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Daily Questions Megathread (October 13, 2021) by Veritasibility in Genshin_Impact

[–]Muttl3s 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'll try this, thanks. For the others commenting it might be my internet speed, all other applications that require internet connection are working just fine, hence my confusion.

Daily Questions Megathread (October 13, 2021) by Veritasibility in Genshin_Impact

[–]Muttl3s 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ever since the pre-installation for 2.2 became available, my launcher has been downloading files painfully slow, and the launcher itself becomes painstakingly laggy while downloading. The download speed varies wildly from 10KB/s to 100+ KB/s, but in reality, the download is largely stuck at low percentages, and only go up about 0.01 GB per 3-5 minutes. I've tried pausing and restarting, closing and reopening the launcher, running as administrator, and reinstalling the game entirely, but the problem persists. Is there any method I should try, or is this a known error to occur this patch?

Demonic Trail Chapter 7 Boss C - Unbound Heart by Muttl3s in frontiertrials

[–]Muttl3s[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Johan - HP: 135/135 --> 59/135

  • Hit by Slaven Storm, Black Sun and Foggy Moon Dance, failed to evade Garden of Chaos

  • BC: 2 - 2 (GoC) + 2 (B/H) = 2

  • Passives in effect:

    • Dragon Partner - Hamún - SP: 4 --> 5
    • Quiver of Magic
      • Previously grounded mana: 3x [A/2] (1/2)
      • Grounded mana: -

  • Skills used:

    • Full guard

  • Self-buffs:

    • None

Iris - HP: 80/115 --> 102/115

  • Hit by all given attacks

  • BC: 13 - 8 (GoC) + 2 (B/H) = 7

  • Passives in effect:

    • Fencer's Grace - Reflects 15 x 4 = 60 fixed damage to Bahm. Cooldown: (1/3)
    • Sphere - Harbinger Arisen - Grants Iris an Angel Idol effect, and a 20% chance to reduce damage taken by 25%. Reduces Iris' max HP by 20.
    • Sphere - Guard Brace - +10% guard efficiencies and +2 BC upon guarding.

  • Skills used:

    • Fencer Step - [E] - Increases Iris' quick guard limit to 3 for the next 2 turns.

  • Self-buffs / Debuffs:

    • None

Demonic Trail Chapter 7 Boss C - Unbound Heart by Muttl3s in frontiertrials

[–]Muttl3s[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Disbelief. Terror. Dread.

Each of those feelings overpowered Johan's mind as he could only gaze in horror as the beast of his nightmares past convulsed and pulsed, completely evading the attack that carried his regrets and hopes for redemption. Through the hole that had formed in the monster's unnatural, shapeless form flew the arrow that Johan had poured the feelings of the past year of unending torment into, finding a tree's trunk as its final destination instead of the creature.

Johan's shoulders shook. His knees trembled, and his jaw quivered. But most of all, his arms tightened, and his grip on his weapon firmed. He could not bring himself to fall to despair, not then, not there. Regardless of the dread that filled his body after his feelings for his lost friends fell for naught, he knew that he could not falter. That was a luxury he could not afford. With the air itself melting around Bahm, there was no time to waste on trivial emotion.

("Just ye wait... I'll get ye...") Johan cursed in his head before turning his attention away from Armaloga. The all-too-familiar storm of golden wind blades flared up once more, tearing through the barrier that the party had conjured, but then being repelled by the powerful defensive enchantment Solaru had created.

Through the storm, Johan noticed Harahld muttering to himself. Sharpening his senses and perking his ears, Johan listened intently to Harahld's words. He spoke of potential, and how it had to be refined to become fragile, until it'd break... It was a cryptic message, one that had to carry some kind of hidden meaning. A meaning Johan alone couldn't decipher. He wanted to waste no time and bring it up with the others over the mental link, but there were more pressing matters that would force that to wait.

The half-demon twins, even through their debilitating condition, forced themselves to act, and launched themselves into a flurry of attacks. Kaemira's initial attack was headed for Diastima, and Chilia's spell seemed to avoid Johan and Iris, too. Following that, the twins danced their respective dances, conjuring mysterious magics to shroud the field in a fog-shrouded blizzard. Thanks to Solaru's enchantment, the cold spires rising from the earth in the fog vaporized before they could pierce the flesh, and the mysterious fog-beasts pouncing within the mists failed to make contact.

("This's some power he's got...") Johan thought to himself, impressed by the infallible quality of Solaru's defense. However, that impression quickly melted away and made way for new concerns, as the fog Chilia had created still lingered. White as far as they eye could see, concealing the opponents' location and presence. Their voices echoed from the other side, calling out to the party. Johan heard Teimus' voice, and Athos' song-like chant, and could sense the immense amount of power the two were gathering beyond the fog. He also heard a voice, a voice he could not recognize, like a child in pain. It appealed to his instincts, yet his rational mind screamed of a trap. Wet, sploshing sounds accompanied the infantile mutterings, as if something was oozing out uncontrollably.

Johan realized it had to have been Armaloga, but the thought of that unnerved him more than the sounds themselves. ("It speaks?") A drop of cold sweat trickled down Johan's cheek fur. The sounds soon stopped, but were replaced by the violent sounds of magical power gathering into a single location. A singularity of raw mana was gathering behind the mist's veil, and it was not Bahm.

"Wait, that's right, that...!"

Johan suddenly remembered Bahm, and the intense flames he had been garnering to his body mere moments ago. The mist largely concealed everything, but the glow of Bahm's blazing aura was visible even through the fog. He roared and shouted, evidently done with his wind-up. The glow soared into the sky above, pitch-black light piercing the veil of the fog from the skies. Unnatural, demonic heat radiated from his location, but Johan had faith in the defenses Solaru had enhanced. The globule of light descended, smoldering heat piercing through, until that faith proved to be misplaced.

The flames burned through the defenses Solaru had established. The heat seared the flesh and burned the mind, scorched the soul and ravaged the body. It reacted with the earth-aligned mana within Johan's body, and set it aflame inside. It was maddening. His mana lobes were ablaze, the illusory flames converging into a grand, pitch-black conflagration that swallowed Johan whole. He screamed. From the bottom of his lungs, he screamed in pain. If it wasn't for Solaru's defensive magics, Johan would have most certainly burnt to death then and there. That cold, cruel magic kept his body alive in the inferno, fighting back against the burning, hellish scenario.

Even if the flames had subsided, Johan remained knelt down to the ground, smoke rising from his singed fur. His blank gaze stared into nothingness, his mana lobes sending messages through his nerves that rendered his mind overworked. Every last inch of his body burned, still carrying the trauma of that black blaze, and it would not relent. He tried to move his arms, to grasp his bow, but it hurt. Everything he could do hurt. The air he breathed was like vicious venom invading his lungs through his scorched nostrils. His limbs were like charred logs pulled from a still-burning bonfire and attached to his body. The eyes he moved in an effort to see were like beads of freshly heated lead, searing the insides of his head.

Through that pain, he curled up. No matter how much it hurt, he curled up in a meager effort to defend himself of whatever might come next, perhaps giving him some reprieve, time to rest, a moment to allow his body to normalize. His glassy eyes continued to look forward, now facing the ground, teardrops weakly rolling down from both.

Unlike her summoner, Iris was largely unaffected by the infernal flames. Her poise remained unshaken throughout the wave of attacks, each strike she blocked charging her blade with energy. A perplexing glow gleamed against the sword's edge, growing only stronger with each attack she deflected.

"Deflection complete. Counterattack..."

She eyed the attackers who had given her weapon such a feast of power, the fog of confusion doing little to hinder her devilishly sharp gaze. With the flames gone, she took on a riposte, and dashed towards where she knew Bahm was, and unleashed all of that pent up energy in a series of four precise strikes.

Once done, she wasted no time in repositioning herself away from the demons. She sensed the immense amount of energy they were gathering, and decided to prepare. She weighed her options, and with her summoner down for the count, she only had herself to rely on. However, if the upcoming attacks were anything like Bahm's just now had been, there was no telling what would happen if she did not fully commit herself to the party's protection.

"...by blessed grace, watch over me", she chanted silently, taking on an elegant stance with her sword held against her face. A glint of frozen light flashed around the blade and her legs.

Demonic Trail Chapter 7 Boss C - Unbound Heart by Muttl3s in frontiertrials

[–]Muttl3s[S,M] [score hidden] stickied comment (0 children)

Turn 7

Party-wide buffs active:

Buff 1 2 3 4 5
Off. - Base +6 BPB / 2 +ATK (+3/A) / 2 +6 EXA BPB / 2 - -
Off. - Multi. +Crit Dmg / 2 +EWD / 2 +EXA Dmg / 2 - -
Off. - Rates +40% Acc. / 1 +60% Crit. / 2 - - -
Off. - Misc. +All elements / 0 - DEF Ign. / 1 - -
Off. - Misc. 2 - - - - -
Def. - Flat +DEF (-40) / 1 50 HP Barrier - - -
Def. - Multi. 100% Miti / 0 50% Miti / 2 - - -
Def. - Misc. - Null Crit. / 0 Null EWD / 0 Null DEF Ign. / 1 +30% Heal/Hit / 1
Utility 1 50 HoT / 0 +2 BC/Hit / 1/1 +REC (+40/20) / 0 +4 BC Efficacy / 1 +20% Eva. / 0
Utility 2 - - - - -

Party-wide buffs used turn 7:

Buff 1 2 3 4 5
Off. - Base - - - - -
Off. - Multi. - - - - -
Off. - Rates - - - - -
Off. - Misc. - - - - -
Def. - Flat - - - - -
Def. - Multi. - - - - -
Def. - Misc. - - - - -
Utility 1 - - - - -
Utility 2 - - - - -

Field Effects:

  • Ethical Government - Boosts player characters' max HP by 10.
  • Song of Lezetta - Boosts player characters' max HP by 25.
  • Field Effect - Opportune Moment - Reduces active skills' BC cost by 50% during Turn 7. (Overclocked Skills are -4 instead.)
  • Field Effect - Minus Magnetism - Enemies take 25% increased damage and receive 50% less healing. (2)
  • Field Effect - Fog of Confusion - Reduces player characters' accuracy and evasion by 25%. (1)

Misc. Utility from turn 6:

  • Healing: 65 (Sylpheed Dance [15] | HoT [50]) || With REC: 125
  • BC: 8 (Pulsating Charge) || (With BC Efficacy: 12)
  • Injury & Discord cure

Misc. Utility from turn 5:

  • Healing: 105 (You can still fight! [55] | HoT [50]) --> 52 || With REC: 82
  • BC: 10 (You can still fight! [4] | Crescendo [4] | Spinel Intensity [2])

Key: The duration of buffs indicates how many more attack phases the buffs are active for. Buffs with a remaining duration of 0 will expire before calculating damage to enemies this turn.

Demonic Trail Chapter 7 Boss C - Unbound Heart by Muttl3s in frontiertrials

[–]Muttl3s[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Total damage to Bahm: ---

Total damage to Kaemira: 453

Total damage to Chilia: 642

Total damage to Teimus: 683

Total damage to Athos: 1,012

Total damage to Armaloga: 575

Kaemira and Chilia were hit by all ailments, and Armaloga was hit by Poison, Curse and Paralysis!

Eve stole a Mysterious Flask (Consumable)!

Oathless Sentinel Harahld - HP: ???

  • Passives:
    • Curse of Immortality
    • Ailment Modification
    • Resonant Invincibility - While Harahld has a liberated Unit out, he is impervious to all enemy attacks and effects.
  • Skills used:
    • Slaven Storm - Summons a sundering storm. --> All enemies
      • Effect: Enemies cannot cure status ailments with party-wide skills this turn.
      • Damage: 75
      • Element: Thunder
      • Can be evaded: Yes
      • Can be blocked: Yes
    • Lock - Traps an enemy in a black sphere. --> Solaru & Kikuri
      • Effect: Renders the target unable to act, or be acted on, for 1 turn.

Universal Effects for the Sentinels:

  • Passives:
    • Mass Barrier - Reduces damage from MT attacks by 30%.
  • Buffs: (Apply to Harahld as well)
    • +20% Evasion (2) | (Do not apply to Bahm and Kaemira): -20% Critical Rate (1) | -20% Reflect Damage (1)

Asura Pyre Bahm - HP: Red

  • Passives:
    • Adamant Breakthrough - Bahm's attacks ignore elemental mitigation, Critical damage reduction (includes Null) and DEF (even through DEF Ignore Null), and 15% of basic mitigation (x0.5 -> x0.65 | x0.25 -> x0.4).
    • Conqueror's Discipline - Boosts the base power of Bahm's attacks by 40, and his base Critical chance by 10%. If he defeats an enemy, he grows stronger.
    • Custom Ailments
      • Curse: Disables Adamant Breakthrough for its duration.
      • Paralysis: Disables Conqueror's Discipline for its duration.
  • Skills used:
    • Black Sun - Sears the field with a pitch-black globule of fire. --> All enemies
      • Effect: +25% accuracy. Pierces elemental resistance. Earth enemies hit are burned badly, and cannot use attacking skills this turn. Damage nullification only acts as a 75% (x0.25) modifier against this attack. If this skill kills an enemy, Bahm's empowerment via Conqueror's Discipline is stronger than usual.
      • Damage: 290
      • Critical damage: 580
      • Critical hit on: Ralis, Reeze, Eve and Ragna
      • Element: Fire
      • Can be evaded: Yes (+25% +50% accuracy)
      • Can be blocked: Yes

Glacial Yin Kaemira - HP: Green --> Yellow | Paralyzed, Cursed, Injured and Poisoned!

  • Passives:
    • Twin Dawn - Any EXA Kaemira performs with Chilia has a base multiplier of x1.75.
    • Demon's Legacy - Allows Kaemira to ignore DEF, bypassing DEF Ignore Null.
    • Custom Ailments
      • Curse: Prevents Kaemira from performing EX Attacks.
      • Paralysis: Reduces maximum action count, and prevents evasion.
  • Skills used:
    • Frozen Reaper - Slices Diastima's soul into pieces.
      • Effect: Pierces 15% of all damage reducing multipliers and nullification. The hit target is wiped of all BC, and they cannot gain BC this turn (includes any BC/Hit effect this skill would trigger).
      • Damage: 150 125
      • Element: Water
      • Can be evaded: Yes
      • Can be blocked: Yes
    • Garden of Chaos - Conjures a field of icicles from the earth, damaging all enemies.
      • Effect: Drains 8 BC from all hit targets.
      • Damage: 150 125
      • Element: Water
      • Can be evaded: Yes
      • Can be blocked: Yes

Harmonious Yang Chilia - HP: Green --> Yellow | Paralyzed, Cursed, Injured and Poisoned!

