[DUEL FESTIVAL - DAY 7]

[duelacademynpcs]

*It's the seventh day of the Festival, in the morning.

And to a lot of people's surprise, it seems like everything's getting packed up. Most of the booths and stands are closed down and getting put away, but it looks like the day's main event is still planned to commence. On the schedules everyone can access, there is only one event for the arena: "Wonder Quartet".

Up until this point, everyone assumed this to be basically a regular tournament to top off the event while everyone enjoyed their final day, but it seems like there's something more, with how hurried the organizers are.

Notably though, around the areas where screens are set up to show dueling video, online streams, and at the arena, there's two countdowns present-- one being for in a few minutes to something simply noted as "Announcement", and the other being for the oft-rumored "Wonder Quartet", a half-hour after that, starting at noon.

Best thing to do right now is to head for the arena, or watch one of the screens present or on your computer/phone/internet device of your choice.*

(([Log Files Go Here]))

Comments

Re: [Harbor District - Glacial Zone]

[pendulum_soul]

Damnit--!

*The moment Kou lets go of him, he hits part of the structure they're hiding out at with his fist in frustration, before leaning his head against it.*

She stepped in to protect me! She told me to not jump in and help! But that happened and...
... this is all my fault!

Re: [Harbor District - Glacial Zone]

[fearthearrow]

*he takes in a breath. He's already feeling his own guilt about this, but... he lets Yuya take his moment to get out his own frustration. Can't afford to have him beating himself up if they need to run again...*

... Sakaki. Are those people after you?

Re: [Harbor District - Glacial Zone]

[pendulum_soul]

*Yuya looks up at him for a moment, before looking away to the floor.*

It... seemed like that Josefina was targeting me specifically, but I don't know why! Maybe it's because I beat some other people from Academia earlier... maybe it's because she might of come across the guys who look like me before...
... I just don't know!

And we ended up losing Desdemona to her and I still don't even know where Yuzu is!

Re: [Harbor District - Glacial Zone]

[fearthearrow]

Listen... Listen, okay? Before that happened to Miss Desdemona, she sent... a message or something to my head, I don't know how, but that isn't the point anymore, now is it? But... She said that you and Hiiragi are being targeted, and that we need to find out why. And if that's the case, I'll help you find her.

Re: [Harbor District - Glacial Zone]

[pendulum_soul]

*Yuya glances back up at him and takes a deep breath, trying to force himself to calm down.*

Okay. Thank you.

Yuzu might be in trouble somewhere. I tried calling her earlier, but she didn't answer and it went quickly to voice mail, so I'm assuming that she might of been hiding or something. It's unusual for her to not answer my call.
Gongenzaka is already looking for her in the volcano zone, so I was going to look for her here.

*He then pauses and looks with concern back the way they had come.*

I really hope Isabel is okay too.

Re: [Harbor District - Glacial Zone]

[fearthearrow]

*oh he has that look that he's absolutely beating at himself a bit about Isabel, but he's trying to squash it.* Marias is strong, right? I'm sure she'll be fine... I don't regret telling her to stay out of the duel, since she'd have been going in at a disadvantage, but if she has to face her fresh, I'm sure she could handle it. What I'm more worried about is the fact that woman could control those strings like she did. If we hadn't gotten out of there, she could've easily just trapped you.

Re: [Harbor District - Glacial Zone]

[pendulum_soul]

Yeah. You're right. Isabel is strong.

*He pauses a moment to think back on that duel.*

Before the duel started, she transformed into that form she had.
What could Academia possibly have that makes her have the ability to do that and control those strings...

Re: [Harbor District - Glacial Zone]

[fearthearrow]

So that isn't what she usually looked like, then? ... Did she say anything specific about it? Or what it might've been at all?

Re: [Harbor District - Glacial Zone]

[pendulum_soul]

*Yuya shakes his head a little.*

Not a lot.
She called it a 'shadow change' and stated it was to make things more 'equal' between her and Desdemona.
Desdemona said something about not realising that they'd gained 'this level of technology'.

But I guess it kinda reminded me a little of how Yuma can change to his ZEXAL form.
Only darker... and menacing.

Re: [Harbor District - Glacial Zone]

[fearthearrow]

*ZEXAL form? And it made her more equal to Desdemona, who's a dragon...* Darker and menacing is right, at least. But... It sounds like she knew who these people were, potentially.

