[PP-F3]Beware of Giants Bearing Gifts

[Piera 0]

ID: 32591
BD: 2+1Acc=3 (miss)
Mack: 55/57 (Hate: 2)
Piera: 29/29
Sapphire Dragon: 57/75

Piera felt a wave of goosebumps wash over her as the dragon roared at Mack before going after him, the speed and size of the creature causing her to take an involuntary step back. At least until the muscular man's retaliation, easily sidestepping the bite as he slung his axe into its side. His attack was not taken lying down however as the cold blooded legend swiped out a taloned front foot at her comrade, completely knocking him off his feet and flinging him away. "Mack!" She exclaimed worriedly, hesitating in place until she heard him call out to her, reassuring her that he was more or less okay. Reapplying her grip on the staff of her Bleeding Lance, the brunette stared at the back flank of the dragon before finally rushing towards the monster. But her timing was poor, the dragon's tail swept across the floor as it re-positioned itself, nearly knocking her off of her feet if she hadn't leaped back.

Edited September 24, 2015 by Piera

[Mack 0]

ID: 32680
BD: 5
MD: 10
Mack: 51/57 (Hate: 2) – (-4 Dam., Mit. 2)
Piera: 29/29
Sapphire Dragon: 57/75

As Piera moved to join in the combat against the dragon, Mack positioned himself to make sure that he was squarely in the enormous lizard-like creature’s focus. Not that he needed to worry since he knew he had drawn agro on the thing and it would ignore Piera unless she landed enough hits to move herself past Mack on the animal’s hatred scale, which seemed unlikely. As he charged in with his axe raised the dragon lashed out with one gigantic forepaw, batting the axe-man away from it as easily as a kitten might swat a ball of yarn. Mack sailed backwards through the air to slam into one of the walls of the cavern before sinking to the floor.

[Piera 0]

ID: 32714
BD: 9+1Acc=10
DMG: 3+1Crit=4
Mack: 51/57 (Hate: 2)
Piera: 29/29 (Hate: 2)
Sapphire Dragon: 53/75 (Bleeding)

Piera waited and watched for Mack to get in another hit against the dragon, not eager to draw its attention to her. But just as she saw the guild leader leap in with his axe, he went flying, knocked back from a swat. Eyes widening at the sheer force of the blow, she was amazed that the blonde man hadn't taken more damage. Cursing, the brunette realized that she had to strike while she could and circled around to the dragon's side before stabbing up at its more tender underside, using her height advantage to score a critical and cause it to begin bleeding. As soon as she saw the bleeding take place though, Piera scrambled away, trying to avoid both teeth, tail and claws from retaliating.

Edited September 25, 2015 by Piera

[Mack 0]

ID: 32849
BD: 7 (6+1)
MD: 7
Mack: 49/57 (Hate: 3) – (-2 Dam., Mit. 2)
Piera: 29/29 (Hate: 2)
Sapphire Dragon: 43/75 (-8 Dam., -2 Thorns)

To cover Piera's retreat after her daring rush of the dragon to stab her lance up into the underside of the dragon, Mack dashed in with Guillotine raised to re-enter the fray after the blonde man had picked himself up from the ground after the dragon's most recent attack. With a roar of a battlecry that matched the dragon's in ferocity, if not in sheer volume, Mack brandished his bearded axe above his head before twirling it down above his right shoulder and slamming the hardened steel head of the weapon into the dragon's left side. Before he could free the weapon under his own power the dragon whirled and slammed a cerulean scaled tail the size of a tree trunk into the warrior, blasting him off of his feet once again.

[Piera 0]

ID: 32855
BD: 3+1Acc=4 (miss)
DMG: 2 Bleed
Mack: 49/57 (Hate: 3)
Piera: 29/29 (Hate: 2)
Sapphire Dragon: 41/75

Piera watched Mack rush right back to the dragon after gathering himself up again. His war cry scent goosebumps along her skin and made her wonder if they taught that in the military or if it was a personal skill. Seeing him chop down into the monster's side, the brunette was running forward, ready to switch with him. But suddenly he was gone as the dragon spun about and knocked the blonde man back yet again, this time with its tail. The brunette narrowly avoided the backlash of the whip like tail tip, diving under its belly and scrambling to avoid being stepped on. From this vantage point, she could truly see how humongous the thing was. But she was more concerned with getting to her feet and making sure that Mack was alright. She had been terrified when she'd first laid eyes on the fairy tale creature, but going by their health bars, they weren't doing too badly. They almost had it down to half health! And Mack hadn't taken that much damage surprisingly, given how much he had been knocked around. The alchemist was back on her feet and trying to decide if she should chance stabbing at its underbelly again or make a break for it.

