Marine Attack! The Colossus Marcus Rhodes Appears!

[Vio]

^{Brandon #8 — Raquel #8}

---

“Surrender yourselves now and no harm will be inflicted upon you,” Captain Raine announced. A culmination to the legal spiel that was no doubt drilled into the heads of Marines as part of their law enforcement protocol. An officer who acted by the book… or was an absolute stickler for the rules. “Escape is not possible,” she said. And with those words, much to Ostaga Raquel’s own bemusement, the Captain had shattered any and all illusions of authority and strength. Indeed, Raq’s eyes sharpened at the meek usage of such words, kicking to life that strength of character she had always held within.

^{“So the whole surrender thing,” Angelo spoke:
“Isn’t going to happen… As for the escape part…”}

“Kuoh!” Brandon squawked, following Angelo’s lead in taking a combative stance, but starkly contrasting him by making sure he was a few yards further back. It was strange to the feathery fellow: Frightening even, that this human named after the weather was so fleet of foot as to sneak up on them. Sure, he’d seen his fair share of abnormalities and even a few impossibilities — he himself was a penguin that could not swim — but never had he seen somebody move so fast. It struck fear into his paper heart, but somehow he found himself standing steady when he realised what Angelo and Raquel were doing.

Both had stepped forwards and, though he could not see their faces, Brandon could tell they were grinning. That odd bearing of the teeth and the curl of their lips — the tiniest crease of the forehead that spoke so loudly of confidence. Really, the people of this world were incredible beings, but few more incredible than the two that now defied the odds.

^{“Making the impossible possible is our speciality!”}

^{“And if there’s no escape,” Miss Ostaga added:
“Well… We’ll have to make ourselves one!”}

^{“Ku– Oh– Ru…”}

This is going to be difficult, but there’s three of us and only one of her… though I don’t anticipate Brandon being of much use. I don’t even know what it is he can do, the rope-haired rigger considered, assessing the situation anew now that her mind had accepted the challenge Atheleys had unwittingly issued. The length of rope in her arms was cut some slack, a couple of its loops falling loosely around her arm as she held one end in the opposing hand. All round, civilians retreated, some staring from what they deemed a safe distance as the scene unfolded before them. The biggest problem… is figuring out how she moves and fights before it’s all over…

^{—— MEANWHILE ——}

Huh…? He hit himself… A grin manifested upon Marcus Rhodes’ face as he stood, patient and attentive, watching over the cub he’d sent flying. For a moment, the Marine had pondered whether or not such a blow could have killed a man: Of that he was sure of the answer. No. What actually surprised him, however, was the young man’s tenacity. By all rights, he should have been winded to the point of falling unconscious, but somehow he was back on his feet.

^{“Sorry about that, old man,” said the cub:
“I’m Leonard… Leonard LeClerc.”}

^{“Leonard, huh?”}

“No matter where I turn, strong guys just keep turning up,” Mister LeClerc elaborated, much to the Rear Admiral’s intrigue. The immediate area had long since been cleared of civilian presence — an absolutely ideal scenario in the man’s eyes as he looked upon the sword being pointed at him, and to its wielder. “So please, old man, show me how strong I can be…!”

“Gyaraharaharahara~!” A resounding, rumbling laugh belted from Rhodes’ belly, so intense that his stance faltered as his arms lowered to palm his core. This was amazing. To think! A young upstart pirate who truly stood no chance against such immeasurable opposition had not only endured a debilitating blow, but had gone on to issue a true challenge against the Colossus. O, how he laughed, ‘til tears formed in the corners of his eyes, ‘til he finally reined in his amusement and steadily wiped his face. He, too, took a deep breath, held it, and released it slowly.

“Hm… And here I was beginning to think this would be another waste of time,” Rhodes grinned, sky blue eyes opening again and piercing deep into those of the swordsman. “You’ve got spirit, cub! Ten times the conviction of the last upstart to roll through Dauntaun — at least as much as the last man to take a punch like that and still be standing… My son would stand to learn a lot from you! Ah…! Now I’m getting carried away! Gyaraharahara~,” the goliath laughed again, this time with a more contained energy as he raised his arms and shifted his footing. A proper martial stance on display, head lowered slightly and one foot forward.

^{“Well, enough chit-chat,” the RA beamed:
“Let’s put that spirit of yours to the test…!”}

There was no speed to what followed — no haste, but definitely an eagerness as Marcus Rhodes began an advance towards the young Leonard. To the unaware spectator, such a jogging approach could almost be seen as mocking, as if the man were a caricature of a fighter. But despite his motions, there was a certain excitement lurking behind those eyes of his, coupled with the focus needed to hold back. It was simple. He was giving his opponent time before he let loose his next punch…

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Post Synposis:—}
_{Raquel, Angelo, and Brandon turn to face off against Atheleys, while Rhodes finds the tenacity of Leonard both amusing and refreshing!}

---

Brandon | #fdee00
Ostaga Raquel | #daa520
Leonard LeClerc | #4b5560
Angelo Sores | #00b4ec
Marcus Rhodes [NPC] | #a81c07
Atheleys Raine [NPC] | #1f4f86
Miscellaneous [NPC] | #eeeeee | #bbbbbb |#888888 | #555555

[Blushing z0ro]

LEONARD LECLERC & ANGELO SORES
ACT I SCENE IV

- Marine Attack!
The Colossus Marcus Rhodes Appears! -

---

Atheleys sighed deeply and closed her eyes for a second. As expected, pirates were all so unreasonable. When the Marine Captain reopened her eyes, her look changed from the calm and cold stare to an intense and focused one, Atheleys Raine never took a fight for granted and would always go all out.

Then in an instant, she was gone. Angelo’s eyes widened, where had the woman disappeared to!? She didn't show any sign of movement? Could she just teleport? Was it some sort of Devil fruit trickery? Or was it…

Before the martial artist could even finish his thoughts a powerful blow struck him square in his core, the marine woman having seemingly moved from her spot dozen of feet away to being in melee range with him in less than the blink of an eye, her right leg outstretched and the heel of her foot digging into Angelo’s centre with enough force to send the young man flying back over thirty feet into a wall at the end of the alley they all stood in.

Atheleys’ eyes did not follow the blonde man as he was pushed back, she would be able to run circles around a heavy bruiser like him, the rope woman was still an unknown, having temporarily removed the immediate threat of the man she could focus on judging the woman’s fighting style.

Atheleys rechambered her kick and never letting the rope woman out of her line of sight began to thrust her hand towards her target’s head, tip of manicured fingers forward, using her arm like she would her spear. Of course it would lack the power of her True Thrust but it would be enough for a start and see how the woman responded.

Angelo struggled to catch his breath, the Marine’s kick having knocked the wind out of him. That woman was light, but her speed gave more than enough weight to her attacks to compensate.

Still, the first mate was surprised at how easily he found himself to his feet. Her blows may be strong, for weeks every fight Angelo has found himself in left him getting hit and battered by freaks of nature that hit harder than two tonne gorillas, it would talk a lot more than that to keep him down.

The martial artist jumped forward and into a dash, sprinting past their avian buddy. The little guy wasn’t running away but there was nothing he could do, Angelo understood that sentiment. Keep it up bud, eventually even you can be strong.

There would no time for Angelo to stop that Atheleys woman’s attack on Raquel, but so long as the shipwright could dodge or block, the first mate would be there to follow up. The Dragon Fist was said to be able to pierce the hide of a dragon, but that woman was no dragon, she was a whirlwind blowing across them. Against the wind, a crashing wave.

Regardless of what Raquel would do Angelo had his move ready by the time he closed the distance again.

Way of the Dragon: DRAGON WAVE
Ryudou: RYUHA!!!

Not an attack meant to penetrate or hurt, but one meant to repel and push back, if they could get some distance again and ring her bell even a little, they might be able to regroup and come up with a tactic.

~~Meanwhile~~

Seemed like this Marcus Rhodes was more than willing to let Leonard test himself. Brilliant! Come at me old man!

So he did, the Colossus began to close the distance, moving with a simple jog towards the young captain. An almost caricature of a run, faster than ominous walking, but barely a run. Still the young man grinned, this was perfect.

Leonard had seen the way that defensive move Rhodes had used during his fight with Jollnir, if they are moving, they can’t turn their body to steel!

Leonard gripped his sword tightly in both his hands and pulled it back behind his own head, readying his strongest swing. How will you react to that? Take it? Stop and block? Dodge? Show me!

Full Moon Style: Waning Moon Wave!
Mangetsu-Ryuu: Shihakuha!

Leonard swung his blade, long before the Rear Admiral would ever be in reach of the steel, and instead of cutting the man, he cut the air; causing it to shimmer and glimmer like the last fading crescent of the fading moon, sending the cut rush through the air and against the wind towards the moving mountain baring down on him.

This wasn’t a trick many could pull off, Leonard was at least sure of that, but the surprise, if there is one, will only work once, so he would have to capitalise on it. Not even waiting for his flying slash to hit, Leonard rushed forward and top speed and aimed to close the distance right after his cutting wave.

Once there only pressing the offensive would be an option, following the attack with his fastest cuts.

