@Noodles
Varen patiently observed Isamu dispatch the retreating dagger user, a small break of a chuckle escaping his mouth as the formerly lone player spat at his dying and fragmenting opponent. He wondered at all the time and effort some jerk-asses spent to program things like this into a game, a "death-game" no less. It seemed like a waste, a hilarious waste, but a waste nonetheless. Still, he waited for his teammate until he was ready to fight again. It was the least Varen could do after Isamu kindly waited until he eventually finished off the initiate himself.

The red-haired spearman quickly followed after the soloplayer. Enyo. So that was your name... he thought, as he trailed behind, his carefree expression betraying nothing. "Yeah, that guy sure loved to kill. How about we kill one more guy for him!" Varen enthusiastically exclaimed, his weapon firmly grasped with his left hand. He would likely be the last person to reach the tank. Still, Varen grinned, knowing his attacks' added piercing damage should prove effective.

Once on the scene, he circled the tank, making sure to stay out if the PKer's range. Varen threw the occasional knife to divert the target's attention and granting the others a chance to attack. Only when attention wasn't on him would he poke and prod the tank with his spear.

@Mangrale
Akemi's handle shone red, as its tip shapeshifted into a spear. She thrusted her spear into her opponent and being experienced in this, she doesn't bat an eye at the sight of killing. Under the tank's scattering polygons, she looted his dropped inventory, maintaining a gentle smile at the other 3 party members, "Good that the battle is now over, but nothing really useful in this one~"

Due to her tanky armour, she still have half of her remaining HP, higher than anybody else in the battlefield currently. She looked around, and got rather puzzled when she noticed Willow sitting by the side of scene of the former battle.

"I assume we're capturing her alive, aren't we?"

And that was a really uncommon situation at a place like this.


"One left," Athel's pair of eyes are fixated towards the last person standing, Willow. Without hesitation, Athel charged at Willow, her axe raised as she prepared to send Willow off in two pieces. Despite so, Willow remained unfazed.

"Cut it out," Isamu followed ahead and blocked that oncoming strike with his sword, "We will get more info from her alive than dead, Varen could vouch for that."


"Ha..." Willow got up as she sighed, and continued with a slight smirk, "Before you all get into some infighting on deciding whether to leave me dead or alive, with a Lieutenant dead, the Warchief will appear and clear this mess in one way or another. Unless you all want to fight him with that many HP and potions while still keeping an enemy on your side, I suggest you all to retreat. But now to think about it, that would be an ideal scenario for me of course,"

She said sarcastically, turning to gaze to the side, "Speak of the devil, he's here, that Ares~"



At the edge of the Pig Beach, a man in red armor was sitting by a hillside, casually viewing his Guild List while leeching EXP from his party members during his grinding break. All of them have orange cursors above their head, clearly signifying that they are members of the <<Laughing Coffin>> guild. "Eh...?" Ares felt something amiss when he realized that there is only two Lieutenants in his list. Scrolling down his cursor carefully, he realized that his third Lieutenant, Duckk, along with the rest of his party members have disappeared from his Guild. The only one alive in Duckk's party is Willow, fortunately.

"Damnit, they're all dead..." The Warchief Ares raced for the Pig Beach without delay, with his sword equipped on his right hand, and a spear on his left. He had relayed a Guild message for one of his Lieutenants to cover his back.



"I see," Athel put down her axe, as she saw the Warchief approaching from the far side, "A Dual Wielder, I swear you guys are loaded as hell in Cors..."

There is one simple reason why Dual Wielding isn't that common, two weapons are more expensive than one, and in the long run there is upgrading and maintenance which makes it very unviable. Its a very expensive skill to take.

"Retreat," Akemi, being the rational one, issued that order, as she continued, "And if the hostage turns back or even slow us down, eliminate her without question."

The party would start to back down if there aren't any objections.

@Noodles
Varen had no qualms in spectating as Akemi dispatched the last tank, somewhat satisfied that he managed a get a hit in at least. "That's the idea," he answered in his usual unserious manner, his spear casually over his shoulder. The coast seemed clear in both senses of the word for the time being, so he decided to down a potion, replenishing a large portion of his health. Additional combat wasn't very likely, but there was little point in having his HP so low.

However, while he was healing himself, Athel charged at Willow, the spear-wielder unable to intercept. But as he saw Isamu move in, it occured to him that he probably didn't have to.

"Cut it out," Isamu followed ahead and blocked that oncoming strike with his sword, "We will get more info from her alive than dead, Varen could vouch for that."

