[center][hr] [img]https://i.imgur.com/O6MhssR.png[/img] [b][color=6ecff6]Level 2[/color][/b] - (16/20) EXP [b][color=6ecff6]Location:[/color][/b] Peach's Castle, Sewer Dungeon [b][color=6ecff6]Word Count:[/color][/b] 909 [sub][b][color=6ecff6]"[u]It's On Like 1981! - Pt 1[/u]"[/color][/b][/sub][/center] [hr] Geno threw the light disks at his opponent in just the knick of time. One of his disks was successful in cutting through the chained flail that was bound straight for his neck. However, while the doll was still hit by the painful loose chain - striking his left arm - any concentrated strength locked within it was lost. He definitely saved himself from loosing an arm. Having now taken care of the immediate threat, it was time for Geno to go on the offensive as he fires a volley of beam attacks from his arm cannon. Mario was forced to go on the defensive as he raised the remnants of his flail to shield himself from fire, but consequently - to the star warrior's good will - made himself completely vulnerable to the light disks that were boomeranging back towards him. The double disks both made their mark on the plumber, slicing deep into the opponent's back. While they didn't have enough power to penetrate him fully, they were more than enough to make him loose his guard. And in a stroke of both accuracy and luck, one of Geno's shots succeeded in hitting his forehead, causing his iconic "M" hat to fly off before another shot placed a hole straight in the middle of it. The star warrior continued to give all that he had - regretting every second of it - as it seemed that he finally had gained the upper hand in this brawl. He only hoped that this would end soon. Yet this battle was far from over. Not even close for that matter. For when Geno saw his old friend's eyes for a brief second, he saw nothing but cold-blooded rage. His heart sunk deep into his wooden chest - knowing that what he did was only ticking him off. His opponent would reach behind his back to reveal a bright yellow cape, and with a single swipe, he furled it around him and deflected two of Geno's shots. Not expecting it, the doll's slowness to react caused the first shot to scrap his right side, however giving him the sudden jolt to dodge the second one that whizzed straight by his head. He clenched his lightly-burnt side before looking upon Mario's counter attack. However, it wasn't what he expected to see at all, as he witnessed the creation of a great wall of fire that hurdled straight towards him. Knowing full well of the dire consequences in getting hit - especially of someone being consisted of wood - Geno narrowly dodged the great flame by madly staging to the left. The flame wall ruthlessly stormed through everything that was in its way, even being powerful enough to break the wall that lead to another cell next to it. The star warrior quickly got up as he found himself inwrapped in a field of smoke and debris which emanated from the blast. He considered taking advantage of the situation and hide within the cover of the next room, until he saw another familiar face emerge from the darkness. [center][b][i][color=6ecff6]"[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCQBtMlW0CM][color=6ecff6]Oh great, not him...[/color][/url]"[/color][/i][/b][/center] Geno had met Donkey Kong in person long ago, but he never expected to find him here in all places. Then again, he knew he heard something familiar about those cries when he was patrolling the sewers. Perhaps it would've been better if he had checked it out first after all - at least to know what he got himself into. Too late for that. And with Mario coaxing the big ape to join the battle, the doll knew that he was out-matched. Sure the big ape was slow, but with strength infamous for breaking infinite amounts of barrels effortlessly - and even punching a moon straight out of orbit, according to one rumor - and with Mario making it up with his speed, battling the duo 2v1 in his current state is an unwise endeavor. The doll looked over to the ape with a non-threatening outlook, although considering how the ape felt more familiar to the corrupted plumber than to him, he figured that it would prove worthless against him. There was only one thing he could do now... [b][color=6ecff6]"DK..."[/color][/b] Geno motioned slowly with his arms in the air, [b][color=6ecff6]"I know what it looks like, but trust me. As an old friend of his..."[/color][/b] He'd pause for a brief second before he gleamed at him with eyes of utter regret. [center][b][i][color=6ecff6]"[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZF7Q6RRtxmw][color=6ecff6]He isn't himself.[/color][/url]"[/color][/i][/b][/center] And before letting the two veterans decide on what to do, the star warrior's thrusters sprung to life as he made a mad dash towards the cell's exit. Whilst he quickly moved forward, he seemed to have obliviously passed the barred exit that lead to the ground floor of the castle, as he proceeded into the dark catacombs of the dungeon. One would think that Geno's panic had made him loose sense of direction and logic, but the doll had other plans. He wasn't going to let his old friends rot within their madness inside such a dank and depressing location. Not just yet. Not until he at least attempts to find something that may free them. And he's going to explore the entire dungeon until he finds something valuable or bust out with nothing. Geno knew full well that it's a foolish endeavor - a suicide mission for that matter - and he normally wouldn't do it for anyone else. But these two were an exception. An exception he was willing to undertake... Even with his life on the line.