Edge of the City District ➠ Middle of the City District
There were many things about this battle that took Rider by surprise. He was familiar with fighting against men and beasts, but these enemies acted like neither. They cared not if they injured each other as long as it got them closer to their target: him. Rider wouldn't shy away from close quarters combat, but it wasn't his strongest suit. When his deadly strike against the assassin in front of him proved to be less than fatal, he pulled away a moment too late, earning himself a cut to his cheek as he abandoned his spear and took a new stance, calling his club to him.
As he beat away those that got close, he considered the second surprising thing about these enemies: what was under their mask. They had the shape of a man, besides the face of wriggling, spiny tentacles. That, coupled with the haphazard way they went about their attack, made Rider think that perhaps these opponents weren't servants after all. Just shadows of one, if even that.
Rider bashed his club into one of the puppet's heads, sending it and it's mask spiraling away from him. It was about that time that finally, his master contacted him. Unfortunately, it wasn't the with the best of news, but Daniel did seem to have a plan.
Understood.A rush of lightning and energy swirled around Rider, pushing the swarm of assassins back. The miniature storm crackled and darkened until it enveloped Rider completely, and when it finally faded he was astride a huge, powerful, painted horse. The creature snorted, staring down every enemy in front of it, baring it's teeth as though it were a predator - until it's rider stroked a hand down it's thick neck.
"My friend, we have no time to spare with these. Let's finish here quickly then return to my master's side."After all, Inyan - Rider's beloved partner and the crux of his noble phantasms - was much too fast to lure these assassins toward the others. They would never catch up. Herding them wouldn't be a bad idea, but Rider was a warrior, not a shepherd. Inyan stamped his hooves and then shot forward with no further warning, trampling the lot of the strange servants. Then, quick as a bird in flight or a fish in water, the horse galloped away. If some survived and gave chase, all the better. With Inyan's speed and Rider's previously trekked route, it took no time at all for Rider to return to the others.
Master, I'll be relying on your information. Take cover.A Horse Appeared Where Lightning StruckInyan, Wakinyan
When horse and rider came down on the group of assassins, it was with all the force of nature. A crack of thunder sounded long after the bolt of lightning that was Inyan touched down, cratering the already ruined earth. Between one blink and the next they moved, zipping behind the gathered enemies - then again, a chain of electric after image caging them in as they galloped. When the assassins were corralled in by the sparking lightning, Rider moved through the cage, slashing across the center with such speed and force that any in his horse's direct path were sure to be torn asunder, if not completely obliterated. He repeated the movement over again, laying waste to all caught in his noble phantasm's range. The destruction was intense, a fierce lightning storm raging on the ground. Every step Inyan took left a smoldering footprint, and split the very air itself.
It was only over once Rider was sure every single mask was shattered, and their wearers nothing more than smears on the pavement.