To Protect

[19:09] She would rain everything, there was no quarter held. Though other injuries seemed to inhibit her attacks, she still tried with abandon. Those streams of vermillion energy leaving her in wisps,

Thankfully she hadn't attacked anyone weaker than herself, but as she would dive forward the blunt side of his weapon finds her gut stealing her breath and sliding her away.

The flames on her wings nearly extinguishing from the blow before she was trapped between the ice and cold. The ice shatters and she falls, slowly she rises, those crimson eyes still glowing with madness and bloodlust.

She looks to the man's icy blues before she sees two others emerge from the gate, the question posed to her all but ignored. Flames flaring once more as she settles on one figure,

Rindou

The one who had broken her heart, the one who had more than once rejected her for what she was.... who she was.

The one who would only want her for the power it brought.

She would try to sail over the Drakanite's head, her rubies striking down at the woman.. would she be interrupted?
(Calista Shimasu)
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[19:14] If Adrian wasn't so damn tall she probably would have been able to see Calista's approach on the other side. While she knew the woman was there - right there, even, there was something more important that she had to do before she could return to Lea's side, something that most definitely would surprise the blue-haired girl, the Drakanite, and perhaps stop Calista right in her tracks.

Where one might've expected Rindou to sock Adrian at the back of the head she did the complete opposite. Both her arms wrapped around the man, forcing him into the unusual, uncharacteristic hug she needed to offer.

It would be the best way to gain the appreciation and affection of many. The best way to transmit her message to him, despite how vulnerable she was in that spot to Calista's attack.

"Since when do you listen to people when they call you dumb?"

The Rowan hadn't even listened when she told him not to go suicide, let alone the insults that came with it.
(Rindou Sakamoto)
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[19:23] Calista was still moving, standing again even after he had put her down once. But now, he had other problems to deal with.

Rindou was here, someone he didn't exactly want to see at all. In fact, he left Levengard without expecting to see or hear anything from them for a long time.

All the discussions he had with Calista, and now she was losing her cool. He had just come out of combat, so his blood was already pumping. And now, Rindou was moving in to hug him? It's successful at first, but it seems he's pretty set on the current situation.

''Since when did you give a fuck?'' Swinging his axe upwards, a large wall of ice forms to block Calista's path off for now. But with the size, the defense wasn't entirely unbreachable and Calista may easily get through it.

But it gave him a moment.

''You are no different than most of them, and I am tired of it. I warned Lea the next person to bad mouth me or hit my face would regret it. So consider yourself lucky.''

A boot raises upwards, pressed against Rindou's stomach. Until a hard push is given, sending the woman back away from him. If she maintained her body strength, she may be able to stay standing. If now? She would meet the floor with his kick... One that clearly didn't seem to hold back on being painful if not prepared for.

That shift of ice begins to flow, as snow falls down around his form. As eyes move to focus on LEa next, the essence of blue dances out from his slits. ''And what are you doing here?''

Skadi's Genesis is raised again, Adrian was more than happy to fight both sides at the same time. Calista's need for blood and lust forcombat, and Rindou who had just been kicked away from him.

If he had to, the hydras would rise on the field.
(Adrian Rowan)
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[19:27] "...I'm just here to help keep Rindou safe. Pay me no mind."

Oh Kraus, she was noticed. She didn't want to be noticed. She gazed over at Rindou before raising her hands and walking back, wanting to be out of the range of anything bad that might happen. This'd change if Rindou was actually attacked, however.

"Unless it actually comes to a fight. Then you're gonna have to pay me some mind."
(Lea Elisheva)
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[19:31] That wall of ice was met with flaps of those black wings, sailing above the cold wall she crashes down next to Rindou. Her initial attack had been interrupted by Adrian's ice.

Flames curled from her wings and leapt forth to strike at the woman, anyone who could see her would let them now she wasn't in her right mind.

The wisps of something foreign still emerging, that madness still infecting the Regent's mind. Her being a Magi of Cosmic nature making the Belialite influence even stronger.

"DID YOU THINK HURTING ME WAS FUNNY?! THAT IT WAS OKAY?!?"

She was definitely trying to do some damage.
(Calista Shimasu)
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[19:33] When it came to physical strength Rindou was not one often outmatched. The boot that rose up as Adrian aimed to split away from her was caught by a single hand holding tightly onto it. Amber eyes met the man's energized own as she spoke, bearing a clear frown.

"Since you wanted to go off on your own risking your life. And you wish— I wish I wasn't different than most of them, but we both know that's not true. We both know that you're not angry at me, either."

