2022-02-25: The Man Returns

• Log: 2022-02-25: The Man Returns
• Cast: Alexis Kerib, Akane Shinjo, Kaworu Nagisa, Shinji Ikari, Asuka Shikinami Langley, Yoko Nakashima, Nidaime, Riku Asakura, Rikka Takarada, Haruki Natsukawa, Garrod Ran, Sousuke Sagara
• Where: Tsutsujidai - Fumo-Fumo Land
• OOC - IC Date: 0096-02-25
• Summary: NERV and the Shuffle Alliance both track Gillvalis to a curious outcrop accessible from Tsutsujidai...

---

 <Pose Tracker> Alexis Kerib has posed. 

Tracking Gillvalis is weird. No, scratch that.

Tracking Gillvalis doesn't make any damned sense. It'd be one thing to notice that, once you're *really* looking, its signature leads to Tsutsujidai, broadly. Gillvalis has always been a creature of odd spaces, in-between spaces; Tsutsujidai is such a space, and so, Gillvalis's scent pointing there makes some sense.

What's weird is that it isn't actually in Tsutsujidai. Getting to it feels hotter on the trail than the outside world, but... it also feels like being pointed right back out.

Trying the train *again*, from Tsutsujidai this time, proves to be the right call.

The train lets out just outside Fumo-Fumo Land, or so the signage says. This route has been closed for maintenance, off and on, for weeks.

The tracks for this one, since they need to accommodate shipments of parts for rides and mechanized mascots in the first place, are designed to take mecha, if they need to. No one seems interested in charging extra for bringing the stuff, even; that's all on Fumo-Fumo Land's dime, apparently.

It's the only real new option that fits the timeline. Maybe Gillvalis is hiding in Fumo-Fumo Land.

---

Akane watches the invaders appear, standing on the school rooftop, leaning on the railing, looking out. It's kind of nostalgic -- insofar as you can be nostalgic for something only a couple months gone. She chews at her tomato juice straw a bit, pensively.

"... All that movement on a day I didn't make a kaiju? I don't think it's Anti, either..." Akane doesn't much like the implications of that. If people are tracking totally unrelated problems into her space... she's going to need to change tacks *completely*. Maybe she can get rid of the Vessels of Light without even getting her hands dirty.

---

*Is* Gillvalis hiding in Fumo-Fumo Land?

Kind of.

This is Fumo-Fumo Land, to be sure; Bonta-Kun's visage greets all guests. There are rides. There are concessions. They don't operate.

There are no *people.* There is barely *land*. There's a sense of 'up,' but things not nailed down have a tendency to float, as if sitting in a space colony whose glass has been shattered and has lost the momentum of its spin, now. The sky feels somehow claustrophobic, pressing down to an even greater extent than it does in Tsutsujidai itself -- cloud cover is heavy, and debris cover above rotates too. It would be a horrible idea to take flight, here.

The world doesn't want this place anymore, but the world finds the notion of destruction so exhausting. What if things simply ended when you didn't think about them?

It's here that Gillvalis waits, recovering. A Devil Splinter has done much of the work, but its earlier battles with Ultraman Geed have left it with scars that don't quite seem to heal. The Core has a few small imperfections, here and there -- signs of prior battles.

Perhaps the most notable thing, though: those scars aren't simple dings and chips. A sort of black anti-energy sits atop them, almost like stitches or patches. It's the Devil Splinter that keeps Gillvalis going; something else, though, seems to...

... what? Is it healing the Last Judgmenter, holding its wounds in place while the Devil Splinter repairs them? Or is it siphoning off that selfsame energy, preventing it from ever healing again, sucking on a wound and encouraging it to weep forever while creating the mere *illusion* of a bandage?

---

A train arrives. It is the first to arrive, in at least a week, perhaps two.

Even if the rest of the world doesn't recognize the train as unusual, Gillvalis does. The AI begins to rouse, slowly. The arrival of a linear train in what is increasingly nonlinear space (ha!) is unusual enough that it requires some consideration -- some calculation.

Time enough to seize the initiative, at least.
 KTS: Haruki Natsukawa has deployed in SAA-1 Sevenger <Haruki>.
 KTS: Haruki Natsukawa has changed loadout.
 KTS: Kaworu Nagisa has deployed in Evangelion Unit-00.

 

 <Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed. 

        Tracking Gillvalis *is* weird. But the fact that it's somewhere in this universe--somewhere close--and yet seems to have vanished is concerning, to say the least. After Kaworu had spoken with Riku about the matter, he'd quietly put it in with STORAGE personnel via his military liaison and mentor, Captain Hebikura, to track the signature as best they could until they found a lead. NERV had been able to pinpoint the location, thanks to the data it's collected on Tsutsujidai via its intrepid explorers. And now...
        
        And now, it really only makes sense that what they've found has overlapped with the strange other-space known as Tsutsujidai--or at least, an outskirts variation of it.
        
        The train rolls into what the sign claims is the Fumo-Fumo Land station after a trip through a somnabulating fog. It's not necessarily a peaceful or restful sleep, but it's sleep all the same--for most, anyway. Since this *is* on Fumo-Fumo Land's dime (or at least, that's the word; no one on the line is charging extra, anyway), NERV was able to go all-out on its transport: three Evangelions, two STORAGE robots, and plenty of weaponry, umbilical cables, and fresh batteries for all five. For convenience's sake, each robot is already manned. Kaworu, for his part, relaxes in the entry plug for Unit 00. He'd told Rei that he had no desire to replace her, and he'd meant that, but she hadn't been available for this mission either way, so... it is what it is.
        
        "We've arrived at our destination," a staff member broadcasts through the train, including to the various robots. "Everything looks... strange? Outside?" Their tone is uncertain, as if they're only now taking in what's there. "It looks as though pieces of land are floating...?"

 

 <Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed. 

"I freaking hate Fumo-Fumo Land." Shinji Ikari says, surprising nobody. "You know those suits don't breathe at all?" Shinji is digging through relevant files such as 'what the hell is a Gillvalis?", "can I cut it with a knife?", and is quietly hoping that this mission mends some fences between the EVA unit and STORAGE. "They just wait until one of the kids inside gets heatstroke and shifts a new one in at the aid station. And the food is so fake, they had us just make pancake balls with scallions on top and call them takoyaki. My boss there was a real psycho, too. Guy never blinked, it drove me crazy. Kept talking about having a plan to kill everyone you meet."

Shinji leans back in his chair, blowing bubbles in the LCL. Being in dream world again sucks, but at least he feels like he's getting used to the place. And honestly as much as he grouses, he feels a little protective of it too. It's not these people's fault they've been trapped by some rogue cognitohazard. Unit-01 is still.

Waiting.

As they get closer to the impact site, Shinji raises an eyebrow at the bizarre geography. "I guess we should've called the Gundams." Shinji says, Unit-01 reaching out to swipe at what used to be a ring toss game, now slowly floating in the air and smashing together, not unlike minerals trapped beneath the earth's surface forming into gemstones.

"Still, I did always want to have the guts to go to the top of the ferris wheel." Shinji says, unbuckling Unit-01's restraints. "We climbing?"
 

 <Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed. 

One moment, on the train... waiting impatiently on arrival, as she listens to Shinji complain about Fumo-Fumo land, "From all your complaining, sounds like your boss had every reason to want to kill y-" A deep yawn interrupts whatever she has to say and trails off...

... the next? Asuka finds herself floating in LCL, drowsy in the seat of her entry plug, as her blue eyes open just fractionally.

The silence is incomprehensible, which makes her understand immediately, "This again..." Sounding annoyed, she rubs her eyes with the back of a gloved hand... and then still feeling the cobwebs, she grips the flesh of her cheek with two fingers of her glove, and twists hard enough to cause a wince.

Now fully awake, she pushes herself forward into position, gripping the induction levers, "Evangelion Unit-02 - ready for launch." The comm has been crackling with the staff member broadcasting, and Asuka hits a few buttons to give her a wider view of the area including the floating debris. "Hey Fifth String - you sure we're actually on target?" She accuses, with the idea that they're probably not, "Last I checked Tsutsujidai didn't have any anomalies like this."

Before snapping at Shinji, as Unit-02 climbs out of its restraints, "You do realize your Unit-01 is almost as tall as a Ferris Wheel right now - right?" Taking a short, experimental leap with the Evangelion, she makes some adjustments to her instruments on landing.
 

 <Pose Tracker> Yoko Nakashima has posed. 

        STORAGE HQ had gotten the signal of... something. They weren't sure what, to be honest. But Yuka had determined it was 'a Kaiju', 'bad', and 'really hard to track and thus a challenge. The training day with Windom and Sevenger had to wait.

        And now, Yoko is waiting in the cockpit of Windom. It's a familiar experience. Waiting, engines off, for something to happen. She's not sleeping, but she's taking all the other advantages a professional soldier would. Her comms, however, are full of minor chatter, from the small white car- The STEGG- locked in at Windom's feet. "Mrrrrngggg, if I could only get this," Yuka whines slightly from the over the radio. "then STORAGE's funding problems would be over..."

        Yoko shrugs. "Windom operates fine even with the cost cutting measures. We'll make do." Though more funding would be nice...

        Yuka continues to grumble. "Only because of Neronga's horn! Gah, if only half the Millennium Prize Problems hadn't been solved."

        Yoko is also taking Tsutsujidai's weirdness in stride, but she's on mission. She does blink at Shinji's comments. "...That's a pity." Guess that's 'go on a date to Fumo Fumo Land one day' off the list.

        (Go on a date to Fumo Fumo Land one day is not off the list.)"

        As the message that they've arrived at their destination comes through, Yoko steels. "Windom, activating!" She activates the battery, and releases the restraints. "Yuka, what's the situation?"

        "No distress calls, no sirens, it's empty. I don't know it's fully evacuated, though. Or what's going on with the gravity. But Gilvalis is here! Bring me back a piece, okay! I wanna know if he's doing it! Or if I can use it!" Yuka goes into support mode. The STEGG will be staying on the train. It is a car.

        "We need to engage the Kaiju, and stop it doing any more damage. We're in an unusual environment, so don't get careless. And try to work as a team, we don't have room for recklessness. There's no one here, so we don't have to worry about civilians." She'd say 'try to minimize damage' but...

        She activates the gravity compensator Bako put in, and uses Windom's jumpjets to... jump up, landing with surprising easy. She's *used* to low-g, and Windom is an extension of her. "Operational time, starting! Windom, firing! Haruki, on me! Nagisa, Langley, Ikari, prepare for all-range combat!"

        Windom screeches, and fires a redvlaser from it's beam lamp straight for Gilvalis. It's time to take down a Kaiju with maximum prejudice, as Windom starts wading forward.

        It's on.

 KTS: Yoko Nakashima targets Alexis Kerib with Laser Shot!

 

 <Pose Tracker> Nidaime has posed. 

Remember that turtle that keeps judging Shinji Ikari? According to Shinji Ikari. The turtle itself seems to just be kinda vibing usually.

Well, it's back! Except this time, someone is riding its back. Nidaime is giggling like a maniac as she is laying down on top of the giant turtle's shell, giving her Anopapa a Nidohug.

But then giant robots start showing up. Nidaime pulls her headphones from her ears and clambers higher up in Anosillus, dangling her feet in front of her eyes as she takes a long look at the Unit 01.

She gives the Unit 01 a wave and a big friendly grin that shows off her sharp fangs and--more importantly!--her cheerful and kind personality.

"Hello!" She waves towards Shinji with a hand which might be the first time she actually said words at him. "Wow you keep coming by... Are you..."

Her eyes widen. "Are you...trying to ask me out on a date???"

Meanwhile Anosillus is keeping more of an eye on Gillvalis, too laconic to open fire it seems but it makes a faint (for anosillus) braaap noise.

Nidaime remembers seeing something on the television she wanted to try. She forms a <3 shape with her hands.

Anosillus makes more turtle noises.

"No I'm not trying to get him out of his shell. It's okay for boys to be in their shell. They can hide under their shell and it protects their bodies from negative experiences--"

More turtle noises.

"--Well of course you have to poke your head out occassionally, how else are you going to eat leaves? Or headnuzzle the people who love you?"
 KTS: Nidaime targets Shinji Ikari with Heart!

 

 <Pose Tracker> Riku Asakura has posed. 

Riku was with the group trying to track down Gillvalis, in fact when it was called in that based on the information he provided to people that something weird had come up, he was the first to respond to the Shuffle side of the investigation. Riku is polite and friendly, and when people ask him what he's about that isn't in the know, he shrugs. "I'm just a wanderer," he says, easily enough.

Though there is a special dialogue for Rikka, and he takes her to the side for a moment somewhere along the trips needed to find Gillvalis. "Hey...a friend of yours and I met coincidently when I was picking up groceries. Akane seemed very worried about you and that she hasn't seen you in a bit. She asked me to pass that along, but...she was pretty distraught over it I think, trying to hide it," he says with a pause.

Upon entry into the eerily quiet Fumo-Fumo land, which was already weird, this silence is downright creepy. Riku hops out of the train the first moment he gets to look down at Gillvalis who...that's not right. The Devil Splinter was known, but there is something else going on here. He taps his head and speaks into something. He lets the Freeden know where Gillvalis is, and to be careful.

Then he immediately breaks into a run towards it, quickly dodging line of sight after a few moments. If someone follows him...

Riku grabs onto a Fusion Riser, pulling it to his chest. "Standing around doing nothing won't get me anywhere!" before running into a portal. Moments later, from nearby Ultraman Geed Galaxy Rising appears in a similar way to Ultraman Z, and starts approaching Gillvalis. The approach quickly breaks into a run, charging the machine before it could pull itself together.

The Ultraman attempts to grapple the machine, and quickly try and subdue it before it can take the initiative and start firing.
 KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Yoko Nakashima's Laser Shot, taking 2700 damage!
 KTS: Yoko Nakashima begins a Formation attack!
 KTS: Nidaime has activated the Trust Spirit Command targeting Shinji Ikari
 KTS: Riku Asakura targets Alexis Kerib with Ultraman Wrestling Style!

 

 <Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed. 

Rikka is a citizen of Tsutsujidai, so if there's a problem in the city, she wants to help fix it - especially in regards to something like a kaiju that could cause trouble for everyone. And besides, she'd promised to help Riku with Gillvalis, and she's not going to back down on that.

...It's strange, though - she has memories of visiting Fumo-Fumo Land, once upon a time, but she can't remember the last time she ever took the train there. Or, for that matter, the last time the train was running. But it's running today... and strangely enough, there's no extra charge for Synchrotank.

On the train, Riku has something to say to her!

"Oh, you met Akane? What did she say?" Rikka asks. ...It's hard to hide the fact that her interest has been piqued. And then... "O-oh. Um... thanks. I'll get in touch with her... Exams are coming up, maybe she'll want to study together..."

It's a convenient excuse, at any rate. She never wanted to worry Akane...

Eventually, the train arrives. This is surely Fumo-Fumo Land, but it isn't the beacon of joy it should be. It's... grey, and filled with an oppressive emptiness. Rikka is, for obvious reasons, distracted as she exits the train... but the the shiver that runs down her spine as she exits the train brings her back to reality(could this truly be called reality...?)

"...What happened here? Did Gillvalis do this...?" Rikka asks, horrified as she climbs into Synchrotank. She drives the mobile suit off the train... and is momentarily alarmed when it keeps going, floating off at an angle rather than going down the ramp. She has to quickly unfold the machine into bipedal mode and grab onto something to stabilize herself.

