WEEK 4 DAY 4: MISSION

[wonderful_mods]

Mission: "Ascertain the world's circumstance."
Time Limit: Long
Noise Plane: Duet
Wall Instructions: No key walls; create walls at your own discretion. Seal off the school and dorm.
Wall Rewards: Poison Scorpion
Reaped Rewards: Final Pyre, All Expired
Mission Rewards: Scarletite

[This is the vaguest mystery ever. But, scan around and one thing will become apparent. Even if the second day was spent entirely clearing noise from the area, they're all back in full force, and they seem to be possessing more people than usual. These people have feelings of hopelessness, apathy and death. But just scanning them doesn't seem to give the answers why. If the mission can believed, this is not something the Reapers have done, but something to do with the world itself. Surely someone must know the truth....]

Comments

[invisiblefloatinghead]

[The Professor's quiet for a long moment.]

I see...that still doesn't sound as though it would be an acceptable outcome.

[He's a superhero, dangit. He's going to save everyone if he can help it.]

You know...I once almost died to save the solar system. I didn't then, but even if I had, I'd do it again in a heartbeat...

[He's quiet for a moment.]

It's got to be someone living to help with that, doesn't it?

[notsogrimreaper]

... It was the only way. I didn't want it but... Minato was happy with that outcome. I just wish I could have saved him and-

No. Please, don't make the same sacrifice. It's not fair to you, to die for people who don't wish to live anyways. It's not fair!

[His voice rises a bit, a bit more emotion and desperation showing through, but he gets a hold of himself once the Professor continues speaking.]

It has to be someone living. I imagine that if a Player tried it, it'd be the same as them getting erased, and even then, the seal might not stick.

[invisiblefloatinghead]

But some of those people do want to live. I've seen it time and time again. When things are at their worst, a great many people will surprise you, and that's when they'll be at their best. There are those that would do anything to let these people carry on.

[This whole time, his voice has been rather gentle. He understands these things! And he'll nod.]

I suppose that would have made it too easy, then. Those of us here...we've died once. A second time doesn't seem too bad in comparison.

[Yeah, he really would have done it. Can't have been worse than being turned into salt.]

[notsogrimreaper]

Some do, but not enough. Not enough to keep this world from ending. I know this, it's happened before. I think Minato would have been the only person who could have prevented this, but he's gone...

I don't want anyone to have to die for me. I just... I just want to die for them. I want to be able to do something right for once.

[invisiblefloatinghead]

[The Professor will nod in understanding.]

I just...would always like to believe there's a better way. I'd be a hypocrite if I said I thought self-sacrifice was wrong.

[notsogrimreaper]

...Is that how you died? Sacrificing yourself?

[It's strange how many humans Ryoji knew that did that. He'd thought Minato would be one of the few but it was different here.]

[invisiblefloatinghead]

[There's a slow nod.]

I took a hit meant for...

[He closes his eyes and cannot remember anything there. Who he'd died for, why he'd done it...]

...someone. I couldn't tell you who...only that I got turned into a pillar of salt for my trouble.

[He sighs.]

And yet I feel like I'd do it again in a heartbeat if I had to.