WHA-!!! How did you guys think I did it!?

Maaan, now I won't be able to go back home...



I miss Kagami and Tsukasa and Miyuki, and they won't know what happened...

Sorry I couldn't finish the mission dad...

Epilogue - Part 1

---

Millennia ago...



A brave warrior is laid to rest. His duty, fulfilled.





His tribe must now persist without him. On sacred grounds, prayers are made.



From the will of the living and the dead, renewed purpose is given.

Sorry.
I not say a lot recently, because Riki just watch. Riki... I... talk normal now. Try to. Hom Hom tongue hard for me, but Melly try... tried to show Riki how to speak more like Hom H... human. Pick up lots of words from Melly... and more words from before he left.
Watch Lyra become that scary, because of what I do. Not try hard enough to solve. Watch Phenera die, when he want her free. Shouldn't matter what Phenera say that weird, because Phenera want to avenge Hustler. Right? But I try to vote Phenera anyway.

Then I kill Pea, because... Riki... Riki try to not hold grudge. Riki... I know that Pea not why he's gone. He's gone because I-I'm not... not good enough, in forest, with Columbo Detective and Beepee. I looked at his wounds, night after. But, still, not Pea fault seal happened that way. Many voted. Phenera, too. Against what he wanted.
But Riki, still, deep down. Hate. Hate... if he got the seal... then maybe, light magic could have...


...
I get away with it, but for what? Sothoth do same thing earlier on, when times different. Long time since then. Hom Hom who insult him now gone because of me, and human who break first seal going to die. For what? Pea not do anything except say mean words, and Konata not know any better. Not say for sure what Sothoth want, even after what they did to him, or what he almost did to them. I know how it went for Phenera, saying things like that. But... but Riki not feel satisfied by this, even if Nyar-Nyar is. I'm happy to live, but not like this. Pea was Dex-Dex's best friend. Konata was Astrid's best friend!


A-and... Dex-Dex not want to hear from Riki, I know that. Riki not call Dex-Dex that to mock him. Sothoth respect you, so I respect you too. I know you hate me for what I did to Pea, and Riki acting innocent whole time, and that fine! But you said something to Riki that Riki always think about, something that Sothoth said too. Get rid of book. Better off gone, if seals not intact. But after last night-

Gif-G- no. I should say Alhazred. Less personal. Hastur and Alhazred are even now, after your support. I appreciate it. But I know that you know how I feel about... this. The seal.
And, I know you're stronger than me. I know what decision you made, and that we don't agree. But... we're both Sothoth's...
...I quit. Riki not play game anymore. Stupid book can't make me do anything I don't want to do. Don't have to be Hastur when this is over. Can just be Riki. Likewise, Nyar-Nyar and I call Sothoth Sothoth... but Sothoth real name is Dodo. Won't let anyone forget that.

This might happen again, and again, and again, if nothing done. Not like Bureau care, and it Riki's job to repeat the cycle. Logo is spiral, and I wear one atop heart for a reason. Hastur and Nyarlathotep are only ones left, still tied to duty. So I... I'm not sure what right, in end.


...but, Dex-Dex, let me say one last thing. No more to say to Alhazred, or about Abyss Team. Might sound empty to you, but Riki mean it.

Whether book gone or not, you have to live, just like Pea and Dodopon wanted!!! Doesn't matter who's in way, or if you know too much!
Even if I can't do anything in the end, I have to at least try to stop this! I have to survive, and I have to save our friends - at least do one of those!

I'm going to fight! I've made my decision, so you follow or you stay behind!

Gif-G- no. I should say Alhazred. Less personal. Hastur and Alhazred are even now, after your support. I appreciate it. But I know that you know how I feel about... this. The seal.
And, I know you're stronger than me. I know what decision you made, and that we don't agree. But... we're both Sothoth's...
...I quit. Riki not play game anymore. Stupid book can't make me do anything I don't want to do. Don't have to be Hastur when this is over. Can just be Riki. Likewise, Nyar-Nyar and I call Sothoth Sothoth... but Sothoth real name is Dodo. Won't let anyone forget that.

