<Nocturnal Harmonia>

[Apollymi]

Words from Yugi implied she didn't have to do the thing she was doing, after Miko reinforced the idea... meaning, it was about her creating a brave face for the next new threat. 'Sou ka, half a second more of explanation and people wouldn't just assume you're a dick but...' Miko said nothing else about it. It was always nice to have someone looking after her, even when she didn't ask it of them. "Hai hai♪~" Miko said aloud with the same amount of general anxiety she had when entering the Job-Change quest the first time. Soon after she completed her use of magic which extended around the castle and even up to the roof to dim presences beyond the norm and leave all attention focused on Igris, she was complimented on her work. He told everyone else to get behind the throne, and the young women followed suit, even Tae who'd just showed up would stick around just to hear out what had happened. Miko on the other hand would be joining Yugi in the throne, hopping up to settle in his crossed legs while he explained what was going on. "Hai♪~ I used that earlier for something devious. Hid myself riding someone while they carried on their normal day♪~" Miko admitted like she'd done something else praise worthy.

Soon after they were getting down to the nitty gritty while, Igris took up his place in front of the throne, in a way which gave Miko the slightest bit of anxiety. "Really glad, he's in front of me this time," she uttered quietly. The trauma of the job change quest still a little too fresh for comfort. "Boss taming route..." Miko concluded by the end of his sentence "That was option 3," she clarified as she continued to occupy space with him. . "So all the bells and whistles to help with Senin-itis and adjust as needed," Miko gave her understanding. If this truly was just another person to be brought into the fold it may only be a bit messy at the start. All the while, Hoshimi Eri was getting progressively closer to the tree line. It was only just starting to thin and she'd been combating, Shadows, spider webs, spiderlings and a few stray dead bodies on the way. Perhaps she'd get to see one of those 'Reapers' or the like. She'd heard such things were hard fights and she could at least have a bit of fun if it wouldn't die to a few sword swings.

[Bloodedge]

All pieces of the plan's beginning were in order, while the Players' mana continued decreasing in small chunks. Yugi could only be glad Eri wasn't sweeping through the majority of their army; that sort of thing was a problem to watch out for in the future. Whatever the case, Miko spoke of her most recent use of Misdirection after settling in Yugi's lap, seeming quite proud of her deviance. As fate would have it, Yugi was quite satisfied with the use. "Ho? Was it your therapist? That'd be awesome. Free ride and such in the middle of work hours, customers and shit not having a clue what's going on~" he rambled. As for their current activities and the general setup for Hoshimi Eri's approach, Miko seemed to have no qualms. She'd even entertained it as an optional outcome. "Exactly. But, it's also more than that. Confirmed... Iron's defenses won't hold up against a National, not even for a second. This kind of mana drain says we can't just throw the army at something that overpowers us long-term, unless it's to buy a couple of minutes while we plan. And..."

Yugi took a long pause, as if he actually wasn't sure how to phrase his next clause. There was one major fact he'd learned from Hoshimi Rie recently... and it didn't bode well with what Eri managed walking through the forest. For a moment, there was something not at all casual about Yugi's demeanor. It was... perhaps a little too serious. "The kind of thing we're about to see, is something we need an entire Strike Team of just to survive our endgame. Minimum," he stated at last, while Eri was finally coming into view. Igris stood at the ready. This was going to be the first proper display of a National Hunter's power, with Igris being the test dummy. Perhaps the Blood-Red Commander could even beat Iron's two-second record? They'd find out soon enough.