Edited September 26, 2015 by Piera

[Mack 0]

OOC: We complete this page and we can roll for a THIRD treasure chest.

ID: 33065
MD: 3
BD: 4 (3+1)
Mack: 49/57 (Hate: 3)
Piera: 29/29 (Hate: 2)
Sapphire Dragon: 41/75

In all honesty, the massive dragon didn’t have that great of a damage table on it. Especially when taking into consideration the fact that Mack’s Angelic Sheath armor and armor skill enabled him to absorb some of the damage that the enormous lizard was throwing his way, since he was currently the one that had drawn the greatest amount of agro from the beast. Deciding to be fancy with his next attack, since he saw no danger from the dragon and he wanted to impress Piera, Mack sprinted forward and swung Guillotine laterally across his body, aiming for the gigantic blue scaled head of the dragon. The beast jerked back, and the strike sailed beneath the appendage. Just as quickly, the dragon’s head shot out and Mack took a quick step back as the creature’s fangs sailed past him.

Edited September 28, 2015 by Mack

[Piera 0]

{OOC: Whoa! Sweeeeet, more treasure!!}

ID: 33208
BD: 8+1Acc=9
DMG: 3+2Bleed=5
Mack: 49/57 (Hate: 3)
Piera: 29/29 (Hate: 3)
Sapphire Dragon: 36/75 (Bleeding)

As Piera was stuck trying to make a decision while ducked down underneath the dragon's belly, Mack had already gotten to his feet again and ran straight towards the monster. The brunette watched the man's feet as she was fairly sure that he swung his axe, but then the dragon jerked back, causing her to also step a few paces back, so as to not be squashed by its clawed feet. But when she saw its neck stretch out to bite at the blonde, Piera rushed out from between the dragon's front legs and stabbed upwards at its neck. She allowed herself a small satisfied smirk when she saw the damage she dealt along with reapplying the Bleed status. But then she realized that this was likely to garner some attention and she paled slightly. "S-Switch!" The alchemist cried out, scrambling out from under the over-sized reptile towards Mack.

Edited September 28, 2015 by Piera

[Mack 0]

ID: 33303
BD: 4 (3+1)
MD: 3
Mack: 49/57 (Hate: 3)
Piera: 29/29 (Hate: 3)
Sapphire Dragon: 36/75

With a bellow, Mack charged in to face the dragon, Guillotine flashing as he bolted past Piera when she called for a switch. “Retreat to the tunnel, let me land a few more hits to get the lizard’s agro focused on me again,” Mack called to Piera. He was still feeling pretty confident about being in command of the situation. But, he also knew that her armor would not be nearly the match for the dragon’s attacks just as he knew her health pool was only about half the size of his own. Since he couldn’t simply howl to draw the beast’s attention, it was a little bit harder to play the role of the tank. Harder, but not impossible. As he swung Guillotine through the air, the dragon darted its head forward again to snap at him, but the axe just glanced off one of the beast’s fangs which caused both of their attacks to miss.

[Piera 0]

Mack: 49/57 (Hate: 3)
Piera: 29/29 (Hate: 3)
Sapphire Dragon: 36/75

Piera ran past Mack as he sprinted towards the dragon with his axe upraised. She slid to a stop until she heard what the blonde man was telling her. Biting her lip, she almost considered staying and at least trying to help finish it off. They'd already gotten it down to half its health, it couldn't be that much harder could it? But after a moment's debate she turned away, "Ngh....okay!" Making her way around the room to the tunnel's entrance, she knew that it would always be better to err on the side of caution. Mack could take the dragon's hits like nothing due to his level and armor, but she on the other hand was nowhere near his level. The brunette was starting to realize how important the role of a tank could be and hoped that Lee would get to her level soon so they could tackle legends like this no problem. Sliding slightly as she reached the inside of the tunnel, the alchemist turned and peeked out, eyes darting around the area to get a lock on where her companion was and check to see how he was faring, ready to jump in and help again at a moment's notice.

