[center][h2]Saikoten Region[/h2][/center] [center][h3]Sanjo Sortie[/h3][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/88dciJb.png?1[/img][img]https://i.imgur.com/cDfjYN0.png[/img][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/0zvnz6I.png[/img][img]https://i.imgur.com/UEASvtf.png[/img][/center] [center][url=https://youtu.be/26MUv9nh-9A]🐉[/url][/center] [sub][@PaulHaynek][@Rune_Alchemist][@Restalaan][@FrogRFlowR][/sub] He was not surprised at the silence he was met with at his final plea to the defenders, but unfortunately what little time he bought was quickly fading away. The Vajan soldiers were regrouping and ready to continue their attack. He didn’t have time to bemoan the situation or resume arguing with the warriors. Therefore, as the maiden previously stated, Shizuka made his way from what was left of the barricade with no issues. He faintly heard the clash of blades as he fled, but it wasn’t as gruesome as previously. That could mean a couple of things, and all he could do was hope it wasn’t the worst case scenario. [color=0072bc][i]Damn![/i][/color] He cursed himself. [color=0072bc][i]Some disciple you turned out to be! You vowed to uphold the true principles of your teachings, yet you can’t even save your countrymen when it counts![/i][/color] Gritting his teeth, he soon made it back to where his teammates had been fighting. What he saw gave him a bit of relief in spite of everything. It seems Gringor, Nyla, and Tomi were able to defeat that armored knight from earlier. He was knocked out, bound by Nyla’s…flesh mass. He quickly made his way over. [color=0072bc]“I see you all didn’t have much trouble taking this fellow down! Glad to see you’re all still in one piece. As for him, perhaps he could be persuaded to give us some useful info?”[/color] He looked around for a moment; the chaotic energy flowing around the battlefield made chi reading difficult. [color=0072bc]“Where’s Atsuha? Is she alright?”[/color] [color=9e0b0f]“Speak of the devil, and she shall appear love.”[/color] She responded, joining her comrades with another in tow it would seem. [color=9e0b0f]“I found a straggler among his slain allies. Thankfully, I was able to nurse him back from the brink of death. But he won’t be seeing any action for a while.”[/color] At this point, the man was riding on her arachnid abdomen, resting on her back. As Shizuka got a good look at the man, his eyes widened with shock. [color=9e0b0f]“Is something the matter, Kannazuki-san? I’m not that strange-looking, am I?”[/color] Atsuha said in jest. The man’s appearance matched with everything that was detailed in Kyouko’s report. It seemed that not all hope was lost. [color=0072bc]“Atsuha-san, that man you’re carrying is Oja Takeshi. The current heir to the ruling house of Shizuyama, the son of Oja Hideo! I don’t know if it’s fate or serendipity that you happened upon him.”[/color] [color=9e0b0f]“This poor battered man…is a noble?”[/color] Atsuha looked him over again, sharing in Shizuka’s astonishment. [color=0072bc]“Indeed. With him alive, we still have a chance at taking back this island. But for now, we need to get out of here! The Varjans have more men to spare than we possibly could’ve prepared fo-”[/color] His orders were quickly cut off by the vermillion sparks lighting up in the skies above the beach. Though they had effectively taken the beach, it seemed the Varjan fleet wouldn’t be content until they were sure they wiped out all traces of resistance. That, and they were cruel, bloodthirsty barbarians. He spat out another swear. [color=0072bc]“You’ve gotta be kidding!”[/color] He quickly turned to all his allies. [color=0072bc]“Everyone, break for the forest! We need to get out of here NOW!! We can regroup with the other squad once we’re in the clear! Atsuha-san, cover us!”[/color] As a flaming boulder was about to come crashing down on them, Shizuka instantly cloaked his blade with an icy energy and sliced it cleanly in half, protecting his allies from the impact and also extinguishing the flames for Nyla’s sake. [color=9e0b0f]“Don’t need to tell me twice!”[/color] Atsuha responded. Quickly reaching into a pouch she brought with her, she took out five talismans. Each had different kanji written on them; she murmured an incantation, then proceeded to throw them into the air directly above them. They formed a star shape, with its outlines glowing. Soon, a violet barrier encased around them, which would further protect them from harm. [color=9e0b0f]“The barrier will move with us, let’s hurry!”[/color] She exclaimed Hopefully once they reach the forest, they wouldn’t have too much trouble rendezvousing with the members sent to the village wouldn’t be too difficult. The grim turn of events made Atsuha think of Hinami, she could only hope that whatever was happening in the village her little sister was alright. [color=9e0b0f][i]Hinami, I promise you and I will be together again soon![/i][/color] [hr] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/0u0wcUo.png[/img][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/lNqQehU.png[/img][/center] [sub][@Hammerman][@Dark Cloud][@WanderingDragon][/sub] A horrifying shriek echoing throughout the village, drowning out even the sounds of flames and debris giving way. [color=7bcdc8][b]“Feed!”[/b][/color] Those were the last words heard by a Vajarn soldier as Hinami sank her teeth into his neck. [color=7bcdc8][b]“Must feed!”[/b][/color] Another soldier heard, as they were nearly sliced open by Hinami’s sharpened nails. [color=7bcdc8][b]“So cold! Must feed, to know warmth!”[/b][/color] Another soldier vainly yelled for help, only to be bitten into a moment later. Hinami was unable to comprehend the agonized screams of all of the men she was felling, being fueled only by a primal hunger and subconscious emotions. While her bellows were terrifying, the few words she was able to utter had a contrasting tone to them. They could almost be described as melancholic. Her rampage didn’t stop all the same, she had taken a man off of his horse and had promptly made him her next victim. However, in her frenzy she failed to notice one of her allies appeared a little in front of her. Lunatea, having the talisman given to her by Atsuha in hand, steeled herself and slapped the seal right on her head. At that moment, the predatory menace controlling Hinami began to die down. She tilted her head towards the night sky as the talisman radiated with a light blue chi. Her teeth lost their sharpness and returned to their regular size, as did her nails. Slowly, the pupils in her eyes began to reform as she fell to her knees. With one, final wail the blue chi dissipated from her and it could be seen that Hinami indeed had returned to normal. Her head limply tilted down for a moment, then she left upright. The genteless from before had returned to her eyes, though she looked around with a bewildered expression. Dozens of soldiers laid in the streets, blood spattered everywhere. She then looked directly at Lunatea. [color=7bcdc8]“Luna-chan…wh-what happened?”[/color] She sounded almost afraid. [color=7bcdc8]“S-sister…”[/color] Hinami uttered weakly before passing out.