:
Tam: 13 stamina, 24 willpower + GGR(3)
Tix: 28 stamina, 16 willpower + GGR(3)
Barchiel: 0 stamina
Ix: 30 stamina, 29 willpower + GGR(3)
Clone Amalgam: 35 stamina
QR Lyra: 31 stamina
QR Ssaphi: 33 stamina
Gloom: 7 stamina
Segment: 1 stamina

"......"

Well, this was problematic. He could feel his energy being drained, but right now...Right now he needed to do something, anything. Maybe....Could he use his Gland? Spit at it enough and make whatever was in his suit leave?

He was unsure..It was getting harder and harder to think.

Tix was raging, her fury was now unbound but inside her there was pain, an stinging pain like if she was being constantly stabbed, over and over again but she had to endure this pain, even thought this was more than usual pain. "Just fuck off, fox! You think I'm going to die here? I'll just buy time and then I'll run away so grab Ix and that tin can and get the fuck out of here!" Before Tam could even reply to her, Tix rushed towards where Barchiel was, trying to repel the slime that was assaulting him. "Hey! Shitpiles! You want energy!? C'mere, I'll give you a show you'll never forget!"

Ix agreed with Tix, she didn't want to run and leave the villa... "No..." It was too late, he was dead, she couldn't save them... "I'm sorry..." Right now the only option was to run. Ix started to run, they had to escape, come back with reinforcements and stop this creature next time...

The jello had jumped away from Pix, the tiny girl had noticed something on the background but first she would have to deal with this strange jello jumping in front of her.

Tix: Chaotic Darkness
Ix: Escape
Pix: Chibi Punch

Tam let out a frustrated growl. For once, she actually had to admit that Tix was right. Not that she'd ever say it out loud.
"You'd better not, or I swear I'll... I'll..." Tam turned away in frustration, and definitely not to hide any tears in her eyes. "I'll find a way to bring you back and kill you myself, you moron!" Tam added, before dashing towards Ix to aid in her escape, as well as attempting her own.

(Escape)

Tix had ran off already, violently crushing the tendril that was launched at her in a ball of dark magic, one she would use to crush the rest of that thing. Tam turned around momentarily, glancing at Tix through a wet and warm filter. She had to keep moving, for Tix's sake, for Aura's sake.

Tam wiped the last remaining traces of her tears, running towards the exit as fast as she could... when she heard a whooshing sound fast approaching. It was that damned winged creature rushing at her. This ludicrous speed was one only Jennifer could react to, and she instantly realized it. Before the kitsune could do most of anything, the winged knight-like slime slammed her into the ground right next to Tix, much like it did with Jen.

Ix too was distracted by what happened with Tam, momentarily stopping to look as well. She felt a sharp pain in her back, accompanied by a strong push that made her fall face-first to the ground. The monster had leaped from inside the barn and landed straight on her, the mimicked horns of an oni delivering a brutal blow to the blonde. Yet the creature did not continue its assault, a pained roar mixed with the sounds of sizzling flesh escaping it.

The small clone tried its best to defend itself, but there was nowhere to run. Pix jumped over its tentacle, sliding down on it and delivering a momentum-enhanced punch that splattered the creature all over the dirt. The tiny girl looked around confused, where was her little play mate? That did not last long, as she regained focus on the big thing in the background. A black cocoon was at the center of the field, towering over the small clones and Pix herself.

Heroes: (Escape - 7!) (Chaotic Darkness - 43) (Escape - 9!) (Chibi Punch - 60)
Clone Army: (Latch - 9!)
Queen's Retinue: (Sky High + Segment + Darkblaze Dive - auto-hit) (Sserpent's Grassp - 9!) (Doom)
Monster: (Reckless Leap - auto-hit, 9!)
Queen: (Suggestion)

