Team Effort

"Ok now," Maya began, "Now which one should I use this time?" She was digging in her bag to find some sort of weapon; or at least that's what Jessica guessed she needed. So the young Shaman girl was thoroughly surprised when the brash young Drifter pulled out a book of all things. But before any of the Blazing Guns could laugh at the thought of a book as an effective weapon, it began to glow in a soft blue light. Maya drew out the power coming from inside, and a flash of blue blinded everyone in the room.

When it cleared, Maya had changed. Now, she had long hair that flowed down to the middle of her back. She had on a blue tunic and a pair of black breaches underneath. Around her midsection was a black leather belt with a big circular clip in the middle. Her greaves and gauntlets were leather with a steel covering around the very top. Finally, she had a one edged sword as long and big as Dragonflare.

"I figured since you were a swordswoman, I'd take you on with a sword myself. Todd, get the big girl; you're the only one tall enough to go toe to toe with someone like her. Shady, I want you to handle that boy. Alfred, since the final girl seems quite timid, I think she'll be a good match for you," she ordered.

S...S

Todd charged at Laura and tried to hit her with a Psycho Crack. However Laura was so big and muscular that she somehow managed to completely block the attack without the use of PS. She cocked her rifle and aimed. Todd took a hit in the shoulder but was still able to fight back. He ran at her to try and simply hit her with his sword. This hit did some damage and Laura reeled backwards in her pain.

The woman told him, "You're pretty good for such a scrawny guy. But unfortunately, you're not my type. So I'm not gonna go easy on you. Time to end this fight." She dropped the shells out of her Rifle and took out a new packet. These shells were a dark black color; not gold like the ones she used on a daily basis. Laura invoked her Lock On technique and fired. A black mist filled the air as it hit his side.

Todd looked at the girl. "What in the name of every Guardian there is did you do to me? This was no ordinary attack. It feels as if a darkness is trying to eat me alive." The mist seemed to do some additional damage to compliment what harm the bullet itself could accomplish. He was definitely in pain.

"Darkness Shells," Laura stated, "I know how to make special gunpowder that can stimulate the magic used by the people of Baskar. I figured this one would be most appropriate considering that I have Invoked the strength of the Death Guardian. Now feel my wrath, Doom Circle!" With those words, the darkness began to increase around Todd. He was engulfed entirely inside of the attack. After the smoke cleared, the swordsman was on the floor; wounded from the pain that all the energy she used inflicted.

S...S

Shady was blasting Vincent with his Breath attacks. In retaliation, the young man tried to shoot some of his powerful Disabling Ammo at the cat. Vincent had attempted to paralyze Maya's companion to no avail. When that didn't work, he attempted to use Misery Ammo. But it seemed that Shady was immune to status ailments. After all, he was an enchanted creature. They all have special properties.

"You're a good fighter. But you can't attempt to dodge me forever. And your ARMs aren't that powerful. Heh, even that girl that Maya has it in for uses two pistols. One isn't as strong. You're not even as powerful as that; and she struggled to beat us when we fought her team," Shady told the boy.

Vincent retorted, "But maybe I am not showing you my full power. Accelerator!" The air around the youth distorted and he vanished. Shady looked all around but could not find him. Suddenly, he felt a shot in his back. Turning, the creature saw that his opponent had reappeared with a smirk on his face.

As Shady jumped into the air to attack from above, Vincent assumed a praying position. At the moment right before the cat's claws dug into his skin, he vanished once more as the room began to get darker. Shady fell to the ground and began to wonder what was going on. He didn't have to wait long. A tall armored figure appeared; a sword in his hands. The blade struck the cat and he fell to the ground unconscious. Afterwards, the figure faded, the room returned to normal, and Vincent reappeared as well.

S...S

"I really don't like this too much," Alfred muttered to himself as he fought, "Why does Sis have to be so confrontational? She's going to get herself killed one day. I worry about her." Lyla had backed him into a corner by casting her various Arcana. She felt sorry for him; he didn't seem to be much of a fighter.

"Forgive me for having to do this to you. It's just that we must protect the Summon Stone at all costs. I hate getting violent with anybody. It's just not in my nature to harm others. But for my friends and the Guardians I protect, I will defeat all of you," Lyla replied. With that, she began to concentrate as if to utilize a Gatling. However, without ARMs it was a very differenttype ofattack. Instead, she held her staff out as if it were a long sword. The glint of determination began to appear in the Defender's eyes.

Lyla screamed, "Beater!" With that, she ran at her opponent and hit him with the staff a total of seven times. Since the weight of a staff is relatively low compared to many ARMs, one who stimulates a Gatling attack can hit a greater number of times without having to alter their weapon at all. The downside of this tactic, however, was that each shot was weaker than an ARM but stronger than a fist. But since Lyla didn't want to hurt Alfred, only disable him; she didn't need to cause him any unnecessary wounds.

The boy fell to the ground and was out of the fight. She checked his pulse to make sure that he wasn't in need of medical attention. Good, his heart was still beating strong. Lyla wouldn't have to heal his wounds at all. But to be on the safe side she cast a Heal spell to keep him healthy when he awoke.

S...S

Maya and Jessica were fighting a close duel. Sword clashed against sword as the battle raged on between the two women. Neither wanted to give up at all. They would rather die than fall in battle to their opponent. Maya's reason was she wanted the gem badly. Jessica, on the other hand, was simply a stubborn mule. When she made up her mind to do something anyone who got in her way better beware.

The older woman smirked at her opponent. "You're good for a kid. I wonder how long you were in training to get like this. It shows in your eyes. You aren't like me; one who learns her abilities from the books she reads. You were trained to be a swordswoman for years. I admire your dedication to a goal. However, nobody dares to get in the way of Maya Schroedinger and gems unless they want to die early."

"Well, I'm not showing you my full power now," Jessica informed her, "You see, I was simply fighting you for the sport up until now. It's been awhile since I had a worthy opponent in the sword. The books you use impart great power. But I will be the victor here; my true power is unleashed. Slash Party!"

Her sword glowed. Quickly she pulled it back and utilized a Gatling speed skill. Four times the youth slashed down at her opponent. But the damage she could inflict was stronger than any ARM. As the glow died down and the sword made its last slash, Maya fell to the floor in a faint; out of the fight.

Teefa's Last Words...

Hooray! I've written a battle scene that's actually a good one. I can just see Todd and Shady fighting, Alfred a little bit uneasy about it, and Maya locked in a heated duel just to prove how powerful she is. Well, next time we get ourselves ready to head to Humprey's Peak and Jessica's next clue.