“The plan’s back on track,” Jules said.
“I’ve been waiting for you,” Katarina hollered.
“Never expected you’d take the beach for your entrance, Sin.”
“Jones is a madman with a will of his own," Jules said. "Not my ideal starting point.”
“Alas, men!” Maddie addressed both the Soldiers and the Pirates. “This is a personal matter. Interfere if you have a death wish.”
Most of the men looked at each other with raised eyebrows. They all fear you. The military and pirates were apparently content enough to battle each other, and they left the Arcanics and their crews alone. Rukia raised her claws into the air.
“Ding ding ding! Round two begins!” The two teams split up, just as planned.
Thorn approached Jules, his cutlass already drawn. He took a defensive stance with the blade straight up. Jules gripped the Sound with both hands.
“Gonna tell me what that Vessel of yours does?”
“No.”
“Guess I’ll have to find out for myself.”
“Hardly. It’s the final ace up my sleeve.”
Good, I thought I'd have to face it now. Jules sheathed the Sound through his sash belt. Thorn remained as still as a statue. “We’ll have to let our fists do the talking, then.”
Thorn chucked his sword at Jules. It spun way past him—toward the Shrine, but still a long way from it.
“Drats. I missed. Looks like we’ll finally have a fair fight, though.” Thorn lunged at Jules, and they boxed. Thorn didn’t hold back his punches, and Jules found himself more on the defensive side of the fight.
Jules blocked an uppercut then ducked under a straight cross—he wrapped his arms around Thorn’s extended arm and twisted. Thorn resisted the throw and pushed Jules off-balance. He tripped Jules, but Jules wormed his legs around Thorn’s arm.
Thorn raised Jules into the air with that single arm. Veins popped from his neck and bloodshot eyes—then his Vessel jacket lit up.
Shit! Jules released the arm and—
“Just kidding.” Thorn withdrew his arm and punched a midair Jules square in the chest. Jules flew over the wall Whiskers had fled from long ago.
[?92,000 // ?174,501]
Thanks, Thorn… I guess. Jules scrambled to his feet and ran toward the Shrine. Thorn caught up to him near the road to the third tier of Marina Veridia, where his own cutlass had pierced the ground earlier.
“You dick! You tricked me.” Is he trying to weaken me, in case Maddie and I come to blows?
Thorn roared with laughter. Jules tossed the Sound down with Thorn’s weapon. Let's see how good your Hand-to-Hand really is.
They collided in a clench. Each wrapped their hands around the others’ head and dug their elbows into the others’ shoulders. They yanked each other left and right. Jules swam one arm under Thorn’s, wrenched it free, and grabbed it. Thorn twisted Jules’ wrist and pushed him to the ground, where they wrestled. Jules broke free and locked down Thorn, and vice versa.
Neither one used Ryoku. They just relied on Skill and the power of pride.
Jules took Thorn’s back and snaked in a choke. Thorn power-lifted them both straight into the air and tried to shake him off.
“Stalemate,” Thorn said.
[Pang! Hand-to-Hand increased to Level 25.]
“It would appear that way.” Jules was close to choking him out, but all the old geezer had to do was sacrifice-throw Jules to the ground. And probably break my back. He leapt off of Thorn. “Shall we move on to the next phase?”
“Gladly.”
Thorn ripped his cutlass from the dirt it’d stabbed. Jules retrieved his Vessel. They slashed and sliced at each other, careful to make sure nothing connected to their bodies. I’m not sure how far we should take this farce without raising suspicions…
Jules made his attacks look flashy enough, and he got close to Thorn’s blade a few times for show. He also studied the old man’s patterns and fighting style. He suspected they’d have a real fight soon enough.
ENVY
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
The shallow wound still drew Kat's blood, which mixed with boiling acid. Her Regeneration healed the scratch immediately.
[?144,369 // ?151,869]
“I heard that you died.” Maddie wiped her blade clean with a smirk.
Kat rubbed the blood all around her cheek. “I heard that you can die.”
Maddie thrust at Kat again, and Kat caught Maddie's blade between her two daggers, crossed in an X-formation.
This bitch is really going for it. I thought this was supposed to be a display of force only?
Maddie never relented in her smile or her assault. She continuously pushed Kat back through the city.
Katarina, Whiskers thought, she is leading you the correct way.
“I don’t trust you, or your plan,” Kat said. “Let me go to the Shrine. Now.”
“I’m afraid not, my dear. Appearance is everything.”
Kat wedged her blades into the cutlass’ guard, then twisted to wrench it free. Maddie released her grip, and the sword spun through the air. She caught it with her other hand and swung at Kat’s temple. Kat raised a dagger up just in time to deflect, but her own weapon’s hilt and guard crushed her face on the impact.
“You make a show difficult, you fool,” Maddie said. “And Wrath already tried that move on me—I won't fall for it again. Now, en garde!”
Kat spit blood out beside them and then rushed at Maddie.
