Dark Gate Academy Episode 18
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Far off, nestled in an otherwise small Japanese town lies the Dark Gate Academy. An institution of tremendous size, the Academy holds a long kept secret. Unknown to the outside world, this unseemly town is home to a tear in our reality. A gate between our world and a bizarre dimension known as the Darkworld. The inhabitants of this hellish world breach this gate and attempt to flood into our reality and spread throughout the world on a regular basis. However, the Dark Gate Academy is home to students of truly extraordinary abilities. The ability to sense the presence of these evil Darkword creatures, and defeat them in combat, sending them back through the gate.
They cannot close the rift between our world and the Darkworld, but the students and staff of Dark Gate Academy have dedicated their lives to using their amazing powers to hold back the darkness that plagues our world, even if it costs them their lives. They have risen up to the challenge and in secret have become great heroic defenders of the world as we know it.
You are Ryoji Shida. A transfer student and delinquent who ended up in the school by mistake, with no fighting ability, but you may have a stronger connection to the Darkworld than thought possible.
>Previously on Dark Gate Academy...
After a school dance to mark the end of term, you were kidnapped by a shadowy group, who expect you to bring back the Darkworld.
Well, so much for Summer break.
As you lay on your ass, your hands bound by ropes, with Alice slowly coming to behind you, you realise something... this place really freakin' reeks. Is this a sewer? These hooded losers are hanging out in a sewer, aren't they? Just great. There you were, dancing with a pretty girl at the end of a perfectly lovely evening, when all of a sudden Alice shows up ranting about these guys. Then, the lights go out, somebody hits you from behind, knocks you out, and drags you... here. Fantastic.
And what was it that voice said? They expect you to bring back the Darkworld? Fat chance. Even if you knew how to, there's no way you'd help them. Alice isn't going to be much use to them either, considering her mental state.
“Oh... they took us.” You hear Alice's voice, feeling the back of her head bump against yours as she looks around. “This is... dirty.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Does anyone know where we are?” she asks. “My niece? The Justice boy? The Pirate girl?”
“Did you bother to learn anyone's names?”
Alice shrugs. “Names aren't important! What about your wife?”
“My what now?”
“The girl you were dancing with! People call her tight-ass, but I don't think that's her real name...”
You shake your head. “I don't think anybody knows where we are. I don't even know where we are.”
“So... they aren't looking for us?” Alice says in a concerned tone.
“Don't worry. They'll notice us missing, and they'll send out search parties. They'll find us eventually.”
Alice lets out a sigh of relief.
“Having second thoughts?” you ask. “I thought you wanted them to capture you.”
“No...” Alice mutters. “I wanted them to kill me.”
Damn, she really does have her problems, doesn't she? Then again, if you were essentially a part-demon ghost of a girl who was supposed to have died sixty years ago, you'd be pretty messed up too. Hell, you do fit the “Part-Demon” aspect, and that's really started to mess with your head.
“That's not going to happen,” you reply sternly. “I'll protect you.”
“I don't want you to protect me!” Alice huffs. “Besides, you can't! I'm stronger than you are!”
She has a point. Pretty much everyone you know is stronger than you are. It's becoming a real pain.
You've been sitting here in silence for so long... when are these crazies going to show up and do... whatever it is their master plan is? You're growing impatient, hoping that they would just go ahead and get it over with already. Alice meanwhile is whistling cheerfully as you sit in squalor. The suit Ken loaned you is now ruined. A small crack in the wall covered in metal bars allows enough sunlight to shine through. This means you've been here for at least the whole night... which means the others should be looking for you.
>Time to see if I can wriggle my way out of these ropes. [ROLL D100]
>Try talking to Alice. We're not going to get through this if she's acting irrational.
Rolled 26 (1d100)
>>199979
>>Time to see if I can wriggle my way out of these ropes. [ROLL D100]
Come on, don't fail me dice.
>>199979
>Try talking to Alice. We're not going to get through this if she's acting irrational.
Rolled 60 (1d100)
>>199979
>>Time to see if I can wriggle my way out of these ropes. [ROLL D100]
Might as well give it a shot.
Rolled 56 (1d100)
>>199979
>Time to see if I can wriggle my way out of these ropes. [ROLL D100
Rolled 100 (1d100)
>>199979
>>Time to see if I can wriggle my way out of these ropes. [ROLL D100]
>>200022
FUUUUUUUUUUUUCK.
>>200030
I must use this power for good
>>199999
199999
DAAAMN SO CLOSE
>>200022
Time to go all splinter cell and get us out of this
>>200034
Use your power when we have to punch a nigga.
Rolled 84 (1d100)
>>199979
I could see Ryoji dying before he let Alice die.
>>200059
I'll do my best
>Time to see if I can wriggle my way out of these ropes.
Now that you notice it, your hands aren't really bound all that tight. In fact, these are some loose restraints they've got going. A very haphazard job all around. With a little bit of struggling, you're able to jiggle a hand free, getting to work on freeing up the other. You shake your hands tying to get the blood flowing once more, before working on Alice's restraints. As you set her free, she remains sitting on the cold floor, unmoving.
"Alice, let' get moving," you mutter, but she refuses to budge. You grab her by the wrist and pull. "Come on, we need to go!"
"Go where?" Alice asks.
"Where do you think?" you exclaim. "Back to the Academy! We need to get out of here!"
"There's a bad man behind that door," she points at the exit to the small room you're being kept in. "There's no other way out."
"Well... we can take him out," you reply. "He's just human, we sneak up behind him and choke him out or something."
Alice giggles at the suggestion. You don't know if she's not taking you seriously or the entire situation seriously.
You pull her to her feet. "Don't make this any more difficult than it needs to be, Alice. We're getting out of here, even if I have to carry you."
Before you have time to take her along, the door swings wide open as one of the hooded figures enters the room. "Good to see you up and about... Ryoji."
You raise an eyebrow. "Why the dramatic pause? I already know you've been spying on us, genius."
"Ah, but we've been even closer than you'd think..." the hooded figure removes his hood to reveal a black-haired boy wearing glasses. "Now you know my true identity, Ryoji."
"What...? Who are you?" you demand to know.
"I... I'm Reiji? From your class?" he states, raising an eyebrow.
"Nope. Never heard of you," you reply.
"Dammit! I am not that forgettable!" he protests.
>Whatever. Who's the dumbass in charge of this operation?
>Well, these clowns got a lot less threatening if you're a member.
>Try to punch him. [ROLL D100]
Rolled 17 (1d100)
>>200093
>>Try to punch him. [ROLL D100]
LET'S GO.
Rolled 63 (1d100)
>>200093
>Try to break his arms and legs for kidnapping you.
>>200093
>Whatever. Who's the dumbass in charge of this operation?
Well this was slightly unexpected. Guess its one way to bring him into the fold more regularily.
>>200093
>Whatever. Who's the dumbass in charge of this operation?
>>200093
Didn't we save this wimp's life during the battle with Class 3?
>>200093
>>Whatever. Who's the dumbass in charge of this operation?
Well shit. We should have let him die in the fight with Class 3. Punching him would be pretty useless since he's still a super kid.
Rolled 81 (1d100)
>>200093
One punch
Rolled 56 (1d100)
>>200093
>Try to punch him. [ROLL D100]
>>200093
>Yes you are.
>Well, these clowns got a lot less threatening if you're a member.