[Mack 0]

ID: 33534
BD: 7 (6+1)
MD: 5
Mack: 49/57 (Hate: 4)
Piera: 29/29 (Hate: 3)
Sapphire Dragon: 28/75 (-8 Dam.)

Mack watched out of the corner of one storm grey eye as Piera went darting off to safety. In truth, it wasn't as if he had any doubt that they would be able to win the battle with the enormous dragon. The problem would come if Piera drew aggro on the beast since Mack wasn't entirely sure that he could kill it by himself before the dragon could kill Piera. Since there seemed to be little danger of the beast killing him before he could kill it and since, strictly speaking, he didn't require the help at this exact moment, it was better to play things safe rather than needlessly risking Piera's life. At least as far as Mack was concerned. Once she was out of the way, and he assumed watching his every move, the blonde mountain decided it was time for some more heroics. Charging forward, Mack dropped to his knees and slid beneath the dragon's jaws as it snapped at him. Popping back to his feet, Mack swung Guillotine around his body and slammed it into the side of the dragon's head with jaw cracking force.

[Piera 0]

Mack: 49/57 (Hate: 4)
Piera: 29/29 (Hate: 3)
Sapphire Dragon: 28/75

Piera watched the blonde man avidly, bouncing slightly on the balls of her feet. She knew that the guild leader could more than take care of himself, but she hated just standing on the sidelines, wishing she could be more helpful, even passively. The alchemist was useless as she was and not just because of her low level. Pursing her lips, the brunette followed Mack's movements as he ran straight for the dragon and for a moment she lost sight of him and her stomach dropped before belatedly realizing he had shot under the reptile's neck by sliding on his knees. Craning her neck to the side, she was just able to catch him swing his axe practically full circle into the monolithic beast's head, causing even her to wince in sympathy at the audible hit. He certainly seemed to be doing well for himself, though she wondered how long she should dawdle in the tunnel before jumping back into the fray.

[Mack 0]

ID: 33548
BD: 10 (9+1)
MD: 3
Mack: 49/57 (Hate: 6)
Piera: 29/29 (Hate: 3)
Sapphire Dragon: 19/75 (-9 Dam.)

Ducking under the jaws for a second time, Mack proceeded to hop over the enormous sapphire claws of the dragon as it took a swipe at him. Rolling back to his feet on the other side of the dragon's head again, Mack tomahawked Guillotine over his head and slammed the hardened steel bearded head of the axe deep into the top of the dragon's head. With a savage roar, he ripped the weapon free from the lizard-like creature, leaving a nasty looking gash that bled freely. "That should do it for now, hop back in Piera," Mack called to the bespectacled alchemist.

[Piera 0]

ID: 33556
BD: 10+1=11
DMG: 3+2Crit+2Bleed=7
Mack: 49/57 (Hate: 6)
Piera: 29/29 (Hate: 5)
Sapphire Dragon: 12/75 (Bleeding)

Piera was amazed that Mack had avoided getting hit again so far. Maybe it was harder for the dragon to aim its swipes if the target was closer to it? It didn't seem to have a problem earlier when the blonde man was a moderate length away. Right after the hulking guild leader dealt an especially punishing blow, he called out to her and she was already running forward out of the tunnel before he finished his sentence. The brunette sprinted headlong towards dragon before taking a page out of her companion's book and suddenly dropping to her knees, using her momentum to carry her sliding under the dragon's neck. All while holding aloft the bladed tip of her Bleeding Lance, cutting deeply into its jugular as it began to bleed. Blinking, the alchemist unsteadily got to her feet with a dazed smile up at Mack. "I can't believe that actually worked."