Her free hand moved to push the man back slightly, right up against the wall before it shattered. Though that wouldn't stop what came next. With no weapon to defend herself or any chance to step away, Rindou was forced into a battle against what looked like a crazed Calista.

Flames were met with scorching earth, though it wasn't obvious how long she'd last on her own.
(Rindou Sakamoto)
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[19:39] The Belialite cosmic magic immediately caused a sharp pain in Lea's head, as she heard the same cries that the lifestream always gave off when something wretched was in her midst. She didn't let this get the better of her, though, as she immediately caused a holywater aura to envelop her body, making her way over to Rindou's side. With a wave of Rebirth, Lea caused a bubble of holywater to envelop Rindou's body and, although it'd likely disperse in a single blow, it'd at least add enough space between the two of them to allow Lea to join the fray.

"Calista, get ahold of yourself!"

The implications of an Oracle fighting a Regent did not once cross her mind. Her reaction was almost entirely reflexive, and she was more focused on helping Rindou than any of the implications such an act would hold.
(Lea Elisheva)
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[19:45] Rindou seemed intent on holding her own, gripping his boot and pushing him back. Her words only irritate him, but he had no intentions to kick her away again.

No... Not while Calista falls from above them in an attempt to strike her down. While Rindou moved to defend herself, Adrian's icy slits shift onto Lea who moves forward.

Which is when he moves quickly, like a blur as he moves up and lands down in front of Lea. Skadi's Genesis is still held in his hand, while the snow around him begins to get worse. The green grass turns into a snowy white, as the whole area is affected by his presence.

Atmosphere shift.

Now... The fields above Huangzhou were similar to the snowy mountain at the top of Agartha. Or maybe worse? As ice forms beneath the snow, making each step a difficult one to make.

''Go home. You shouldn't be here. Oracle. Don't you have people to roll over for so they can keep killing and causing issues?''

Annoyed, Adrian seemed more than ready to help Calista beat them down. He wanted to fight, this is what he was made for. Combat... Wasn't he? That's exactly what Lea made him out to be back in Levengard, so now she would get a taste of exactly that here.

''Friends with everyone, what a joke. Your all just some disgusting joke, and I am tired of hearing it over and over again.''
(Adrian Rowan)
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[19:47] Truly she gave not even a single fuck that Adrian was helping her, if anything she didn't even notice. Pretty much anyone and anything was a target, something to destroy, make bleed.

She wanted to smell burning flesh on the air, and to see the grass as nothing but scorched ash.

Though the darkest part of this, the part that no one would know, was that this didn't make her do this. It just removed her restraints to allow her to do it herself.

Every single attack would be thrown at Rindou, no one else... nothing else mattered... nothing but revenge.
(Calista Shimasu)
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[20:00] What a mess. This wasn't how she expected things to go. Why was Adrian siding with Calista? And why was Calista this... angry, and mad? Rindou's confusion quickly lead to a defeat, one that couldn't be avoided. She was pathetic. Unable to do anything. Weaker than everyone else on that battlefield, even. There was no doubt about it, not a single doubt in her mind.

If only... If only she was as strong as Adrian. As blessed as Calista. As smart as Lea. But all of these weren't the case, were they? She was... pathetic. Utterly so. Her heart sank. Her lips parted, yet no words escaped. Amber eyes shifted from one side of the battlefield to the other, her hands trembling, her body barely handling it all.

I don't even have a weapon to defend myself!

What a lie. She just didn't want - didn't dare to draw something that wasn't the blade she desired. The blade she prefered over the rest; a weapon worthy of being in her grasp.

The Sakamoto's hands found themselves holding onto a weapon that radiated with... kindness. Something that didn't look like any commoner would hold - something far, far above her paygrade. This weapon, by all means, was beautiful.

But it wasn't the right one. It brought no end to her inner turmoil.

Still, she couldn't just let Lea fall because of her.
(Rindou Sakamoto)
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[20:02] She wouldn't hesitate, every strike was made to slay, injure, maim. She was lost in her madness, anyone who got between herself or her target would be met with equal force.

No sword would change that.
(Calista Shimasu)
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[20:02] Lea Elisheva says, "Rindou..."
[20:03] Lea Elisheva says, "Thank you."
[20:03] Rindou Sakamoto exclaims, "Stop being this dramatic!"
[20:14] She would give all of her effort, every ruby every sword, every lick of flame. It was all to destroy one person, to break them, she wanted to see gushing red.

