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| Owner | Pose |
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| Nero | It is time for the third round of the exhibition battles of the Nero Festival. The grand colosseum is packed once again while the city streets are rife with celebrations and visitors both Multiversal and AI. And amid the chatter of the crowds, the crimson emperor speaks with great fervor. "Ladies, gentlemen, and all others! It is time once more for glorious battle to take place on these hallowed grounds!" She speaks into the microphone with one hand, while making sweeping gestures with her other. Hakuno meanwhile sits on the ruler's throne as her Servant regales the audience next to her. The two are on the ruler's viewing platform as always, high above the arena. "Last time, our heroes crossed blades with the Queen of Shadows and the Hound of Ulster! Victory was had and they were able to taste glory at last!" She points down into the arena now, a big smile on her face. "But how will they fare against today's champion!? Are you ready to bear witness to the birth of a new legend!?" The crowds burst into a fresh wave of cheers, which puts a smile on Nero's face. "Very well! Then it shall be so!" |
| Sanary Rondel | After the last match in Nero's odd, yet somehow compelling colosseum, Sanary's feeling fairly good about herself as she steps into the arena once more. Bracing her trusty axe against her shoulder and going without a staff this time around, she's grinning confidently while she regards the Praetor and the cheering crowds before the group. "Gotta admit. Hearing people making these kinda sounds at me instead of at other people? Feels good. Feels real good." The axe gets brought down in front of her as she rests the head against the ground, then smirks at Nero in the near-ish distance. "Ready when you are, Nero! Or.. Whoever it is! We'll take on any challenge you got!" |
| Seifer Almasy | Seifer Almasy is the kind of guy to make statements. Last time, the statement he made was 'I'm fucking angry.' He was full of obvious wrath and rage and frustration, and he took it out on Cu Chulainn, and that actually turned out pretty OK. That, in turn, got rid of most of his anger, leaving only his inherent rival-y streak and his desire to win things for Caster behind. Today, the statement is 'my wife is better than you.' Seifer arrives from the stands. He's literally carrying Caster in his arms as they walk, like a princess carry out of an old movie. Seifer's given her the medal from last time to wear, while he's got a huge, swaggering grin on his face as he walks down the steps. It's a subtle thing, but an important one, starting up from the top of the arena: It puts Caster higher than Nero for a few minutes as they walk down. Seifer plants one knee on the divider between the stands and the arena. "Hey! Saber! Back for round three, and this time with company! The dynamic husband and wife team that's gonna show you who's in charge here on the Moon! You remember my name, don'tcha? And I bet I don't even have to introduce my foxy lady here!" Seifer hops over the side and into the arena. He sets Caster down delicately, then holds up his fox emblem chain for her to see. "The Fox's Knight is ready for whatever you got. Bring it on, you wannabe Empress." |
| Android 17 | Seventeen was here, standing on the grounds while he adjusted his gloves. He moves his head around, taking in the sights around him a bit. He's less interested in the roar of the crowd...after all he said something about an interest in the prize was money or not. That obviously is the motivation. The young android looks up, after a moment, watching the Emperor throw the show and get the crowd riled. Hmm...should he ask again, the last time he hadn't gotten much of a answer, she seemed more interested in the person sitting in the chair. Maybe this is really a show for her, hm? Not that it really matters, to him anyway. He looks towards Sanary, indicating his excitement over the cheers and being cheered at. The android shrugs. "Yeah? You into the roar of the crowd and getting the maiden's hearts aflutter?" he says, with a good natured smile before deciding to place his hands into his pants pockets. Was there something more to this jesture, or was he just looking for a place to put his hands while things get started?! WHO KNOWS?! "I don't think she's even listening to you," Seventeen says towards Seifer. |
| Lyria Mason | Lyria was ready for the third round she had not used all of her tricks yet and was making ready for just whatever Nero will throw at them next. It seemed like it was going through Earth Mythology from the research she did, though that's about all she could get. There are so many Earths it's hard to figure out just what they were going to face. She walks out into the arena and smirks a little bit. "All right Sabre we're ready to see what you'll dredge up from the depths for us to face." |
| Tamamo no Mae | Of course this is how a Queen should be pulled into battle, on the loving arms of a Knight and King. An arm wrapped around Seifer's neck and shoulder, head touching head with this knowing smile, this /taunting/ smile as she is princess carried to the stadium. She gives a wave to everyone present as she's sat down, her ears perk and three tails flare out and sway with a mind of their own. "And the Queen has arrived." she shouts out after Seifer's declaration, moving to give her Knight a soft kiss on the lips. "Let's do well, Husband~" Tamamo moves to walk a couple steps behind Seifer, and with a flick of her robed hand, the Mirror of Uka, the Eightfold Blessings of Amaterasu, appear out of thin air, "Mikon~, It's good to see you like this, Red Saber~. And you too, my Ha~ku~no!" she smiles brightly at this, "I, the Caster-Class Servant and the Queen of the Moon Cell, accept what challenge you will throw at us." Tamamo takes a brief look around: There was Lyria, who she hasn't met yet... but she gives her a curious look. Android 17 gets another look, and a light smile. Sanary gets a curious look though, "Seifer, dear, you make some interesting friends, you know." |
| Touta Konoe | There's no denying that Touta's pretty excited. There's been so much to look forward to every time he's arrived and the champions so far have been nothing less than legendary. Unlike the last time his attire has changed, mostly because his clothes are still in tathers from the last time. So instead of being all in black, he's just wearing a pair of black pants and a t-shirt that says 'Salty'. Other than that though he's just as ready as any of the other times to get rolling as he gave his waves to the crowds and hosts. It also looked alot of the people from last time had shown up again. "Yeah, looks like they've been getting really excited with all the hype that we've been building up." He could already tell that Lyria and Sanary we're ready to get this fight started the way they declared themselves to Nero. Watching Seventeen seemed more calm in comparison. Rather than make a big statement or declaration, he was just taking in the views. Walking over to him Touta gave a brief smile to the guy as well. "Looks like we'll be teaming up again. Looking forward to seeing all those crazy moves you got again." Of course, in contrast to Seventeen's calmer demeanor the one who was probably trying to make the biggest statement was Seifer! As the viewer's attention shifted from the colosseum floor instead to the stands were Seifer was carrying Caster. It was definitely a sight to see. Eventually once the two arrive into the stadium Touta waves the two down. "I figured Seifer was gonna show up, but didn't know you were coming Hime-chan. Now that I think about it, I've seen Seifer fight a few times, but I haven't seen you go at it since we got you all those extra tails. Think you're up for the challenge?" |
