Moerae listened to the human’s citation of the game terms with a flat expression. Having steeled herself in preparation for a twisted sort of game in which humans would undoubtedly die, she was surprised to learn that the terms were rather… simple and fair.

“Firstly, what do I get if I win?” Moerae asked, looking at the human. “Will you release the rest of the humans?”

"What do you get? Why, a pat on the back and a well done of course!" The human laughed at that, it was in contrast with the utter dread plastered on some of the others in the line of chosen humans but no one else seemed to join in with him. "Ahem. My master has agreed to free every single human in this village, he wishes to explore other parts of the world and has grown tired of this particular spot." The human believed as much as he was told but in truth it was only those who had been selected for this game of his that would be allowed to live, everyone else would be slaughtered.

[i]He's not lying,[/i] Moerae thought, recognizing the truth in the human's voice. [i]He's repeating some line the Yoma fed him. So nothing he says can be trusted. However, there's nothing I can do right now that would keep all the humans safe other than to play by their terms.[/i]

Giving the human a firm nod to signify that she accepted the game's terms, the female Claymore turned to the row of ten. Humans and Yoma standing side by side, seven cowering in terror and three feigning it. Moerae blinked, releasing a bit of her Yoki — just enough so that her eyes would be able to perceive the finer fluctuations of Yoki in the row.

[i]Yoki surpression — I'm surprised the Yoma know of such skills,[/i] Moerae thought as she scanned the row. [i]Still, they found a rather poor partner to play this particular game with.[/i]

At the academy, each Claymore was made clear of their skills and talents. While Moerae was skilled at many things — swordsmanship, for one, but all Claymore were — there were two skills in which she had special apititude for: Yoki manipulation and Yoki perception. Even among her peers, it had been clear that she'd been among the — if not [i]the[/i] — most talented at Yoki perception. 

Taking such into account, the Yoma had indeed chosen the wrong Claymore to play this game with. While the higher-ranking members of the group — Raynald, without a doubt, was more proficient at perceiving Yoki than the upstart female — perhaps had skills on par with or slightly more refined than Moerae, she definitely was not the worst off in the group. But the Yoma wanted to play with the newest member of the Claymore ranks, so Moerae would enlighten them to the fact that she was no mere newcomer they could feel comfortable playing with.

Unsheathing her sword, Moerae walked over to the line of ten and — without batting an eye — slashing the throats of the two closest to her. Screams immediately filled the air, the children clutching onto those closest to them and the older humans glaring at the white-haired girl defiantly to let her know that they would protect their children.

Moerae took in their glares silently before turning and driving her claymore into an elderly man who slumped down, teeth — no, fangs — bared in death. [i]I wouldn't hurt a human,[/i] she thought, frowning. [i]So why're they so afraid? Do they too look down on my skills?[/i]

"That should be it, right?" Moerae asked, looking to the human in charge. Three bodies laid around her, two finishing their gurgling and one with a slowly growing puddle of murky red forming below it. "Three Yoma, per the terms."

[hr][@lazarus]