[center][img]http://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/dHRmLjk2LjA4YTExZi5WbWx1WkdGdWFTQmFZVzFoYmcsLC4wAAAA/ananda-neptouch-2.regular.png[/img][/center] [center]-and-[/center] [center][img]http://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/dHRmLjk2LjA4MDhhMS5TMnhoY21FZ1IzSnBiVzlzWm1SdmRIUnBjZywsLjE,/runytunesrevisited.regular.png[/img][/center] [hr] [hr] The scene outside the arena was so chaotic that few people took notice of the naga slithering up the outside stairs, weaving her way towards the upper observation deck. It was all going according to plan, she thought to herself with a wry smile as she knocked bodies aside, flesh and metal alike, on her way upwards. She recognized the ki of the doctor that fought the Jotunn, locked in combat with another nomad, no doubt greedily chasing after their precious prize money. In time one of them would win, and whoever left with the prize first...well, they weren't going to get to enjoy their money for long. The crowds thinned as she neared the top, and by the time Vindani slithered onto the observation deck the area was abandoned. Amidst the chaos below, Vindani spotted the Doctor trading blows with his opponent, the ninja with the dual blades. Sliding her way up to the window to get a look, she pondered the both of them trading blows. Both of them were fast and agile, good with the blades and difficult to trap. As she analyzed their fighting styles, she guessed that she could take either of them down easily once they were weakened from the fight; it was only a matter of catching them. Luckily, while she herself was not a teleporter like they were, it was a shortcoming she was prepared to overcome. After all, what Collector would not have the items needed to chase down a ki user? Tilting her head slightly, she observed the doctor's clones gathering the prize money with bemusement. She couldn't tell which one had the Piece, otherwise she would have taken out the clone and vanished with the prize before the Doctor even noticed, but that didn't matter. It would be so much simpler to kill the original and sort through the ashes later. As she started to ponder how best to kill each fighter, something moved behind her. Vindani only just got out of the way as another robot, painted black like a stereotypical ninja, struck from the shadows, missing her chest with his deadly blade by inches and slicing through her robes. Realizing a second too late where that blade struck, she watched with wide-eyed horror as the gemstone on a chain slipped out of her pocket, falling to the ground with a clatter, inches away from an opening in the booth where an errant attack had blasted open the wall overlooking the stands. [color=39b54a]"Retrieve it!"[/color] she commanded, allowing the cobra to fall from her arms as she swung her tail around to knock the robot off balance. Reaching for the cobra as it picked up the gemstone in its mouth, the machine, assuming that the gem would have been an escape method, sprung a kunai from its arm an aimed it at the snake. It caught the energy serpent on the back of the head as it crawled along, pitching the snake, gemstone and all, right over the edge. Vindani threw herself to the ground to catch it, the snake's tail brushing past her fingertips as it fell into the arena below, just in time to notice that the doctor and his ninja opponent vanish from the arena. [color=39b54a]"You.....[i]IMBECILE[/i]!!!"[/color] The ninja robot tried to leap out of the way but was caught again by Vindani's tail, wrapping around it like a thickly coiled rope as Vindani towered over the robot, teeth bared and eyes glowing with unbridled fury as the serpents rose up around her, ready to strike. [color=39b54a] "Tell me, you inept machine..."[/color] Vindani asked, icy venom dripping from her voice with every syllable. [color=39b54a]"Do you know what it's like to suffer?"[/color] She leaned in until she was inches away from the unblinking machine's face and whispered. [color=39b54a]"Let us find out..."[/color] She constricted her tail around the machine, wrapping herself tighter and tighter as the robot tried to struggle. Parts of it started to crack and deform as she squeezed, the lights behind the eyes flickering as the machine devolved into violent twitching, inky black oil leaking from every opening. Vindani smiled vindictively, imagining the scrunching of metal was a scream... "Hey there you are, boss, I...whoah..." Katsuko skidded to a halt at the sight of her boss compressing a robot to death with a particularly cruel look on her face. "Uh...what are you doing, ma'am?" In response, Vindani pulled herself tighter and the robot gave a shuddering lurch and keeled over, leaking oil profusely from a gash in between its dead eyes. [color=39b54a]"Teaching a lesson," [/color]Vindani sneered, contemptuously throwing the corpse of the machine out the remains of the window with a crash. [color=39b54a]"Damned machines...the humans and their invention have caused nothing but trouble."[/color] "I don't know, I like the guns," Katsuko started before receiving a look from Vindani that said quite plainly that the kitsune would be the next one out the window if she didn't stop talking. [color=39b54a]"The Piece has alluded me, for now,"[/color] Vindani mused. "But perhaps this has not been a total loss..." "What do you mean?" [color=39b54a]"The doctor, Jonas...he is forming a group of Nomads,"[/color] Vindani explained, her usual demeanor returning as she slid past a curious Katsuko. [color=39b54a]"And if he learns about the Piece and tries to hunt for more of them..."