[center][h3]Tora & Poppi[/h3]
[b]Level 5 Tora[/b] - (18/50) EXP and [b]Level 4 Poppi[/b] - (16/40) EXP 
[b]Location:[/b] the Land of Adventure
[b]Word Count:[/b] 687
[@DracoLunaris][@Stekkmen][/center]

The overreaction on the koopas' part went almost unacknowledged, with how harmless it turned out, though it did earn a few looks from everyone up to Quinn and Valor. Given what they knew of Bowser's 'army' after seeing it in action both in 1-1 and as the koopas' strikers, neither Tora nor Poppi really believed his claim of conquering the galaxy. Maybe the galaxy where Bowser was from was really small? Really weak? Or those spurious claims served as mere self-aggrandizement. The Nopon looked to his blade for insight, but she shook her head, and both continued to listen. They trudged along, considering his assertions and excuses. For his part Tora looked pleased as punch for Bowser to refer to him as 'big hero business', while Poppi wondered why Bowser would be straight-up telling the heroes, his supposed enemies, that he was biding his time around them. Then again, the big lug contributed a lot when it came to raw strength, and every bit counted. When Bowser finished by turning the question on Tora, however, his joy subsided.

Features hard, he began his reply. “Meh meh. Baddies for Tora and Jin, Malos, Ahkos, Patroka, Mikhail. For starters, Jin kill Rex-Rex by stabbing in back. He and Malos try to steal Pyra, and almost kill entire crew of innocent Trade Guild divers just doing job, meh. Also murder many Ardanian soldiers to steal Core Crystals, kill kindlypon Fan, and biggipon Vandham. So far, ultimate goal seems to be destroy world. Silly in many worlds, meh, but much easy in Alrest, where all land is Titans.” His scrunched-up face looked angrier than the others had ever seen it. “If Tora and Poppi see Torna baddies, we beat 'em good, Rex-Rex or no!”

After that, Tora did not much feel like talking. The group continued in relative quiet until they reached the forest, and from there it did not take long to rediscover the conspicuous baurun herd. Hiding in the underbrush, Poppi pointed them out with an extended finger. “That them, lady huntress.” Following the artificial blade's direction, Quinn sized up the creatures with an expert eye. Formidable creatures, but to a seasoned veteran like herself, child's play. It seemed almost a shame to do all the work for these people, hunting her prey while they stood at the sidelines.

She flipped her crossbow around and handed it to Poppi. “Here.” Poppi's orange eyes went wide. With a little encouragement, though, she took it, and Quinn helped to guide her aim toward an isolated bull. “See that thick mane? No chance of piercing the throat. But the sides of its head...its eye...strike it there and it's as good as dead. Precision, and patience...wait for the perfect opportunity and strike true.” After a few more moments Poppi pulled the trigger. The bolt fired off with a [i]twang[/i], but sunk into the bull's mane. It roared in surprise, stomping the ground as it tried to locate its attacker. Poppi nonchalantly passed the crossbow back, and with a slight smile Quinn went to work.

Darting out from the brush, she let loose a bolt into the bull's head. From the trees, Valor swooped down in a blue flash, and from the point his talons struck a glowing yellow targeting reticle blossomed. Quinn's next trigger pull launched three bolts, needling the bull as she ran forward, and with nimble strength she performed a flip-kick on the baurun to vault off its head and into the air. From behind her Valor dove in, gouging the beast's eyes. It opened its mouth to bellow, and Quinn fired off a final bolt into its gullet that tore through its organs. A moment later the bull collapsed, dead but intact.

“Get carving,” the huntress said, breaking the silence that fell over the woods after the beast breathed its last. “Even with all my effort, it won't be around long. Then if you feel like it, give hunting a shot. I'll get enough by myself to satisfy this order of yours, but you all could use some practice.” So saying, the woman and the eagle got back to work.

[center][h3]Euden[/h3]
[b]Location:[/b] Land of Adventure
[@Gentlemanvaultboy] [@Stern Algorithm] [@MULTI_MEDIA_MAN] [@TruthHurts22][/center]

As Linkle listened to him, Euden stowed the last armful of vegetables in the hipcloth he'd taken off to use as a makeshift bag. It took some stretching to tie up, but it didn't look like it'd break, and of course he didn't mind repurposing the garment. He patted her chocobo as she replied, mulling over her words. So, not from Alberia. She tugged on one of her ears, blonde-furred in the same color as her hair, as she started to explain they weren't hers. The way she trailed off, however, left Euden full of questions. Not being a Sylvan he understood well enough, but not being born with ears like those? They looked real enough, after all, so the prince abounded with questions. Unfortunately Linkle ended up handwaving her exposition as a long story. “I...see.” Still full of curiosity and slightly let down, he nevertheless gave her a sympathetic smile when she recalled her awakening in the world. Evidently, that winged dancer hailed from the same world as her, at least approximately. As for him, other than the blacksmith sisters, there was nothing from his world. As it occurred to him, the thought made him berate himself. [i]That's not right,[/i] he corrected. [i]There's nothing from my world so far.[/i]

He glanced back to see Din and Geralt in conversation, catching a glance from the Witcher while doing so. In the fight, that man displayed some magical ability, but Euden couldn't quite place it. Normally, he would have been ecstatic to watch Geralt in action, but in that deadly skirmish there'd been no chance. On the flipside, though, fighting alongside the man seen by many as a sort of hero had changed his opinion. He was superhuman, certainly, but not a superhero. More than anything, he was a warrior, smart and practical, yet tired. Not physically, but in other ways. He didn't need kids' idolization. So, Euden resolved to give him respect instead.

