[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/2HWveeE.png[/img][img]https://i.imgur.com/ZQU7gNA.png[/img]
[i]Location:[/i] Lingayen Beach, Municipality of Lingayen, Lingayen Gulf
[i]Interactions:[/i] Regil and Regina > Qingshe ([@Lewascan2])[/center]

[quote=@Letter Bee]
A violent explosion of hissing sand erupted behind Huo Ren, a ringing thump of impact thundering out in time with the dying eddies of a sharp shriek and flash that had torn through the air overhead faster than the eye could blink. With a spray of crimson mist, Huo Ren... went flying, his entire body abruptly ragdolled away from the impact site, tumbling for a brief, uncontrollable moment through the sands.

Spitting sand furiously, the sun wielder staggered to a sense of composure on his knees, his spear having been flung away to pierce the war-torn beach like the grim gravestone of a battlefield from a medieval time. The heat was no longer quite as oppressive in the immediate area, but that didn't mean the sands weren't still hotter than the hottest desert wasteland.
[/quote]

[i]The blinding light was finally gone. Regil and Regina uncovered their eyes to see Huo Ren on the ground, lying there as he seemed in shock that he actually got attacked by something. It was surprising even to them because he was so strong, it felt like defeating him was impossible.[/i]

[color=8493ca]"H-How did they... how did they hit him?"[/color] [i]Regil asked.[/i]

[color=bc8dbf]"Ask yourself that later! Here it comes the riposte!"[/color] [i]Regina warned him.[/i]

[quote=@Letter Bee]
Success or fail, Huo Ren grit his teeth in fury and [i]spat[/i]. From his lips, an eye-searing burst of blue flames spilled forth like a tsunami in the direction of Fuyuko and Rin. Thankfully, the stream was thin enough at the start that it could still be dodged narrowly by both girls, even if it would still result in nasty burns just from the proximity. Like the Dragon he was bestowed with the title of, Huo Ren exhaled powerfully. Veins of effort and strain bulged on his forehead, and his own skin reddened and flaked from the heat that he had not the concentration to fully protect himself from. The stream of blue fire then blazed white-hot, crashing into Ari’s weakened barrier in a tidal wave of destruction. Superheated sand shone like the sun all around, as the glowing barrier shuddered… cracked… and then [i]shattered[/i].
[/quote]

[i]As the barrier finally shattered, the last bastion of protection against Huo Ren's powers was finally gone. Now there wasn't exactly any method of blocking his attacks effectively.[/i]

[color=8493ca]"N-No... t-the barrier!"[/color] [i]Regil couldn't speak properly.[/i]

[color=bc8dbf]"Let it go already. The battle isn't nowhere near being over."[/color] [i]Regina said.[/i]

[color=8493ca]"B-But... but...!!"[/color] [i]Regil tried to argue, but no words came out.[/i]

[color=bc8dbf]"This is normal in battle. It just means we have to go through with it not having a barrier. Get used to it and stop being a kid."[/color] [i]Regina warned him.[/i]

[quote=@Conscripts]
[color=f49ac2][b]"This is Lotus Squadron. We will soon commence an attack on the target at sector D1. Stay out of his position."[/b][/color] 

As soon as the broadcast stopped, all aircraft turned simultaneously towards the spearman on the beach, the one SU-30 diving down on his visually estimated position. Very soon, multiple ear-splitting noises of automatic cannon fire rattled the air, stacking on top of one another creating a long chain of auricle-menace, as the sands surrounding Huo Ren burst up in columns. Once the shooting stopped, two explosions reinvigorated the sand column. 
[/quote]

[i]With the Lotus Squadron bombarding the field around Huo Ren, one would think he'd be dead at this point. However, the Meitners knew he wasn't a joke. This alone wasn't going to stop him. Even though he was weakened, it wasn't possible to beat him like that.[/i]

[quote=@Creative Chaos]
It was a stupid thing to think while running, but the burning sands created by the Dragon’s Noble Arm made the thought pop up all the same. Then he saw Huo Ren manage to [b]get up[/b] from the cannon shot. It was as terrifying as it was baffling. Even though Nico hated that his fears were realized, the Dragon being monoplegic made this seem almost like a fair fight. Even if the railgun wasn’t enough to kill the Zodiac, he’d at least try to finish the job.

