Rumours of the Arid Mesa's struggles had yet again reached The Isles, and now bodyguard positions had been issued to the whole land, so Arashi decided he would go offer his help. Even though it was a dangerous place that he hadn't visited before, both Cookie and Mizu wanted to go too, they gave the excuse of wanting to experience a place which was new to the three of them together. Arashi was not very convinced of this, he wanted to keep them both safe, he had taken Cookie on adventures before but that's because he had no one to take care of her, since his reunion with Mizu, Arashi usually left Cookie at her care at home, just to keep them both safe. But now both of them were bugging him to go with, which if this were a less dangerous place he wouldn't object... but they both seemed determined to go with him, so he would just try his best to keep them both safe, besides it's been a while since he adventured with Cookie, and Mizu and him had never gone on an adventure before so it could be fun as well.

As the group set out to the Arid Mesa, Cookie and Mizu whispered to each other "It worked!" "Indeed, now we can make sure he wont do anything dumb" Mizu and Cookie had been worried about Arashi and in truth their interest in going was mostly to make sure he'd be safe, after what he pulled while fighting Vulcadreaus they were both worried when he left for long periods of time.

During their sailing, Cookie didn't stop being in awe of the sea and it's creatures, Arashi and Mizu answering her questions and entertaining her, playing games and telling stories, overall it was a pleasant trip. Once they Arrived and disembarked on the makeshift docks the workers had built, Arashi Went to get the details of the job, he just had to keep watch and protect the workers, it seems someone else was gonna join them as well, he wondered who it would be...

SPOILER: Click to show

Quest Name: Emperor’s Favor
Participants: Two or more
Location: Arid Mesa
Post Requirements: 6 posts per person, 200 words per post
Reward: +1 Renown, Choice of 2 Common crafting materials
Description: A variety of operations have been launched since the chaos in the Arid Mesa, with all types of companies, organizations, and groups seeking to leave their mark on the mostly unexplored region. Because of this, the once abandoned coastlines have become riddled with camps, settlements and docked ships, who are now disturbing the local wildlife who are used to quiet emptiness. While most passive species have just fled inland, the mighty Emperor Akhlut has decided upon another course of action. Packs of these odd coastal creatures have begun assaulting nearby camps and ships as they attempt to set up or offload cargo. A request for body guards has been put out, seeking help in protecting employees from these creatures while they try to do their jobs.

The Arid Mesa was a largely desolate land, devoid of people, and as such, it was the first time Sylvari had come, what with her mission of justice being primarily dedicated to serving common folk. In recent months, however, there seemed to be an explosion of activity in the region, with people from all over seeking to explore and claim pieces of the place. Such incursions into nature's domain were not accepted without consequence: thus creating the request that pulled the justiciar here in the first place. It seemed some of the wildlife were harassing, and in worse cases severely harming, the expeditioners. Like a moth to the flame, wherever there was a need, there Sylvari went, as justice demanded of her.

As she walked up to the pop-up shanty town and docks, Sylvari's little undead dragonling ^{[Necromancer, Undead Servant]}, Noe, was positively brimming with excitement seeing so many people. Luckily for the tiny, energetic creature, Sylvari had discovered that people were much more amenable to his presence than her other servants, so she had been allowing him to accompany her more and more, a turn of events Noe accepted with open claws. He was perched on Sylvari's left pauldron, as was his custom, and excitedly flaring his wings and clacking his mouth at every person that passed. Most found such action endearing, but there were a few who were understandably perturbed by the small abomination.

After receiving a small missive with the job details and having some words about her partner for the assignment, Sylvari made her way to the docks. In truth, she would have spied her new companion without the description: he was certainly of a different cloth than the rest of the people here, even discounting his pixie and blue-haired companion. He was laden with several weapons of the trade, but moved with grace and ease, a sure sign to a practiced eye of a familiarity with combat. Moreover, Sylvari could sense the great swelling of arcana he housed within, brimming just under the surface ^{[Chaos Touched]}. With a friendly smile and creased eyes, hidden by her half veil, Sylvari stepped forward to greet the man.