| Nero | Nero smiles at Sanary's statement, and points down at her. "Indeed, Sanary Rondel! We shall begin at on- Hm?" She stops just short of beginning the festivities when Seifer and... Caster!? Yes that is Caster, and they're here to say they're truly in charge of the moon? Madness. Nero's brow twitches and her smile gets just a bit crooked. "Well, well, well. If it is not Caster and her incessantly barking dog! I see that just one of you has ceased to be enough!" She takes a breath and then regains her proud smile. "Very well! The colosseum welcomes all challengers! Even if they are /Caster/ and her /pet/! Come! Face the battle to come! Though it will not be the one that decides which of us is truly superior!" Hakuno meanwhile just looks away, shoulders shaking in a telltale sign of subtle laughter. But she turns back to watch the arena with her usual even expression, a smile on her lips as she waves down at the competitors. "Hello, Caster, Seifer, Sanary, 17, Lyria, Touta. Please do your best. I'll be watching." And with that, her hand lowers back into her lap, and the brunette glances to Nero and nods. Nero takes that as the cue and sweeps her arm over to the opposite end of the colosseum, where the iron gates creak and then lift with a rattling of chains. "Then let us begin!" Footsteps can be heard soon after, along with a shifting of armor and a vague pressure that billows out across the arena floor with each step taken. More and more, they approach, until they step out into the light. Standing there is a tall, silver haired man wearing black with red emblems emblazoned across his pants and sleeves. His chest is opened out to show a glowing greenish-blue glyph that spreads across his body and even up onto his face. Silver greaves, gauntlets, and shoulder pauldrons adorn his legs and arms, along with a flowing black cape. And in one hand, is a sleek, long sword. "I present to you; The slayer of the evil Fafnir! Bathed in the blood of the eternal! One of the heroes of the Nibelungenlied! He is Siegfried! The dragon knight!" And the crowd goes wild. Siegried looks across the arena at his spread of opponents calmly, betraying no obvious personality quirks or anything. "So you all are my opponents?" After surveying who he's up against, he raises his weapon, and grips it in both hands to assume a ready stance. "...Alright then. Let's have a good match." He states with the faintest of smiles on his face. Nero meanwhile interjects bombastically. "And now! The third battle of the Nero Festival will commence! Speak not with your words, but your blades!" |
| Seifer Almasy | Seifer gets kissed. His face goes a bit red. He's still not really used to that. It does put a smile on his face, though. He shrugs at 17, a bit of a weirdly sheepish grin on his lips. "Yeah, I guess not. Whatever. It's not about her. It's about everybody else." "I dunno if we're friends," He says to Caster, "He was some guy in the last fight. He did pretty good. I wasn't paying all that much attention to their fight, but nobody went down, so I'm sure he can hold his own." Seifer gives Hakuno a two-fingered casual salute from his forehead and a wide grin. He doesn't dislike Hakuno. He's got some thoughts about Caster's /terminology/, but he doesn't actually dislike Hakuno. "Hey. Thanks." Siegfried comes out. Seifer's grin widens as he unslings Hyperion, tapping it on his back. "You're the Dragon Knight, huh. I'm the Fox's Knight, Seifer Almasy. Get ready to lose and remember my name, pal." "Nothing personal. But you're between me and a dedication to my lady, and if you're a real Knight, you know that I'm not gonna let anything stand in the way of that." Seifer raises his blade and steps forward. His stance is ridiculous. Almost comedic. It's like he's holding the bizarre gunblade /wrong/, like he's full of openings and super easy to hit. Everybody here has seen that that's not even remotely the case, but... Seifer, remarkably, does not go in swinging. Instead he hangs back, moving between Caster and Siegfried. His blade hangs there in the air before he tosses a noncomittal fireball in Siegfried's direction. It's actually kind of odd; normally Seifer's the first one in, but this time, he's going light. Why? Obviously it's because he's a Sorceress's Knight. His duty is to his Sorceress. |
| Sanary Rondel | 17 gets a smirk from Sanary in response as the healer even goes as far as flexing for said crowd (with a long-sleeved coat on, mind). "Why not? Not every day we can get the crowd on our side when we're fighting someone." She glances over at Seifer and chuckles lightly, stroking her chin while raising the axe again. "Doubt he cares as much, though. Not with.. Uh. His Queen right there and all." Tamamo gets a similar curious look as she says that, blinking slowly at the Caster a few times while trying to figure out just what she's seeing. Her train of thought is interrupted when Nero speaks once more, however, then even being caught off guard with Hakuno's surprisingly tame encouragement. "Of course. We ain't doing anything but giving our all out here, so we'll take whatever comes our way!" Today's challenge, of course, is a fairly normal looking guy. She narrows her eye slightly when she spots his odd glyph, however, but it soon opens normally again as she settles into a more excited expression. "Let's have a good match, Siegfried. Sanary Rondel, ready to fight!" A shout, a stomp, and then she charges right for Siegfried with a... ... Tackle. Not a slash. Just a running charge to gauge his reaction. |
| Android 17 | Seventeen makes a quick bow towards the master of Saber. She hasn't done him wrong and seems nice enough. Turning, however, he gives Tamamo a return smile. He likes animals and things that remind him of animals. So that's some positive rep right there, though that 'queen' title gets his attention somewhat. "My I did not know I would be fighting with royalty today," He says, shrugging his shoulders as the main event comes onto the stage. Siegried takes the stage, and his massive weapon comes ready to fight. Though he is a laid back person much like Seventeen himself is. He does look pretty strong, and that's a title. "Seventeen," he says towards Siegried, "Android 17," He clarifies, "And yes, let us have a good match. I hope you're not the type to hold back on account of us not being a dragon," he says, with a grin, and starts settling into a defensive stance. It would be foolish to assume that he would be easier than the last two, even though he is alone. Though he doesn't have to be necessarily stronger either. It's not a hundred percent either...while the queen of shadows was a spear wielder, that did not mean she did not have some ranged tricks. And to slay dragons means he would have to have some answer for flight. Seventeen decides to play it safe, and let others get into melee first, instead, he runs around Siegried, aiming to leap up into the air as he moves to flank him, and pepper him with a barrage of shots from his hands, each blast light, but enough to test defenses and put some pressure if he wasn't careful. He'll worry about a strategy once he sees more of what this guy can do, right now taking a safe approach to see his game in motion. |
| Tamamo no Mae | Oh, Touta's here too! This isn't awkward at all, no! "I'm usually up for a challenge, my Subject." Tamamo smiles a bit at this, moving to get into a battle ready pose, her mirror floating around her now. "After all, I couldn't let my Knight have /all/ the fun, you know." she gives a small little laugh as she turns to look up towards Nero, "Oh, you have special exception towards me? I'm hurt! All those times we fought together and how I had to save you from classes that utterly annihlated Sabers?" she shakes her head lightly, "Oh well, it's time to see what you can do, no? Caster will be expecting a lot now, you know." There's a brief pause from the Caster as her opponent's announced. Siegfried? Why did this sound familiar to her? She shakes her head a bit at this and moves to position just right... right next to her Master/Husband/"pet". "Seventeen, huh? I hope you fight well, I'll be glad to have you as an ally today." and with this, just simple fireballs launch from her mirror with Seifer's own fireball! Might as well make it Double Cast, right? |
| Lyria Mason | Lyria Mason looks to See Tamamo for a moment she gives the fox woman a bit of a look over nodding a bit, then looking to Seifer, well now? That's quite the pair there. She grins a bit at Tamamo for a moment before giving Touta a salute for a moment. Then turns her attention back on Nero, Sanary, Seifer, Android 17, Touta and Tamamo? They have a good crew here and she was ready. Now Lyria must face the template of all Murder Hobos, not she that knows this, but she does know he seems to be a serious for so she gets ready to go. Today she pulls out both pistols makes sure they are loaded. "Let's see how well you fight Mate. The names Lyria Mason, by the way." With that she's opening fire on the Sabre that is before them. the M-Tek rounds are let loose and Lyria gets to moving, she knows she'll have to keep out of melee with this guy as much as she can. |
| Touta Konoe | The moment that Siegfried appears he probably gives off the most calming appearence of any of the challengers presented before them. Touta wanted to wish their opponent some good luck at this point but it was clear he was a man of few words. What's more he's even letting them strike first. There was just so many different types of heroes it seemed like. Well, whatever the case was the guy was their challenge this time around and Touta was gonna do what he could. There was no reason to feel awkward, embarassed, or stressed about any of it. This was all just a 'show' in a sense after all. So with Hakuno giving them all a word of encouragement he looked back towards the others. Lyria giving him a salute gets a smile and nod back before he raises his blade. Unlike a few of the others he can't really say he has any long range options. So Touta dashes towards Siegfried along with Sanary as he tries tries to find an opening in Siegfried's defenses. He figures with all the long range bombardment occuring he might be able to sneak an attack in while he's attempting to defend against them. |
