<Nocturnal Harmonia>

[Bloodedge]

"Well since the last one skipped us ahead a year and let us become more powerful than we could have become with the Gates, maybe the next one will turn us into gods," Yugi said about the idea of 'rerolling' as he kept calling it. Whether he'd actually go through with such a thing or not... it was unlikely, but not impossible. If it seemed possible to do so with an actual positive outcome, Yugi might give it some honest consideration. Until then, it was but a gamer's way to vent frustrations.

The more casual topic they discussed while arranging their builds happened to be a series on Yugi's favorites list. Miko claimed she normally skipped through the pornographic parts of similar works. He paused, wondering how that was even possible given some of their earlier conversations. "Hm," he mumbled before moving on. "Well... there's no skipping this porn. It's integral. Literally part of the power structure ─ a lot like what we've got going on now." During his brief explanation, Yugi was tossing a few Skill Runes into the crafting interface. Knight's Decree, Iron Will and Phantom Guard were blended into one, producing a new rune he found interestingly useful under a few circumstances. "Knight's Bastion. If I use this, I can tank for a bit. Can't expect you to start carrying the role just because you're thicc as fuck~" he joked lightly. "It's kind of a summoned armor overlay. It comes with damage reduction, a ten-meter taunt, and some space creation when broken. It can also be brought out as a shield instead. Not bad~" he decided, producing the rune with every intention of crushing it. Of course, Yugi took a moment to ensure he didn't want to evolve that one as well. During consideration, they touched the topic of interacting with each other before any... external entanglements. "Definitely gotta do it. Maybe we can eventually upgrade the bell to make it stronger. That part seems like it'll be one of the easy early games, difficult mid-games, and cakewalk endgames..."

[Apollymi]

"I mean that isn't something I'm willing to gamble on right just now... but I will admit to the logic presented by this idea♪!~" Miko sang, about the idea of another reroll just pushing them further and further up the ladder on the cosmological scale. Still, much like Yugi, she wouldn't give any real consideration to such a thing without a case study or a really bad moment. One didn't simply decide that death was the answer after all.

Still, they were able to discuss things so casually. Including a very great set of writers and their pornographic content. Miko had been originally the type of person who wasn't able to even read such a thing without getting too worked up to properly finish it. So she usually digested the story in bits and skipped parts that made her nervous. "I know it's weird," she mumbled a reddened hue spreading across her face and creeping down her neck and back. Still apparently she wouldn't be allowed her casual skips in this particular series the sex was too important to the story. "Damn. Well, I kinda figured it would be the case, given the whole, she's a Succubus thing. But with an appropriate representation of Abe no Seimei likely to show up in series, a couple even, I can't stop reading♪!~" Miko pledged. She also wasn't prone to abandoning series her friends liked and considering the oddity of their relationship, she wasn't about to let Yugi have to enjoy a series on his own. Moving on from that point, Yugi's newest skill was apparently one which would allow him to tank a bit, which was also useful to Miko. Still there was the matter of Yugi's newest ability which he called a 'tanking' ability, joking that he wouldn't let Miko do all of it just because she was 'thicc as fuck'. "Thehehe♪!~ Well, I am technically able to Tank mage after Mana Reversal but... being able to switch given different types of opponents would be great. Besides it sounds really useful even if you only just made it," Miko confirmed. Of course her current status and the return of her fully functional collar was great. She'd equip that now without issue even with nothing else on and be happy to have it back. "Yeah, the game flow is feeling like the middle is going to be the hardest, but I'd rather that than an unrewarding endgame," Miko said with a little pout on her face.

[Bloodedge]

Weird as it was for someone to skip the sex scenes in Aeons' media, Yugi wasn't too bothered about that. Rather, he didn't think it was realistic that she actually skipped those things and had the types of conversations she did. "Yep," was all he said on the matter, deciding not to properly address it. He'd instead think about the apparent Abe no Seimei references and the idea of there being... more than two, in his opinion. "I don't think it'll stop at a couple. There are some obvious ones in that series already, but it also seems like they wanted to pick up where Twin Star Exorcists dropped off. They really like doing that with abandoned stories," he mused.

