For the next few days, Jinn had continued to drink and offer slurred words of advice for those willing to listen. He didn’t want to think about what happened. It happened, it was over with in his eyes. The elf was pleased to know that they would be on the move again. He ran out of booze long before they were close to the Kirun, though he did manage to gather a few mouthfuls of liquor here and there. 


The day of the battle. Jinn was sipping on water and sitting by himself. He communed with his equipment, bonded over countless battles and adventures. They were a part of him and extended his senses. [color=9e0b0f]‘By the end of today, there will be a change in history,’[/color] the thought pleased him in a sick sort of way. He counted the ammunition that he had left. A handful of pistol rounds, a couple enchanted slugs, and the good ol’ peace maker that he saved for himself. He hoped that he didn’t need that one today. He took a breath and calmed his mind as he replaced each round into their magazine. [color=9e0b0f]“Maa over amin, Divines, e' amin hour en' anta. Lotesse lye crush lye enemies ar' avenge lye talant. .”[/color] He closed his eyes as he whispered the prayer in his tongue, each syllable flowing into the next with unease. 


He kept his distance from the front lines, his gaze scanning the horizon for his target: The Advisor. Even after the hordes surged forth to clash steel against steel, he kept his arms folded across his chest. The Sentinels forced their way through, in their own search for the Advisor. Jinn could feel the energy in the air, his finger-tips twitching with anticipation. His weapons wanted to fight, they wanted to spread blood and gore like they did before. However, he continued to scan and search. He had to be patient for once... and he hated it. 


He didn’t need to wait for long before he saw Christopher rushing towards a clusterfuck of commotion. Jinn leapt forward and kicked up the ground behind him as he raced to find the Advisor. His extended broadsword sung as it came to full length, a stream of crimson arcing as he rip the throat of a man that tried to stop him. Each stroke brought a fallen body. He wanted to try and conserve his energy as he reached Christopher, however things never go according to plan. By the time he reached the pair, he was covered in blood. [color=9e0b0f]“Sorry I’m late, had got lost on my way to see the show.”[/color]  


Christopher only gave Jinn a brief glance, gaze remaining narrow from the way he had been looking towards the Advisor, but soon he was entirely focused on the enemy once again. He didn’t know all that much about Jinn yet, but he seemed intent on remaining an ally, so all he did was snort. [b]”If you’re only here to watch, then get off the stage.”[/b] Slowly, the young man with grey hair straightened ever slightly, cracking his neck, holding both hands down at his sides in fists. [b]”So, exactly what can you do, elf?”[/b]


With a bark of laughter, Jinn sheathed his blade. [color=9e0b0f]“Now, I didn’t want to be a main star. I don’t mind sharing the spotlight if you don’t mind a partner.”[/color] He reached into his jacket and removed his pistols from their holsters. [color=9e0b0f]“After all it takes two to Tango, but I am thinking this is more of a Mamba!”[/color] While he was skilled at close-ranged fighting thanks to his heritage and bloodline, he was actually more of a marksmen at heart. [color=9e0b0f]“Now while I am normally into whips and chains, I am guessing that I don’t want to get close to hers. No problem… that is if you don’t mind keeping yourself between us.”[/color] It felt right to hold his babies again. Their cool body felt welcoming to his palms. He could channel his magic into the chambers, at a cost of course, but he would rather be patient with that.  The Advisor wouldn’t fall for any simple tricks now.


[color=9e0b0f]“Let’s rock this party!”[/color] he yelled out before firing off. Each shot screamed over the roar of battle around them. Hot lead flying towards the woman who caused his cousin to grieve. He wasn’t fighting for vengeance or anything that petty. He was fighting for his family and his nation as one. 


[b]”Every FUCKING time-!”[/b] Christopher yelled this as he rushed forwards. Just about what wasn’t entirely certain, but perhaps it had something to do with the fact he was the one who was, once again, running headlong into danger, lunging forwards.


