Valor

[23:27] "... Sorry. I had to find a spot somewhere around Gehenna that wasn't so open it'd draw flies, but one that wasn't so obscure Briar Locke could find us." She pockets her hands now and looks to the two of them for a time, holy energies starting to flair up at her side.

".. Kabu just informed me that Issac, and more than likely what he controls of Huangzhou, is making amends and gaining friendship with Briar Locke to the east. He brought me into a meeting and sat me down - Informed me what was happening, and said that war is on the horizon. A war that doesn't look good whatsoever. He's fearful Huangzhou and Briar Locke will team together to fight against Gehenna." She takes in a deep breath and pats Masamune at her hip, taking a stance and crossing her arms. "He said that a contact of his told him that Briar Locke would be more than willing to not attack Gehenna if I was to give up the blade at my hip.. Masamune. I told him that it was dumb to rest bandits and sins." She looks up to the sky and shakes her head.

"I'm of the opinion that Briar Locke will continue to chip away at us no matter what we do and in turn, I denied his request to offer myself to a duel or the blade itself. He believes war is coming soon. It's my job to brief you on this Narissa.. And as your friend, Rin, I'm letting you know too."

She takes a step back and brings holy energy into her blade, slicing the air behind her. Trees fall as a potent burst of holy energy is fired off from the blade itself, creating an arena of some sort.

".. Because of this, and because we are not strong enough to fight Issac, Ashalle, or Ahmir - We're going to be brutally training if you can afford the stamina and sleep."
(Caira Vindict)
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[23:34] She had thought a drink would spice up the evening and made the tragic world around them a bit better, even if she had never drank before. Instead she was met with worrisome news. While an alliance between Huangzhou and Briar Locke would help her project in Dusk greatly, the fact that they planned on attacking Gehenna in the process was unacceptable. She could not afford to lose those few people she cared about, most of which resided in the midst of those jungles.

As trees were cut down and the news of Masamune's endangerement was spoken of the young woman nodded. Her right hand reached for her own crimson blade as a similar burst of holy magic surrounded her, crescents of holy might being sent off left and right to help with the creation of the arena. Her own thoughts were shared amidst the current chaos.

"We'll have to find Muramasa as well, then. It's as you've said, isn't it? When both of those blades are together miracles are made possible."

The red katana was swung once more before her feet shifted into a certain aggressive stance, all too ready to strike.

"What are you thinking of? Straight combat?"
(Rindou Sakamoto)
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[23:36] She doesn't once question why they were dragged so far away, nodding only a couple of times as Caira explains herself. With a deadpan expression, she shifts her gaze between Rindou and the fellow War Chief. This far away, and without the company of any swine...

Narissa feels no reason to fake any emotional expressions.

"Masamune? They've been attacking, fought since Kabu wouldn't fight Ahmir for the Chieftain title. Which, is fine. As that is not an honor duel. It is a coup." Something she'd never understood, is why most fail to understand the difference between the two.

"I think Kabu's informant is as incompetent as himself." At the notion of training, Narissa merely bobs her head.

"Standard combat is not. My specialty, but it wouldn't hurt to learn."

(Narissa)
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[23:46] "Regardless of what's in the air - There's this issue that lay in the mud. None of us are strong enough to brave Issac Shimasu or Briar Locke's inevitable assault. So we'll need to grow, and get stronger. All of us should come together and list our specialties and what we hope to acquire in the coming days that'll edge the victory."

She takes in a deep breath and starts to force her holy magic to glow a frighteningly bright amount. Masamune starts to grow a razor-tipped edge of holy magic all around it. "He said his informant was Keitaro - I imagine with how in tune with Briar Locke he really is, perhaps it might turn out?"

She shakes her head. "Regardless of that fact, let's come together and make tonight one of progress. I'll start." She brings Masamune upwards and holds it to the others. "I've been working on being Gehenna's Bulwark my entire lfie, and I'm going to realize that tonight. I've been projecting my holy magic onto my blade in the form of a shield to keep myself standing, but also to bash over the heads of my foes. As for my own power - I've been putting every last iota of driving force to never bend a knee into myself.

I will not break. That is my goal."

