Fate of the World Session 18

You wake up after another night of sleep you wake up to...no one sleeping with you on the couch. A shame, you were kind of getting used to waking up to Monika's well...everything. As you rise up, you're instantly met with Monika standing over you.

"Monika...?" You mutter

"Dear. Come with me." She says softly as you rub the sleep out of your eyes.

"What's wrong?"

"Just come, you'd better see for yourself."

You groggily get to your feet and follow Monika up to your room.  Renee is already awake and she's...staring at your computer intently.

"Oh, Hiro, here you are. We've got a situation."

"Can it wait till after breakfast?"

"Not sure it can..."

You're directed to your computer where you see...your office building. Except it seems twisted and not right...it's not completely red, almost as if it's bleeding. It's a horrible sight, making you feel quite unsettled.

"So...what are we gonna do Hiro?" Renee asked

>*I* am getting some goddamn coffee
>...Why can my computer get a streetside view of the office?
>It sucks, let's just let that place burn
>Other/Write-in

>Coffee first. Then why the office

You give her a sideways look. "I am gonna get some damn coffee first." you growl

"Fine, but we're gonna have to do something about this!" Renee called following after you

Heading downstairs you both call out your summons to allow them some food to eat. Once again, Holly was back at her home, so that thankfully gave you a few less mouths to feed. As the usual chatter got underway, you found Monika and let out a sigh after taking a sip of coffee. Man that stuff really hit the spot.

"What's wrong dear?" Monika asked

"So...exactly why can I get a streetside view of the office? I mean, I know google maps is a thing but that looked a bit...different."

At this Monika giggles "Oh it's simple. Aeda, Eve, and myself did a bit of...creative hacking and got you access to the city's CCTV feed!

At this you're joined by Eve, giving off that snooty nature of hers as usual. "Be thankful, then again, this world's technology is simple enough to hack into."

Well, if you weren't awake before, you most certainly are now.

"Isn't that great Dear?" Monika asks with a genuine smile "Now, we can keep an eye out for anything odd going on much more easily than before. Aeda is even hooked up directly to it...well, however that works with her at least."

>I'm pretty sure that's extremely illegal
>Yeah...thanks I guess
>As long as no one finds us out at least
>Other/Write-in

>As long as no one finds us out at least

"Well, as long as no one finds us out at least, I guess it's fine."

"Not possible." Aeda said floating towards you "I have made it so that finding a way back to us will be extremely difficult. In fact, I'm almost certain that no technology from this time could get through the defenses I put in place."

"I sure hope so."

"Oh don't worry about it!" Eve said with another sigh "Eat. Humans require such things to live right?"

You roll your eyes at Eve and do as your told. Like it or not, you did need some food in your stomach, especially since it appears that you were going to another hell dimension today.

You're starting to hate that that is considered normal for you now. How much longer are you going to wake up to some more of Nyarly's bullshit before you can sleep in comfortably?

After finishing up, you get yourself washed and dressed properly.

"Hey Hiro, I called Holly, she'll meet us at the office. Should we head out now?"

>Let's go
>Head to the velvet room

>Let's go

"Let's go. There's no point waiting around."

Renee nods and as the two of you head down to your car. You snap your fingers in remembrance "Wait, what about Alphonse? Shouldn't we call him too?"

"Negative." Aeda states from your COMP "After learning of this new threat, I managed to get in touch with him. However, Alphonse is preoccupied with something of his own. He is trying to make sure that there's no threats for the tech expo."

"I see. Well, guess it'll just be the terrible trio yet again."

"You sound disappointed." Renee says

"It's not that, just never hurts to have another guy around is all." you say getting into your car

"Hey, you've got us. What, don't go sayin' you think we're girls or something." Ace calls out from your COMP

"Haha, yeah guess you're right. Now let's go."

You drive over to your job, and sure enough, while regular people are merely walking by it without issue, what you see is a building that exudes 'This place will probably kill you if you step inside it.' aura

And you and your friends are going in...

"S-sorry I'm late!" Holly said panting "I got over here as fast as I could!"

"It's fine. Are you both ready?"

The two women nodded at you. Stepping inside, you instantly feel...unsafe.

"The hell is that feeling?" Renee muttered

"I don't know...feels almost like someone is trying to choke me..." Holly said

"Let's...let's keep moving. Maybe we can figure it out if we do some looking around."