---

Inside:
Pix: 8 stamina, 10 willpower + GGR(2)
Cocoon: 45 stamina

Outside:
Tam: 6 stamina, 24 willpower + GGR(2) + Concussion + Seeded(3)
Tix: 26 stamina, 16 willpower + GGR(2) + Seeded(3)
Barchiel: 0 stamina + Seeded(3)
Ix: 26 stamina, 29 willpower + GGR(2) + Seeded(3)
Clone Amalgam: 35 stamina + Paralyzed
QR Lyra: 33 stamina
QR Ssaphi: 33 stamina + Paralyzed
T-04: 43 stamina + Paralyzed

Tix missed her attack but the monsters seemed... Distracted this was her chance for... Hearing a loud sound, Tix turned around and saw both Tam and the winged monster next to her, Tam was seriously injured, even in her frenzied state, Tix cared about Tam so focusing part of her energies, she tried to force a shadow jump for Tam... With painful consequences for the white haired woman.

Ix had been hit too, she was still getting up, a trail of blood coming out of her forehead but this was no time to idle, so the blonde girl tried to made her escape once more.

Pix had lost track of her playmate but she did find something... Big. Running around the caccoon, the tiny girl was curious about what was inside, noticing an aperture, Pix entered the caccoon.

Tix: If Tam fails to escape: Free Action, Shadow Ejection Tam (-5 stamina)
If Tam manages to escape but Ix fails: Free Action, Shadow Ejection Ix
If both Tam & Ix manage to escape: Free Action, Shadow Ejection Barchiel (-8 stamina)
Ix: Escape
Pix: Enter the caccoon

That annoying ringing in her ears was back again. It was much more painful to experience the hit from the outside. She had no idea how Jennifer was able to stand it. Not to say that Tam herself was unable to take the hit, but she was surprised by how easily Jennifer had managed to brush it off, all things considered. In any case, she didn't have time to play around with it. She had to get out. It wouldn't be long before she lost her ability to do so. And she knew that, in Tix's current state, she'd end up doing something stupid if Tam looked like she needed help. Tam picked herself off, and dusted herself off. Though she was a little off balance, she was good at not letting it show. She continued to dash off, trying to get out of the area.

"Don't you fucking dare die on me." Tam mumbled quietly, though it was entirely possible that Ix heard her.

(Tam: Escape)

Tix saw it happen again; the winged monster charging at Tam's back - and this time, it was armed with a lance. Seeing it pierce the kitsune with it was the last straw. The ashen-haired berserker roared, running as fast as she could towards Tam - she'd use her sword, her bare hands, anything to free her. She swung the blade with enough force to cut a man in half, a blow so strong it shattered the earth beneath... a result only seen because the target of her rage has deftly evaded it.

The creature left her spear in one hand, using the other to grab Tix by the throat and throw her aside. Its wings began to flap, rising to the sky with Tam still on her spear. Why? Why was this monster so resilient? Why was this mindless drone so adept? Tix wanted nothing more than to rip its wings apart so it could stop chasing them, she wanted so badly to eliminate this monster that threatened her family.

Ix turned around to see the monster recoil and screech. It seemed to have hurt itself trying to wrap around her. Was it... Arondight? But it didn't last long; the slime recovered in time to assault her again, but she was also quick on the draw. With her one-of-a-kind blade in hand, Ix intercepted its jump and sent it tumbling away in a world of pain.

Meanwhile, the little version of Ix casually made her way inside the black cocoon, very much curious to what it contained. Inside, a woman was suspended in the air by a multitude of dark tendrils sprouting out of her back. Long, wavy hair flowed like a black river upon her ample bosom, exposed like the rest of her body. Her most distinctive feature was the color of her skin, an unnatural gray. The woman had her eyes closed, her head hung forward. Pix got closer and noticed her soft breathing - she seemed to be in a state of deep slumber.


