Attn:
@Restalaan,
@PaulHaynek,
@Hammerman,
@AzureKnight
Alice was anything, but ignorant to situational awareness; between herself and Carroll, they were keeping watch on the gathering crowd for allies and onlookers. If someone sought to attack her, initiation of such an assault from within the crowd was the smartest plan.
Fortunately, her attacker wasn't, it seemed.
Alice had already faced and fought there men in totality, dragged there bodies back, and suffered. Sure, she'd taken more than she'd given, but that was her dicking around with the intent to learn the [Heavenly Strike]. Now, she had fragmentary knowledge of the attack; technique carved into her skin, and engraved into her soul.
Why not test it on such a willing subject?
"
Rain Breaker," Alice says, before Carroll suddenly rose, "
Inverse Rainbow..." casting a rainbow of blood into the air, as she tumbled forward, "
Flame Breaker," slamming her weapon into the earth, "
Inverse Eruption..." sending a plume of flame to consume her bloodied foe, as he stood...
"Behind undivided skies, Heaven waits;
A single strike unlocks the gates...
Gale Breaker: Heavenly Str--hurk~!
Alice grit her teeth, as green blood rushed up and spilled onto the ground. "
Dare thee to me, I am yet worthy of you in such an uncivilized manner? Hast thee no divinity," she asks, between hacking coughs. "
Very well. Thine point is made. I am unready. It is no mere couplet I need, but a full stanza..."
The [Heavenly Strike] technique had rejected her premature attempt. The flaming prison of her attack wouldn't hold her opposition forever, and she couldn't feel her sword arm - not to mention, Carroll had been rendered unconscious by the feedback, and reverted to his Mundane Form. Unstable to sustain her own transformation without the synchronized energy flow, Alice would revert to her weaker self and use the last few seconds to speak to Takeshi, since he seemed in charge:
"
I'm going to finish what I started. Thanks for helping me heal. Sorry about earlier. She doesn't trust anyone but Lady Kyouko. I'll be going."
And, Alice took off towards the center of town to reorient herself, and head for the gate she knew would return her on her path; leaving her potential allies and the smell of burning blood behind.
Whether anyone followed was their choice. After that display, she couldn't begrudge them for not coming to her aid. Though, really, she didn't do anything wrong. She was attacked, after all. Still, she was just a stranger to their group, and probably didn't put on a good first impression.
"
..." Alice pouted. It was all she could do, really.
Iwannabeyours
Crusader Lord
Neziul
Bacon