>Go to the break room
>Head to your office space
>Go to the boss's office

>break room

"Break room first." You say

"Really? Don't think there'd be much there." Renee said

"Who knows, we may find some chicken patties."

At this Renee blushes a bit, remembering how she'd steal a patty off or two off of you nearly every day. Heck, even though she was getting her life back on track, she did occasionally take one 'just for old time's sake' as she'd say.

You really hope that things went well with this modeling gig of hers. Because then she could buy her own goddamn chicken patties! Sure she helped with rent and some food bills, but she always went for the patties! Why?!

You continue thinking on this before finally getting to the break room and...it doesn't seem off? There's still that odd red hue around the area, but nothing else seems out of place.

"Er...Hiro...was that always here at work?" Renee said tapping your shoulder

"What do you mean?"

"I mean this...treasure chest? I'm pretty sure no one in our office was a pirate."

"I dunno about that, I mean Chuck constantly downloaded movies illegally and wouldn't shut up about it."

"Should...should we open it?" Holly asked

>Open it!
>Oh hell no...

>Poke it with our sword

"Alright, stand back..." You say taking out your sword and gingerly poking it. The fiery tip of your blade brushes against the chest, but that's all it took. The chest rumbles for a second, slamming against the wall a few times before a pair of large legs burst from it, as well as the chest itself turning into a blood red head with large fangs.  One arm looked distinctly human and held a spiked ball in its hands, while the other was bestial. However the biggest part of note was the additional two heads on its right side.

"Is that a friggin' goat head?!" Renee exclaimed

"And a little girl?!" Holly muttered "Ugh, th-this thing is hideous!"

As if in reaction to that, the monster let out a terrifying laugh(that came from the goat head) and swung its flail at Holly who just barely dodged it.

"Oh great, you pissed it off!" You growl

"I think the fire sword did that actually!" Renee said whipping out her spear

"T-talk later! We've gotta fight this thing!" Holly said getting her bat out

>Choose your party

Of course...you can also...

>Run. Run far away.

>Hiro
>Ace
>Sailor Moon
>Kyle
>Patch

You call out Ace, while Renee calls forth Kyle and Sailor Moon. Holly sends forth Patchouli to join you.

Trait Activated:Immovable Library

Patchouli gauges the monster, taking a few seconds to look it over. This is troublesome. The Sheep Head is definitely weak to fire. I am unsure of the others. I get a feeling from them. Just be cautious." Patchouli says

>Choose your actions!

>Hiro - Flameblade X2 (Sheep Head)(96,69)
>Ace - Flame Bullet X2 (Sheep Head)(98,94)
>Sailor Moon - Moonlight
>Kyle - Attack Aura
>Patch - Devil's Cacophony(85)

You heed Patchy's words and attack the Goat Head first, slashing at it twice, but just narrowly missing the second hit. Ace follows up behind you,shooting the creature eight times with small flame bullets, causing it to bleet in a distorted voice, the pain clear on its face.

"Great work Ace!"

"I don't get called that name for nothin'!"

"Keep it up then, no dying!" Sailor Moon called out, raising your party's defense!

>All allies defense increased!

"And while you're busy not dying, hit this thing harder!" Kyle chuckled

>All allies Physical attack increased!

"Devil's Cacophony!" Patchouli shouted, an orb of darkness hitting all of your enemies!

The heads act with sheep firing off some ice magic towards Ace!

"Gah! Damn, this-this thing hits hard!"

As Ace picks himself up, the child head locks eyes with you, and you feel your body stiffen!

>Hiro is paralyzed!

"C-can't move! You grunt

As for the treasure chest head it...it sucks up some of your money before a red aura surrounds all three heads!

>You lost $400!

>Enemy's PHYS attack increased!