.̷̫̟̥̘̼̟̥̂̆̌͘.̴̜͋̂̓͘͝.̵̹̳̻̝̇͐̎͘.̴̭̱̞̘̝̂̈́̓͋̚͘ͅ.̶̢̨̨̣̯̭̫̋͜.̸͙̺̪̖͉͐.̶̫̙͔̹͇̟́́͊͋͊͆͘̕.̴̢̝͈̥̺̯͎̦̀̿̐͋͌̈́̕͠.̷̢̯̓̾̍̾͛̀͝.̴͚̣̤̩̄̋̽̑̈́̐̚͝.̷̡̢͔͚̩̜͖͊̓̌̉͂͊.̶͇͍̀͐͐̐̚͘.̵͈͎̳͇̍̋̄̑̓͌̍̃.̴͕̒͑͗̊̏͠ͅ.̷̢͉̳̎͘.̷̫̉̈́̒̇́̆͂͝.̷͇͔̒͠.̵̢̗̬͓̳͉̝̎͛ͅ.̷̧̲̺̖̓͐ͅ.̶̡̭̥̳̟̇̊͗̾̌̄̓͑.̷̩̰̥̻͎̩͈͗̚.̸͕̻̗̤̦̱̭̊̍.̵͔͘.̵̹̈́̀͂͝.̸̨͕̪͙͎͚̻̾.̷̫̟̥̘̼̟̥̂̆̌͘.̴̜͋̂̓͘͝.̵̹̳̻̝̇͐̎͘.̴̭̱̞̘̝̂̈́̓͋̚͘ͅ.̶̢̨̨̣̯̭̫̋͜.̸͙̺̪̖͉͐.̶̫̙͔̹͇̟́́͊͋͊͆͘̕.̴̢̝͈̥̺̯͎̦̀̿̐͋͌̈́̕͠.̷̢̯̓̾̍̾͛̀͝.̴͚̣̤̩̄̋̽̑̈́̐̚͝.̷̡̢͔͚̩̜͖͊̓̌̉͂͊.̶͇͍̀͐͐̐̚͘.̵͈͎̳͇̍̋̄̑̓͌̍̃.̴͕̒͑͗̊̏͠ͅ.̷̢͉̳̎͘.̷̫̉̈́̒̇́̆͂͝.̷͇͔̒͠.̵̢̗̬͓̳͉̝̎͛ͅ.̷̧̲̺̖̓͐ͅ.̶̡̭̥̳̟̇̊͗̾̌̄̓͑.̷̩̰̥̻͎̩͈͗̚.̸͕̻̗̤̦̱̭̊̍.̵͔͘.̵̹̈́̀͂͝.̸̨͕̪͙͎͚̻̾

Mr. Dodo was really, good to us, wasn't he?

Now, isn't this better? I told you I would be free of the Holding Cell with which you sought to contain me. Unfortunately, your Bureau is ill equipped to deal with such powerful magic - and as such, your means of suppression will do little against my own abilities granted by my precious Codex.

After all, what hope do you have to contain the essence of that which dictates the very foundation of all your research? Indeed, one cannot overcome the nature of their own reality, one cannot hope to control what they do not understand beyond the paltry explanations granted by the ill-informed, the blind who seek to lead the blind evermore.



But I'm afraid you've made your choice, and as such... I must proclaim your unfortunate victim, @Izumi Konata as...






Such a wise decision on your part, voting out an innocent party once again. You seem to be doing that quite a lot, hm? Well, it is no matter. The rules of the Ritual must be followed to the end, even with the Codex lying within my grasp - and besides - I doubt any of you have any attachment to the girl. Always lying in wait within obscurity... why, you're better off without her, aren't you?

Think about it, yet another barrier in the way of my Codex... She won't be missed, will she? Well, let's progress then... to our final execution.

As Konata begins to rise helplessly into the air… several of the observers share a glance. A plan had been formulated behind the scenes, and now they just had to wait for the exact right moment.

---

Konata finds herself in the Observatory, completely alone. She calls out for Astrid, for anyone to help her... but there's no response. Trying the door handle, it doesn't budget an inch - it seems like she's stuck. After banging a few more times upon the door... she realizes that no one's coming. Taking a seat upon one of the chairs... she waits... and waits...

