[F6 - SP] A Change of Heart <<Calming The Soul>>

[Neopolitan 0]

With the idea from a recent friend of hers, Neo found herself walking along on the sixth floor. She was told that there was an extra skill that could be learned here and wanted to give it a shot. She had been warned that it would test her, but she really couldn't think of much that she feared that it could prey on. She made her way out of the town where the portal was located and went to the waterfall that the information board said was where the challenge was. Once at the waterfall, she noticed that there was a stand where she would be able to kneel and figured that was what started the challenge. It was nice that there wasn't anyone else around, but perhaps that was just because she was so far behind all of the front liners. Unsure of what would be lying ahead, Neo took a deep breath and steeled herself before entering into the chamber.

[Neopolitan 0]

Quote

Consuming/using:

• Spinach-Artichoke Dip (+2 EVA)
• Container of Hummus (+2 ACC)
• Matriarch's Stinger (+1 Base Damage)
• Venom Vial (On a natural BD roll of 9-10, deals 10 unmitigatable DMG for 4 turns. Lasts one thread.)
• Overhealing Potion (+50 temp.HP)

Once inside the chamber, Neo steeled herself for the things to come. She still hadn't the foggiest idea what she would be facing in here, but she wanted to be ready. Rifling through her inventory, she grabbed as many things as she could to boost her power. She was thankful that she had kept most of it, as she doubted she would be needing it. With the possible power looming over her, she decided every little bit would help. She had no other plans of using it anyways. Once all of her items were consumed, Neo went towards the stand and kneeled there. She didn't know what she needed to do, so she closed her eyes and let the soft breeze and crashing sounds of the falls calm her breathing. The sounds began to grow distant, fading away into a nothingness. She closed her eyes, letting her mind take her where it wished to. As she opened them, she saw that where she was was no longer floor 6.

[Neopolitan 0]

Neo opened her eyes to find herself in a strange sort of chamber. It was quite dark, and she couldn't tell how big the room was. She loosened her rapier in its sheath, not wanting to be caught off guard. As she tried moving around, she noticed that whatever this place was was moving with her. She was stuck in the center of the room with no clear way out of it. As time passed on, she began to hear a faint voice, something calling out to her softly.

"Come here Neo, we can be friends."

Neo whipped her head around to try and see what it was. There didn't appear to be anything there, but she did feel like she was recognizing some silhouettes in the shadows. There were people she had made friends with over time, all the people that she knew in this game. They were all right here.

[Neopolitan 0]

As soon as she noticed the silhouettes, they began to coalesce into a singular shape. The shadow that formed out of them extended it's hand towards Neo.

"Join us, we won't hurt you."

Neo was unsure why she felt so strange about the situation. Here she was facing friends and now she felt like she had to leave them. There was something wrong here, but she couldn't put a finger onto it.

"Join ussssss."

The shadow began to hiss more, becoming more angry with Neo. She didn't want to take its hand, even though it was the hand of her friends. She did what she could to avoid it, but the shadow seemed to know her intent.

"You do not trust us, as we do not trust you. If you do not wish to join with us, then dead will be you."

The shadow then lunged at Neo as she drew her rapier as fast as she could.

Spoiler

<<First Inner Demon>> The Shadow of Betrayal

HP: 100/100 | DMG: 8 | MIT 1

 

[Neopolitan 0]

Neo quickly gave a swipe at the shadow, letting her sword art take the rest. She gave it several pokes and prods and though she didn't speak, she imbued each strike with her feeling of betrayal. She knew that the shadow was simply an illusion, but she couldn't help trying to fight it. She felt so hurt by the thought of her friends betraying her that she didn't even want to face that fear. The shadow slunk back from it's attacking position.

"So, you do feel betrayed by us. It's a little late for that remorse though. Now you are stuck feeling the pain of all the problems you have wrought. You think that we would believe in you when you won't even speak to us. You have the ability so why don't you act on it."

Neo was left in conflict with her feelings. She didn't wish to listen to this betrayal, yet she had no choice about it.

Spoiler

Roll ID: #104825

BD: 9 - minor crit (6 + 1 crit * 4 sword art  = 32 damage)

CD: 12 - recovery

MD: paralyzed

Neo: 450/450 HP | 39/40 ENG (-3 sword art; +2 recovery) | 7 DMG | 14 MIT | 3 ACC | 2 EVA | 2 REC | 12 BLD | Paralyze I | 10 VNM

Shadow of Betrayal: HP: 51/100 | DMG: 8 | MIT 1

• Bleed (12 damage/turn): 1 turns
• Venom (10 damage/turn): 3 turns

 

[Neopolitan 0]

The lunged at Neo, going through her own rapier as she tried to use her sword art against it. It flew through her, infusing her with the thoughts of betrayal. The thoughts hurt her, but she tried to accept them as best as she could. There was little that she didn't feel at the moment. All the tension of losing the people that she had befriended. The shadow turned back towards her.