>Hiro:HP:125/125 MP:76/76(DEF UP(-2)(PHYS UP+2)(Paralyzed)
>Ace:HP:74/119 MP:52/80(DEF UP(-2))(PHYS UP+2)
>Sailor Moon:HP:94/94 MP:93/97(DEF UP(-2))(PHYS UP+2)
>Kyle:HP:75/75 MP:48/54(DEF UP(-2))(PHYS UP+2)
>Patchouli:HP:64/64 MP:117/147(DEF UP(-2))(PHYS UP+2)

>Goat Head:336/600(PHYS UP+4)
>Child Head:373/400(PHYS UP+4)
>Chest Head:473/500(PHYS UP+4)

>Hiro - Flameblade X2 (Goat Head)(78-PARALYZED!)
>Ace - Flame Bullet X2 (Goat Head)(98,76)
>Sailor Moon - Moonlight
>Kyle - Amrita Soda(Hiro)
>Patch - Devil's Cacophony(95)

You try to move, but can't! No matter how hard you try, you can't shake off the Paralysis!

Ace once again takes aim at the goat head, managing to hit it 8 times in quick succession again! This particular head seems to already be on it's last legs!

"Hang tough everyone, we'll get through this!!" Sailor Moon called out, raising your party's defense!

>All allies defense increased!

"Come on Hiro, the girls will make fun of you if you put on a show like this!" Kyle said as he doused you in the effects of the amrita soda, allowing you to move once again!

"Devil's Cacophony!" Patchouli shouted again, blasting the enemy once more, hitting them all

The goat head fires lightning at Kyle, but he manages to dodge it easily!

The child head lets out a scream! You feel yourself moving more sluggishly...

>All allies AGI decreased!

The chest head swings its flail around in a wide arc, trying to hit you all. You all manage to dodge it, but Sailor Moon takes a direct hit sadly.

"Guh!" Sailor Moon groans. "owwww, that hurts..."


>Hiro:HP:125/125 MP:76/76(DEF UP(-4)(PHYS UP+2)(AGI DOWN-2)
>Ace:HP:74/119 MP:28/80(DEF UP(-4))(PHYS UP+2)(AGI DOWN-2)
>Sailor Moon:HP:72/94 MP:89/97(DEF UP(-4))(PHYS UP+2)(AGI DOWN-2)
>Kyle:HP:75/75 MP:48/54(DEF UP(-4))(PHYS UP+4)(AGI DOWN-2)
>Patchouli:HP:64/64 MP:87/147(DEF UP(-4))(PHYS UP+2)(AGI DOWN-2)

>Goat Head:40/600(PHYS UP+4)
>Child Head:343/400(PHYS UP+4)
>Chest Head:443/500(PHYS UP+4)

>Hiro - Spray and Pray X2(102,53)
>Ace - Finger of Flames X2 (Goat Head)(57,39)
>Sailor Moon - Moonlight
>Kyle - Smokebomb
>Patch - Devil's Cacophony(101)

You open fire with your gun, though you miss some shots, you still managed to hit all enemies! ...Except for the chest head. The bullets just bounce right off of it!

Chest head's Immunity found!

Ace attempts to attack the Goat head, but the creature is able to move it's large body enough that he misses his attack, fumbling a bit of to the side as the goat head...actually laughs at him.

"Oh screw you, you're gonna be my dinner when I'm done with you! Ace growls

Sailor Moon, continues buffing your defense, As Kyle throws down a smoke bomb

>All allies Defense increased!
>All Allies AGI increased!

"Die." Patchouli says coldly as she fires off another dark spell.

The goat head lets out a loud yell as it slumps over, no longer smiling like before!

The child head lets out a relaxing song...and the goat head returns to life, smirking just like before!

The chest head spews gold coins at you! The things flying so fast that you, Ace, and Sailor Moon are pelted pretty hard by them! You in particular taking the worst hit.


>Hiro:HP:89/125 MP:71/76(DEF UP(-6)(PHYS UP+2)
>Ace:HP:56/119 MP:22/80(DEF UP(-6))(PHYS UP+2)
>Sailor Moon:HP:46/94 MP:85/97(DEF UP(-6))(PHYS UP+2)
>Kyle:HP:75/75 MP:44/54(DEF UP(-6))(PHYS UP+4)
>Patchouli:HP:64/64 MP:87/147(DEF UP(-6))(PHYS UP+2)

>Goat Head:300/600(PHYS UP+4)
>Child Head:280/400(PHYS UP+4)
>Chest Head:404/500(PHYS UP+4)

>Ace - Flamethrower X2(93,67)
>Sailor Moon - Healing Light (Sailor Moon)
>Kyle - Smokebomb
>Patch - Silent Selene (Child Head)(88)

Alright, you can't believe you're thinking this, but the child has to die. It's clear that it acts a support base for the enemies, keeping them healthy while the other two do the heavy lifting in terms of combat. You raise your sword at her, firing off two summon stars at her and hitting her dead on!

