"Are those them?" Tristan asks, his eyes locking onto the two opposing groups.
"Yeah," Jin affirms, his right hand leaving his pocket to scratch his head.
"...I don't think they've noticed us yet," he adds, slipping his hand back into his trench coat.
"So... how should we go about this?" Mira chimes in, peeking out the window of the building they were watching from.
Her hands rest on the ledge as she looks down at the group.
"...?!"
"We've been caught."
BOOM.
A fiery explosion cuts her warning short—clouds of dust and debris erupt outward.
"I think I got them, boss," Freddie says, shielding his eyes to get a better look at the aftermath.
"...No," Fedora mutters, her eyes catching movement in the distance.
"More guys?" Duke questions, his arms folded as he leans against a nearby wall—Craig and Sami standing closely behind him.
---
[F³]
A-rank party
Freddie – A-rank mage (slingshot, perfumed metal pellets)
Fedora – A-rank magic vanguard (dual short swords)
Francess – A-rank tank (halberd)
[2+1]
S-rank party
Craig – A-rank vanguard (sanjiegun)
Sami – A-rank assassin (rapier)
Duke – S-rank vanguard (greatsword)
---
"How can you be so smart and dumb at the same time?" Jin mutters.
"...I didn't think they'd see me. Seems I was mistaken," Mira remarks.
"Hahaha... thankfully you managed to put up a barrier in time," Tristan adds.
The three emerge from the cloud of dust—Jin dusting off his clothes, Mira shaking dirt from her hair, and Tristan fanning away the dust clouding his vision.
"Hm?" Tristan hums, his eyes widening slightly.
"Why is everyone so tense?" he asks, a grin spreading across his face, one hand resting on his chin.
"..."
The tension in the air thickens with each passing second.
"Hohoho... if it isn't our oh-so-beloved talent," Duke begins, stepping forward through the crowd toward Tristan.
"Tristan, welcome. Please allow me to check..."
He leans in, voice dropping to a whisper.
"...just how much of that shit you can back up."
Their eyes meet.
Silence.
"Hmph." Tristan scoffs, a smile forming.
"Do you need my permission...?"
"...Let's fucking go!"
His pupils dilate—his grin widening.
"HOHOHO!!!" Duke bursts into laughter, covering his face.
"I guess we're starting," Jin sighs, his head hanging low.
"Try not to overexert yourself," he adds, glancing at Mira.
"..." Mira meets his gaze, her cheeks faintly flushed.
"Hehe... sure," she replies, smiling as she brandishes her staff.
---
-!
CLANG.
Tristan blocks Duke's sudden punch with the flat of his blade, his face tightening in focus.
"Haap!" Duke grunts, muscles tensing as he forces Tristan back.
CRASH. CRACK. BOOM.
Tristan is sent flying—tearing through three buildings from the impact.
"Craig!" Duke shouts, stretching his hand out as a greatsword forms in his grip.
"Yeah?" Craig responds, pushing himself upright.
"Let's go!"
A gale of wind and dust erupts as Duke dashes toward Tristan.
Craig rolls his shoulders, his sanjiegun materializing in his hands.
Crack.
He tilts his neck, then launches forward after Duke.
---
"..."
Everyone watches the two disappear into the distance.
"Okay then," Mira begins, breaking the silence.
"I'll start with the one who shot at me."
Her eyes lock onto Freddie.
Whoosh.
Her staff snaps forward, its tip glowing.
"Fire Bullet."
A small sphere of flame forms at the tip.
Use mana to strike the bullet. Add a wind formula—reduce air resistance, increase spin.
Her mind races through calculations.
Distance: roughly 10 meters.
Gravity: 9.81 m/s².
Angle: 45°.
9.9 m/s should be enough.
Her grip tightens as the staff recoils.
POW.
The flaming bullet tears through the air toward Freddie—
"IRON WALL!" Francess roars, stepping in front of him.
She grips her halberd tightly as a holographic wall forms, blocking the attack.
"Francess!... Freddie!" Fedora shouts, staring at the smoke cloud where they stood.
She grits her teeth, draws both short swords, and charges forward.
-!
Clang.
"Kugh!" she groans, skidding back from the sudden impact.
"Can't believe they left me alone again..." Sami sighs, brushing back her curly brunette hair.
Her blood-red eyes settle on Fedora's crouched form.
"...I'll wrap this up quickly."
She places one hand behind her back, gripping her rapier.
"An assassin using a rapier?" Jin says calmly.
"-?!" Sami snaps her head back, slashing—
Nothing.
He's not there?!
"Well then, ladies..." Jin continues, now standing between them, a dagger in each hand.
"Shall we dance?"