"There, now you see how it feels to be betrayed by others. You have done it before you know, you just don't wish to remember it."

Neo didn't have any idea what the shadow was talking about. When did she betray someone? She couldn't remember anytime that she did. She tried to be kind to everyone. Maybe there was something that she had forgotten deep down inside of her.

It doesn't matter right now. I need to face this fear. I knew that there would be something to challenge me here, but now I know that this is simple. I can deal with a betrayal, that's nothing to worry about.

Spoiler

Roll ID: #104915

BD: 6 + 1 = 7 - hit (6 * 4 sword art  = 24 damage)

CD: 9 - recovery

MD: 5 - miss

Neo: 450/450 HP | 39/40 ENG (+1 regen; -3 sword art; +2 recovery) | 7 DMG | 14 MIT | 3 ACC | 2 EVA | 2 REC | 12 BLD | Paralyze I | 10 VNM

Shadow of Betrayal: HP: 5/100 | DMG: 6 | MIT 1

• Venom (10 damage/turn): 2 turns

 

[Neopolitan 0]

Neo turned to see the shadow begin to dissipate.

"Your fight is not over. you lie to yourself, but those lies will soon crumble before your very eyes."

She didn't understand what the shadow meant, but she suddenly felt some strange force pull at her. The room she was in began to fold in on itself, and Neo was pulled out of it. She snapped back to with a large breath. She was back in the meditation area, and could hear the waterfall roaring outside. She couldn't see where that shadowy room had been. Looking around her, Neo noticed that there was a slight glow from the place she was sitting. Looking closer, there were four marks of different symbols. She couldn't figure out what they all were, but the one that was glowing was a dagger being held to a back. Betrayal. Neo closed her eyes and began to calm herself once more, letting whatever challenge would come next come to her.

Spoiler

Roll ID: #104917

BD: no attack

CD: 3 - no recovery

MD: dead

Neo: 450/450 HP | 40/40 ENG (+1 regen) | 7 DMG | 14 MIT | 3 ACC | 2 EVA | 2 REC | 12 BLD | Paralyze I | 10 VNM

Shadow of Betrayal: HP: 0/100 | DMG: 6 | MIT 1

• Venom (10 damage/turn): 1 turns

 

[Neopolitan 0]

As Neo opened her eyes, she saw she was at a sort of beach. Yet there were things off about it. The sand was pink while the water was a strange caramel color. Neo got up from the sand, feeling the cool breeze of the ocean blow gently across her face. She looked around, wondering where her enemy would come from. She didn't grab at her sword, but her hand did drift towards it. Suddenly, the water lifted up and formed into the shape of a person. She couldn't make out exactly who they were, but she could tell what they were emulating. It was one of the many girls at her high school, one of the 'pretty' ones. Though she didn't see a mouth open, a voice began to talk to her.

"Come join us Neo, you can come sit at our table today."

Neo remembered this day at school, but pushed her way forward all the same. As she went into the water, a wave formed and pushed her back out.

"Ha! Look at this, the girl just got pushed over and doesn't say a word about it. You're just trying to get people's attention aren't you. Well guess what, if you want to get people's attention you got to be loud somehow."

Spoiler

<<Second Inner Demon>> Waves of Shunning

HP: 133 | 6 DMG | 1 MIT

 

[Neopolitan 0]

Pushing herself back up, Neo had a look of anger on her face. She knew that they would push her down, but she still wanted to join.

"Awww, see how cute she is when she is angry." The human shaped wave began to wave behind her, more forms coming out of the water.

She knew that she was trying to goad Neo into further anger. But she didn't let that stop her. Though then she was helpless, she now had a rapier at her side. Without hesitation, she drew it and swiped at the girl, Caramel. The water didn't seem phased by her attack, though it did recede a little.

"Is our little ice cream girl going to just sit there and fume. You think you're so tough, trying to throw a little punch at us, but that impact was a silent as your mouth."

Bracing herself for the impact, Neo managed to resist the shove this time.

"So, you're finally standing up for yourself. You trying to be loud with your actions sweetie, because you're going to get the attention of the teachers soon."