Ace follows up after you, setting fire to the enemy! They quickly jump out of the way, doing their best to get what remaining flames are on them put out.

Sailor Moon, manages to heal herself up after that last attack, looking a lot better off than she did before.

"Can't see us~!" Kyle taunted throwing down another smoke bomb!

"Silent Selene!" Patchouli shouted hitting the child head with a powerful magic that circled around the child before blasting her.

The Goat head bleets again before focusing on Ace. The pirate, feeling something is off, quickly jumps from where he was standing and not a second later did a jagged piece of earth appear where he was once standing.

The child head lets out a weird shriek...and you feel less stronger than you did before!

>All allies buffs removed!

The chest head swings its flail again, this time all of you except Sailor Moon managing to dodge it!

"G-gugh...n-not again...Sailor Moon groans as she's knocked to her feet. Holding her side as it stains red

>Sailor Moon is bleeding!



>Hiro:HP:89/125 MP:65/76
>Ace:HP:56/119 MP:2/80
>Sailor Moon:HP:43/94 MP:76/97(Bleed)
>Kyle:HP:75/75 MP:40/54
>Patchouli:HP:64/64 MP:22/147

>Goat Head:274/600(PHYS UP+4)
>Child Head:195/400(PHYS UP+4)
>Chest Head:385/500(PHYS UP+4)

>Hiro - Amrita Soda (Sailor Moon)
>Ace - Switch to Aqua
>Sailor Moon - Healing Light (Sailor Moon)
>Kyle - Smokebomb
>Patch - Royal Flare(109)

Crap, Sailor Moon is in trouble! You quickly fish out another of those sodas and toss it her way. The soda doing its job once she drinks it and stopping her bleeding.

"Ace, gonna tag you out for Aqua! That cool?"

"No problems here Hiro!" Ace says as he returns to your COMP. With Holly sending out Aqua to take his place

Sailor Moon, once again heals herself.

"I can keep doin' this all day!" Kyle said throwing down another smoke bomb!

>All allies AGI raised!

"This is the last I have...Royal Flare!" Patchouli exclaimed causing a massive fireball to engulf the enemy!

The Goat head lets out another bleet, this time firing a gust of air at Kyle, who doddges it with ease.

The child shoots a stare at Sailor Moon, the Sailor Scout suddenly becoming woozy and having a dream like look on her face!

>Sailor Moon is inflicted with Charm!

The chest head sucks up more of your money!

>Lost $200

>All enemies attack increased!

>Hiro:HP:89/125 MP:65/76(AGI UP (+2))
>Aqua:HP:102/102 MP:107/107(AGI UP (+2))
>Sailor Moon:HP:59/94 MP:67/97(AGI UP (+2))
>Kyle:HP:75/75 MP:40/54(AGI UP (+2))
>Patchouli:HP:64/64 MP:2/147(AGI UP (+2))

>Goat Head:219/600(PHYS UP+6)
>Child Head:154/400(PHYS UP+6)
>Chest Head:348/500(PHYS UP+6)

>Hiro - Flameblade X2 (Child Head)(106,106)
>Aqua - Fira X2 (Child Head)(107,94)
>Sailor Moon - Healing Light (Sailor Moon)
>Kyle - Patra Stone (Sailor Moon)
>Patch - Switch to Mythra

You focus on the child head, delivering two solid blows to her. The child wailing as she reels from the flames

"I'm spent. I'm returning." Patchouli said with a look back towards Holly, the girl recalled the mage, with Renee calling in Mythra to help.

Aqua, seeing what you're doing fires off two spells at the child as well. Doing her best to help you bring it down!

**Trait Activated: Critical Resonance**

"Hehehe...poor girl...here, let me help!" Sailor Moon said as she almost  drunkenly heals the child head instead!

"Snap out of it meatball head!" Kyle calls out, throwing a patra stone at her

The goat head laughs wildly before firing off some dark magic at Sailor Moon! As she's still shaking her head from the effects of the Charm, she's knocked back.

