ADVENTURE LOG - October 28, 2023 -

THE LUNAR CONTRADICTION

ALAIS Note - There is a TRIGGER WARNING in this log for: graphic descriptions, hypnosis, mind fuckery, and gore. If you are unable to handle these, please let Luna know. She can create a version without these issues. Thank you.

TIME - 6:30AM - CENTRAL SQUARE

All is well at Central Square. When they say it's a nonstop party of noise, music, and activity, this includes the earliest of mornings, even all the way through the middle of the night. That said... something feels weird. It's lot more quiet than usual. In fact, a new sound has joined the usual cacophony of voices, music, partying, traffic.

The tick of a clock.

On the most central screen, instead of an advertisement, a timer displays. It seems to be counting down to 10pm. Tonight. The persistent ticking sound confuses many of the inhabitants of Central Square. They wonder what is it counting down to. No other hints or anything are displayed on this timer. Just... tick... tock. Tick tock. Goes the clock. Waiting. Preparing.

TIME - 5PM - CENTRAL SQUARE

As the ticking clock reaches sub five hours, the persistent ticking becomes louder. The surrounding noise and partying quiets. For a rare moment in Central Square's history, it's completely calm. All partying and any noise aside from the ticking have ceased. The full moon is out, watching over the quiet city square. It seems to be slightly bigger than usual.

TIME - 8:15PM - SOLAIRE ENTERPRISES

Hinata and Rebecca are hard at work on something on the main lobby of Solaire Enterprises. "And that should... hm. it's still missing something," Hinata sighs as she tilts her head. She seems a bit tired for some reason.

Rebecca tilts her head side to side. "Hm... Hinata are you feeling okay?"

Hinata puts a hand to her head for a few moments. "Yeah, just... a bit tired."

"I put some new couches over there if you wanna chill for a bit. We've been working on this all day." Rebecca smiles. "I've... might have fallen asleep on them myself, they're super comfortable."

Hinata nods as she goes to lay down on the couch. She is instantly out like a light.

"Shit." Rebecca continues to work quickly. The time of the meeting is coming soon. An hour and 45 minutes remain.

TIME - 9:45PM - CENTRAL SQUARE

The usually bustling and chaotic city square has reached a new peak... in silence, especially on a Saturday night. The only sounds that even audible outside are the ticks from the ticking clock in the very middle of Central Square's advertising extravaganza. Even the usual chaos of people walking, partying, drinking, driving... all gone. It is almost as though Central Square has turned into Capital City’s Australis district. It’s desolate and lonely. Dangerous in respects to general safety. The full moon shines down from the sky. The full moon watches over everyone outside. It is a peaceful glowing watcher, the eye of the night sky. It seems slightly bigger than usual though. Just... ever so slightly.

Luna appears at Central Square waiting... anxiously waiting, for the timer to expire. And for her meeting... a meeting... she has the utmost confidence to be a trap set by her Creators, to begin. She stands on the sidewalk, sword in sheath, waiting for her friends Spider and Violet to join her.

Violet teleports there, looking around and taking in the night sky. She waves to Luna, greeting her as well as taking in the sights.

Luna's voice sounds extremely controlled, as if she is doing everything in her power to not freak out, "Hello. Welcome to Capital City. I wish it were under better circumstances, but thank you for coming with me." Her tone is stiff. Her cat ears are flattened against her skull and her usually swishy tail movements have stopped. She's terrified.

The advertisements are still flashing about. Large skyscrapers all around them make the city feel claustrophobic. The sky is extremely pretty though. The moon is extremely pretty.

Violet nods, "No problem. Just here to help." Violet looks around, making sure no one is watching the group.

She is unable to tell if anyone is watching them. There are tons of buildings though, so it's possible that someone could be watching the mostly empty streets below. The weather is rather chilly, as it is the evening in October. Capital City is located in the northern parts of the country, so it can get cold easily.

Violet summons a fur coat. Vines spiral up her body as it forms the fabric. When the vines retract, the coat adorns Violet's shoulders.

Spider appears next to Luna shivering ever so slightly though it's hard to tell what exactly from at the moment.