Full Moon Style: Crossing Moon!
Mangetsu-Ryuu: Kosagetsu!

Two cross cuts in an X shape aimed right at the Marine immediately after the Shihakuha would hit.

---

Tag: Vio
Words: 855
Leonard: 4b5560

Angelo: 00b4ec

Atheleys: 1f4f86

[Vio]

^{Brandon #9 — Raquel #9}

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Blinding speed.

She moved so fast I couldn’t track her… It’s like she became invisible! Ostaga Raquel’s form tensed, a chill crawling up her spine as she processed this information, her eye unable to perceive anything more than an initial flicker of motion before the Captain had disappeared from view. All of a sudden, it was Angelo who was caught off-guard, launched some distance by a single kick before Atheleys switched targets and aimed a strike for the shipwright’s head.

Not one to be caught unawares, Raquel’s motions were fluid, if a little uncertain. Where her head had been just a moment before, there was nothing but trailing braids as the attack jabbed at the air mere inches to the left of where she was now. The strike was swift enough to displace the air a little, the breeze of Dauntaun’s thick atmosphere brushing her cheek in the wake of the assault, deceptive enough to make her rethink whether or not she had actually evaded the attack.

Eyes met.

I need to make some distance or– It was then that Angelo’s strike came in, interrupting Raq’s considerations and hopefully garnering Atheleys’ attention, for the rigger had not been completely unprepared. One could have called it instinct, but she had unwittingly cast one end of the rope she carried into the sky when she had jerked out of the way of her assailant’s move.

Brandon stood firm. More noticeable, he stood frozen in fear and uncertainty. On the ice sheets of Viktas, a penguin’s mobility provided an unusual advantage against natural predators like seals; those blubbery buffoons just couldn’t keep up with the hopping and sliding manoeuvres of his kin. But here? Humans — especially this human — were an entirely different type of predator that he just could not outpace. What was he supposed to do? His own strikes were nothing compared to those of Angelo, he didn’t have the reach or agility of Raquel, and he certainly had no idea how to use one of those sharp metal fangs like Leonard. He felt so small…

^…Oru…?

^{—— MEANWHILE ——}

Much to Marcus Rhodes’ intrigue, the swordsman’s steel flourished long before the gap was closed, but what it did was far more of a spectacle than the Rear Admiral was anticipating. His smile widened. A shimmering wave of air surged towards him, discharged from the edge of the steel, and that alone was greater proof of LeClerc’s capabilities as a swordsman. And yet, the Goliath of a man did not falter — nay did he stop nor did he dodge — and instead transferred the slow energy of his movements into a palm, knuckles still curled.

^{Hunting: Bear…!
“Venatio: Ursa…!”}

With a steady swipe, Rhodes’ palm thrust forth to meet the crescent dead on. Shimmering wind twisted the air as the two strikes met, scattering the slash into a handful of smaller curls of cutting wind that etched themselves into the street like the spread of a massive beast’s claws. It was then that a still smiling Rhodes saw a second flash of the blade, this one much closer, too swift for him to avoid. But why would he? Sharpened steel raked across him in a cross pattern — two strikes that left not even superficial marks save for cutting into the fabric of his shirt — and that prompted a surprised look.

^{“That was a nice try, cub, but,” he spoke:
“My defence doesn’t falter that easily…”}

His still extended arm shifted, hand flattening and fingers closing together. And then, it was unleashed in a powerful but characteristically low mobility swing that curved upwards towards Leonard’s throat.

^{Hunting: Leopard…!
“Venatio: Pardus…!”}

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Post Synposis:—}
_{Raquel narrowly dodges an attack from Atheleys as Brandon considers how useful he is. Meanwhile, Rhodes proves himself to be a nigh immovable object as he negates both of Leonard’s attacks.}

---

Brandon | #fdee00
Ostaga Raquel | #daa520
Leonard LeClerc | #4b5560
Angelo Sores | #00b4ec
Marcus Rhodes [NPC] | #a81c07
Atheleys Raine [NPC] | #1f4f86
Miscellaneous [NPC] | #eeeeee | #bbbbbb |#888888 | #555555

[Blushing z0ro]

LEONARD LECLERC & ANGELO SORES
ACT I SCENE IV

- Marine Attack!
The Colossus Marcus Rhodes Appears! -

---

The rope woman was agile indeed, managing to avoid Atheleys’ strike, yet not agile enough. All the Marine Captain would have to do is follow up with another strike, at this close a range there would be nothing the woman could do… however.

Atheleys’ flow was then broken. The large blond man had already come back, the man was even tougher than she originally gave him credit for, not many could take her kick and still move right after.

Angelo’s attack impacted the side of the Raine woman, both his palms extended, one up one down joint at the wrist. The dragon’s crashing wave repels the storm winds.

The blow was heavy but strangely felt like it was not even attempting to pierce Atheleys’ defences. Instead she felt her entire body being moved, as if carried off by a wave. The Marine Captain was not very heavy nor did her high mobility style teach her means to truly stand her ground, thus the pirate’s attack pushed her back farther than where she had been when she first appeared in front of them.

She would have to reevaluate the situation. The woman was capable of keeping up with her speed and if she was allowed to get a grasp of Atheley’s rhythm she might prove too difficult to capture, meanwhile the man may prove to be too resilient for her to actually damage without use of her weapon. Tch… there will be so much paperwork.

Angelo felt some hint of confidence creep back, that Raine woman may be fast, but her defence was weak! Her speed gave her power but it was still nothing unsurmountable, so long as they could contain her movement she would be vulnerable.

The First Mate took a defensive stance next to Raquel and began speaking in a low voice.

“We need to lure her away somewhere we can contain her movement, we can win this. I can take a few hits from her, you take Brandon and find a better spot while I slow her chase.”