Instead of bothering him, then, Euden turned his face to the road. Lumbridge wasn't too far away. From here, he could barely make out the hill frequented by the wandering warrior since his stay. Moreso, however, he could see a small group of people hurrying their way. “Oh,” he murmured, narrowing his eyes. “That's...”

After another couple minutes, the two groups collided. The others turned out to be two women and a man, first among them a [url=https://cdnb.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/020/138/855/large/dak-kalot-hilda-color-fn-fix-01.jpg?1566522370]girl[/url] Phoenix might recognize. “Oh, thank goodness!” she gushed, “You're alright! I felt sooo bad about ducking out, I ended up going to ask for more help in case you guys got hurt.”

The pistol-wielder of the three, a yellow-haired [url=http://wiki.mizuumi.net/images/thumb/1/16/BLASTR_curly_5L.png/175px-BLASTR_curly_5L.png]girl[/url] who appeared inorganic, glanced everyone over. “Looks like they found some more help. And everyone's more or less alright, too.” Crossing his arms in approval, the [url=https://www.smashbros.com/assets_v2/img/fighter/dq_hero/main.png]third[/url] smiled, nodding.  However, the robot girl's gaze turned angry as she looked back at her pink-haired acquaintance. “Still, Hilda. That was reckless. Any quests put up by the Houndmaster are much harder than they should be. If you were scared, you shouldn't have let them go on their own. Especially that guy.” She singled out Phoenix.

Hilda looked about ready to melt under her accusor's gaze. She knew there could be no excuses, no matter her reasoning. “Yeah...I'm sorry. Really. Next time, I'll be right there with ya.”

The reassurance seemed to satiate Curly. “Make sure you do. It's on every one of us to make sure we all make it out of this place.” She turned to the heroes. “Good work then, folks. And it even looks like you went above and beyond, gathering supplies. Here, we'll help you out. Where's it going?”

Euden, not knowing himself, glanced to the others for an answer.

[center][h3]Coral Highlands[/h3]
[b]Location:[/b] Land of Adventure
[@ProPro] [@Yankee][/center]

With its powerful legs 6's Donphan smashed the ground to send a wave of force sweeping toward the knocked-down Tzitzi-Ya-Ku. Through ordinary earth it would have rumbled effectively, but this skirmish took place in the strange amalgam of coral, sand, and rock known as the Coral Highlands. If the presence of Wigglers hadn't driven the Courier into a low area with a good amount of sand, Ivories might have broken a coral shelf clean off or plummeted straight through a hidden gap to a lower level. However, enough force transmitted to flip the protesting monster into the air and onto its other side, though the sensation seemed to galvanize it into action. As it tried to right itself, Ivories struck again, sending it tumbling end over end with another squawk. That final blow turned the tables; the Tzitzi-Ya-Ku couldn't risk any more, and turned tail.

It got a couple dozen feet before a fleshy tangle of tube polyps burst apart. Into the light of day leaped a fanged [url=https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/monsterhunter/images/9/9f/MHW-Odogaron_Render_001.png/revision/latest?cb=20171112161310]monster[/url], covered in gnarled crimson flesh and wielding an army's worth of razor-sharp claws. It  let out a gibbering snarl as it approached the Tzitzi-Ya-Ku, which rounded on it in desperation and began to unfold its photophores. The sun caught the membranes beautifully, unleashing a blinding flash straight in the newcomer's face. It lunged straight through, blinded but completely undeterred, and swatted aside the Tzitzi-Ya-Ku's head. Bright red blood spattered the blue coral, followed momentarily by one of its photophores, and the Odogaron closed its jaws around the reptile's back. It could only mewl weakly as the predator carried it away in triumph, vanishing a moment later into the scenery, and with it that subtle, deathly stench.

[center][h3]Cathedral Plaza[/h3]
[b]Location:[/b] Dead Zone
[@Archmage MC] [@DracoLunaris] [@ProPro] [@Dawnrider] [@Simple Unicycle] [@Genon][/center]

The Ent's renewed assault wrought havoc on the heroes. Knocked from the sky and left to the mercy of a stroke of inventory luck and his put-upon allies, Donnie lay incapacitated for a few long moments. Ratchet weathered the storm of debris, navigating his way through the avalanche with his stalwart companion's help, to position himself above the Ent with two potent firearms in hand. A golden opportunity presented itself, the Lombax not imagining for a moment that he'd underestimated his foe. A deluge of pain fell upon the Ent's heartwood, but Root Rot welled up from within, and as Ratchet landed inside what remained of the cathedral's anterior gallery a pink plume the size of a minivan blasted his way. The Ent's shrapnel-laden shockwave snapped up Banjo and Kazooie, tumbling them painfully away.

