vs. Giselle [2]

I can dodge Giselle.

She struggles to turn and she also moves at a constant rate. It’s at a blazing speed, but I don’t need to move quickly, I just have to anticipate her strike.

The problem is that I don’t know which Giselle is real. I can dodge fake Giselle number 1, and only to be impaled by real Giselle number 2, who attacks 0.01 seconds after.

Giselle knows that too, which is why she’s laughing.

“I’m the second-strongest brigand for a reason,” says Giselle. “Oh wait, that means I must be the third-strongest too” says another Giselle. “And the fourth… and the fifth…”

The only way I can match a skill like that is to use one of my own.

---

[BREATHING]

[An average mouthbreather’s innate ability. Normal breathing in all situation]

[FIREBALL]

[A gift from a misunderstood warrior. Create a large ball that can be launched at a distance]

---

“Breathing... you’re so useless. Why are you even a skill? Fireball… maybe. But it’s risky…”

I can no longer see Max and Zorro’s fight, though I can hear their grunts and cries. There’s just Giselle, blurred images drawn closer and closer.

I think back to how Zorro had surrounded me in healing flames. How warm and peaceful it was; using fire not just to attack but to heal.

“Fireball”, I say softly. And a tiny ball appears.

“Hahahaha! It’s a one in sixteen chance Maru! Better odds than a slot machine!!! Take your shot!”

The swarm of Giselles scatter and circle around me, tighter and tighter, like whirlwind about to carry me away.

I close my eyes, and press my hand against my heart. I focus, imagining the sphere growing larger and larger in my mind til it consumes everything.

There’s a crackling, snapping, that surrounds my ears and a heat that wraps around my skin.

Giselle’s after-images dissipate as they strike me - for I’ve covered my entire body in flames.

“Ouch! Hot hot hot!” The real Giselle drops the knife as it passes through the heat. But I don’t let go of her; I wrap her in a three-hundred degree hug.

1 damage! 1 damage! 1 damage! 1 damage! 1 damage!

“Listen to me Giselle.” I whisper. “I’m only telling you once. Zorro doesn’t want to kill anyone. You and Max both know that.”

With the after-images gone, I can see Zorro and Max again. While Zorro’s left arm’s at an awkward angle, Max is unsteady on his feet. He falls back into a table.

10 damage! 10 damage! 10 damage! 10 damage!

“I’m no murderer. But I do believe in self defense. Oh, I believe it.”

Zorro grabs a bottle from a leftover meal and smashes “John Walker” over Max’s head. ‘Sure to knock you out!’ the whiskey’s label says.

Max faints, just as advertised. And Zorro sheathes her sword. But I’m with Giselle, and I embrace her.

10 damage! 10 damage! 10 damage! 10 damage!

“Please. Please, let go of me-”

I keep the flames burning.

10 damage! 10 damage! 10 damage! 100 damage!

“Please, I won’t do it again, please-”

100 damage! 100 damage!

I keep the flames burning. Intensify them. Broaden the sphere. Hot tears run down her cheeks

49 damage! SHIELD BREAK!

…400 exp gained! Level up!

Maru | Level 12 Journeyman

Shld 0/110 | Str 7+12 | Def 10 | Agi 16 |AP | 1/15

Exp: 148/260

“-the next time you and Max attack, there’ll be nothing left.”

I let her go.

It’s not like I have a choice

By keeping up that fireball my mana had run out. At the cost of all that mana, however, Giselle’s in a much worse state,

Her hair’s singed, from the top of her head, down to her eyebrows. Pink blisters cover her skin. Her lips, which are chapped and ashy, turn down in a frown.

“Ahaha.” Her laugh’s raspy, and sounds like a goblin’s. “Ahahahahahahahaha!”

“W-what? What’s so funny?” Zorro says, as she returns to my side. “We beat you.”

“You let me go free! You really did!”

Giselle produces a bottle - and this one’s not one from the bar. It’s labelled “Doctor Engano’s Life Elixir.” She chugs it, and her fatigue and sickness fades. Her skin becomes smooth and bright - and her shield returns. 

She spits and gags. "Phoenix blood... disgusting, but whatever works. Ready for round 2, dumbasses?”

“Wait, that’s just cheap!” I protest.

“It’s not cheap,” says Giselle. “It’s very expensive. Ha!”

She pours another bottle onto Max’s face. After a moment, he grunts and stands.

“Where did you get that? Doctor Engano is supposed to be missing!” says Zorro.

“I’ll whisper the answer into your ear after I’ve cut it off...” says Giselle, picking up her first-knife from the floor.

I’m frustrated. It’s not the fact I’ve got no mana, defense, or resources. It’s not the fact Zorro’s shoulder’s been popped out. It’s that we’ll have to grit our teeth and grind through another dreary battle against the same stupid opponents with the same idiot skil-

-RAT TAT TA TAT TA TTATA TATATATA TAT TAT TA-

RATA A TAT A TAT TAT TAT

RATA TA TA TAT TAT TAT TAT AT

- the bodies of Giselle and Max convulse -

RAT TAT RAT RAT RAT RATRAT.

1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE!

RATATAT RAT RATA RATA RATRAT RAT TA RATA RATA RATA

1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE!

RATA RATA TA TA RATA TA TA TA RATA TA TA TA

1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE!

RATA RATA TA TA RATA TA TA TA RATA TA TA TA

1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE!

1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE!

RATA RATA TA TA RATA TA TA TA RATA TA TA TA

RATA RATA TA TA RATA TA TA TA RATA TA TA TA

1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE….

RATA RATA TA TA RATA TA TA TA RATA TA TA TA

1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE….

1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE….

RATA RATA TA TA RATA TA TA TA RATA TA TA TA

1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE….

1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE! 1 DAMAGE….

RATA RATA TA TA RATA TA TA TA RATA TA TA TA

RATA RATA TA TA RATA TA TA TA RATA TA TA TA

RATA RATA TA TA RATA TA TA TA RATA TA TA TA

RATA RATA TA TA RATA TA TA TA RATA TA TA TA

SHIELD BREAK! SHIELD BREAK!

RATA RATA TA TA RATA TA TA TA RATA TA TA TA

RATA RATA TA TA RATA TA TA TA RATA TA TA TA

RATA RATA TA TA RATA TA TA TA RATA TA TA TA

RATA RATA TA TA RATA TA TA TA RATA TA TA TA

RATA RATA TA TA RATA TA TA TA RATA TA TA TA

RATA RATA TA TA RATA TA TA TA RATA TA TA TA

A young violet-eyed lady steps in, wields what seems to be a pistol but is actually more like a machine gun. She’s dressed in a deep black chestplate and skirt, in a royal-colored cape.

She blows away the barrel-smoke, speaking in a soft cool voice.

“Scratch damage. Weak, but if you can inflict it fast enough - you can kill anything.” She smiles. It’s the same smile as the nun, the same one as ‘Morada”. She’s not a nun, she’s not Morada, she’s -

“Violata, Inquisitor of the Rosa Imperia has come to arrest the great bandit Zorro - and her accomplice, Maru, slayer of rats.”