Spoiler

Roll ID: #105071

BD: 8 +3 = 11 - hit

CD: 5 - no recovery

MD: 3 - miss

Neo: 450/450 HP | 37/40 ENG (-3 sword art) | 6 DMG | 14 MIT | 3 ACC | 2 EVA | 2 REC | 12 BLD | Paralyze I | 10 VNM

Waves of Shunning: HP: 110/133 | 6 DMG | 1 MIT

 

[Neopolitan 0]

Neo knew this moment all too well, the memory flowing back to her. She had put this memory down as best as she could, never wanting to relive it. It was the moment she had gotten suspended for overreacting to getting pushed down. She doubted that the teachers would be able to do much this time around. From what she remembered, they took quite a long time to respond, and Neo felt that she could win the fight this time. Neo tried to wade her way through the figures, making it towards the table in her memory. Faster than she could think, she was slammed down onto the beach again. Her mind was beginning to blur the picture of the memory and where she was now. Somehow this game had gotten into her mind, and she didn't want to let it in.

"A little slow there, why don't you go die your hair a loud blonde and we'll talk later Pinky."

Spoiler

Roll ID: #105072

BD: 1 + 3 = 4 - miss

CD: 12 - recovery

MD: 10 - major crit (6 + 2 - 14 = 1 damage)

Neo: 449/450 HP | 38/40 ENG (+1 regen; -2 miss; +2 recovery) | 6 DMG | 14 MIT | 3 ACC | 2 EVA | 2 REC | 12 BLD | Paralyze I | 10 VNM

Waves of Shunning: HP: 110/133 | 6 DMG | 1 MIT

 

[Neopolitan 0]

Pinky. Caramel's nickname for Neo. She had always hated it, though never found a reason for why. It was one of those nicknames that you hated because of the person who gave it to you. She decided to harness that anger this time though, and went for a full slash at the waves. trying to cut them in half. She had never been this violent, even then, but now that she had the power, she wanted to exact revenge for all the pain that they had caused her in school. The tormenting never ended, and she could only hope she would be able to hide from them. Now she could fight them face on. She let the sword cut through them, and the top half of their forms splashed at her feet. They began to reform, taunting her further as they did.

"It seems our little Pinky is trying to fight back, isn't that sweet. Why don't we see if she can keep up her little pushing girls."

Spoiler

Roll ID: #105073

BD: 9 + 3 = 12 - minor crit (6 + 1 crit * 4 SA = 28 - 1 MIT = 27 damage)

CD: 11 - recovery

MD: paralyzed

Neo: 449/450 HP | 38/40 ENG (+1 regen; -3 sword art; +2 recovery) | 6 DMG | 14 MIT | 3 ACC | 2 EVA | 2 REC | 12 BLD | Paralyze I | 10 VNM

Waves of Shunning: HP: 61/133 | 6 DMG | 1 MIT

• Bleed (12 damage/turn): 1 turns
• Venom (10 damage/turn): 3 turns

 

[Neopolitan 0]

Neo stood her ground as the figures reformed. She didn't want to provoke them, but they simply began to laugh at her even more.

"And now that she's gotten her shove in, she doesn't even want to fight. That's not how it works Pinky. You started it, and now you'll pay for it."

Neo didn't know why Caramel tried to be pushing the fact that Neo had started the fight, she was the one invited to come get pushed down. But her silence made it so everyone began to rally a cry about Neo starting a fight with Caramel. The water surged once more and knocked her down.

"You shouldn't even get up at this point. It's all worthless to you anyways. If you're just going to be silent, then why even be present."

Neo didn't want to listen, but no matter what she did the voices were crystal clear.

Spoiler

Roll ID: #105074

BD: not attacking

CD: 2 - no recovery

MD: 6 - hit

Neo: 448/450 HP | 39/40 ENG (+1 regen) | 6 DMG | 14 MIT | 3 ACC | 2 EVA | 2 REC | 12 BLD | Paralyze I | 10 VNM

Waves of Shunning: HP: 39/133 | 6 DMG | 1 MIT

• Venom (10 damage/turn): 2 turns

 

[Neopolitan 0]

The voices wouldn't stop, so Neo got herself back up. Caramel continued to try and goad her into more strikes. Though Neo knew how the memory ended, she wouldn't let it happen again.

"So, you do want to keep pushing me. Why don't you try and get me down then. I bet that you can't do it."

Neo charged straight into the water. She executed a spinning dive, sword outstretched, and pierced through the figure of Caramel. As soon as she was in the water, the memory shifted. She found herself just facing Caramel across the table they were sitting at. It was as if the fight had never happened.

