2022-11-27: His Majesty's Medal

• Log: 2022-11-27: His Majesty's Medal
• Cast: Celebro, Yuta Hibiki, Leito Igaguri, Jana Cektru, Shota Hebikura, Kaworu Nagisa, Lucine Azul, Haruki Natsukawa
• Where: Tokyo Prime, Free Japan
• OOC - IC Date: Nov 27, 0096 (2022)
• Summary: Celebro tests out his newly-coined Belial Medal.

---

<Pose Tracker> Celebro has posed.

On a warehouse building overlooking a small office district in the city of Tokyo, a girl in a school serafuku stands on the roof. Her hair is a deep sea green, hung down over her shoulder in a loose tail held at the end with a sea green scrunchy. Over her shoulders is slung a bright blue blanket, a stamp of a cat depicted on one corner. RAVAGE, the blanket decrees. She intends to. Beneath the white health mask she wears, her face is unseen, but her eyes scan across the cityscape with piercing intent.

She draws up into her view a coin, a medal, black at the edges, with an icon of a terrible man-shaped creature stamped across its face. Belial. Finally. And all she had to do was siphon off some essentia from the one Ultraman in Creation attached to his magnificence.

The girl's body scans the city one more time. "Riser optimization complete," she says to herself. "Medal stability observed. Confirming verification test."

She pulls from out of sight a tool shaped like a punch blade, a long, sweeping relic. She pushes the trigger on its handle and with a PWONG, the Riser Gate appears behind her, menacing. She turns and enters.

Within that space, she throws the Medals she intends to use into the air, hovering there in the cognition-affected laws of this unreality. And then she begins.

She inserts the authorization card into the Riser's scan slot, and after a moment of sputtering and sparking, a voice booms within the Gate: "HASS. ACCESS GRANTED."

A slash of a grin pushes up her cheeks behind the mask, and she tucks her special coin into the first slot. "Belial," she breathes.

A second she tucks in, murmuring: "Ancient Monster," tucking in a coin of a creature like a dinosaur, with high fins at the sides of its head and long up-pointing tusks.

A third: "Skull Monster." The icon across is thickly scaled, with long teeth and deeply sunken eyes.

She slides the slots each past the reader to scan them into the Riser. "BELIAL. GOMORA. RED KING."

She could feel the space come alive with new powers, and braced herself for it to flow through her. "Kiete karekareta," she whispered, and hit the trigger again.

        -*-

From a completely clear day comes chaos. The sky goes dark and red lightning bursts from a point in the middle of a Tokyo business district, before rising out of it, crushing roads from its sheer presence, lamps exploding as power flows from its body, is a massive lizard that has appeared from nothing. Massive horns burst from the sides of its head, and its talons and the accents on its chest and knees are bright red against otherwise bronzy scales.

It shrieks.

        BELIAL FUSION MONSTER - SKULL GOMORA

It flexes its muscles as if loosening up, and the red parts of its body visibly charge with crackling force before it releases it - by punching completely through a highrise, the top 13 floors of the building going sailing across the sky with phenomenal force!

KTS: Celebro has deployed in Transforming Belial Balance Type Kaiju.
KTS: Celebro has deployed as a Boss for 6 opponents.

KTS: Leito Igaguri has deployed in Ultraman Zero.
KTS: Lucine Azul has deployed in eEXM-17FT Alto Flight Type.
KTS: Kaworu Nagisa has deployed in Evangelion Unit-04.
KTS: Jana Cektru has deployed in MPMZ-17 Ichinana TG Tector Gear.
KTS: Shota Hebikura has deployed in MPMZ-17 Ichinana.
KTS: Yuta Hibiki has deployed in Gridman Primal Fighter.

<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.

Blue eyes stare up at the ceiling. How had things gone so wrong? How had he messed up so badly? All Yuta wanted to do was defend his friends' peace and honor their choices, and instead, he was enabling their brainwashing. Eisen's words circle in his mind, the headphones in Yuta's ears doing nothing to drown them out.

BANG BANG BANG

"Yuta! We've got a kaiju attack, get out here!" Shouts Borr, through the door.

Squeezing his eyes closed for a moment, Yuta grits his teeth. Another one... At least it isn't one of Akane's. "COMING!" He shouts in reply, running into his room to change.

---

"Well, it's an ugly one, this time!" Borr says, hanging her head out one of Synchrotank's windows. "You're up, you two!"

The shortest Hyper Agent is still looking slightly battered from their run in with Celebro -- ponytails slightly toasted, slight bruising making their movements tentative. With Max still nursing a wound to his arm, he stayed behind, along with Vit. Today's battle is up to Gridman and Calibur!

"Access..." Yuta begins, standing before Junk. "FLASH!"

Blue light breaks against red lightning, heralding the appearnce of a Giant of Light. Gridman, armed with an enormous sword, stands in the monster's way. "You will go no further!" He shouts, brandishing the weapon. "The people of this city are protected!"

"Let's just -- get this over with." Yuta mumbles, difficult to hear over the battle.

Gridman charges forward, holding Calibur low, then swinging up at the kaiju's chest in a precise motion. "Calibur Slash!"

KTS: Yuta Hibiki targets Celebro with Calibur Slash!
KTS: Yuta Hibiki has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Leito Igaguri has posed.

Leito Igaguri is in town, riding in an Alto piloted by a friend. That means, when the kaiju appears, he's frowning with deep concern. "Zero, Lucine, that kaiju...it reminds me of..."

From the city streets, a building is yeeted, interrupting him. Leito is quickly manifesting the Zero Eye. "let's go...!" He says, as Zero affirms in his head a similar belief.

As the elaborately expensive transformation occurs, Leito disappears from the cockpit, Ultraman Zero suddenly rises from the streets, decked in full Mentor Cape Mantle. The ridged-head Ultraman moveshis hands, a barrier appearing against the flying building roof, slowing the flight and allowing him to catch it and plant it on the ground.

Ultraman Zero then rushes forward through evacuating traffic and moving to karate chop Belial Skull Gomora with a hearty grunt, motions fast yet methodical.

KTS: Haruki Natsukawa has deployed in SAA-1 Sevenger <Haruki>.
KTS: Celebro partially guards Yuta Hibiki's Calibur Slash, taking 3534 damage!
KTS: Yuta Hibiki has engaged Celebro!
Celebro has changed Boss level to 7

KTS: Leito Igaguri: Will Barrier Activates.
KTS: Leito Igaguri targets Celebro with Knifehand Strike!
KTS: Leito Igaguri has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Jana Cektru has posed.

Red lightning... Massive power. The kaiju appears, and Dr. Cektru frowns as she looks forward, on the phone right now with someone who sees it. "...I see," Jana says. "Please be safe. I will be there shortly."

Her contact presumably rushes down to the shelter, while the Doctor moves towards the part of her office that has a door to an elevator. Soon...!

Surging into view comes the Tector-Gear enhanced Ichinana that Jana Cektru pilots!

"Another monster that shows the signs of 'fusion'," Jana comments to others, particularly including Gridman and Zero in her communications. How? Don't worry about it. (Zero is used to Jana being able to talk to him mentally anyway. Gridman... maybe less so.)

The Ichinana hurls a grenade from its gun!!

KTS: Jana Cektru targets Celebro with Ichinana MG Grenade!
KTS: Jana Cektru has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Shota Hebikura has posed.

NERV forces had been spread especially thin with the oppressively constant stream of Kaiju-based nonsense within cities coincidentally called 'Tokyo' and beyond. People had left. People had come back.

Fixing things didn't get easier, after an absence. Now the piles were cold, and the hot flows were replaced with cold and momentumless rubble.

Shota Hebikura, Commander of STORAGE, had been 'reduced' to walking off-base for paper wrapped sandwiches and thermoses of soup. Fuel, for the baggy-eyed war against civil erosion. His 'expertise' was the least necessary - and he had started to take any excuse for a break.

"At least it's a shiny day-" Hebikura turns his face to the sky, exactly as it begins darkening. The commander's lips purse, and his eyes roll. "I'm not running back." He grouses, and aggressively saunters back towards the base while the kaiju sirens begin to blare. He refuses to run.

SINCE HE REFUSES TO RUN, SOON:

Captain Hebikura, having launched from the nearby STORAGE facility in one of the reserve Ichinanas, flies overhead as the several ultra-type characters arrive to immediately begin fighting. "Belial... and Zero? Haruki-" Hebikura switches to an open band, but speaks to his subordinate soon to be arriving -- most likely? Unless he's been mysteriously waylaid? Hebikura would take all the mysterious waylayment he could get today.

