[Center][img]https://i.imgur.com/R99MoL5.png[/img]
[color=DEBA42]LOCATION:[/color]The Maw
[color=DEBA42]WORD COUNT:[/color] 861 (+2)
[color=DEBA42]MENTIONS:[/color] Rika
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Despite their rescue being a success, Mirage couldn't help but feel demoralized. His eyes rested on the scene before him, looking at those who pleaded for Bella to stop. Yet there he stood, too terrified to move. Too terrified to try and help before. Instead he ran away from it, though rescuing Sakura and Rika was a noble goal he used it as an excuse to turn his head, and not confront that hunger which brought genuine fear into his heart. 

Looking at Bella now, it wasn't hard to think of what would've happened to him had he not fought himself back. Her body definitely had gotten bigger, and though she towered over them now she'd probably have a hard time with the sudden weight he assumed only the curse could cause. He felt sorry for her, and only wished he'd tried and stepped in sooner. But a more realistic side of his own arguing mind told him that he couldn't of stopped that maw anyways, or it could've possibly came at him instead. Was that just him looking for more excuses?

Not to mention poor Geralt. Smart Geralt, honestly, who looked exhausted but hadn't partaken at all. They needed to get everyone out of here sooner than later, as before long it'd seem like they'd be pulling some of the others along. Mirage considered eating more, he'd already messed up after all, but didn't see anything particularly appetizing. The meat wasn't acceptable, not after what he'd just experienced. Adding onto that, if he ate too much, he'd end up an absolute mess. At that point he might be dead weight anyways.

Man, all this worrying was only making him more hungry.

Before he had much time to confine in anyone aside from Kamek about this mess, things took a turn for the worse. Those strange food-creatures he'd seen downstairs had decided to come up and investigate Larry's struggle. They made too much noise it seemed, and they were obviously ready to attack on sight. Which they did, globs of flour seemingly being their choice of attack, though it had an odd presence to it. In a jarring movement, Bella threw herself front and center for those attacks, tears still in her eyes. [color=DEBA42]"H-Hey! Stop--"[/color] His words fell into practically a void as she was struck, her transformation shocking him. 

All those regrets he was feeling bubbled over in an instant, it was almost too much to see her in the state she was in. Let alone now finding himself in uncertainty of she was alive at all, or just... Gone from that attack. That was the second time, within moments, he'd failed to keep her out of harm's way. This time she even put herself into harm for not only him, but everyone gathered. And that wasn't a pleasant feeling in the slightest. That left one choice, which was where Mirage usually ended up in these situations. Where he felt pained, or strained emotionally. A lot of that happened back in the Apex Games, and the only thing he could do then was press on and fight. This wouldn't be any different. 

At the very least, Mirage wouldn't let Bella become food for these monsters.

Reaching into the small pile of pots and pans used to make their rescue tower, Mirage yanked out a pan he could hold reasonably, eyes darting forward. The way they leisurely floated along on those bowls of theirs might've meant they'd be pathetic without them. Knowing he wasn't the most practical melee fighter among them, he tried to use his head a little instead. Rika was the closest person around who had a similar combat capability as he usually did, so he approached quickly to suggest a plan. [color=DEBA42]"I bet those bowls they're on would shatter if you took some potshots at 'em."[/color] He brought the pan forward in one hand and smacked it into his opposite palm, nodding. [color=DEBA42]"Then when I get over there, I'll try and th'wack 'em. Let's get Bella back!"[/color]

With this small plan in mind, Mirage took a slightly indirect approach. He'd pace around to the side, and hopefully be able to rush at them from a non-forward angle. At worst he hoped to get a good hit on one of those bowls to knock one down if necessary, and at best he hoped a surprise pan from the side would help knock one of the wizard's apart. They couldn't be that durable, right? They looked like a bunch of loosely put-together food, he thought physical violence could work wonders.

While it was worrisome that Peach was diving straight ahead, he figured most of the others were going to do the same thing. If Rika landed her shots, then that'd possibly work wonders as they'd be able to wail directly on those (admittedly delicious) looking monstrosities. Overall, the important thing would be to try and box them in, and not let them pass towards Bella's vulnerable now-foody self. 

If it'd work out, only everyone's actions would tell. But he wasn't going to run away from Bella and fail her potentially for a third time, he'd do what he could to ensure they didn't get near her.