"Well met, my friend. I hear from the good dock master that you are to be my partner for the coming journey. I look forward to working with such an accomplished combatant. My name is Sylvari Dawnsage, but please, call me Sylvi." Sylvari bowed a low, courtly bow of respect, her movements fluid and to the letter, before rising again and dipping her head to the man's companions. "Ladies, good to have you along as well."

The excitement of introductions proved too much for Noe, who took advantage of his mistress' lowered posture to leap off her shoulder and bound towards new friends. Without lowering her gaze to the dragonling, Sylvari knowingly called out in a gently chiding tone. "Noe. Wait please. Not everyone cares for physical affection." 

Noe lowered his head to the ground and leveled a side eye towards Sylvari, as if protesting his orders, but ultimately stopped short, impatiently clacking his jaws in barely contained excitement.

And he needn't wonder for long. Since an Armored but elegant woman approached him, She presented herself formally but asked to drop the formality of a full name, "My name is Arashi Tento, a pleasure to meet you Sylvi." Arashi bowed deeply as well, showing his respect. "And as far as being an accomplished combatant... I still have much to learn." He began to rise as she Addressed Mizu and Cookie, Mizu bowed as well "I am Mizu Kagami, pleased to make your acquaintance." Cookie just stays smiling unsure of what to do, Arashi just nudges her a little "Go on Cookie, present yourself." She jumps a little "O-oh! Sorry! Hiiiiiii! I'm Cookie! the wind pixie!" She bowed about three times in quick succession, Mizu giggled softly and Arashi couldn't help but smile.

As Sylvari's undead companion tried to jump towards them, and she called him to stop, Arashi shook his head, "Don't worry about it, I'm sure he's very well behaved." Arashi reached towards Noe, and Scratched the dragonling's head, he had a bit of a weakness towards cute things, even if he didn't have pets of his own... after a few pets he stepped back

"We should probably stay near the docks, it's were most people are and it is likely that they'll come from the sea given the creatures that have been reported as most problematic are aquatic. are you fine with that plan, or would you rather seek them out? although if we do we'd be leaving the dock exposed and if they slip by then, that could be a problem..."

Sylvari smiled at the introductions to her new companions, happy to be in the presence of others once more after her long journey. As Arashi leaned down to pet Noe, an action the little creature immediately leaned into as he wove between the man's legs, Sylvari chuckled slightly. "Noe puts on a good front. Then, before you know it, he's running the show and you're too infatuated to protest."

The dragonling turned back and sharply clacked his jaws to protest, but his arguments quickly withered under the weight of his mistress' knowing gaze. Sylvari glanced back up at Arashi as he resumed speaking.  She nodded along with his proposal. It was an escort mission, after all; staying near those they meant to protect, hedging against the frontier most likely to be attacked, made good tactical sense.

"I bear these creatures no ill will. They are only driven to defend their home. I understand that they can't be allowed to harm people, but I think seeking them out to slay them is both unpalatable and ultimately ineffective. Focusing our efforts here, as you said, will allow us to respond to threats as they come and lessens the risk of anyone getting hurt."

The justiciar's tone was equal parts filled with compassion for those she saw under her care and riddled with hard edges, betraying her as a woman who knew the harsh realities of life. Would that Charon could exist without killing, but it was not to be. The world turned on blood, after all, and it was Sylvari's duty to make sure the right blood was spent. She motioned to her new partners to accompany her down the docks to get a lay of the defenses.

"Shall we?"

Arashi chuckled a bit as Sylvari explained what Noe tended to do. "Oh I'm sure he does, still I don't mind." as she began speaking her mind agreeing that it was better to stay near the docks, Arashi Nodded as well "Indeed I agree, It'd be best to stay near where they might need us, besides the job is eliminating immediate threats, not culling the creatures... I just had to list out the options." The truth is he unknowingly had a similar thought process to hers. He didn't particularly enjoy taking a life, but life as a soldier had made him quite desensitised to it, although not without a few mental gymnastics to make it happen... still during his moments of calm, he usually filled with regret, but his resolve was unaffected, for there to be life there must be death, from the plants that feed themselves on the corpses of beings long past, to the carnivorous hunters feasting on their prey... The thing he could take the most solace on apart from this, was that now that he didn't have any immediate superior, he could freely make the choice of who to kill or who to spare, he didn't have to be the attacking party anymore. And focusing on defence, knowing that whoever dies by your hand made the choice to attempt to kill you in the first place, and even had the opportunity to rout... Well let's just say this helped alleviate his conflicted karma. 