"-protect the evacuation zones. We've got lots of help, so let's make it count!"

Swooping down from above, Hebikura's Ichinana walks heavy machine gun bolts up the Belial Fusion while the melee-ists close and strike!

KTS: Shota Hebikura targets Celebro with Ichinana MG Burst!
KTS: Shota Hebikura has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        Chaos explodes over Tokyo (original flavor), and while evacuation protocols snap into action and civilians start to hurry away, alarms blare in NERV HQ only a few cities away. It may not be an Angel, but all kaiju are NERV's purview, and Evangelions aren't inappropriate weapons to use against them--especially in the case of a fusion monster possessing the power of multiple entities. One of them looks disturbingly familiar.
        
        That's why Kaworu volunteered to deploy, and in Unit-04 rather than Unit-00, no less. The silver Evangelion who had evaded annihilation once now takes to the field, brought to Tokyo by train and rising up from his car to peer at the horned lizard creature. It's no shock to his pilot that Gridman and Ultraman Zero have appeared to take to the battle; simply by flexing, this kaiju has already destroyed part of a highrise. Thankfully, Zero has downgraded that from a tragedy to a survivable disaster. Unit-04 nods to him in gratitude.
        
        Captain Hebikura sends out a transmission, directed at Haruki but open to NERV operatives. "Pilot Kaworu Nagisa speaking. I'll assist with defending evacuation routes," he states. Kaworu then moves Unit-04 to position himself between the kaiju and those who still need to escape.
        
        Jana remarks on the signs of fusion. "Yes," he acknowledges, bidding Unit-04 rise to his feet. He retrieves an Evangelion-scale rifle from the train car, then aims and opens fire at the ferocious kaiju. Unit-04 has other closer-range weaponry, but for now, Kaworu takes his time to assess the beast--and whomever might be controlling it.

KTS: Kaworu Nagisa targets Celebro with Assault Rifle - Single Fire!
KTS: Kaworu Nagisa has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Celebro fails to evade Leito Igaguri's Knifehand Strike, taking 3000 damage!
KTS: Leito Igaguri has engaged Celebro!
KTS: Celebro partially guards Jana Cektru's Ichinana MG Grenade, taking 2940 damage!
KTS: Celebro successfully evades Shota Hebikura's Ichinana MG Burst
KTS: Celebro partially guards Kaworu Nagisa's Assault Rifle - Single Fire, taking 4410 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaworu Nagisa's The Light of His Heart activates, causing Jam L1!

<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.

        Having had Leito with her on Official Nergal business (likely something to do with Japanese Salaryman Business Things beyond Lucine's understanding) Lucine pilots the Alto. ".... There's been no word on the Dianthus... but... I still need to thank you properly for coming to get me, Mr. Igagu--"

        There is no rest for the weary as Lucine suddenly tenses, her eyes widening. "Something." It's the only word she gets out before the threat appears, making any foresight completely unneccessary. ".... I've never seen one like this before... you know this one, either of you?"

        Leito and Zero are already on the move, as a highrise is sent flying through the air like it was a simple theatre prop. ".... Please, be careful, both of you!"

        The seat is already empty.

        But Lucine won't let her hands sit idle. Turning on her wideband, she flies in. < "Lucine Azul, from the Nadesico here. I will lend you my support, as best as I am able." > She sounds as serious as ever. < "How is the evacuation effort going? I can provide cover. With Gridman and Ultraman here, the kaiju's attention may be focused on them now." >

        A scattering of cannon fire is let loose as Lucine closes in, leaning forward in her seat. "... It's my turn to support you, Mr. Igaguri!"

KTS: Lucine Azul targets Celebro with Flight Module Cannon Closing Barrage!
KTS: Lucine Azul has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Haruki Natsukawa has posed.

         Sevenger, in response to the Kaiju attack, launches from the STORAGE facility, comically over sized real life assault rifle in hand as it waddles around the field, bunkering itself down behind one of the buildings as Haruki tries to assess the situation.

         Yep, it's a kaiju. One of those weird mashups too, meaning it's either being manipulated by God only knows who, or it's some sort of weird weapon. Honestly, he's not sure what he was expecting to glean in terms of additional information, the whole situation seems pretty cut and dry the more he looks at it. But, it doesn't hurt to be careful, he guesses. That might just be Z rubbing off on him.

         "Roger that, Hebi-san!"

          With two Ultramen (Gridman is an Ultraman? He has something like a color timer, he thinks) here, it should be easy for Haruki to actually do what his boss is actually telling him to this time. At least until Sevenger's batteries run out anyway, but that's some pessimistic thinking that shouldn't be thought!

         Peeking behind from his hiding spot, Sevenger provides some supporting fire for Hebi's Ichinana, unloading an entire clip into the kaiju's torso before meekly hiding away again so that it can reload.

KTS: Haruki Natsukawa has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Haruki Natsukawa targets Celebro with Autocannon Shot!
KTS: Haruki Natsukawa has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Celebro partially guards Lucine Azul's Flight Module Cannon Closing Barrage, taking 2650 damage!
KTS: Lucine Azul has engaged Celebro!
KTS: Celebro partially guards Haruki Natsukawa's Autocannon Shot, taking 2788 damage!
Escudo Shard teleports in.
Escudo Shard teleports out.

<Pose Tracker> Celebro has posed.

Ultraman Zero rises, and in so doing, saves probably hundreds of lives in that flying highrise. What awesome power this thing wields...

The strikes on Skull Gomora throw up sparks and flash. It moves nimbly - Hebikura's flashing heavy machine gun forces it to lurch to one side in an uncommon way, unusually sharp-eyed. That does still force it into a position where the oncoming mixed assaults of fire from Kaworu's Evangelion - a fellow demon to be sure - and grenades from Jana's Ichinana scald its hide. They do make it stop, flail its stubby arms, but they don't make it REDIRECT.

Then an Ultraman appears. Two of them, actually. Gridman's arrival through that sparkling portal prompts the Skull Gomora to LOOK at it, with...that can only be intent. It shrieks when the sword cleaves down, prompting it to still be staggering when Ultraman Zero comes in. The red on its body, the horns and talons and filigree along its belly, begins to glow an angry red, but Zero scores a chop into its torso just before it replies by PUNCHING him back, a shockwave of electrostatic power causing a nearby billboard to short out and then explode in a cloud of fire. Space bought, power gathers through it a second time, and this time it SLAMS it through the ground. For a solid half-kilometer from the impact point, rushing down the street, the pavement turns superheated, and then from the second stop it LAUNCHES upward in waves of flaming asphalt, metal, and the occasional parked car, raining down on the attackers! Sevenger fires back through it, more flashes of impact sparking on the thing's heavy armor.

Finally, it rounds on Gridman, power surging through those red segments. It roars in the Primal Fighter's face, and then thrusts its massive horns down, a blast of red energy, a Skull Oscillation Wave, roaring into Gridman's body!

The beast doesn't advance its attack. There's something about this. Something's not right. A kaiju being prevented from its goals should be lashing out, should be trying to REACH, should certainly not be...rallying itself.

...for that matter, what the heck's it doing here? And why is it eyeing the defenders with something that can only be interest?

KTS: Celebro has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
KTS: Celebro targets Jana Cektru with Electrothermal Discharge Shot!
KTS: Celebro targets Leito Igaguri with Skull Oscillation Energized CQC Strike!
KTS: Celebro targets Kaworu Nagisa with Electrothermal Discharge Shot!
KTS: Celebro targets Lucine Azul with Electrothermal Discharge Shot!
KTS: Celebro targets Yuta Hibiki with Skull Oscillation Energized CQC Push!
KTS: Celebro targets Haruki Natsukawa with Electrothermal Discharge Shot!
KTS: Celebro targets Shota Hebikura with Electrothermal Discharge Shot!
KTS: Celebro has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Yuta Hibiki blocks Celebro's Skull Oscillation Energized CQC Push, taking 3000 damage!
KTS: Celebro repulses Yuta Hibiki, forcing him to disengage.
KTS: Celebro begins a Formation attack!
KTS: Haruki Natsukawa blocks Celebro's Electrothermal Discharge Shot, taking 1850 damage!
KTS: Shota Hebikura blocks Celebro's Electrothermal Discharge Shot, taking 2220 damage!
KTS: Jana Cektru blocks Celebro's Electrothermal Discharge Shot, taking 2220 damage!