Bunch of nobodies, they even dress the part.
>>200120
I bet they are ex students
>>200093
>>Well, these clowns got a lot less threatening if you're a member.
Calling in 5 minutes.
Rolled 20 (1d100)
>>200150
Booker I forgot to ask, but does Ryoji's regen let medication or drugs actually affect him?
>>200093
>>Whatever. Who's the dumbass in charge of this operation?
Calling for
>Whatever. Who's the dumbass in charge of this operation?
Writing now.
>>200177
We got 5 posts to punch and 4 to question him.
what the fuck are you doing man Jesus Christ
"You'll meet Settan soon enough," Reiji explains, as you notice the bundle of clothing in his hands. "For now, put these on."
"Yeah, no thanks," you reply. "I don't think I'm going to go along with any of your stupid demands."
"You should," Reiji fires back. "We only have need for one of you. The other is expendable. Think about that."
Reiji tosses the garments to the floor and shuts the door behind him. You pick up the clothes and hand them over to Alice. "Look... clean clothes. Put them on."
Alice shakes her head. "No! If I don't, he might kill me!"
"Which isn't something I want," you answer back through gritted teeth. "Stop being suicidal and put them on."
Alice huffs as you turn your back to her, and the two of you begin to get dressed. You shed the suit you have on, placing it aside, as you throw on a pair of pants and a white shirt. Looks very similar to the Academy uniforms. You're so frustrated that the idea of sneaking a peak as Alice changes never even occurs to you. How uncharacteristic.
As the two of you are dressed, you turn around facing the door. "Okay Alice... whenever we get brought to this... Settan guy, just let me do all the talking, okay? If he asks you for information, don't give it to him."
Alice sticks out her tongue at you. "I know what I'm doing! Stop worrying!"
"Hard not to around you..." you mutter.
The door creaks open as Reiji steps into the room accompanied by an older looking man with black hair. A strange creature rests atop his shoulder, likely some product of the Darkworld. "Here they are, father," Reiji states, pointing to the two of you.
"Yes, son. I can see that," the man states.
"Now I get it," you laugh. "You're only here 'cause it's a family business. No wonder you're so terrible. Your secret evil cult would be a lot better without all the nepotism."
"He is as brash as you say," the man says to Reiji, before turning his attention back to you. "My name is Orochi. It's a pleasure to meet the both of you."
>Can we just get this over with? Take me to your leader.
>Spit in his face.
>>200255
>Can we just get this over with? Take me to your leader.
Damn, should have voted to punch him just to see him go crying for daddy.
>>200228I'm sorry anon, maybe I've gone full idiot, but no matter how many times I look over, I'm counting 4 each.
>>200255
>Can we just get this over with? Take me to your leader.
>>200255
>Can we just get this over with? Take me to your leader.
>Can we just get this over with? Take me to your leader.
"He's straightforward," Orochi mutters.
"It's just as I said," Reiji replies. "He's a hater of all authority. I wasn't exaggerating."
"Very well... come along," Orochi replies. "Settan is eager to meet with you."
Wow, you never thought it would be that easy. As you and Alice are lead out of the room, you see that this isn't a sewer at all... just a particularly dirty bunker. Where the hell are you? Are you in town? Or did they take you further out? Are you even in the country? As they take you through a hallway ending in a flight of steps, Orochi opens the door at the top, and the sunlight almost burns out your retinas.
You are lead out into what appears to be some kind of forest... but definitely not the forest in town. The trees are strangely bare, considering it's the middle of summer. You look out and see a neatly placed picnic table by a riverbank, with a young-looking man in a white robe sitting at it. On the table are sandwiches and cups of tea.
The man looks at you and smiles. "Ah, this must be Ryoji and Alice. I've heard so much about the two of you. My name is Settan, and I think we have a lot to talk about. Come, sit down, have some food!"
A much more... jovial welcome than you were expecting. You shake your head. "Not a chance. You can go to hell."
Settan smiles. "I had a feeling you'd say that, Ryoji. I've heard so much about your attitude. You're a pretty entertaining young man, I must say."
"I don't give a crap if I entertain you," you spit back.
Settan places a hand to his chest. "Ryoji, you wound me! I'm trying to show kindness! What of you, Alice? Will you pass up my offer?"
You glare at Alice, who is licking her lips as she stares at the sandwiches. "Don't do it," you mutter.
"But I'm hungry!" she protests. "It looks delicious!"
"I understand... you're distrustful." Settan stands from his position and approaches you. "Why would you trust us? We're the big evil group who stole you away in the middle of the night. We're not to be trusted. A fair assumption... but believe it or not, you and I both want the same thing."
"You don't know what I want," you protest.
"I don't?" Settan asks. "Well, you should enlighten me, Ryoji. Let's start a dialogue. Me and you. Tell me what you want."
>I never thought I'd say it, but I want to go back to the Academy.
>I want answers.
>I mostly just want to punch you in the face.
>>200255
>Careful Guy-Who-I-Don't-Recognize, your Daddy's talking about his 'snake'.
>>200367
>>I mostly just want to punch you in the face.
"But I also want answers."
>>200367
>>I mostly just want to punch you in the face.
>Like, all of you, repeatedly, and I want it to hurt. I want to be strong enough to actually match up to all of you supers.
>>200367
>>I mostly just want to punch you in the face.
Answers and going back are secondary, but still important.
>>200367
>I want answers.
>You are acting pretty cozy for someone who ordered his people to stalk and kidnap us.
>>200367
>I mostly just want to punch you in the face.
>>200367
>>I mostly just want to punch you in the face.
>>200367
>I want answers.
>I wouldn't mind punching you in the face though. Mind indulging?
>>200383
Backing this right now.
>>200367
>I mostly just want to punch you in the face.
he's only going to let us hurt our knuckles on his supe jawline, but maybe we'll feel better for it anyway.
>I mostly just want to punch you in the face.
Settan laughs. "Oh, there's that classic wit I've heard so much about. You're very tough, aren't you Ryoji? Especially for someone so... weak."
He walks closer to you, so that his face is an inch from your own. "You can go ahead and punch me, Ryoji, but I'm sure you'll be disappointed. I've moved past the concept of pain. There's nothing you can do that can hurt me."
Well, you need to punch something today, so you go right ahead and punch the white-haired jerk anyway. His head tilts back, but otherwise he doesn't even react. Shit... at least there was a satisfying smacking sounds as your fist connected. "I hope you've managed to get that aggression out of your system. Perhaps now you'll listen to reason."
It seems you have no choice in the matter as you are seated at the picnic table, with Settan sitting opposite you. While Alice begins to much away at the food, you refuse to touch anything, and even kick Settan in the shin under the table for good measure. Annoyingly, he smiles at you as you do it. "Come Ryoji, let's talk. I'm sure you have questions."
"Okay... let's start on why you whack-jobs think I can bring back the Darkworld. Then you can move on to why you'd want that."
"Ryoji, are you so slow to understand?" Settan asks. "Surely you've noticed that you are different from the others."
"Yeah, I've been wondering about that..." you mutter. "Just what the hell am I, exactly?"
Settan shakes his head. "Ryoji... you're you. But with a little extra."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?!"
Settan smiles. "The denizens of the Darkworld... contrary to popular belief, they are not your enemies. Just look at the gifts they have granted you all. It's your fault that you used those gifts to wage war against them."
