FINAL TRIAL

[strangerpeople]

FINAL TRIAL

[Soon after the final clue it found, the large set of double doors at the end of the hall finally open.

And beyond is what Nyaf-ya calls the Room of Reckoning. And this room is...]





[...rather impressive. Large, for certain. Maybe a bit too large for the space it would have to occupy beneath the mall, or to have light streaming from the windows, all things considered. But given everything else that the surviving strangers have encountered, this might not be the strangest thing with this situation overall.

There is a wooden throne at the top of the staircase, and at the bottom of the staircase are four large, comfortable-looking sitting pillows - one green, one orchid, one gold, and one pink. The red pillars surrounding the staircase are also decorated with markings that definitely don't look like they fit the aesthetic of the room.

There are also two low hot pot induction cooker tables in the great hall area before the staircase. One table has six spots, all with sitting pillows, each with a name written onto a paper placed carefully on a plate. When everyone sits at their place, they will find that the stove in the center is already heated and ready to go, and every imaginable ingredient for a proper barbecue and hot pot meal is available to them for cooking. A pitcher of their favorite drink is also next to each respective cup.

And, once everyone finds their place, their phone pings with a message.]

Once you've figured everything out, the Boss....wants to talk to you. She doesn't want to fight. Not this time. Please, take your time, but please be careful, ok? The rules of the Game are still in effect.

We're rooting for you. I know you'll find a way!

[So it's time, then. The objectives are simple in this trial.

It's time to finally answer the questions the Titled have about why they are here - and face the Masterminds behind the Game.

Good luck, Titled.]

Comments

CATHERDING AND SURPRISE VOTE?

[bendwiththewind]

I hate to be the one to ruin all the good feelings and emotional outbursts-[Oh bullshite Yoyo, you love it.] but there is still a large matter to discuss: the reasoning why you are all here.

The overall goal to this training exercise was to prepare you for your new positions as Composers in your various realms. By doing so, you are able to recruit those lost souls into fighting the Noise that is showing up on every star they can grasp thanks to that little shite who decided it would be a wonderful idea to stir the pot. As much as I enjoy a bit of destruction and suffering, this will have am effect on everyone if not stopped.

There is one matter that may have not beem mentioned, hence why we are on high alert: once the Noise is capable to be seen by average mortals, the world is doomed to consumption. Those higher believe they do not have the resources to chase after him from star to star and that this is the only way to save these worlds. But you seem to have brought up a choice...which I must now ask onto yourselves by a simple vote. There are two choices you can make:

You vote yourselves and you will become Composers. However, you will die as a result but you already know that Death is not the end. But your homes will have a fighting chance against the Noise.

Or...you can vote for myself. If you want to prove to me your mettle, then we will battle until you prove yourselves worthy. But do not forget that taking this route means unknown dangers to your realms.

Choose wisely.

[incrediblystressedout]

So basically...we can go along with the system, or we can punch you some and try to figure out our own solution?

[She knows what she's leaning toward, but she wants to clarify a couple of things.]

If we choose you, can we still like...work with your organization? More importantly, what happens to the dead people? They're obviously still around...

[bendwiththewind]

That you will have to see.

You lot have jumped into situations when you did not know what to expect. This is the same.

[incrediblystressedout]

We've jumped into situations where you deliberately withheld information from us, even our own memories. We didn't do that because we felt like being idiots.

...not just because we felt like being idiots.

[bendwiththewind]

You said it not me.

[theirmagic]

She's got a point. I don't particular want to kick you in the head, but we need to know everything first. I... don't want to do anything, unless I know I can help Goro and the others.

[scienceofmagic]

...I have a question. Tracking him is hard, because you can't pinpoint him to begin with, right? ...I might be able to help. My life's work back home was all about tracking negativity. If he's the source of all these problems, I could probably repurpose everything I've already made and make it into a tracking program. If he's negativity, then it stands to reason a single person and the source of it all would be the most densely packed but strongest frequency.

[ I mean. She might as well try offering it. ]

...It also wouldn't take too long to repurpose it, as it's just changing which way it works. Instead of being a beacon, I'd be looking for the beacon. I'd just need help boosting the range to scan with.

[comesaround]

I'm all for this option, really. It sounds more plausible than us dying and going with the system, or trying to waste time in fighting you.

