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Sovereign's Will: The Edge of War [Looking for new players]

And just like that, a star - a legend - have fallen. A flicker of weakness where his magic fails him, one that Yvonne capitalized as she sliced through the half-formed protection like hot knife through butter. The relic blade of the Rosenving remained as sharp as the day it left the forge, cleanly taking off the arm that was raised to block. A blow to the head immediately followed up, with only the barest bit of awareness to hold back lest she pulverized his entire face.

There she stood, breathing heavily, the red receding as she gazed down on the broken form of the old knight. A triumphant moment soured by a resurfacing memory. Of a greying man with gnarled, trembling hands and wobbly legs, who find little comfort in doing nothing at all. His lips dry, face withered, with liver spots mottling his head...

...and still enough skill to slay men a third his age in a single flourish.

"I realized a long time ago that, when you become someone of my reputation, any route to death is going to be a disappointing one. They'll write it in the books how someone below my stature slew the great swordmaster. It's hogwash. If you want the truth I'll tell ya. I fear what I know is coming. That my body will betray me in the last moments. With time at its side, my body is what is going to kill me. The knee will lock, the grip will loosen, the shoulder will weaken. For all my speed and instinct it was time that has crept upon me, slow and steady, with no heat nor cold to give it away, it simply was and is and will be. I always thought I'd be bested by another swordsman. Someone of talent. But I suppose I was too good for that."

Yvonne blinked, the red rapidly receding from her sight, and the ache started to made themselves known. Her gaze fell on her sword-arm, shaking in barely perceptible tremor, before shifting to the sorry sight of Jonas Delving sprawled before her. It's always a cycle, wasn't it? And one day, she too will be on the receiving end of all this.

"...time to sleep, old man."

She stepped on his remaining good hand, pressing down her knee on the armored form of his chest. Her sword find its way to the ground, rivulets of crimson barely perceptible in the dark of the night, her freed hand going to the artery at the side of his neck. She applied pressure, firmly and carefully, not relenting until she choke the consciousness out of the old man.

Afterward, perhaps she should see to his bleeding stump.

Sovereign's Will: The Edge of War [Looking for new players]

Dance, dance, dance of violence. Like a dervish of steel Yvonne relentlessly pressed her assault, all focus fully locked on putting out the sole blinding light in a world of red. Dull clang of steel on a shield of light, followed by the latter morphing into a blade. Raise the mace to block, a momentary clash of strength where she refused to relent.

Delving pulled back upon flanking, followed by the dull crack of an explosion. Her own heartbeat thundering in her ears, Yvonne charged forward before the dust even settled as her visage perpetually twisted into a savage rictus. Yet even under such state there's clarity within her mind, likely even clearer than her usual state. No superficial thoughts, no distraction, blaze to create a path to victory. Nothing else mattered.

His attack was unnaturally swift thanks to his magic, but he was regardless still be hit from anyone outside of his focus. It meant his reaction speed couldn't keep up. An advantage she fully intended on exploiting.

She will feint as she approached his reach, abruptly changing direction to circle to his back from where she'd launch another flurry of blows. To occupy his attention so that her allies can land their hits instead of claiming the killing blow herself.

Tick tock, old man. How long can your body keep up with this?

Sovereign's Will: The Edge of War [Looking for new players]

Godspit, what was this motherfucker's noggin made of? She had put enough strength to punch through a coat of plates and out of the other side, and it barely made a crack. Must be some magic bullshit at work. A better way to deliver the force was needed, and it happen that the ridiculous lightshow offered an opportunity...

Kicking the dazed berserker's foot from under him, Yvonne followed by pushing the handle of her sword down until it caught the head between it and the packed earth. With an enraged yell she drove her armored fist down, this time there's nowhere for the force to bleed out - it'll all go straight to the skull. And through.

Her muscles ached dully, a sensation that she knew would turn into full-bout of debilitating once the bloodlust ran its course. But that's something for future Yvonne to worry about. A triumphant laughter rang as she ripped out the blade out of the stubborn foe, red haze coloring the edge of her vision as her eyes burned the same shade of crimson. Without much delay she set her sight on the brightest motherfucker in a hundred miles, charging forward at a pace more befitting of a galloping warhorse than a human her size.