"I'm confused... are you trying to tell me that the Darkworld gave people the ability to fight them? Why?!"
"Because they are generous," Settan explains. "Because that way you would be on equal footing."
"How sporting of them," you roll your eyes.
"And some, like you... are given an even greater gift. You, Alice, and the late Yamato were all chosen by a more powerful Darkworlder. Gods in their realm, Archdemons. They wanted a human vessel, an amalgamation of demon and man in perfect harmony."
"So... what? I'm possessed?" you ask. "Some Darkworld bigshot just thought he could hole up in my body?"
"You say it like it's a bad thing," Settan laughs. "It's not like they took your body by force. There was a deal involved."
"I don't remember signing any contracts."
"Perhaps you don't," Settan explains. "But a deal was made, whether you remember it or not. Don't you remember whispering? Perhaps that the flurry of senses you experienced while going through your awakening saw you miss out. Alice and Yamato made their deals with their Archdemons much later. The Archdemon whispered to them, offered to grant them a single wish in exchange for them allowing the merging of spirits."
"I didn't make a wish, dumbass," you fire back.
"You say that, and I can tell you believe that... but it's not true," Settan laughs. "Alice was trapped inside the Darkworld, and so she wished that she could hide away in her favourite book, that her fantasies could become reality. That wish was granted."
"Oh, yeah!" Alice exclaims, suddenly remembering. "The weird guy is right!"
"Yamato watched as his compatriots died, and wished that he could be a better leader. That wish was granted, and others followed Yamato, even outside of their control. Think Ryoji... what was going through your mind as you went through your awakening?"
You shrug. "Hell, I don't know. I was scared, I was running, I just wanted to... survive."
Oh... shit.
"And so your wish was granted, and now you can heal from anything," Settan smiles. "Now tell me, Ryoji. A gift like that, how can it be anything but benevolent?"
>There's a catch, I know it. You can't convince me that something called an Archdemon is benevolent.
>I'll admit, it's been a pretty sweet ability so far...
>>200512
>>There's a catch, I know it. You can't convince me that something called an Archdemon is benevolent.
Well, shit.
>>200512
>>There's a catch, I know it. You can't convince me that something called an Archdemon is benevolent.
>>200512
>>There's a catch, I know it. You can't convince me that something called an Archdemon is benevolent.
>>200512
>There's a catch, I know it. You can't convince me that something called an Archdemon is benevolent.
So if our ability for now is entirely concentrated as survival maybe we can truly heal from anything, just the more severe the injury the longer it will take, Jack Harkness style.But we made that deal without ever actually being properly Awakened like everyone else, that's how we'll eventually level up
>>200512
>>There's a catch, I know it. You can't convince me that something called an Archdemon is benevolent.
>>200512
>I'll admit, it's been a pretty sweet ability so far...
>There's a catch, I know it. You can't convince me that something called an Archdemon is benevolent.
"No, there's no catch," Settan explains. "The Darkworld is not the evil you seem to think it is. The denizens there do not wish to destroy or take over our world... they simply wish to merge with it. To become one with all of us, and to make us better. Why should we deny them?"
"Well, there is one problem," Reiji cuts in, pushing up his glasses.
Settan glares at Reiji. "What are you talking about, dear boy?"
"I just think we should be honest," Reiji replies. "Ryoji, as you and the Archdemon continue to merge as one, a lot of your personality, your memories are erased to make room for those of the Archdemon."
"Okay, that's enough Reiji," Settan mutters through gritted teeth, but you're curious to know more.
"My memories? I haven't lost any memories so far," you reply.
"You just think you haven't!" Reiji exclaims. "Think about it Ryoji... what are your parents names?"
Your parents? Your mom and dad, the two who shipped you from school to school before you ended up here... of course you know their names! They're your freakin' parents!
"Their names are... are..." you trail off. Oh god... you don't know.
"What about your brothers?" Reiji asks. "What are their names?"
Your brothers? No, you must know their names. Just say what comes naturally to you. "Satoshi and-"
"Trick question," Reiji replies. "I did research on you when you first arrived here. You don't have any siblings."
You don't even know if he's right... how did you not notice this before? You look over at Alice, happily sipping away at the tea. Her mind's in so many shattered fragments you don't know if they can ever be pieced together. Is... is that what your future holds?
Orochi smacks Reiji across the head and pulls him back.
Settan laughs nervously. "Of course... some sacrifices must be made when you strive for perfection."
Your parents...
"I can see you're upset, Ryoji. Take as much time as you need. The both of you."
Settan instructs the others to watch over you as he heads back inside the bunker. You're left stunned on the picnic bench. You have to remember their names... you just... have to. Then you realise... you don't remember their faces, either. What did they look like?
You notice Alice hunkered down by a tree. She looks like she's sulking. Reiji is still rubbing the back of his head as his father smacked him.
>Talk to Alice.
>Confront Reiji.
>>200635
>>Confront Reiji.
>>200635
>Confront Reiji.
Well that helps to explain exactly why Alice is so out of it 90% of the time.
>>200635
>Confront Reiji.
Come on man, give us a reason for not kicking you out of the "make sure all the class survive this quest" plan.
>>200635
>Confront Reiji.
>>200635
>>Confront Reiji
>>200635
>Confront Reiji.
So not only are we the weakest, most useless person around, but we're possessed by a demon and we're basically fated to die.
>Confront Reiji.
You saunter up to Reiji, angrily cracking your knuckles. "So, you're a real piece of shit, aren't you?"
Reiji shakes his head. "I'm sorry, Ryoji. You have every right to be mad, but understand that we aren't the bad guys here."
"You sure seem like the bad guys," you mutter. "I doubt many bad guys would knock us out and drag us to some bunker in a forest in the middle of nowhere!"
"Well, what else could we do?" Reiji fires back. "It's not like we could knock on your door with pamphlets. Hi, have you heard the good news about the Darkworld? That wouldn't work, would it?"
"Oh, I wonder why? Your freaky religion seems so reasonable!" you yell. "Have you been spying on me this whole time?"
Reiji pauses. "Yes... I have. That was my job. I took notes on everything revolving around you, and sent them back here. I made notes for every time you fell asleep in class, everywhere you would go for break, every cigarette you smoked. I wouldn't even make note of every time Saki looked back at you during class to see if you were paying attention, every time Raiden would glare at you from his chair, every time Nanami looked at you an wrote something in her own notebook. I ended up snatching that notebook to see what was inside, but it turned out to be some romantic fiction, so I tossed it aside."
"You really did all of that?"
"It was my job, Ryoji. My duty," he explains. "That was my role, and I did it for the good of the order."
"The order?" you ask. "Don't tell me you lunatics have a stupid title."
"The Order of the Awakened..." Reiji mumbles.
You smirk and laugh at the name. "Terrible. You really buy into this crap?"
"Of course! My parents are both well-respected members!" he explains.
"That's not what I asked," you respond. "I asked if you bought into this?"
Reiji doesn't answer.
Soon, a black-haired woman in a long white robe approaches you, and to your surprise, hands you a sword. "The hell is this for?"
"You've been separated from the Darkworld for too long. You've allowed your Archdemon to starve, unable to draw from the power of that realm. That is bad enough, but you also refuse to listen to it, refusing to let it give you what strength it has. You are stubborn, Ryoji, and that is why you are weak."
"So what is he to do with that, mother?" Reiji asks.
"He is going to fight you, son."
