True to his word, the Emperor and Empress were lightweight, though that didn't make the strain of bearing the indignity of the situation any better. Gil released a thunderous complaint -”
Uuuuuuggggggghhhh”- and pleaded, “Aw, not Jamie. Have a heart!” He glared at Levi through the tendrils that contained his companion and him like caught rabbits in a sack. “Are all of you Wingers so oblivious? How, may I ask, can we get up and walk if we've just been picked up in a bag?”
Gil wriggled around a bit, adjusting the position of both himself and a wrathful but unable-to-move-or-speak Sadie. “Oops, sorry love. Tight situation and all that. There!” The two were settled in for the trip. Peering through the hole in his black binding, Gil looked at the passing people, a shining orb of blue from within the dark confines. “I don't suppose you cads are into bathroom breaks? Heh.”
concluded
A difficult-to-describe noise, part way between a grunt and a retch, escaped Lakota's mouth when she found herself skewered. As impossible as it seemed, Mark lifted her up on the end of his spear and threw her over to land heavily on the inhospitable street. She wheezed, her eyes literally steaming with a raging inner fire, but the Sun held herself in check and did not rise. “You...” she puttered, barely able to contain herself. “rotten stain...”
The sight of Luna on a knee drew a smile from Lockheart. She stepped forward, a hand on her hip and the other held against the side of her head, mocking the Iron Enigma sorceress. “Aw,” she crooned, “It was just a little voltage. I was really hoping I could up the dose! Oh, I'll just do it anyway.” Her tentacles crackled with more electricity, and she watched a particularly nasty locus of orange lightning aggressive forward rush, and all four of her eyes widened. “What? You should be paralyzed...!” The breath burst from her mouth as her lungs were crumpled by Luna's halberd, and before she could even cry out, a second strike to her face cracked her glasses and sent her to the ground. Gasping for air, and chest heaving, Lockheart struggled feebly. When she could speak again, she rasped, “No. Vale has to pay...for what he did to us.”
concluded
Dog and Jann met in a forceful clash and immediately tangled, but the struggle lasted only a brief time. Between a human, however creepy and unnatural he or his surroundings, and a being designed for battle, a contest of physical strength held a definite bias toward the Zodiac Spirit. Within a few moments, Jann was pinned, his crimson exhalations starting to increase in intensity. The surroundings, meanwhile, altered even further. Now objects very near, including the still form of Cecilia and numerous training weapons, started ignoring the laws of gravity and slowly floated toward the sky.
Naomi, however, did not cease her assault. With Dog out of the way dealing with Jann, the enormous, human-faced serpent had a clear line of attack toward Gabriel, and wasted no time slithering right up to him and beginning to coil around the boy with clear intents to constrict.
”Heart and ssoul,” she hissed in a whisper.
”Paltry consstructs. Love is sstronger. Wait and ssee...” Her coils began to tighten.
VIII - Justice
XVII - the Star
@zarkunA bed of jade spikes erupted beneath Imani, piercing her in several places and flinging her into the air. Spittle flew from her lion's face alongside her snarl of pain, but if she hoped for relief she would be sorely disappointed. Hunter's Tail Swipe knocked her back down to earth, and her limp form crushed stray pieces of jade beneath it on landing. Ruthlessly, the Jade Dragon Slayer followed up with even more attacks, too intent on throwing out as many strikes as possible to realize that the Mystic Beast was already beaten.
By the time hunter finally relented, the bruised and badly cut-up body of Imani lay partially embedded in the street. Her human skin was wet with blood and her dress in tatters, while her tawny lion's fur had turned a matted brown. And yet, despite it all, Imani still lived; she even retained consciousness, though all that meant for the duel was that she could still feel every bit of agony inflicted upon her unmitigated.
Mercy came quickly, however. Abruptly, the mole from earlier trundled up, and laid a hand on Imani's forehead. A brief but radiant light flashed, and Imani's twitching grew still. After this, the mole looked up at Hunter. “Ya got 'er good, chief. Ah was gonna 'ave a rough time of it, looks like. My name is Clifton, and Ah've been after this lady fer a long time. Dang'rous criminal. Are ya a guild wizzer? If so, we oughta get Miss Lion 'ere to 'im right quick. I reckon a guild master kin hold 'er until the Council arrives.”
Laughing, Nero bowed repeatedly to Trinity and Eve.
”All in a day's work!” A second later his merriment trailed off suddenly, and his face bore an expression that might have been mock seriousness or mock sadness-either way, Nero looked comically crestfallen as his replied,
”That's my only attack. Yeah..”He found and took a seat to watch Trinity's performance. Of course, the archeress outdid herself, nailing the target repeatedly with impressive accuracy. As much as he envied someone with such skillful combat magic, Nero knew that archery wouldn't fit into his style. Instead, he merely clapped twice and jokingly snarked.
”Show-off. Now I feel bad about my own marksmanship. Remind me to never make you mad. I bet being I the firing line of that bow would be a h-arrow-ing experience, heehee.” Opting to seize the opportunity, the Genie scooted over on the bench until he was right next to Eve, and managed to slide an arm around her expansive waist.
”Ah, I'm havin' a great time! Totally forgotten about those jerks from earlier. What even is anger anymore? Hangin' out in public with my friends, havin' fun. Why, some poor fool might even mistake me for normal!”concluded
