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Post by therunawaygirl on Feb 23, 2022 16:42:22 GMT -5
Without missing a beat, both Adventurers began their part —Lamont quickly holding the Coeurlclaw from behind after Kujo’s Akogare handed them over to him, hands tied together and with an iron grip, while Reena nodded with firm determination. What the Viera had to do now was give precise instructions to ensure Kujo could get to the location with more than enough time to spare, despite how short on time they truly were. The less they spent elsewhere other than their quest, the better for all of them.
That being said, others could think they’d wasted enough time by now…
“From here, down this slope” Reena pointed out —they were surprisingly close to The Roost, Gridania’s inn, “It’ll lead you to the Central Shroud. You’ll have to go past it in order to arrive at the South Shroud. Pass the Aetheryte in Bentbranch and the docks at Lavender Beds, and from there, towards Quarrymill —you’ll know you’re there by a settlement with a crystal. I’d ask you wait for us there, but…” “We’ve not the time, Reena” Lamont reprimanded, before looking at Kujo, “Ask for directions in Bentbranch or Quarrymill should you lose your way —though I doubt you’ll need such things. Any member of the Order of the Twin Adder should aid you, were you in need of it.” “Do you think you could get there as quickly as possible?!” Reena asked, eager, “We’ll handle things here quickly as well, to join you later! This is a matter both Lamont and I won’t abide to!”
M’Lyn took a deep breath, her stance at the ready in front of her defeated opponents. They were all female Miqo’tes, either wielding spears or bows, yet the blonde Miqo’te hardly flinched at the sight. Making use of her broadsword, as she deemed it the more opportune weapon to block and charge, she showed her fangs in defiance to the group that began to crowd her. “Give it up, you dirty betrayer” one of the Miqo’tes shouted, “You stand no chance in our ground!” “Hardly a matter” M’Lyn scoffed, “Besides, I have other matters to attend to… So, step aside —I don’t have much time to waste.”
Her experience in battles far surpassed that of mere pickpockets and poachers, fearing nothing at the thought of even slaying one of her kinsmen (OOC: or is it kinswomen?). One life or a thousand —did it really matter to someone like her? Not really. Though obviously, she would’ve preferred to not have any struggles along the way, but things hardly went by without a hitch, especially recently. The thought crossed her mind as she swung her blade to counter a spear charging her way, her body moving in a way so that an arrow shot her way missed its mark. Little by little, M’Lyn knocked out each and every one of her opponents, though her stamina was losing its edge. Not that she could give up now —her target was deeper within Urth’s Gift. It was a grim reminder of her background, one she wasn’t exactly proud of. It hadn’t been her choice, however, but rather she’d been born into said context. Her only reminder of such times were her “name”, though one she had forsaken —and one she was going to return with interests. “…Bloody hell —you have not changed at all, now have you?”
She stopped short after spotting the one person she was looking for. Checking onto a multitude of aether crystals was a Miqo’te male. His black hair was highlighted with a brownish-red color at the edges, the ears following a similar style, while his tail was more akin a lion’s —black and thin yet with a small mane at the end of it. He turned to face M’Lyn, a sickly-looking green underneath his sharpened eyes. He wore a tight leather harness, exposing the center of his chest, yet protecting all else, while his legs were covered by brown-red pants and plated leather boots. On his gloved hand, he held a small crystal that shone brightly in reaction to something, but the Miqo’te had more important things to notice.
“Well, well, well… Who do we have here?” the Miqo’te asked, “A pale flame flickers still… Such a shame that you return to us so tainted and flickered, Blue Flame.” “Tch —a name such as that ought to be forgotten” M’Lyn rolled her eyes, “…I’ll be quick —hand over the crystals, and no one gets hurt. Resist, and I shall use force.” “Sorry, my dear, but I shan’t oblige. For what we want, we take —and what we want is power to dethrone those Wailers who stand in our path. Garuda aids us so, and so we shall serve her!” “So, has he been enthralled…?”
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Post by hoodwink on Feb 23, 2022 21:33:41 GMT -5
Kujo listened to Reena’s directions, soaking in every detail as the Viera enthusiastically described where M’Lyn would be. Thankfully it was easy for the man to take mental notes, as despite not knowing the local area well, he was always good with memory, small details and directions. Of course some of the details were rushed through, as they weren’t exactly stocked up in the time department, but the Viera did a well enough job to make him confident in his course.
As added insurance, Lamont also shared with him destinations in which he’d be able to gather his bearings if needed. “Do you think you can get there as quickly as possible?!” It was his time to go. Giving both adventurers a nod with a grim expression, Kujo’s shimmering guardian burst into light, shrouding it’s host as it began to fuse with the tall man, enhancing his physical capabilities beyond that of a mere mortal.
”Take care of things here.” Though it wasn’t much for parting words, they were his. With a slight ground tremor as the earth beneath him cracked from the force, Kujo took off, blurring through the small plaza and into the distance.
[BREAK]
Though the directions hadn’t been perfect, Kujo had only gotten turned around once or twice (not that he’d ever admit that to anyone). Despite that, the man arrived in the forest within hardly five minutes thanks to his powers. A good a sign as any… Immediately upon his arriving, the man noticed the multiple unconscious Miqo’te sprawled across the forest clearing. Clearly he was on the right path.
Then where is she…?[/b] Using the powers of his guardian, Kujo’s gaze was replaced with that of his Akogare’s, allowing him to pierce the forest with ease. It only took a moment for him to see M’Lyn, though there was another Miqo’te with her. The man wasn’t one he knew, though that wasn’t surprising. The shimmering crystal they held brought an arch to his brow. From first glance, it looked like an Aetheryte.
SHOOM! Trees bent and shook around the forest as the man clad in lavender closed the distance. Emerging to the scene beside M’Lyn, Kujo’s form was shrouded in a shimmering light as his Akogare’s armor reflecting what light came through the tree tops. ”You’re not usually prone to wandering off…” A faint smirk betrayed the comments true nature—as the two were far too used to giving each other a hard time by now.
”This guy’s got you held up?” His tone hinted at competition, a slight goad. Seemingly relaxed, Kujo’s emerald gaze took in who he understood as an opponent. Whatever their deal, clearly they weren’t your everyday villain, if M’Lyn had felt the need to come here. Prepared to aid her in getting rid of their annoyance quickly, Kujo raised both fists as the armor surrounding him gleamed. ”Let’s make this quick.”
There wasn’t time for questions, not that he felt the need to ask any. Though clueless as to what the true situation was or why M’Lyn had gotten roped up in this mild detour, Kujo trusted her enough to know it had to be handled.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Feb 24, 2022 3:47:09 GMT -5
Watching Kujo leave, both Lamont and Reena nodded with confidence at his departure. Still holding onto the Coeurlclaw’s wrists behind her back, the Dragoon made his way to the Order of the Twin Adder to continue with his own side of questioning, wanting to know exactly what they were getting themselves into. So much for just gathering info on where Garuda was going to be summoned…
Reena was left in a state of awe, blinking while she looked at the path Kujo had taken. Being honest, she’d been awestruck by Kujo’s power, but with so many things happening, it was hard to keep focus on it, not to mention the urgency of the current problem.
“I wonder why he had to keep such a thing secret…” she wondered. “Reena, I’ll leave without you if you stand there” Lamont shouted from afar, “We don’t have time to think about secrets and the like —you may ask about them later on.” “Ah —r-right!”