Re: [Harbor District - Glacial Zone]

[pendulum_soul]

*Yuya gives him a nod.*

Yeah, it seems so.
Maybe she knew more about what was happening and it was why she was there in the first place.

Re: [Harbor District - Glacial Zone]

[fearthearrow]

*I could just assume that Isabel probably knows, but that's probably something not common knowledge that they're generally together...* ... Just to ask, but... Was she and Marias close? Do you know? She reacted pretty badly after all of that...

Re: [Harbor District - Glacial Zone]

[pendulum_soul]

Yeah, as far as I know, they're very close.
So if she is facing Josefina right now, she won't hold back on her.

*He gives out a heavy sigh. He seems a little antsy.*

It doesn't look like we were followed, so we should start looking for Yuzu while we have the chance.
Right now Yuma is rallying some of the other Wonder Quartet competitors up at the forest area. Once we find her, we can meet up with him and everyone else there.
We'll be stronger in a group.

Re: [Harbor District - Glacial Zone]

[fearthearrow]

Hnmm... Do you know what parts of this area you've checked already? It'll help to cover newer ground than what you already looked at.

Re: [Harbor District - Glacial Zone]

[pendulum_soul]

I'd only really just gotten into this zone from the Volcano zone when Josefina showed up. But it doesn't seem like she was there, nor does it seem like she's here, so I guess we just need to cover the rest of this area we haven't been in yet.

With two of us looking, we should be able to cover it a bit faster.

Re: [Harbor District - Glacial Zone]

[fearthearrow]

Then let's get moving. We shouldn't stick to one spot for too long if anyone associated with her is looking for you too.

Re: [Harbor District - Glacial Zone]

[naturalcure]

[Before they can get moving...

...Isabel approaches from the direction of the part of the zone they just fled. Her hand is on her jaw, but after a couple moments, she takes it off.

As she approaches, she...doesn't look happy, no points for guessing that.]

Re: [Harbor District - Glacial Zone]

[fearthearrow]

*... well that's no surprise. He looks visibly uncomfortable but. she's fine at least. That's what matters right now, right?*

Re: [Harbor District - Glacial Zone]

[pendulum_soul]

Isabel...!

*Yuya is glad to see she's more or less okay, physically at least, but is face drops to a look of sadness when he sees the expression on her face.*

Re: [Harbor District - Glacial Zone]

[naturalcure]

[Isabel glances at Yuya for a second, but walks right by him, grabs Kou by the collar, pulls him up and stares into his eyes.

This close, she looks...extremely angry.]

Re: [Harbor District - Glacial Zone]

[fearthearrow]

*ah, here it comes. She's going to kill him. She's going to 100% murder him. He doesn't even say anything-- doesn't even stop her from grabbing him, but it's clear he already feels bad enough about this. What's her berating him up going to even do at this point?*

Re: [Harbor District - Glacial Zone]

[pendulum_soul]

A-ah...!

*Yuya looks incredibly uncomfortable as Isabel grabs Kou. He doesn't understand why she seems to be focusing her anger on him, but right now he felt they shouldn't be concentrating on in-fighting amongst themselves.*

Isabel, I know you're angry and upset, but, I don't think focusing it on other people is what we should do right now! We need to work together.

Re: [Harbor District - Glacial Zone]

[naturalcure]

...

[Isabel continues glaring at Kou for a few seconds.]

I'll deal with you later.

[She drops him. She turns her attention to Yuya.]

I'm getting you out of this deathtrap Akaba turned the entire city into. And then I'm going after that General. Let's go.

Re: [Harbor District - Glacial Zone]

[fearthearrow]

*landing on his feet, he listens to Isabel, after rubbing the back of his neck. And thinks to himself. Why did he even bother worrying when she was just going to take charge of this situation, anyway? If she'll protect Yuya... He turns around and starts walking off without a word.*

Re: [Harbor District - Glacial Zone]

[pendulum_soul]

H-Hey... wait...!

*Yuya calls after Kou when he sees him walking away, hoping he'll stop, then he turns his attention towards Isabel and just shakes his head at her.*

Yuzu's still out there somewhere and I need to find her! We were just about to go and look for her!
I can't leave until we find her, especially if Academia are targeting her too!