[Center][img]https://i.imgur.com/HazjVNm.png[/img] [color=979CB2]LOCATION:[/color]Sandswept Sky - Al Mamoon > Al Mamoon Northeast - Rocket Inc. [color=979CB2]WORD COUNT:[/color] 1,564(+3 EXP) [color=979CB2]MENTIONS:[/color] A lot of people.[/Center] [hr] The four-eyed demon stood his ground, glaring at Laharl, and not budging whatsoever from his threat. Overlord or not, Mao wasn't about to be afraid of some homeless-looking Demon tossing insults his way. Though, despite the threat, Laharl seemed to not advance towards violence, instead calming somewhat, to Mao's surprise. [color=979CB2]"Them?"[/color] Mao glanced at the Seekers for a moment, before looking back with an eyebrow raised, not sure what they had to do with their issue here. Though as he continued, it became clear: He was with this group too. Yet he hadn't been brought to his senses. Which, upon reflection, he was able to now realize Band hadn't had his curse dispelled either before their fight. Mao perked up at Midna's voice, glancing back at his own shadow for a moment as he listened to her words, confirming Laharl's place and that they should probably go about lifting his curse. Offering a nod to this, Mao noted they had a big fight coming up, and maybe they could use this blazing-knucklehead to not only do some fighting, but maybe tire himself out enough to work their magic. [color=979CB2]"Equals, huh..."[/color] He replied to Laharl's words with disdain, his laugh causing a drop of sweat to slide down Mao's forehead. Even if he bloated himself with smacktalk, that laugh was the real deal! Mao only wished he could be taking notes, but he'd just have to remember it for later. [color=979CB2]"Fine, if you're with them, I guess we'll have to cooperate."[/color] He gave in, shaking his head with mild annoyance. Midna popping out of his shadow caused him to wonder just how she did that, though observing his teammate's abilities could wait. As annoying as it was to have her on his tail, she wasn't wrong that they needed to get going. [color=979CB2]"The exact business I was talking about!"[/color] Was his response, ready to en this petty discussion and get onto more important things. Though, Fox's own interjection left a sour taste in his mouth, whether Mao thought he was right or not didn't matter. Mao wasn't leading this operation, he was just the one that could get them there at a fair pace. [color=979CB2][i]Keh, what's this guy think I am, a hero?[/i][/color] As if. If anything, at least Fox got acknowledgement he was heard clearly from the lack of amusement on the demon's face. Thankfully distracting him from that annoyance, Primrose's own words towards Mao's fellow Overlord caught his attention. If this Laharl wanted to gain strength, then Mao had to do the same after that comment from before. He didn't want to be equals with this blue-haired guy, let alone inferior, so he'd search for whatever power boost he could get. Enough to crush this Galeem, which he thought would be more than enough to handle Laharl if the need was there. One boost seemed to be these strange things in the new lady's possession. Items? Abilities? Mao sought these things like a kid looking for candy: He couldn't help but be intrigued. [color=979CB2]"Don't think I've seen anything like these around before. But if they're useful, I'll definitely take a look."[/color] He wasn't entirely sure of what these objects were yet, though he felt an essence from a few of them that gave him an odd hint of familiarity. Nothing of the same world, but the scent of a Demon nonetheless. Plucking one from Primrose's possession if not to just study it momentarily, he saw what almost resembled some sort of weird, red upside down teardrop. [color=979CB2]"[i]Fascinating...[/i]"[/color] Mao's glasses fogged up from his deep breaths, as he gripped the spirit tightly. [color=979CB2]"This isn't just any dumb item, it almost gives me the feeling it's alive. I can feel the aggression of this demon and it's delightful!"[/color] Lifting the Spirit, Mao was suddenly more obsessed than curious, his mind running to many places about what this could mean. But one thing was for sure; He was low on servants, and a demon like this one wasn't much, but it was a start. Managing to return to normal before he started drooling on himself from the possibilities of these spirits, he decided to start bolstering his ranks. [color=979CB2]"Wake up, already! Your wild, untamed anger is exactly the kind of force I need! Gotta be better than what you're doing now, right?"