The Advisor didn’t seem to care either way. Her whip snapped up, and in a strange, fluid movement she waved and turned the handle above her head; the whip itself snaked around, slicing through the air in curves directly around her, a protective coil that struck the bullets Jinn fired away… and in one case, straight at Christopher.

[b]”Shit-”[/b] Briefly, Christopher stumbled, but his approach continued even as he shouted back, [b]”WATCH WHERE YOU’RE SHOOTING DIVINESDAMMIT!”[/b] With that he finally leaped forwards, towards the Advisor. She was more than ready, snapping the whip out at him, striking him across the chest and sending him back.


However, Christopher had grabbed the whip with both hands, keeping her from pulling it back in immediately afterwards. When she yanked, it was enough to drag him across the ground a full two yards, but still his grip remained tight.


[b]”SHOOT HER ALREADY!”[/b]”


Yeah, she was no pushover. Sadly, Jinn thought that the Advisor would just go down nicely. He sighed as he saw he deflect his latest shot. Truly a waste of ammo, though at least he hit one thing. 


[color=9e0b0f]“Excuse you, that was not my fault,”[/color] he shouted back as he was already reloading. Jinn eyed one of the enchanted slugs, a small design of a cloud engraved onto the shell casing. [color=9e0b0f]‘I only got two shots, gotta make’em count as much as I can.’[/color] Christopher made the window of opportunity quite quickly. Jinn didn’t spur into motion until after the young warrior had shouted for him. [color=9e0b0f]‘Maybe… just maybe that last drink was a little bit too much…’[/color] Jumping forward, Jinn vaulted off of Christopher’s back and stood upon the whip. As unbalanced as he was, he still had skill and grace of his people. It took only a moment for him to regain his composure and aim down the Advisor. 


Compared to the last shot, this slug sounded like a thunderclap. It was deafening and explosive, sending Jinn rocking back. He landed in the dirt and dust but was quickly back on his feet behind Christopher. The bullet had grooves carved out of its shell that sent it spinning, whistling sharply, towards the woman. It’s backdraft sent the bullet flying faster than even Jinn’s eyes could see easily. He had to cover his face as a dust cloud covered the pair. [color=9e0b0f]“Welp, let’s hope I got her. I only have one more of those.”[/color] He paused as he held up his pistol, the barrel shattered from the force of the shell. It looked like a twisted flower, utterly useless and beyond repair at the current moment. [color=9e0b0f]“Also only got one of these, too.”[/color] Jinn tossed the pistol away and prepared the second slug just in case. 

[b]”I’M FUCKING DEAF DIVINESDAMMIT-!”[/b] Christopher held both of his hands around his ears, having lost a grip of the whip in the whole process of the slug being fired. He rolled around, straightened up some, looking towards the clearing dust.

[b]”... Oh, COME on already!”[/b] There the Advisor stood, completely unharmed. Jinn had missed, but not by any chance of fate; though her whip had been held by Christopher, it was a simple matter to cause it to fluctuate with a simple twist of her wrist, and at the very last moment sent his aim off. Behind her there was a broken crater, and briefly she glanced back towards it before lashing out.


The whip coiled around Christopher’s ankle, and before he could even begin to swear he was flung through the air, up and over the Advisor, and sent crashing down into the crater. There the swearing began properly, but the Advisor simply pulled the whip back towards her, holding the coil in her hand as she began walking towards the now alone Jinn.


[color=9e0b0f]“Huh,”[/color] was all he could summarize as he witnessed the proceeding events. [color=9e0b0f]“So, uh, truce? Parley? Mercy?... Not the face?”[/color] Things weren’t looking so good for the elf now. He unsheathed his blade, the steel singing as it extended to its length. He stood his ground, eased pose and lightly bounced from foot to foot. [color=9e0b0f]“Well I can guess from his swearing, Christopher is still alive.”[/color] He smirked and tilted his head to the side. [color=9e0b0f]“Why?,”[/color] he asked simply as he began to circle the Advisor.