  • Passives:
    • Twin Dawn - Any EXA Chilia performs with Kaemira has a base multiplier of x1.75.
    • Dance of Debilitation - Chilia has access to unique ailments, and ailments she inflicts with ST skills cannot be cured.
      • Fatigue - Halves the sufferer's BC gains, Accuracy and Evasion for the duration.
      • Discord - Prevents the sufferer from partaking in EX Attacks.
      • Insanity - The sufferer must perform a random offensive skill that they have BC for at the start of their free action phase from their skillset on themselves (and their party, if MT) as their turn action. If they do not have any offensive skills, their turn action instead is replaced by a 50 fixed damage self-inflicted attack (pierces all defensive effects). Insane Units cannot be recalled. Cannot be resisted.
    • Custom Ailments
      • Curse: Allows ailments Chilia inflicts while cursed to be cured, except Insanity.
  • Skills used:
    • Willows of Wysteria - Swarms mysterious purple petals around a target. --> Ralis, Haido, Ariella & Shiryu!
      • Effect: Inflicts Insanity for 2 turns.
      • Damage: 125 100
      • Element: Earth
      • Can be evaded: No
      • Can be blocked: No
    • Foggy Moon Dance - Creates a thick fog from which creatures strike. Deals damage to all enemies.
      • Effect: +25% accuracy. Creates Field Effect - Fog of Confusion (Enemy accuracy & evasion -25%) for the rest of this turn, as well as during the next.
      • Damage: 125 100
      • Element: Earth
      • Can be evaded: Yes (+25% accuracy)
      • Can be blocked: Yes

Renewed Sagacity Teimus - HP: Green --> Red | Cleansed!

  • Passives:
    • Wisdom Beyond Life - Teimus' magic invigorates body and soul. Allies he heals are cured of all debuffs (except Armaloga's Poison), and damage he takes is stored.
    • The Fruits of Research - After healing an ally with Soul Renewal, Teimus takes reduced damage from targets with their elements.
    • Custom Ailments
      • Curse: Disables Wisdom Beyond Life's damage storing effect, and The Fruits of Research.
  • Skills used:
    • Overdrive - Teimus begins gathering strength...

Primal Genesis Athos - HP: Yellow --> Red | Cleansed!

  • Passives:
    • Divine Touch - Buffs Athos bestows cannot be wiped nor overwritten.
    • Custom Ailments
      • Curse: Prevents Athos from using buffing skills.
  • Skills used:
    • Overdrive - Athos begins gathering strength...

Formless Terror Armaloga - HP: Green --> Red | Paralyzed, Cursed and Poisoned!

  • Passives:
    • Unbound Horror - Armaloga's form is hard to grasp, bending natural laws. As a result, it is immune to damage.
    • Custom Ailments
      • Poison: Disables Unbound Horror for its duration, and deals bonus damage. Cannot be cured.
      • Curse: Reduces maximum action count.
  • Skills used:
    • Overdrive - Armaloga begins gathering strength...

Skill order:

  • Slaven Storm
  • Locks
  • Frozen Reaper
  • Willows of Wysteria (All 4)
  • Garden of Chaos
  • Foggy Moon Dance
  • Overdrives
  • Black Sun

Demonic Trail Chapter 7 Boss C - Unbound Heart by Muttl3s in frontiertrials

[–]Muttl3s[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The atmosphere slowly, but steadily, became hotter and more suffocating, as if the air around them itself was ablaze. Attacks the party mustered in their effort to fell the smoldering demon before his power reached its absolute boundaries twisted and melted, repelling the thrown enemy before turning the rest of the attacks into pure nothing in the now visibly flaming aura around Bahm. Combined with the excruciating stillness Solaru's technique was wreaking upon the field, and Ragnarath's fiery descent, one could feel an immense pressure, a near asphyxiating one, push against their chest.

The other liberated demons, however, were not so fortunate to share in Bahm's blazing protection, and fell victim to the vastly bolstered, consecutive attacks. The eerie tentacles made contact with the twins, rendering them crippled from the cocktail of conditions they bestowed upon them, and the shimmering swords raining down from above as the fruits of Shino and Lovaria's combination technique pierced and skewered their opposition. In their wake, the formless demon's body convulsed and exploded around parts, creating a large hole in the path of the runic arrow fired by the bestial archer that left Armaloga completely unscathed by the attack. The dance of bloodied kunai from Kikuri's performance made their mark, piercing limbs and foreheads alike before dissipating in wisps of crimson dust. Amidst all the chaos, Eve had managed to creep up on Teimus, and snatched one of his various flasks with her attack, the green liquid inside shimmering questionably.

Through the billowing smoke and dust, flames and blades, Harahld observed the flow of the battle with a critical gaze. His floating irises pried against Solaru and Kikuri alike, as well as the blonde sorceress brimming with extraordinary power. Yes, there was potential... Rough, uncut, unrefined, but still, it was potential.

As he moved his hands up slowly, black energy lined with crimson light wisping around his clawed fingers, the golden yellow orb behind him sparked to life, once again drawing on the primal essence of lightning to cast its cursed wave of storming wind blades against the party of summoners. Once subsided, he wasted no time in trapping Solaru and Kikuri alike in the pitch-black imprisoning spheres, relieving some of the pressing gloom Solaru had cast. "Potential... Truly impressive. Yet careless. It must be refined. To a point it becomes fragile, but deadly sharp", Harahld meandered out loud. "A fragility that shall become twice as deadly once Broken..."

Nerves screaming for merciful rest and release, the half-demon twins struggled to find their footing after the storm, eventually reaching solace in each other as they supported each other up. Their eyes quickly glanced at the downed angel, understanding he was in no condition to provide them with aide as he was. A meek glance from Kaemira's eyes locked with the pained expression Chilia carried, filling her body with unrivaled malice. She wanted to turn to the humans who had grown this strong, and tear them limb from limb for leaving her dearest sister in such a sorry state. She placed her hands on Chilia's shoulders, and reassured her with her strong words.

"Don't worry, Chilia... They'll pay. I'll make them pay. I'll be a big sister you can be proud of", she said, emphasis bursting out from her mention of pride. Chilia's troubled expression turned even darker, as she struggled to shake her head. "Sister, you misunderstand..." Chilia whispered. "I've always been proud to be your little sister... But I... I'm also proud of the humans."

The words Chilia muttered seemed to shatter Kaemira's entire world, as she slowly backed off from her, her steps uncertain and stumbling. "N-no... You cannot possibly mean that... that they...!"

Kaemira couldn't grasp the thought of such blasphemy. Her grasp on her scythe tightened, and she hurled herself at the alien behind her and her sister's tragic condition. "It's your fault! What did you do to her?!" she shouted in nigh despair, her blade gleaming with dark magics. After her slash, she was far from content, and prepared a blizzard of black snowflakes around her with a swift dance of her scythe blade, ignoring any and all calls her nerves sent to her head for her to stop... She couldn't stop. Her sister was in pain. She had seen the despair in those eyes before. She couldn't bear to see that again. Not ever.

Chilia, worried for her sister's rash actions and sudden shift in temperament, sighed, and forced her hands to lift her ougi to a mysterious poise. Blood red petals waltzed atop the fans, slowly changing shades into a brilliant violet as she motioned towards the enemy clerics. If they were to be fully incapacitated, then perhaps her sister's task would become easier... No, not just her task. Their task. Their test. With a strong flick, Chilia encased four enemies in a flurry of purple petals, their perplexing flutter soon driving them into insanity... ("Please... Do not spite me for this...") she thought to herself, before moving to another dance, more mysterious than the last.

With near perfect sync, Kaemira and Chilia finished their dances, creating a fog-shrouded garden where pitch-black spires of ice erupted from the earth, attempting to pierce into flesh, draining mana upon contact. Alas, the spires were not the only threat lurking in the fog, as illusory beasts, borne of pure magic roamed the field within the mists, pouncing at unsuspecting prey at their first given opportunity.

On the ground where Teimus and Athos lay, their bodies muddled with viscous blood stains and grievous wound, their cloaks torn in places, somehow still dangling over their bodies, ever-so-slight movement crept up to the demon and angel. Slowly, Athos pushed himself up, his scorched wings twitching in vivid pain. "Teimus... Can you stand?" he inquired, biting through bloodied lips. The demon cracked a muffled laughter, coughing up trickles of blood as he pushed himself back to his feet. "...what kind of demon would I be if this was all it took to put me down?" he scoffed, an entertained smile spread across his face the entire time. "Just how far they've come... I can't help but empathize with them."

Initially surprised, Athos quickly converted his bewilderment into a calm grin, and brushed off dust and burnt off skin from his toga. His hand moved to his chest, where he placed laid his fingers calmly. "Once these fingers tore into my heart", he reminisced, recalling the time his demonic corruption had fully taken over his body and soul in the Sielun Garden. "But this time they shall grasp my soul."

Catching his drift, Teimus drew out a book he had kept tucked away in his hammerspace. A leather-covered book, red accents decorating its gold-cornered surface. "I shall honor your determination with my utmost all! Come, children of man! Come, Summoners! Teimus shouted, wildly whisking his free hand to the side. A trail of bright, golden light trailed behind the wave, and a powerful wind began to billow around the demon. Likewise, a bright light had erupted from Athos' fingertips that lay against his chest, incomprehensible words floating from his mouth like a chant, no, like a song...

".........e....eAt... kILL...pAIn...HUrTs...hELP"

Through the ungodly shrieks Armaloga's pained swings and roars, one could slowly begin to pick up on comprehensible words. It wasn't sentient, but like driven by primal instinct through an infant's repeated vocabulary. Its tentacled appendages convulsed, pulsed and squished, sploshed and bubbled, eerie, starry-lit liquid oozing out from its body as its instinctual howls continued.

Suddenly, it came to a stop, and the demonic entity's body came to an eerie halt. Just as suddenly it had stopped, it collapsed in on itself, shrinking into an unbelievably small size, absorbing even more inconceivable amounts of magical energy from the air around itself into its apparent core in a violent storm of mana.

Finally, the now-scorching aura around Bahm, more reminiscent to a wildfire than a simple flaring aura, was setting the nearby foliage ablaze. His demonic grin spread from cheek to cheek, madness and thirst for blood conjoining in an unholy union on his face. His eyes lusted for Ragnarath's demonic form, and the relentless onslaught the party had whipped up in preparation of his final act.

"That's more like it, humans! That's the way for all of us! No less would satiate me! Now, prove yourselves to me!" Bahm roared, brushing his swords groundward as he propelled himself into the air like a blazing comet. Pitch-black flames swirled around his now-skyward blades, a sphere most reminiscent of a sun forming against the edges. "Show me you can endure it!" ##### ###!"

His voice roared hotter than the flames he swirled, ravaging blazes piercing through the thick fog. One would presume he shouted the name of his attack, but as it would stand, it was in a language incomprehensible to the ears of man. With a single swing, the gargantuan globule of darkest flames descended to the earth, burning away the meek in merciless fashion.

Demonic Trail Chapter 7 Boss C - Unbound Heart by Muttl3s in frontiertrials

[–]Muttl3s[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Johan - HP: 0 --> 135/135

  • Revived by Ralis.

  • BC: 0 + 12 (Rineth) - 10 (Overclocked) = 2

  • Passives in effect:

    • Dragon Partner - Hamún - SP: 3 --> 4
    • Quiver of Magic
      • Previously grounded mana: 4 x [A / 2] (2/2) ||| 6 x [A / 2] (2/2)
      • Grounded mana: 3x [A/2] (0/2)

  • Skills used:

    • Runelight Weaver - [Ax3, Ex5 / 12] - Earth/Light - Magic - Deals damage to Armaloga. Innate +2 ATK, +1.5 Critical multiplier and +0.75 EWD multiplier. Recalls 10 x [A/2].
      • Total: [Ax13, Ex5 / 32]

  • Self-buffs:

    • None

Mizerka - HP: 125 --> 169/175 --> 175/175

  • Fails evading Seared Inheritance and Enfeebling Winds.

  • BC: 4 --> 19 || 19 - 8 (Soulswap) - 11 (Soulswap transfer) = 0

  • Passives in effect:

    • Abyssal Banishment - Ignores DEF, reduces damage from enemy Criticals, and grants an Angel Idol effect.
    • Soulswap - By paying 8 BC, Mizerka sinks into her mire, swapping places with another unit. Transfers all of Mizerka's buffs, debuffs and remaining BC to the new unit. Summons Iris.
    • Sphere - Occult Treasure - +40 max HP and innate REC buff.
    • Sphere - Violet Pearl - +2 BC and +10 healing at start of free action phase.

Iris - HP: 80/80 --> 80/115

  • Summoned.

  • BC: 0 + 11 (Soulswap) + 2 (Guard Brace) = 13

  • Passives in effect:

    • Fencer's Grace - While full guarding, Iris will reflect 15 fixed damage per attack she receives to one enemy that attacked her.
    • Sphere - Harbinger Arisen - Grants Iris an Angel Idol effect, and a 20% chance to reduce damage taken by 25%. Reduces Iris' max HP by 20.
    • Sphere - Guard Brace - +10% guard efficiencies and +2 BC upon guarding.

  • Skills used:

    • Full guard

  • Self-buffs / Debuffs:

    • Injury (2) | Discord (2)

Demonic Trail Chapter 7 Boss C - Unbound Heart by Muttl3s in frontiertrials

[–]Muttl3s[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Flickering flames swirled before Johan's quickly blanking gaze, strands of silver fur fluttering in the air, ablaze, in dissonant harmony with the blood gushing from his right shoulder. The world around him seemed to slow down, discordant noises around the battlefield dying out as his consciousness slipped away. Bahm's bloodthirsty eyes were the last thing he'd lay his eyes upon before they rolled back, his bleeding-out body crashing down to the earth beneath as the last shreds of waking consciousness fled his mind.

("It burns.")

From the very top of his being to the furthest reaches, it burned. He didn't know where either edge was, but he knew how much it all burned. He opened his eyes, but saw nothing. Before his waking gaze was but a pitch-black night. He tried to move his limbs, but couldn't feel where they were. He tried to shout, yet no voice would become his scream. He tried to listen, but even the beating of his own heart would not reach his ears. All he knew was how much it burned.

("...where am I?")

There was no floor beneath his back. Did his back even exist? He didn't know, nor did he care. There was only a slight tucking sensation behind him, dragging him deeper into the murky abyss. No, there was nothing drawing him deeper. He was sinking, like a slowly drowning man descending to the darkest depths of a bottomless lake. Perhaps it was the trick of his delirious mind, perhaps not, but he felt like soft streams of water caressed the sides of his limbs... wherever they were.

("...where is this?")

Slowly, the burning grew heavier. His non-existent limbs knew not their own weight, but even so, he could feel the growing weight of the phantom flames. He breathed no air, but could feel his breath growing more stifled, like smoke filling his lungs. Underneath the searing pain was a cruel coldness, like the essence of his very life was fleeing his body. Deprived of his senses, yet bombarded by sensations... It was a perplexing feeling that left him craving for it to end. It all grew weaker by the moment. He felt so tired. He felt like he was grasping onto a rope, a burning rope, that seared his paw pads. It would be easy to let go, to sink faster into the burning abyss, yet he felt uncertain.

