The sequence of events, it seemed that it had been a success. Upon first glance, perhaps.

Bodies that fell, some that collapsed with a heavy thud, leaving nothing to the imagination, while others resisted as well as they could, the agony and suffering inflicted upon by Astrid’s attack having taken the toll upon all of them weighing upon them as their constitutions held out as well as able, but it would not be enough. Far from it it appeared as one by one, even upon her Sonar she could feel it, the loss of life of those encircled around them. Them being the generous term for where they found themselves positioned now, Kanna having taken to the air whilst the shrouded figure seemed elsewhere, alive as she could tell it. But it left her in a rather precarious space, one wherein the danger had yet to seep in.

Like dominos, they fell.

A few. Then one or two less. Then another. Then just one or two. Then one.

She would have thought that it would have followed suit like its comrades only moments before, but turning, her eyes widened in disbelief. There stood a Giant still, not dead or on its last legs like all that had come before it now. Rather, enlarged, radiating with a form of Magic that she was all too familiar with; her own. Eldritch Dragon Slayer, or something close to it. Not quite the same. She knew the taste of what her Magic was, and this, though similar, was something different. Corrupted, perhaps, an appropriate way to describe it. Whatever it was imbued with now, what confidence she exuded seemed to siphon away if but for a moment, the two of them – Giant and Astrid – staring into one another. Both knew what was to come next.

The only question was how it would play.

It lunged forth as her hands arose, both of them, a separate spell cast per them. From one came the Eldritch Barrier that previously had granted her protection in repelling the initial ambush attack that set forth this confrontation from the very beginning. From the other, there materialized the faint cloud surrounding the Frost Giant’s face, the tentacles protruding from all orifices; eyes, nose, ears, mouth, open wounds, effectively consuming its head in those tentacles, forcing it into a state of blindness.

Blindness did not much matter when the target were in front of someone, however.

Even under her best attempts to evade the attack, the creature struck down, wildly slamming its combined fists onto the ground, the sheer impact and force being enough to reverberate and shatter the Barrier constructed only moments ago, a cry let out by both Astrid as the remainder of the force met upon her and reverberated through her body, pain striking through. And as the Giant cried, some of the force bouncing back against its own body, the sound of cracking taking place the bones within its fists and forearms at the minimum were cracked by its own force being propelled back onto it.

Still reeling, Astrid moved, creating some distance, knowing that at the minimum there was the reprieve gifted by the Giant realizing its own agony, made worse by it being blinded. Her breathing heightened, adrenaline pushing through her as she felt her body reeling in pain, she held her arm out again, strain felt within her body doing so. Whatever this creature were thinking, whether it be that of pain, rage, what have it, the hope were simple.

Break. Attempt to fight against the Eldritch Magic and be lost entirely.

It was believable.

The Giants had shown already, they were dumb enough to try to resist.

She just needed this to be another such time.


-----
Synopsis:
Astrid suffers 1 S-Rank due to Eldritch Dragon's Psionic Barricade distributed across her entire body due to the effects of Luchador's Belt's Steel Skin effect.
Frost Giant suffers 1 S-Rank from the repelling nature of Eldritch Dragon's Psionic Barricade. Frost Giant is also blinded due to the effects of Eldritch Dragon's Psionic Blindness.
Rolling to determine the outcome of the Frost Giant either resisting or suffering under the effects of Eldritch Dragon's Mind Break.
1-66: Frost Giant suffers the A-Rank damage from the attack.
67-100: Frost Giant resists the mental assault and instead suffers the 3 S-Rank damage.
Total Damage Inflicted to Frost Giant: 1S 1A or 4S depending on roll.

Word Count: 3,659/4,000

Mana: 10,665/11,500

Passive Effects:
Major Sonar Detection: Astrid can can use sonar to detect the movements of anyone within a 50-meter range and sense their location.

• via Aberration
  

Spider Sense: Astrid possesses an enhanced perception that allows her to foretell danger before it happens which intensifies based on the threat or proximity within 20 meters.

• via Arachnida
  

Steel Skin: Astrid does not receive damage to her Endurance while still receiving damage to their Constitution. Her skin cannot be pierced, slashed, burned etc. While they do still receive damage, it makes them impervious to the additional damage that might come into play from such hits.