At the sight of the Noble Arm appearing inches from him, he used Helios Rod’s guard to bat away the tip of the burning spear. There was no hesitation this time, only his instincts guiding him. Trying his best to keep his momentum, he aimed a full force kick at Huo Ren’s chest. He didn’t think about getting hurt, or even death. All that mattered was making sure the Zodiac finally stayed down.
[/quote]

[color=bc8dbf]"That idiot... is he seriously considering that a dropkick will work at that bastard?"[/color] [i]Regina questioned.[/i]

[color=8493ca]"... I think he knows. He knows that it won't work. Just as these guys up there know that their weapons won't work too. Even so..."[/color] [i]Regil said.[/i]

[color=bc8dbf]"'Even so' what, Regil?"[/color] [i]Regina asked him.[/i]

[color=8493ca]"This works. I don't know why, but I have a feeling. Someone has something to make this guy lose. And that someone is going to act. We just need to buy time for this someone."[/color] [i]Regil answered her.[/i]

[color=bc8dbf]"Buy time? Someone? Are you seriously going to apply an 'unknown factor X' to help us? Is that seriously your strategy? Don't be stupid. We don't have that 'factor X'!"[/color] [i]Regina nagged at him.[/i]

[color=8493ca]"I'm not going to waste my chances... I'll believe in this 'factor X' and in this someone. I don't care if you believe me, but I will place my bets!"[/color]

[i]Regil closed his eyes for a moment and ignored the world. Then, he left out a prayer.[/i]

[color=8493ca][b]"Please... if you can hear me, whoever you are... help us. We'll buy you all the time that we can... I just ask of you: help us!"[/b][/color] [i]He prayed.[/i]

[b]BGM:[/b] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zO5Zr54AnyE]Yggdra Sortie! -Arrange- (Yggdra Union: We'll Never Fight Alone)[/url]

[i]Opening his eyes once again, he opened Chess Imaginarium and summoned a Piece from it.[/i]

[color=8493ca]"King, lend us your aid!"[/color] [i]Regil commanded.[/i]

[i]From a sigil in front of him, the image of an experienced knight appeared. [url=https://64.media.tumblr.com/4c3faf6b2f8ec6d04b41d876918cb54c/tumblr_pl10nn0lqc1tg2fpgo2_1280.jpg]He had a crown on his head and looked as prideful as he could be.[/url] He rose up, summoning a sword and a shield to his aid. Proudly, the King appeared to finish the job left to him by his "wife" and command his master's new allies to victory. His proud stance and his aura could be felt by the others, as their physical strength and senses were now enhanced thanks to the King's presence.[/i]

[color=8493ca]"Take the offensive with that other soldier and fight that man!"[/color] [i]Regil ordered.[/i]

[i]In a burst of impressive speed, the King ran toward Huo Ren. While Nico was going to fight him directly with a dropkick, the King went in the left direction and swung his sword toward the spearman Arm Master. Regil somehow knew the King wouldn't win, but that wasn't the reason why he summoned the King. Sure, he could've summoned the Knights and attacked together with a tri-directional pincer. He could even have summoned a Tower in order to protect Nico from danger. But he saw Huo Ren's power. No simple Piece would last long against him, and even then, the strategy wouldn't work. That's why the only option was to go with the other strongest Piece on the board. After all, if anyone could hold the fort up was the King right now. Because it was time to attack back.[/i]

[color=8493ca]"Get ready and in position! We'll need the bullets soon enough!"[/color] [i]Regil spoke on the radio.[/i]

"Understood! Men, all in position!!" [i]The pilot spoke through the radio.[/i]

[i]The soldiers hiding in the building got up from hiding, took their sniper rifles, and aimed at Huo Ren. They were waiting for the order to shoot at him, as Regil previously planned with them. All they had to do was to await the order and they would shoot at will. Regil looked back at them and held himself tight and attentive, radio in the left hand, Noble Arm in the right hand. There was no moment to waste, and the first opportunity that it would present itself he would take it.[/i]

[b][i]*BGM fades*[/i][/b]

[color=bc8dbf]"So... that is your plan in the end."[/color] [i]Regina spoke to herself.[/i]

[color=8493ca]"Sister...?"[/color] [i]Regil asked.[/i]

[color=bc8dbf]"Hmph. If this is how you want to order my soldiers around, fine. I'll play along."[/color] [i]Regina said, preparing herself.[/i]

[color=8493ca]"Play along? Wait, do you mean...?!"[/color] [i]Regil questioned her again, a little happy that Regina was trusting his idea.[/i]