"If you say so, then it's fine by me," Varen said, very much carefree again. He was willing to corroborate with or do whatever it took to get Willow off the beach alive. After all the trouble of not killing her, he wasn't just going to let her get killed now, and certainly not by anyone other than himself.

It was after Willow's caution, which Varen wasn't really paying attention to, that the Warchief appeared. "Just when you think it's over..." Varen noted with a big smile on his face. He readied his spear, personally believing that they could eventually overpower the dual-wielder. Sure, there was a chance that a few of them would die, but there was a fair chance he'd make it at least.

"Retreat," Akemi, being the rational one, issued that order, as she continued, "And if the hostage turns back or even slow us down, eliminate her without question."

"Awww, damn it..." Varen muttered to himself, glaring at the oncoming Warchief. Any offensive would be doomed to failure unless everyone is on the same page. But with Akemi's order, he couldn't expect backup if he didn't turn back. Besides, it wasn't like the guy's reinforcements would be very far behind. He let out a rough sigh, ultimately turning to retreat with the others. "... Whatever you say, fearless leader."

The clearers were on a retreat, but the gap between the clearers and the warchief is closening, due to his higher overall stats as compared to the clearers. It is clear that they will get caught up before they reached the safezone.

Akemi
"Shit..." Akemi cursed as she turned her head for a moment to see what's going on behind. She knows that a Warchief is stronger than the previous 5 opponents combined, challenging him without full HP nor sufficient potions is nothing beyond a suicidal move. At this rate, we're not going to make it...

"I will slow him down, you all just keep on running and don't look back," Akemi equipped her spear, turning to face the Warchief Ares with her weapon shining red.

"Don't worry brother, I will come back alive, I promise. Take care of my fellow guildmates for me." Akemi charged towards the Warchief, breaking out her usual confident smile as she left the clearers. She felt no regrets for this, the only thing she felt unfair is that she had reunited with her brother, who she had seen him going from a wheelchair-bound loner to an upstanding brother, in a Floor like this.


"I hope you're kidding here, really..." Isamu kept himself together by giving a sarcastic reply. He knew that this decision was the best course of action to make in a scenario like this, and prevents the whole party dying. His sister has the highest HP of all, so with her as the decoy, they would have the highest chance of survival. He can't do anything, his HP was too low that he doubt he could outlast more than several attacks. But still, his whole year of getting stronger to protect her sis, staining his own hands to survive here, all this, rendered nothing in a mere instant.

To think that there are some people who broke down at the First Floor itself... Now to think about it, he found it rather amusing. But here in this unforgiving Floor, one would lose their lives at the moment their composure starts swaying away. He forced himself not to look back, not to gaze at his blood-related kin slipping away from behind him.


Athel wasn't surprised at something like this happening. She had seen this over and over, but something more of the concern to her is that, they will be reaching the Watchtower soon enough. With that, their escape route is secured.

@Noodles
That bitch... Varen thought as Akemi turned to charge at the ridiculously fast warchief. I guess I really can't win... can I? His spear resting on his back, his view turned among his fellow retreating clearers. Without a doubt, this was the sorriest band of misfits he ever had the displeasure of being a part of. He wore the same carefree look he always did when he looked to their prisoner, sighing wistfully to himself. "Hey, Willow. Do something worthwhile with your life, will ya? Don't go getting yourself killed. You hear me?" he told her. He would have loved to hear her response, but knew there wasn't much time. He stopped running, giving his comrades a simple and casual two-finger salute. He turned around one last time and ran after Akemi, already thinking of some choice words for her, but starting things off with: "Hey! Get your ass back to the tower!" Shit, why do I always end up falling for the bad girl?...

"Count me in~" Athel, along with Isamu, went after Akemi's detachment to fend after Ares' pursuit.


"I'm not going to escape unless you allow me that opportunity to do so," Willow sighed in response to a question so obvious. One person stalling the pursuit of her Warchief is quite a neat idea indeed, prevents her from escaping in midst of chaos too. Until the sight of everybody going up to challenge the Warchief and letting their guard down against her. People who doesn't know how to choose on who to live or die, figures... This match will be a fun one...~

With that, Willow fled & disappeared from the scene.

Ares
Ares grinned at the sight of the entire party of upstarts abandoning the hostage and challenging him without Full HP. Its been a couple of months since a clearer had actually dared to point swords at him. He wouldn't be so lucky this time, he had given his corridor crystal to the Witch, but he has intent to enjoy this battle fully. Swinging down his spear on his left hand, a small yellow blast was sent out to Varen & Athel, and at the same time, he exchanged attacks with Akemi with his sword on his right hand.

