Endgame

QM Note: The final battle will commence this afternoon!

"...If he knew what horrors are in this world... I... cannot say. You practically witnessed a retelling of Prometheus dying. Perhaps you are a better judge than I. But ultimately, I cannot say this is about me. My motivation, perhaps, is fueled by my revenge... But if that is what it takes to forge the way to a perfect world, I am willing to do it. I plan to oversee Olegaia when all is said and done, you know. Make sure new life - a better life, a purer life than yours or mine - is created. And should it become corrupt, I will snuff it out, just like I will do to mankind."

The Regret practically hisses, legitimately disshelved by one of Arthur's statements. "If you're going to tell me to abandon my hate, I do not wish to hear it."

"Such a remarkably short attention span. You should take his every word as gospel."

"No. No, it's... quite alright... I want thIIIIIIRRRGGGNNNHHH..." Another dose "shock therapy". "It appears I managed to drive a machine to suicide. How quaint. Druid, do you not comprehend? Did you not see the room, a testament to my many attempts at escaping this world? I am immortal. I cannot die."

"I suspect the Minoid's scan will say otherwise. I've seen you at your lowest, Skirmisher. Your words are meaningless to me." "ULTIMATUM: This... is the best I can do." Monolith, Level 64 Ancient HP: 400/400 SP: 10 Immune to Blindness and Sealing! Specials: Deadly Discharge: Monolith unleashes a column of light and electricity from his eye, sweeping the battlefield. All heroes receive the Electrified 8 effect, and the hero who rolled Special Damage takes 60 damage. Target Found: Monolith fixates on the hero who rolled Special Damage, making them take an automatic free hit from him every round until his head id deactivated. Can stack on multiple heroes. Specials decided by die roll. Stalagmite Fright: ??? Passive Specials: Major Malfunction: ??? Drops: ??? Monolith's Heart *UNTARGETTABLE, Invincible?, Immune to all Negative Effects? HP: 1100/1100 Passive Specials: Resurrection: Each body part is resurrected after 3 rounds by the Heart. When the Heart bursts, the battle is won. Endgame Syndrome: ??? Infection: ??? Drops: ??? Mortar Cannon, Level 48 Ancient HP: 300/300 Immune to Sleep and Sealing! Specials: Bomb Barrage: Monolith launches off a series of explosives; this does anywhere from 10 to 20 damage disregarding row and SP, decided by a random number generator. Smokescreen: The Mortar Cannon releases some smog, making itself Hastened and Counterstriking for a round. Additionally, the hero who rolled Special Damage recieves the Poison 10 effect. Specials alternate. Passive Specials: Malfunction: ??? Drops: ??? Left Hand, Level 44 Ancient HP: 250/250 Immune to Sleep and Sealing! Specials: Slice and Dice: Monolith tears through the party with his massive chainsaw spear. All heroes have their Health and Ether cut in half, and receive the Bleeding 5 effect. Dirt Nap: Monolith slams the hero who rolled Special Damage into the ground. That hero is reduced to 1 HP, becomes Doomed, and has all of their artifacts unequipped. Specials decided by die roll. Passive Specials: Brutal Bludgeon: On rolls of damage and Free hits, the hero is made Weakened. Malfunction: ??? Drops: ??? Right Hand, Level 44 Ancient HP: 250/250 Immune to Sleep and Sealing! Specials: Slice and Dice: Monolith tears through the party with his massive chainsaw spear. All heroes have their Health and Ether cut in half, and receive the Bleeding 5 effect. Skewer: Monolith stabs the hero who rolled Special Damage, reducing their max health by 5 for the rest of the battle and doing 48 damage. Specials decided by die roll. Passive Specials: Brutal Bludgeon: On rolls of damage and Free hits, the hero is made Fragile. Malfunction: ??? Drops: ???

...To be perfectly honest, I have no idea. I almost never use OOC though, so perhaps this is where all of that stuff ends up. I haven't rebalanced for any positive effects on 99, other than bumping up enemy HP a bit due to the whole Encouraged thing. (The highest buff was Dodekka, who get an extra 100 HP from what I intended originally.)