• via Luchador's Belt
  

Spells Used:

Name: Eldritch Dragon's Psionic Barricade
Rank: A
Mana Cost: 200 (75)
Requirements: Eldritch Dragon Slayer Magic
Type: Defensive
Element: Arcane
Range: -
Cooldown: 4 Posts (2 Posts)
Duration: Instant
Effect: The user holds up an arm towards a target, causing a shield composed of Eldritch Magic to materialize around with a maximum height and width of 8 meters in both directions. Any spells up to a maximum of 1 S-Rank worth of damage are repelled by the shield, projecting back to their place of origin. If the shield is struck by damage that exceeds 1 S-Rank only 1 S-Rank will be repelled and the difference in damage will be dealt to the user's arm.


Name: Eldritch Dragon's Psionic Blindness
Rank: A
Mana Cost: 200 (70)
Requirements: Eldritch Dragon Slayer Magic
Type: Debuff (Blindness)
Element: Arcane
Range: 20 Meters (50 Meters)
Cooldown: 4 Posts (2 Posts)
Duration: Sustain
Effect: The user holds out a hand towards a target and makes a faint swiping gesture. This causes Eldritch Magic to swirl in the location around the target, creating what appears like a very faint cloud that exists for a moment before dissipating away, manifesting then into tendrils of Eldritch Magic protruding from various exposed orifices on the target, particularly their eyes, effectively blinding the target for however long this spell is sustained.


Name: Eldritch Dragon's Mind Break
Rank: S
Mana Cost: 500 (175)
Requirements: Eldritch Dragon Slayer Magic
Type: Offensive - Debuff [Enhancement: Armor Piercing]
Element: Arcane
Range: 25 Meters (60 Meters)
Cooldown: Once per topic
Duration: Sustain - 5 Posts
Effect: The user holds out a hand in front of them, sending an innumerable amount of waves of Eldritch Magic at multiple targets. The target suffers from brutal levels of psychological and mental trauma, akin to one's mind being utterly torn asunder. While under the effect of this trauma the victims will receive A-rank damage to the head each turn, or can attempt to purge the magic from their being by taking 3 S-rank damage to the head right away. As long as the victim is under effect of the Mind Break their Intelligence is considered zero. Overcharge does not apply to this spell, and it cannot be nullified.

The creature stirred, but it did not seem to waiver. Even with the assault that tormented in its head, the reckless abandonment that it engaged in, still struggling under the blindness erected by the Eldritch tendrils that spurred through its eye sockets like that of a illithid parasite, it still did not go down. It was weakening, that much was for certain, but even the combination of a first assault launched by Astrid, Kanna, and the third figure still was not enough.

It was, perhaps a bit endearing, knowing that whatever combination of her own Magic combined with that of the Void had managed to turn this creature, one whom they had felled nearly a dozen or so of already, was still able to stand and withstand their onslaught. A part of her almost wondered how much more powerful she would have been herself if she had managed to achieve the same capabilities. But, that would be a thought for another day, the primary point of focus clearly being the beast that still stood, her own barrage of attacks earlier not seeming to do enough, nor even that the divebomb effort by Kanna which certainly had an impact given how the creature now seemed to have limbed.

A shame that her attack had not happened a little earlier, Astrid’s arm still reeling in pain after the creature’s attack obliterated her shield, taking it out on her all in the same while. The pain caused her focus to divert every so often, her wishing that it would have been something she could have ignored, yet struggled too all the same. It had been quite a while since she had suffered any form of injury and the sensation almost felt foreign to her. Perhaps if it hadn’t been such a lost feeling, then perhaps she would have recognized it sooner.

But it was too late.

She saw it as she looked in its direction, expecting that it would limbing blindly in hopes of encountering one of them; the attack that it landed on Astrid being one of good fortunate and a difference in physical specimens than that of capability or skill. And as it generated what appeared to have been a massive orb of condensed Void and Eldritch power, effectively blocking everything within sight, what little sunlight penetrated through the exposed ceiling providing a faint sense of life now blotted out entirely by the blackness that only seemed to grow more and more.

It was exhilarating, if not intimidating.

She did not realize, nor seem to mind the slightest bit of drool that seemed to form upon her lower lip, something primal resonating within her. A hunger. Not of a traditional sense, nor that of a man staring down a steak at dinner, but something else entirely. That was power. Unmitigated, unrelenting power that was being unleashed right before her eyes.

She wanted that.

That was power, unrestrained. It was the Void. She had heard glimpses of it, seen bits and pieces, nothing that told a genuine story as to what it was capable of, at least until she had seen this.

This was something else.