"AAAAAAH! D-dammit!" She hollers in pain

**Sailor Moon's Weakness found!**

The child head whimpers to herself before belting out a soothing tune, you watch as some of her wounds fade!

The Chest head swings it's flail in a wide arc again! You,Aqua, and Kyle dodge with ease, but Sailor Moon and Mythra get hit! Though she tries to hang on, Sailor Moon can't stop herself from passing out and returning to Renee's COMP.



>Hiro:HP:89/125 MP:65/76(AGI UP (+2))
>Aqua:HP:102/102 MP:107/107(AGI UP (+2))
>Kyle:HP:75/75 MP:40/54(AGI UP (+2))
>Mythra:HP:82/106 MP:68/68

>Goat Head:219/600(PHYS UP+6)
>Child Head:60/400(PHYS UP+6)
>Chest Head:348/500(PHYS UP+6)

>Hiro - Flameblade (Child Head)(102)
>Aqua - Fira X2 (Child Head)(69,67)
>Mythra - Light Blast(68)
>Kyle - Smokebomb
>Summon Y'shtola

You quickly call on Y'shtola to help fill in the ranks where Sailor Moon once was, before attacking the child head again. she screams again, the wailing making you want to cover your ears, but you soldier on.

Aqua takes aim with her magic, but unfortunately misses her attacks,

The same goes for Mythra who misses her attack as well.

Kyle meanwhile tosses down another Smokebomb, making you harder to hit!

The Goat head laughs again, before hitting Mythra with wind magic!

The child head focuses on you, before you feel a constricting feeling on your throat!

>Hiro has been silenced!

The chest head swings it's Flail at Kyle, hitting him dead on!

"C-crap..." Kyle groans getting back to his feet "That thing hurts



>Hiro:HP:89/125 MP:65/76(AGI UP (+4))(Silenced)
>Aqua:HP:102/102 MP:91/107(AGI UP (+4))
>Kyle:HP:16/75 MP:36/54(AGI UP (+4)
>Mythra:HP:47/106 MP:60/68(AGI UP (+2))
>Y'shtola:HP:83/83 MP:120/120(AGI UP (+2))

>Goat Head:219/600(PHYS UP+6)
>Child Head:18/400(PHYS UP+6)
>Chest Head:348/500(PHYS UP+6)

>Hiro - Patra Stone (Hiro), Flameblade (Child's Head)(83)
>Aqua - Cure X2
>Mythra - Light Blast(77)
>Kyle - Wide Swipe(101)
>Y'shtola - Medica

You pull out a Patra stone and crush it, feeling the ability to speak return to you once again. You don't waste any time and take another slash at the child head, this time actually managing to kill it!

"Great work Hiro!" Aqua calls to you. My turn now, I'll fix us up! Heal!"

You feel your wounds close up as that warm sensation engulfs your body. Reinvigorating you!

Mythra this time raises her blade into the air and a blast of light rains down, hitting both remaining heads!

Kyle proceeds to swing his sword in a wide arc, hitting both heads as well! He deals a powerful blow to all of them!

"Here, I'll keep us going!" Y'shtola says as she covers you all in even more healing magic.

In retaliation, the goat head shoots fire magic at Aqua! Knocking her back as she shouts in pain.

The chest head steals more money from you!

>You lost $200!

>All enemies attack increased!


>Hiro:HP:125/125 MP:65/76(AGI UP (+4))
>Aqua:HP:45/102 MP:51/107(AGI UP (+4))
>Kyle:HP:72/75 MP:36/54(AGI UP (+4))
>Mythra:HP:103/106 MP:52/68(AGI UP (+2))
>Y'shtola:HP:83/83 MP:105/120(AGI UP (+2))

>Goat Head:184/600(PHYS UP+8)
>Chest Head:311/500(PHYS UP+8)

>Hiro - Flameblade X2 (Goat Head)(103,94)
>Aqua - Fira X2 (Goat Head)(91,106)
>Mythra - Grand Slash (Chest Head)(76)
>Kyle - Attack Aura
>Y'shtola - Cure II (Aqua)

That goat head has to go! You've taken it down before, you're sure you can do it again. You bring your blade down on its head hard, causing it to do that demonic sounding yell again as the flames dance around its face.

Trait Activated:Critical Resonance!

Aqua follows up behind you blasting the thing with more fire as well causing it to scream even more than it had before!

