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CYRUS
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Selene stabbed his upper arm. They locked eyes and she ripped it out. The pain started when the blade exited his arm, then Selene invoked a Rune.
> « Bleed »
> « Pressure » « Heal » [₹113,820 // ₹298,080]
Cy responded with two Runes of his own. One countered the wound by forcing pressure down along the rips in his blood vessels, and the other mended tissue back together. She stabbed him in the other arm and invoked another Rune before removing it.
> « Venom »
> « Pressure » [₹105,320 // ₹298,080]
Cy reversed the direction of the pressure this time. When Selene removed the blade, blood sprayed out into her face. She backed away and coughed and smeared the venomous blood away from her eyes and mouth.
“That one’s courtesy of The Painter. When your blood is poisoned, it’s best to remove it immediately.”
> « Slow »
> « « Ryoku Shield » » [₹97,320 // ₹298,080]
Cy’s new Ryoku shields prevented Selene’s daggers from piercing his skin. To preserve his Ryoku, he made them small enough to block a point of contact and shifted them around his body.
> « Encumber »
Cy slowed down further by his own weight—
> « Air » [₹96,420 // ₹298,080]
—So he pushed her back.
> « Ensnare »
Oh, she’s pissed now, but predictable. Cy couldn’t move his limbs now, nor could he move his Ryoku Shields around his body. Golden rope tied him down. "Ya know…"
> « Blind »
Damn, can’t avoid these attacks, I’ll just have to trust in her overconfidence— She stabbed him with her daggers, and left them buried in his flesh. Four, maybe five. The Runes that bound him expired, and Cy could move again, though the blades continued to restrict his options.
"My, Cy. You look like a dinosaur, the way those blades stick out of your back."
Think, Cy, think!
Dinosaurs… Come on, this is your one shot.
Spikes… The only one you'll get during this fight.
Roar… No, not good enough.
Horns… That's it!
"I guess fighting you makes me horn—"
“That sword on your back. It’s your Vessel, no?”
Maybe it's for the better I didn't say that out loud…
…We already established this is my Vessel, so she definitely stopped me…
Cy calculated his next moves. He searched for a way to get them both out of this situation. If I take these Enchanted blades out, I can survive. None of these wounds are as fatal as last time. Plus I’ve got my ace up my sleeve. But if I stab her in the heart with one of these, I can’t trust that she’ll leave it in long enough…
I need to learn more, first. I need to see it.
“You think you still have me beat?” Selene asked. Her eyes were crazed with scorn. “Don’t go easy on me."
“I'm just trying to catch a glimpse of it, before you try to grab my real sword.”
“Use it on me,” she demanded.
“Believe me, I’m about to.” Wait for it.
Wait for it…
It's coming…
Now!
> « « Leviathan's Roar » » [₹85,920 // ₹298,080]
Cy used the forward tide's momentum to crash into her. His curved sword slammed into her next set of daggers. Steel cracked against steel.
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ENVY
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Felix charged Kat like a bull out of hell. She stepped aside and he crashed into a lamp post. Thought I’d mortally wounded this guy already?
The Painter's training really was useless.
“How can you stand and fight after such a short time?”
Felix shrieked again, and Kat covered her ears. Felix reached into his white robes and removed his weapon, a scythe blade attached to a chain. He whirled it above his head and slammed it down on her. Kat managed to dodge it a few times before the blade etched its path along her back.
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> [₹126,369 // ₹151,869]
She collapsed from the staggering Holy damage. Kat spat at Felix and roared her own battle cry. She leaned to the left to dodge it, then leapt back to avoid another blow. On the third strike she lunged forward and grabbed the chain. The chain burned her palm, and in her hesitation, the blade swung back on its new fulcrum and stabbed her shoulder blade.
> [₹107,369 // ₹151,869]
She whipped the chain away and freed the scythe from her back. Both hands melted with third degree burns, but she sprinted at Felix to render his weapon useless at close range.
> [₹102,369 // ₹151,869]
With both hands, Kat grabbed his upper arm through his robes and flipped on top of him. In one fluid motion, she unsheathed two daggers and sliced an X-pattern that chopped off his arm. She kicked off of him and flipped back to her feet, and Felix fell to the ground.
> [Pang! Daggers increased to Level 31.]
>
> [₹4,209 granted for Leveling Up an Open Skill Slot. ₹106,578 // ₹156,078 now available,]
Meh, maybe That Bastard's training wasn't useless after all.
Kat's blood mixed with Regenerative acid and the blistering oils of her wound, making it difficult to maintain her weapon grip.
Why doesn’t he react? She couldn’t read his face behind the white headdress that draped over his face. And there's no sign of blood.
Felix shoved his limb back onto himself. Gold sparks stitched him together. Fucking Hell.
Regeneration? No, probably something else. I don’t stitch back, I mend myself together.
> « Summon » « Bow » « Arrows » [₹105,578 // ₹156,078]
Kat summoned a purple bow from the void and shot Felix in the face, then leapt onto him. She ripped off his mask and saw his desecrated face. Not just from me, but defied by others, too. Kat studied his Inked third eye nervously.
Golden light sparked around the arrow in Felix’s face. Kat ripped off his robes. She stood up and took a few steps back.
Golden-laced seams and stitches held Felix together all over. And what is that? A faint silver line stretching out—
Felix launched a cluster of throwing knives at Kat. Like in Coralhaven, the weapons tracked her through the air. Felix threw another batch. They swarmed Kat like mosquitos and nicked her all over, but only went deep enough to draw blood. And cause pain, lots of pain. Green acid bubbled out all over her skin.
