Third Rule

[prototype_king]

[Video]

I have a question.

[Gilgamesh goes from looking at the "camera" to turning the book around to see what he's seeing - two of the 'berserk' residents wandering around the Palace district.]

Are we supposed to kill these things, or are we putting them down gently?

[Two bursts of light lash out from behind the camera and impact the affected citizens in the head, knocking each one over with a crack and laying them unconscious (possibly comatose) on the pavement. For a split second before the projectiles disappear, it's clear that that they were, in fact, swords - launched hilt-first.]

I ask because on the one hand, they sure as hell look like zombies. On the other hand, I just know there are a bunch of bleeding hearts here who don't want me killing things that might be human. But on the other hand: zombies. Also if they were normal humans this would probably kill them anyway. Since it's not, again: zombies.

I just wanted to clarify before I have to answer some thrown-together farce of a trial later from one of your knightly-types. Saber. Let me know, though, they're starting to get everywhere.

[Another crack of the same type indicates Gilgamesh has smashed another person's head off-camera somewhere before he ends the feed.]

Comments

[1_eyed_dadass]

I THINK, generally speaking, you're gonna wanna figure out whether they really ARE zombies before snuffing them. 'Cause lemme tell you, leaping before you look can bite you in the ass.

Anyway, they're still people with jobs and families. Gotta see if there's something you can do for 'em, right?

[prototype_king]

I certainly can't, unless there's a source of corruption or something I can go stab. The question is how to get them to a hospital without getting my head bitten off, I suppose...

[1_eyed_dadass]

I find a good hard smack to the back of the head with a blunt object does the trick.

[prototype_king]

I got that part down, I just meant carrying the stupid bastards. They could wake up, and I'm a sword fighter, not a wrestler.

[1_eyed_dadass]

You don't got ropes or chains or something? They're tough bastards, but they can't be that tough, right?

[championofthesun]

You ought to be more concerned with our benefactors than with me.

[prototype_king]

Your king left me with the impression that your culture cares more about random schmucks than your royalty, along with a couple of annoying stab wounds. They're an effective combination.

[championofthesun]

A knight's duty is to the safety of the people. Without them, there would be no kingdom. Thus, we should bring them back alive, since it is within our ability to do so.

It makes further sense from a practical standpoint, as well. As they say, the dead tell no tales.

[prototype_king]

I'm pretty sure these things aren't either...

...and I should point out, a kingdom wouldn't be a kingdom without its king, either. Not that I feel particularly threatened by whatever this is, but it needs to be said.

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[evokedpotential]

[Minako's on duty today too, using the blunt end and the long hilt of her naginata to knock anyone who seems affected out. She had been taking a break when she noticed the video on the network and figured she should give an answer because hey. Killing people is not cool.

There's a creature in the background, who seems to merely be knocking any affected person out with its lyre.] I think knocking them out is the best option!

[And another one approaches and goes down as Minako swings her weapon around, smacking the woman in the head hard enough to knock her out.] ... Maybe tying them up in case they wake back up and feel like continuing would be a good idea too...

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[prototype_king]

Well you're certainly formidable enough I don't want to upset you, if your story's anything to go by.

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[evokedpotential]

[She just rolls her eyes at that.] Am I that scary?

[She's just joking of course and- Oops. Another person on a rampage charges at her then, and she quickly reacts by grabbing her weapon and getting up to take care of it. The man charges at her and she dodges skillfully, before swinging her naginata around, using the long hilt to guide the man around by pushing it to his back, and making him topple over, right into a wall with enough force to knock him out.

And then she's quick to step back as another person comes flying by, courtesy of Orpheus continuing her scouting and neutralizing of targets.

Situation calmed for a moment, Minako returns to her communicator to resume her conversation.] Really though, I don't think they're zombies or anything, so killing them isn't right.

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[prototype_king]

Not Ishtar scary, but a little bit.

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[idonthavearoute]

Z-Zombies?! But zombies aren't real!

[ Then again, neither are robotic statues, magical girls, or ancient gods. ]

Why does everything in this world contradict what we already know?!

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[prototype_king]

Aren't you a mage or something? There's any number of things that can conjure up mindless ravening corpses.

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[idonthavearoute]

I'm not a mage! I'm a magical girl. [ There's a difference even in the Nasuverse. ] I've never had to fight against zombies before!

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[prototype_king]

Well, people who care more about technicalities than I do pointed out that these people are still alive, just crazy.

So good news! You're fighting berserk and probably diseased people instead.

[phobophage]

They aren't zombies. Just mind controlled or something. I can tell. So just cut it out already.

[prototype_king]

Oh, you can tell? And you're really concerned, too. I figured a dream would be more aloof.

[phobophage]

Oh, I wouldn't care if you were doing all kind of silly things to them. Except for the killings. I didn't care about that sort of thing before a Dream Savior changed my mind.

[prototype_king]

We Heroes tend to do things like that. The standards on who you're allowed to kill have really changed a lot, though...

Action okay with you? I can change this tag if not

[hegemonstratos]

*Einhard would've answered with something along the lines of killing was bad. If she had been, you know, listening to the PDA book.

She was kinda busy punching crazy people in the face.

So that's where she is, already in Adult Mode as she ends up sending one of the crazy mind-controlled people to the ground with a punch... and ending up right in front of Gilgamesh.*

Perfectly okay with me

[prototype_king]

Well hello.

[At this point, Gilgamesh is hefting his own quarries onto his shoulder, bound in golden chain he got from somewhere.]

Need a hand, miss?

Re: Perfectly okay with me

[hegemonstratos]

*Oh. Hi there Gilgamesh. Thanks for not recognizing her at all.*

I think I'll be...

*Oh look, twelve more of them. Okay, no more being nice. Blasts of wind magic is getting shot out of her hands at them now.

... It was a good thing it was hard to kill with magic unless your magic was specifically suited to it or you were really trying.*

Perfectly okay with me

[prototype_king]

There sure are a lot of these bastards.

[Running relatively low on mana by now without a Contract, and seeing he's unlikely to be able to rest, Gilgamesh brings out his "normal" swords and wades in, striking with the flats. This was going to be a problem in a few minutes, but it's not like he can just leave a girl to fight by herself.]

Say, you look familiar. You don't have a sister, do you?