She attacked with raw abandon, her cousin constantly assailing her alongside Rindou. Though before she was inevitably defeated under such an assault she wouldn't be able to finish the job... not before Lea was defeated eventually.

She slowly rises, already moving towards Rindou once more. She wouldn't stop until she was stopped.

"You hurt me you hurt me you hurt me.... bleed... bleed... bleed.."

More flames were already rising.
(Calista Shimasu)
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[20:20] The field was made up of snow, which made it difficult for them all to move. But Calista's flames and Rindou's lava does work, causing the snowflakes to melt away on the ground.

Yet; that was just an extent of Adrians strength. As those hydras form at his waist to become the real threat. Three long necks, with maws, dangerously hovering over all present. It was quite clear Adrian was holding back compared to what he was capable off, which could have been a problem for anyone present if he didn't.

The very essence of ice floods out from his eyes, dripping down around his form. Before Skadi's Genesis is swung forwards, causing that eruption of ice to split them apart.

''I said go home, otherwise I will beat all three of you into the dirt.''

Spikes of ice tear and cut into Lea's flesh, causing blood to flow... But nothing she couldn't heal by using her magic alone. Rindou's molten shell is cracked, as ice forms and causes it to peel. Leaving burns of frost across her skin.

But since Rindou and Lea had been forced back, Adrian had already planned to move in on Calista next. Without warning at all, wings spread out around his back as his body skates around the field. Multiple spikes of ice dance in the air, before darting towards Calista to pierce into her body and send her crashing into the ground.

If anything, Adrian was prepared to beat the demi-angel fox down a second time. ''I have nothing to say to either of you... Because I am just some brutish fighter, a meathead. Isn't that right, Lea? Get. Lost.''

The blizzard picks up, winds even flowing over the field now. If anyone had control of the area around them and decided onthe flow of battle... It was Adrian. ''I'm done being nice. Done rolling over... I'm done.'' If Calista wanted to keep attacking Rindou, she clearly had to get past Adrian first.
(Adrian Rowan)
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[20:32] She was hurt. Crushed. Defeated. There was... nothing but a desire to reach that level, to surpass that man, to prove herself as able as Adrian was, yet she couldn't. She was uttlerly unable to do something like that. He was strong enough to take them both on, even with a crazed and wounded Calista it didn't matter.

A brutish fighter, a meathead. Perhaps one that surpassed every other. He wasn't even fighting with all of his strength, either. Just what were they supposed to do against that?

Her warm breath created fog before her lips as she watched him step in front of Calista, step in front of the literal witch chanting for her demise. She froze up, against her wiser self, she didn't run. She had to say something. Quiet, but not too quiet.

"... thanks, Adrian."

Regardless of what he had said he was stepping in, wasn't he? He was stopping Calista from doing some extra damage, for one reason or another. Out of the few people that Rindou could still consider a friend, Adrian proved why she came up with affection this time, why she gave him what he needed while he was at his lowest.

He ridiculed her, but never called her weak. He bothered her, but never hurt her. Her let her humiliate herself, but never stood still while she was in danger.

How much of an idiot do you have to be to not realize you're someone's friend, anyway?
(Rindou Sakamoto)
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[20:32] Well.

It wouldn't be accurate to say they didn't stand a chance, but they still lost, decisively. Even though Rindou was the first one to be target, Lea, too, found herself being bathed by flames and ice, various cuts, lacerations, and burns covering the whole of her body. Calista couldn't be stopped, either, so it seemed as if...

...Adrian decided to stop Calista, too?

She stated one final thing to Adrian before turning around and making her escape, grabbing Rindou by the hand should she be unable to- or refused to.

"Stop assuming I won't do the right thing, Adrian."

...what even was the right thing?

"I'm not rolling over either... and it really hurts that you assume I will."

Her steps on the way back faltered, making her shaky emotional state incredibly obvious.
(Lea Elisheva)
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[20:36] The Drakanite was nothing but an obstacle in her eyes, the sociopathic monster within fully released. She had no friends, she had no family, she had nothing. Nothing but what flowed through her right now.

She swings, a flame covered fist striking for the Drakanites jaw.

The battle resumed once more.

The whispering in her mind, releasing herself while also filling her with a desire. The desire to free what was above, the Sealed One.

Perhaps once Rindou was dead...

How much did she want the woman dead for what was initially a blind rage to force her to target..? Almost as if she had done something to truly hurt the Demi..
(Calista Shimasu)