But she could not allow it to be wielded by anyone not her. The other two were different stories; Kanna was a part of Phantom Lord, Astrid’s child in essence. She had a place and earned her favor through what Astrid had seen through this. The other, one fortunate to have crossed paths at the right time and place, that was the most she could say to it. If they made it out alive, that would be their reward when all was said and done. If the other two must have been able to embrace the allure of the Void, so be it.

The same could not be said of this Giant.

As it sought to carry out its endgame with a final presentation, a final monologue as its time upon the stage drew to a close, Astrid could think of nothing more appropriate than to be the one that saw the curtain close early. As the infused-Giant stood there, channeling its massive attack in a state of blind devotion, never did it realize Astrid had moved in, now having kept far enough away such that the events previously would not repeat. But still close enough that she had a clear shot.

With a deep breath, she took in the same Eldritch Magic that the Frost Giant had sought to use, but it was clear that their proficiency were not equal. She was the Eldritch Dragon Slayer, a title that she very seldom acknowledged herself, but one that she knew meant she was imbued in absolute power and mastery. Whatever this thing, this abomination before her may have thought itself to be, it was nothing but an instrument for the real master; the heinous and warped Void that had overtaken it in its entirety.

There seemed like a moment of utter silence, not a single sound, neither the rumbling of the creature’s massive attack, nor that of anything around her. Soundlessness. And then the bellow of the Roar erupted outwards out from Astrid’s mouth, a horrific sound emanating with it as it shot through, tearing through the upper torso of the creature, no remorse in its ferocity, nor that of Astrid’s own accord, continuing to channel as the blast eventually erode away to the point where there was nothing remaining of the Giant, save for the pair of legs that held nothing now, almost looking like whatever they once supported had been viciously consumed.

It was a terrifying sight. But for Astrid, it was beautiful.

Another second or two passed, there seeming to be what almost seemed like peace. Peace and quiet. But within this sort of calm, it was then that she realized the horrifying reality.

The Void attack, it remained, still suspended within the air, but now grossly unstable. Without the conduit of the Void to channel it properly, now it was nothing more than an amalgamation of Void and Eldritch Magic intertwined, tendrils swirling, madness just begging to be released. Her eyes widened, a part of her actually excited to see what may have come next.

It was chaotic, but she was was enthralled by it. That was the power that she was going to take for herself.

Soon enough.


-----
Synopsis:
Eldritch Frost Giant suffers 1 A-Rank from Eldritch Dragon's Mind Break.
Eldritch Frost Giant suffers 2 S-Rank worth of damage from Astrid's Eldritch Dragon's Roar.
Eldritch Frost Giant damage taken: 5 S-Rank
Eldritch Frost Giant's attack is still active, but unstable and volatile.

Word Count: 4,716/4,000

Mana: 10,165/11,500

Passive Effects:
Major Sonar Detection: Astrid can can use sonar to detect the movements of anyone within a 50-meter range and sense their location.

• via Aberration
  

Spider Sense: Astrid possesses an enhanced perception that allows her to foretell danger before it happens which intensifies based on the threat or proximity within 20 meters.

• via Arachnida
  

Steel Skin: Astrid does not receive damage to her Endurance while still receiving damage to their Constitution. Her skin cannot be pierced, slashed, burned etc. While they do still receive damage, it makes them impervious to the additional damage that might come into play from such hits.

• via Luchador's Belt
  

Spells Used:

Name: Eldritch Dragon's Mind Break
Rank: S
Mana Cost: 500 (175)
Requirements: Eldritch Dragon Slayer Magic
Type: Offensive - Debuff [Enhancement: Armor Piercing]
Element: Arcane
Range: 25 Meters (60 Meters)
Cooldown: Once per topic
Duration: Sustain - 5 Posts
Effect: The user holds out a hand in front of them, sending an innumerable amount of waves of Eldritch Magic at multiple targets. The target suffers from brutal levels of psychological and mental trauma, akin to one's mind being utterly torn asunder. While under the effect of this trauma the victims will receive A-rank damage to the head each turn, or can attempt to purge the magic from their being by taking 3 S-rank damage to the head right away. As long as the victim is under effect of the Mind Break their Intelligence is considered zero. Overcharge does not apply to this spell, and it cannot be nullified.

