Cottonmouth

Paragon's End [Modern/Fantasy/Anime/Adventure]

Nemo continued up the stairs. "Travis distracted the sniper long enough for me to get a shot off. If she isn't dead it's going to be a lot harder for her to snipe without a scope." Nemo explained. He tried to use his manalysis as he ascended the roundabout stairs up to the top of the outpost, but came up with no reading on the top. Signifying that Lori was either dead, or using a advanced aura hiding technique. Nemo wouldn't find it hard to believe it was the latter since she was a sniper, a spell like that would prove useful.

As soon as Nemo reached the top and rounded the corner, he found the place Lori had been sniping from. Directly behind the railings she had her rifle propped up on was broken glass shards, some bits of metal, and trickles of blood, but no body in sight. Nemo kept a deadpan face despite the realization that the sniper was still alive. He quickly tried to make a guess on where she had gone to, but before he could formulate an idea his eyes lingered on to the metal shack of the outpost. He couldn't see inside from where he was standing, there was a metal wall with no window blocking his eyesight from peering in.

Nemo breathed in through his nose, sniffing the air a couple times like an animal looking for a scent. Apparently he had found something, because immediately after Nemo used a basic spell to abruptly slide himself backwards without friction, just in time to dodge out of the way of a blast tearing through the wall Nemo was previously standing by. Nemo made sure to bring Raiya with him out of the way if she had made it all the way up the stairs with him.

The lack of any wall made it easy for Nemo to see Lori now, if only for a brief moment in between the wall bursting open and Nemo sliding out of view. It gave him all he really wanted, confirmation his shot had hit. Her large runic gilded flintlock styled rifle was missing it's scope now, and she had a black bandanna quickly wrapped over her head and covering her right eye that was faintly stained red. She was not only wounded, but her shooting eye was decommissioned as well.

Besides that her outfit was rather standard with the rest of the crew. A rugged uniform with a worn brown leather jacket. She had long messy blonde hair, one remaining blue eye, light skin, roughly 5'5", and looked to be in her mid twenties.

Nemo readied his rifle and waited out of sight, careful not to make any more loud movements to tip off his position.

Paragon's End [Modern/Fantasy/Anime/Adventure]

Travis' distraction garnered Lori's attention, she quickly adjusted his rifle to spot him. She figured that he was making a final move to try to save his trapped comrade, just as she had anticipated. However just before she could fire her runic musket, Travis' runes began to discharge. While they didn't hit her from her outpost, the bright lightning disorienting her scope, throwing off her aim on Travis. She fired nonetheless, sending another heavy explosive round down range at him as he made his way towards his next cover.

---

As soon as Nemo heard the first sound of Travis making his move, he took a deep breath and popped out from his cover with his rifle shouldered. Moments later he fired off his own shot roughly at the same time Lori executed her own, though the sound of Nemo's was significantly dampened by the suppressor.

The distance between Nemo and Lori made seeing or hearing the results of his attack nearly impossible, except for the abrupt absence of the glint of her scope. However to Raiya, she would be able to hear the sudden break and crack of glass after the whizzing of the single bullet. Nemo didn't miss, his bullet had traveled the full way before piercing straight through Lori's rifle-scope, the only thing Nemo could see from his position.

Nemo immediately began to walk towards the outpost, using the bolt of his rifle to cycle another round in. Even without any real confirmation on his hit he seemed confident there wouldn't be any more attacks on the group. The silent stroll allowed Nemo to notice the storm had been picking up even more, causing the ship to rock in every direction from the tides. The rain and wind began to increase as well, making it harder to see. But by his guess, they still hadn't reached the threshold that would bring them to the paragon yet.

Soon enough Nemo reached the outpost, finding Raiya in her suspended state. "Looks like you're in a bit of a sticky situation, huh?." Nemo commented as he walked up and used his gloved hand to touch the magically effected area, causing the spell to gradually dissipate in a wave until Raiya was freed. "Just because I said I'd protect you doesn't mean you should be so reckless." He added before he began a trek up the outpost stairs to check for the body.