[Apollymi]

Yugi and Miko settled into one of their debriefings, that likely counted as cuddling in the throne. All the while there was a young woman on her way through the forest, eating away at Player mana by slaying Shadows. Beyond that as they discussed her days adventures, he seemed pleased and easily able to piece things together, "Actually, yeah, it was pretty much exactly that. I sat through a couple of sessions having the best time. Oh and I forgot to show you... I saw someone you might like," Miko chirped pulling up the picture of Yamino Nozomi from across her therapist's desk. She was definitely Yugi's type by Miko's own approximation. Beyond that Miko, was told about the nature of the newest potential addition to their ridiculous combined harem. Whoever was outside, was capable of melting through Iron's defenses and this entire exercise was also one of learning for both of them as individuals. "Sou ka, well... I mean it's good to know what stuff, before we get into more stressful combat. Also, upgraded my weapon and some other stuff," Miko added to the update list given the kinds of thing that happened while they were separated.

Ah, but it wasn't just that, even though they were happily conversing and such things, there was a sudden seriousness to Yugi's tone, which made her look up at his face properly. He wasn't the type to be unnecessarily serious a tone shift was unusual enough to completely draw her attention. "Minimum, huh?" MIko said her own face becoming serious. That was terrifying, but she supposed it was a good thing she wasn't the fly off the handle irrational type. "Going in the box, and reminding myself to give a fair shake to the powerful ones..." Miko muttered with a slightly terse undertone. But she could still compartmentalize enough not to make herself too angry. Instead she'd focus on the coming problem. Miko's focus went further out, her eyes closed she listened... at the same time, Hoshimi Eri was breaking the tree line felling a Shadow as she stepped into an open area which shouldn't have existed. "Oh? This is strange," Eri said as she stepped forward. Blood-Red Commander Igris. "Does that make you the leader? You don't scare me..." Eri said as she stepped out in front that weapon of hers, dragging the ground. There was a happy sparkle in her eyes... as she looked up Igris and she took a deep breath.

[Bloodedge]

"That's fucking sick. I gotta get a day job," Yugi chimed, as though he actually intended to acquire a normal job just to fool around in places he shouldn't. Well, he supposed it would be a lot simpler to do as Miko did, and just be on the other side. Decisions, decisions. That aside, Miko had something for him to see ─ something she thought he'd like. "Hm? And what makes you thi─hoooooly fuck she's hot!" Yugi interrupted himself upon seeing a picture that had him throbbing under Miko's rear. "Was she there during the thing? Did the System capture her in the recording?" he wondered. "I've got somebody lined-up for you too. He doesn't know about it, and I've never seen him, but... trust me. Strong genes, apparently," he said, watching as Eri approached looking like a smaller Rie with two dashes of yellow and an accidental kilogram of attitude.

More importantly though, Miko was finally able to upgrade her weapon of choice. Their developments today would be a good distraction from the darker thoughts about how much power they required just to survive. As fate would have it, Yugi had multiple things to share as well. "Got any new hax with that upgrade? I just found out that gift from Mommy had the stuff I need to ascend my sword, 'cause I was too dumb to look earlier. Oh, but I got Shunpo while you were out on Kaisel. Fucked the hell out of my old babysitter ─ her sister, by the way ─ and got some crazy hacks," Yugi shared casually while Eri spoke with Igris. She presumed he was the leader, expressing a lack of fear toward him. Igris did not require fear. That massive broadsword of his was pulled from the ground with one hand, swung out to the side for posturing against the coming threat. The knight's crimson mane billowed as the waves of blood once did in his wake. If his masters wanted the throne protected, he was the one to choose, and would surely be the one chosen in future. For now... he waited. He observed. He took a few moments to learn what this opponent might bring to the table. He moved forward in measured steps... but he did not attack first, as he'd not been ordered to assault.

