Sunday, April 10, 2022

Live A Hero Chapter 5 Episode 12: Inflation (Abridged)

EX Ryekie: POWERRRR!
Crowne: WHAT
MC: It worked! Go get 'em Justice!
Mokdai: That's what Justice looked like that one time!
Akashi: Yeah, when we were fighting against what's-their-face!
Exio: MC, you...!
Exio looks shocked for a second before focusing and looking pointedly at MC.
Exio: What tremendous energy. The way he is now, he might be able to do something. But this is far too big a burden on you, and neither Melide nor I can help. This is a Path you yourself opened up, but there is something else we can do!
Melide: Yes, I can do it too!
Exio and Melide touch MC.
MC: WHAT
Heat suddenly fills MC, like energy is being poured into them from the other two.
Exio: This is a pseudo-measure, but now there's six eyes observing! Now it's up to you!
Melide: Good luck!
MC: Power! / Thanks you two! / Go, Justice!

EX Ryekie: Sorry Crowne. I know you're already here, but now it's time for us to take a bigger gamble!
Crowne: I'm game! Go!
EX Ryekie: Thanks! Raaaagh!
EX Ryekie zooms over to the other missile.
EX Ryekie: THUNDER PUNCH!
Crowne: !? The missile's trajectory went up a little!
EX Ryekie: Not enough!
EX Ryekie straddles the missile and charges electricity into his fists. Then...
EX Ryekie: EX Thunderous Lightning "Terabolt Slug"!!!

The missile looks like a ball of light now and starts angling upward.
Sadayoshi: The HFCM!
The missile's flight path gets altered...then blows up over the Invisible Mountain.
MC: NO!
A black hole opens up in the sky like it's painted in, sucking in the light particles that the defeated Monster dissolved into.
Kyoichi: Is that a black hole!?
Exio: No, it's a Path the HFCM made!
Mokdai: Hey wait, the camera feed's cut off! Transmission's out! How are Justice and Crowne!?
Akashi: No way!
Melide: Yes way unfortunately...I can't sense them on this planet right now.
MC: No, Justice! Crowne!

Sui: This can't be...
Huckle: Can't we do anything!?
Yoshiori: Like what!? We'll get sucked in too if we get closer to the black hole!
Barrel: But we can't just abandon them...
Exio: ...there's still hope. MC, it lies with you.
MC: Me?
Exio: You're still connected to Justice in his powered up form, which means there's still a thin thread connecting you two. Maybe you can pull on it and pull him and Crowne out...
Melide: But that would...
Exio: The second level transformation you've performed is his dream that you've grasped to give him power beyond his abilities. He's not the one paying for it though, but rather something connected to you yourself. Right now it's kept to "just" heavy mental strain, but going for this might cost your life. Are you still going to try?
Akashi: wait WHAT
MC moves without even thinking about it, raising their hand to the black hole and praying.
MC: Come back you two!
Akashi: MC, wait! Did you hear what Exio sai--

Akashi's voice goes far away as MC's vision goes into something like space as little lights like stars slowly drift in one direction.
Exio: Right now, only your vision is inside the giant path.
Melide: Focus on your wish to see them again.
MC: ...okay! Here goes everything! You guys...COME BACK!
MC unconsciously extends their hand, and a bright flash bursts from their palm. It feels like it reaches into forever.
Melide: What amazing perspective!
Exio: This is...!

Suddenly it feels like MC's hand is sucking in something huge.
MC: Wait what? I don't think it's them...
MC still senses that Ryekie and Crowne are somewhere.
MC: Get out of the way, I need to find them!
Exio: MC, what's wrong!? You're suddenly pulling in a massive amount of energy!
Melide: Did you catch something else?
MC: I dunno, but they're somewhere there!
Exio: So is something in the way? Maybe it's something the Monster ate...WAIT!
???: SHRIEEEEK

Suddenly, something pops out of the hole.
MC: WHAT (suddenly tunes back in on Earth)
Akashi: MC, are you okay!? You've been standing still staring at the sky!
Mokdai: Look at that! (points)
A giant armored Monster appears, half sticking out of the hole and stares at the party!
Barrel: W-what?
Gammei: Is that a Monster? But I've never seen one like that before!
Sadayoshi: How ominous...it feels like something not of this world...
Victom: It's hostile! Is it a new type!?
Furlong: No way! Do we have to fight it!?

The new Monster continues staring but doesn't make a move out of the hole.
Kyoichi: ...is it not going to attack?
Toshu: How eerie...it feels like it's watching us...
The Monster inside Monomasa glares at the armor Monster and mutters significantly to himself.
Exio: MC, I know it pushed you out, but we should dive in again. Justice and Crowne are falling deeper even as we speak!
Melide: ...is it not going to attack?
Huckle: We're here if it does. Don't worry about the risk and focus on saving them!
Sui: We'll do everything we can to stop it, so please!
MC: ...okay, let's do this again!
MC raises their hand to the hole again and wishes for Ryekie and Crowne's return again. Something big is still in the way, but it seems they're behind it.
MC: I have to move this away! I want to bring them back!

MC happens to touch the thing in the way, feeling what feels like mountain dirt. It seems to go on a great distance away.
Melide: No! If you pull that out, you'll destroy yourself!
Exio: ...no wait, you might be able to do it. Show me!
MC: OUT OF THE GODDAMN WAY
MC focuses power into their hand. It feels as though something is cracking within themselves, and whatever they're touching is very hot. Then endless information streams through their head. It's a flashback of memories tied to the mountain, and the sheer volume threatens to cause their consciousness to collapse.
MC: ! I can't fail here...!
Exio: ! There's no mistake! This is...
Melide: Unbelievable! You're pulling it in! But the target is too big! MC!
MC: GIVE! THEM! BACK!

Sadayoshi: What's this sound!?
Barrel: My ears!
Kyoichi: Hey that thing is going away!
The armor Monster leaves as if understanding something.
Mokdai: ...what was that about?
Monomasa: It was led here by exceptional Observational Strength and came to take a look. At least, I think it's something like that.
Mokdai: A look? What for?
Huckle: My head! (starts squirming and holding his head)
Mokdai: Director, what's wrong!?
Huckle: Head...splitting! Ahhh!
A loud noise fills the sky along with Huckle's scream, and then a blinding light floods everyone's visions...
End of Episode

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