[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/uurhDHh.jpg[/img][/center][center][img]http://i.imgur.com/HtvPRRx.png[/img][/center]The scene that Caprice and Thomas walked into in the theater room could be described simply as chaos. Since the appearance of the snake, the surroundings had either been smashed or outright destroyed by the efforts of the fight happening. Indeed, it seemed no matter which way the dark serpent moved, its crushing weight bent and sent debris flying with the stalwart force of gravity by its mass. Clair’s efforts only further annoyed the reptile, the water and icy gusts dissipating like dissolved mist in the presence and heat of the snake’s charging attack.

Its scales, where once black and dark as coal, lit up with a vibrant purple hue as the orb gathered crushing energy in its maw. However, it didn’t expect Clair’s strike to fully commit and soon, the spinning blade was hurled before it could react. Catching the snake by its chin, the orb was fired prematurely at the two girls. The air itself bent and twisted as the orb flew in the air before crashing into Rose’s newfound shield. Indeed, the power of Suparna’s card was more than enough to not only deadlock the projectile, but send it barreling right back at the serpent as well. The snake hissed as its own energy was sent towards its face and the entire room rippled harshly.

Items suddenly flew up and outwards before being violently ripped backwards to their original position as gravity distorted momentarily. The snake was sent crashing backwards in a flopped daze of a bundle. No sooner could it recover did cards suddenly manifest around the snake’s eyes, blinding it by merit of Caprice’s magic. Perhaps it was choice or chance, but the three of them, now made four, had successfully coordinated and executed an attack of their joint efforts, concluding with the snake’s hisses cutting sharply short by Thomas’ blade.

The boy fell the great beast with his strike, his attack cutting clean through the serpent. But where a creature of Victoire’s making may have fallen by now, the snake did not do so kindly. The serpent near-exploded in streaks of shadow that slithered in piles along the floor, racing at breakneck speeds. Some were slowly growing back to full size, launching themselves at the team of four to coil and wind around, scaled muscles working to crush bone, organs, and armor. While the majority of snakes slithered out the door, the one holding Clair with its body bared its fangs before snapping its maw around her throat, piercing through.

Back in Victoire’s chamber, the tide of battle swiftly fell back on Riku. While Akiko bided her time in smooth talking the mistress of the manor, Kanbaru and Ami took it upon themselves to take the princess by force of reason. Perhaps it too then was choice or chance, enacted at the same time but in rooms apart; no one could say for sure. But as Kanbaru lifted Riku up high to claim her prize, freezing the princess where she was dangled, Akiko and her Castle would notice the slight gleam in the air that dashed quicker than the human eye could perceive. 

Trailing off its streak was hesitation and only on closer inspection could anyone realize it was a bullet. It headed right for Kanbaru’s arm, only to be knocked out the air by her own invisible protection. But where one came down, more rained as well, and this time they lacked the instinct of doubt Akiko could sense. This time they aimed for Riku. Instead of piercing her body directly, they embedded themselves precisely in the thin-iced layer around her clothing, sending cracks spindling and chinks forming enough for her to break free of her own.

Because the one firing off each round was certainly not going to approach on her own merit. No, [url=https://i.imgur.com/n6Ynwo8.png]she[/url] was quite fine with staying high up in her peeking position, perched somewhere in Victoire’s rafters. [color=khaki]“Aww, hell, now don’t tell me I just gave away my position for some gawking girl. Hey you, with the cloak. Start moving cause I don’t save people for squat or for free~”[/color] said the huntress with confidence.
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