The guard glared at Ari, his mood shifting from slightly annoyed to visibly irritated. If he were more corrupt, perhaps he’d ring her in on trumped-up charges and see how much she enjoyed a day in the pillories, but Immortals were creatures not of the world. Chances were high any punishment, once processed, would simply be avoided by them ascending to the Greater Realm. Most city-states didn’t bother with minor punishments thus, and he settled for shooing her off instead, waving his hand dismissively as one would to a mosquito or a fruit fly.

Unmolested by the iron hand of the law, the catgirl adventurer was free to continue her adventure along the sewage river, the smell of weird, disgusting things becoming more intense as she continued further along. Was her heart beating faster due to the smell of adventure? Or was this a strange physiological reaction to all the new, gross smells that she was now exposed to? The path became an incline soon enough, the ramshackled buildings that flanked the river forming an almost canyon-like setting. The sun had shifted, and long shadows stretched into the river. Here, there were no adjacent streets for random guards to spot her from, and while Ari had yet to chance upon a manhole, she could hear something else.

The trickling of rancid water, splattering into the river below.

Over the side of the walkway she strode upon, there was another four foot wide tunnel, leaking out water that joined the river below. Though there was no ledge for her to stand up while crawling inside, there was no grate either. So long as she could maneuver herself into the gap in the wall, Ari should be able to get access to some sort of sewer system.

On the other hand though, she was now a good fifteen minute walk away from the initial entrance to the hideout.
[sub][@Greengoat][/sub][hr]
The blue-haired priestess nodded sagely, completely understanding of Lugh’s pure intentions regarding his desire to further hone his spirit through physical duress. Returning his bow with her own, though much more shallowly than he did in order to observe her higher status as a religious figure, she waited for the Immortal’s spiel to continue, before smiling.

[b]“It’s a noble cause that you have chosen to partake in,”[/b] she spoke. [b]“Though many come to the temple in search of training in the mystical and martial arts, few are those willing also to truly engage in the faith of the Lady of the Alabaster Scales. We, at the Shin-Yu Temple, will be happy to train you. Before you begin your initiation, however, how do you wish to be addressed?”[/b]

Whether through sheltered naivety or simple kindness, the priestess didn’t seem all too perturbed by Lugh’s rather pretentious language. Perhaps it’s just part and parcel for the clergy?
[sub][@Cu Chulainn][/sub][hr]
They had collided after all, and the frogman did not let even an instant of that opportunity slip past. While Ames scored points with Klein, the monster sprung off, shooting towards Amulak even as the mage tried to gather up mana for another arcane blast.

By himself, there was never enough time. His AGI was insufficient, his opponent a blur of slick skin that promised to crack his skull open.

But once again, there was someone willing to be a shield. Of the party, only Raime, his stamina burning away to continue the acceleration of his body, could match the frogman in speed. His agility spurred him onwards, further than ever before. His dexterity guided his steps, ensuring that his path was set. Grass flew up into the air and he intercepted the monster like an arrow, leaping out moments before impact to transition into a flying shoulder tackle.

The frogman, however, had caught arrows before. And Raime was but a ranger, unskilled in the nuances of close quarters combat.

The ranger’s world exploded in white light.

Changing targets, the frogman, with superior reach due to his inhuman size, clenched his right fist and buried it into Raime’s face. The closest to Raime, Klein, could see the gory details in unabashedly gruesome realistic detail. He had not been fast enough to catch the frogman before the ranger was able to charge in, and now, he could see Raime’s nose be pushed into his face, four of his front teeth embedded into the frogman’s fist in a symbol of pathetic defiance. The ranger flipped four times in the air and crashed into the ground, [b]92 damage dealt[/b] as his sacrificial charge only served to empower the frogman’s punch.

Prone and crippled by pain, Raime was wholly defenseless as the frogman raised his foot up high into the air for a finishing stomp. Before it could be delivered, Klein barreled in, his physical size doing more to restrain his foe than his actual strength. It was like trying to stop a horse, so mismatched were their respective Strength attributes, but Ames, red-headed and brimming with energy, circled around as well, taking one side as Amulak took the other. Power Attack and Mana Bolt landed on opposite sides of the frogman, scorch marks and the beginnings of a bruise forming on his skin.

Perhaps he will leave the ranger for another time.

The raised leg, once prepped for a stomp, whipped out towards Ames instead, cracking the warrior on the cheek with a blow that was more swift that damaging. He twisted away from the strike, absorbing [b]24 damage[/b] as system-guided reflexes kicked in to carry him out of the frogman’s range.

A translucent slime slipped out from his skin next, cold and gross where Klein’s body contacted with it. The grappler could see it coming, but he couldn’t prepare for it in time; with a twist of his body, the frogman slipped out of his grasp, spinning into a throat chop that connected right upon the Adam’s apple for [b]29 damage[/b]. The sharp pain didn’t cripple Klein, but his sudden inability to breathe air was plenty disturbing, and the force of the strike was almost enough for him to drop his spear and clutch at his throat.

The frogman turned, once more, towards Amulak, his intentions deadly clear.

A rock bounced by his feet.

How many times can a mage be saved by the actions of his companions, really?

Emerging from the Pearl Bloom River, her clothes clinging to her skin and her hair masking her face, Magpie screamed out, danced, and finally, struck a new pose. A familiar pose. A nostalgic pose. The pose that so many Immortals struck, the pose of an peerless warrior within the Greater Realm. Her virtual veins sang, her heart beat its war chant, and in that moment, a nayuta of synapse fired, enlightenment granted within this act of audacious showboating.

[hider=Star-Studded Rebellion, Pentozali]
[u][b]Type Territory, First Stage[/b][/u]
[sub]+10% AGI[/sub]
[i]Upon evocation, the territory around you transforms into a sandstone platform, submerged in warm, turquoise-blue seawater, which fades away at the edges of your territory. Every powerful blow you or your opponents connects with elicits an enthusiastic reaction from a spectral crowd, who swirl around the perimeter of your territory like a heat mirage.[/i]

[b]Territory Creation[/b]
[indent]Activates at will. Consumes 10% of your Max SP to maintain. At First Stage, creates a ten meter by ten meter square zone centered on yourself. Can not be moved, unless Territory Creation is cancelled and re-established.[/indent]
[b]Dancin' in the Moonlight[/b]
[indent]While inside your Territory, become immune to all negative status effects induced by physical attacks, such as being knocked back, restrained, blinded, or bled. There are no visible indications of injury when sustaining damage. Magically-induced status effects will still affect you.[/indent][/hider]
The ground shattered underneath the frogman’s leap and the air itself was sliced in the wake of his crescent kick, as he flew towards Magpie with a beheading blow.
[sub][@Searat][@Psyker Landshark][@Yankee][@OwO][@Shovel][/sub]