Your eyes widen as you look at Reiji. The woman turns to you coldly. "My son will come at you with intent to kill, and you must do the same. If you let your Archdemon in, you will be able to win the fight."
>Then what? I kill your son? Don't you care about Reiji?
>No way. I refuse to fight.
>It doesn't look like I have a choice in the matter...
>>200787
>>No way. I refuse to fight.
Lunatics, all of them.
>>200787
>Then what? I kill your son? Don't you care about Reiji?
>>200787
>Then what? I kill your son? Don't you care about Reiji?
>No way. I refuse to fight.
>>200787
>Then what? I kill your son? Don't you care about Reiji?
>>200787
>Then what? I kill your son? Don't you care about Reiji?
>>200787
>Then what? I kill your son? Don't you care about Reiji?
And there is the being forced by family honor/duty excuse that we needed.
Don't worry Reiji we will save you from this loonies.
Rolled 96 (1d100)
Calling upon the one true god to save us from the Archdemon
Our Doomguy, Who art in hell
Feared be Thy Name
Thy slaughterhouse come
Thy will be done
on mars as it is in hell
Give us this day our daily armor pick up
and slay us for our trespasses
as we slay those who trespass against us
and lead us not into peace
but deliver us from the demons. Amen
>>200787
>Then what? I kill your son? Don't you care about Reiji?
>oh wait of course you don't, you'd happily sacrifice everyone you know to get on the good side of the Darkworld with a smile on your face. You failure of a human.
>No way. I refuse to fight.
>>200852
GOD BLESS DOOMGUY.
>>200787
>Then what? I kill your son? Don't you care about Reiji?
"And what would happen if my archdemon continued to starve? Would he take back his 'gift'?"
>>200787
>>No way. I refuse to fight.
Let me tell you my favorite letters: F and U
>>200787
>>No way. I refuse to fight.
Obviously she doesn't care about him.
>>200852
Doomguy akbar!
>>200874
He would eat us, duh. I wonder if we could talk to him. Like, medidate like we did that time with uh... Sora? And try and contact him.
>>200907
That's a good idea.We should try that in the future.
FUCKING HELL!
How! How does anyone in any piece of fcition ever go, "Oh everything that makes me me will get destroyed but I'll get sweet fucking powers out of it!" IT'S THE FUCKING WORST FUCK THESE GUYS.
>>No way. I refuse to fight.
>>200991
But dude, they get to keep their memories, they just want Ryoji to be the avatar of their god.
Like, a vessel for the apocalypse/paradise.
>>201000
WELL DOUBLE FUCK THEM THEN.
>>201004
I agree with this motion.
>Then what? I kill your son? Don't you care about Reiji?
"If he brings out your strength, then he will have filled his purpose," the woman explains. "A good servant of the order."
"I'm not going to take part in this," you mutter.
Reiji hesitantly draws his sword. "I'm sorry, Ryoji."
"Reiji, you don't have to do this!" you exclaim.
"Yes, I do..." he mutters as he charges at you. You refuse to take action, letting the blade slide into your shoulder. The pain is searing as the sword pushes all the way through the skin and out the other side. Even worse is the pain when he pulls it out.
It hurt... damn, did it hurt... but that's fine. It'll heal. That's your little "gift" as they call it... you can take the punishment from Reiji. You don't have to fight back.
Reiji comes at you again, slashing at your knee. You fall forward as he cuts you and you buckle under the pain, unable to stand on that leg any longer.
"That's is not a killing blow," Reiji's mother states. "Do not play around. Go for his heart."
Reiji aims for your heart, but you fall forward, as his strike misses. You try to pick yourself up as he stares solemnly at you.
"If you don't fight back, you'll never awaken your power," the woman explains.
"Maybe I don't want to!" you fire back. "I don't want a demon taking over my mind!"
"Very well... if you continue to be difficult..." She approaches Alice and grabs her forcibly by the hair. She drags Alice towards the fight, and pulls out a small knife, holding it to the young girls' throat. "Fight back, or I will have no choice but to murder this girl."
Reiji drops his hands to his side, shocked. "Oharu, Mother... that's cruel! You... you can't!"
"Do not question your mother!" Orochi yells, watching from afar. "If this is what it takes to bring the fight out of both of you, then so be it."
"Don't fight!" Alice exclaims. "Let them kill me! It'll be fine, I promise!"
>Dammit... looks like I have no choice. If I focus, maybe I can land a non-lethal blow... [ROLL D100]
>Reiji, look at these psychos! Is this really the group you want to follow? [ROLL D100]
Rolled 69 (1d100)
>>201035
>>Reiji, look at these psychos! Is this really the group you want to follow? [ROLL D100]
COME ON YOU LITTLE SHIT.
Rolled 98 (1d100)
>>201035
>>Reiji, look at these psychos! Is this really the group you want to follow? [ROLL D100]
Rolled 51 (1d100)
>>201035
>Reiji, look at these psychos! Is this really the group you want to follow? [ROLL D100]
FUUUUUUUUCK YOOOOOOU
>>201047
IT'S OVER BOOKER. START WRITING NOW.
>inb4 DC is 100
Rolled 89 (1d100)
>>201035
>Reiji, look at these psychos! Is this really the group you want to follow? [ROLL D100]
Will he finally stop being a little shit?
Rolled 14 (1d100)
>>201035
>Reiji, look at these psychos! Is this really the group you want to follow? [ROLL D100]
Well, time to make an orphan of Reiji.
>tfw we will never be useful in a fight now that we know the cost of gitting gud
>>200907
I figured we were one of those "don't let the vessel die" kinda things but makes sense that he would just wait for another person to take ryoji's place.
>>201098
We could always change our vote and go on Demon King route. I'm sure it'd be fun in its own way.
Rolled 37 (1d100)
>>201035
>>Reiji, look at these psychos! Is this really the group you want to follow? [ROLL D100]
>>201111
It could be cool for an arc. Like have perspective shift to saki until she brings ryoji back to his senses or something
>>201097
I still think contacting the inner demon would be interesting.
I am getting a Naruto/Bleach vibe with a mix of Satanism.
>>201135
Being ryoji would be way cooler though
>>201098
Maybe we can learn to communicate with the archdemon and befriend it or something. Go all Sadlygrove and Rubilax with it. Or kick it's ass into to submission ala Bleach and his inner Hollow.
>>201145
True it would be cool if he killed some of his classmates due to his loss of control but that would ruin the "everyone lives" ending most people are going for.
>Reiji, look at these psychos! Is this really the group you want to follow?
"I... I..." Reiji glances between you, his mother, his father, then finally at Alice in the position she's been placed in. He takes a deep breath and drops his sword. "No. This is not how we make progress."
He strides up to his mother and pulls her hand away from Alice's throat. "Just what do you think you're doing?" Oharu asks.
"Ryoji will not fire, no matter what we do," he explains. "To kill this girl would be a waste. We must use a different method to awaken Ryoji's abilities."
"How dare you question me-"
"Your method is foolish, Mother!" he snaps back, startling her. "It's counter-productive. Speak with Settan, he will agree with me."
"I... see," Oharu mutters. "How forward of you, Reiji. Initiative like that... you may be a more useful servant than I first believed."
Oharu gathers up the blades as she makes her way back inside the bunker. As she does, Reiji places his hands on Alice shoulders in relief, as Alice frowns.
"Aww... you should have let them kill me!" she moans.