This was the only path Angelo could think would lead them to a possible victory, if they switch roles Angelo would not be fast enough to get away from them and set an ambush. His job would have to be to take the blows on behalf of others… which was starting to feel like a recurring pattern he was not too fond of.

~~~Meanwhile~~~

Leonard was up in the air, making him eye level with Rhodes as his tracks landed on the Rear Admiral. This old man was some real monster, that was Leonard’s best combo and he had dealt with it like it was child’s play.

Worse, the slow fist that was moving the young captain’s throat might as well have been the headsman's axe, if that blow hits him in the throat his windpipe would be crushed and this fight over as quickly as it started.

There was no way to fully avoid the blow mid-air, but the swordsman could at least stop it from being a finisher.

Leonard twisted his body and instead of the blow hitting him in the throat the Rear Admiral’s hand made contact with the Pirate Captain’s breastbone, launching the young man even higher in the air.

Holy… Leonard felt his bones crack and break on impact, the wind getting completely knocked out of him and his vision fading away for a moment. Marcus Rhodes… if that was how strong he was without his weapon… just how strong was that man?

Such a thought would likely demoralize most, leading them to choose to lie down in defeat rather than face further abuse… but no, Leonard LeClerc refused to accept that. He would find out what were the limits of that man’s strength. There was no shame in losing against a stronger warrior, but there was in losing to one who refused to acknowledge your strength with their own.

Leonard gritted his teeth, his entire body still airborne above the Colossus. The young man grabbed his sword tightly in his hands and swung his body forward, turning his movement in a full somersault, his sword sticking right out, still too high to hit Rhodes.

Full Moon Style…
Mangetsu-Ryuu…

The most important thing in battle wasn’t always to overpower your enemy, it was to achieve the goal of the conflict. If you are defending a city from an invading force, having crushed every single enemy means nothing if the city was burnt and its people massacred. If your goal is escape and survive, so long as you do so, you’ve won.

Sky Moon Rotation
TENGETSUSEN!!!

From his somersault a perfectly circular flying slash flew away from Leonard. Rhodes below would again have to figure how to deal with such an expected attack, but damage was not the true goal.

The added momentum of the attack to the force given by Rhodes attack gave Leonard just enough airtime to reach something, even more easily if Rhodes blasted away this flying slash like he did the last one.

By the end of his flipping through the air the young pirate did not return to the ground but instead reached the window sill of one of the nearby buildings, prompting himself on it.

Leonard looked down at the man one the street, his vision slightly blurred from the exertion and heavy breathing, a small trickle of blood dripping out the corner of his mouth. Then the Pirate Captain grinned before he jumped through the window and began sprinting through someone’s living room. There was little doubt in Leonard’s mind that the experienced hunter would be able to catch him, however so long as he could stay on the move, the pirate had a chance to make his escape!

---

Tag: Vio
Words: 961
Leonard: 4b5560

Angelo: 00b4ec

Atheleys: 1f4f86

[Vio]

^{Brandon #10 — Raquel #10}

---

“Thanks,” Raquel uttered to Angelo as the Captain was shoved back some distance, though the gratitude was tentative. The martial artist’s strength was good, but she doubted that such a gap would mean much for their opponent — space to be yet again closed in the blink of an eye.

“We need to lure her away somewhere we can contain her movement,” Angelo replied, entertaining a strategy to overcome the odds; a stark contrast to his performance in a game of chess. “I can take a few hits from her,” he continued, stance defensive as Raine recovered from the staggering blow she’d received. Raquel briefly met the blond man’s gaze, understanding what it was he was getting at, but not fancying the odds of him enduring long enough to capitalise upon an advantageous environment. Then she remembered, twisting her grasp upon the rope she had cast.

“I’m not leaving you behind to become a punching bag! Come on,” Raq growled, one hand grabbing the collar of the man’s shirt as, with the other arm and one leg, she yanked hard upon the skyward rope. A simple loop had locked itself onto the overhanging wrought iron casting of a lantern and sign, enabling a display of acrobatics that they had surely seen before, but had never been privy to the method of. “Brandon! Grab on!”

“Oru…?! O– Oku, Raku!” the papery penguin chirped, unsure of what was happening as his companions were thrust into motion by that same type of woven serpent Raquel seemed so adept in handling. All the same, the woman’s call snapped him out of his worries — and straight into frantic panic as his flippers flattened and extended to wrap onto Angelo’s waist as he quite literally swung by.

^{“ORUUU…?!”}

Together they swung forwards and upwards, beady eyes watching in equal parts terror and curiosity as the city streets of this horrid concrete canyon passed by. But almost as swiftly as it had started, their ascent was halted, again by Raquel’s command, as the flaxen vine that had once held fast to a metal branch whipped past them and coiled itself around yet another protrusion, sending the trio swinging once more around a corner and up onto the slightly sloped overhang of another building about two storey’s above pedestrian traffic. Miss Ostaga’s grasp had loosened, herself tucking into a smooth roll to secure a landing.

^{“Sorry about that,” she said:
“That should buy us time…”}

^{—— MEANWHILE ——}

Thwomp…! Marcus Rhodes’ blow struck LeClerc’s body, but not as he’d aimed it. No, the cub had proven himself at least a little more agile than anticipated, able to take the strike in such a way as to avoid a completely incapacitating hit. The Rear Admiral had to admit to himself that such a manoeuvre was as risky as it was ingenious, paying off in unexpected ways. His eyes shifted, tracing the now aerial adversary as he transformed haphazard momentum in an offensive.

“A circular one…? Hm, that’s more problematic,” Rhodes uttered under his breath, a smile upon his face as he once again readied a palm to bat away the incoming strike. This time, however, he was forced to shuffle to the side slightly so as to avoid the brunt of the burst, resulting in a far less potent defence that left the ground beside him marred. “Huh? … We’re doing this now, are we?” A question posed to nobody in particular escaped the goliath’s mouth as he watched the grinning swordsman book it through a civilian’s window — discretion was the better part of valor.

Rhodes sighed.

^{“Well, no use dawdling,” he chuckled:
“Heh… The hunt is on…!”}

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Post Synposis:—}
_{As Leonard escapes Rhodes, spurring a chase, so too do Angelo and Brandon escape Atheleys thanks to Raquel, buying everyone precious time.}

---

Brandon | #fdee00
Ostaga Raquel | #daa520
Leonard LeClerc | #4b5560
Angelo Sores | #00b4ec
Marcus Rhodes [NPC] | #a81c07
Atheleys Raine [NPC] | #1f4f86
Miscellaneous [NPC] | #eeeeee | #bbbbbb |#888888 | #555555

[Blushing z0ro]

LEONARD LECLERC & ANGELO SORES
ACT I SCENE IV

- Marine Attack!
The Colossus Marcus Rhodes Appears! -

---

Angelo found himself dragged off his feet and into the air by Raquel, this was a moment of discovery for the martial artist, for he now knew he did not like flying. The feeling of not having the ground beneath his feet was unnatural, not only that but he quickly lost track of his own positions relative to everything else around him. The worst part of it all was that it left him completely unable to ground his stance, leaving him feeling more than vulnerable.

When the rope swinging trio finally made contact again with solid ground, or close enough in the form of a rooftop, a true sense of relief washed over the young man. Who stumbled away from Raquel with a few uneasy steps.

“Urgh… I never want to do that again…”

While the three swooped away Atheleys Raine remained still, the rope woman's ability to move around so swiftly around buildings would prove a nuisance indeed. Perhaps eliminating her instead of the bruiser first would prove to be the more tactical decision in this fight. Whicherber it would be, she would have to catch up with them first. Gaining height first would likely be the best idea to track them.

Atheleys then jumped in the air gaining incredible height and kicked off in mid air a few more times to rise even above the surrounding buildings before she began scanning for her targets, her attention however was momentarily distracted by the loud sound of crashing metal along with a plum of dust coming off the streets in the opposite direction the three had run towards, the direction Rear Admiral Rhodes and the other Pirate would be in.

Mid-air, Atheleys grunted and closed her eyes.

The paperwork… sir think of the paperwork please.

~~~Meanwhile~~~

Leonard sprinted through rooms and apartments, scaring a few residents as a strange man with a sword ran right through living rooms and other private rooms. This was a fight for survival, the young captain was not so foolhardy to think he could actually beat the man chasing him in a straightforward battle, unfortunately the odds of him actually succeeding at losing Marcus Rhodes in a chase were just about as low. No, to pull something like an escape or a victory from the clutches of defeat against a man like the Rear Admiral would require some sort of trick, or for the two to come to sort of terms, a different kind of contest than just a simple contest of strength. Or at least one could dream.

Barging through yet another apartment door, Leonard noticed construction work outside the window, heavy metal beams used for the construction of yet another high rise building across the streets hung from a crane.

Leonard smirked. Let’s see how you deal with that kind of weight, old man. Continuing his sprint, the young man ran to the window, jumping on a dining room table, displacing dishes and food as a family of four jumped off their seats as the pirate ruined their meals, before he jumped through the window, sending shards of glass scatter through the street below.

Leonard had just enough momentum to land on the metal beams hanging over the streets, not even stopping his run as performed some quick slashes on the ropes holding the load, before jumping off and landing on the construction site.

The Slashes were not enough for the ropes to break just yet but even the slight more disturbance would cause the beams of metal to fall below and cause some big damage to the streets below, let alone to anyone standing there.

And of course, right on time Marcus Rhodes turned the corner of the street, almost nonchalantly walking towards his prey, looking up towards the young, the beams of metal hanging there clearly visible and in view.

If it were anyone else Leonard knew they would avoid the obvious trap, but the young pirate understood what kind of man this Marine was. He was a man that wanted to see what kind of trick Leonard would pull, how far he was willing to go and in turn understood Leonard wanted to see just how strong Rhodes was. To understand just how strong Leonard himself could be.

So it was with no hesitation that Rhodes walked up to trap, and sprung it, as the man reached the perfect position Leonard whacked his sheathed sword against some of the metal structure of the building being constructed, causing a resonating gong to go off and vibrate throughout the structure, the vibration reverberating just enough to cause the slashed ropes to give in and snap, causing tons of metal to drop right on the Marine Officer.

Yeti Leonard knew it would not be enough, so as the dust began to rise in the air and the sound of crashing metal echoed throughout the city, the fledgling captain jumped off his perch and sword at the ready to aim where he expected Rhodes to be standing.