With Masamune drawn and a stare given back to Rindou, Caira nods her head and turns to the others. "We can transition into the heat of combat in a moment. I'd like us all to realize and understand we're this generation's hope and chance at becoming something much bigger. Protecting it from danger. Protecting one another from danger. So what's up- What kinds of leaps are going to go through to match those that're threatening to tear down peace?"
(Caira Vindict)
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[23:54] Caira really was like that when it came to battle, and perhaps life itself. Plans. Reports. Stability. Ensuring everything is done properly and in an orderly manner. Immovable, really. Rindou had proven she was quite the opposite instead: Aggressive, sporadic, keeping all of her notes in her head, getting ready for battle before it even begun; she hadn't even put too much thought into the kind of title she'd want or what she would try to improve from this day forward. A long moment of silence came, enough for Narissa to speak first before she delivered her own thoughts.

"I've been working on becoming Illuminated. I believe in the values that Jiuweihu wishes to impart on the world after Lady Reito has brought them upon me. I've tried saving her from the horrible reality she lives in, but no matter what Isaac Shimasu does to her, she does not leave his side.

For every bruise he's covered her with, I'll return it. I'll protect the people I care about - the people I love by striking down those who threaten them before an issue can arise.

That's my goal: To break those blades before they can ever reach us."

Cheesy, corny, and full of knight-like ideals. This wasn't something she'd normally do, or at least, words like these would only be spoken after taking down an opponent as proof of her success, rather than hyping herself up for it. She looked down towards the crimson blade that had claimed so many lives before, then back up towards the others.

Being herself around Narissa and playing along Caira's desires felt odd.
(Rindou Sakamoto)
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[00:10] "Hm." Did it truly matter if the humans found out? It had begun to question this, for a while. With a few amnesias, different magic could be learned. By simply touching someone who passes by, a new persona could be attained, and with her most recent change?

The ability to change shape rivaled that of the most talented Envy.

"Hm." It had come to realize it wasn't near as honorable or honest as Caira. It had come to realize, that her ideals were steady and unshaking. This, being the very reason why it had become fascinated with the woman. It admired Caira, for who, and what she is.

While understanding that it didn't live as she did.

"Hm." With a third hum, it's pink eyes fall upon Rindou, listening to, and absorbing every word. Where they'd disagreed before,these claims make it respect this woman; claims that had been backed up by her very actions.

Remembering the time, where she'd saved Caira from the Shogun's wrath.

"Well. I see."

Those eyes shift back and forth, and Narissa begins to...

Smile.

"All I want to do, at the end of the day, is learn. I want to experience all I can, while alive. My kind do not live as long as yours. Though, in recent times. I've decided that I want to find a means to avoid this. As the source did. As. She did. During my time among the tribes.

I have taken on few ideals. Few goals. But. I will list them."

As Ardith would likely say- fuck it.

"I want to transfer my thoughts, to humans, to show them how I truly feel. To guide those, that would shorten their livesthrough foolish actions. I saved a dog. An Ookami, earlier. With this method. It now works for the Atl, and it's lifespan has easily been doubled. I want to stop humans from killing each other, where I can. While removing the humans who cannot stop.

Wasting. As most deaths, result in waste. As much as we enjoy the humans, that is our biggest complaint with your kin; the wastefulness. Yet, we believe most are capable of learning, and changing. And those who cannot do either? Those who refuse to give up, their wastefulness, and kill, harm, maim, and destroy for the most petty of reasons.

Will be removed."

Stated, as she takes her truest form, flesh melting into a pile of acidic goop.

"Yet, we know there will be bias. As the humans we enjoy the most, will receive more attention than those we can easily ignore. More protection, than those who do not share time, with us."


(Narissa)
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[00:45] "Good. That's a start for the both of us. Break every blade that reaches us - An unbreakable shield. My goal. Break every blade before it can make a move - An unstoppable force. Rin's goal. Knowledge and transmission of thoughts - A communication highway. Nari's goal." She watches the woman start to melt and become goop on the floor. Caira smiles at this as if she'd seen it tens of times before. The transformation doesn't scare her at all.

However harrowing it might've been for anyone else to lay eyes on it, Caira is laughing. "So you're comfortable then, Nari. That's good." She turns her blade's edge back towards Rindou and smiles. "Your goal is to smash my blade away before it can ever reach you. My goal is going to be to ensure you'll never break me or my sword. Opposites for the same cause. This is why I've decided you'll be the one to wield Muramasa." A smile occurs and Caira gets into an immediate fighting position.

Earth rises up all around her, ready to morph and block any and all attacks. It was a power driven off of empowering herself - So that she could protect everyone behind her. A derivative of holy magic. In it's simplest form?