Trait Activated: Critical Resonance!

Deciding that she was having enough of the chest head, Mythra brought her sword down on its head(?) with as much strength as she can muster.

"Come on come on, ya gotta hit it harder!" Kyle jeered

"Oh shut up already, I'm working on it!" Mythra growled

>All allies PHYS attack increased!

"Keep it together!" Y'shtola called out as she mended Aqua's wounds

The goat head takes aim at you, hitting you with lightning magic!

"Ugh!" You grunt taking the brunt of the attack

The chest head swings its flail around before hitting Kyle directly in the chest with it! Sending him careening back into the wall!

"O-okay...t-that one might have stung a bit!" He wheezed out

>Hiro:HP:102/125 MP:65/76(AGI UP (+4))(PHYS up (+2))
>Aqua:HP:77/102 MP:51/107(AGI UP (+4))(PHYS up (+2))
>Kyle:HP:22/75 MP:30/54(AGI UP (+4))(PHYS up (+2))
>Mythra:HP:93/106 MP:52/68(AGI UP (+2))(PHYS up (+2))
>Y'shtola:HP:83/83 MP:90/120(AGI UP (+2))(PHYS up (+2))

>Goat Head:16/600(PHYS UP+8)
>Chest Head:286/500(PHYS UP+8)

>Hiro - Flameblade X2 (Goat Head)(75,107)
>Aqua - Cure, Fira (Goat Head)(53)
>Mythra - Grand Slash (Chest Head)(101)
>Kyle - Wide Swipe(108)
>Y'shtola - Cure I (Kyle)

You deliver one last hit to the goat head and it finally dies(again)! You don't stop though, you bring your blade towards the chest head and slash it as well, causing it to roar and...spit out gold coins? Is that supposed to be it's blood?

"Kyle, hang on!" Aqua called out as she used her magic to heal you all before firing a stray spell at the chest head, which it managed to  dodge with ease.

Once again Mythra attacked the Chest Head, slashing it as hard as she could. This time her hit really langed as the best stumbled back from the hit, letting out a low growl as it did.

"Save some for me~!" Kyle cackled getting back to his feet and swinging his blade in a wide arc, and hitting the monster just as hard as Mythra had done.

Trait Activated: No More Messin' Around!

"Could you please stop dying?" Y'shtola sighed as she healed Kyle's wounds

"No promises, comes with the job!" Kyle retorted

The chest head attempts to hit you, but you easily dodge it! The thing moving much more slowly now that Kyle and Mythra have worn it down.

>Hiro:HP:122/125 MP:65/76(AGI UP (+4))(PHYS up (+2))
>Aqua:HP:97/102 MP:27/107(AGI UP (+4))(PHYS up (+2))
>Kyle:HP:32/75 MP:30/54(AGI UP (+4))(PHYS up (+2))
>Mythra:HP:96/106 MP:52/68(AGI UP (+2))(PHYS up (+2))
>Y'shtola:HP:83/83 MP:85/120(AGI UP (+2))(PHYS up (+2))

>Chest Head:176/500(PHYS UP+8)

>Hiro - Flameblade X2(76,84)
>Aqua - Fira X2(92,95)
>Mythra - Grand Slash(96-NAT 1  OVVERRIDE)
>Kyle - Attack(82)
>Y'shtola - Stone II(70)

Fuck this thing, it took your money! You Slash again, trying your hardest to kill it, but it's still got some fight left in it

"Burn already!" Aqua shouted sooting off more fireballs towards the monster, it was barely hanging on now, with both of its other heads slumped over and defeated, it wouldn't be long before it followed.

Trait Activated: Critical Resonance!

Or at least, you thought it would. Mythra goes to attack again, but the monster trips her before she can pulll it off, sneaking in a free hit on her!

"Could you please stop dying?" Y'shtola sighed as she healed Kyle's wounds

"No promises, comes with the job!" Kyle retored

The chest head attempts to hit you, but you easily dodge it! The thing moving much more slowly now that Kyle and Mythra have worn it down.

Seeing the opening and taking it, Kyle dives in and delivers a solid blow to the chest head, getting it to back off of Mythra.

"Come on now, you can't expect me to save you all the time~!"