Heroes: (Escape[dis] - 62, 39) (Shadow Ejection Tam[dis] - 60, 28) (Escape[dis] - 4, 3!) (Enter Cocoon)
Clone Army: (Recover from Paralyze)
Queen's Retinue: (Spearhead Charge[adv] - 56) (Recover from Paralyze)
Monster: (Recover from Paralyze)
Queen: (Suggestion)

Spearhead Charge: Lyra's flames solidify into a spear, which she uses to great effect in aiding her mighty charge. Anyone not getting completely run through by the spear is held aloft on its tip as the bat woman flies with them, preparing for a brutal execution. Deals 4 stamina damage. If Lyra is not hit next turn, follow-up with Impalement Dive. This ability has a 3-turn cooldown.

---

Inside:
Pix: 8 stamina, 10 willpower + GGR
Cocoon: 45 stamina
Sleeping Woman: 5 stamina

Outside:
Tam: 3 stamina, 24 willpower + GGR + Seeded(2)
Tix: 21 stamina, 16 willpower + GGR + Seeded(2)
Barchiel: 0 stamina + Seeded (2)
Ix: 26 stamina, 28 willpower + GGR + Seeded(2) + Paralyzed
Clone Amalgam: 35 stamina
QR Lyra: 33 stamina
QR Ssaphi: 33 stamina
T-04: 43 stamina

Her vision was starting to go hazy when something red started to cover her eyes, Tix wiped her face finding out that she was bleeding from her eyes but in her current state she didn't even flinch, even as she coughed some more blood, her full attention was focused on the flying monster, enraged as she was, Tix started to fire dark blades at the creature in hopes of freeing Tam.

Pix noticed the woman sleeping on the cocoon, she was really beautiful, curious as she was, Pix started to climb her body, in hopes of reaching her face to get a better look.

Ix was surprised by the reaction of the monster to her blade, the usual golden glow had taking an slight blue one, something Ix had never seen before, she kept aiming her sword at the monster, hoping to keep her at bay.

(Tix: Clutches of Despair - Lyra
Ix: Paralyzed
Pix: Climb)

Tam felt a sharp pain go through her, as the spear pierced her skin and slowly drained energy from her. She wasn't sure she could hold on much longer. A small trickle of blood was beginning to ooze from her wound. She felt a tug of temptation to use her last ditch attack, but with how wounded she was, she wasn't sure she'd survive the sudden loss of energy. The shock itself may kill her.

But that did not mean she was ready to give up. She was not going to let some fucking winged slime monster get the better of her. If she was going down, she was sure as hell going to take this thing with her. Best case scenario, the thing dropped her once she fought back, and she could once more make her escape. Worst case scenario, she was going to make this thing pay for what it had done to her, what it had done to Jennifer, and what it had done to Tix... emotionally speaking. She brought out her third tail, and began to lash the monster.

(Tam - Manifested Tails: 3
Basic Attack)

Barchiel could finally get a grip on himself. Now, he had to start doing something about this Emperor-forsaken armor. Wait, what was that? The xeno had returned - the black liquid that stood still now flowed again through the cracks of his armor, enveloping his entire body. His mouth too was covered by the dark lips of a slime woman kissing him inside the cramp interior of his armor.

Pix worked her way up to the woman's face - it was elegant, dignified and gracefully mystique. Her lips were a darker shade of gray, in contrast to her lighter skin. The tiny girl could notice the woman was bearing a pained expression, as if she was having a nightmare. Her master meanwhile had her sword slash at empty air as the monster slid under it, splashing a jet of adhesive slime on her ankles.

Tam could see at the world from high above, yet her vision focused on the raging Tix, whose dark blades flew straight at the monster. The kitsune grunted as the monster flew to the side to dodge the blades, further digging the spear tip into her stomach. It dodged all but one, and that's exactly what Tam needed - that momentary recoil. Manifesting a third tail, she wrapped it around the guardian's weapon, using it to slide herself down its shaft and kicking the black knight in the face.

They descended rapidly. Tam could not afford to take another fall. Her body was going numb, but she kept her foot pressed against its face all the way through until the ground beneath them shook. Tam shifted herself up with the help of her tails, barely standing on her feet from all the pain and fatigue.

