Koga

"One of the few times I have sugar," Koga stated, even voiced as his eyes rested on the man again. Was the irony in being concerned about Koga's health meant to be ironic? The swordsman was only slightly less than amused.

The world had seemed to shrink around them as the mysterious frontliner spoke. Koga attention was fixed, listening to the rather intentional seeming words. The particular choice of story. There was a lesson there, as there often was. Loyalty, faithfulness. The same old song and dance, the one that humanity never seemed to tire of. But there was one thing Koga couldn't figure out...

What in the fuck did any of this have to do with him?

The waitresses return seemed to shatter through the illusion of isolation that had settled over the two men. Koga turned and gave the woman a polite smile, nodding as she set down the pot of coffee and the cup, only for his eyes to flicker over to the other man again as he lifted the pot.

The man began to pour.

"Yes Koga, Enjoy."

Koga's eyes narrowed at him. Wait a moment...This was guy was at the Gabrandr fight. This was-

"Oh, Right, pardon my manners. I'm Kuzunoha Raidou."

Holy shit.

"I'm Kasumi's cousin."

Koga stared blankly for a moment or two as Raidou pushed the little container of sugar cubes towards him, the metal quietly scraping across the tabletop.

Koga started laughing, the tension not quite leaving his body as he threw his head back in his chair. "Oh my god, I'm sorry," the man apologized, grinning now, a hand falling on the table to rest. "Shit, dude, I thought you were a PK'er or something, sorry." Koga took a moment to compose himself. "I'd introduce myself, but yeah,Sounds like you already know who I am."

The swordsman dropped a cube into his coffee with the tongs. He paused before grabbing a second. He'd expected a much larger cup, truth be told. He set the tongs aside. "Are you always this intense when you go through the whole interrogation thing with your cousin's- uh..." Koga trailed off. They weren't dating. But Koga would've liked to believe that they weren't just friends either. And clearly, Raidou had heard something through the grapevine. "Actually, uhm, what have you heard about me and Kasumi?" The boy asked somewhat sheepishly, leaning back into his chair again as he lifted his cup. "What'd she say to you?"

@Raidou

k o g a the elder wolf Spoiler notes: Clash of Blades Sheet Koga | HP: 200/200 -> 400/400 | EN: 43/43 | DMG: 10 | MIT:18 | ACC:3 | EVA:2 | BH:7 | HB: 4 | VAMP-D: 22 | FLN: 4 | BRN: 14 | LD: 3 equipped battle-ready inventory Tsuki no Hikari Demonic T5 Katana | CRSD, BRN, FALN II Shuku-ro Coat Demonic T4 Light Armor | EVA II, VAMP-D II Hirameku de Tatamu Demonic T4 Trinket | ACC III, HB I Noble Vampire's Knife | SWIFT (x3) Can only be used on a successful attack. Deal an additional 20 Unmitigatable damage, and heal yourself for 20. Dragon Heart | FEAST You will gain 2 Slots of Overhealth for the Duration of the fight. Granting 10% Bonus maximum Health. skills Spoiler | UTILITY Gathering: Fishing I | Successfully forage for materials on a LD 14+ | 42/49 EXP  Searching III | Passive | +1 LD per rank. +1 to Stealth Detection per rank. | 14 SP Night Vision | Passive | Ignores any penalties from low light or darkness. Negates the bonus Stealth Rating from low light or darkness. | 3 SP | COMBAT Mastery: Damage III | Passive | Gain 1 * Tier Damage per rank | 13 SP Battle Healing 3 | Passive | Recover 5% (rounded down) of your maximum HP at the start of your turn | 30 SP Energist | Passive | Increase Base Energy by 5 * Tier | 8 SP Charge | Action | Perform a single attack/Sword Art with +3 base damage. Charge attacks have a -1 Accuracy debuff and cannot be affected by any auto-hit effects. | 10 SP 2 EN * Tier, Cooldown: 3 Posts Howl | Action | Adds +2 Hate each against up to 4 targets. | 10 SP 2 EN, Cooldown: 2 posts Focused Howl | Action | Adds +4 Hate against a single target. | 5 SP 4 EN, Cooldown: 4 Posts | WEAPON Katana III | Passive | +5 DMG when equipped with a Katana | 30 SP | ARMOR Light Armor III | Passive | +18 MIT when equipped with Light Armor, -2 Stealth | 30 SP Meticulous | Passive | +1 DMG when equipped with Light Armor | 4 SP | EXTRAS Survival | Passive | Increases Healing effects received from all sources by 10%. Grants immunity to all damage dealing environmental attacks/effects. | 0 SP Parry | Action | Apply the energy cost upon proc, not activation. Reduces the final damage of the next successful attack against you by 50% (rounded down) and negates stun/paralysis effects of that attack. If hit by multiple attacks, only apply parry to the first attack against you. Parry lasts for three turns. Cooldown starts when the player activates the Skill. If the player is hit when using Parry, the cooldown is reset to 3 turns. | 10 SP 9 EN, Cooldown: 3 Turns Meditation | Action | Recover an additional (4 * Tier) energy. Cooldown: 3 Turns buffs Spoiler <<Well Rested>> | -1 energy cost for the first three expenditures of each combat. <<Squeaky Clean>> | The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 25% (rounded down). <<Filling>> | Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. <<Item Stash>> | +1 Battle Ready Inventory Slot <<Tasty>> | Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread. <<Relaxed>> | Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts. <<Multipurpose>> | Gain +1 to LD, Stealth Rating, Stealth Detection, or Prosperity to one post in a thread. Can be applied after a roll. <<Practiced Angler>> | +2 Fishing EXP per Attempt and additional +1 LD & CD to fishing attempts.