While Jinn circled, the Advisor remained quite still, simply watching him with her eyes, her expression hidden thanks to the mask that covered the lower half of her face. [b]”The boy is the current pet of the Divine Ambrosia. Killing him now, while I still have business to do, will simply lead to me being caught. His death can be saved for closer to the last.”[/b]


He paused, confused look passing over his face. [color=9e0b0f]“So you are telling me that boy toy sir swears-a-lot over there is being watched over by a Divine?”[/color] He chuckled a bit and looked over at the crater. [color=9e0b0f]“You lucky sumofabitch! When this is all over, drinks at Ambrosia’s?”[/color] He wondered what kind of spirits a Divine carried in this personal stash, likely would actually cause him to blackout. However, first he had to deal with the Advisor. 


From what it appeared, she was all but untouchable. He still had regular rounds to play with, along with another enchanted slug and the Peace Maker. Though he lost Cassie, his right handed pistol. He felt her scream as the slug destroyed her body. It pulsated through his soul and thankfully sharpened his senses. Maria, the left handed pistol, still remained, gripped tight in his palm. [color=9e0b0f]‘How am I going to do this…,’[/color] he thought to himself as he sized up the Advisor. He blinked and tilted his head to the side. [color=9e0b0f]“You know,”[/color] he began as he relaxed his stance, [color=9e0b0f]“from this angle, you are way more pretty than I originally thought.”[/color] He gave a smirk and thumbed over his shoulder, towards the direct they marched from. “Wanna grab a drink and forget this whole ordeal?” 


[b]”I have no interest in cretins such as yourself.”[/b] In that very instant a black glow covered the whip entirely, a harsh one that almost caused one’s head to hurt upon seeing it. With a quick movement she snapped her weapon out to the side; instead of the usual hiss of the whip, the coil sliced through the air with something akin to a shrieking sound, and when it struck the ground the rock ruptured, blackness streaming upwards like smoke.


Suddenly, she brought the whip back towards herself, before lashing out at him with an intense speed, one hand held behind herself as she did so.


Ah, this was bound to happen. The hots ones normally did try and kill him eventually, such was life. Though, the dark aura was concerning. He spun to his side, wind whipping from beneath his jacket. [color=9e0b0f]“A simple no would have been fine!,”[/color] he cried out after stumbling a bit. Though he managed to move in time, his jacket wasn’t so lucky. The darkness streamed upwards in a vaporous form. He quickly tore the garment off and flung it towards her, as if a distraction would help him in this fight. Maria sang her song again as the elf fired two quick shots towards the Advisor. 


He had to stay in motion, he didn’t want to think what would happen if she landed a direct hit. He focused his magic inward, channeling it through his limbs and willed himself to move faster. He felt the wind carrying him as he danced around her, his every movement graceful and free. It brought a grin to his face despite the situation that he was currently in. [color=9e0b0f]“You know, now that I think about it? You remind me of something from my childhood.”[/color] His words were dripping with sickly sweet venom. It brought back painful memories, along with a sense of pride. [color=9e0b0f]“You ever hear of the term, [i]Eyeblight[/i]?”[/color]


[b]”You talk too much.”[/b] As he fired his shots, the whip was used defensively once again, striking short distances directly at the bullets, knocking them to the side; each bullet erupted withe the blackness and shattered to pieces. Once more, she drew the whip back, and-

[b]”I actually find myself agreeing with her at the moment, FUCKING BREAK DAMMIT-!”[/b]

Suddenly, she had to whirl, bringing the handle up to block a double-handed blow from Christopher as he dropped down from above, having leapt from the crater from just a moment before. On the point of contact, electricity crackled and exploded outward freely even as the black energy pushed back, erupting backwards from the point of contact.


With a shove she threw him back, him landing on the ground and sliding across with both arms raised. His clothes were covered in dirt, and scuffed and torn somewhat, but he was still kicking.