"...Be careful. Moving around feels... weird, here." She says. ...She feels weird just saying that. She's never been in space, but if she were, this kind of feels like what it would be like. There's another train pulling up, too - NERV, it seems. Well, some of them already know her, so she sees no reason not to open communications.

"This is Rikka Takarada, in Synchrotank... I'm a citizen of Tsutsujidai. I'm here to help, and I've brought friends." She broadcasts.

Further investigation reveals the reason they're here - Gillvalis. It's starting to wake up, and when it does, it's probably going to lash out.

"I'm with you, Geed!" Rikka says, leveling Synchrotank's missile launchers at Gillvalis. A series of missiles shoot out, erupting into plumes of smoke to make things more difficult for the enemy.
 KTS: Rikka Takarada targets Alexis Kerib with Jam!

 

 <Pose Tracker> Haruki Natsukawa has posed. 

         "PREVIOUSLY:
         "Tsutsujida's not a normal place in Japan? What? But then how did I... The train though??? K-Kay. Well uh, I guess that explains why the ceiling felt so low... Oh, it's just an expression I picked up, don't worry about it! Anyway, on it!"

         Haruki gets a briefing from STORAGE command, and learns that somehow, he slept his way into some sort of weird temporal zone. Or something like that anyway. He honestly doesn't fully understand it (he's pretty sure the people in charge don't either), but if he simply rationalizes it being something like Riser Space...

         NOPE! Still doesn't make much sense. It's fine though, he'll simply figure it out on his own time.

         NOW:
         With Sevenger loaded up on the train, Haruki sits in the cockpit seat waiting, remaining mostly quiet as he only partially listens in. He's currently going over strategies in his head, trying his best to plan things out like a professional. Something that's pretty hard to do when you're not a tactician and don't have the full picture!

         His fruitless pre-planning is interrupted at the word 'date' however, and he chimes in, though a bit of time has already passed since the word had even been mentioned.

         "Date? I thought this was a missio- OH! We're already here!? Uh..."

         Scrambling to operate the controls in his seat, Haruki springs Sevenger to life. The massive, cylindrical robot stands up from its container on the train, its yellow eyes shining to life as smoke billows out of its mouth.

         "On it! Natsukawa Haruki, deploying in the SAA-1 Sevenger! Kay!"

         Taking Yoko's advice into consideration, he decides to engage the kaiju in an attempt to restrain it. Carefully. Or at least, an attempt to be as careful as possible.

         Despite his best efforts, the weird, low gravity messes up his balance, and Sevenger loses its balance at a mistimed step.

         In a desperate attempt to prevent damage to the city however, Haruki fights with the controls, forcing the robot to remain upright as it trips forward through the amusement park, and eventually straight into Gillvalis itself, crashing into the massive mechanical monster with the entirety of its weight.

         Haruki grits his teeth, and silently thanks Bako for the additional cushioning he provided for the pilot seat.

 KTS: Haruki Natsukawa targets Alexis Kerib with Sevenger Kabuki Attack!
 You have not deployed a robot. (see +deploy)

 KTS: Rikka Takarada jams Alexis Kerib's sensors, reducing his accuracy.
 KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Haruki Natsukawa's Sevenger Kabuki Attack, taking 2925 damage!
 KTS: Haruki Natsukawa has engaged Alexis Kerib
 KTS: Riku Asakura anchors Alexis Kerib, forcing him into close range.
 KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Riku Asakura's Ultraman Wrestling Style, taking 2775 damage!
 KTS: Riku Asakura has engaged Alexis Kerib
 KTS: Haruki Natsukawa has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
 
 

 <Pose Tracker> Garrod Ran has posed. 

Not terribly long ago, Garrod Ran's world was focused around the Freeden, or more accurately, around a girl named Tiffa who'd begun considering the Freeden "home," and so Garrod - a drifter for the lion's share of his young life - had begun, tentatively, to start thinking of the landship that way as well.

But Garrod's not blind to the continued existence of the world outside, and while he's still slow to start conversations, he does *listen*. You don't survive on your own without staying alert to what's going on around you, after all. So when one of the bridge crew mentions an uptick in comm traffic, and when Jamil seems more concerned than usual, Garrod notices - and when the Freeden changes course towards a populated area, Garrod notices that as well. The only thing which takes him by surprise, really, is when Jamil pulls Garrod aside and gives him actual orders.

"You want me to WHAT?!" is a close approximation of Garrod's initial reaction. But then, it does explain part of why Tiffa's seemed so ill-at-ease even when they *weren't* dodging grabby scientist-paid mercs ...

But at this point, as the Freeden cruises through the edge of Tsutsujidai's landairdimensionspace towards Fumo-Fumo Land, Garrod is focused on the task ahead. Riku (who seems nice, but a lot of people can seem nice) did explain what was up in more detail than Jamil, and "alien AI bent on wiping out everything" is definitely a problem. And Garrod can't just keep freeloading on the Freeden, even if he *is* also pitching in with maintenance and random jobs to earn his keep - this is a Big Mission as well as a Big Problem. He's still thinking that when Jamil's voice comes in over the radio.

'We've reached the mission area. Remember, Garrod, this is a joint operation - you're part of a team out there, even if you don't know them yet. Just do what you *can*, and if there's a point where you can't help, make sure you come back in one piece. All right?'

Garrod swallows, squeezing his control grips, fingers carefully away from the triggers. "Understood. Gundam X, launching!"

The Freeden's launch hatch barely has time to open all the way before the Gundam X barrels out, thrusters ablaze, and its "wings" pivoting and opening to help propel the white mobile suit into the air. Garrod doesn't need any help identifying the target, either: for one thing, he's seen pictures of it, and number two, other people are already shooting at it.

"All units," the white Gundam broadcasts, "this is Garrod Ran - of the Freeden! Heard you might need some help with the big baddie!" It feels decidedly weird to claim that he's "of" anything, but Garrod doesn't let that slow him down after the missed beat. Rather, he brings up the GX's shield buster rifle, sights in on the big gun-laden turtly thing (not to be confused with Anosillas, who's much lower-profile and has nary a gun in sight), and opens fire.
 KTS: Garrod Ran targets Alexis Kerib with Buster Rifle - Snipe!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib blocks Garrod Ran's Buster Rifle - Snipe, taking 1260 damage!
 
 

 <Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed. 

Sousuke was not overtly involved in the investigation of Gillvalis, but he does happen to live like right next to Tsutsujidai, as the interdimensional crow flies, so he was an obvious call-up once the plan was settled. Besides...'that device' needs further assessment.

Which is why Sousuke is on the train with the rest of the Shuffle Alliance cohort. Arbalest is on its hands and knees to expose the section around the back of the neck where the cockpit's hatch is. Sousuke is in his pilot suit now, which looks more like a suit of combat armor than anything, with an impact helmet adorned in various spots with jewel-like beads that presumably do something important. He is quietly sipping at a CalorieMark gel pack, because that's just a thing he does sometimes.

He rouses from a sudden slumber as they come through the tunnel into Fumo-Fumo Land, shaking himself upright. The cockpit chirps at him. AL, the onboard AI, notes, "Sensor disruption detected. Timestamp flagged for later analysis."

Sousuke's getting used to this by now, but a person like Sousuke is never happy to find himself losing consciousness. And then...he sees what's going on. "Unusual terrain. Be cautious. We can't expect standard gravitational conditions." He crushes the last of his gel pack into his mouth and then tosses it into a waste bin as they pass. He might miss.

Then he slips down into the cockpit. "Transition to active mode," he orders. "Standard settings."

"Roger. Moving from passive state to precombat. BMSA 3.5. Master Mode, 4," AL recites, as the cockpit closes and Arbalest begins standing up.

Then, parts of the armor slide aside, exposing large projection lenses, and the Arbalest disappears in a flash of electric blue light. "ECS Invisibility mode, online," AL reports.

There's noise, at least, of Arbalest moving itself swiftly into position, leaping up to a building that looks like it's about to take flight.

From which he opens fire!! The Boxer Shotcannon roars as it releases its first shot, and a moment later that flash of light goes off again, as Arbalest reappears.

"ECS disabled. Switching to active combat power distribution," AL reports.

Sousuke calls on the local comm, "Uruz Seven, entering combat."
 KTS: Sousuke Sagara targets Alexis Kerib with Boxer 57mm Shotcannon Slug!
 KTS: Kaworu Nagisa targets Alexis Kerib with Pass!
 KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley targets Alexis Kerib with Pass!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Kaworu Nagisa's Pass, taking 0 damage!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Asuka Shikinami Langley's Pass, taking 0 damage!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Sousuke Sagara's Boxer 57mm Shotcannon Slug, taking 3075 damage!
 KTS: Shinji Ikari targets Alexis Kerib with Pass!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Shinji Ikari's Pass, taking 0 damage!
 KTS: Shinji Ikari: Will Barrier Activates.

 

 <Pose Tracker> Alexis Kerib has posed. 

Alexis Kerib stands off in the distance, watching. He remains passive, as always. Gillvalis... there was a time in Alexis's life where he would have executed the Last Judgmenter in his weakened state. Then again, going from considering execution to deputizing that same person... has paid off, in the past. He considers the offenders, too -- Vessels of Light, of course... mobile suits, expected... the Evangelion units, however, are a genuine surprise. He'd thought Kaworu would have tried to stop them from getting involved in the goings-on of this space...

Alexis appears on one of Kaworu's monitors. "Hoh, Kaworu-kun," he says. "Just so you know -- this doesn't violate our agreement! Do as you wish -- but at least try to let Akane figure the situation out on her own. She's very bored, you know." He winks back out.

Yoko draws first blood on the still-calculating Gillvalis; her laser mostly just scores armor, but it does leave Gillvalis exactly off-balance enough for a near-immediate follow-up from Sevenger that was definitely, totally planned.

Rikka lets loose an array of smoke missiles, and Gillvalis needs to recalculate every single one of its firing solutions. The Last Judgmenter roars back at her, and there's a split second where Synchrotank's controls seemingly decide to just ignore her entirely and start forming a firing solution on *Riku*... but Junk's warning siren goes off and Rikka regains control without any actual incident.

The barrage of long-distance attacks is a lot. Garrod's long-distance shot meets with a gleaming barrier -- which falters in the next moment, allowing Sousuke's follow-up to bite straight into armor.

Riku, though, takes point. Ultraman Geed locks up with Gillvalis, and wrenches something firmly; it hates that. There's something about losing to something you've *already* lost to that's an insult -- and once that happens, it's ready to answer that insult.

The Last Judgmenter's predominant method of attack comes from its hand-mounted vulcan guns. It swings its arms from side to side, peppering everyone present with bullets. Everyone, at the bare minimum, gets some degree of Gillvalis's immense violence. The Galactron Army has encountered mobile suits before, here and there -- but Gillvalis orients on its recent pains, not its historical ones, so its priority targets are the Giants of Light and their most immediate allies, much more than the assembled mecha and kaiju.

Ultraman Geed is the primary beneficiary of Gillvalis's bristling violence. It's actually willing to stay in close with him, rearing its head back and lashing out with its horn -- a vicious heavyweight swing that Geed has felt before, delivered exactly the same way: swiping down from Gillvalis's right to its left and digging in, just below Geed's Color Timer.

Yoko -- who earned Gillvalis's ire first -- receives a pair of quick laser bursts followed by a barrage of missiles. To some extent, it's a probing attack -- trying to figure out just how tough these Earth-built pseudo-kaiju really are. Sevenger, meanwhile, gets a much bigger spray of missiles all around it.

Gillvalis has historically been a very chatty archvillain! Those who have fought him before will no doubt remember that he was delighted to explain his vision of interdimensional peace to anyone in the fight or indeed things already programmed with it. Today, however, Gillvalis is not... doing any of that. Gillvalis does not speak. The creature presents violence upon violence and no other prompts..

A small drone camera floats in from the train tracks. It's an old model -- a four-rotor drone assembly, about half a meter tall, with a big red central eye. It dips and darts from side to side, a bit, trying to get a better look at the fighting. It's that small, and unarmed to boot -- it's probably nothing.
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Sousuke Sagara with Hand Gun Spray!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Garrod Ran with Hand Gun Spray!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Haruki Natsukawa with Valisproiettile!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Riku Asakura with Valiscornora!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Nidaime with Hand Gun Spray!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Yoko Nakashima with Valis Distorts!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Rikka Takarada with Goad!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Kaworu Nagisa with Goad!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Shinji Ikari with Hand Gun Spray!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Asuka Shikinami Langley with Hand Gun Spray!
 KTS: Nidaime blocks Alexis Kerib's Hand Gun Spray, taking 864 damage!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib goads Rikka Takarada, reducing her Intuition drastically.
 KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley's EN Barrier activates, negating 1500 base damage.
 KTS: Alexis Kerib enervates Asuka Shikinami Langley, reducing her Morale significantly.
 KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley fails to Evade Alexis Kerib's Hand Gun Spray, taking 648 damage!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Hollow activates, causing Insight L1!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Shallow activates, causing Sparkle!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Superficial activates, causing Shock!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib goads Kaworu Nagisa, reducing his Intuition drastically.
 KTS: Shinji Ikari's Will Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage.
 KTS: Shinji Ikari blocks Alexis Kerib's Hand Gun Spray, taking 570 damage!
 KTS: [Spirit Defense] Haruki Natsukawa's Ultraman Z! activates, and his spirit endures.
 KTS: Alexis Kerib enervates Haruki Natsukawa, reducing his Morale significantly.
 KTS: Alexis Kerib rattles Haruki Natsukawa, making his next maneuvers more difficult.
 KTS: Haruki Natsukawa blocks Alexis Kerib's Valisproiettile, taking 3300 damage!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Hollow activates, causing Insight L1!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Shallow activates, causing Sparkle!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Superficial activates, causing Shock!
 KTS: Riku Asakura blocks Alexis Kerib's Valiscornora, taking 2052 damage!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib has engaged Riku Asakura
 KTS: Yoko Nakashima successfully evades Alexis Kerib's Valis Distorts
 KTS: Sousuke Sagara successfully evades Alexis Kerib's Hand Gun Spray

 

 <Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed. 

        It's an unfortunate life Shinji's led. Kaworu listens to his story/rant with sympathy, making the occasional 'mhm' sort of noise to indicate he's still listening. The story doesn't go anywhere, but that's fine. He just enjoys listening to Shinji talk.
        
        "Yes," Kaworu tells Asuka simply by contrast, not bothering to entertain her doubts or insinuations. She won't believe him anyway, and she'll see for herself soon enough. To Shinji, he adds, "I don't believe we'll need to climb... though if you want to, there's no reason you can't."
        
        Unit 00 rises from her car, one hand gripping the side for balance before she leans forward onto the balls of her armored feet. Within, Kaworu listens to Yuka's report with a faint smile, then nods at Yoko's command.
        
        "Understood. I'll lay down support fire for you, Yoko Nakashima," he tells Yoko. Unit 00 leaps then, launching off the side of her car while tossing up a piece of armament from the same; she seems to float as she spins before landing gracefully on a floating rock. Before she can rebound off of it, she clutches the rifle balleting through the air and uses it as a counterweight to keep her balance. She rises as if drifting through a dream.
        
