[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/190924/544c85ab5c75bc61a4bb5ce40dc0caa6.png[/img]
[color=salmon]Word Count: 781 (+4 exp)[/color]
[color=salmon][u]Level[/u]: [b]8[/b] - [u]Total EXP[/u]: 92/80
[b]Location:[/b] Edge of the Blue[/color][/center]
The Ace Cadet had three arrows held against the bowstring, intending to go right into a Triple Volley while he had the opportunity. He took a steadying breath as the frontliners approached the Orphan and as the guardian slowly turned to face them, casting it's eyes on Link. It was tall, gaunt, and it's front looked pretty much as one might expect after staring at it's back. As it moved the sickly moonlight caught on the sharp end of... whatever it had in it's hand, making it particularly dangerous looking as well. The Cadet took a steadying breath and pulled back on the drawstring, about to loose the arrows.

The volume and viciousness of the Orphan's scream surprised the monster hunter. He could only imagine how it must have felt to get a front row seat to it. The shock affected his aim, sending his shot a little off course and only one of the three arrows making contact. No time to mourn the waste however, 'cause the thing was already on the move - and quickly, too. It took a lot of concentration and effort to try and hit this thing as it bounced around swinging it's weapon. He especially had to take care not to hit his allies, when dealing with the relatively small target. Still he stuck with it though. Nock, aim, shoot. 

An issue became immediately apparent to the Cadet, and he grit his teeth as he pulled another arrow back. The Orphan was shrugging off each of his hits, whenever he could actually land a shot, and they weren't even slowing it down! Instead Galeem's guardian simply ignored the arrows sticking out of it, as it's wild movement shook them out or broke them off. And these arrows were meant for [i]monsters[/i], each several feet long. It just went to show that the Orphan was just as much a monster as any they'd faced so far. Maybe even more so.

[color=salmon]"Okay, new plan,"[/color] the hunter said to himself, quickly weighing his options. He could stay in the back line doing what little fire support he could and try some arrow coatings on this thing, or he could swap to one of his swords and get in there. Having Blazermate's little target painted on the Orphan was nice and all, but if he couldn't hit it then it might as well not even be there. So which option would give him the best chance to actually deal some damage?

He watched his friends get tossed about, his heart leaping into his throat whenever one took a particularly nasty hit. Then he watched them get [i]exploded[/i] with whatever the Orphan had just ripped off of it's weapon. 

[i]Alright screw it, I'm going in.[/i]

It worked out, sort of, as Bowser had left a gap in the front line that the Cadet could slot himself into. He tucked the bow away fast, fingers brushing against a piece of equipment he'd all but forgotten about after the time attack tussle.

It was big, it was goofy as all hell, but it was perfect.

The Cadet ran down the beach until he was in range of the Orphan of Kos, intending to utilize his Punishing Draw and rip the Sharq Attaq's teeth into the monster. Instead he forced to draw into a guard as the Orphan spotted the approach and lashed out wildly. It slammed it's weapon down once, twice, [i]thrice[/i] before it set it's sights on the other melee fighters once more. Despite it's [url=https://mhgen.kiranico.com/storage/assets/game/image/lan25_render.png]appearance[/url], the shield was deceptively sturdy. It was made to withstand the claws and teeth of giant monsters after all. Even so there were deep gashes in it. But it held, and the fact that it did emboldened the Cadet. As soon as the Orphan turned it's blade away from him, the Cadet thrust the mouth of his own weapon up and out, catching the Orphan in the shoulder before sliding off and into it's fleshless jaw for all the good that did. He wondered if he could lock it down while playing defense, if even for a moment to give the others some breathing room. [i]Guess we'll find out![/i]

He made one backhop, putting precious little distance between himself and the Orphan. He thrust the lance out to nick it again. Then he opened his mouth. [color=salmon]"Alright ugly, you've got some moves, but we're still going to kick your Lun[i]ass[/i]tr—"[/color]

Honestly he couldn't tell if the Orphan could even understand what he was saying, but the heavy, hardened placenta came down on him all the same. He could forget about trying to counter it, he barely had time to block before the Orphan rounded on him.