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> Koga consumed a Dragon Heart
Koga | HP: 400/400 -> 440/440 | EN: 43/43 | DMG: 10 | MIT:18 | ACC:3 | EVA:2 | BH:7 | HB: 4 | VAMP-D: 22 | FLN: 4 | BRN: 14 | LD: 3

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k o g a the elder wolf Spoiler notes: Clash of Blades Sheet Koga | HP: 200/200 | EN: 43/43 | DMG: 10 | MIT:18 | ACC:3 | EVA:2 | BH:7 | HB: 4 | VAMP-D: 22 | FLN: 4 | BRN: 14 | LD: 3 equipped battle-ready inventory Tsuki no Hikari Demonic T5 Katana | CRSD, BRN, FALN II Shuku-ro Coat Demonic T4 Light Armor | EVA II, VAMP-D II Hirameku de Tatamu Demonic T4 Trinket | ACC III, HB I Finale | MAIN Sets user HP to 0, being used as a normal attack and replacing Weapon Equipment. Dealing 150 Damage to the Enemy if hit above a 6. If Opponent is defeated by Finale, the user wins. Replaces Weapon Slot when used. Phase Stone | MAIN Gain 1 slot of phase. skills Spoiler | UTILITY Gathering: Fishing I | Successfully forage for materials on a LD 14+ | 42/49 EXP  Searching III | Passive | +1 LD per rank. +1 to Stealth Detection per rank. | 14 SP Night Vision | Passive | Ignores any penalties from low light or darkness. Negates the bonus Stealth Rating from low light or darkness. | 3 SP | COMBAT Mastery: Damage III | Passive | Gain 1 * Tier Damage per rank | 13 SP Battle Healing 3 | Passive | Recover 5% (rounded down) of your maximum HP at the start of your turn | 30 SP Energist | Passive | Increase Base Energy by 5 * Tier | 8 SP Charge | Action | Perform a single attack/Sword Art with +3 base damage. Charge attacks have a -1 Accuracy debuff and cannot be affected by any auto-hit effects. | 10 SP 2 EN * Tier, Cooldown: 3 Posts Howl | Action | Adds +2 Hate each against up to 4 targets. | 10 SP 2 EN, Cooldown: 2 posts Focused Howl | Action | Adds +4 Hate against a single target. | 5 SP 4 EN, Cooldown: 4 Posts | WEAPON Katana III | Passive | +5 DMG when equipped with a Katana | 30 SP | ARMOR Light Armor III | Passive | +18 MIT when equipped with Light Armor, -2 Stealth | 30 SP Meticulous | Passive | +1 DMG when equipped with Light Armor | 4 SP | EXTRAS Survival | Passive | Increases Healing effects received from all sources by 10%. Grants immunity to all damage dealing environmental attacks/effects. | 0 SP Parry | Action | Apply the energy cost upon proc, not activation. Reduces the final damage of the next successful attack against you by 50% (rounded down) and negates stun/paralysis effects of that attack. If hit by multiple attacks, only apply parry to the first attack against you. Parry lasts for three turns. Cooldown starts when the player activates the Skill. If the player is hit when using Parry, the cooldown is reset to 3 turns. | 10 SP 9 EN, Cooldown: 3 Turns Meditation | Action | Recover an additional (4 * Tier) energy. Cooldown: 3 Turns buffs Spoiler <<Well Rested>> | -1 energy cost for the first three expenditures of each combat. <<Squeaky Clean>> | The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 25% (rounded down). <<Filling>> | Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. <<Item Stash>> | +1 Battle Ready Inventory Slot <<Tasty>> | Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread. <<Relaxed>> | Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts. <<Multipurpose>> | Gain +1 to LD, Stealth Rating, Stealth Detection, or Prosperity to one post in a thread. Can be applied after a roll. <<Practiced Angler>> | +2 Fishing EXP per Attempt and additional +1 LD & CD to fishing attempts.