Kat fell to one knee and raised an arm to cover her face. Holy oil? Were they expecting me? Or maybe these were for Jules. Either way, they know now.
> [Bounty Increased by ₹1,250,000 for crimes committed in Coralhaven and Aquilantis (As well as being a suspected Sin). Total Bounty is now ₹1,250,000, plus ₹250,000 for your unknown Familiar.]
NOT RIGHT NOW I'M BUSY!! Kat sprinted to him so his own weapons would stab him, like last time.
THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!
She succeeded, though Felix displayed no agony or resistance to being struck.
“Fucking—Ahh! Let’s see if you can fight without a head.”
She lunged into him and slid her dagger through his throat. To gain leverage, she wrapped her free arm around his neck. She shouted and recoiled in pain, and was clipped by even more throwing knives.
> « « Ryoku Shield » » [₹90,578 // 156,078]
Kat retreated and let her Shield handle the knives for now. Even his body can scorch me. I need to let Jules know this, but everyone else is far away now.
“What type of magic is this?” Felix ripped out the dagger in his throat. Gold seams sewed his neck back together. How he fought before, this isn’t his style, not fully. It’s like it’s tainted by someone else.
From the corner of her eye, Kat noticed them again.
Those silver rays of light. Looks like they shoot out of Felix.
Oh. That’s how.
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JULES
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In one swift attack, Ragnar sliced Jules’ torso in a familiar line—from his left hip up to his right shoulder. Jules flew through the air. He thought he might pass out before he hit the ground.
> [₹46,990 // ₹174,501]
Jules crashed to the ground. He blinked his eyes, and his field of vision moved and blurred in every direction. He couldn’t move his limbs or head. Even his fingers felt like they weighed a hundred pounds. He didn’t know if he laid on his back or his side, or even which side. The only thing he could be sure of was that Ragnar approached, because once again the battle ax’s blade carved into the cobblestone as it inched closer.
> « Activate » « Heal »
Jules burned through all of his Healing Inked Arts that he’d prepared in case his Regeneration wouldn’t be enough in combat…or if it was taken away. His lungs filled with air again and vision focused. Jules staggered as he rose to his feet.
> [₹126,910 // ₹174,501]
This scar… It isn’t healing up. What the hell is going on with these guys?
Jules… You alright? Rukia asked.
He’s done something to me. Scar won’t heal. I've healed Holy damage in the past, this is next level.
Can you continue to fight him?
Do I have a choice!? You got any advice?
I’m on Zeke’s scent, reach out to your friends.
Damn fox.
I’m still here…
Jules raised up his palm and invoked his Seal.
> « Stop » [₹119,410 // ₹10,000]
The sound of scraping metal halted, and so did Ragnar, though it wouldn’t last long.
Can you all hear me? Jules asked.
They all responded at once.
Of course I can, Whiskers replied.
Kinda busy, Jules, from Cyrus.
> [Pang! Telepathy increased to Level 23.]
Don’t touch their skin, Katarina warned.
Yeah, this guy is pissing me off, Jules thought. Kat, I can’t heal their Holy damage.
Selene tried Holy on me, didn't both me—Seriously, kinda busy.
Shut up, Cy. Kat, have you found a way to stop Felix? I’m at a loss here.
No, but they aren’t alive. They aren’t zombies either. More like puppets.
Who’s controlling them, then?
I’m not sure who’s controlling her, but something’s wrong, Cy thought.
What? Jules asked
What, what? Katarina snapped.
Sorry, I’m talking to Cy, too. I forgot you can’t cross over thoughts.
Better fix that bug.
Katarina and I can share thoughts with you together, Whiskers thought.
Jules, I know how you are, but at this point, killing them would be mercy.
Believe me, I have already tried to kill him. I’m near the Fountain, where are you all?
I’ve edged closer to the Shrine. I don’t think Felix knows what I’m after.
We’re getting close to the cliffside. Selene’s isolating me on purpose.
I am near Katarina. The military has routed around the Pirates.
Any sign of Maddie?
Afraid not, Katarina, I lost her in the scuffle.
I FOUND HIM, JULES! MURDER MURDER MURDER, KILL KILL KILL!
Rukia—Wait!
COME TO ME, JULES!
What the hell is going on!?
Ragnar dragged one foot toward Jules.
Dammit, I’m taking Ragnar with me, Rukia.
Tell Kat she’s on her own. I can’t split from Selene right now.
Is anyone coming with me?
Afraid not, Kat. Make a run for it. Maybe he won’t chase after you.
Haha—What’d she say? She pissed at me?
Hoping these puppet strings don’t follow him in if he does. He’s got like a homing beacon on me.
Puppet strings? Jules watched Ragnar inch his other foot forward. He scanned around for strings. Got it. Cy, watch the military and Jones from up there—he's still a wildcard.
And Ragnar?
Rukia, I’m pawning off Ragnar to you.
No, Zeke’s mine, Jules. I’ll finish what I started.
Whiskers, come with me. I need you.
Yes, Katarina.
Kill that bastard Jules, Katarina and Cyrus thought together.
If it comes to it, I will. Cy, Whiskers is leaving his watch for the Shrine.
Great. Kat was pissed at me then, if she took him.
Tell that fool not to die.
Seconded, but call him an idiot.
Cy, if you die, they’re gonna kill you.
Again, great. Again, kinda busy. See ya.
> [Pang! Telepathy increased to Level 24.]
Alright team—Break! Everyone was already gone.
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