What a lovely late afternoon for a boss battle.
Zaniah: Hands off, freak! Phantom Whiplash!
Oh hey Zaniah can make her whip split up to make a shield!
Isaribi: But it ain't got hands tho--WHOA, thanks Zaniah!
Zaniah: Shut up and fight!
Yuhang: Aww, she fighting so hard for her family. Let's do this again, MC!
MC: Right! Alpha strike it!
Sadayoshi: Me first! Summer Archer Spike!
Isaribi: I'll round it up! Big Hauler's Net!
Yuhang: And now it's my turn! Giant Butcher Knife Special!
The attacks counter the tentacles swinging in! But...
Giansar: The Monster's main body is still underwater. Do we have to wait for it to come up? I dunno if the engine will last that long.
Giansar looks at the engine while fighting. It's starting to bottom out.
MC: Umm... / Is it running out of gas?
(B) Giansar: What century did you crawl out of? But, basically yeah.
Giansar: The engine can recharge by absorbing ether in the air, but if it craps out now, we're stuck in the open water.
Isaribi: Yeah that'd be bad if it happened right about now.
Zaniah: Benke doesn't have all day either! So we just have to kill this thing really soon! Speaking of which...take this!
Zaniah swings her whip! The tentacle retreats underwater!
Zaniah: Dammit, stop running and give me back my brother!
Calm sea...wait, something's coming from underneath!
MC: I sense something down there! The main body has to be close!
Zaniah tries to climb overboard!
Isaribi: Girl, you can't be serious! You can't save your family if you go die first!
Zaniah: I know! But what else am I supposed to do!?
Yuhang: We gotta keep calm in times like these.
Sadayoshi: The tentacles are still down there. We can't jump in recklessly.
Zaniah: (frowns)
Isaribi: My friends keep tellin' me to take care of myself too.
Zaniah: Then seriously! WHAT. DO!?
Giansar: ...think.
Dramatic silence.
Giansar: ...think, or else we've lost. The Monster backed off for now, so it has to fear us a little. What it's doing? Who knows. But it still wants to fight.
Sadayoshi: ...so it'll come back at some point?
Giansar: Yeah, probably. We can't keep things going as is.
Giansar looks at Zaniah. Zaniah looks serious.
Zaniah: We can't just fight the tentacles...and we can't jump into the water. So...we have to lure it out, but the engine and Cerulean Sphere aren't enough apparently.
Giansar: Well the idea seems good. I have a suggestion for a new approach: MC, put out your hand and pull the Monster out.
MC: That's a thing I can do?
Isaribi: I-if we can, let's do it!
Zaniah: Yeah, stop holding out on us!
Giansar: Goddammit, slow down and think some more. MC, if you were a Monster why would you ever bother sticking your head out of safety?
MC: Well I wouldn't just give up an advantage... / maybe if I was cornered... / Uh, if there's something worth it?
(A) Giansar: Right. So if you HAVE to get out of there, then you'll definitely look for some way out.
(B) Giansar: Huh, same idea as me. Yeah, it'll pop out if it's in danger down there.
(C) Giansar: It wouldn't pop out just to eat. It can also pop out if it's in danger of dying.
Sadayoshi: ...I see. We threaten it up somehow?
Isaribi: Oh yeah, we do that in fishin' sometimes too!
Sadayoshi: So how are we doing that?
Zaniah: Yeah, we're in this spot because we can't hit it from here.
Yuhang: Yeah...
Giansar: So we're gonna use this. I didn't want to use it here though...
Giansar slides some chip out of his phone.
Zaniah: what
Giansar: I've got an S Rank hero's data in here, back when I used his avatar.
MC: Wait... / Well there's an S Rank hero in my agency...
(BC) Giansar: ...yeah, it's Zap the Justice.
Giansar plays with the chip.
Giansar: So yeah, hero licenses have ranks. S Rank heroes are weird somehow, like their power scope, traits, results, or mentality. I'm gonna use part of it with my Parallel Weapon to materialize it as an avatar.
MC: So you can transform into Justice and use his power?
Giansar: Well it's more a disguise than transformation that goes onto my suit. It's a prototype that can use the data I got from that one time. It also only works once, but yeah.
MC: oh okay / you're gonna be Dark Ryekie, huh? / ...are you making more of them?
(C) Giansar: Heh, that's your first concern? And what if I am? ...relax, I'm not yet. It's a one-time use thing, and the original data couldn't be used for non-destructive stuff...at least for now.
Giansar's implying if he could get out of this without losing it, he could copy the chip.
