Mukarramma blinked a few times at Outsider before tilting her head at him. "Who?" she asked, completely baffled.
Life deflated his dramatic pointing slightly. He recovered just before anyone noticed. I just told you...didn't you hear me? he thought behind the mask of his Outsider disguise in slight annoyance.
Choosing not to potentially lose his patience over the opponent's assumed lack of functioning ears, Life turned his attention to Rea.
Life's annoyance was slightly alleviated by the amusement he got when the delinquent took a step back in surprise when Life turned to look down at the red magical girl, whose expression became one of unease. He had his guesses as to why she looked at him in such a way. But the embodiment of living figured introductions were the first thing he should be focusing on as he offered his hand for the rough-looking girl to shake. "Pleased to meet you, name's Outsider," The masked man politely introduced himself.
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Yeah...pass. I usually ignore what my aunt warns me about. But I'll heed her advice this time and not talk to strangers. Especially one as shady as you! Rea mentally said. Her humanity, which currently controlled Rea's body, couldn't help but agree with her other half as the figure before them who called themselves Outsider stared the both of them down.
There was no hostility around Outsider as he offered the handshake. In fact, it looked to be pretty amicable. But Rea and, by association, her humanity knew better. After enough years of fighting plenty of opponents, from weak to strong enough to beat them, they could tell with a glance that Outsider was more of the latter. Even with their newfound magical powers, neither of Rea's two sides was sure they could win against Outsider without assistance if it came down to it.
Rea's humanity exchanged looks between Outsider and his offered hand before tilting her head to look at Yoshino and Rudabaugh. She silently asked them if she should shake his hand. After a moment for them to realize, Rudabaugh gave her a thumbs up while Yoshino nodded. It didn't fill Rea's human side with as much confidence as she expected. But it was still enough for her to accept Outsider's offer. "Rea, and...I guess the pleasure is mutual?" she said unsurely.
"As it should. Now..." Outsider let go his hand from Rea's human side, the latter letting out a small sigh of relief as the former turned to Mukarramma and casually pointed at them. "Shall we deal with that thing?"
Mukarramma grew a scowl on her wooden face. "Thing? Who are you calling a thing?!"
Outsider looked up and down at Mukarramma for a couple of uncomfortable seconds before giving a polite bow. "My apologies. I guess the more accurate term would be a used doll."
Rea and her humanity might not have been the smartest duo. But even they could understand immediately what Outsider had just called the doll darkspawn. If she could tell from the blush of red on Yoshino's face and Rudabaugh trying his best to contain a snort.
Mukarramma's wooden eyebrow twitched in anger. She clenched her hands into fists. "What did you just say?" Mukarramma demanded.
What are you thinking? Why are you taunting them? Are you crazy?! Rea's human side mentally asked Outsider. She exchanged nervous glances with Mukarramma and Outsider, not expecting an answer.
Are you really that stupid or do you just like to make me look dumb on my own body? Rea asked her other half, the latter becoming slightly surprised, not expecting her to speak up.
Rea's humanity soon rolled her eyes. If you know what he's doing just say it already!
In response, Rea rolled her eyes and groaned at her other self's ignorance. Can't you see what he's doing looks VERY similar to that stunt I pulled in fifth grade? The one that almost got me expelled? You should know at least THAT much if you claim to be me.
The eyes of the ones who claimed to be Rea's humanity grew wide in realization. Wait, don't tell me...the reason for all this provocation is so that white-haired girl doesn't become a target?
The original owner of Rea's body simply nodded.
Suddenly, everything clicked for Rea's human side, who slowly nodded back. I see...Then, I guess we better not let him have all the fun! She mentally thought, with Rea soon growing a devious smirk as she realized what her self-proclaimed human side was about to do next.
"Oh, I thought it was bleach!" Rea's humanity exclaimed in fake realization.
"What?" Mukarramma glared at Rea, immediately regretting asking as she knew deep down it would lead to an answer she wouldn't want to hear.
Rea's humanity gladly obliged the darkspawn in front of them. "Yeah. I could smell some weird stench coming from you that reminded me of bleach, but I wasn't sure if it was really it. Glad to have that cleared up."
That seemed to have been too much for Rudabaugh as he proceeded to burst out in laughter, with Rea laughing alongside him.
Mukarramma just stared at Rea's humanity, unbridled rage barely contained. After Rudabaugh was done laughing, Mukarramma sighed. "Are you guys done? Can you all get on with your turn already?" she asked with a glare that threatened to burn everyone alive faster than the flames surrounding them.