How would the man have dealt with this kind of attack, maybe Leonard would finally get to see it in action, that holy sword…

~~~Back to the others~~~

Angelo turned his head towards the source of the sound of crashing metal somewhere in the city, no point asking who was responsible for it. But this was not the problem at hand for the trio, the martial artist looked around for anything that could help them deal with the woman chasing them. That was when a warehouse down the street caught his attention.

“Hey Raquel.” Angelo called out to his companion, his eyes not leaving the building, a plan formulating in his mind.

“How good are you at setting traps?”

Really all they needed was to stop that woman from moving. Maybe, just maybe, if Angelo could land a good enough hit, it could make all the difference.

---

Tag: Vio
Words: 980
Leonard: 4b5560

Angelo: 00b4ec

Atheleys: 1f4f86

[Vio]

^{Brandon #11 — Raquel #11}

---

^{“Hey,” Angelo questioned:
“How good are you at traps?”}

“Hm? It’s not really something I’ve ever done, or needed to do,” Miss Ostaga replied, curiosity now becoming consideration as she followed the martial artist’s line of sight. It was unlike him to take his eyes off somebody he was talking to in a serious situation, save for when an opponent was present, and so it was that she too spied what it was he was focusing on. A warehouse of sorts about halfway down the street seemed to be the site of whatever idea he was forming, though she wasn’t certain either of them had a concrete idea in slowing this tenacious woman down.

Oreo… Brandon lay there for a moment atop the roof, catching his breath as his racing heart steadied to a more manageable pace. Well, how unexpected it was that he’d been ripped from solid land and carried through the sky at speed, but that wasn’t the only thing on his mind. No, the penguin was worried about others: Leonard especially, given the ferocity that man emanated. Even as Angelo and Raquel took a few seconds to catch their breaths and exchange words, he perched himself and focused on the sound of crashing cacophony whose final echoes had drawn the eyes and ears of many a pedestrian.

^{“Kuoh… O–” Brandon blinked:
“Oru?! Akero! Raku! Ruuku…!”}

“I… What’s wrong, Brandon…,” Raquel began to ask, though any questioning tone was stolen as sea green eyes turned from Angelo and this time following the papery penguin’s own obvious gaze. Flapping flippers and panicked tapping of feet were a sure-fire indication of the bird’s worries — a worry that she soon realised was an entirely valid one. She lowered her stance instinctively, though it perhaps wouldn’t have done any good given their current perch, for the hunter that was Atheleys was currently high above.

Since when could she fly…? Is it the same trick as her speed, or a different one? Raq’s time for analysis was short-lived because, whether by Brandon’s prompt or Angelo’s own, they were forced to move, lest they be spotted. Truly, while some citizens seemed peculiar, they stood out enough to be instantly recognisable — nobody else lugged a penguin around with them. Nodding to her companion, this time sparing him from being carried through the air in one of her endeavours, she cast the rope to give herself propulsion, heading off in the direction of the warehouse.

^{“No use standing still,” she spoke:
“Let’s go for it…! It’s our best shot…!”}

^{—— ELSEWHERE ——}

The thunderous crash had swallowed the street, dust spewed in all directions as the massive beam of metal had tumbled to the ground. A fast approaching shadow had been the last thing Marcus Rhodes’ eyes had witnessed… before the dust had settled at least. Beautifully polished steel caught the light, almost golden in its sheen as it broke the veil of dust in a steady swing, made with purpose. Not an attack, but to clear the air, for the lingering dust was sundered in that very same motion as a strong breeze carried it to the sides.

“Gyaraharahara~! Not a bad attempt,” the Colossus spoke, standing almost exactly where Leonard had anticipated, street cracked from the raw impact of the fallen beam now split into two uneven lengths. Save for a fine layer of dust upon his shirt, some of which he dusted off of his shoulder and arm with one hand, the man was unscathed. Gleaming steel hovered beside him, supported by his other hand, sword drawn. “What can I say? That’s not the first time several tons have been thrown at me,” he added, smiling with a little more intensity than before as he motioned to return the blade to the sheathe upon his back…

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Post Synposis:—}
_{On the roof, Brandon alerts the planning Angelo and Raquel of the now airborne Atheleys, forcing them to get moving again. Meanwhile, Rhodes is forced to use his sword to defend himself against the trap Leonard set for him, but still seems to just shrug it off.}

---

Brandon | #fdee00
Ostaga Raquel | #daa520
Leonard LeClerc | #4b5560
Angelo Sores | #00b4ec
Marcus Rhodes [NPC] | #a81c07
Atheleys Raine [NPC] | #1f4f86
Miscellaneous [NPC] | #eeeeee | #bbbbbb |#888888 | #555555

[Blushing z0ro]

LEONARD LECLERC & ANGELO SORES
ACT I SCENE IV

- Marine Attack!
The Colossus Marcus Rhodes Appears! -

---

Leonard approached with confidence, eyes fixed on the gleaming length of steel in Rhodes’ hand. The tower of man began to lift the weapon so as to sheath it back, but this was not something the young man would allow, this was the man he wanted to fight, the true warrior who earned that weapon, not the one that had been playing up until now.

“So you finally drew it… your holy sword.”

“Hm?” Marcus Rhodes halted his movement and observed the young man, an eyebrow arching in question.

“Are you saying you know what this sword is?”

Leonard’s unflinching eyes did not leave the greatsword, that almost golden sheen hidden in the cold steel, the almost plain golden crossguard with a simple griffon designed in the centre, that burgundy, almost purple wrapping of the handle. To Leonard who had studied every famed sword recorded since he could read, this weapon was unmistakable.

“Of course, any swordsman worth their salt would recognize a blade that powerful. Sacred Treasure of the Holy Remunum Empire, O Wazamono, Beast.”

Rhodes’ blue eyes fixed themselves on Leonard’s blacks, some amount of intensity building in the air.

“And knowing that, you’d still rather fight than turn tail and run?”

The young man slowly raised his own weapon and pointed it straight at his target.

“Knowing that… is exactly why I want to fight!”

Rhodes’ almost stern face turned into a savage grin. “Careful, little lion cub, such big words just might lead to an untimely grave.”

The intensity coming off the Colossus, in complete contrast to the man’s expression, could almost be felt in the air, betraying the ferocity the man was about ready to unleash. A ferocity and returned entirely by the young man facing him.

Leonard’s own fierce grin, framed by the smeared blood that had been wiped from the corner of his mouth, matched that of his target as he readied himself in an offensive stance.

“Sorry, but I’ve got people counting on me, so I’m not allowed to die here old man. Not that I actually have a chance to beat you but…”

Leonard’s whole being began to tremble with anticipation, not fear, but the glee of about to go all out, the sheer will to dominate his opponent any way he can radiating off of him in a way not too dissimilar to that of Rhodes. Though to the experienced eye, if the older man was an aura of calm, intense power heavy as a mountain, the younger one was a wild untamed flame ready to burn the world to cinder and itself out.

“I don’t have to actually beat you. All I gotta do is win!”

And with those words the young swordsman dashed ahead through the ruined metal beams and shattered cobblestones at his target, ready to fight it out.

~~~Meanwhile~~~

As Angelo was trying to finalise his idea, Brandon’ shrieking and Raquel’s words snapped him back to reality. The martial artist turned his head and looked in the same direction as the other two.

Shit… could that woman even fly as well!?

There was no time to waste, with Raquel’s agreement to the plan, Angelo nodded and grabbing their penguin companion, lifting the water fowl over his shoulder so that the little guy could be his eyes behind his back, Angelo dashed across the rooftop and leapt over the street across to the next one.

Atheleys had to focus on the task at hand, whatever the Rear Admiral did at this point, he would do regardless, she would have to just deal with the consequences. A hint of unusual movement across rooftops at the edge of her vision caught her attention, making the woman snap her sight in that direction. There they were, her current targets.

The faster they were dealt with the faster she could regroup with the Rear Admiral and end his apprehension of the suspects smoothly before the damage became too great and the paperwork that would come with it.

Kicking off the air with Geppou again the women began leaping in the direction of her targets, they just could not be allowed to escape.

There was little doubt in Angelo’s mind that their pursuer would be on them in mere moments, the first mate rushed as top speed until there were no more roofs for him to jump to, only a large gap between his current perch and the front of the warehouse he wanted to get in, well, while there was no water it was at least a shorter plunge that the time Leonard had them jump out a window.

Angelo was stronger than he used to be though and while his ankles protested as he impacted the ground from his jump, he could take this kind of abuse, compared to Jollnir’s hammers or checker’s punches this was nothing. Sprinting across the open area the group would make it in the warehouse before their peruse could catch up.

Dropping the penguin, the First Mate quickly explained his idea. The inside of this warehouse only contained a few crates here in there and had a single entire point in the form of the large opened doors they had just ran in from, with multiple metal beams forming the rafters that held the roof, not ideal but still more closed than the opened streets.

“In a closed space like her mobility counts for almost nothing, if you can immobilise her with your ropes I’ll hit her with all I’ve got! It might not be enough to take her out but I’m confident I can rattle her skull just enough to give us the edge.”

At least that’s what the martial artist hoped. He was stronger than he used to be, but this would be a true test again, a way to test the power of his Dragon Fist. So Angelo would stand there in full view of the warehouse doors and ready himself, ready to unleash the strongest punch he ever did.

---

Tag: Vio
Words: 998
Leonard: 4b5560

Angelo: 00b4ec

Atheleys: 1f4f86

[Vio]

^{Brandon #12 — Raquel #12}

---

Acrobatics and aerial advantages assured Ostaga Raquel’s arrival at their destination before Angelo and Brandon, but if anything the martial artist’s ability to leap was equally impressive as he soon thereafter closed the distance and darted inside. A mostly barren location, as if emptied recently for whatever reason, it served as a momentary haven in which to discuss, and discuss they did as Angelo elaborated on his plans.

“If you can immobilise her…,” he’d began, “I’m confident I can rattle her skull just enough to give us the edge.” To this, Raq merely nodded, reserving critique for a time when they had just that — time. Her grip tightened upon the length of rope she held, wary of its strength and efficacy in this ordeal. It was just one rope.

“Alright,” the shipwright spoke, eyes scanning the warehouse entrance for an ideal perch and finding one in the form of a cross-section of iron beams that formed the rafters. Using a crate to gain some height, she roped her way up, demonstrating that bizarre combination of strength and flexibility once again as she shuffled into a better position. “No pressure,” she exhaled quietly, coil poised to whip into action the moment their enemy presented an opportunity.

^{—— ON THE STREETS ——}

^{“I don’t have to actually beat you,” LeClerc announced:
“All I gotta do is win…!”}

“Eh? Well, if that’s how you want to see it,” Rhodes replied, eyes affixed to what was essentially a cub running at him. The gleaming steel of Beast flourished in a slow, steady arc, until the burgundy hilt fell neatly into the grasp of both of the Colossus’ hands. “What’s your win condition?!” For perhaps the first time in this pursuit, Marcus Rhodes audibly exerted himself, drawing a downward crescent arc with holy iron as he stepped into the approaching Leonard. There was no intent to catch the young swordsman out, no cunning plan behind the swing; a mere test of the youth’s mettle versus the one thing that enemies of his homeland had feared. His namesake: the punishing, wind-stirring swings of ‘The Colossus’.

