agogelogs | beat the hustle, better get it right

Entry tags:

beat the hustle, better get it right

WHO? Genji Shimada (

doublejumps), Mamoru Hijikata (

amereswordsman), Ryuji Sakamoto (

ryuji), Thor Odinson (

worthyofthunder)
WHAT? HRHR: The Glitch
WHEN? June, after the eclipse
ANYTHING ELSE? Will edit if there's something other than violence to warn for!

[ It's in the aftermath of the eclipse that it feels as if they can all finally take a breather, at least at first. The Araneans seem calmer than they ever are, behaving as if they're resting after taking in a large meal. A quiet settles over the land around them, and while all of the COST agents have to wear protective gear out here in the wilderness, for a time it feels safer than it ever did within the city walls.

But then, someone has to take advantage, and the attack on the royal family begins. Genji and the other agents can only observe from afar, as only the highest ranked Araneans are allowed in the center of the valley. Still, they have a good viewpoint of the chaos that unfolds, and it's as Genji's watching the Twin Generals work to quell the oncoming mob that suddenly, everything shifts.

Instead of being surrounded by a red, almost desolate sort of landscape, Genji sees nothing but the vibrant green of trees. It's beautiful, but there's no explanation for how he got here, and as he looks around him he sees that he's not alone. Ryuji, Thor, and Mamoru are all here as well. Is it a coincidence that these are all COST agents he's spent some amount of time with during this mission? ]

... Where are we?

[ It's as he asks the question that he hears the sound of steel striking and the yells of Araneans engaged in battle. This is something they can never truly get away from, it seems. ]

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[Blink, and then everything changes. Blink, and then everyone's gone. Isn't that how things in COST have been going for the last... well, forever? Ryuji's as confused as Genji, and looking around, one familiar figure, and one not- he's at a loss for words. Something about him feels tired, feels like the endless amount of perseverance and optimism is coming up dry.

What the hell now?]

I... uh.

[Yeah, that's all he has to add to this.

What else can go wrong?]

[Flash bangs don't work on Mamoru.

Sure, the sound of something exploding still makes the system waver a bit, but it's been a very long time since his partner included a safeguard whenever someone tried to throw that at him - ironic, really, since his blindness is not a secret.

So he's turning his head, lunging when he senses killing intent, an omnipresent feeling in this place dive down suddenly - hidden, cold against the skin of his neck - and then crash through its gauge. He's moving without much thought except to pinpoint their target: The queen.

And then something stops him, and the system projected into his eyes reboots, and whatever causes it seems to go right through his body. It wasn't the flash bangs, and his hand instinctively reaches his collarbone. The scent in the air is different, the floor beneath his feet crackles instead of squeaks.

There's slaughter in the distance, but he hears the voice in the opposite direction. He's not alone. ] I don't know. But that's not looking good.

[ Thor has come to learn just how swift and sudden violence can be in a place like this, but it still doesn't quite prepare him for the attack on the Queen and the chaos that ensues. The moment it takes him to act is already too much of a delay. He spins his hammer and takes to the air - a much faster route than trying to weave through the chaos on the ground. He has no particular love of the Queen, but she is a sorely needed ally in this fight.

The sudden shift in scenery takes him from air to ground again, and Thor stumbles briefly to get his feet under him. He makes an irritated sound at the back of his throat, not unlike a growl. This isn't something he has time for.

The familiarity of Genji's voice does give him pause, however. He nods at the swordsman and shifts his grip on his hammer restlessly as he takes stock of his new surroundings. He recognizes Mamoru as well, so he assumes that the young man beside them is a cost agent too. ]

It's looked worse. [ He turns toward the sound of battle; Araneans, without a doubt, and somewhere nearby. ] Let's go ask for directions.