Regardless as Sylvari called to him to go down into the docks, he nodded, following along.

As they began walking towards the docks, Cookie flew onto Arashi's shoulder and sat there, as Mizu walked by his side. "Hey, sooo... Sylvi! What's your favorite kind of food? Oh! And Noe's too! Actually does he eat? Oh! Oh! I gotta say mine first! I love pastries! and sweet things!" Cookie laughed enjoying the company and trying to get to know the newly introduced companions for this quest. "Oh! Did you know they both also have a sweet tooth? Yes even Arashi! You should see him scarfing down sweets! I never saw anyone eat sooooo many!" Mizu giggled at the comment, Arashi rolled his eyes as his cheeks flustered. It was certainly lively to have her come on adventures... even if she embarrassed him...

Sylvari gave a brilliant smile at Arashi's words, receiving his caring undertones with warm acceptance. Though she maintained a basic level of surveillance, as per her mission, her conscious mind was dominated by enjoying camaraderie and simple proximity to others after her long solitary journey.

Sylvari was surprised at Cookie's sudden inquiry, but quickly warmed to it, especially seeing how it made Mizu and Arashi react. The blush in Arashi's cheeks was an endearing sight, and Sylvari was glad that her new friend had such companions to lift his spirits. She knew firsthand how difficult the adventuring life could be without moments of levity.

"There's no reason to be embarrassed about it, dear. I think it's sweet and child-like, in a good way. It speaks of an innocent hope that you've managed to hold onto, despite the trials of this world. What you like to eat says a lot about you as a person, I should think." A belief that's only more concrete now. "Noe does not eat in a traditional sense. As a fragment of my being, he sustains himself off the arcana flowing from our connection. As for myself..."

Sylvari's smile faltered for just a moment, thinking of what she has lost, even down to the simple pleasures of edible treats. With effort, Sylvari reformed into a kind smile again, but lacking in its previous easy sincerity. "I used to be quite fond of sweets myself as well. I haven't had any in quite a while..."

Sylvari was spared from further exclamation as a commotion erupted down the east side docks, complete with sounds of terror and splintering wood. Sylvari gave Arashi a quick look and sharp nod, immediately dashing off in the direction of the distress.

Arashi's blush only got more noticable as Sylvari reassured him, if observant the moment he flushed the most could be pinpointed to when she called him dear, although she was just being nice and it was more than likely just how she spoke, it still was odd for him to be called something like that. He wasn't used to being called anything like that much less by someone who isn't family... Either way he regain his composure rather quickly as he listened to Sylvi he noticed her smile faltering for a bit as something came to her mind, he couldn't guess exactly what it was but still looked at cookie with a slightly disapproving gaze for making Sylvi feel uncomfortable. But as she spoke again he could notice a faint trace of regret? Or something similar to that, he didn't want to pry as sometimes that opened wounds anew and he didn't want to hurt her, she seemed like a lovely person, and even though they had just met he could tell she was a good and caring soul one that probably didn't deserve the pain it was probably inflicted.

Either way he wouldn't be able to address any of that or even speak his mind about what she had said earlier, as screams of terror and sounds of wood being crushed arose from the docks... It was time to act. "Cookie, Mizu, stay here I don't want to put you in danger..." "B-but we can help!!" "No! These things are tough you better keep safe! I'll be fine." They had their doubts but would still stay back, although they would keep an eye in case Arashi and Sylvari needed help... After this exchange Arashi followed Sylvi even catching up to her, he wanted to arrive on the scene as soon as possible.

And there it was, an Emperor Akhlut about 25 feet tall... But these creatures hunted in packs... Looking over at the ocean there where at least 6 more of similar size riding the waves and  about to come crashing through most of the ships... Arashi unsheathed his sword and rushed towards the creature before it could reach some of the civilians running away from the docks, on the shore there were a few ballistas and canons several of them already locked and loaded, it clearly wasn't the first time this settlement was attacked by big creatures...