While the hollows and Root Warts came heavy and hard, their numbers never reached swarming, and certainly not endless. Kamek's efforts thinning the herd came to a halt as one of the Root accosted him at Blazermate's flipped-over dispenser. After dispatching the thing he counted himself lucky having not been overwhelmed, but he found himself facing a dire situation. Yet, when he saw the others risking it all, a blazing spirit drove the magikoopa's old bones to action. Five Kameks took to the sky to shower the Ent with bursts of mini-minigun fire from a save distance, eating into its tough exterior.

During the barrage, a reinvigorated Donnie entered the fray once again, tired and hurt in his core but a little wiser and a lot angrier. He rocketed into the air in a terrific kick to forcefully plant his foot in the plant's lower leg, and blasted straight through one of the curled roots. The Ent staggered, its splayed lower legs forcing it to adapt its footing, but the assault continued. Splinters flew as he laid in with his handblades, hacking at the wood before shifting to the other leg. In came Banjo and Kazooie with the monk's disc, rattled but not defeated, and with determined strength the bear hurled it into the damaged leg. In a stroke of luck it jammed right into one of the scars left by Donnie, and from there the pair needed only to pack all their power into a bird-boosted dropkick. Time seemed to slow down as he struck, a tremendous [i]CRUNCH[/i] ringing out, and the Ent shook in agony. Nearly severing the leg but not quite, the disc lay wedged way inside. A few moments later, Gene's shockwave blasted the thing, knocking pieces of wood loose from its battered frame.

Still, the Ent's huge husk remained upright. Nero watched with disbelief, shaking his head as he got to his feet. What an annoyance—not just to fight, but for his pride. After all his talk about being the expert, he'd gotten himself punked by a dumb stunt like that. Luckily his allies packed some serious restorative power. Enough to trivialize most endeavors, he'd guess. As he felt the last of his wounds closing back up, Nero spotted movement not too far away. A [url=https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/devilmaycry/images/8/83/V.png/revision/latest?cb=20190323143713]man[/url], oddly dressed but otherwise normal, had been walking toward the fight with the help of a silver cane since the last shockwave died down. Nero's eyes narrowed. “V?”

In the wake of its dire injury, the Ent looked for something to squash. A perfect target now stood right in front of it, slow and crushable. It raised its arm to smash the newcomer flat, and like a meteor the giant limb dropped.

The boiling black ground under V erupted, and from beneath him another [url=https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/devilmaycry/images/5/59/V_Familiar_Nightmare_DMC5_Artbook_Render.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20190515152247]titan[/url] rose like a giant uppercut. It shoulder-checked the Ent's torso in a tooth-rattling collision, knocking it back. After reeling for a moment, the treant struck out with both arms, locking hands with the smaller monster in a colossal test of strength. V, standing on the inky golem's shoulder, tapped his cane. His shadow moved, dissolving upward into black powder before taking the shape of a fearsome [url=https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/devilmaycry/images/6/67/V_Familiar_Shadow_DMC5_Artbook_Render.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20190515154124]panther[/url]. It stood atop the golem's head, arched its back, and turned its head into a skewering needle that pierced the Ent's dome. With a moaning bellow the Ent released its grip. The golem pulled back one of its arms for an enormous punch, lingering just a moment. 

In that instant Jak saw his opportunity. Killing off all these small fry certainly helped the rest of the team, but it wasn’t going to end the fight decisively, and that’s what he aimed to do. [color=sandybrown]”Hero time, Dax!”[/color] In response Daxter pulled down his goggles and put on a determined look. 

Jak changed course on his jet board, gathering energy for a super jump. After the Ent’s arm locked with the golem's, he flipped high up over the arm, landing on the monster’s bark-like exterior! He grinded up the arm all the way to the shoulder, then kicked off his board (which magnetically reconnected to his back). In that instant he produced the morph gun in Scattergun mode and unleashed a full blast of high powered red eco directly into the monster! 

Donnie saw his chance as well. Grinning, he climbed atop the shadowy giant and ran down its arm. V stepped from the golem's shoulder onto its arm alongside the monk and outstretched his cane's point toward his enemy. As the arm moved, Donnie jumped. The acceleration of the giant’s fist sent him flying forward, and with his handblades bared, he dumped a massive quantity of chi into his arms and as he made contact with the Ent, drove both of his arms deep into the wood of its face. He quickly flipped over the Ent’s head, and the next second the golem cannoned its arm into the Ent's chest, which rammed V's cane deep inside. Donnie proceeded down its back, driving his augmented arms down with him, dragging the handblades across its back in a deep furrow across what would pass for its spine, then jumped off and landed on the cathedral floor. Behind him the Ent crumpled to the ground, its whole body save its arms compromised. V stepped away, his golem melting away into nothingness, and examined his handiwork. A purplish lull hung over the treant, and Root Rot wept from its body, but still the stubborn thing clung to life.

Nero shot it. “What're you waiting for?” he asked. “Let's make some firewood.”