During the time it took for Kujo to arrive to M’Lyn’s side, she was already caught in the midst of a battle with the male Miqo’te, her sword clashing against what looked to be a rapier. It had caught M’Lyn by surprise, seeing him use a weapon she herself was completely unfamiliar with, but it didn’t bother her. What did bother her was the power behind the strikes. It was unnaturally strong —and it wasn’t simply due to the gender difference. The power behind those strikes matched ones from powerful foes, one of which was fairly fresh in the Miqo’te’s memory. ”This guy’s got you held up?” Fairly an understatement, though M’Lyn didn’t exactly show attention to the comment. Her focus was aimed elsewhere, trying to understand where the strength came from. Using the momentum from one of the blocking strings, she slid back, drawing some distance from the male Miqo’te who was her opponent. As for the man himself, his chin was raised with suspicion at the newly presented opponent.
“To think… You’d rely on those outside of your kin for help…” the male Miqo’te sighed, “Truly a disappointment, Lynhye…” “Shut it —I’m not here to argue” M’Lyn replied back, bristled at the sudden name, “If you won’t comply peacefully, then you’ll comply by force.” “Far from me to decline.”
The male Miqo’te made his stance, the sword in one hand firm in its grip, while on the other hovered what seemed to be… A mirror? A shield? It was small enough to fit in the palm, but there was something ominous about it –a face etched at one of its sides. Both blade and shield were of a purple hue, with almost crystal-like details and an eerie glow surrounding both parts of the weapon. It brought a chill down M’Lyn’s spine, but she had to shake it off in order to fight properly. Something was off, but she wasn’t sure what that something was.
“Take care” she told Kujo, “Something’s amiss… This isn’t a normal foe by any means. I can’t quite pinpoint why that is, however…”
[BATTLE! The Coeurlclaw King (self-named)]
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Post by hoodwink on Feb 25, 2022 9:57:19 GMT -5
Clanging metal echoed throughout the forest as M’Lyn and the mysterious male Miqo’te exchanged sword blows. Despite the rather flimsy looking rapier the man wielded, it seemed as though their force was equal to that of a freight train, from how Kujo saw his ally respond to each blocked blow. He really is giving her a hard time. Rather than disappointed, the ‘pugilist’ found themselves amused. It wasn’t every day that they stumbled upon a foe powerful enough to keep M’Lyn at bay.
”To think…you’d rely on those outside of your kin for help…” Whatever history the two had, it went deep, further confirmed by the odd name the man tossed M’Lyn’s way. Based on her retort and actions following, it was easy for Kujo to see it was a sore subject for her. Taking in the foe before him, the man in lavender found the odd purple glow around the Miqo’te to be peculiar. It’s kind of like those pests.[/b] Though different, he had indeed ran into certain Heartless and those influenced by the powers to seep a similar hue.
No Heartless were in sight on this world, though. Remembering the words of the ‘Master’ he’d met on this world, Kujo was briefly reminded of the very nature of ‘light’ and ‘dark’ on this world—thinking of Elena’s ‘partner’. ”Take care. Something’s amiss…” With a nod, Kujo grimaced at M’Lyns warning, his eyes never leaving the foe before them.
”Tch—yeah, I could see that.” Despite playing it nonchalant, there was a lurking annoyance gnawing at the man’s heart. His thoughts raced to Liz. Clenching his shimmering fists, the glowing pugilist readied himself for combat. ”Can’t I catch a break?” Sighing with mild annoyance, it was time to get to work. Wanting to see the nature of the Miqo’te’s powers, he found it best to take a mild approach.
Crossing his arms across his chest, Kujo’s form began to glow even more intensely for a moment before he unleashed his stance. As his DokiDoki ability unleashed a torrent of small heart-shaped projectiles of explosive light, Kujo would use his enhanced powers to rush in after the attack, splitting to the left as he closed in to rush the enemy from the side! Once within range, he’d roar out with vigor as his fists flew at a terrifying speed.
Finishing the attack with his Wakeru, the mysterious burden of the past would be flooded by waves of powerful punches as well as explosive light-based hearts bursting forth!
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Post by therunawaygirl on Feb 25, 2022 15:24:47 GMT -5
The battle returned to the speed of before, with Kujo taking the first offensive after the mild stop. The Miqo’te seemed unfazed at first, though it was quickly replaced with shock at the showcase of strength —yet instead of fear, there was amusement in the Miqo’te’s grin. He readied his stance to counter, both blade and Honor (OOC: that’s the name of the thing that comes with the rapier) at his reach. (Reference for the Rapier and Honor)First, the Dokidoki attack came in, though something happened in between the attack. The Honor’s face’s eyes lit up, a glint of red showing for a second before being followed by a glow of purple and black. Before Kujo could even reach him with his Wakeru, the Miqo’te had jumped back, his stance ready to cast a powerful Verflare —the flames of the spell aimed straight at Kujo. On her end, M’Lyn rushed to the attack, since she figured a caster would be left unguarded to a different assault. Yet, as soon as the spell had been casted, the Miqo’te was more than capable of blocking the precise attack from M’Lyn’s broadsword and pushing her back. M’Lyn lost her balance, but managed to parry the following counter-strike by a hair, though not uninjured —merely scratches from the end of the rapier, yet they stung unlike a normal weapon’s injuries. “Just what is that?!” M’Lyn thought, exasperated, “Not once have I seen such a thing —not here, and certainly not in another world…”“Surprised?” the male Miqo’te taunted, “Alas, for a traitor such as yourself, I shan’t leave room for mercy. You brought this upon yourself, Lynhye —and you shall die as such.”“Tch… Less you forget, my name is M’Lyn —far better than the name you gave me.”“M’Lyn, eh…? And weren’t you the one criticizing my way of acting against custom? I can say the same back to you, my dear.”“Shut it!”
M’Lyn tossed the sword towards the Miqo’te, who once again dodged almost effortlessly, but was forced slightly aback by the following Ruin II spell from M’Lyn, who’d grabbed a staff in the nick of time. Skoom! The blonde Miqo’te froze in place, an arrow grazing her ear, driving her attention behind them. The Miqo’tes she’d incapacitated before were now standing, though somewhat beaten up —many of them aiming their arrows at both M’Lyn and Kujo, while others held their lances at the ready to push forward. Still not lowering his guard, the male Miqo’te continued to goat at both of them, an arrogant grin in his expression as he did so. “You tried your best… But just the two of you won’t last against a thousand” he spoke, “Whether by my blade or theirs, you shall meet your doom here, today.”
[BATTLE! The Coeurlclaw King (self-named), Coeurlclaw Hunters, Coeurlclaw Poachers]
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Post by hoodwink on Feb 28, 2022 19:19:55 GMT -5
Can’t I catch a break? Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Kujo glowered at the bizarre glowing shield that had seemingly absorbed his first attack. Though his Wakeru missed its mark with its limited range, the raw power and speed from the torrent of punches was enough to slice through the flames shot at him from the retreating opponent. With such strong and swift punches, the currents in the air danced and crumbled as the flames died out and Kujo was left swinging empty space.