^Fwoom…!

^{“I’ll tell you what, Lion Cub,” he added:
“If you manage to get off Dauntaun…”}

Whoof! A second, horizontal swing.

<sup>“Then you win…!”

—— BACK AT THE WAREHOUSE ——</sup>

Brandon shivered. Anticipation was natural — to keep you prepared for what would come next. Wariness. But here and now, that heightened alertness was to the papery penguin’s detriment. Behind a small box he had hidden himself, albeit not very well, and perhaps should have counted himself fortunate that it was Angelo willing to take the heat. Humans were astounding amongst apes. These three with whom he travelled were perhaps even more so. When you were outnumbered or outmatched, you backed down; the unspoken laws of the world to which all creatures abided.

“Oro… Oro… Oro,” he muttered to himself in low, breathless squawks as he grew increasingly worried about what was to follow. And follow it did. Near enough in the blink of an eye, or perhaps paranoia made it seem as such, that woman — that predator — appeared in the opening of this cave of wood and metal. Feathers stood on end. This was it, their moment.

SPOILER: Click to show

{

^{Rope Dart … Ensnare…!
“Dardo de Corda … Prender…!”}

}
<sub>Raquel throws the knotted end of a rope outwards in a direct line in front of her to strike the first enemy hit, striking with substantial force. Regardless of whether it hits or misses, it can still be used as a means to set up for further techniques.

Raquel unleashes a length of rope in order to wrap around an opponent, object, or environmental feature. Alternatively, she can do so with any length of rope she’s already cast out. From there, she can use the secured binding as a means of manipulating whatever it is she has tethered, or using it to hoist and swing herself around.</sub>

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Post Synposis:—}
_{The trio of Raquel, Angelo, and Brandon arrive at the warehouse and set up their trap, while Rhodes gives Leonard a win condition as he unleashes his mighty swings!}

---

Brandon | #fdee00
Ostaga Raquel | #daa520
Leonard LeClerc | #4b5560
Angelo Sores | #00b4ec
Marcus Rhodes [NPC] | #a81c07
Atheleys Raine [NPC] | #1f4f86
Miscellaneous [NPC] | #eeeeee | #bbbbbb |#888888 | #555555

[Blushing z0ro]

LEONARD LECLERC & ANGELO SORES
ACT I SCENE IV

- Marine Attack!
The Colossus Marcus Rhodes Appears! -

---

Leonard dashed forward, it was now or never, do or die. The simple swing of the mighty blade of the Marcus Rhodes stirred the air and displaced it around itself as it moved downward as if the looming blade of the executioner.

It was a slow and deliberate strike, there was no sense of over confidence from the man nor of patronising underestimation of the younger one’s abilities, it was a simple test of Leonard’s abilities, and one he intended to ace.

It was simple to step aside from the oncoming attack, just sidestep to the right, let the swing come, spin your back to the enemy and… sheath the blade.

Using his own body as cover Leonard would hide the position of his sheathed blade and hands, of course Rhodes had already seen Leonard's drawing technique, so he would have to throw in a curveball.

The second attack came, a follow up horizontal swing, to dodge that one ought to either crouch and let it pass above them, using it as an opening against their opponent's legs or put distance between each other again by separating themselves from their enemy altogether. Not what the young swordsman had in mind however.

Instead Leonard bent his knees a bit more, but rather than going for a full crouch, sprang up in a jump and flipped sideways in the air above the line drawn by the swinging sword.

It was in that position up in the air, his body parallel to the ground that Leonard drew his sword in the Gekou, but due to his position, making it a vertical slash aimed at the middle of Rhodes’ face.