Rudabaugh raised his hand. "Hey, uh, this might be kind of an obvious question, but—"
Mukarramma was having none of it as she interrupted, "No, you cannot attack again. You will have to wait until your next turn for that."
"Speaking of next turn," Rea's human side cracked her knuckles. "That's something you're not about to have when I'm done with you!" she declared. Her left index finger soon glowed red with magic.
Hmm, not bad. Rea begrudgingly admitted, which her humanity would gladly take with pride as a compliment.
"Yeah, yeah. Cool. Sure whatever, can you just attack already!" Mukarramma said, clearly done with everyone.
"Wait, why are you asking her to atta—" Rea's humanity heard Rudabaugh's voice behind her just when she released a stream of flames that easily reached Mukarramma's position.
When the flames from her finger extinguished, Rea and her humanity's eyes soon grew wide in surprise as it revealed a tarot card had blocked her attack. What the hell is that? Rea mentally asked.
For Rea and their other half, it took an embarrassing amount of seconds to lean their heads and notice that the card displayed was upside down. It showed a man suspended by one foot from a wooden structure, resembling a cross. His free leg bent to form an inverted four shape. Despite the dangerous position, his expression was calm and serene, accepting whatever circumstances led him to this predicament. The card's background featured several serene natural elements like trees and a few insects.
Before anyone had the chance to ask what happened, Mukarramma spoke. "The Hanged-Man Reversed. Their desire to resist fate gives him the effect to not only negate your attack but any further attacks this turn!" Mukarramma declared smugly.
"What?!" everyone but Mukarramma, Outsider, and Nozomi said in unison.
"But...I won't be able to attack on my next turn in exchange for it." Mukarramma begrudgingly explained the last part of the card's effect, looking to the side shortly before looking back at Rea. "Ah, it's still your turn. You guys just can't attack." After a moment, she added, "Also, I know this may sound obvious. But just to save time, if you want to end your turn without attacking, each one of you will need to declare that your turn is over."
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Yoshino gritted her teeth as she tried to think of what she and everyone else could do now that attacking wasn't an option. This was a task that proved harder than usual for the young girl due to the wet and sticky feeling from clothes and hands as they got dirtied with Nozomi's blood that dripped down from the small gaps in the latter's makeshift bandage.
"Yoshino..." Nozomi muttered weakly.
"I'm still here, just hold on for a little longer," Yoshino bit her lip before adding, "You'll be fine." The distressed teenager reassured herself more than Nozomi when she said that.
Although Nozomi's condition had become suspiciously better after Outsider arrived (Yoshino would turn a blind eye to that for now if it meant Nozomi would be fine), they weren't in the clear yet. They needed to finish this quickly so Seiza could properly heal Nozomi. But how could they if Mukarramma kept extending this sick game of hers? Should they all end their turn now and hope to get a better shot at finishing this later? No...giving them a chance to act would surely only make things worse. But what choice do we have?
"This isn't good. If only we could do more than just attack. But we don't have effects like her tarot cards to do anything else BUT attack." Outsider talked to himself. Although his mechanical voice didn't convey how he felt, his clenched fist in frustration did.
Yoshino nodded absentmindedly before her eyes grew wide in realization. Wait...
The mental gears inside Yoshino's head began to spin as Outsider's comment made Yoshino think about the barrier. The game, she and everyone else had to play now. And how everyone, including Mukarramma herself, had to follow its rules.
That led Yoshino to consider the comparisons between her and Mukarramma's tarot cards. Although she hadn't seen it, Yoshino knew Mukarramma could command her cards to attack. Thanks to the latter revealing The Magician's effect before...
Yoshino took a deep breath. Focus. Don't lose track now.
Returning to her thoughts, they soon led her to conclude that this game, although sickening, wasn't unfair. If this game isn't unfair...then how come Mukarramma's cards have effects while we, who within the context of this game could also be considered cards, don't? Unless...
"That's it!" Yoshino shouted out loud for everyone to hear.
"Hmm?" Tsujin said as she and everyone else but Nozomi soon turned their attention to Yoshino.
"What is it, Yoshino?" Seiza asked, taken slightly aback by Yoshino's outburst.
For a split second, Yoshino hesitated to explain what she had figured out, thinking they couldn't afford the time for it. When Yoshino was about to ignore his question and test to see if she was right, she felt Nozomi clenching her hand instead of the other way around. Nozomi's strong grip stung a little if Yoshino had to admit it, but it told her they had just enough time to do everything.
Turning her attention to everyone else, Yoshino spoke. "I think I figured out how to even out the playing field!" Yoshino declared. She clenched her best friend's hand back to gain strength.