Sovereign's Will: The Edge of War [Looking for new players]

The entire place was a complete chaos, but Yvonne thrived in chaos. Rapidly adapting to the changing circumstances was the key to survival, and she had plenty experience in those. Pressing onto Delving was an option, but Kitty and Sparky got him mostly covered at the moment. Instead her attention switched to the ice wizard with terrible aim, and the enraged thing trying to rip his face off.

Within a heartbeat she was on to the berserker, a hand halfway through the blade in a half-sword stance. Recalling the sensation of hitting metal from the bardiche strike earlier... she'll need to go for the softest part.

Her internal strength welling to the limit, Yvonne struck it slightly behind the temple where the skull was the weakest. If that wasn't enough she'd pull back her right hand and punched it again at the rounded pommel, hammering it in as many times as it took until it break through and smash the brain. So what if its bones were as strong as steel? She's perfectly capable of crushing steel.

"We'll have a long talk when we're done here."

Sovereign's Will: The Edge of War [Looking for new players]

Yvonne had some snappy replies, but then a few things happened at once. Delving caught an arrow glowing a particularly angry shade of amethyst, and she knew exactly what that could do. Then there's something furry brushing against her leg, the mercenary almost jumping out of her skin at the sudden intrusion before realizing the presence of a... cat.

What.

Nevertheless, the touch brought a wave of strange calm across her as the heat of the battle seemingly faded away. On top of that, the cat went and morphed into the figure of that spear-wielding woman from their team earlier. There's so many things to ask here, but the fight took priority. Questions can be saved for later.

Hobbling back on her left leg, she planted her sword on the ground with the injured one extended. She momentarily winced at the amount of blood pooling where she stood, the boot and greave completely covered in thick crimson. The flesh and muscles of the calf itself was near completely shorn, if the lighting was good she'd probably get to see the bone.

Every second was precious, so Yvonne tapped some strength boost to snap the leather straps and wrench the damaged greave off. Part of the pants followed, ripped asunder to fully expose the wound. At the last step she took the fleshknit flask, pausing a moment to recognize the shape, then wrenched off the silver cap to get at the content. With one hand she carefully held her savaged calf together, the pain blinding despite her tolerance, carefully pouring the content into the gash as steady as possible.

It stung like a motherfucker. Worse than getting hewn open in the first place. The process burned like molten metal was poured into the wound, spreading fire through her veins and nerves, alongside the disgusting squelching noise of flesh unnaturally mending and rebuilding itself. She stifled her scream through gritted teeth, the silver flask deforming under her grip as the last of the precious liquid left the vessel.

Abruptly, the pain ceased. Breathing heavily and drenched in sweat as if she had just ran ten miles without a break, Yvonne grasped her sword and propped herself up with the tremble of a newborn deer. And yet despite the swaying and lightheadedness, her eyes burned a malevolent crimson as she rejoined the ongoing battle.

"...should've killed me when you got the chance, old man."

Now she's pissed off.

Sovereign's Will: The Edge of War [Looking for new players]

She had expected a few ways the next few seconds turn around. Perhaps it was a feint and old Delving will pull back and try to skewer her. He could try punch her away with the shield. Or use whatever flashing means he previously did to regain the distance. Heck, she even kept half an eye toward the berserkers just in case.

What she didn't expect was a heavy blow taking her right on the calf, fatally breaking her ongoing rhythm.

"GAH what the fuck-" She lost her footing for a moment, a vulnerable lul that could've gotten her skewered if the old man pressed his attack. She had thought that the bastard somehow managed to outplay her, but then he stepped back and glared with severe disapproval. It came as a surprise to him too, then. Yvonne risked a glance as she steadied on her good leg, finding the pale spear that nicked her rather bad.

...bad wasn't sufficient to describe it, honestly. It all but punched through flesh and part of the greaves, just a bit off and she'd probably need to reattach the whole limb. She certainly cant move her foot, the tendon connecting to it completely cut. Fucking great.