"Glad to have you with us Neo. Guess you do know how to betray and forget about your friends, don't you."

Neo still didn't know what she meant as she felt the pulling sensation take her through the water once more. This was the second challenge to mention about her betraying her own friends, but she still couldn't think of who. Caramel hinted at it being something she forgot, but she still couldn't tell.

Spoiler

Roll ID: #105074

BD: 9 - minor crit

CD: 11 - recovery

MD: dead

Neo: 448/450 HP | 39/40 ENG (+1 regen; -3 sword art; +2 recovery) | 6 DMG | 14 MIT | 3 ACC | 2 EVA | 2 REC | 12 BLD | Paralyze I | 10 VNM

Waves of Shunning: HP: 0/133 | 6 DMG | 1 MIT

• Venom (10 damage/turn): 3 turns
• Bleed (12 damage/turn): 1 turn

 

[Neopolitan 0]

Neo snapped back into the chamber, breathing heavier than before. It almost felt as if she was going into some sort of seizure when she came to. Looking down at her feet, she could see that a second symbol had lit up. This time one of crashing waves. Shunning. Neo was finally able to disprove that she wasn't just crying out for attention. She wanted to normal more than anything. Though she didn't understand why it was so hard for some people to understand that, she did her best to deal with it and let people be themselves just as she was. Trying to collect her breath, Neo prepared herself for what was to come. It seemed as though the game was able to read into her past, and she couldn't figure out how. Either way, she wanted to be informed for what would be next. All she could make out of the symbol she presumed to be next was  two people departing from the same central line. She couldn't tell what this would be about, but she tried to prepare for something. Closing her eyes, Neo let the tide take her out again, pulling her towards whatever room lay in wait for her.

Spoiler

Neo: 450/450 HP (+10 regen) | 40/40 ENG (+1 regen) | 6 DMG | 14 MIT | 3 ACC | 2 EVA | 2 REC | 12 BLD | Paralyze I | 10 VNM

 

[Neopolitan 0]

Neo opened her eyes once more to find herself in her own living room. She looked around, waiting for whatever was meant to torment her to appear. She wasn't sure what would be coming, but had a sinking suspicion. Coming from the kitchen area, Her parents materialized, each holding on to a shoulder of her twin sister, Mint. They began to talk, though there voices were slightly distorted.

"Oh sweetie, why couldn't you just be like your sister. Nice and normal for once."

"Your mothers right, you should learn to talk and start getting better grades in school. I can't believe we have to have someone so special be a part of our family."

Mint walked forward, out of the clutches of their parents. The parents disappeared, disappointed looks on their face pointed at Neo. She felt as if her parents were something they were not. She always knew that they were frustrated with her condition, but felt that they were understanding of it

[Neopolitan 0]

"Hear what father said? Your silence isn't welcome. Why don't you just try and speak, I bet it will come naturally. All you need to do is talk and this can all be normal."

Even though Neo knew that she had the ability to talk in the game and could easily end this, she felt as if it was too much a part of her. She felt as though talking would compromise who she was, that it would mean she would have nothing different to Mint. If she didn't have anything different to Mint, she would just become a nobody, completely inferior to her sister. Neo began to wallow in her own despair. She knew that there would be little use trying to resist the fight. She watched as mint pulled out her kenpo, the one that she always beat Neo in competitions with.

"Just speak and all this can become normal. That's all it will take."

Spoiler

<<Third Inner Demon>> Mint

200 HP | 10 DMG | 2 MIT

 

[Neopolitan 0]

Neo lunged at her sister, drawing her sword and letting it tear through her. It just phased right through her sister, barely leaving any hint of a scratch on her. She seemed appalled by it though and reached out her hands. Suddenly Neo felt as if she was the one getting stabbed.

"We're so close to being equal. Looks, age, power, pain. We share it all. What we don't share is the want to talk. You can do it, I know you can. Our parents just want you to be normal, that's all they ask. They may put up with it on the surface, but deep down you know that they resent for it. Your inability to speak."

Neo didn't want to listen to her sister. She had always been right about many things, but she couldn't be right about this, could she? Her parents had always had nothing but love and sympathy for her. She was always ready to do what she needed to to help around. Sure she didn't talk, but other than that she was a shining example of a daughter to them. But Mint was always the one who had to be the more normal one, she matched Neo and always came out on top because her talking let her do things a little bit quicker.