Whatever you think will cause him not to force choke you so hard your inky jugular pops out your spine. (DISCLAIMER: Not actually what will happen.) If you have to choose one, I'd recommend the monument one.

I'm writing up his stats now, actually - I just needed to prep the photos, I should've mentioned that. Just a warning: That comment is gonna carry some consequences. Retcon it if you will, while I type this up... Otherwise, you're gonna be at a pretty severe disadvantage. (Some stuff will be blanked out - like, for example, how to harm the invincible Monolith. )

Flipz, I would like to inform that your latest comment was a bad, bad idea.

That's not what I'm going to type up, but okay.

"Laughable. Simply laughable. I have spent the last twenty two hundred years in a sleepless existence, working itrelessly... endlessly. If you think you can possibly match me within the 6 months your species has left, you are a gullilble fool. After life has reduced you to nothing, time and time again, you'd think you'd figure it out. You are worthless. A help to very few and a burden to the rest. If you think you can overcome that and match my power in the time it takes me to become the Eternal Reaper, you're absolutely mad." "Part magic, part machinery, part organic. Call him what you will - considering your predicament, I do believe "Executioner" would be an apt name." "I am returning for the Zirconia, yes, but Goland wasn't made just for this. it was my solace, my canvas... And I think you'll find I made more than a tiny piece of Zirconia. Monolith, you may do the honors." The giant pulls up his massive spear, and with one clean slice, reveals a glittering sight... "I remembered when this gem first calcified... Bear witness to raw Zirconia."

Coincedetnally, I enjoyed spectating Q50, if that means anything to you.

"No, I actually haven't. I'm just gathering more ingreidents for my little plan. Although, I wouldn't call the "you'll never defeat me" bit nonsense. If you are foolhardy enough to attack me, I'll be sure to prove just how truly beaten you already are." "Hah. When I first encountered you, you were a suicidal lunatic. It seems your insecurity has blossomed into a stifling superiority complex. Foolish human boy... Always thinking that he is important in the grand scheme of things. Always thinking I consider you some sort of nemesis. Always thinking you are the hero. You're hopelessly wrong - and hopeless in general, really. You're not even a hero. Just a delusional brat who is depserate to die at my hands, it seems. Do you still consider yourself my equal?" "Mmmhmhmhmhm. Am I supposed to be offended, Skirmisher? The fact that five Oculoid foot soldiers held you up for so long is a bit baffling, but amusing nonetheless. We have 10,000 more waiting back at the citadel, and I'm sure they'd love making your acquitance as well! We oculoids go stronger and stronger daily... Assuming you're not illiterate scum, I'm sure you've read that as The Regret gets stronger, we do. When my master reaches his apex, we Oculoids will be unbeatable." "Regarding your other trials... Not my doing, truly. The Dauntlets reset the security system, not I. Your presence is ultimately irrelevant. Oh, sure, you saved a few people. But you can't lay a finger on me here, and besides, what are a handful of lives in the grand scheme of things? They'll simply add to the victim count when I start erasing your people from Olegaia. But since you've paved your way all the way down here, and I can only assume you're expecting some sort of climax, I can make good use of you while you're here. This was a test run for Monolith - or, as you know him, "The Giant". I have obtained the data I needed to construct a second version. If you would be so kind, would you off him for me? Otherwise, I'm sure he'd be perfectly content tearing you into pieces." " . . . " "You are mistaken. Monolith was dispatched here days ago, but I myself have not been present - the Oculoids you encountered were not to hinder you, but rather to ensure that Monolith did the job I asked of him. You see, I've been trying to recover a certain something for quite some time, and I felt Monolith would be a wonderful candidate to do the dirty work for me. I Have more pressing matters than digging through this ancient old trash heap. Would you like to see it?" "...STATEMENT: I cannot tell any sort of statistics if they are not making any sort of aggressive action. From the Gaint, i can tell that his heart is his only weak point, and it appears to be nigh invincible. facing any of these opponents may spell certain doom for us..." "Heroes. I tried my best to avoid this eventuality, but is seems like we are destined to baAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUGRRRGGHHHHH!!!" Monolith goes through another agonizing seizure, holding himself steady with his rather imposing spear. "I hope you see now why we plan to make a Version 2. This twit just never learns..."