        Her bullets discharge as if screaming through a nightmare, pausing only to avoid that fire turning friendly. Gillvalis is dangerous enough by itself, after all--and all the more so when backed by Alexis. Kaworu's gaze flicks to that communication window that pops up. He doesn't respond to Alexis. His faint frown says it all--as does the twitch of Unit 00's hands, as if seeking not a trigger but a neck.
        
        Soon enough he's gone, though. "Ultraman Geed--Miss Takarada--it's good to see you both again," he transmits, pleasant and personable despite everything. A white Gundam and the Arbalest fly in from above and transmit their intentions to help fight, one more terse than the other; Kaworu transmits back, "This is Kaworu Nagisa of NERV. Understood. We'll be counting on your support."
        
        He does turn a curious look at the massive kaiju turtle. Shinji had indeed said he'd thought it'd been judging him. At the time, Kaworu had smiled and let that one go. He smiles again now, a bit of laughter in his throat. "She seems to like you, Shinji," he observes. Perhaps that one will help him in case he gets overwhelmed again.
        
        Haruki chimes in then on the matter of a date, having clearly only been paying half attention. Kaworu laughs more fully this time, though, even as Sevenger more stumbles into Gillvalis rather than attacks it. "You truly are a pure person. It's a pleasure to get to work with you, Haruki Natsukawa," he says fondly.
        
        Gillvalis is a formidable foe, and its attacks against its sudden assailants ferocious, but Kaworu has confidence in everyone's ability to make it through. What Akane *or* Alexis make of that afterwards, he'll simply find out in his own time.

 KTS: Kaworu Nagisa targets Alexis Kerib with Sniper Rifle Aimed Shot!
 KTS: Garrod Ran successfully Evades Alexis Kerib's Hand Gun Spray
 
 

 <Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed. 

Asuka double takes at the Gremlin on the back of the giant Kaiju turtle. "Got a visual on a second Kaiju..."

However, she's at least aware that it's not a hostile target from her past experiences - even if that wouldn't normally exempt it in her eyes, just afford it a delay. "... non-priority target."

Before she says in the comm Nidaime's way - commenting in a far less good-natured way than Kaworu, "He absolutely is. He's just too embarrassed for a full on love confession." Before her focus shifts to Shinji, "Shame I don't have my phone here to record this touching moment where love blooms between the Daddy's Boy and an elementary schooler."

Yoko however shouts out to prepare for all-range combat and Asuka responds coldly, "I don't take orders from you." The train suddenly launches a crate off, which opens, a small detonation causing a shape to launch out of it into her hands - immediately two limbs extends, as glowing strings form, waves of energy emanating off of it. "Ultra Fangirl."

And that's the moment Geed shows up as a word grits out through Asuka's teeth, "You!" Still upset over what he said to her that day before vanishing, and extra upset as it feels like it validates Yoko's crush.

Whereas as both Rikka and the White Gundam broadcast that they're here to help, she broadcasts back, "No matter what the Fifth String says - I'm not in need of support. No assistance required."

THAT comment is immediately undermined by the vulcan guns spraying around. Asuka raises Unit-02's AT Field but she can feel it chipping away at an unnerving rate, which starts to mess with her concentration just from how fast and furious they're coming, so much so that her visibility begins to become nill.

Abruptly she lowers the field and has Evangelion Unit-02 leap high in the low gravity of the amusement park... firing off a shot as she goes. The railgun like system of her crossbow propelling it nigh instantly towards Gilvallis... as she tries to land on some of the floating debris.
 KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
 KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
 KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley targets Alexis Kerib with Super-Electromagnetic Crossbow Leading Shot!
 Haruki Natsukawa transforms to Ultraman Z Alpha Edge

 

 <Pose Tracker> Riku Asakura has posed. 

Geed speaks, mostly to keep hope alive. "If he has digitized the people here, then they'll come back the moment he is destroyed. People near the trains should watch out for soldiers though...though I'm not sure if he can make those happen still," he comments, as he brings the Z-Riser up to try and block the horn.

The attack was potent, and the clash was enough to cause some minor toku sparking as the two grappled with each other. Gillvalis is still formidable, even on the back foot like he is...though something tells him that even that isn't entirely true. What is happening? Why are those wounds held together like they are?

Rikka gives her support, and Geed nods to her. "I'm counting on you!" he says, friendly enough. "You too, Kaworu. Sorry, it's never at good moments," Geed says, trying to keep things positive...though they both know the existential crisis that Gillvalis represents. If it escapes today, then it'll become quite frightening.

Geed pushes back, attempting to break free of the clash he was in with, though not leaving melee range. The blades on the sides of Geed's arms glow brightly, as he attempts to slash repeatedly, aiming to try and force his way through whatever defenses this monster had up, and to try and force it on the backfoot.

"What happened to you?" he knows the thing can speak, he knows it has intelligence. Not that he expects to get anything meaningful out of it, given his previous experiences with it, but he at least wants to try. Some things aren't just adding up.

"Hello!" Geed good boys towards Asuka, "Sorry for leaving abruptly last time...this is what I had previously fought and responsible for the shape I was in."
 KTS: Riku Asakura targets Alexis Kerib with Galaxy Cutting Rapid Strikes!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Kaworu Nagisa's Sniper Rifle Aimed Shot, taking 3690 damage!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib rushes into the attack!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Asuka Shikinami Langley's Super-Electromagnetic Crossbow Leading Shot, taking 2850
 damage!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib blocks Riku Asakura's Galaxy Cutting Rapid Strikes, taking 1230 damage!
 KTS: Riku Asakura has engaged Alexis Kerib
 KTS: Riku Asakura: Will Barrier Activates.

 

 <Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed. 

"Oh my God did they not teach you what a metaphor is in college." Shinji says, even as Unit-01 moves in what could be called a formation if you squinted, moving to complement Unit-02 and Unit-00's advance. "I know how tall Unit-01 is!" The Evangelion touches the top of the giant ferris wheel as if to prove this point.

Riika's weird mercenary friends, Shinji thinks, as a bunch of heavy fire without proper tags just shows up. Shinji isn't military enough to know if it's suspicious or not, but the Gridman Alliance is playing some kind of game with players NERV doesn't know about. He can't blame them; their sleepy little nightmare dimension's become a real hot zone lately.

"Okay! Garrod-Seven! We're, um, from NERV." Wow that was lame, Shinji thinks.

And then the girl Shinji cannot help but think of as Turtle Girl shows up. On that giant turtle. Oh gosh is she a kaiju speaker like Beast? That'd explain a lot, Shinji thinks, and then she singles him out. "W-what?!" A date?! She's like twelve! And. And he is a bad person to date! "No, look, you just keep showing up in combat zones hanging around! I just don't want you to get shot!" Does. Does no one else see her? Maybe Shinji really is going crazy. "Please don't get shot!"

No, he thinks, as Unit-01 is sprayed with hand bullets, the pain is real. Shinji situates himself behind the ferris wheel for cover, sending a spray of superheated pellets at the monster's way in some approximation of cover fire. Or maybe he just feels like making the gun earn its keep tonight. Shinji doesn't know, he knows how this ends, with him in melee screaming like a maniac.
 KTS: Shinji Ikari has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
 KTS: Shinji Ikari targets Alexis Kerib with Type MM-99 209mm AU Assault Rifle Spray!
 
 

 <Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed. 

Gillvalis roars... and suddenly, things go strange.

"...Huh? Wait, stop-" Rikka starts, shaking the controls in a desperate manuver as Synchrotank starts to lock onto Geed... but with a warning siren from Junk, the lock clears. Rikka breathes a sigh of relief.

"...Be careful, he might be able to mess with your controls." Rikka warns. It's... concerning. She'll have to keep an eye out for that.

Most of them seem glad to accept the help... except, of course, for Asuka. Rikka huffs slightly from within her cockpit.

"...Alright, I'll try to stay out of your way, Langley." Rikka replies. She will, no doubt, remember that. She moves quickly to the side, aiming to take cover behind a piece of free-floating debris. She has to be careful with Synchrotank's strides. Once she's in place, she points Synchrotank's hands forward at Gillvalis and unleashes bursts of Birdlime at him in an attempt to limit his movements. Something Riku - Geed - says has her curious, though.

"...Is something wrong?" Rikka asks.
 KTS: Rikka Takarada has activated the Trust Spirit Command targeting Riku Asakura
 KTS: Rikka Takarada has activated the Trust Spirit Command targeting Haruki Natsukawa
 KTS: Rikka Takarada targets Alexis Kerib with Birdlime Launcher!
 
 

 <Pose Tracker> Nidaime has posed. 

"It's okay, my dad's here to protect me!" Nidaime says as she pats the giant turtle on the shell. "He loves me SOOOO MUCH. He's pretty much the best dad in the world. Right??"

Anosillus the First gives a turtle rumble that suggests he is probably aware of this fact.

"And I was sort of riding him before I knew a fight was coming." Nidaime admits and then she quirks her head curiously.

"Do you want to get shot?" She asks. "'Cause you're here too...? And your--"

Gillvalis opens fire with lasers! "Yeek!" Nidaime says and tumbles to the midshell as Anosillus shifts a bit so the top shell takes the laser fire.

"BRAAAAP." Anosillus roars as sonic power collects in its horns and unleahses it right back towards the Gillvalis with a vibrant yellow coloring schema.

"How old are you?" Nidaime asks Shinji. "You don't have to be shy... I'm a good girl so you don't have to be afraid."

Asuka sends her a message too and there is a small nod before she adds, "I don't go to school," in a minor correction.
 KTS: Nidaime targets Alexis Kerib with Sonic Blast!
 KTS: Nidaime has activated the Prospect Spirit Command targeting Shinji Ikari
 KTS: Rikka Takarada rattles Alexis Kerib, making his next maneuvers more difficult.
 KTS: Alexis Kerib blocks Rikka Takarada's Birdlime Launcher, taking 1170 damage!
 KTS: Rikka Takarada begins a Formation attack!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Nidaime's Sonic Blast, taking 2625 damage!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Shinji Ikari's Type MM-99 209mm AU Assault Rifle Spray, taking 2940 damage!

 

 <Pose Tracker> Garrod Ran has posed. 

Garrod frowns at the display as he sees his rifle's beam turned aside by a shimmering barrier, then leans into the controls to evade the barrage of counterfire aimed his way. At least that force field doesn't ... *seem* like it's good against everything, or maybe it just took time for the big extraterrestrial AI to bring those defenses online?

Questions later. Making sure there *is* a later, now. "Wasn't *you* I'm here to help, Red," he jibes good-naturedly at Asuka. "Just mind who you're shooting at!" He grins at Shinji's cross-up of names and callsigns, electing not to call him on it - particularly when Rikka transmits that warning about controls getting messed with.

ESPECIALLY if it could, somehow, hijack full control of the GX's payload ...

So much for jokes. Garrod goes silent again, dividing his attention between Gillvalis and the various other mobile units - not all of which are mechanized, he reminds himself. Like that big silver giant who's up close and personal with Gillvalis. And then two pieces of the puzzle click together. If that barrier can stop beam weapons but not physical attacks ... ? It's worth a shot; Garrod toggles over to the GX's internal artillery, and a barrage of shells from the Chest Vulcans sails towards the alien supermachine.
 KTS: Garrod Ran targets Alexis Kerib with Chest Vulcans - Volley!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Garrod Ran's Chest Vulcans - Volley, taking 2175 damage!
 
 

 <Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed. 

"Three units, identified with NERV subunit NERV," AL reports. "Tagging EVANGELION, Unit-00, Unit-01, Unit-02." Flags pop up on the internal battle map. ECS countermeasures may foil strictly automated battlefield tracking, but with an AI onboard managing the tactical situation, it becomes quite possible for even a unit the size of the Arbalest to get a full view of the battlefield. "Two units, identified with NERV subunut STORAGE. Tagging Sevenger, Windom. Tagging Shuffle Alliance affiliated Ultraman Geed, Synchrotank, Gundam X, Anosillus."

"The turtle kaiju?" Sousuke asks. AL has more complete information on Shuffle units than him, but still, first he's haring about the Shuffle Alliance working with a Kaiju.

"Roger," AL says.

Sousuke has to chew on that one for a moment, but a thoroughly tagged battlefield is immensely helpful. "Acknowledged, proceed. Hup!"

That before the shots from Gilvallis' hands tear through where he was standing. "This enemy is not as dangerous as I was led to fear!" Sousuke comments, as Arbalest drifts toward another piece of available terrain. He does prefer that medium-range sweet spot.

Then Geed mentions digitizing humans (??) and materializing soldiers (!?) and Sousuke's lips flatten into a grimace. AL helpfully comments, "Tactical capacities updated."

Kaworu gets a silent 'communique received' ping from Arbalest. AL is very helpeful.

Sousuke reaches to his ARM Slave's shoulder, stowing the Boxer on its waist and pulling free the knife-sized monomolecular cutter. Then, seeing Rikka's birdlime slow it down, he leaps in, knife down, positioned to jab deep into the monster's hide and carve! Up close, maybe it won't be able to use those guns so effectively!
 KTS: Sousuke Sagara targets Alexis Kerib with GRAW-2 Monomolecular Cutter Thrust!
 
 

 <Pose Tracker> Haruki Natsukawa has posed. 

         "Hey isn't that...???"

         Finally noticing Geed, Haruki's cut off as Gillvalis angrily responds with missiles, engulfing Sevenger in a series of explosions as the trash can-shaped robot falls down hard on the ground.

         Sevenger, as good as it is, isn't going to get Haruki anywhere right now. He needs Zett's help.

         Pulling out the Riser from within his uniform, he pushes the button, and within moments, he's transported out of the cockpit and into his transformation subspace, with Ultraman Z waiting for him.

         "I can't believe it, it's really him! Haruki, we have to help!"

         "You know him??? Never mind, it'll have to wait!"

          Plucking a floating card from the air, Haruki slots it into the Riser, eliciting a confirmation noise from the device.

         "HARUKI! ACCESS GRANTED!

         "Space Martial Arts, the Inherited Fighting Technique!"

         Opening the container on his waist, he then pulls out three medals, pushing them into the opening up top as he announces the name of each one.

         "Master Zero! Master Seven! Master Leo! 'Kay!"

         Pulling back on the Riser's reader, the device repeats the names of the medals. Zett then appears behind him, arms outstretched as he shouts at Haruki:

         "I ASK THAT YOU CHANT MY NAME! ULTRAMAN ZETT!"

         "ULTRAMAN ZEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETT!!!"

         Raising the Z Riser up high, Haruki presses the button. There's a blinding flash of light as the power of three Ultra-legends converge into one, and out of the smoldering crater and smoke that Gillvalis made, rises the newest Ultra hero - ULTRAMAN Z!

         "Geed Senapi! What are you doing here!?"

         Zett speaks in Ultranese, because it's easier, as he dashes back to Gillvalis for the runback. The blue giant of light stops itself from crashing into the mechanical menace like Sevenger did earlier however, this time raising up a flaming foot that it aims directly into the kaiju's stomach.

 KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Sousuke Sagara's GRAW-2 Monomolecular Cutter Thrust, taking 3300 damage!
 KTS: Sousuke Sagara has engaged Alexis Kerib
 KTS: Haruki Natsukawa targets Alexis Kerib with Alpha Burn Kick!
 KTS: Haruki Natsukawa rattles Alexis Kerib, making his next maneuvers more difficult.
 KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Haruki Natsukawa's Alpha Burn Kick, taking 3300 damage!
 KTS: Haruki Natsukawa has engaged Alexis Kerib
 
 

 <Pose Tracker> Yoko Nakashima has posed. 

