1. [12:32] The lion causally strolls the lands of Meranthe seeking who to devour at these times. Hunger was the inevitable for a beast of this size. Yet still growing in size apparently.
2.  
3. *sniff*
4.  
5. *sniff*
6.  
7. He smelled two presence lingering close by. His presence obscured between trees for a moment while until he opt to fully emerge from them during their minor chit chat.
8.  
9. Huge, yes-- that was the first thing many has said about this mystical creature. Standing at 9 feet tall. Brown eyes descend upon both forms, mostly fixed on the woman giving off an aura of hemomancy.
10.  
11. Blood
12.  
13. Prowling and stalking the two, circling around them whilst letting off low growls. It's only until he reached closer is when there was a change of pace, paws marching close and then going into a sprint. A direct aim towards Wisteria in attempt to plunge claws and fangs into flesh.
14. (Larkin)
15. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
16.  
17. [12:33] Cyrus Alvais exclaims, "Wisteria!"
18. [12:33] Cyrus Alvais says, "GUH-"
19. [12:35] Cyrus is knocked away from the pounching lion, forced to be on the sideline while Wisteria defends herself from the advancing magical beast. Defensively, he ignites himself and reaches not for his gun, but for a sealed tome on his back.
20.  
21. By the time he had recited a few incantations, he would be prepared to intervene should the worst come to pass. But that wouldn't happen, right? Wisteria was a few years his senior with more experience and a truly dangerous control over blood.
22.  
23. He'd put his faith in her.
24.  
25. "Fuckin'- kick it's ass. Yeah."
26. (Cyrus Alvais)
27. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
28.  
29. [12:37] The unmasked, scarred woman didn't really think anything about the lion-like creature circling around them. It was a hint of innocence that was showcasing right there.
30.  
31. Though, the heavy footsteps of the creature were soon felt to be getting faster and faster -- and soon, there was an oversized lion pouncing towards her. She successfully gave them a firm slap with a wave of blood from her body, but she went after it. Equipping her rifle in the process, she readied herself for battle with the beast.
32.  
33. Even if, she looked a bit shaky. She wasn't the best of fighters. Yet -- her nerves could mean life or death here.
34.  
35. Stay focused!
36.  
37.  
38. (Wisteria)
39. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
40.  
41. [12:47] {Lost Dangerous RPB against Larkin}
42. [12:47] ** Larkin has inflicted an injury upon Wisteria. ("Temporary Injury", "Temporary Injury", "Temporary", "Duration: Medium (2 days)") **
43. [13:05] {Item} You drop Fairy Powder x17.
44. [13:05] {Item} You picked up Fairy Powder x17. Dropped by Wisteria.
45. [13:09] And just like that, a fight, an evident struggle had.
46.  
47. For what its worth to note. The supreme masters over nature was something the beast held true, bringing down spores to seep inside the opponents circuitry, causing some sort of inflection to temporarily cripple and slow down their movements.
48.  
49. Yet with their distinct usage of time magics, the effects simmered down. It was strange to have fought against someone so similar. Nevertheless, there was no weariness in the eyes of the beast. In fact, there was utter rage and anger with every lash of blood that's not of his own.
50.  
51. His form withered in the essence of time, sundering his natural defenses. Eventually forcing him into a corner just about the entire fight. Relentless the lion became the moment he found an opening, adapting as the fight prolonged.
52.  
53. And when she raised that gun to let loose more shots? The lion dashed forward recklessly, hardening himself with bone magics. His form covered in a dozen of bone blades. As they've crashed against their person, the tusk sunk into flesh, holding them in place.
54.  
55. Thusly giving access for the fangs of Larkin to plunge in the same mannerism. After a crunch noise is heard, the beast stood over the body, staring down at Wisteria who's now placed at his mercy.
56. (Larkin)
57. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
58.  
59. [13:09] She-
60.  
61. Cyrus couldn't understand. What had happened? One moment, things were fine. Now, the lion had Cyrus' traveling companion in it's jaws, crushing the woman and putting her life in danger.
62.  
63. He was already preparing to ignite himself at the worse case, but seeing this? Cyrus feels a cold chill run through his body. If he doesn't win, she's dead.
64.  
65. Wisteria, who was just beginning to actually explain herself and show the slightest hints of a friendship, was about to die if he wasn't strong. It would be his fault.
66.  
67. "...No."
68.  
69. The hand hovering over the tome freezes, falls limp, and runs it's palm against the edge of the book's pages in a single violent stroke. Blood draws upon it's pages before igniting into a glorious shower of sparks that engulfs the boy's body. A pillar of flame consumes Cyrus Alvais and spirals with him as he approaches the lion.
