I'm done for… what can I even do when I only have Bloody Mary? Arata tries throwing a half of the knife at least, maybe it would-
Before the knife could reach its target, it was knocked to the side by a gust of mist. I don't wanna do this anymore- It's always back and forth, Demiurge Foundry felt so strong just a second ago, now it feels like a gimmick power.
"Ravenna! I need you to figure out where everyone went, as quickly as possible. My vision faded and-"
Right in front of Arata's eyes is a flying blade, it has tracked the direction of Arata's eyes to capitalize on the single moment he would look away. Arata finds himself stumbling back against the pavement.
*Thud thud*
Shit- If I go back now, won't it- Chains screech against the floor while the fairy knight condescendingly looks over Arata, yet before the final strike lands, the beast's face is shrouded in mist.
The creature begins to walk over Arata, moving past him as Arata tries to slow his breathing.
Mist? If I recall… now, originally I was told the mist was a peaceful way in which people were kept out of the forest.
"Arata! Are you okay!" Chive's voice sounds from a rooftop. Yet a second later she ducks back with a violent heat wave being sent out at her. The soldiers quickly attempt to surround the building.
Ravenna, suddenly coming back, comments, "Everyone else was lured away by the mist. They're tied up without you present, all of them are encircled in the shopping district."
The Erkling's corruption. Shit! Why wasn't it obvious before? The opposite of a deterrent is a lure! We've been had. Draw us further into the city where we can no longer escape… Are we doomed to die-
Ravenna continues to shout, "They're still fighting! They are pushing towards your position Arata! Promise me you'll win!"
Arata sighs, he was worried over nothing, the fight was just in a different framing now, it was far from over. If I have Chive closer, it'll be possible-
"Chive! Drop more mist on the fairy knights surrounding you, stay close to me!"
With that, a second round of mist comes pouring down. Arata responds by converting it all into flames, burning away all of the knights, careful to avoid using gas, which might hurt Chive.
Chive flies down, landing onto Arata's shoulder, moving her mouth up to Arata's ear, "It's the grand fairy… she was originally the protector of the forest and-"
Suddenly, Chive stops talking. She simply shrouds Arata in mist, causing all the fairy knights to try and fire magic at him.
"Arata, they've got commands… we've made one wrong assumption, the Fairy Knights didn't have independent action, merely a new commander. No being is meant to live through the Erkling's mind-breaking magic. These poor fairies- they've become nothing but clockwork machines I can't imagine…"
With that, Arata manages to put all of the surrounding mana into the cauterizer, shouting, "How far can you spread some more mist out?"
"I don't have much more gas in the tank Arata. I'm sorry-"
"Don't be, I was just curious if we'd have an easier time or not."
With that, Arata activates Demiurge's Foundry, letting flames scatter towards all the knights, specifically forming a wall. "No problem, we're running anyway."
"Hey- Even if we break the encirclement, ain't there still the mist to worry about? Arata, only way to return our force's sense of direction is to defeat the grand fairy."
The back is covered by a thin layer of enemies. Arata uses Cauterizer to tear through the crowds before dashing past. Right behind, having recovered from the mist charges, the grand fairy. Arata specifically makes a run for it, taking the most obvious yet rather inefficient route towards the shopping district.
Arata's face said it all. Desperation took precedence over rationality for him, he needed to find a safe area.
Right… I need it to chase me. Cauterizer can't really outrange it so I need a narrow playing field. Arata notices the other fairy knights all moving, taking the more direct path towards the shopping district.
It was over. Arata would face another wall before he could regroup and recenter himself for killing the grand fairy. Arata takes a sharp turn away from the shopping district into a tight alleyway.
Chive stays silent, letting Arata do his thing as they get chased further and further. Eventually, the two find themselves led into a corner, the grand fairy inching closer towards Arata as a mist begins to spread from Chive.
The water molecules warp around Bloody Mary, the little knife in Arata's hand is thrown in between the eyes of the fairy, the claymores by its side hoist themselves up in an attempt at blocking the incoming projectile.