"Oh just shut it!" Mythra snarled getting to her feet

Y'shtola attacked the monster with earth magic, but unfortunately, it dodged just in time as the rocky spire shot up from the ground. In retaliation, the monster swung its flail around, in one last ditch effort to hit everyone. It was easily dodged...save for Y'shtola, who took a serious blow from the attack and was knocked away a bit.

"Blast...it came too fast for me..." She groaned, shakily getting back to her feet.

>Hiro:HP:122/125 MP:65/76(AGI UP (+4))(PHYS up (+2))
>Aqua:HP:97/102 MP:19/107(AGI UP (+4))(PHYS up (+2))
>Kyle:HP:32/75 MP:30/54(AGI UP (+4))(PHYS up (+2))
>Mythra:HP:44/106 MP:52/68(AGI UP (+2))(PHYS up (+2))
>Y'shtola:HP:21/83 MP:80/120(AGI UP (+2))(PHYS up (+2))

>Chest Head:26/500(PHYS UP+8)

>Hiro - AttackX2(106,92)
>Aqua - Attack X2(64,53)
>Mythra - Attack(73)
>Kyle - Attack(106)
>Y'shtola - Attack(92)

"Alright everybody, let's finish this!" You say rallying your allies as you all  attack the chest head at once. It's a myriad of slashes, stabs, pokes, jabs, and smashes as the creature finally falls over, dead. It disappears in a billow of black smoke, leaving behind a singular golden chest.

>You defeated Fool's Gold!
>You obtained $1600!
>You gained 225 EXP!

You and your friends return your summons to your COMPs and eye the golden chest. warily.

"Y-you think we should try to open it?" Holly asked

"I dunno...could be something else hiding in there. What do you think Hiro?"

>Open it
>Leave it

>Stab the fucking thing
>Then open it

You aren't taking any chances. You bring your sword up into the proper position and stab the fucking chest. It's a few tense minutes before you finally decide to open the thing. To your surprise, out spills some summon crystals.

"Sweet!" You exclaim picking them up

"At least there wasn't anything in there this time." Renee sighed, Holly merely nodding in agreement.

"Let's move on, I don't think I want to check if there's anything else in here that'll kill us." Holly said looking around with her bat at the ready.

You and Renee agree to that notion and leave the break room behind. There's nothing else for you here really.

"What's our next stop?" Holly asked "I don't know this place as well as you two."

>your office space
>Boss's office
>Get the hell out of here already

>Obtained 5 common summons crystals
>Obtained 2 rare Summon  Crystals

>your office space

Well, no reason not to check your usual haunt. That is to say, your office space where you spend all day answering questions for people or offering refunds for something or other. Holly takes point, leading the way and going the directions you tell her so that she can take any surprise attacks that come your groups way. When you arrive there though, what you see is...extremely disturbing. There's a red pillar, almost like a tree just...jutting out of the floor.

"What the hell is that?" Renee said looking at the pillar

"No idea." You say with a shake of your head "And I have no idea if it's even safe to get near it.

"W-well..." Holly mutters taking a step forward

"Hey, be careful! Don't go just touching things!" You say to Holly, who brushes you off

"T-there's only one way to find out..."

Getting closer, Holly places a hand on the pillar...and is instantly knocked back into you, the both of you ending up on the floor.

"Ugh..."

"Are you okay Holly?!" You ask as you

"I'll...I'll be okay..." she mutters getting to her feet.

"What do we do about that thing...?" Renee said "I mean, I could try shooting magic at it or something..."

>Leave it for now
>Try to attack it
>Use Magic on it
>Other/Write-in

>Use Magic on it

"Give it a shot Renee." You say standing back

"Well, okay..." She mutters rolling up her sleeves, Renee takes stock of the pillar before carefully taking aim at it and firing off a bolt of lightning at it. The power is so strong, that a small chunk of the pillar comes off and when it does...

*RUMBLE...*

The entire goddamn building *shakes*, almost as if the thing felt the blow of the attack itself. You all hold onto one another in the hopes that you don't fall over as the building rocks back and forth.

"Didn't expect that..." Renee said taking a breath once the shaking stopped "It looks like whatever that thing is, it's connected to the building in some way."

"Should we...destroy it?" Holly said

"I dunno, the entire building went crazy once Renee hit it, who knows what else could happen." You say eyeing the pillar up still

"The only other option we've got is looking around some more to see if we can find some other sort of clue." Renee sighed, "What's the call Hiro?"