Now that he had some tanking ability and Miko had some offense, they could take a proper tag-team approach. Whether they used that available tactic or not, its usefulness could never be understated. It did look as if the boss was incoming for them whenever they finished recovering. If said boss wasn't too ridiculous, they could easily have some fun experimenting with switching tactics. "Yeah, I'll take it as it is. I'm using a couple of the excess runes to copy the Skill though. Some people could use this," Yugi said before crushing the Skill Rune. He wasn't really wanting for anything else, but he'd still use the time they had left until recovery to sort through Inventory. "I think it'll still be a rewarding mid-game too. Just... slow and tedious. Anyway... I think I'm good. This new Skill should combo with the Chivalry bonus nicely. Whenever you're good, wanna try a slow roll until we're at 100%" he asked with a bit of cheek, actively throbbing within the lass.

[Apollymi]

Yugi, chose to ignore the oddities around Miko's reading habits, for which she was thankful. Of course, if she'd been less embarrassed she probably would have thought through those oddities herself. The fact that she thought she was skipping material, but still had a full understanding of it, meant she was likely using that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in a very specific way. No matter, he was willing to comment on the Seimei references and their appearances, and the nod to an actual abandoned work of the Aeons, that Miko had originally found herself quite interested in. "Oh, don't talk about that one... the cancellation of Twin Star Exorcists actually hurt my feelings. I was dedicated to it I started the website for the fan club and everything," Miko said thinking of the wasted hours and dedication. "Though if it's core concepts are showing up in High School DxD I guess it's only right if I give it a fair shake," Miko decided firmly. Those novels were under her bed at the house Kaguya and Shirogane were living in, she could pick up a few, do a bit of under bed reading and check on her 'secret'.

Soon though the discussion went back to Skill Runes and a tanking ability that would have it made possible for Yugi and Miko to trade spots and do some different sorts of damage combinations. "Yeah, that one has a lot of general use, especially for Tanks with weaker taunts and such. Speaking of Queen's Feast, Royal Jelly Consumption and Royal Jelly Synthesis, make... Roya Drain Touch. Trhough physical contact it drains HP and Mana which can be converted back for the user or granted to someone else through physical contact. No potions required... I could think of a few people besides me who would enjoy something like this," Miko explained, as it was obvious that Mana Restoration was rather rare. As for Yugi's last statement and that gentle pulsing in her core, Miko smiled wickedly peeking back over her shoulder. "Chivalry won't woke as well for me, but it's still better than a debuff. I took a few of the accessories to help mediate mana costs as well... I can always taunt things but I might have to adjust a bit more before using something like that. Definitely wouldn't mind trying a slow roll♪!~" she mentioned as she rolled her hips against the throbbing. Nothing too heavy impact just a bit of casual lifting and a new slower rhythm paced casually as they worked towards regeneration.

[Bloodedge]

It seemed the Players had everything they needed in order. Of course, they didn't need to do anything but wait around until their stamina and mana were in order. Did that mean they would do any such thing? No. No, they'd never be so tame. Feeling himself within Miko the entire time they were discussing had Yugi beginning to throb, and that throbbing had Miko rolling her hips. A small suggestion was all it took. That slow pace Miko took was immediately matched by Yugi in an effort to keep either of them from requiring too much movement. It was more than enough just to feel his length shifting around in the girl's canal and womb for some time.

Roughly half an hour later, a couple of sustained veils from Miko left Yugi's health fully in order. Since there was nothing taking them down, mana restoration had been amplified enough to fill the proverbial chamber as well. As such, Yugi was officially at 100% efficiency as he groped one of Miko's breasts with his right hand and kept her head tilted toward his own with the other hand. Tongues swabbed, hips rolled, and he dropped a few percent points on mana due to an eventual deposit into Miko's womb. Ten minutes beyond that, he was standing before a grand door looking none too pleased about its imposing stature. "As if it needed to scream 'boss' any louder," he complained while equipping a partial set of clothing ─ featuring loose black pants and that high-collar, short-sleeved jacket design he'd become fond of. This one was a different piece of a white variety, however, and was enchanted with a bit of bonus agility. "So... you ready? I think my build's as good as it's gonna get for right now."

[Apollymi]

The Players were many things, but tame was not on the list. They had an opportunity in front of them and they would surely take it. From slow rolling hips, to refreshed barriers they were easily able to fill the space of about half-an hour on a gentler kind of fucking than they'd managed so far. Miko was quite enjoying herself, even as she was groped and had her head held and tilted so that she could happily make out with him. Her tongue danced against his and those normal moans were transferred directly into his mouth as her movements were somewhat controlled and extended all the way until her body was filled.