I'm beginning to realize spectators and players are going to have completely different opinions about 93.

By the time it concludes, probably.

A title drop and a true boss reveal in one post!

"STATEMENT: Upon further inspection, that blackness... isn't darkness. It's the smog that the Giant pumped out whenever we've encountered him..." The party carefully navigates the Needle Cavern descending into darkness. They walk in single file, mindful of the barbed cavern's twists and turns, not knowing what final battle was ahead of them... They ponder their impending fate and possible impending doom as they make their final descent through the caverns. Armed with their will, their weapons, and the knowledge from Nevermore, the paty would have to obtain to victory over their next opponent... Or the consequences may be far more severe than any of the party could imagine. The heroes and their followers finally reach the end of their descent. "CURRENT ELEVATION: 1,828.8 meters/6,000 feet under." Six thousand feet under from anyone who could possibly help them now, the party walks through the final hallway, and is greeted by an ominous sight... Three powerful beings, cloaked in smoke. Their glowing eyes pierce the darkness, staring down the recently arriving heroes. A cruel voice speaks out, depraved and soulless. "So, the heroes arrive at long last. Monolith, enough with the smoke screen. I do believe it is time for us to step out of the shadows." With a mighty wind spell, the speaker disperses all of the smoke in the room. The sudden galestorm flings the heroes backwards, as well as reveals a far more terrifying sight. The Mighty Giant's true form is revealed... As well as his two puppeteers. The heroes' stomaches churn, and chills sprint up and down their spines. Some of them already knew the villains that stood before them, staring them down with a judgmental glare. Others could only step back as new, sinister faces greeted them. The Giant speaks out a single word, still bound to The Regret's will. "...Heroes." The massive Oculoid speaks out next, his voice a cross between a gloatish speech and a maniacal cackle. "HahahaHAHAHaahahah! I thought you folks would never arrive! That would've been ever so dissapointing... But you're here now, so I suppose we can get this party started. For all of you plebeians not in the know, I am Oculoid Mastermind Seerus, artistic genius and General of the Oculoids. However, make no mistake... I am not the one fully in control here. That honor would have to go to my master..." The silvery abomination steps forward, his eyes brimming with a gleeful cruelty. He carried with him a formidable aura, his entire body practically emanating pure power. A sickness begins to overcome the heroes as he draws a bit closer... "No introduction is necessary, I trust. Enjoy touring my former residence?" What will the party do?

An Endgame boss approaches...

"That is the real power of observation - understanding. But just because you understand a system, It doesn't mean it cannot help or hinder you - I cite gravity as an example. Now, shall we proceed to whatever awaits us?"

"STATEMENT: Emotions are unstable by nature, Grimwald. Likely one of the reasons why an analyitical being such as myself has been unable to achieve them. If I had to corss reference your behavior with my other portfolios, I'd suspect your actions were well within the norm for someone within that situation." It seemed like the Minoid was attempting to be comforting.

"Worst case scenario is that I walk down there, my "Master" is there, and he reporgrams me into a permanent slave. But, hey, you guys saved me, and I'm not just going to sit around. I have a debt to one of you in particular..."

"I'm... actually kind of afraid to hold a weapon, to be honest with you. I fought you guys hand to hand; who knows, The Regret may hve put in some crazy subliminal message that makes me go absolutely berserk or something. Not something I'd want. I was thinking someting a little more mundane, really. Not all of us can be protectors of the law or order or whatever."

"Any murder is too slippery of a slope for me... Protection is a pretty blurry line. The only real definite type of killing I think may be good is mercy killing, but that is only because I thought I need one, just an hour ago... I feel better now. Either I was insane back then, or I am now. Considering I actually feel better now than I have in a while - or, hell, maybe it's just oms emagic side effect - I'm gonna say the former."

"Clearly..." I mutter.