| Nero | Siegfried's eyes meet Seifer's and he says exactly nothing. At first, anyway. He just nods. "I guess I'm an obstacle in your path then." The knight says calmly, watching as his opponent gets into the strangest stance he's soon, and... then takes up a defensive position in front of Tamamo and tosses a fireball. So he's serving as her vanguard. Interesting. Siegfried actually... doesn't budge an inch as that fireball hurtles towards him. It impacts with his chest, and leaves a smouldering black mark, but otherwise, the knight looks entirely unconcerned . Was he testing the power behind that? Or was he so strong that it didn't even matter? Whatever the case may be, there's no time to deliberate on it, as Sanary is suddenly in his face. He brings up his shoulder, and meets her tackle with his forward defense, and impact is made. The swordsman skids backwards an inch or two, but stills himself after that. "....." He has no words to offer the healer after that, but his eyes say everything he needs to. He's going to start attacking now. Then, he grips his blade as lashes out with the flat of the weapon, aiming to bat Sanary aside before he bursts forward into a run. All the while, bullets from Lyria and blasts of energy from 17 rain down on him, and from the side, but he swerves all around while he moves, causing most to miss their mark while he goes. But before Siegfried can close the distance on Seifer and Tamamo, the Servant fires off her own fireball to accompany her knight's, and this one seems to be much stronger than the last. It blasts into his chest, and the silver haired man stops short, and even skids backwards a foot while smoke rises from his figure. And in just that moment, Touta comes barreling in to strike. But Siegried is ready for it. He raises his sword, and clashes with the blow before rolling aside and assessing his options... He's not in a very good spot to attack all of these people individually, so he decides to get creative. He grips the handle of his sword and twists it. Immediately, mana flares up, enveloping his sword and extending it out into an overlong, blue aura blade. The activation is only a fraction complete, but with his sword now extending past the length one might find to be reasonable, Siegfried spins around, dragging that sword around in a spinning whirling slash that changes angle multiple times to catch everyone in its range, land or air. Meanwhile up in the stands, Hakuno brings a hand to her mouth. "Ooh... I see Caster is still as strong as ever." Nero just rolls her eyes at that however, making sure to speak away from the mic. "Nonsense, my Praetor. I could perform similar or greater feats!" To which, the girl just sighs and smiles exasperatedly. "Yes, yes. I know you can, Saber." |
| Sanary Rondel | Sanary looks surprised, yet pleased that Siegfried is meeting her charge head on. This fight wouldn't be much of a show if he was a weakling, after all! Meeting his quiet expression of... Well, nothing with a chuckle of her own, the healer feels that the only way to properly face this dragon slayer is with a proper contest of strength! By which she doesn't really try to avoid the flat of his blade at all. She simply braces herself with a firm stance, her axe held behind her while watching Siegfried's own stance. She grunts lightly as the flat of the blade whacks her, but she is unmoved! "Not bad... For a sword-user." Before she can strike back, however, Siegfried is chasing after her allies in this fight! It's not unexpected, of course, but it does require her to do a bit of running of her own. She braves his wild slash and suffers small cuts around her limbs, relying on her magical healing to weather the worst of it as she finall takes a quick swing at his leg! |
| Tamamo no Mae | The fireball hits and it causes the Caster to grin as it makes the Saber skid. "You're a Servant, aren't you?" she brightens more, usually her magics have a harder time penetrating Saber-class magic resistance, but... this one? "The Fox-eared Caster will make sure that she topples you, oh mighty Siegfried!" there's a small laugh, and the mirror starts to glow and ready another fireball. At least, until she sees the Mana Burst from the sword, "Seifer! Watch out!" Unsure if he'll be able to dodge in time, Tamamo brings up her mirror and a small barrier as the wave of energy crashes over them! There's a loud /crack/ as Tamamo gets moved back a couple feet, then sent tumbling to the ground from the hit! She winces, moving to kick herself up and brush herself off. "Huff, huff... nice... nice job, Siegfried. I recognize your strength." she comments, looking visibly winded just from that, turns out the Caster can't take hits well. She tugs out a few talismans and launches them forth, letting them spin around the Saber before /even more fireballs/ are launched at him! Tamamo and her fire, y'know. "Take this!" she bounces up a bit as the talismans finally fall to the ground after a volley. |
| Seifer Almasy | Seifer, in fact, wasn't going to dodge it in time. It's not common that Seifer is slow to dodge a thing. It's not common that Seifer is about to get struck. But Siegfried's trick is something new, something he's never seen before. He goes to block, the angle changes, and- -Caster eats the hit for him. Seifer's eyes flick to his sorceress. "Are you-" She stands up, and he exhales, relief visibly across his face. "Caster, it's my job to protect you, remember?" But his eyes are telling a different story. His eyes are telling the story of somebody who's never had someone do that for him before. Fujin and Raijin were his crew, but they never got between him and a shot. They'd never been put in that situation. They'd never been able to do it. And Gilgamesh *couldn't* do it, Greg was *incapable* of doing that. And Caster... He turns back to Siegfried and starts walking forward, Hyperion spinning in his hand. There's a new energy around him as he moves. "Greg." "This dragon knight guy." "He pissed me off, y'know?" The verbal tick from Raijin makes him grin lopsidedly. Hyperion slashes at the ground. Sparks fly. "And I think I don't like guys who hit my wife very much. Y'know?" His eyes flash. "Grab somethin' good from my foxy lady and let's do this." "Oh fuck you," Seifer says to the air, "You do not...no, she's not technically YOUR Servant, you asshole! Shit, just..." Seifer tugs at his jacket. "Just fuckin' do this while I kick this guy's ass." Seifer charges in, his gunblade flashing, exploding as it hits, vibrating furiously with each pull of the trigger. Meanwhile, behind Seifer, the spectral form of Greg manifests, red tattered cloak, grey skin, three arms, three cardboard arms, white eyes, the works. Greg looks around, then reaches out at Caster. Blue light shines around her, pulled into Greg's hands, and compresses into a ball. Seifer looks over his shoulder mid-swing and grins. "I'll show you somethin' amazing tonight, beautiful! Just keep your eyes on me!" |
| Android 17 | The attack comes in, and Seventeen thought he was ready, the barrier coming up just in time, but the force of it was enough to spin him end over end and cause him to slide across the battlefield. Raising to his feet, he flips back onto them and gives the swordsman a stare. Okay, so he has range options, but he notices that confidence. He may not have options. A thought crosses the Android's mind, he's going for Caster first. He waits for Seifer's retaliation, and instead of sticking to ranged attacks, he slips in right in front of the sorceress' knight as the attack strikes out. He reaches out, aiming to send a fist towards the stomach of the warrior, aiming to try and strike with brutal effectiveness towards the man's exposed stomach. He moves, right after that, around the Dragon killing warrior, aiming to keep close enough to be a target, but far enough that he'd have to dedicate movement towards him. "That was a pretty interesting attack," he says, "But I have a few tricks of my own." |
| Lyria Mason | Lyria Mason has always been agile on her feet, from living on a ship nearly her entire life, today it helps a heck of a lot even as 17 joins her and raining down ranged attack on Siegfried. She does not wnat to get up close and this actually is part of why she's able to pull of her next feat. She is ablke to avoid the Auta blade entirley she's nearly hit but she weave out of the way of the inbound attack. She evades it getting far closer than she ever would wnat to it. "So you know eachother?!" She calls out before she gets on the move firing, leaping and firing at the apex of her jump before coming down and rolling away. She does not want to sit still here and she's doing her darnest to make herself a harder target. "A servant? Like Archer?" Which Archer is a good question, she's known severla in her time in the multliverse after all. For now though she quierts up and keeps on gunning and running. |