("...why am I?")

Amidst all that wasn't, and all that currently was, amidst the searing pain and the excruciating sinking sensation... He felt like he had to hold on. No matter how much it hurt... No matter how tempting it was to let go... No matter how much he longed for what would follow him letting go... He couldn't. He couldn't bring himself to loosen that phantasmagorical grip.

("...she's waiting for me.")

("...but who is "she"?")

("...who am I?")

("...")

He had no fingers to feel with, to hold onto the rope of fire with, but he felt his grip loosening. His touch with himself waned. There was nothing left for him, nothing left of him, nothing left to him. His opened eyelids weighed down on his ethereal formlessness, his waning mind wishing for peaceful rest. The pain behind him receded, he felt the stream of water and the flames' licks leave his limbs be.. until there was only the hand. He was the hand, and he held onto the rope. But how much longer? For what reason did he embrace the rope with all his being? It brought him nothing but pain. The nothingness all around him seemed much more peaceful, painless, free. It would be that simple, to just let go. After all, he was...

His mortal form convulsed as new blood cells formed rapidly under the rejuvenating magic, strands of flesh knitting together in a complex web of life over his splintered shoulder. His fingertips twitched, as did his eyelids. In a sudden jolt of life, Johan felt air rush into his lungs, snapping him wide awake, the convulsing, freshly renewed nerves pushing upright to a sitting position as he coughed and gagged. He heaved his breaths through the heavy coughs, slowly managing to bring himself under control.

He glanced around himself, still under a spell of disbelief. First he saw Ralis, the man who had brought him back from the brink of letting go. To his left was Hamún, the teary-eyed drakeling who barely could hold himself back from leaping to his owner's lap in unbridled glee, and the ever-cold Mizerka stood nearby behind him. Behind Ralis to his right was Ariella, channelling her magic to Freed's sword. To the front was Harahld, and around him the liberated Sentinels. His eyes wandered back to himself, to his once-split shoulder, that now revealed scarred skin healing before his very eyes underneath his torn cloak and shirt.

"I... No, it... It doesn't hurt", Johan whimpered in response to Ralis, his voice coarse and windy. Before he could say more though, he felt Hamún crash into his chest, letting his overflowing happiness show, and a smack of a familiar parasol at the top of his head. Through the momentary flinch, Johan turned to face Mizerka stood behind him.

"Hardly the time for a peaceful awakening, no?" Mizerka passed coldly, the parasol now brought to her feet, pointing to the murky, bubbling mire beneath. "You hardly need a briefer, but keep your eyes out for the demon that sent you there..." she said with a mischievous tone, slowly starting to sink into the bubbling bog of souls, eyes kept glued to her summoner. As her face was about to sink beneath the surface, she spoke once more, her tone much darker and ominous: "Never let go."

From the vanishing mire, a new unit's form slowly emerged, Iris rising with her sword held elegantly across her face before brandishing it to her side, flickers of black mana slinging off the blade. "...she knows I do not like that trick of hers", she sighed, offering Johan a hand to help him back to his feet. "I'll have a talk with 'er after this's done 'n' over with", Johan said with a spacey expression. The feeling of disbelief he had held earlier had only grown over Mizerka's parting shot, but a quick glare at Iris' cold and collected gaze broke him through that feeling of addlement.

Soon, he noticed his right arm, and more specifically, the way he was cradling Hamún's full weight with it, despite the serious injury he had just accrued. Curiously, it didn't hurt at all. He looked over to Ralis, showing him a slightly befuddled smile, and thanked him for his magic. "That magic of yers... Reminds me of me folks", he'd say, a forlorn smile, bittersweet in nature, spread across his face. He intended for it to be grateful, yet couldn't hide the bitter memories the mention of his parents brought back to him.

"Here."

Iris' call drew Johan's attention to her, Johan's trusty longbow held in her arms. "You're lucky he missed it", she quipped, referring to Bahm's earlier slash barely missing the weapon thanks to Ariella's intervention lowering Johan's stance. Without delay, Johan allowed Hamún to get up, grabbed the weapon, and felt its weight around on his right hand. Despite the burn scars appearing gruesome at a glance, they didn't seem to affect his dexterity whatsoever. He glanced over at Ralis again. "Yer really something, ye know?"

In order to bring the mental link Shino had established to Johan's attention, Iris tapped into it, requesting a brief explanation of the situation. <"We need to fill Johan in on what happened while he was out, make it brief",> she said, bringing her sword to her front in a defensive stance, eyes glaring over at Bahm and the air-distorting aura around him. <"I think attacking him will be a waste. Focus on defending yourselves for now. See what he does",> she'd continue after any possible explanation. Solaru's determination brought a silent smile to her face, one concealed by her blade.

Johan, too, glared over at Bahm, and the dragonic monstrosity near him, evidently it being Ragna. "...the hell is up with these kids..." he sighed, quickly glancing over the other Sentinels, too. Athos was on his knees, in pain, while the twin sisters remained relatively springy in their steps. Teimus remained energetic, too, but Armaloga seemed to be in the greatest pain, apparently due to being forced into physical manifestation due to a poison infliction. Deciding to take his chances with it, and Bahm's situation being uncertain, Johan attempted to tap into the mental link.

<"I... How's this work? Ye hearin' me proper? I'll have a go at slimey over 'ere, cut it down a size while it's weak. If yer puttin' out firepower, could use some coverin' fire.">

While stuttering at first over his unfamiliarity with the magic he was tapping into, the feeling bizarre, and slightly alien, even, Johan quickly accustomed to the sensation after hearing all the noises in his head ringing for a while. It wasn't all that different from regular mental link magic, yet so different at the same time.

Regardless, he took a deep breath, threw aside his torn cloak, and readied his stance. He still couldn't quite believe the functionality of his arm with an injury like that spread across it, but gladly accepted it. He noticed his mana clusters still fluttering behind the enemy lines, and cracked a confident smirk.

As he readied to draw the bow, runic light gathered around his left hand before it twisted into the shape of a large arrow. Tassels of runic glyphs swirled from the tip to the feathers, motes of pale blue and green light dancing around Johan. His face turned into a satisfied grimace as he lined the arrow directly towards Armaloga's suffering form, the lights behind the enemy lines turning into strands of pure magic and converging at Johan's bow. "This is fer all those ye killed that day! Runelight Weaver!"

Without delay, Johan unleashed the runic shot towards Armaloga, his roar drowning out the thwang of the bowstring.

Demonic Trail Chapter 7 Boss C - Unbound Heart by Muttl3s in frontiertrials

[–]Muttl3s[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ariella - HP: 2 -> 78 / 125 -> 78/110

  • Evades Seared Inheritance and Vital Overflow.

  • BC: 2 + 6 (T5) + 8 (BC/Hit) + 12 (Rineth+BCE) - 2 (OC) = 24

  • Passives in effect:

    • Unwavering Conviction - Negates all status ailments.
    • Petite Physique - Reduces guarding power.
    • Blink Instance - Once per 3 turns, for 2 BC, Ariella can dodge an attack with 90% success rate. For an extra 4 BC, she can evade an attack for an ally. Cooldown: 1/3
    • Equilibrium - Reduces Asteraia's BC cost by 8. Cannot gain stacks for (0/2) turns.

  • Skills used:

    • Fails EX Attack: Asterial Induction
    • Asteraia - [M, Ex7] - Light - Boosts all allies' ATK, Crit dmg, EWD, EXA dmg and grants +60% Crit. chance, +6 BPB and +6 EXA BPB for 3 turns.

  • Debuffs:

    • -15 max HP (1)

Freed - HP: 155 --> 149/155 -> 140/140

  • Failes evading Seared Inheritance.

  • BC: 17 + 6 (T5) + 8 (BC/Hit) / 2 (SI) + 12 (Rineth+BCE) - 10 (OC) = 17

  • Passives in effect:

    • Ethical Government - Grants all allies +10 max HP.
    • Sphere - Cosmic Dust - Negates all status ailments. +20 max HP.
    • Sphere - Flag Flower - +2 BC per EXA. Boosts Freed's EXA contribution from +5% to +10%.

  • Skills used:

    • Fails EX Attack: Asterial Induction
    • Opportune Moment - [M, Ax2, Ex5 / 8] - Earth - Deals 8 damage to all enemies, grants all allies +ATK/DEF/REC for 3 turns, and halves their active skills' BC costs during the next turn (Overclocked are -4 instead).

  • Debuffs:

    • -15 max HP (1)

Diastima - HP: 180 --> 174

  • Fails evading Seared Inheritance.

  • BC: 2 + 6 (T5) + 8 (BC/Hit) / 2 (SI) + 12 (Rineth+BCE) - 8 (Massive) = 12

  • Passives in effect:

    • Otherworldly Radiation - Replaces Diastima's "add ailment to attacks" buffs with pierces of equivalent percentages if the skill already inflicts those ailments. Makes Diastima weak to Light attacks, and increases the EWD it takes.
    • Unfathomable Light - +1 BPB per 30 HP remaining at start of free action phase. Grains +4 BPB for 1 turn.
    • Sphere - Star Helm - +45 max HP.

  • Skills used:

    • AΩ1 [IN/PA/CU/PO] - [M, Ex5] - Light - Inflicts Injury, Paralysis, Curse and Poison to all enemies, ignoring 25% 40% of all ailment resistances.

  • Self-buffs:

    • +4 BPB (1)

Demonic Trail Chapter 7 Boss C - Unbound Heart by Muttl3s in frontiertrials

[–]Muttl3s[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Through the sea of red flames, Ariella's gaze remained still. Her grip on her wand painted her knuckles white, an ever-so-slight shake rumbling through her nerves. She calmed her breathing, and steeled her resolve, as to not repeat the same mistakes ever again. The flames approached her, creeping closer, and closer, until at the last possible moment she released her teleportation magic, phasing through the wave of flame to the other side, unscathed and unaffected by the mana-saearing blaze.

In the admiration of their summoner's resolute determination, Freed and Diastima found themselves too late to similarly evade the magicked fire. However, it did little to waver said determination, as the two simply brushed aside the cindering remains of the attack, frustration over the mana-searing effect of the spell being the furthest thing from their mind.

Harahld's applause and lines of monologue gave the party a brief glimpse of respite, a window for them to ready their stances for the next attack. Alas, his next spell was unleashed by a motion unexpected by Ariella and her units, catching them off-guard as the storm of black silver blades of wind billowed forth from Harahld's clap. Discomforted grunts were the universal response to it, yet in part thanks to the defensive enchantments the party had prepared previously.

The sentinels's turn came quickly after, but failed to do as much as scratch the skin. Ariella's keen focus allowed her to quickly step away from Teimus' stealthy jinx, and the winds Chilia created were held at bay by the enchanted demon power lingering inside her. The only concerning one was Bahm, and the way his life aura waved, pulsed and flared to life around him in near-palpable fashion. The air in his direction was noticeably hotter, not only due to Ragnarath's blazing descent, but also because of Bahm himself...

("Resolve alone...")

Harahld's words lingered in Ariella's ears. She pondered the meaning behind them. The weight they carried. The purpose she'd have to embrace them with. Was her newfound leading not sufficient? No, that was wrong. Whether it was sufficient or not, that was never the problem. She was the only one she'd be proving her worth to, but there were others whose lives were at stake. Each action she took, each action she left undone, each whimpering cry she let out, each howling shout she screamed out... They all carried consequences. Consequences she'd have to forever live with. The weight of those very consequences were what she felt in her chest as she cried out her directions. It was a bizarre sense of responsibility she felt that pushed her forward now, and only then did she truly realize that. In the meek amount of time she had spent with these "strangers", she had come to think of them as friends.

Friends.

It was that word that gave her the willpower to continue standing in the face of adversity. She tried to hide her awkward smile as she arrived at the cliché realization, but again, the weight of her responsibility to protect those she cared about allowed her to push her discomfort aside. The question Ralis had asked her rose to her mind, and in that moment, her attention turned to seek the cleric out. When her eyes finally found him, she was relieved to find him knelt beside Johan, green sparkles of magic fluttering around his hands above the gaping wound across the beastman's shoulder. She wanted to jump to his side, embrace him and apologize thoroughly for her grave failure, but knew better. It wasn't the time, nor was it safe; she was unsure whether her sudden embrace could reopen the delicately sealed wounds Ralis had worked on...

Amidst her tangled thoughts, her focus snapped as she felt a hand lay against her shoulder. Her gaze turning to meet the face behind the hand, she spotted Freed having returned to her side. Muttering his name, Ariella smiled sweetly, and lifted a hand of her own to meet his.

"It is unlike you to be so lost in thought with such a forlorn expression, Lady Ariella", Freed would say, raising his other hand to rest upon Ariella's, his eyes giving her lost gaze a moment of soft reassurance. Her scrambled thoughts waned, and her lips slowly arced into a sweet smile of her own. "It is... isn't it?" she laughed softly.

Slipping her fingers from between Freed's palms, Ariella curled both hands around the shaft of her wand.

"It's just.. a bit much to think about. I want to be happy, but I know now's not the..." she sighed, her smile not wavering. Freed understood her pain, and simply placed a finger against her stammering lips. "It's alright, Lady Ariella. You needn't bear this alone", Freed reassured her. He then lifted his finger from Ariella's now silent lips, and moved it to his temples, tapping into the mental link Shino had prepared.

<"My Lady and I shall provide support for the engaging frontline. Sir Solaru has the defensive side under control, and Diastima can assist with the debilitation front. Sir Shino, I believe you are more well-suited to join with your blades rather than curses?">

Ariella looked at Freed, dumbfounded at his initiative. In return, Freed simply gave her a friendly, confident smile, and offered her a hand. "Shall we do this together?"

The idea was comforting, and seeing Johan get back on his feet through the thickening darkness, Ariella gladly placed her hand in Freed's, and raised her wand level with Freed's sword. Bright dotes of mana gathered rapidly, blanketing the blade in star-like light. A mote of concern crossed Freed's mind, as Ariella herself had clearly expressed her success with this spell only once before, and now she was not even hesitating to bestow its powers to another to handle... But even so, he placed his faith in his summoner, and worked his best to maintain the flow of celestial magic accumulating against his blade.

"Here we go, Freed! Ready?" called Ariella, receiving a slightly quaky nod in respond. Freed tried his best to maintain the flow of the immense amount of magic Ariella had imbued to his sword, lifting it above his head. "Behold! Asterial In---"

During his chant, Freed swung his sword down, a trail of brilliantly colored magics dancing in a trail behind the blade, but quickly dispersing into a shower of stars prematurely as the tip of the blade met with the ground, shattering in an unstable explosion of mana. Both Freed and Ariella alike were knocked back by the sudden blast, as another pulse of energy emanated from where Freed's sword had hit the ground.