It's Valor.

"As for you, Nari.. How do you plan on training that, tonight? Do you want to try and push thoughts into our head and see if you can get a reply while we're in the heat of battle?" Caira takes in a deep breath, and a holy burst of energy is released from her sword and aura alike.

A huge, paladin's shield is manifest into the sky. It's target? Rindou's head, sword, and assault. Nothing was getting through the bulwark's shield.
(Caira Vindict)
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[00:53] The transformation brought forth by Narisaa both explained a lot and nothing at all. It was terrifying, scary, horrifying. just... what was she? She wasn't human, that much was obvious. How could Caira not be shocked by it? This was definitely not a Gehennan thing. The way she spoke about humanity and how it wastes a lot and does not understand its full potential was...

... it was frankly terrifying. It was like being friends with a real-life villain with the way this goop of whatever she was spoke, yet, it was told in a way that wished for the best of Agartha. The tone made her shiver, the thoughts inspired her. Rindou was getting put out of her game and would remain like that until Caira revealed her intent.

Almost instinctively a smile was flashed in the woman's way with a very Caira-esque retort to it. Or maybe it was Rindou-esque at this point; she had grown to be a more agreeable and fun person over the past few years.

"As if you even had a choice."

When the intensity of Caira's light grew, Rindou's own dimmed before it. It wasn't dead, but it clearly couldn't match the other woman's own. Not yet. She wasn't putting all of her heart into it.

A molten shell came and covered her whole body, embracing the golden lights and hiding them underneat it all. As the propositions were made and the idea for a proper training regiment was met the young Luminate tightened the grip on her blade, pointing it towards the shield that had been manifested and coursing both scorching earth and holy might through it.

She was about to strike. And strike first she would.
(Rindou Sakamoto)
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[01:47] There's a flash of gold and blue - And she's moving like a bullet. Caira is faster than ever as she leaps into the air and bares her sword, shining like the sun itself. As she went to slam it down into Rindou, the massive shield in the air would start to fall like a meteoric comet. The impact hits the woman before her, and once more that shield is brought up and dispersed. She needed to get better at manifesting it right as its needed.

It took an obscene amount of mana. Ground rises into the air then and there, defending her from the slashes of Rindou as little by little, the blade meets its mark. Caira had always been faster - And in a way, she's dodging now on top of blocking and parrying. One sword swings past her and she side steps it, another goes to meet her cheek and her aura fights it off.

She was beginning to fight with it like a second skin. This was it. After all her hard work, it was all coming together. She's more sturdy, her attacks are becoming more potent. "Too slow!" She screams now, bringing up Masamune as Rindou's sword is knocked clean from her hands and send spiraling into the tree at the side.

Caira leaps into the air to finish her with a falling slash while Rindou was on the ground - And once more, that giga-sized paladin's shield starts to fall. Slamming down and shaking the ground, leaving a crater next to Rindou Caira backs up and brings a hand up to wipe her mouth free of blood.

… Had all the losses prior gotten her fired up? She narrows her eyes at Rindou and nods. Never break, never surrender. Take the smart path and never stop fighting. These are the rules of the Bulwark.

".. Again. Up." She steps back, taking a stance further away.
(Caira Vindict)
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[01:56] What was the difference here? How could she be so far from beating Caira when she always had bested her? What was the difference here? Chunks of molten lava were being tossed left and right as the Gehennan's resolve coursed through her body, forcing Rindou to acknowledge it - to accept that she would be immovable, invincible.

Those claws and that bit of fur couldn't be the difference, no. These were... nothing but looks. There was something tugging at her heart that made her hesitate, something that made her lose focus. She had said she'd go to Dusk and have a shrine be the base of operation for her plans against Isaac Shimasu, yet... she still relied on others to come and gather. To help. To be there. She was afraid of confronting him, afraid of telling him what she thought, afraid, deep down, that Reito would suffer for her actions as she already had.

This man was a monster who needed to be put down.

If you wish to stop Isaac? Then stop him. Gather your forces and instate a new power.

So much goes wrong on this world because people are so afraid to make a real difference.

Calael Kang's words echoed in her mind as she slowly forced herself up from where she laid, gripping her blade more tightly. This... this problem wasn't one that Reito could solve, she had tried. Mercy would not do much to break it down. Setsuna was busy with her own quest in taking down Sors Ultovex. Caira had her own set of responsabilities to take care of. Vetani was too you and too inexperienced to undertake such a herculean task.