It was a risky move, if he did fully take the Marine Officer by surprise Leonard just might actually land a proper hit, if not his mid-air position would leave him open to a full counter.

~~~Meanwhile~~~

It all happened in an instant. First the Marine woman appeared at the entrance of the warehouse, her stoic look giving away her less than amused attitude. Next was Raquel’s call, revealing the group’s plan and trap[ was springing into action.

The shipwright’s rope darted forward at Athelys, who casually leaned back just enough to avoid the length of rope, not even looking in the direction of the one who had thrown it at her.

Angelo couldn’t let this chance pass and put all his trust in his companion’s ability and rushed forward at the Marine, ready to give her the strongest attack he had ever used.

What took Athelys by surprise was Raquel’s ability to twist the rope, even though the main attack missed the rope moved as if it had been alive and curved, wrapping itself around Athelys, a visible look of shock finally appearing around the Marine Captain’s face.

This would normally not be a problem on its own; it was easy enough to get out of this particular binding, however. The man bull rushing at her with his fist drawn back, ready to throw the biggest haymaker of his life was another problem.

Either problems on their own were easy to deal with, the binding too weak to hold her for more than a moment, the punch too obvious and slow to hit her, but the two together?

Way of the Dragon
“Ryudou!”

Athelys Raine did not have time to break free and dodge the punch. She would have to rely on another skill, One she admittedly had little skill in but it was her only chance, a hit like that would damage her if she was hit by its full force.

“Tekka-”

Dragon Fist
“RYUKEN!!!”

Angelo unleashed his strongest Dragon Fist, this wasn’t just any punch, his teacher had always told him the stories, the Dragon Punch is a weapon to kill dragons when mastered nothing can stop it! Not the scales of the beast, not the hardest steel, not anything!

Damn it. Though Athelys, Tekkai had never been her strong suit, it didn;t suit her style and she was always slow to trigger it. A little too slow this time. She felt her nose crunch and glasses crack as the man’s powerful fist impacted her face.

“OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!!!”

Angelo pushed with everything he had until either the woman’s stance or Raquel’s rope trick gave way.

One or both did and Athelys Raine was sent flying back and to the side into a corner of the warehouse building where she crashed through a small wooden door to what must have been a close of some sort.

It worked! They got a hit in, not even that woman could just ignore that kind of hit… or could she?

Before they could rejoice, as Angelo looked around for Raquel and Brandon, a sharp pain erupted from his right hand. His fist was hurting. The blond man grimaced. Nothing bad but.. The only time that had happened was when him and Leonard fought Jollnir, and the man’ ability to to make himself… oh no.

Angelo’s head sprung back to look at the dust cloud coming from the closest. And to the form walking out of it.
Athelys brought her left hand to her face, taking off her glasses and throwing them to the side, before grabbing her nose and setting it back in place. Had she been even a split second slower with her Tekkai she would have taken the full force of that hit and no doubt she would barely be able to move. Her decision was made, she had taken some damage now and would be slightly slowed down, she could not afford to take more hits from that man.

The woman stepping out the closet was carrying a broom in her right right had and her face told of her intense focus, if the pirates have not manage to hurt her, they certainly managed to make her mad.

Angelo wanted to shout for Raquel to grab Brandon and run; but he had no time to do so. In a split second the Marine woman appeared mere feet away from him in a crouched stance, the broom in her hand pulled back like some sort of pole arm.

“Geirskögul!”

The broom came for him. There was no time to dodge, the only thing Angelo could do was take the hit… but.

The young man thought back to what just happened, he thought back to Jollnir and most importantly he thought back to his teacher.

“You see Angie, it’s not always about dodging and attacking, sometimes you just gotta take the hit! And that’s also the strength of the way of the dragon! Before you can master any of the attack arts you need to know the first of the Five Secret Skills and turn your whole body into steel! Make your will known and channel the Soul of the Metal Dragon into your body!”

And so Angelo Sores took the hit, the impact of the would be spear enough to catapult the young man’s heavy body backwards with enough force to go all the way across the back of the warehouse and through the wall. Down into the streets below.

But it was important to know, through that attack and the fall, the young man did not flinch, the martial artist’ body did, not, move.

---

Tag: Vio
Words: 1212
Leonard: 4b5560

Angelo: 00b4ec

Atheleys: 1f4f86

[Vio]

^{Brandon #13 — Raquel #13}

---

The reasoning behind Rhodes’ first attack was simple: A skilled swordsman would know to exploit the openings of his opponent, an amateur would fall prey to the need to defend themselves. And, true to expectation, Leonard LeClerc began to do just that as the heavy swing cleaved the air. The second swing — the horizontal one that followed — was the true first test of the youth’s capabilities against overwhelming strength and weight. The wise would step back, duck, or roll under the blade.

Leonard leaped.

…? The cub’s got spirit…! Rhodes’ second swing arced wide, Beast’s blade steadied in his grasp as he realised what was coming next. Those drawing techniques, to anyone who understood their principles, could devastate an unwary foe. The benefits of wielding swords such as those, whose curved edges were suited to swift and fluid draws, but whose length and weight accentuated the power of a good swing. It’s difficult to use it while Beast is drawn…, the Colossus noted in gleeful silence as he, for once in this encounter, stepped back and to the side. Against his cheek he felt the brush of air displaced by the proximity of Leonard’s blade, catching the briefest but clearest glimpse of his own eyes caught in the steel’s reflection.

He’s left himself open for a counterattack. But, is he testing me as well…? As the Rear Admiral adjusted his own footing, he could not help but wonder what LeClerc’s plan was. It was foolish to assume an attack would hit, reckless to make a mistake of one’s own when trying to exploit your opponent’s. For a moment — the briefest of instants — he considered a punishing counterattack that the young swordsman simply could not have avoided in his aerial stance. It reminded him of Phaethon’s foolishness, but it was Atheleys’ words that echoed in his head as he readied a forward thrust, reminding him of the risks.

His grin subdued slightly.

Beast’s gleaming steel poked forward with that same slow and steady power Rhodes seemed to rely upon. The sword’s tip sundered the air as it rushed forwards for the pirate’s airborne position. If it wasn’t obvious to the swordsman at this point, then that attack would make it so: Marcus Rhodes was holding back…

^{—— MEANWHILE ——}

“Hnnng…!” Raquel gritted her teeth. The whole process pulled the rope she had cast out taut, forcing her to descend from her own perch, lest she lose her grip upon her one weapon. That was fine. Her manoeuvre had done what it needed to do and, in addition, had proven that the bespectacled Marine was very dependent on her mobility. As she landed, she tucked into a brief roll, recoiling the now loose length of rope into her grasp as she stood, eyes upon the scattered dust of where the woman’s body had been flung.

^{“Uraaa~!”}

^{“Hmph…! We did it,” the blonde smiled:
“Hm? Are you alright, Ange–”}

The shipwright didn’t even get a chance to finish her sentence. She’d noticed the man’s pained grimace, the briefest glance to the knuckles that had dealt such a devastating blow, but all that suddenly seemed for naught when his head twisted back. The sound of footsteps echoed with intensity through the emptiness of the warehouse, as did the scattering sound of light metal and glass being cast aside. Fractions of seconds was all it took for the whirring head of a broom to impact Angelo’s body, doing to him what he had done to Atheleys, but with enough force to bust through the back wall of the building.

^{“S#¡+.”
“Akero…?!”}

^{“…Brandon!” Raq barked at the penguin:
“Go. Make sure he’s okay! I’ll hold her back!”}

“Ou– Ou– Oka, Raku!” Sea green eyes met those of the papery penguin, whose feathered form quivered with worry. But he shouldered his anxieties and nodded firmly as people tended to do. Wary was he of the woman now wielding the wooden stem of a bristled bloom, but his beady eyes caught his own ally’s movements, ears catching the snapping of that woven serpent. Cod, he wished he could do something here, but it was Angelo who most needed his help, and so he panickedly turned and — flippers pressed upon the ground — flung himself into a belly slide towards the hole that the martial artist’s body had formed.

“Akero…?” Out into the street he’d descended, flattening himself to float a little on the winds and slow his own fall, landing a few feet away from a man whose body seemed exceptionally stiff. Popped back into shape, Brandon simply stared for a moment, then panic again set in as he began to run in circles. Was this that horrid stillness of death? Had that horrid four-eyed human slain Angelo with that hit? Brandon, tears forming in the corners of his eyes, put a flipper on the blond man’s shoulder…

^{—— BACK INSIDE ——}

Broom bristles lingered in the air like scattered leaves on an autumn breeze, settling amongst dust and dirt and debris. A certain silence existed between the two women, neither within range of the other, but Miss Ostaga’s eyes had not left those of the Marine Officer since Brandon had made to depart. The woman’s speed and mobility were nigh unparalleled, even in comparison to her own abilities, and there was no doubt that she was starting to show her true colours in the way she’d wielded that broom. It was like she was holding a spear.

“I’m not too familiar with how the Navy hierarchy works,” Raquel began. “But your commanding officer ordered troops to capture our ship,” she spoke strongly, remaining stoic and face stern. “If I find even the slightest split in the rigging, tear in the sails, or chip in the woodwork, then I’ll make you pay for it. Because ships have spirits, just like people do, and just like our ship… my spirit will not be broken!” At that moment, the rope uncoiled again, tossed forward with the arc of Raquel’s body to impact her opponent, head on…

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Post Synposis:—}
_{As Leonard’s attack forces movement from Rhodes, Atheleys finds herself facing off against Raquel’s rope. Brandon goes to help out Angelo, but is worried by the man’s stiff form.}

---

Brandon | #fdee00
Ostaga Raquel | #daa520
Leonard LeClerc | #4b5560
Angelo Sores | #00b4ec
Marcus Rhodes [NPC] | #a81c07
Atheleys Raine [NPC] | #1f4f86
Miscellaneous [NPC] | #eeeeee | #bbbbbb |#888888 | #555555

[Blushing z0ro]

LEONARD LECLERC & ANGELO SORES
ACT I SCENE IV

- Marine Attack!
The Colossus Marcus Rhodes Appears! -

---

Side stepped. As surprising as Leonard’s acrobatics could be, they were proving insufficient to surprise an experienced fighter like Rhodes. In his mid-air position there was little Leonard could do to avoid what would come next, withe Rhodes’ power he would be able to take out the young man in one powerful blow… but the blow did not come.

Or at least nowhere near as fast as Leonard would expect it. The young pirate had enough time to turn his body and see the large blade point coming at him in a slow and deliberate thrust, an obvious attack anyone with any skill would be able to dodge were they on their feet.

Even with the holy blade Beast drawn, Marcus Rhodes was still toying with Leonard. The realisation brought frustration to the young man. It couldn’t be so far, the peak that man in front of him was representing, it couldn’t be so far still!

Leonard had just enough time to twist his body and put his blade in between him and the point of the oncoming greatsword, it would do nothing to stop the concussive force of the oncoming attack but it would at least save him from being run through.

The blow hit him like a cannon, Leonard felt the blade of his own sword bend and scream in agony as the force that came unto it pushed it almost to the point of breaking, the only reason it did not is as they were in mid-air the force passed through the blade straight into its wielder, no ground beneath their feet to push back and increase the strain.

Leonard was catapulted back many feet into the construction site, crashing through several crates and finally finishing his rolls on the ground with his back impacting one of the large red steel beams that would form the skeleton of the building being built.

Vision blurred, no wind left the lungs and body limp, lying against the cold steel. This was definitely not going the way of the young swordsman. This was the point someone reasonable would give up, beating the man slowly approaching him was impossible, running away was impossible, hell; in his current state Leonard would have a better chance getting some distance by having his opponent bat him away off the island…

Leonard’s eyes opened wide with shock… and a grin formed on his face. He would win! He knew how to win, it wasn't about defeating him Rhodes, like he had said himself and the Marine Officer stated too, all he needed to do was get off this rock.

Still grinning, no more like smirking, Leonard stood up and ready his blade in front of him, waiting for the approaching Colossus. His entire body groaned in pain, his ribs were definitely broken and if he wasn’t careful they might pierce his lungs, his arms felt heavy, the strain of having tried to block the last his definitely strained and maybe torn some muscles, on top of that he was still bleeding from the top of his forehead, at least the blood was not getting in his eyes too much.

“Is that all you got, old man? I’m sure you can do better!”

Taunting, Leonard lunged forward again, fully committed to a full frontal assault. His long blade raised above his head in a straight forward attack.

Full Moon-Style
“Mangetsu-Ryuu”

Once the distance was close, the blade came down as Leonard stepped, not only to Rhodes but past him, the blade in his hands drawing the shape of the crescent moon.

Crescent Moon
“KOGESTU!!!”

In terms of raw power this was the strongest attack Leonard had mastered so far, now all Rhodes had to do was respond in kind.

~~~Meanwhile in the Warehouse~~~

Atheleys straightened herself after using her Geirskögul, examining the tip of the broom she had used. As suspected bristles and wood could not take the force of the attack. Tch, if only she had taken the time to take Azure with her, this would have been all over in an instant.

The rope woman had begun speaking, threats about how she would not allow their ship to be damaged and something about spirit. What a load of drivel. That’s right, keep speaking, give me the time to regain my balance…

The sad truth was that hit to the head had truly rattled Atheleys, she could move and her speed wasn’t really affected but it seemed her body was taking just a bit too long to actually start any movement and everything was still slightly spinning, taking extra effort to stand upright.

The rope that lunged at her like a flying snake left no time to recover any longer. The attack was aimed straight at her head, a place she could not afford to take any more hits.

“Soru”

Again, it took a split second longer than Atheleys would have wanted to vanish, but it was still enough to avoid the blow that came for her.

This time however the Marine Captain did not aim to appear next to her target, time for a more decisive attack. It was likely the big man was still conscious and might be either moving to come back to the fight or making his escape with the pet bird, neither was acceptable.

Atheleys Raine feet made contact, but not with the floor, instead she crouched ready to pounce… on the ceiling. Her makeshift spear pulled right back besides her pointing straight down at the target.

Thunder Crushing Spear
“Raihasou!”