"Dead gods. If you cant shoot straight, dont shoot at all!" Still, what's done is done. Better worry about the next five minutes. In precarious balance Yvonne remained in place, sword forward and blazing amber eyes locked at the Delving patriarch. She needed a chance to apply the potion, but there's no guarantee her foe will give her the chance. If he break the flasks, then she's well and truly cooked.

Sovereign's Will: The Edge of War [Looking for new players]

Well... these things were definitely a bunch of mini-Ragnar. The corner of her eyes found how they had even less skill than the towering brute, but the sheer durability was the exact same kind of annoyance. Change of plans, she'll need to-

-Jonas, the old motherfucker, was here. It's like the old man took a few leisurly steps but suddenly went across the entire distance they're apart, culminating into a straightforward stab at her direction. The bardiche was stuck in whatever unnaturally hard bones and crystalline scab, the second it'll take to free it was a second she did not have.

Instinct took over, her body moving as thought the world demanded it as everything seemingly slowed. Pivot on one foot, the body follows, in a smooth sequence letting go of the weapon in favor of drawing her sword. Her off-hand near the tip, Yvonne pushed the flat of the blade against the incoming partisan to deflect it harmlessly to the side.

Then the adrenaline-driven lapse ended, the heat of the battle caught up with conscious thought. The pivot smoothly switched into leverage, a powerful step that sent her charging toward the Delving patriarch, attempting to enter into the range where the partisan would be more of a hindrance than a weapon. Dull amber burned within her eyes, feral rictus twisting her face into a violent mask.

She's getting into the zone.

Sovereign's Will: The Edge of War [Looking for new players]

All said and done, Yvonne let the body drops as she regulated her breathing. That's a nice warmup, but surely it couldn't be all?

Just as she finished the thought, the next wave arrived. Delving and his personal guards weren't really notable, all things considered she had seen enough of their ilk across her career. But the five unusual additions... they reminded her of Ragnar way too much for comfort. From the way they're underdressed to the insane head-on charges, well, it brought up some really annoying memories.

And they had the audacity to try round around her too! Not even Ragnar was that rude.

Lunging to the left, Yvonne sweep the bardiche low to clip the nearest berserker at the knees. From experience, fatal blows weren't as effective as maiming ones. They can still swing and take you down with them even when fully disemboweled, much like how a boar will plunge deeper into the spear in order to gore a hunter. But no amount of anger or willpower can compensate for a missing limb.

Sovereign's Will: The Edge of War [Looking for new players]

The distance wasn't ideal for maximum effect, but Yvonne had gotten to where she needed to be. Sparky's sniping even spared her the need to personally cut down the bastard, leaving only one aiming at her. Not great to get shot, but she had her own countermeasures to that.

As the man with an arrow in his neck gurgled, Yvonne slammed at him and carried him forward by his clothing with barely any lost momentum. Quite literally using a human shield, she rapidly approached before cleaving the last crossbowman with the frozen bardiche. It was light enough to be easily swung one-handed, but she tapped into a little extra strength just to be sure.

Sovereign's Will: The Edge of War [Looking for new players]

Oh yeah, nice and flashy. A few of the defenders were taken down within the first few seconds, though the rest rallied rather quickly. And apparently combat-ready? One of them tossed their torch a surprising distance, just about enough to shed light on the group. And then they fired - they sleep with their crossbows strung up, apparently - real accurately, though thankfully not quite deadeye. Not wanting to miss the action Yvonne too sprung forth as she tapped into her inner strength, bounding a significant distance forward with every step.

Inhale, deep. Feel the spark of flame within. Grab at it, and... unleash.

"HAH! I'LL TEAR YOU LIMB FROM LIMB!"

The sound was almost physical, a terrorizing wave that grip at the heart and cloud the mind. Not the best effect at their distance, but should disrupt their reloading long enough for her to reach into melee. And once she do, well, it'll be time to keep her words and tear them limb from limb.