        "Another Ultraman!?" Yoko sounds surprised. Was this the one Asuka mentioned when she was being a shit^h^h^h^h abrasive. "Haruki! Focus!" Now is really not the time for dates.

        Yoko sees the laser bursts coming and the bulk that is Windom dodges swiftly to each side, it's many boosters flairing, before firing out a scattering of lasers that shoot down enough of the missiles that Yoko can dodge the rest, sailing past her and harmlessly destroying the Haunted Fumo House.

        A broadcast comes from the STEGG, to everyone. "Ah! I'm getting readings! That Kaiju has a lot more power than it's shown so far! It's getting way stronger, real quickly!" That's concern in Yuka's voice, as she studies the enemy. "I don't understand... What is it doing?" She pauses. "And that Turtle Kaiju is back again, do you think it'll let me take a sample?"

        Yoko grimaces as Asuka immediately ignores orders. She doesn't have time to berate on the field. There's a bigger threat. "Acknowledged." She hears the new signals. "...I'll take the help, but watch yourselves! This is a STORAGE operation, withdraw if you have to!" She's not having the deaths of random pilots on her head.

        Gilvalis is massive though, and that weapons platform. Geed and Sevenger, are already closed. "You've fought this things?" Windom's speakers echo to Geed. "What can you tell us?" And then Windom screeches, because of course he does.

        Yuka however, suddenly patches to Rikka. "It tried to hack you? Can you send me the data? I've opened a channel!" She seems excited, in that way that weird hacker nerds get.

        Sevenger's systems suddenly go dark. "Haruki-" There's a pause. "Z-Sama!" She's a little awestruck, a little love struck and a lot glad he's here. With two Ultramen.... "Z-Sama! Ultraman-san!" The term is clearly used as 'Ultraman I don't know'. "Let's fight!"

        Windom stomps towards Gilvalis, to join the fray. She notices the AS on her sensors, and moves to let it pass. A model she doesn't recognize but she's been out of the main military for a while. Windom raises it's right hand, screeeees, and delivers a mighty chop toward Gilvalis. It's simple, but that's the point. The point is to crowd it enough to not give it full range of fire.

 KTS: Yoko Nakashima targets Alexis Kerib with Rigid Iron Core Chop!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Yoko Nakashima's Rigid Iron Core Chop, taking 2850 damage!
 KTS: Yoko Nakashima has engaged Alexis Kerib

 

 <Pose Tracker> Alexis Kerib has posed. 

Alexis laughs as he breaks off communication with Kaworu. "Bearing your pain in silence? ... ah, the beauty and wonder of an unexpressed emotion. You really are an Angel (kaiju)."

Gillvalis meets Geed with ongoing silence. It's unclear if it can't talk or simply thinks the time for speech has passed; either way, it's simply... continuing its assault. Unit 00 interrupts its first attempt to move with sniper fire that pings off of its armor; one shot hits the core at the center, and there's a momentary disruption in its shape, a tiny bit of red flaking off. It's subsumed fully in the black energy surrounding it, however, a moment later -- and it's as if the core was never so wounded. Asuka takes to the air and uses the debris to her advantage in shooting without leaving herself open to countershots -- this, too, works out; Gillvalis tries to charge, but it doesn't close enough to stop itself from getting hurt.

Riku carves into Gillvalis; its arms curl inward, and there's that pulse of silver-black light again, creating a barrier. Geed carves through it and leaves a scar -- and Rikka follows up with birdlime. Some of the remnants of that barrier catch some of it, but Gillvalis gets gummed up nevertheless.

The sonic blast of kaiju on kaiju blows through Gillvalis's defenses entirely, and the covering fire -- while individually not much to write home about -- does a solid job of putting Gillvalis on the back foot. So, for that matter, do the chest vulcans, which ping off armor -- but do seem to pit it, at least.

Gillvalis roars in a fury -- the pain of something cornered lashing out. Sousuke's monomolecular cutter digs in, carving armor out -- and then Ultraman Z's tremendous foot slams straight in. Gillvalis staggers back, starting to stumble and left fully open for attacks from Windom. The chop lands flush, and Gillvalis crumples briefly.

---

On the school rooftop, as the sun sinks low in Tsutsujidai, Akane sits like a weird gremlin. She's fished her tablet out of her bag, and sits with it in both hands, a box of tomato juice resting on her chest. She sips at it. "Huhh... that's definitely not one of my kaiju. I mean, Fumo-Fumo Land was a writeoff! But jeez, why's something hiding in there...?" Akane murmurs, not taking her lips off the straw. It's not like she's talking to someone, anyway. "That's such a cool kaiju though! Like a cool mecha, but it's still a kaiju at heart... there's no pretense of being a human at all! Aaah, how cool... hey, maybe it's not even gonna be me that needs to crush some Vessels of Light! If this thing does it, I might just be in the clear! I'm rooting for you~~"

---

Having met with resistance to its dominion over machines in this new world, Gillvalis once again opens up with its arm-mounted weaponry. It's much more intense, this time, and most shots come with follow-ups from the beam guns. Everyone is invited to receive violence.

Geed, the beast's traditional foe, and Z, another giant of light, receive close-quarters strikes with the horns again -- this time a wide sweep at shoulder height, rather than a slash.

Windom's firm chop earns it some major ire from Gillvalis at point blank; the core glows red -- red enough to pierce the growing sleeve of silver-black around it -- and fires off a massive red beam. Small pieces of that silvery energy find their way into it, too...

Gillvalis attempts to simply crash through Sousuke, lumbering forward with that silver-black barrier again. At this range, the advantages it offers in advancing under protection aren't that important -- it's a slow attack. What's probably more worrying is it continues lumbering straight toward Anosillus, seemingly gearing up to do something much more painful soon...?
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Sousuke Sagara with Valis Luce Crash!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Garrod Ran with Hand Gun Barrage!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Haruki Natsukawa with Valiscornora!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Riku Asakura with Valiscornora!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Nidaime with Valis Luce Crash!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Yoko Nakashima with Valisucchione!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Rikka Takarada with Hand Gun Barrage!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Kaworu Nagisa with Hand Gun Barrage!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Shinji Ikari with Hand Gun Barrage!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Asuka Shikinami Langley with Hand Gun Barrage!
 KTS: Kaworu Nagisa's EN Barrier activates, negating 1500 base damage.
 KTS: [Spirit Defense] Kaworu Nagisa's Angel of Free Will activates, and his spirit endures.
 KTS: Alexis Kerib enervates Kaworu Nagisa, reducing his Morale significantly.
 KTS: Kaworu Nagisa fails to react to Alexis Kerib's Hand Gun Barrage, taking 2664 damage!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Hollow activates, causing Insight L1!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Shallow activates, causing Sparkle!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Superficial activates, causing Shock!
 KTS: [Spirit Defense] Rikka Takarada's Glass Beads activates, and her spirit endures.
 KTS: Alexis Kerib enervates Rikka Takarada, reducing her Morale significantly.
 KTS: Rikka Takarada blocks Alexis Kerib's Hand Gun Barrage, taking 3432 damage!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Hollow activates, causing Insight L1!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Shallow activates, causing Sparkle!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Superficial activates, causing Shock!
 KTS: Yoko Nakashima has activated the Focus Spirit Command.
 KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley's EN Barrier activates, negating 1500 base damage.
 KTS: Alexis Kerib enervates Asuka Shikinami Langley, reducing her Morale significantly.
 KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley fails to Evade Alexis Kerib's Hand Gun Barrage, taking 2664 damage!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Hollow activates, causing Insight L1!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Shallow activates, causing Sparkle!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Superficial activates, causing Shock!
 KTS: Yoko Nakashima fails to evade Alexis Kerib's Valisucchione, taking 2580 damage!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib repulses Yoko Nakashima, forcing her to disengage.
 KTS: Alexis Kerib enervates Garrod Ran, reducing his Morale significantly.
 KTS: Garrod Ran fails to Evade Alexis Kerib's Hand Gun Barrage, taking 3744 damage!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Hollow activates, causing Insight L1!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Shallow activates, causing Sparkle!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Superficial activates, causing Shock!
 KTS: Sousuke Sagara has activated the Focus Spirit Command.
 KTS: Alexis Kerib enervates Sousuke Sagara, reducing his Morale significantly.
 KTS: Sousuke Sagara fails to parry Alexis Kerib's Valis Luce Crash, taking 2376 damage!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Hollow activates, causing Insight L1!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Shallow activates, causing Sparkle!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Superficial activates, causing Shock!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib has engaged Sousuke Sagara
 KTS: Shinji Ikari's Will Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage.
 KTS: Alexis Kerib enervates Shinji Ikari, reducing his Morale significantly.
 KTS: Shinji Ikari blocks Alexis Kerib's Hand Gun Barrage, taking 3384 damage!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Hollow activates, causing Insight L1!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Shallow activates, causing Sparkle!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Superficial activates, causing Shock!
 KTS: Riku Asakura's Will Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage.
 KTS: Riku Asakura blocks Alexis Kerib's Valiscornora, taking 1410 damage!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib has engaged Riku Asakura
 KTS: Haruki Natsukawa's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage.
 KTS: Alexis Kerib enervates Haruki Natsukawa, reducing his Morale significantly.
 KTS: Haruki Natsukawa blocks Alexis Kerib's Valiscornora, taking 3102 damage!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Hollow activates, causing Insight L1!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Shallow activates, causing Sparkle!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Superficial activates, causing Shock!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib has engaged Haruki Natsukawa
 KTS: Nidaime blocks Alexis Kerib's Valis Luce Crash, taking 1386 damage!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib has engaged Nidaime
 KTS: Haruki Natsukawa has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
 Eight_York teleports in.
 POT: Eight York is now set observer.

 KTS: Haruki Natsukawa has activated the Trick Spirit Command.

 

 <Pose Tracker> Riku Asakura has posed. 

This clash causes Ultraman Geed to roll back after the blow, moving with it instead of trying to take it fully. He needed some space and some idea of what things looked a bit farther away.

"The dark stuff isn't...normal," he says to Rikka, "It's like it's keeping him together when he should not be, and the Devil Splinter is healing him. More than that...he's intelligent, but he's not responding at all. He would repeatedly tell us during our last fight about its mission, but now..?" Was this really Gillvalis?

Zett shows up on the scene unexpectedly, to which Geed looks towards the source of someone calling him sempai. "Uh, I'm not your Sempai, Zett, but good to see that you're well...though I did catch you on the television after that incident with some 'investors'." Though to why he was here, he looks at Gillvalis again. He lets the youngest Ultra figure it out himself.

Yoko speaks up, and he introduces himself. "Geed, Ultraman Geed. We should save proper introductions for later!" he says, trying to keep things moving. "But be careful...he wants to destroy all life."

Geed goes right back into the fight, trying to stay head to head with his old enemy. His time, he ducks under the next swing from Gillvalis, and then stands up to try and kick it back. This is all set up for what comes next. Both hands come up, and a blade of energy forms.

He strikes forward, aiming to try and overpower the shield, and force the blade down in a single powerful strike, aiming to try and stagger it backward with the same force of the blow.
 KTS: Riku Asakura targets Alexis Kerib with Energy Slash!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Riku Asakura's Energy Slash, taking 3280 damage!
 KTS: Riku Asakura has engaged Alexis Kerib
 Haruki Natsukawa transforms to Ultraman Z Beta Smash
 
 

 <Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed. 

        Eventually, Alexis actually does close that communication. Kaworu breathes a faint sigh, still unsmiling. "He still loves to chatter on," he remarks to the air.
        
        For all that Shinji protests, he does seem to be having quite a lively conversation with Anosillus II, and Anosillus II seems to be much kinder and friendlier than some other options available. She seems good for him. As a friend, of course. Kaworu smiles at them, a touch bittersweet, but...
        
        'Bearing your pain in silence? ...You really are an Angel.'
        
        This is for the best.
        
        "Make sure to watch out for each other," he transmits to Shinji and Nidaime, and leaves it at that.
        
        'Leaving it at that' also means not encouraging Asuka's needling by acknowledging it. Instead, he says dryly, "Yoko Nakashima is in command of this operation by way of Captain Hebikura, so actually, yes--at least for today, you *do* take orders from her, Second." He doesn't expect her to listen, but some things do need to be said.
        
        Geed gets a faint laugh. "There'll be other moments," he reassures him. "I'm glad you were able to make it here. Experience is so important." He doesn't seem bothered by the possibility of people getting digitized, or scrub soldiers attacking them on the ground if they get *un*-digitized. But... He casts a glance Rikka's way. "..."
        
        For now, he leaves it be. Especially since Sevenger gets knocked down by Gillvalis's missiles, only for Ultraman Z to appear from the smoke and charge a flying kick at the hostile machine. He smiles as Yuka wonders if the turtle kaiju will let her take a sample. He doesn't weigh in on the matter, but it truly is charming how unapologetically herself Yuka always is.
        
        Of course, that's the same reason why they can never truly be friends, but that's true of Kaworu and the entirety of NERV's R&D departments.
        
        Meanwhile, the Arbalest acknowledges Kaworu's communique. Kaworu silently appreciates that.
        
        Unit 00's aim strikes Gillvalis true--but there's something odd. That scar on its core had already been strange, but... it's as though nothing had happened at all. The others' attacks are more effective, at least putting Gillvalis on the defensive before it roars in anger. It's not communicating... Strange. It should be able to do that. Does it not want to?
        
        Beam guns fire--wouldn't you know--beams upon several of the machines assembled. Unit 00's A.T. Field alights in concentric shapes to defend against the barrage, mitigating the damage it would have otherwise done--which is considerable, given that they utterly shred the floating rock on which she stands. She's forced to jump off, rolling onto the greater patch of ground before rising in a three-point landing.
        
        "It *does* seem as though it's powering up for a stronger attack," Kaworu remarks in response to Yuka--then to Geed, he adds, "And its behavior *does* seem unnatural. Like something's been done to it." It's to everyone that he continues, "But that won't stop any of you, will it? Your hope shines more beautifully than that." To his fellow Eva pilots--but, let's be real, mostly Shinji--he adds, "Gillvalis is not unlike an Angel; if it has its way, it will eradicate all intelligent life. You've already made your resolve on that count." To the Ultras, he concludes, "You surely won't falter here. You have all of us with you, after all."

 KTS: Kaworu Nagisa targets Haruki Natsukawa, Shinji Ikari, and Garrod Ran with Awe.
 KTS: Kaworu Nagisa inspires awe, increasing Haruki Natsukawa's Morale!
 KTS: Kaworu Nagisa inspires awe, increasing Shinji Ikari's Morale!
 KTS: Kaworu Nagisa has activated the Resupply Spirit Command targeting Haruki Natsukawa
 KTS: Kaworu Nagisa inspires awe, increasing Garrod Ran's Morale!
 
 

 <Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed. 

"Then why wouldn't you be brave enough!?" Asuka growls, as if Shinji's comment made no sense, if he's riding in something as tall as a Ferris Wheel so frequently.

Before Nidaime announces she doesn't go to school, "Another weird kid..." Asuka says to herself, it's easy enough for her to not be fazed by her after meeting Anti. She just assumes that some kids in Tsutsujidai are just SUPER WEIRD - and probably half cat?

Before Garrod calls her Red, and suddenly she looks in his Gundam's direction on her Entry plug's screen, "No promises - White Dolt." And Rikka... whether Asuka picks up the tone or not is impossible to discern, as all she replies with is. "Good." Coldly.

