[center]
"[color=f7976a]What are you waiting for, boy? Another yokai to hit me in the back?[/color]"

"Not waiting. Studying, and learning..."

"..."

"...Although that did cross my mind."
[/center]

[hr]
[center][h3]Kenshiro's Rest[/h3][/center]
[center][b]THE HEAVENLY STRIKE[/b][/center]
[center]~ [@AzureKnight] (HIN, ATS & SHI), [@Enkryption] (ALI & CRL), [@The Irish Tree] (EUL & LIL), [@Rezod92], [@Crowvette], [@Restalaan] (SKA & GRI) ~[/center]

[u]Skarsneek's[/u] attempt to assist Takeshi was moderately successful. Tetsuo had to shift his attention from his duel to evade the male Goblin's attack, which left him open to Takeshi's advance. The young lord did not get a hit in, but he took advantage of the brief opening to unleash a string of mighty swings. Tetsuo was forced to fall back, taking back steps ascending to the second level.

The rock that [u]Skarsneek[/u] launched at the Iron Grinder was of little effect. His armor protected him from the speeding stone. Fortunately, the follow-up attack was not necessary as [u]Kerry[/u] attempted to kick the legionnaire off the Lich. It did not fully work but [u]Io[/u] was afforded more room to cast another beam spell that took out her captor. Before someone else decided to attack [u]Io[/u], she was carried off to a relatively safer position by [u]Kerry[/u].

With a scroll from her body, [u]Io[/u] casted a healing and strengthening spell targeting only her allies. The Varjans and their allies no longer had the numbers nor the capability to interrupt [u]Io[/u], allowing her to maintain her spell. Still, the taskforce members might get into deep trouble and would require a direct intervention from the Lich.

[u]Gringor[/u] caught Iron Grinder leader's sword with his teeth and hit the limb on his chest with his trusty axe. Contrary to Gringor's expectations, it only took one swing to get the legionnaire leader off of him. The Iron Grinder still stood, prepared for [u]Gringor's[/u] next move, but with a noticeable limp now. Perhaps that could be taken advantage of.

[u]Shizuka[/u] and the [u]Hangai[/u] sisters were relieved by the timely arrival of their teammates. [u]Dinah[/u] went to help the former while [u]Liliana[/u] and [u]Eula[/u], later joined by [u]Kerry[/u], went after the latter. [u]Dinah[/u] and [u]Shizuka[/u] made short work of the technique students who once had the azure swordsman on the ropes. No more tried to attack them, for what remained of the enemy forces were already occupied by the other taskforce members. [u]Shizuka[/u] moved to help the others, but apparently not [u]Dinah[/u].

"[color=7bcdc8]Behind us![/color]" A student yelled as he saw reinforcements coming to the [u]Hangai[/u] sisters' aid, catching the attentions of the two Iron Grinders.

One of the Iron Grinders slammed his hammer unto the moist soil, flinging drops of mud everywhere to stop [u]Eula[/u] and [u]Liliana's[/u] advance and momentum. With the initiative theirs, the other Iron Grinder surged forth to take a horizontal swing at the Automaton. The other wanted to go after the warrior Fairy, but his huge hammer wasn't really optimal to hit small, fluttery targets and opted to go after others instead. Like the Hornet, [u]Kerry[/u].

The [u]Hangai[/u] sisters were still being attacked by several of the technique students. But the traitorous students were more vulnerable now, now that their armored allies no longer had their backs.

Meanwhile, Takeshi and Tetsuo's duel had taken them to the second level. A small clearing there would be their final arena. Tetsuo was reaching his limits but Takeshi, helped by [u]Io's[/u] empowering spell, was about ready to finish this fight.

[hr]
[hr]
[hr]

[center]~~ TAKESHI'S JOURNEY ~~[/center]

[hider=The Shadow Of The Taskforce {END OF ACT I}]
[color=fff200](REQUIRES ALL PLAYER CHARACTERS)[/color]

"I finally have all that I need to rescue my father from the Varjans. The only thing missing now is where the invaders have him imprisoned. I'm coming for you, father. Just wait a little longer."
-Takeshi Oja
[/hider]

[center]~~ TAKAMORI TALES ~~[/center]

[hider=The Past Never Passes]
"Lord Takamori's traitorous former student, Setsuna, is training Mongol archers across Shizuyama. Lord Takamori posits that she plans on attacking Omi Springs, his hometown and a refuge for villagers. We should meet with Lord Takamori as soon as possible."
-Takeshi Oja
[/hider]

[center]~~ SORAE TALES ~~[/center]

[hider=The Traitor]
"Sorae is on the hunt for Sogen, one of the conspirators behind her family's murder. To track him down, Sorae has asked us to speak with Ayu who may know where we can find him."
-Takeshi Oja
[/hider]

[center]~~ SHIZUKA (MERCHANT) TALES ~~[/center]

[hider=The People's Servant]
"One of the farms near Komatsu Bay looks like it's had some trouble. Someone should make sure the people there are all right."
-Takeshi Oja
[/hider]

[center]~~ TALES OF SHIZUYAMA ~~[/center]

[hider=Whispers In The Woods]
A villager woman remarked to the taskforce member as the latter passed by.

"You better watch out if you're passing Yabo Forest, yokai. It's haunted by angry spirits... Dead samurai, eager to spill blood."

"People go into the woods and never come out. Varjan and Shizuyaman alike! The bodies that turn up have all been killed by Shizuyaman blades..."
[/hider]

[hider=The Other Side Of Honor]
A peasant man eating barbecued meat on a stick was startled when the taskforce member approached. It appeared he has news.

"Yokai! You have to tell Lord Takeshi, there is another samurai noble who survived Sanjo Beach. His name is Lord Tonchiki. He's in his abode southeast of here. If you go see him, I'm sure he would join your cause."

"Err, maybe not. I guess you'll need Lord Takeshi himself to convince him."
[/hider]

[hider=Shizuyama's Freedom]
A villager sitting on some stone steps in the temple stood up when the taskforce member approached. 

"Yokai, I've heard of a small resistance group gathering in the Imahama Area. I believe they're headed by that shrine priestess that started a fight here not too long ago."

"They're recruiting farmers and fishermen to their cause. Brave, but it'll be dangerous if they're not trained. Better take Lord Takeshi with you too or else it might be a fight again."
[/hider]

[hider=Bottoms Up]
A peasant man warming his hands on a bonfire noticed the taskforce member passing by.

"Yokai, you must do something! It's Ayane's sake brewery in Imahama. That brewery is the pride of Shizuyama, but soon there will be none left. The Varjans are taking it by force."
[/hider]

[center]~~ LEGENDARY TALES ~~[/center]

[hider=The Heavenly Strike (ONGOING)]
"Dealing with these students of the Heavenly Strike was more difficult than we thought. They have already thrown back two of the taskforce. However, the yokai fought them separately and at different times, so perhaps a more cooperative approach would be more fruitful."
-Takeshi Oja
[/hider]