KTS: Lucine Azul rushes into the attack!
KTS: Lucine Azul successfully avoids Celebro's Electrothermal Discharge Shot
KTS: Leito Igaguri's Will Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage.
KTS: Leito Igaguri blocks Celebro's Skull Oscillation Energized CQC Strike, taking 1410 damage!
KTS: Celebro has engaged Leito Igaguri!
KTS: Kaworu Nagisa's EN Barrier activates, negating 1500 base damage.
KTS: Kaworu Nagisa fails to react to Celebro's Electrothermal Discharge Shot, taking 1980 damage!
KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 12020
Barrier Off

<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.

Jana's voice echoing in Gridman's head startles two of the three entities entertwined there. "What -- who is that?" Yuta calls, and Gridman himself looks around. It's Calibur who calms them down.

"Dr. Jana. I have met her before. She's a good person we can rely on." Calibur's voice emits from the sword. "She liked my coffee."

"We trust you, Calibur!" Gridman replies, keeping his eyes on the kaiju now. "Dr. Jana, thank you for the information, please provide us with further knowledge should it emerge!"

Kaworu's appearance manages to wake Yuta's emotions, earning an internal smile from the young man. A few more allies join the fight -- Ultraman Zero in paritcular gets a nod from Gridman. Thank goodness they aren't fighting alone, with two members of the NGJHS injured, this could've been a very dire situation.

The kaiju rages, striking out at all members of the battlefield before turning to Gridman. "It's focusing on us--!" Yuta shouts, as Gridman brings Calibur up to defend them. Part of the blast is deflected by the sword's crossguard, though some still gets through, causing the Giant to cry out in pain. Gridman tenses up, ready for the next attack... that doesn't come. What?

"Why is it holding still? This is not typical kaiju behavior." Gridman murmurs to his allies, Yuta glancing at Kaworu in particular. "Dr. Jana, do you have any insight to offer?"

"No matter what." Calibur says, monotone. "We must defeat it. Press on."

"Right!" Gridman responds, shaking off the kaiju's blow. With a few running steps, Gridman launches himself into the air. It's a graceful motion, more "Yuta" than "Gridman", really. Calibur is brought up and around as the Giant spins, an aerial pirouette of steel and electricity.

KTS: Yuta Hibiki has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
KTS: Yuta Hibiki targets Celebro with Spin Slash!
KTS: Yuta Hibiki has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Shota Hebikura has posed.

"It's reacting intelligently. Is it just smart, or...?" Considers Hebikura, as the cannon rounds fail to connect. The Ichinana lowers its cooling rifle as Hebikura completes his pass, landing in the streets 'behind' the fight and skidding around to land feet-planted behind Skull Gomora.

"It's good to see you again, Evangelion Team!" Hebikura greets the arrival of Unit-04, genuinely relieved to have that specific allied giant. "Alright then. Kaworu, help the Ultras. Haruki, with--"

Having spent too long giving orders and standing around in a kaiju's rear arc, the Ichinana's visored eyes rise up to gaze at the rain of kaiju-launched debris and cross its arms, leaping clear of dangerous rubble and swung billboards lightly staggered in a plume of grit and road-dust.

"--gnnnh. It's daring us. Be careful, everyone." Hebikura announces with a grim worry, the Ichinana aiming with its heavy rifle to fire a pair of the far-more useful seeming rifle missiles others had success with.

KTS: Shota Hebikura has activated the Prospect Spirit Command targeting Kaworu Nagisa
KTS: Shota Hebikura targets Celebro with Ichinana MG Grenade!
KTS: Shota Hebikura has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Leito Igaguri has posed.

Jana's in Zero's mind. Good. He can communicate. A thought crosses back.

<"This smells of Belial.">

A static roars on radios. Zero's voice emits through them - he's not on the radio, but he CAN transmit himself if he focuses. <"I am Ultraman Zero! Be wary. This is no ordinary kaiju - it reeks of an ancient foe.">

And then---

Ultraman Zero grabs one of his head-sluggers, and uses it to strike at the Skull Gomora. He's pushing back towards the evacuation. If Gomora was to focus on it...even Zero couldn't live with that.

<Pose Tracker> Jana Cektru has posed.

Jana keeps her radio on, listening to the Commander and the Administrator both--well, he's Pilot today. SHe understands their mission today. It's to protect the evacuees. But while that's her top priority, she regards 'learning more about this kaiju' to be a part of h general job description... And there's a lot to learn about this one.

A discharge of heat and material slams into the Ichinana Jana pilots, but its armor primarily absorbs the blast. This gives her a chance to see as the kaiju keeps roaring...

"It's not attacking actively," Jana notes. "Does anyone else detect something unusual in this kaiju?" She's thinking along the asme lines as Hebkura. "Will do," she says, and maintains her distance for the moment. Instead of closing to melee, she configures her Ichinana's arms into an 'L' shape and calls, "Array! Chain... Beam!"

Her Ichinana lets loose a beam of white energy that seeks to wrap around and ensnare the Kaiju, ensuring it cannot act as it wishes!!

As she strikes she communicates telepathically to Gridman in particular, "I will. This is not the first 'fusion' kaiju I have encountered; please be particularly careful with this one, as it will not act according to standard parameters."

She communicates to Zero and Leito the same way, "I've seen evidence of the same. When possible, we'll confer about it. For now..."

"Ultraman Zero is right," Jana communicates more broadly. "I have concerns. But I'll follow the Commander's orders."

KTS: Jana Cektru has activated the Rouse Spirit Command targeting Yuta Hibiki
KTS: Jana Cektru has activated the Dash Spirit Command and has gained proficiency bonus.
KTS: Jana Cektru targets Celebro with Chain Beam!
KTS: Jana Cektru has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Leito Igaguri targets Celebro with Zero Slugger Attack!
KTS: Leito Igaguri has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Haruki Natsukawa has posed.

         It's just standing there... So it's not some kaiju being taken advantage of. It's intentionally doing terrible things. The question now is, why? Haruki feels the urge to ask, but realizes pretty quickly he's not going to get an answer from it. At least, no without fighting.

         While Hebikura is giving out a warning to be careful, Haruki is now doing the exact opposite. Not on purpose, of course, because to him, his plan is safe, and also perfect. It is truly a move that Yoko would approve of. He thinks? Perhaps it's not actually, the more he starts thinking on it.

         But it's too late, he's already piloting the Sevenger through Skull Gomora's attack, a stubby arm raised up in front of it to help protect it as it tosses away its gun, replacing it with a knife that it readily brandishes.

         Once within range, Sevenger thrusts the steel blade forward and towards the fusion creature's gut, one hand gripped tightly around the hilt while the other offers additional power and stability by holding onto the pommel.

KTS: Haruki Natsukawa has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Haruki Natsukawa targets Celebro with Sevenger Stab!
KTS: Haruki Natsukawa has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        It moves well, Kaworu observes. It doesn't necessarily evade all fire that comes its way, but there is a certain quality to its movements... even when it lurches, there is something that could be called elegance to it. Unusual indeed, considering its form. And behind its eyes... yes. That is indeed intent.
        
        That intent makes itself clear as the Skull Gomora punches the ground, reducing streets to a tsunami of slag and cars to missiles. They slam one after another against Unit-04's A.T. Field. Kaworu and his Evangelion remain where they are, even as the destruction positively annihilates their footing, sending them stumbling to take a knee and wreck the armor there against the molten ground. An Evangelion can soak that damage far more easily than the evacuees.
        
        "Likewise," Kaworu responds warmly to Hebikura. "I appreciate your guidance, Captain." At the command to support the Ultras, he replies, "Understood." Unit-04 steps lightly through the destruction to join closer with Gridman and Zero--and conveniently also give cover to Sevenger, which is surely just a coincidence--and, after a smile towards Lucine in her Alto, Kaworu focuses on the kaiju itself.
        
        "It's moving apace," he transmits to Lucine. To Jana, but also to the field in general, including Yuta, he adds, "Yes. It's not unlike previous fused kaiju we've fought in the past. I believe there is something--or rather, someone--behind it. A kaiju user, perhaps." Or something more than a kaiju user. Someone who can take the powers of others and use them...
        
        Zero warns everyone of the power of an ancient enemy. Kaworu's eyes narrow. "Thank you, Zero. We'll be duly cautious," he transmits back. When he has Unit-04 open fire this time, it's with a widespread barrage of bullets meant to guide it towards the others' attacks. Whatever will lies behind this kaiju, he'll also remain on guard.
        
        He'll also extend his senses to find that will, wherever it may be within this city. And he is reasonably sure it is in this city, if only to better guide the battle as it progresses.