Well today's arena was entirely different from the dusty coliseum that Koga had become accustomed to. Also different was the fact that he had a different announcer today. Instead of the red-haired loudmouth that Koga had expected, a rather meek-sounding brunette girl spoke to the empty stands with a shaking voice. Was the red-haired dude holding her at gunpoint or something? What was going-

"Oh...Eldritch horrors. Nice," Koga deadpanned as he looked up at the swirling mass of void and tentacles. Koga would have to make an offering to Hermaeus Mora or something if he didn't go any crazier after today's bout.

Across the arena, Koga's opponent slightly readied herself, settling into a stance without a single word. Not even a nod of acknowledgement or a friendly fist bump. Did no one respect pre-fight manners anymore?

Well, Koga did, so he politely bowed before drawing his sword. In his hand, the wavering, milky stone he'd bought from the preparation store ran along the length of his blade as he drew it, the entire length beginning to waver and shift as he gave it slight flourish, before settling back into a low guard.

Your move, mystery girl.

@Kiru

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k o g a the elder wolf Spoiler notes: Clash of Blades Sheet Koga | HP: 200/200 | EN: 43/43 | DMG: 10 | MIT:18 | ACC:3 | EVA:2 | BH:7 | HB: 4 | VAMP-D: 22 | FLN: 4 | BRN: 14 | LD: 3 equipped battle-ready inventory Tsuki no Hikari Demonic T5 Katana | CRSD, BRN, FALN II Shuku-ro Coat Demonic T4 Light Armor | EVA II, VAMP-D II Hirameku de Tatamu Demonic T4 Trinket | ACC III, HB I None. Broken Heart Look at the poor bean. How could you do this to him, Lessa? Take 100 EMOTIONAL DAMAGE skills Spoiler | UTILITY Gathering: Fishing I | Successfully forage for materials on a LD 14+ | 42/49 EXP  Searching III | Passive | +1 LD per rank. +1 to Stealth Detection per rank. | 14 SP Night Vision | Passive | Ignores any penalties from low light or darkness. Negates the bonus Stealth Rating from low light or darkness. | 3 SP | COMBAT Mastery: Damage III | Passive | Gain 1 * Tier Damage per rank | 13 SP Battle Healing 3 | Passive | Recover 5% (rounded down) of your maximum HP at the start of your turn | 30 SP Energist | Passive | Increase Base Energy by 5 * Tier | 8 SP Charge | Action | Perform a single attack/Sword Art with +3 base damage. Charge attacks have a -1 Accuracy debuff and cannot be affected by any auto-hit effects. | 10 SP 2 EN * Tier, Cooldown: 3 Posts Howl | Action | Adds +2 Hate each against up to 4 targets. | 10 SP 2 EN, Cooldown: 2 posts Focused Howl | Action | Adds +4 Hate against a single target. | 5 SP 4 EN, Cooldown: 4 Posts | WEAPON Katana III | Passive | +5 DMG when equipped with a Katana | 30 SP | ARMOR Light Armor III | Passive | +18 MIT when equipped with Light Armor, -2 Stealth | 30 SP Meticulous | Passive | +1 DMG when equipped with Light Armor | 4 SP | EXTRAS Survival | Passive | Increases Healing effects received from all sources by 10%. Grants immunity to all damage dealing environmental attacks/effects. | 0 SP Parry | Action | Apply the energy cost upon proc, not activation. Reduces the final damage of the next successful attack against you by 50% (rounded down) and negates stun/paralysis effects of that attack. If hit by multiple attacks, only apply parry to the first attack against you. Parry lasts for three turns. Cooldown starts when the player activates the Skill. If the player is hit when using Parry, the cooldown is reset to 3 turns. | 10 SP 9 EN, Cooldown: 3 Turns Meditation | Action | Recover an additional (4 * Tier) energy. Cooldown: 3 Turns buffs Spoiler <<Well Rested>> | -1 energy cost for the first three expenditures of each combat. <<Squeaky Clean>> | The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 25% (rounded down). <<Filling>> | Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. <<Item Stash>> | +1 Battle Ready Inventory Slot <<Tasty>> | Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread. <<Relaxed>> | Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts. <<Multipurpose>> | Gain +1 to LD, Stealth Rating, Stealth Detection, or Prosperity to one post in a thread. Can be applied after a roll. <<Practiced Angler>> | +2 Fishing EXP per Attempt and additional +1 LD & CD to fishing attempts.