Sure, Rindou Sakamoto would have allies, but she would have to be the one to make that push.

To rise up.

To strike Isaac Shimasu before he could strike down Agartha.

A roar of holy light beneath a magma shell launched forth the noblewoman as she engaged Caira again.

Once more.
(Rindou Sakamoto)
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[02:20] Again. She rushes forward and broadcasts quite literally all of her holy force into her blade and stance. The aura is overwhelming at the point she rises back into Rindou. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't fighting aggressively right now. It seemed almost like all of her muscle and force was being put into each and every last swing. The sword blades collide, and Rindou is thrown backwards. She's got her teeth grit as she sustains and endures every last blow. Caira knows she's finally rising. Finally coming to reach the peak of her progress as the holy shield raises into the air and prepares for one final slam into the floor.

"This- This is what I'm talking about! Gehenna doesn't break, and neither does her Bulwark! Her Shield! Her Paladin!" Caira strides forward and as a sword is slashed forwards her face, the panther-esque woman bites down on it with her feet and stops it before it took her head off. She's staring back atRindou with ferocious, dedicated eyes. A boot rises into the air and kicks her in the stomach, throwing her back.

"And I'll never bend the knee. Every last time I took a defeat, I think I was missing something. I was missing that drive. I talk a lot, but I never really -felt- it." Her aggression shows in that golden shield falling from the sky and inevitably slamming down into Rindou below. ".. We're quickly starting to get even Rindou. Where's the fire? The passion? I know you're a fire magi but I'm feeling nothing!"

She turns now and points an overloaded Masmune at Rindou as she withstood the slam of the valor shield. "Come on! Get up."

Where was that bravado? The attempt at defeating every blade before it could reach? Caira had done swimmingly - Holy wafting off of her body in full completion.
(Caira Vindict)
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[02:33] Another defeat. This one more crushing than the previous one. What was wrong with her? She had resolved herself to defeat Isaac on her own, but... it still didn't feel enough. It wasn't the kind of blade that'd piercing through those dark wings and cut their divinity away. She couldn't...

She was still afraid.

The molten shell around her body kept itself solid, compact, hard. It solidified itself under the impacts of Caira's blade, even as Rindou was forced to the ground.

Where was her fire?

Flames weren't the solution here. They never had been. It was that... holy might. That blade that struck first. The courage that she damned herself for not having - this was the way that she would surpass Caira once again. This was the solution to defeating that man.

How could she hurt him if she remained so far away?

The protection around her began cracking, goops of magma peeled themselves off as the holy light beneath spread through the cracks of her pathetic display. Her body wobbled back and forth as she forced herself back up to her feet. A piece of that protection she had wielded with such might shattered, revealing a light brighter than ever - one that could finally match Caira's own.

A light with some worth - some Valor.

It's with nothing but her holy might that Rindou advanced, casting away her molten shell in favor of a far, far more offensive type of magic in her hands:

Holy magic.
(Rindou Sakamoto)
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[02:52] Ground is made, reclaimed even. Caira is thrown back into the ground as she stabs Masamune into the floor to stop herself from gliding all the way back. She's got her razor sharp feline teeth showing now, and an ear twitches on her head. For the first time in a while, Caira looked angry. She looked passionate.

She looked fired up.

"There! There is it!" She roars now, starting to stand back up as the blue blade is torn from the earth and pointed back at Rindou. "This. This is what I'm looking for. Because if you're not taking this much power to every last fight, then you don't deserve to be my rival!" The holy force surges, it grapples her legs and her person as she took a decisive step forward and earth started to raise and churn around her.

"Come on!" Get back up, grit your teeth, and never lose sight of what's important.

"COME ON!"
(Caira Vindict)
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[02:54] This wasn't the same as fighting with all the might of the earth and the passion of fire at her side. This... was something else entirely. It didn't feel like she was trying to protect herself or empower her strikes, no, it merely felt like she was being herself more than anything else.

This was the feeling she was after. This was the feeling Caira was after, too. A blade unfit to clash with the Gehennan's own was sent forward.
(Rindou Sakamoto)
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[03:02] Passion burns into her veins and she takes that step forward, bringing the golden shield into Rindou's head. Knocking the woman aside with the barrage and burst of righteous force, she's panting now. It's a struggle, but the force is there. She's got her eyes narrowed.

