[center][h1][color=goldenrod]Kichi Takada[/color][/h1][/center]
[@NiceSpice] [@Thanarosa] [@blackdragon]

[color=goldenrod]"Well, the stakes just got higher..."[/color] Kichi muttered, leaping to avoid a shadow tendril, landing in a crouch. She'd never seen so many Vices in one place before. Then again, she'd only been on a few other hunts, and considering the location it shouldn't be a surprise. A place where workers ground away like their machines, struggling to keep afloat as those favoured by fate rose to crush them. An atmosphere of defeat, all too much like at home.

Glimpsing the figure at the window, the feline-featured girl sprang back up. [color=goldenrod]"Don't ya worry! Your streak of bad luck breaks here!"[/color] In her transformed state, even if she were closer, he wouldn't hear her. At most, as the Keeper had told her, an ordinary human may be vaguely aware of background chatter that they wouldn't give a second thought. Still, calling out bolstered her spirits, and hopefully those of her allies - of whom there were more than she expected.

Kichi spun round as two other girls entered the fray, one running forward in a blur of black, white and purple frills, the other hurtling down like a fiery shooting star. Another wave, and golden outlines appeared around them, as well as Kichi herself. [color=goldenrod]"That'll tip things in our favour!"[/color] Her playful grin returned. [color=goldenrod]"Not that we'll need it!"[/color]

A set of black knife-like claws sprouted from her fingertips. Pouncing, she lashed with them, catching a smaller Vice just as it tried to dodge. That luck boost was paying off, by the looks of it, but she could already feel the strain.

[color=goldenrod]"Ugh..."[/color] As she landed, she faltered. Maybe the blessing on that many people at once hadn't been such a good idea.

[hr]
[center][h1][color=royalblue]Aki Harigae[/color][/h1][/center]
[@NiceSpice] [@Thanarosa] [@blackdragon]

As the two new arrivals slashed with knife and sword, engaging the main Vice in close combat, Aki let her magic tingle down her arms to light the Celestial Beacon's stars, and swung. Not only did she strike her target, the weapon obliterated a weaker Vice that crept from the shadows towards the girl with the rose-thorn knife. The larger creature recoiled, cloak smouldering, its smaller comrade reduced to fading wisps and a splinter of black crystal on the ground. The extra luck seemed to be the advantage the team needed, but what was it doing to Kichi?

A glance to the side gave Aki the answer. [color=royalblue]"Hold on, Kichi,"[/color] she called, drawing on a different kind of power as she prepared to renew the girl's waning strength. Before she could, the Vice surged forward, black fog gushing from its mouth and eye sockets. The substance filled the air until barely a thing could be seen. Stumbling, peering through darkness, Aki yelped as a purple hand shot out, raking claws along her side.

She gritted her teeth. It was probably only because of Kichi's blessing that the wound hadn't been deeper. Even though she could still sense the Vices, she couldn't pinpoint them. Too much stress and pain to focus. Not enough time. She did, however, have one way to tell where they were. A luminous sphere swelled in front of her. [color=royalblue]"Guide us to nearby Vices,"[/color] she commanded. Wincing from the movement, she brought her staff down in the direction the orb drifted. A hissing crackle sounded upon impact, that feeling of desolation lifting a little from the area.

Already, the shadow substance began to thin from the lights, revealing shapes that encroached on the team. [color=royalblue]"I'll clear as much of this as I can,"[/color] she called, catching glimpses of gold like stars peeking from behind clouds. [color=royalblue]"And we've got to act quickly, while these auras last."[/color]