The applause, Kindling's voice, it all faded away into the background as Koga stepped on the field of battle once more. The scent of dry desert and dust filled his nostrils. It reminded him of home. Across the way, the glint of polished armor flickered in the harsh sun. It drew the eyes of all who were present. How could it not? How could one not be drawn to the flowing golden locks wavering gently in the wind as Lessa, the Guardian of Aincrad. How could he not be?

The applause died, Kindling stepped off the field, and for a moment, the whole world was confined to the modest arena. The only people alive, the two that stood across from each other. It was Koga that spoke first, his voice cracking as he called across the field, throat dry from the desert air. "He said this week was about blood," the dark-haired man said, his voice echoing through the theater. "Last week, about love. For me, it's still love, Lessa." A quiet murmur shuddered through the stands. "My heart, my body, my soul. I'd have given you everything! And you threw it away!"

His sword was just a quiet whisper as he drew it from its scabbard. The polished blade shone, scattering light across the stands as he lifted it, pointing it the woman. "I'll bear these scars you've left me, carry the pieces of my shattered heart. But I won't forgive you."

@Lessa

k o g a the elder wolf Spoiler notes: Clash of Blades Sheet Koga | HP: 200/200 | EN: 43/43 | DMG: 10 | MIT:18 | ACC:3 | EVA:2 | BH:7 | HB: 4 | VAMP-D: 22 | FLN: 4 | BRN: 14 | LD: 3 equipped battle-ready inventory Tsuki no Hikari Demonic T5 Katana | CRSD, BRN, FALN II Shuku-ro Coat Demonic T4 Light Armor | EVA II, VAMP-D II Hirameku de Tatamu Demonic T4 Trinket | ACC III, HB I Massage Oil | SWIFT Restore partner’s EN by 10, and your own by 5. Cute Chocolates | MAIN [x2] Heals party 10% of their maximum HP. skills Spoiler | UTILITY Gathering: Fishing I | Successfully forage for materials on a LD 14+ | 42/49 EXP  Searching III | Passive | +1 LD per rank. +1 to Stealth Detection per rank. | 14 SP Night Vision | Passive | Ignores any penalties from low light or darkness. Negates the bonus Stealth Rating from low light or darkness. | 3 SP | COMBAT Mastery: Damage III | Passive | Gain 1 * Tier Damage per rank | 13 SP Battle Healing 3 | Passive | Recover 5% (rounded down) of your maximum HP at the start of your turn | 30 SP Energist | Passive | Increase Base Energy by 5 * Tier | 8 SP Charge | Action | Perform a single attack/Sword Art with +3 base damage. Charge attacks have a -1 Accuracy debuff and cannot be affected by any auto-hit effects. | 10 SP 2 EN * Tier, Cooldown: 3 Posts Howl | Action | Adds +2 Hate each against up to 4 targets. | 10 SP 2 EN, Cooldown: 2 posts Focused Howl | Action | Adds +4 Hate against a single target. | 5 SP 4 EN, Cooldown: 4 Posts | WEAPON Katana III | Passive | +5 DMG when equipped with a Katana | 30 SP | ARMOR Light Armor III | Passive | +18 MIT when equipped with Light Armor, -2 Stealth | 30 SP Meticulous | Passive | +1 DMG when equipped with Light Armor | 4 SP | EXTRAS Survival | Passive | Increases Healing effects received from all sources by 10%. Grants immunity to all damage dealing environmental attacks/effects. | 0 SP Parry | Action | Apply the energy cost upon proc, not activation. Reduces the final damage of the next successful attack against you by 50% (rounded down) and negates stun/paralysis effects of that attack. If hit by multiple attacks, only apply parry to the first attack against you. Parry lasts for three turns. Cooldown starts when the player activates the Skill. If the player is hit when using Parry, the cooldown is reset to 3 turns. | 10 SP 9 EN, Cooldown: 3 Turns Meditation | Action | Recover an additional (4 * Tier) energy. Cooldown: 3 Turns buffs Spoiler <<Well Rested>> | -1 energy cost for the first three expenditures of each combat. <<Squeaky Clean>> | The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 25% (rounded down). <<Filling>> | Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. <<Item Stash>> | +1 Battle Ready Inventory Slot <<Tasty>> | Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread. <<Relaxed>> | Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts. <<Multipurpose>> | Gain +1 to LD, Stealth Rating, Stealth Detection, or Prosperity to one post in a thread. Can be applied after a roll. <<Practiced Angler>> | +2 Fishing EXP per Attempt and additional +1 LD & CD to fishing attempts.