Atheleys shouted as she lunged down like a lighting strike straight at her opponent, ready to end it all in one blow.

~~~Down the Streets Below~~~

Angelo felt his body, impact and rattle on the ground like an iron plate of the floor, rigid and unmoving. The martial artist had kept his eyes shut the entire time, focusing all his thoughts inwards, there was no outside world, there was no crazy woman with a broom, there was only him and within him the spirit of the metal dragon.

Metal Dragon Soul
“Kinryugon”

Angelo muttered the world as he laid on the ground, did he pull it off? Or was he already dead and just did not know it yet?

It was the soft touch on his shoulder that snapped Angelo back to reality, his body going limp, breath returning to his lungs.

The martial artist sat up with a coughing gasp as his lungs welcomed air back into them. It took a few seconds for his blurred vision to return to normal and for Angelo to notice the startled little penguin next to him, small tears having welled up from the beady black eyes.

Almost uncharacteristically, Angelo gave Brandon a gentle smile as he stood up and patted the little guy on the head.

“Sorry to have scared you bud.”

Angelo felt his chest with his free left hand, the spot where the Marine woman had struck him with that broom. There was nothing there, the force of that attack should have torn through him, his clothes were ripped and looked like they had almost burned from the friction, but his skin was unmarred and there was no pain. He must have really pulled it off, the Metal Dragon Soul. After years of stagnation, only a few weeks at sea with this crew had let Angel climb a mountain. How much stronger would he get if they continued this journey? The sheer thought of it excited the martial artist.

Angelo looked back down to Brandon.

“This must all be really scary for you huh? Don’t you worry though, whether it’s Leonard, Raquel or me… we… we won’t ever die. We won’t leave you.”

Angelo looked around them and tried to get his bearings. The port should be down that road, if they ran fast enough they might still make it before the Marines seized their ship. Angelo cracked his knuckles in preparation as he looked down the road standing next to Brandon.

“Alright then bud! Let’s go save our ship!”

---

Tag: Vio
Words: 1341
Leonard: 4b5560

Angelo: 00b4ec

Atheleys: 1f4f86

[Vio]

^{Brandon #14 — Raquel #14}

---

…! Even staggered from Angelo’s attack, she’s still too fast for me to hit directly, Miss Ostaga assessed as the cast line punched through the air where the Marine had stood just a moment before. She gritted her teeth. Against most ruffians she had had to deal with in the past, the strength and reach of her rope techniques were more than enough, but this woman was proving superior. If monsters like this existed, she needed a means of surpassing them — a means of catching them unawares.

No time to dwell on the thought.

From above…?! Realisation hit her almost as hard as the blow she would have taken had she not been on high alert. Against such speed and mobility, to remain alert to one’s surroundings was imperative, but that still did not quite make what followed predictable. The warehouse roof rattled slightly as the woman kicked off it, shedding a little dust and dirt, but Raq’s eyes were firmly affixed overhead as the point of the broom came down upon her as speed. Instinct drove her body, knowing she could not suffer a blow like that, and one could be forgiven for believing the attack had landed true.

“Nng…! You,” the blonde spoke, her words quiet and strained, for good reason. “Are really,” she exhaled as she began to unwind from what no ordinary person could dare consider a comfortable stance, effectively bent at the hip and twisted so that her form had avoided Atheleys’ vertical strike, it was testament to the girl’s limber nature as she coiled herself into a kicking motion to force some distance. “Persistent!” came the final huff, leg moving one way and arms another as she effectively sprang back into regular format, guiding not just flesh, but rope as well as the previously cast line whipped back overhead and came crashing down.

SPOILER: Click to show

{

^{Mooring Line…!
“Linha de Amarração…!”}

}
_{Releasing a length of rope upwards, Raquel brings it down with all her might in order to slam enemies and set up for further techniques.}

^{—— OUTSIDE THE WAREHOUSE ——}

“Ru! Oruru… Akero!” Brandon chirped — first in surprise and then in gratitude — as the martial artist sprang back to life with sputters and gasps. Whatever stillness had taken him had faded, for he seemed mobile again — mobile enough to offer words of apology and a pat on the head, which the papery penguin accepted with a soft trill.

^{“Don’t you worry though,” Angelo said:
“We won’t ever die: We won’t leave you.”}

^“Aru!”

To call it scary was the understatement of the century, but the penguin’s panic had only been placed where primal instinct deemed it due. These humans were something else, though even he had to admit, stranger things had occurred in the presence of people he was familiar with. This was all very different, however. Different enough that something welled up inside him as Angelo looked down at him — a feeling of certainty like he’d rarely experienced before, save for in one regard — and as he looked back up, he considered that sensation more deeply.

Leonard, Angelo, Raquel. He trusted them, as much as his sense of direction, and his sense of direction had yet to fail him. With quick steps and a strong salute, he sprang into motion, guiding his comrade back to their floating nest — a nest in need of protection from hostile takeover.

^{—— MEANWHILE ——}

He took the brunt of it with his sword, but… Marcus Rhodes’ eyes had followed it — the trajectory of LeClerc’s body as it had careened through the air and crashed down in the wake of his own strike. And yet, despite it all, the youth kept getting back up again. Once again, the swordsman came rushing at him, daring to call the Colossus out on what was painfully obvious about his attacks. Still, he couldn’t help but smile at the tenacity, even more so when Leonard’s sword flourished into an arc.

… The Rear Admiral held his breath in that moment, shifting to dodge the blow as best he could. It wasn’t a matter of giving hope to the hopeless — not an ounce of pity existed in the actions taken by him in that moment. There was no hardening of his body to repel the blade, nor forceful leap to escape the blade’s arc. No. For the first time in this fight, Leonard LeClerc’s blade actually cut the flesh of the goliath, if only a little. A small streak of red upon the man’s pectoral, exposed by the torn fabric of his shirt where the nodachi’s tip had found purchase. An accomplishment, perhaps.

^{“Hm,” Rhodes exhaled:
“Well… If you insist…”}

Sorry, Atheleys… But I have to show this lion cub why they call me ‘The Colossus’, Rhodes smirked. Both hands grasped Beast’s hilt. Blue eyes focused upon Leonard as the shining steel reflected them, blade cast into a broad upward-angled swing — a swing faster and more fierce than any strike Rhodes had delivered up to now. And in that single swing, his name was proclaimed by little more than sheer force. Woe be to the man caught by the blade itself, for the resounding rumble and howl of winds that followed in the strike’s wake were more than enough to devastate the path ahead, cutting nothing but threatening to overturn all in its path…

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Post Synposis:—}
_{In the warehouse, Raquel’s flexibility allows her to narrowly avoid Atheleys’s strike. Outside, Brandon begins to lead the way back to the ship so that he and Angelo can defend it. Leonard gets a hit on his opponent, but Rhodes replies with a powerful swing!}

---

Brandon | #fdee00
Ostaga Raquel | #daa520
Leonard LeClerc | #4b5560
Angelo Sores | #00b4ec
Marcus Rhodes [NPC] | #a81c07
Atheleys Raine [NPC] | #1f4f86
Miscellaneous [NPC] | #eeeeee | #bbbbbb |#888888 | #555555

[Blushing z0ro]

LEONARD LECLERC & ANGELO SORES
ACT I SCENE IV

- Marine Attack!
The Colossus Marcus Rhodes Appears! -

---

Something changed, it was as if the very wind turned and bent to the will of the greatsword Rhodes swung. It was ridiculous, Leonard froze in shock and awe of the swing that came for his life, not so much in fear as much as how ridiculous it was.

Oy oy! That’s not swordsmanship at all! The young captain just barely managed to jump back to avoid the blade that came crashing down, but this was not the only part of the attack, the very world shook at the force of the Colossus' blow.

The howling winds came forth, not as a cut like the moonlight blades of Leonard’s own but as a crashing wave, a tidal torrent of force that hit the young man with the power and weight he’d imagine a galleon had in itself as it was carried by stormy winds.

Everything moved and turned, the entire world spun! No; it wasn’t the world, it was Leonard himself. The young man had been swept off his feet and sent literally flying, he felt several solid surfaces impact with his back and all gave way to the force, the bricks, mortar and steel of the construction site giving way to the human projectile and the stream of force of Rhodes’ attack.

Eventually the world stopped moving. Leonard was not sure where he was anymore or what was happening, there was no breath in him and everything was hurting, hurting worse than anything he had experienced before. A movement, anything just move!

The young swordsman willed his body to do anything and eventually barely managed to begin to sit up and open his eyes. A bloody rasping cough escaping his lungs as he did so. The shock was visible on Leonard’s face he looked backed on the path of carnage his body had been flung through, closest to him the cobbled stone that paved the street had been cracked and some upturned where he crash landed with bits of debris strewn around that had been caught in the stream of Rhodes’ attack. Worse was further in the distance as columns of dust and smoke raised in the air as the sound of groaning steel echoed.

The construction site which ought to have been visible in the distance was naught but smoke and dust, the roof of the building at the end of street Leonard lay in was clearly missing a chunk. It was insane but; Marcus Rhodes with a single mighty swing of Beast had catapulted Leonard through a construction site, taking the whole structure down and through the roof of the adjacent building into the next street over.

This was it, this was the difference Leonard wanted to witness, the true power of the mighty Colossus of the Holy Remunum Empire, the strongest warrior of the most powerful country of the northern seas.

Leonard flailed and struggled with his own body, trying to get back up to his feet, luckily his sword had landed mere feet away from him. Hey on the bright side the ocean was just straight down the large avenue he had crashed on, so long as he could get moving fast enough he would… oh no.

As Leonard took a shaky step towards his blade, holding his side and limping, trying his hardest not to pass out; the young man glanced in the direction he had flown from. There he was, Rhodes with his casual walk, slowly making his way towards Leonard. At the pace at which he was moving the Colossus should have taken a while to catch up. Leonard had to assume he may have been passed out from the crash longer than he thought.

A straight line to freedom, what long bloody line it was going to be.

