[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/190924/544c85ab5c75bc61a4bb5ce40dc0caa6.png[/img] [color=salmon]Word Count: 1201 (+2 exp)[/color] [color=salmon][u]Level[/u]: [b]8[/b] - [u]Total EXP[/u]: 52/80 [b]Location:[/b] Edge of the Blue - The Maw[/color][/center] The Cadet had absolutely no idea what Delsin was saying. Up until Delsin mentioned a shipwreck of his own, the only thing the Cadet could glean was that he had some kind elemental power. Still, an introduction was in order after the 'Conduit' requested it, so he piped up like the others. [color=salmon]"You can call me the Ace Cadet. Ace is fine too,"[/color] he said, having come to appreciate the nickname, [color=salmon]"I'm an A-list monster hunter."[/color] He thought about dropping all of his other titles too, to match Delsin's longer introduction, but the conversation quickly moved on. After some clarification, Delsin explained there was a plague on the island. Not just any plague, but one that turned normal people into fish people. [i]Great, just our luck![/i] the Cadet thought, scrubbing a hand through his hair anxiously. Just had to keep positive and hope no one had a weak immune system. Hopefully Blazermate could heal diseases too. When Kamek approached him, the Cadet could feel wariness start to build up. Ace Cadet liked the old Koopa, he was always looking out for everyone, but his proximity and the offered book put the hunter on edge for some reason. He reached out almost hesitantly to take the cookbook, but once it was in his hands it was clear that it was just that: a book of recipes and butchery techniques. A gross, sort of slimy book, but otherwise just a manual. He let out a half chuckle at his own misplaced worry. [color=salmon]"Thanks. I'm pretty sure it's not even close to the most [i]disconcerting[/i] thing in this place though,"[/color] he told the old Koopa. The Cadet was pretty dang good at cutting if he said so himself, but the whole 'turn into spirits' thing put a huge damper on collecting parts. This might help. Or at the very least it might make him a better cook, considering it was for butchery. When they were in a better place to transport a bunch of parts and goods, he'd give it a try. After some time to dry off slightly by the fire (and in the Cadet's case sharpen his blades), and some spirit swapping (Sakura made a good point about keeping the ship shape spirits for now), the group got underway. Just before moving out the Cadet noticed that there was no muted snorting at his heels, and asked if anyone had seen the behemoth piglets. "No" was the resounding answer. It was regrettable, making an already terrible day worse, but it would have been a real miracle everyone including those little pigs had made it. This wasn't the time or place to think about "what if's," so they had to move on. The venture into the waterlogged village was damp and miserable, punctuated with surprise snail attacks, but the Cadet figured it was going to stay damp and miserable until they brought down the guardian lurking in the area. Ahead they could see humanoid fish monsters of various shapes and sizes. Could it be these were sailors succumbed to that plague Delsin mentioned? If they were, it didn't seem like there was anything left of whoever they used to be. Unless they used to be aggressive monsters with murderous intent shining in their eyes. The fishmen approached with weapons draw, their intentions clear. The Seekers responded in kind. [color=salmon]"A few dozen [i]small fry,[/i]"[/color] the Cadet said, clapping Mirage on the shoulder as the monster hunter didn't hesitate to move with the other water skaters into the front line. They spread out, handling Murlocs one by one - or in Mirage's case, corralling a bunch of them together. Nadia, no longer able to skate over the surface, was picking fishmen apart on one of the building's rooftops. There were quite a few enemies to choose from, but the Cadet predictably had his eyes on the hulking sharq-men. One of the sharqs was busy being bombarded by the Koopa Troop, which he Cadet stayed well away from. The other was looking for someone to try and tear apart, it's teeth bared, and the monster hunter was content to give it a target. He opened with a makeshift gap closer - leveling the clutch claw at the giant, he shot the contraption out where it latched onto the monster's shoulder. In the next moment the Cadet pulled himself forward towards it, sailing quickly over the water and brandishing his sword and shield. He flexed his rigging, smashing into the giant blades first once the claw's chain was finished retracting. Even with the rigging's blades stuck into it's flesh, the monster didn't even flinch. It reached up with it's long arms to rip the Cadet from it's back, but at this angle it was easy to see, so he dismounted with a few parting shots from the mini cannons. He skated away from it little by little, keeping it's attention and drawing it further from where the others were battling. The giant fishman groaned and lashed out, swinging it's arms one after another, but the monster hunter was always just out of reach. It was quick to realize it's strategy wasn't working, and with surprising speed the monster lunged forward on it's stomach with it's arms outstretched. It barreled into the Cadet sending him crashing into the murky shallows. The monster followed up with it's fists, and it was strong - strong enough that the Cadet could feel each blow through his armor as the creature brought it's arms down on him, unrelenting. So he was currently being battered by a giant sharq man covered in barnacles. But on the bright side, he had the tools to fight back this time. He bared the brunt of the assault until he could get his shield up, meeting one of the sharq's hands with it and knocking the fist away. It was a brief moment of reprieve that the Cadet used to put some space between he and his opponent. From his position he could see what the rest of the crew were doing, and he spared them a quick second's glance before refocusing on the monster in front of him. It had it's arms raised to bring down onto the Cadet again, but it wouldn't find it so easy this time. [color=salmon]"I was just warming up before,"[/color] he said, more to himself than the monster. He could feel the sting of lacerations caused by the barnacle lined firsts of the monster, but he closed in to slash across the fishman's stomach before it could give him any more. Just after the slicing movement the Cadet took a page out of their street fighter's book. Normally he wasn't one to shout out technique names, but his blood was pumping and he could once again feel Jamaica's burning drive in his being. [color=salmon][i]"Shoryugeki!"[/i][/color] The Cadet crouched and then pushed off of the water with his shield raised, propelling himself up. The Shoryugeki was a fast, brutal uppercut delivered with the shield to the underside of the fishman's jaw. If he could stun the thing he'd be in a good position to try and finish it off, but so long as he kept it from going after anyone else he considered that a win.