"I couldn't let that happen," Reiji whispers in a low voice. "I'm sorry... I make sure the two of you make it out of here soon."
"Can't you return to the school?" you ask, "Fill them in on where we are?"
"My cover was that I was going on summer vacation," he whispers. "Returning to the school would tip off the order. I can try to get a message to them somehow... I think."
He removes his glasses and begins to wipe at them. You can see that his eyes are beginning to water. "I'm... I'm so sorry I've done this to you. I just... I wanted to obey my parents, but... I can't condone this madness. It's not right."
>It's okay, man. You came to your senses eventually, right?
>You better be sorry. Look at the mess we're in.
>None of that matters right now. The important thing is we get out of here.
>>201183
>>None of that matters right now. The important thing is we get out of here.
>>201183
>It's okay, man. You came to your senses eventually, right?
I'm a little hesitant to trust him, but he's no Yamato.
>It's okay, man. You came to your senses eventually, right?
>But getting us out of here would really help.
>>201197
I dig it
>>201183
>no worries man, I remember when my parents used to... oh wait I don't.
>>201183
>>It's okay, man. You came to your senses eventually, right?
>>201183
>It's okay, man. You came to your senses eventually, right?
>>201211
Fucking Ice cold man.
>>201183
>It's okay, man. You came to your senses eventually, right?
>Better than me slowly losing mine. If I start talking about world domination please beat me up.
>>201183
>None of that matters right now. The important thing is we get out of here.
>>201183
It's kinda retarded how easy it was to change his mind
>>201183
>It's okay, man. You came to your senses eventually, right?
>>201242
To be fair, you can sorta see the doubts he had already.
>>201242
we got that charisma and charm
and he knew this was all bullshit and has seen the Darkworld shit first hand and only needed a nudge in the right directionalso Dice Gods are good to us
>It's okay, man. You came to your senses eventually, right?
Reiji sighs. "Yes... moments before an innocent person was killed because of me. If I'm being honest, I should have told them to go to hell much sooner. Before I even became part of this damned order."
"I get it, Reiji. It must be hard to say no to your parents, no matter how unreasonable they are. They asked for way too much out of you just now... doesn't make it any less brave."
"Thank you, Ryoji... I'm sorry about your parents," he mutters. "Just so you know... their names are Yuki and Ryoji Shida."
"My dad's called Ryoji? I'm a junior?" you laugh. "Damn... this really sucks."
Reiji nods solemnly. "Come on. You can deal with what else they have in store for you today, then I can see what I can do to bust you out of here."
You are lead back inside the bunker, and are taken into a large open room, where Settan sits in a wooden chair. He smiles and nods as you enter. "I have to commend you, Ryoji. Refusing to fight even under those circumstances... it's a great inconvenience to me, but I can respect your dedication to principles. Have you met Matsuyo?"
How could you have? His hand motions to a mysterious looking man with long dark hair and a short beard, standing away from Settan and staring at you. "Sit," Matsuyo commands, in a low, gravelly tone.
You take a chair, and Matsuyo shakes his head. "No. On the floor. Like so."
He sits down, cross-legged in a meditative stance. You sigh and do the same.
"What is this supposed to accomplish?" you mutter, confused.
"You are going to make contact with your Archdemon," Matsuyo explains. "You are going to look into yourself and find your hidden power."
Matsuyo closes his eyes and begins to give a low-pitched hum. You shake your head. Who would have thought this super-secret magic cult would be resorting to the same methods Sora does in the freaking school courtyard.
>Fine, I'll go along with this for now.
>I'll just close my eyes and pretend to focus. I'm not enabling these freaks.
>>201345
>Fine, I'll go along with this for now.
>>201345
>Fine, I'll go along with this for now.
So IF it works we can have a discourse with it. Via our fists.
>>201345
>Fine, I'll go along with this for now.
We need to contact Big Daddy tho.
>>201345
>Fine, I'll go along with this for now.
Possibly less lethal level-up? Ok why not...It's never going to be that simple I know
>I'll just close my eyes and pretend to focus. I'm not enabling these freaks.
If we haven't made it clear yet,. fuck these guys, I don't care if we get stronger it's not worth risking helping these fucksticks.
>>201345
>Fine, I'll go along with this for now.
Now I am kind of curious about this archdemon who probably has been kicking itself for choosing the most chill guy in the academy.
>>201345
>Fine, I'll go along with this for now.
>>201345
>>I'll just close my eyes and pretend to focus. I'm not enabling these freaks.
I'm okay with actually trying later but not for these fuckos
>>201345
>>I'll just close my eyes and pretend to focus. I'm not enabling these freaks.
>>201345
>Fine, I'll go along with this for now.
I wonder if the Archdemon is a cool guy. Prolly not, but it'd be nice.
>>201345
>Fine, I'll go along with this for now.
>>201345
>I'll just close my eyes and pretend to focus. I'm not enabling these freaks.
>>201345
>I'll just close my eyes and pretend to focus. I'm not enabling these freaks.
>>201345
>>I'll just close my eyes and pretend to focus. I'm not enabling these freaks.
>>201345
>Fine, I'll go along with this for now.
I don't like either optuon really, but I expect Alice and Reiji to be under duress if we don't comply, even if it is begrudgingly.
>>201345
I'm changing my vote to
>I'll just close my eyes and pretend to focus. I'm not enabling these freaks.
We have a resident meditation specialist so we don't have to rush it here with the baddies
>>201474
My only fear s that if we don't cooperate right now things will go sour.
Reiji already put his on the line, if we do this now maybe he gets a bit more pull and it makes things easier for our escape.
I think we need to quit this "stick it to the man" mindset sometimes
>>201474
I don't think they'll just give up on it if this doesn't work. They'd probably go back to more extreme methods
>>201519
Yep.
I think we need to evaluate it better than just "nah fuck these guys"
It might benefit them a bit, it's a fair point, but it could also save us from the cost of them going back to heavy stuff and telling Reiji to fuck off, which would make our escape plan more difficult.
>>201507
Do you really want to risk giving this archdemon an opportunity to take over?
All right I'll be more clear, I don't think We would care if things got more difficult for refusing.
He should hate these people with his entire being, they want to destroy him mentally, and in fact have all ready begun to do exactly that, this isn't him being smart, this is him telling assholes to fuck off.
>>201474
I think for now we need to get all the "make sure Alice and Reiji survive" flags for now.
Right now is meditation but if it fails grand leader over there might reconsider awakening through anger or despair.
>>201551
It could also fuck Ryoji's mind
>>201553
>do you
No, I don't, but I figure it's better to take a chance than a certainty of making them give us even worse treatment.
>>201507
I wasn't really thinking about sticking it to the man just that both sides have their pros and cons. I figured it would be better to put off something this important until we are in a controlled environment over doing it now because they might use more nefarious methods.
Have you considered that we might be the demon?
>Fine, I'll go along with this for now.
They could probably tell if you were faking or not. If you don't take this seriously, they could end up going after Alice again. You prepare yourself, closing your eyes and concentrating. Concentrating hard on your... Archdemon or whatever. You clear everything else out of your mind, and focus on making contact with that side of you, the part that's remained buried all this time...
Your vision turns to a strange, foggy area. You remember this... this was the vision you had that time you collapsed on the school roof. And the vision you've seen in several nightmares since. You should have figured this was part of it... and here they come. The image that has stuck with you since that day... those glowing eyes and that gigantic, deadly row of teeth.