[ The other three are just confused by this turn of events as Genji, and he's not certain whether or not to be comforted by that. It would likely be preferable if someone knew what was going on, but at least he's not alone. They can get to the bottom of this together. Mamoru and Thor are both accomplished fighters, and while he hasn't ever seen Ryuji in a combat situation, he can only assume he has some tricks up his sleeve as well. They'll be fine.

At Thor's suggestion, Genji turns to him and nods. ] Let's stay out of their sight for now, if we can. [ He moves in the direction of the noise, gesturing for the others to follow. Stealth is his strong suit, so he doesn't hesitate to set the pace as they weave through the trees.

He spots the group of Araneans in a clearing below. Since they're on a forested ridge above the battle, it's not difficult to remain behind the cover of trees while they take in the scene. It's the twin generals themselves fighting another group of female Araneans. Judging by the clothing they're wearing, they're members of House Khah. ]

We could either engage or avoid them entirely. Unfortunately, I don't know how easy it will be to find our way back without their help.

[ No matter how he looks at it, this is a difficult situation. ]

[Even as Ryuji takes his mask out of his pocket, he feels like something is just... it's just not right about this entire thing. It's the pitting feeling at the bottom of his stomach that tells him danger is more than just a little abundant here. Call it his thief instincts, or maybe just the same anxiety that always has him rocking on the back and forth of his heels when he's standing still; it's apparent in the air, and it's apparent in the field before them.

He affixes his mask toward his face and notices something extremely vital missing. No wonder why he had felt his magic stronger, a return to a vitality that he hadn't felt in months. He looks to Thor, Mamoru, and then to Genji, but doesn't say anything. There's really not much to say about it. He's worried about the lives of two people now; his own and Mordred's.

There goes that feeling again. Ryuji's not the one to stand down from any sort of confrontation, but it's like death is calmly waiting at some midpoint in the clash ahead, and yet it beckons relentlessly.]

This... this feels like a bad idea, guys. Are you sure it's a good idea to get involved? [Maybe there's another option here. If only Ryuji could think of what that actually was.]

[Stepping closer and taking in the scene before them, Mamoru mutters a very quiet 'magnify' to make the system in his shades zoom in. He frowns, analyzing the situation. While perfectly more than capable, The Generals are having a hard time dealing with strength vs. number.]

They're Khah. Though I see some Jankeh armory and weaponry. Guess they just stopped caring as long as they get to the goal. [He says, sounding as if he finds this a sound strategy. Take care of the biggest obstacle first, deal with the intricacies later.] They don't seem like they're winging this - this was planned in advance.

[He glances at the other COST recruits with him. Both Genji and Thor stand out for being super-human, and while Ryuji has his own set of skills, Mamoru doesn't really know how it could help a battle such as this. Perhaps if they were going against the Twins, it could disrupt how they work in unison to compensate each other and protect each other's backs. But as it is, it complicates things.

The situation is strategically a good opportunity for the mission's success. There's the matter of not knowing how the hell to get back.

Also, he considers as he takes a deep inhale - takes in the sounds around them that don't come from the battle itself. ] I think we should engage. Too good of a chance for us. This place could be just as dangerous as being down there. [He tilts his head to Genji - he seems perfectly at ease at doing scout work.] What do you think?

[ Even from a distance, it's easy to see that the generals are skilled fighters in their own right. He'd seen them decimate their way through the arena battles, so that in itself is unsurprising. Still, even an exceptionally skilled pair of fighters can be felled by an army - and that seems to be what house Khah has brought here today.

Every time the generals fell an adversary, two more seem to leap from the trees or foliage to make their attack. Mamoru's assessment of the situation sounds correct, but it doesn't explain why COST is here. It's entirely possible that there are more allies or enemies waiting to strike.

He responds to the general thread of the conversation. ] If we don't get involved and the generals are overwhelmed, we'll have lost the protectors of our only ally. I'm going to fight. Decide quickly if you intend to join me.

