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[img]https://i.postimg.cc/Zn05qZPF/Jiggy-Final.png[/img]

[color=fed428]Level:[/color] 6 (6 -> 7/60)
[color=fed428]Location:[/color] Eryth Sea - Smash City Alcamoth -> Dead Zone - Argent Tower
[color=fed428]Word Count:[/color] 651 (+1 EXP)

[color=fed428]Power:[/color] [i]Pending…[/i]
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When Red Team arrived back at Argent Tower, those who were there before would find that it wasn’t as they left it, and as such, they would not be afforded a slow, easy start that some of them had hoped for. That was to say the pace would be hard set for them to one of immediate urgency right out of the gate. Before Banjo’s bare feet could hit flat against the cold metal floor the squad were instantly beset upon by a parasitic horde of mutant monstrosities that had more than enough time to build up in their absence with the doors forced wide open for (and likely by) them. As soon as they registered this, Banjo hastily drew Kazooie, ‘charged’ her and began returning fire.

Weighed against a couple of choice members in their party, the duo were sporting decidedly meager firepower, but still proved more useful than not to just the right extent. While a torrential rain of crossbow bolts, a sweeping volley of blue eco rounds and a roaring cloud of dragon fire tore through the front line, Banjo and Kazooie were able to individually take out any strays that managed to clear the onslaught, at one point shooting down a leaping Flood with its tentacle arm reared back ready to swat to first one of them it came into contact with. The duo found themselves suddenly more thankful than ever for the experience afforded to them through the tacked on ‘Shooter’ element in their sequel, as well as starting with full Blue ammo to make use of it. Though, the practical necessity for it meant that their supply was already noticeably dwindling while they and the rest of the squad were getting nowhere fast. They soon adjusted their strategy to saving shots for the smaller, skittering parasites that would splatter with one round apiece while switching to melee for average mid-sized enemies. This was made much easier by Linkle’s ice wall as the enemies’ advance slowed significantly, but it served as little more than a holding pattern for the Team.

Said pattern was forced to a destructive end when the crystalline barrier was battered to shards from the impact of a heavily armored vehicle against it, followed by a stream of lightning from its top-mounted arm that struck out the teleporter, ensuring them no way back. Banjo dove aside and rolled out of the turret’s line of fire, stabbing Kazooie’s beak through a former human Flood, through which the reanimated creature persisted. In a light panic Banjo fired Kazooie in an attempt to knock it loose, only to end up shooting behind it, which happened to be useful in its own for the moment it lasted before Banjo withdrew his Kazooie’s head from its torso and swatted its head away with a hefty swipe. When he disgustedly shook the iccor from his foot after stomping a crawler flat, he got a good look outside at the remaining root that the duo remembered they were bound for. It was then that Bowser made the timely call to move, to which they promptly complied.

Banjo put Kazooie away and switched to the Accept-Lance as he made a run for the retreating vehicle. He took two heavy, wide-sweeping swings around him with the lance while advancing, and topped it with a third arcing strike to set himself into a sidelong semi-vault by its grounded tip. Kazooie popped out mid-flight to stick a running landing to give herself a brief start on bounding after the dozer. Banjo pocketed the lance and twisted mid-jump to transition from talon to foot and catch them in a reckless, rolling landing atop the vehicle. The duo managed to overshoot their jump slightly, forcing him to grab a hold of the shocking turret arm for lack of anything better to hang on by, fully aware now of its function, but desperate for an expeditious escape.