KTS: Kaworu Nagisa targets Celebro with Assault Rifles - Double Trouble!
KTS: EN Regen activates. Your new EN value is 57.
KTS: SP Regen activates. Your new SP value is 100.
KTS: Kaworu Nagisa has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Celebro has activated the Focus Spirit Command.
KTS: Celebro has activated the Wall Spirit Command.
KTS: Celebro partially guards Yuta Hibiki's Spin Slash, taking 4929 damage!
KTS: Yuta Hibiki has engaged Celebro!

<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.

        Seeing Zero battle the Kaiju, Lucine watches with sudden recognition. "... Those movements..." She sees shades of the same movements Zero has tried to teach her in the times she's asked him to teach her some lessons in defense.

        ..... So this is what Zero's capable of, using just his hands.

        Lucine's senses itch just so, and she reflexively doubles down on her path forward, increasing her speed just enough to narrowly miss being clipped by that shockwave. A sharp pivot upwards, and the blue-teal pilot feels a heady rush.

        In a Dianthus or an Alto, she is still...!

        As Gridman voices his confusion, others join, voicing their own alarm. Lucine squints her eyes towards the curious Kaiju. < "Ah, give me a moment." > Drawing the Alto away from the estimated line of fire, Lucine directs it to land temporarily on a flat roof of a closest building, hoping to remain unnoticed. Releasing her tense hands from the controls as Kaworu transmits, Lucine replies back on the private line. < "I'm on the taller building to the west of you. I'm going to see if I can get a sense of what its next movement is." >

        Trying to decipher the general 'feelings' of a kaiju was going to be a crapshoot, if Lucine were to guess, but, for better or worse, it's not as hard as Lucine thought it work be.

        The information is transmitted on the wideband, Lucine putting her hopes on the information's usefulness outweighing the potential risk on even implying her abilities to a wider audience. < "It's.... happy? Because of violence? Of pain? Bad things." > Sometimes interpreting these 'signals' can be much like trying to translate something into another language without knowing all the words. < "I'm sorry, I know it's not much, but please be careful. A kaiju shouldn't be this happy to be facing Ultraman and Gridman." >

         This rooftop would also be good for a nice, clear shot, if Lucine can manage it. Her hands seizing the controls, she fires a long-range shot from afar, trying to snipe the kaiju where it stands.

KTS: Lucine Azul targets Celebro with Flight Module Cannon Shot!
KTS: Lucine Azul has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Lucine Azul has activated the Foresee Spirit Command targeting Yuta Hibiki
KTS: Lucine Azul has activated the Foresee Spirit Command targeting Leito Igaguri
KTS: Celebro has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
KTS: Celebro has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
KTS: Jana Cektru rattles Celebro, making his next maneuvers more difficult.
KTS: Celebro partially guards Jana Cektru's Chain Beam, taking 945 damage!
KTS: Celebro partially guards Leito Igaguri's Zero Slugger Attack, taking 2590 damage!
KTS: Leito Igaguri has engaged Celebro!
KTS: Leito Igaguri begins a Formation attack!
KTS: Celebro partially guards Haruki Natsukawa's Sevenger Stab, taking 1855 damage!
KTS: Haruki Natsukawa has engaged Celebro!
KTS: Celebro partially guards Kaworu Nagisa's Assault Rifles - Double Trouble, taking 7930 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaworu Nagisa's The Light of His Heart activates, causing Jam L1!
KTS: Kaworu Nagisa completes the Formation attack!
KTS: Celebro partially guards Lucine Azul's Flight Module Cannon Shot, taking 2271 damage!
KTS: Celebro partially guards Shota Hebikura's Ichinana MG Grenade, taking 1890 damage!

<Pose Tracker> Celebro has posed.

This smells of Belial, Zero says. He warns the others - an ancient foe. Yes indeed. An enemy from another world completely. A man gone, and a titan slain. That battle should be over. So how?

Calibur crashes down through Skull Gomora's body, a clean slice that sends red sparks crackling. Hebikura's rifle missiles burst against its chest, and then Zero's Slugger comes at Skull Gomora and spark across its hide. It shrieks at the sky, as Jana's chain beam yanks it down, and the sparks climb all the way to the heavens when Unit-04's twin assault rifles rip completely into that armored scaling, paired with Lucine's cannon fire. Sevenger makes the final strike, driving that steel blade straight into the Skull Gomora's scaly belly. It looks right at him.

....oh no. It looks RIGHT AT HIM.

        -*-

Hass' body jerks and giggles as the pain surges through it. "Proceeding...to next test," she breathes, and brings up the Riser again. She reslots Belial, seething his name: "Belial..."

And then, the second, a creature from yet a further universe than that, a horrible thing with a mask like an Ultra, twisted and segmented like an insect. "Extradimensional Terrible-Being," she says.

And for the third, a creature like a slug, with antennas for ears: "Space Monster."

"BELIAL. ACE-KILLER. ELEKING."

"Kiete karekareta!" she laughs, delighted tension in her voice as she clicks the trigger, and power roars through the Gate again.

        -*-

For a single horrible moment, there's a noise - a psychic signal emerging from deep within the kaiju, a feeling like a psychic tymbal. Distorted insects buzzing, warbling, wailing, reaching not the ears, but the heart. The kaiju suddenly whirls in a strange, red mist. For those seeking the will behind this kaiju, in that moment, it can be found, revealed in the beating dimensional heart of whatever transition is taking place. The power behind this kaiju isn't in the city. It's *in the kaiju*!

Mere moments later, that mist hazes away, and Skull Gomora is gone. An entirely different kaiju is in its place - another from Belial's familiar stock, for those who knew of his servants. A creature in white and black, lined in gold, with a helmet with a crescent atop its domed head, and tall, tall golden spikes on its shoulders.

        BELIAL FUSION MONSTER - THUNDER KILLER

The Color Timer (?!!?) in its chest ignites, and a blaze of light roars directly into Sevenger, Timer Lightning frying the poor robot's systems.

Then it rounds on the others, beams of crescent light firing out of its slash of a helmet, blasting toward the Ichinana contingent. Then it directs its attention specifically on Kaworu, firing a focused beam of hyperelectricity directly at him, then raking it off toward Leito and Lucine.

Then, finally, it rounds on Yuta, and the MASSIVE CLAW it has rises up, aiming to simply smash Gridman savagely aside.
Celebro transforms to Transforming Belial Gimmick Type Kaiju

KTS: Celebro has changed loadout.
KTS: Celebro targets Jana Cektru with Exotic Energy Mastery Burst!
KTS: Celebro targets Shota Hebikura with Exotic Energy Mastery Focused Shot!
KTS: Celebro targets Leito Igaguri with Exotic Energy Mastery Burst!
KTS: Celebro targets Kaworu Nagisa with Exotic Energy Mastery Focused Shot!
KTS: Celebro targets Lucine Azul with Exotic Energy Mastery Burst!
KTS: Celebro targets Yuta Hibiki with Ace Killer Talon Topple Strike!
KTS: Celebro targets Haruki Natsukawa with Exotic Energy Mastery Special Trick!
KTS: Celebro has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Yuta Hibiki rushes into the attack!
KTS: Celebro enervates Yuta Hibiki, reducing his Morale significantly.
KTS: Celebro rattles Yuta Hibiki, making his next maneuvers more difficult.
KTS: Yuta Hibiki partially guards Celebro's Ace Killer Talon Topple Strike, taking 6480 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Celebro's Kiete Karekareta activates, causing Deject!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Celebro's The More Hurt, The Better... activates, causing Nullify!
KTS: Celebro has engaged Yuta Hibiki!
KTS: Celebro completes the Formation attack!
KTS: Leito Igaguri successfully avoids Celebro's Exotic Energy Mastery Burst
KTS: Kaworu Nagisa successfully avoids Celebro's Exotic Energy Mastery Focused Shot
Barrier Off

KTS: Shota Hebikura has activated the Trust Spirit Command targeting Haruki Natsukawa
KTS: Shota Hebikura has activated the Trust Spirit Command.
KTS: Celebro enervates Shota Hebikura, reducing his Morale significantly.
KTS: Shota Hebikura blocks Celebro's Exotic Energy Mastery Focused Shot, taking 6720 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Celebro's Kiete Karekareta activates, causing Deject!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Celebro's The More Hurt, The Better... activates, causing Nullify!
KTS: Celebro enervates Haruki Natsukawa, reducing his Morale significantly.
KTS: Haruki Natsukawa blocks Celebro's Exotic Energy Mastery Special Trick, taking 8040 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Celebro's Kiete Karekareta activates, causing Deject!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Celebro's The More Hurt, The Better... activates, causing Nullify!
KTS: Lucine Azul rushes into the attack!
KTS: Lucine Azul successfully avoids Celebro's Exotic Energy Mastery Burst
KTS: Leito Igaguri has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Leito Igaguri has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Jana Cektru successfully evades Celebro's Exotic Energy Mastery Burst
KTS: Kaworu Nagisa has activated the Enable Spirit Command targeting Lucine Azul
KTS: Kaworu Nagisa has activated the Enable Spirit Command targeting Yuta Hibiki

<Pose Tracker> Leito Igaguri has posed.