[Apollymi]

Miko and Yugi could always talk perversion. He claimed he wanted a day job to have ane experience like Miko's. And Miko could only encourage such a thing, "You should get one... I'll come by. I have one now technically... I am gonna be my therapist's assistant♪~" Miko said. "Maybe it's two, can't ask Kaiba-sama though... he's one of those people who bounces Intimacy when he thinks questions are stupid. Though I haven't seen that since he hit 50 percent. I wonder if that's a perk," Miko murmured, quietly. Still there were important things to discuss like the hot woman that Miko found for Yugi. He'd started to argue with her about it and once again, had to interrupt himself both with speech and a throbbing erection beneath Miko's bottom which she took purely as satisfaction unto herself for being right. "One day, you are going to stop questioning me about women I find for you, because I don't fucking miss♪~" Miko asserted, with a domineering little pout crossing her face. Instead of worrying too much about it, she began searching through something else, "Gallery," she mused opening up her images and recordings to find that she'd indeed could see Nozomi in her gallery from her own POV. "Oh, right, this is gonna get kinky. She's an exhibitionist," Miko mentioned transferring the video directly to him. As for his find for her that was exciting news, even though he'd not met someone before, she couldn't say that Yugi had bad taste at all, "Hai hai, I'll be waiting♪~" Miko said about the nature of the unknown one.

Soon enough though there were heavier things to discuss and then something lighter once more. Both worked as avid distractions for each other, and not focusing on the darkness was always a good thing for them to do. Miko mentioned having upgraded her weapon and he wondered if it came with hax. He also listed a great number of things he'd managed to do, creating Shunpo, getting himself some hax abilities, banging is old babysister and apparently meeting her sister. Miko looked out at Hoshimi Eri and nodded. "Ooh♪~ That's cool♪~ It's good to work out those long standing feelings. I did the same with my therapist. Also she's hot in a scary way♪~" she said gesturing to Hoshimi Eri who looked like she was more likely to kill someone than to bed them. No matter what she'd had quite a few developments, "The sword is still upgradeable after this... it says under the right conditions. It can create a domain which will bounce and echo effects and each sword can be used interchangeably, it carries my voice perfectly. There's also upgrades to the base abilities and a freaky set of new voice and sound related things. Basically, I'm a battlefield Maestra now♪~ Though I did apprently out myself to Kaiba, I got something else in exchange, a tiny bit more problematic than the other one♪~" Miko pointed out, while pulling up a side by side picture of her with Kaiba Tsukiko, yet another offering she'd make to Yugi today. "I got the power of suggestion and more immunity to mental effects from my therapist. The ability to hack corporate secrets and machinery from Kaiba-sama. He also gave me a full set of robot armor for Kaisel, it's covered in Kaiba Corp emblems so, it's basically active camouflage now. My first Lightning ability, and lucky pervert powers from my lucky pervert guy, who wants to be a gardener," Miko explained while her eyes focused. The girl with the attitude, and the blonde hair neatly pulled back in her bun assessed the situation of Igris. He didn't seem strong enough to be a threat, but he did seem smart enough to play around with... as such she'd be doing exactly that. Since no attacks were made she moved forward with speedy precision, sword swinging in a quick downward slash, followed by a spin into an upward slash following the same path back and ending in a sideways sweep aimed high as if taking off an opponents head was exactly as easy as she thought it should be.

[Bloodedge]

Miko had been assigned the position of therapist's assistant. Yugi continued mulling over the idea of a proper day job, if only to be more of a degenerate. "I'm gonna need hella therapy," he asserted. "Does that come with a uniform?" With that question on the table, Yugi considered a few possibilities for his own job. One thing was almost guaranteed as they continued their journey, but there was another option as well. "Hmm. I could make myself your new manager," he mused almost absently, voice lowering for the more secretive topic. With that, Yugi was watching a very interesting show. Miko had indeed ridden her therapist in the middle of someone else's session. The more important fact, however, was that he could see the patient masturbating across the desk. "Woah. Is anybody getting in that yet? I need to find her, like, yesterday."