Athel got hit by the blast, she only received minor damage, but she got the same familiar feeling of a status effect, the effect of Silence. No skills & shyt, annoying...

Just then, Willow approached Athel from the side, charging at her as she activates Dark Sight at the last moment, with a mischievous smile. "Lets have a couple of rounds here, Athel the Butcher ~"

Athel took notice of the same girl that was their hostage: Willow, she regretted for trusting her party too much and not killing her in like the last couple of minutes ago. Damnit! She ranted to herself as her axe passed through Willow completely without any sign of damage. She felt a stab from the side as Willow deactivated her Dark Sight, taking a slight chunk from Athel's HP bar. Athel tried to return a slash to Willow, but Willow turned grey again as the axe passed through her, who retreated away from Athel's range as it wore off, spinning her dagger with a slight yawn on her face.

Athel's skills are sealed, the Silence of this Ares guy is no joke, it is well-polished and long-lasting, but talking about skills, she realized that Willow didn't use any of her skills and used only normal attacks, she could have killed Athel if she was really trying.

"Anything else? The Iron Pig won't ruin everything this time~~"

Athel's silenced status has worn off, and Willow is clearly holding back. Isamu was about to join in the battle until a Lieutenant intercepted him and started clashing with this guy.

@Noodles
Varen growled angrily as he looked back after hearing Athel and Isamu abandon Willow and try and join in the fight, their prisoner going free. At this point, as far as he was concerned, those two, provided they were still alive by the end of this, better have hoped he wasn't or at the very least "all killed out". Had he known that this would have happened, he would have lopped off Akemi's legs and demanded the others drag her back to the tower. Now he had provoked some idiots to get themselves killed... so mixed feelings, all things considered.

Still, he didn't have time to think about what he simply couldn't change now as Ares sent a silencing blast his way, the spearman diving out of the way, quickly getting back on his feet to find that Athel had been hit, soon clashing with Willow who showed up to harass her under her skill of Dark Sight. Isamu advanced to provide assistance, but was then intercepted by a <<Laughing Coffin>> Lieutenant, leaving Varen spoiled for choice as to whom he should assist first, provided said Lieutenant didn't also bring his team along, in which case the red head knew exactly what he needed to do.

Guess it's now or never... Varen thought, calmly unequipping his weapon and opening a window to navigate through his gear, a particular set in mind. In a matter of a few seconds his armor shifted into a new set, his spear following suit and switching into a bladed spear with a fluffy, brightly colored charm on it. His new armor was more elaborately designed than his Medium Hunter Armor. It was by a considerable margin, the strongest gear he had and he was eager to put them to use. If left unhindered, he would brandish his new spear and head for Akemi and the Warchief, reasoning above all else that if she should fall and the leader left unhindered, then no one is getting back alive no matter what happens with the others. His reach was slightly shorter than before, but Varen would try and work in tandem with Akemi, seizing an opportunity to unleash a series of rapid strikes totaling four across Ares' left side as Akemi was meeting his sword on the leader's right.

Ares

The strike from Varen has struck Ares in the shoulder, but by the time Varen has finished his strike, Ares' hand along with his HP bar has restored to his full HP as if nothing has happened to him. Seeing this, Ares let out a sigh.

"And here I thought I would be facing another person who could overcome my 'Regen' like Garrows, I must've gotten my hopes up..."

Perhaps due to that letdown, Ares had failed to notice his own status effect, and now to think about it, he doesn't even need to maintain his guard against Azumi. Not even her Sarge of Strength skill has any significance to the Warchief's HP bar. Ares swung his sword on a wide arc towards Azumi & Varen, its glow indicating the use of <<Silence>> effect.

Athel

You're kidding me... Athel gulped at that unbelievable <<Regeneration>> of that Warchief. But then she realized that Varen is using a different Spear, with a different type of effect known as debuff. Observing Azumi's attack later on, she realized one thing, the debuff effect on the Warchief is actually working, albeit insignificantly. Three--- no, we need Four stacks of Varen's debuff to do anything to this Warchief... For his level, that debuff would last 4 seconds at most. Within four seconds for each strike... make four successions of that debuff skill... Athel had been clashing with PKers long enough to figure out things like that, and this is the easiest way she can think of to take down the Warchief.

"Impossible? No, it can be done..."

Athel murmured to herself. At the moment she saw Ares starting his skill and swinging down to her fellow party members, she immediately used her <Apprehend> skill to drag him towards her, making the Warchief miss his intended targets but instead, redirecting the attack to herself. She knew that at all costs, Varen must not be Silenced, as a clear opening has been made for Varen & Azumi, she shouted, "NOW!"