| Touta Konoe | "Nice shot!" He shouts back to the married duo as he attempted to sneak in his attack, but it looks like it was gonna be harder to find an opening on this guy than he first imagined as Siegfried's blade clashes with his own. But he wouldn't expect any less after all the fights he's seen so far. It was Siegfried chance to attack and he does so by raising his sword his releasing some sort of magical flare. Touta really doesn't know what to expect at first. Compared to the last fight there's way more people against Siegfried. He knows this guy a hero but how was he expecting to deal with each and everyone one of them? He's answered swiftly as that blue flare extends forth into an almost projectile like blade. "ONE-THOUSAND FOLD!" It's a bit of a gamble, but Touta's been able to use his blade to bust through magical barriers with sheer force before, so he figured he should be able to do the same with a magically infused slash heading his way. The results...He does end up slashing through the strike but it ended up more or less blowing up on impact which sends him skidding across the ground a few feet. His body looks like it gets covered in a few burns but other than that there's a smile and look of relief on his face. Though when he looks at a few of the others it looks like he ended up being one of the people who got off easily. The one taking the most of the attack being the one who was least suited for it, Tamamo. He may not be her husband, but she's still his friend and its not like he's gonna just ignore that either. "Hime-chan!" He doesn't say anything but something does something strange. He pulls something out of his pocket that begins to unwind into what appears to be a...Hula-hoop? Yeah there's no denying it especially when he starts to spin it around his waist. It would probably be a good time to fill some people in here, but she's seen this before so hopefully she remembers what pulling this out meant and what he was hoping for. With that quick call out that it was time to get into position. Touta lifts his blade up towards Siegfried, keeping it at 1000-fold. Though he probably looked pretty silly doing it while trying to balance a hula-hoop around his waist. But he didn't seem bothered one way or the other. Maybe the crowd would get a kick out of it? "Grasp the Earth..." Touta speeds towards Siegfried in a straight charge using his shundo. Though unlike before he's not looking for a full on collision to penetrate the warrior's defense. His attack would probably only connect for a moment whether it made contact or was simply parried away, but by the end of it Touta would stand behind Siegfried, his eyes not even staring at his opponent but at his allows. |
| Nero | Siegfried slows his aural spin to a stop, and then looks towards Sanary as she comes running for him. He prepares himself to meet axe blade with sword, but is briefly surprised to find... his legs being swept out from under him. Of course, the Servant hardly looks harmed by the motion. Just taken very off guard. But he vaults back up to his feet and and dives back in to return the favor. "I may not pride myself on much, but I have confidence in my skill with the blade." He says as he comes bearing down onto the healer with a heavy overhead slash in return. But he's not with her for log. Because Tamamao's talismans come floating all around him. He foregoes further combat with Sanary and kicks off the ground, launching backwards and guarding himself by swinging at several of those fireballs to cut them apart and mitigate some of the damage. Even as others strike his form. Siegfried lands with a skid, and stands back up to face Seifer. "... I'm sorry." He says with as much sincerity as he can muster in his taciturn self. But even still, his grips his weapon. "However, your wife is a combatant just like the rest of us are." Those simple words stated, the dragon slayer bursts forward, meeting that swinging gunblade with Balmung and the weapons clash, creating sparks that fly out. That vibration function is a curious thing. Siegfried wasn't expecting it, so the blow landed heavier than he had anticipated, pushing him back a bit and leaving a shallow cut across his chest. "Hm. Strong." Is his only assessment. Whatever Seifer's ghostly buddy is up to, that will have to wait as suddenly, Android 17 in right in his face. That body blow lands perfectly, but... Siegfried doesn't react. He meets 17's gaze with his own calm, but determined one, and responds. "You have skill. But you need to hit harder if you want to damage me." Lyria's shots do the job of keeping the Saber Servant from moving, just long enough for Touta to take the opportunity to speed right in with a well placed shundo. Though the crowd is indeed laughing at the hula hoop stunt. Even Nero has to comment. "Is our challenger Touta Konoe putting on a circus act in the middle of a battle!? Is he that confident!? What else will he pull next!?" Hakuno, can only facepalm however. She figured it was some kind of catalyst for a technique, so she keeps her mouth shut. Touta's strike is anticipated, and parried away as most of the damage is transferred off of himself. But the knight will find that the boy hasn't stayed still for a counter. Just as well. He has a response for this situation. Then, he raises his sword and twists the handle again, creating another mana burst that coats the weapon in glowing blue. "Here I come." He swings, not overhead, not from the side. No, he unleashes a wave of energy that spikes outwards across the ground by slashing at the ground, and spinning in a circle that sends out a ring of destructive mana from all around him. It ripples across the ground, tearing through the sand in spiking waves. |
| Android 17 | "Oh, are you handing out advice in the middle of a fight? You sure are an interesting guy," Seventeen says, without an ounce of sarcasm in his voice. He finds this a nice change of pace, and refreshing! Of course, Seventeen was already thinking a step ahead of this attack. The burst around him was a BIT unexpected as a vector. It causes him to force the barrier forward, and PUSH through it instead of around it. It breaks the barrier with some effort, but once more...the Android continues to prove tougher than he looks. He pushes through the force of the burst of power, even as his shirt tears in places, threatening to go full shirtless if this continues. However, his arms glow, energy building on them as he spins through the rest of the attack. The comedown, aiming to catch Sigfried across the chest, and then across the back of the head. He aims to put enough force to send the Servant upwards, before the android seems to fade from sight, and appears above him. His hands come down, aiming to smash downwards, and attempts to cause a large crater from the blow. His hands come down, aiming a ball of electricity down, and attempts to add injury to even more injury. "I was preparing my strike so it'd be more effective. Thanks for your concern though," Seventeen says, towards the heroic spirit. |
| Tamamo no Mae | Her Talismans didn't do exactly what she wanted, but then again, it's a Saber. She has a notoriously bad time dealing with them and it's showing. She gives a look to Touta, she knows what's going to happen and she gets ready to prepare something to throw into the ring, literally! At least, she would have until her ears perk up at the last second, seeing the massive wave of prana coming at her. "MIKON?!" She tries to kick up into the air... And promptly loses all notion of defending as the wave of energy crashes full force into the fox-servant, launching her at a high rate of speed against the wall, cracking it and having her bounce off it and into the ground, there's a loud scream of pain from the attack, the fox slowly getting to her knees, wobbly-like. "Nngh. S... seifer..." she calls out weakly, "I'm going... to use it." she warns... Tamamo coughs, dropping down to all fours once more, shaking her head, it took a lot out of her it did, she's gonna have to soak so long for this... and have Seifer take care of her, but right now, there's a Saber that needs a thwacking. She shakes her head lightly, moving to stand up shakily. Seifer could feel a massive pull of magic from him as she starts chanting: "God who resides in Izumo. Aesthetically certain, Breath of the soul. Residing in the mountains and watery heavens, Amaterasu. Let this freely become the proof of purification. Thy name is Weighted Stone of Tamamo. Become the sacred treasure, Mirror of Uka! Just kidding~!" Tamamo floats up as the area starts looking more and more Japanese, while talismans surround her. Torii gates and the lanterns near them popping up around. Balls of fire and ice explode from the talismans and surround the Caster, focusing her gaze upon Seigfried, "GO!" and they forcefully launch from their positions, crashing (hopefully) upon the Saber's face! |