In a matter of moments, Yugi's eyes were drawn away from the screens. The battle was beginning. Hoshimi Eri made the first move with a spinning attack that Igris stepped and leaned back to clear the path of. Her follow-up strike from below met his own rising broadsword, which masterfully grinded against the flat end of Eri's blade to guide it just clear of his face. At the same time, Igris was stepping forward again. Before their blades separated, he aimed to push in such a way as to launch the smaller individual away. Managing such a thing would have the knight lunging toward her, the point of his sword aimed at her torso. Yugi kept his eyes locked on the sight, choosing only to hear Miko's words... until he allowed a brief distraction to view an image. "That's a strong list of skills. Can that sound thing work with someone else's voice?" he wondered, pausing as recognition struck from the girl in that photo. "I've seen her before... I think," he said. "Wait, what do you mean lucky pervert powers? Like Takumi shit?"

[Apollymi]

Miko had been assigned the task of therapist's assistant, true enough and that came with an obvious leaning into deviance which Yugi was fully willing to exploit. "I bet you will, though I'll need a bit more experience before I can offer the best possible advice♪~" Miko said almost teasingly. She didn't see the lad wanting to be in the same room as her therapist, he had issues with such individuals but she could offer a bit of casual help for the sake of a bit of sexual play, any day. "I am unsure. I'll run a few by my therapist and see what he says. I ended up with a full western cowgirl fit, that has some interesting stats on it, from Albertus, so it might even come with benefits♪!~" Miko asserted seemingly fine with the amount of distraction from potential scary things she could manage. Soon enough Yugi was mentioning the idea of being her new manager, in a hushed whisper which made her smirk just a little. "I wouldn't really mind that. But, let me meet the original at least once, I wouldn't want to displace him when he's been doing a good job♪~" Miko asserted only lightly, "Oh but you could go for an upgrade with Tae-sei, Research Assistant or Lab Tech? Something with a coat would be hot!♪~" she pointed out. "Or anything in a suit... or even just a button-up and a tie. Men in ties are hot♪~" Miko asserted without hesitation. As their conversation progressed there was something to be said about the Yamino woman and her masturbatory therapy session. It would be in this moment one of Miko's mental oddities would come to play as she had no problem offering up a woman under the conditions she was going for now, "She's apparently married to a non-awakener. She's an A-rank Hunter and all, a very good one from the way I sensed her," Miko said knowing the lad seemed to enjoy competition.

Yugi's eyes were shifting back to the battle and Miko was also paying attention as well. Every step, every interaction of blade was something she could hear, and paint a picture in her head of the exactness of the movements. For the moment Eri was finding a new kind of fun, someone more skilled as a fighter than she was, seemed to be entertaining in a new way. She used a sword as a handicap as it was a weapon she wasn't used to, in this moment she was fighting something that obivously used swords as their bread and butter. Her blade met one which was used specifically to guard, that was good technique, and then this creature took advantage of her smaller frame launching her away. His follow-up aimed at her chest would be met oddly by a blade flat in the manner he'd used to initially block her strikes. This action was taken past her own giggling, as her body turned mid-air, she took full advantage of spacing, choosing to use an energy blast from the tip of that sword which caught her body. No immediate counterattack was launched instead she simply landed lightly, on one foot, to spin before launching herself forward again. She aimed for more weapon clashes, as she swung wildly with one handed strikes. All the while Miko was thinking over Yugi's words, "There is one voice it would absolutelly work with... other ones, might require a bit of tuning. But we could test it out... sounds are one of few things I feel very confident about," Miko asserted as she watched a fight she was sure she wasn't keeping up with visually. As for the picture she drew his attention to she smiled, "I had too, that's Kaiba Tsukiko, Tsu-chan by her own preference. She's great. But she's a long term project potentially, there is something wrong with her body, it predates gates, but it's probably congenital. And maybe still magical..." Miko mentioned while paying close attention to the fight at hand. She wouldn't allow details to slip by. One thing that would never slip by, was a perverted thing, her mention of having Lucky Pervert abilities came with acknowledgement, Miko nodded. "Hai, something like that but also better. I have a passive thing that makes me sometimes have perverted accidents. And then one that lets me make one happen on purpose on a timer~" Miko said seemingly pleased with the ability. "My newest gave me that one and it was... such a thing. I thought I had work arounds but that power is so fucking active," Miko mentioned.