Her eyes grow heavy, shifting towards a couch on the opposite end of the room. The effects of the Somatic Seal... she knows she has to sleep but... she can't help but worry. If she falls asleep in the place - alone and isolated, without even her bonded companion... who knows what could happen. The nightmares she could have, the demons creeping into her deepest moments of sleep...

She stares at the couch for what feels like forever, fatigue spreading throughout her body. She can't resist anymore... she has to...

---

In the midst of the mastermind’s concentration, firmly focused on weaving the spell that would tear through Konata’s body and soul like those who came before… the group nods collectively before springing into action.

Dexter draws his handgun, firing off a single shot at the cloaked mastermind - a shot that stops midair as the figure turns to face him, Konata still dangling behind, dreaming her final dream. Dexter gulps, backing up a few steps… before anxiously nodding to someone on the opposite side of the room - a signal to yet another collaborator. From behind the mastermind, Tinkaton raises her meat tenderizer, swinging it towards his head - though with a flick of the masked figure’s wrist, she finds herself soaring backwards, pinned against the wall by the masked figure’s dark magic.



Ahahaha… how terribly bold of you. This has been tried before, and your efforts have yet to bear fruit. Such a pitiful attempt from you both. Perhaps you would like to join our dear sacrifice in the final step of the ri-

He raises a hand, a barrier of shadow blocking a blow from Nashu’s guitar, her instrument bouncing off the shield and sending the Crimson Hunter skidding backwards as she grits her teeth. Like Konata, and the execution victims before her, she finds her limbs stiffening as she too begins to float into the air, painfully rigid.



Ah. You mustn’t interrupt. How rude. From a successful killer, no less. I had thought we had built a mutual understanding through bloodshed, and contract both yet I suppose I was incorrect.

All this, however… was merely a distraction.

The masked figure now firmly fixed on his attackers, Columbo reaches deep into his pillowcase, withdrawing an item of great power. A long spear, once imbued with deep darkness, and now glowing with a brilliant white light - inverted into Liturgic alignment. Columbo grips the spear taking aim, and Giffany’s eyes widen in recognition.

A weapon… crafted to slay her mentor. The one who had shown her the truth about her origins, bestowed upon her the gift of clarity and expanded her true potential.

ț̵̄h̴͉̾̌ǐ̸̧͓͊s̶̨̯̍̒

č̴̺ȧ̴̟̕n̴̥̝̈͝n̵̟̂ǫ̵̎t̴̞͉͛̚

o̵͍̦̔c̸͇̄̽c̷̻͠ȗ̴̬̂r̶̡̒

As Riki prepares to join the fray, pulling a mask from his bag… Giffany leans in close, the powers of the Chaotic Seal manifesting at last. A ripple of Chaotic energy tears through the room, warping and distorting the area. The ground begins to shake beneath Columbo’s feet, throwing him off-balance as vines burst from the ground, spiraling ever higher towards te ceiling.

Turning to her former teammate, her eyes begin to glow with the pale light of Liturgy as she whispers into Riki’s ear.

”Take the spear for yourself.

Riki’s eyes widen, a blank look overtaking them as he fits a mask onto his face. Resembling the skull of a velociraptor, claws and fangs extend from his mouth and limbs as he mindlessly launches himself at Columbo, determined to take the spear at the behest of Giffany’s spell.A whirlwind of tooth and claw, he tackles the detective to the ground - but not before Columbo manages to toss the spear across the room.

The mastermind swivels, watching the object sail through the air - but he’s tackled to the ground before he can properly react, BPI-2300 pinning him to the ground and stabbing his blade into the masked figure’s chest again and again, splattering the surrounding area with splashes of pure liquid shadow. In this moment of broken concentration, the spell placed upon the others is broken - each and every person held by the spell now crashing to the ground.

Astrid and Spooks grab Konata, dragging her near-lifeless form into the next room over as the mastermind begins to rise, holding 23 in his spell of stasis. Nancy rushes forward, attempting to pull him free, only to find herself rising into the air helpless as well. As black liquid drips from his wounds, the figure in the mask clenches a fist as their bodies begin to contort.