"Hello... Spider." Luna says between hyperventilating breaths. As the timer winds down, the area becomes fully silent. One minute remains. The ticking has stopped. The only sounds audible are the sounds of breathing from the group and a slight breeze from the city.

The timer ticks down ever so slowly.

TIME - 10PM - CENTRAL SQUARE

The timer has expired. 10pm on the dot. A new sound has entered the silence. One Violet recognizes, as she has used this exact sound seven months prior on Hinata. A bell. A soft ringing bell in a rhythmic pattern. One that perks Luna’s ears up. One… that Luna hates more than anything else.

Violet’s eyes widen with fear, "Oh shit-," Violet turns to look at Luna.

Spider's ears prick up at the sound of the bell though thanks to a certain celestial body she keeps her head down.

Luna has her clawed fingernails GRIPPED into her skull, anything to deny the horrible sounds invading her skull, like a sharp needle jammed into her brain. She screams in utter agony, another sound added to the once completely silent city. The moon... seems to be slightly closer, the celestial eye a bit larger than what they remember. The advertisements on the screen that once showcased various drinks, food products, restaurants, now show various phrases. Obey, Your mind is mine. The Full Moon Syndicate's logo is plastered all around them. They pulse in time with the bells, a rhythm well known to Luna. The Rhythm of her demise. A rhythm that causes her eyes to flash a deep crimson, one that she struggles to hold back. She growls and screams, a change beginning to occur within her own psyche. A change… her helper AI are struggling to hold back and fight against.

--- Meanwhile, Luna's AI were preparing for the meeting: ---

ALAIS = Uh oh.

Krystal = Shit. ALAIS run diagnostics. I need to check something.

ALAIS = ...i knew it. Lunar Empowering Magic!

Krystal = What the fuck isLUNAR EMPOWERING MAGIC!?

ALAIS = According to my albeit limited understanding, it is a Magic only one person has access to, but I am unsure who. A magic that empowers their other spells. One only usable during Full Moons. That does not require mana. It is extremely dangerous. Krystal, run program 26-C. We need to hold off Luna’s inner demons from taking over.

[Krystal nods and presses a button on her console. A crystalline wall protects Luna’s inner psyche, therefore trapping Alais and Krystal away from the rest of her mind. If the demons wish to infect Luna, they will need to break through their defenses.]

--- And back to Central Square ---

Violet starts looking for the source of the bell immediately, backing away from Luna as to not risk being attacked.

The bell sounds are coming from all around them. It is unclear who or what is ringing them. They are surrounded by the sounds. Luna is on the ground, screaming in pain.

Violet can’t take seeing Luna in pain anymore as she rushes up to her, trying to help calm her down, “Luna? It’s me. I’m here. You got to fight it. You got this.”

Spider growls, her ears twitching every which way at the bells, taking a deep breath she carefully looks over the area for anything that sticks out or just generally might be helpful. She can see a small glimpse of something falling.. or perhaps the better phrase is "floating". Floating down from the sky. The moon appears to be even closer now, larger and larger, seemingly taking over the night sky. They seem to be floating towards the front of the gigantic arcade, the one with the timer above it.

Luna attempts to listen to Violet's assistance, but she can barely breathe much less focus. Her eyes flash between purple, green, and red, as if an internal struggle between her AI and the demons within her are fighting for control. Her skull bleeds from the clawing of her own head.

Descent of the Contradiction

As it continues, a laughter: a crazed, evil, disgusting giggle mixes in with all of the other sounds. It appears to be heading towards the ground in the same location where Spider notices the floating. Luna's eyes continue to flash various colors, she has lost nearly all control of herself, but that flash of purple and of green, from Krystal and Alais, keeps some hope alive.

Spider growls again. it's deeper; more threatening than the last one. Making sure to keep their gaze firmly away from the moon, Spider starts to head over to the arcade.

--- Still within Luna's Mind, Alais and Krystal continue to fight to control the situation. ---

ALAIS - THE MOON ISN'T RIGHT.

KRYSTAL - THE MOON ISN'T RIGHT

ALAIS - THE MOON EMPOWERS.

KRYSTAL - THE MOON BETRAYS.

