[center] [img]http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o719/EthereanFire/Fox_zpsterb1uck.png[/img] [color=cyan]Level:[/color] 2 [color=cyan]Day/Time:[/color] Day One; Evening [color=cyan]Location:[/color] Abandoned Castle - Exterior [color=cyan]Tag:[/color] [color=8882be]Oswald[/color] [@Holy Soldier] [color=cyan]Mentions:[/color] [color=4be2a3]Naija[/color] [@DracoLunaris], [color=limegreen]Luigi[/color] [@Bright_Ops], [color=orange]Samus[/color] [@Lmpkio], [color=steelblue]Varrock[/color] [@Zarkun], [color=a187be]Hapu[/color] [@ToadRopes], [color=silver]Slayer[/color] [@Lugubrious] [color=cyan]Word Count:[/color] 609[/center] Fox’s ears perked up as the air audibly parted behind him. The vulpine turned sharply in alerted response to see a dark-armored unfamiliar appear from the void. [color=8882be]”Oswald,”[/color] he introduced himself as, declaring himself to be a conditional ally. Fox recalled the name being within the mission dossier; one of the teams were tasked with fighting him, yet here he was offering to lend his sword to their combative effort against Odin. The fact that they were sent after the wrong guy by the traitor to their cause (Brigan) is one that Fox wished he could say in earnest that he was surprised by. Seeing as the Shadow Knight wasn’t fighting Fox’s comrades, nor did he attempt to kill him just now while he had the chance, he made the reasonable assumption that the warrior spoke true. Besides, given their current situation, they could use all the help they could get, and if there was any chance of him having any insight on how to defeat the Demon Lord, they would do well to take him up on it. Fox eased up from his half-guard upon this realization, turning fully to offer his attention to the swordsman as he casually took a pot shot to his left at the valkyrie behind Samus. [color=cyan]“I guess you’re with us then,”[/color] Fox stated in agreement before returning his sights to Odin. [color=cyan]“Any chance you would know how to beat him?”[/color] The corrupted king removed his mask, which was presumably designed to intimidate, to reveal something indisputably worse - what could aptly be described as a picture of death. The face beneath the helm was easily that of a man well past his final days, brought back into being by means most unholy. So [i]this[/i] is what the virus did to those unfortunate enough to be claimed by it. To think that there were others in The System who willingly surrendered themselves as hosts to it; all just to become more powerful at the cost of what little sanity and good they had left in them. Then there were those unwilling, which Odin could very well be for all they knew. Fox dreaded the thought as he recalled his hauntingly similar experience with the Aparoid Incursion. Whether the Demon Lord electively submitted to the virus or not, it did unfortunately little to change the fact that they would have to put him down to stop him, and appearances would suggest that said task would suddenly become that much more difficult. Odin swelled monstrously as he inhaled the excess energy particles left over by the felled valkyries, and umbra fire shot out through the gaps in his armor as if through overworked exhaust vents. Fox let out two light coughs, burying his muzzle into his left arm as the atmosphere became disgustingly thick to the touch with the polluting essence that Odin emanated. His eyes shone the familiar yellow from earlier, telegraphing his incoming attack to Fox. [color=cyan]“Everyone, get to cover,”[/color] he preemptively commanded aloud to anyone who could hear him. Based on the previous display, he wasn’t certain that the attack would be particularly devastating, but it was no reason not to take reasonable action to avoid it. Where everyone else would likely be moving out of the way, Fox swiftly brought forth his reflector, activating it in the same motion as he held it suspended before him in a guarded stance. He was confident that Oswald could find cover on his own, but the anthro stood his ground in front of him anyways. Hopefully, however much of the fireball stream that came down on them would find its way faster back to Odin.