Name: Eldritch Dragon's Roar
Rank: S
Mana Cost: 500 (200)
Requirements: Eldritch Dragon Slayer Magic
Type: Offensive [Enhancement: Damage Over Time, Armor Piercing, Overcharge - Offensive]
Element: Arcane
Range: 25 Meters (60 Meters)
Cooldown: 5 Posts (3 Posts)
Duration: Instant
Effect: The user holds a finger up to their lips while taking in a deep breath. They then exhale, unleashing a massive blast of Eldritch Dragon Slayer Magic out at a target, travelling the maximum distance of the spell, dealing 2 S-Rank damage to all targets caught within its blast proximity as it expands outward, having a maximum width of 25 meters at its furthest length. With each subsequent post following any targets being struck by this ability, they will suffer an additional instance of damage equal to 1 Rank lower than the previous post (2 S -> 1 S -> 1 A, etc) so long as the user wishes to sustain the damage component.

It was not so much looking into art as it was, gazing into destiny perhaps.

A little of the first, and some of the second. Certainly, both could have been true too.

Astrid’s eyes were wide, excitement intertwined with uncertainty, this a fleeting moment perhaps of her own mortality and vulnerability. Her body ached, the total ordeal that they had gone through thus far, difficult although her own wounds were far from that of those otherwise; Kanna remained, yet the other one, wherever they may have gone, Astrid could not tell. Nor quite could she admittedly care about that. Even to her own guildmate, her child, she still found herself more enthralled by that of the Void before her.

It was tragic though. The sad truth was that as impressive as this display was, the last attempt by whatever presence lurked within here to try to stop the conquest that was inevitable by Astrid and company, it could not last. The Void would not be stopped outright through Fiore, those were not the stakes that they fought for today. No. This was an isolated fight, a singular battle waged in what inevitably would be a campaign issued, not perhaps by them, but by others who fought for similar or different reasons.

For her, it was power. And there would no doubt that others would pursue power too. But unlike all those who would venture forth on likely suicide missions, Astrid had seen success already. She had seen proof of the Void, and more even, was at the point of besting it all her own.

The Frost Giants were no more, having been methodically and systematically destroyed by their onslaught, led heavily by Astrid’s own arsenal. An arsenal which ironically seemed only to further fuel this attack before her, the unstable amalgamation of Void and Eldritch Magic enveloped within one another to create something else entirely, seeming to only become more and more unstable with each passing moment. Worse even, without the host that once served as the vessel – having been ripped to shreds by Astrid’s Dragon Roar – the attack seemed worse for wear with each passing second. Though a threat certainly, it quite clearly was weakening.

She saw the beam before anything else. A burst of energy shot outwards from a short distance away, directly into the heart of the Void collective. She could not immediately see, but could tell as the sonar within her repeatedly hummed. Kanna. Astrid could not help but flash a weak smile as she watched the woman utilizing her own Magic which seemed to further deteriorate the Void, to Astrid’s mixed sentiment. It was as much a case of Kanna doing exactly what Astrid wanted, seeing her prove her value. But on the other hand, it was hard to get over seeing a thing like this become little more than nothingness.

Yet, for Kanna’s persistence, her attack did not seem quite enough to wholly stop the Void from further existing, its presence still there, a shell of what it was when being harnessed by the Eldritch Frost Giant. In her mind the choice became apparent, clear even. Moving forward to where she was now directly underneath it all now, the broken down remains of the Frost Giant only a short bit away from her, she looked up, seeing the Void, its appearance even more hideous than perhaps what even she could have first imagined it being. There was still beauty in that horror, and there was beauty in what she had done next.

Holding a hand raised, she began to breath in, hoping to draw out the Eldritch Magic within the mass of Magical energy. She was no fool. She knew that to consume the Void, it would be no different than her simply walking directly within it, but she had no interest in consuming it. All she wanted was to simply draw it ever so much closer to her. She watched on with great intensity as out from the corner of her eye she could still see Kanna’s blast further weakening it too. Between them both, eventually it did begin to descend down, enough to where it had come in contact with her open palm.

Exactly where she wanted it being.

And then she felt it, a rush of energy that came all through her body, a sensation of revitalization that swirled within her, whatever pain that once existed within her as a result of the Frost Giant having destroyed her shield earlier was gone. Instead she was as if never suffered any sort of wound. It was exhilarating. It was addictive.

And she could not help but want more.

Looking again to the mass, it was but little more than some power that still existed within the air, unlikely lethal to either her or Kanna for the matter. It was a trifle of what it may have been, barely a brick to the massive manor that had been its earlier form. There should not have been any issue with just another small taste of it, and as she held her arm out further, suddenly she felt the agony sweep in.