For only a moment, the ashen-haired warrior appeared calm again, her eyes full of relief that she did not die. Tix shambled towards Tam, gathering the last bit of her mental strength, focusing only on the image of the kitsune... but it was not meant to be. Tam let out a cry of pain as her back was sliced by a blade. That monster... it was already on its feet, slashing Tam before any could react.

Tix rushed desperately to protect her, only to be stopped in her tracks by the naga they left behind, pulling her in another excruciating embrace and forcing her mouth into another deep, life-devouring kiss. No... it couldn't end this way. Caught in the snake woman's grip, Tix could only watch as Tam's body fell to the ground, no longer moving.

Heroes: (Basic Attack III[dis] - 14, 87, 96! + Escape[dis] - 20, 13) (Clutches of Despair[dis] - auto-hit, 53) (Climb)
Clone Army: (Infest)
Queen's Retinue: (Triple Crescent - 76, 90!, auto-hit) (Ssweet Embrace - 40)
Monster: (Black Stream - auto-hit)
Queen: (Suggestion)

Triple Crescent: Brandishing her blade, Lyra dashes in for a quick and decisive combination of slashes. Each slash deals 1 damage. If at least two slashes connect, inflict Daze on the opponent.

---

Inside:
Pix: 8 stamina, 10 willpower
Cocoon: 45 stamina
Sleeping Woman: 5 stamina

Outside:
Tam: 0 stamina + Seeded
Tix: 21 stamina, 12 willpower + Bound + Seeded
Barchiel: 0 stamina + Seeded
Ix: 24 stamina, 28 willpower + Muddied(2) + Seeded
Clone Amalgam: 35 stamina
QR Lyra: 29 stamina + Shadowflame
QR Ssaphi: 37 stamina
T-04: 43 stamina

Pain, pain, pain, pain, pain... All that the ashen haired girl could feel was pain, not even the supposed pleasure inducing kiss from the naga could make her feel anything but pain. That excruciating pain, combined with her despair, the sight of Tam not moving at all, her little sister being assaulted by the monster she failed to slain before... Her mind was slowly breaking down, her sight started to turn red and this time it wasn't the constant bleeding of her eyes, her rage, her madness... It was slowly but steady taking control of her, the last traces of sanity quickly vanishing. With one last attempt, Tix tried to vanish in the shadows, with some luck, she could at least save Tam... Use all her remaining energies to save the kitsune... Even if it meant her own death, she had seen what the monsters did to the villagers, she knew that she would share their fates but she didn't care, the last part of her rational mind, that last tiny part still not broken by the rage, the pain, the madness and the despair. That piece was still clinging to the hopes of, at least, being able to save Tam.

---

Ix was having difficulties to move by the sudden blast of slime towards her feet, she also saw the kitsune being defeated, sorrow filling her heart as she felt powerless to protect them, the only thing she could do was fight back... At this point? If she wasn't going to be able to save anyone? What was the meaning on running away? Why escape? Tightening the grip on her sword, Ix was ready to fight back. "What are you doing!? Run you idiot!" Tix managed to yell at her, still struggling against the naga. "Run before I lose the last trace... Of sanity... I have left!" Ix looked at Tix with a worried look, her big sister was in a really bad condition, even if she didn't receive the brutal attacks from the winged slime, she was in worse condition than Tam, she was bleeding all over. "B-But-" She tried to protest but was quickly interrupted. "No but! GO!" Holding back her tears, Ix resumed her attempts to escape.

---

Pix stared at the sleeping woman, she was so pretty but seemed to be having a nightmare, feeling sad for the poor woman, Pix hugged the woman's face and cuddled with her, thinking that maybe a hug would bring better and sweeter dreams to this pretty lady.

---

(Tix - From the Shadows
Ix - Escape
Pix - Cuddle)

"!" This felt disgusting. Outright nauseating. He could feel his energy beginning to fade, quickly. His armor held no more protection. But....Would this truly be it? All the fights, all the conflict...Only for him to die here?