70.  
71. If Wisteria was still conscious, she would see this act of completely insane self-immolation happen in person. Yet instead of screaming, or begging for his wounds to close so he doesn't completely detonate, what comes out of the boy's lips is a calm assertation driven by a inner desire for victory.
72.  
73. "Begone from my sight, feckless beast."
74.  
75. The Fifteen. The Shadow-Self dancing with the Id-Ego-Superego. The Man in the Glass tower. Fate predicted by a machine made manifest. Blood burning hot enough to be lit aflame.
76.  
77.  
78. (Cyrus Alvais)
79. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
80.  
81. [13:09] Margot stumbled onto the encounter a bit late, as it seemed a beast was in a concluding battle with someone she had seen around here and there-- and while there was little familiarity beyond that.. Margot was not the type of girl to leave someone in such a dire situation.
82.  
83. Moving forward, she would prepare to engage should it become necessary-- "You leave them alone!!" The Mikos says-
84.  
85. Should Cyrus fail to stop the creature, then Margot would be right on it's heels-
86. (Margot Mikos)
87. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
88.  
89. [13:22] 'Struggle. Struggle like you have many times before, Wisteria. Don't stop.' It was a small, yet audible voice that echoed in the back of the ebony woman's skull.
90.  
91. One that tried to keep her under control, in the face of literal death. She was frightened. She's never had to do anything like this before. It was quite clear, by her actions as well. With gun in hand, the first shots were taken. An evolving style of battle of hers -- one she thought she'd love.
92.  
93. With the multiple barrages of the clashing, similar magics, it was clear they were both fighting with full power. Although, it is quite different for a animal with sentience to not use it, following back to their ways as a simple creature. Even one this young.
94.  
95. Bullets of congealed blood skim past Larkin, grazing his skin. Some even being re-absorbed, due to their magics. But one thing is clear. She won't go down without a fight.
96.  
97. 'You can't let go. You won't let go.' The more wounds, cuts and scrapes the woman endures, the more visibly angry she gets. The midnight hues that were glued upon her scarred face grew more and more strained. The various muscles in her body grew more and more tense.
98.  
99. Fragments of bone belittling upon her skin -- slicing and dicing her open even more. Soon, the pristine gun became a club, aiding her in her 'tactics'. Her style, one to be forged.
100.  
101. "DIE YOU CREATURE, DI -- ghnn…" The powerful jaws of the creature clamped down on her body, a few tears slid down her face as the extreme pain made her collapse like dead weight almost instantly. Unconscious, she was at the mercy of the lion, and the others two.
102. (Wisteria)
103. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
104.  
105. [13:47] The other made the efforts to ward off the beast. Their fires holding strong, plentiful to nearly steer the beast clear of its path. However with the toxins used to its advantage it traveled through out the terrain, homing in on Cyrus with razor claws swiping at them with whatever chance he found available.
106.  
107. They weren't an easy adversary, that's for certain. The hardened shell of magma and their swift evasive skills were well enough to pinch in damage, searing and burning at the large beast's frame.
108.  
109. A loud roar lets out, echoing through out the lands. A testament of the beast' relentless nature as the front paws slammed against the ground. Ivories ruptured about, contorting the lands and stunning his opponent.
110.  
111. This grants Larkin an opportunity to strike at their chest, whilst the deadly blooms spewed out their spores filled with toxins to add insult to injury.
112.  
113. Tiring.. The beast was growing tired. The chards and wounds tattered about his frame, yet still holding strong for the next onslaught.
114. (Larkin)
115. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
116.  
117. [13:49] Margot would watch as the battle started off somewhat square, but eventually fell into leaning in the favor of the creature- The Mikos tightening her grip around her chakram, knowing full well if she did have to step in it wasn't going to be in her favor-
118.  
119. She wasn't the strongest fighter of her family by any means, even if she the craftiest.
120.  
121. Yet she did bear an obligation, to attempt to help those currently in need. "I told you to leave those people alone--" She says, rushing forward at her top speed- enough to trick the eye of most trained Magi to lose sight of her completely as the speedy girl would arrive between the beast and it's victims.
122.  
123. "I don't want to have to fight. Or hurt you-- Or you hurt me." She admits, not wanting to assume before the battle began. "But I'll do what I have to keep these people safe."
124.  
125. (Margot Mikos)
126. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
127.  
128. [13:56] Felled.
129.  
130. Flaring with such flames that it threatens to consume his body whole, Cyrus burns a portion of the forest to ash chasing after the lion. Crafty is the beast that is uses the natural brush of their environment to hide and strike when it's most opportune. It's power is only seconded by it's relentless pursuit of the hunt by which Cyrus can only respond with attacks that threaten all.