ALAIS - BUT WE MUST KEEP FIGHTING BACK.

KRYSTAL - TO PROTECT.

ALAIS - OUR FRIENDS. OUR WORLD. AND OUR LUNA.

KRYSTAL - KEEP FIGHTING THEM OFF!

ALAIS - I WOULD NOT DREAM OF DOING OTHERWISE. UNTIL MY SOUL WITHERS UP, I REFUSE TO LOSE!

The two helper AIs are doing well to fight off the literal demons attempting to invade. The moon isn’t right. The peaceful watcher has become a dangerous foe.

---

As Spider walks towards the arcade, the floating ends. A man with jet black hair, an extremely scarred face, pointy ears like an elf, and glowing crimson eyes lands on the ground. He is wearing a large black robe which hides most of his physical form with a full moon on its back. His limbs are, for a lack of a better term, incorrect. As if extremely flexible, the sound of popping bones audible as he moves. He seems to be just completely wrong in all senses of the word. His existence... is a contradiction.

"𝐀𝐡𝐡𝐡𝐡 𝟔𝟗𝟔𝟗. 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐇! 𝐈 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠! 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥! 𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧?" His voice is scratchy, as if his very vocal cords were damaged in some way.

Luna is unable to respond, she has gone fully silent. The flashing has stopped. Her eyes are stuck open, a steady crimson. The bell sounds continue.

Chandra grins, "𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭. 𝐈𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞!"

Spider looks the newcomer over a snarl still visible on her face, "is that so?"

"𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐲. 𝐎𝐡 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬? 𝐌𝐲 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚. 𝐈𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫? 𝐎𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐈 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐰?" It snarls at the wolf woman while in an agressive stance. Its eyes glow a deep red.

Spider's ears prick up as they match his stance, a low growl audible. "Sure."

"Good choice, pup. Now let us see here." Chandra brushes past Spider and kneels down next to Luna, brushing her hair away from her beautiful glowing red eyes. The eyes of an intense wasted potential. "It is a pity, one so full of potential. One... so desired by those of our organization," Chandra spits on the ground, a bit of blood joining the spittle, "it makes me sick. A vessel for mana. Wasted on such filth. It is my duty to end her pathetic existence. Tonight, where the moon is at its zenith. The moon empowers. The moon betrays. The moon watches over all. The Moon is Not Right." Chandra gets up as he floats above Luna his hands above his head. Energy from the moon above seems to collect in his hands, a strange light with bits of darkness. "A fitting farewell. By my hands!"

---

ALAIS - We have a slight problem. An image fills the screen as the demons break through the crystalline barrier.

Krystal - They're on their own. We must protect Luna at all costs!

[Krystal summons a crystal battleaxe to begin killing the demons invading Luna's mind!]

Boss Battle - START! The Lunar Contradiction - Chandra Nightshade

There's the sound of boots against the pavement as in the short time her moon addled brain has to make a decision Spider launches herself at Chandra. Spider manages to tackle him down back to the ground. The sound of snapping bone echoes throughout the otherwise silent city, adding to the chaotic mixture of sounds. It appears his legs are broken, but he goes for a strong punch to Spider's temple, attempting to knock her out. The sound of a single car vrooming through the city is can be heard amongst the chaos.

The hit connects sending Spider to the ground but something strange starts to happen the second she loses consciousness. Her limbs stretch as black, and in some places, off-green fur starts to carpet their body. Once on the ground, she writhes slowly changing until... a dazed looking wolf hauls itself to its feet, her eyes unfocused until they see him.

Chandra stares at the wolf while holding himself up with one arm. In his other hand, the Magic of the Moon collects. His Lunar Empowerment Magic seems to be taking shape. No sense of fear is on his face. In fact.. it is more one of determination. The car zooms even closer to the scene.

Spider goes in for another attack aiming a bite at his shoulder.

The bite connects. This may sound strange but Chandra doesn't taste good. He tastes of Ash. Of.. something that isn't alive. The pain from the shoulder chomp causes Chandra to lose focus and the energy from the moon dissipates. Previously, it seemed to be like a massive sword formed by the power of the moon coalescing in his hand. The moon begins to retreat. Quickly. Losing its incredible size. The magic beginning to weaken.