"As if I care!" Asuka announces as Geed apologizes, "Though it sounds like you should just retreat and leave it to me - since this was too much for you to handle!"

And then another shows up, and Asuka just groannnsss audibly, "Why did she have to be right on there being a second one!? One is bad enough..." Though, part of her thinks, that if Yoko is too lovestruck that'll make this competition all the easier. Sevenger's down already though and... "Just as useless as I thought." She says to herself.

Kaworu though insists that she does take orders from Yoko today on authority of Captain Hebikura, "Whatever." She responds perhaps more mildly than expected despite her blood pressure spiking notably in her controls, perhaps wary about being interpreted as outright being disobedient to the higher ups. In her eyes Yoko is simply competition, not leadership. Just like Kaworu himself whenever he's in an Eva.

Even from her high perch, Gillvalis' handguns still manage to focus a barrage of vulcan gun fire her way. Her A.T Field raises again, which protects the Eva, but before long the bullets chew away at her perch, putting the Eva into free fall before long, before she rights herself back around simply due to the Low gravity of the place - crushing an abandoned Takoyaki stand on landing.

"Probably didn't even serve real Octopus." She abstracted, to herself. Which means... she was actually listening to Shinji's rant!? Maybe?

All the same, she takes a knee and tries to aim a shot from her crossbow right at one of Gillvalis' red eyes. Pulling the trigger, the shot a blur crossing the space between her and the Kaiju.
 KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley targets Alexis Kerib with Super-Electromagnetic Crossbow Snipe!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Asuka Shikinami Langley's Super-Electromagnetic Crossbow Snipe, taking 3000 damage!
 
 

 <Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed. 

It's a bad one. Is Haruki dead?! Or just taken out? Shinji can't see. Shinji is shot, again, the bullets ripping through his ATField and slamming into Unit-01's exposed chest and arms. He feels the armor-restraints start to fly off from the sheer pressure of the bullet spam, and stumbles backwards, feeling blood trickling down his chest. Why is he here, in this dream world, defending these people who hate him? Why is he anywhere?

wouldn't it be better to just die, Shinji thinks and worries the thoughts are not his own as he feels slender arms wrap around his neck. Something about this feeling. Something about it.

Shinji looks at the desperate, divided people, and a brave little girl and her giant turtle just trying to help, and Asuka trying not to be scared, and whatever's off with Kaworu and he's sure all these other people have their own deal. Shinji barks a laugh as Asuka steps on one of those stupid Takoyaki stands, as if they were old friends exchanging banter instead of whatever weird relationship they are in.

"I'm fourteen." Shinji says to Niidame, "Going to be fifteen this summer. I've been doing this nonsense for almost a year." Shinji Ikari says, as Unit-01 hunches over, grips both sides of the massive ferris wheel, and PULLS, its legs quaking as it slowly, deliberately lifts the ride up into the air. The low gravity makes it easier than it should be, probably. Shinji's bad at physics. "I'm not actually a very nice person, I think. Kaworu, give me a leg up?"

Unit-01 runs forward, leaps into the air, and takes Unit-00's push with expert grace, shouldering the massive ride across its back like it was nothing. The Evangelion takes into the air, Shinji trying to compensate for how weird leaping at low gravity is; but one benefit of his situation is that he is swinging so much weight it would take a lot of doing to not get at least a little hit.

"Hey!" Shinji finally speaks to the mystery mecha-kaiju, "Hey how are you! Stop shooting little girls!"
 KTS: Shinji Ikari has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
 KTS: Shinji Ikari targets Alexis Kerib with Horn Gore!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Shinji Ikari's Horn Gore, taking 4410 damage!
 KTS: Shinji Ikari has engaged Alexis Kerib

 

 <Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed. 

Suddenly, someone opens communications with Rikka! It appears to be someone from STORAGE. ...She might be a little too excited for Rikka, but she can't deny that it might be useful to study it.

"...Huh? Hold on, l'll send it right over..." Rikka replies, isolating the data from that moment and sending it over to Yuka through the opened channel.

Geed provides some very useful information, though... Gillvalis is being healed, but more importantly - he's intelligent, and yet not as talkative as before.

"What does that mean...?" Rikka considers, before letting out a gasp of surprise as Gillvalis turns upon her. He has hand guns of her own, it seems, and she raises Synchrotank's shield to help her weather the barrage. Even this much is intense...

She takes a moment to stabilize Synchrotank, then considers the situation. Their opponent is powerful... they can't take it likely.

She levels the missile launchers again - but this time, instead of smoke missiles, the missiles that fire off detonate into clouds of chaff to provide cover for some of those present.
 

 <Pose Tracker> Garrod Ran has posed. 

"Aw crap!" That's more firepower than Garrod expected to head his way after the chest cannon volley, and his Gundam swerves back and forth, trying to find a safe path through Gillvalis's weaponry. Trying, but failing - even if the bullets wouldn't be so much of an issue, the beams which punctuate that spray seem to fill in the gaps. The GX winds up driven against a building, several new scorch marks smoldering - but the mobile suit, as a whole, remains functional, and Garrod quickly takes it into motion again, this time staying closer to the ground.

Kaworu's words - kind, but deliberate - come at a good time in the ebb and flow of Garrod's thoughts, injecting a strong note of reassurance in the face of what seems like overwhelming power. And while Gillvalis does still seem like a juggernaut, the fact that it countered so much more aggressively means it CAN be hurt, or at least can "feel" getting damaged. Which must mean that on some level, every ding and divot is going to add up. Right?

The good thing about Gillvalis's size is that there's plenty of it to keep shooting at, even as the now-two Ultramen continue to focus on close combat. Splitting up too much is probably a risk, but Garrod decides it's worth the try, arcing around *behind* Gillvalis and firing off a series of Chest Vulcan shells. If nothing else, he can probably knock out a few of those way-too-many guns branching off the alien machine's "shell" ...
 KTS: Garrod Ran targets Alexis Kerib with Chest Vulcans - Bracketing Salvo!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Garrod Ran's Chest Vulcans - Bracketing Salvo, taking 2550 damage!
 KTS: Rikka Takarada targets Garrod Ran, Yoko Nakashima, and Haruki Natsukawa with Scatter.
 KTS: Rikka Takarada scatters cover, making Yoko Nakashima harder to target!
 KTS: Rikka Takarada scatters cover, making Garrod Ran harder to target!
 KTS: Rikka Takarada scatters cover, making Haruki Natsukawa harder to target!

 

 <Pose Tracker> Nidaime has posed. 

"Oh my gosh..." Nidaime says, tugging lightly on a strand of hair. "You're a year older than me..."

"...~Senpai~..."

SHINJI IKARI LOSES TEN MORALE!

"Don't worry, Chibi taught me about this. Unless... Are you a delinquent...? Like..." Her eyes widen. "In the manga...? It's okay it can just be a practice date. I want to be ready for the real thing when I meet... Mr. Right...!"

She places a hand on her cheek, miming a swoon--

--At this point Gillvalis crashes into Anosillus and the TurtlePapa stumbles back from the impact. It's tough, real tough, but not invulnerable. Nidaime yelps again and starts sliding down towards the bottom of the Anopapa.

"Uh oh...! Careful Anopapa!"

Anosillus braces itself--

--Nidaime's ipod starts playing a triumphant melody!

BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fndeDfaWCg

And then it unleashes a hefty sonic blast outside of its mouth towards Gillvalis, attempting to push it back and protect Turtle Daughter!!

"Maybe I need to ask Chibi about all these hard to get guys." Nidaime murmurs to herself.
 KTS: Nidaime targets Alexis Kerib with Triumphant Melody!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Nidaime's Triumphant Melody, taking 3750 damage!
 KTS: Sousuke Sagara has activated the Dash Spirit Command and has disengaged.

 

 <Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed. 

Gillvalis rumbles toward him with that slow-motion barrier. Sousuke remembers vividly the clashes with Gauron, the flashing lights and roaring blades! He holds up the monocutter, yelling, "AL! Start the Lambda Driver!"

Nothing happens. Sousuke gets run the hell over and send flying, arcing gracelessly through zero G before falling down waaay back over by the trains with a rough thump. Sousuke rights Arbalest with a bit of work. "AL!"

"Activation could not be confirmed," AL reports.

"How am I supposed to test something that doesn't work!"

"Lambda Driver diagnostics returning all green."

Sousuke growls low in his throat, but he doesn't have time to bicker with a dumb machine about a broken one. His main monocutter has been thrown aside, so for now Sousuke settles for producing a set of Anti-Tank Daggers from his reserves, throwing a set of the piercing shaped charges toward Gillvalis, before leaping over to where his system detects his fallen monocutter.
 KTS: Sousuke Sagara has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
 KTS: Sousuke Sagara targets Alexis Kerib with Anti-Tank Dagger Fan!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Sousuke Sagara's Anti-Tank Dagger Fan, taking 3150 damage!
 
 

 <Pose Tracker> Yoko Nakashima has posed. 

        Gilvalis horrid core blast sears into Windom, and it screeches is it is sent flying back, it's hydraulics locking into place as it soars backwards with no other animations whatsoever. Windom, why are you like this. "Tsk... He is getting tougher..."

        Meanwhile, back the STEGG (It's short of STORAGE EGG), Yuka continues to run data on her table. "If he can regenerate, that means... And the generator must be.... so-" And then Rikka's data comes in, and she smiles. It's a dangerous smile. "Thank you! Yoko, don't charge back in yet!"

        Yoko was about to do just things. "...Yuka?"

        "Just... Open the channel to Windom's ICRF systems!" A wider broadcast, next. "I'm installing a countermeasure!"

        "Roger!"

        Still, that means holding back from the battle as Yoko watches. She can't order Z or Geed, or the extras. And the Evangelion team, well, two of them will follow orders. "How long, Yuka?" She doesn't like being out of the fight.

        "DONE! Don't forget to get me the memory drives when you finish him!"

        Yoko sees the system light up. Alright. "Incoming!"

        Windom's many rockets burst to life as it makes a straight line towards Gilvalis. Yoko lets out a kiai as she drives Windom's fist towards Gilvalis, as it sparks with... Data? It's time to force a connection, and face a problem humanity and computers alike have been trying to solve for more than five hundred years.

 KTS: Yoko Nakashima has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
 KTS: Yoko Nakashima targets Alexis Kerib with Millenium Probe!
 
 

 <Pose Tracker> Haruki Natsukawa has posed. 

         " Huh, what? Of course you're my senpai! You've been doing this a lot longer!!! We can catch up later though! "

         Haruki just silently malds at the mention of the investors. Or, as close to malding as Haruki gets, it's more a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance.

         Raising its hands up to create a barrier, Ultraman Z deflects the sudden burst of light directed at it. At least, temporarily. Something has to give, and long story short, it wasn't the beam.

         With his barrier shattered, Z is sent flying back from the impact, crashing into a nearby roller coaster track which helps to cushion his fall.

         "Zett! Let's change things up!"

         Haruki, still confined within Riser Space, reaches into the small container on his hip once more, pulling out a new set of three medals which he slots into the Z Riser.

         ""BURN IN SCARLET FLAMES, THE POWER OF COURAGE! Brother Ultraman! Brother Ace! Brother Taro! 'Kay!"

         Pulling back the reader on the device once more, it repeats the same names that Haruki just announced, and Ultraman Z in turn responds by shifting from a bluish color to red. The lithe and nimble martial artist bulks up into a formidable red warrior, which immediately springs up from the wreckage, flexing his shoulders back as he lets out a mighty bellow.

         Creating a lasso of energy from the emblem on his chest, Ultraman Z swings it overhead, before throwing it forward to wrap around the digital dinosaur. The plan is simple, Gillvalis is big, so big things when thrown get hurt bigger. At least, that's the theory. Unfortunately, even with his prodigious strength and the lightened gravity, lifting the kaiju proves a bit too hard.

         That is, until Kaworu's words of encouragement reach him. At least, Zett and Haruki assume it's encouragement, it's sometimes hard to tell with him. But they both know they're not going to let it end here.

         Zett widens his stance and Haruki grits his teeth as they put everything and more into lifting the creature, and eventually their effort pays off. Spinning slowly in circles, Gillvalis' feet only hover only a feet above the ground at first, but as Ultraman Z picks up speed, a few meters become a dozen, and when it's clear that the monster can't possibly go any higher, the Giant of Light lets go of the the energy lasso to let them soar through the air.

 KTS: Haruki Natsukawa targets Alexis Kerib with Beta Arrow Swing!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Haruki Natsukawa's Beta Arrow Swing, taking 5400 damage!
 KTS: Haruki Natsukawa has engaged Alexis Kerib
 KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Yoko Nakashima's Millenium Probe, taking 5022 damage!
 KTS: Yoko Nakashima has engaged Alexis Kerib

 

 <Pose Tracker> Alexis Kerib has posed. 

The assembled heroes begin pressing their advantage -- and for a moment, it feels like they really do have it, in earnest. Gillvalis brings up another Valis Luce, but Riku's blade of energy carves through it like tissue paper. Gillvalis sparks and screams -- letting loose a squealing noise like metal grinding against metal. (Then again, given what it is, that might just be the sound of the blade going in, amplified through its open mouth.)

Asuka's sniper shot dazes Gillvalis, hitting it between the eyes. The brain is in the core, but all the *sensors* are in the eyes -- which in the end is just as dizzying to have get shot. It reels a bit. *As* it reels, it starts to swing its head forward -- only to get gored almost on the spot by Shinji in close quarters. The Evangelion extracts its blood price in sparks and bursts from the Last Judgmenter -- which remains open to follow-up from Garrod's vulcans and Sousuke's anti-tank daggers, which pit armor and detonate.

Ultraman Z snags Gillvalis, beginning to whip the enormous beast through the sky. It has no answer for this -- it cannot; when at last he lets it go, it flies up into the sky -- only to crash down not far from where it had been in the first place, thanks to course correction from its numerous thrusters.

Yoko and Nidaime, however... those two get a real one-two punch. Anosillus blasts Gillvalis with the power of a sound spirit, and Gillvalis wilts... leaving Yoko to slide in and introduce Gillvalis to: computationally complex math! Gillvalis buffers a bit, slowing down markedly; it seems like it ought to be... slowing down. Getting weaker.

---

Alexis frowns. "I think this needs to start moving into the third act sooner than later," he murmurs to himself, teal panels dancing. "If you would, *kindly* remember the conditions of being allowed to hide here? You are aware that there are tactics you have that don't require computation from *you*, aren't you?" He seems impatient.

---

Riku has seen this before. The Last Judgmenter's whole body shifts. Arm joints glow faintly as they rotate to face forward, orienting more of Gillvalis's natural weapons -- its guns, its missiles, its lasers. There's a limit, of course, to how much of its body can reconfigure; the guns that once faced forward must necessarily face back, and the point defense guns must likewise face back and out.

Gillvalis's whole body pulses that grey-black, that anti-energy. For a moment, it swallows even the red of the core. The two seem to go to war for a moment -- and then find that, despite a fundamental disagreement about what comes next...

There's a lot they're willing to put up with from each other for free hits on Vessels of Light.

A voice feels like it comes from everywhere and nowhere. It's not Gillvalis's, known to Riku as it is. It's not Alexis's, either. Perhaps it's that energy itself, announcing its presence. It declares something simple:
                               "Terminate."