Some ten minutes after that, Miko was standing dressed in a light lavender sleeveless shirt which was fit directly to her form. She also had on a short skirt black in color and a hoodie which she managed to have fit the way she liked it best. Once she was comfortable in another pair of those little heeled boots she was appreciative of her own look. Her hair was even down, that little curl on top of her head, highlighted by a different kind of purple glow and her hair seeming to have light flickers of it at the bottom as well. It was lightly enchanted with some extra Mana applied to help mediate her current lock out. She should have been looking at that ominous door but instead she was staring at Yugi. She unleashed then a statement which was likely going to invoke fear or excitement into the hearts of many. "Oh box is open♪!~" Miko chirped while her eyes were blatantly locked onto his chest and abdomen. She'd had an idea when she'd looked at him earlier and made a purchase with him in mind. She went on to equip to him, a fishnet under shirt to fill-in the empty space and complete his look. "Definitely ready physically, emotionally... I don't wanna. I hate mandatory boss fights, but... I'll do my best♪!~" Miko said. "So we walk in, Bloodlust it... and see where it goes from there?" she said, there was a bit of winging done from such a statement but that didn't mean she'd be any less ready for this fight.

[Bloodedge]

Yugi was prepared, but apparently not prepared enough. Miko announced the opening of another box. He thought that would become a more frequent occurrence over time, but what was this one about specifically? Well, he'd find out when a fishnet shirt suddenly appeared beneath the jacket he'd intended to zip mostly closed. Yugi looked down to his own chest and pulled at the new article lightly. "Fishnet?" he questioned before shrugging. It wasn't something Yugi would have ever envisioned himself in, but... he also didn't have an impossible physique until the past couple of days. "Is it awesome?" he asked.

Regardless, Yugi would soon have a hand on that massive door. They had a suitable plan in mind, he thought. Bloodlust would be a necessity even if they could handle the boss, as their four-hour countdown had yet to start. "Definitely. I'll use Bloodlust first, since we might want to rotate and keep the boss weakened for the whole fight. Ideally we finish this in like, two minutes... but let's be honest; that's not gonna happen. I've got a defense ready, so I'll handle the first charge while you set your shit up, yeah?" he asked for confirmation. With that, Yugi would be pushing against that massive double door from one side. If Miko joined in, they'd step into a massive throne room with huge, stone pillars leading to...

A red-clad knight sat upon the obsidian throne at the far end of the chamber, crimson cape draped motionless across the armrests. His greatsword rested point-down between his armored knees, gauntleted hands folded over the hilt in perfect stillness. A long crimson mane flowed from beneath his helmet like blood-red hair, cascading over his shoulders and down his back, shifting faintly as though stirred by an unseen wind. The faint crimson glow of runes etched into the throne pulsed in time with his unblinking gaze. As Yugi and Miko stepped through the threshold, the tall knight rose in one fluid motion. Armor clinked softly, cape falling back like spilled blood. He lifted the greatsword with both hands, point rising to rest against the floor once more, stance wide and unyielding. The System's blue window appeared before both Players:

〔SYSTEM NOTICE — BOSS ENCOUNTER〕
Blood-Red Commander Igris
Guardian of the Shadow Throne

He has awaited the one worthy to claim the seat.
Prove your strength.
Or fall before his blade.

He lowered the greatsword into a ready stance, crimson eyes fixed on them both, waiting. Upon seeing that tall, slim-yet-imposing knight... Yugi became the one who took pause. "... Fuck," was all the lad could say.

[Apollymi]

Miko was starting to open boxes both big and small. Some were ideas about things like her own skills set, and others were things like a choice of shirt she wanted to see Yugi in. She took the liberty of equipping it to him even, thinking that he'd be fine with it regardless given his propensity of putting clothing on her and others as well. As for the question Miko shrugged, "Hai, I've been thinking the rave body look would go over well and it gives a bit of extra badass energy♪!~" Miko would have described the look as Delinquent Chic. "It's so fucking awesome, hands down top five best choices♪!~" Miko confirmed giving them man in front of her a genuine smile and two thumbs up with a hint of her childishly innocent energy.

As they moved on from fashion choices, they figured out a pretty decent start to their newest form of combat. He went through the plan in his own terms and Miko nodded her head. "Hai hai, I can work with that. I managed a pretty short incantation, once it's up it'll last five minutes but has a 20 minute cooldown. I know we're probably aiming for shorter, but... prepare for the worst and all that♪~" Miko said trying to sound so very calm about something she felt rolling deep into her gut. And in just a moment after stepping into that room she felt it. The unnerving power of that impossibly slim knight sitting on a throne. She didn't have to look at the readout to know what was being said. It was being read to her, in a smooth voice, and she was freaking out.