[/color] "Ooh, I like the way you think boss..." Katsuko said, rubbing her hands together in excitement. "We keep tabs on 'em and have them do the work for us. Can I tail the wolf girl with all the big guns?" [color=39b54a]"You will do what I tell you to do and nothing else," [/color]Vindani spat back, swinging in close as she spoke. [color=39b54a]"And right now the doctor's mutt is not your concern. The Jotunn is."[/color] "The big girl made of ice? Klara Somethingorother?" [color=39b54a]"Yes, her,"[/color] Vindani clarified.[color=39b54a] "She did not win the prize as I expected because of this attack, but Klara is not a pawn I am willing to surrender to the Court this early, nor do I want her new friends to become aware of the Court. As for the Piece...the doctor can hold it for us until the next one is retrieved. When the time comes, it will be a simple matter to take it back."[/color] "So it's back to the shadows then," Katsuko pondered. "Just like always, right boss?" Vindani simply smiled as the pair of them headed for the door, their forms changing again as they took on disguise. [color=39b54a]"The Pieces are in view, Acolyte," [/color]Vindani said. [color=39b54a]"We return to shadows today...but in time, the light will be ours again."[/color] [hr] [color=00aeef]"Bring me more!"[/color] Klara demanded with a triumphant laugh as she pitched another robot into a wall, smashing it to bits. [color=00aeef]"By Valhalla, I haven't had this much fun in ages!"[/color] Indeed, she wasn't lying. Driven into the streets by the swarm of hostile robots like the rest of the crowd gathered for the tournament, Klara had responded by doing what she did best; fighting. Klara never had the experience of fighting swarms of opponents, preferring the honorable one on one fighting she had done with other Nomads, but she was quickly learning to adapt. There were not skilled enemies, and many of them barely came up past her shoulders, but through sheer numbers they were providing an enjoyably cathartic fight, making her feel like a viking warrior of old as she cleaved her way through them, leaving a trail of ice behind her from all her totems and ki abilities. Sadly, whether because the invasion was dying down or the robots decided that taking her out wasn't worth the effort, the horde of robots began to thin as Klara kept thundering through their ranks. Finally, as Klara threw a larger robot into a wall and sent a totem smashing into it, she turned around to see the robots retreating away from her. [color=00aeef]"Was that all you could muster?"[/color] Klara taunted the retreating machines, letting out a triumphant, hearty laugh. [color=00aeef]"Come on, maybe one of you will be the one to beat me!" [/color]This of course was highly unlikely. Sure she had a few scratches on her face from a lucky hit and she had fought so intensely that her jacket was damp with sweat and her whole body was beginning to ache, but it was incredibly obvious that she was far from outfought. Only slightly dismayed by the fact that her opponents weren't going to be swayed by that taunt, Klara took a moment to rest, tugging her coat off her shoulders as wisps of steam rose from her now bare arms. [color=00aeef]"Alas, but it was a good fight," [/color]Klara remarked to no one in particular, stretching her neck as she walked. [color=00aeef]"And a well earned victory! Now to find the others..."[/color] "A finer brawl, mine eyes have rarely seen..." Klara paused, startled someone by the sudden voice ringing out; feminine, but with an odd buzzing tinge that made her uneasy. Turning on the spot, she looked around, trying to pinpoint who it belonged to. [color=00aeef]"Uh, hello there,"[/color] Klara greeted the unseen stranger curiously. [color=00aeef]"Have we met before?"[/color] "We are naught but strangers, but perhaps we could be more." Klara turned again and nearly jumped as she spotted the lone figure standing in the street before her. She was unremarkable, short for a human and wearing patchwork jeans and a plain blue hoodie, the hood pulled over her low-hanging head so she couldn't see her face. "Pardon, the spell has lost its luster. I do not wish to alarm..." The girl fidgeted and something dropped from her sleeve. As it fell, Klara caught a glimpse of a shining gem as it turned dull in midair, fragmenting as it hit the ground. [color=00aeef]"What spell?"[/color] Klara demanded, unnerved by the odd girl's behavior. [color=00aeef]"Who exactly are you, friend?"[/color] "Friend?" she repeated, still appearing to fidget on the spot. Klara wasn't sure, but it looked like she was getting a little taller with each jerking movement. "You are trusting. Could you be her..." [color=00aeef]"What do you mean?"[/color] "I...was told to find the Jotunn," the mysterious girl stammered out, doubling over as the fidgeting grew worse. Suddenly crying out in pain, Klara heard something creaking in the girl's body as she finally raised her head to look at her. Klara recoiled in shock and broke into her fighting stance. Those eyes...they were not human. "Is...[color=ed1c24]that a dagger I see before me?"[/color] The girl unleashed a battle cry and lunged at the ice giantess, insectoid wings bursting from her back.