[center][h2]Saikoten Region[/h2][/center] [center][h3]Sanjo Sortie[/h3][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/88dciJb.png?1[/img][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/0zvnz6I.png[/img][/center] [center][url=https://youtu.be/26MUv9nh-9A]🐉[/url][/center] [sub][@PaulHaynek][/sub] Shizuka was given very little opportunity to lament over the slain maiden, as the Varjan troops broke through the barricades and attacked the last line of defenders. The one he was speaking to prepared for what would be her final battle. This only fueled his bewilderment further, and at this point he had enough. He jetted forward in front of her and her allies and, with his back turned to them, began channeling strong electrical energy in his left hand. [color=0072bc]"Discretion is the better part of valor. There are other options available to you; this doesn't have to be your last stand."[/color] [b]Kaminari[/b]. That was the name of the technique the swordsman was about to use. With that, Shizuka let loose a large bolt of lightning magic that lit up the vicinity. It emitted golden ripples as it traveled through the air, accompanied by a menacing crackle thay nearly drowned out the sounds of fighting. The bolt hit the ground where the Varjan began their advance, and split into several smaller ripples. They zapped some of the soldiers, but Shizuka's main aim was to make an opening for everyone to escape. When his attack finished, he turned back to the maiden, satisfied with the disorientation he caused. [color=0072bc]"That should buy us a bit of time! Look, I understand your concerns, but I assure you my team can more than make up for your lack of manpower. As for whose behalf we're here on, I'll explain in due time. But enough of that, your strength is needed for another day! Escape while you can! As soon as I've collected the rest of my team I [i]will[/i] join you."[/color] He'd like to be sure they would take heed to his words, he'd like to believe that as bleak as the situation looked he could pull his team out without losing anyone, he'd like to think that Shizuyama still had a chance. Like with many things, all he could do was place his faith in the situation and hope for the best. Regardless of what decision the defenders made, Shizuka would quickly make his way toward his allies still on the battlefield. They too had to retreat before it was too late. [hr] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/cDfjYN0.png[/img][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/UEASvtf.png[/img][/center] [center][url=https://youtu.be/VmfH9vpp2aQ]🕸️[/url][/center] [sub][@Rune_Alchemist][@FrogRFlowR][@Restalaan][/sub] [color=9e0b0f]“B-Beautiful?”[/color] That was the second time someone referred to Atsuha as such as of late, the first being the goblin. The sounds of her comrades fighting snapped her out of her stupor, and they seemed to have gained the upper hand. Being able to shatter the armored man’s weapon and knocking him into Nyla as a means of restraint. Even from where she was, the stench of his perfume was overpowering her nostrils. She then turned back her attention to the island warrior, relieved that her magic was able to save him. At this point, she was unsure of what to do. She could go help her allies, but she very couldn’t just leave the man here unattended. She could take him and retreat to a safe place, but that may make it more difficult to regroup with the rest of the taskforce later. Being a caster, she could also assist them from afar. However, she couldn’t risk having her position being discovered and compromising the injured man. She then sensed that Shizuka was fast approaching them. [color=9e0b0f][i]Good[/i][/color], she thought, he would rally them and direct their retreat from the fray. Holding the man in her arms, she would stay hidden until he arrived. Hopefully she could remain as such until then. [hr] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/0u0wcUo.png[/img][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/lNqQehU.png[/img][/center] [center][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbfOVMI-pKw]🌀[/url][/center] [sub][@Hammerman][@Dark Cloud][@WanderingDragon][/sub] Hinami heard Luna’s question, but didn’t so much as even respond to it. Her eyes glowed with an eerie redness, filled with violent indignation. It wasn’t surprising, such a reprehensible show of murder and pillaging would see anyone in the right mind off. But, in Hinami's case, something more primal was at play. She sensed Luna had when to go help Sam, but ignored it and fought on. A Varjan tried to lunge at her with a spear, she effortlessly dodged it and slashed through his neck. She continued her assault as he hit the ground; she dodged sword swings from a pair of marauders using a handstand maneuver, kicking them both away not a moment later. There was an archer who watched her onslaught from afar, hoping to pick at her from the safety of atop a tree. This didn’t work out the way he initially intended; the first bolt was all he managed to let loose. Hinami deflected the arrow with one of her blades without even looking at it, then proceeded to shoot another chain to bind him. He yelled as he was pulled away from the tree, some of the branches broke and fell due to the force. The demon realm silver had weakened him somewhat, but he still tried to struggle as best he could. As Hinami was right on top of him, he tried to resist by kicking her. Due to his proximity it was harder to dodge his strikes, and this would prove to be the factor that allowed him to land a blow to her head. This caused the chains to loosen and he hastily backed away with a dagger drawn, breathing heavily. He looked with perplexity for a moment, as Hinami didn’t make any response to his strike. Moreover, she dropped the blades she wielded previously. Was she injured perhaps? He then noticed something red floating in the wind, it gently hit the ground near them. It was close enough for him to see, it was the talisman that Hinami had worn on her head up until this point. Not knowing any better, man gave it only a moment’s glance and then prepared to engage the Jiangshi. However, he was stopped by an immediate sense of fear, caused by the rapidly building menace emanating from his opponent. Hinami stood motionless as a sinister aura flowed from her, generating small gusts that blew around them. She then lifted her head to where the man could see her face, what he saw visibly disturbed him. Her teeth had sharpened and elongated into deadly fangs, her pupils having completely vanished and her eyes glowing a clear green color. The Jiangshi's nails lengthened considerably, turning into deadly claws. Hinami howled at the man with a ghastly wail and immediately charged at him. The man was already floored before he even realized it. She then bit him on the neck, draining him of his mana. She stood over his limp body, a bit of blood dripping from her mouth. She heard Wyn’s directive, but whether she understood or acknowledged it was a different story. Letting out another wail, she charged at the other Varjans who were attracted to the commotion, all taken aback by her monstrous change. She began tearing into them with no regard, the streets were filled with the agonized screams of enemy soldiers. Blood splattered on the ground as her claws tore into sinew; she struck with such force that many bodies were sent flying into various buildings and debris. Many more would find their necks bitten into, their chi drained almost completely. If left like this for too long, who knows how much damage she would cause.