Charles
"We have gathered a lot of information from Ranoa and Xion. However, I must take a more direct approach if we are to get the results we seek... As such, your jobs are to defeat me in combat. You may begin."
Edith
She grunts as she saw the house on fire, before looking to Silax as he spoke, having repositioned to get outta Xion's attack most likely. Away from those who would fail them just like you all failed the worlds... Was this hooded individual pinning the blame on HER too?

Before she could respond, a card emerged below her, with her not being fast enough to react, she fell into it and went into a new area. Was she just locked into this fight? She wasn't ready for a fight of this kind! She hadn't had time to prepare at all, and there was too many unknowns around her magic!

"... ALL, huh? Look, tall, dark and mysterious deck holder. Don't pin me for failures that isn't mine! I literally just woke up hours ago!"

She stated with a bit of an annoyed tone, before just trying out her magic... Yeah, it didn't work. But, she seemed to activate something else on accident... A form transformation. With a yelp, she was concealed with a cloud of light and dark momentarily, before reappearing in a new look...

Her dress was now half black, and half white. Spikes showing the two sides in a clash, with her once red fur now a light gray with various tribal tattooes around her. She look at herself with a bit of shock. "... W-What just happened to me!?"

**DENIAL Form - Activated**
 AP + 15 = 115
 MP + 15 = 115
Tracey
The metallic boots of the armor clank against the ground as Ranoa falls through the card, landing in the arena. Things are still missing- but during the woman's monologue he had managed to regain his Barings to some extent.
Elma
The armor then vanishes back to whence it came as Ranoa brings a hand to his head, vision finally focusing in on the situation. Memories are coming back, but they're not as strong. Slowly, but surely though...
"You...! You're with.." He shakes his head, trying to focus. His memories are scrambled, but intact. "The Organization!"
The question of Suzuka and Ika has been answered, but another comes up soon after. Xion had shown Ranoa the existence of his own nobody. And it's a member of the organization at that.
"You offered answers, right? Who is Xanaro?! And why is he working for you?!"
Despite the question, he doesn't wait for an answer. He takes the keyblade into a twohanded grip, magical energy swirling at the tip as he points it at silax. A triple volley of flames fire off at her direction. Soon following the flames would be ranoa himself, swiftly sprinting after her before attempting to slash her with an upward strike. Regardless of accuracy, a pillar of light soon shoots down from the sky at what ranoa perceives to be her current position.

```

AP: 230 -220
MP: 160 -95

Abilities Used
Fire x3
Upper Slash
Holy x1```
Alison
*Lirio gets a little freaked out at silax just appearing behind them but before he could say anything he got trapped on the card arena, and even tho the figure wanted to attack them, he was... Confused, to say the least, so instead of attacking, he goes into a small askathon*

"Okay hold on, what is going on now? Who are you? What organization? And why do we have to fight you again?!" 

*He said on an increasingly more confused voice tone*
Marie
*No fucks given towards resource conservation, Xion immediately flies towards Silax, propelled by a massive laser as she then rains down an immense number of stars all around Silax that proceed to explode into more tiny stars, immediately followed by three rings of lasers surrounding Silax and spinning in all directions at a rapid speed. Xion's entire plan is to trap Silax with or without whatever magic this woman has*
AP: 210%
MP: 170% - 120% = 50%
Charles
*Ranoa and Xion's onslaught would be trouble, however they were in Silax's territory. Snapping her fingers, a wall of cards would appear from all her direction, and seemingly absorb the attacks sent at her, each card taking one attack. After they were done, the cards would have an image of the attack it absorbed, and then flip around to hide what the contents of the cards were.*

"In my experience, you normally wait for an answer before attacking... Xanaro is someone you abandoned. Someone my family cares for and has given a proper home."

"As for you, Kate and Lirio, apologies. You are not involved in this. I recommend staying far from this group, unless you want trouble and failure."

*Waving her hand out, the cards around her would disappear, before more being created and shuffled around.*

"During this battle, we will play a simple game. Pick a card and say upright, or reverse. Whether or not you attack me while you do so makes no difference, just that you must choose. Not choosing will result in a negative effect happening to you. You may only choose **One** Card at a time. Choosing a card can result in a positive or negative result. Choosing upright means the effect on the card affects you, or me, normally. Reverse means it affects the opposite. Your goal..."

*A giant clock would appear above the arena.*

"Is to run through my deck of cards before time runs out. And lastly, attacking me will increase the timer."

*The cards would then scatter around the arena and the countdown would begin.*

`Countdown: 5
Cards left: 78`
Lisa
`Roll a d78 to pick a card! Choose upright or reverse right after to decide how the effect triggers! Attack Silax to increase the timer! Every 2 actions increase the timer by 1, while every action that triggers from a card increases it by 2! Stop the timer from reaching 0!`
Elma
Abandoned..? No. He didn't even *Know* Xanaro existed. It happened at a time when he didnt know what a nobody was.

"Maybe, but in my experience waiting gets you hurt aswell." Can't take any chances by just standing around.

"How did i *Abandon* Him? I didnt even know he existed until just a little while ago!" That logic is flawed. He wouldve taken xanaro back in a heartbeat had he known.

Sending another barrage her way, he closes the gap and swiftly swings his keyblade at her twice. Soon after, three beams of light rain down from the sky at her once more.

"There's not really a choice *But* To fight you if we want out of here to begin with. But regardless, I'll go with Upright!"