“You brought this upon yourself, Lynhye.” The name seemed to cause M’Lyn to bristle, though it only caused the man in lavender to raise a brow in confusion. It seemed these two’s history went further back than even he could fathom. Though she seemed to fall for the goad, M’Lyn was hardly rushing into battle sloppily. Her form and speed were impeccable as usual while the forced the mysterious enemy on the defensive, even if only for a moment.
Twang! Despite not having such ‘archaic’ technology on his home world, Kujo knew the sound of a bowstring by now. With his enhanced perception he was able to watch the arrow pierce through the forest from behind them as M’Lyn froze to avoid it. It showed the Miqo’te’s expertise in battle, to be able to react in such a way. “You tried your best, but just the two of you won’t last against one thousand.” The annoyances never ended.
”Tch—a handful of stragglers on their last breath don’t worry me.” Throwing a glowering glare towards the male Miqo’te with odd weapons, Kujo’s form shimmered intensely as his powers enhanced his physical prowess. Still, though…what a pain. He wasn’t dense, it was obvious as to why M’Lyn had merely left the returning warriors incapacitated. Because of his partners history, he’d have to hold back if he fought with the wounded warriors. “M’Lyn, finish what you started!” Shouting out to his comrade, the man in lavender turned his attention to the ‘main’ enemy. ”I’ll keep him busy until you’re done.”
Somehow, he knew he didn’t have to hold back against those odd weapons the Miqo’te held. Especially since the weird shield had swallowed his attack. It must be dark-based… Recalling Elena’s words as well as his own experiences against such forces, the man felt confident in his assumption. Let’s see how much force it can swallow. Shimmering with the power of his guardian, Kujo’s speed was similar to that when he arrived as the man became a purple streak through the forest clearing, closing the distance within the blink of an eye.
”Giroooo—“ His leg shot out as swift as a honed swordsman’s blade. ”—chin!” Arcing towards the Miqo’te’s neck, the impossibly fast attack would cause an immense flash of light as suddenly Kujo would be found behind the armored warrior, smoldering from the heat and friction of such speed. It was a tremendously powerful attack, but the pugilist had aimed it for more discerning purposes than plain offense.
Surely with such a defensive weapon and stance, the Miqo’te would aim to deflect or block. Kujo’s main goal was to use that opportunity to discern the true nature of the power behind those blows.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Mar 1, 2022 9:45:05 GMT -5
“M’Lyn, finish what you started!”
Hearing those words, M’Lyn clicked her tongue in annoyance. Kujo would have no idea why she’d simply incapacitated them instead of slaying them head-first. She couldn’t care less about some ruffians who chose to steal and poach for a living, trampling over other’s lives. There was another reason for her not wanting to spill blood just yet. Had that restriction not been in place, then she would’ve done her thing with ease. Unfortunately, while she wasn’t aiming for the kill, the Coeurlclaws were —and after being defeated once, it was clear they were going all out as to not lose a second time. Kujo may have had it easy, having to deal with one enemy, but M’Lyn, having fought for a while without as much as a small break, was starting to lose her edge. Still holding her staff at the ready, she found herself in a quick disadvantage against the likes of spears and bows, having to force herself forward in close-range against weapons that had the advantage at a distance. Still, that fact alone was hardly a factor anymore —they were fighting for their lives with the hand they had shown earlier. It wasn’t time to back down just yet.
On Kujo’s end, he would hardly have it easy. Once again, the Honor’s eyes shone red for a second, followed by a glow of purple and black —the male Miqo’te had somehow managed to step aside the attack this time, the rapier brimming with power as he thrusted it forward in a powerful Enchanted Reprise, aiming to strike at Kujo’s side. The Miqo’tes eyes showed no fear nor shock —or any emotion in particular. Dead set on slaying the enemy who stood in his way, the male Miqo’te was almost rushing for a kill, though not sloppily. No matter what happened, he hardly seemed to be pushed to a disadvantage —having to face just one enemy seemed to be a boon rather than a nuisance to him. [BATTLE! The Coeurlclaw King (self-named), Coeurlclaw Hunters, Coeurlclaw Poachers]
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Post by hoodwink on Mar 1, 2022 15:45:07 GMT -5
There had been another glow during his attack, something Kujo had picked up on. That damned shield… It had done something to aid in the Miqo’te to avoid his fast attack. Thrusting out a lancing stab as Kujo closed the distance, the enemy from M’Lyn’s past was brimming with energy. Thankfully the pugilists speed was beyond that of any normal human, powered up from his bizarre powers.
Spinning out of the way with a movement so specifically timed it was obvious that he had his own battle experience at play, Kujo’s shimmering form weaved and twisted as his powerful fists shot out in a counter-attack. Whether the swift strike landed or not, he would take a moment to leap backwards in a powerful step to create distance. It was the briefest of moments, but Kujo still raised a mighty guard as he glanced over his shoulder to check in on M’Lyn.
He knew the task wouldn’t be easy. Despite keeping her composure, Kujo knew M’Lyn was reaching mild fatigue. Still, the man was confident it was a task she could handle. On top of that, if she truly was beginning to wear down, sending her against a powered up enemy seemed like a worse idea than a handful of injured ones. She’ll hang in there. She had to. Steeling his determination, Kujo glared at the enemy before him. That shield is capable of some annoying tricks.
Despite the situation, Kujo was hardly worried but more annoyed than anything. ”Tch—if that’s all you’ve got, I’d give up now.” Gesturing at the Miqo’te with a pointed finger, the tall man in lavender loomed with menacing energy as his form began to shimmer once more. It’s not enough. I need to learn more. It wasn’t just the shield, though that seemed to be the most annoying artifact his enemy possessed at the moment. There was only one way to learn more about the odd abilities they weld.
Rushing in at a blinding speed, Kujo streaked across the forest once more as he closed the distance, though he stopped short about two meters of the Miqo’te as his fist lashed out to the first floor. Crack! SKOOM! Rupturing the very earth he struck, the man’s raw power allowed him to cause a tremendous quake that shook the area around them. While crags and fissures erupted from beneath and all around him and the Miqo’te, Kujo would keep the pressure on by following up the demolition with a swift flurry of punches.
It was time to see what other odd powers this enemy had!
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Post by therunawaygirl on Mar 3, 2022 15:08:48 GMT -5
Though the counter-attack from Kujo would hardly leave a mark, as once again the male Miqo’te seemed to dodge unscathed, both sides were at a partial stalemate, with neither side landing hits. Still, unlike Kujo, surely the male Miqo’te would be reaching his limits, right? Nevertheless, he noticed the different in strength, comparing M’Lyn and Kujo, only able to draw a smirk with a mix of annoyance and pride.
”Tch—if that’s all you’ve got, I’d give up now.” The taunt hardly caused the Miqo’te to back down, instead receiving an arrogant glare as he raised his chin up, as if to taunt Kujo back. The Honor was almost pulsating, brimming with energy, and the rapier was firmly held in the other hand —his stance impeccable.
If Kujo wanted to see what else it could do, he must’ve been ready for it.
“Far from me to decline” the male Miqo’te said back, “To think someone’s able to rival this power… Gridanian or not, you stand your ground better than most —for that, you have my respect.”