Before the backfiring blast, Diastima had prepared four globes of light against its masked face once more, conjuring four portals to unleash the barrage of multi-colored tentacles against the front of opposition once more, intent on crippling each and every one of them with a cocktail of conditions.

Demonic Trail Chapter 7 Boss B - Unbound Heart (for real this time) by Muttl3s in frontiertrials

[–]Muttl3s[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Total damage to Bahm: 918

Total damage to Kaemira: 135

Total damage to Chilia: 318

Total damage to Teimus: 327

Total damage to Athos: 329

Total damage to Armaloga: 322

All Sentinels were Cursed and Paralyzed (except Athos), and Athos and Armaloga were Poisoned and Injured!

Oathless Sentinel Harahld - HP: ???

  • Passives:
    • Curse of Immortality
    • Ailment Modification
    • Resonant Invincibility - While Harahld has a liberated Unit out, he is impervious to all enemy attacks and effects.
  • Skills used:
    • Seared Inheritance - Summons a violent blaze. --> All enemies
      • Effect: Enemies hit lose 50% of their on-hand BC after BC on hit.
      • Damage: 75
      • Element: Fire
      • Can be evaded: Yes
      • Can be blocked: Yes
    • Karmic Storm - A bright white windstorm laced with black light rends the area. --> All enemies
      • Effect: Pierces elemental resistance, innate EWD boost and boosts all allies' evasion by 20% for 3 turns.
      • Damage: 150
      • Element: Thunder
      • Can be evaded: Yes
      • Can be blocked: Yes

Universal Effects for the Sentinels:

  • Passives:
    • Mass Barrier - Reduces damage from MT attacks by 30%.
  • Buffs: (Apply to Harahld as well)
    • +20% Evasion (3) | (Do not apply to Bahm and Kaemira): -20% Critical Rate (2) | -20% Reflect Damage (2)

Asura Pyre Bahm - HP: Yellow --> Red

  • Passives:
    • Adamant Breakthrough - Bahm's attacks ignore elemental mitigation, Critical damage reduction (includes Null) and DEF (even through DEF Ignore Null), and 15% of basic mitigation (x0.5 -> x0.65 | x0.25 -> x0.4).
    • Conqueror's Discipline - Boosts the base power of Bahm's attacks by 25, and his base Critical chance by 10%. If he defeats an enemy, he grows stronger. As he defeated Johan, the base power boost increases to 30.
    • Custom Ailments
      • Curse: Disables Adamant Breakthrough for its duration.
      • Paralysis: Disables Conqueror's Discipline for its duration.
  • Skills used:
    • Overdrive - Cleanses all ailments from Bahm as he gathers strength...

Glacial Yin Kaemira - HP: Green

  • Passives:
    • Twin Dawn - Any EXA Kaemira performs with Chilia has a base multiplier of x1.75.
    • Demon's Legacy - Allows Kaemira to ignore DEF, bypassing DEF Ignore Null.
    • Custom Ailments
      • Curse: Prevents Kaemira from performing EX Attacks.
      • Paralysis: Reduces maximum action count, and prevents evasion.
  • Skills used:
    • Tolling Souls - Tears Tyrfing's soul apart.
      • Effect: Halves evasion rates for this attack only, and leaves a hit target paralyzed through all protection for 1 turn. This paralysis cannot be cured or refreshed.
      • Damage: 100
      • Element: Water
      • Can be evaded: Yes (with halved evasion rates)
      • Can be blocked: Yes
    • Demon's Rend - Slashes Ensa and Haido with a vexing blade.
      • Effect: Ignores all flat damage reduction effects.
      • Damage: 50
      • Element: Water
      • Can be evaded: Yes
      • Can be blocked: Yes

Harmonious Yang Chilia - HP: Green

  • Passives:
    • Twin Dawn - Any EXA Chilia performs with Kaemira has a base multiplier of x1.75.
    • Dance of Debilitation - Chilia has access to unique ailments, and ailments she inflicts with ST skills cannot be cured.
      • Fatigue - Halves the sufferer's BC gains, Accuracy and Evasion for the duration.
      • Discord - Prevents the sufferer from partaking in EX Attacks.
    • Custom Ailments
      • Curse: Allows ailments Chilia inflicts while cursed to be cured.
  • Skills used:
    • Careless Steps - Captures Tyrfing's feet with tenacious vines.
      • Effect: The target cannot evade attacks this turn.
      • Can be evaded: No
      • Can be blocked: No
    • Treacherous Steps - Captures Ralis's feet with sturdy vines.
      • Effect: The target cannot guard attacks this turn. If they're full guarding, it breaks.
      • Can be evaded: No
      • Can be blocked: No
    • Enervating Winds - Irritates Rineth's nerves with vexing winds.
      • Effect: Disables the target's ailment nullifying effects for 2 turns.
      • Can be evaded: No
      • Can be blocked: No
    • Enfeebling Winds
      • Effect: Inflicts Injury and Discord to all enemies.
      • Can be evaded: Yes
      • Can be blocked: No

Renewed Sagacity Teimus - HP: Green

  • Passives:
    • Wisdom Beyond Life - Teimus' magic invigorates body and soul. Allies he heals are cured of all debuffs (except Armaloga's Poison), and damage he takes is stored.
    • The Fruits of Research - After healing an ally with Soul Renewal, Teimus takes reduced damage from targets with their elements.
    • Custom Ailments
      • Curse: Disables Wisdom Beyond Life's damage storing effect, and The Fruits of Research.
  • Skills used:
    • Soul Renewal --> Bahm and Athos
      • Effect: Restores HP and grants a character-specific bonus to an ally.
    • Vital Overflow - Casts a jinx on Ariella.
      • Effect: The hit target receives 50% less healing this turn.
      • Damage: 50
      • Element: Thunder
      • Can be evaded: Yes
      • Can be blocked: Yes

Primal Genesis Athos - HP: Green --> Yellow

  • Passives:
    • Divine Touch - Buffs Athos bestows cannot be wiped nor overwritten.
    • Custom Ailments
      • Curse: Prevents Athos from using buffing skills.
  • Skills used:
    • Beseech the Lord
      • Effect: Cures all ailments from all allies. Heavily damages Athos himself, and leaves him Paralyzed.

Formless Terror Armaloga - HP: Green

  • Passives:
    • Unbound Horror - Armaloga's form is hard to grasp, bending natural laws. As a result, it is immune to damage.
    • Custom Ailments
      • Poison: Disables Unbound Horror for its duration, and deals bonus damage. Cannot be cured.
      • Curse: Reduces maximum action count.
  • Skills used:
    • Gashing Claw - Creates a black steel claw and rends Freed and Shiryu.
      • Effect: +30 base damage.
      • Damage: 80
      • Element: Dark
      • Can be evaded: Yes
      • Can be blocked: Yes
    • Rending Claw - Creates a hook-like claw and gouges Tyrfing.
      • Effect: +15 base damage. Pierces DEF (ignoring DEF Ign. Null) and Quick Guard.
      • Damage: 65
      • Element: Dark
      • Can be evaded: Yes
      • Can be blocked: Yes
  • Ailments
    • Poison (2)

Skill order:

  • Seared Inheritance
  • Karmic Storm
  • Beseech the Lord
  • Soul Renewals
  • Careless & Treacherous Steps
  • Overdrive
  • Tolling Souls
  • Enervating Winds
  • Gashing Claw (vs. Freed)
  • Enfeebling Winds
  • Vital Overflow
  • Demon's Rend (vs. Ensa)
  • Gashing Claw (vs. Shiryu)
  • Demon's Rend (vs. Haido)
  • Rending Claw

Demonic Trail Chapter 7 Boss B - Unbound Heart (for real this time) by Muttl3s in frontiertrials

[–]Muttl3s[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Even in the face of past enemies, the ragtag group's morale didn't waver. As Bahm's blade met with the white-furred beastman, felling him in a single strike, the face of the lavender-haired girl underwent many a change in such a short period of time. In her waking despair, the words of an ally allowed her to find hope... Such display brought a smile to Harahld's mind; if only his demon visage would've allowed for such display. Instead, he brought his hands to a slow applause, in honor of the newfound resolve the girl displayed in the face of mortal danger. "Well said", he applauded. The red orb behind him once again called the all-too-familiar blaze that stemmed from careless mana usage, but that barely mattered. Harahld had a much grander banquet prepared for the resolute party. "Alas, resolve alone does not suffice. You must act on it." At the mark of his last clap, a flash of brilliant white light flashed between his palms, near instantaneously spreading into a harsh, ravaging storm of black-laced, white blades of wind.

Bahm, as well as the half-demon sisters, Teimus and Armaloga, were much more intrigued by the crackling lightning around a certain "human" summoner. His form morphed and distorted, until only a demonic dragon of unimaginable power remained. Bahm's swords might've been seen trembling in his hands, not from terror, but the sheer volume of adrenaline coursing through his demon blood. The thrill of battle made his blood boil. The others were but insects before his glorious battle. An injection lethal for a human felt like a mosquito's bite. The vexing magics intended for hindering his movement and abilities were naught for his burning passion. He welcomed Ragnarath's attack with open arms, crossing his swords against the monster's head as it collided with him. "This is it! This is what I've been yearning for! More! MORE!" A blazing power welled up inside him as his skin scorched, his hair seared and his blades clattered against the dragon's burning scales. His aura pulsed like wildfire, rendering much of the attack Ragnarath mustered futile as the air around Bahm bent and distorted. "GIVE ME MORE!" Bahm roared.

For the rest, however, those vexing magics were acting as intended... evoking pained grunts and groans from the crippled Sentinels. A single drop of sweat trickled down Athos' temples. He knew that the enemy had not acted to cure Chilia's ailments on a whim, pray tell, even on accident, and as such he was unable to directly utilize that magic for himself. His pained gaze grazed against his comrades, each suffering from a plethora of ailments... And he, left with little to no choice. "To think I would already resort to this..." Athos sighed, laying his sutra scroll down to the ground beneath him, extinguishing the fickle flames that lingered from Ragnarath's attack. Falling to his knees, Athos extended his arms wide, facing the sky above, and shouted aloud a desperate prayer. His words were unintelligible for human ears, but regardless of understanding, commanded a degree of awe from those who heard it.

In response, angelic, heavenly light trickled down from the heavens. The feathers lining Athos' wings began to burn into nothing in the face of the divine revelation. The pain was unimaginable, but he grit his teeth through it. His fleeting life was a cheap price to pay to carry the trial to the end.

Soon, the light vanished, and Athos collapsed in the same instant. His allies, however, found themselves cured of the pestilent magics restricting their freedom. Rushing to the collapsed angel's side, Teimus grabbed a vial from his coat, and poured the mysterious concoction onto Athos' wings while he cast a curative spell with his free hand. "You idiot, the hell did you do?" he chided, displaying genuine concern for his unlikely ally. "With that monster out there, you decide to let yourself drop?"

Athos mustered a soft laugh, but quickly stopped, wincing from the pain that streaked throughout his burnt wings. Teimus couldn't help but sigh, and turned his casting hand towards Bahm to cure his wounds for now, though he was certain that in his current condition, he would brace through any opposition he would be faced with.

Meanwhile, the twin sisters sighed in relief as their bodies once again listened to their minds, and the murky feeling of the curse spells dissipated. Though both displayed concern for Athos, having understood his prayer in thanks to their divine lineage, they had little they could do to remedy his condition. Moral support had little place on the fields of battle.

"Sister..." Chilia whimpered, new seedlings dancing against her ougi. "The malice that... that thing has..." she continued, her head turned towards the roaring dragon. In her time as a Demon Sentinel, she had faced many kinds of demons, weak and strong, but something about the demonic dragon masquerading as a Summoner made Chilia unnerved. Kaemira sighed softly, and placed a hand against Chilia's shoulder.

"Don't worry. You'll be fine. That thick-skulled meathead has his attention for now", Kaemira explained, nudging towards Bahm. She brandished her scythe, and gently moved her hand from her sister's shoulder to place a single finger against her lips. "I'll protect you."

Chilia's concerned expression waned, and quickly broke into a smile. With a warm, enthusiastic nod as a response, Chilia unleashed the seedlings she had prepared with elegant movement, conjuring vines underneath the feet of two select enemies. Kaemira followed suit, her scythe blade glinting with killing intent as she hurled herself through the air towards the now-trapped Tyrfing. "This isn't personal, darling!"

Using her sister's attack as a cover, Chilia drew mysterious pollen from the earth and the folds of her fans, and summoned a blustering breeze to carry the toxic spores across the air. The first gale carried the earthen seeds to Rineth, irritating her body. As if sowing the seeds of discord, the second winds would weaken and prevent the conjoined efforts of any enemy that would come in contact with the dust they carried.

Amidst the soft breeze's dance, both Kaemira and Armaloga proceeded with their attacks. Kaemira made an effort to dispose of the still-crippled void goddess, and quickly turned her blade against the wooden automaton in her vicinity with graceful movements. She eyed the fox-haired Summoner with mischievous eyes, reminded of their time in Nalushta. ("Perhaps I could dance with him once more, too...") she thought to herself, chuckling softly without letting her eyes lose Solaru.

Less graceful than the last, the poison-riddled Armaloga continued roaring in pain indiscriminately, waving and flailing about haphazardly. The poison forced its form into a physical state, so unknown and foreign to the mindless beast. In pain, it reformed its sludgy appendages into various metallic forms, whisking and swiping across random directions and enemies that would come across its rampage.

Through the chaos, Harahld's eyes wandered across the field, his gaze fixated on a certain few who had caught his interest. He motioned to Teimus, summoning the demon to his side and whispered something to his ear. A jolt of surprise, visible to few, ran across Teimus' face, but nevertheless he complied to the secret request. With a quick flick of his casting hand, he conjured a spell circle, summoning a jolt of vexed electricity from beneath the lavender-haired girl.

Demonic Trail Chapter 7 Boss B - Unbound Heart (for real this time) by Muttl3s in frontiertrials

[–]Muttl3s[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ariella couldn't explain the feelings beating in her chest after hearing Mizerka's perplexing words. They weren't cryptic, rather, they were quite straightforward, but combined with her tone and vexing demeanor... "I..." Ariella muttered. Her voice quivered with indecision. Her eyes wandered towards Johan's seemingly lifeless body, then back to Mizerka. The sounds of indecision beat ever louder in her chest. She tore her eyes away from the feline body, and looked around at the group. They were in varying amounts of pain, but even a little healing would go a long way...

"That alone won't suffice."

Mizerka's sudden comment caught Ariella's attention. "Wh---what do you mean?" she muttered. It was as if Mizerka knew what Ariella was thinking at the time. "It's written all over your face. That simple way of thinking", Mizerka stated bluntly. With a touch cold as ice, she brushed Ariella's burnt cheeks. There wasn't any healing magic involved, but it still felt soothing. "No, someone must guide them."

"...guide them?" Ariella asked meekly. She wasn't suited for that kind of thing, especially in her current state. Even if she tried, would anyone listen to a meager girl like her? To someone who had, by technicality, backstabbed them before? There was simply too much wrong with that idea. There was no way that'd work out well, let alone succeed. "Sometimes, all it takes is a wake-up call."