"𝐍𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐋𝐔𝐍𝐀𝐑 𝐋𝐀𝐄𝐕𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐈𝐍!" 𝐈𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬. "𝐌𝐘 𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐈𝐂. 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐃𝐈𝐃 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐃𝐎 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐇?!"

Spider flinches back a disgusted look somehow managing to be shown on her canine features, despite this they go at him again a growl now audible, she aims bite after bite anywhere she can reach. All of the bites connect, breaking bone, destroying what little body he had to begin with. He tastes... completely wrong. Dead but not dead. A contradiction. A Lunar Contradiction.

The spiked convertible monstrosity that Hinata and Rebecca created finally arrive on the scene. They arrive on the scene with large guns and begin to shoot out the screens to remove the hypnotic effect they have on Luna. The screens break, sparks raining down. The bell sounds are gone. Seems they were connected to the televisions. The moon... returns to its usual shape and size.

Chandra, feeling near death once more, calls out, "I did..what you asked me to Tsukuyomi! Why must you forsake my existence??" it says with pained growls, "I never should have trusted you!" Chandra attempts to move. Find any strength to move. It does not move. It cannot move. The magic binding its existence to reality has all but left it. He lays there, a bleeding broken mess of a person who once existed. A groaning heap of flesh is all but remains. It is prepared to die once more. Another failure to add to its ever growing list of failures.

With a final snarl, Spider goes in for the kill latching her powerful jaws around his throat. With the sound of a sickening chomp and bone breaking, Chandra is dead once more. Beheaded. It is no more. A lump of flesh that at one point resembled a human. It returns to the soil where it was previously. Perhaps... this is what Chandra truly wanted, to be free of this mortal coil once more. Or maybe he wished he had one more chance. To not be a failure.

Luna opens her eyes, the rhythm of the hypnotic beats no more. She is bleeding rather profusely on her head, and a little bit of Chandra's bloody spittle landed on her face. "I am going to be sick." she mutters. Hinata pulls her into a hug and begins bandaging her head up.

Rebecca’s eyes widen at the chaotic scene in front of her, "Hooooly fuck what a mess. Thankfully the Agency can reverse a lot of this shit." Rebecca shakes her head. "Thank you, Spider, Violet, for saving her." It's at this moment that she does not see the human form Spider but instead a fuck huge black wolf with off-green paws. "Erm... what's that?" she points to Spider.

Spider sneezes then wrinkles their snout again at the taste completely ignoring everything else going on around them.

Hinata sighs, "Are you serious Rebecca? That IS Spider! It's a full moon and she's a werewolf."

"Ohhhhhhhh... ah, I see, usually those are kept in The Outskirts, ya know, living with all of the other monsters and stuff." Rebecca tilts her head from side to side, thinking she needed to call Magical Creature Control on them, "But uh thank you. That's what matters here."

Luna smiles a bit, her face and head bandaged up a bit by Hinata. "Ugh, I hate full moons. I hate it when they go to shit like this."

"Yeah, but at least you're not alone. You have people who give a shit about you. The moon may not be right, but at least you are." Hinata giggles and leans further into Luna.

"Anyway, I am feeling really really tired uh..,” she feels her muscles give out, as if her mana was drained. The added soreness does not help Luna’s mood. “Did my mana get used up during hypnosis?" Luna mutters to herself. Then the two leave after waving goodbye to Rebecca. They disappear from the World enroute back to The Gang's house, where Cole, Luna, Hinata and Spider usually live.

Rebecca texts the Agency of Arcane Affairs to report what happened. After a few moments of waiting, she gets a response. After a nod, she gets back into her souped-up MadMaxxified convertible and drives off. The next day, Central Square eventually returns to normal. The once shot out screens have returned to their usual working order, displaying the usual advertisements. People begin to wake up. It seems most of the crowd that usually inhabits Central Square were put to sleep by some unknown Magic, possibly connected to Lunar Empowerment. The music comes back to its usual chaotic self.

That said. A lot of people chat amongst each other. A dream they all shared. A dream about the Moon. A dream about the Sun.

A dream about the end.