Kujo’s rushdown was met with unflinching resistance —first by jumping backwards, and the Honor once again doing its wielder a favor by nullifying the damage. If he was attentive, Kujo would be able to see that while there was no visible barrier surrounding the Miqo’te, there was something —like a blur, or a flash. Moving at a similar speed to the clad pugilist, it seemed the Miqo’te wasn’t blocking the attack moreso than dodging it. What would that do for Kujo’s strategy, however…
At a distance, the male Miqo’te chanted yet another spell. In the blink of an eye, countless swords of black light appeared behind the Miqo’te, before shooting forward from an arch towards Kujo. The Fleche ability looked to either force Kujo to the defensive due to the countless swords, or simply force him forward, though if he chose the latter, the male Miqo’te was more than ready to counter.
“Alas, however… Though rival you may be, you’re no threat whatsoever.”
On M’Lyn’s end, her battle was hardly getting any easier. She’d swapped weapons to fit her in the battle, but it only gave her a slight advantage. Some of the Coeurlclaws that had been fighting against here weren’t ones she’d incapacitated before, so they had much more energy to spare, while M’Lyn didn’t. Her movements were starting to get a bit slow, her predictions less accurate, but she knew she couldn’t give up. Though, it wasn’t like she could finish it alone…
“Gods damn it all… To think —this would’ve been so much easier had it just been that bastard…” she thought to herself in anger, “If only…”
Her thought was cut short by a spear charging her way, though M’Lyn blocked it efficiently with her polearm. Still, one wasn’t the last of it —plenty of more Lancers remained standing, grouping near M’Lyn to corner her, while Archers from afar readied aim to seal the battle. Skoom! A foreign arrow shot straight to the nearest Lancer, striking their arm and forcing them to drop the weapon. The battle was brought to a halt as the Coeurlclaws tried to figure out who had shot that arrow. M’Lyn had an idea as or who it was, but…
“Lamont —what are you waiting for?!”
The shout was enough to bring some sense of relief to M’Lyn. In the blink of an eye, the Dragoon plunged from up high, his spear imbued with fire as he made use of his Dragonfire Dive. Standing in front of M’Lyn with his spear at the ready, the Elezen glared at the Coeurlclaws that stood dumbstruck on his entrance. Shooting another arrow, Reena made her entrance to quickly stand besides Lamont, bow and quiver ready to shoot continuously. Lamont glanced over his shoulder towards M’Lyn, a stern look in his eyes, though his guard was ready to continue on fighting.
“Needless to say, there’s countless things I wish answers for —but that comes after this mess” he spoke, “Reena and I shall cover you —take care of the person you came here for.” “Careful of the weapon!” the Viera shouted over her shoulder, “That’s what you need to look out for!” Reena turned around, reading herself for a fight, yet quickly strumming along the tune of her lyre, “Now —do not give up yet!”
The music echoed in the grove, the effects behind Reena’s Wanderer’s Minuet aiding in healing M’Lyn’s wounds and restoring some of her stamina, while Lamont readied himself to rush forward and continue on fighting, his spear still brimming in flames as he used Stardiver against a group of Lancers. M’Lyn, on her end, turned around towards where Kujo and the male Miqo’te were fighting, her expression seething with anger.
“Now I’ll make you pay…!” she swore, her grip in her polearm as firm as humanly possible, before running to join in the fray.
[BATTLE! The Coeurlclaw King (self-named)]
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Post by hoodwink on Mar 6, 2022 20:41:40 GMT -5
“Far from me to decline.” The Miqo’te bristled, causing Kujo to resume a defensive guard as he stepped a foot forward, digging it into the earth with strength to fortify his stance. That damned thing… They had yet again avoided his flurry of blows, leaving a sour taste in his mouth and an annoying thorn in his pride. Whatever the odd-eyed artifact was, it was clearly allowing his enemy a different space to dodge. Bastard’s using borrowed space. Couldn’t he catch a break?
He didn’t have long to simmer in his agitation. Soon, countless blades of black light showered down towards him, causing him to sigh in annoyance. ”Good grief.” Magic tricks wouldn’t get the best of him, though. Moving with the power of his Akogare, Kujo was a blur of motion as his body weaved and bent to avoid the impaling blades. All the while, his footwork was sure and steady as he slowly zig-zagged to narrow the gap between them. Though some would graze him, the perception and reflexes mixed with the speed of his Akogare allowed the man to otherwise emerge from the barrage unscathed.
“Though rival you may be, you’re no threat whatsoever.” The taunt only deepened Kujo’s scowl as he finally got within range (2m).
”Tch—I was thinking something similar…” Wearing a mask of annoyance, Kujo’s form was consumed in a blinding light as he activated his fused state, Enraged Heart. He didn’t use the form lightly, noting how M’Lyn was being steadily worn down throughout the fight happening behind him. Shrouded in the purple armor of his stand guardian, Kujo’s tall and muscular form was surrounded in a bright lavender aura as the distance between him and the Miqo’te closed.
Skoom! A powerful burst of light erupted from the shimmering pugilist, blasting out the moment he was close enough in a large heart-shaped projectile as he used his Kagayakashi[/i] ability. While the close-ranged burst attack exploded, Kujo’s armor plated fists would barrage out at a blinding speed on each side of the enemy. It was a barrage of attacks from all sides—each blow strengthened by the form, causing the trees in the forest themselves to bend and sway as the force pushed and blasted throughout the clearing.
Let’s see what you can do…! Bracing himself for a follow up attack, Kujo’s eyes stayed sharp and honed on the Miqo’te, knowing they’d most likely be defending with their odd artifact.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Mar 7, 2022 5:51:07 GMT -5
Now with 2 more allies aiding them with the battle, M’Lyn didn’t have to worry about a loss —it was clear they would win now. Her stamina recovered, and knowing now where to focus, she had an idea or two on what to do in order to gain the upper hand against the man who’d been a thorn in her side for the longest time, finally finding a chance to part ways with a past she wasn’t particularly proud of. Kujo had his attention for the time being —giving M’Lyn the perfect time to catch him by surprise. Though many things weren’t something she was proud of, some of the learnings of her past were rather valuable at times like these.
The Miqo’te groaned, covering his eyes as Kujo unleashed his Enraged Heart stance —the light far too blinding to allow him any sight. The stun helped Kujo in closing the distance, unleashing a powerful Kagayakashi, this time doing something in his favor —the ability connected, tossing the Miqo’te backwards against the closed grove of trees. The Miqo’te hissed, his fangs showing vividly know, and his gaze enraged, bitter at having receiving damage, though it didn’t seem to hinder him in the slightest —once again, the Honor in his hand had mitigated most of it. Needless to say, however, the Miqo’te was now aggravated, acknowledging that his opponent this time around was no normal foe. The blade in his hand was now almost pulsating with energy, the dark aura around it only growing stronger as opposed to weaker. Knowing this fact, the male Miqo’te still had the audacity to smirk with malice, glaring at Kujo’s own gaze with hatred undescribed with words alone. “Well, you certainly have tricks, don’t you…?” he muttered, “Too bad that’s all you can show.”
In the blink of an eye, the Miqo’te disappeared in a blur of movement, closing the distance between the two with Corps-a-corps, the rapier aimed straight to the armored chest of the clad pugilist, the blade shimmering with dark energy. Regardless if the attack connected or not, the Miqo’te’s ears twitched, managing to move out of the way as M’Lyn casted a powerful Astral Fire from a decent rage. Having gained some distance, the male Miqo’te glared at M’Lyn, who looked almost unfazed by having chanted such a spell to hurt him.