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The applause! The cheers! The...squeak of the rusty gate as it opened...

Yeah, no, there were no applause or cheers. Maybe some cricket noises. A cough if Koga was lucky (or unlucky) enough. The man simply deadpan stared at the fiery-haired announcer. For some reason Koga had the distinct feeling he'd met the man before somewhere. Something about a deep dark cave, fiery magicks and a dragon? No, that couldn't be right...No matter, Koga still felt the distinct urge to flip the man the bird, but refrained. You know, keep it PG for the kids in the stands about to watch two friends literally try to kill each other with the only safeguard being a fickle system that actually wanted them all dead.

The FCC would be proud.

Actually, speaking of friends, as Koga looked across the field to the perpetually pink-ish woman, giving her a faint smile and a respectful nod, he wondered: are we friends?

Strangely, Koga felt better about beating up a friend over a complete stranger because...tough love? Who knew. But to be quite honest, he had no idea where he and Mina stood. Mostly because they'd only met a few times, but they seemed to get along? Should he be feeling bad right now?

Oh well, whatever.

Koga took a moment to stretch his neck, roll his shoulders, all the things a man with chronic back, shoulder and neck pain might do before performing intense and possibly traumatic physical activities. "He kinda had you pegged with the bit about your name," Koga chuckled as finished stretching and settled into a stance, one hand on his scabbard, the other on the hilt of his katana. "Might wanna look into changing your username after this."

@tricolor_mina

Sign me up!

It was over. What had been a hellish slog just to survive ended in just a mere moment. Quicker than it had taken for Freyd to die and then come back to life.

The once great protector was dead, and in his wake, he left small gifts of parting for those who'd bested him. The loot menu unceremoniously appeared before Koga's eyes only moments after the obnoxious 'CONGRATULATIONS' had (something he now treated with about as much verve as one did draining a pus-filled wound). Two items were listed there. Bottled Darkness, and Bear Trap. One of each.

Koga resolved to look take a closer look at them later. For now-

The Frontliners passed through great door and onto the next floor.

Gloomy, eerie, in the middle of a...

Wait was this a town?

"...what is the chance that there are no safe zones here?"

Koga looked first to his other party members, eyes wide with shock. A loud booming drew his attention away though, just in time for Koga to see a massive, eldritch monstrosity slowly lumber into view.

"Well, shit..."

Koga receives:

- Bear Trap x1
- Bottled Darkness x1

That was the last time Koga taunted a boss. No sooner had he thanked Astralin for the extra healing did the bosses next attack strike the whole party, decimating their HP bars. Astralin probably just saved Koga's life, even as he tumbled through the acrid muck again. Truly, the swordsman was getting sick of this disgusting water and mud. Or maybe it was just the fact that his insides were just on the verge of becoming his outsides. His HP was in the red, and even when his passive healing began to kick in, bringing him into the orange, it was only just.