```

AP: 220 -200
MP: 95 -40

Quick slash x2
Holy x3

Upright Chosen!```
Frank
Cloudishly (XR52, RH52, CA1) Request: `[d78]` Roll: `[10]` Result: `10`
Edith
"Ngh... While I do appreciate you realize that... I follow one simple truth. When people are getting hurt... Then I come running!"

She simply said as she gripped the sword. Her resolve dead set on helping at this point. She may be weaker at this stage, but, if this is just a game, then that means she could still be helpful. She had to be careful though... This form was making her weaker.

``FORM DRAIN - 10AP = 105AP Remain``

She wasn't close enough to try and strike yet, she needed an element of surprise before she could try, a potential move to get a hit on him. So she chose to rush in, picking up a card.

"May as well play this game... Upright!"
Frank
The Key of Hope (KT - LV 2) Request: `[d78]` Roll: `[51]` Result: `51`
Alison
*... Now he´s even more confused, why does this person knows his name? And this whole arena thing is even weirder, but seems like they are not leaving till they fight so... He starts with something basic, just 3 raw attacks*

"...Reverse?"
Frank
St☆rboy (Lirio, lvl 32) Request: `[d78]` Roll: `[34]` Result: `34`
Marie
*She doesn't hear Silax's words over the blood rushing through her ears, proceeding to drop a Starbomb onto her enemy before following it up with an Orbga and a Twilight Maelstrom, the giant yin yang orb and swirling whirlpool of light and dark trying to consume her*
50%-80% Mp Hastega 170% - 40% = 130%
Charles
"As usual, the light is too ignorant to realize the pain they cause..."

*She would say, referring to Ranoa. When the attacks came, more cards came to absorb some of the strikes, but most would get through, impacting Silax. Although she was hit, it didn't seem like she was hurt. Instead, the timer above would go up before counting down 1.*

*But then the cards reacted. Ranoa's card would cause what looked to be a set of Ranoa's fire casts from his prior set of attacks to shoot out at Silax.*

*Kate's card seemed to do similar, but firing out one of Xion's lasers at Silax.*

*Lirio's, however, would also make one of Xion's lasers, but it was different, and instead if making the timer go up, it caused it to go down again.*

*Xion, on the other hand, upon not choosing a card, would suddenly have a blue glow around her, signifying that a card hasn't been picked up. The countdown above would drop down by 2 as a game penalty.*

"Now that you understand the fundamentals..."

*A barrier would no appear around Silax, seemingly protecting her from attacks. After, she threw out a card at Lirio and caused it to face him. In a moment, Lirio would suddenly be pulled into the card and trapped within it.*

`Hits to drop the barrier: 5
Countdown: 8
Cards left: 75`
Edith
She watched, and then observed as Lirio was trapped inside a card!? What kind of power WAS this that this guy had! She had to prioritize her allies, especially with her current means of attack. It was better for them to prioritize the attacks, and she kept them out of those cards.

"Guys, just focus on the enemy, I'll stay back and free them!"

She states, before she got ready to free him. Of course, she remembered the rules. The fact she'd need to pull a card still was not lost on her as she ran to a card, grabbed it. Her last card was a good effect, though she wasn't sure on whether this was. That much was by design, obviously.

"Upright!"

She called with the card before running to Lirio's card, and trying to free him from the trap however she could. Attacks, trying to solve any puzzles that may be there, and more. Trying anything she had too in order to free Lirio.