| Seifer Almasy | Seifer is about to say something pithy when Tamamo takes a massive hit. He was even trying to step in the way for her - and he almost does, but the beam hits him first, sending him falling backwards and skidding along the ground. There's a massive gash across his chest. His first concern is her, though. He's looking at her with concern all over his face. He's looking at her, and scared for her. He's never been scared for another person in his life. And that's all she wrote. Seifer's not dialoguing anymore. Seifer's not even talking. Seifer's eyes flash as he stands back up, bleeding, his hand on his chest. It's more than anger in his eyes. It's rage. It's fury. It's the most focused, and the most determined, and the most angry, that Seifer Almasy has ever been. Three words. "Greg." "Do it." The ghostly apparition appears. Three blue orbs appear in his hands. The empty white eyes look as angry as Seifer as they jam all three orbs together. Greg hands the blue orb off to Seifer and vanishes. Seifer takes the orb, swirling with power, and jams it into his gunblade. He walks forward, slowly, swinging it left and right. The arena fades out. In its place, a new arena is growing. Soldiers stand at attention, faceless soldiers with coats that match Seifer's and stylized fox ears on their heads. They're holding mirrors in their hands. Each and every one of them. Seifer swings the sword again. Soldiers holding mirrors pile onto the field. They shove the mirrors forward at odd angles. Seifer's gunblade thrums with energy. He tosses it over to his left hand and holds up his right so that Siegfried, Nero, and everybody else can see the power burning on his right hand. He's blowing a Command Seal to power whatever this is. Whatever this is is answered as Seifer vanishes into the mirrors. |
| Seifer Almasy | LIMIT BREAK CRISIS LEVEL 3 DEADLY DANCE OF EIGHT GOLDEN MOONLIT NIGHTS Seifer is reflected in every mirror. Every soldier starts moving, moving, moving wildly around, as if dancing. It's a field of Seifers, a field of Seifers impossible to predict, impossible to judge. Just when Siegfried turns to look at one- Seifer emerges, and the sword slashes, and he vanishes back into another, turning causality inside-out. Over, and over, and over, and over, Seifer steps out of mirrors and *carves* into Siegfried, flashing his blade each time, a blade inverting causality and turning BEING HIT as the cause of GUNBLADE SWINGING. It gets faster, and faster, the huge metal arena shimmering with false moonlight shining down on the countless soldiers, until it reaches a crescendo, the moon above them all. The moon hits every mirror at once, a blinding panoply. Eight Seifers emerge from the mirrors at the same time, crossing paths in a single, eightfold swing. Seifer - one single Seifer - merges in the middle, drops a final cut, and then backflips away. A rose is thrown into his hand from out of nowhere. He takes it, and grins, and tosses it to Tamamo as the Limit Break dies. The rose remains. |
| Sanary Rondel | Touta, meanwhile, gets a confused look from the healer. "Isn't that a...?" She starts, but stops herself quickly thereafter. It's the Multiverse. Of course there's going to be techniques she doesn't understand. Seifer's is easy enough to figure out the general workings of just by his general style, of course, and Android 17's shirtless barrage is... Mildly distracting, but still logical. Hell, even Tamamo's talismans don't seem too farfetched with Lyria's shots as a reference, but the hula hoop... Maybe it's better for Sanary not to think too hard about it as long as it works. She's got bigger issues to worry about! "Good. It's important to be confident about something you're good at. Gotta take care of your mind as much as your body!" Siegfried's slash is met with both unwarranted self-help advice as well as an axe as it comes down hard on the healer, drawing blood and giving the crowd the spray it undoubtedly came here to see. Grimacing in pain as she pushes back on the sword to keep it from lopping her arm off entirely, she falls back for a moment to consider her next strike. It's just kind of hard to do much thinking when her allies are already busting out the big guns, and trying to figure out just what her own big finishing technique could ever be. Sanary's becoming increasingly agitated as she watches all those flaming swords, flying talismans, exploding punches, and excessive numbers of hot people all charge. "All you... Freaking... I can come up with something cool, too, dammit!" The healer spits out angrily at nobody in particular, and then she charges in once more. Channeling magic into her axe, ice starts to form on the surface at she imbues it with... Well, ice, contrasting sharply with her FIERY RAGE while bringing her axe down at Siegfried not unlike his overhead slash from before. Sadly, it's not very flashy. |
| Lyria Mason | Lyria Mason does her damndest to keep the Sabre from moving, still, it's not enough then again if someone can become a Servant? It pretty much makes them a hero of legend that much she gets. she would be disappointed if it were that easy to overcome Seig here. Thankfully this is not the case, as Seig is still going pretty strong but this time? He's making use of magic or so it seems as he does a bloody blade beam of some sort. She's not so lucky this time. Shes' caught by the mana and knocked back, she takes a moment to try and recover from that hit she's also cut up and bleeding a bit from that. "All right..." This time rather than fire her guns or rush into melee? She launches a sphere at Sabre, and since he's been a good sport he just gets the standard sonic grenade and not the Mursame Boy Band one... |
| Touta Konoe | Can't really blame anyone for looking at him sorta funny right now. Especially when Nero announces it to the crowd as a 'circus act'. He's really glad the others from his world aren't around to hear that. Though as everyone unleashes their attacks it feels like Touta's hula-hoop will be mostly forgotten. In regards to actual combat how effective his attack was he could probably rate it pretty low. He had basically tapped Siegfried before and even with it the hero had still been able to parry. Though in terms to how effective it was strategically. It put in him a rather good spot, right behind him. Or he thought so at least. The attack from Siefgried even reaches behind him, blasting off his feet and takes a pretty nasty hit. It was strange though, instead of immediately retaliating, Touta gets back up on his feet...And just starts twirling that hula-hoop again...Was it that important? It's at that moment Tamamo unleashes her Noble Phantasm. Balls of fire and ice larger than Tamamo herself launched in a maelstrom down upon Siegfried. Yet...With that volley it appears as though she spread her shots too far and it looks like one of the balls of fire was to crash down right at Touta. "Nice shot, Hime-chan. Alright, my turn..." The ball of flames was large enough to consume Touta twice over and yet it seemed he had no intention of running. Rather the boy takes a precarious stance. The boy's right leg is put behind him and his right arm stays parallel to his torso. His left palm extends out in the same way upwards towards the giant blast. The ground below him begins to crumble slightly as something strange happens. At his feet the symbol of yin and yang appear. The black of yin appearing under his left foot, and the white of yang under his right. But he doesn't unleash any sort of attack, and by the time he's put on such a strange act the inferno crashes down AND.... The fireball vanishes. Or rather as it made contact with that boys left hand it almost looked as though it was being swallowed or consumed. There's a smile on the boy's face as he looks back towards Tamamo giving a thumbs up with that same hand. Of course, even with that spectacle what was probably getting the most attention was Seifer's limit break. It was AWESEOME and sorta made Touta want to show off as well. "Alright, if that's the case I'll show off a bit too, Comple-" He was just about ready to go full out until he hears the agitation and anger in her voice. It was clear that she was trying her best to but was getting outshined just a bit...Now that he thinks about it, she's been really trying as hard as anyone since the beginning. Even going as far as wanting to be acknowledged by the champions after the match. Well he's no senpai, but he's not gonna leave her behind at least. "Sanary!" The boy shouts out to Sanary as she unleashes her an icy strike overheard upon Siegfried, Touta compliments her attack by attacking Siegfried from behind with a right-uppercut. It's not just any old upper-cut though. The moment his attack lands, the ball of fire that he had taken in moments before launches right into the Heroic spirits back. While a one-sided icy-strike may not have been too flashy, he likes to think that a combo attack from teammates using ice on one side and fire on the other would definitely be something that she could consider cool. |