~~~Meanwhile~~~

Atheleys felt her own body shake on impact with the ground. Her vision blurred and her knees protested against the force, her stance had been off, damn that hit to the head was messing with her too much, still that roped woman would not have been able to dodge her Thunder Crushing Spear.

Or so she thought until she heard a familiar voice calling out her determination as persistence and the name of an attack being called out.

Again, Athelys body took just a bit too long to move, in combat, split seconds made all the difference. The spear maiden jumped out the way but so fast she was clipped in the shoulder by the rope that came crashing down like a whip, not, not a whip but more like a hammer. That woman had much more power behind her than she let on.

Increasing the distance between herself and her opponent Athelys, readied herself in a stance once again. This broomstick would not survive a third attack from her, this would have to count.

Atheleys crouched and tensed every muscle in her body, gathering her strength, it would be as if the air would begin moving to her will. She was not second to the Colossus for nothing. This would be a finishing blow!

Heaven Shattering…
“Tenyaburu…”

And then, the actual sound of shattering interrupted Captain Atheleys Raine’s concentration. A faint vibration was felt throughout the warehouse as if a bomb had exploded nearby or a building had collapsed.

Atheleys turned her head towards the opened doors in fear and surprise, scanning the horizon for the column of smoke and dust. Rear Admiral what are you doing!!?

Oh no! Immediately Atheleys turned her head back to face her opponent, how could she have been so stupid as to look away, in her condition she might be too slow to do so and react in time!

~~~Meanwhile in the streets~~~

There was no time to lose! The Marines had been given the order to take away the Freedom a while ago now! The pair would have to get to it as fast as they could and could not afford to rely on Brandon’s limited speed.

“We’ll have to do this together, partner.” Angelo said as he looked at his avain companion before bending down and picking up to the little.

“Just hold on the best you can alright.” the martial artist added he placed Brandon over his own like one would backpack. This shouldn;t normally be possible but with Brandon’s abilities the little guy should be able to hold on.

Angelo couched for a moment to gather his focus and take a breath. Time for a top speed sprint straight to the docks, he would take out anyone that got in the way.

It was a sound akin to an avalanche that signalled the start of the race to blond man. There was not question in Angelo’s mind as to who was responsible for the sound. Yet there was no worry for the first mate, he had been given an order by the captain, get to the ship and have it ready for escape, that was his part and he would do it.

Then Angelo sprang forward and began running. He ran as fast as he could, his penguin partner on his back, towards their home, towards their freedom!

It was mere moments before Angelo and Brandon would reach the port of Dauntaun and the sight of the Freedom at the end of one of the docks came into view, that; and a large of white marines had gathered on the dock and the port around it.

There was no point to subtlety, they knew to expect someone and were on guard, the pair would just have to break through.

Angelo ran even faster and from gritted teeth told the marines exactly what expected them to do!

“You all…”

The martial artist sprang off a ledge that overlooked the dock towards his enemies landing right in the middle of the soldiers.

“Get your hands off!”

Angelo then sprung into his signature spinning kick, the Senpukyakku, knocking three of the nearest marines right off their feet as he finished his threat.

“OUR SHIP!!!”

---

Tag: Vio
Words: 1331
Leonard: 4b5560

Angelo: 00b4ec

Atheleys: 1f4f86

[Vio]

^{Brandon #15 — Raquel #15}

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Whoom…! Outside, somewhere, something had happened. Something large enough to create a dulled but thunderous rumble that gently rocked the world. Whatever it was, it was enough to distract the Marine woman against whom Raquel fought — a distraction that the shipwright was not about to let get the better of her. An opportunity. Like a good knot, she wasn’t about to let that opportunity slip away and, despite Atheleys’ ability to endure her previous attack, it had done what was needed.

SPOILER: Click to show

{

^{Ensnare… Reel…!
Prender… Bobinar…!}

}
<sub>Raquel unleashes a length of rope in order to wrap around an opponent, object, or environmental feature. Alternatively, she can do so with any length of rope she’s already cast out. From there, she can use the secured binding as a means of manipulating whatever it is she has tethered, or using it to hoist and swing herself around.

Previously entangling a target with Prender, Raquel performs a series of rapid twists to recoil the extended rope. This can be used to pull enemies or objects in at speed, or rapidly pull herself towards a bound target.</sub>

Fallen rope writhed at the woman’s hand, lashing and leaping like a viper from the floor as she launched herself forward and aiming to bind the Captain’s legs and waist. And, in the same motion, Raquel’s half-airborne form yanked hard upon the extended line, body twisting into motion as she heaved against the woman’s own poise to shake her balance and draw herself in. To escape would require some quick thinking, especially against the twisting pull of the rope, but this was a last ditch attempt. One hit would decide the outcome of this fight.

Raquel was going to assure it was hers.

SPOILER: Click to show

{

^{Braid Kick…!!
“Chute de Trança…!!”}

}
_{After executing Bobinar, Raquel uses the momentum of her rotations and the acceleration granted by the rope’s pull to deliver a powerful, spinning kick to the opponent. The exact direction the kick comes from can be quite difficult to predict, as Raquel’s tumbling motions can be made hard to follow by the movements of the ropes around her, especially if the target was previously bound.}

Twisting motions formed momentum, forces opposed, but all that energy had to go somewhere. There, as Raq’s form closed the distance, that point of focus would be her own foot as her leg whipped around her in an arc almost impossible — almost unpredictable. The intended point of impact? The Captain’s already shaken head…

^{—— IN THE STREETS ——}

“Oku,” Brandon had nodded. And so they ran. Angelo ran as fast as he could, through winding streets of this complicated and horrid world of stone nests, to where the ocean met the land. All the while, he remained aware of the changes going on about him as he’d harnessed himself to the martial artist’s back, feet holding flippers. Eyes settled upon an all too familiar sight — those people in blue and white — arranged in a peculiar huddle as they bore down upon the Freedom. Sunlight dulled by smog gave dull gleam to weapons and, while that was normally enough to give the papery penguin second thoughts, he held on.

Thwack! Uniforms scattered, Brandon’s grip finally released as Angelo hit the ground, form fluttering like a piece of paper in the wind before popping fully into shape and landing back to back — or as close as was possible — with the blond brawler. For a moment, Marines seemed startled, but many responded in kind with raised weapons, though no immediate hostility as if assessing the situation. It was a man and a bird against many, strength of numbers surely favoured.

“We’re under orders to seize this ship,” one of them said. “But whether it’s your ship or not, assaulting a member of the World Navy is a criminal offence! You’re under arrest!” White moved into action. Brandon remained steadfast, at least until a cudgel came swinging in his direction, at which point a squawk of panic and a quiet pop indicated a very substantial change as his entire body turned flat and limp. The club came down but, like a sheet of paper, the penguin was simply blown a few inches out of the way of the strike. Another swing and he floated up.

^{“No way,” another voiced:
“That can’t be…!”}

^{—— ELSEWHERE ——}

“Ah…! Sorry about that! Marine business,” Marcus Rhodes had announced as he walked the wake of destruction his attack had left. Much to the fear and — what would no doubt become — chagrin of the construction workers and general populace of Dauntaun, a single swing had torn the world asunder. To say he felt good about it was an open lie, but proving a point? Well, that mattered a little more to him. Consequences could be faced later. Paperwork could be done later… and probably by Captain Raine. For now, a walk, his path clear, but once again this young cub had proven himself as the Colossus spied form and sword.

“You’re alive? Well, colour me impressed,” Rhodes called, Beast raising from his side and falling into a two-handed grip again. Another swing like the one before could devastate a portion of the city — an act to which he did not really want to commit if it placed civilian lives in danger. But sometimes the threat of an attack was far more potent than its usage. “I’ve fought many powerful warriors, stood against enemy legions when my own was decimated. I’ve even felled a Giant to protect my homeland,” he explained, still walking, still grinning. “It’s not for fear, nor anger. Not love, nor selfish enjoyment. Hm! It’s another kind of thrill, isn’t it…? One man standing against insurmountable odds, because that’s our duty — that’s our purpose,” he spoke as he drew closer, close enough for his blue eyes to pierce again as his holy blade was raised…

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Post Synposis:—}
_{A distracted Atheleys becomes the target for Raquel’s last strike! Meanwhile, Brandon and Angelo arrive to defend the Freedom, and Leonard must once more face the strength of Rhodes!}

---

Brandon | #fdee00
Ostaga Raquel | #daa520
Leonard LeClerc | #4b5560
Angelo Sores | #00b4ec
Marcus Rhodes [NPC] | #a81c07
Atheleys Raine [NPC] | #1f4f86
Miscellaneous [NPC] | #eeeeee | #bbbbbb |#888888 | #555555