Once the monster noticed Arashi's defiance it rushed him swinging at him with its front limbs, he managed to duck below it and slash twice at the attacking limb the creature began to bleed but due to its size its hide was thick and the sword didn't go very deep... This was gonna be an interesting fight...

Upon surveying the chaos, and the group of massive creatures causing it, Sylvari quickly shifted her posture to one of authority. The primary objective is keeping people safe. We can worry about preserving the docks and materials once the civilians are out of harm's way. The justiciar looked to her small companion, still clutching at her pauldron, and gave him a curt nod.

"Noe, lead these people to safety. Avoid any areas of splintering wood that might cause them to fall through to the waves below." The dragonling immediately clacked in affirmation and leapt from his perch to stand at the corner of the docks. Knowing how responsibility was absolved in a crowd, especially during times of crisis, Sylvari pointed to a specific individual in officer's garb and addressed him in an imperious tone. "You there, gather up these people quickly and orderly and follow my servant just there. My fellow adventurer and I will defend your lives first, and your quick evacuation will allow us to focus on defending your livelihoods." The officer stood there, dumbstruck by the sudden command, prompting Sylvari to yell out, "Move, man!"

Whether it was the authority lacing her tone, the reminder that he was a leader of these people and had a duty to them, or a simple pragmatism of knowing the profit loss without quick action, the man leapt to his assigned orders, gathering the panicking people to a close group around him and following Noe as the little creature led them on a roundabout way through the pier, avoiding the more dangerous spots.

With a pleased nod, assured of the safety of the people, Sylvari turned to assess the situation before them. With creatures of such size, conventional weapons would be of limited effectiveness, as evidenced by Arashi's narrow slash into the leader's front limb. Luckily, it seemed the settlement was not without port defenses sprouting several ballistae along the various docks.

"I don't suppose you have any experience with siege weaponry, Arashi?" came Sylvari's cry, fighting to be heard over the din of roaring water and crashing wood. "My own talents are more suited for holding the enemies' attention!" As if to prove her point, Sylvari wrenched up her hands, one after the other and spoke eldritch words of power calling her servants forth ^{[Summon Undead Hulk]}. "Arise."

Sylvari had never summoned her undead over a man-made structure before, so she looked on with macabre interest as her undead hulks ripped out of the very wood itself, one after the other ^{[Necromancer, Army of the Damned]}. Quickly shifting her attention back to the manner at hand, she mentally issued orders to attack as she rushed forward into the fray. Her servants were only too eager to accept their orders, each charging at flanking Akhlut that had just reached the docks.

"Well I know some basics... but it is not my area of expertise, I was infantry not siege engine operator." Arashi quickly replied as he dodged a few more swipes, the truth is most of those if connected properly could more than likely rip him to shreds but you wouldn't guess that from how nonchalantly he was taking the threat. as the undead hulks approached to try and take on the first Akhlut to arrive, who probably was chosen to be a scout and a distraction... a rumble was felt as two even bigger Akhluts rose next to the docks, they were roughly double the size of the others and about the size of the ship Arashi arrived in... they apparently reached the sea floor without issue, as they began walking farther in. "Shit..."

Arashi looked at the huge creatures as the undead hulks fought the 1 advance scout. at that point the other Akhluts in the distance began charging, one of them shooting forwards and right through the ship that had just brought Arashi to the Arid Mesa, as it flew straight towards him, ready to crash into the puny human, Arashi just lifted his sword and stood at the ready for a downwards slash he probably looked like a fool all things considered there was no reasonable way his sword could cut through the creature or any way for him to reasonably block that. but he stood there ready to meet with the 20 feet tall penguin bear... that was flying through the air at insane speeds. And what's even worse for those looking from the outside was that he decided to slash before the creature was even in range effectively slicing the air in front of it...

But once he did a sort of void formed on the path of the blade^{[Monk Art: Void Slash]}, and as it met with the beast both disappeared. another similar void formed out of thin air twenty feet away from Arashi and the earlier Akhlut came out of it, it kept flying at the same speed towards one of the bigger approaching creatures, the smaller Akhlut crashed beak first into the bigger one's chest knocking it back and damaging both of them, Neither of them died but they were hurt at least...