[ While Genji can hardly blame Ryuji for being unsure about this entire situation, their hands are tied. Even if they were able to get a message out to the Commander or Young, it's unlikely they would reply quickly enough to give them their orders. They're going to have to make a snap decision here, and Thor seems to have already done so, for himself at least.

Mamoru has already done a good analysis of the situation, and so Genji is quick to respond to him when he requests his opinion. ] The Generals may not be able to win this if we don't take some of the attention off of them. I suggest that you and Thor engage head-on. Ryuji and I can sneak around behind House Khah's group and begin to distract some of them away. [ That should be the safer job, and will allow him to hopefully keep Ryuji safe. Fearsome as that mask of his might be, Genji still doesn't know what his capabilities are. ]

If we can get the Generals on our side, maybe they'll let us know how to get back to the others.

[ Genji isn't usually the one to hatch plans like this, but he's run enough missions that it comes almost naturally to him. Others provide distractions while he does the stealth work -- it's what he's used to. ]

[A distraction, huh? Ryuji still doesn't like that they're so forward with wanting to join the fray, but he's not about to openly defy the entire group when it'll just make him look like a wussy. He's spent so long in COST trying to prove to everyone that he was worth being here; once the decision's made, he realigns, tries to figure out a way to make it work out.]

Aight. If that's what we're gonna do, I guess we oughta get goin'.

[He looks to Genji, and then to the other two.] I can definitely provide a distraction if that's the plan. [Cracking his neck, he double checks to make sure his persona is still buzzing inside him; it's been so long since he's summoned Seiten-Taisei that he's slightly worried that the dude might be a little pissed off at him.

Which is ridiculous, because... his persona is just him. Which would mean he was pissed off at himself. Go figure?]

[He can't help but be a little concerned for Ryuji. He had no concern for himself, Thor is... well, a god, and he's still going to process that entirely, and Genji is enhanced to almost no tomorrow. These last two were obviously skilled fighters. While he knew that the kid was capable, as he had witnessed with the coup against Mary Smythe, Mamoru knew that he was still somewhat out of his comfort zone.

He'd have to trust them. He nods at Genji and Ryuji.] Settled. Always think, and remember these Araneans' weak spots if shit hits the fan.

[To Thor:] Ready when you are.

Edited 2018-06-29 00:36 (UTC)

[ Genji nods to Mamoru at those parting words, wishing both him and Thor luck before he gestures for Ryuji to follow after him. It isn't long before the pair have disappeared into the trees as Genji leads them around in a loop toward the back end of the fight. They're going to have to find a safe path down, but part of being a good field agent is knowing how to improvise. Sometimes you don't have all the information.

As he navigates, he spares a glance over his shoulder to Ryuji. ]

You mentioned a distraction. What did you have in mind?

[ He keeps his voice low, just in case. Both the generals and the members of House Khah had their hands full with the fight, and they were quite a distance away, but better safe than sorry. ]

[The unfamiliar terrain isn't necessarily a bad thing- keeping an eye on his footing and making sure that he was not stepping into the wrong place, or trying to be furtive about his movements kept his mind off of the scuffle that felt as if there wouldn't be a winner to either side of this dumb fight.

Familial dominance? Fighting over what? The right to rule? Kings, queens- whoever they are, they were bound to think that they were infallible, and history, as it's proved to Ryuji, time and time again likes to remind royalty that just ain't the case.]

I'm gonna start a thunderstorm behind 'em. That'll make them turn to look at it and then... bam. Those two will have an opening to slide in and do whatever the hell they wanna do.

[He bites the inside of his lip.]

Unless you got a better idea.

[ Thus far they haven't run into any wildlife, most likely because it's all been chased off by the sound of the battle. That's probably for the best. The last thing they need right now is to deal with creatures that they're not familiar with, and be forced to determine if they pose a threat or not.

