06-09-2017, 08:20 PM
Cannon-fire poured from Samus’ artillery, spraying its energetic salvo across the mechanical chimera’s flank. Centaur Man ignored the white-hot pricks of pain as he focused on the begoggled samurai currently astride him. He tossed his tri-tripped crown from side to side like a finicky foal, attempting to gore the hacker before he could steady himself. The ear-grating sound of blade-on-steel informed the machine that he would have no such luck. Improvise it was, then.
“Nebula cannot be defeated,” the mythical machine rasped, spitting gobs of dark viscous liquid from his nigh-frothing gob. Before Hiro could reply with his usual one-liner, his mount reared, kicking his forelimbs high into the air in an attempt to shake him off. The rider clamped his thighs around Centaur Man’s back, his free hand fanatically scouring for a handhold as he stabbed wildly with his tanto. The quadruped’s back, saddle-less and slick with blood and hydraulic fluid, proved to be impossible to stay firmly astride, with Hiro finding himself slipping backward toward his foe’s haunches. Sensing the jockey’s shift, Nebula’s commander threw himself forward, catching himself on both his equine and human-esque forelimbs. With no way to keep himself atop the steel stallion, the hacker found himself soaring skyward in a high arc, landing a few feet from what remained of Okor.
”Hiro!” Madotsuki cried out, watching as the ronin landed with a thud beside her. Gritting her teeth, she slashed viciously at the air with her blade, wide crescents of dream energy tearing through the clearing toward the menacing machine. The blasts found purchase, though they did little but draw the centaur’s attention.
“I’m finished here,” Centaur Man uttered, standing stock-still as the night slashes and gattling fire continued to sear his side. His eyes began to glow brighter, a violet shine visible through the dark haze issuing from his sockets. A long few seconds passed before the attackers realized their folly.
“He’s preparing somethi-” Shinnah’s voice caught in her throat as the familiar turquoise sphere of energy bloomed around the centaur before bursting forth to enormous proportions. The battlefield itself was swallowed up by a mammoth sphere of distortion, each combatant frozen where they stood. All, that was, save for Centaur Man.
Five.
The mythical machine charged forth at once, eyes set on the armored bounty hunter. In his left hand appeared a bladed polearm composed of vibrant purple energy, the blade portion wreathed in black mist. As he reached his target he brought the weapon down in one swift motion to cleave a wide slash across the crouching mercenary’s chest. Samus staggered as the blow fell, suddenly shaken from the time field’s effects. The Chozo’s champion was only able to turn her head toward her attacker before an adamantine hoof caught her at the shoulder, sending her tumbling toward the treeline.
Four.
Centaur Man dispelled his glaive, summoning up his familiar bow in its stead. He notched an energy arrow and pulled back at the projectile’s tail, taking aim at the knife-wielding dreamer. With a sinister grin he let the arrow fly, the enormous energy dart slamming into the ground immediately in front of her, knocking her from her feet. Nebula’s commander raised his arm cannon as the dreamer shook herself from the Flash’s influence. Before she could raise a finger to retaliate, a veritable downpour of cannon fire fell upon her.
Three.
“You’re sloppy!”
The cybernetic beastman turned to see a smirking gnome and her recently re-summoned familiar, shaken free of their prison by his assault on Madotsuki. Her lips began to form the basis of some hex or another, though it wouldn’t matter.
Two.
As the orb of distortion began to falter, Centaur Man set his sights on the last of his opposition. With unreal alacrity he dashed forward, disappearing from sight before Shinnah could command her fel guardian to strike. The gnome warlock frantically scanned the area for his location, though he soon made his presence known. Her mouth fell open as he reappeared in front of her, head lowered. With a wet squish, his leading horn tore a hole through the mage’s chest.
One.
With a flick of his neck, Centaur Man cast the girl aside, her limp form plopping beside Okor’s ravaged remains. With a dark chuckle he turned away as the plague knight began to stir. Nebula’s chosen ignored the movement as he trotted casually across the clearing to the portal. The rest of the Liberators would soon follow suit, though it was for naught.
Centaur Man cast a glance over his shoulder. “Nebula endures," he called, stepping through the portal.
