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The Brazen Bull, encountered once again in the Mirror Dungeon. In many ways, it was even more powerful than when we had first encountered it, back in K Corp's Nest. Tears still streamed down its steaming hide, and the human-like entity that 'dwelled' within the bull had begun to pull itself out, thrashing in violent agony. WATER, it screamed. WON'T SOMEONE GIVE ME WATER?
But we had encountered this Abnormality enough times before, to know that this was a tipping point. The Sinners had pushed it this far. And there was no true solace we could give to Abnormalities. All we could do was suppress them, to end their suffering for but a brief moment.
=> Give Water
<Don Quixote! One more good blow will do it! Use Fluid Sac on the protruding head!>
The E.G.O. of Headless Ichthys would hit perfectly into the Brazen Bull's weaknesses. It was with full confidence that I gave out this command. Somewhere in the back of my clock-shaped head, I figured that I was actually shaping up as a manager, now that I'd gained enough experience to realize this kind of thing.
...Unfortunately, I wasn't actually anywhere near as competent as I'd thought.
"Ahaha... Manager... is there not another way?" Don Quixote hedged.
<...What?>
"Prithee, perhaps... perhaps young Faust could instead utilize that same powerful E.G.O.? Wouldst that not have a similar impact upon this foul beast?" the third Sinner protested.
I couldn't respond for a moment. It wasn't often that a Sinner actively contradicted me in combat, not unless they were in the throes of E.G.O. Corrosion. But Don Quixote looked just fine. The other alternative was simply that--ah, she must have realized something that I hadn't. Her full memories had returned after our adventure in La Manchaland, after all. Centuries of battle and carnage. At this point, even if she did not look it, she was quite possibly among the most experienced of the Sinners in combat. I took a brief moment to rethink my strategy, to come up with a flaw that Don Quixote might have noticed. A logical reason she thought that Faust would be the more effective choice here.
I came up short... So much for my managerial skills, eh? Then again, it could be that Don Quixote was wrong.
<I... am pretty sure that your version of the E.G.O. will do more damage, though?> Steadily, building confidence, I presented my argument to the hesitant Sinner. <Faust's resonance with the E.G.O. tends more towards it healing the Sinners, so I don't have to turn back the clock as often. Yours is more similar to Headless Ichthys's bloody cannon, and would do a better job staggering the Brazen Bull.>
"Well... thou art not truly incorrect, Manager..." Wait, what? Then what was the issue? "It is simply that... ah, it's... um..."
I turned to Faust, lost for words, only to receive a shrug. "Faust knows," she cryptically said.
She wouldn't tell me, it seemed. That must mean that it was something I should be able to figure out myself. What could it be, for the Second Kindred to be so hesitant?
Wait. What was it that woman, the "detective" had said about Bloodfiends? Her comment on the unending thirst of Bloodfiends had proved relevant, for sure, but she had also mentioned a major weakness of theirs. Something we would never find in La Manchaland. Don Quixote was hesitating to use Fluid Sac because her memories had returned! And with it, her fears! She was scared of--
WATER!!!
My realization came too late, though the Abnormality's cry was abnormally well timed. Don Quixote, caught unawares, was turned into bloody, burning mist by the Brazen Bull's heated screams. Faust shot me an unamused look not long before she, too, was smashed flat by the Bull's charge.
...This was going to be a problem in the future, wasn't it. Time to turn back the clock.