No..Damnit, No! The countless wars fought alongside his Battle Brothers had not stopped him. The Tyranids, the Orks, Elder, Tau, Chaos itself! No matter what, Barchiel had stood against them, a bulwark sent to defend humanity. And if this was his way, if he was to die here and now...then by the Emperor, he would take this foul Xeno down with him!

Opening his mouth, he tried to bite onto the slime creature, hoping to damage it.

Thud.

Tam's body hit the ground like a sack of bricks. Her eyes were beginning to roll back, and she knew that she had to chance of getting back up. Was this going to be the end for her? She couldn't see any way that she was getting out of this alive.

"Tiiiiix...." Tam's voice was coarse, and had difficulty carrying across the battlefield. As far as Tam was concerned, these could very well be her last words to her. There was little point in holding anything back. Her pride was already broken by the beating she'd just taken. "Please..... protect... Aura..." Talking was getting painful, and Tam's vision has already dimmed. She could now only make out vague shapes. "Ruuuunn... fleeee... please..." Tam coughed, the pain really getting to her. Forming words was getting harder. "I.... l-l-love.... y-y-y...." Tam's eyes clouded over with pain, as tears obscured her vision further. Tam let out a final breath. "... yooou..."

And then the darkness claimed her.

The slime woman continued her ravenous kiss, sapping the remaining energy from Barchiel. She was sliding her tongue deep into his throat - no, it went beyond the throat; this creature was making him swallow part of herself. Barchiel's teeth chomped down on the monster assaulting him. It made the creature recoil. What was easy prey suddenly bit her like a fierce predator. The space marine did not let up, spitting a corrosive acid in the face of his opponent, watching with satisfaction as the xeno scum thrashed and jumped inside his armor. This was good; he was buying his allies as much time as possible.

Pix proceeded to do what she does best and hugged the woman's face. Strangely enough, this time the little girl's touch garnered a reaction - the woman twitched, and with that, the entire cocoon rumbled. A massive tendril violently crashed into Pix, knocking the chibi out of the cocoon.

Tam's final words, her painful gasps, and that last, deep breath made her crack. Whatever lingering sanity left in Tix's mind had completely vanished. She was a shadow, a monster not unlike her enemy. With a mighty roar, Tix blew away the naga, sending her tumbling backwards.

Ix hung her head - the tears would not stop. She couldn't look back now, she had to trust her big sister. That horrible yell told her everything: it was too late. Now, more than ever, she needed to escape, but even that was not possible, as Ix found a slime parasite growing out of her chest. It was that orb - it must have infected everyone else too.

The ground trembled. Her rage could be felt even by those mindless drones, as proof when the winged one took a defensive stance and placed itself in front of the snake. But the berserker could only see red. Nothing in this world would quell her fury, not even her own death.

---

Heroes: (From the Shadows - 38) (Escape - 57, 28) (Cuddle)
Clone Army: (Infest continued - 31)
Queen's Retinue: (Lohengarde + Protect Ssaphi) (Sserpent's Grassp[dis] - 59)
Monster: (Germination)
Queen: (Suggestion)

Lohengarde: Melee counter. Deals 5 stamina damage and enables a follow-up from Ssaphi. If it succeeds, grants Lyra the Hardened status effect: Reduce damage taken by 50% (rounded down). Cooldown: 4 turns.

Protect: Lyra was ever the stalwart protector, ensuring her allies' safety even at the cost of her own. Targeted ally cannot be harmed by single target attacks as long as Lyra is not in a bind (even those inflicted by her). Lyra is automatically hit by attacks aimed at her targeted ally.
- If used during Lyra's turn, this ability does not use up her action. If used during her opponent's turn, it consumes Lyra's next turn and goes into a 2-turn cooldown.

[Escape is impossible to attempt as long as a character has a parasite clone attached to them.]