[Bloodedge]

Whatever uniform Miko ended up with would be a thing to see. In regards to the idea of Yugi becoming a manager though, she thought to address the existing one first. "Bet he's a bitch," Yugi said in passing. With that, they moved on to the idea of Yugi apparently... linking with Tae to become something like a lab technician, coat included. Yugi quirked a brow upon hearing Miko's thoughts on the matter. "Y'know I considered that for a minute. I'll give it more thought," he declared. What of the woman in that System recording, though? She was married, but to an unawakened human. Yugi gave it a few moments of thought before making any comments. "Trash relationship, groomer therapist taking advantage... Either weak-willed, or the kind of person who inspires hentai. Got it," he concluded as the battle ahead continued.

Igris observed the recovery of his opponent, and harbored a silent interest in how she guarded against the tip of his large sword with the flat of her smaller blade. As displays of a proper combatant went, Igris would have remarked with satisfaction if he had the ability to speak. Within seconds, the young woman set upon him again with rapid mad slashes that he had little choice but to swing against. The Players would regrettably be losing a bit of mana throughout that clash. They happened quickly, but to keep track was to note the repeated severing and rapid reforming of Igris's sword. Yugi saw that the knight even took to wielding his weapon with two hands, as though making up for the difference in strength to the best of his ability. It wouldn't last. Still, Igris managed to break free through a large enough window to enter a counterclockwise spin toward Eri's left, complete with a wide slash aimed at her lower back. All the while, Yugi was considering something new regarding how Miko's swords accepted and echoed her voice. "Hmm. I was thinking about going for the intimidating boss vibe. You know, something like 'You dare enter my domain' and such. Maybe even throw in some of that perv magic? Or... probably not."

[Apollymi]

A bit of childish banter was easy to dismiss. Yugi apparently thought Miko's current manager was a bitch. That was quite interesting as she'd never met him and to her knowledge he couldn't have either. The lad had such strong opinions, Miko could only hold her hands up in surrender, willing to let the topic lie, but... 'Box it.' Figuring it would only be fair to figure out what it was like after the fact. Beyond that and on to happier things, like the idea of Yugi in a lab coat and tie. "Chii♪~" Miko squealed at the knowledge he'd give it a try, mostly because she would definitely be all for a trip to the labs for testing purposes. Moving on from this point the newest target was someone who he thought to talk about, "She's also apparently one with a hot friend group so... do with that what you will. I figure you have it under control♪~" she said willing to leave him to all the conquering and taking of that young woman that he wanted to do.

Besides all of that there was the fight to focus on. So much was happening that even while talking Miko was adjusting her thought processes. The fight taking place between Igris and the blonde on the ground was worth watching at the very least, the same way fight sequences in anime were. Hoshimi Eri was used to things taking note of her presence, in various ways, but she could see the obvious calculations in the brain of Igris. Whatever creature he was... his attentions were those of an intelligent lifeform. By the time she bounced back towards him, she'd taken a slightly more aggressive approaching clashing with him multiple times and taking note of how her blade met and went through his. Obviously, his was a weapon only as real as his own form. He too was a shadow but one with skill, how strange. He'd even changed the grip on his weapon using two hands as if to compensate for the power difference, Eri was intrigued. She watched him break away, and spun opposite of his movement to meet his blade at what had previously been her rear with her own. This time she didn't stop herself, she'd aim to push through his weapon and fire off an energy blast which was large enough to encompass the body of that Shadow Creature as if testing his defense after understanding his strength. At the same time, Miko was hearing out Yugi's plan, she could likely do that, and given the spread of her mana currently it would be pretty fine to do so, "We'll do the voice thing first. If I'm gonna use a daily perv activation it has to be picture perfect, but if I have one... I'll use it♪~" she added softly more than willing to go along with his plan. Still in his lap she'd pull out the new version of her sword something meant to be one handed, but that definitely took both her hands to grip. She held it up, grip down with Ruler's hand in front of them. Five others would be placed around the rear tree line quietly shot off with their vibrations stilled. In Yugi's lap she placed a hand on the blade and one so gently around his neck with finger tips bristling with mana as she aimed to find the right frequency for him to use. She gave a little wink and a gentle squeeze to let him know to go ahead when he was ready. She'd let the vibration run through her own body into the blade to ring out across the forest with his desire.