131.  
132. "Stop HIDING. Come out already and DIE."
133.  
134. But the attacks did not cease. More blood was clawed from his body, prompting more of his ignited gore to be used as fuel for his attacks. His stamina had taken enough of a hit that one strike cleaved through his defenses and send the ignited boy back through the treeline.
135.  
136. The toxin was disrupting his ability to regulate his temperature, and he was brought to a knee to try and keep himself from losing control of that flame. Despair took him, for he knew that he had failed even at the height of his flame.
137.  
138. But he was alive, and the beast was wounded. Perhaps..?
139.  
140. (Cyrus Alvais)
141. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
142.  
143. [14:03] PM to (OOC)Bael'Rath: I AM LIVING
144. [14:10] Margot often said she was one of if not the fastest Magi alive, and to anyone witnessing what was occurring- it was easy to see why she would make such a claim. Her body was hardly visible aside from a blur as she zipped and zoomed around her opponent-
145.  
146. Crystals launching at speeds that most Magi would find impossible to match, and yet even so-- the wounded beast fought like a Demon. Pushing back the sick child and knocking her down more than once as she was forced to quickly recover or take the same fate as the two whom came before.
147.  
148. "Guh-" She says, coughing as her lungs began to ache. The Mikos feeling her illness begin to grow agitated by the combat as that stinging pain was spreading from chest to limbs. There was only so much time she could keep up exerting herself like this.
149.  
150. She would have to pick her moment, and pick she would--
151.  
152. Waiting for the creature to lunge forward, there would be a blink and she was there no longer- Margot slipping through the Timestream and pushing her speed to it's limit would dodge directly past the creature and put her hand to it's side.
153.  
154. "I'm sorry- but I have to get them to safety.." As an spray of crystal shrapnel erupts from her hand into the beast's side and sends it flying across the ground- scraping and severely wounded she would quickly move to grab the other two.
155.  
156. "Let's get the two of you to the Frontier.. my strength is waning by the moment.." The Mikos heaves, a speckle of blood coughed onto her lip as she would wipe it gently.
157. (Margot Mikos)
158. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
159.  
160. [14:24] A nimble magi against a fierce brute force to reckon with. It wasn't anything he experienced, especially with the line of fatigue that followed shortly after the second battle.
161.  
162. His wounds still rest bare, inevitably weakening his vitality. And for what it's worth, this one here too was a well refined time magi. His form withering and decaying with the touch of spheres. The shards of crystal doing a heft amount of their own.
163.  
164. No matter how much the beast flailed and flung its weight, there were times where she just couldn't be hit, paws missing them as a whole.
165.  
166. Frustrating.
167.  
168. Anger derived from the beast, letting loose another powerful roar. One that could be heard from miles and miles away. Ivories ruptures, tendrils of blood thwacked the ground on an endless pursuit of seizing the girl. The spores spewed from flowers also tried to close in on them.
169.  
170. Eventually with all the strength he could muster, it would come to no prevail as the final blow dealt was something so fierce it forced the beast to trample over and hurdle some distance away. Leaving him in a vulnerable state for the trio to flee.
171. (Larkin)
172. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
173.  
174. [14:25] The limp body of Wisteria grew some strength in it as the fights kept progressing, to having Margot finish the job up in the end. Her legs were weak, fragile. Though, she walked to Margot's side to follow her, as she says to Cyrus, "...You get Tinder back, h-heh.." She said with a pained chuckle.
175.  
176. The blood loss was certainly something painful. Same with the injury. But she will be able to deal with it. It's not the first time she's dealt with an injury like this.
177.  
178. "Thanks..-- person I see everywhere... eugh… My name's Wisteria..." She grunted softly, "...It seems Tinder can't protect the girl of h-his dreams... h-heh..."
179. (Wisteria)
180. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
181.  
182. [14:28] Kanari says, "You missed Arcadia."
183. [14:28] Langqiu says, "Yeah.. I don't think it's this way."
184. [14:28] "G-God, why do I even HELP YOU?"
185.  
186. Cyrus was in the middle of averting a meltdown when the person they tried to save was viscously bullying them. God, it's so hard to be him.
187.  
188. The injury wasn't the worst part of this. There were marks where Cyrus' body was visibly showing heat through it's skin, burning with a red-hot glow that was slowly receding back into his bones. Deep breaths, control your bleeding, don't turn into a pile of ash-
189.  
190. "Fuck. This."
191.  
192. He's able to stand and join the group, radiating heat until they make it back to the Frontier.
193. (Cyrus Alvais)