[ That's just what he thinks, really. Croix's option sounds a lot better to him than the other ones. Besides, after becoming a Composer, there was no promise that they'd be able to just return to their worlds normally afterwards. ]

[theirmagic]

I agree.

[ THAT's ANOTHER FOR OPTION "NEITHER". ]

[beguiledcard]

[ A nod. ]

Besides, the definition of insanity is repeating the same actions, over and over, while expecting different results.

It feels crazier to go along with something that isn't taking care of the core of the problem.

[bendwiththewind]

...are you trying to buy time?

[That...was not something she was expecting?]

[scienceofmagic]

No. I'm trying to solve the actual problem of the source running rampant while these training courses happen. If the problem is they don't have resources to actually find the source, then I may have an actual solution that isn't just putting up an infinite amount of Composers and hoping that the problem solves itself eventually.

[thegreenhornet]

Yeah, if you're trying to get rid of a mafia, you don't get rid of all the minions eternally, you aim for the top. That way you get rid of the whole thing at all.

[It's that simple, even though it's not like the person who caused all this is a magical solution to this many-worlds-involved problem]

If after dealing with the source the Noise stuff are still trying to destroy the worlds, then we deal with them. I know there's danger right now, but I want to take the risk.

[bendwiththewind]

All I am hearing from you is possibilities, not solutions that will work. Do you how powerful this man is, Chance? If he is able to pull himself from the brink of oblivion and bring creatures that are not native anywhere else, he is not someone you can simply ask to stop.

Imagine if you go to face him as you are now: you will not be ready. You will be nothing more than a mess on the concrete to him. Are you truly willing to risk it?

[beguiledcard]

[ Damn it... He listens to her answer to Joey. Then, he stands. ]

Is fighting really the only answer you know?

[bendwiththewind]

It's the only choices available to you as of now. Do not forget that I am the Composer and there still needs to be judgement.

And besides, be lucky I am giving you this to start.

[beguiledcard]

... So there are other choices. Got it.

[ see: his everything going on up there now ]

[incrediblystressedout]

You know what? I agree with Croix and everyone that we can come up with a better plan than what you're doing here. Since you're obviously not going to let us do that...

[Joey takes a deep breath, and her loyal Mr. Mew comes up to stand beside her as she takes out her phone.]

Where I come from, we work out our disagreements with adults with a fight. It's stupid, and I hate it, but you know what? If you're going to insist, I'll dance you the Strife of my people.

> Yotsuyu Sashihai

[thegreenhornet]

I don't like this at all. I really, really want to go for the answer that'll keep me alive. Being the Conductor would mean I'd stay alive, right?

[...]

But if that guy who made the Noise go berzerk or whatever is still going around causing trouble, then I want to stop him, and to be able to do that, fighting you is necessary.

>Yotsuyu Sashihai

[This is the guy who turned into a vigilante because he was bored. Self-preservation isn't his forte, despite what he says]

[scienceofmagic]

...You wanted to test our conviction. You know my feelings by now. ...Some girls I know wished for a future where everyone could laugh as one. I believe in that future.

[ Croix won't waver. She has a future for seven smiling faces to protect. And right now? It's time to close her eyes and visualize that bright future. ]

> Yotsuyu Sashihai

[beguiledcard]

... Right. Let's prove our resolve, then.

[ He nods.

>Yotsuyu Sashihai. ]

[theirmagic]

[ Chariot is on-edge. She's already ready for what she knows is coming. But she had hoped it wouldn't come to this. She nervously holds her hands for a long moment, before finally making her decision.

> Yotsuyu Sashihai. ]

I made this outfit with the thought that a fight might happen. If you really want us to fight you... then there's nothing I can do to convince you but beat you.

[comesaround]

You want to test our resolve? Fine. I have absolutely no problem in indulging you in a fight. Especially one where I can go all out.

[ A nod of his head follows that along with a grin, edged with that anticipation for the oncoming fight. ]

> Yotsuyu Sashihai

LET'S DO THIS HERE...

[beguiledcard]

[ He'll be finding a hand on his shoulder.

There's an encouraging smile... and then he moves so he's facing his best friend properly, lifting one fist in an unspoken offering.

Brofist him, Jack. ]

Let's finish this.

[comesaround]

[ He can't help the soft chuckle that escaped him, nodding and raising a fist up to meet Akira's. All while wearing a bit of a grin himself. ]

Yeah. Make sure not to hold anything back.