Brawl Break of Dawn

[WingedClover]

Arcana blocked my attack that effortlessly?! Her knees were weak just a second ago...

She backed away after successfully parrying his attack to gain more distance. The mayor screeched as the tip of her glaive glistened. Arcana raised up her weapon and jumped to drop her strike which came down on him. Luckily, he parried it with his shorter blade, then he yanked it away from her with all of her strength and started running like the wind!

"Thanks for the weapon kid"

 

[Hatz]

Arcana could not understand what happened just now. Maron stunned her. As he was running, Arcana thought if she should catch this man or not. She was positive that she could outrun him. In a matter of seconds, another scheme emerged in her mind. Why not chase him in leisure yet the sneaky manner to find all his underlings too? Arcana started walking towards him showing immense rage. Her legs still trembled. Maybe she planned this just to avoid him for now. The old glaive didn't matter much.

 

[WingedClover]

She was hot on his trail. Maron was sweating bullets as he heard her breathing, but then he stopped hearing it. He was too nervous to look back at his enemy and kept running towards his ship. Finally, he saw that his ship was in sight and his men were drinking... Soda!

"Those lazy idiots!" Maron waved the glaive in the air to try and get their attention

 

[Hatz]

The sea was calm as ever. Few hours had passed. Three marines were scrutinizing the location. Arcana was wearing the marine jacket displaying her power. Inside that the leather brown tribal dress portraited a strong message. The two marines she accompanied wanted to go for lunch now. They tried to convince her by asking for reinforcements but Arcana was stubborn. She wanted the hustle. Arcana was relaxed now but her comrades weren't. The marines discovered a clumsy small pirate ship. It was not surprising that Arcana found Maron with his bandits so soon. She kept a track on him. The bandits apparently didn't notice they were spied.

 

[WingedClover]

Maron slung the glaive over his shoulder as he addressed his men inside the ship, "It won't take them long to find us, but if we take on the Marines in one battle on the beach then the town is ours."

He then gestured with the glaive pointing towards the beach... But he was still inside so he poked a small hole at the top of the deck. Maron shrugged, "Oh, remember not to raise your weapons indoors."

They followed him up onto the deck and they steeled themselves for their battle. Maron puffed up his chest, "You louts will raid now. I'll jump in when need be."

 

[Hatz]

The three marines carefully shortened the distance. Arcana found a strange silence at the beach. Maron's men were bringing their weapons from the boat. The wooden boat looked quiet firm. The marines numbered down all the pirates before they leave for raid. "We are stopping them here," Arcana whispered softly and glanced at the boat. There were possible more than 20 weaponized pirates. How can three marines battle Maron's gang? A marine officer advised Arcana to wait till night falls. Looking at the situation, she didn't berate him for holding back. Her biggest concern was protecting the village. If she was to fail in protecting a place being first time stationed in her life, it would become a disgraceful memory. Arcana stared at the ground, thinking what to do. She asked the marine to give her his sword.

The pirates were alarmed when stones rumbled. Arcana stood in the beach, alone. She was grabbing a sword and surprisingly Maron's chestnut. The girl signaled the pirates to bring Maron out, as she walked furiously toward them. How will she overwhelm the pirates?

A pirate clenched his fist and dashed towards her. Arcana didn't move a bit until the man reached her. When he was dropping a blow from a good height, he received a devastating slash that opened his belly. His blood spattered the girl's uniform. The man fell on his knees as he yelled for help. Arcana mercilessly kicked his head, throwing him towards the ocean. Even the tide tried to drag him out from Arcana's tantrum.

She hated the fact that her enemies frightened her today. The fear that emerged inside her changed into a fearsome rage.

 

[WingedClover]

Arcana took a sword and walked onto the beach alone. She directed the pirates with her sword to bring him out, then Maron noticed that she was holding something in her hands ... His chestnut! Now he couldn't cut and run if things went south.

She signaled for the men to bring him out, but one of his thugs charged right at her. Arcana managed to stay still until the perfect moment to take him down. The blood splattered on her clothes as well as the sand. Once he pleaded for help she kicked him towards the ocean.

The girl was still shaking, but this time it wasn't fear. It was nothing but rage.

Maron yelled at his men, "Three of you louts can go and surround her! Or do I need to get my hands dirty?!"

He scratched his head and looked over to the glaive he took from her. It could come in handy for trading back his chestnut.

 

[Hatz]

Arcana felt warm. The girl would never admit that she is carrying a bulky hate for the men who kill innocent people. To protect the village she would need to murder the pirates. Killing strangers to protect strangers? This has always been contradicting for her, dragging her mind to a muddled state. Back in her marine training, she asked this question to senior marines, only to face an opposing lecture. Since then she never really sorted her feelings. Now that the time has come, she could only take the decision impulsively.