As Skull Gomora disappears, replaced with Thunder Killer - a different Belial Kaiju - Ultraman Zero gestures in anger. His suspicions have been confirmed. "BELIAL!" He shouts. His alien voice warbles - a language only those who speak Ultra can understand.

'...Leito. We're going as big as we can. We need to destroy it, now!' '...right. I believe in you, Zero.'

As the hyperelectricity bursts at Zero, he's suddenly kicking up an abandoned car, allowing it to take and divert the blast into the air as it explodes!

And as that occurs, the smoke clearing, he's gesturing with his arms, one up and one to the side, as he shouts again in that language. "EMERIUM SLASH!"

It sounds cooler if you're an Ultra.

The green beam full forces at Thunder Killer, a massive blast straight for the kaiju's chest! Zero's made a critical mistake, though.

He used a finisher...too early in the fight.

KTS: Leito Igaguri has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
KTS: Leito Igaguri targets Celebro with Emerium Slash!
KTS: Leito Igaguri has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Haruki Natsukawa has changed loadout.
KTS: Jana Cektru has activated the Focus Spirit Command.

<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.

Lucine broadcasts the emotions of the kaiju, leaving Yuta baffled. "It's happy? Kaiju can be happy?" If they can be happy, then... Are they sentient? Can they be saved, instead of killed? The young man's thoughts thoughts race.

"Yuta." Calibur says, snapping him out of it. "This one must be stopped."

It's a harsh reality, but Yuta accepts it, shaking his head sadly. "Right. It's happy to be hurting people, and that's something we can't allow! Let's do this, Gridman!"

"I'm with you, Yuta!" Gridman responds, lowering his sword. "Grid.. Bea--"

Psychic noise hits the three of them, distressing Yuta so much that Gridman's attack fizzles out, and the Giant tries to cover his (nonexistent) ears. Yuta isn't particularly psychically sensitive, but even he can feel the pain of an attack like this, dissonant and terrible. It's the same as when Rikka was attacked, Yuta realizes, seething. If this is the same creature, somehow..! They've got to destroy it, for Rikka's sake! By the time he recovers, red mist is fading, leaving behind... some new kaiju?

"What the hell?!" Yuta shouts, as Gridman falls once again into a fighting stance. But that kaiju, it's targeting -- "Look out, Kaworu!"

Gridman can't move fast enough to try and help his allies, sending a spark of anger to Yuta's heart. He doesn't have too long to think about it. As soon as the fusion monster finishes attacking the rest of its attackers, it turns on Gridman. Thinking quickly, the Giant attempts to duck under the attack -- to no avail.

Gridman is sent flying off the battlefield, crashing into a buliding. Yuta and his comrades cry out -- it hurts, it's scary, he wants to be back at home, why is he even doing this, he's not good at it, and --

"Yuta!" Gridman calls, voice low and pained. "I know. I know it's hard. We have to keep going. This is something only we can do!"

"Something.." Yuta mumbles, nodding in their shared space. "Alright. Calibur, are you okay too?"

Sticking into the side of the building, Calibur seems none the worse for wear. "Yes. We can do this."

Gridman manages to stand. Yuta hopes fervently there were no people left in that building, but, focus! Focus on the moment, or allies will be hurt even more! Somewhat unsteady, they race back into the battlefield, lifting Calibur high above their head.

"I don't know what this thing is, but I know it hurt Rikka! And that means --!" Yuta says, a snarl in his voice. "That means! We've got to destroy it!"

KTS: Yuta Hibiki has activated the Focus Spirit Command.
KTS: Yuta Hibiki targets Celebro with Calibur Heavy Slash!
KTS: Yuta Hibiki has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Shota Hebikura has posed.

Growing more worried as the specific nature of the kaiju - the pain-seeking pleasure of the wily intelligence - is revealed, Hebikura keeps on firing incidental shots at the dodging giant.

"Even if it gains something from being attacked - we can't let something hold us all hostage just walking out into the middle of a city and unleashing a giant attack on the Earth."

"That's what civil defense is supposed to prevent. If Ultraman is here," And Zero plainly was. "Work with them to--"

More orders, more coordination. The battle seems to be going well. That's when it all goes to hell of course.

"A Terrible-Monster?! Here?" Hebikura gasps in disbelief, the Ichinana drawing its Mazinger Blade to contest the blast of energy and simply failing entirely, being blown down the street into a building with a loud crunch and a radioed grunt of distress, barely able to try and defend, and not even close to protecting Sevenger and Haruki. He - in the relatively smaller False Mazin - strains to get up after the toppling hit, mechanical arms straining the mobile weapon to a half crouch. Sevenger -- worse off.

"We don't have time to pace things - I'll just have to believe in Ultraman again. How pathetic of me." The captain decides dryly. Golden orange panels begin to heat up across the chest of the Ichinana, rising to its feet and retrieving its fallen heavy cannon in one motion.

"Jana, if you've thought up anything to disrupt that process we've discovered, now's the time." He suggests, before unleashing the half braced fury of his machine in a street-clearing wave of heat energy.

KTS: Shota Hebikura has activated the Prospect Spirit Command targeting Jana Cektru
KTS: Shota Hebikura targets Celebro with Ichinana Breast Fire!
KTS: Shota Hebikura has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        A torrent of attacks assails the kaiju until it is split--and then comes apart in a wave of particles that reforms into a new one. It's at that moment as Thunder Killer forms, emanating that terrible psychic noise, that Kaworu realizes the truth. His eyes widen. He'd thought that there would be a kaiju user looking on from the outside. However, he should have been able to notice their presence right away. Now... now, he understands why he hadn't.
        
        "This is indeed no mere kaiju. It is being piloted," Kaworu states with grim emphasis. "In other words, the one controlling it is within the kaiju itself."
        
        The hyperelectricity pours in, and Yuta shouts a warning; he expands Unit-04's A.T. Field to maximum, an effort that protects him but also leaves him rooted to the spot momentarily. He does his best to keep the electricity, when it arcs off towards Lucine and Zero, to disrupt its path and keep the attack from striking directly, if at all.
        
        AZero roars his anger at his one-time (and perhaps eternal) rival. "Ultraman Zero! Calm yourself!" he calls over to him, voice projecting through the Evangelion's internal speakers. "You mustn't let yourself be led!"
        
        The lightning disperses; the A.T. Field shimmers out of visible sight. Kaworu considers what Yuta says about this being having also attacked Rikka. Why would it target her? If the one controlling it is also responsible for the Angelic Namegon, then what is the purpose?
        
        What is the purpose of this attack?
        
        And will they find medals afterwards...?
        
        "Captain Hebikura, Haruki Natsukawa, are you two all right?" he calls for the moment. It may well be true that there isn't time to pace things. "I'll support you, Gridman," he transmits, and lays another burst of covering fire behind Yuta as he swings Calibur in to attack to carve through the enemy.

KTS: Kaworu Nagisa targets Celebro with Assault Rifles - Double Trouble!
KTS: EN Regen activates. Your new EN value is 42.
KTS: SP Regen activates. Your new SP value is 75.
KTS: Kaworu Nagisa has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Jana Cektru has posed.

There's a lot of shouldn't's in the moment--but Jana does not repeat herself there. She does, however, keep an eye on Lucine's mecha, knowing who she is to her student, among other resons. But Beial... Yes. Yes, it loks like Belial. She saw in the writings, the notes--

"Aaah--" Jana can't help but lose her composure for an instant at that psychic signal that seems so loud in her mind and in her heart. She waves in place, the Ichinana coming to a stop, until the mist hazes away and a new fusion is there.

In the flash of an instant, Jana is able to maneuver out of the way, predicting intent more than reading where the lightning actually is. And she watches as the battle continues. And as--

"Ultraman Zero!" Jana calls, using radio and telepathy both--which may be a surprse to some of her companions. "Don't use up all your strength yet! There's stil a great deal of battle left!"

SHe's not just concerned--she's worried. But she can't simply give advice. Jana's Ichinana starts forward.