“How dare you, Lynhye—!” “Enough with the charade” M’Lyn spoke, “…Next time, I won’t miss —so either give up while you’re ahead or face your fate of defeat.”
While the male Miqo’te scowled in anger, M’Lyn glanced over at Kujo, her polearm at the ready before readying herself to a fight. The information she had gained from Reena, while minimal, was worth sharing —and since Kujo was the main force keeping the male Miqo’te occupied, it was best he knew as well.
“While he’s armed, attacks will be for naught —he’ll be able to recover effortlessly so long as he hold the weapon” she explained, “So…” M’Lyn smirked, making use of the moment to toss a snappy remark Kujo’s way —as payment for his previous goad, back at when he first arrived, “I’d suggest you focus on the weapon rather than the bastard. You’ll get to him eventually afterwards.”
[BATTLE! The Coeurlclaw King (self-named)]
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Post by hoodwink on Mar 8, 2022 19:13:53 GMT -5
Blasted backwards from the force of the attacks, the Miqo’te seemed to escape the worse of the damage despite getting caught off-guard. Still… It was a good sign. Even if they avoided most of the damage, it didn’t mean he was untouchable. Kujo, on the other hand, had already healed from the minor wounds the magical blades had created, the power of his fused state healing him steadily. Perhaps it would be a simple battle of attrition?
Engrossed in the foe before him, it had taken Kujo a moment to pick up on the two extra presences that had joined the fray. Looks like they showed up. With Reena and Lamont backing her, M’Lyn was in a much better spot as the trio began to steadily turn the tables. “Well, you certainly have tricks, don’t you…?” His gaze had remained on the Miqo’te, who was slowly recovering from the blast attack. Blurring into motion with speed that nearly rivaled his own outside of his fused state, Kujo was confronted with the blade of the shrouded rapier that landed out at him.
That being said, it was easy for him to avoid the lunge attack in his current state. Weaving to meet the Miqo’te face-on, Kujo’s armored fist balled up and was about to lash out before the man suddenly leapt backwards. M’Lyn’s spell scorched the air as it flared between him and the Miqo’te. “How dare you, Lynhye!” Kujo couldn’t help but smirk at the enemie’s outrage.
“While he’s armed, attacks will be for naught—“ M’Lyns warning caused Kujo to scrutinize the weapons the Miqo’te held. The rapier shrouded in a dark energy—was it siphoning energy to heal them while the other oddity shifted them or absorbed damage? Can’t I catch a break? What a pain. It was an annoying pairing, for sure, though nothing he couldn’t handle. “I’d suggest you focus on the weapon rather than the bastard.” He nodded in understanding.
”Tch—what a hassle.” Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Kujo blasted forward back towards the enemy once more at a blinding speed. So—I just need to break those… This time when he attacked, Kujo aimed directly for the weapons in question rather than the wielder. Unleashing a powerful combo of punches and kicks, his KitaruShi would swallow the Miqo’te up in a cone of strikes.
Each one was aimed directly for the weapon in their hand, rather than their form itself. Let’s see how sturdy these toys of his are!
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Post by therunawaygirl on Mar 10, 2022 12:03:16 GMT -5
Someway, somehow, M’Lyn was amused by Kujo’s annoyance, though that could’ve been a given due to their previous interactions —what was somewhat odd was the timing of this specific occasion. Still, it lasted but a moment, as she quickly focused back to the battle just as Kujo, fused with his Akogare, dashed forward with lightning speed, now aware of the real danger in that battle. Readying herself for added support, M’Lyn was not going to back down this time.
She’d gotten there for a reason —she’d make sure it was ended by her hand. Kujo, Reena and Lamont being there hardly hindered her intent. Kujo’s rushdown wasn’t exactly inefficient, but the weapons themselves hardly seemed willing to be broken —refusing to be destroyed by such an attack. While the male Miqo’te sustained some injuries, he was ready for a counter-attack. He slid out of the attack thanks to the Honor shielding him from fatal damage, readying yet another powerful Verflare, but it was quickly met by M’Lyn’s Umbral Ice spell —fire and ice creating a blinding explosion sure to blind the male Miqo’te once again. Wasting no time, M’Lyn rushed forward with her polearm at the ready, noticing how the weapons reacted to Kujo’s attack.
Maybe they couldn’t be broken, but they weren’t attached to his limbs, surely? She at least had to give it a try. “I don’t think so, Lynhye!”
Yet again the name she so despised —her attack had been discovered before she could even have a chance of testing it. The male Miqo’te recovered faster than she’d thought, and her polearm was swiftly blocked. However, it served just as well, since it meant M’Lyn could keep him in place while Kujo aimed for the weapons yet again. Hopefully he caught onto the idea, though —it was hard to know just what went through that man’s head.
Regardless of whether the opportunity was taken or not, M’Lyn flinched, noticing the Honor in the male Miqo’te’s hands growing… Restless? Out of instinct she jumped back, wary of what came next. In an instant, the male Miqo’te lurched forward, suddenly in more pain than ever before, though his anger was even more fueled. His eyes were now dilated, directly glaring at M’Lyn, who offered little fear as a reaction, instead steadying her emotions to finish the job. Recovering his stance, the Miqo’te stood up yet again, a sinister aura surrounding him —though M’Lyn flinched after realizing the real issue at hand.
The aether around the Miqo’te had turned lifeless —instead, the weapon in his hands brimmed with life. Was that the source of its power? The wielder’s own lifeforce in exchange for powerful abilities? It seemed far-fetched, but…
This was Eorzea —sometimes, things that made little sense were the most logical of explanations. “Urgh…” the Miqo’te staggered, “Not yet… I can still satiate you…” “…Kujo” M’Lyn called, her eyes focused on the male Miqo’te, “It’s draining his aether. However, I don’t think it’s incapable of draining yours…” she warned, “The moment you see weakness, strike to disarm him —I shall do the same!” “How dare you do this to me, Lynhye…” the male Miqo’te threatened, “How can you betray your family… Your kin…” recovering his balance, the Miqo’te lunged forward, “If you won’t serve me alive, then serve me even in death —your power shall be the strength of this Agonia!”
[BATTLE! The Coeurlclaw King (self-named)]
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Post by hoodwink on Mar 12, 2022 11:34:15 GMT -5
CLANG! SMACK!
The weapons were incredibly durable. Despite unleashing a torrent of attacks with a speed and strength well beyond reasonable limits, Kujo’s strikes couldn’t seem to snap or even crack the thin sword and bizarre artifact their enemy held.
Not that he’d allow the surprise of that fact to hinder him any. While M’Lyn intercepted the Miqo’te’s counterattack, the pugilist realized what had to be done. If the damned things won’t break… He’d just have to separate them from his enemy. Surely M’Lyn had already thought about the fact, as she pinned the man’s weapon in a powerful intercepting block.
“…Kujo” Her voice rang in his ears while he prepared his next move. “The moment you see a weakness, strike to disarm him—“ A smirk and a nod was his retort. He’d already been planning on that. With his current fused state, seeing the rest pan out was child’s play.
“How dare you do this to me, Lynhye…” Again, the Miqo’te spat out that name as he lunged. This time, though, Kujo had anticipated it. Snap! CRUNCH! The sound of bones snapping like twigs would slice the air, as Kujo’s elbow shot out at a dizzying speed, aimed directly for the wrist of their enemy.