 ``Form Drain - 10 AP = 95AP remaining``
Frank
The Key of Hope (KT - LV 4) Request: `[d75]` Roll: `[68]` Result: `68`
Elma
Ranoas calm frown turns into an expression of indignant annoyance, listening to Silax's remark. That one got under his skin badly enough for him to lose his temper.

"Shut up!" He shouts, practically throwing the words at her. "Don't act like you know anything about me!" 

Closing whatever distance there may be, he jumps into the air before bringing his keyblade down onto silax's barrier with a powerful **Slam!** Soon following would be a surprisingly powerful barrage of strikes, each hit growing more violent and sloppy than those that came before. Despite this, the power behind the blows stay the same until he suddenly breaks the combo. He takes a few steps back, swiping a card off the ground and holding it between two fingers. He then faces the card in her direction.

"I choose upright!"

```AP: 200 -165
MP: 40

Ars Arcanum
Bash x4 [Raw STR]```
Frank
Cloudishly (XR52, RH53, CA1) Request: `[d75]` Roll: `[43]` Result: `43`
Alison
*After lirio is freed from the card he´s left... Extremely confused, at one moment on some sort of white void, the next, back in battle... Questions later i guess, now that the basics of the battle are explained, he just decides to attack more seriously now, using wishing edge, spark and a light bloom*

*He then grabs one of the cards next to him*

"I choose upright.."

```AP: 180 —125
MP: 160 —105

Wishing Edge, -20 AP
Spark, -15 MP
Light Bloom, -35AP/-40MP```
Frank
St☆rboy (Lirio, lvl 32) Request: `[d78]` Roll: `[52]` Result: `52`
Marie
"I am *Going* To turn you to ash!" *Xion yells as she decides to do something new. Triple Final Spark. And so three separate rows of containment rings appear in the air for a brief moment in a triangular pattern before three Final Sparks fly straight towards Silax*
AP: 210%
MP: 130% - 120% = 10%
Charles
"I know everything about you, Ranoa. Like how you revived a darkness that the guardians worked so hard to destroy, and told no one. She's caused even more destruction and death now, because of you. You think you're a 'hero'? You're nothing more than a slave to the light."

*After saying this, the barrier would be bombarded again, breaking from Ranoa's blows. After that Xion' and Lirio's attacks would cause the timer t increase by an additional 3. Then the cards would react. Ranoa's and Lirio's cards would summon extra attacks, increasing the countdown more. However, Kate's card would seemingly affect the countdown directly. It would suddenly drop down by 3, and then by 1 as per normal.*

*Silax would then throw another card at Lirio and trap him again, then raise another barrier.*

`Countdown: 7
Cards left: 72
Hits to drop the barrier: 5`
Elma
Ranoa stops in his tracks as silax mentions Vani. How would she...?
He falls silent, his eyes lowering to the ground. Nobody was supposed to know until he could fix it himself. If others got involved, then they would. . .

He shakes his head to refocus himself. There's still time to fix it. He just has to find her before anyone else can be killed. His attention then shifts to the ticking of the large clock above the group. It's borderline infuriating to have going on in the background of all this. 

"I'm not going to try and defend myself there. You're right. I screwed up horribly, and I can never undo the pain dealt to others because of it. But I am ***No*** Slave! I fight because I *Want* To fix the mess I started!" That's right. A memory of being told to do that very thing fills a gap caused by the scrambler. Who told him that, again...?

He then sprints after Silax, Leaping atop her new barrier and striking it twice with heavy blows. Soon after, he jumps into the air to build momentum, stabbing his keyblade against it with a burst of magic to result in an explosion that propels him close enough to the giant clock in the sky. A purple sphere of magic forms in his free hand, thrusting his arm forward before gravity can force him to fall back down.