MC: (...I guess it's better it gets used here then.)
MC VP Charges Giansar!
Giansar: Okay, here goes. (stabs the chip with his knife Parallel Weapon)
Giansar has transformed into Dark Ryekie!
Isaribi: Oh my god???
Sadayoshi: You really do look alike now...
Zaniah: Giansar, is that you?
Giansar: Yeah. This might be a bad memory for MC though.
MC: Emergency, I know. / Can't just let it go that easy... / ...
Giansar briefly looks up in response, then gets to checking himself out.
Giansar: ...okay, avatar transposition done. Not perfect, and only for a few minutes, but good enough for what we need. We better go over the plan since we only have one shot at this. Don't mess this up.
The party nods.
Later
Sadayoshi: MC, I'm ready at any time.
Zaniah: I'm in position. Yuhang, Isaribi?
Yuhang: Ready!
Isaribi: Same! MC, start us off whenever!
MC: I'm good! Begin the operation!
Everyone squares up!
Giansar: Right. MC, tell Sadayoshi where the Monster is once you've located it...remember, this whole plan rests on you.
MC: Oof, getting nervous... / Well this isn't my first time / It'll work out somehow!
(A) Sadayoshi: ...MC, it will be okay. I'll protect you if something happens.
(B) Isaribi: Heh, it all comes down to instinct and experience! It's cool, I'm here to help!
(C) Yuhang: Yeaaaah! It's allll cool!
MC nods and starts focusing, eyes closed!
MC: Boss Monster, 12 o'clock! Sadayoshi!
Sadayoshi nods and high jumps!
Sadayoshi: No mercy needed for Monsters! Fire!
Sadayoshi spikes his ball at the Monster, clearing a path into the water!
MC: Giansar, now!
MC shifts gears and sends Giansar VP!
Giansar: I'm a professional. I'll get it done. (Giansar charges up) RYEKIE THUNDER CRASH!
Giansar focuses all the lightning and shoots it as a giant thunder beam at Sadayoshi's ball to attack the whole ocean!
Zaniah: Y-you did it! Operation Surprise Thunder Boom worked!
Isaribi: That name sucks. Oh whatever, Zaniah gonna Zaniah.
Zaniah: It's fine! I'm up next, defending the ship!
MC: Zaniah, go!
Zaniah: My whip will shield us!
Zaniah disperses incoming shockwaves!
Zaniah: Okay this is actually kind of rough, but anything for Benke!
Yuhang: Yeah, go Zaniah! We gonna stay upright at this rate!
Isaribi: Hey Boss, here it comes!
More tentacles start coming up and start attacking the ship!
MC: Yuhang!
Yuhang: I'm up! Time to get cooking!
Yuhang cuts down the tentacles, which burst into light in the water!
Sadayoshi: The plan is going well. I'll fight off the tentacles too now!
Yuhang: Yeah, tenderize them!
Sadayoshi: Very well. Volleyball Smash!
Big roar!
MC: Here it comes! Isaribi!
Isaribi: Got it! Gimme a ton of VP! Now get up here, baby!
Isaribi's net gigantifies as he throws it into the ocean!
Isaribi: ...got it! Okay, hang tight guys!
The ship starts getting pulled aside!
Isaribi: Ooooh...MUSCLE POWEEEER!
Isaribi throws everything in and drags the boss Monster up!
Type Octopus: (SCREEEES in octopus, shaking everything)
Zaniah: Oh my god it's HUGE!
Isaribi: I ain't never seen a boy that big! What is that, an octopus?
Zaniah: hey wait, what's the Monster wrapped around?
Oh wait Giansar's Dark Ryekie thing ran out of time.
Giansar: OOF holy shit I know I went full power but still. That man is just built different. (falls on his knee)
Sadayoshi: Giansar, did you take recoil damage!? Are you okay!?
Giansar: ...pffft. Gimme a sec and I'll be fine. I always get things done. Also I'm sure the avatar keeps his racial traits so...either I got that wrong, or does he actually take that every time?
MC: Giansar, take a moment! We'll handle the Monster!
The rest of the party agrees.
Isaribi: Right! We can hold it off to give ya a breather!
Yuhang: But man, how did big boy get so BIG?
Zaniah: Who CARES? We got to save Benke!
Isaribi: Rig--wait Zaniah your bag's glowin'.
Bright light!
Zaniah: Wait, the Cerulean Sphere!?
Yuhang: I think there's more.
The giant whatever the Boss Monster is wrapped around is glowing too!