[Bloodedge]

Yamino Nozomi was officially a target of Yugi's, regardless of the System's say. The mention of her having an attractive friend group reminded Yugi of someone else he'd heard of recently, but it was of no importance to him presently. "I'll keep an eye out," was his final statement on the matter. Soon after however, he was watching something enlightening. Igris's pure skill allowed him to last nicely against Hoshimi Eri, but his ability to take a hit from her was nonexistent. Yugi even saw the way their knight managed defense against a more powerful blade, and easily committed it to memory. Alas, the knight's next offensive resulted in a clash that would have been his proper end... had he not been a Shadow Soldier. Eri's blade did more than clash against Igris's ─ it went clean through just before the Blood-Red Commander was engulfed in a destructive wave of energy. Nothing remained of Igris until reconstitution occurred in the blast's aftermath.

By then, Miko had employed some methods to tune herself and her swords to Yugi's voice. A bit of contact was made to bridge Yugi and the object, and Miko delivered a couple of gestures to clear the plan. Yugi nodded in return. His voice would soon echo in the vicinity. "That's enough," he said to Igris first, speaking the language of magic beasts. The knight lowered his sword then and there, taking a knee and facing the throne even with Eri between him and it. A surge of mana and visible darkness occurred in the throne's seat then. It was Yugi's Abyssal Frame Skill forming around Players that remained unseen. Starting as just a ribcage, it soon sat in that massive chair as a full skeleton of dark purple mana ─ its skull possessing demonic horns, a long appendage on its chin, and a malevolent grin. With that formation done at a large cost to Yugi's mana, he spoke from seemingly every direction at once, this time in his native tongue. "Did you enjoy your warm-up? You're a little early to be showing up in a place like this to solve boredom, Hoshimi~"

[Apollymi]

An eye was being kept out for another hot black haired woman. Miko had properly delivered all necessary pieces to a lad she knew liked his own puzzles. She wasn't even bothered over the moral dilemma of potenially breaking up a marriage because, by her own special logic, anyone who didn't properly use something didn't deserve to be in possession of it. She included people in such a listing. Beyond her own thoughts about ownership and such, there was a showing of skill from Igris which kept the attention of both Players. That woman known as Hoshimi Eri was apparently quite strong, even so Igris showed skill in the face of such a thing. It was quite a showing on both parts.

Still there was a show to put on, and Miko set the stage for one... which was technically something she was used to doing less directly. In the moment, Yugi's voice became a booming symphony in the courtyard of their home and the Abyssal Frame grew around the pair of them as Miko remained situated to allow his tuning. Whatever language that current creature spoke was something she didn't understand directly but also didn't need to. With the acoustics of the area she could tell something big was on its way. And then she watched, that Knight that had stood before her, kneeling to the giant skeletal mass beginning to form on that giant throne. That was more like a boss, but she didn't even have time to be impressed. No... there was too muh going on... because that thing, didn't just say weird monster words. It spoke her language and it knew her name. Shock shifted over a normally stoic face so quickly she couldn't have hid it. No... instead she did the next best thing, raised her sword and spouted angry curses. "How the fuck can you talk and why the fuck do you know my name!?" there was surprise in her, not because she didn't think she could win, but because this was a far newer thing than anything she'd come across. 'I thought... Osaka would be the worst of it. This shit is creepy. Maybe, she was right and I shouldn't have just come here...' she thought, not that she'd stop herself. No... obviously knowing something clever was here, this had to be some sort of experiment or maybe it was one of those things that thye couldn't explain so theyw ere letting it be since this was just a place people came to die anyway? That would make sense, that was the kind of decision someone like Makima would make... to see if it was a power that could be controlled. All the while that kind of response had Miko stifling her own laughter and shaking her head. There was no way this worked so well, but she supposed movies also worked for a reason, and there was nothing like a good soundscape to sell an illusion.

