!DOCTYPE html>

Chapter 6x: One Tear's Ripple

Opening

kyra
E...Elias...
elias
Hey, sis. I hadn't expected to see you again so soon.
kyra
I can't believe this... It's... I-I'm...
Even if it's... just a dream...
(smiles) I'm so happy to see you again, big guy!
elias
(smiles) Yeah, me too...
I'm so glad things are going well for you!
You got a girlfriend and everything.
kyra
Y-You know about that? That's a little embarrassing...
elias
I mean, for what little it's worth, I think you make a great couple.
(frowns) I'm just happy you aren't letting what happened...
Well, I'm glad you're living your life.
kyra
(frowns) Trying to, big guy. It's hard, sometimes...
I miss you a lot.
elias
......
You should know, I'm here to fight you, Kyra...
kyra
W-What...?
Oh... That must be... The trials...
My own brother is made to stand in my way?
That's cruel... That's really cruel, Elias.
elias
Yeah... I don't really have a choice, though.
Besides... You ARE trespassing.
kyra
Oh, c'mon! How many times must I say I'm not here because I want to?
elias
The ones in charge here don't care about that sort of thing.
And if I disobey my orders, they will send me to purgatory.
(smiles) But it's all right. It's not like you're going to lose to me, right?
And it's not like I can die again. No need to be so dramatic!
(Kyra flinches.)
kyra
W-What does that matter?! I can't fight you!
Just the thought of seeing you hurt kills me...
I could never be the one doing the hurting. Never.
elias
Just consider it a game!
We'll play fighting, like we used to before I got sick.
kyra
How would you even fight back, anyway?!
elias
Well... With this.
(Elias summons a giant mecha.)

Battle Start

demeter
There you are, Kyra. My goodness. Why would you do something so reckless?
It could've gone a lot worse, you know. I'm going to have to scold you now.
(smiles) This is so exciting! Usually I'm the one who gets scolded!
Ooo, I can feel the power getting to my head as we speak...!
kyra
Demeter, the enemy commander... He's...
demeter
(frowns) Yeah, I know... Tch, that's just like her.
Can't just damn people to oblivion. She has to be a jerk while at it.
Don't let her tricks get under your skin. You cannot truly harm him.
kyra
Are you sure, Demeter? Are you absolutely certain?
demeter
(smiles) Oh yeah. Wail away to your heart's content!
Think of all the times your brother got on your nerves.
kyra
That never happened.
demeter
Not even when he drew that picture of you in a pretty frilly pink dress?
(Kyra starts.)
kyra
Wha-- How would you even know about--?!
demeter
And then brought it to school and showed it to all his friends?
kyra
You-- Stop it! Shut your mouth now--!
demeter
And then his friends called you “pink princess” for a whole year?
kyra
......
demeter
How about the time he kidnapped your bestest friend in the world, Miss Cuddlebunny, and hid her--
kyra
If I fight, will you stop dredging up bad memories?
demeter
(smiles) Deal.

Conversations

Elias

Combat

elias
(smiles) Don't get ahead of yourself. That was just the appetizer.

All systems, full power!

Combat w/ Kyra

kyra
I really do not want to do this.
elias
Again, I'm already dead. You have nothing to fear.
Think of all the times I've been a nuisance to you!
Like that time I stole your bestest friend in the world,
Miss Cuddlebunny, and hid her in the chicken coop.
kyra
...And then the chickens tore her to pieces.
elias
So, uh...
Do you feel any better about fighting now?
kyra
Elias, you fixed her up for me yourself.
That's just not going to work...
elias
...Well, drat. Now we're both feeling bad.

Combat w/ Edward

edward
W-What... the heck...?!
elias
Impressed?
And you haven't seen what this baby can do yet!
edward
(smiles) Heh... Well, I can tell one thing for sure.
I'd be stupid to take ya lightly!
C'mon, boy! Show me what yer made of!
elias
(smiles) Hold nothing back, Uncle Ed!

Combat w/ Pluto

elias
(smiles) Hey, Pluto. Nice to see you again.
Too bad we can't just play catch now.
We'll have to settle this with our weapons.
With your skills, this should be over quickly.
pluto
H-Hey, kid...
You know, that was all just bluster.
I'm... not really very good at all.
elias
(serious) Well, you'll try your best, won't you?
That's all Kyra needs from you.
(smiles) C'mon! Show some confidence!
Where's the cool and mysterious Pluto?
pluto
(smiles) ...All right...

Combat w/ Lorenzo

lorenzo
......
elias
Please, Sir Lorenzo.
Don't just stand there. Fight back.
lorenzo
But... B-But I...
elias
You swore your life to Kyra, didn't you?
She needs you to fight.
Please. I'm asking you as her brother.
Make good on your oath!
lorenzo
I... Though this pains me greatly, I...
Fie... Very well!

Combat w/ Dolus V

dolus v
Elias... I wish to apologize.
That I could do nothing to save you...
It tortures my conscience, even now.
elias
I think we've both been through enough.
(smiles) Let's just focus on what comes next, huh?
If you do a good work here...
Who knows. Maybe they'll give you one of these!
dolus v
(smiles) Oh, I WOULD love to have one of those...

Combat w/ Elias

enemy
elias
Heya.
elias
Hey. Was wondering how this'd work.
This'll be interesting.

Defeat

elias
A-Augh...!
(smiles) Wow, I already knew you were impressive, but...
It's even cooler to see it first-hand!