MC: WHAT
Sudden tentacle attack on Zaniah!
Sadayoshi: Zaniah, get down!
Zaniah: wHA
Sadayoshi jumps in and pushes Zaniah down as the tentacle closes in!
Yuhang: Nope! (cuts tentacle down)
Isaribi: Uhhhh, I think it's after the Ceruluean Sphere!
Zaniah: (gets back up) Ow. I know you were trying to save me but you could've been gentler.
Sadayoshi: Still better than getting pancaked. Anyways, it really was after the orb. So it's legit then?
Yuhang: It has to be if it went after it.
Isaribi: Well if it is, most of Muirauqa IV knows about it so...
MC: Hey wait, what if...
Flashback!
Zaniah: Oh my god the rumors were true! They said it was hand sized but still!
Present
MC: What if the thing the Monster has is the Cerulean Sphere?
Everyone looks over.
Isaribi: Then what's this glowin' thing?
Sadayoshi: I suppose it's something connected to it then?
Incoming tentacles! The ship starts getting rocked!
Zaniah: OH NO
Zaniah loses her footing and loses her grip on the Cerulean Sphere(?)! The tentacles make a grab for it!
Isaribi: WELP, WHATEVER THEN
Isaribi grabs the Cerulean Sphere(?)!
Isaribi: Zaniah, you hang onto the damn thing! The Monster must want it for some reason!
Isaribi tosses the Cerulean Sphere(?) up as the tentacle bears down on him!
MC: Isaribi!
Isaribi gets dragged to the Monster!
Zaniah: Isaribi, no!
Sadayoshi: No! Ugh, I can't get a read on the tentacles!
Isaribi: Oof, my Parallel Weapon!
Yuhang: Hang on, we're coming!
Isaribi used Struggle! It wasn't very effective...
Isaribi: Oh goddammit. Zaniah! Focus on savin' your family! I believe in--
Zaniah: ISARIBI!
Title Card: That's Why We'll Go Forward
Sadayoshi: Oh no, Isaribi!
Isaribi got vored!
MC: Colonel, move from there! Tentacle coming from up top!
Sadayoshi: !!
Yuhang: Zaniah, careful! It's after you too!
Zaniah: ...okay, I'm getting pissed.
Zaniah grabs her weapon and is filled with determination!
Zaniah: I'm gonna kick your ass SO HARD and take back everyone who's fought for me! Eat whiplash!
Zaniah swings her whip and holds off the tentacles! But...
MC: Zaniah, fall back! We won't make it in time!
Zaniah: I can't... I can't! ...ah!
Yuhang: Zaniah, you good!? ...you good. Still, oof we lost a party member. MC, what do you think? (readies knife sword)
MC: welp this looks bad
Yeah everyone can see how being a man down has the party's position getting pushed back now.
Sadayoshi: There's just no end to them!
MC: Sadayoshi, behind you!
Sadayoshi: Huh? Oh no!
Sadayoshi gets back attacked while taking a shot!
Sadayoshi: (I can't dodge from here! ...then I should at least take it out with me!)
Sudden slash!
Giansar: I saw that kamikaze idea go through your head. We aren't down THAT bad yet.
MC: Giansar!
Sadayoshi: Giansar, you...
Giansar: I said we only had one shot, so don't mess up. Was that you messing up just now? Get up already.
Giansar shoves Sadayoshi's ball back at him, then turns towards the boss Monster!
Giansar: Come on, we got an octopus to nail. If anyone's gonna beat you heroes, it's gonna be ME!
Sadayoshi: ...right. I'll take you on. (takes position by Giansar)
Zaniah: Giansar, you wiped out earlier! You're okay already!?
Giansar: I am now. We better get Isaribi back. The engine won't hold out much longer anyway.
Yuhang: Nice! Sadayoshi, I think we got this now.
Sadayoshi: Yes. Giansar, I will be paying you back for earlier right now.
Giansar: ...heh. I've got my own shit to do, stay out of my way.
Sadayoshi: I won't be caught by the same trick twice.
Type Octopus: REEEEEE
MC: This is it, everyone!
The party stands firm!
Giansar: MC, forget the tentacles and focus on the main body. Now show me one more time you know how to command me.
Yuhang: One octopus, coming right up! It'll be cool MC, food's good when you get to sorting things out after!
Zaniah: I'm gonna take Benke AND Isaribi back!
Sadayoshi: ...I want to win this battle and bring everyone home safely. Ikusabata Sadayoshi stands ready! MC, let's go!
BATTLE START