[center][color=c0c0c0][b][u]Slayer[/u][/b][/color]
Level 2
Day 1
Location: Outside Abandoned Castle
[@Hylozoist] [@Holy Soldier] [@Gentlemanvaultboy] [@Lmpkio] [@Zarkun] [@ToadRopes] [@Bright_Ops]
[b]Word Count: 809
Experience: [color=orange]||||||[/color][color=black]||||||||||||||[/color] (6/20)[/b][/center]

In a state of heightened focus, time seemed to slow down.  The words told to the group by Oswald echoed through Slayer's mind.  [i]If you see his weapon, Balor, run.[/i]  No fiber in Slayer's body told him that he need obey that command.  Even if his Dandy Step failed, after all, he knew in the back of his mind that no matter how mighty the blow, he couldn't be felled—that at worst, he ought to throw in the towel and lay down, entrusting the fight to his allies.  He stood firm, a smirk on his face, as Odin retrieved his weapon.

Then, everything went quiet for Slayer.  His insightful mind kicked into overdrive, and despite himself, he swallowed.  Within the ethereal glow of the boss's weapon, something screamed at him.  Perhaps it was his imagination, but it seemed strangely terrible.  The demon king's monstrous, nightmarish form, the tension of his muscles ready to swing that immense weapon...the corners of the gentleman's mouth and eye twitched.  He went to give his pipe a nonchalant puff, but found himself unable to move.  He glanced at the offending fingers, and discovered no unexpected paralysis spell, but instead his hands shaking too.  [i]What...is this!?[/i]  He stared at the weapon, poised to smite him like a heel that crushes an ant.  [i]This can't be fear!?  Is this some kind of sign!?[/i]  Chips flew from his stalwart mental fortress, and confidence gushed between the gaps.  Balor was too large; Odin wielded it too quickly.  What kind of magical properties did it have?  Slayer didn't know why, but the image of cracking his hand against the wall inside the castle flashed into his mind.  His eyes widened for the first time.  [i]I can't confirm it, but I have the horrible feeling...I can't survive this![/i]  Slayer, leader of the reformed assassin's guild, ageless vampire and peerless man of quality, flinched.

Odin's blow never came.  Instead, a growl of pain hurtled through the air toward him, and Slayer redirected his gaze toward the dark shape perched upon his neck while trying to keep his footing in the ensuing tremor.  In no position to attack at the moment, particularly with the turbulence, he could only watch as Quina and and unknown woman turned up out of the blue to lend their aid.  The sight of the bizarre cuisinier brought a reassured smile to the gentleman's face, and after the stranger restrained Odin, Quina conjured a gargantuan gourd from the heavens to crash down upon the god from above.  Guts rained everywhere, and in their midst Slayer couldn't see Oswald, but he felt sure the knight had saved him.  [color=c0c0c0]”How...foolish of me.  This world doesn't play by my rules.  It seems I cannot rely on myself alone.”[/color]  He tapped a finger against his cheek as he breezily retreated a dozen paces, the shudder stabilizing bit by bit.  [color=c0c0c0]”Good fellow.  I shall have to repay him when I am able.”[/color]

Slayer did not, however, spare that tangent any more of his attention.  A gentleman's affectations could wait; there was a boss that needed beating.  He spotted Naija enact a magic spell to lift Odin's weapon up, presumably to let it fall from on high.  As much as he would have liked to perform a two-handed overhead slam to send it careening into the demon king faster than gravity would, there was no way to get him up there.  Above, if not behind, did seem to be the optimal angles of attack given Oswald's advice, however.  Luigi opted to tackle his enemy dead-on, surrounded in an aura of crackling lightning, and Slayer did not doubt it would do some damage.  He also, while not knowing the exact story behind his tortured, mad shout, wished Luigi the very best luck in doing so.  To really put these critical seconds to use, however, the team needed more.  Slayer could follow in the plumber's footsteps to charge in and punch, but he thought of something different.

His eyes turned toward the woman in the brightly-colored armor, and the wheels turned in his head.  [color=c0c0c0]”Pardon me!”[/color] he called, stooping forward and putting his hands together, palms up.  [color=c0c0c0]”I believe I spotted you charging up some sort of...er, charge shot earlier?  I don't remember you using it.  Perhaps I can interest you in a quick trip over Odin's head, to introduce it to the back of his skull?”[/color]  His enhanced strength, wasted in an attack on the demon king's shins, could instead be used to fling a teammate into a position to blast away at a potential weak point.  If Samus's efforts didn't annihilate the helmet and its contents, it could at the least soften him up for a flail to the noggin.  Time was, however, of the essence.  Any moment Odin could break free, and this ploy would be better used before Naija's own came to fruition.