The Final Bastion's Defense [MADNESS CAPITAL: DEAD RISING]

The horde rushed, screaming, roaring. There was something approaching; something that made their cries increase in intensity. Something was wrong. Something was very wrong, and the zombies did not appear to know how to deal with it. The Madness in the area began to swell, as the voices within the minds of those who had gathered dimmed for a moment.

Demon. Unaccepted one.

Different.

Monster.
Even as his Act of Heroism was erected, Henrex Astillon's mind came under brutal assault. The purple around his body was noticeably darker, as if it were impossible to see him through its purging miasma. He activated that holy field, and the miasma was beaten back, before crashing against what had been erected. The Miasma crushed into it, straining at its edges, the screaming and howling of the gathered corpses dramatically increasing in pitch. The zombies that were not yet within the building were pushed back from his actions, but the ones within were pushed further forward.

And then… he was gone. As his body flew through the sky, the Madness that assailed his mind remained intense, increasing the likelihood that the Shinigami would lose control during his time within the metropolis.

The woman Yoriko down below, however, would begin to find herself becoming overwhelmed. While she now had protection against the mental effects of this continuing nightmare, they did little to stop the zombies that were now surrounding her body. She had created a clone, and while that distracted some of their forces, it could not deter all of them. Her attack had managed to destroy the staircase; but in the process, that meant that there was only one place for the zombies to go.

Directly into Yoriko.

Masses crushed against her body; she threw a paper bomb, but the density of the zombies had grown such that while torsos were blown away, stopping some, those who would typically have been sent reeling from the explosion merely smashed into their compatriots. This pushed the corpses further up the rubble where the stairs had been, and further highlighted just how surrounded the woman now found herself.

..To die… Going… To die… going… to die…

Of course, even with protection, it was possible that Yoriko's mind would begin losing control of itself of its own accord; the situation she found herself in was a highly unpleasant one. If the stress became too much, it would make it that much easier for the wavelength that surrounded her body to take control…

Meanwhile, the stairs continued to crack.

Outside the building, a woman stood, tearing out down the dead, ripping them into pieces. Alone. No support. Failing. Failing. Despite the raven-haired man's intervention, the brave woman down below was still being assaulted, and quite possibly overwhelmed by the forces gathered around her. The only Quincy. The only one. Time to make your own decisions. Time to abandon the rest. Time to decide for yourself. FOR YOURSELF!

The Madness crashed into her mind where it had found purchase, as the zombies reached the top of the rubble at last. She gained some measure of protection from the man who had barged in; but it may have already been too late.

The first wave of zombies was making its way away from the second floor staircase, moving up to where the third were located. Not great in number, but still proceeding…

Demon. You are a demon. The sounds of cutting flesh, breaking bone surrounded Arianda's head as she cut through swathe after swathe of the undead. The holy magic that Henrex had activated had given the Madness new purchase; another vulnerability to exploit. Not like the others. Not like him. Not a hero. A demon, loving conflict. Loving cutting them down. That's where you belong. Not this lie.

Up to the moment when that scarf wrapped around her neck, the increased intensity with which the madness assailed the mind of the Demon would threaten to snap her will. She some measure of protection, but as it was wrapped around her throat…

The behavior of the zombies around her changed.

Arms thrust out, going straight for the scarf. The Miasma guided the Madness to where it would deal the most damage, particularly here in the Outer Ring. What it found there was another method by which to gain purchase; her blades cut through another corpse, then another body, shredding them down, mowing through them. Cut them down. CUT THEM ALL DOWN! IT FEELS RIGHT! That madness could still be felt within her mind, subdued though it was through the scarf. They'll take it away; take away your protection. Take away your sanity. So anxious, protecting it. So anxious. So much harder. The Madness would likely begin affecting her in a new way, now that she had something else to be anxious about.

Gripping fingers trying to find purchase on her protection, even as she ripped and tore them limb from limb.

Meanwhile, the hole she had created was being filled with the corpses coming in from the door. Only the first wave of zombies that had managed to reach the top of the stairs were still continuing upward, thanks to her efforts. However, it was obvious to anyone looking that this would not work for long; already, limbs could be seen sticking out of the hole, as zombies crawled their way back out, pushing their brethren in deeper.

You're out here alone. YOU CAN'T GO ON LIKE THIS. KILL! KILL WITHOUT MERCY! YOU KNOW THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT!

On the outside of the building, the man known as Okuda continued to struggle his way toward that barrier. Flames coated his zanpakuto, and before his eyes the corpses began to melt. No longer a threat. YES! ISN'T THAT BETTER? The Madness crashed against his mind; even as the horde began crushing into his body. He was moving toward where the concentration of corpses was greatest, and the pressure would begin to show. Grabbing hands tried to crush his limbs, arms gripping at his feet from those who had fallen. Even as he beat them back, the concentration had grown intense enough that the Shinigami was not able to push them back further away; they were now flowing back toward him, hands gripping at his head, his arms, his chest.

RELEASE IT! STOP BEING SO AFRAID! DO WHAT YOU DO BEST AND KILL THEM!

And then, something happened.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

Crrrrrrrnnnn…

The entire building shifted. Judas' attack had pushed the horde forward, sending them crashing against its side. The zombies who had pooled around the hole from the outside of the building were exerting so much weight and strength against it, combined with her attack, that the entire structure was beginning to move; light fixtures crashed into the ground, including around where the Quincy was firing her attacks up above.

But, that was not the only thing that had changed; in front of Okuda, shot after shot crashed through the zombies. Before his eyes, these bullets turned into miniature explosions, blowing away the zombies as a clear path appeared for him toward where the hole and the barrier had been created. Someone, or something, had perfectly aimed their shots to allow for him to take advantage of; if he neglected this opportunity, however, he would watch the zombies as they pooled quickly back into the opened space, arms clawing at him once again.

The structural stability of the building has become under threat due to the concentration of corpses near the outside of the building! The zombie threat has taken substantial damage, however; those outside of the building are no longer considered a serious threat, other than the mass that has affixed itself to the entrance. However, the defenders have not won yet; the madness has worn at each of them; will one, or more, fall to insanity...?