It continues to stare at you. Usually in your nightmares, this is the part where you would wake up in your bed, a cold sweat enveloping you, before you realise that you're in the safety of your dorm, and that Ken is snoozing right above you. You don't have that reprieve this time. This time, you're going to have to speak to the creature hiding in the fog before you.
"Hello?" is the only thing you can think to ask. As good a conversation starter as any.
The beast lets out a piercing, guttural moan in a language unlike your own... unlike any human language. And yet... you can understand it. You understand what message the Archdemon is conveying.
"So... hungry..." the beast moans in pain. "Feed... me..."
You shake your head. You don't want to do that, knowing it could cost you more of your memories. It already took your memories of your parents. What if it decides to erase all knowledge of someone else important to you? Ken, Saki, Kosuke? Any of them. Instead of indulging it's demand, you decide to ask another question.
"What are you? Who are you? Do you have a name?"
"Stranger..." it weakly replies.
Is it calling you stranger? Or is that it's name?
"I... am... Stranger..." it moans.
Shit, maybe it can hear your thoughts? After all, this thing is lodged inside your mind...
"You... are... correct..." it moans. Well, that answers that question. "Feed... me... Ryoji..."
>I'm not going to do that.
>We'll see. Maybe you could help me out first.
>>201584
Why? What do you want?
>>201584
>Listen go eat one of these assholes and kindly fuck off out of my mind.
>>201584
>What do you even eat?
>>201584
>We'll see. Maybe you could help me out first.
>>201584
>>I'm not going to do that.
Yeah, no fuck this guy.
>>201584
>We'll see. Maybe you could help me out first.
>I'm not going to do that.
>How about fuck you.
>>201584
>We'll see. Maybe you could help me out first.
>And what, EXACTLY, does feeding you entail?
>>201596
This
>>201596
This is actually a good question. Definitely Not Satan was kind of vague about it.
Maybe he feeds off of Ryoji's respect for authority.
And he fucked with our mind to fall in love with saki since she is the most law abiding person in the school.
>>201650
>yfw he feeds off Ryoji's evil
>this is why Ryoji became nicer with time
>yfw he will use the evil to supplant Nice Ryoji
>Dark vs Light Ryoji
>>201650
Wouldn't that be hilarous
>Saki says that she will be our girlfriend if we stop being a delinquent.
>I'm sorry Saki I can't be with you or the archdemon in my head, who loves following the rules and authority, will take over my body and kill us all.
>>201596
Asking the real questions here
but really, this
>>201584
>What do you even eat?
Also when we get back we should really talk to someone about this.
>What do you even eat?
"Feed... me... Ryoji..." The Stranger repeats, in a louder, strained tone.
"Hard to do that when I don't know what you're supposed to eat," you reply.
"Feed... me... Ryoji..." it repeats once more, louder than before. "Feed... me... Ryoji?"
"What food do you want?" you yell at the beast.
"FEED... ME... RYOJI..." the beast booms as loud as it can. "FEED... ME... RYOJI... FEED... ME... RYOJI..."
The damn things going nuts now, just repeating the same three words over and over. Before you know it, you feel yourself being pulled from your trance... or rather, it feels more like the Archdemon is pushing you out.
You open your eyes, as Settan stands before you. "You saw something, didn't you?" he asks, smiling.
"Yeah..." you mutter, "But it didn't do much good. It just kept crying about wanting to be fed, then that was it."
Settan nods. "Ah, but that's just the first step! You've made contact with your Archdemon! You're making steady progress!"
"Sorry if I don't feel the same enthusiasm," you grumble.
"Do not worry, Ryoji. You'll see the truth in time," Settan laughs, as he leads you towards a curtain at the far end of the room. He pulls it back to reveal what appears to be a tall veiled mirror, standing a good fifteen feet in height.
"What is this?"
"It's the rift to the Darkworld," he explains. "Well... a rift. There's a similar one buried underneath your school somewhere. It is through these veils that the Darkworld bleeds into our own.
"But not anymore," you reply.
"No... there is a blockage. Something standing in the Darkworld's path, blocking off the veils. The remains of a mirror world, created by Alice. Rubble, that needs to be cleared."
You shake your head. "And you expect me to just reach my hand in this thing and clear it? I couldn't do that even if I wanted to."
"You could do it," Settan explains. "If you let your Archdemon in more. You have no idea the kinds of things you could accomplish if you fed it. And besides, I don't need you to open the rift..."
He turns his attention to Alice. "I already have someone who I think is up to the task."
>Alice? Good luck, she's starting to become a human again.
>Then why bring me along if you could just use her?
>>201789
>feed me ryoji
Oh ok so he wants to eat us.
Ok.
>I will try, but give me time to understand what the Archdemon was saying.
>>201789
Try to knock over and break the mirror
>>201789
>>Then why bring me along if you could just use her?
Do not feed the evil demon that is destroying ryojis mind. This guy is a huge cuck.
>>201789
>Then why bring me along if you could just use her?What if, what if Rei is like us as well, and knows what feeding the demon would be already? If not feeding it is what's eventually killing her, but it's still the better option.
>Then why bring me along if you could just use her?
>Also seriously I'm not going to help.
>I dont care about what insane things you have to say.
>>201789
>Alice? Good luck, she's starting to become a human again.
>Feed...me...Ryoji.
He will feed on Ryoji's persona/memories/psyche isn't he.
>>201821
I only see good things happening from this
>>201789
>Then why bring me along if you could just use her?
>>201789
>Then why bring me along if you could just use her?
>>201789
>>Then why bring me along if you could just use her?
Rolled 80 (1d100)
>>201830
Right? What could go wrong?
Might as well roll for it too
>>201789
>>Then why bring me along if you could just use her?
>mfw I have this song in my head after reading the Stranger's lines.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ea5jKFGgUw
>>201789
>Then why bring me along if you could just use her?
Rolled 63 (1d100)
>>201841
Not bad anon. Let me try
>>201821
Actually yes this, fuck these guys in every capacity.
Since all the fa/tg/uys are doing it...
>>201789
> Then why bring me along if you could just use her?
We should point out to Reiji that his parents were acting like classic bond villains.
At some point we should also start writing down everything we know about ourselves as a reminder and a contingency. Plus it'd be adorable if someone found our notes.
>>201915
I'd be down with starting a journal to keep track of who we are
>>201923
Same, this is literally the most adorable thing.
Rolled 57 (1d100)
>>201923
So is Saki gonna make us a video like in 50 first dates?
Is Saki played by Adam Sandler?
>>201915
I can get behind that
>>201915
It would be some dramatic muvluv shit when Ryoji becomes a vegetable/demon lord and Saki founds it
>Begins with notes of everyone in the class lowly starting to diminish in the last entry she sees"Saki...pain in the ass,,,you love her..."
>Then why bring me along if you could just use her?
Settan shakes his head. "When Alice destroyed her mirror world, she dealt a fatal blow to her Archdemon. It's been slowly dying ever since. I was worried that by the time we got to her, he would be gone entirely..."
"Ah, so I'm just the back-up," you remark. "If Alice can't do it, your plan was to teach me, is that it?"
"Ryoji... I intended to teach you to embrace your Archdemon regardless," Settan explains. "Now... Alice! Come over here and clear the mess you've made!"