"Well I can't do that again for a while but at least it works!" Arashi was glad his new technique was successful... he had tried it a few times but never against something that big... probably wasn't the best idea to try it in that moment... but hey it worked!

Lightning formed around his hand as a spear materialised^{[Lightning Spear]} from it with a jump He launched it towards one of the smaller Akhluts that was just arriving at the docks. the spear became a powerful Lightning bolt piercing through the creature's hide and Lodging deep into it's chest making it stumble backwards "Don't worry about me! Keep them at bay, don't let them get to shore!" He told Sylvari as he rushed deeper into the docks and began flying he knew this could probably be biting more than he could chew... but he had to try and take them down. "Focus on me monsters!" he flew quickly closer to the 2 biggest ones, one of them still getting up from crashing into the Akhlut Arashi shot at it.

---

Void slash Cooldown 1/3

Sylvari quirked a brow as Arashi cut a portal with his sword, redirecting the charging Ahklut into its comrade and sending both of them crashing into a clumsy heap into the waves. The justiciar was unable to give much comment on her partner's unorthodox art, however, focused as she was on weaving around her foe's strikes. Like Arashi, she had estimated that a single blow from such massive and powerful creatures would be incapacitating, so her normal tactics of relying on her armor to shield her more risky maneuvers were otherwise disrupted. 

This was not to say, however, that Sylvari's spirit was dampened. If anything, the vampiress relished the challenge of changing fighting styles to adapt to her opponents. She let out a shout, a call to arms and glory, encouraging her allies to press the attack ^{[Knight, Battle Cry]}, even as she laid into her opponent, her massive warhammer crackling with sloughing frost ^{[Spell Blade, Arcane Soul]} and exploding light ^{[Celestial, Angelic Light]}. 

The quickest way to aid Arashi is to defeat the foe in front of me. He's right, we cannot allow them to reach the shore. I have to trust in his abilities. Sylvari didn't like it: she wished that she was able to take on all the hurt in the world to spare others, but she was often disappointed in her desires. Pouring her frustration into a series of wicked blows into the creature, and dodging its retaliatory strikes in return, bit by bit she beat the creature back, until it finally broke off its assault and retreated into the waves to nurse its wounds. 

Sylvari paused to survey the situation. One of her servants had been sundered by the savage Akhlut tearing into it: she could feel the lingering necromantic connection narrowing to nothingness, as the undead weakly flailed in the beast's crushing jaws. Her other summon was fairing considerably better, having summoned its own minion from one of the unfortunate dead on the docks. It's not enough. I need to keep holding.

The vampiress dove back into combat with the injured one that had dispatched her servant, even as it faded into smoke in the creature's jaws.

Hearing Sylvi's Warcry washed what little doubts he held away, as Arashi flew ever faster towards the 2 massive Beasts, as he summoned his Ray bow into his left hand Lightning arced^{[Lightning bolt]} towards one of the creatures from his right, it didn't seem to do much, but this would likely turn out to be a battle of attrition at least against against such opponents... well he might have ways to do more damage but he didn't want to go all out unless necessary.

They approached as Arashi began shooting arrows of light at on of them, they both began swatting at him like one would a fly, but just like a fly he proved hard to hit, even more so while flying, weaving between the swings of the beasts roughly the size of a 5 story building. At one point one of the smaller ones probably the one who was teleported by Arashi, began attacking him by swimming and launching itself towards him again, having three massive beasts attacking constantly and from different angles was beginning to overwhelm him a little.

He weaved under a horizontal slap, moved to the side of an uppercut looking swipe, the smaller Akhlut launched itself again trying to eat him, he quickly let go of his bow and unsheathed his blade deflecting the fanged beak as he flew to the side. He was beginning to get overwhelmed, and as another strike from the bigger Akhlut threatened to land Arashi flew back trying to dodge it, he wouldn't be fast enough... but that's when a well placed cannonball slapped the giant's flipper away, saving Arashi from the strike. He looked to the direction it came from to see Mizu and Cookie behind a cannon. With a smile he focused again, and with a twirl of the blade his eyes started to glow as spiritual energy gathered around his body^{[Monk Art: Art of the Soul]} "Ready for round two!" He became more aggressive flying towards the hurt Akhlut and slashing a few times across it's hurt arm, the energy shrouding his blade increasing its range and as such making the wounds deeper.