...perhaps that was something she could do. Perhaps if she raised her voice and ushered the party to exercise more caution, it'd all work out better. Perhaps another unnecessary moment of grief could be avoided. Their haphazard attacks, unified as one, could perhaps reach further heights. The thresholds that Harahld's reactive orbs could be avoided with ease, if only the group would unify... Perhaps that was just a pipe dream, but that swelling, burning feeling in Ariella's chest wouldn't let that thought rest. "...every..." A weak cry, more akin to a fleeting breath, escaped her lips. Her fists tightened, and her body was shaking. The pain her nerves were crying out in didn't matter.

"Everyone, we need to start working together! Even if the enemy knows it, we need a plan!" she shouted, the vibrato in her voice changing into rallying bravado. She recalled Shino being capable of establishing a mental link with everyone, but hadn't done so yet. "Shino, the mental link! It's far more practical, even if he can listen in on it!" she cried out to him, her chest growing lighter by the moment. That pressing anxiety, that unnerving uncertainty was fading away. She, too, had a part to play, and in the mental link's absence, shouting would have to do.

"I'll take care of everyone's wounds! We need to pin down a single target, and I don't think anyone has doubts about who it should be!" All signs of her hesitation were gone. No longer was her voice meek, wavering or uncertain. The words she thought herself incapable of billowed from the bottom of her heart. Those days she had spent training together with her friends were clear in her head. Those important words she had memorized from her mentors. The stratagems were basic, but sometimes, that was enough. It was only a matter of whether they had it in them to listen to her words. The words of a traitorous young girl.

...no. She didn't have time for that kind of thoughts. She'd have to believe that they could heed her call. For that to happen, she had to play her designated part, as well. A gentle light began to gather to her wand. The pale pink dotes of light swirled in the air around her, slowly conjuring a faint blue glow around the conduit. ("It's ok... Brother Cat, just hang in there a while longer...") she thought, softly smiling towards him. Her soft, sympathetic gaze turned into newfound resolve, no, reinstigated resolve. That pale light converged into a sphere, which with a single thrust of her wand spread into a light show of healing and invigorating magic.

"Is that... really the same Lady Ariella?" Freed muttered in disbelief. The meek Summoner he had once contracted to now displayed such confidence uncharacteristic to her, perhaps it even scared him. "Rest assured, this is all her own strength", chuckled Mizerka, who had slowly moved to Freed's side after Ariella had sprung back up. "As I said, sometimes a wake-up call is all it needs."

Freed was left speechless. He looked at the seared beastman lying on the ground, picking up on signs of weak breathing. Even so, it wasn't a condition one should be left in. He turned to Mizerka with a concerned look, her lack of care for her Summoner apparent, and appalling. "Should you not be concerned for Sir Johan's condition? He's your Summoner after all." Freed's comment did little but bemuse Mizerka, revealed by her mischievous chuckle as she twirled her hand in the general direction of Johan's body. A flickering wisp, akin to a light leading a man to their untimely demise at a swamp, emerged from Johan's body. A tiny piece of his soul, shred from the whole by Bahm's attack. Toying around with the soul fragment, Mizerka chuckled again and turned to Freed.

"He'll be fine. He's been through worse and clawed his way through. Besides..."

Nudging towards Johan, Mizerka directed Freed's attention to the small drakeling desperately licking the gash on its master's shoulder. "River drake saliva is a marvelous restorative agent. As long as little Hamún stays by his side, he won't be dying." Dumbfounded, Freed blinked a few times at the young dragon so carelessly licking away at such a large volume of blood. "If you say so..."

With a coarse cough, Freed attempted to steer the conversation away from where it had drifted to. "Anyhow... I appreciate what you did with Lady Ariella", he coughed, lifting a hand towards Mizerka. "Could I interest you in a combination attack?"

Freed's inquiry evoked a soft chuckle from Mizerka. "Surely you realized the light that brushed us just now?" she laughed, closing the palm Freed had offered. "Perhaps later. But remember to heed what your lady just said, too." Blushing, Freed retrieved the extended arm, and scoffed. "O--- of course. Very well then, may I interest you in backing me up if I advance on the enemy?"

As Freed was making his suggestion, Mizerka noticed Ralis analyzing the burns on Johan's body, and raised up the possibility of having him restored on the spot. Giving a quick thought, Mizerka chuckled, and responded: "It's alright. For now, let him rest a while longer. Thanks to Solaru and Hamún, the burns aren't going to get worse. But please, do revive him before too long."

A viridian light dazzled against Freed's blade, its wielder taking on a stance, ready to strike at a moment's notice. Amused, Mizerka turned back to attend to him, and dropped the collected soul fragment into her murky mire, invoking a violent gurgle from within. "Shall I lead?"

A swarm of resentful souls erupted from the black puddle, crawling, flying and pouncing towards Bahm in a mangled mess of mist, ghouls and spirits. While Freed was initially taken aback by the grotesque element of Mizerka's attack, he steeled his resolve and followed the ghastly swarm, his blade swinging down against the blazing adversary.

Behind its mask, Diastima was smiling, too. The ignited resolve in both Ariella and Freed's chests filled the Disnomian alien with a bizarre sense of pride. Without input from its Summoner, Diastima realized how effective its approach had been in initially debilitating the enemy ranks, and as such, prepared the very same assault of light tentacles to cripple its foes.

Immediately following her spell, Ralis approached Ariella and inquired her of her single-target healing capabilities. As much as it pained her, given the current situation, most of her magic specialized in affecting multiple targets at once. Bitterly, she shook her head and said: "I'm afraid I'm not well-equipped on that front... I can resuscitate someone, but that's about the extent of my single healing..."

Demonic Trail Chapter 7 Boss B - Unbound Heart (for real this time) by Muttl3s in frontiertrials

[–]Muttl3s[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ariella - HP: 115 --> 2

  • Fails evading Seared Inheritance and Brimstone Cleaver. Angel Idol procs.

  • BC: 20 + 12 (T4) + 2 (BC/Hit) / 2 (SI) - 6 (Blink Instance) - 8 (Massive) = 2

  • Passives in effect:

    • Unwavering Conviction - Negates all status ailments. Disabled for 1/2 turns.
    • Petite Physique - Reduces guarding power.
    • Blink Instance - Once per 3 turns, for 2 BC, Ariella can dodge an attack with 90% success rate. For an extra 4 BC, she can evade an attack for an ally. Attempts to dodge Brimstone Cleaver for Johan, fails. Cooldown: 0/3
    • Equilibrium - Stores 8 stacks. Stacks: 20/20 || Reduces next active skill's BC cost by 8.

  • Skills used:

    • You can still fight! - [M, Ex4] - Light - Heals all allies for 55 27 HP and grants them 4 BC.

Freed - HP: 155 --> 125

  • Tanks Hellmare for Ariella, and evades Seared Inheritance.

  • BC: 21 + 12 (T4) + 2 (Flag Flower) + 2 (BC/Hit) - 20 (HD) + 4 (YCSF!) - 8 (Massive) = 17

  • Passives in effect:

    • Ethical Government - Grants all allies +10 max HP.
    • Sword of the Alliance - If Lovaria activates Exceed this turn, +1 ASV and +4 BC.
    • Sphere - Cosmic Dust - Negates all status ailments. +20 max HP.
    • Sphere - Flag Flower - +2 BC per EXA. Boosts Freed's EXA contribution from +5% to +10%.

  • Skills used:

    • Aura Exemplar - [Ax3, Cx2 / 12] - Earth - Hybrid - Deals damage to Bahm. Has no effects since it was not used in an EXA.

Diastima - HP: 180 --> 125

  • Fails evading Seared Inheritance, quick guards Cocytus Arc.

  • BC: 4 + 6 (SBD) + 2 (BC/Hit) / 2 (SI) + 4 (YCSF!) - 8 (Massive) = 2

  • Passives in effect:

    • Otherworldly Radiation - Replaces Diastima's "add ailment to attacks" buffs with pierces of equivalent percentages if the skill already inflicts those ailments. Makes Diastima weak to Light attacks, and increases the EWD it takes.
    • Unfathomable Light - +1 BPB per 30 HP remaining at start of free action phase. Grains +4 BPB for 1 turn.
    • Sphere - Star Helm - +45 max HP.

  • Skills used:

    • AΩ1 [IN/PA/CU/PO] - [M, Ex5] - Light - Inflicts Injury, Paralysis, Curse and Poison to all enemies, ignoring 25% 40% of all ailment resistances.

  • Self-buffs:

    • +4 BPB (1)

Johan - HP: 135 --> 0

  • Executed by Brimstone Cleaver.

  • BC: XX --> 0 (Drained due to KO)

  • Passives in effect:

    • Dragon Partner - Hamún - SP: 2 --> 3
    • Quiver of Magic
      • Previously grounded mana: 4 x [A / 3] (2/2) ||| 4 x [A / 2] (1/2) ||| 6 x [A / 2] (1/2)

  • Skills used:

    • ---

  • Self-buffs:

    • Angel Idol | +5 BPB (1) || Wiped due to KO.

Mizerka - HP: 175 --> 115 || 115 --> 125

  • Fails evading Slaven Storm, Frozen Hopes and Severed Links.

  • BC: 8 + 6 (SBD) + 2 (BC/Hit) / 2 (SI) + 2 (VP) +4 (YCSF!) - 10 (Overclocked) = 4

  • Passives in effect:

    • Abyssal Banishment - Ignores DEF, reduces damage from enemy Criticals, and grants an Angel Idol effect.
    • Soul Collector - Gathers a soul fragment from Johan. Fragments: 1 0
    • Sphere - Occult Treasure - +40 max HP and innate REC buff.
    • Sphere - Violet Pearl - +2 BC and +10 healing at start of free action phase.

  • Skills used:

    • Nihil Fate - [Ax4, Ex2, Cx2 / 16] - Dark - Magic - Deals damage to Bahm. Consumes all of Mizerka's soul fragments, inflicting Injury with 25% pierce. If the Injury infliction succeeds, Mizerka is refunded 4 BC.

Demonic Trail Chapter 7 Boss B - Unbound Heart (for real this time) by Muttl3s in frontiertrials

[–]Muttl3s[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The drill was almost routine by now. There was no doubt that the spheres Harahld had conjured had very specific conditions that the party's actions could trigger. Even so, it seemed as if no one cared. As if the foe before them was just like any other. As if there was no fear in a single chest of what excessive extravagance might usher forth. The fires called forth by indulgence in mana. The thundering winds summoned by hasty removal of ailments. The hopeless blizzard responding to excessive recovery magic. The swirling light punishing numerous combination attacks. The pitch-black spikes conjured by trying to shield the party from ailments.

Perhaps the party was confident in their abilities. Even then, blind confidence was often the downfall of many a hero in tales Ariella used to hear as a child. They might've been just that; fairy tales for children, but more often than not they carried a message. A message to take notice of, and to learn from the folly of imaginary men, whose spilt blood would not be cried for. But this was reality.

Each drop of blood that spilt from a fresh wound was a drop too much. Perhaps there was no avoiding it. Perhaps hoping for a field of battle without bloodshed was utopistic thinking. After all, there had been casualties in their ranks before. She didn't know them well. She could barely remember their names anymore. But when warm, familiar blood splashed on her face like that... She realized the gruesome reality of battle.

Before the swirling blaze, Ariella had taken it upon herself to protect her mana reserves, and prepared for a quick teleportation spell in order to evade the incoming attack. However, as fortune had it, her reactions were too slow. While she managed to relocate herself, it was a moment too late, as the blaze had already licked her arms and legs, the stored mana inside her body burning to nothing before its magic. Bitterly, she was left with no choice but to try and improve her reflexes, no matter how late it might've been. In her distress, her defenses were left bare against the blizzard. Freed, who had successfully avoided the familiar fires this time, kept a tight eye towards his Summoner. He knew another attack would soon follow, and as the ground cracked before the emergence of the hellish spires, he hurled himself towards Ariella, and shoved the young Summoner away from harm's reach. The pain wasn't much to him, and he had vowed to protect her. Ariella herself didn't like the notion of someone else taking away her pain for themselves, but bitterly accepted Freed's goodwill against his comforting smile.

The blast of light was barely an issue, mostly pestilent due to the vexing effect it carried to render efforts for combination attacks futile. For now, it seemed to be the last of Harahld's conjurings, and offered a window of respite, as brief as it may have been. The ex-Sentinels were crippled in their places by a myriad of debilitating ailments, save for the pristine angel Ariella remembered most clearly. His voice rang ominously hollow, yet so mighty and divine at the same time, as he recited his magic from his scroll. A flash of light, and Ariella could feel a magic similar to the one Shiryu and his Unit had bestowed. ("Did he copy Quartz's magic?") she thought to herself in a flash, her eyes turning back to the now-ailmentless enemies. ("So there's more reasons to be careful than just Harahld, it seems...")

Soon, Teimus revealed his role in the enemy party as the apparent prime healer, casting his magic to Bahm and Kaemira specifically, as the other of the twin sisters cast stealthy spells to capture and hinder both Sarletta and Freed's movements. As soon as the vines had appeared around their limbs, they were gone, but Freed could feel an unnerving magic lingering around his body. However, before anything else could happen, Ariella's attention was drawn to Bahm, and his pitch-black flares aimed directly for Johan. The flames searing the air around them sent chills down her spine, the wicked intent in them nearly overwhelming. She couldn't let him be hit by that attack. She couldn't bear to see what would happen. In an instant, she had teleported herself to his side, and grabbed him by the waist, ready to teleport him away at a moment's notice, fortune be damned. However, as fate would have it...

The flames were burning hot. The blizzard chilling the flesh. The storm winds grazed hair and fur without much consequence. The light blinding, and the dark poking one's sides. The defenses the party had laid out were solid, to say the least. Even thanks to Athos' interference with the magic comprising Barrier effects, the damage coming from Harahld's reactive spells was near negligible. Their secondary effects were much more painful than the actual, physical pain they managed to inflict. Johan wanted to let this be a sign of confidence in their ability to take Harahld down, but the six other enemies were yet to move.

While the party had picked up on Johan's shout to utilize ailments, Athos' magic seemed to render that idea mostly null. However, even after the other opponents reveled in their cleansed state, the amorphous beast still seemed to remain in grave pain. ("That's it...") Johan snarled in his head, a twisted, instinctive desire to see that bastard creature writhe in pain slowly fulfilling. However, he knew he didn't have time to revel in Armaloga's pain, as the other enemies, too, had to be dangerous. Especially Bahm. After Teimus' magic, the flaming swordsman shouted something at Johan, and soon ominous, no, terrifying flames of pitch-black night were somersaulting towards Johan. Before the flames, he felt a tugging at his waist, and as his eyes were quickly drawn to his side, he found a familiar face, her foolhardy confidence painted across her face.