| Nero | Siegfried glances at 17. "This is a friendly match. I don't see why I shouldn't." And then he unleashes his mana burst all around himself, and is surprised to find the it being pushed through. Android 17 hurtles through and lands a blow across the chest, which sends the knight stepping back, and then again, launching him upwards. Then, the black haired youth appears above him, striking him downwards with enough force to leave a crater, and then a blast of energy follows, firing into the crater and causing an explosion. ...... Once the smoke clears, Siegfried is standing, Balmung in one hand as he wipes dirt off of his face with the other. "... You are definitely strong." The Servant says calmly, despite the damage he's sustained. Yet even still, he's not down. Which is good because it looks like Tamamo is up next. The silver haired swordsman looks up as the Caster class Servant floats in the air and summons several balls of fire and ice. "......" Siegfried resolves to withstand the attack, raising his sword to guard as balls of fire and ice slam down into him, causing a massive explosion that whips through the entire arena and envelops the hero in its might. He becomes little more than a silhouette in the force as it rages, and then... it dies out to reveal... Siegfried still standing. His sword is raised, and there's a determined look in his eyes, even as his armor is damaged. His gauntlets fall off in pieces, as do his pauldrons, leaving the man in just his black pants and opened shirt. "As expected of one of the queens of the Moon Cell." Siegfried states in a slow pant. "I can only commend your power..." Then, he looks to Seifer as he prepares his move right afterward. "....." Having nothing to say, the swordsman instead turns to face him and grips his weapon as the arena fades out and another one takes its place. Siegfried looks around, noting the faceless soldiers with the mirrors and the fox ears. Some sort of demi-noble phantasm? Then, Seifer vanishes and the dragon knight looks around. Where did he go? As those soldiers all dance around with those mirrors, it becomes clear. He's everywhere. Inside of them. Then, Seifer comes out and slashes past him before disappearing into another. "...!" And then it happens again, and again, and again. The speed picks up, faster and faster, as Seifer zips through those mirrors in a veritable storm of slashes. He does his best to whirl around and parry away what strikes he can, and he isn't entirely unsuccessful. But this technique is new and unknown to him, and he's being cut more often than not. Then, eight Seifers emerge and slice at the same time, before merging into one. Seigfried still stands, though his stance is lowered. "......" When the man in the white coat drops that final slash, he raises his sword to defend against it, blades clashing and sparking before.... a rose? Tossed to Tamamo. Siegfried can't help but crack the barest of smiles at this ridiculous act. And then it all fades. It all fades and Sanary comes barreling in towards him. Siegfried turns to face her, and parries away the brunt of her swing with an upwards slash to clash against the axe. Then a grenade rolls towards his feet. He doesn't even look down. He just leaps backwards, shielding his face as it explodes. And then he can feel force from the opposite side and turns in midair right as Touta is upon him, and responds with an overhead slash that clashes with the boy's weapon. Of course, the force of the flame still drafts upwards and washes over the Servant, but it is not the blow he might have hoped it was. |
| Nero | Finally, with this all done... Siegfried is ultimately still here. Still strong. He stands on the battlfield, sword in hand and opponents all around himself. "Strong. You're all incredibly strong." He says as he raises his weapon. "It would be disrespectful for me not to respond to such powerful opponents with less than my strongest attack." He twists the handle of his sword, and then pulls it down, causing the handle to extend and reveal a glowing blue orb in the middle. Immediately, Siegfried's weapon flares to life with a massive amount of power. It gathers and then explodes upwards into a column of radiant blue light. The wind is whipped all around the arena, and the sheer density of mana force billowing outwards hues everything in a light blue. The knight's expression hardens as the sword is raised above his head. "The evil dragon will be slain." The flowing force spikes and grows even stronger. "Balmung!" And then, that gigantic column of light is swung down into the arena, slamming into the ground and causing a tidal wave of destructive force to explode outwards in all directions, catching everyone in the blast, if not the main point of contact, then the aftershocks that flare out from the impact. This is it. |
| Seifer Almasy | Seifer doesn't *think*. There's no more *thought*, nothing like thought. There's nothing in his head but a single, overriding desire to protect Tamamo. As the Balmung begins rising, Seifer throws himself backwards, in front of her. His eyes sharpen. His senses sharpen. It's just like with Odin. It's just like with Odin in every way. It's a sure-kill, for-certain, no-chance-to-survive deadly attack. It's a massive, destructive force, a massive, overwhelming sword attack. It will destroy him if he stands in the way of it. It will destroy him if he gambles. But it'll do worse to Tamamo. He doesn't have a choice. He *needs* to do this. He *has* to do this. Seifer holds his blade out. His hand drops to his side, away from his bleeding chest. His eyes sharpen. Balmung's beam comes down. Seifer's blade goes forward. LIMIT BREAK BALMUNG REVERSE The Balmung splits. It splits right down the middle. It splits, and carves into Seifer, all of that force hammering into his body. Burning. Fire. Pain. He grits his teeth. He's on fire. Pure power is crashing into him. Pure strength is hammering into him. He's trying to stopper a floodgate with a toothpick. He's trying to survive a hurricane with a piece of paper. He's trying something stupid and insane and impossible and he can feel every bit of it. There's pressure on his chest. There's pressure inside his chest. But Tamamo is right behind him. He cannot waver. Seifer Almasy plants his feet firm, and the blade keeps going, and then, as it feels like he can take no more, he drops to one knee, still holding the fire, still holding the blade, still taking the brunt of it. He's going to die. That thought sets his heart on fire. That thought pushes him back upwards. That thought sees the gunblade swing upwards as Touta moves to interpose and soak the next blows, as Touta moves to cover him. That thought sees the gunblade do something stupid and impossible as Seifer Almasy, covered in wounds, covered in burns and agony, does something that should /not be possible/. He reverses Balmung. It's not a perfect reversal. Not by a longshot. But as he sweeps the gunblade up and pulls the trigger, the last of that fire, the last of those aftershocks, the last of those /blasts/, turns around on Siegfried. Seifer's gunblade drops to his side. He's breathing heavily. He's /bleeding/ heavily. His eyes are full of blood. But his face is grinning like a madman as his other hand comes up and gives Siegfried - and Nero - the finger. "Mother," he breathes, "Fucking," "Saber," "Bullshit." "I'm," "Seifer," "Almasy," "You idiot. You can't," "Beat me," "With," "That." He stumbles. He's still on his feet. But barely. |