"Nice regen. See Akemi? I told you looks and skill aren't everything...!" Varen hastily quipped, his spear igniting from its charm and then to its blade, a welcome sight in the face of Ares' very considerable regenerative ability (Varen: Yeah I consider it to be the cheapest load of b******t I ever saw in my life, if that's what you mean!) A dirty look about his features, he knew that it was going to be an uphill battle from the moment after his first strike landed. Never letting up the offensive, Varen was prepared to take the <<Silence>> head on, not seeing much of a choice if he wanted the burn damage to compliment his weapon's dps in any meaningful way. However, his eyes widened abruptly, when, just before the PKer's sword sweeped the two of them, the dual-wielder was pulled away with the force of Athel's <<Apprehend>>, herself receiving the disabling affect. Varen had a feeling that his <<Day Breaker>> skill would be crucial, it being a dynamic attack in itself, but its progressive equipment debuff especially being vital to ensuring significant damage thereafter, perhaps more than even his (Varen: Cheap!) <<Regen>> could handle. Of course, getting the guy to sit still was the problem that was always on his mind. So when Athel yelled "NOW", he knew pretty much what he needed to do. "Regenerate from this!" No sooner had the Warchief been pulled than he was struck with Varen's cataclysmic <<Day Breaker>> from the side, the spear-wielder charging in to heroically spam the ability, aiming for Ares' larger armor making for a bigger target for Akemi and anyone else joining in, each blow erupting with armor fragments and streams of flame, the grass around them swaying as if by a chaotic storm. <<Apprehend>>'s temporary reduction to speed and agility would be especially useful during the barrage.

Ares
What the team of clearers have made was a mere split second opportunity, but the Slow effect from Athel was enough for the Warchief to receive one clean hit from Varen. And just like before, the HP bar regenerated to full very quickly as he deflected the second oncoming attack with his sword. With his spear on the other hand, Ares threw his spear to Azumi before she could do anything, granting her with some damage and a Silence effect.

"Burn now? Quite a crafty plan to tackle my regen, but the one with poison is sealed, so your choice of stacking both poison & burn are all out, I'll see what you'll do now ~"

Ares taunted in amusement, with the slight grin towards the 'poison user', not even two debuffs would be able to take him down. To be honest, he was expecting something more from them, his throwing of the spear was done at the spur of the moment when he realized what was going on, but with the two people on the side-lines with their skills sealed away, one weapon was more than enough to hold his own, especially with his regen. But, <Burn> does not stack, so that spear guy in front of him is barely any threat. With that in mind, Ares charged towards Azumi, to make short work of her. My Battle Healing could handle this one guy, and I'm sure they would arrive by now...

Athel
Two out of four... Athel was relieved that the attack work. But, there is one more person to worry about, with her sealed state: Willow. And as expected, the red hooded girl was coming by the side, with her Dark Sight activated again. In response to this, Athel raised her axe, the tip pointing towards Willow's neck, her gaze focused to her opponent. It doesn't do anything, just to express her full intentions to kill her. Willow made sure that she was away from Varen's range, as she closed towards her side.

"I like that look of yours, funny to think that Ares made such a stupid conclusion... I know what you all are trying to pull off, but I'll keep that a secret between us. My fun is about to end, I'll have to swap with someone you're more familiar with ~~"

Strangely, Willow backed away from the scene without attacking. Behind Willow was a party of forty hooded players with Orange cursors above all of them, ready to reinforce their Warchief. The entire men under Ares' liege have gathered on the battlefield. Athel's Silence have wore off by the time the horde of Laughing Coffin members engaged on her side. Using the skill Apprehend, Athel pulled in some of the PKers who are trying to move in by the side, beheading them with one swing of her axe. Seeing a familiar glint, Athel hastily parried off the sword the axe handle. It was the lieutenant Argil, the one she had clashed swords with above the scattering corpses of her classmates.

"Using numbers on me again? Didn't you forget what I did to your troops the last time we met?"

Athel taunted, as she tried her best on holding off the forces in the meantime. The numbers are less concentrated on Isamu's side, most likely done so to suppress her <Apprehend> skill. For a moment, she was pondering on how a bunch of initiates is harder to deal with than those common hoods. That Duckk Lieutenant? No... if he's that capable of using them like that, he wouldn't have died so easily...