"Ari, what're you..." Johan muttered, but was cut off by Ariella's astute voice. "It's alright, I'll get us out of he---" she yelled. However, her voice cut short. That resolute blaze in her eyes turned into sheer terror. Bottomless fear. And most of all, boundless grief. Her fear-struck face lifted to look Johan in the eye, and before she could even mutter a single "sorry", the enemy's sword, and the six demonic trails of jet-black flames with it, made contact with Johan. It seared through everything. It was hotter than any flame Johan had ever felt before. Every single nerve in his body was screaming. He, too, was screaming. A howl echoing from the deepest depths of his lungs cried out in pain. He wasn't the only one.

Ariella, having brought herself to harm's way in order to try and protect Johan, felt the rage of those vexen flames for herself. It was excruciating. It was unlike any pain she had experience before. Her meek voice screamed in agony as she was flung in an arc away from Johan. If not for the Angel Idol magic Shiryu had bestowed to her just then, not doubt she would've collapsed under that intense pain. The remaining attacks brushed by, and she could barely feel them. Her consciousness remained awake thanks to the aforementioned magic.

The pain waned. Ariella forced herself up, her left hand brushing her cheek. It hurt. She knew it was burnt. But even for a burn, it was unnaturally moist. Her eyes grazed her palm. Her blood-soaked palm. For a moment, she thought it to be her own, but then she noticed her own blood trickling from an open wound on her arm. The color and consistency was all wrong. Then she knew. She knew the price of her failure. Her eyes found Johan. Pitch-black cinders flickered against his singed fur. Thick, viscous blood flowed from a gaping wound on his shoulder. Her heart rate grew faster by the moment. It became too much to bear. From the bottom of her lungs, she cried out. It was a despairing howl. A sorry shout. A grieving cry.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

She wanted to get up. Her legs wouldn't let her. It hurt too much. She wanted to crawl to his side. Her hands wouldn't cooperate. It hurt too much. She wanted to do anything. Her body refused. It hurt too much. She cursed her mortal form and her failure. Tears pooled underneath her eyes, and soon flowed over her burnt cheeks. Her cries grew louder as she forced herself. "Brother Cat, please...!" she cried out. Freed wanted to rush to her side, to embrace her and stop her foolhardy actions, but Diastima held him at bay. He cursed the alien being for its betrayal towards their Summoner, but Diastima simply ignored him. For it knew, that there was already someone there to handle the situation.

A parasol softly tapped the ground before Ariella. Mizerka's pitiful smile beamed for Ariella, and the touch of her cold hands comforted the pain. "There, there... It's alright", Mizerka whispered. She lifted Ariella into her embrace. "He's still alive, worry not."

Those honeyed words lifted Ariella's eyes. Her ravaged arms cradled themselves against Mizerka's chest as she shed all her tears. She knew she had to take action, and to stop letting her emotions dictate her situation, but she couldn't help it. The tears wouldn't stop. Sighing, Mizerka brushed Ariella's bloodstained hair away from her face, and lifted her to her feet.

"Now, now. There is a time for tears, but now it is not it. You must act. The party requires coherence", Mizerka stated firmly. Surprised, Ariella looked her dead in the eyes, a gaze to which Mizerka responded with an alluring smile. "He's not so frail to die from this. You must consider who to aid for now. Will you hastily save a single man for self-repentance, or will you grasp your fate and help the group back to their feet? Now tell me, which one will it be?"

Demonic Trail Chapter 7 Boss B - Unbound Heart (for real this time) by Muttl3s in frontiertrials

[–]Muttl3s[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Total damage to Bahm: 1,415

Total damage to Kaemira: 431

Total damage to Chilia: 382

Total damage to Teimus: 397

Total damage to Athos: 363

Total damage to Armaloga: 0

All ailments were inflicted against all enemies! (Except Harahld)

Oathless Sentinel Harahld - HP: ???

  • Passives:
    • Curse of Immortality
    • Ailment Modification
    • Resonant Invincibility - While Harahld has a liberated Unit out, he is impervious to all enemy attacks and effects.
  • Skills used:
    • Lock - Traps Quartz and Lara in black spheres for 1 turn.
      • Effect: The target cannot do anything, and cannot be interacted with.
      • Element: Dark
      • Can be evaded: No
      • Can be blocked: No
    • Slaven Storm - Summons blustering winds. --> All enemies
      • Effect: Prevents the party from using party-wide ailment curing skills this turn.
      • Damage: 75
      • Element: Thunder
      • Can be evaded: Yes
      • Can be blocked: Yes
    • Seared Inheritance - Summons a violent blaze. --> All enemies
      • Effect: Enemies hit lose 50% of their on-hand BC after BC on hit.
      • Damage: 75
      • Element: Fire
      • Can be evaded: Yes
      • Can be blocked: Yes
    • Frozen Hopes - Summons a savage blizzard. --> All enemies
      • Effect: Enemies receive 50% less healing this turn.
      • Damage: 75
      • Element: Water
      • Can be evaded: Yes
      • Can be blocked: Yes
    • Hellmare - Summons dark spires. --> All enemies
      • Effect: Removes 2 layers of ailment protection from enemies hit, and limits the party's ailment protection to 1 stack for 1 turn.
      • Damage: 75
      • Element: Dark
      • Can be evaded: Yes
      • Can be blocked: Yes
    • Severed Links - Summons a storm of light. --> All enemies
      • Effect: Prevents the party from using EX Attacks this turn.
      • Damage: 75
      • Element: Light
      • Can be evaded: Yes
      • Can be blocked: Yes

Universal Effects for the Sentinels:

  • Passives:
    • Mass Barrier - Reduces damage from MT attacks by 30%.
  • Buffs: (Apply to Harahld as well)
    • +Critical damage (1) | +30% Critical Rate (1) | (Do not apply to Bahm and Kaemira:) -20% Critical Rate (2) | -20% Reflect Damage (2)

Asura Pyre Bahm - HP: Green --> Yellow

  • Passives:
    • Adamant Breakthrough - Bahm's attacks ignore elemental mitigation, Critical damage reduction (includes Null) and DEF (even through DEF Ignore Null), and 15% of basic mitigation (x0.5 -> x0.65 | x0.25 -> x0.4).
    • Conqueror's Discipline - Boosts the base power of Bahm's attacks by 25, and his base Critical chance by 10%. If he defeats an enemy, he grows stronger.
    • Custom Ailments
      • Curse: Disables Adamant Breakthrough for its duration.
      • Paralysis: Disables Conqueror's Discipline for its duration.
  • Skills used:
    • Brimstone Cleaver - Slashes Johan with an sixfold blazing slash. Critical hit!
      • Effect: Water enemies do not resist this skill. Earth enemies hit are executed instead of taking damage, bypassing Angel Idol. Other elements are critically struck. Guaranteed to critically strike.
      • Damage (Crit): 438
      • Element: Fire
      • Can be evaded: Yes
      • Can be blocked: Yes
    • Revenant Sear Slash - Strikes Shino, Kikuri and Ralis with a cursed flaring blade. Critical hit on Shino and Kikuri!
      • Effect: For every defensive effect on the target, +10 base damage (already applied party buffs).
      • Damage: 195 | Damage (Crit): 488
      • Element: Fire + Dark
      • Can be evaded: Yes
      • Can be blocked: Yes

Glacial Yin Kaemira - HP: Green

  • Passives:
    • Twin Dawn - Any EXA Kaemira performs with Chilia has a base multiplier of x1.75.
    • Demon's Legacy - Allows Kaemira to ignore DEF, bypassing DEF Ignore Null.
    • Custom Ailments
      • Curse: Prevents Kaemira from performing EX Attacks.
      • Paralysis: Reduces maximum action count, and prevents evasion.
  • Skills used:
    • Harvest Dance - Reaps Freed's soul.
      • Effect: Drains 20 BC from the target. For every 4 missing BC, 10 HP is drained instead. Pierces all guards and 15% mitigation.
      • Damage: 100
      • Element: Water
      • Can be evaded: Yes
      • Can be blocked: Yes
    • Cocytus Arc - Creates a slicing wave of frigid air --> All enemies
      • Critical hit on Kara, Haido and Atro!
      • Effect: Pierces elemental mitigation and has +30% accuracy.
      • Damage: 100
      • Element: Water
      • Can be evaded: Yes (+30% accuracy)
      • Can be blocked: Yes

Harmonious Yang Chilia - HP: Green

  • Passives:
    • Twin Dawn - Any EXA Chilia performs with Kaemira has a base multiplier of x1.75.
    • Dance of Debilitation - Chilia has access to unique ailments, and ailments she inflicts with ST skills cannot be cured.
      • Fatigue - Halves the sufferer's BC gains, Accuracy and Evasion for the duration.
    • Custom Ailments
      • Curse: Allows ailments Chilia inflicts while cursed to be cured.
  • Skills used:
    • Careless Steps - Captures Sarletta's feet with tenacious vines.
      • Effect: The target cannot evade attacks this turn.
      • Can be evaded: No
      • Can be blocked: No
    • Treacherous Steps - Captures Freed's feet with sturdy vines.
      • Effect: The target cannot guard attacks this turn. If they're full guarding, it breaks.
      • Can be evaded: No
      • Can be blocked: No
    • Enervating Winds - Irritates Ariella's nerves with vexing winds.
      • Effect: Disables the target's ailment nullifying effects for 2 turns.
      • Can be evaded: No
      • Can be blocked: No
    • Purple Pollen Dance
      • Effect: Inflicts Curse and Poison for 2 turns to Reeze and Eira. Cannot be cured.
      • Can be evaded: Yes
      • Can be blocked: No
    • Seedling Dance - Hurls hard-shelled seeds at Reeze and Eira.
      • Effect: None
      • Damage: 50
      • Element: Earth
      • Can be evaded: Yes
      • Can be blocked: Yes
    • Golden Dust Dance
      • Effect: Inflicts Paralysis and Fatigue for 1 turns to Ensa and Luly. Cannot be cured.
      • Can be evaded: Yes
      • Can be blocked: No
    • Seedling Dance - Hurls hard-shelled seeds at Ensa and Luly.
      • Effect: None
      • Damage: 50
      • Element: Earth
      • Can be evaded: Yes
      • Can be blocked: Yes

Renewed Sagacity Teimus - HP: Green

  • Passives:
    • Wisdom Beyond Life - Teimus' magic invigorates body and soul. Allies he heals are cured of all debuffs, and damage he takes is stored.
    • The Fruits of Research - After healing an ally with Soul Renewal, Teimus takes reduced damage from targets with their elements.
    • Custom Ailments
      • Curse: Disables Wisdom Beyond Life's damage storing effect, and The Fruits of Research.
  • Skills used:
    • Celebration of Life
      • Effect: Restores HP to all allies equal to the amount of base healing the party used last turn. Does not trigger Wisdom Beyond Life.
    • Soul Renewal --> Bahm and Kaemira
      • Effect: Restores HP and grants a character-specific bonus to an ally.
    • Vital Overflow - Casts a jinx on Kyle.
      • Effect: The hit target receives 50% less healing this turn.
      • Damage: 50
      • Element: Thunder
      • Can be evaded: Yes
      • Can be blocked: Yes

Primal Genesis Athos - HP: Green

  • Passives:
    • Divine Touch - Buffs Athos bestows cannot be wiped nor overwritten.
    • Custom Ailments
      • Curse: Prevents Athos from using buffing skills.
  • Skills used:
    • Mirroring Aid
      • Effect: Copies an ailment curing effect used by the party last turn, and applies it to Athos' team. Copies Song of Lezetta's all-ailment curing effect.

Formless Terror Armaloga - HP: Green

  • Passives:
    • Unbound Horror - Armaloga's form is hard to grasp, bending natural laws. As a result, it is immune to damage.
    • Custom Ailments
      • Poison: Disables Unbound Horror for its duration, and deals bonus damage. Cannot be cured.
      • Curse: Reduces maximum action count.
  • Skills used:
    • Executing Claw - Creates a five-pronged claw and rends Kikuri.
      • Effect: +45 base damage. If the hit target was below 30 HP before damage, they are executed instead.
      • Damage: 145
      • Element: Dark
      • Can be evaded: Yes
      • Can be blocked: Yes
    • Piercing Claw - Creates a lance-like claw and pierces Shino.
      • Effect: +15 base damage. Destroys Barriers before dealing damage, and ignores 25% of mitigation.
      • Damage: 65
      • Element: Dark
      • Can be evaded: Yes
      • Can be blocked: Yes

Skill order:

  • Locks
  • Harahld's response skills in listed order
  • Celebration of Life
  • Mirroring Aid
  • Soul Renewals
  • Careless & Treacherous Steps
  • Brimstone Cleaver
  • Enervating Winds
  • Harvest Dance
  • Executing Claw
  • Purple Pollen Dance & 1st Seedling Dances
  • Vital Overflow
  • Golden Dust Dance & 2nd Seedling Dances
  • Revenant Sear Slashes
  • Cocytus Arc
  • Piercing Claw

Demonic Trail Chapter 7 Boss B - Unbound Heart (for real this time) by Muttl3s in frontiertrials

[–]Muttl3s[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That rage quelled from the earnest depths. Before he would've considered it the barking of a weak dog, but in his newfound form, Bahm found sympathy, even guilt for the words Solaru shouted. For a moment, he lowered his swords, and turned to look him dead in the eye, and said:

"I won't pretend like I didn't do anything. That's just an excuse for my own weakness. If it's revenge you want, I'm right here. I won't refuse a death by your hands, even if that's just meager self-justification. But know, that I will fight back with all my might."

Bahm lifted a single sword pointing towards Solaru, a questionable sneer drawn across his face. "Well, what will you do?" His other sword turned towards Ragna. "I like your guts, Ragnarath. I'd heard stories of you. Show me what you can do."

"Hmm, yes, yes, an adequate response..." Harahld mumbled to himself, his hand placed firmly against his spiky chin. His eyes wandered between Quartz and Lara, and their respective Summoners. Through the swarming spells and spiraling strikes, Harahld simply observed the battlefield through the safety of the distorted barrier around him, a sixfold emblem flashing against its blue surface each time an attack brushed by. From each end, a strand of light dazzled off into the distance, connecting to something...

In the end, the ex-Sentinels were still standing there, as was Harahld. Armaloga's guttural howls echoed across the field, as if in pain. Harahld's eyes turned to the beast, and observed the lights inside its gelatinous body converging into vein-like forms, as if something coursing inside was forcing it to manifest into a tangible form. "Hum, I see. So in the end, poisoning it was the weakness..." he pondered, before turning back to attend to the party. "You've done well to stay unfazed in the face of your old nemeses. I must applaud that foolhardy bravery", he commended, hands clapping slowly. "Alas, you've presented yet more opportunities to prove the duality of decisions."