[Bloodedge]

The true display was beginning properly. It didn't matter to Yugi how much mana he spent on forming Abyssal Frame to such an extent; he was even chugging a mana potion within the confines of its chest. He and Miko would float inside, separating naturally to take positions just around the construct's would-be heart. There they floated, and there the skeleton sat in opposition to Hoshimi Eri. Yugi's approach was calculated. He wanted her to hear a monster speaking human language, and he wanted her to know... it knew her identity. When both things were questioned, the fun could begin. "Fool! I am the shadows themselves. Your name is but a trivial matter to me. Your entire life has been one lived in darkness. That very darkness is mine to command!"

Of course, fun meant Yugi doing anything but taking a normal approach to this encounter. He'd put on a show, and he'd ensure it was the best he could manage. That also involved using his brain to piece together additional facts about Eri. "Such a human thing it is... entering a forest of the dead to sate your own curiosity, hoping there will be something within worth testing your mettle against. I applaud you for that, Hoshimi Eri. You've earned the favor... of the Monarch of Shadows!" he bellowed. Just then, the skeleton's arm extended, its palm up. Yugi placed within said palm a black rod that seemed to absorb all light, reflecting none. "If you truly wish to test your limits against something even greater than yourself... take this. It will be but a test... and an act of faith."

[Apollymi]

Yugi's show went on without interruption. Miko wouldn't be interrupting, No... her perspective was that of the girl on the inside. Her framework and magic being used to make quite a few things happen but she wasn't the star. She didn't want to be that weither way. Though it made her a bit unhappy, their being inside of this giant thing caused them to separate naturally, but that was fine, the right tuning had already been established, he could use that sword on his own now, without any issues. And she would remain in her seated position as one of the 'hearts' of this creature, eating blocks of jelly which were once mana she'd collected from several sources over the course of the day. Eri on the other hand was continuing to be shocked and maybe, just a little... regretting going against general advice and showing up to face something she wasn't sure of. 'Is this one of those moments, where something is so powerful you can't tell how strong it is? I doubt it... but it knows so much!' Eri shouted mentally. "Shadows, huh. You are speaking really freely for something that knows what I am..." she said, there was a calm in those words. Like Hoshimi Eri wasn't freaking out inside.

All the while someone else was watching this show... and having their Intimacy increase because of it. Mizuhara Chizuru, watched as a man used essentially a magical stage, to play a super villain. If he could pull something like this off... she could only imagine everything he'd be capable of in her stories. Tic, tic, tic. A single percent ticking upward, every few seconds as Chizuru made her decision would see her gaining 7 percent as this played out, which would... put her at 100 percent oddly enough. At the same time, Eri was being called out, her hopes put forth as she had indeed entered this forest hoping for something amusing to do. "Uh-huh... fucking unbelievable," she uttered that sword was still pointed and she was still... curious. Contrary to popular belief and her own pure life as a murderous crashout, Hoshimi Eri, was a weeb. No... she shouldn't want to pick up a rod in the middle of a forest of death talking to a giant skeleton but what if? What if it was a good thing? What if there was really a way to test her mettle? Besides faith wasn't necessarily placed in this thing... it'd be in herself, she could over come this... even if it was a trap. "I don't know what game you're playing but... ifI touch this and I don't like what happens. I'm killing you." she said plainly, but there was a certain rumble behind her eyes as she reached out with her unoccupied hand. She was made for sword in the stone style moments. She'd definitely be one to pull at thorn from the palm of the skeleton king or monarch of shadows or fuck whatever if it gave her something amusing to do. At the same time, she was considering things like mind reading or mind control, or even just some sort of hallucinations, whatever the case she'd not let anything get the better of her.

