( melt vc: didn't see that one coming, did you ) 😥
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@brevetempvs
A big damn breakout. That was the best way he could have described it all. It reminded him of all those battles he took part in alongside his king and others at the moon, always so many enemies and normally outright led by some Servant; the last one either being controlled or actually opposing them out of their own volition.
But something was horribly wrong... Why where there so damn many?! "This is no joke! We need all hands on deck! My king isn't here but I'm sure he'd tell us to not split too far, or if we can remain in a circle they can't break...!" In a critical moment, all his sanity and instinct converged together in his head, because in the end, under all that usual attitude, he knew when something was truly a dire situation. Best he could do for true strategy was knowing what his king would suggest.
The only one that stuck with him was Meltryllis as they got caught up together, and surprisingly, for what was considered water and oil? They were working together. And amazingly at that. Somehow, despite the seriousness, the finesse of her dance was never lost and with him supporting; both bouncing of off each other back and forth.
For every spin with his big lance in hand which sundered many a kind, she jumped off the tip as soon as it became still, only to then crash gracefully atop the next clump of them, then twirl and send the next pack flying. Following act? He tapped in to his Monstrous Strenght as to move faster, swiftly sliding under the Alter Ego...
...Then with one hand, right at her center, he lifted her up, not interrupting her ballet that was crushing one after another with a single strike, everyone being turned into EXP by the aggressive drop of her talons. In a surprising display of grace, he began turning in place while still holding the swan atop him with no problem.
Faster... Faster...
Every last one of the mooks getting blown or disappeared right before their eyes, thinking eventually they would stop or be tired. And they couldn't have been more wrong.
But it was then they themselves weren't realizing in the deep focus...
They were regrouping like every strength in number unit normally could.
And that was when disaster struck. As they thought they were done and stopped to celebrate, all the residual energy was gathering in one place, giving birth to one, big last mook. And by then? Their magical energy was nearly completely consumed. Astolfo had burned most of it as to continue powering his Monstrous Strength, and in the end, Meltryllis also had to essentially use quite the share as the main attacker after all.
In a huge panic, "If this is it... Then this is it!" Decided, he wouldn't let his partner fall here, with what little remained, "Please work...!" He thought to himself, taking that hunting horn resting at his waist, clenched his hand... And it turned properly! "It's not going to take it down how I am... So make sure to get far away from here! I'll hold it back!" And not a moment to soon, as it was ready to strike and crush them both!
"La Black Luna!!" With the last of his strength, he inhaled as he called forth that Noble Phantasm and blew, stopping the giant fist from dropping a few feet above the air, but it was still dropping, gaining more strength...! He could barely look back as the wave of energy acting as a shield was beginning to crack...! He couldn't see Meltryllis, so she had escaped! He was glad...
...But he couldn't have been more wrong.
The last he saw? A majestic stream of what seemed water shoot upwards like a direct arrow, which then pierced inside the gigantic enemy... But not emerge from the other side. And before he could react and try to call Hippogriff one last time; something... The giant toppled over and fell... Then produce quite the burst of energy.
Of course, as soon as his Black Luna dissipated, he ran over as the corpse began dissolving, and what he ran into straight in the middle... Horrified him.
As his running slowed down to a mere walk, his feet dragging until he simply slumped to his knees, looking down... As if he was an automaton low on energy, mouth agape, breath hitching, eyelids began becoming wet.
With shaky arms, he slowly slid one under the Alter Ego's back, the other gently wrapped around her.
"...Why?" Weakly he asked, his voice beginning to break.
"Why?!" Again, "Why why why?!" Roaring out loud, he was visibly upset, "You were the one that was supposed to get back and out!!" He wasn't angry at her, he was angry at himself... He had failed to protect her. He had failed as a knight. He had failed her.
Heavy tears began streaming down the paladin's face, clearly in pain, sobbing, he didn't care if he was going to get kicked or something for daring touch her like this or anything, in fact? He wanted her to do it if she could, show indication she still had clear life left in her and that she had fight... But it wasn't happening.
"I'm just a stupid, good for nothing, weakest, failure of a hero... And here you are thinking I'm the one that should be walking out! You... You are the dumb one here!!" Every last of his frustrations continued to pour, calling out to her at the same time as her eyes would remain open.
"...They'll be here soon, for the love of anything... You better not vanish on me! I'll... never forgive you!" More like himself, for that matter. Nevertheless, he never left her side, he hoped and wished the reinforcements would be here soon, everything had been re-established, but help from base couldn't be arriving a moment to soon.
Someone sacrificing themselves for someone like him... That he couldn't allow for many, many reasons. Especially not someone...
Not someone that he wanted to help understand so much more better... Everything...