"Huh... so you did..." Varen spoke up, believing the he'd at least have time for another strike before the Warchief recovered. He could only watch as the red player flung his silencing spear at Akemi, disabling her much like Athel before. "You know... since you're so powerful, have you thought of how embarrassing it would be for us if you just stood there and let us futilely wail on you for a few minutes? No?..." the spear wielder offered lightly, although a little tensely. The strategy of banter and keeping the enemy distracted certainly wasn't working as well with members of <<Laughing Coffin>> as it had with previous players he had fought, but it wasn't just a switch he could turn on or off. Plus it helped to keep his mouth busy while he thought of what to do next. But it wasn't like he had to think for very long, as, after a few blocks from his spear, Ares rushed passed him, closing in on Akemi, or was it Azumi... I'm not too sure. Anyway, Varen immediately followed suit after her-would be attacker. "YO! Don't you go ignoring me now!" he called out, swinging his spear into a <Spear Sweep>, the arcing reach of which preferably being enough to catch and even stun the assailant. If the move was enough to halt and indeed confound Ares, Varen would then attempt to take the opportunity to strike once again with <Day Breaker> at the Pker's torso.

Ares
The spear had stunned Ares successfully, as the following up <Day Breaker> dealt another blow to the Warchief's defense. Before another strike could be done in, the horde of Hooded killers who had took a detour from Athel charged and disrupted Varen's attack. And as usual, the damage regenerated, though gap the damage and regen rate is getting closer.

Just one more... Athel looked to the side for a moment as she blocked another one of the strikes from Argil's sword. The hooded troops have stayed away from her killing reach while taking detours past her line of defense. Damnnit... The moment I pay too much attention to them, that bastard would send slashes at me. This tank is as troublesome as before... Due to the sheer inferiority of numbers, she only succeeded to hold the PKers at bay for only a few seconds.

"Lets end this today, you and I, only one of us will walk away alive"

Azumi headed for the PKers on Varen's side, fending off for the spear wielder Varen.

"I've picked up this red headed spear, he's just a sword wielder now, I'll cover your back, so end this as quick as we can, time isn't well at our side."

Azumi stated, wielding the spear she had 'received' from the Warchief. The last clash will be a last one, and a quick decisive battle of four seconds before the stacks of debuffs on the warchief gets undone. The Warchief was facing towards Varen, seemingly knowing what was actually going on.

"Not cool! Tell your fan club to buzz off! Unless of course, you really can't take a few upstarts by yourself!" Varen taunted in a snarky timbre, yet there was a clear undertone of frustrated spite at the turn of events. He ferociously swung his spear around, a threatening maneuver to brush the meddling horde away from him. He wasn't stoked about having to watch his flank the entire time, and would therefore be glad to see Azemi, watch his back, nodding to her before facing Ares again. "You call this living?! No one's walking away from this! We're both vegetables in a crappy hospital bed, getting our butts sponged to hell for all we know!... (Sinister Smile) But how about I do ya a favor?... I'll spare you from a fate worse than death!!"

Varen was attacking and counterattacking in a near frantic flurry of embers and sparks, more of a formality to buy time as his skills replenished. Even so, the Warchief wasn't without his fair share of successful attacks, though they were noticeably less often than what would have been the case had he fought someone other than Varen, the head hancho's blows definitely making an impact, stripping away up to a third of his health. Each brush of the sword against the spear wielder's person was a break in his concentration and rhythm, facets of his defense that he struggled to restore, instinct picking up the slack and guiding his shaft as well as his body until his mind took over, resuming the hectic, deadly dance. But within seconds, Varen realized that the player killer was stepping up his offense to a fierce degree, to the point that a clean hit was near impossible. The red head narrowed his emerald colored eyes. He couldn't keep this up for much longer.

Well s**t... (increasingly unhinged laughter)...

Okay... How about one more miracle you two? What do you say?... Pipe down already (playful chuckling)... What's a big bro for?...

Anyone not paying close enough attention would miss what was technically done within fractions of a second. Varen, after securing a relatively good amount of distance with a shove of his weapon, charged at Ares, his Flame Daybreak Spear igniting at the tip and glowing to signify the activation of <Daybreaker>. Keep your eye on the shiny, big boy... Spear trained forward, it looked like a head on assault until he started launching a few throwing knives mid rush, precise projectiles which Ares easily deterred with his blade, the last knife aiming low. In the exact moment that his sword met the low aiming shot, Varen launched himself up in the air, his body slanting leftward, his flaming spear in his right hand and another knife in his left hand. Twisting his whole body towards Ares, his left hand let fly with the knife that hindered the rising sword just enough so that it wouldn't interfere with the maneuver, let alone kill him outright. Yet rise the sword did, the resulting slash taking a whole other third from his health and a little more besides that. But all the same, the Warchief couldn't stop <Day Breaker>, which the very mid air Varen swung down like a hammer upon the leader's shoulders, a dynamic trail of fire streaming from behind the spear tip, a fuse that lead to an even greater explosion at the point where armor and spear met.