***"Stopga!"*** The purple sphere expands, attempting to consume the entire clock and stop it from counting down.

```AP: 165 -115
MP: 40 -0 [Recharge Started!]

Vortex
Vortex
High Jump
Explosion
Stopga```
Edith
Aaaand Lirio was trapped once more. She just let out a growl. "Hey, gambler addition personification! If you're going to have all of us play, at least don't target the same guy over and over!" She called out, growling before she runs to grab a card. 

``"Reverse!"``

She then ran and freed Lirio from the card once more. "I don't get why they keep targeting you with this move, friend... Be careful." She said to him before summoning her sword and planning her next move. And then, her eyes lied to Xion. She hadn't stopped, and frankly, if she didn't, they were doomed. She had to do something.

She thought about the fire that was all around her, thinking about her fur... But, she found it a necessity, even if it did leave some burn marks. Xion needed to come BACK to their state of mind. And so she ran to Xion, a plan in mind. "Sorry about this, but you've made it necessary!" She states as she then starts a move of her own.

She dashes through the flames at Xion, a black fist and a white fist materializing around her as they spin around her for a moment, punching anything in range... Though those won't have hit, the fists then combined into a bigger darkness fist, cracks of light all around it before she punched the ground, forcing the big fist to also collide with the floor... With Xion potentially in range if she wasn't to move.

"Will you stop seeing red for a moment and get with the programme!? You need to play by the rules of this game, or we run the risk of dying! In case you haven't realized, WE ARE AT A TIME LIMIT." She states as she looks some of her fur. Bits were burnt in her wake up strike to Xion. It was a worthy sacrifice if this worked.

"So get your head in the game! We need to clear out all the cards, and give ourselves more time on the clock so we can actually get out of this!"

```Form Drain - 10AP = 85AP

Balancing Step

-10AP = 75AP Remaining```
Marie
*Xion is officially bonked to the ground, the flames dispelled and the heat emanating from her mostly dissipating. As she gets up, she rubs her head and groans* "Ow- Did anyone get the license plate of that truck that hit me? I deserved that and needed that but like... Ow- Ugh- What's going on exactly, Kate? I have heard... Absolutely jack all since the bitch appeared-"
Edith
Really... She wasn't paying attention because of all that? She must have really been blinded by the rage. For everyones sake, she needed to let Xion know what is going on. "Alright. To put it simple, we need to use up all of the cards around us before that big clock above us runs out. We call upright or reverse on the card we choose. Depending on what was on the card, it can either add time to the clock, or take time off of it. If you can break their barrier and hit them, that also adds time on the clock. That's the gist of it."
Marie
"Ah. This should be interesting... I used so much magic already... But let's go, I guess." *She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath to steady herself. And then her eyes snap open and she grabs the nearest card between three fingers drastically, swinging her arm all the way back* "I draw! Reverse!" *She declares before dropping the grandest of Grand Magics on Silax from a distance... Ultima! And then immediately follows it up with a piddly Flower Shot*
AP: 170% - 10% = 160%
MP: RECHARGE
Frank
Majora Twili Request: `[d72]` Roll: `[25]` Result: `25`
Alison
*Lirio is then trapped in this weird empty space once again, shortly after he´s freed by kate, again*

"Thanks for that, ill try not to do that again... Tho idk if this person will let me..."

*He then activates spell weaver to boost his attacks and grabs one of the cards*

"Upright!"