”Enough of that.” His scowl accurately portrayed his contempt. ”Good grief.” Holding the Miqo’te’s broken wrist, his emerald eyes would glare at the artifact within its grasp. This thing definitely isn’t normal…! Feeling a sickening energy come off of the artifacts, Kujo avoided touching it. SMACK! His knee shot up into the Miqo’te’s abdomen. ”Just where’d you get this?”
Holding the Miqo’te by their shattered wrist and the nape of their neck, the tall and muscular pugilist would hoist their enemy off of their feet, suspending them in the air. ”It’s not me you’re answering to, though…” Turning on his heels, Kujo would suspend the Miqo’te up facing M’Lyn. Raising a brow, it was clear his question was directed at both his enemy as well as his ally.
”What kind’ve history led you here…?”
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Post by therunawaygirl on Mar 12, 2022 13:32:58 GMT -5
Though M’Lyn readied herself to counter the attack and leave an opening, the male Miqo’te himself left himself open. Kujo struck where it hurt the most, breaking the Miqo’tes wrist holding onto the sword first, the rapier dropping to the ground with a loud clack. His further advances forced the Miqo’te to drop the Honor to the ground, and with that, though the aura waned, his pain remained —both inside and out. It would be impossible to get an answer from him now, battered and bruised as he was —it didn’t take much for them to pass out due to the pain.
The sight alone caused M’Lyn to growl, but not much to be done there. If anything, she really didn’t want to hear yet another word from him.
On the Adventurer’s end, they had been able to keep up the pace against the Coeurlclaws. Eventually, the enemies realized their leader had been struck down, losing hold of the powerful weapon, and quivered at the sight. It wasn’t like Lamont was going to let them run off, however, quickly jumping into the air, and cutting off their escape route. In just but a second, multiple Yellow Serpents and Generals from the Order of the Twin Adder made their arrival —and only when they showed up did Lamont drop his charge.
He knew he could handle the rest to them. Since they already knew the gist of the story, it’d be easy for them to continue in the proper procedures. This fact alone allowed him to relax a little bit, but only a little.
While Reena explained in further detail, the Elezen walked over to where M’Lyn and Kujo stood. The unconscious Miqo’te was still being held by Kujo, though hopefully the man would be considerate enough to drop him on the ground and waste no more energy in the matter. Lamont’s gaze quickly looked over at M’Lyn, who, knowing she was being looked upon, sighed in annoyance. Kujo had asked a similar question before —so it was natural for her to explain properly now.
“I was right in keeping some suspicions on you” Lamont began, “I figured you were not a Seeker, when comparing you to Y’shtola.” “…So, in other words, you’d seen through my disguise?” M’Lyn asked, looking over her shoulder with a cold grin, “I never once doubted your perception, if you need to be aware.” “Would you cut to the chase? Or are you not going to defend yourself of the fact that I’m accusing you of being a Coeurlclaw?” “Lamont…” Reena spoke, walking towards them with worry of another conflict ensuing, “Can’t you relax a bit?” “Not until she explains her intentions.” “Goodness gracious —have you hatred for my race?” M’Lyn sighed, shaking her head, “Alas, however… I understand I owe you all an explanation, but before that…”
M’Lyn looked forward, her face once again expressionless, walking forward only slightly. While Lamont stood in place with a frown, Reena was trusting enough to follow her, standing just shy behind her before blinking in shock at the sight of the crystals. She turned around to tell her partner, pointing at the massive quantity that laid before her —a fact that Lamont couldn’t help but show his shock. M’Lyn closed her eyes, taking a deep breath before diving deeper into the explanation.
“As soon as we arrived in Gridania, I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching our movements” she began to explain, “When I noticed it was a Coeurlclaw spying on us, I couldn’t dismiss the possibility of them being related to the matter that brought us here to begin with, so I chased after them. That’s when I came here —once I learnt that they had been aiding the Ixtali with supplying aether crystals, that is, which may I add wasn’t a hard fact to discover. They were rather boastful of it.” “So, the Coeurlclaws were cooperating with the Ixtali?” Lamont asked, dumbstruck, “And you just happened to know about it?” “Not precisely… But tying one point to the other led me to that conclusion. As well as…” M’Lyn looked at the unconscious Miqo’te, “I can’t say for certain, but I believe he’s been enthralled by Garuda —which would certainly explain his willingness to comply.” “…” “…If I may” Reena spoke, “When we apprehended the Coeurlclaw who was spying on us, they mentioned how you were a traitor… I understand it may be a sore subject, but—” “Hardly” M’Lyn interrupted, “Though how bold of them to call me ‘traitor’… I haven’t betrayed anyone —rather, I’ve deserted to a different style of life. You can already figure out which life I left behind.” “Then… You’re really not…” “…I am not a Seeker of the Sun by birth —I will give you that. Likewise, my real name is not M’Lyn, or Lyn or the Marmots” once again, M’Lyn sighed, though this time it was with clear reluctance, “…My real name is Lynhye Nhade —A Keeper of the Moon born within the Coeurlclaws.”
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Post by hoodwink on Mar 13, 2022 16:04:43 GMT -5
He hadn’t expected the weapon and artifact to be so powerful by themselves. The change in the Miqo’te was drastic as they collapsed into an unconscious state. ”Can’t I catch a break?” Sighing as he wore a scowl of annoyance, Kujo kicked the odd tools far away from their reach, though still within eyesight. While Generals and other members of the Order flooded the forest from seemingly nowhere, the tall pugilist dropped the unconscious lead of miscreant while dismissing his fused state.
“I was right in keeping some suspicions on you.”[/b] Freed from the battle against the remaining Coeurclaw’s, Reena and Lamont were quick to group back up with them—though the Elezan was quicker to pry into what was truly lingering unsaid. Kujo was curious himself about this band of hoodlums and their relation to M’Lyn, but he didn’t appreciate the Dragoon’s approach.
Despite that, he held his tongue.
Some battles weren’t worth fighting, after all.
Listening to his partner’s explanation, the towering man merely crossed their arms in silence. Though he understood the need for secrecy, the truth was that Kujo wasn’t wholly appreciative of being left out of the loop. Not when the two of them had decided to come to this world together, especially due to the reasons behind it.
“When we apprehended the Coeurclaw who was spying on us, they mentioned how you were a traitor…” Reena piped up with a rather bold question, causing him to raise a brow in intrigue. Despite their demeanor, it seemed they could summon courage when it counted.
“How bold of them, to call me a ‘traitor’…” M’Lyn hardly lost face, having a clear explanation for that as well. It seemed the jig was up, as she exposed herself impersonating a Seeker. Instead, it seemed she was a ‘Keeper of the Moon’—not that that cleared anything up for Kujo. Good grief… All of these titles sounded ridiculous. He hardly cared to ask about them, noting how it was behind them now.
”Whatever—your name is M’Lyn as far as I’m concerned. Anything before that doesn’t matter.” It was clear that there were still questions left unanswered, though it was more apparent that Kujo didn’t seem to care. Clearly he respected his partner enough to not pry—though he’d be remembering that old name for future purposes…
”You shouldn’t have gone alone, but at least it got handled.” Sighing in mild annoyance and defeat, Kujo shoved his hands into the pockets of his cropped jacket. ”We’ve wasted enough time on this side-project.” Pulling a somewhat new pack of smokes from his pocket, a name brand in a language foreign to this world, the tall pugilist lit his vice before glancing between the three locals.