The situation was so frenzied, it boiled Arcana's body. She glanced behind, to notice the uneasiness of the two marines. Arcana would never admit that she is carrying bulky hatred inside her. The time she spent with pirates as a soldier-slave, buried immense loath for murderers in her. She would rather become a merciless murderer herself to eliminate them. This berserk feeling was covered by her protective instinct.

"Go Attack,"
Arcana ordered her two comrades. The two men rebuked stepping back, planning to desert from their third battle against pirates.

"Fight, before you die cowards."
Coming from a 14 year old, Arcana mortified them.

Three pirates were approaching their enemies. Their vicious screams frightened the two men in the marine clothing. No humiliation will make them move any forward now. Arcana realized this. To their surprise, Arcana bolted forward immediately. The three pirates scattered, making a triangle to surround her. Arcana didn't care, she attacked the nearest enemy. As she approached him, the pirate moved away quickly. He had a long spear that could be devastating for Arcana. The girl needed to close the distance or the other two pirates would also attack from her blind spot. She sprinted and got in the range. The pirate dropped a swift spear throw but Arcana dodged it easily and stabbed the pirate with her short-sword. The training was proving to be fruitful. The pirate yelled and fell to the ground when Arcana dislodged her sword. He was crying in anguish. She turned and was shook to see the other two pirates just in front her. She jumped and beheaded the second pirate in a split second, but failed to dodge the third. Fortunately she was not hit by a sword but a metal rod. The girl rolled away, her left shoulder felt broken by the strike. Arcana was sitting in pain as she saw the pirate coming to kill her. The two marines sheltered her to save their comrade, ready to attack the incoming pirate.

 

[WingedClover]

The girl was very scary. She had grit. It reminded him of how it was growing up angry at the world for his lineage and his chestnut, but got over it and decided to live for himself. All she possibly needed was a little push... that and he needed his chestnut.

Maron jumped off the ship with Arcana's glaive and onto the beach. The sands were beginning to stained with the blood of his men, despite the overwhelming numbers. He sighed as the most capable man of the trio that surrounded the female marine was slashed by one of the other two marines. The captain looked over to his subordinates and called out, "This is the last time I'm saving you guys. Head back to the ship while I take care of this. I'll treat any wounded later."

He then turned his gaze to the young girl that managed to take down three of his men and give him an impression of talent. Arcana was clearly still enraged about him being a pirate... If looks could kill his wanted poster would be crossed out.

Once he got a closer at her outfit his eyes widened. Maron planted her glaive into the ground, "You two can leave now and tend to the mayor. I'm going to settle this with the girl. She clearly isn't some fresh recruit from this part of the East Blue like you are. No, she's seen more cruelty on this sea than most people here have... Am I right Captain?"

His words solicited a strong stare from the young senior of her older subordinates and her older subordinates. Maron kept his hand on his sword handle just in case the marines decided to throw away their pride for absolute justice against a lowly pirate. His heart raced as he waited for her answer

 

[Hatz]

Arcana stood up. A valiant smile emerged. There were many reasons for that. Recognition, duel challenge and her glaive.
"Leave," Arcana said, her voice being low yet thunderous. The two marines nodded but they were reluctant to leave the child alone. Arcana stared at Maron's eyes as she strengthened her grip. She raised the sword as she collected strength in her right arm.

"My name is Arcana, if it is duel you are asking for, I am in."
A pirate was going back to the boat, recklessly running near this raging girl. Arcana blasted her sword to shoot down the pirate. Before the pirate looked behind, the short sword stabbed in his thighs. The man fell down as he cried for help.

""If it was not your chest nut, there was no way that I would have taken a blow from these amateurs."
Arcana dropped the chestnut she had down to the sandy ground. She clenched her left fist hungry for action, now that it was free.

"You will treat these amateurs? Why you are planning to hurt people in the town then."
Arcana questioned the pirate as she left the chestnut and walked to the right without a weapon. She angrily signaled the marines to flee.
The girl looked calm, but consumed in agitation.

 

[WingedClover]

The Marines ran off towards the gates. With all of his men hurt it'd be hard to deal with the town without too much bloodshed. Maron looked over to the wounded man. It'd be a pain in the neck to heal him up, but he is his crew mate.

Arcana's visible anger died down, but he could still sense the quiet rage. He kept his hand on his sword, "We're pirates, we like taking whatever we want. Unnecessary bloodshed is worthless. I don't really see much to this town, but it's apparently precious to you."

He drew his swords, but she seemed unfazed. Maybe it was fear or she was still enraged. Maron sighed, "If you really want to duel we may, but you probably have dreams don't you? For us pirates it's sailing free without a care in the world... I'm sure you've got dreams too. You can join my crew or choose your own fate. I don't really care"

 

[Hatz]

"This village is nothing to me, but protection is human nature, you trolls! I know what and how you take stuff that interests you, pirates."
Arcana made it clear by her tone that she will never join a pirate, at least for now it was almost impossible. Arcana was now standing behind Maron, waiting for him to match forward to receive his chestnut. The glaive glistened in Arcana's burning eyes. Finally, the time has come for the duel between these two. The pain her left shoulder didn't fluster her. She planned to cure it after the battle. After beheading Maron. Arcana came to a standstill, as she continued trading glaive and chestnut.