*He said to then go with another small barrage of attacks, getting closer to silax and then attacking her with multiple pilars of light*


```AP: 125 —80
MP: 105 —80

Sliding Dash, -10 AP
Holy, -15 AP
Holy edge: -20AP/-25MP```
Frank
St☆rboy (Lirio, lvl 32) Request: `[d72]` Roll: `[10]` Result: `10`
Giuseppe
*Kate's phone would make a beeping noise before a muffled woman's voice would come through:*
Johnathan
"He—o? —-llo can -ou hear me? This is the ——ker to Ka—, do y— read me?"
Edith
She was so into the situation that she didn't notice the beeping noise at first, but once she started to think... Her hearing picked up a voice. From her pocket...? She pulled out her phone in confusion. "How the..." She then started to think. Could this be the girl that stayed behind for the navigator role? 

"I can hear you, but the signal is choppy right now."
Johnathan
"The AI w—t rouge, w- h—e vis—ls on yo— loca—on. Yo—'re doi-g —-at! S-s—pp—t is o- t-e way!"
Edith
It was a bit choppy, but, thankfully, Kate had dealt with that kind of conversation in the past. Juggling all the meanings in her head, she was able to fill in the blanks the best of her ability.

The AI went rouge, we have visuals on your location.

*Support is on the way.*

That was reassuring to say the least. "Great to hear, we're holding on, but time is slipping... Literally." She said as she pointed the phone camera to the big clock above them.
Marie
*Xion, being right next to Kate, tenses up for a moment and then sighs* "Doctor, you are *Damn* Lucky you called. I was considering coming over there after this and breaking you like a KitKat bar for your AI. I didn't see it before but there were some *Serious* Red flags with it- Now? I'd like to peacefully discuss it with you... After I get some sleep- I need it-"
Charles
"Nothing you will do will fix the pain you gave to that girl... Face it, you are nothing."

*Silax would say as Ranoa began his combo. As the fight raged on, attacks would suddenly rain in from an unknown area, from a dark corridor. Before they could hit, and before other attacks and cards could take affect, Ranoa's stopga hit the clock*

*The moment it took effect, the entire area would begin to react, first things going in slow motion, then everything, except the people, would stop in place. Silax would also seem to have been stopped. It was short lived until an explosion of energy would come from the clock. The cards would suddenly vanish, the attacks from the dark corridor would suddenly be sent right back through to the other side, and the clock above would shatter. Everyone would be blown back to the edge of the arena.*

"Seems you broke my little game. No matter... I already won. But allow me to give some insight. I currently see a pawn of that darkness you helped, Ranoa, causing trouble for Ika and Suzaka. I see people looking to kill you, people you considered allies, Xion. I've seen your meetings. I've seen your base. As long as you both are around, Ranoa, Xion, I shall see everything."
Edith
She watched as everything slowed to a stop because of the move that Ranoa did. The cards... The attacks... The enemy themselves... Stopped. Was the power to completely stop time REALLY available to these people!? How strong of mages were they!?

There didn't seem to be much chance to stop and think up plans though as a massive energy explosion, and the clock above... Shattered. Kate then was flown off of her feet, her sword vanishing in instinct as she gripped her Gummiphone tightly as she went flying back, landing on her side on the floor at the edge of the arena, grunting.

"W-What just happened!?"

She states as she stumbled onto her feet. The clock was broken... The cards were gone. Everything was over. They'd already found a loophole and won. And yet, the enemy kept chatting away as them. "Talk about stalker alert." She said as she looked at her phone.

"Whatever just happened destroyed the clock. The game's over, but now they are just sending mental and emotional damage to the others. Using past actions against them or something..." She said to her phone, hoping that the bunker was still connected...
Elma
Ranoa is slammed against ground as a result of the explosion bringing more momentum to his fall. He lays there for a second, before Silax brings up someone she should not have. He rises to his feet, his grip tightening on the hilt of his keyblade. He stays silent for a few moments, long enough for kate to speak while his expression forms a malicious glower at Silax.

Light begins to emanate from him. But, it's not as it seems. After a few moments of light, then comes darkness. Dark flame coats the light surrounding his body before he speaks in an eerily calm tone. Something seems to have snapped.

"You've done your homework, then. And you're right, too. I hate it, but you are." She's right. He's not a hero. Just a failure playing pretend with those who really are.

He takes a few steps forward, slowly approaching her with a lowered sword arm.

"Since you're so knowledgeable, you should know that bringing *Her* Up is off limits."

Within the blink of an eye, dark flame coats his Keyblade on its own as he takes one more step, before breaking into a sprint after Silax and repeatedly attempting to cut through her with a violent barrage of slashes. They're much faster than anything he had used during the fight. Despite this, he's not putting in his all. He's aiming to hurt her instead of kill her.

```
HP: 6071
AP: 115 -55
MP: Recharge [0 -25]

Attack haste, 5/5

Action 1: Dark Break, 385
Action 2: Dark Break, 385
Action 3: Dark Break, 385
BAction 1: Dark Break, 308
BAction 2: Dark Break, 308```
Ernestine
___***Ranoa's Path has switched to Dawn!***___
Marie
*Xion sighs. And there's another one. First her. Now Ranoa. Not that she could blame him. In the meantime, she decides to make the group chat she intended on making in the first place*
Giuseppe
*Kate's phone would now simply be making static noises before it was disconnected from the Bunker.*
Alison
*Lirio is sent flying back due to the explosion and then answers kate´s question*

"I think that was a stronger version of slow.. Impressive im not gonna lie...-!"

*He then sees ranoa just standing up with light and then darkness coming out of him, then attacking silax*

"Ranoa wait! Chill!"
Charles
"Hmph, let's talk more in private..."

*Silax would say, creating a dark corridor on top of herself and disappearing in it. Ranoa would end up flying through it from his attempts at attacking, making him disappear through it too.*
Giuseppe
*The area would then quickly destabilize, the remaining 3 being put back in traverse town, outside the burning Vacant House.*