[img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/dHRmLjcyLmNlYTkzYi5WR2x0Wld0bFpYQmxjZy4y/beyond-wonderland.regular.webp[/img] [i][b][color=Goldenrod]"MISTAKES WERE MADE."[/color][/b][/i] [color=gray][i]Current Location: Von Carnage Mansion, ???[/i][/color] [hider=⧫INTERMISSION⧫] [Center]13 | Male | Freelancers | Clockwork Soldier Aeterna | Sword | Physical | Swift and Keen Clockwork Jacket | Industrial Chronosphere | Lightning | Overclock [Paralysis (4), Speedster (4)] Damage (2), Damage X (6), Slow (4), Blink (4), Restrain (4), Minor Heal (4), Heal (16), Quicken (0), AoE (2) DAMAGE: D | SPEED: C | SENTINEL: E | 750 PHYSICAL: E | ARCANE: C | CHAOS: D | 462[/center][/hider] Corridors. If Finn had to describe Justin's mansion in a single word, that would be a good one to use. Beyond the dining area was just one corridor after another. They were wider than your average hallway, but that didn’t change the fact that there were a lot of them. Even when Finn glanced down some of the other passageways, it was just more corridors. Bob’s detonation shook the mansion at its foundation. Betty and the two pyromancers looked over their shoulders, maybe half expecting to see a ball of fire. But the white haired girl growled when she saw who was there.. [color=ade81b]”Seriously?“[/color] She turned to face Finn. Her hands coiled around her weapon in a white-knuckle grip. [color=ade81b]”You couldn’t beat me alone, you sure you want to try this again?”[/color] The boy remained calm. Even as he treked through the maze of halls, even as his shoulder bled, and even as Bob's subsequent detonation nearly caused him to trip on himself. He had to remain calm. He was alone. As the trio noticed that he followed after them, the Timekeeper took his hand off the wound for a moment. It hurt like a bastard, but it wasn't bad enough to paralyze his arm. By some luck it was they only severe injury he suffered so far. [color=goldenrod]"I managed to survive this long, didn't I?"[/color] Even if it seemed like he wasn't listening, he responded to Betty's ire. Finn looked between her and the remaining pyromancers. [color=goldenrod]"Three versus one then? ...I can work with this."[/color] Despite his words, he didn't attack first. The pyromancers took a step back. The brown haired one clutched his stump. [b]”Where’s Gunther?”[/b] [color=ade81b]”I don’t need that puddle of playdough to spank this brat. I’m perfectly capable of doing that myself.”[/color] Black particles swirled around Betty’s form, wreathing her in spores. She was channeling a melody of some sort, and judging by the wind up time, it was going to be a powerful one. [color=ade81b]”You can burn up his corpse when I’m done with him!”[/color] Betty roared like a lion before lunging for Finn. The tile floor sparked and chipped under her sword as she dragged it alongside herself. As she closed in, she swung her sword forwards, cutting into the adjacent wall as the blade threatened to connect with Finn’s legs, if not divide him at the hip. It was tempting to call the pyromancers a pair of cowards, but that was probably due to his mood being soured. Atleast it'd save him the trouble. Finn remained eerily calm watching the girl charge in for another strike, moving into a combative stance. He furrowed his brows, then sighed with a scowl. [color=goldenrod]"Damnit Bets, you better not hold this against me!"[/color] Suck it up and quit holding back. He dodge-rolled out of the blade's range, then fired a beam of electricty at Betty. [i][color=silver][Silver Beam][/color][Damage] = [color=red]- 36[/color] MP (462 MP remaining)[/i] Wooden splinters filled the air as Betty’s sword cleaved through the wall. Her cry of hatred pierced Finn’s ears. Her sword glided over Finn’s head. She would be ready to swing again before long, but Finn’s melody was almost ready. Betty’s melody was ready too, and they both activated at the same time. At such close range, it was impossible for Finn to miss. He aimed at one of her arms in an attempt to weaken her grip on her sword. The note flew towards her shoulder, it struck true. But nothing happened. By the time the electricity had burned through her spores, there was nothing left to even graze her uniform. It seemed the melody that Betty had prepared was defensive in nature. Her plan must have been to brute force her way through whatever Fable mustered and cut through him after the fact. Maybe if he had attacked faster, she wouldn’t have been able to protect herself with such a melody. Or perhaps Betty’s skills were just beyond his, and attacking her and two pyromancers by himself was a fool’s quest. With their melodies used, it was down to who the better swordsman was. Betty slid one hand off her hilt and grabbed the rod running along the back of her sword. In such close proximity, ‘half swording’ was a common practice to make fighting in closed spaces easier with larger swords. Though she had even greater leverage now, which was promptly displayed when their blades connected. Fable was sent reeling back towards the wall, while Betty attempted to follow up with a swing. Finn didn’t have many options left. He could place his sword in front of himself like last time. It wasn’t a fool proof plan, but he had tried it before and it did stop her from slicing him in half. But because of the way Betty was holding her sword, it might be possible for him to stab her if he threw all caution to the wind. He had to make a choice. He couldn't miss another chance. Ditching any thought of going on the defensive, the boy was more than willing to take the gamble and strike. If it didn't work, well, he could only hope the results weren't fatal. Finn’s rapier glided through the air just as Betty’s swing was about to commence. While the violinist may have had leverage, Finn’s one-handed sword had superior reach on a thrust, which he was able to make use of after springing off the wall. Both children screamed as their blades prepared to enter flesh. Finn’s rapier managed to tag Betty’s shoulder again. Her shoulder jerked backwards from the blow, but no blood was drawn. Once again, black spores had surged to the location of the attack. It seemed as insurance, Betty’s melody protected her from both physical and arcane dangers. But since the strike was coming at her mid-swing, it did manage to throw off her aim. Her sword glided under Finn’s rapier and missed his torso. Though Finn wouldn’t have long to celebrate, as it took little effort to course correct and ram her sword into Finn’s leg. The square head of her sword wasn’t suited for slicing through flesh, but without anything to stop her, the weight alone was enough to crush Finn’s leg. When she pulled her sword back, he had no recourse but to fall onto his back. [color=ade81b]”That’s for thinking you could fight me. And this?”[/color] She stepped closer while taking her sword’s hilt in both hands and driving the head of the blade into his shoulder. He howled as whatever made up his inner skeleton snapped. [color=ade81b]”This is for calling me that. I don’t want you to ever call me [i]that[/i] again.”[/color] She squinted her eyes. [color=ade81b]”Though I suppose crushing your head is the best way to shut you up..”[/color] By this point, the sound of the other freelancers could be heard in the distance. [color=ade81b]”They survived?”[/color] Brown looked to Betty. [b]”Gunther still isn’t-”[/b] [color=ade81b]”Say another word, and I’ll drain you just to shut you up.”[/color] Betty hoisted her sword over her shoulder and ran past the pyromancers. [color=ade81b]”Give him a shot and fall back.”[/color] Both pyromancers did as they were instructed before running after Betty. In the presence of a broken leg and shoulder, the fire bolts were negligable to an esper. There was little he could do as Betty’s silhouette faded from view. It hurts. God it hurts. What was he thinking? Whatever tears Fable shed before returned in a pain-filled sob. It was all he could do, nearly meeting his destruction. [color=Goldenrod]"N-No...wait..!"[/color] In vain, he reached out as Betty fled, crying out in pain from trying to get back up. Whatever damage the pyromancers did didn't matter. What was the point? [i][color=goldenrod]I'm sorry...[/color][/i] No matter what he was, he was still just some dumb kid, was he?