[Video] Monster Warning

[ringbeast]

[Kousuke appears on the screen, covered in dust and sweat and blood. If you look closely, you can see the trails his tears have left in it. But he gives a wan smile anyway. Anyone who's seen his real smile could tell what a pale imitation this one is.]

Uh... Hey, hey everybody. I'm Kousuke Nitoh. I, uh. I'm calling you on my way back from the outskirts of town. I gotta tell you something important...

[He sighs heavily, leaning up against the wall of a half-ruined building.]

There's a monster in town, a Phantom. It, uh, well, the easiest way for me to explain it is that it... killed Haruto.

[He looks immediately despondent, having said those words. He quietly repeats it.]

Haruto's dead. The Phantom stole his body, and it's walking around lookin' like him. So if you see him, don't talk to him. Phantoms usually don't kill people, other than the ones they're inside... But he'll try to feed off your despair.

[He starts walking again, looking around awkwardly.]

It's my responsibility to kill him. I gotta do this. But if anyone could help me keep people back while I fight him, or like... Just help me out. I have to deal the final blow, though. My life kind of depends on it.

Comments

[fortissimos]

[ The surprise is clear on her face, but even so— ]

Do you know where he is?

[ringbeast]

Not right now, but I've got some familiars tryin' to find him for me.

[He gives a bitter half-smile.]

One of 'em's Haruto's...

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[bodilesswarrior]

[Well, damn. She tries not to think of how young Haruto might be, how horrific his death must have been, what watching it must have been like. She's all business when she speaks.]

How do you kill these Phantoms?

Do they retain any of the memories or personalities of their hosts?

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[ringbeast]

Well, uh. Usually we kill 'em with magic. But I think just about anything would probably work, except they're way more powerful than humans. Even wizards.

[He is solemn as he goes on.]

Memories, yeah, personalities, no. I'm pretty sure he can go into Haruto's memories and look at anything he wants to, but he's nothing like Haruto.

[He thinks back to his fights with Dragon, and shakes his head decisively.]

Nothing at all like him.

[Video]

[feel_nevermore]

What does he look like?

[Video]

[ringbeast]

Oh, sorry, I forgot. Here's a picture.

[This image shows up on screen, and a download link appears as well.]

Get in touch with me, if you see him, ok?

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[battlesleep]

What sort of creature is this?

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[ringbeast]

Kind of a magical monster. Long neck, wings... Lizardy. N-No offense. But he walks on two feet like a person. But mostly he'll just look like Haruto. I posted a pic up there. I didn't get a picture of Dragon. I was too busy trying to kill him.

voice forever;

[interspace]

Pics or it didn't happen.

[ Despite the glib words, Misha's tone is entirely serious. Who is, or was, this Haruto that they should look out for? ]

I'll help if you tell me where you need me.

[ringbeast]

Uh... Wait, you're not Claudia?

Then, uh. What can you do? Sorry, I don't want anybody who doesn't have some halfway decent power coming in, cos Dragon is pretty powerful.

[gordonowesmeabeer]

What's a phantom look like? I'll let you know if I find it, but keep my distance.

[ringbeast]

They all look different, but this one kind of looks like a... Well, a dragon. If it were person-shaped.

[theboywhodied]

I...

I'm really sorry.

I'll do what I can to protect people.

[ringbeast]

Th-Thanks, Ced. Glad to have you on my side, man.

[andagain]

How awful, I will step up and assist you with this task. Is there anything else I should know about these Phantoms?

[ringbeast]

Oh... Hey. Thanks, man. Uh. He's got elemental powers over Fire, Wind, Earth, and Water. So... You might wanna stick to the ground, if you can.

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[celestial_wizard]

[ Guess who ran into her old friend before seeing this message? This gal, RIGHT here. Well she doesn't normally check the network when she's out shopping so she can't be blamed, right? Right? Still when she gets home afterwards and sees this ... it takes her a while to be able to be able to respond, shock written over her face. ]

Ha...Haruto is... he..'s ..

[ Not to worry, she's not going to make him say it again. But she saw Haruto just recently - well the REAL Haruto, and they went out for coffee and donuts and everything! She ...supposed this explained a lot though. Or will once that log is finished hrrhrr. ]

I... I'm so sorry.

[ A moment after that, she composes herself, taking a breath. ]

Did you know him well?

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[ringbeast]

Yeah.

[He walks forward purposefully, trying to keep his composure. Then he turns back to the camera he carries in his hand.]

I did, yeah. We knew each other from back home. He's my eternal rival!

[For a minute he seems almost like his old self. Then his face falls again.]

We're roommates here, too. I mean, he came from before he met me, so he didn't know me that well, but...

[He runs his fingers through his hair.]

Anyhow, hey, nice to meet you.

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[musclebeast]

[The way he looks while e's talking is what throws Equius off a bit. He's so emotional right now, it's disgusting, crying like that. But he lost his fried- friend right, that word is still so odd to him- so he should say something to help ease the pain a little.]

He'll be back eventually, there's no point in blubbering like that when death isn't permanent here. [Yeah all right, that was good, now the next problem-]

What makes you sure you won't be just as easy to execute and wear like some kind of furbeast coat? Was there a rambunctious struggle that hinted this phantom was weak enough to trounce?

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[ringbeast]

[It's pretty easy to be mad, rather than continuing to be miserable.]

Oh man, not you... Look, man, Phantoms can only take over the bodies they're born in. I don't think that... He can't come back until I kill off the Phantom. So I gotta kill him! And I don't need some dude who can't type right tellin' me how to feel OKAY?

[showmeyourwreath]

I'm really sorry about your friend.

Is...there some way to track the Phantom at all?

[ringbeast]

Thanks.

Not really. I have some familiars out looking for him and they'll tell me when they find him. If he's tryin' to blend in that's okay, cos both of them are good at picking Haruto out of a crowd.

voice;

[terrot]

A dark shadow looming, I understand now. You have my condolences.

Perhaps I can help in locating him.

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[ringbeast]

What do you mean about that dark shadow stuff?

If you can help, that'd be great.

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[chittybang]

I'm so, so sorry this happened. I don't know what's going on lately, I— usually they come back.

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[ringbeast]

I guess he's not, cos his body's still running around alive... I got- I got it under control, Asami, don't worry about me.

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[ringwizard]

[Half a minute of laughter, and then--] He would be so embarrassed, to see you like this on his behalf.

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[ringbeast]

[He looks stricken, even though he knew this was bound to happen.]

Sh-shut up. You don't know a damn thing about him, if that's what you think. He knows that I gotta do what I gotta do... It doesn't matter how I look, as long as it gets done.

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[maniere]

[She's been waiting for this moment, lbr. She at least tries to look sympathetic. ]

Kousuke-kun, I'm really sorry.

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[ringbeast]

Oh, Junko. Hey.

[He swallows.]

Yeah, it's pretty crazy. I just gotta kill him and things'll all be back to normal, though.