[Center][img]https://i.imgur.com/Bt99oh2.png[/img]
[color=979CB2]LOCATION:[/color]Al Mamoon Northeast - Rocket Inc.
[color=979CB2]WORD COUNT:[/color] 1,286 (+3 EXP)
[color=979CB2]MENTIONS:[/color] Midna, Jesse, 'Number Two', The Dragonborn. [/Center]

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Mao eyed Midna, noticing her not only floating past (He had already seen her doing this, but seeing her go over the panels was infuriating) but also commenting that the beginning was dangerously close. Looking down at the surrounding panels, a lot of them took him back towards the start if the arrows could be believed. [color=979CB2]"Thanks for the warning,"[/color] He commented, the relief of not being sent back overcoming his frustrations for the moment. 

With that, Midna also pointed out where the end path of the maze was. All that was left was to deduce the last few panels and head that way; Where she would be putting down defense in case this was leading to an ambush. [color=979CB2]"I don't need luck!"[/color] He retorted to Midna's kindness, taking light offense but not really giving off an aggressive enough tone for it to mark him down as angry. Overconfident, possibly. As he was about to take a step in the wrong direction, Jesse attempted to warn him: The Demon spinning off course, though not back to the beginning, at least. 

Squinting behind his glasses, he was mildly offended by being told to calm himself down. He was [i]perfectly calm![/i] She just didn't know what he was like once he wasn't! And she'd be spared knowing, as she seemed to pick out the rest of the path easily, allowing Mao to follow suit. Arriving at the end was tiring, to say the least, but aside from looking a little green in the face, he was in one piece. [color=979CB2]"Guh... I don't want to see another one of those panels as long as I live."[/color] He complained, managing to compose himself as the rest of the group gathered up. Luckily he was too sick to his stomach to get angry over the fact that Necronomicon suggested that they jump over the panels, though he was hit in his pride a little from such an obvious oversight. 

Just one more motivation to fight these Resistance members.

Figuring there were plenty of folks capable of using an elevator, Mao had no issue with Jesse calling it down. He was eager to board, however, in case there was trouble down below. He offered Midna a glance, not sure if she'd be doing that shadow-lurking thing again, but regardless he poached a small spot in the elevator, his small frame not taking up a large amount of space compared to the larger members of the group.

It seemed the Resistance wanted to buy time with mooks; Mao was quick to jump into action when the elevator stopped, but surprisingly tried to keep his axe out of it's most practical use. Attempting to not kill, Mao still laid down immense pain with brunt strikes from his axe to an X-Naut that sent it barreling into more of the opposition, but mostly kept to blocking with his axe while attacking with firm kicks or grabs. There seemed to be no interest in friend-hearting these ones, but it made good practice for this 'mercy' crap he was having to take part in. Maybe they'd be less violent after they squashed the stronger members? There was only one way to find out.

Mao had landed himself in a rather unfortunate situation during the last ambush. The mooks were varied, people were distracted, and he had a few too many enemies on him in particular. Spur of the moment led to him frantic to defend from all sides from his over eagerness to go into the fray, and to even his own surprise, four mechanical limbs emerged from beneath his coat, saw spinning, drill revving, and surgical scissors snipping. The sight caused the enemies to recoil in their own surprise and fear, but Mao was eager to get to work. 

Using the saw as a tactic to keep enemies away rather than cutting through them, Mao focused on delivering blunt damage with his drill and catching X-Nauts by the fabric of their suits with his scalpel before tossing them like trash. What was originally a situation where he appeared cornered turned into a "You're stuck in here with me" scenario, as Mao caused havoc with his newly rediscovered toys. After cleaning up his portion, his new limbs retracted back under his coat, seemingly disappearing all together. There wasn't any visible sign they actually existed. Truly a dangerous concealed weapon, all things considered.

The kitchen caught Mao's attention: Before having to continue he snagged what food he could, snarfing it down with a satisfied expression, not entirely aware of what he even snagged up with how fast he went about it. A meal was good for the body, though! And after the injuries he took earlier, he'd take any good his body could get.

The rest of the elevator trip was concerning. Mao couldn't help but wonder how far down they'd gone, figuring a building shouldn't be designed with such depths. Yet, as the elevator opened, and the wind tested to try and send them away, Mao gripped the elevator railing with one hand while the axe in the other helped him keep grounded. Soon he was out, and expecting danger, he took the calm moment to pop open a bottle of BBQ Sauce to gulp down, it being the closest thing he had to a drink anyways. Magic reserves restore, he looked over the edge at what seemed to be a bottomless pit before tossing his empty BBQ bottle down in curiosity if he'd hear it break.

As the others thought about the plan, he sat there for a moment and listened. But never heard the shatter.

Instead, Ciella's huffing got his attention. [color=979CB2]"Ah, shit."[/color] She seemed eager, and considering Midna was the only one who really showed reason towards friend-hearting the Resistance members, Mao figured Ciella took part in the previous killing. With no hesitation and an axe over his shoulder, he darted for the propulsion ramp and went flying after her. Not an air-bound creature by any means, Mao found it both exciting and terrifying to experience flight. He crashed down into the arena, feet meeting the ground and causing a small crater zone where the metal beneath the sand could be seen.

His gaze first fixated on the group before them, noting the familiar faces among them. Following that though, the appearance of Number Two brought a tightened grip onto Mao's recently obtained war axe. [color=979CB2]"Sworn my ass, they're just under your control!"[/color] He'd deal with her soon enough, but for the moment, she wasn't a threat. They just had to knock down her defenses, then she was easy pickings. 
 
[color=979CB2]"Not sure what these new guys can do, but I know that black fur-bag and the old guy are dangerous. Don't need him conjuring more monsters or healing anyone."[/color] His quiet, but aloud thoughts came as the fight initiated. He thought for a moment on how to handle this, before his knowledge of his own Striker gave him an idea. 

[color=979CB2]"Ara [i]Mitama![/i]"[/color] He called, the Demon appearing in a quick and effective manner. Mao held his axe forward, as Ara Mitama targeted the Dragonborn with it's Taunt spell. [color=979CB2]"You back up for round three, gramps? This time I'll whack you over the head with your own axe!"[/color] He boasted towards the Dragonborn, taunting him further. 

Not foolish enough to dash into the group of more notably dangerous enemies after his experience with the mooks, he took to a slow pacing towards the left, simply distancing himself a little as to not have the Seekers bunched up together in a bundle for some sort of AOE. He was ready to fight, but knew it'd be messy. He only hoped that this went smoothly, and that Midna didn't have more to complain about afterwards.