A Magical Anomaly
Chapter 9 Combat Turn 5
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Choice Made:
[x] Honor the man's challenge. A villain should return respect received, and he's definitely giving you some respect now… the path of bodies in your wake probably has something to do with it. He seems important to the grunts… a hard but worthwhile fight perhaps. (Story Action) (Defeating him causes all remaining groups to flee)
-[X] Use mundane sword.
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Effects:
* - Story action
* - Accepted the duel
* - Used the Mundane sword
* - BONUS
* - Mundane sword destroyed.
* - Unlocked [Curtana] Sword form. Details in Weapons and Equipment section of the character sheet.
- Minor Exhaustion timer paused during Story actions.
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Your mind tells you that you could get away.
Not waste time fighting this guy and his giant sword.
But you're honestly starting to get tired of beating all these grunts.
Your pride… it calls for a challenge.
And while this guy might not be a Magical girl, he's at least the most honorable person here.
So you'll indulge him.
Because that's what a villain does. They accept the challenge.
You let [Grendel's Arm] melt into inky shadow.
Grabbing your skirt with both hands as you curtsey towards Murashi.
You channel as much of Number 20's fluidness and Elly's… attitude into the move as you can.
On standing straight, your hand swipes across your body, willing the mundane sword you'd picked up into your hands.
A streak of shadowy blackness cuts across your body, and with a satisfying display of magic that you don't think actually is magic, the darkness forms your sword.
A moment passes where you inspect the ordinary sword. Planning out how to use it and where you should probably aim for on Musashi's form as he nods at you.
And then that plan comes crumbling down when a beam of darkness flashes from your [Angels Halo].
It makes you flinch as it strikes the sword, [Curtana] snapping into view in front of you as the blade is shattered into a million tiny specks.
The glittering cloud gets sucked into the weapons barrel. A chorus of angels wailing outwards as something revs up in front of you.
More black light pulses from your halo, and the sonic blaster becomes engulfed in a black orb for a second.
The orb cracks.
Cracks some more.
And then implodes.
A burst of blinding light surges forth a moment later, a blackened blade appearing in front you.
Elly hums in your mind as you grab the thin, brown leather handle… [Curtana]'s now… probably a bit under a meter long. A pommel on the end of the handle and a knuckle bow that traces down to the guard. It's… a basic looking cross guard, like what you'd imagined a sword would have.
Now that you look at it. The sword is actually rather stereotypical you'd say… the biggest difference being the engravings of plants and vines along the weapons center, and the two metallic ribbons that run around the weapons handle like a cage of sorts.
The blade itself is the most interesting part… blunted on its edges and with the tip cut off. Though it feels odd that the blade is black, and that the vines and plants glow a faint purplish colour… like something not exactly what it's meant to be..
'Now may not be the time, but congratulations on unlocking [Curtana]'s second form. It is not the original holy blade, but should you manage to unlock that, well, I suppose I'll allow you a free mutation for your efforts.'
You nod to her as Musashi settles into a stance.
"Are you ready Demon?"
You pull the blade into your own stance… noting that the weird instinctual understanding of new weapons thing mostly gives you defensive ideas for the weapon… probably something to do with its whole concept of Mercy or so.
The blade hums softly in your grasp, barely audible to your ears as Musashi's thundering footsteps echo forward after he shouts that he's approaching.
For some reason… you really wish you could freeze time at this moment.. And ask him a question?
God past/future you was weird.
His greatsword thunders towards you, a powerful downwards swing. You don't bother to block it, even with [Curtana]'s new form.
A step to the side lets you avoid the blade, and a rapid step forward lets you put your bodyweight into a stab aimed at Mushashi's knee.
The blunted blade hits, and causes his knee to buckle, but it doesn't pierce or do much other than slightly destabilize him.
So instead, you let your momentum carry you, dashing past him as he heaves his sword around in arc, a hasty duck from yourself letting the fast swing pass over your back as a second lunge does nothing much…
Perhaps you should be aiming for something else…
Or maybe try to tire him out? He's a big man wielding a big sword, no way that won't cost him stamina in the long run…
You don't get to think long, another overhead strike makes you dodge to the side, and then you have to leap as he turns it into a diagonal strike.
Your feet land on the falling blade, and you manage to push off it, flipping through the air and onto your feet in a move that lets your coil into a lunge.
You do so diagonally, dodging past an icy sword wave that shatters some crates.
He swings again, and another wave keeps you moving.
Again and again the waves come, and you keep pushing yourself out of the way.
Getting closer and closer with each dodge.
You slam the blade into his leg, and he falls to a knee. But you don't get to capitalize as he twists his blade in an arc in front of him. The cross guard threatening to bludgeon you as you back off.
As he stands, you settle your stance.
And then you lunge again, channeling your aggression and perseverance that's gotten you this far.
Purple flairs as icy cold grips your form. And concrete cracks under you as your form snaps into his guard in a split second.
Need to hit the right spot and only one chance at this… but where?
[x] Aim for the head, a fast and hard stab from this should be like a club smacking into him. No way he can stay standing if you hit him hard enough with this. (50% Success chance) (60% Chance of Minor Injury (Cut Thigh) *See Codex ) (Inflicts Stun for one turn on success. *See Codex)
[x] Aim for the elbow, if you stab right, you should be able to break his arm or something to that effect. Should make him drop his sword (50% Success chance) (55% Chance of Minor Injury (Cut Thigh) *See Codex) (Inflicts Numb for one turn, Increases success chance by 20 for the next turn)
[x] Aim for the chest, it should wind him at the least, maybe knock him away from his sword a little? God, you need to learn to use this blade fast. (50% Success chance, 50% Chance of Minor Injury (Cut Thigh) *See Codex) (Inflicts Stun for one turn *See codex)
[x] When all else fails, the crotch will down anyone, man or woman. And with a dull iron rod like this? Well, it should hurt a bit at the very least… hard to hit though. (40%Success chance) (60% chance of Minor Wound (Cut Thigh) *See codex) (Inflicts Enhanced stun for one turn on success *See codex)
[x] Something else?(Write in)
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