In the Museum Hall, Astrid shakes Konata desperately, praying to the stars themselves that she’s okay. Konata’s eyelids begin to flutter, her eyes… slowly opening. As she looks towards her friends, a pained smile spreads across her face as her hand moves towards her chest - and the thick, black wound that’s now formed there, much like the wound borne by Dodo before her - a vestige of the Codex’s power.

---

@Izumi Konata has been inflicted with a Death Mark as a result of significant Occultic corruption. Like Dodo before her... she will perish at some point during the following night, however she may still submit actions and contribute to anything the greater playerbase decides to enact.

There is nothing she can do to change her fate. Death is inevitable. She must make her peace while she can, even if whatever she attempts to accomplish carries lethal consequences.

As a result of the Death Mark, her role has been revealed...

role card: Show

Additionally, she was Synchronized with the Somatic Seal, granting her the following power:

---

Back in the Lobby, the spear’s journey concludes, plucked out of the air by Morgan, who advances towards the mastermind. Giffany’s chaotic wave continues to pulse through the air, manifestations appearing and disappearing at rapid speed. A skinless fat man, staring directly into the nearest security camera. The Goose, swinging a crowbar wildly. Raregold and Gus, brawling before the latter’s jugular is torn from his flaming body. As these manifestations swirl around Morgan, he struggles forward nonetheless.

Atop Columbo, Riki ceases his assault momentarily, struggling against Giffany’s commands as the detective’s blood drips from the claws bestowed from the mask. With a whisper of apology, Columbo elbows the little nopon in his moment of weakness, knocking him to the ground as he shakily climbs to his feet.

Morgan takes step after step towards the mastermind, the harsh winds of chaos driving him ever backwards. Suddenly… another hand grips the spear, guiding them both forward with renewed strength. Columbo gives an affirmative nod towards the agent and together, approach the robed figure from behind….

They thrust the spear forward, finally piercing their mark.

̵͕̕…̷͓͆
̸̟̔
̶̩̚Y̶̹̋-̸̱͛y̴̥̚o̵͍̓ü̸̗…̵̢̑ ̶̛̣
̴̢͑
̴̰̑…̶͎͝A̶̟̋h̶͔́ǎ̷͎h̶̝͗â̸͓h̷͇͋ă̷͜.̸͇͐.̵̥̐ĥ̷̨a̶̻̍ḧ̶̪́.̶͖̓.̶̫͝ ̷̼͘ ̵̮͑A̶̛̙h̶̥̒a̷̙̋…̸͕͒ ̸̰̋I̸͍̋’̴̨̿v̷̠̔e̴͉̾ ̵̡͐w̵̦͠â̷̙ĩ̸̤t̵̳̀e̵̛̦ḓ̸̍…̶̧̔ ̷̪̿a̸͍̓ ̷͓̈́t̶̬̀h̵̤̒o̴̙̚u̶̖̚s̴̙̚a̸̻͝n̵͕̐d̵̝̿ ̷̫͘ỹ̷̠ẽ̶̯a̴̙͋r̵̯̾s̸̞̚,̷̪͝ ̵̤̂ț̴͌h̶̼̚ę̴̎n̶̥͗ ̷͈̔ẗ̵̢w̸̞̏ĕ̶̯n̶͚͊t̵̠͆y̷̪̋ ̸̝̐m̷̲̓o̵͚͑r̵̦̓ė̷͜.̶̃͜ ̶̢̋A̶͚͂ṣ̶̃ ̷̰͐l̸͉͆o̷͎͌n̴͍͑g̴̟̒ ̷̉ͅä̴̪́š̵̬ ̵͍͛t̷̫̂h̷̳̎e̷̩̎ ̴̻̍C̸̰̍ǫ̵͐d̷͠ͅẹ̴̈x̸͛ͅ ̸̭̉y̴͔̐ę̶̒t̸̘̋ ̶͉̀e̷̩͠x̴̤̓e̷̜̔r̵̻̉t̸͔͛s̶̙͗ ̸̻͑į̴̔t̶̮͛s̸̝̀ ̷͙́p̵̧̏o̶̜̓ẃ̵͜e̷̯̐r̷̗̀ ̷̘̒u̸̲͂p̶͈̑o̴͔͋n̵͕͝ ̷̘͗t̸̻̊h̵͖̋ī̷̠s̷͉̊ ̷̙́w̸̘̆o̷̧͑r̵̜̕l̶̲̀d̷̥͑…̶̦͂ ̸̧̕
̴̲̓
̸̙̚…̵̧̊