 

[WingedClover]

Maron nodded in response, marched forward, picked up his chestnut and plumped it back on his head. There didn't seem to be any other way to avoid their clash. It was time for him to bet his two sword Nitoryu style against the young lady's polearm techniques.

He pulled his blades out of his sheathes as she twirled her blade around for a quick decapitation. With quick reflexes he tried to tuck his head as she swung her glaive... To everyone's surprise, she separated his chestnut from him once again along with most of his hair. Maron knelt down to plop it back onto his head and resumed his fighting stance.

The pirate captain looked closely at her hurt shoulder, "If I can close the distance and anticipate her movements this battle will be over. One good hit to the left and it's all over."

Maron eagerly stepped forward. He was ready for her next move.

 

[Hatz]

Arcana stepped back after showcasing her skills. Maron's pirates were astonished to see how the young girl swung her heavy glaive.
The girl didn't really walk away, as soon as she reached a safe distance, she got ready for another attack. Arcana charged at Maron as she danced with her blade. Her moves were powerful and fierce yet exhausting. The pirates rushed to help and shielded their master, disappointing Maron. Only loyal followers would have done that. Arcana was on the verge of cutting Maron in pieces.
The pirates attacked in a group. The girl was stunned but quickly recollected her posture. The glaive spun round among the pirates, claiming few deep injuries. The girl kept her attention on Maron. But unfortunately, a pirate tried to stab her from behind. She moved to the right but could not really make in time. The sword left a deep gash, Arcana turned, itching to behead the backstabber. However, the man looked rather young and innocent, he shivered with his swords as he murmured the names of his beloved ones. Arcana gave him a harsh hit using the handle of the glaive, throwing him far away.

"Battle...is not for you," Arcana said in utter discomfort and faced Maron once again. Most of the pirates were lying down on the ground, moaning for aid, others were still shielding Maron. Arcana noticed that their captain was done putting his chestnut back.

Spoiler

No Break Next Week :lazydance:

 

[WingedClover]

"You will never take my head. I'm going to force you to surrender."

This routine island attack turned into the most humiliating day for the captain. There was no more running, his men were dropping like flies and he surprisingly was outclassed in strength by this young girl. Even if he wanted to run, she would kill him if he turned his back. On top of all of that, his offer to join his crew got rejected by the same kid that almost killed him. A bead of sweat ran down Maron's face as he tightened his grip on his two blades and yelled as he swung his blade, ready to unleash a heavy strike on the girl.

"The second she blocks my first strike I'll wound her shoulder with the second blade and the battle can be over. Try lifting that weapon of yours for a week after this!!"

 

[Hatz]

Arcana counted Maron's protectors. Five panic-stricken pirates were standing. Notably, one bearded man was also there. Lying down in the sand, trying to get up. Arcana had noticed his strength. She rushed towards the fallen pirate to eliminate him. The alarmed bearded man was helped by a young pirate, apparently his son. The father snatched the rapier from his son and sprinted towards Arcana. The girl slowed down as her prey became the hunter. She spotted his stab wounds and recovered her cool. The man reached her in a few seconds and threw a massive kick. Arcana ducked. The man threw another kick right on her face. The girl was tossed back. He screamed and jumped in the air, landing on her with his rapier. She quickly rushed forward. The man landed behind her. Both were showing their back to each other now. They quickly spun around and cut each other. The heavy glaive divided the man in two. Even Arcana was in big trouble. Rapier had left a long cut, stretching from her shoulder to waist. She stood pale, realizing that she overlooked Maron. Arcana coughed blood.

 

[WingedClover]

Arcana had quickly dodged his attack and ran for his men. He realized he was quickly outclassed in speed as well as strength. But therein lied one flaw: she was focused on his men. Maron regained his smile and it formed into a twisted grin at the sight of her clashing with a bearded crewmate, "One last shot! Here we go!".

As he put almost all of his strength into one final attack with his main blade, Arcana noticed him and parried it! Alas, it was too late, Maron closed the distance and finally slashed her wounded shoulder. They both fell back, and quickly got back up.

Maron sheathed his blades, "You won't be able to swing that weapon for at least a day or two. You're tough.. But you can't hurt anyone else with your arm hurt like that..."

She still stared him down with a bloodthirsty look.

"Don't worry. You've already wounded almost half my men... and killed a couple. Give the mayor my regards." He walked back towards his ship and yelled, "Men, we're retreating! Bring me all the wounded and let's haul out! This place isn't worth dying over."

By the time they started to set sail, he saw the marines and the townsfolk on the beach surrounding their newfound hero... But the fact that she was still staring at the ship wit