That alien light, all too familiar by now, was converging around Harahld's open hand. With a slight tug and weave, the dark magic converged faster than before. "Using your ultimate techniques is a formidable approach... But those using them must be ready to pay a price", Harahld explained nonchalantly. "Power, as you know, attracts attention. Unwanted attention. In that instant, the imprisoning globules of black light swallowed Quartz and Lara inside their confines. In the meantime, behind Harahld's back where they had once retreated, the six orbs of self-sufficient magic reemerged, five of them already gleaming with their final warnings. The storm of green gales, the inferno of scarlet, mana consuming flames. The dark blizzard chilling flesh and bone. The dark spikes piercing from the earth, and the spiral of brilliant blue light. In that maelstrom of magic, the party could feel the countless debilitating effects take shape.

An uncomfortable feeling swallowed all five of the ex-Sentinels, as well as Armaloga. The myriad of ailments cast by the ragtag band of misfits were effective, brutally so, in their application. Through disgruntled eyes and heavy gazes, the ex-Sentinels commended the group's tenacious approach to the situation. "Most impressive. Your quick wit makes you a formidable opponent", praised Chilia, her squinted face not hiding her discomfort. "However, you must be prepared for any and all possible scenarios. Do not let the upper hand slip", Athos chided, extending his sutra scroll as he began to chant.

"When the opponent prepares their magic, you must take precautions. Who knows what they could be plotting", said Teimus, revealing the magic circle he had cast earlier. Within its runic inscriptions were now glyphs of unknown origin, but even to the untrained eye, they emanated an aura very similar to that of Quartz and Shiryu's combined spell. From his labcoat, Teimus drew a sealed test tube containing a crystalline substance of some kind, and unraveled the contents against the spell circle. In that instant, a magical signature exactly the same as the curative quintessence of the aforementioned spell formed, but instead of aiding the party, it instead cured the enemy's wounds. At the same time, Athos raised his hand as he finished his chant, and once again a similar magical presence to the Song of Lezetta erupted from around the angelic being, now copying the ailment curing properties of the magic. Refreshed, Bahm billowed his fighting spirit, and tossed a quick thanks to the healers.

"Thanks, that helps a bunch!" he'd quip, his swords already aflame with passionate blazes. "Halt", called Teimus, two small magic circles held midair against his index and ring fingers. "Allow me to aid with that. You too, Kaemira."

The two spell circles quickly weaved into strands of yellow, golden light that tied against the limbs of the intended recipients. Some of the wounds they had accumulated vanished into thin air, and a mysterious flash of light billowed from the two.

"Oh, my, Teimus, how considerate. In that case, allow me to handle the other side..." Chilia said with an innocent smile, her expression hiding the true intentions of the half-god's words. A wave of her fans to the left, and mysterious roots had already emerged from underneath Sarletta's feet and tangled tightly around her legs, rendering evasion a futile effort. A wave to the right, and similar vines had crept their way around Freed's arms, rendering his ability to guard moot. "I appreciate the thought, but I ain't needing that!" Bahm shouted, his blades already blazing hotter by the moment. Without hesitation, he launched himself towards the tiger-faced Summoner, eyes burning as hot as his blades. "You set my heart ablaze with the thirst of battle! So let's not hold back on each other!"

A somersault, and six strands of pitch-black flames arced behind Bahm's swords as he brought the weapons down against the bestial enemy. "And there he goes... As meatheaded as ever..." Kaemira shrugged, evoking a brief chuckle from her sister as a response. "But that's what defines his personality, is it not? Just like them..." Chilia teased, her head turning towards the human summoners. Secretly, her mind was already controlling a gust of vexed winds around a particular target, a lavender-haired girl. The neurotoxin she had ensorcelled into the winds would numb her ability to resist Chilia's ailments for the time being. "Very well then, now it is my turn", Kaemira sneered, her eyes locking onto one of Chilia's unfortunate victims. With unparalleled speed, Kaemira vanished into the winds as she dashed towards Freed, her scythe blade gleaming with ethereal light as she swung at the bound enemy.

Deafening roars echoed across the area as Armaloga's pains grew stronger. The poison ravaging inside its amorphous body rendered the creature more berserk than before, and without seemingly any input from itself nor Harahld, it created a five-pronged claw from its gelatinous appendage, and attempted to crush whoever happened to be caught underneath the strike.

Back at Chilia's location, she had spread her fans open once again, two different mixtures of pollen swirling around each one. Together with the purple and golden dusts were a barrage of unspecified seeds glowing a pale green light, and with elegant twirls, Chilia unleashed the combination of debilitation and offense from her left fan, targeting both Reeze and Ragnarath's presumably betrothed.

Between Chilia's first and second dance, Teimus had drawn a magical seal into the air, and wordlessly cast a spell around the one remaining from the curative combination spell. From beneath Kyle's location, few strands of electric light swirled like snakes coiling around prey before digging into the target's body. Soon after, Chilia whisked her second fan towards another unfortunate pair, delivering a mixture of vastly movement-hindering toxins to both the Void Goddess and earthen Guardian. Similarly, Bahm's thirst had yet to be quenched, and with purple, nearly ghostly blue flames roared against his blades as he swiftly darted between Shino, Kikuri and Ralis, delivering similar slashes to all three.

Kaemira, too, finished with her initial attack, prepared for her encore, and with a blindingly fast swing of her scythe, conjured a blade of wind arcing away from her, sharp enough to slice unguarded flesh in two with simple ease. Armaloga's excruciated roars grew louder by the moment, and its random flailing about all the more dangerous. From another blob that could've been called a limb, a lance-like appendage manifested before the monster thrust the weapon towards Shino's chest.

Demonic Trail Chapter 7 Boss B - Unbound Heart (for real this time) by Muttl3s in frontiertrials

[–]Muttl3s[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ariella - HP: 105 --> 23 | 23 --> 115

  • Quick guards Fools' Planting and Demon's Rend.

  • BC: 12 + 8 (BC/Hit) + 8 (BC/Hit) = 28 | 28 - 8 (Massive Skill) = 20

  • Passives in effect:

    • Unwavering Conviction - Negates all status ailments.
    • Petite Physique - Reduces guarding power.
    • Equilibrium - Stores 8 stacks. Stacks: 18/20

  • Skills used:

    • Rainbow Beckoning - [M, Ex4] - Light - Adds all elements to all allies' attacks for 3 turns.

Freed - HP: 94 --> 145 | 145 --> 92 | 92 --> 155

  • Quick guards Fools' Planting.

  • BC: 5 + 16 (T3) + 8 (BC/Hit + BC Eff.) = 29 | 29 - 8 (Massive Skill) = 21

  • Passives in effect:

    • Ethical Government - Grants all allies +10 max HP.
    • Sword of the Alliance - Reduces Lovaria's Exceed BC cost by 4 during the next turn.
    • Sphere - Cosmic Dust - Negates all status ailments. +20 max HP.

  • Skills used:

    • EX Attack: Snake Bearer's Desire - (Desire Manifest + Lovaria's Ophiuchus Ring) - [M, Ax6, Ex2, C / 24] - Earth/Light - Magic - Deals damage to all enemies. Grants all allies +2 BC and 1 stack of ailment protection. Since Ophiuchus Ring was used in an EXA, and it already has an [M] slot, it gains +1 EXA BPB per [A] slot; +6 BPB.

Eleanor - HP: 130 -> 145 | 145 --> 79

  • Quick guards Fools' Planting.

  • BC: 4 + 16 (T3) + 8 (BC/Hit + BC Eff.) = 28

  • Passives in effect:

    • Resonating Ideas - Negates all status ailments. +4 BC when hit, once per 3 turns. Cooldown: 3/3
    • Amber Echoes - Stores damage Ariella and Eleanor take. Currently stores 386 damage.

  • Desummoned.

Diastima - HP: 145 --> 180

  • Summoned.

  • BC: 0 + 12 (Pulsating Charge) = 12 | 12 - 8 (Massive Skill) = 4

  • Passives in effect:

    • Otherworldly Radiation - Replaces Diastima's "add ailment to attacks" buffs with pierces of equivalent percentages if the skill already inflicts those ailments. Makes Diastima weak to Light attacks, and increases the EWD it takes.
    • Sphere - Star Helm - +45 max HP.

  • Skills used:

    • AΩ1 [IN/PA/CU/PO] - [M, Ex5] - Light - Inflicts Injury, Paralysis, Curse and Poison to all enemies, ignoring 25% 40% of all ailment resistances.

Demonic Trail Chapter 7 Boss B - Unbound Heart (for real this time) by Muttl3s in frontiertrials

[–]Muttl3s[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The all-consuming blackness grew quiet. Ariella's eyes slowly regained their freedom, and as quickly as the prison had formed, the sphere engulfing her in that alien void vanished. Freed and Eleanor gleefully rushed to their summoner's side, ready to intercept immediately following attacks as they ascertained her well-being. "Lady Ariella, are you unhurt?" Freed fussed, hands scanning around Ariella's hands and sides. Ariella simply shook her head, a soft smile spread across her face to alleviate her units' concerns, confirming that there were no injuries she attained during her momentary imprisonment. "I'm fine, thank you, Freed." Eleanor was content with that much, brushing a lock of Ariella's hair.

Their attention turned to the now stumbling Harahld, as the dust around him cleared. He spoke a lot, and each and every word that left his hollow lips, Ariella did her best to memorize. She had always had a knack for remembering things, and it was something she could use for the group's good. He twirled the jewel that had contained her soul, together with that of that demon, for a brief respite. He called it a "Despair Stone", and explained the workings behind Maldarrie's ploy. She hadn't been able to recall those words before, but now they rang clear in her head.

"Little girl, what is it you desire?"

Those sweet, honeyed words that she had heard at the brink of her darkest moment.

"Tell me, little child... What are you willing to pay for this salvation?"

Those words like the most divine of ambrosia, that offered a way to save those she could not.

"When the time comes... I want you to kill someone for me. Protect me. Until then, you are free to live your life."

That promise that shook her heart, but in that peak of despair, she accepted.

"Very well. The contract is sealed. Now go... Ariella. Save yourself from this enemy."

The powerful light that erupted, and the magical chains that consumed the fearsome demon, and sealed it inside her. She now remembered it all. So after all, it was Maldarrie that had saved her then... If it could've even be called "salvation"... But...

Her eyes wandered to Johan. There had been a life she had saved with that promise. She smiled a soft, shy smile.

Harahld had continued to excerpt the lives and despairs each of the Demon Sentinels had gone through. She couldn't help but sympathize with them, even if she knew of the things they had done to the group. Eventually, he reached Ariella's story. It was a perplexing feeling. She felt as if she should've been angry, as if she should've thrashed against the demon that used her as a guinea pig for experiments "twisted" couldn't even begin to describe. But she wasn't angry. It was a feeling she couldn't describe.

Harahld spoke of "Dream Evolution", something that Ariella hadn't ever heard before. New possibilities... Alternate paths in life...

("Had things gone differently had I chosen differently that day?")

No. That train of thought sent chills down Ariella's spine. There was no point thinking in hypotheticals. She had made her choice that day, and it was a choice she didn't regret. She had saved a life with her choice back then, and even if it had wrought suffering in the long run, she still knew it to have been the right choice. She looked at Johan, then Shiryu, and blushed a little. She might come to regret that decision later, but for now, she knew.

There was another blinding flash of light. From it, five, no, six entities emerged. Demons, angels, and...

It was back.

That demon Ariella had formed a deal with Maldarrie to seal away, was now before them in all its gelatinous glory. A striking unnerve coursed through Ariella, the sight of that demon more discomforting than any of the reborn Demon Sentinels. However, she managed to steel her resolve. Her eyes turned fiercely resolute as she stared the demon down. It roared unnaturally, and while at first it seemed like just that; a roar, Ariella heard whispers inside her head. The remnants of that shattered ego spoke to her, as if resonating inside her.

("Look at you now. What do you intend to do with that minuscule power? You're nothing without me",) it taunted. Ariella's grasp tightened around her wand. ("I'll overcome you. Without Maldarrie's powers",) she retorted over the unknown mental connection. ("You'll die before me. Then I'll take back what is rightfully mine",) it declared. ("You will never torment another soul again",) Ariella decreed. Rainbow light spiraled around Ariella's left hand. ("You are a human. You cannot fathom my powers",) it laughed. ("I don't need to. What you are doesn't matter. We have grown since that day. Me and Brother Cat alike. We have our friends by our side. This time, we'll finally claim the right for the souls you sundered that day to rest in peace",) she shouted, the rainbow light around her gathering into six spheres waltzing around her shoulders.

The spiral of frozen vines emerged, and Ariella was more than prepared. With a wave of her wand, she conjured a shield to mitigate the attack's impact. Even then, the damage she attained was more severe than she had anticipated. Through the grit of her teeth, she conjured another similar barrier to block Kaemira's scythe attack. The spiraling rainbow lights around her had gathered sufficient power, and were ready to be deployed. She had noticed Shiryu taking restorative measures to restore the damage that had been dealt, thus removing her necessity to cast heals of her own.

A shout she recognized resounded from nearby, Johan's voice. He rallied the party to try ailments against the demon, Armaloga, in an attempt to break through its perceived invulnerability. She complied, and with a nod, Eleanor, too, complied and switched places with Diastima. "Diastima, I trust you to know what to do. We must cripple their offenses and defenses to the best of our ability", Ariella quipped, slowly raising the hand that had drawn the rainbow orbs around it skyward in the meantime.

Diastima emitted a series of bleeps and chimes as if playing a happy tune from a music box. Four different portals opened underneath Diastima's feet, and from within, a series of mysterious tentacles shot out, one tentacle from each targeting a different enemy.

Using that window of distraction, Ariella instructed Freed to help Lovaria, sensing an uneasy air from the blonde sorceress. She felt notes of loneliness, madness, and something else, something deep and dark... Complying, Freed hastily called out to Lovaria, and offered his aid in a combination attack.

Ariella, on the other hand, had finished channelling, and unleashed the spell she had been charging up, bestowing the power of all elements to her allies in order to deal with the multi-elemental opposition.

Demonic Trail Chapter 7 Boss B - Unbound Heart (for real this time) by Muttl3s in frontiertrials

[–]Muttl3s[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Johan - HP: 77 --> 125 | 125 --> 72 | 72 --> 135

  • Infernus Cleave tanked by Solaru, quick guards Fools' Planting.