I will see you again. P̶e̴r̷h̸a̷p̴s̸ ̴s̴o̸o̷n̸…̶ ̵P̷e̵r̶h̴a̷p̵s̷ ̷i̸n̶ ̸t̷h̴e̵ ̴f̵u̵t̶u̸r̸e̵…̷Y̸o̵u̵ ̵c̸a̸n̵n̴o̶t̵ ̸k̴i̴l̸l̵…̴ ̴w̶h̴a̶t̴ ̷i̶s̷ ̶e̴t̶e̵r̶n̵a̷l̸.̶ ̵W̵h̵e̷t̸h̴e̶r̷ ̴i̵n̸ ̷t̴h̵i̶s̴ ̶f̶o̴r̵m̶,̴ ̷o̸r̷ ̷i̷n̶ ̶t̴h̴e̶ ̶i̸d̸e̵a̴t̴i̴o̵n̶s̴ ̵o̶f̴ ̷y̸e̸t̸ ̸a̸n̵o̶t̶h̵e̷r̷ ̴m̷a̶s̶t̸e̸r̷m̵i̴n̶d̸.̴ ̷B̵y̷ ̸C̵o̶d̴e̶x̸ ̷o̷r̷ ̴c̵r̸y̵s̸t̵a̸l̸…̴



B̸̳̌́̌̇̒͛͝y̸̨̨͙͕͎͎͕̫̌͋̃̍͘̕ͅ ̵̺̙̟̱̅͋͊͜͝t̶͉͕͓̓͛̓̅h̸̟̞̀̓̑͆̐ë̶͔͕̙̠̖̣̼́̏͒̾̊̈́̚͜ ̴̨͈̮̙̗͊̾̌̏͘̚c̷͔͚͖̞̰̝̗͚̙̈́͝ͅr̵̢̻͉̯̼̣͆̈́͘y̷̝͎͚͇̐̔̐̄͝ͅį̵͖͔̹͓̦͖̦̬̳̊͗͂̆̆̕̕͝͝ņ̴̧̣̘͇̹̮͔̮͙̂̈͑̓̅͋͘͝ĝ̵̝͔̓͆̎̅̽͝ ̶̳̮̩͉̮͂ó̵̢̠̘͐̽̿͗̇f̵͙̗͚͒̌̕ ̴̫̰͓̇͆͘͠a̶̟̻̘̯̪̻̐̄̕͝͝͝ ̴̀́͜͝d̷̼̲̟͙̳͚́e̴̛̤͒͘s̶̯̹͛́p̸̺̘̮̎̚ę̶̝̗̯̹̑̓͂̋̓̑͂̑ŕ̷̢̝̫̲͒̃͒ǎ̴͚̱̈̿̒͂̈́͛̈́̿t̶̫͇̠̲̰͇̐̓̀́̉̎͊̚͜ͅë̷̯̠͚̖͇̦̣̾̂̌͛͊̒̚͜ ̷̢̰̖̣̝̝̀̋̉̈́̆̾̈̾̄͠s̵̢̰̤̪̲̹͓̫̰̎̅̓̀̐o̶͙͕͆̽͗̐͑̃̄͘͝͠ų̷̧̠͙͓̖̭̈́́͂̚͜͜͝ľ̴̼̿̓̀̐̐̅̉͘͝…̴̝͓̼̞̤͇̯̰̰̳̏̎̓͛̽͂̾͑ ̴̖̘̠̮̠̞̩̟̽́̅͛͌̕͝ẏ̸͙̙̺̅́͑̂͠e̸̛̲̼͑̓͐̏̐̋̇́̚ä̸͇͈̠́͗̏̕͘͜r̴̡̫̜͐͊̂̈́̈́͐ņ̶̨͔̱̤̤͔̰̟̮̅i̶̟̩̲̙͍̋̒͊̃̂̄͠n̸̢͚̖̻̳̺̓͗͋͑͗̔͜g̷͕̖̭̞̪̺̦̹̝̎̓͐̿̇͌̉̆̾̀ ̶̢̨͖͛̍͝f̸̪͍̈̔̄̓́̚o̴̻͈̲̝̤̞̱̍r̶͇̰̓̌̉͐́͜͝ ̶̧̛͚̝͎̦̦̝̈́̋́͘͝͝͝w̶̠̥̪̖͕̗͔̙͑̈́̅́ͅh̶̟̙̻͙́͐͠͝a̴̢̲̺͔̔̉͝ţ̸̡̫̾̇ ̷̟̪͍̭͎͓͔̳̊̃̆͗̓̔̍̇̑͜l̶̺̻̠̜͊ḭ̷̮̩̦̋̃͘͝e̷̪̰͎͙̟͍͌̓̊ͅs̵̗̀̏̃̋̾̕͝ ̷̡̛͔̹̣͉̒͆̐̈͑̃̊͝b̴̰͕̈́͋e̵̡͈͙̹̍n̵̻̥̙̓̔͋̐̽͒̃͜e̵̬̲̊ä̴̡̧̝̲͇̭͛̍̑̇̒́͂͘͝ṭ̴̣̥̈́̓͌̂͒̓̀h̸͕͓̠̊ ̸̥̠̹͙͇̹̹̈́̆͂̃̌͂̆̇̈t̵̢̮̭͇̳͍͍̠̎͛͐̎̿ͅͅh̴͉͓͔͚͛̇ě̵͉̰̙̞̘̤̖̦̫̪ ̷̻̬̥͙̭̦̙̝̜̏͊͋͂͌̃̈́̈́̉̕s̷̢̥̺͎̖̯̹̦̙͊̈́̅̾̕̕͝ų̵̼̳̺̘̫̘̞̳̈́̑̉́̕̕͝͠r̶̩̺̐̉̊͂͒͊̕͠f̶͍̒͊͜a̵͈͈̯̠̲̬͖͛̈́̉̔̽̀̕ĉ̶͎̳̱͔͙̀e̴̛̳̹̳̝̰͔̙̠̗̓̐͊͆̽̊̏̿͝ ̶̫͛͆o̵͕̘̝̣̬̝̳͛ḟ̶̧̗̫̼̲͇̣͋̓̀̓̐͊͜ ̸̧͍̩̽͆͗̈̑̐̑̾y̴͖̜̻̦̓̃͌͗̋͝ǫ̵̛̼̳͍͙̯̖̠̩͑̏ư̵̮̯̤͈̦̘̳̣̯̐̐͊͆r̸͕̗͔̘͖̥̫̥̲̉̊̅͗̍̌͐͑ ̷̢̤̪̦̜̞̯̤̬̝̊̃͝ṕ̶̢̺͇̹̙͈̝͔͔̱̈́̓i̸̧̗̎̾͂̈́̐͌͝t̵̨̳̤̟͍͗̿́́̅͋̓͝į̴̝̾̉̌̇f̵̢͚̤̯̊u̸̱͛̈́̽͂̑̕l̵͖̺͖̲̃̊͋́͠ ̸̬͋́̆͑̓̑͝w̷̨̗̩̺̣͈̠̳͙̯̑̑̓́̀͋̎̿͘͝o̵̻͓̹̭̓͛̄̿̒̕̚͝ͅr̵̳̝̪̦̣͈͓̖̈l̸̨͙͓̦̞̳͈͇̹͐͌̇̋̋̄̌̚͘͠d̴͙̠̪͑̔͌̚͜͠.̴͚̫̥̟̮̥̮̭̲̐̅̐̌̀͛͘.̴̡̧̼͖̫̹͍͙̗̑̎̀̏͂͑.̸̡̠̯̭̫̔͗̎̀̓̆̄͛͘͜͠ ̸̻̗̳̘̹̥̺̈́͗ṣ̵̭̘̍̆̏̑́̀̚ͅo̷͙̐͐̂͗̒͂̊ ̷̳͍̘̺͓͇̀͒l̶͖̖̘͐̐̓͐͠ǫ̷̹̩̺̝̬͙̀̀̈͂́̈ņ̸͚̦̹̜̥̩̅̓̾̈́ͅg̸̨̭̖͖̜̟̞͒̀́͜ ̸̪̱̗̼̻̲̦̚a̷̖̟̻̱͎͈͛̓̅̅s̸̨̡̗͔̜̬̈́ ̸̝̮̗̥̈́͂̌̉̈͑̎̚͠â̴̡̜̰̠̫̣͍̈́̄̀͆̍͑̊̾͌ ̶̛̝̰̮̭́̌̈́͐͌̀́͝f̵̧̪̼̦̫̓̈́̐̊͂̄ͅŕ̴̡̢̼̗͕̮̞̪̺̱̹̺̭̘̱̹̦̳̳̏̒̅̐͜ͅͅä̷̢̮̹̫̤̯̮̼̝́͜ͅg̷̱͙̣̩̞̻̓͌̓̄̂̄̂́͠m̵͉̞͉̤͕̺̟̾̆̑̅ȅ̵̡̡̮̫̘̫̟͇̬̼̮̮̮̯̣̠̍̓̈́͒͗͆̀̌͐̓̈́̂̏͋̑̏̕͠n̴̨̮͔̣̣͔͑ť̵̢̧͈̣̱͖͚͖̜̬͉͈̾̍ ̷̡̨̠̺̥̼̰͂̒̈̈ŗ̸̲͕͖͊̉̍͜ę̷̣̪͔̻̮͓̾̌̽̑͑͊̾͗m̷̥̥̳̟̥͑̾̐́̓͗̅͐a̴̗̟̟̩̪̟͍̽̾̎̔̀̕̕i̶̡̺̫̼͉̺̱̩̍̐̒̏̽̑̽̆̈͝n̴̩̖̪̔̎̊̈́̓͜s̶̯͈̣̠͉̖̦͉͐̆̄͌̊͐͛…̵̨̻͎͈̣̣͇͈̠̬͂̇̀̍̔̑͒̊ ̵̡̹̮̼̎