"Come on.. Get up.." The knees don't bend, Caira hopes back and starts to rise more earth to form up and armor her legs and torso. ".. You're not allowed to rest yet." She felt it in her veins. The burning sensation.

.. This was what she was going to feel. Every last second, every last day on the field. She needed this for Briar. For Issac. If she ever wanted to deal with the bounty on her head, she couldn't break. Not to them.

Not to anyone.
(Caira Vindict)
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[03:05] It hurt to take blows directly like that. It hurt way, way more than when she had her molten shell surrounding her. The heat was on, yet Rindou couldn't match it. She fell to the ground, but her body did not relent. Before she could even think about it she was back up on her feet.

If she wanted to carry the burden Calael had put upon her she couldn't let herself fall. She couldn't go down. This was her destiny, in a way. She had to accomplish it. To be Illuminated. To soar high. To bring down this tyrant.

Alone, leading the way so that others could push her from behind.

A wave of holy magic was sent rushing foward, crashing into the feline-looking woman.
(Rindou Sakamoto)
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[03:20] The final stretch. Caira is forced back, she feels herself starting to break. Her stance is falling back bit by bit - Masamune's perfect, gilded edge is risen into the air and used to deflect and block every last attack as it struck her body. Few get through - But she's used to the pain. Caira is getting forced backwards, about to fall before her sword howls in a golden fury. Caira's eyes burn alight with golden magic as she sprung forward and bore that potent blade with absolution in her drive.

"You're getting there, but it's my victory to take!"

The shield that had been manifest rather slowly each time finds itself folding inwards and condensing. She needed it faster, she needed it to be stronger. And so Masamune is swing forward. Vertically, the paladin's shield forms near instantaneously and crashes into Rindou's shoulder. Once more swung at the side, and the shield crashes into ribs. Caira grits her teeth and roars now, practically a pillar of holy force as she leaped towards her.

"So just sit back and watch, Rin. I'm not losing ANYMORE!"

The sky starts to crackle as all of her mana is pushed forth. Little by little, inch by inch. The Paladin's Shield forms in the sky and gets bigger. The width grows, the density of mana thickens. The length extends. It becomes massive. It's larger than a cluster of trees.

"But that's fine.. That's what rivals are for, right?"

Her katana is swung down once more, and like a meteor bound to crater and crash into the jungle - That force all descends upon Rindou once more. To end the duel of all duels.

… Evermore.
(Caira Vindict)
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[03:28] With each blow she's pushed back. With each cut she bleeds more. With each swing she slows down. Rindou was being pushed to her absolute limit, having cast away the heated shield that once protected her in order to favor the holy light that would guide her path towards the future.

Amber eyes met golden ones in an attempt to match their might, to rise up and fight back as best they could, to win that encounter like she had won every single other one. A powerful blow crashed into her shoulder. Another one sent to her side, only for her ribs to be caught in the swing and crushed under the blunt force of that invincible shield Caira had become.

There was no surpassing Caira anymore. There was no getting in her way. There was no stopping her. Their differences were settled and the match, despite being 2 to 1 in Rindou's favor, was the Gehennan's victory.

The noblewoman stumbled back a bit. Her body failed her as a descending strike cleaved through herand the jungle behind, forcing her to put that last effort in stopping that blade with all of the light she had left, all of the strength she could muster.

Trees were ravaged.

Rindou's body hit the ground, her clothes a complete mess and her appearance matching; hair undone, flower barely standing, body heavy, skin revealed from the cuts.

Everything hurt, yet she looked... happy.

For herself. For Caira.
(Rindou Sakamoto)
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[03:38] And after the bravado, the blades and blood - She falls to a single knee as Masamune drops to her side, hits the ground with blade and all. She's panting now, staring down at the grass and starting to wobble. ".. Sorry for going.. Aha.. A little overboard." She turns just a bit to the side and starts to topple. Falling to the side a little bit, she'd hit the floor on her right shoulder and pant afterwards.

".. But I've been needing that win for a while." Rolling onto her back, the panther turns to the sky and stares upwards. A smile on her face, a laughter that oozes outwards. "H-Haha.. Finally.." She holds Masamune into the sky so that the sun's rays reflect off of it and hit the metal just right.

".. I understand what it means to be righteously furious. Briar better look out... I'm not stopping here. Not at all.." Eyes start to close, and her holy power turns off with no more mana left to feed it.
(Caira Vindict)