>Destroy it
>Leave it and go to the boss's office

>Leave it and go to the boss's office

"No use poking the hornet's nest. Let's go, there's one last place to check."

The girls nod in agreement, and so you decide to go to your boss's office. It's too far away from your work area really, just being down the hall in case someone needed him for something.

Your boss hated when he was needed for something. As far as he was concerned, things should be running in tip-top shape at all times and that if anything went awry, it was up to his employees to fix it, doing everything they could before coming to him with the problem. It was irritating and on more than a few occassions, people would let a problem sit around until he stumbled onto it and then decided to fix it himself, making it seem like he caught it before anyone else did, all  to stroke his ego.

You wee so glad to be leaving this place soon.

Upon getting to the office, you're greeted with a more...demonic visage of your boss. His face is mostly normal, however, where his eyes and mouth would be are nothing more then a pitch black void that makes you more than a little unsettled.

"Why are you two here?" He asked, almost as if it were a regular day, though his voice had a unsettling echo "Don't tell me something is out of whack again.

>No it isn't...
>What's that pillar in the middle of the room?
>And if it is?
>Other/Write-in

>All that shit PJ said

You don't know what comes over you. But something about the way he said that question. It lights a fire in you. You know that it isn't your real boss sitting in front of you, but this...thing is so perfect in mimicking his speech, in mimicking his mannerisms, in just exuding the exact same kind of aura, you can't help yourself. Renee and Holly have clearly taken notice, as they both take a small step back as you take a deep breathe.

"Uh yeah boss. Customer told me to pass a complaint along."

"A complaint? That ain't my problem! That's for you to deal with!"

"No, really, hear me out. It's really imperative you hear it."

Relenting, your 'boss' leans back, ready to listen.

The first thing you do is reach into your pocket, acting as if you're looking for something before taking your hand back out and flipping him the bird with as much fury as possible. Renee is actually taken aback by the sudden action, and all Holly can do is look on at the display in shock as well.

"They said fuck the phones, fuck the refunds , fuck the retarded call scores, fuck the shitty holiday applications, fuck the idiots that fucking moan at the one cunt that can help them and then moan when they decide to take the piss out of them on the call, fuck having to wait
10 fucking minutes to get through to another department only to be transferred to another with the same wait time, fuck being moaned at for dealing with a problem some other neck breather from the floor caused, fuck the shitty break times and the awful lunch breaks as well, fuck your weird obsession with comfort break times, if I need a shit I'm going for a fucking shit, fuck the brain damaged mongos that phone to change shit without actually checking how it affects their payments and then act like I'm the fucking idiot for changing the price, fuck the inbred frog spawn that don't read their own fucking documents and then try to start shit about us not telling them their prices have changed despite the payments coming out at the same time every fucking year they've been with us, fuck the fucking cave dwellers that say we're trying to fuck with them when we correct their details and charge more when they're the ones that gave us that information in the fucking first place, fuck the managers that refuse to take the fucking calls because they don't want to and then moan about call times, again, because we can't get rid of them and fuck the managers that are so fucking anal about the rules they try to make us charge people triple fucking digits for cover they only need for an hour despite them doing nothing wrong and the only reason they need it is because they need to get to work in the morning and we only send out services in the afternoon and then give us grief when we cover it in notes instead of forcing them to pay up while they openly weep on the phones, so yeah, fuck all of you cunts."
You don't even know when it happened, but at some point you were in your boss's face, practically shouting at the man, before retreating back to your friends and grabbing Renee by the waist and pulling her in close.

"And Renee has a new job. A better job, and we're both leaving this sorry shithouse. So she won't have to torture herself in this crapheap any longer than she already has! Because she deserves fucking better!"

"O-oh...t-thanks Hiro..." Renee mutters, blushing slightly

Your 'boss' is silent for a moment, taking in all that you said. It was like getting hit with freight train all at once at your pent up rage that had been building all this time.

"I see." He growled out "I think it's about time I taught you what it means to be the boss."

His body twists and turns, parts of his body breaking apart until, you're left looking at a twisted being that isn't human.

"Now then, any last words before your termination?" The monster growls

"Yeah. Here's my two-fucking weeks notice you piece of shit." You say, as you and the others take out your weapons