"Right," she says to the Captain. "...It has absorption abilities, but it has to remain as itself in order to process that energy--if we give it enough to 'chew' on, we'll keep it in this form instead of allowing it to shift to another!"
        he Tector Gear Ichinana makes the 'L' shape again, and begins to gather up energy, the Imitation Ultraseven Array flashing with power as she gathers up.

"Rapid! Emerium Beam!!"

She starts firing beam after beam after beam in pulses straight for the monster, hoping to overwhelm it exactly as she suggested the others try.

"Otherwise, I know no shortcuts. WIth that TImer, it has to run out of energy eventually--we must contain it until then!"

KTS: Jana Cektru has activated the Enable Spirit Command.
KTS: Jana Cektru has activated the Rouse Spirit Command targeting Lucine Azul
KTS: Jana Cektru targets Celebro with Rapid Emerium Beam!
KTS: Jana Cektru has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Celebro has activated the Focus Spirit Command.
KTS: Celebro blocks Leito Igaguri's Emerium Slash, taking 4410 damage!
KTS: Celebro blocks Jana Cektru's Rapid Emerium Beam, taking 2250 damage!
KTS: Celebro has activated the Focus Spirit Command.
KTS: Celebro blocks Shota Hebikura's Ichinana Breast Fire, taking 3779 damage!
KTS: Celebro partially guards Kaworu Nagisa's Assault Rifles - Double Trouble, taking 5940 damage!
KTS: Celebro partially guards Yuta Hibiki's Calibur Heavy Slash, taking 4836 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Yuta Hibiki's Telepathic Link activates, causing Insight L1!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Yuta Hibiki's Mediumship activates, causing Nullify!
KTS: Yuta Hibiki has engaged Celebro!
Escudo Shard teleports out.

<Pose Tracker> Haruki Natsukawa has posed.

         Sevenger not taking the attack well is an understatement. It falls down in a smoldering heap, sparks and flames flying from every servo and exhaust vent.

         Fortunately, Haruki wasn't there to take the worst of it, having retreated to God only knows where. Ultraman Z stands there, unusually tense and quiet as Haruki loads his card into the Z-Riser.

         Haruki! Access Granted!

         Shifting the reader on the device back, the soon-to-be Ultra Man reaches into the holder on his waist, drawing three medals that he loads in one at a time.

         "Burn in scarlet flames, the power of courage! Brother Ultraman! Brother Ace! Brother Taro!"

          Ultraman! Ace! Taro!

         Now sliding the reader forward, the Z-Riser announces each of the inserted medals, as Z appears and towers behind him, arms outstretched as he shouts -

          "I ask that you chant my name! Ultraman Z!"

         In a flash, Ultraman Z drops from the sky, an arm stretched out as he brings an elbow down against the kaiju's head.

         The attack was just an opener, however, as when Z lands on the ground, he crouches low, building up tension and energy like a spring before suddenly jumping back up to deliver a full force blow to the monster's jaw.

         "ZESTIUM UPPER!"

KTS: Haruki Natsukawa targets Celebro with Zestium Upper!
KTS: Haruki Natsukawa has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.

        Yuta's question brings an non-answer from Lucine. < "Ah... I... don't know. I might be projecting my own feelings on this; its mind may feel something that doesn't... translate, exactly." >

        <PARTY: Lucine has learned the concept of Sadism!>

        A mass of noisy shrieks tear through Lucine's mind. Much like Gridman, she claps her hands over her ears as if the signal was auditory, but it's equally in vain.

        Shaking her head in a futile attempt to shake away the aftereffects of that assault, Lucine massages a temple with a free hand, blearily trying to regain a sense of the battlefield, and how it's changed. < ".... So this is.... that, Zero...?" > She feels the sharply rising tides of anger from Zero and Yuta. Despite the effectiveness of the Alto in keeping up with Lucine, a part of her still wishes for the comforting familiarity of the Dianthus like a child struggling with homesickness.

        Kaworu's voice gives context. < "I see... I never considered why it was easier to get a sense than I thought it would be. Is this someone like, ah, Akane? Just... inside, like a pilot?" >

        There's no chance for an answer just yet; this 'Belial' is coming for the attack.

        Her hands seize the controls before the rest of her mind has recovered, instinct and gut reaction narrowing the pilot's focus. This kaiju is much faster, though, and much more deadly if it were going to hit. Thanks to Kaworu, it didn't, leaving Lucine's daredevil dodge a success.

        < "Kaworu, are you alright? Hold on, I'll cover as best as I can!" > Turning the Alto around, Lucine camps on a surface above Kaworu's Unit-04.

        Responding to Jana, Lucine says, < "... Then we have a goal. That's easier to manage than having to defeat it." > The Alto lets loose with another barrage of cannon fire.

        < "..... Is there... two Ultramen...?" > Lucine stares in the aftermath of her cover fire in disbelief.

KTS: Lucine Azul targets Celebro with Flight Module Cannon Rapid Fire!
KTS: Lucine Azul has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Celebro blocks Lucine Azul's Flight Module Cannon Rapid Fire, taking 1650 damage!
KTS: Celebro partially guards Haruki Natsukawa's Zestium Upper, taking 7560 damage!
KTS: Haruki Natsukawa has engaged Celebro!
Akane Shinjo teleports in.
POT: Akane Shinjo is now set observer.

<Pose Tracker> Celebro has posed.

'BELIAL!!' Ultraman Zero screams, and releases an Emerium Slash!

But the Thunder Killer turns on him, and half of the glowing visor in the center of its face turns a bloody red. The Emerium Slash wavers in space before drawing DOWN, sucked into that Color Timer in its belly. So do most of the other attacks - Jana's Emerium Beams, the Breast Fire swirling inside it as well. Kaworu's twin-rifle assault spatters against a sparking electromagnetic field.

And then it speaks. Not in English - barely in anything. This thing's body was not made for speaking. But a determined pilot can make their machine do anything, can't they?

It hisses, in the language of Space, language that to those not versed in it sounds like nonsensical grunts. "That man is dead, Ultraman!"

That obnoxious psychic tymbal sounds again.

Inside it, Hass' massive grin can't be concealed by her mask anymore. "So this is Ultraman Belial's power..." She throws her arms wide. "How did it go again? Something like..."

The space around her ignites with Thunder Killer's stolen power. She cackles, inhuman. "This is so much fun! EMERIUM BEAM!"

The kaiju throws its arms wide, and the Color Timer that's been absorbing all that energy flashes in the colors of bright green Emerium, and then FIRES a WAVE of it toward Ultraman Zero, a massive blast wave that makes the buildings surrounding the blast channel curve around it, their frames melted by the intensity of the shot. Cars below leap from the roads, soaring down side streets by the dozen.

It flaps its arms in what can only possibly be cackling delight, before it turns a similar blast of pure emerald light on Jana's Ichinana, then traces the final burst of it over toward Gridman. It reaches out and grasps a power line, and with a horrbly loud zpAAAAAAAAAAAAK, every light in the district starts going out from this central point, Thunder Killer siphoning the grid like a drowning man.

After several seconds of that, leaving the area in darkness, it charges straight at Kaworu, lightning bolts firing from its spikes toward Lucine's Alto and Shota's Ichinana. That massive claw it has charges with power, electricity and lingering emerium sparkling around it before it JAMS it into his Evangelion, driving it through with intent to gore the screaming biobehemoth and blast it with a million volts!

And then, as it roars in delight and triumph, the final hero appears, and Ultraman Z takes advantage of his distraction and gloating to sock Thunder Killer in the chin, sending it completely flying backwards. It smashes into a highrise, then its weight crushes several extra stories. The streets shatter below it. It staggers back upright, that yellow-red visor staring straight at the arrived Ultraman. It doesn't taunt, this time.

The visor ignites, firing another blast of Killer Cutters toward Z with intent to cut the youngest Ultraman down where he stands.