CYRUS
Apparently, this guy didn’t get the memo. He’s out for blood, or revenge, or…
“Hey, are you…” Cy said. He motioned a time-out from the fight. “Are you trying to save face in front of your Captain?”
? Speed ?
August released a five-strike combo, and Cy considered himself lucky to only get three scratches. No magic, conserve Ryoku, conserve Ryoku…
“Dammit man, you want a fight, I can give you one!"
“The water's my domain, and you're surrounded by it.”
“Seriously,” Cy whispered. “We’re supposed to go easy.”
“No. That agreement was between our Captains. Not us.” Uh oh.
? ? Leviathan's Roar ? ?
Time to run away from the water. Cy blocked a lighter attack with his curved sword. He’s too far from the beach, though. I don’t need to block so hard. The second strike hit. Light as well. Cy blocked it with less effort. This’ll be easy.
The third strike hit like a tsunami and shattered Cy's residual Ryoku Shield, which saved his upper left arm from severance.
“Damn.” What was it That Damn Painter said? Adapt, learn, mimic?
So much for no more magic.
? ? Ryoku Shield ? ? [?140,570 // ?298,080]
Two more heavy blows, then another light one. Cy blocked each attack as if it would be hard, but on the next light attack, Cy experimented with throttling down his blocking strength. If he can do it offensively, it should work the other way around, too, right?
Light, light, hard, hard, hard, hard, light—what’s the pattern here? Light, light—
This one will be hard—
Light, light, damn.
August smiled and pulled back.
“What game are you playing?” The next ones will be tough, I’m sure of it. They always come in a series, but it’s hard to tell how long each one lasts, when the switch will come.
Cy waited for the next light attack. It came, and he took the offensive, but August’s speed was enhanced and he evaded Cy’s swings. Light on his feet, too? Wait…
Weight?
Cy blocked another heavy blow with both hands on his sword hilt. His Ryoku Shield absorbed another bone-crushing blow. They both hung there for a moment, locked face-to-face, and Cy felt the attack's force fade away. The hell?
I need to find a way to use his momentum against him. I’ve adapted, now time to learn.
Their blades danced through the city, and while he bought time to strategize, Cy made sure to push back in the direction of the Shrine.
Right, now it’s time to test a theory. After a string of light attacks, Cy grabbed August’s arm and dragged him back, away from the ocean behind him. The Pirate grew heavier by the moment. Beyond his opponent, Cy spotted and learned the secret.
Don’t give it away. Surprise him with it.
Cy retreated from the heavy August, and then when he turned lighter, Cy mimicked the Scroll.
? ? Leviathan's Roar ? ? [?132,070 // ?298,080]
It lacked the finesse and power of an Inked Art or a tattoo, only being invoked through spoken word, and his first strike was clumsy, too fast, and too wild. His second slash was too slow, and August cracked the last of his Ryoku Shield. Their swords met on the third strike, and Cy saw the fear in August’s eyes.
They disengaged and waited. The power surge fled Cy; his Script fully dispelled. When the tide fully receded, Cy leapt back, then rushed August again.
? ? Leviathan's Roar ? ? [?120,820 // ?298,080]
The added weight of the fully high tide rushed through Cy. He crushed August to the ground and—
CRACK!
—shattered his cutlass. Cy inspected his own sword. Unable to completely withstand the force of the attack, a long, thin crack split down the middle of its blade, but it remained in one piece.
Might be worth getting that Scroll tattooed. Maybe then my weapon will last.
August heaved on the ground. He tried to stand and failed. Should be safe enough. Cy abandoned his opponent. Maddie and Thorn fought his friends close by, and Rukia sat on John’s chest. Are they…chatting it up?
Cy’s neck hair stood on end. He shivered at the influx of cold, clammy air sweeping past. Cy felt watched; he felt like…
Like I'm in the presence of something impossible, or forbidden. He turned to face his newest threat. Three figures loomed in the growing twilight.
“Great," Cy said. "It’s you.” Selene approached with two robed rogues trailing behind her. Her mask was gone, but white sheets shrouded the other two's faces.
“Maddie,” Selene ordered. “You may stand down. Your services are needed to cull…your kind.” Your kind? Surely she means the Pirates.
“Oi, cunt!” Wow. Maddie’s leaning hard into this role-play. “Can’t you see that I’ve got a bone to pick here?”
“We must all know our places, and ours is not one of decision-making. Go, or your reward will be nullified by The Maiden Herself.”
Maddie eyed Envy. Thorn eyed Jules. Maddie spit in Selene’s direction and stormed past the men in robes. Eyes covered by drapes, their heads followed her path.
“Black fuckin' magic. Beginning to wonder what’s so Holy about Her Royal Majesty, The—”
One of the rogues roared. The other shrieked. Everyone covered their ears, even Selene. Maddie turned to face them, disgusted.
“You’d do well,” Selene said, “not to speak ill of The Maiden in front of her…” Selene looked at the robed men. “Most trusted ambassadors. Now leave, and detain the Pirates. That’s an order.”
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