[color=bc8dbf]"... Just. This. Once. Get over yourself and keep your eyes on that man."[/color] [i]Regina scolded him.[/i]

[color=8493ca]"F-Fine. Just be careful."[/color] [i]Regil returned to his senses.[/i]

[color=bc8dbf]"Worry about yourself first before worrying about me."[/color] [i]Regina spoke.[/i]

[i]She held her own Noble Arm tightly. She knew that she wasn't feeling courage. No, far from it. She felt fear. That man, Huo Ren... he was anything but some child's play. He was the real deal, the type of enemy that she hated the most. But if anything, turning back was impossible. She'd never live down to it. And it's not like she could do it anyway. Running wasn't an option. It never was and it never will. Her only choice was to go down with it. So she closed her eyes and prayed to this "factor X" too.[/i]

[color=bc8dbf][b]"I don't know who you are, you 'factor X' that my brother mentioned. But if you do exist, just do something. Some attack that will make this guy finally stop, some ground-shaking pulsar... I don't know what you have in your power, but we'll give you time! So please... if you exist, just help us!"[/b][/color] [i]Regina prayed to the best of her heart.[/i]

[i][b]BGM:[/b][/i] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYV61Pf-D3M]goldenslaughterer (Umineko No Naku Koro Ni)[/url]

[i][color=ed1c24]"Are we finally going to do it? For real this time?"[/color][/i] [i]The Witch asked her, interrupting.[/i]

[color=bc8dbf][i]"Aren't you happy? This is what you wanted, isn't it?"[/i][/color] [i]Regina said, opening her eyes.[/i]

[color=ed1c24][i]"Finally... Finally! I get to kill someone, I get to kill people! Hehehe... ehehehehehe...!!"[/i][/color] [i]The Witch laughed, ecstatic.[/i]

[color=bc8dbf][i]"Obey my orders and just follow what I say. Otherwise... we'll never kill him. And we're the ones dead."[/i][/color] [i]Regina said.[/i]

[color=ed1c24][i]"Then just do it! Order me... yes, order me... let the slaughter BEGIN!!"[/i][/color] [i]The Witch spoke.[/i]

[i]Suddenly, from her dark cape, four long and grotesque hands branched out of it. Regil was caught by surprise and jumped away from her. They moved erratically, without any coordination, like an animal hungering for food, a hunter ready to chase its hunt... no. A murderer ready to strangle one's life out of it.[/i]

[color=8493ca]"R-Regina?!"[/color] [i]Regil exclaimed. He had never seen Regina's power up close. He only heard about it through her letter, nothing more.[/i]

[color=bc8dbf]"... On four."[/color] [i]Regina ordered.[/i]

[i]The hands pummeled themselves on the ground, lifting her body in the air. She looked at Huo Ren. At Nico charging with the dropkick. At the King going at him with his sword. She breathed and let out a sigh... alongside her order.[/i]

[color=bc8dbf]"The man with the spear... that man... kill him!"[/color] [i]She ordered.[/i]

[i][color=ed1c24]"Hahaha... ahahahahahaha! AAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! TIME TO DIE, YOU WORTHLESS SACK OF MEAT!!"[/color][/i] [i]The Witch cackled. If she could be heard right now, it'd be a crazed kid, laughing at the sky.[/i]

[i]The hands charged like a horse. A demented, crazed horse filled with bloodlust. Its movements were so immensely unpredictable. Sometimes it moved to the left. But then it changed to the right. It jumped, it crawled... nothing made sense. But when you're wielding a spirit that wants nothing but to kill others, what is supposed to make sense? It didn't matter, because she was closing in fast. Any moment now and she'd be toe-to-toe with Huo Ren. And once that moment came, either she kills him or she's dead. Whether the others were present or not, it made no difference. To her, it was her and him... alone. So Regina had to do it. For her own sake.[/i]

[color=bc8dbf]"To the right!"[/color] [i]Regina ordered.[/i]

[i]The Witch obeyed her and jumped to the right, the only open direction. Then, it rose its front right hand.[/i]

[color=ed1c24][i]"I'm gonna do a nice painting now. AND I'LL GET THE COLOR RED FROM YOUR HEAD!!"[/i][/color] [i]It screamed.[/i]

[i]The arm stretched itself towards Huo Ren and the hand became a ferocious claw, going right to his head. The Witch wanted to grab him, as Regina stood suspended in the air, waiting for what it could happen next.[/i]