KTS: Celebro has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
KTS: Celebro has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
KTS: Celebro has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Celebro has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Celebro has activated the Daunt Spirit Command targeting Leito Igaguri
KTS: Celebro targets Jana Cektru with Exotic Energy Mastery Cool Trick!
KTS: Celebro targets Leito Igaguri with Exotic Energy Mastery Special Trick!
KTS: Celebro targets Kaworu Nagisa with Ace Killer Talon Revenge Strike!
KTS: Celebro targets Lucine Azul with Exotic Energy Mastery Blast!
KTS: Celebro targets Yuta Hibiki with Exotic Energy Mastery Strafe!
KTS: Celebro targets Haruki Natsukawa with Exotic Energy Mastery Burst!
KTS: Celebro targets Shota Hebikura with Exotic Energy Mastery Barrage!
KTS: Celebro has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Yuta Hibiki blocks Celebro's Exotic Energy Mastery Strafe, taking 2000 damage!
KTS: Jana Cektru successfully evades Celebro's Exotic Energy Mastery Cool Trick
KTS: Leito Igaguri has activated the Trust Spirit Command targeting Haruki Natsukawa
KTS: Haruki Natsukawa has activated the Trust Spirit Command.
KTS: Shota Hebikura has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Leito Igaguri's Will Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage.
KTS: Leito Igaguri blocks Celebro's Exotic Energy Mastery Special Trick, taking 4340 damage!
KTS: Shota Hebikura has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Shota Hebikura successfully evades Celebro's Exotic Energy Mastery Barrage
KTS: Haruki Natsukawa blocks Celebro's Exotic Energy Mastery Burst, taking 4185 damage!
KTS: Leito Igaguri has activated the Trick Spirit Command.
KTS: Leito Igaguri has activated the Trick Spirit Command.
KTS: [Spirit Defense] Kaworu Nagisa's Angel of Free Will activates, and his spirit endures.
KTS: Celebro enervates Kaworu Nagisa, reducing his Morale significantly.
KTS: Kaworu Nagisa parries Celebro's Ace Killer Talon Revenge Strike, taking 1800 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Celebro's Kiete Karekareta activates, causing Deject!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Celebro's The More Hurt, The Better... activates, causing Nullify!
KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 10220
KTS: Celebro has engaged Kaworu Nagisa!
KTS: Celebro roots his unit, coming to a standstill and leaving him vulnerable.
KTS: Lucine Azul retreats from the attack!
KTS: Celebro enervates Lucine Azul, reducing her Morale significantly.
KTS: Lucine Azul fails to evade Celebro's Exotic Energy Mastery Blast, taking 4080 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Celebro's Kiete Karekareta activates, causing Deject!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Celebro's The More Hurt, The Better... activates, causing Nullify!

<Pose Tracker> Leito Igaguri has posed.

Ultraman Zero overcompensated, and got lore from it - dark lore. This isn't Belial? Then- someone's tapped into his power? No...

The Emerium Beam lances out, as he covers himself in his mantle and moves to block it with a barrier. The barrier *shatters*, exploding in Zero's hands as the streets around him erupt.

For one moment, it may seem like all Zero knows is rage. That he'll make another foolhardy mistake...and he does, but not a selfish one.

"Z! What are you doing here?! Get back!"

Ultraman Zero suddenly pushes forward, throwing up his mantle to deflect some of the Killer Cutters away from Z, hopefully assisting in saving his not-apprentice-we-swear's life.

"Let's drive it back...we're risking too many casualties the longer we prolong this. Ultra Zero...PUNCH!"

His fist coils back. His feet shift on the ground, before he, like a boxer, moves to smash straight into that color timer, and send the Thunder Killer *flying* backwards, as far as he can with all his might.

<Pose Tracker> Shota Hebikura has posed.

Sevenger being down was bad - but the timely arrival of Ultraman Z means their chances of defeating the threat had increased, not decreased, much as Hebikura was loathe to speak ill of the reliable defender of mankind. . .

... Sevenger ...

Because he had organizational pride. "Ace Killer had powers to defeat Ace, the master of energy attacks... will our attacks not be effective?" Worries Hebikura, boosting into the air with a two-fisted rise to the sky to avoid the ground morass. Sliding a fresh magazine into the Ichinana's heavy cannon, the damaged Mazinger type hangs stationary in the air while Hebikura thinks and plans.

When the claws of Thunder Killer falls on Unit-04, Hebikura finds something better to do than plan. Drawing up the Mazinger Blade, the Ichinanana drops through the sky, avoiding the precision blasts of energy with low-budget cuts around the onrushing energy blasts. Swordtip down, the smaller Mazin slashes down atop the Fusion-monster's head to stagger and daze it.

"Keep the pressure on!" He urges, pressuring the visor away from looking at the larger Evangelion. "We'll win if we don't let it set the rules!"

KTS: Shota Hebikura targets Celebro with Mazinger Blade Topple Strike!
KTS: Shota Hebikura has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.

A bunch of weird sounds, and then another blast of horrible psychic dissonance. Yuta weathers this one more capably, gritting his teeth. "That trick won't work forever! We're a lot stronger than that!"

But once the psychic noise fades, Yuta hears the voice beneath it, and his blood goes cold. "H--Hass? Hass, is that you in there?" As much of "Hass" is even left, anyway. Yuta can't forget her horrible expression as she lifted up that chakram to Rikka... "Hass, this isn't you, but I know you're still in there! Fight as hard as you can! We're going to save you!"

It's more confident than Yuta really feels. With how she's cackling and screaming, is there really any chance of getting her back? Shaking his head, Yuta scolds himself. Thoughts like that don't help anyone. He won't give up on Hass, no matter what.

Further thought on the matter is postponed by the Emerium Beam. Gridman braces himself, holding Calibur out before him. Despite Calibur's best efforts, Gridman looks pretty rough once the green light finally fades. The blue gemstone in his forehead blinks urgently. Without saying any words, all three comrades know this is going to be their final attack.

"Gridman, that's my friend--" Yuta says, voice stricken. "We can save her, right?"

The Giant is quiet for a moment, just long enough for Yuta's hopes to sink. "Yes, Yuta. We'll do all we can for her, just as we do for anyone in danger. For now, we'll defeat that Kaworu, and try to retrieve her from within. Just as we did with Anti."

Yuta agrees, wordlessly, letting his bond with Gridman carry his intent. Calibur crackles with electricity, his own agreement of this arrangement.

"Hass!" Yuta calls, desperately, as Gridman raises his sword and approaches the kaiju. "If you can hear me, we're coming! Don't lose hope! Keep fighting! Rikka -- everyone! Everyone back at class is waiting for you!"

Sparkling light gathers around Calibur, enhancing the living blade's power. Yuta knows this move, and part of him despairs at thinking of his friend being exposed to it. Gridman picks up speed, bending his knees on one final step, then launches himself into the air. "Grid..." He shouts.

"Calibur!" The sword adds, in his gruff voice.

"End!" Yuta joins in, voice heavy with emotion.

Lightning follows the arc of the sword as Gridman attmempts to drive it straight into the head of the kaiju. It's a savage, terrifying move, from Yuta's perspective -- electricity racing to the ground, turning bits of the street black, destroying rubble. What would this do to Hass, if it hit her?

When he returns home, Yuta won't tell Rikka about this part.

KTS: Yuta Hibiki has activated the Detonate Spirit Command, reducing the Gridman Primal Fighter to 1 HP!
KTS: Yuta Hibiki targets Celebro with Grid Calibur End!
KTS: Yuta Hibiki has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        "You're the one that needs cover, Lucine. You needn't worry about me," Kaworu tells her. "But thank you." Is this someone like Akane, though? "Yes... and no," he replies, eyes narrowed. As for two Ultras: "There are many Ultramen. But right now, there are two, yes."
        
        That psychic noise screechs again, resonating like the unending shrieks of the damned. The voice within sounds familiar. Kaworu's eyebrows furrow. Yuta confirms it: it's Hass, one of Akane's classmates.
        
        Thunder Killer sucks the grid dry, then charges directly at him and Unit-04. Kaworu makes a decision and holds his ground, discarding the rifle for the in-built prog knife.
        
        That claw dives forward for Unit-04's chest. He meets it halfway, a discordant CLANG of claw on blade that saves him from getting gored--but not from getting electrocuted. The silver Evangelion jitters and jolts, hyper-realistic fingers spasming from suffering such immense electric force. Within the entry plug, Kaworu spasms as well, head thrusting back and colliding with the throne.
        
        The pain is unfathomable. But as long as Thunder Killer seeks to destroy him, it leaves the kaiju open in turn for attacks from the others to keep laying on the pressure, as Jana advises and Hebikura commands. Kaworu's limbs twitch, Unit-04's limbs twitch--
        
        And then it RAMS its armored skull forward into an attempted headbutt. It's only a feint, though. When Thunder Killer reacts to that, Unit-04 grips the prog knife with both hands and, as it vibrates with growing intensity, attempts to thrust it forward and down to slice that electrifying claw clean off.

KTS: Kaworu Nagisa has activated the Enable Spirit Command.
KTS: Kaworu Nagisa targets Celebro with Progressive Knife Cut!
KTS: EN Regen activates. Your new EN value is 59.
KTS: SP Regen activates. Your new SP value is 75.
KTS: Kaworu Nagisa has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Jana Cektru has posed.

