“So, anyone got a plan?†Einhart asked, wondering when the enemy was going to make their move.
“We could always run back to the car and drive North.†Nove muttered, “I can slap the bracer on and get us going at max speed in a few seconds.†Her eyes widened as several dozen arrows were launched at them. “Watch it!â€
Einhart and Vivio threw their hands up and the arrows bounced harmlessly off the barriers protecting the group. “Great,†Vivio groused, “we can't hurt them, but they can hurt us?â€
“Perhaps that barrier only blocks magic?†Ixpellia suggested as she snapped her wrist straight, a long, thin blade appearing in it before she threw it straight at the Duchess. The group watched with interest as the Duchess snapped her fan up to parry the blade to the side. “It seems that is the case.â€
“Great, so we just rush in and deal with those soldiers and try to fight the attacks from the tanks. Simple,†Nove tapped her feet on the ground, “well, I guess I'm okay with that.â€
Nila unsheathed her sword and nodded. “Indeed, standing here would not suit me well.â€
“What should I do?†Pokota groused at them. “I might have the Sword of Light, but I'm not a close range fighter.â€
“Fire more Dragon Slaves.†Jail spoke up, “before you dismiss the idea, think of it this way, there has to be an upper limit to how much magic those things can absorb and hold. A Dragon Slave barrage might over-load it.â€
Nila nodded and looked at Pokota. “You do that, we shall deal with them.â€
“Arashi, Ixy,†Vivio spoke up without looking at them.
“It's Ixpellia.â€
“Listen, just stay to the back, okay, it might be better to stay here, neither of you are close range fighters.â€
Ixpellia shook her head. “No, I can be more useful...†She trailed off as the soldiers started running forward while the tanks moved in time with them. “Then again, it seems that we do not have a choice.â€
“Staying behind the barrier while running forward?†Nove grimaced, their opponent sure wasn't an idiot, by limiting them of the option to use magic, she effectively cut their fighting ability dramatically.
“Well then...†Lyos started walking forward, “might as well fight them up close and personal.â€
As she watched the group move forward, the Duchess smirked as she patted down her battle dress. “Like lambs to the slaughter.†She muttered, flicking a reddish lock of hair out of her eyes. Tilting her head, she realized that, yes, her opponents had a lot of redheads, two females and two young children. “Lots of redheads,†she muttered, wondering why she thought of that.
“Ma'am!†She turned to see her captain saluting her. “We're almost in position.â€
She nodded at him. “As soon as you drop the barrier, make sure to have the magic troops fire at those two stragglers back there.†She pointed at Arashi and Pokota. “I would rather not leave anything to chance.†Turning back to the action, she slowly walked forward and batted away a stray throwing sword that the small redhead threw at her. 'Interesting, using throwing blades to make up for the lack of mass.' It was a good strategy, she had to admit, but the Duchess knew it was pointless, the armor she was wearing made that strategy worthless, and her fan was specially designed to be able to deflect projectiles, including those swords.
Uno frowned as she looked around as best she could. Something wasn't right, the tanks were loosely surrounding them, limiting the amount of soldiers that could fight them, and top of that it seemed like the soldiers weren't trying to attack with all their might. “Wait a second, this is...â€
“A trap!†Jail realized the same thing as the ground suddenly started glowing brightly.
“What the..?†Einhart gasped, before screaming as she felt pain suddenly wrack her body, forcing her to her knees for a moment before she fell forward, groaning pathetically while her Adult Mode was forcibly canceled.
She wasn't alone as Vivio suffered the same problems when she was reverted to her child form. Ixpellia, Nila, Lyos and Nove all fell to the ground as the circle continued to glow.
The Duchess chuckled as she walked forward, not even paying attention to the magic troops as they quickly caught the other redhead by surprise, knocking him out with a few electrical spells. “Unlike Duclis and that assassin, I don't rush into situations without having a plan ahead of time.†She snapped her fingers as she turned. “Secure the bodies, the weapons and throw the prisoners into the loading truck!â€
“Ma'am!†The soldiers moved quickly as a large black vehicle drove up. After securing the prisoners, they were thrown into the truck as their weapons were moved into another vehicle.
Not far to the North, Pokota peeked out from behind a tree, trembling. He had gotten lucky to avoid getting caught, but... “Dammit!†He hissed and took off into the air. Even if he couldn't do much right now, it would be better if he wasn't captured. He could figure out what to do as they traveled. “Please, everyone, be okay.â€
Walking to her personal coach, the Duchess smiled as she sat on the plush seats. “Let us return, post haste. I would rather not spend another minute out here.†The driver nodded and closed the door before going to the front and driving off. “Yes... After I get them back, I wonder how I shall demonstrate their folly to the public?†Maybe she would give them to that Mazoku, Gram? He seemed interested in them after all.