”Hopefully that’s the last of the surprises…” He couldn’t remove his grimace, though, having a nagging feeling it was far from over.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Mar 14, 2022 3:29:08 GMT -5
”Whatever—your name is M’Lyn as far as I’m concerned. Anything before that doesn’t matter.”
M’Lyn (or should we call her Lynhye now?) blinked in shock, looking at Kujo as he sighed in annoyance and began to light his vice. Did he just… Say that? Maybe Lamont or Reena didn’t understand the meaning it had or their previous endeavors, but M’Lyn had not expected that even in the worst-case scenario.
It seemed that maybe Kujo was more chivalrous than he’d care to admit.
Still, it was true that what was done was done —no longer was the issue with the Coeurlclaws important. With the crystals secured, and their leader captured, odds were that their movements would be compromised. The thought was somewhat relieving for M’Lyn —it meant her past would no longer haunt her.
It was about time that happened anyways.
“…I think I’ll stick with M’Lyn, as well” Reena confessed, catching the Miqo’te off-guard, “It seems to suit you better!” “…That’s also not what I’d expected…” M’Lyn mumbled in shock. “Are the other Scions aware of this?” Lamont asked, finally coming to a close with the issue. “…They are —you can probably guess that Y’shtola was the first to discover it. Still, out of respect, she continued to call me with my Seeker name.” “Then I shan’t dwindle with the issue any further. …I suppose I can ignore your background for the time being” the Elezen added, reluctant. “Lamont —that’s no way to treat an ally! If even Y’shtola is okay with it, why shouldn’t we?!”
Reena puffed her cheeks, both hands cuffed on her hips as she gave Lamont a reprimanding glare. The only answer the Elezen could even give her was an uncomfortable look, clearly uneasy at being scolded by his partner. Still, he had admitted that he would ignore the background of one of his temporary allies for now —especially given that the other Scions knew about it, and yet treated her with just as much respect as they treated Lamont and Reena. So, for now, it would be alright to look the other way.
The reminder of this being, hopefully, the last of surprises, was somewhat of a wake-up call —the Adventurers still needed to confirm whether Garuda would be summoned or not. M’Lyn had given a valid concern not long before, and the sight of the crystals was beyond a shadow of a doubt an omen. It was a large quantity of aether crystals —but it was now secure in the Scions’ hands. Reena looked over the stash one more time, nodding to herself about the “success” of the mission.
“I think we ought to be alright, if this much aether is kept in our custody” the Viera informed with a faint smile, “All things considered, I guess it was a bountiful occurrence.” “We’ve yet to truly confirm whether Garuda will be called or not… But Reena and I can handle it from here, should it truly be the case” Lamont spoke, looking at M’Lyn and Kujo, “You may return and leave the rest to us.” “…”
M’Lyn crossed her arms, deep in thought. While securing the crystals there would certainly help, she couldn’t help the feeling that they were still somewhat late. She glanced over at the weapons the male Miqo’te wielded, now dull in their edge and almost covered in rust. Weren’t they just brimming with power a second ago? The aether around them had dwindled as well, now emanating no sort of energy. Still skeptical, M’Lyn headed that way, much for Lamont’s curiosity.
Then, a loud boom. Both Adventurers instinctively looked at the sky, noting how it was becoming more and more turbulent —a storm rising suddenly. M’Lyn, having secured the weapons in her belt, glanced over at the sky. Though unfamiliar with the primal they were tasked to stop, she knew this sort of energy all too well.
“Gods damn it all… Were we too late…?” Lamont cursed under his breath with a glare. “Not exactly” M’Lyn spoke, catching the two Adventurers off-guard, “If I were to guess, I’d say this is more of a premature call —if anything, this is our best-case scenario should we fight Garuda.” “…Because a large amount of the aether that would’ve gone her way is now in our custody —is that why?” Reena spoke, receiving a nod, “Then… We can’t waste nary a second!”
The Viera held her hand forward, beckoning everyone to come closer to her. The familiar blue mist shone around them at Reena’s call —in just but a second, they would find themselves back at Gridania’s Aetheryte Plaza. The storm in the sky had caught the attention of all denizens of the Black Shroud, but the Adventurers couldn’t waste any more precious time —they both rushed back to the Inn, where there were also Airship Docks.
And they knew exactly who to count on —they both knew he was still in Gridania conducting some experimentation himself.
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Post by hoodwink on Mar 15, 2022 11:56:57 GMT -5
“…I think I’ll stick with M’Lyn as well. It seems to suit you better!” Kujo withheld a mild snicker and instead chose a slight smirk at Reena’s lackadaisical attitude. It seemed both his and the Viera’s approach had caught M’Lyn by surprise. Was there a hint of appreciation and affirmation in her gaze? Exhaling his vice, Kujo chalked it up to having smoke in his eyes, allowing the Miqo’te to save face.
“Are the other Scions aware of this?” Though Lamont’s approach had initially annoyed the pugilist, they also had to respect their caution and where they were coming from. Kujo himself was not of this world. M’Lyn had seemingly vanished, only to return with an outsider and a shady history to show for it.
Good grief… While his ally explained herself, Kujo distracted the hassle with smoking. At the end of the day, Lamont agreed that the matter was over (albeit, reluctantly), which was all that mattered at the moment. Not that Kujo wouldn’t have fought for M’Lyn had the Elezen pressed it further…
“I think we ought to be alright, if this much aether is kept in our custody.” Reena had been quick to shift from reprimanding Lamont to getting back to business. All-in-all, the bard really did pull through when it counted, he had to admit.
“We’ve yet to truly confirm whether Garuda will be called or not…” Lamont cut in again, this time with reason rather than scrutiny. “You may return and leave the rest to us.” Kujo raised a brow. That was it? Though on the one hand, it was tempting to get back to Y’shtola as soon as possible to cash in on their exchange of information—on the other, he couldn’t help but notice the look on M’Lyn’s face.
Can’t I catch a break? It was annoying, being perceptive, sometimes.
Just as his gaze followed the Miqo’te’s to the weapons that she had just begun to walk towards…
BOOM! The ground shook beneath his feet as a storm erupted above them. “Gods damn it all…were we too late…?” Kujo had already prepared his Akogare, summoning it beside him as he scrutinized the storm above.
“If I were to guess, I’d say this is more of a premature call—“ M’Lyn was quick to reassure Lamont as Kujo stomped out his vice somewhat early. He noticed the weapons now sheathed in the woman’s belt. Thankfully they had quieted down, somewhat. Though what she was planning to do with them would have to wait. It was now or never. They were going to try to stop a God. As Reena held her hand forward, summoning them all to her, a familiar blue mist shrouded his vision…
Back at a plaza he hardly recognized but knew, Kujo followed M’Lyn and the others, having dismissed his silent guardian for the time being. As he was led to the Inn and the harboring docks, the man scowled in quiet contempt. Just what would this God Garuda, be like? Tch—whatever.
It didn’t matter. He’d destroy it all the same.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Mar 16, 2022 4:08:44 GMT -5
While Lamont and Reena secured with Cid voyage to the Howling Eye where Garuda awaited, M’Lyn couldn’t help but glance over at Kujo, noticing a scowl in his expression. She knew for a fact this was an enemy Kujo hadn’t faced before, so she couldn’t help but be wary of his intentions. Though knowing the man to be prudent when it counted, she had already seen his recklessness when facing a new challenge —but this challenge was hardly going to pair up to the Heartless they’d fought prior to now. Taking a deep breath, she turned towards him, having the inkling of a feeling that she knew exactly what he was up to.