…̴̨̧̛͔̩͉̫̟͎͎̩͖̮̻͕͈̻͕͉̗͎̈́̏́͊͊͊̈̐̀̍̀̐̔̈́͘͘

The masked figure slumps forward, unmoving.




All is silent...

I'm... I'm still alive, huh... Not for long, but... thank you everyone...

I want to do whatever I can to help before I'm done, though. At least help Astrid escape... If there's anything you need of me, Columbo or Astrid, just tell me, okay?

Sorry, Konata. Didn't mean to use ya as bait.
Good work, everybody. One less threat to deal with, ominous last words or not.

This post was last modified: Sep 1, 2024 at 8:25 AM by Spooks?.

Well, well... So that's that, is it? I suppose some of you thought it would be amusing for me to join the battle... yet logistically speaking,
thought it would be a rather stupid decision to join in the battle proper, considering the statistical chance of your loss.



Well, color me surprised! You managed to do it after alll...

You know, based on our research data, such a manifestation was only a temporary measure anyway. Nothing to be bothered with, as I'm sure you're aware by now. At this point, I believe you should be acquainted with the power of the Bureau of Paranormal Investigation - after all, you've managed to successfully enforce our organization's will even given the strongest possible opposition.



Unfortunately... I'm afraid that by virtue of your so-called mastermind's ritual... @Izumi Konata has officially been categorized as deceased for the purpose of our employment structure...

Which in turn means that I am fully authorized to permanently eliminate her under Section 9, Subsection 3 of the Bureau of Paranormal Investigation Code of Conduct. What a relief, no more skirting around rules and regulations to create the perfect scenario for obliterating our beloved first seal breaker without needing to rely on falisfied accidents.



How wonderful - especially considering her dedication to seeking answers far beyond her clearance. Now, I'm awfully sorry to those who have built a relationship with the girl, but in lieu of her designated execution, I suppose I'll have to-

[ALERT: INCOMING COMMUNICATION DETECTED]

[ACCEPT CALL? Y/N]

This post was last modified: Sep 3, 2024 at 5:58 AM by Indiana Jones (Old).

I answer the phone because nobody else is stepping up.

"Abyss Team Front Desk, how can I help you?"