With a spin and a half around it, he flew up about half the creature's height while slashing at it, reaching a bit higher than it's head, as it tried to swipe above Arashi grabbed his sword tightly and flew down surrounded by wind and lightning^{[Bullet Dash]} with a powerful Downwards slash he managed to severely harm the Akhlut.

His eyes glowing with white energy, as his gargantuan opponent fell crashing into the waves displacing tons of water, he looked at the other Beast with a smile and whispered "You're not so tough..."

Working quickly to dispatch the remaining two beasts before her and her servant, Sylvari whirled toward her companion just in time to despair as Arashi found himself pressed on each flank by two of the gargantuan creatures... until a cannonball found itself firmly lodged in the forelimb of one of the Ahklut, that is. Tracing her vision back to the source of the shot, Sylvari saw that Mizu and Cookie had manned one of the mentioned cannons set along the docks and were now priming another shot to aid in the defense against the rampaging beasts. Sylvari smiled. Admirable shot, girls. I leave the operation of the siege weaponry in your delightfully capable hands.

Despite Sylvari intention to move to assist Arashi as quickly as possible, it seemed nature had other ideas as an unseen flipper came from below the docks to launch the justiciar high into the air, splintering the wood like wet parchment in the process. Sylvari gritted her teeth as she flew impossibly high into the air. No fear was permitted into the justiciar's heart, only the cold, calculating knowledge that her armor would not cushion the harsh realities of gravity. She bared her teeth as she tried to roll on impact. Even the masterfully executed fall only succeeded in limiting the damage to the complete shattering of her legs, splayed out in odd angles beneath her crushed pelvis.

Sylvari bit hard into her tongue, nearly severing the appendage rather than allow herself to scream in agony as her body desperately wanted. Reaching out to where her servant stood, mindless without orders, Sylvari stole for herself the lingering necromantic energy which animated it. Like a flowing black tide, the insidious arcana swirled out of the amalgamation of flesh and bone until there was nothing left, and into the vampiress' outstretched hand ^{[Necromancer, Consume Essence]}. The dark energies began to heal her, and Sylvari could only give thanks that no civilians were around to witness the gruesome spectacle: for her restoration was not the noble healing as granted to her by her celestial patron. No, this was a warped, wretched thing, bending and twisting her limbs at impossible angles for agonizing seconds until they were finally serviceable again. 

Once again, once she got to her feet, Sylvari intended to rush over to assist Arashi, and once again she was thwarted. She saw the beast that caused her to fall charging with alarming alacrity to where her companions' entourage were still loading their next shot, paused briefly in the efforts by the macabre spectacle of her own healing. This was an affront that the justiciar could not allow to stand uncontested. She rushed over to intercept the beast, interposing herself stalwartly between the raging monster and her new friends, impossibly stopping its charge despite the massive size difference ^{[Knight, Immovable Bastion]}.

As soon as he dealt with one of them, he heard more sounds of shattering wood and as he turned to look at what was happening he could see Sylvi tumbling through the air, he rushed towards her hoping to be able to catch her before she hit the ground, slightly panicked knowing that her armor might make her fall even worse due to the added weight... "Sylvari!" conjuring a burst of speed for himself^[quicken] he managed to get out of range before the bigger one swatted him down, but his concentration was away from the immediate threats to him, as such he failed to notice an Akhlut diving towards him from behind.

by the time Arashi noticed it, it was too late. The 25 feet tall beast clamped it's jaws down on him, teeth tearing into his flesh as they both dropped fast, just before crashing against the docks he noticed Sylvari land with a combat roll, he saw her stumble but held hope she wasn't too injured, regardless he could do nothing to help at the moment as he crashed through the wooden dock and into the cold sea with the creature, he hurried to throw his teleporting dart upwards before the creature took him under the waves.