“Kujo —a moment, if you could…” she beckoned, “While I may or may not be correct in my current assumption… I’m telling you this with utmost sincerity —should there be a shroud of danger when fighting Garuda, I beg you stand behind me. Of course, Lamont and Reena can also serve, but I have some hope you trust me enough to believe me when I say this.”
She could’ve explained in better detail, had she the time, but Cid and Reena both were urgent in their callings to board and head towards the Eye of the Storm. In the Airship, M’Lyn wouldn’t be able to explain things fully, but she had gotten her warning clear —she just hoped Kujo was smart enough to listen to it.
The last thing she wanted was for the whole endeavor to be ruined by him being enthralled by a Primal. While the doubt remained whether he was even susceptible to such tricks, M’Lyn didn’t want to chance it for a second.
Unlike her, he wasn’t blessed with the Echo —in that world, though his powers were real and true, he was, at the end of the day, a regular human being.
The winds of the storm were akin blades slicing everything in their path, but the Airship they were now in had the mechanisms and magics to fully shield its passengers from such treacherous winds. Lamont was standing at the edge of the ship once more, his eyes glaring into the storm as he tried to sight the Primal he was now tasked to slay. Reena was also on the lookout, her bow at the ready for a fight. All in all, they knew what they were getting into —not leaving anything to chance at a moment like this. “I can’t get any closer!” Cid warned, “The storm’s far to strong for the Enterprise to cut through —you’ll have to drop from here!” “Right!” Reena replied in both Adventurer’s stead, “Take care on your way back!”
Lamont didn’t waste a second —using his abilities to jump high into the air, he dropped from the Enterprise directly into the arena, with Reena following soon after. Knowing she had no other option, M’Lyn did the same, glancing over as Kujo followed, hoping her words made some sense. At the end of the day, he was her teammate —she couldn’t help but worry about him a little bit. In the center of the storm, the debris dragged forth made a somewhat durable arena, where the Primal awaited for the Adventurers as she slowly but surely regained her godly powers. The Primal was massive — four wings adorned her back, with smaller wings acting as hair. Sharp and large talons were at the end of her thin-looking arms, and the colors imitated the gusts of wind now flowing around them. Her bird-like eyes pierced into the group that had landed, before unleashing a powerful shriek that made even the floor beneath them tremble.
Such was the power of a Primal —a God of the beast tribes. [BATTLE! Garuda]
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Post by hoodwink on Mar 17, 2022 11:25:21 GMT -5
“Kujo—a moment, if you could…” M’Lyn’s tone broke him free from his inner grumbling as he narrowed his eyes and raised a brow. It wasn’t like her to seem so…earnest? Something was definitely off. “Should there be a shroud of danger when fighting Garuda, I beg you stand behind me.” If Kujo was a more outgoing character, he would have staggered.
”Good grief.” Instead, he muttered before letting out an annoyed sigh—especially considering she had even mentioned Lamont and Reena. Just who does she take me for? Couldn’t he catch a break? Sure, they were fighting an actual God—but if it didn’t exist on other worlds, how mighty was it, truly? Would it’s powers even effect him, as someone from another world?
Still, she was asking him to trust her—that, and the two had history of their own. Kujo knew M’Lyn wouldn’t ask something so brazenly stinging to his pride in such a serious way unless she truly felt the need. Though it hadn’t been long, they’d traversed many worlds together, watching each other’s back and aiding the young siblings all along the way.
”You’re a pain—you know that?” Clicking his tongue as Cid and Reena began to holler at them to board the waiting airship, he kept his hands in his pockets and began to head towards the loading dock. ”You can count on me. Alright?” It was clear there was a bigger picture, one she couldn’t explain to him at the moment—much like their situation with the Couerclaws. If he trusted her then, why shouldn’t he trust her now?
[BREAK]
Despite the oddity that was the airship, a bizarre fusion of new and old tech, Kujo had to admit it served its purpose admirably. Even with the raging storm around them as they made their way to the Eye of the Storm, it’s enchantments and artifacts helped shelter itself and it’s inhabitants from its more drastic effects. “I can’t get any closer!” Cid roared out over the violent winds, having expertly navigated them to the core itself, just slightly above. “You’ll have to drop from here!”
Below was going to be an enemy Kujo had never faced or anticipated meeting in his lifetime—a God. Not one he knew or recognized, but if the storm was just the beginning of its emergence, it was clearly a force with powerful tangible consequences. Damn it, Jack. All of this was really that guy’s fault, in Kujo’s opinion. The Gods of his own home world were easier to deal with—you couldn’t summon them for starters. Hell, most of the time they were so vague that they were all argued about or even discredited.
This was something new for him altogether.
Following the others, Kujo leapt from the side railing of the airship deck. Countless debris tornadoe’d through the air that gusted and grew more turbulent on their way down. It was easy for him to simply land and leap from each piece, allowing himself a makeshift staircase for his way down to meet this ‘Garuda’. You can’t be serious…[/b] He never thought he could have so much exasperation and surprise at once.
Landing in the center of the storm on a floor of cluttered debris, Kujo had finally landed eyes on this God. They were massive, looming into the gusting air as though a scraper from his home world. The four massive wings that adorned their back were the only resemblance Kujo could make to a God rather than Monster. With bird like eyes and feathery wings adorning their head as well, the being almost looked composed of the storm itself.
He’d seen some crazy things since leaving SanFransokyo, but nothing quite like this. Trembling beneath his feat as Garuda shrieked an introduction, the very ground threatened to crag and snap as it shook. If he were a more comical type of character, this is where he’d have asked where it’s weak-spot was. Instead, Kujo took in this God with his usual calculated approach, his emerald gaze scanning its form as he summoned his Akogare forth.
”What a pain…” Mumbling to himself as he stepped forward, Kujo held M’Lyn’s words in mind. Tch—damn cat… It stung his pride to hide behind others, but he couldn’t simply abandon her warning or betray her feelings. Not at this point in their partnership. ”M’Lyn! Get ready!” He’d listen to her, but he was hardly going to cow out from the fight!
Running across the battlefield at a fast rate, but one that wasn’t blinding to the eye, the pugilist was shadowed by his shimmering translucent guardian. Hovering at his side, the winged specter roared out as it readies its armored fists. My guardians distance is about two meters… Though he preferred fighting using his abilities up-close, M’Lyn’s words of warning had cause him to take a safer approach to the fight.
Using his guardian to fight, he’d be able to maintain some distance from the God while also staying close to his comrade. With his reflexes and powers, Kujo felt confident he’d be able to dodge or escape most blows coming his way. If he couldn’t…well… ”Stand behind me!” Her plea rang in his ears, causing him to grit his teeth and clench the fists in his pockets as he finally came within range of the God.
”Go, Akogare!” Acting more like a summoner than pugilist, Kujo planted his feet firm as he shouted out his command, stopping short on the side of Garuda within his 2m range. Roaring out with a battle cry of its own, the translucent winged guardian rushed forward, unleashing a torrent of powerful punches to the deity’s exposed side with its Wakeru!
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