[color=9e0b0f]“Took ya long enough, did you enjoy your nap?”[/color] 


Jinn wasn’t actually sure of how long he could keep that farce up. Thankfully, he was correct in placing his faith on Christopher’s resilience and fortitude. [color=9e0b0f]“Christobell, you gotta be faster on your feet next time. How else would I dance without my partner?”[/color] His confidence doubled with his numbers. He began to hop from foot to foot again, his legs swinging from side to side. A stiff breeze kicked up before he ran towards the Advisor, his broadsword extending to its maximum length again. The sword hummed as as the elf’s magic wrapped around the blade, a violent surge of wind following its edge. Jinn lashed out, three swift strikes that cleaved through the air. His magic was as vibrate as a songbird’s wings, fluttering and flowing. 


[b]”Christob-?”[/b] Even as Christopher asked the question, the Advisor was moving. She dodged Jinn’s attacks with what seemed to be sudden twitches back and forth, and upon the third strike she ducked low, whirling around in the same moment to lash out towards Christopher. Really, it was his disbelief at Jinn’s general… mannerisms that got him hit in that moment, as his voice had allowed her to know exactly where he was approaching from, lashing him deeply in the chest. The scream from the whip increased upon impact with flesh, and Christopher was taken off his feet, throat rattling in surprise as both blood and black flew from his lips.


His resilience was once more underestimated by her though, because as soon as he hit the ground he was running again. An annoyed hiss left her as she quickly straightened, preparing; just before he reached him her leg lashed out, driving her heel into the still healing wound upon his chest, and once more knocking him off his feet. Even as he fell she whirled, whip snapping around in wide arc towards Jinn.


Jinn was worried about Christopher, the elf wasn’t sure how much longer the younger warrior could keep this up.  Frowning, the elf dropped his usually joyfulness. He scrambled forward and slide towards her to avoid the whip’s path, the blackness grazing his nose. He had to act, there was a small window before she brought that whip back. He thrust his blade forward and the magic that circled surged in front of him. The sectioned blade broke to pieces, carried by the magicked winds. The current guided the broken blade, spinning wildly, towards the Advisor. 


[color=9e0b0f]‘Ain’t no kill like overkill,’[/color] he thought to himself as Maria rose into his sight. He closed his eyes and his focused his thoughts onto his pistol. He saw what Maria saw, his vision became hers. [color=9e0b0f]“‘Five shots,”[/color] he whispered before pulling the trigger. Maria’s song sent shivers down his spine and left tingles in its wake. The vibrations was euphoric. He opened his eyes again as the bullets were in flight. They cut through the magic current as they travelled the distance between the Advisor and himself. 


The Advisor’s eyes narrowed, even as she moved. While she drew the whip back even as the counterattack came, her other hand went down, to a nearby corpse. When the tips of her fingers touched the back of the dead H’kelan man, a nasty shudder suddenly passed through the body. When the Advisor brought her hand up, the H’kelan came with it, held in front of her limply like a shield. Using the man as a shield, she blocked the bullets, before the pieces of the blade came as well, driving deeply into the body, puncturing armor with ease. With that she allowed the body to fall then, the fragments of blade being pushed entirely through upon impact. However, she had no mind for the now disposed of tool, lashing with her whip directly towards Jinn, with a quick blow.


His shocked expression couldn’t describe how he felt watching her, again, gain the upper hand on him. He felt the sharp pain of the whip cracking against his breastplate, a deep gash appearing. Crimson and blackness oozed down his chest from the wound. He laboured to breath, but managed to keep himself steady. Acting fast, he dropped his firing arm and grabbed for the whip. It cut his hand to the bone, but he refused to let go. [color=9e0b0f]“I may talk too much..., but you aren’t perfect either, ya cunt.”[/color] 


Though it pained him to lift what remained of his sword, the elf raised the hilt above his head. As slowly as the hilt rose, the scattered blade moved as well. His magic flickered back to life around the metal, spinning it rapidly once more to tear from the body. He wore a grin as wide as ever on his face. [color=9e0b0f]“You continue to underestimate us.”[/color] Slashing downward, Jinn sent the blades towards her. Each buzzed through the air like a saw. 