                        "Judgmenter Gun Morphing."
There's a mechanical crack, like a gear finding itself under too much stress too fast to bend -- and simply breaking. All those guns that couldn't be pointed the same direction start pointing the same direction. The 'wings' of Gillvalis bend in a way that simply does not feel possible, orienting fully and completely forward; the legs shift back, the torso forward. And one after another,

every
weapon
chooses
to
point
forward.

By the end of it, Gillvalis looks like nothing quite so much as a massive duckfoot pistol -- core now in the center of a dozen barrels that are each, themselves, a dozen barrels, and head where the hammer ought to be.

All of them fire.

Unit 00 and Anosillus receive the meat of the barrage. The red gem at the center tracks to the other Evangelion units, 'favoring' them with a sweeping beam. It seems to scent blood in the water on Garrod, too, and dumps bullets from several of the sub-barrels into the Gundam X, rapidfire. The remaining assembled units receive a volley of miscellaneous fire from within various barrels. Bonta-kun merchandise flies everywhere amid the detonating missiles and large-caliber bullets pitting the ground.

---

"Do remember that you are *allowed* here, rather than entitled to it," Alexis mutters. Even if any of them were close enough to hear him, it'd be hard to say who he's addressing.

---

Akane sits bolt upright, a bit, at that. "... Wow!!" she enthuses, directing her drone to catch all that footage. "It's too bad it's mostly direct fire other than the missiles... and if you could win a fight with Vessels of Light with just beams, the last two kaiju would've done it. I bet it'd be a lot better if it could really lob something." She makes some mental notes. "Even if this thing ends up sucking, I think I got a few good ideas~."

 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Kaworu Nagisa with Judgmenter Gun Morphing!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Nidaime with Judgmenter Gun Morphing!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Sousuke Sagara with Hand Gun Barrage!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Garrod Ran with Hand Gun Barrage!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Haruki Natsukawa with Valisproiettile!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Yoko Nakashima with Valisucchione!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Rikka Takarada with Hand Gun Barrage!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Shinji Ikari with Valisucchione!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Asuka Shikinami Langley with Valisucchione!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Riku Asakura with Valisproiettile!
 KTS: Haruki Natsukawa's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage.
 KTS: Haruki Natsukawa's Physical Wall L1 activates, negating 1000 base damage.
 KTS: [Spirit Defense] Haruki Natsukawa's Ultraman Z! activates, and his spirit endures.
 KTS: Alexis Kerib enervates Haruki Natsukawa, reducing his Morale significantly.
 KTS: Alexis Kerib rattles Haruki Natsukawa, making his next maneuvers more difficult.
 KTS: Haruki Natsukawa blocks Alexis Kerib's Valisproiettile, taking 1980 damage!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Hollow activates, causing Insight L1!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Shallow activates, causing Sparkle!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Superficial activates, causing Shock!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib enervates Rikka Takarada, reducing her Morale significantly.
 KTS: Rikka Takarada blocks Alexis Kerib's Hand Gun Barrage, taking 3432 damage!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Hollow activates, causing Insight L1!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Shallow activates, causing Sparkle!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Superficial activates, causing Shock!
 KTS: Shinji Ikari's Will Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage.
 KTS: Shinji Ikari blocks Alexis Kerib's Valisucchione, taking 1368 damage!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib repulses Shinji Ikari, forcing him to disengage.
 KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley retreats from the attack!
 KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley's EN Barrier activates, negating 1500 base damage.
 KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley fails to evade Alexis Kerib's Valisucchione, taking 1512 damage!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib repulses Asuka Shikinami Langley, forcing her to disengage.
 Haruki Natsukawa transforms to Ultraman Z Alpha Edge
 Haruki Natsukawa transforms to Ultraman Z Beta Smash

 KTS: Yoko Nakashima has activated the Focus Spirit Command.
 KTS: Alexis Kerib enervates Yoko Nakashima, reducing her Morale significantly.
 KTS: Yoko Nakashima fails to Evade Alexis Kerib's Valisucchione, taking 3096 damage!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Hollow activates, causing Insight L1!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Shallow activates, causing Sparkle!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Superficial activates, causing Shock!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib repulses Yoko Nakashima, forcing her to disengage.
 KTS: Riku Asakura's Will Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage.
 KTS: Alexis Kerib rattles Riku Asakura, making his next maneuvers more difficult.
 KTS: Riku Asakura blocks Alexis Kerib's Valisproiettile, taking 720 damage!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib enervates Nidaime, reducing her Morale significantly.
 KTS: Nidaime fails to evade Alexis Kerib's Judgmenter Gun Morphing, taking 5280 damage!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Hollow activates, causing Insight L1!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Shallow activates, causing Sparkle!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Superficial activates, causing Shock!
 KTS: Kaworu Nagisa successfully evades Alexis Kerib's Judgmenter Gun Morphing
 KTS: Sousuke Sagara successfully evades Alexis Kerib's Hand Gun Barrage
 KTS: Garrod Ran blocks Alexis Kerib's Hand Gun Barrage, taking 2340 damage!

 

 <Pose Tracker> Riku Asakura has posed. 

Geed laughs a little at Asuka's comment about retreating. "You're a very brave young woman. Sadly, I think this one is too much even for you by yourself...and besides, I have unfinished business with it!" Geed refuses to take her comments as what she's likely intended them to be but instead uses them to compliment her. The good boy can not be stopped.

"You're right, Kaworu. We should be careful.." Geed says, acknowledging the observation. Riku doesn't have an answer for Rikka though, because the information is something new to him. Geed does not answer Zett, because Riku is very much not one who likes to be given extra respect that he feels he doesn't deserve.

Also, he is sure Zett is older than he is..?

However, the monster transforms, and while familiar with this he's not familiar with that dark energy. He can also certainly say though that it's not 000. He knows that feeling, the energy color, and feeling are all wrong. This is something else...but what..?

"Watch out!" he calls towards others, trying to place himself between the transforming Kaiju and his allies. He can't block for everyone, but he can at least hopefully make a place where it will be less devastating. A barrier goes up as he tries to resist the attack.

When it ends, Geed is forced to a knee. Damaged in the attack, but not nearly as much as Gillvalis was hoping. Geed forces himself back up to his feet, even while his teeth shake inwardly from that attack. He draws the Z Riser in his hand, staring down Gillvalis. He spoke, but there was something wrong.

There seemed to be only one way forward. He draws the Z-raiser back, as blue energy and red crackling energy focuses on the raiser. The blue energy crackles all around him as he spins in the move, and swings the Z-Raiser. What follows is a wide crescent of energy, augmented with blue and red/black energy as it flies right towards Gillvalis's core.

"GALAXY BUUUUUUUUUUUURST!"

This is followed by Ultraman explosions.
 KTS: Riku Asakura targets Alexis Kerib with Galaxy Burst!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Riku Asakura's Galaxy Burst, taking 4371 damage!
 KTS: Riku Asakura has engaged Alexis Kerib
 
 

 <Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed. 

"Yeah, glad I could help." Rikka replies as she receives thanks. Better that someone gets some use out of that information, after all.

Gillvalis transforms... and then there's a strange voice, and he transforms again - all of his weapons pointing forward. Rikka can't help but grimace at the sight of it.

"...Are they supposed to move like that? That just looks wrong..." Rikka says, shaking her head in disbelief. Maybe it's sympathy for the enemy, or maybe it's disgust. Maybe it's both, but either way she recognizes the danger this new form poses. Synchrotank dives behind the nearest merchandise stand, shield pointed forward toward Gillvalis as it begins to unleash everything - munitions and explosives sent every which way.

...It's a little overwhelming, frankly - enough that she has to disable external sound for a moment. By the end of it, Synchrotank has weathered the storm - though marked by bullet impacts and soot from explosions.

"What was that? Is everyone alright?" Rikka asks. Her cover destroyed, Synchrotank rushes over to the next - the remains of a nearby attraction. It'll suit her purposes well enough. Holding on tight to it to keep her steady, Synchrotank folds itself back into tank mode for better aim to point its hydro cannons directly at Gillvalis. Water pressure builds up in the tank, before being blasted Gillvalis's way in a single, explosive burst.
 KTS: Rikka Takarada targets Alexis Kerib with Extreme Extinguishing Burst!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Rikka Takarada's Extreme Extinguishing Burst, taking 4650 damage!
 KTS: Rikka Takarada roots her unit, coming to a standstill and leaving her vulnerable.
 KTS: Rikka Takarada has activated the Trust Spirit Command targeting Nidaime
 
 

 <Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed. 

"Target is reorienting weaponry," AL notes.

"It won't be able to hit us with everything with its weapons in that layout. It'll expose something more powerful, but it won't be as reactive or have as wide of a firing li--"
        >Judgmenter Gun Morphing.
"Target is reorienting anatomy," AL reports.

Sousuke stares, gobsmacked. Then he grits his teeth and shakes his head, prompting Arbalest to also vigorously rattle its noggin, visibly. "Kaiju," he mutters, as if adding them to some internal list, and then Arbalest leaps, arcing hugely up and hugely away. Arbalest can't literally fly but it can sure get close in a low-gravity state, leaping well over five times its height into the air and actually getting OVER TOP of the barrage from Gilvallis. That, however, leaves him soaring high into the air in a poor state to return...

But rather than use some Tricky Business to return, he loads up the shotcannon with shotshells, and then fires down toward Gilvallis again and again! The effect isn't supposed to really cause damage - at this range there's no realistic way to cause damage with an attack like this. He's probably hitting the ground as much as the kaiju.

But it's probably REALLY annoying.
 KTS: Rikka Takarada has activated the Enable Spirit Command targeting Sousuke Sagara
 KTS: Sousuke Sagara targets Alexis Kerib with Goad!
 KTS: Sousuke Sagara goads Alexis Kerib, reducing his Intuition drastically.
 
 

 <Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed. 

        A sullen but otherwise mild 'whatever' is honestly pretty good coming from Asuka. Kaworu will take it.
        
        Shinji meanwhile asks for a leg up. Kaworu smiles. "Of course," he replies, and Unit 00's fingers criss-cross just in time to fling Unit 01 into the air. Kaworu admires Shinji's frontal attack for a moment.
        
        For now, though, it seems as though spirits have been bolstered. Kaworu glances over at Yoko in Windom as she hangs back momentarily, then unleashes a mighty punch into their collective foe. He smiles at that, too. Yuka certainly works fast.
        
        That smile fades when Gillvalis morphs in a full-forward mass of guns. Kaworu's eyes twitch in recognition.
        
        Perhaps it's because of that, and that alone, that Unit 00 manages to sail upwards, bounding off the ground, up into a drifting boulder that she swings around and rotates and jumps off of in a different direction, that they manage to avoid such an *intense* barrage of firepower that is otherwise directed quite heavily at them.
        
        Well, the low gravity helps. For some reason, Kaworu is *really* good at navigating in it. Probably all that time he spent on the Moon.
        
        As Unit 00 spins, she once again draws and sights her rifle on the scarred core. It really is like fighting an Angel--except this time, the target is a Devil.
        
        "It was quite something, wasn't it?" he transmits to Rikka afterwards. She's already asked everyone if they're all right, so he won't repeat it--but he *does* listen for the answer. Geed seems to be hanging in there, at least.

 KTS: Kaworu Nagisa targets Alexis Kerib with Sniper Rifle Aimed Shot!
 
 

 <Pose Tracker> Garrod Ran has posed. 

Okay, so the big alien death AI supermachine *can* talk. Which makes it at least three times more unsettling in Garrod's estimate, as if the sheer physical menace of the thing wasn't plenty to start with. "What kind of talking does it usually do, anyway?" Garrod inquires on the local band, taking stock of the firepower being unleashed - seriously, that is an *unfair* amount of guns and beams, and the fact that it's moving its aim around like that is at least three kinds of wrong. Rather than trying to weave through the fusillade, Garrod settles for enduring the barrage, interposing his rifle's unfolded shield plates and trying to protect his Gundam's torso and core systems from the worst of it.

It works well enough to avoid slamming the GX into anything else from the kinetic transfer, at least. Small wins, right?

"Hanging in there so far," Garrod replies to Rikka, a little belatedly. "Going in close for my next attack, so watch your aim, everyone!" They should have been watching it well enough *anyway* with two giant silver martial artists trying to body Gillvalis, but the Gundam is about to make a third close combatant, even if just briefly.

The Shield Buster Rifle is switched to the Gundam's left hand, freeing up the right to reach up and back, detaching a hilt from the butt of the GX's biggest gun; the beam saber ignites as it's brought around to a ready position, and Garrod charges in, aiming a big slash through one side of the walking armory - careful not to hit Geed along the way, nor Zett if he's trying to melee as well. But again, there's so much of Gillvalis, Garrod doesn't expect to have too much trouble on that front.
 KTS: Garrod Ran targets Alexis Kerib with Beam Saber - Slash!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Kaworu Nagisa's Sniper Rifle Aimed Shot, taking 3375 damage!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Garrod Ran's Beam Saber - Slash, taking 2625 damage!
 KTS: Garrod Ran has engaged Alexis Kerib
 
 

 <Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed. 

Despite Shinji's laugh over the Takoyaki stand, Asuka insists over the comms at Nidaime. "Nobody should ever call him senpai." Asuka sure didn't despite Shinji TECHNICALLY being the more experienced Eva pilot - even if she's the more experienced pilot.

That's kind of a sore point for her. Though it only remains a sore point until she unequivocally 'wins'.

Geed however... the compliment takes her a bit off guard, this one perhaps more to her liking than 'kind', however... it also comes with the idea that it's too much for her alone which immediately blunts the effectiveness of it. "I'm not backing off just because of some of your unfinished business - and if you think I need your support to deal with a single Kaiju you think wrong!"

However Geed is in fact proven immediately correct when the Judgementer goes active and reorients its anatomy, Asuka suddenly goes on guard - when the voice declares 'Terminate'. The sweeping beam fire causes Asuka to beat a hasty retreat, trying to leap into a backflip away. The beam however sweeps far too close. And even with raising her A.T. Field at the last second... she could swear she feels the heat in her cockpit even as it revolves around.

There is plating of the restraint armor partially melted, having struck before the field could raise entirely.

The Low G takes her higher than it normally would, and she uses the opportunity to reach out and grab ahold of another piece of floating debris, holding onto it as they move languidly through the air. "This isn't working." It's like a recognition that she's actually outgunned at a distance. And so she has the Evangelion slowly drops the crossbow, counting on the Low gravity to drop it slowly. "Fine though FINE!" She says angrily..."I always did prefer things-"

Her Evangelion's shoulder pylons open up, and abruptly she kicks off of the debris to launch the Evangelion the Kaiju's way.

"-this-" In mid-air she grabs ahold of both Prog knives from the opposite pylon of each arm - crossing them over in a flourish as she draws them, the blades vibrating from high frequency, as she tries to thrust both of them into the giant Mecha-Kaiju's torso, just below the neck, the weight of the Evangelion trying to push them in behind her.

"-WAY!"
 

 <Pose Tracker> Haruki Natsukawa has posed. 

They did it! Now to finish the fight. Something easier thought than done, as Gillvalis morphs into a gun. Is Gillvalis supposed to do that? Z figures that if it was something it normally does, Geed would have spoken up about it, but maybe it was just natural to know given its mechanical nature.
         Whatever the case may be, it doesn't change the fact that they're being fired upon. Which means there's only one natural thing to do...