Spoiler

Roll ID: #105114

BD: 7 + 3 = 10 - hit (6 * 4 = 24 - 1 = 23 damage)

CD: 3 - no recovery

MD: 10 - major crit (10 + 2 - 14 = 1 Damage)

Neo: 449/450 HP | 37/40 ENG (-3 sword art) | 6 DMG | 14 MIT | 3 ACC | 2 EVA | 2 REC | 12 BLD | Paralyze I | 10 VNM

Mint: HP: 177/200 | 10 DMG | 2 MIT

 

[Neopolitan 0]

"Just speak, that's all you need to do. If you speak everything can be normal. We can be the best twin sisters the world has seen. All you have to do is speak."

Though she knew Mint was right, her muteness was what held her back, she couldn't give it up. She had even turned down a possible surgery to help save her. Though it was risky, the doctors assured her it wouldn't kill her. She didn't want to take it though. Being mute was a part of her now, no matter how much others said it was her own issue. Though she wanted to scream out at Mint, that would be giving in. Instead, Neo continued to throw her rapier through her. Mint stood there, still not appearing to have any damage, but she was visibly shocked at Neo's response.

"You have so much anger, and the only way to express it is to hurt your own sister. I see why our parents are so ashamed of you."

Spoiler

Roll ID: #105115

BD: 10 + 3 = 13 - major crit (6 + 1 * 4 = 28 - 1 = 27 damage)

CD: 9 - recovery

MD: paralyzed

Neo: 450/450 HP (+1 BH) | 37/40 ENG (+1 regen; -3 sword art; +2 recovery) | 6 DMG | 14 MIT | 4 BH | 3 ACC | 2 EVA | 2 REC | 12 BLD | Paralyze I | 10 VNM

Mint: HP: 128/200 | 10 DMG | 2 MIT

• Bleed (12 damage/turn): 1 turns
• Venom (10 damage/turn): 3 turns

 

[Neopolitan 0]

Neo didn't let herself scream and yell at her sister. Even though she was in a world where she could speak, she had no words for how angry she was at her. Even though Neo had done what she could and chose to stay this way, she was still pushed around for it. She didn't care that her silence had disadvantages, it was who she was. She kept repeating the sentiment as a mantra to herself, and Mint seemed to be picking up on that. Whatever witchery this game was using was able to root through the most private of Neo's thoughts and strike her where it hurt.

"You want to speak, don't you. You have the ability to now, so why don't you use it. This can all be over, but you don't want to end the suffering. You'd much rather be a drama queen and suffer than just use your abilities to get out of the situations you keep putting yourself into."

Neo still didn't speak, she instead decided to just keep thrusting her rapier through the ghost of her sister. Her sister began to flicker a little, and No knew that she was getting through to her. She didn't want to give up her identity, the silent one was who she was. She didn't just want to be a carbon copy of Mint.

Spoiler

Roll ID: #105116

BD: 7 + 3 = 10 - hit (6 * 4 = 24 - 1 = 23 damage)

CD: 1 - no recovery

MD: 1 - critical miss

Neo: 450/450 HP | 35/40 ENG (+1 regen; -3 sword art) | 6 DMG | 14 MIT | 4 BH | 3 ACC | 2 EVA | 2 REC | 12 BLD | Paralyze I | 10 VNM

Mint: HP: 83/200 | 10 DMG | 2 MIT

• Venom (10 damage/turn): 2 turns

 

[Neopolitan 0]

With her anger pushed out, Neo let Mint have her time. She seemed to be slowly fading out, so there was no reason not to just let her speak her peace. Without speaking herself, she just reached out a hand and let Neo feel all the pain that she had inflicted. Mint came towards Neo as she fell onto one knee from the pain, vlutching at her stomach.

"You feel that pain. It is the pain that you bring with your silence. The pain of not knowing what you mean, the pain of having to translate for you.The pain that comes from your want to stay silent. The pain you keep causing your friends and family by not speaking. And you haven't been into the real world. They'll just tear you up and destroy you without a second thought. They don't care if you're being silent, they'll discard you once they find someone like me who can do a better job than you."

At each mention of pain, Neo felt the pain inside of her increase, coming to such a powerful head that she couldn't help but begin sighing in pain. She didn't let a sound besides her breath come out, she didn't want the victory to go to Mint.

Spoiler

Roll ID: #105118

BD: 2 + 3 = 5 - miss

CD: 2 - no recovery

MD: 6 - hit

Neo: 449/450 HP | 35/40 ENG (+1 regen; -2 miss) | 6 DMG | 14 MIT | 4 BH | 3 ACC | 2 EVA | 2 REC | 12 BLD | Paralyze I | 10 VNM

Mint: HP: 73/200 | 10 DMG | 2 MIT

• Venom (10 damage/turn): 1 turns