---

Inside:
Pix: 6 stamina, 10 willpower
Cocoon: 45 stamina
Sleeping Woman: 5 stamina

Outside:
Tam: 0 stamina
Tix: 21 stamina, 12 willpower + Shadowy
Barchiel: 0 stamina
Ix: 24 stamina, 28 willpower + Muddied
Clone Amalgam: 33 stamina + Burn
P. Clone(Tam): 3 stamina
P. Clone(Tix): 3 stamina
P. Clone(Barchiel): 3 stamina
P. Clone(Ix): 3 stamina
QR Lyra: 29 stamina
QR Ssaphi: 37 stamina
T-04: 43 stamina

"Heh...Hehehe...."

He had done it. Whatever that xeno had been attempting, it had been thwarted. Was it trying to invade his body? He didn't know..but as long as he could keep up the fight, he would do just that!

"Come on, you gelatinous cretin! I thought you wanted to feed on me! TRY IT!" He got ready for another spit of that corrosive acid.

The moment Tix heard the loud thud, what she saw, it made something inside her break. That final, little piece of sanity holding her mind together finally broke, she was speechless, no tease, no taunt, no burn, nothing. Nothing came out from the girl's mouth, her sight was completely red, red as the blood pouring from her wounds, her eyes, her mouth.

Tix took a couple of steps towards the fallen kitsune, her last words echoed inside of her head for a brief second before another voice took over. "Why do you hold yourself back." "I don't..." "You do, you seal your hate, limit your rage... And now she's going to die because of it." "I..." "You haven't even reached Totsuka's full power, YOUR full power. Let your hate be free, remove the limitation on your rage. Let them fuel you, kill them, destroy them..." Everything around her was darkness and blood, the only sound? That voice. "I..." "Use your hate, use your rage, unleash your power..." After those last words, Tix finally broke, she had lost everything. Inside that darkness, power started to build up, everyone outside could feel it, a sinister and terrible aura bubbling, bursting. The bloodlust pouring from every shadow: under the trees, inside the barn, the monsters own shadows. She was going to murder them all, she was going to destroy them, reduce them to ashes, not leaving a single trace of them.

Something came out from the winged monster's shadow, several blazing dragons, more sinister than usual, chewing and ripping the monster's limbs apart. Incomprehensible noises followed them as Tix emerged clad in a black, spiky armor covered in dark flames, her eyes, fully red with no pupils and her sword, Totsuka, had a really dark and sinister air to it as the terrible energy gathered on it's blade. "▃▃▅▅▃▃ー！！" With a roar, her blade aimed at the monster, ready to strike. "▂▂▃▃▅▅----▂▂▃▃▅▅■■■■ーー！！" A devastating blow, a cruel, merciless attack, it was coming down at the monsters who took the one who Tix valued the most in this world.

---

Ix stared horrified at the slime growing on her chest, she had to get rid of it before it was too late, using her sword, Ix attempted to remove the parasite from her body when she felt it, a terrible energy, freezing her blood and making her whole body shiver in fear. Turning around, Ix saw it, that thing... It wasn't Tix anymore... She was terrified, that wasn't her sister, she might be cold sometimes but this... This wasn't her. "Run before I lose the last trace... Of sanity... I have left!" Tix's words echoed inside Ix's head, Tam's current state... That's what made Tix like this... She had to get away, warn the others... For Tix, Tam and Barchiel, she couldn't afford to fall here.

---

Pix got back up and shoved the dust on her tiny clothes before staring at the cocoon, why did that tentacle hit her? She wasn't going to let it win, she was going to hug that woman and drive away her nightmares. Determined as always, the tiny girl entered once more into the cocoon to hug the woman.

(Tix - Incinerated Heaven's Law - Dragon of Extermination - Fallen Version. Tix enters Fallen Mode: Damage dealt & received increased by 3 and gains advantage against binds but after 3 turns...
Ix - Remove Parasite
Pix - Fight tentacle)

Pix saw herself with an adversary at last, one that would prevent her approaching the woman. Entering once more inside the cocoon with tiny hammer in hand, Pix hit the oncoming tentacle with a squeaky bash, making it coil around her weapon. With it out of the way, the chibi was free to do what she wanted, that is until the tendril would become aware of her presence again.