| Android 17 | "Hmm...maybe, but friendly fight or not, I still wish to win, don't you?" Seventeen speaks up. Landing, he waits, even as the pressure builds around him. He can't feel it like others can, not in the traditional sense. The force of the mana coming in, however, that he can feel. As well as the might of the sword as it comes down. He tries to wipe the field with his dragon-slaying strength. A 'Noble Phantasm' they call it? All Android 17 could do was cross his arms across his chest, as the Android barrier collected around himself. Even as the swing came, multiple barriers appeared, aiming to lessen the blow with each barrier that broke. However, the attack could not be stopped completely. The flash came, and the explosion rocked the arena. Seventeen stands, hurt, but he still stands. His shirt torn to shreds, and the barrier gone once more. But he is standing on his two feet, bloodied from the blow. There is definitely pain there, even as blood drips down both arms and his face. He takes a step forward, and then another. Okay good, he can still walk from that. His body is still ringing from that force, his arms still numb as he managed to withstand that power. His hands clench, as he looks up towards the Dragon-slaying warrior. However, he looks towards the others. They did not survive this unscathed. And the act of sacrificing himself for another. 'How...human,' Seventeen thinks and smiles. For the first time in this fight, the Android emotes, as power courses from his internal systems. He builds up, as he yells with this power up. Narrowing his eyes, he flashes again, disappearing. He comes in right behind the Reverse Balmung, aiming to slam his hand right under the hero's chin, before flipping off with a kick. He tries to take advantage of his defense being on the first strike, while he follows up with another. His hands come back down, as a burst of energy fires at the Dragon-slayer. There is an explosion, as a massive force of energy that starts as a stream slowly breaking a dam, into a full force dam break. |
| Sanary Rondel | Of all things to snap Sanary out of her descent into rage, it's... A strange guy with a thing for hula hoops and fire? This week certainly couldn't get any stranger, at least, especially since the anger's not quite as potent as it was moments ago. Irritated, sure, but that's to be expected with her attack being deflected the way it was. She's not raging enough to burn a hole in the floor figuratively, at least. "... Crazy kid. You should be focusing on your own technique instead of someone else's." She smirks despite saying that, gripping the axe with both hands while the ice melts away with magic energy cycling back to her own body instead of the weapon. She'll need it with what's coming next. Holding it more defensively as Siegfried raises his blade, she lowers herself steadily to the ground in preparation for whatever it is Siegfried's going to do next. It'd be disrespectful to just attack him during whatever it is, and it's not like she isn't curious to see just what it is that he's going to pull out next. Soemthing dragon-related, it sounds like. The force of the wind has the healer squinting slightly with one arm held in front of her face, barely able to see what's going on with all that mana flying around the arena. Once that destructive wave comes forth, she slams the head of her axe into the ground, using it both as a shield and an anchor to keep herself from getting blown away. Skin burns, flesh tears, and it takes a great deal of concentration to hold onto that axe instead of just curling up into a ball of pain and letting the force carry her to a wall. And yet, she survives. Her coat is tattered, her body is burning and bleeding everywhere, but Sanary is alive. She starts laughing, too, as she rises with the axe gripped tightly once again. "Maybe... Maybe that's why I don't have any cool moves of my own. I just... Take 'em. Throw whatever you have at me... And I'll take it all on!" Denial is a powerful force. "And then once I take it, I'll give it right back as hard as I can!" She bellows out before charging towards Siegfried one more time. Instead of attacking with a wild array of slashes, however, she aims. One from the left, then the right. One from below, then coming back downwards. One more diagonally, and then her flurry is topped off with one more overhead aimed for Siegfried big glowing glyph! |
| Lyria Mason | Lyria is taking one hell of a beating, one hell of a beating her and others are getting it far worse than she's getting the hell beat out of here. Touta is down and it do or die at this point. She'll focus on what she can of the elements, she did not bring swimmer here today. She's now barely getting back to her feet she looks to the Sabre. "Your tale has been one that your people have not forgotten but that tale is over, mine has yet to even reach the end of the second act." She notes and that's when she starts to turn the very area against Siegfried. Pillars of stone rise following Lyria's movements as she attempts to hem him in, several more try to pin or even impale him but that's not all she's making use of fire as well this arena is a place of civilization of stone, She puts it to work for her and a she forms a chain of fireball which float about her for a moment then she launches the whole barrage right for the Sabre trying to put him down in this last desperate all-out attack. |
| Tamamo no Mae | One Noble Phantasm begets another Noble Phantasm... Tamamo's on her knees, panting, wheezing... she's winded... out of mana and she can't retaliate or dodge. She gives a bit of a soft smile, "This..." she gets interrupted, seeing Seifer hop in front of her, "Seifer! No, this is a Noble Phantasm!" ... is what she'd like to say, but she knows Seifer doesn't understand the word 'no' when it's protecting his Sorceress. She watches, eyes wide as he /splits/ Balmung... "How... is..." she watches in brief awe, but the imperfect reversal causes spillover... the 'flares' of the Noble Phantasm flick out and strike Tamamo at her most vulnerable. She can't dodge this, she can't even endure against most of this... so she let's it go, bracing herself through this Noble PHantasm. Seifer could feel it, Caster being dangerously low on mana... on health. More so, Caster looks up to see the Knight bleeding, breathing heavily... ... This man was stubborn as an ox, and not even a Saber's Noble Phantasm could kill him. Yes, this is Caster's Husband alright. Tamamo moves to drape against Seifer's back gently, whispering, "You did... very well my Knight." she sighs, giving a soft little kiss at the cheek before turning her head up towards Nero. "Saber. Hakuno." she smiles, "We... will stand victorious against anything... you throw at us." Time for Tamamo-boast! |
| Touta Konoe | Wasn't Siegfried vulnerable from behind or something?! Maybe he just hit the wrong spot cause Siegfried's blade catches Touta's forcing him to retreat back amongst the rest. "Man...I really thought that would have done the trick..." After a limit break, a full on assault from Seventeen, a disruption from Lyria, A full force Noble Phantasm, and a combination attack though Siegfried was still standing. Were they sure they weren't fighting Hercules again? As Siegfried stands before all of them an the column of light expands into the sky, Touta can feel that whatever is about to happen is going to be intense just from the aftershocks alone. Buffeted at first he watches as the might blade crashes down as its name is called. BALMUNG. It's power erupts down towards everyone. and Touta watches as Seifer tries to take the brunt of this attack on his own for Tamamo. But it's clear, he can't take the full force on his own. He's know Seifer long enough that he doesn't really have any dependable defensive moves. At least any he knows of. The Gunblade wielder begins dropping to his knees yet still resolved to protect his wife continues to hold steadfast. It's at this point that Touta attempts to intervene. He tries to become the shield for the one attempting to be a shield. Like before he tries absorbing Balmung in hopes to alleviate the burden that Seifer was dealing with and at first...It looks like it'd prove effective. The power of the wave was steadily being absorbed and for a moment Touta thought that this could work... "Touta! The hoop!" A familiar voice shouts to him from nearby bringing the boy's attention to the hoop. The same hula-hoop that the others had been laughing at before was...Eroding. Unable to handle the force of the power of Balmung it was eroding into nothing and when it did... Touta looks towards Seifer and Tamamo. "Sorry guys...Looks like I still got a long way to go." The hoop disintegrates and then...Something happens. The power he had been absorbing was going to release all at once. All the power that he tried to soak up for Seifer and Tamamo was about to be released anyway. But Seifer was already doing everything he could to fight back, if he had to push himself anymore... Touta wouldn't let that happen. The boy raised his right hand into the air and from his palm the stored power of Balmung released all out once into a devastating explosion. The column of light explodes forth from Touta's hand and disperses outward all at once. It's just as powerful coming out as it was going in... While he had been able to direct the brunt of that explosion upwards, Touta still took considerable damage from the release of all that power, and in doing so... Touta's eyes were completely white. His body singed and lacerated all over. Unlike Seifer the grip on his blade is released or rather it's more appropriate to say the hand that was holding it was completely blown off... What was probably most frightening though was that...He wasn't healing. Touta who throughout the obstacles of the Nerofestival had found himself without too much difficulties soaking up hits, someone who had been able to pull his heart out of his own chest fell to the ground in the pool of his own blood. But why? A voice can be heard from the blade still being latched to by the severed hand. "Damn it, mana contamination?! Touta! Oi, say something!" An unexpected turn of events but it made sense. After all, Balmung had been used to slay the evil dragon Fafnir, it would only prove to be effective against an evil magic like that of Magia Erebea...The source of the boy's immortality. "Oi, Fox! Emperor! This boy needs medical attention! Now!" It apears that Touta couldn't find Siegfried's weakness...But Siegfried had found Touta's... |
