Awakening the lake monster

[illuminedshield]

He doesn't like the idea, but he has no real choice. Without doing this, they will surely lose the war. Their strength is depleted already. Still, Endymion watches the lake for a long time before he makes his move. He stays grim and serious, expression unchanging. His black armor suits his dark face

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[shroudedinflame]

Her spiritual sense doesn't give her much warning before the shriek, but Mars notices earlier enough to see it as it comes closer. Her eyes widen a moment and then narrow. An ofuda immediately in hand, she crouches slightly. A familiar string of words come to her, and energy gathers around her and into the demon-banishing charm.

"Akuryo...Taisan!" She wastes no time flinging the ofuda towards the creature. It should at least bring it down...right?

[illuminedshield]

Wrong. The creature is surprisingly agile and the attempt only infuriates it. It flips over itself in the air and barrels towards Mars, claws reaching for her. Endymion hurries in that direction, but he won't be able to get there in time.

"Sailor Mars," he says. "I am responsible for awakening this spirit. You must not fight it."

[shroudedinflame]

If Sailormars even hears him, she doesn't give any indication.

She shifts her stance, expression serious and focused. It comes close, too close-- but she vaults out of the way at the last possible moment and turns, preparing another attack. Fire gathers at her fingertips.

[illuminedshield]

The creatures momentum carries it further, until will crash right into Mars if she doesn't move again. Endymion tries to lure its attention away, but it focuses on the woman in front of it. Even his sword does little to pierce its hide.

"Give him back!"

[shroudedinflame]

"Burning Mandala!" She wastes little time in firing the attack. It's a much stronger attack than the ofuda, so it will hopefully do more damage. If not, she's about to be toppled.

[illuminedshield]

The creature stops short, howling in pain and batting at the flames with its claws. It twists and coils and uncoils and writhes and looks all but ready to clamp down on its own tail.

[shroudedinflame]

That's better. Mars takes a moment, glaring at the creatures as it writhes about. She twists partially to the side, gathering fire between her hands. It grows to a large orb, and she looses it at the creature. Perhaps this will take it out.

[illuminedshield]

But the creature leaps higher into the air instead. There, it spins all around, once, as though looking for something - and makes a beeline towards whatever it sees that caught its interest. Endymion runs after it immediately.

"This creature is too single-minded," he worries.

[shroudedinflame]

Sailormars stares, stunned as it flies off.

Should she leave it? It's none of her business after all. It was in her way and attacking her, that's all. But that man is the one Zoisite is interested in, isn't he? Chiba Mamoru. He's caused a lot of reflection in the quiet shitennou, most of which she doesn't understand (none of which Zoisite would share). Mars glares after Endymion, and takes after him.

If that creatures is dead, she'll have a chance to make him talk.

[illuminedshield]

Even in the pressure of battle, it doesn't escape him that something is very different about this Mars who is nothing like the once-cheerful and always-outgoing girl he knew in his own world, the girl who angrily made him swear to rescue Venus.

But his thoughts are on the creature he's unleashed. When it finally pauses again, he leaps into the air in a high flip that lets him reach its height, opening a wound in it as he attacks from the side.

[shroudedinflame]

Fire bursts towards the creature again after Endymion attacks, focused on a single area on it's underside. While she's not trying to hit Endymion too, she's not particularly careful about not hitting him.

[illuminedshield]

There's a roar unlike the previous shrieks as the serpent falls back to the ground. It lashes out at its tormentors even there, but it's quickly weakening and it moves more slowly... slowly...

"We must finish it while it is still weakened," Endymion says.

[shroudedinflame]

Like she needs him to tell her that. Fire flairs around her.

"Burning...Mandala!"

[illuminedshield]

He stabs towards the now-exposed softer flesh even as Mars attacks. The creature gurgles its last, and falls still and silent. Endymion withdraws his sword with a single motion.

[shroudedinflame]

Mars stares at the creature silently and with a strange, somehow empty expression, hands loose at her sides, but her stance wide.

After a moment, her eyes flicker to Endymion.

[illuminedshield]

With the creature gone, his business here is done and he has no further obligations. Endymion is already facing away, half ready to go, when he pauses and speaks.

"Sailor Mars. Thank you for your assistance today."