Expecting a continued assault, the space marine laughed in the face of death, landing a near-perfect shot of that corrosive venom right between the monster's would-be eyes. Its pained screech was music to Barchiel's ears.

Ix herself had taken the matters into her own hands, reducing the parasite latching onto her to ashes with the light of Arondight. But her small victory was short-lived, as a tentacle wrapped around her arm, dragging her towards the hungry monster.

The two slime monsters were now together, anticipating the opponent's attacks. The winged one acted as protector, entering a special stance that made it ready to counter any close range strike. But it would be foolish to assume this next attack would be close range, or a strike at all. From their very own shadows, countless serpentine dragons emerged, devouring the slimes as they rammed and pierced the monsters' bodies, eventually wrapping themselves around the two as Tix delivered the final slash.

They lied on the ground, shredded to pieces. Drained as she was from both the parasite and her own attack, Tix let out a maddening roar; perhaps one of triumph, or simply the instinct of a bloodthirsty beast. However, this was not the end, as the fallen warrior saw the creatures reform with aid from the clones born out of Tam and Barchiel. This was far from over. Even after all of that, the monsters were still standing. Before Tix could recover her strength, the naga wrapped her tail around her, steadily sucking the life out of the fallen Seafield.

---

Heroes: (Incinerated Heaven's Law - Dragon of Extermination - Fallen Version - ▃▃▅▅▃▃ー！！) (Basic Attack - 38) (Fight Tentacle - 4)
Clone Army: (Infest continued - 95) (Parasite Drain Tix) (Return to Lyra) (Return to Lyra)
Queen's Retinue: (Sky High - 49) (Sserpent's Grassp - 26)
Monster: (Latch - 8 )
Queen: (Suggestion)

---

Inside:
Pix: 6 stamina, 10 willpower
Cocoon: 45 stamina
Sleeping Woman: 5 stamina

Outside:
Tam: 0 stamina
Fallen: 20 stamina, 7 willpower + I-Bound
Barchiel: 0 stamina
Ix: 24 stamina, 26 willpower + Tethered
Clone Amalgam: 30 stamina + Burn
P. Clone(Tix): 5 stamina
QR Lyra: 20 stamina
QR Ssaphi: 22 stamina

Anyone who underestimated a Space Marine did so at their own peril. Even if his suit was drained of it's energy, Barchiel's training and modifications made him a force to be reckoned. However, he knew this would not last. Eventually, it would counter him and continue it's draining onslaught, as well as...whatever it had tried to do before he bit it. But he would not surrender.

As long as he was able....he would fight.

The monster roared at the sight of the destroyed guardians just to see them reform, soon it found itself bound by the naga's tail but the black cladded beast didn't give up, gathering the power of her hatred, it struggled to get free, determined to use it's captor against the target of her hate, that disgusting winged slime. No matter how much they tried to stop it, the monster wouldn't stop at nothing until it ripped the limbs of the slime, burn them to ashes, obliterate it, destroy it...

---

Ix felt slightly relieved when she got rid of the parasite but it was short lived as the main slime pursuing her latched onto her arm, using her sword, Ix tried to cut down the tether.

---

Pix climbed once more the woman's body, she was still having those nightmares, if hugs wouldn't work maybe she could try to wake her up. As soon as she was tiny face to face with the woman, Pix started poking her cheek in an attempt to wake her up.

(Fallen Tix - Struggle -> Merciless Beat-down: Tix uses one opponent to hit another one while letting out a roar filled with hate and rage. Deals 2 points of damage.
Ix - Break tether
Pix - Poke)

The tiny girl did not want the pretty lady to be sad, but nothing she could do made her dreams any better. With a few pokes at her cheek, Pix hoped it would help wake her up. As soon as she did, another tentacle sprang forth, coiling itself around the chibi with a painful squeeze, then throwing her out of the cocoon once more. This time, the lid closed off, preventing further passage. It seemed Pix was unable to stop it, to end the woman's vivid nightmare...

