[center][img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/b3RmLjExNi5mZjAwMDAuUm1sMlpRLjA/allowing-freedom-demo.regular.webp[/img][/center] [color=red][b]Time:[/b][/color] Late Morning / Early Afternoon [color=red][b]Location:[/b][/color] Roshmi City / The Nest [color=red][b]Interactions:[/b][/color] Scathael [@Apex Sunburn], [@Alivefalling], Mari [@princess], and Thraash [@funnyguy] [color=red][b]Current Equipment: [/b][/color] Massive adamantine greatsword w/ Ethereal enchantment, heavy full-plated adamantine armor, magic nullification enchanted cuffs, standard backpack, rope (up to 50ft), wayfinder and timeteller, fire starter kit, first aid kit, chemist set to produce different mixtures for his fogger device, and small kit for minor repairs and maintenance [hr] Five's talons landed as expected, though, to his displeasure, they collided with something other than demihuman flesh. A defensive barrier snapped into reality before he could inflict severe pain and injury on his target and blocked his retaliatory strike. Supernatural sparks and lightning arced from the collision. It was the rabbit girl's barrier enhancement kicking in, another fact he had also expected, begrudgingly. Simply observing her shocked reaction regarding his potentially death-dealing claws informed Five that she had been caught unawares, and were it not for her enhancement, to say the least, she would have been yet one more problem resolved following Thrash's self-inflicted removal from the stage of battle. Five still had trouble processing or conceiving the rationale as to why the dragonborn failed to consider his early ploy and simply stumbled through it. Or, more specifically, breathing the visually sickly haze into his lungs and getting himself paralyzed. Given Thraash's biology and bodily chemistry, Five estimated that his scaly foe would be incapacitated for at least several minutes. Plenty of time to rap this affair up. Ever observant of his surroundings, Five watched as the long-eared demihuman, likely realizing her predicament, dived under his left arm, making a break for it and putting distance between himself and her. The moment she moved away, so true did her barrier, causing his smoldering left hand to fall through the now empty space and seize only air. Though at the heat of the moment, he attempted to take another swing at her, prompting his left arm to coil back and lash out. Yet he came to a screeching halt as his body seized up. The previous shockwave was still haunting him and interfered with the gears and servos that guided his limbs. Five growled as he recoiled and pivoted to face his seemingly only opponent left, actively fighting him. Though he had kept an eye on Mari, he noted how much of her efforts in their battle hadn't impacted him in any meaningful way. Five could even admit he had nearly forgotten about her. That is until she spoke up again. [color=FFCB86]"Hey!... BIG BOY! Time out! Why are you even doing this? Are they paying you a mountain of amas or something? I mean, I respect the grind and all, but seriously, hear me out,"[/color] Five considered ignoring her again but seeing as though Thraash was out of commission and the rabbit girl was practically on standby, he silently allowed her to speak her piece. If anything, it simply gave him time to internally correct the mechanical deviations plaguing him, [color=FFCB86]"... What if we have a job that can pay you more? I know it sounds like I'm grasping at straws because you're totally kicking ass... Buuut! If you like amas as much as we do, maybe you should hear us out. If you don't like what we have to say, then you can always continue trying to crush us. You seem like you're confident in your ability to do so it will hurt you absolutely none to chill out like five seconds."[/color] [color=red][b]<>[/b][/color] Five loudly hissed as two jets of steam spewed from his facial vents. Although she hadn't said it specifically, Five translated her speech as a plea deal in hopes of encouraging him to call off his assault. It was a good idea; aside from the fact he had them on the ropes, the opportunity to make more money was promising. However, the offer was made very late in the game. With one-third of their number dealt with, he could better manage the fight against the pair still standing against him. At that moment, his right arm made a series of loud metal clangs, followed by a few sparks spilling out from its joints. His arm had recovered from the shockwave, most of it anyway. This rejuvenating fact gave Five an idea. He would undoubtedly hear Mari's offer, but it would be on his terms. He pivoted again, slightly turning his chest plate towards the light elf, informing her he would regard her words. [color=red]<[b]>[/b][/color] It was then Five began walking towards Thraash though his upper posture remained fixed. [color=red][b]<>[/b][/color] the moment Five reached Thraash's stunned and twitching body, he raised his right hand as high as he could and rotated it, prompting the sword within its grasp to turn along with it downward until the tip of the massive weapon was aligned with the dragonborn's neck. Five's red eyes seemed to glow brighter than ever before, [color=red][b]<>[/b][/color] Five oversaw the three. Though he was putting Thraash's fate in Mari's hands, he was genuinely interested in what kind of offer the light elf would have to formulate to get her and her partner out of this new situation. If she tried anything, he would end the dragonborn without hesitation. He would give Thraash the same courtesy should he somehow recover faster than expected. However, he doubted that would be an issue. The only concern he had, as slight as it was, was the girl with the hammer. By distancing herself, she gave Five the advantage of time to predict and formulate a countermeasure should she try to charge him again. Yet it is evident by now that she somehow had a role in this, too. He prepared for her report, should it be with more violence or diplomacy. No matter the case, he would get what he wanted.