[h3][u][b][color=fff200]Aerarius[/color][/b][/u][/h3]
When the dust cleared, Aerarius was able to perceive several bandits charging in his direction.  At that moment, with no more than a few seconds to react, a figurative switch was flipped in the automaton's mind.  Aerarius charged ahead, striking down two of the bandits with a wide swing of his sword, splattering blood upon his brass exterior.  This provided just enough of an opening for a third bandit to strike the right side of his torso with an axe, but it had little effect on his alloy body beyond leaving a small dent in the plating.  Without hesitating, Aerarius swung his sword back at him, cleanly slicing through the bandit's neck before the man had a chance to fully realize his mistake.

Aerarius didn't understand the mechanics of it, but he could swear in these moments he could feel the rush of adrenaline as if he was still a being of flesh and bone.  As much as he might scoff at Sylphie for losing herself in her frenzies, he wasn't too different when things got heated, and at this moment, Aerarius the cautious analyst was gone, replaced by Aerarius the brass footsoldier.

The wise and logical choice would be to focus on taking some of them alive, to thoroughly interrogate them on not only their ill-intentioned operations, but on the general state of the world.  They seemed to be of little direct threat to beings like himself and Sylphie that he could afford to hold back.  Even at this moment, Aerarius recognized this, but in this state of mind, he did not care.  As long as these wicked scoundrels continued to fight back, Aerarius would give them battle to the best of his ability.