“Nebula cannot be defeated,” the mythical machine rasped, spitting gobs of dark viscous liquid from his nigh-frothing gob. Before Hiro could reply with his usual one-liner, his mount reared, kicking his forelimbs high into the air in an attempt to shake him off. The rider clamped his thighs around Centaur Man’s back, his free hand fanatically scouring for a handhold as he stabbed wildly with his tanto. The quadruped’s back, saddle-less and slick with blood and hydraulic fluid, proved to be impossible to stay firmly astride, with Hiro finding himself slipping backward toward his foe’s haunches. Sensing the jockey’s shift, Nebula’s commander threw himself forward, catching himself on both his equine and human-esque forelimbs. With no way to keep himself atop the steel stallion, the hacker found himself soaring skyward in a high arc, landing a few feet from what remained of Okor.
”Hiro!” Madotsuki cried out, watching as the ronin landed with a thud beside her. Gritting her teeth, she slashed viciously at the air with her blade, wide crescents of dream energy tearing through the clearing toward the menacing machine. The blasts found purchase, though they did little but draw the centaur’s attention.
“I’m finished here,” Centaur Man uttered, standing stock-still as the night slashes and gattling fire continued to sear his side. His eyes began to glow brighter, a violet shine visible through the dark haze issuing from his sockets. A long few seconds passed before the attackers realized their folly.
“He’s preparing somethi-” Shinnah’s voice caught in her throat as the familiar turquoise sphere of energy bloomed around the centaur before bursting forth to enormous proportions. The battlefield itself was swallowed up by a mammoth sphere of distortion, each combatant frozen where they stood. All, that was, save for Centaur Man.
Five.
The mythical machine charged forth at once, eyes set on the armored bounty hunter. In his left hand appeared a bladed polearm composed of vibrant purple energy, the blade portion wreathed in black mist. As he reached his target he brought the weapon down in one swift motion to cleave a wide slash across the crouching mercenary’s chest. Samus staggered as the blow fell, suddenly shaken from the time field’s effects. The Chozo’s champion was only able to turn her head toward her attacker before an adamantine hoof caught her at the shoulder, sending her tumbling toward the treeline.
Four.
Centaur Man dispelled his glaive, summoning up his familiar bow in its stead. He notched an energy arrow and pulled back at the projectile’s tail, taking aim at the knife-wielding dreamer. With a sinister grin he let the arrow fly, the enormous energy dart slamming into the ground immediately in front of her, knocking her from her feet. Nebula’s commander raised his arm cannon as the dreamer shook herself from the Flash’s influence. Before she could raise a finger to retaliate, a veritable downpour of cannon fire fell upon her.
Three.
“You’re sloppy!”
The cybernetic beastman turned to see a smirking gnome and her recently re-summoned familiar, shaken free of their prison by his assault on Madotsuki. Her lips began to form the basis of some hex or another, though it wouldn’t matter.
Two.
As the orb of distortion began to falter, Centaur Man set his sights on the last of his opposition. With unreal alacrity he dashed forward, disappearing from sight before Shinnah could command her fel guardian to strike. The gnome warlock frantically scanned the area for his location, though he soon made his presence known. Her mouth fell open as he reappeared in front of her, head lowered. With a wet squish, his leading horn tore a hole through the mage’s chest.
One.
With a flick of his neck, Centaur Man cast the girl aside, her limp form plopping beside Okor’s ravaged remains. With a dark chuckle he turned away as the plague knight began to stir. Nebula’s chosen ignored the movement as he trotted casually across the clearing to the portal. The rest of the Liberators would soon follow suit, though it was for naught.
Centaur Man cast a glance over his shoulder. “Nebula endures," he called, stepping through the portal.
Quote:Challenge complete. Centaur Man has left the battlefield.
You have the option to pursue him and finish him off, or merely follow through the portal at your own pace and continue on with your task.
Damage Report:
-- Hiro takes 5 damage
-- Madotsuki takes 5 damage
-- Samus takes 3 damage
-- Okor takes 3 damage
-- Shinnah has died
-- Centaur Man suffers 7 damage and makes an escape attempt
Everyone has four days to post at your leisure to progress through the portal.