Ending

elias
Ouchie...
kyra
Elias? What's wrong?!
elias
W-Well, you did just beat the tar out of me...
(Kyra starts.)
kyra
Elias!!
Demeter, you promised I couldn't hurt him!
You lied to me so I'd fight him, you... you monster!
demeter
I wouldn't call it lying, per se.
I'd say it's more like... Y'know.
(smiles) Not telling the truth!
kyra
That's the exact same thing, idiot!
demeter
(frowns) Heeeey! I may be an idiot, but that's not my name!
I'm Demeter, remember?
elias
I-It's all right. The armor took the brunt of the damage.
I'm just not used to this, that's all.

Anyhow, with this, you pass the trial.
You may continue towards the core.

kyra
...Why? I don't want to go deeper, I want to leave!
demeter
(smiles) That's where the exit is, silly!
Sure, it's also where the gods and divine entities hang out.
And now there's no chance we'll sneak by undetected.
But you aren't afraid of a few angry deities, are you?
kyra
I, uh... I guess not?
demeter
Oki dokie!
Come along, Elias! Don't fall behind!
elias
Huh? Wait, me...?
kyra
He can come too?
demeter
Duh! We've picked up all sorts of wacky characters.
How could we not pick up Kyra's beloved lil' bro?
This whole mess is kinda sorta entirely my fault, so the least I can do is let you two spend some time together again!
(Kyra gasps.)
kyra
(smiles) D-Demeter!
Thank you so much! You're a saint!
demeter
Heehee, well, not exactly, but...
Wow, you've sure changed your tune, huh? Hahaha...
elias
(smiles) As long as this thing still moves, I'll do my best to keep you safe.
kyra
Keep me safe? Don't get ahead of yourself, big guy.
I'm still the more experienced fighter of the two.
elias
C'mon, let me play protector, now that I can for a change.
demeter
How about you just protect each other, hmm?
elias
Yeah, you know what? Sounds good to me.
kyra
There isn't a force in the heavens that'll be able to stop us now!
Together we can conquer anything! C'mon, what are we waiting for?!
elias
I'm right behind you!
(Kyra and Elias march off.)
demeter
...Aww, look at them being all giddy and stuff!
Isn't that so wholesome?
nikolaos
All right, you. The time has come.
scymerius
The time? I can't really tell what time it is in this place.
I wonder if time is even a thing in here...
nikolaos
That's not what I'm talking about!
I mean it's time to see what you look like under the helmet.
scymerius
Paws off, mutt.
nikolaos
C'mon! Even now, you won't let us take a peek?
C'mon! C'mon! Pretty please? What'd you like me to do in return?
What are you, a chicken? (grins) Cheep, cheep cheep cheep, cheep!
scymerius
Okay, first off, you can't just rapid-fire persuasion tactics like that.
You have to see if it lands before you try another. That's just basic psychology.
Second off, those are the strangest chicken noises I've heard in my life.
Have you even heard a chicken in your entire life...?
nikolaos
(serious) Well, I guess if you won't take it off... I'll have to do it by force!
scymerius
......
nikolaos
......
scymerius
Fine, I'll save you the ridicule.
(Scymerius takes off their helmet. Nikolaos jumps in surprise.)
nikolaos
...!
Gasp!
It's... It's...!
(Scymerius reveals that under their helmet is another helmet.)
nikolaos
Disappointing. That's what it is.
scymerius
I can remove another one, if you like.
I don't even remember how many I'm wearing.
Try harder, chump.
nikolaos
...D'oh!
Oh, c'mon, that's just silly!
What about you? (pointing to Vasiliki) Do you also have infinite head scarfs in there?
vasiliki
Well... N-No, not really.
Under the head scarf's just where I keep the ingredients for my medicines.
I grow them there, in fact. It's actually surprisingly fertile soil.
nikolaos
Okay, that's just plain weird.
How about you? (pointing to Fructuoso) What do you have under the headgear?
fructuoso
I'm... not wearing anything on my head...
nikolaos
Oh, c'mon! Don't lie to me! That's obviously a piece!
(Fructuoso huffs.)
fructuoso
Y-You're such a jerk!
You know what? You keep coming after us for what we wear,
- or don't wear, in my case, because this is absolutely my own hair -
but you're hiding your head yourself! Take off the helmet, man!
vasiliki
Yeah! That's right! Let us see your head!
Maybe it's YOU that's bald under there!
scymerius
Off with the helmet, chump.
nikolaos
...Awwww, fine! But don't whine to me if you don't like what you see!
(Nikolaos takes off his helmet, revealing a purple afro.)
nikolaos
There. Have a good time.
scymerius
......
You know what? I should've seen that coming.
fructuoso
T-That's... Wow...
vasiliki
Y-Your hair, it's... It's so...
(Raleigh runs up to Nikolaos.)
raleigh
(grinning) Cool! It's awesome!
Wow, man! Why do you keep that mane tucked in your helmet?!
You should let it breathe, dude! You're just too cruel to hide it!
nikolaos
(smiles) Y-You really mean that?
Wow, that's... the first time anyone's told me that.
raleigh
It's positively... dazzling!
Wanna have a drink? I simply must know what hair conditioner you use!
nikolaos
Yeah, sure! Sounds like a fun time. Let's go!
Sure we can find a bar in this place!
And if not, I got a flask. I can share!
raleigh
Fine by me!
(Raleigh and Nikolaos leave.)
fructuoso
Just for the record, this IS my own hair.
...The mustache is fake, though. Mmph...

Character Descriptions

Elias
Kyra's late younger brother, now a fledging hysminai.

Execut0r
Mk. III. An equalizing tool for one fragile of body, but strong of spirit.

[Elias has A-rank support with Kyra, B-rank support with Edward, and C-rank support with Lorenzo.]

Hysminai
Souls of heroes and villains alike, brought together to serve as the divine's legions.