Slight of hand, baby! (laughter) I should have been a magician.

...

For what it's worth... there are worse ways to go... I can't think of anything right now, but it'll come to me, when it's too late... Heh...

F*****g hell... Those were my favorite pair too...

Smoke, dust and, if all went according to plan, crystalline shards of armor and such, engulfed where the both of them were. As the shroud lifted around the edges, Varen could be seen lying on the ground, facing upward. His spear was a few feet away, but he couldn't reach it, not seeing much point in doing so. Both his legs were severed clean off from Ares' attack, a fanciful, colored "gash" marking where his left thigh and right calf ended abruptly. "Wrong on both counts, j*****s!" Varen shouted into the sky after a laughing fit. "And for my next miracle!?!..."

"...No regrets..." he tiredly sighed as he slowly closed his weary eyes. His legs would have regenerated back to normal within a few minutes, but that may have been minutes he didn't have. Whether Ares was alive or dead, he was still a sitting duck. There wasn't a guarantee that the others could wipe out the rest of the PKers; retreat may very well be the best option, and there was no way he could make it to the watchtower now.

This is fine... Guess I'll come up with some epic last words... "(deep breath) Six out of ten... Community kinda sucks... Well... on the whole, anyway..." he muttered under his breath, a boyish grin on his face.

From that clash with Varen, the Warchief had successfully gotten four stacks of armor debuff. Seizing the crucial moment, Athel let out a distinctive whistle that echoed throughout the battlefield, signalling the entire party for the final, decisive charge. That moment, everybody turned their backs from their opponents that they are facing, sending themselves towards Ares to end him with their one best cut. The attacks from Athel, Akemi & Isamu descended upon the Warchief mercillessly, sparing not even a slightest amount of timing that could potentially turn against them.

Ares' <Battle Healing> has finally been overcame, his HP bar has been reduced by only one quarter at the end of this one-second engagement. 3 seconds are left on that debuff, and that silencing slash sent to Akemi, although didn't kill her, but it disrupted their DPS and killed any hope of killing Ares. To add to the situation, the re-engagement of the clearers' original enemies have scattered the charge for the Warchief's head.

"Hey, you're still alive, what a surprise~"

Athel scurried away to Varen's side as she nudged him by kicking on his wound 'harmlessly'.

"Get up, The sun is still shining brightly. Oh, you don't have legs. You still have hands, this will be my last card, so on my signal, raise your spear."

Ares focused on his attention towards Akemi, now that the annoying spear user was unable to move, the coast is clear for him to pick the clearers out one by one. They were more crafty than he had ever thought, he would've lost his life if he were to act carelessly. Fortunately now, as long as he's away from that spear wielding Joker's reach, his victory will be certain. "Its all over now." Most of Akemi's HP has been depleted, as Ares sent that one final slash towards Akemi. The Warchief felt a grab from an axe suddenly.

"KILL HIM!"

Athel has caught Ares with her Apprehend skill when he was too occupied in killing Akemi, sending him back towards Varen's side. The clearers sent themselves for another charge at the Warchief.

"You cheating bastards...!"

Being pulled away from the jaws of victory, and knowing there wasn't anything he could do, Ares cursed down his last words. That 'Final Slash' wasn't for Akemi, it was his own, as the entire party closened on him to send him to his maker, Putting everything upon Varen's spear.

Varen was prematurely rehearsing a conceited and self-serving back-and-forth he imagined he'd have to take up with any member of his team that may have felt inclined to try and save him, his dialogue along the lines of "save yourselves", "well I wouldn't say hero, but..." and many other hackneyed quips. He wasn't serious of course, rather just whimsically wasting time until his death. That said, he was intrigued at how the oncoming footfalls didn't really seem to carry with them the murderous intent of a Warchief who'd been taken down a peg. Perhaps the cliche was coming true after all in a touchingly unexpected display of camaraderie, the likes of which...

"Ach! Okay okay! I'm awake already!" Varen surged with life, although not by choice, his arms hoisting himself up with a bit of a glare in Ethel's direction for disturbing his self indulgent waste of time. "_{Kick on my wound all 'harmlessly' like that, you little... I'll teach you to-} What?! My spear!?" him frantically jerking his head from side to side until he caught sight of his weapon just a few feet away. Retreiving it wouldn't be considered a monumental task, yet he did only have a second or so before the debuff wore off. Using his leg stumps and arms to fling himself closer, Varen just kind of flopped front first, close enough to reach the tail end of the shaft, having to pin said end into the ground to help himself get right side up.