         Charge forward and break it before it can do it again! Okay, it's not a natural thing to do, but it's the best thing either Haruki or Zett can come up with.
Their minds made up, they simply run into the blast, arms raised in an x pattern to protect their upper torso. It goes as well as one expects, Ultraman Z's guard is almost broken in an instant as the barrage of gunfire connects with them. Yet even so, they push forward, the emblem on the chest turning red and letting out a high pitched whine as their body begs them to stop.
         They don't stop though, and eventually they whether through it all, now within range. Raising a single hand up, a spear forms above the Ultraman. Promptly gripping on to it, Zett then thrusts forward, aiming the tip of the spear down the barrel of the gun in an attempt to damage whatever internals rest inside.

 KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley targets Alexis Kerib with Progressive Knife Thrust!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Asuka Shikinami Langley's Progressive Knife Thrust, taking 3150 damage!
 KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley has engaged Alexis Kerib
 KTS: Haruki Natsukawa targets Alexis Kerib with Lance Cutter!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Haruki Natsukawa's Lance Cutter, taking 4500 damage!
 KTS: Haruki Natsukawa has engaged Alexis Kerib

 

 <Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed. 

Boy that's a lot of gun.

Shinji throws up his ATField just in time, and is only thrown off of the great gun machine, through a floating island, and directly into a rigged goldfish game. 'Senpai?', Shinji thinks, and shakes his head. Crazy turtle witch. Hope she's not dead.

Most of Shinji is very busy being such a coward he's going out the other way. That's the secret really; Shinji's always running, it's just sometimes the only direction he can run in is directly forward, screaming. Unit-01 crawls to its knees, and slams its hand on the ground three times, pulverizing a fried corn on the cob place and a sketchy unauthorized ball pit.

For a second, just a second, the 'puppy-kun' nickname sort of makes sense, because Shinji and Unit-01 look like nothing so much as a pair of stray dogs that just got kicked. Unit-01 breathes out a blast of steam hot enough to melt some of the cheap material on the ground, and slaps the earth again, digging its knuckles in.

Unit-01 moves, thundering through the ground, only pausing to work around Asuka's lunge with its own attack; an ATField wraps around Shinji's horrible arms as Unit-01 leaps up and over the other melee combatants. If it pulls this off, it'll land on top of the great gun god, and shove those force field reinforced arms right into the monster's shoulders, as if Shinji were trying to rip its head clean off.

He's shouting, a lot, but has had the good grace to switch his sound off.
 KTS: Shinji Ikari has activated the Accel Spirit Command and Has Engaged with Alexis Kerib
 KTS: Shinji Ikari has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
 KTS: Shinji Ikari targets Alexis Kerib with Rip and Tear!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Shinji Ikari's Rip and Tear, taking 7260 damage!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Shinji Ikari's Find The Core activates, causing Nullify!
 KTS: Shinji Ikari has engaged Alexis Kerib

 

 <Pose Tracker> Yoko Nakashima has posed. 

        "What on Earth!?"

        Gilvalis becomes a gun made of guns. Yuka lets out a shriek of scientific delight. And then the blast goes off and Windom is sent soaring back, and collapsing onto it's back on the moment. "DAMAGE: 38%" drones the computer.

        "We're still in this!" Yoko responds, pulling up. and hitting jets to have Windom return to it's feet without actually standing up. She's doing all she can to keep in the Melee Zone with Gilvalis, because, frankly, you don't let a gun pointed at you be at it's minimum range of efficacy.

        Which is to say that Windom drops into Charging Stance and dashes forward for maximum impact, jets being the force of all it's momentum for a bodily crash into Gilvalis.

 KTS: Yoko Nakashima targets Alexis Kerib with Rocket Dash Strike!
 
 

 <Pose Tracker> Nidaime has posed. 

Nidaime says, "But he is...a senpai." to Asuka.

She sees Gill charging something up and ...

...yeah she runs off to a safe(?) distance.

Meanwhile Anosillus takes a heavy hit from al that firepower and groans in pain, stumbling back yards--

--before it too turns and ducks behind a rollercoaster, sits itself down, and goes still for now.
 KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Yoko Nakashima's Rocket Dash Strike, taking 3750 damage!
 KTS: Yoko Nakashima has engaged Alexis Kerib

 

 <Pose Tracker> Alexis Kerib has posed. 

Alexis watches from his perch. Some of the teal panels of his mouth blink off; it gives the vague impression of a mild scowl. "Nngh. A poor choice of target," he mumbles. "Well! Can't be helped."

---

Sousuke kicks up mighty dust -- and with Gillvalis struggling with the Millennium Prize Problems, there's a lot of computation tied up. This is a legitimately annoying -- and confounding -- amount of dust. Kaworu shoots clean through it, and the Last Judgmenter gets a bullet through a few gun barrels. Garrod's slash carves one off outright -- and Asuka, two more. Gillvalis's body is starting to fall apart -- immaterial in the long run if they can't destroy the core, but getting rid of the body itself is a win.

Rikka's attack is somehow... unexpected, for Gillvalis. Simply put: Water is not the type of thing a creature like Gillvalis expects to be opposed with! A large number of the beam guns short out. One of them explodes within its barrel, taking everything around it with it; the ultra-barrel mushrooms out. It'd be cartoonish, were it not for being horrifying. Haruki and Z thrust down another barrel -- and that, too, is left utterly destroyed.

Riku hits the core full-blast with the full array of energies available to him -- not just as an Ultra, but as a child of Belial. That tricolor beam leaves a real gouge in Gillvalis's core -- one that that black energy can't quite hold together. Gillvalis is weakening.

Gillvalis tries to bring up its great barrier, the Valis Luce. Shinji has seen better, and the AT Field around the arms breaks it without so much as slowing. Gillvalis offers no resistance -- cannot, because all the guns are so far forward from the head now. Eva-01 digs and rips, and finds her mark. Impossible space metals simply do not have the capacity to defend against humanity's decisive anti-alien weapon.

Despite the violence done to it, though, the Last Judgmenter has a whole lot of violence to bring to bear. Its form slowly returns to its previous state -- or, at least, to the in-between state that Riku is familiar with. It does spare one last volley from its duckfoot shape, though -- aimed at Sousuke and Rikka, as Synchrotank and the Arbalest are the smallest things in attendance.

(For all Gillvalis has discussed its mission with Ultras before, it is fundamentally a creature oriented on reducing the suffering in the world by reducing the number of people that exist to experience and cause it. It is, simply put: a bully, seeing small things.)

The central core pulses its beam, using it to sight in before letting out a second vicious volley. It's not quite as dense as before, given the loss of several of the barrel-within-barrel assemblies of the duckfoot -- and Gillvalis doesn't actually want to maintain this state, anyway.

As it shifts back into the more familiar Salvo Mode -- a significant number of guns pointed forward, but mercifully not all of them -- it begins sighting in on its large array of remaining foes. As it gets more oriented, it spares most of its remaining capacity for the Ultras, blasting them with everything Salvo Mode has to offer, an absurd array of beams and missiles of all types. This curious mirror of Fumo-Fumo Land is a wreck if there ever was one, as Gillvalis begins to shift into its death throes.

Windom actually receives the gentlest tap, at this point -- an almost normal amount of shots from the hand guns. ... Gillvalis may well appreciate the stimulation of an interesting problem of the type it's designed to solve.
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Rikka Takarada with Judgmenter Gun Morphing!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Sousuke Sagara with Judgmenter Gun Morphing!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Garrod Ran with Hand Gun Barrage!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Kaworu Nagisa with Salvo Mode - Valis Daltifi!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Haruki Natsukawa with Salvo Mode - Valis Daltifi!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Riku Asakura with Salvo Mode - Valis Daltifi!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Yoko Nakashima with Hand Gun Spray!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Shinji Ikari with Hand Gun Barrage!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Asuka Shikinami Langley with Hand Gun Barrage!
 KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
 KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley rushes into the attack!
 KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley's EN Barrier activates, negating 1500 base damage.
 KTS: Alexis Kerib enervates Asuka Shikinami Langley, reducing her Morale significantly.
 KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley fails to react to Alexis Kerib's Hand Gun Barrage, taking 2708 damage!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Hollow activates, causing Insight L1!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Shallow activates, causing Sparkle!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Superficial activates, causing Shock!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib enervates Haruki Natsukawa, reducing his Morale significantly.
 KTS: Haruki Natsukawa blocks Alexis Kerib's Salvo Mode - Valis Daltifi, taking 5270 damage!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Hollow activates, causing Insight L1!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Shallow activates, causing Sparkle!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Superficial activates, causing Shock!
 KTS: Sousuke Sagara has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
 KTS: Rikka Takarada has activated the Enable Spirit Command.
 KTS: Alexis Kerib enervates Sousuke Sagara, reducing his Morale significantly.
 KTS: Sousuke Sagara fails to evade Alexis Kerib's Judgmenter Gun Morphing, taking 5856 damage!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Hollow activates, causing Insight L1!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Shallow activates, causing Sparkle!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Superficial activates, causing Shock!
 KTS: Rikka Takarada has activated the Trust Spirit Command.
 KTS: Rikka Takarada fails to evade Alexis Kerib's Judgmenter Gun Morphing, taking 4880 damage!
 KTS: Shinji Ikari has activated the Trust Spirit Command.
 KTS: Yoko Nakashima successfully evades Alexis Kerib's Hand Gun Spray
 KTS: Shinji Ikari's Will Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage.
 KTS: Shinji Ikari blocks Alexis Kerib's Hand Gun Barrage, taking 860 damage!
 KTS: Riku Asakura's Will Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage.
 KTS: [Spirit Defense] Riku Asakura's ... won't get me anywhere! activates, and his spirit endures.
 KTS: Alexis Kerib enervates Riku Asakura, reducing his Morale significantly.
 KTS: Riku Asakura blocks Alexis Kerib's Salvo Mode - Valis Daltifi, taking 4538 damage!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Hollow activates, causing Insight L1!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Shallow activates, causing Sparkle!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Superficial activates, causing Shock!
 KTS: Haruki Natsukawa has activated the Detonate Spirit Command, reducing the Ultraman Z Beta Smash to 1 HP!
 KTS: Haruki Natsukawa has activated the Trick Spirit Command.
 KTS: Kaworu Nagisa's EN Barrier activates, negating 1500 base damage.
 KTS: [Spirit Defense] Kaworu Nagisa's Angel of Free Will activates, and his spirit endures.
 KTS: Alexis Kerib enervates Kaworu Nagisa, reducing his Morale significantly.
 KTS: Kaworu Nagisa fails to react to Alexis Kerib's Salvo Mode - Valis Daltifi, taking 4172 damage!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Hollow activates, causing Insight L1!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Shallow activates, causing Sparkle!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Superficial activates, causing Shock!
 KTS: Riku Asakura has activated the Detonate Spirit Command, reducing the Ultraman Geed Galaxy Rising to 1 HP!
 KTS: Riku Asakura has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
 KTS: Riku Asakura has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
 KTS: Riku Asakura has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
 KTS: Riku Asakura has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
 KTS: Kaworu Nagisa has activated the Enable Spirit Command targeting Riku Asakura
 KTS: Garrod Ran has activated the Focus Spirit Command.
 KTS: Alexis Kerib enervates Garrod Ran, reducing his Morale significantly.
 KTS: Garrod Ran fails to Evade Alexis Kerib's Hand Gun Barrage, taking 3806 damage!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Hollow activates, causing Insight L1!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Shallow activates, causing Sparkle!
 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Superficial activates, causing Shock!
 The housekeeper moves Eight York to the quiet room.
 
 

 <Pose Tracker> Riku Asakura has posed. 

"Well then, if neither of us is backing off...then let's continue to fight together, alright?" he says, with that warm and sunny disposition, despite the situation and their opponent is an absolute threat to humanity itself. Though for the moment, things seem to be heading in the right direction. That was until it started to transform back. The last volley didn't seem right, but this one..? This was more familiar.

Geed tries to keep on the defense, but this time not even the barrier was enough to protect him. Blasted back, then repeatedly salvoed into Geed is forced to a knee, clearly hurt from that if the Toku sparks weren't enough of an indicator. Painfully, he's back on his feet, staring down Gillvalis.

"Standing around doing nothing won't get us anywhere.." he says to himself...and then does something incredibly dangerous. Using all his remaining energy, and focusing on the energy that was part of his cursed heritage, and of course the borrowed powers of the other Ultramen, he lets loose a scream.

A phoenix created out of red and black fire starts forming on his back. Light blue energy starts shining out of his eyes light flashlights, and his body courses with that same black and red energy from before. He channels it all into himself. The light energy finally settles into his eyes, the phoenix flares and then enters his back, and the energy crackling around his entire body settles on his arms.

"WRECKING PHOENIX!" he shouts, releasing all of that combined energy at once, into a single destructive beam towards the core of the robotic terror.
 KTS: Riku Asakura targets Alexis Kerib with Wrecking Phoenix!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Riku Asakura's Wrecking Phoenix, taking 6200 damage!
 KTS: Riku Asakura has engaged Alexis Kerib
 KTS: Yoko Nakashima has activated the Detonate Spirit Command, reducing the SAA-2 Windom to 1 HP!
 KTS: Yoko Nakashima has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
 KTS: Yoko Nakashima has activated the Valor Spirit Command.

 

 <Pose Tracker> Haruki Natsukawa has posed. 

         Another direct hit! And it's still not down. The Giant of Light lets out an annoyed grunt as it withdraws its spear, only to be nearly knocked off balance as Gillvalis starts shifting its form again.

         Caught completely off guard, Ultraman Z is smacked hard with one of the mechanical menace's many beams, sending the red warrior flying back and crashing into yet another attraction, this time one of those giant ships that rock back and forth.

         Letting out a pained groan, the Ultra lifts himself back from the rubble while rubbing his head, the red blinking light on its chest blinking even faster now.

         They really don't have much time left, and even if the others can carry on and finish the job without them, neither Z or Haruki will rest easy knowing they don't fight with everything they've got until the last moment.

         Gathering what strength they have left, the dart straight towards Gillvalis full speed, each massive step they take shaking the earth around them. Once back within the comfortable range of hitting things, Zett punches downwards, attempting to shake the robot reptile off balance before ducking low and delivering a powerful rising upper to their metal jaw.

         The strength at which they shoot back up after ducking sends them flying straight up into the air, like an uncoiled and volatile spring.

         "ZESTIUM UPPER!"

 KTS: Haruki Natsukawa targets Alexis Kerib with Zestium Upper!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Haruki Natsukawa's Zestium Upper, taking 5670 damage!
 KTS: Haruki Natsukawa has engaged Alexis Kerib
 
 

 <Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed. 

The big guns are turned on Rikka, next. Synchrotank attempts to unfurl from tank mode and leap out of the way, but it isn't quite quick enough - it and the surrounding area are completely blasted. The mobile suit is hurled back by the force of the volley, amplified by the reduced gravity, carving a long divot along the ground.

"Th-that's... gonna take some fixing..." Rikka groans, a little dazed from being thrown around. The cockpit block is sturdy, thankfully - though Synchrotank itself is looking a little worse for wear.

She manages to force Synchrotank into a sitting position - and then, with some effort, back onto its feet. It levels its hands at GIllvalis once again and fires... but this time, rather than birdlime, it shoots normal bullets - aimed Gillvalis and open him up for further attacks from the others rather than to inflict serious harm itself.
 KTS: Rikka Takarada targets Alexis Kerib with Hand Vulcan Leading Fire!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Rikka Takarada's Hand Vulcan Leading Fire, taking 3525 damage!
 KTS: Rikka Takarada begins a Formation attack!

