There was no time to fully avoid the blow, but there was time to use her arms and blade as a barrier, using the hilt of her sword rather then the edge to help further dull the blow. Certainly, the impact of the beast's forelimb [i]hurt[/i], the feeling reverberating through her entire small body, but it was the difference between bruised and sore arms and potentially cracked ribs.

She landed some meters away, as the creature turned directly to face her. Novak had suddenly jumped into the fray as well, making a rather spirited attack on the creature's neck that looked quite familiar, if inappropriate for the type of sword he was using...

The Kyrinth had not slowed even from a deep wound to a vulnerable spot. Perhaps she had missed its heart, but most animals would become quite a bit more concerned about self-preservation after becoming so injured. And yet it had already begun to charge her.

This was no ordinary aggression. This was not an animal intending to feed or to defend itself. Was it infected with some kind of rage-causing disease?

Or was there something else at work?

Whatever the case may be, Nobunaga considered it quite possible that an analysis of the creature's corpse had a chance of revealing the truth.

As Novak attacked its neck, Nobunaga broke to the opposite side of the monster, shifting her grip on her katana as she did. Her aim now was a simple one: If she could lodge her weapon beneath the scales once more, she would drag her sword [i]through[/i] the creature in a bid to open its flank and spill as much blood as possible. The bloodloss, and possible disembowelment, would do the rest.

[@Rune_Alchemist][@PKMNB0Y][@PKMNB0Y]