She was caught. Her body would not move. Kill it, she had to kill it. The fallen woman struggled, growling like a mad beast. Time after time she bit the black lips that were kissing her, pierced the tongue that was invading her mouth, but to no avail - the naga was absorbing her energy with each second they touched. And that winged creature, it disappeared...

No, it had gone behind her. The woman was pressed between the bodies of bat and snake, caught in a deathly embrace. Sharp fangs pierced one side of her neck, drawing out her essence. She closed her eyes, no longer fighting the kiss. The last embers of her strength, snuffed out by the creatures she gave her life to kill. Soon, they stopped draining her. Tix would not die. Placing the fallen warrior on the ground, the two slime women turned their attention to Ix...

A sudden, powerful leap knocked her off balance. The amalgam had given up on infesting Barchiel, ambushing the blonde girl instead. It covered most of her entire body in a blanket of slime weighing down upon her. Before she could even yell or call for help, the monster she was fighting before had wrapped one of its tentacles around her head, covering both her eyes and mouth. Darkness fell over her sister, and now it was her time to close her eyes as well.

---

Heroes: (Struggle[adv] - 89) (Break Tether) (Poke)
Clone Army: (Reckless Leap - 36, 72) (Parasite Drain Tix)
Queen's Retinue: (Vampiric Drain) (Power Drain)
Monster: (Latch - 20)
Queen: (Suggestion)

---

Inside:
Pix: 3 stamina, 10 willpower
Coccoon: 45 stamina
Sleeping Woman: 5 stamina

Outside:
Tam: 0 stamina
Tix: 0 stamina
Barchiel: 0 stamina
Ix: 19 stamina, 22 willpower + Bound + Tethered
Clone Amalgam: 31 stamina + Burn
Clone: 7 stamina
QR Lyra: 23 stamina
QR Ssaphi: 25 stamina

Her energies left her body, the fallen warrior consciousness fade as life abandoned her body, slowly sinking into the darkness... "Wake up." A sudden whisper stopped the fading. "You are not done yet." The spark of rage returned to the husk of a woman. "Kill them. Kill them all." Slowly, the woman got back on her feet, the flames once more surrounding her armor, her eyes burning with rage, with hatred and a roar that inspired terror in everyone who heard it. Aiming her blade at the winged slime, she started to mumbled something, in a terrible and Incomprehensible voice. "▅▅■■■■▅▅▂▂ ▂▂▃▃▃▃▂▂... ▂▂▃▃▅▅▅▅ーーー！！" As the voice ended, Totsuka shattered in million pieces as so did her armor while blood poured wildly from her whole body, filled with wounds. Coughing blood, the woman fell to the ground once more, a pool of her own blood soaking the ground, it seemed like her last attempt to destroy those creatures was useless... Until the ground started to crack and dragon jaws made of blood came out of the cracks, aiming to devour the slime monsters, their target? The winged one, viciously chomped by the dragon, another one aimed at the naga and one final head aimed at the monster targeting Ix.

---

Ix was terrified, she was trapped, her energy slowly being drain, was this their end? Her sister sacrifice, Tam's, Barchiel's... All of them were going to be in vain? No... She couldn't just give up, she had to fight back, she had to escape. Using her blade, she tried to break the tentacle covering her face and once she was free she was going to run away.

---

Expelled from the cocoon and unable to go back in, Pix saw no other choice but to go back to Ix, what the tiny girl found when she made her way out wasn't the nicest of scenes, she saw the scary dragons, her auntie Tix lying in a pool of red liquid, the big metal man also lying on the ground and her mommy Ix being molested by one of those meanies tentacles and some kind of jello creature. Pouting, the tiny girl ran at the the jello woman and tried to smack it with her tiny hammer to make her stop molesting her mom.

(Fallen Tix - Blood Sacrifice: Revenge. Offering oneself's blood, several dragon heads made of blood come out of the ground to devour the caster's enemies, one of them is marked as revenge target, making it an auto-hit against that target.
Ix - Struggle -> Break tether
Pix - Tiny Pow Hammer)