Alice slowly skips towards the two of you, as you throw your hands up. "Don't do it Alice!"
"Don't do what?" she asks, confused.
"Alice... you've been feeling like you don't belong here for a long time now, right?" Settan asks her.
"Yes..."
"Well, that's because your true home lies right on the other end of that veil," Settan explains in a cheerful, affable voice. "You can return to the Darkworld, and all you have to do is reach out and put your hand through the mirror!"
Alice looks down at her hand, then at the mirror. "I... no!"
Settan takes as step back. "Excuse me?"
"I don't belong here... but I'm never going back there, either!" Alice yells like a petulant child. "I'm not going to do that! People will die!"
Finally, Alice is talking in a way that makes sense. Settan shakes his head and sighs. "A shame... I really hoped you would do this of your own free will... but that was never a necessity."
He grabs Alice by the wrist and forcibly drags her towards the veil.
"Let go of her!" you yell, making a move to stop him before being blocked by Matsuyo.
Settan shoves Alice's hand through the veil, and she screams in pain as the reflective surface transforms, replaced by a dark red pool. A swirling vortex.
"There we are! All cleared up!" Settan exclaims, as he pulls Alice hand out and tosses her aside. "It'll be a while before the Darkworld finds itself re-adjusted, unfortunately, but when it find its way back here... we're in for a very long night. I look forward to it."
"You bastard..." you mutter angrily.
"I'm just doing what's best," Settan calmly explains. "For the good of both our worlds. Soon, we will all co-exist in peace and harmony."
You and Alice are dragged back into your dirty holding room, as the door slams shut behind you. Alice sits crying on the ground.
"My hand hurts... I did a bad thing..."
She sniffles as she clutches her hand, which has been burned red from contact with the portal.
>Don't blame yourself, Alice. He forced you into it.
>We shouldn't dwell on that now. Help is coming, and we'll be out of here soon.
>Are you okay?
>>202034
>Are you okay?
>Don't blame yourself, Alice. He forced you into it
>>202034
>Don't blame yourself, Alice. He forced you into it.
>Are you okay?
>>202034
>>Don't blame yourself, Alice. He forced you into it.
>>Are you okay?
>>202034
>Are you okay?
This thread isn't very interactive desu senpai
>>202034
>Are you okay?
>Don't blame yourself, Alice. He forced you into it.
>>202034
>Are you okay?
>>202034
>>Don't blame yourself, Alice. He forced you into it.
>>Are you okay?
>>202034
>Don't blame yourself, Alice. He forced you into it.
>Are you okay?
>>202034
>Are you okay?
>Don't blame yourself, Alice. He forced you into it
>Settan I can only hope that an Archdemon devours your entire cult in screaming agony, and he saves you for last.
>>Are you okay?
FUCK THESE GUYS
>>201825
We've seen her blood though
It's normal
>>202034
>Don't blame yourself, Alice. He forced you into it.
I'd say we're gonna kill Not Satan(And preferably every one of these cult fuckers), but let's be honest, he's gonna do a bunch of evil shit, we won't be able to stop him, and somebody will come in to steal the kill at the end.
Because Booker won't allow Ryoji to be anything other than useless, and I guarantee you he's gonna railroad us into getting taken over by the Archdemon and murdering at least one of our classmates.
Rolled 34 (1d100)
>>202094
Rolling for usefulness
>>202094
Are you salty because we didn't get to take out Yamato? Because I thought we got fucked by the dice on that.
>>202094
If you want to stop being useless then maybe you should've voted for edgier options anon. Booker gave us the choice here so your salt is pointless
>>202113
That's part of the reason I'm salty, yeah. But Ryoji just keeps getting fucked over, and I worry it's becoming a trend.
>>202094
>I guarantee you he's gonna railroad us into getting taken over by the Archdemon and murdering at least one of our classmates.
I'd say murderizing someone whilst possessed is a distinct possibility if we have another shitstorm with dice, and if we keep horribly failing multiple rolls then we can't really pin that on Booker.
>>202092
Did we actually explicitly see her blood, or just her using a tissue? Honestly can't recall and dont fancy going back to reread in the 2 minutes before I go to bed. Then again it would be hard for Akira to not know, but that would also explain her guard dog mentality...
>>202034
>Are you okay?
>>202113
Man, I'm still salty that I got a 100 on the roll for the turrets and they still didn't actually do anything much, I at least wanted them to cause some excessive surface damage, maybe take somebody's eye out.
[spoilers]Man I got here super late, I only just got back in from being out today and I was swamped yesterday, haven't had a chance to finish PirateRider yet, but I've got pepsi and popcorn with me tonight so we're in for the haul until I'm fucking finished
>>202168
Aaaand I fucked up using spoilers, man I leave this site for like two days and I'm already rusty
>>202149
I've thought we've been doing pretty damn well
No one has died yet and we've made friends with pretty much all the class
and we've been pretty useful in fights by taking charge and giving direction
the only time I can think of being fucked over is on low rolls and even then we've come out pretty okay
>>202164
Even if we haven't I don't think she'd be as upset with us for hiding our Darkworldiness if she was doing the same
>>202168
Don't worry, I don't blame you for feeling that way. I thought they were gonna do a lot more damage than what they did.
It's sad when an actual well written quest is overshadowed by waifu shitfest quests like this one. /qst/ is truly a lost cause.
>>202197
And yet in situations like this and fighting Yamato we can only sit back and watch as some assholes hurt our friends.
I'm gonna keep carrying this mountain of salt until Ryoji can at least say 'I got a few good hits in' WITHOUT having to let the archdemon that's trying to steal his body eat even more of his memories and personality than it already is.
>>202244
That's the only way to git gud anon.
>>202244
So, if our Pet Archdemon is slowly consuming us and turning us onto them, how much of Ryoji's love for Saki is really him, and how much is his Archdemon's attraction to power? Can we be sure we even really love her?
>>202251
how?
>>202257
Feeding the archdemon
>>202252
looks like it's existential crisis time for ol' Ryoji
>>202252
Read again, the demon take our memories, it does not change our feelings.
Stop making shit up.
>>202251
I still wanna ask Akemi if she can make us a weapon.
But everyone always ignores the idea
>>202269
Yeah, no. THat's a one-way ticket to mind erasal.
>>202300
I know anon. That's the price for power. I'm not arguing in favor of it.
>Don't blame yourself, Alice. He forced you into it.
>Are you okay?
"It hurts..." she whines in pain. "It hurts so bad..."
You furiously pound your fist against the wall. Those people are more than just lunatics... they're monsters. They won't get away with this. They can't. The Darkworld's path is clear and it's due for a return... but it's not too late to stop it. Somehow... you'll all find a way to take them down for good. For now, you just have to stick it out and hope Reiji is able to live up to his end of the plan.
Alice tugs tightly to the bag of your shirt. She's trembling. Poor girl's had it rough, hasn't she. You turn around and give her a comforting hug, holding her close, placing you hand on the back of her head. Left in a cold, empty room, the two of you sleep side-by-side that night.
The next two days leave you gritting your teeth so much you worry they might fall out. You are kept in your cell for the majority of it, but you are brought out to perform more of that meditation crap... but you get nothing new out of The Stranger. Only requests to be fed before you're broken from your trance. You figured out what the damn thing eats though... it was staring you right in the face. "Feed me Ryoji"... it wants to feast on you. Your memories, your personality, the identity that is Ryoji... to give that thing power means letting it feed away at a part of yourself. A difficult trade.