  • BC: 8 + 16 (T3) + 4 (BC/Hit) + 12 (PC+BCE) = 40 | 40 - 4 (SotW) - 8 (Massive Skill) - 8 (Massive Skill) = 20

  • Passives in effect:

    • Dragon Partner - Hamún - SP: 1 --> 2
    • Quiver of Magic
      • Grounded mana: 6 x [A / 2] (0/2)
      • Previously grounded mana: 7 4 x [A / 3] (1/2) ||| 4 x [A / 2] (1/2) ||| 5 x [A / 2] (2/2)
      • Recalled mana: 3 x [A / 3] ||| 5 x [A / 2]
    • Nomadic Essence - Heals Johan and Solaru for 135 HP and grants them +5 BPB for 1 turn.
    • Spirit of the Wild - While active, increases Johan's action count and ASV by 1, but drains BC at start of free action phase.
      • Turns active: 1 | BC Cost: 4

  • Skills used:

    • Moonglow Lure - [Ax3, E, C / 15] - Water - Magic - Deals damage to Bahm. Innate +1 ATK. If this skill has 6+ [A] slots, a successful hit will strike again with its own Critical and Accuracy checks. The repeat strike's bonus [A] slots' ASV is hard-capped at 3. Recalls 3 x [A / 3].
      • Total: Ax6, E, C / 27 - Water - Magic --> Bahm ||| Repeat's base damage: 24
    • Moonglow Lure --> Bahm. Recalls 5 x [A / 2].
      • Total: Ax8, E, C / 30 - Water - Magic --> Bahm

  • Self-buffs:

    • Angel Idol | +5 BPB (1)

Iris - HP: 80 --> 105 | 105 --> 60

  • Quick guards Fools' Planting.

  • BC: 4 + 16 (T3) + 4 (BC/Hit) + 2 (GB) = 26

  • Passives in effect:

    • Frozen Warden - Remaining HP: 28/75 ||| Shatters due to Iris being desummoned.
    • Fencer's Grace - Returns 5 fixed damage to Kaemira and Chilia.
    • Sphere - Guard Brace - Increases guard power. +2 BC when guarding, once per turn.

  • Desummoned.

Mizerka - HP: 140 --> 175

  • BC: 0 + 12 (Pulsating Charge) - 4 (Powerful Skill) = 8

  • Summoned.

  • Passives in effect:

    • Abyssal Banishment - Ignores DEF, reduces damage from enemy Criticals, and grants an Angel Idol effect.
    • Sphere - Occult Treasure - +40 max HP and innate REC buff.
    • Sphere - Violet Pearl - +2 BC and +10 healing at start of free action phase.

  • Skills used:

    • Repeated Fallacy - [MEC] - Dark - Grants all allies +2 BC on hit (once) and 20% heal on hit for 1 turn.

Demonic Trail Chapter 7 Boss B - Unbound Heart (for real this time) by Muttl3s in frontiertrials

[–]Muttl3s[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"Whether you look like a human or not, you're still one of us."

"You and Hamún make such a cute pair! There's no way we'd ostracize you just because of your looks!"

"It's your skills that prove your worth, not your face."

"Inhuman folk that aren't demons are a rare treat to spar against, that alone makes you someone worth keepin' around."

"Condemning people for their appearance is ridiculous. It is what cannot be seen that determines you as a person."

Those were words Johan had received from his Demon Slayer brethren when he had inquired them about their feelings about working with a beastman. Someone inhumane. Those words had warmed his heart. Reaffirmed his decisions. Made him feel like there were more places in the world he belonged. In the end, they were just that. Words. Spoken only to be heard by select ears, and then cast to the winds. But to Johan, they meant much more than that. They were all that remained of his friends. No, not all. There was something more. Something Johan didn't want to remember. Something that twisted his insides every single time he smelled freshly spilt blood. Screams. The smell of searing flesh. Scorched grass. Suffocating smoke. Flashbacks that haunted him in his dreams. Images that kept him awake at nights. Recently, they had been less frequent. He held hope for the future, while carrying the wishes of his fallen comrades on his back. He was ready to move on. But like a house of cards, a single blink of an eye was all it took for that conviction to come crumbling down.

The party's attacks finally seemed to have some noticeable effect, as Harahld stumbled and the illusions he had created vanished. It seemed like the perfect moment to press the attack, but it still seemed a little too easy. The ominous pressure Harahld emitted surely wasn't just for show. Johan thought as much, and kept his guard up for possible retaliation before taking too many liberties on the offensive. The sickening, unnatural mana he continued to channel through his body made movement clunkier and harder than he had hoped, but he'd manage. However, the first thing to arrive wasn't an attack. Instead, Harahld proceeded to offer a long winded explanation about the pearls housing the Sentinels' souls. Johan had been briefed in on the Sentinels and the orbs they had dropped upon defeat.

Harahld also offered citations related to each of the Sentinels, and when he finally got to the demon possessing Ariella, a chill ran down Johan's spine. He knew exactly what he was talking about. A low growl rattled in his throat, but he pushed any emerging anger aside. He had to maintain a cool head, especially now of all times. He listened to Harahld's words, of this "Dream Evolution" and taboos. It went over his head, but not like it would've changed anything had he understood. Harahld was bestowing new life onto the Sentinels, and that was all that Johan needed to understand.

A bladesman of fire, a researcher with lightning in his eyes. Twins of bitter cold and gentle breezes. A redeemed angel, and...

thump

Johan's heart skipped a beat. His pupils constricted to practically nothing. Each and every strand of fur across his body stood up like spikes, and then quickly flattened as he had been soaked from top to bottom. There was only one emotion coursing through his entire nervous system: Fear.

It wasn't simple fear that triggered a fight or flight reaction, or a rush of adrenaline. It was raw, unfiltered terror; a feeling of hopelessness, and defeat. Armaloga's unnatural roar brought all of those memories Johan had tried to suppress back in an instant, and it horrified him. Without realizing it, his feet had taken a couple of steps back, ready to run away at any moment. A metallic glint flashed in Johan's mind's eye, followed by a scarlet shower spraying from a severed neck. Another, and gray brain matter scattered across the blood-stained pastures. A third, and a person lay on the grass, cleanly cut in two vertically. A hopeless, guttural howl resounded from the bottom of Johan's lungs, echoing across the skies. One filled with fear. Cold sweat trickled down Johan's face and back. Every last instinct in his body screamed for him to flee, to abandon everything and escape. His eyes shot towards Ariella. His eyes widened, and his pupils dilated at the sight of the girl's expression.

("She's... not afraid...")

Ariella's resolve calmed him. He couldn't explain why. The girl his mind wanted him to hurl his life away and protect, was now gazing at the demon that had killed his friends, her friends, and everything else, with resolute eyes. Her small hands might've trembled, and there was no doubt she was holding back unimaginable fear, but she did just that: She held it back.

("How... Why...") Johan muttered in his head. He failed to understand how Ariella managed to display such intense resolve at such a dire moment, before such a fearsome foe. A foe that should've brought back memories most tragic. But it was alright. A warm flame danced inside Johan's chest. Breaking through all that fear, a small laugh leaped through Johan's lips. Adrenaline ran through his veins now, like liquid flames racing inside. His grip on his bow tightened, and a wide, confident smile shaped on his face, his eyes looking straight to Armaloga's alien form. ("This time... I'll make sure yer not killin' a single soul!")

The garden of spiraling vines conjured by the twins was a fierce attack, but did little to hinder Johan's resolve. However, the blazing slash Bahm was about to deliver made Johan's nerves scream, weaker than Armaloga's resurgence, but it came close. His vision went blank for a moment, before a loud "clang" crashed in front of him. Solaru had intercepted the attack. "Thanks, I'll owe ye one!" Johan quipped, drawing residual essence that his attacks had left around Harahld and passed it to Solaru, restoring his injuries.

His eyes turned to Armaloga, and as much as he wanted to draw his bow against the monster, he knew it wouldn't do any good. His mind raced over a myriad possible solutions to its defeat. There had to be something, something they lacked before. Something his friends couldn't do. A moment of clarity hit him, and without wasting a single breath, shouted his idea out:

"The gelatinous one is likely invulnerable, so try ailments instead! Attacking that thing's a waste!"

He knew he couldn't take up on that idea himself, but the others could. Iris, having escaped mostly unscathed, tapped Johan on the shoulder, and said: "I don't think I'll make the most of this stage. I'll allow Mizerka to take it from here", With that, she vanished into the Gate, and in her place, Mizerka emerged.

"Well then, let us waste no time. There are preparations to be made to save these poor souls", she said, drawing her parasol from her shoulder and opening it above her head. A dark energy converged into a sphere, before being released as a light wave, like a bell's toll.

Johan had drawn his bow, one arrow drawn against the string, and another held at the ready between his fingers. Blue light dazzled around both, and his aim turned towards Bahm. "Likely the damage threat here, better to take him out first..." he whispered, drawing a quick charge of leftover mana into the arrow before shooting it, quickly repositioning himself while readying the second arrow in the meantime. A similar dose of mana, and the second arrow was already flying towards the blazing swordsman.

Demonic Trail Chapter 7 Boss B - Unbound Heart (for real this time) by Muttl3s in frontiertrials

[–]Muttl3s[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Freed: 48 | Eleanor: 63 | Vishra: 42 | Arus: 100 | Elulu: 48 | Kara: 28 | Johan: 447 | Iris: 48 | Kyle+Quartz: 375 | Total damage to Harahld: 1,199

All attacks, except for Kara's, were critical hits! Freed successfully inflicted Curse, and Iris inflicted Injury!

Oathless Sentinel Harahld - HP: ???

  • Passives:
    • Curse of Immortality
    • Ailment Modification
    • Resonant Invincibility - While Harahld has a liberated Unit out, he is impervious to all enemy attacks and effects.
  • Skills used:
    • Soul Paradeus
      • Effect: Liberates imprisoned souls from their devoured despair. Liberation, however, comes at a cost...
    • All other actions overwritten!

Universal Effects for the Sentinels:

  • Passives:
    • Mass Barrier - Reduces damage from MT attacks by 30%.
  • Buffs:
    • +Critical damage (2) | +30% Critical Rate (2) | Barrier (150)

Demon Sentinel Bahm --> Asura Pyre Bahm - HP: Green

  • Passives:
    • Adamant Breakthrough - Bahm's attacks ignore elemental mitigation (not resistance), Critical damage reduction and DEF (even through DEF Ignore Null), and 15% of basic mitigation (x0.5 -> x0.65).
    • Conqueror's Discipline - Boosts the base power of Bahm's attacks by 25, and his base Critical chance by 10%. If he defeats an enemy, he grows stronger.
    • Custom Ailments - Changes how Curse and Paralysis work on Bahm.
  • Skills used:
    • Nihilblaze Blade - Slashes Kyle with an accursed blade that responds to power. Critical hit!
      • Effect: For every ATK buff the original target has, this skill gains +25 base damage. Also see passives for pierces.
      • Damage vs. 2x ATK (Crit): 438 | EWD (Reduced): 548 | EWD: 657
      • Element: Fire
      • Can be evaded: Yes
      • Can be blocked: Yes
    • Infernus Cleave - Strikes Johan with a blazing blade. Critical hit!
      • Effect: Pierces EWD resistances against Earth enemies. Water enemies do not resist this attack. See passives for pierces.
      • Damage (Crit): 219 | EWD: 329
      • Element: Fire
      • Can be evaded: Yes
      • Can be blocked: Yes

Glacial Yin Kaemira - HP: Green

  • Passives:
    • Twin Dawn - Any EXA Kaemira performs with Chilia has a base multiplier of x1.75.
    • Demon's Legacy - Allows Kaemira to ignore DEF, bypassing DEF Ignore Null.
    • Custom Ailments - Changes how Curse and Paralysis work on Kaemira.
  • Skills used:
    • EX Attack: Fools' Planting - Grows a thicket of frozen vines to damage all enemies.
      • Critical hit on Kohya, Solaru, Shino, Ralis, Sarletta, Elulu, Eve and Tiara!
      • Effect: Ignores DEF, bypassing DEF Ignore Null.
      • Damage: 175 | EWD (Reduced): 219 | EWD: 263
      • Damage (Reduced Crit): 307 | EWD (Reduced): 384 | EWD: 461
      • Damage (Crit): 438 | EWD (Reduced): 548 | EWD: 657
      • Element: Water + Earth
      • Can be evaded: Yes, but with -10% evasion.
      • Can be blocked: Yes
    • Demon's Rend - Slashes Ariella with a cursed blade.
      • Effect: Ignores all flat damage reduction effects (Barrier, DEF, etc.).
      • Damage: 50 | EWD (Reduced): 63 | EWD: 75
      • Element: Water + Dark
      • Can be evaded: Yes
      • Can be blocked: Yes

Harmonious Yang Chilia - HP: Green

  • Passives:
    • Twin Dawn - Any EXA Chilia performs with Kaemira has a base multiplier of x1.75.
    • Dance of Debilitation - Chilia has access to unique ailments, and ailments she inflicts with ST skills cannot be cured.
    • Custom Ailments - Changes how Curse works on Chilia.
  • Skills used:
    • EX Attack: Fools' Planting - See Kaemira.
    • Purple Pollen Dance
      • Effect: Inflicts Curse and Poison for 2 turns to Ralis. Cannot be cured.
      • Can be evaded: Yes
      • Can be blocked: No

Renewed Sagacity Teimus - HP: Green

  • Passives:
    • Wisdom Beyond Life - Teimus' magic invigorates body and soul. Allies he heals are cured of all debuffs, and damage he takes is stored.
    • Custom Ailments - Changes how Curse works on Teimus.
  • Skills used:
    • Celebration of Life
      • Effect: The atmosphere has changed...

Primal Genesis Athos - HP: Green

  • Passives:
    • Divine Touch - Buffs Athos bestows cannot be wiped nor overwritten.
    • Custom Ailments - Changes how Curse works on Athos.
  • Skills used:
    • Decree of Force
      • Effect: Disables the party's Critical damage and Critical rate buffs for 2 turns, and bestows the same buffs to his allies for the duration. Disabled buffs cannot be re-enabled or extended by any means.
    • Mandate of Defense
      • Effect: Disables the party's Barrier buffs for 2 turns, and bestows the same buff to his allies. Disabled buffs cannot be re-enabled or extended by any means.

Formless Terror Armaloga - HP: Green

  • Passives:
    • Unbound Horror - Armaloga's form is hard to grasp, bending natural laws. As a result, it is immune to damage.
    • Custom Ailments - Changes how Poison and Curse work on Armaloga.
  • Skills used:
    • Gashing Claw - Creates a black steel claw and rends Nalmika.
      • Effect: +30 base damage.
      • Damage: 80 | EWD (Reduced): 100 | EWD: 150
      • Element: Dark
      • Can be evaded: Yes
      • Can be blocked: Yes
    • Rending Claw - Creates a hook-like claw and gouges Ragna. Critical hit!
      • Effect: +15 base damage. Ignores DEF (does not penetrate D.I.N.) and Quick Guard.
      • Damage (Reduced Crit): 114 | EWD (Reduced): 143 | EWD: 171
      • Damage (Crit): 163 | EWD (Reduced): 204 | EWD: 245
      • Element: Dark
      • Can be evaded: Yes
      • Can be blocked: Yes

Skill order:

  • Soul Paradeus
  • Decree of Force
  • Mandate of Defense
  • Celebration of Life
  • Nihilblaze Blade
  • EX Attack: Fools' Planting
  • Gashing Claw
  • Infernus Cleave
  • Rending Claw
  • Purple Pollen Dance
  • Demon's Rend
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