[@Bushman501], [@Guess Who], [@Enkryption], [@Suku]
	[color=1ABFD6][b]"Come now, there's no need for threats here. I'm certain a wise man such as The Great Xerxes sees the benefits of mutual cooperation, as well as negotiation."[/b][/color] Makoto's words rang out to the Rider perched atop his elephant, the look of utmost disdain plastered on his face. [color=DDA0DD][b]"You think fit to demand compromise? I've laid the terms of negotiation clearly; Your servitude for your lives."[/b][/color] Xerxes said, giving a dissapointed sigh. [color=DDA0DD][b]"Regrettable...I have no need for someone that makes me repeat myself."[/b][/color] the Persian King of Old spoke, before the elephant's massive trunks slammed into Makoto's gut faster than he could see, the boy being swiftly flung almost entirely through the wall of the gymnasium, having landed and impacted against the bleachers on the opposite side, crumpled over in pain as he clutched at his bleeding shoulder. 

With that taken care of, he glowered at Rebecca, very clearly looking down on her. [color=DDA0DD][b]"Oh? And you intend to kill me then, Mongrel woman?" [/b][/color] he asked, before an axe materialized in his hand, deftly blocking the surprise attack. However, in the brief clash, Rebecca could feel that their strength was roughly the same, given that neither seemed able to budge the other, her attempt at a quick ending to the fight interrupted by the elephant he was riding atop grabbing her leg with its trunk, and swiftly slamming her down onto the ground. Rearing back, the Elephant was attempting to stamp down directly onto her body; A certainly fatal blow, if this beast was a noble phantasm, given its enormous size and weight. [color=DDA0DD][b]"Crush her, and let all rebellion be crushed in an instant! Bellow, my [i]Pērōz Pīru[/i]!"[/b][/color] Xerxes said, an almost gleeful smile plastered on his face, the slightest sadistic light shining in his eyes as the elephant tried to slam down with all of its weight. [color=DDA0DD][b]"Witness the fate of all that choose rebellion over my rule!"[/b][/color] he shouted, as his elephant let out an ear piercing cry, its gilded tusks shining in the overhead fluorescent lights as it sought to crush Rebecca entirely.

What he failed to notice however, was that Maggie was almost immediately upon him, close enough to the elephant to interfere if she desired...or just attack it regardless. 

[hr]

	Reeling and still attempting to move after being so forcefully dispatched, Makoto narrowed his eyes as he struggled to rise even to his knees. That elephant...it was immune to his alchemy. In the instant that it made contact with him, he'd attempted to turn its trunk into stone, but every attempt made in that brief milisecond of contact was thwarted at the atomic level. This elephant must have incredibly high resistance to magic in general...

[color=FFC300][i]"What will you do, Makoto? If I recall, medicines are mentioned in pages 34-97, as well as 211-257...[/i][/color] his class card whispered into his mind, the highschool boy grunting as he struggled to move forward, looking rather pathetic as he shuffled over to a water bottle and took hold of it, abandoned in the bleachers. Opening up Zosimos' tome, he got to work on making a potion...hopefully before it was too late, or Xerxes decided he should die sooner rather than later. [color=1ABFD6][i]"Need to heal and run...they can...they can beat him...I hope..."[/i][/color] he thought to himself, looking up from his personal crater, already looking defeated. Seeing Rebecca about to be crushed, he shut his eyes behind his veil, unable to stop what was about to happen...

[hr] 

Still behind the bleachers, Tsukiya clutched her class card to her chest, hesitating as she hid. For one reason or another, she just couldn't work the courage up. In spite of her class card's vocalized objections, she couldn't find it in her to install now.