Her arm was there still, her having full control over it too, but it seemed off. It felt hollow. Empty. Like whatever Magical power she had, whatever she could have channeled and harnessed without complication before, it was simply not there within her arm any further. She looked at it, a look of horror upon her face, whatever excitement and delight she may have felt towards the Void attack being removed instead lost in panic over what she had just encountered.

Was it the Void that had done this? She was loathed to believe so, else her body would also have felt the agony associated with it. That it was her arm, a thought crept into her head, the idea that this was a result of her Aberration qualities, the Drain that she had become equipped with, was it flawed? No, it served its purpose to the letter, removing what was left of the Void and restoring her own body’s wounds.

Why then the hollowness that she was feeling now?

With a shake of her hand, she dismissed the accursed feeling that lingered within her mind, proceeding towards Kanna, whatever urgency that may have been thick within the air long since dissipated.

“Well done,” she called out as she clapped, as much an effort to show praise as to ensure still that there were feeling within her arm – the worry over what had happened now having consumed her thoughts and main focus. “I will admit, at first I did not have great expectations, but you…” She trailed off for a brief moment with a scoff, “I’m glad to have been proven wrong about someone like you.”

Moving closer, she now came within but a foot or so of the woman, still adorned in an impressive armor, the whereabouts of how she came into possession of it an unknown to Astrid. But those details weren’t much relevant now to the duo. Down the line, certainly such insights could be explored proper. But right now was the time for celebration, or more appropriately victorious reflections. “Well done, my dear,” holding a hand out now, Astrid smiled as her fingers caressed the cheek of Kanna, an affectionate gesture, but one not drenched purely of lust, but rather that of pride.

Pride for what her child had accomplished here.

“As much as I would love the idea of believing that there was something here for us, some sort of trophy or relic to make all of this worth it, I don’t think so. Look around,” she paused, taking her eyes of Kanna to survey the surroundings, corpses of Frost Giants and remnants of battle the only thing in sight, “Whatever we may have thought here, that power died within that last ditch effort moments before. You and I now stand within some fallen ruins amongst fallen Giants. Nothing more.”

She pulled away, her eyes briefly looking up and down the entirety of Kanna, the brief tendrils of lust showing themselves as her eyes returned to face Kanna’s with a smile upon her face. “As much as it pains me to say. The Void’s presence here is telling, but alas, whatever prize you and I sought, that will be the best of it.”

She started on her way, the sad reality being that their venture had been for naught. There was no real prize. No glory. Proof of the Void, certainly. But what tangible benefit did either of them hope to gain from that knowledge? She could not speak for Kanna, but Astrid certainly would have preferred an actual relic than that of what they were walking out of there with.

“I know not what your plans are next,” she started, stopping for a moment as she turned her head back towards Kanna, a wicked smirk on her face as she glared, “But when you find yourself back in Oak Town, make sure you let me know. I will see to that you are properly recognized for what you achieved here.”

[Exit]



-----
Synopsis:
Astrid used Vitality Drain twice on what remained of the Void/Eldritch attack. Combined with Kanna's assault, it was dispersed into nothing else. Astrid's left arm is hindered for the remainder of the topic due to circumventing Vitality Drain's S-Rank cooldown.

Word Count: 6,240/4,000

Mana: 10,165/11,500

Passive Effects:
Major Sonar Detection: Astrid can can use sonar to detect the movements of anyone within a 50-meter range and sense their location.

• via Aberration
  

Spider Sense: Astrid possesses an enhanced perception that allows her to foretell danger before it happens which intensifies based on the threat or proximity within 20 meters.

• via Arachnida
  

Spells Used:

Name: Vitality Drain
Rank: D-S
Mana Cost: -
Requirements: Aberration
Type: Supplementary
Element: Arcane
Range: 5 Meters
Cooldown: -
Duration: Instant
Effect: An Aberration can hold out one of their hands in the direction of a target spell or in contact with a target. By paying Mana equal to the cost of the spell and/or a rank of their choice when used in contact with a user, the Aberration may drain mana from the target, adding the rank's worth associated with the paid Mana cost towards the Aberration's Constitution, restoring any lost. The cooldown and mana cost are based on the rank's worth of energy drained, up to a maximum of S-rank. While this spell is on cooldown, the Aberration may cast this again, but doing so results in the Aberration's arm(s) being rendered permanently hindered for the remainder of the topic, unable to be used either to fight or as a medium for spells. The cooldown of this spell can only be reduced through the different Aberration Transformations.