Arashi could've teleported out as soon as he threw the dart but he wanted it to gain some distance as well as get some payback on the beast, he held his breath as the creature managed to thrash twice before Arashi summoned a weapon onto each of his hands^{[summon possession]} a wakizashi and a katana were plunged into the eyes of the Akhlut and as it began to writhe trying to kill its prey faster Arashi teleported into the air above the broken dock grabbing his dart ^{[teleporting dart]} he floated in the air as blood dripped down from both sides of his torso still he was just in time to see Sylvari's display of strength as she shielded the Akhlut's charge and bounced it into the air. The beast couldn't fly which meant it was defenseless, another Arashi appeared out of thin air and flew towards the ascending giant^[Replicant] this copy reached out to the beast before they both got seemingly frozen in midair^{[hold person]} the creature and replica would remain paralysed and unaffected by gravity for the time being.

Arashi flew down next to Sylvi while holding his side, "Good job Sylvari, but it's not over yet..." he sighed as he looked back towards the sea, the second Giant still standing mostly uninjured as it approached and there still was another one aside from the one currently paralysed.

Sylvari gave a grim slash of a smile as Arashi returned to her side. In truth, she was very happy to see him by her side and unharmed enough to continue to fight, but with the unblemished giant beast before them and the consummate destruction all around them, the justiciar couldn't help but feeling they had failed and would do so further. At least the two of them had protected Mizu and Cookie from the encroaching Ahklut. Sylvari eyed the beast, floating in suspended animation above them.

"How long does that ability of yours last, Arashi?" Sylvari worried that it would come crashing down and cause her companions to crash into the dangerous waters below. He probably is well aware of his abilities' limits. The girls are likely to know as well, if they have been traveling together at length.

"Sorry, I'm being a worrywart. I'm sure you've got it well in hand. I guess that just leaves the big one, eh?" The vampiress reflexively tightened her grip on her warhammer as she spun it lightly in her hand nervously. "I'll draw its attention. You all can help me take it down."

Without waiting for a word of agreement, Sylvari dashed forward, to the very edge of the shattered docks. She conjured a point of murky blackness within her palm and let it fly out like a bolt of dark lightning to hit the beast ^{[Chaos Bolt]}, leaving a spot of necrotic decay on the creature's chest. It roared in pain and began charging forward.

"Don't worry, it lasts either until I dispel it or my replicant over there gets hit, and it's fine I also tend to worry about stuff more than I should." He chuckled, but ended up grasping at his bleeding side, those jaws were strong he was lucky the thing didn't bite that deeply. As Mizu and cookie loaded another cannonball to fire at the paralyzed beast above them, Arashi nodded at Sylvari and began flying again to follow as the creature was struck by a bolt of darkness to the chest it began charging, he knew he could trust Sylvi as he saw her deflect the charge of one of them before, but this one was bigger and desperate it might not stop with just a charge and it could easily swallow them both in a single chomp...

He still hadn't gotten in range but at the rate the creature moved it would get to her before he could help... She had proved to be capable, a strong fighter... But even hurt he wouldn't let her handle this alone... As the creature drew closer to Sylvi, Arashi's eyes began shining again, this time overflowing with sparks and lightning^{[Art of the Storm Bow]}, in the blink of an eye he appeared in front of her^[Blink] a weird static air surrounding him but sparing her as she was an ally, all the electricity in the air and on his person formed into a greatbow of crackling lightning, he pulled on the almost invisibly thin string as a huge lightning arrow began to appear. He waited until the gargantuan beast lunged attempting to swallow him whole. "you're done!"

His fingers slipped the arrow was released straight into its mouth piercing through flesh and bone alike, splitting the beast in two as it was launched backwards... It was done. 

The beasts had been felled, well all except for... An explosion, and a splash later, the girls cheered and highfived as they hit the last of the Akhluts, I guess now it's done. The dock laid mostly in shambles but loses were minimal considering the size of the creatures. "I guess that's that..." Arashi sighs a bit exhausted, this took more of him than he would like to admit... "Let's go back before this finishes collapsing shall we?" He smiled at Sylvi and proceeded to walk back to shore, stumbling a bit.