[Bloodedge]

Was Yugi speaking freely for someone who knew what Hoshimi Eri was? Yes, but no. If he wasn't so forward with this approach, Yugi saw no chances of things working the way he wanted via the current path. This wasn't truly a trial, a display or a proving... it was a pitch meeting. Hoshimi Eri was not the one who needed to prove something; he and the 'monarchy of Shadows' had something to prove under her scrutiny. Of course, there was also room to find out a few secrets. "I am not. To speak freely would be to acknowledge the warning you could have heeded before coming here. Tell me... what happened in the previous one?" he asked.

Abyssal Frame's hand was offered, a black rod in its palm. Hoshimi Eri was granted the task of retrieving said rod, which she seemed to think about the same way he and Miko once thought about accepting the System's invitation. Yugi knew those eyes too well. Hoshimi Eri was, indeed, one of their people. On the other hand, she remained a coldblooded killer for hire who now had the reserved excuse of being a National Hunter. If she disliked what happened when the rod was claimed, she'd kill the construct before her. "I did say test," he specified. When Eri took that sword into her hand, she'd be holding the equivalent of a mana demodulator. It carried his mana, and would be sending it into Eri's body. The earliest test of Miko's ability let him know it was possible to affect a National Hunter with their abilities, but this was another sort entirely. For his mana to enter Eri forcibly, there would be nothing short of great difficulty. However... that was the reason he worked her toward accepting the idea of taking it upon herself. If that worked, he could even skip the process of having to try, and likely fail, to stab her with one of the rods. "You want it that badly, do you?" he asked while checking for the effects of his plan. Ah, but there was something else grabbing Yugi's attention at the time...

〔SYSTEM NOTICE — BOND THRESHOLD REACHED〕

Bond Route: Perfect Facade
Intimacy: 100%

The bond has reached its pinnacle.

Consort Ascension Quest Triggered.

A special quest has been generated to elevate Mizuhara Chizuru to Shadow Consort status.

System Message:
The bond is complete.
The path to ascension is now open.

[Apollymi]

Miko would continue to enjoy the show, as well as her nectar cubes, of various flavors. As she did this she began to understand that the point of this display was to impress and likely to lower the guard of the obvious scary young woman on the ground. Still Hoshimi Eri was one who wasn't giving away much on her face. Even so, it seemed that this giant monster knew what happened in her most recent trip. Actually that question was so pointed it gave her pause enough for her face to slip, just for a second... just a little bit before it popped back up. "Are you a freaky mind-reader or is that you only understand things your target does?" the girl asked, but she'd go on to explain things exactly as she meant to. "Obviously I went and killed things, got bored and left..." she said not extra details no real explanation. The truth of that trip was that she began to feel odd as she went past the outer areas of the prefecture. Upon not understanding how she felt she simply presumed a magical effect and decided it wasn't worth her time.

Soon enough Hoshimi Eri was casually walking up, aiming to reach for that rod, after issuing her particular form of warning. He claimed that it was a test as if that excused him in some way. "Yeah, but I still haven't figured out your angle," Eri maintained. Figuring this out was part of her logic, whether she ended up killing this giant thing or not was mostly part of an oddity. When she finally touched that rod she felt strange. She couldn't really describe it, but it was a bit like touching something made by her sister. It didn't feel odd but it wasn't exactly normal either. "Want? I just want to know what the big deal was... this feels familiar," she said as she relaxed. "Also what's the point of this, boredom is also a way to die," she mused almost as if it was simply a passing thought. But she hadn't stopped touching that rod just yet, only once she was sure nothing was happening but some odd mana interaction did she bother letting it go.