Varen's eyes beamed wide at seeing the the Warchief stagger in his direction, the others having forced him by way of a final push towards the spearwielder. He had thought of at least two one-liners to say at this point. But as he pushed himself forward to add in that little extra force into a final, desperate pierce at Ares' core, he decided against them as they were too cliche, even for him. He simply grit his teeth under a guttural growl as the blade of his spear found purchase, the weight driving the other end to the ground once again.

Ares' HP bar has turned black after the final clash of the clearers, as he toppled down the ground motionlessly. The corpses of what was once alive a couple of seconds ago started reducing away into green polygons. The hooded army was stunned for a mere moment from the fall of their Warchief, but they continued the battle instead of faltering and retreating. Athel wasn't surprised from this, as she eyed towards her archenemy Argil with a smirk. Despite Ares losing his head, Argil is clearly not giving any grounds for them. They will have to make full use of that victory they had, or the tides will turn back into the PKers favor.

"I'm off fending that blueheaded bastard, just roll around reduce their numbers, thanks~"

Athel ditched scurried away from Varen, getting back on to reengage Argil. Those aren't a problem for Varen. As Akemi was trying to close in and assist Athel, Athel quickly pointed her on the other direction: the one towards her brother. "Don't." Athel said sternly, which Akemi immediately followed without question, turning towards Isamu. Not because she trusted Athel, but she felt more dangerous the closer she approached that Lieutenant. True enough, a squad of hooded guys was about to charge in from the side, ready to intercept Akemi and slow her down enough for Argil to take her life had she not turned back.

"Somehow I wished this would be our first encounter, you weren't as crafty as before~"

Argil said in a friendly tone in midst of the exchange of attacks between him and Athel. She had changed alot, she, if not most people, would've let her guard down from a victory like this had it been a month before.

"So do you, neither of us would be as stupid, after losing all their comrades."

Athel replied. Taking advantage at a loss isn't something Argil would do back then. She was trying her best at maintaining her composure, after all, he was the one who killed her highschool friends in cold blood. Of course she wanted to send Argil a one-way ticket to hell, but the moment she acted rashly, she will be the one visiting her grandfather.

Akemi sent herself to flank the Lieutenant her brother is engaging, as the Lieutenant turned into green polygons from that engagement. As expected, that lieutenant wasn't well guarded, and the troops at this side wasn't that organized. Argil wasn't that easy to flank, for he was now the person with the direct command of that 40 man army. Now, they will have to reduce the numbers of the Laughing Coffin one by one, away from Argil, before thinking of attacking Argil. The sibling started on the meat grinder for the Hooded Men.

The Warchief Ares' departure didn't really interest Varen as it would have on a different day, the spectacularly virtual display of dispersing polygons not all that different from the death of any other player. It may have tickled his fancy if the (Varen: sore loser) had actually been impaled on his spear, sliding down the shaft in such a fashion as to ensure Varen was the last thing he saw before his avatar shattered into nothing. But as it happened, Varen was less than enthused with the victory, seeing little consolation for the loss of his legs; he merely lay where he was, staring up at the sky with his weapon flat at his side.

If only my feet were here to see this, he passively thought, his head turning to see Athel leave him with a smidge of instruction before rushing back into the fray to fight Argil. "So I take it retreat isn't an option? No? You're going to cover the others' escape? Nope, you're... you're all just going to keep fighting... Okay... that's cool," Varen inquired aloud, very cognizant that Athel wasn't going to entertain his notion of quitting while they were ahead, but continuing to talk to himself anyway. He at fist wondered if both he and Athel would cover the siblings' withdrawal. But it became clear with everyone being locked in combat, that they were determined to stay and fight. "Blue-headed? What are cyber death games coming to nowadays," the red head chuckled aloud.

The subsequent fall of the Lieutenant at the hands of Akemi and Isamu had shifted total control of the small army to Argil, the PKers forming a formidable meat shield that prevented interference with his and Athel's duel. Varen would have loved to butt in on that duel and ruin the moment for both of them, but had to settle for a brisk crawl towards the offensive line that the Namikaze siblings had established, a relatively few of the Laughing Coughers (I know what I said) recognizing their former leader's conspicuous assassin and dashing passed the pair of them and head off to finish the spearwielder once and for all, they knowing as well as he did that there were only minutes left before his legs grew back and he'd surely (Varen: Smite them all into tiny bits! _{In my mercy}).