Paragon's End [Modern/Fantasy/Anime/Adventure]

Lori suddenly felt like somebody had turned off all the lights, she knew she had been blinded. But after hastily applying powder to her face that looked just like the anti-magic powder Roy had used early, she found her vision had returned for good. She quickly looked back down her scope, still seeing nobody out in the open. The hindrance had caused her to miss Raiya falling in her trap however, until the electric charge went off.

Knowing that Raiya had fallen in the stasis rune, Lori considered what to do next. She decided instead of trying to finish her off, she'd wait and see if any of the other intruders would make any erratic moves to try to save her, putting them out in the open for an easy shot. After all, Raiya wasn't going anywhere soon.

---

The charge had alerted Nemo, and after he peaked his head out for a quick look he was able to discern what had happened. Once Travis finished his status update, Nemo brought his own manadial up to his lips and whispered back. "Try to draw her fire and it should distract her long enough for me to get a shot off. Don't worry, I'll only need one." Nemo un-slung his rifle from his back and waited for Travis to make a move. Raiya's predicament meant they were no longer able to take it slow.

Paragon's End [Modern/Fantasy/Anime/Adventure]

The blast in Travis' cover and near death experience made Nemo think it would be better to to get this done as soon as possible. "I don't care which one of you takes out the lights, just get it done before there's nothing left to hide behind." He said, hearing the faint whistle of another blast approaching the group. Nemo used his warp to shift himself up to more cover just in time to escape his previous hiding spot before it was torn to shreds by the blast.

The short time he had to look in between cover he could make out by the glint that the sniper was still at her high up outpost.

Paragon's End [Modern/Fantasy/Anime/Adventure]

Nemo looked over to Travis. "If all of her shots are magic, then it's likely I could defend us against them with my absorption spell, even if they're designed to penetrate barriers." Nemo replied. Afterwards he spawned a rifle of his own from his inventory, a highly customized vintage bolt action sniper rifle. The most notable change that wasn't solely dedicated to gaudy looks that Nemo had made to the weapon was that the entire barrel had been integrated with a suppressor, increasing the size but not the length.

"It's possible I could try to take a shot at her then as well." Nemo said as he loaded a round in the chamber. "Going lights out wont be much of a problem for someone who can see in the dark." Nemo added as he slung the weapon around his shoulder by the sling. "Usually I'd just try to take out her nest with a spell, but I'd be out in the open for too long to get it off."

Before Nemo could say any more another shot whizzed out from across the ship, growing louder and louder until it collided with Travis' cover, taking a decent sized chunk out of it.

Paragon's End [Modern/Fantasy/Anime/Adventure]

Roy was hit by Travis' attacks, his last ditch had failed him. He never thought the untalent would be able to use a magical dash maneuver. The first lightning strike had knocked him unconscious, but the second had finished him off. The strikes coupled with the draft blew him across the deck of the ship until he heavily collided with a metal shipping container. Afterwards he slid back down to the floor and slumped over, dead.

---

Nemo stepped back out to the deck and looked around to get his bearings. Not far off he saw the rest of the group, with Roy's body laying on the floor. He walked over to them and got a better look at the body. "See." Nemo said, looking up to Zoey. "I knew he wouldn't be too much trouble for you three." He finished.

Nemo rested his thumbs in his pant pockets before continuing. "With Decker gone that only leaves... one left of Seidon's crew. Lori Mizzen, the sni-" Before Nemo could finish he cut himself short when he heard a loud bang of a gunshot ring out. Nemo quickly cocked his head to the side and outstretched his arm in the direction he heard the shot from, just in time to use his gloved palm to block and absorb a heavy blast of energy. "-per."

"I think it's time to take cover." Nemo announced before dashing away and rolling behind a metal container, narrowly dodging another speeding blast that hit the floor and tore up the sheet metal. Before he hid Nemo was able to get a better look at where the attacks were coming from. At the other end of the ship where the shield generator was he spotted the white glint of a scope perched on top of a high up outpost.

"Anyone have a plan?" Nemo asked from his cover. "Travis, you're the thinker right?"