At this point, Genji doesn't give too much thought to why the Araneans fight. It's simply a way of life for them, and he assumes this is just another attempt at the throne. Take out the Generals who guard the Queen, and House Khah would be that much closer. ]

A thunderstorm? [ Genji can't hide the surprise in his tone. ] Yes, that should work fine. [ He tilts his head up, looking through the canopy of the trees toward the sky. ] But... how exactly are you going to do that?

[ It's not that he doubts Ryuji, but he wants to know what to expect. ]

[Ryuji rolls his shoulders, like he's getting ready to pull something off that he hasn't done in a while. And it's true, the last time he started calling down thunder and lightning from the sky, it had been actual months.

There was a lot of work still ahead, no matter what path or what outcome this distraction took. His shoulders slump a little bit, his voice a little jaded from all the experience he's had in this terrible fucking spider world, and he hums-]

Magic bullshit, I guess.

[But- first things first, here.]

I'm gonna need some protection or we're gonna have to stealth around so I can channel it. Uh. What I'm gonna do is pretty damn obvious if they can see me.

[ Magic bullshit. It's nothing more specific than that, which Genji finds strange if it's something Ryuji himself can do. Now isn't the time to get into a long conversation about his abilities, however, so he'll have to accept that explanation. ]

I'll get us all the way behind them, and then we can move further back to give you some room. I'll guard you.

[ Genji speaks the words with confidence, as he has no intention of letting harm come to Ryuji if he can help it. He already got him into trouble once at the arcade, but this is no longer a matter of fun and games. Their lives are all at stake here, and now that he knows what it's like to die, he certainly doesn't want Ryuji to experience it.

They reach an incline and Genji heads down it, charting out a path for them while keeping half of his attention on the ongoing fight. So far they haven't attracted any attention, and soon enough they'll be in position behind House Khah's forces. ]

Yeah, ninja man. You lead, I'll follow.

[Man... what he'd give to go back to that day in the arcade and just. Chill there for a little longer. Maybe he really wasn't... really cut out for any of this after all. Not that he doubts his competency in what he can pull off, no- he's a good heart thief, but just. The constant state of war. Not having really grieved enough after the events of Gallipoli. Eren had said that he looked tired, and at the time, he thought that, too, was bullshit. But as he dips down the incline with Genji, letting himself into his friend's protection, maybe, yeah. He was kind of tired.

But it's not the time to drag his feet about it, either. He told Genji that he could provide a distraction, and he was going to do it. As beaten down as this endless chariot of endurance could get, he's not about to let the other down.]

Can you see Mamoru or Hammer guy?

[He positions himself back a bit, trying to stay under as much cover as possible. Bright, luminescent blue fire begins to circle around the outline of his mask as he holds it against his face, ready to rip it off and summon his persona.]

I'm ready when you are.

His name is Thor.

[ Not that it matters so much, but it's good that they all at least know each other's names if they're going to jump into a dangerous situation together. Genji has made sure that they're carefully positioned behind a grouping of trees, and he peeks out here and there to watch House Khah jump in and out of the fray.

He can just barely make out the Generals further back, but it's difficult to see much when there's all this tree cover.

What can't be missed is the way that the ground suddenly shakes, followed by the distant booming of thunder overhead. Genji snaps his head around to look at Ryuji, almost thinking for a moment that he's already started, but that must have been Thor. It seems the two of them have some things in common.

Still, this is the perfect way to disorient the fighters. Genji stares at the fire surrounding Ryuji's mask, knows that he's readying himself, and nods sharply. ] Now!

[It's noted - he probably should've asked before dissolving as a team of four and into their smaller units, but he was being selfish and cautionary, peeved that they wound up here without thinking of or adding an actual solution to the fray that they've found themselves upon. Not excusable, but- right. Thor.

And when it becomes apparent that they both have similar types of powers, Ryuji's relatively surprised. It could honestly work out pretty well- a show of lightning in the front, and one in the flank, enough to make the army think that they're being pincered on both sides by a group of similar forces.