"He-hey guys!. Don't tell me you're all the kind who'd carry a grudge... heh..." Varen bantered in a tone suggesting nervous buffoonery, a hood or two already lifting their weapons up to swing down upon him. "Hang on a second!. Hang on now. You know... Some say that in someone's last moments, they show you who they really are..." His words thus far succeeded in staying their wrath for the time being, a grin growing as they surrounded him. "Now, with all of your friends I must have killed by now, Warchief included, you could say: I knew them better than any of you ever did... You want to know which of them were cowards?" Varen burst out in laughter, a sort of unsettled frenzied laughter that accompanied the scream of his first victim that saw his spear plunged deep into their stomach, Varen then lunging at him and tackling him to the ground, the first of many. Varen was only getting started.

"Send those hoods at me, and I will weaken it well enough for you to be exposed on multiple fronts. Turn your back away, and I will have a free hit. You can't move now, its game over for you, Argil."

Athel was on the defensive, carefully blocking each slashes from Argil, minimising the damage she's receiving. The situation is in the clearer's control by now, time is at their side. Rather than risking a battle with her archenemy, the optimal move is to stall for time, and its certain that the Laughing Coffin men would have been cleared out before her HP bar goes empty.

"So you're taking revenge for your dead friends by not attacking at all? Funny to think that you would dishonor your guild's post mortem wish, Athel the Butcher."

Argil continued his stream of slashes towards Athel, with that slight smirk at the situation in the face of his possible impending death. His hostile exchange of words is his last move he can make, and if Athel snaps, she dies. But if this doesn't work, the better option for him is to carve out his own gravestone.

Those words rang unease and disturbance to Athel, her nemesis is right in front of her, and ironically the way to win the battle is not to attack him with her own hands. She had tightened her grip on her axe, putting herself on a fine line between rationality and losing it. She maintained her defensive stance, clenching her teeth as she held against Argil's attacks, both verbal and physical.

"I will throw your sword down their graves, as an apology for my dear friends ~"

The inconclusive battle between Athel and Argil have given the clearers more than enough time to clear the stranded goons of the PKer guild. What's left, is the wall of men between the last Lieutenant and the clearers. Varen's legs have been regenerated by then.

"I'm not good at this, but it will be a 'siege'... We will work on 3 sides, and thinnen the wall of men from the outside, one by one, and once the numbers get weak enough, we'll storm in to kill the last Lieutenant."

Akemi commanded as the siblings positioned themselves on two opposite sides, facing the stationary wall of men as Akemi sent herself to the wall of men, signalling the start of this siege. Isamu followed up, adding on his efforts to trim down that last stand of the PKers. Slowly but surely, the acts of Akemi, Isamu and most probably Varen, would weaken that meat wall as each second passes.

"I don't have to take revenge now, because someone else would do it for me ~"

Athel let out a smile of relief as she let go of her defensive position and swang her axe diagonally down Argil's torso, as a familiar dagger jabbed down Argil's neck from behind. The last detachment of Argil's troop has mostly been cleared away as Akemi's red spear thrusted through the Lieutenant's mouth, reducing him into the last set of green petals in the Hog's Beach.

"We won, you all can rest in peace now, Asaka, Nao, Hayate, Isoko----"

Athel started limping towards the scattered body of Argil, picking up Argil's sword while muttering the real names of her late classmates. The battle has ended, it was an first and overwhelming victory for the clearers, thus every single member of the party are left with single digit HP.

"Those throwing knives from your dead friend doesn't do much damage, but I can finish the this mess from afar with that HP you all have~"

It was Willow, standing at a distance and holding up Enyo's throwing knife and the axe.

"But you all have spared my life, so I'm returning my favour, consider us even from now on. But try entering the range of those knives, and the Hog Beach will belong to the dead~ Next time we meet, only one of us will live to tell the tale."

Willow walked away from the scene without much regard.

Athel trickled down a cold sweat for a moment, she had forgotten about that initiate Willow. That explains why Willow wasn't with them just now. Finishing 4 people with less than 10 HP would be an easy job for anybody. But then, Athel was confused on why that girl have spared them. Still, letting loose a mere Initiate for a Warchief and fifty men from the damned PKers guild is well worth it. Now healing up with her potions, she watched Willow walking away as the sole PKer left from the Hog's Beach.

"This grinding spot is ours now, we can peacefully make Bacons."

Akemi sat on the beach, watching the small waves crashing on the shore, commenting with a sarcastic overtone. There will be a lot of things for her to do when she gets back, like getting her guild here & such. Now that a grinding spot is open, this could even the ground between the clearers and the PKers.