Paragon's End [Modern/Fantasy/Anime/Adventure]

Roy nodded. "I suppose you're right. There aren't many options for me here. But I've always felt that lady luck has been on my side." With that final sentence his docile behavior suddenly turned for the worst and he immediately popped a hidden knife out from the inside of his leather sleeve, and in one fluid motion rose from his knees and stabbed out towards Travis' neck.

Roy took the gamble. He figured that even if he let the group capture him, he'd eventually either be killed by them, or he'd be killed later by his own former crew. As soon as the captain showed his face he knew he'd be struck down for his treason. Or worse, he'd be tossed to the churchgoers currently on board for their own personal judgement on him.

---

Nemo took his glove back and slid it back on his hand. "You're welcome." He replied simply before he continued on walking. By this point they were close to the exit. Nemo only showed a slight reaction on his face after Raiya's look of horror. While he didn't show it much, it was certainly something he thought about afterwards. The thoughts seemed to make him less talkative than usual. I figured it would scare her, but there was nothing else I could do. But I shouldn't be surprised, that look is how it's always been. He continued to ponder on it until they reached the hatch back out. With a small flick of his wrist he used his magic to spin it open.

Paragon's End [Modern/Fantasy/Anime/Adventure]

Nemo took Raiya's gloved hand and placed it on his shoulder. "The spell is what brings stolen mana to my own pool. The enchanted runic glove only enhances the rate at which I can steal it, as well as directing the flow to it's wearer. Since that wielder is almost always me it's usually an overlooked aspect. Outside of that spell the glove also works for me like a wand or a staff does for other mages." Nemo explained.

"Just let go once you feel like you've gained back enough." Nemo then activated his drain spell while whispering the word "umkehren." He knew the spell had worked when he started to feel his mana slip away, and while using his manalysis he saw Raiya's began to restore. He had used his spell countless times on others, but he never knew what his trademark ability felt like on the other end of the barrel. The feeling made him sprout a small toothy smirk on his face.

The rate at which Raiya was gaining mana back was rather fast. Nemo had always found the sensation of rapidly stealing mana to be pleasant, but he guessed that for Raiya it might feel odd, especially coupled with the fact she was getting his own void-ish manastrain as well.

Paragon's End [Modern/Fantasy/Anime/Adventure]

"The secret recipe doesn't really lie within the incantation. It's the X runes, and..." Nemo set softly set Raiya down by a wall so she could use it to prop herself up. "... the glove." He finished, raising his right hand and wiggling his covered fingers.

Nemo pulled Raiya's jacket and sweatshirt off his shoulder and offered them back to her. "Until I developed those two things, my absorption ability was much less weaponized. It was only really viable to use it for gaining small bits of mana from crystals and nature. The glove acts like a lightning rod, amplifying the power of the ability as well as guiding all the gained magical energy from what it's touching to it's user." Nemo explained before pulling the enchanted black leather glove off is hand, something he rarely ever did.

He then extending his arm out and offered the item to her. "Which is why if you are wearing it, and with a few minor mental modifications, the energy should transfer to you instead, even if I'm activating the spell. It should be relatively safe as well, as I'm basically just attempting to steal my own mana here not yours. If diverting it's path from me to you doesn't work, nothing should happen."

"So I suppose it's not exactly like reversing the spell, it's still just stealing with extra steps. I wish I had the ability to un-wither the flowers I touch, but giving life just isn't something someone like me has the gift to do."

Paragon's End [Modern/Fantasy/Anime/Adventure]

Nemo let out a small laugh at Raiya's robot impression as he continued tracing their steps back out the ship, passing many of the bodies they made on the way down. By this point they were close to reaching the exit, and thankfully they hadn't run into any sailors again. Raiya's response caused Nemo's head to cock to the side as he thought. "Well, what if I tried to give you some of my mana?" Nemo asked, sounding unsure of himself. "I've never tried it before, but if I made a couple of small adjustments to my absorption spell I might be able to do it. I'm not sure if there would be any side effects though. Most people think of me as being impure, so I'm not sure if you'd even want to do that." Nemo explained.