The language of Space. Jana knows it. An she considers that yell.

'This is so much fun!"

Pure emerald light crashes towards Jana's Ichinana, but today she is prepared. Expecting some kind of outburst, she dives out of the way, crashing into a hopefully-empty building as her Ichinana hits the ground. But it's intact, and armored still. The others are still fighting--the final hero has appeared...

More and more casualties. It's true. So--

Jana sets her Ichinana into a steady stance and starts to charge up energy again. She doesn't know if it will be able to absorb their energy again. But there's only one way to find out.

"Wide...!"

Power gathers at her hand, and extends forward! "Shot!"

KTS: Jana Cektru has activated the Enable Spirit Command.
KTS: Jana Cektru has activated the Enable Spirit Command.
KTS: Jana Cektru targets Celebro with Wide Shot!
KTS: Jana Cektru has completed their actions for the round.
SCENESYS: MIDAS has posted scene #209, 'Placeholder 1', at 19:00 ET on 01/27.
SCENESYS: MIDAS has posted scene #210, 'Placeholder 2', at 19:00 ET on 02/03.

<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.

        < "... Zero..." > Has Lucine ever felt Zero be this angry? It's almost.... like regret?

        That terrible sound happens again, simultaneously managing to be irritating and painful at the same time.

        This time, Lucine's instinct is to retreat instead of rush into the attack, but with the doubled effects of that psychic pulse, she finally gets struck by lightning. "Gah...!" The controls seize on Lucine, the Alto sputtering in place as circuitry fires a million nonsense cues.

        Lucine throws back her head in frustration. ".... Damn it! Not now, not now!! Work with me!"

        Kaworu tells her she's the one that needs cover, and he's correct. The Alto is good on armor, but equally likely to go down if Lucine hadn't managed to dodge those last two attacks.

        Still, seeing Unit-04 spasm like a living being ignites a certain protective energy. Instead of hanging back and taking potshots from afar, Lucine takes advantage of that moment it is engaged with Kaworu's unit.

        < "..... _You've run out of luck_." > The Alto's spear is weighed differently than the Dianthus's glaive, but it feels equally satisfying to swipe downwards.

KTS: Lucine Azul has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Lucine Azul has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Lucine Azul has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Lucine Azul targets Celebro with ExAMACS Spear Swing!
KTS: Lucine Azul has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Celebro blocks Lucine Azul's ExAMACS Spear Swing, taking 1350 damage!
KTS: Lucine Azul has engaged Celebro!
KTS: Celebro partially guards Kaworu Nagisa's Progressive Knife Cut, taking 1855 damage!
KTS: Kaworu Nagisa has engaged Celebro!

<Pose Tracker> Haruki Natsukawa has posed.

          Z speaks. Unfortunately, for everyone there that isn't an Ultra, it's in an alien language that sounds like weird grunting.

        "Back off? Sorry, we can't. It's too dangerous to leave a devil splinter alone like this. Besides, you left Earth to me!"

         "Eh?"

         Z is not about to back off, despite Zero being the superior, partially because he's not about to drop out when people and danger, and partly because Zero would have responded the same way. Because he's cool like that. Haruki, meanwhile, is just confused that Z casually dropped a proper noun like this, but at the same time, he's used to it.

         What is less cool, however, is when Thunder Killer attempts to cut Ultraman Z down. Sadly for them, however, the Beta Smash form is tough, tough enough to take the attack head on, even as sparks fly off their metallic body and their color timer starts emitting a high pitch noise.

         Reaching a hand up into the air, Ultraman Z summons forth a spear, twirling the newly acquired weapon a bit before drawing a giant flaming Z in the air.

         "HIYAH!"

          With an alien grunt, Z charges forward through the flaming Z, his body now wreathed in fire as he aims to crash both the tip of his spear and his massive frame directly into Thunder Killer, in what quite frankly is an affront to actual martial combat, but nobody is going to argue with the results so Z continues to get away with it.

KTS: Haruki Natsukawa has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Haruki Natsukawa targets Celebro with Z Lance Fire!
KTS: Haruki Natsukawa has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Celebro fails to react to Haruki Natsukawa's Z Lance Fire, taking 7200 damage!
KTS: Celebro has been defeated!
KTS: Haruki Natsukawa has engaged Celebro!
KTS: Celebro partially guards Jana Cektru's Wide Shot, taking 2610 damage!
KTS: Celebro has been defeated!
KTS: Jana Cektru roots her unit, coming to a standstill and leaving her vulnerable.
KTS: Celebro partially guards Yuta Hibiki's Grid Calibur End, taking 6231 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Yuta Hibiki's Telepathic Link activates, causing Insight L1!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Yuta Hibiki's Mediumship activates, causing Nullify!
KTS: Celebro has been defeated!
KTS: Yuta Hibiki has engaged Celebro!
KTS: Shota Hebikura rattles Celebro, making his next maneuvers more difficult.
KTS: Celebro partially guards Shota Hebikura's Mazinger Blade Topple Strike, taking 2726 damage!
KTS: Celebro has been defeated!
KTS: Shota Hebikura has engaged Celebro!

<Pose Tracker> Celebro has posed.

The attempt to reduce Ultraman Zero and his precious host to little more than flickering, scattering photons falls short. Thunder Killer doesn't quite get anyone, actually; all targets counter, or simply endure with a hero's resolve.

But the sense of amusement doesn't break, even when Thunder Killer comes under full, combined assault. Kaworu catches Thunder Killer and his Evangelion slides that knife deep into it, leaving the fused kaiju's back exposed to every manner of beam. Hebikura's Mazinger swings down to its head, and with a Risen Kaiju, that actually does daze even the pilot of this.

Between the two, waves of explosive light rain down on it, culminating with the stoking flares of the Z Lance Fire. Thunder Killer shrieks, staggers, and then erupts into a plume of red-white fire, destroyed entirely!

....Silence falls.

Sensors don't light up with detected Medals. No human form emerges from the rubble. Just sirens, and the quiet of an evacuated district, and the soft puddling of broken plumbing pooling throughout the area.

But not so far away, a girl's form staggers out from a place unseen in an alley between surviving lowrises, her body slapping and sloshing and CRACKING in ways that a human body doesn't, shouldn't, can't.

She slips her eyes without turning her head to gaze at the assemblage of mecha, and rasps a chuckle.

"Verification successful," she whispers.

She slumps off, shoving open an access door with a shoulder like she were brutally injured, and disappears inside.

"On to the next phase."

<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.

Gridman vanishes as Thunder Killer erupts into fire, slowly going to one knee as he dissolves into light. Moments later, Synchrotank rolls up to the battlefield. Before it's even come to a stop, Yuta runs to the place the kaiju had been.

"Hass! Hass.." He shouts, searching through the rubble. "Calibur, is she --"

The samurai approaches Yuta, shaking his head. "N--no. She's not here."

Yuta sits down, lowering his head for a moment. He hadn't been expecting Hass to be here, not really, but a part of him hoped...

As Yuta sits, the sight of Kaworu taking the hit from the kaiju returns to him. Anxiety overtakes the young man, and he stands again, running to unit-04. Halfway there, Calibur picks him up, sprinting the rest of the way. Yuta gives him a grateful look when they arrive.

"Kaworu! Kaworu, are you alright?" It feels a little stupid, shouting up at a massive robot. But he doesn't care, he just wants to know his friend is safe. "Calibur, get the first aid kit, please." Yuta asks, and the slouchy man vanishes in a blur of speed. "Whatever you need, we'll take care of you!"

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        The Thunder Killer erupts with the flames of destruction; silence falls. Within Unit-04's entry plug, Kaworu emits a long, low sigh that bubbles out into the LCL that cradles him. The evacuations went well. But this attack--and the perpetrator behind it--is troubling.
        
        As Yuta runs off with Calibur to search for Hass, Kaworu guides Unit-04 back to its steel coffin, gathering up the discarded weaponry as he goes. By the time Yuta returns, the Evangelion has settled in--but Kaworu smiles to see his friend coming for him.
        
        "I'm all right, Yuta," he transmits back, not over the Evangelion's speakers but through a tightband line to Yuta's phone. It might beg the question of how he'd been able to hear him in the first place; it might not.
        
        "That's not necessary. I'm not hurt badly," he continues. (He rarely is, in battle. Another curiosity, if one were of a mind to pursue it.) "But... I wouldn't mind your company on the ride back to Tokyo-3, if you and Calibur don't mind either."
        
        He can wait out the ride alone without issue, but it's always more pleasant to have good company instead.