[center][img]https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/konosuba/images/5/5e/Kazuma_ln.png/revision/latest?cb=20160408181149[/img] [h1]Jack Riverside[/h1][/center] Racing alongside the riverbank, Jack gave his legs a burst of speed, unhesitating and sure of where to head. His connection to Fran was something that went beyond even the bond of a Master and a Servant, it was the connection of a piece of one’s soul to the whole. As his Noble Phantasm, Fran was something he could locate and run towards. Make it in time. He had to make it. Faster. [i]Faster![/i] [center][img]https://cdnb.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/009/223/545/large/jisun-baek-.jpg?1517801007[/img] [h2]Fran Riverside[/h2][/center] She was running. Why wouldn’t she be running? The world was coming to an end around her. Make it to the port. Make it there, and she could leave. Leave this hellhole and get to a new life. So why? Why was she hesitating? “[b]FRAN![/b]” Ah. Yes. Looking back, she saw the figure of Jack approaching at rapid speeds. Calling out to her as he ran with a desperation she’d never seen or felt from him before. Jack. Her lover. Her savior. Murderer. Thief. But in the end, someone who made a promise to her. A promise that she would call on now, to escape, to run away together- Her voice caught in her throat. His hands. What had happened to his hands? Stopping in front of her, Jack moved and wrapped her up in a hug, strong and desperate and full of panic. The hug was brief, as Jack moved back and looked her straight in the eye and spoke. “Fran. We can’t run. If we run, we’ll escape for a short while- but it won’t mean we’ll be safe. What happens after this place falls? The rest of the world follows.” Jack’s face looked like he had just been forced to swallow a bitter pill, and had been told it would have decent odds of killing him as much as it did curing any ails he had. “Which means we’ve only got one option. We have to stand here, stand now and help the others who remain here to take it on. It’s the best option we have. If I could get us out of here safely, trust me, I’d wish for nothing more than to ensure you’d be safe. But in this case, that means stopping this threat. Here. We’d never be safe if we ran.” “We’d never be able to settle down.” His words stung at her. When he’d promised to make her happy, he’d known. He’d known what happened, what he’d done. And now, he was here, telling him she couldn’t run away, had to [i]fight this[/i]- “I love you Fran.” She- “I love you, and this threat won’t take you away from me.” He turned on his heel, facing the gathered monsters that were approaching them. A blade materialized, blade pointed into the ground, hilt facing the sky. Jack reached out- winced and flinched. His hands. He’d forgotten- Jack grit his teeth. He leaned down, picking up the blade with his teeth. Desperation. But the look in his eyes, it said he would not stop. He would not back down. For her. Jack must have noticed her doubts. He gave her a smile. - [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTQoFPmC7ZA][b]Enough[/b][/url]. She stepped forward. He was right. It was time to stop running. Time to show she had faith in him. Time to show the world what she was. Who they were. She put her hands on where his hands formerly were. She breathed, and knew he would understand. A [i]pull[/i]. And the world changed. [center][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/452166458617757716/489607177603121153/JACKISBACK.png?width=623&height=623[/img] [@Paradox Witch][/center] The crackle and burst of lightning, followed by the crash of thunder. Spheres of electricity pooled at his stumps, forming globes of energy. Raw, untamed thunder. The light of the Human Order burned bright. “I am Lightning, the Thief transformed.” “I shall obliterate the obstacles that stand between me and the dream of a more peaceful world.” [center][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/342829614500151300/458777863991328778/Kosara.png?width=714&height=649[/img] [h3]Kosara Vietnam Swamp, Southern Moor[/h3] [@BlueHelix][/center] There was only one way to properly describe the current situation. A complete and utter clusterfuck. The information she had heard from her fox that was still at the meeting had solidified her understanding that everything was currently going to hell right now. Damnit. Her purpose here had been to come and observe- simply to learn and try and understand what the function of the Summoning Ritual was like. But now, everyone was under siege. Everyone was under fire, and they couldn’t be expected to give aid to all others in there state. Damnit. “If anyone is able to spare forces for the Swamp in the Southern Moor, then it is possible that my Servant, combining forces with others, could hold off greater forces using the advantage of our own terrain and territory.” She grimaced as she prepared for the next part. “We are one of the pairs closest to ground zero. Once a method to properly deal with the enemies has been discovered and applied, the territory can be moved to the surrounding area in Shinto in order to buy as much time for people who will work on bolstering the seal while close to it. With more forces, we could likely hold off more. As for now, we will be holding our own here. End Communications.” There was no time. “Rider, you know what to do. Defend.” The oni she had made would be assisting him. She doubted it would be enough. But she prayed that it would be.