| Nero | Siegfried unleashes his strongest attack, and envelops the arena in destructive force. But the challengers refuse to fall. The main brunt of that Noble Phantasm is swung down onto Seifer and Tamamo, as it turns out, which forces the fox's knight to make a decision. Fall here, or surpass his limits and reach new heights. He chooses to challenge this fate and splits Balmung. Oh, it's not a clean split at all. But it's going the job of keeping Caster from being wiped out. Which is exactly what he needs it to do... at the expense of himself. But then Seifer does the unthinkable. He reverses it. No, not the whole thing. Just the lingering dregs of the attack as the rest billows outwards and washes across the arena floor. That split reflects back into Siegfried as two curving beams of bright blue that impact into his body and force the Servant backwards. Even the lingering parts of Balmung are enough to cause this much damage. But he's not down. That's when Android 17 steps in. And that earth shattering blow connects with the swordsman's chin. "Kh...!" His head shoots up and back with the momentum of the strike, followed by another strike, and then a blast of energy that sends the dragon knight skidding a ways backwards, leaving two long trails in the sand where his feet are planted. "......" Siegfried straightens back up, and wipes a trickle of blood from the corner of his lip. He's *still* not down. But it's looking close. When Sanary and Lyria weather through Balmung and come for him, that's when the battle is won. "... You're very resilient." The Saber class servant comments to the healer. Before he brings his sword up to clash against that flurry, blow for blow. But it's the perfect opening for Lyria to box Siegfried in with stone pillars and then pelt him with a flurry of fireballs. They all hit their mark and finally... finally, Siegfried falls to one knee. Meanwhile, the crowd is silent in the aftermath of this furious battle. Even Nero and Hakuno are silent. Rapt with attention as they witness the end of this duel. ... Until Touta gets his arm blown off. And he's not healing. ... He's not healing. There are gasps of shock in the crowds and Nero immediately speaks up. "Caster! Your boasts can wait! Medical team!" She calls out with a thrust of her other arm. From a side entrance several AI denizens dressed in white medical uniforms rush in with a cart, and they haul Touta and his parts onto it, before carting him off to the infirmary. Hakuno, looking fairly perturbed, speaks up next. "Touta will be looked after, I can promise that. But for now..." The brunette looks down to the arena as Siegfried stands himself up and looks towards Nero and her master. "I'm satisfied with the result of this battle. I concede." Hakuno nods, and then Nero sweeps an arm out. "And the winner of the third battle of the Nero Festival is..... the challengers!" The crowd erupts into cheers. |
| Seifer Almasy | Seifer is having trouble breathing. As Caster comes up behind him and drapes her arms over his back, he'd probably blush, but he's losing blood through his mouth. Some stuff gets said over the radio. It's not that important. What is important is that when Caster declares that they'll win, Seifer grins, and grabs her hand, and raises it up with her. They're...*frighteningly* in-synch, these two. There is no doubt that he's the Fox's Knight and Husband. And the part that has him grinning the widest? Caster didn't call her /my Hakuno/. It's amazing. That little, tiny thing - maybe just a slip-up - is enough to make the blood coming out of his mouth, the massive gash across his chest, the intense, agonizing, hilarious pain all over his body...utterly and completely worth it. That tiny little thing. That tiny...simple...thing. Touta'll be fine. Seifer's not worried. He's known people like Touta for a while. Touta is Too Damn Dumb To Die. Seifer presses his hand against his chest. "Hey," he says to Hakuno, "R...ribbon." "Gotta..." "Gotta tie it...in her hair." |
| Nero | Hakuno smiles sheepishly and nods at Seifer, before bringing up a holo panel and pressing a few buttons. Just like last time, something materializes in front of each fighter. Since Seifer wants a ribbon, his doesn't have a medal attached to it. It's actually kinda cute. And it's not red and gold. But rather blue and black, with an ornate lace embroidery that clearly matches Tamamo's usual clothing choice. "Congratulations for your victory, Seifer." Nero just pointedly looks away. The others, however, are afforded proper medals that denote that they won the third battle. |
| Android 17 | Seventeen, bereft of shirt, nods towards Siegfriend and offers a hand to the man. "Good fight," he says, before releasing and gazing towards Touya. "Well, that's...painful looking." he says, despite his own injuries. He gets a medal, it's pretty neat and he'll put it with the third one. He looks towards the fox and then Nero, then back again. "So...ex lovers or something?" |
| Seifer Almasy | Seifer takes the ribbon with a broad, bloody grin. He turns around, wobbling, and reaches up to tie it into Caster's hair. "Been...waiting to do this...in the arena," he tells her with a broad smile. His hands shake, but he doesn't fumble. Not even the slightest. "OK," he says afterwards, "We can...we can go...now. Or go...go check up on...that kid." Seifer doesn't remember Touta's name. Seifer doesn't remember any names but Tamamo. And that's not a romantic thing, either. Guardian Forces are a hell of a drug. He also moves conspicuously out of 17's blast radius. |
| Tamamo no Mae | Tamamo stops her boasting when she realizes her Subject is hurt really bad. She moves to try and get up to help but with Nero and Hakuno already on top of it, she gives a sigh. She'll have to go thank him later for his help. For now, she looks towards the medal she gets... then to the ribbon Seifer gets. She leans in and lets it flow from her hair as it's tied in, a smile given before she gives a light nod towards Hakuno, "Thank you, Hakuno. Saber." she can be polite... it hurts, but she can be polite! Theeeeeen Seventeen has to say something. She slowly turns towards him and frowns. "Former allies. Hakuno was my original master while I fought side by side with that Saber." there's a look... and a nod, "It's... a long story." |
| Nero | Nero's head snaps back to the arena after 17 asks that Very Stupid Question. The next moment, she has Aestus Estus summoned and Hakuno is holding her back with arms around her waist. "UNHAND ME, MY PRAETOR! I MUST ERASE THAT FOOLISH EXISTENCE FROM THIS WORLD AT ONCE!" The blonde shouts angrily while waving her blade threateningly. Hakuno meanwhile rapidly shakes her head, brown locks swaying this way and that. "SABER, NO! SABER CALM DOWN!" ....And the crowd just laughs. And laughs. And laaaaaughs. |
| Android 17 | Seventeen looks towards Tamamo, "Ah, my mistake. The rivalry seems extremely bitter there, but it seems I guessed wrong the source..." And then Nero goes nuts. Seventeen turns to face her directly, looking up at the two of them. There is a long consideration, before... "It'd be unfair of you to fight me after that match, wouldn't it? Give me time to heal and I'll gladly answer your challenge." |
| Nero | "Very well! Then I shall thrash you with all of my mig-" Hakuno gives Nero the 'Very Disapproving Master' stare. "-AHEM. I mean, such challenges are unbecoming of me. I will allow this slight on my sensibilities to pass just this once. Because I am a kind and benevolent emperor." Hakuno smiles sweetly. Nero clears her throat again and gestures to the arena. "And thus! That marks the end of the today's glorious battle! Many thanks to our challengers, and all of those who came to bear witness to this new legend in the making!" Siegfred, after all of this, finally turns himself around, and plods his way off towards the opposite end of the colosseum, intend to depart without further word. He's satisfied with this battle. There's nothing more for him to say here. |