Ryuji takes the signal as Genji offers it, ripping the mask off from his face as an almost corporeal form comes to life above his body- a legend that would be very familiar to anyone from the eastern regions, as Seiten-Taisei (or Sun Wukong), begins to float above him on a cloud. The same mythological trickster that had fought his way into heaven to gain his own immortality. Ryuji stretches his hand outward, as his persona's arm matches like a puppet on strings. A long staff raises outward from the god, as he calls unto the heavens to part the clouds and lightning begins to pour down from the sky.]

MAZIONGA!

[And from several points across the field, the terrible display of magic begins striking down at random places, taking on a few of the guard and ripping into them. As far as magic goes, it's absolutely the strongest Ryuji has, and even though he's been a pacifist working under the guise of a thief, it's one of the few times in COST that he's ever used this power offensively in any capacity- especially on something that wasn't a shadow or a cognition that didn't technically exist in this world.]

[ It goes to show how little Genji really knows about Ryuji, as he isn't at all expecting him to summon a being to carry out his bidding, let alone one that seems to be the spitting image of Son Goku. Genji, professional and experienced as he is, can't help but be distracted for a moment as he stares up at the figure in awe. It's as if one of his storybooks from childhood has come to life.

More than that, there seems to be a connection between Ryuji and Goku, and this is all something that Genji will need to get more detail on once they're out of this mess. With the sheer amount of firepower on their side, he's hopeful that they can make the best of an unexpected situation.

As the lightning strikes down from both sides of the battle, some of the members of House Khah finally take note of them, with Genji stepping forward to grab their attention. As they'd hoped, some of their forces get redirected to deal with them. The Araneans are smart enough to realize that leaving themselves vulnerable to a flank will spell out their end.

Genji turns back to Ryuji again, and nods firmly. ] Good, it worked! Now let's go!

[ He breaks out into a run through the trees, intending to split up House Khah's forces and give the Generals, Mamoru, and Thor some breathing room. ]

[Oh shit.

Tootaloo, bitches, they're. They're going to run like the wind. He follows Genji in front of him, blazing a path for Ryuji to follow- and although the other is far faster than he is, the punk is doing his best to keep up. The distraction was provided, as promised; now all they had to do was make it to safety before they get chomped down by spiders.

That heart to heart about fairy tale heroes will have to wait, as they make way through the thick under hot pursuit. The stress on his bad leg becomes warm and cramped, and he feels himself tripping before it happens. Coming at his maximum speed, he tumbles forward, picks himself up, and tries to figure out how much room is left between him and the Araneans.

He waves his hand backward- he's okay, really. One more ace up his sleeve. He saw himself using this magic in a dream once, and although he's never tried it in practice, he knows that personas only require the will and cognition to make stuff happen. As long as they're far enough from Thor and Mamoru, it's enough, so with a shout, he summons once more as the visage of the demon monkey king rises above his head.

There's no word for this spell yet, since it hasn't been created or used before. All it needs then---]

MAZIONRISA!

[Does it work?

It sure as hell does - the spitting image of Goku holds his staff out, frightening in its presence as electricity pours forth from the hilt outward. Particles of earth begin rising unnaturally in the air as the climate changes to a damp heat, humidity becoming empowered with electromagnetic energies as a wall, as tall as the eye can see and wider then the peripheral horizon, begins to form, cutting off their retreat. The land below becomes seared as the netting takes place, and as one brave member of the mighty and noble house tries to pass through, they're disintegrated seamlessly.]

W...whoa. D'you--- It's a giant bug zapper!!! WOO-HOO!!![Okay, this is cool and all, but it's also draining his magic pretty powerfully, so he's going to have to resume that run- leaving his persona's image to stand guard of the wall as it begins to move backward, destroying the earth beneath it.]

ALRIGHT! WE'RE OUTTA HERE, GENJI! [You know as they say, out of the pot and into the frying pan. This gambit was all the juice he had left.]

