[center][color=c0c0c0][b][u]Slayer[/u][/b][/color]
Level 1
Day 1
Location: Abandoned Castle
[@Hylozoist] [@Holy Soldier] [@Gentlemanvaultboy] [@Lmpkio] [@Zarkun] [@ToadRopes] [@Bright_Ops]
[b]Word Count: 798
Experience: [color=orange]||||||[/color][color=black]||||[/color][/b][/center]

For all his strength, Slayer could not drive his fist through vapor.  The instant before his blazing fist would have cannoned into Oswald's noggin, the Shadow Knight disintegrated into his namesake, and Slayers hand passed harmlessly through the empty space.  All that remained was his voice, but its edge told the vampire that his opponent wasn't toying with him.  Before the duel could even commence, Oswald both forfeited and departed with no small amount of urgency.  Under normal circumstances, the gentleman might have taken his time adjusting his attire, but the split-second skirmish ended so quickly that not one hair on his head was out of place.  It all struck Slayer as disappointing.  However, hidden in his foe's parting words was a pertinent implication; his attention was needed elsewhere.  The gentleman did not hesitate to start moving again, having guessed where Oswald might be headed.  [color=c0c0c0]”The other team must have begun its assault,”[/color] he murmured, voicing his thoughts.  [color=c0c0c0]”Regrettably I could not provide much of a distraction, but given the young lad's teleportation ability, I could not reasonably be expected to waylay him for long.”[/color]  Casting his mind back to the members of Team Two, he felt sure that poor Oswald had leaped out of the frying pan and into the fire.  Slayer, eager to rejoin the action, picked up the pace to a brisk trot.  [color=c0c0c0]”With me, he might have stood a chance.”[/color]

The Abandoned Castle wasn't far.  Its proximity alone meant that Slayer arrived just in time to hear General Brigan make his dire ultimatum.  Against the entire assembly of heroes, only Oswald stood in opposition.  Atop the flight of stairs with murder in his eyes, he cut an imposing figure, but the swollen barbarian alone dwarfed him, and the General's allies meant that for all his presence and all his skill, the knight was a lone candle awaiting a deluge.  Having arrived from a slightly different direction, Slayer was sure that Oswald could see him.  So could the members of Team Two.  Convinced that a grand brawl was poised to take place, Slayer said what he could.  [color=c0c0c0]”Good evening, compatriots!  My opponent teleported away.  I will aid you however I can.”[/color]  A moment later, the action began.  Luigi planted a seed, belted out an order rather uncharacteristic for one who'd shown himself to be shy, and then sprinted into the melee with a hammer in his hands.  His two soldiers began their assault as well, and the other half of Team Two broke off to get inside.  [i]Amusing that this lot would end up doing the job mine was supposed to.  Where are the others, I wonder...?[/i]  

Slayer remained still, a hand cupping his pipe as he studied the situation.  He had to admit that he knew very little about Team Two's mission in particular.  'Storm the Tower, Rescue the Princess' was what stuck out in his mind.  He could not say if the phrase accurately represented his new allies' mission.  The combined fire of Edward and James would place a great deal of pressure on Oswald as he attempted to deal with Brigan and Luigi at once.  Given his lack of mobility and range, Slayer felt inclined to believe that he would be more of a hindrance than a help should he throw himself into the mix.  Meanwhile, the others would be attempting to proceed up the staircase Oswald guarded.  [color=c0c0c0]”Ah, I know!”[/color] he snapped his fingers.  [color=c0c0c0]”I'll stir things up.  More chaos means less chance for Oswald to keep track of everyone, so my fellow heroes may get through.  Then, I will join them as backup.  Marvelous!”[/color]  As the fierce battle began, Slayer skirted the edge, making sure to stay out of the line of fire of his allies.  He made his way to a solid wall and, after taking a moment to get his angle and target right, mustered his strength to pound the solid rock with a Pile Bunker.

[i]KRAKOOM![/i]

The resulting blow, while nowhere near enough to shake the castle, nevertheless rumbled the room.  The wall itself conducted the force to the second floor, rattling anyone directly above enough to send items off of furniture and people tumbling.  Dust and a few stones cascaded from the ceiling, but nothing more.  Slayer retracted his hand to find it bloodied and broken, which he acknowledged with a click of his tongue.  [color=c0c0c0]”My constitution really has taken a hit!  I'll wager I must look fairly imbecilic, having just punched a wall.  Hopefully something helpful comes out of it.”[/color]  At the very least it might throw Oswald off balance, but with any luck it might open up a passage of some kind for Team Two's members to get up to the second floor faster, or even keep its occupants from fleeing for a moment.