[/color] His demand of the demon within the Spirit was clear, mentally noting it'd be good to finally have a servant again that was on the right track. If it'd actually work or not, he'd wait and see. It seemed to not respond in any way, though he could still feel the presence perfectly well. Mao's gaze went to one of the stranger individuals in the group: She looked like a giant fancy bee, which was strange, though nothing that really shook him up much. Her royal complaints caused him to shift his gaze between her and Midna. Queen and Princess, huh? Not that either title meant much in the long run to an Overlord, who's job it was to dismantle such lower authorities, but they were still respectable levels of power. Something about the Bee in particular gave him a strange vibe. She wasn't an Overlord of course, but she rang as more dangerous than average fodder. He was a mixture of wary and intrigued, though wasn't going to follow up on his thoughts for now. [color=979CB2]"I always thought the hard part was gaining control,"[/color] Mao replied to the Queen's complaints, palm resting on his forehead. [color=979CB2]"Instead, there's backstabbers at every turn, and now this glowing jackass took my entire Netherworld! I'm keeping this in mind the next time someone tells me this 'ruling' crap is easy."[/color] Done with his own complaints, Mao eyed the weird helmet the Queen presented. Wearing that thing gave you better quality items when you smashed these orbs? Sounded like a dead to him. [color=979CB2]"Heck, wearing it means I get better loot? I don't give a damn what it looks like."[/color] Whatever downside she saw, he couldn't be bothered to care about. He'd keep to himself that smashing the life essence of some other demons would be both good fun and an intriguing example of what these orbs could provide though. He'd get to see this in action, once the Phantom Thieves put it to work. It was a small sample size, but Mao was impressed with the results. According to them, the weaponry suited each of them perfectly fine. He wasn't experienced with this method of looting, but seeing the weapons match the looters was promising. [color=979CB2]"Hoh... That thing does seem useful. I'll have to keep notes of it's results to see how consistent it continues to be!"[/color] Through most of the group-talk, Mao simply rested with his sword planted in the ground, impatient with the waiting after Midna and Fox had already been rushing him prior. A plan was okay, probably how they rolled, considering how Band and the Seekers ran his group down before. They knew each-other pretty well, while he didn't, so once they made their choices, he was more than happy to pull his blade from the ground, sheathe it, and offer one last untrusting look towards Kan-Ra as he departed with the group that decided to follow after him to the business base. [hr] Upon arriving at the already damaged hellhole of an office building, Mao smirked at the sight. [color=979CB2]"Looks like the fighting's already started!"[/color] Stating the obvious, though a curious mind wondered if a few spare spirits were laying about from victims of the battle. He'd have to worry about that later, though, as things were chaotic once they made their way inside. Water, bullets, explosions, Mao was expecting a warzone but the arsenal caused him to quickly dip behind cover as fast as his feet would take him; Unsheathing his sword to attempt to block a few of the oncoming bullets, a few passing through his jacket much to his annoyance, but thankfully missing his scrawny body. [color=979CB2]"To hell with this! Let's see how they like being exposed!"[/color] Mao had charged his magic, preparing an attack, but as he dipped out of cover the Unrelenting Force of the shout sent him barreling back, only managing to stop himself by stabbing his blade into the ground. [color=979CB2]"What the hell kind of power is that...?!"[/color] He growled in annoyance and confusion, sword coming up to cut an office chair in half that came flying his way, unsure of how to approach the situation. Until one of the grunts already in the battle gave them an opportunity: Water, so much water, in such a brutal fashion did she crash into the opposing force and scatter them, leaving an opening to try and pick fights. Recovering from the knockback, Mao charged in: [color=979CB2]"Only shouting that armored guy will be doing is from agony!"[/color] He called his mark, unsure of who would join him, if they did, but Mao wasn't overly worried about it. He needed to hold his own and get past these guys, he wanted to know who they had in the back; if anyone. Had to be more somewhere, possibly even his mark. [color=979CB2][i]If he wants the blast all to himself, then I ain't gonna argue![/i][/color] Mao took initiative by throwing his sword at the Dragonborn, the blade spinning through the air as the demon approached while charging up a Star attack in his fist as a follow up strike towards the warrior.