 

 <Pose Tracker> Yoko Nakashima has posed. 

        This time, Yoko's ready as the gun hand comes up, turning to swing under it's wide string of fire. This fight can't keep going. Not at this rate. Especially since Windom's batteries are running low. She sees Geed go all out, then Z-Sama. Right. "Z-Sama! Geed-San! Let's finish this! WINDOM, ALL OUT FIRE!"

        She slams a whole rack of switches and, in this point blank range with Gilvalis, fires Missiles from every single one of Windom's many, MANY missile ports. There's no other word for it. It's just missiles. Everywhere. For so long. So so long.

        But the process means Windom can't move, and it's got almost no battery left. Still... "Go down....!" Damn you!

        Will it be enough?

 KTS: Yoko Nakashima targets Alexis Kerib with Type-20 Full Shooting!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Yoko Nakashima's Type-20 Full Shooting, taking 8880 damage!
 KTS: Yoko Nakashima roots her unit, coming to a standstill and leaving her vulnerable.
 KTS: Yoko Nakashima completes the Formation attack!

 

 <Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed. 

Arbalest's a nimble thing. Once he's got his dustcloud up, Sousuke snaps out a wire line, hooking onto one of the platforms and dragging himself to a solid perch. That should buy him a few seconds, enough time to--

"Hostile has oriented on us!" AL announces.

"What!?"

"Evasion impossible!"

Sousuke tries anyway, leaping away from his new perch as it's reduced to atoms by Judgmenter Gun Morphing's awesome firepower! Arbalest throws its arms up to protect the pilot as it's pelted with inhuman, unbelievable force!! The small white and (navy) blue machine goes soaring backwards, slams hard into the remains of Fumo Tours, and lies there limply for several long seconds.

Sousuke grits his teeth, inside, breath coming raggedly. "Status!"

"Class B damage to all systems. Continued combat is possible. However, Arbalest cannot survive much more."

"Good enough," Sousuke mutters. Something like this...he doesn't understand the scale of the threat; the words Riku said to describe this demon meant little to him. But he knows it's dangerous, and he knows it's far, far too close to Jindai.

He draws the Boxer again, quickly reloading its magazine, then surging skyward with a powerful jump from Arbalest. He aims downward and fires, over and over, just trying to break as much of those damnable gun emplacements as possible.
 KTS: Sousuke Sagara has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
 KTS: Sousuke Sagara has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
 KTS: Sousuke Sagara targets Alexis Kerib with Boxer 57mm Shotcannon Shotshell Magdump!
 KTS: Kaworu Nagisa has activated the Enable Spirit Command.
 
 

 <Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed. 

        The problem with launching upwards in a low-gravity situation and using that to pivot out of the way of an attack... is that it leaves one vulnerable to a follow-up attack. Lower gravity means lower speed and a longer time in mid-air. While an Evangelion has ways around this--and indeed, Kaworu starts in on that when he sees Gillvalis let loose a second volley, and calls up Unit 00's A.T. Field to use as a surface to rebound off of--there's simply not enough space to maneuver *to*. The A.T. Field helps, of course. But everywhere it doesn't shade is full of bullets.
        
        Unit 00 consequently crashes hard on the ground, her limbs a tangled mess. It seems like she might not get up again. But she stirs, and presses her fists to the earth, and pushes. It's not so hard, in this lower gravity. For every problem, there is a solution.
        
        The rifle drifts down in a lazy spiral. Unit 00 lifts a hand to grab it from midair, then sinks into a sniper position, low to the ground, rifle braced. She aims carefully for the core--around many of the allies on the battlefield charging in for their own last, reckless attacks.
        
        When she fires, the bullet tears across the sorry amusement park, aiming to *punch* through the mechanical alien with decisive force.

 KTS: Kaworu Nagisa targets Alexis Kerib with Sniper Rifle Decisive Shot!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Kaworu Nagisa's Sniper Rifle Decisive Shot, taking 4960 damage!
 KTS: Alexis Kerib's Gillvalis <Judgment> has been disabled.

 

 <Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed. 

"What gave you the impression that I'd cooperate with you?" Asuka offers her rude rejoinder to Geed's sunniness, "If you're not backing down - then that just makes this a competition."

Once her Evangelion strikes Gillvalis' body more at a side angle than head on like she wanted and cuts off two gun barrels to dig at the flanks right where the torso meets the shell, gravity reasserts itself as the armored giant hangs off of its body for a while. Once she has her bearings, its feet push against it, as she extracts one knife - about to stab more deeply.

When suddenly it reorients its weaponry. And starts showering her with bullets at point blank range. Whether it's bravery, stupidity, or pure spite...

Asuka has Eva-02 hang on, its A.T. Field trying to protect her from as many directions as she can. The sudden gunfire though causes a burbled scream of pain to erupt from her lips as her Eva gets struck from both sides in the ribs.

With pock marked restraint armor. The girl suddenly slams both induction rails forward, her lips splitting into an elated grin that contrasts the angry look in her eyes. The Evangelion responds by simply twisting both Prog Knives - and trying to push them deeper. And deeper. And deeper.

She'll survive longer in her own personal estimation than it will at this rate.

Just like always.
 

 <Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed. 

Shinji isn't thinking about the holes in his chest or the strange aliens exploding into rainbows or his friends down there or much of anything.

He has a knife. It's a pretty good knife. He's made a hole in the Angel. "Enemy." Shinji hisses, eyes blood red, "Enemy enemy enemy enemy enemy enemy enemy enemy enemy enemy enemy enemy enemy ENEMY!"

Shinji pulls his knife back and slams the deadly weapon into the hole he's ripped into he Angel, over and over, ignoring everything else going on as Unit-01's neon green highlights start to.

Change color? Can they do that? It's just a paint job, right? Mabye this strange time and space the laws of light are changed, or maybe there are colored LEDs in the armor considering it's a seventy meter tall robot people have to climb to repair and maintain.

"Enemy enemy enemy enemy ENEMY!" Shinji doesn't even care that people are shooting at his perch. So what? They'll sort them out later.
 

 <Pose Tracker> Garrod Ran has posed. 

The downside to going into close combat with something that's basically Made Of Gun (tm) is that you're that much closer to all the firepower, what artillerists of old began calling "point-blank range." That in turn spells *several* disadvantages, especially when Garrod's beam saber took out a lot fewer of the guns than he was trying for ... and it seems like every single gun he didn't disable opens up to retaliate. The resulting bombardment knocks the Gundam X back on its heels, not quite out of melee range - but Garrod re-ignites the suit's thrusters for good measure, deactivating and storing the beam saber. And while the GX is airborne --

"The moon is up ... ?"

It may still be daylight in Virtual Fumo Fumo Land, but the Moon is indeed visible in the sky, even after the GX lands again. Garrod hesitates briefly, then keys his comm over to the Freeden's channel. "We're clear of populated zones, right?"

'I was about to signal you,' Jamil's voice states. 'Yes, you're in the clear, and we can't afford to let Gillvalis escape intact. Take it out, Garrod.'

"Roger that," Garrod replies, thumbing a toggle on the G-Controller. A smaller monitor unfolds atop the joystick as the Gundam's wings realign; a signal is transmitted invisibly, but the results are more visible outside - the needle-thin beam of a sighting laser, reaching from the Moon down to the Gundam X's cockpit.

"Satellite System coming online!" Garrod transmits to his allies. "I need a clear shot in four seconds - !"

And then, a ZESTIUM UPPER is delivered which boosts Gillvalis right off the ground.

"Thanks!!" Garrod calls out, bringing the Satellite Cannon around to firing alignment. The energy circulator panels on the GX's arms, shoulders, and legs begin to glow blue as the lunar microwave transmission reaches the Gundam X; the golden panels of the unfolded wings begin glowing brightly, capacitors charging and collecting the absorbed power. The Cannon is aimed up at Gillvalis while it's still airborne -

"FIRING!!!" warns Garrod, his finger closing around the trigger at the instant the cannon reaches full charge - and the massive particle beam erupts from the cannon's muzzle, tearing straight through the alien doomsday machine.
 

 <Pose Tracker> Alexis Kerib has posed. 

Ultraman Geed takes point on a veritable barrage of strikes at the Last Judgmenter. Wrecking Phoenix holds the center, a massive flare of every color of light within Belial's son bearing down on Gillvalis. Z advances just behind the beam, delivering that crisp, firm punch. Rikka curtails Gillvalis's options for escape -- and Yoko follows up immediately with a barrage that rivals the Last Judgmenter's own strikes, keeping it in the air with concussive force. It turns its gaze toward Windom, letting out a roar that threatens to take control of the machine, to turn that barrage against its allies --

-- and is promptly stopped by a veritable barrage of bullets from the Unit-00 and the Arbalest, as well as the Gundam X's Satellite Cannon. It engulfs almost all of Gillvalis; by the time it hits the ground again, it's a wreck.

Unit-02 begins digging into the core itself -- and a moment later, Shinji gets in and follows suit, Eva-01 absolutely gutting whatever is left of the Last Judgmenter. When all is said and done:

There is nothing left but the core, and it's hard to tell how much of the core is actually left. The golden band *surrounding* the core is totally gone, only a hair of that dark energy still swirling around it. Where the ring had been, there's something white, in spots -- almost the consistency of bread dough...? What could --

---

"What a magnificent performance! And from someone with such an *embarrassing* set of opinions. Why stop all this?" The Devil floats down from his perch, and away from the battle. "I must confess, I'd have liked a little more -- hm -- *time*, with the Splinter? But... this is fine, I think."

Alexis disappears.

---

Whatever it was, no one's getting any of it, because that black energy recedes to nothing. Gillvalis's core detonates in a spray of shards; maybe it was always destined for destruction, after such thorough violence from the assembled Ultras and their allies. With the withdrawal of whatever was barely holding it together, that violence can catch up with the core itself.

Fumo-Fumo Land is utterly still. Debris continues to float along. Whatever was distorting this space, left it empty of people... that wasn't Gillvalis. Tsutsujidai's Fumo-Fumo Land -- the first part of it seen, outside of the ward itself -- remains in exactly the condition it was in when everyone arrived:

The steady, slowing spin of debris of a space colony -- despite the Earthlike sky.

---

Akane sets down her tablet, crinkles her nose up, and throws her now-empty juice box off the roof. It's frustration, but more of an 'aww, shucks' frustration than genuine anger. This isn't one of hers, after all. "Yep! Lots of good lessons in that one!" she says, pulling out of the irritation and back into having fun. She hums to herself, finally getting ready to go home for the evening. "Sorry, weird mecha-kaiju! There's only one judgment that matters in this city~"

 

 <Pose Tracker> Haruki Natsukawa has posed. 

         Ultraman Z backs away from the exploding Gillvalis, arms shielding its face from the sudden burst of light as it does so. When things finally quiet down, he turns to Geed, before looking down at the senior Ultra's color timer and then down at his own.

         "Ah... What an Ultra-let down. Looks like we're going to have to talk later, Geed senpai. Stop by around STORAGE when you get the chance so we can help catch each other up!"

         Continuing to speak in Ultranese (because Earthanese continues to be Ultra-difficult), Ultraman Z gives one last nod towards the rest of the group before flying off, letting out a mighty SHUWATCH as they leave a Z-shaped streak in the air.

         Coincidentally, not long after Zett's departure, Haruki finally chimes in over the radio, letting everyone know he's okay and that he simply fell out of the cockpit from the initial explosion and hit his head on the ground. Thank God for helmets.

 

 <Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed. 

Arbalest finishes its arc and slams down into shattered pavement. It turns to watch the core detonate, Sousuke's jaw set and his gaze focused.

"Target is silent," AL reports.

...

"Sergeant?"

The terrain hasn't changed," Sousuke says.

AL pauses for several seconds, considering this input. "You are correct," he finally says. "Gravitational constant remains below normal levels. Current readings are within ranges marked for Colonial operations."

"That thing didn't do this to this place, then."

"Affirmative," AL replies. "That appears to be the case."

Sousuke can't pinch his nose but finds the wish to reverberating in his head. "Plot a course back to the train," he says. "Run diagnostics on the Lambda Driver, too."

"Roger."

Not even one second later, "Diagnostics complete. All green."

Arbalest jumps toward the rendezvous point, Sousuke silent.

 

 <Pose Tracker> Riku Asakura has posed. 

Turning away from the exploding Gillvalis, Geed stands next to Zett as the thing finally dies. A threat to the universe destroyed, and hopefully this time it'll stay that way.

The flashing red gem for Riku is more of an indication that something is about to die, and now that it has...Geed nods once to Zett. "It's fine, we can consider meeting up at another time." He says, sunnily.

To Asuka he laughs a little, "Of course, but I understand. You need someone to struggle with to get yourself charged up. This sounds very... second rider." he says, with a smile. Well, not that Geed's face changes, but you can tell RIKU is smiling, despite the fact that Asuka doesn't know Geed and Riku are the same.

With the ULTRA sound effect, Geed flies into the sky and is gone. Though Riku himself shows up a bit later. If asked, well he obviously was taking stock of the issue, then ducked into a shelter when the fight started for real.

Though despite his smile, the area didn't change. Nobody came out. He takes a breath, this place was always like this...this place about being about fun was silent as death. But why..?
 

 <Pose Tracker> Garrod Ran has posed. 

The fact that there was enough left of Gillvalis to hit the ground again is somewhat disconcerting - but that core, or what's there of one, doesn't keep existing long enough to worry about it in the long term.

"Target eliminated," Garrod confirms for Jamil and the Freeden's crew. Hopefully Tiffa can relax a bit more now, he doesn't add out loud. He switches back to the general local channel before asking, "Everyone more or less okay?"

The Satellite Cannon is still cooling down post-firing, but Garrod powers down its operational systems, the cannon and wings folding back into standby positions. With that done, Garrod finally looks over the systems damage displays, and grimaces. Kid's going to be *so* angry when the young mechanic sees the state of the GX's armor ... and that's before any internal damage gets accounted for.
 

 <Pose Tracker> Yoko Nakashima has posed. 

        "Gilvalis confirmed completely defeated!" Yuka shouts, before pausing. "Completely destroyed... Yokoooo, you were supposed to save the memory banks!"

        Yoko blinks, in the cockpit, as Windom's battery finally dies, and the Ultramen fly away because... Ultramen gonna Ultra. "Eh!?" Fortunately the radio call comes through, and Yoko turns to checking Haruki is alright, and calling the return to normal smach. She watches the small Arm Slave leave. "...We're going to want an MRC team here."

        There is one final whine. "Now we're never going to get funding..."

        -----

        In the vague space that is Tsutsujidai's Fumo Fumo Land, a slouching figure wanders lazily, ambling and shuffling towards where the battle was. There's no one coming to rebuild. Or investigate. It's an easy place to explore, if you know how. The figure has black hair, and wears slightly battered Monster Research Coveralls, and a mask. Suddenly, he drops to the ground, and digs around like a dog that's caught a scent, tearing up the rubble and debris.

        It's not very deep, in all honesty. One had to dig only slightly under the surface, only expend the slightest amount of effort. He reaches into the ground and pulls up something black. Horried. The figure takes his mask off, and holds it up. A Devil Splinter. Half of what he needed. His mouth twists into a deranged grin. One red eye glints in the darkness, for no one to see.

        "Kiete... karekareta."