[center] "[color=ec008c]...But now the tide has changed with your attack. Give us arms and let us eradicate these monsters before they become a really big problem.[/color]" "[color=00aeef]Fully agreed, Sir Telmar. It's just that... I sense the taint of the monsters on you.[/color]" "[color=ec008c]Me and the prisoners have spent days here, so I admit that we may have a stain of Demon Energy on us. But rest assured, we are not changed and this miniscule energy will dissipate in time.[/color]" "[color=00aeef]Very good points, I must say. Alas, I am under strict orders not to tolerate even a drop of Demon Energy. You know what it can do, Sir Telmar. Nothing personal...[/color]" "[color=ec008c]Wait--! Gyaaaaarrrrrhhh![/color]" [/center] [hr] [center][h3]Terauchi Temple[/h3][/center] [center][b]PRE-EMPTIVE STRIKE[/b][/center] [center]~ [@Crowvette] ~[/center] [quote=Skarsneek][color=ed145b]“They’re freeing the prisoners! Mages too!”[/color][/quote] After putting out the fires and protecting the buildings from any further flames with some summoned mists, [u]Io[/u] would hear these words from [u]Skarsneek[/u] as the male Goblin passed by. He went to join [u]Gringor[/u] in fighting the mad Losia while the other taskforce members and their Shizuyaman allies were still battling the Varjan attackers. However, [u]Io[/u] noticed that the Varjans were beginning to be repelled, albeit with tremendous cost to the defenders. But according to [u]Skarsneek[/u], this was not the whole force, a detachment was behind the lines. [u]Skarsneek[/u] appeared to be helping [u]Gringor[/u] to finish that fight so they could focus on the hidden Varjan detachment. However, Losia seemed far from being defeated yet. Should [u]Io[/u] help them out? Or should she go confront the detachment before they do any more damage? [center]~ [@Restalaan] (GRI & SKA) ~[/center] [u]Gringor[/u] managed to tear away Losia's corpse-decorated shield from her but the World Hound narrowly sidestepped the High Orc's shoulder. She was about to retaliate with a sword strike when [u]Skarsneek[/u], with a surprise attack, hit her square in the knees with the male Goblin's staff. But despite the successful maneuver, Losia was only hurt and was still far from falling down. "[color=ed1c24]RRAAAAAAAUUGGGHHH![/color]" She responded by grabbing hold of [u]Skarsneek[/u] and hurling him at [u]Gringor[/u]. The throw was powerful, but not enough to make the High Orc stumble back. But then Losia dropkicked the two male monsters to the ground. Losia leapt to the air to bring down her sword on the two monsters. [center]---[/center] [center]~ [@The Irish Tree] (EUL) ~[/center] After felling her two attackers, [u]Eula[/u] grabbed hold of the Varjan Brigand's sword to use as a weapon but non-lethally. She joined Takeshi in fighting off more of the Varjans but while [u]Eula[/u] did not kill her opponents, the young lord showed absolute no mercy to the invaders of his island. [u]Eula[/u] bore witness to Takeshi's mastery of his sword and of combat. She saw him parry one attack after another, evading spear thrusts by the thinnest margin and retaliating with one well-placed thrust of his blade. The way Takeshi fought seemed inhuman, but [u]Eula[/u] noticed that he seemed to have a bit of trouble if he fought more than two enemies. After finishing off his last enemy, some of the Varjans saw that their attack was being repulsed and decided not to fight another day. "Well fought, ma'am. Clumsy, but I can show you a few techniques to make you really amazing. Haha!" Takeshi patted [u]Eula[/u] on the back, the two of them safe for now after clearing their area of hostiles. There were still Varjans fighting, but their momentum was quickly turning. "No... that can't be it. I haven't even seen their leader yet." Takeshi remarked to [u]Eula[/u]. "...There must be more. We need to check." "You help the others finish off these Varjans, while I head back and see if everything's alright." Takeshi suggested to the Automaton. "Or, do you wanna switch places?" [center]---[/center] [center]~ [@Rezod92] ~[/center] [quote=Kerry Maros][color=fff79a]"This is your only warning.... Get off the catapults and withdraw.....or else some of you won't be getting up....[b]Period."[/b][/color][/quote] The Varjan Footmen smiled at [u]Kerry[/u] ominously. "[color=00a99d]We wanna see you try, bug![/color]" They taunted the Hornet. Should [u]Kerry[/u] summon her wind magic to show these fools who they were messing with, she would find her calls go unanswered. Try as she might, she could no longer command the winds nor cast any sort of magic. [u]Kerry[/u] realized something was suppressing the magic, at least hers. And that was when she noticed the obelisk again, what else could it be? The catapults' protection just in case someone like [u]Kerry[/u] showed up. Destroying the obelisk would be the key. But it might not be easy, a whole group of eight Footmen with swords, spears and heater shields charged at [u]Kerry[/u]. She could still feel her wings to fly, though. Whether to escape or use it as an advantage, it would be up to her. [center]---[/center] [center]~ [@Hammerman], [@Nakushita] ~[/center] [quote=Yuki Akamata][color=f7941d]“You picked the wrong time to challenge me…..I have little time for playing games little pups.....”[/color][/quote] The beasts after [u]Yuki[/u] made audible whimpers when they were struck down by the Oni's lightning and sharp claws. They crashed into the ground, and made no moves to get up. They were finished. Meanwhile, [u]Lunatea[/u] seem to be holding off her Wardog attackers pretty well with her wind magic so [u]Yuki[/u] need not worry about her. Some of the Wardogs were still harassing some fleeing refugees but before [u]Yuki[/u] could go after them, a whole pack of the rabid canines blocked her way. Sauntering into view behind the snarling and growling Wardogs, a Varjan Warrior with animal pelts over his armor and armed with a large knife and a long whip laughed at [u]Yuki[/u]. "[color=00aeef]Where do you think you're going, little monster? My little pups have yet to taste the flesh of monsters! Kill her![/color]" The Wardog pack all lunged at [u]Yuki[/u], but they were suddenly blasted away by a powerful bolt of lightning. From behind the Oni, [url=https://i.pinimg.com/736x/0d/aa/62/0daa627623cafbd136b280140c825d1d.jpg]a spellcaster with dark red armor similar to a Varjan Warlock's arrived. His head was bare and his face clean-shaven while his eyes glowed light blue with magic[/url]. His gauntlets crackled with lightning as he joined [u]Yuki[/u] in the fight against the Varjans. "[color=00aeef]That's the old armor of the Scarce Legion.[/color]" The Wardog handler remarked. "[color=00aeef]A legionnaire fighting alongside monsters? You bring shame to your legion brothers here![/color]" "[color=powderblue]I may be of the Scarce Legion...[/color]" The newcomer caster replied. "[color=powderblue]...but I am no longer their brother![/color]" He raised his arms to shoot more thunder at the Varjan handler's position, scattering him and his hounds. He shot more bolts at the evading Wardogs, displaying his arcane might. Suddenly, [u]Yuki[/u] found herself choking. A whip had circled on her neck, courtesy of the Varjan handler. He was trying to pull the Oni down for a stab from his knife. [hr] [center][h3]Varjan Ship[/h3][/center] [center][b]LOST AT SEA[/b][/center] [center]~ [@Enkryption], [@The Irish Tree] (LIL), [@AzureKnight] (SHI) ~[/center] (Currently in collab)