[ It's true that Genji would be able to move at a much quicker pace, even jumping through the trees to propel himself forward and keep the Araneans guessing, if he didn't also have to keep an eye on Ryuji. He'd told Mamoru and Thor that he would watch over the younger COST member, and he intends to keep his word. So he manages his pace to make sure that Ryuji doesn't fall too behind, and when the teen slips, he's quick to halt and turn back around to make sure he isn't caught by one of the spiders.

As it turns out, Ryuji really doesn't need a caretaker. He summons Son Goku yet again, pulling forth a spell that's truly spectacular. It's a giant wall or energy barrier of some sort. Genji would have guessed it was made of hard light, though it hardly matters -- it's shredding anything that tries to comes through it, which means that at least for now, the Araneans can't get to them, and they've already run far away from the rest of their contingent.

Genji assumes that the spell won't last forever, which means that they need to keep running. He nods and races through the woods at Ryuji's side, shooting glances behind him to make sure that the wall is still in place. ]

That was incredible! That being you summoned -- is it really Son Goku?

[ Possibly cooler than summoning a spirit dragon, the jury is still out on that one. All the same, Genji is impressed with the tricks that Ryuji's had hidden up his sleeve all this time. ]

[In the thick of their shared safety, they've begun spilling out into the wilderness that spanned as far as the eye could see in every direction. There's not much left of his SP, his magical resource that allows him to call his persona to begin with, and that much becomes quickly apparent as blue particles float like tiny fireflies around his mask, and it dulls on his face, useless. Taking out a bandaid from his pocket, he opens it, and affixes it to his arm, rolling the sleeve of his outfit up enough to do so. It's... a magic item. It'll slowly patch some energy back into him, because right now? He feels spent.

And a little discouraged, but he's doing his best to try to hide that behind his exterior, one that's built of determination and steadfastness. Honestly, he's never had to actually kill a living thing since coming here. There wasn't really a reason that it ever had to happen. Spider or not, it was still life. He'll deal with it later.]

Kinda? It's more like a piece of my soul that's latched onto his myth. I dunno if it's... the real thing or anything. But he's how I fight, basically.

[Their pace can slow a bit, right? No one would be dumb enough to follow after someone that could do that to their army. Or maybe Thor and Mamoru were strong enough to use the pincer attack to their advantage. It was hard to tell at this point, now that they scattered.]

And uh. Dude... where... where are we?

[ A piece of his soul? Genji has spent much of his recent time (before COST recruited him, at least) putting thought into the concept of a soul and what it meant, so he finds that explanation fascinating. He can't fully understand what Ryuji means, but he'd be interested to learn more.

That should probably wait until they're not stranded in the middle of the wilderness, however. Genji wants to see them safely back to civilization first, and then they'll have plenty time to discuss the meaning of "soul." ]

A good question. [ He mentally scrolls through the options on his BCE, but there's no map loaded up for this area. ] We need to find a way back to Ythaway, if at all possible. We should take this opportunity to explore while the others finish the fight.

[ Of course, there could still be Araneans pursuing them, but Genji's senses are sharpened for anyone who might come after them. He presses forward, using his sword to cut gouges into trees so they don't get turned around. It will also be a trail for Thor and Mamoru to follow, if need be. ]

[ He knows Genji will look out for Ryuji as much as he can, and even if the younger man doesn't seem inclined towards battle, he must have a reason for being here with COST. Thor will have to trust that he knows what he's getting into - or at least how to get out of it, if it comes to that. If all goes well, the brunt of the combat should be focused with he and Mamoru, and the Generals.

Thor nods at the other two as they depart, then turns to Mamoru. ]

I'll draw their focus. You know what to do. [ He's seen Mamoru fight, and the swordsman's skill as a strategist isn't easily matched. Whether he wants to find the most advantageous opening, or throw himself right into the center of the fight as well, it ought to be good.