'That outfit is fire but I can't say that because of this situation♪!~' Miko couldn't help herself, that knight gave off such energy and raw power. If not for the fact that it was confirmed the boss and an ememy which was definitely about to work them over she likely would have been gushing over the look of it. Now there was something else with her excitement, legitimate fear. "Why... do I hear boss music?" she asked of the universe at large. That uttered swear said all it needed to, what were they about to do? Fight for their lives. She kept to the plan, as that knight rose, jumping back, refreshing the cast on the Veil before calling her catalyst to her hand and beginning the incantation for that overly aggressive magic.

"Let the sky become a field of mirrors♪!~" That first line had a series of watery mirrors forming over head. There was some moisture left over from their earlier use of skills against the knights in the hall... so that wouldn't be taking too much of her mana to cement dozens of little perfectly refractive water lenses in high ceilings of this throne room.

[Bloodedge]

Once they were within the boss chamber, the intimidating aura of Igris became clear to both Players. Yugi swore a subtle 'fuck' in the moment of realization for what they would have to undertake. He didn't need to see that red name over the boss's head, nor did he need the System's warning to know that tall knight would be their greatest challenge yet. Though they had entered this room with a plan, he hesitated for a moment. Luckily, the Blood-Red Commander hadn't attacked immediately.

At the very least, Miko was still able to prepare her magical attack. A short incantation had disks of water spawning high above. Their use would become apparent soon enough... but first, Yugi had to execute his part of the plan. He stared into the knight's eyes, Sharingan active, activating the Skill: Bloodlust. If it actually worked, Igris would have his stats reduced by 50% for one valuable minute. Miko wondered aloud why she was hearing boss music while Yugi's attempt was being made. "Probably because this big bitch is an absolute unit!" he said in praise of the boss, angry though the realization was. For Igris himself, Yugi had something else to say. "Alright... I've got first. Come get some, bitch!" he challenged the silent knight, chokuto at the ready for whatever onslaught came.

Igris did not flinch at Yugi's curse, nor at the defiant words that followed. The Bloodlust aura rolled over him like a wave of cold wind—intense, oppressive, meant to shatter wills—but Igris remained unmoved. His armored shoulders rose and fell once in a measured breath, the crimson mane beneath his helmet shifting slightly as if stirred by an unseen current. The knight raised his greatsword in a slow, unhurried arc. The blade scraped the stone floor with a low, resonant scrape as he brought it into a two-handed guard. His stance widened, boots planted firm, cape settling behind him like spilled blood. Igris lifted the greatsword higher, point leveled at Yugi's chest—not yet striking, but poised. The air around him seemed to thicken, the runes on his armor pulsing brighter in slow, steady rhythm. He did not speak. He simply advanced another step, blade steady, waiting for the first true clash. The challenge had been issued. The Blood-Red Commander answered in silence and steel.

Seeing that unyielding stance, Yugi froze once more ─ part wariness, part calculating. He'd expected an attack, but this knight wasn't taking the bait... nor Bloodlust, apparently. "... Didn't work. Plan gone! Time on cast?!" he asked of Miko.

[Apollymi]

Everything about how this fight was shaping up, was becoming a thing of grand ceremony. Miko could hear the boss music, she could see the steady resolve of the enemy in front of her... and her partner, freezing. That was fine, that sort of thing happened, she'd panicked into motion, she couldn't blame anyone else for not knowing what to do about this beast of a knight. As for the mention of the boss music, Miko was apparently not the only one talking crazy about the Blood-Red Commander. "Right? I thought it was just my brain being confused!~" Miko chirped about the situation. No matter... with one line up, she'd do the next while Yugi tried to apply Bloodlust.

"Let the sun be drawn into my hand♪!~" she chimed as a bright light shimmered in her right hand, dancing through that crystal sword of hers and being held, there like a light at the end of a baton. A gentle shimmer appeared across that water mirrored ceiling as the light was being caught, refined and focused by her words. What she wasn't expecting, was the next words from Yugi's mouth. She heard that blade scraping the ground and then the sound of it lifting while her eyes remained focused on the Knight's physical form.

Her knees would soon be shaking with the uncommon desire to run. Holding her nerve in a moment like this was hard, but she was managing by distracting herself with her prescribed tasks. "Great. Plan gone, acting on the new plan. It's a four lines... I'm two deep. I need 20 seconds, before I can fire at will," Miko confirmed by her own counting methods. Just the same she was preparing that next line while making sure her own concentration wouldn't truly be broken in the meantime.