[h2][center]Geralt of Rivia[/center][/h2]
[center]Bottomless Sea [/center]
[center]Lvl 7 (41/70) -> Lvl 7 (43/70) [/center]
[center]Word Count: 772 words[/center]

In rather short order, the tides of battle were turning. The assault on Shippy slowed to a crawl, as those on board the living boat fought and destroyed the single remaining enemy of any note. The strange, flying, animated skeleton-fish exploded bit by bit and dissolved into Dust and Spirit, which Rika crushed. Nadia pulled off a reckless but necessary gambit to survive her attack on the monstergirl, redirecting her momentum and probably giving herself the world's worst case of nausea. At least she wouldn't be conscious to feel it. 

It was Bowser and the Cadet that Geralt was focused on now. They were both durable enough to last a few hits, if Geralt's memories of the Cadets own brand of hunters served. Bowser's own durability was obvious. He wasn't worried about them getting killed, which meant he could focus. He'd cut his own fire as soon as they'd gotten close enough to risk hitting them, but kept the smaller guns shooting at the mass of rampaging fish that might have turned on Sakura and Bella should they decide to get closer. 

Speaking of the smaller Shipgirls, Geralt smirked a little at their positioning. Sakura was clearly trying to protect him and Bella, which to those not quite in the know would just seem hilarious. Geralt's new knowledge, however, told him that the Street Fighter was more battle-savvy than one would expect from a teenage girl. She'd seen his relative immobility, and knew that without rigging, he'd be ripe for the picking if the Ordnance Platform were destroyed or damaged. Bella's case was obvious, as her massive tail gun required time to aim, making its use in close combat unwieldy at best. If either of them were attacked like this, especially by a more mobility-based opponent, they could be vulnerable. 

Bowser's climb, and subsequent beating at the hands of their current target, was actually a bit hard to watch. It was clear he was betting it all on this, charging right into her and exchanging blows. The Koopa King grabbed the tiny terror, withering under her ultimate attack, but still managing to pull through and grab her. 

And it was at that moment that the enemy of their enemy proved to not be much of a friend. Sure, destroying the pillar Scylla was on wasn't overtly hostile, but it put their prospects of victory in danger. The Ordnance Platform's guns turned to bear down on the massive monster, threatening a repeat of the devastating barrage he'd given earlier, but remaining silent for now. It hadn't actually tried to kill them just yet, despite the Seekers technically starting the fight with it, so for now, a threat it would remain. 

Once more, golden chains appeared from the ether, stopping the movement of the collapsing pillar, and Geralt's peripheral vision caught Link's tablet, aimed at the fight. He'd nearly forgotten about the Hero's handy little device, and it had saved their hides twice just now. 

Speaking of which, the other thing it had stopped was now swooping back to grab Bowser, who Geralt could see had Friend Hearted, and dragged with him into the ship. 

Sakura must have missed it, as she asked him and Bella what had happened. Obliging, the MegaWitcher answered. "Bowser grabbed her. She's on the Atomos now."

Beyond that, he had no idea what happened aboard the Atomos. It was up to them now. Instead, Geralt called out to Sakura, who was now moving towards the broken spire, and Bella. "I'm moving!" And, after a pause, he added, "Slowly!" 

Comedic timing aside, the Ordnance Platform slowly crawled across the water towards Tentalus. Geralt assumed a dramatic pose, a single finger pointed at the monster, guns aching to fire. "Listen to the girl!" He [i]yelled[/i], his size and deep voice making the command carry despite the much larger distance between him and the target of his order. "We don't want to fight you any further if we don't have to!"

He meant it, too. His own history with monsters wasn't quite as bleak as he'd told Sakura, since it would definitely hurt the point he'd tried, and honestly mostly failed, to make. He didn't know enough to know if this was a sentient, thinking being in front of them or a mindless beast. A dragon or a Fiend. If it listened, if it saw that it was clearly outmatched and turned tail, he'd let that be the end of it. But if it charged? If it tried to hurt Sakura, or Bella, or any of these other crazy kids he'd come to know?

He'd [i]slaughter[/i] it like a pig.