Not good. Very, very not good.

Koga staggered to his feet. His vision wasn't quite that foreboding red vignette that you sometimes saw in games. But there definitely was a vignette as his vision began to fail him. His lips felt cold, and he could feel his body shaking, that extra 3% HP over the red barely keeping him upright.

The bosses HP bar wasn't looking much better. But then again, he had eight of them. Was this it? The final moment? Either them, or him. There was a chance.

"Star," Koga croaked out as he staggered over to the man, eyes blinking furiously as he tried to recover his vision. "I need you to swap hate with me." Koga's chest heaved in ragged breaths as he spoke. "You're faster than me. You can dodge the next attack. Just long enough for us to kill this bastard." The swordsman looked at the boss's HP one more time. "All or nothing now."

The plan was set. The pieces were in play. The final flourish.

Koga charged, Tsuki no Hikari, a dormant, dirt-caked blade.

And the scent of flowered perfume.

Do you believe in the Divine?

Do you believe in an otherworldly force, greater than oneself?

Do you believe in a power greater than Death itself?

Masato had always struggled with faith. Or maybe he simply believed differently. What the man witnessed in those fragile moments, that turning point where the Frontlines might crumble beneath the weight of the death of a friend, or rally to enact righteous vengeance had him redefining his faith once more.

Whether it was an error in code, Cardinal's fickle favor, Kayaba's personal intervention, or the simple love of a companion which sat upon a hero's shoulder, God certainly existed within Aincrad.

Time seemed to stop, the brilliant blue shards that had once been Freyd, as clear and vibrant as his eyes, froze in place. Fragments of ice cradled in the hands of a little Fate. That little Fate breathed a single, devoted word of defiance. And all those frozen shards that had once been Freyd rushed back towards their point of origin. They reformed, fitting together like puzzle pieces, each with its place and function, a part of the whole. A part of Freyd.

Do not fear, for he is with you once more, do not be afraid, for he is a Freyd. A Freyd that will strengthen you, a Freyd that will help you, a Freyd that uphold with his victorious right hand.

"Yes!" Was the only shout that Koga could let out as he witnessed the return of Freyd, grey haired and different, but still distinctly Freyd.

Blackfire rose into the air as Koga felt the rush of combined glee and adrenaline. That invincible feeling that drove men wild. His HP bar, moments away from becoming red shot back up into the green as he grinned across the field at the returned. With a smirk he couldn't help but jab Kat in the shoulder, as Mac called out to the others: “Nevermind, everyone! Freyd got better!”
"We're not done yet folks." The sword in his hand blazed, swallowing the light. "You're gonna have to try harder than that, Callisto!" Koga shouted up at the boss, taunting. "C'mon!"

The party was immobilized. Koga tugged and pulled at the vines, tried to cut them away his sword to no avail. This wasn't good. A brief glance up at the boss told Koga that Callisto was temporarily distracted by another party. "Someone please tell me they brought a chainsaw!" Koga called to the others as he tried again to free himself, the thorns biting into his legs as he pulled. Another vine lashed out, reaching up to Koga's sword arm and binding it. This wasn't good.

The sound of electricity crackling suddenly cut through the air as Astralin cast whatever pseudo-magic it was that she used. In mere moments the vines exploded into nothingness, leaving Koga grinning at Astralin, "Nice job, Ast-"

"Freyd?"

Somehow, Katoka's voice, small and quiet, rose above the sounds of warfare, cutting through them with a sharpness that stilled Koga's heart. The man turned, first to lookat Kat, and then to follow her gaze. Just in time to watch as Freyd, his friend, fall.

"FREYD!"

The shout that Koga let out was somewhere between shock, plea, and anger. Koga's breathing became heavier, chest rising and falling. His heartbeat began to thrum in his ears. It had to be his, Freyd's had ceased. His vision narrowed to the blue shards that had once been his friend, then turned to Callisto. Somewhere a voice attempted to rally the Frontliners. Do not let Freyd, a man they all knew, all looked up to, and had fought beside, die in vain.