levail sees the young man pull out one of the two metal things strapped to him as he keeps moving; it's large, requiring both hands on it, one gripping onto a handle and the other supporting its body. "we're punching through."
Levail fumbles for his own great metal thing. He hefts it up, holds it like the stranger does.
He is unsure of its purpose, but there is a comfort in its weight--heavy enough for a cudgel.
Punching through. Right--it is a strategy that he can get behind. Danger is nothing, to a knight under orders. He steels himself, and presses onward.
in another half-block, the "guys just ahead" mentioned by the voice come into view, two of them standing beside a large, dark metal contraption. when they hear levail and the young man approaching at a run, they both start shouting and turning to face them.
Levail stutters to a stop, brandishing his weapon as though he knows well how to use it. His wrist only shakes a little.
In his periphery, he sees the vague shape of his ally. He thinks of Alice, and of the woman who died.
"Halt!" he cries, and lets the sound ricochet from the walls of broken buildings. "Identify yourselves!"
as soon as levail thinks actively about using the weapon in his hand, he finds that, inexplicably, like one knows how to breathe or blink, he does. he must aim and shoot by pulling the trigger. he's been doing this for many, many years.
unlike levail, the young man doesn't stop, instead charging forward to barrel through. "what are you doing? just go!" pivoting on his heel halfway in the thick of them both who haven't had a chance to react yet, he aims the huge thing in his hands at the nearest of them, still signaling levail. "go! go!" a massive blast makes the entire surrounding shudder, street and buildings and the metal contraption they're next to. it's hard to see anything in the enormous cloud of dust that envelops the three, though levail can can hear two loud bangs and hears someone grunt amidst the shouting.
several more bangs ring off in the next two seconds, some much heavier than others, making everything around levail tremor again and again. everything happens quickly. someone is bent over, staggering. two others closer by are standing. it's hard to make out who is who.
Like the greenest of squire-boys, Levail recoils at the sound. It is harsh and hot and horrible, a thousand times worse than the roaring of magic.
But he has been that squire-boy, before, and he's learned well not to quail.
Levail howls, rushing forward into the breach. His eyes scan the battlefield wildly, searching for his comrade.
The weapon is still clutched tight in his two hands, but he must not--he will not fire until he's certain who he's aiming for.
the dust and debris is dense, but there— peach-orange hair above a strong-looking outline! which means the other two must be...!
Levail fires on the other silhouette still standing.
levail's shot seems to go wide, and in return he's struck by some unseen force that pushes him back off balance a bit, compressing lungs and bone jarringly. 1.5 damage
"damn it, go!" levail feels himself grabbed roughly and shoved forward to the other side and the young man moves to follow after after him, still turned to body-block him from the others, weapon trained behind. "zacc said she's close, remember?" more ear-ringing blasts, exchanging fire.
Mind stuttering, body still grasping at breath, Levail staggers sidewise.
He marshals himself. "I'll not leave you," he barks.
Turns, then, and levels his weapon at the still-standing figure.
With a snarl, he fires.
levail's shot pierces something and he sees the body jerk through the dust before he feels that painful compression again, starting to weaken the strength in his arms. (1.5 damage) then, something aiming at him through the fog, but levail's jostled out of the way as it fires. another massive boom, then he's pushed again firmly.
"go. we're done. go." he breaks into a jog too, heading out the other side of the dust cloud, casting glances over his shoulder.
Levail recoils at the blast, but bolts forward after the orange-haired man.
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