Thor takes a running start, then jumps from the cliff. The hammer comes down first, with a boom that's echoed by the distant sound of thunder. His landing creates a shockwave staggers that nearest warriors of house Khah, and the Generals immediately take advantage with their spears.

Undaunted, Thor hefts his hammer and drives directly into the fray. ]

["You know what to do", he says, and then jumps off a cliff leaving a scent of ozone trailing behind him, as if it's something Mamoru can follow.

Formidable as the display is, it's not a reminder of Mamoru's own mortality as much as it's a challenge to up his ante. He snorts and shakes his head.] Show off.

[He looks around, at the vegetation behind and beside him, looks for a place where he can climb down. There's a slope that's less steep than the rest of the terrain and would take him to a further side of the battle.

But first...

He walks further, to where the cliff is wrapping around the back of the attack, where tree roots curled around and down the edge of the cliff. Drawing his sword, he inhales, sets his shoulders back, tenses triceps, biceps, obliques, core.

He moves, and runs.

Three tree trunks, tip over and bring down with their own weight a couple more trees. They topple and roll down the cliff, down to the flank of the group. It's enough of a commotion to keep some of them distracted from both Generals and Thor at once.

In the dust created by the landslide, Mamoru shows up and grins, sword steadily aimed at the Araneans' joints.]

[ Trees begin rolling down the cliff, sending Khah's daughters scattering out of what positioning they've managed to reclaim. The Generals are some of the most bloodthirsty and opportunistic fighters that Thor has ever seen, and they easily leap onto the rolling logs to take advantage of their opponents, as if this has always been a part of their plan. Mamoru doesn't even pause for breath as he too joins the fray, laying into their opponents with unerring precision.

Thor finds his rhythm all too easily among the skilled group of fighters. One of the Generals puts her spear through the chest of her opponent, and Thor sends a bolt of lighting coursing through it to finish the kill. When Thor lands a blow with his hammer or grapples one of the spiders, Mamoru seems to know exactly where he needs to be. Still, it's not an easy fight. The daughters of Khah have not only numbers, but all sorts of weapons at their disposal. Thor spins his hammer, deflecting heat from what looks to be a spider duel wielding flame throwers. He's having a pretty good time, and it shows.

He feels the coming of the storm well before he sees the distant flash of lightening - and not his own lighting, surprisingly. He's certain it isn't Genji, either. It seems like keeping Ryuji out of the fight wasn't something they really had to worry about after all.

The skies darken rapidly as clouds roll in over the fight; two very unusual storms suddenly raging in two different parts of the field ought to draw plenty of attention. ]

[Thunder rolls and it takes a lot of effort in the beginning for Mamoru to not get too distracted by these two storms. He can't afford to be distracted, not when he's the weakest link in the middle of this battle.

The advantage of their size difference - human and Aranean - is that once the tip of the spears, the end of their legs, the reach of their arms and mandibles, is crossed, there's not much that these Araneans can do. Mamoru uses that to his advantage, and it's a good thing that as a human, the spiders still instinctively overlook him at first, so when they do find him a target, their killing intent is easier to pinpoint.

The dust settles around him but the battle doesn't. It's a little too late for half a dozen of them, curled on the floor and toppling with cut legs. The sword is losing its edge, though, so Mamoru quickly sheathes it, after running over an injured Aranean and jumping into another, on another's chest.

The Generals bring down a couple of others, one of them almost conveniently dropping a spear at his feet. He gives one of the twins a nod, smirking, knowing that it hadn't been their intention. The twin clicks her mandibles in dismissal, but too busy to even correct the idea.

No matter, anyway. Mamoru picks up the spear. It's not very different from a naginata, anyway. A glance at Thor, and a quick assessment of the rest of the forces. They seem confused by his power and the elements that respond to him. Part of the group scattered to another end - probably after Genji and Ryuji.]

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