Settan decides to give you a few history lessons after the meditation, though you aren't willing to listen to them. He rambles on about how the earliest settlers of the town did battle with the Darkworld many hundreds of years ago. The original mayor of the town, a man by the name of Hatori Oshin, was the one who sealed them away originally. How, you don't know... but whatever seal he used clearly wasn't very sturdy, as the Darkworld began to creep out once more many years later.
That night, you sit in silence in your prison. Alice hasn't spoken a word since the incident with the veil. God... you're so hungry. You've refused every piece of food they've brought you.
Just as you're ready to drift off to sleep, you hear a knock on the door. Not like you can open it from this side...
"Come in?" you mutter.
The door slowly creaks open, as you see a bag hurdling towards your face. You catch it and look to see Shinji entering the room. "What are you doing here?" you groan in exhaustion, unsure of what's going on.
Shinji pulls the door open, showing Reiji smiling at his side. "The rest of Class 3 are outside. We were hoping to pull off a little rescue."
END OF EPISODE 18
>>202314
Sometimes I feel like we have no autonomy or agency other than choosing the waifu
>>202314
Wait, shit, it's over? I just got here! Dangit, Booker, the one time you finish at a reasonable hour, I'm all set to stay up remorselessly!Clearly you only want me for my fluffy fics, I'm starting to think this relationship is awfully one-sided
>Ending Theme
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOU4YiuaxAM [Embed]
>Archive
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Dark%20Gate%20Academy
https://twitter.com/bookerman32
A short and, let's face it, shitty episode. I'm really not proud of how this one turned out. I've always been open about how I'm not a good writer or setting creator, and how fine I am with that. I'm not trying to make some good literature here, I can left that to much more talented people than me. I run quests because I think think they're fun, and I like contributing towards other peoples fun. The railroady exposition dump for a cliche concept that I shat out tonight was not fun. For me or for you guys.
New thread will likely be up Tuesday. Possibly Wednesday, as I want to set time aside to better prepare for future threads, because I want to churn out something at least a little better than this.
>Player Question
I'll just dust off an old one now that a lot more characters have been introduced. What voices (if any) do you read the major characters with?
>>202314
Too-do-dooooo! Calvary is here! Good time to learn about Class 3!
Taka, Maro and Nina await! Or at least, they interest me more.
>>202337
>>Player Question
I'm trying not to read Stranger's voice as Audrey 2
>>202314
Thanks Booker.
That went better than most capture arcs go.
Also we got a bunch of info on the darkworld and "Stranger" that we couldn't have got elsewhere, so it was sorta worth it. Perhaps Alice could have told us some of that to avoid this though.
Just don't forget about the journal idea please?
>>202337
I read Stranger's voice as Benedryl Cucumberblotch
Also, just a suggestion but if we had more to do in battle even if it was more tactical stuff, it'd be cool.
>>202337
Also, the thread may not have been the best, but these types of plot lines are hard to approach in a quest so ot's understandable.
>>202337
Don't beat yourself up too much Booker. I thought the thread was fine. It got some necessary things out in the open. Set up our next antagonist(or at least a recurring one) and got us to explore more about a character we honestly didn't know about in Reiji. Sure, I would have liked more time to talk with Alice and get to some core issues, but thats okay.
Also now knowing how we got our Archdemon...I am VERY scared for Akira and Rei. Akira, especially.
>>202382
She wasn't going for a kiss at all. She was just adjusting her position and Ryoji's mind went wild with the possibilities.
She was still annoyed when Alice showed up, cause she wanted to dance with Ryoji in peace.
>>202337
Pic related for Alice and Ryoji.(dubbed)
Kōji Yusa's Ichimaru Gin for Settan .
>>202402
Find it really hard to believe that after all the stuff that has happened Saki is still going all harem MC dense on Ryoji.
Since I might not have the next thread up for a while, out of interest of being less shit next time, and in the interest of not letting myself burn out, feel free to have an open discussion on the quest so far. What you like, what you dislike, favourite characters, least favourite characters, characters you changed your mind on etc.
You guys have any questions, I'll be here to answer 'em.
>>202337
Don't undersell yourself, once in a while you need to railroad things a bit just to make sure that there's some actual plot there.
If anything, I felt we did good in convincing Reiji to reconsider his position with the Order, and I also feel that while it may not have been as fun [not that I was here for 90% of it, but reading through i see the issues], the fact the Order seemed to be able to keep their plan flowing freely without much trouble from us gave the feeling that they are a force to be reckoned with and very in control of the situation, and that it'll take a hell of a lot more than the smartass remarks and punching people to topple them
As for voices, I have voices I read the characters in but I'd have a hard time pinning any of them to a real-life reference.
The only one I CAN draw would be incredibly obscure, which is that I absolutely read the Archdemon like the Forbidden Power/Kajet from TOME
>>202428
She didn't even have friends before.
I can relate to her, if you spend a long time without good social interaction you end up missing things if you ever do start to get it.
>>202428
This is clearly the approach Ryoji needs to take.
>>202436
Does Ryoji remember his birth date?
Do you have more backgroubd fluff planned already?
Did we miss anything that would've wildly changed the quest course?
When you first started, what would you say you'd have envisioned for the EP we are right now?
>>202337
Everyone has a down day, also i thought it was a pretty decent episode, would have been more interesting if we had better or maybe even worse rolls. Even so, it still cleared up some stuff
>>202465
>Does Ryoji remember his birth date?
So far, yes.
>Do you have more backgroubd fluff planned already?
Define background fluff in this instance. I absolutely should know what you mean, but for whatever reason, I'm drawing a blank.
>Did we miss anything that would've wildly changed the quest course?
There's a few big changes that could have been made through decisions. The poor roll against Alice that ended in Ryoji getting stabbed changed courses hugely from how I expected the next few threads to go. The school's civil war was absolutely not going to be a thing until that roll came around.
>When you first started, what would you say you'd have envisioned for the EP we are right now?
I did not look this far ahead when starting this quest. I know much better than to envision something in the future of a Quest, cause it'll never happen. I had a few possible endings thought out when I started, but how (or IF) players would get to any of them was left up in the air.
>>202436
Another dumb question, could you rank the students in term of raw combat power, without accounting for academics?
Fo science
>>202508
>Define background fluff in this instance. I absolutely should know what you mean, but for whatever reason, I'm drawing a blank.
Booker confirmed for possessed by an Archdemon
>>202522
It all makes sense
>>202508
>background fluff
Well, think lore and background information. Stufd that doesn't directly mean anything to the character or the plots, or that does but in a more subtle way.
Like that history lesson thing with Cultist-chan, about the settlement of the city. Or stuff about other groups, school history, etc.
>>202512
>Rei (At full speed)
>Nariko (Angered edition)
>Saki
>Sayeka
>Akio
>Rei (Normal Speed)
>Akira
>Ken
>Chihiro
>Seishiro
>Sora
>Raiden
>Nanami
>Akemi
>Nariko (Normal)
>Hikaru
>Reiji
>Satomi
>Hoshi
>Rini
>Kosuke
>Isamu
>Hiro
>Ryoji
>>202574
>>202574
>Cant remember who best girl is
You need immersion therapy, Booker. Here, stare at this image until you remember.
>>202586
Why is best girl a spooky skeleton
What kind of quest did I write?