“We could always run back to the car and drive North.†Nove muttered, “I can slap the bracer on and get us going at max speed in a few seconds.†Her eyes widened as several dozen arrows were launched at them. “Watch it!â€
Einhart and Vivio threw their hands up and the arrows bounced harmlessly off the barriers protecting the group. “Great,†Vivio groused, “we can't hurt them, but they can hurt us?â€
“Perhaps that barrier only blocks magic?†Ixpellia suggested as she snapped her wrist straight, a long, thin blade appearing in it before she threw it straight at the Duchess. The group watched with interest as the Duchess snapped her fan up to parry the blade to the side. “It seems that is the case.â€
“Great, so we just rush in and deal with those soldiers and try to fight the attacks from the tanks. Simple,†Nove tapped her feet on the ground, “well, I guess I'm okay with that.â€
Nila unsheathed her sword and nodded. “Indeed, standing here would not suit me well.â€
“What should I do?†Pokota groused at them. “I might have the Sword of Light, but I'm not a close range fighter.â€
“Fire more Dragon Slaves.†Jail spoke up, “before you dismiss the idea, think of it this way, there has to be an upper limit to how much magic those things can absorb and hold. A Dragon Slave barrage might over-load it.â€
Nila nodded and looked at Pokota. “You do that, we shall deal with them.â€
“Arashi, Ixy,†Vivio spoke up without looking at them.
“It's Ixpellia.â€
“Listen, just stay to the back, okay, it might be better to stay here, neither of you are close range fighters.â€
Ixpellia shook her head. “No, I can be more useful...†She trailed off as the soldiers started running forward while the tanks moved in time with them. “Then again, it seems that we do not have a choice.â€
“Staying behind the barrier while running forward?†Nove grimaced, their opponent sure wasn't an idiot, by limiting them of the option to use magic, she effectively cut their fighting ability dramatically.
“Well then...†Lyos started walking forward, “might as well fight them up close and personal.â€
As she watched the group move forward, the Duchess smirked as she patted down her battle dress. “Like lambs to the slaughter.†She muttered, flicking a reddish lock of hair out of her eyes. Tilting her head, she realized that, yes, her opponents had a lot of redheads, two females and two young children. “Lots of redheads,†she muttered, wondering why she thought of that.
“Ma'am!†She turned to see her captain saluting her. “We're almost in position.â€
She nodded at him. “As soon as you drop the barrier, make sure to have the magic troops fire at those two stragglers back there.†She pointed at Arashi and Pokota. “I would rather not leave anything to chance.†Turning back to the action, she slowly walked forward and batted away a stray throwing sword that the small redhead threw at her. 'Interesting, using throwing blades to make up for the lack of mass.' It was a good strategy, she had to admit, but the Duchess knew it was pointless, the armor she was wearing made that strategy worthless, and her fan was specially designed to be able to deflect projectiles, including those swords.
Uno frowned as she looked around as best she could. Something wasn't right, the tanks were loosely surrounding them, limiting the amount of soldiers that could fight them, and top of that it seemed like the soldiers weren't trying to attack with all their might. “Wait a second, this is...â€
“A trap!†Jail realized the same thing as the ground suddenly started glowing brightly.
“What the..?†Einhart gasped, before screaming as she felt pain suddenly wrack her body, forcing her to her knees for a moment before she fell forward, groaning pathetically while her Adult Mode was forcibly canceled.
She wasn't alone as Vivio suffered the same problems when she was reverted to her child form. Ixpellia, Nila, Lyos and Nove all fell to the ground as the circle continued to glow.
The Duchess chuckled as she walked forward, not even paying attention to the magic troops as they quickly caught the other redhead by surprise, knocking him out with a few electrical spells. “Unlike Duclis and that assassin, I don't rush into situations without having a plan ahead of time.†She snapped her fingers as she turned. “Secure the bodies, the weapons and throw the prisoners into the loading truck!â€
“Ma'am!†The soldiers moved quickly as a large black vehicle drove up. After securing the prisoners, they were thrown into the truck as their weapons were moved into another vehicle.
Not far to the North, Pokota peeked out from behind a tree, trembling. He had gotten lucky to avoid getting caught, but... “Dammit!†He hissed and took off into the air. Even if he couldn't do much right now, it would be better if he wasn't captured. He could figure out what to do as they traveled. “Please, everyone, be okay.â€
Walking to her personal coach, the Duchess smiled as she sat on the plush seats. “Let us return, post haste. I would rather not spend another minute out here.†The driver nodded and closed the door before going to the front and driving off. “Yes... After I get them back, I wonder how I shall demonstrate their folly to the public?†Maybe she would give them to that Mazoku, Gram? He seemed interested in them after all.