[center][color=FFA824][h2]Hwei Iosusa[/h2][/color]
[sup]Dogfall | [@HyliaIncarnate][/sup][/center][hr]
Hwei's discerning eyes catch the way Kaiji flinches away from the light, but not the ambush brewing. With all his concentration poured into his intent to purify, he's too slow to avoid the dog's jaws aimed at his arm, and his reaction is delayed, as it would be whenever Hwei is deep in meditation. He jerks his arm out, flinging the dog off his arm and into the gates. Light dissipating, focus returning to battle at hand, he wipes at the blood now trickling down his forearm before assuming a defensive stance out of instinct. His mind, still drawing out of its reverie, feels like it's been folded over itself a thousand times, making Kaiji's whispers all the more insidious. The exhaustion feels like deep, black mud, drowning Hwei and blocking out all his thoughts and efforts at focus. For a moment, he stumbles.

From the deep, an old memory. A solider bathed in light, his hand, heavy with duty, on Hwei's shoulder. It's not a mantric saying or a proverb, but rather a charge and an order: [i]Die with honor.[/i]

At the same time Nova touches down on the battlefield, Hwei draws his spirit energy into his core and spreads it outwards again, manifesting his [b]Spirit Arms[/b] - four of them - behind him. The gentle warmth of the sun is now the blazing core of a star, and Hwei's demeanor almost turns [i]angry[/i] as he faces Kaiji again.

[color=FFA824]"And you almost had me,"[/color] he says, cocking his head to the side as his spirit arms make short work of the dogs behind him, fists breaking their bones and crushing their skulls. [color=FFA824]"[i]Almost[/i]. Right?"[/color] This time, there's no friendliness in his smile, just righteous anger. [color=FFA824]"Even had to bring your doggy friends along. Any other tricks up your sleeve, or are you going to face me like a man?"[/color]

The wave of radiance that, well, [i]radiates [/i]from Nova renews Hwei's vigor and reminds him of his mission. He doesn't waste any more time bantering, leaping forward and aiming a kick at Kaiji's chest before unleashing not one, not two, but four fists on the Grim, keeping two spirit arms open for any other tricks that may arise (because Grim never play fair).