[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/D9OBI9j.png[/img][/center]

She awoke with a deep breath, snuggling the thick, nice-smelling jacket up to her chin and almost dozing off again.  Without even opening her eyes, she knew it must be still dark, for surely the eastern light would be doing it's best to ruin her half-asleep comfort right now.  There she stayed for a while longer, but no more sleep was to be found.  [Colour=Pink][i]This is not the most optimal position for rest,[/i][/colour] her back told her.  [Colour=Pink][i]Who does this jacket belong too?[/i][/colour] her nose asked.  [Colour=Pink][i]Thank the lord we might go back to Valhiem and have a few days off,[/i][/colour] said the scabbing slash wounds on her waist and forearm.

When she finally opened her eyes, she saw a paling sky.  Sunrise was approaching.  After standing up, she stretched her arms and tried to work out the kinks in her neck and back.  The coat she had in her hand was instantly recognisable and she smiled.  Adam.  [Colour=Pink][i]Of course.  He must already be up,[/i][/colour] she mused, although looking around, there was no sign of him.

However, something did catch her notice.  Her sharp eyes saw a figure at the bottom of the hill.  There was a person just standing there, and it felt like they were looking right back at her.  And then she saw the red light - coming from the facial area - and it felt like she'd just been washed over by a bar-code scanner.

[Colour=Pink]"Sacre bleu!"[/colour]

Instantly, she turned and sprinted toward the temple, adrenaline flowing like white-water rapids.  [Colour=Pink]"EVERYONE!!!"[/colour] she screamed as loud as her lungs could manage as she passed under the entrance.  She kicked every door in the entrance hall open, shouting over and over, [Colour=Pink]"THE NINJA! THE NINJA [i]IS HERE!!![/i]"[/colour]

Could they even hear her in this massive place? She dared to run further into the main corridor to scream her lungs out yet again.  But she dared not waste anymore time.  There were still a few civilians in the temple who'd chosen not to go home in the night.  Imagine if the ninja got inside the temple and she lost track of him in this maze of a temple?  The havoc he could create!  She could not - [i]would not[/i] - leave the entrance to the temple unguarded!  And so she ran back outside and stood her ground in front of the large religious building.

[Colour=Pink]"Calm.  Focus.  Don't forget to breathe."[/colour] The Olympic archer in her coming out.  [Colour=Pink][i]Come on, guys,[/i][/colour] she pleaded, her heart pounding.  

By the time the metal ninja was in front of her, her weapons were brandished, crossbow ready and bolts between the fingers of the hand holding her dagger.

"Once a party of 9..."  [Colour=Pink][i]Yes, talk.  Need more time.[/i][/colour]  "There are less of you now.  And the wizard girl will sadly not be joining you again either."

MacKensie gasped, her bottom lip shaking.  [Colour=Pink]"Lillianna."[/colour]

"I had a lot of fun with her.  A shame that her fragile wizard body could not last longer."

Her eyes watered and her legs felt weak.  Her stomach churned.  She even had to look away, chin-to-shoulder as his words shook her core.

"I saw how you survived Aurok.  One of you gave your lives.  I seem to remember snapping the neck of one of you too.  Hmmm... consider those weaklings the lucky ones.  Back then...? I was at less than half of my real strength."

[Colour=Pink][i]Lies![/i][/colour] she had to tell herself as her emotions channeled into anger.  She looked back at the ninja, determined to be strong, fury fuelling her stand.

[h3]"NOW WITNESS THE TRUE POWER OF ZIGMUND MUGBA-ZARAK!"[/h3]

His display was like he was daring her to call his bluff, but she refused to allow it to affect her building rage and mental strength.  She did not avert her gaze, she used all the time that he would allow to keep building and building... [Colour=Pink][i]Lillianna![/i][/colour] ...and building and building... [Colour=Pink][i]Clive![/i][/colour] ...and building and building... [Colour=Pink][i]Arthur![/i][/colour]

His attack triggered her into action, she ran at him.  But as he jumped and summoned the biggest weapon she'd ever seen, her agility and reflexes allowed her to react, although there was no possible way - not even with her speed - to completely avoid damage and she was knocked flying from the impact of the crashing attack.  She bounced like a ragdoll as her body hit the ground, but the second time she hit the ground she was rolling back to her feet, ignoring the pain and ripped sleeve of her tunic.  She ran towards a flanking position, firing off shots, then as she saw the roots come out of the ground, she realised who had joined the fight.

[Colour=Pink]"Adam!"[/colour]

And she reacted, firing her grapplehook at the ground between the feet of Zigmund, then leaned back and surfed the dirt at high speed into close quarters combat.  If he moved, she would adjust.  Once in range, she flew into dagger attacks and close range shots.