Briefly, the Advisor’s eyes widened, before she hissed. As the blades struck her, sawing into her and impaling her, she yanked her own arm back in the most violent movement she had made yet. Around Jinn’s hand the whip tightened, before easily shredding through flesh and snapping bone away as it tore his hand apart, flinging fingers in all directions. With her whip free, she lashed out again, this time across Jinn’s other hand to knock the hilt away from him before she began to walk forwards, towards him, repeatedly striking at him with her whip with each step.


He didn’t have the time to celebrate like he wished at first. He couldn’t even scream as he felt his fingers fly free of his hand. The shock was his only friend and he was alone in this new world of pain. It would seem as if Jinn pushed one of her buttons. He was defenseless as his hilt went flying. The first crack of the whip forced him to his knees, a new gash appearing across his chest. More followed as she continued her onslaught. His mouth was agape and he struggled to scream. With his last surviving hand, Jinn reached for Maria. The pistol tried to return to him as well, the magic of the object caused it to rock and shake. [color=9e0b0f]‘I.. I just need one more shot,’[/color] he thought to himself as he tried to formulate a plan of what to do next. 


He couldn’t compete however. The pain was too real and it caused him to flinch. He was growing desperate, looking for a solution. He knocked Maria aside, fumbling for the switch to eject her ammunition. [color=9e0b0f]“I wish to be at peace…,”[/color] his speech was strained and hissed through clenched teeth. He wasn’t sure if the Advisor was going to stop him or not, but he had to do something. Bullets spilled onto the ground before him, their casings jingling like a chime in the winds. He collected what he could and rolled onto his back to face her. Weakly, he tossed a bullet at her. Followed by a second and a third. [color=9e0b0f]“Is that all you got in yo-”[/color] he was interrupted by a deep racking cough. He covered his mouth with his fist, manners first of course, and glared at her as the fit passed. The Advisor didn’t respond, the whip simply cracking across his face once again. He turned his head from the force of the whip, but faced her once more. Along with the fresh wound, he wore a grin as wide as a fool. His teeth held the last enchanted slug he carried, the picture of a dragon’s maw engraved. [color=9e0b0f]“Never underestimate us,”[/color] he stated simply before he bit down as hard as he could. A large fireball appeared, following in the wake of a dragon’s roar, and enveloped the Advisor. 


The scream of the whip was silenced as the Advisor screamed out instead, one of rage rather than pain. As quickly as the fireball came it disappeared, leaving the Advisor behind; she wasn’t as burned as she should have been, but the way a black substance peeled away from her skin, burning as it did so, explained why. However, there was still plenty of places where the fire had made it to, such as along her left arm especially since she had brought that up to protect her face.


However, she was certainly alive, standing, and angry.


Jinn kept his grin as he laid, unconscious and bleeding out from numerous wounds. What skin wasn’t cut or bloody was burnt red. The pain became too much for him to remain in sound mind. Divines watch over him, in this dire hour, as the Advisor could have her way with him. Jinn, almost as if by fate or something crueler, moaned softly and his magic began to repair. He needed time and rest before he could fight again, but already his body was trying to halt the bleeding. 


The Advisor brought the whip up to make a killing blow, but it never fell as a weight suddenly jumped onto her. With his arms around her throat, both of Christopher’s hands found shards of sword metal to stab even deeper into the Advisor, making her snarl and thrash back and forth. After a moment, she reached up, grabbing him by the head and throwing him around, away from her.


[b]”Will you just sit patiently and wait to die?!”[/b]


[b]”Fuck off, bitch.”[/b]