Edited September 30, 2015 by Piera

[Mack 0]

ID: 33558
BD: 3 (2+1)
MD: 1
Mack: 49/57 (Hate: 6)
Piera: 29/29 (Hate: 5)
Sapphire Dragon: 10/75 (-2 Bleed)

No sooner had the enormous blacksmith called for Piera to re-enter the fray than the tiny alchemist came tearing in, not unlike Chewie when someone offered food to him. As she came sprinting in Piera dropped to her knees and slid beneah the dragon's head, lancing her weapon up into its throat. "Nicely done," Mack called out to Piera, momentarily losing focus on his own strike as he watched Piera launch her attack. Consequently, his attack sailed well wide of the mark but the dragon also missed due to being distracted by the appearance, once again, of another tasty morsel of something to eat.

[Piera 0]

ID: 33560
BD: 7+1Acc=8
DMG: 3+2Bleed=5
Mack: 49/57 (Hate: 6)
Piera: 29/29 (Hate: 6)
Sapphire Dragon: 5/75 (Bleeding)

Piera used the long pole of her spear to help herself to her feet, her wide smile showing her dimples at Mack's compliment. Turning back and observing the fight, she noted that her companion's luck seemed to be running out, his large axe missing its larger target. But thankfully the dragon seemed to be doing even worse, its eyes fixed on the reemerging player. She hoped it couldn't tell that she was squishier and more edible... Gripping her weapon tightly, the brunette circled to the left, away from the dragon's head and closer to its side before quickly stabbing at its side, drawing more blood. Finally its health flashed into the red, causing her to cry out, "We've nearly got it! Finished the over-sized lizard off Mack!"

Edited September 30, 2015 by Piera

[Mack 0]

ID: 33586
BD: 10 (9+1)
MD: 3
LD: 2 (Of course… but we do get to roll for ANOTHER treasure chest)
Mack: 49/57 (Hate: 6)
Piera: 29/29 (Hate: 6)
Sapphire Dragon: -3/75 (-8 Dam.)

“Working on it,” Mack called to Piera, noting that the dragon was turning its attention on the curvy alchemist once more, a tongue flicking from between its scaled lips greedily. In one swift movement, the massive sapphire head of the dragon descended towards Piera, its pink maw a yawning cavern of razor sharp teeth. Even as the dragon’s head darted forward, Mack was in motion, sprinting towards Piera. It was going to be close.

“Get down,” he snapped, holding Guillotine so that the solid mahogany haft of the weapon was across his body as he slammed into Piera and sent the bespectacled woman sprawling on the ground. It wasn’t exactly gentle, but it did the trick as it cleared her out of the way of the dragon. Instead of closing its jaws around her, the beast’s snout slammed into the stone ground with a resounding thud, swallowing the axe-man in a single mouthful.

As the cerulean beast raised its head a sizeable lump could be seen descending the creature’s throat as the animal’s throat muscles worked to shove the armored warrior deeper into it’s body, down the esophagus and into the stomach. With a loud belch, the dragon finished the job and turned its focus back on Piera once more. With a massive bellow, it made to lunge for her but something suddenly brought it up short. Abruptly it halted in its assault on Piera and looked confused, almost as if its most recent meal were coming back to haunt it.

With a savage war cry Mack, his right hand gripped on Guillotine where the bearded head of the axe could protect his hand as he punched, drove his fist through the dragon’s stomach and ribcage shoving the weapon out the dragon’s side in what was surely the most massive case of indigestion on record in Aincrad. Collapsing to his hands and knees, Mack glanced back over his shoulder as the dragon shattered into pixels before flopping onto his back. “We win,” he declared, extending his right hand straight up and flashing a thumbs up to Piera.

[Piera 0]

Piera had underestimated the reach of the dragon's neck, thinking she would be safe from at least its head if she was close to its side. She could only stand in shock as she saw the open maw of the beast descending on her before she heard Mack say something to her and suddenly she was knocked roughly off her feet, sliding away from the pair as she let out a high pitched grunt of surprise and simulated pain from the force. Looking up, the brunette felt her body grow cold as she saw the blonde man literally being swallowed whole. One moment he had been standing there, looking at her. And the next there was only the dragon's head as it closed its jaws around him.

Pathetically scrambling backwards, the alchemist attempted to get to her feet as she saw a large bump move down the reptile's throat, reminding her ironically of her dear pet snake back in the real world. Of course her mind jumped to the worst possible conclusion. Mack was dead or dying and she was now alone with the legendary creature. She was going to die. Lee was going to see her little dot on the map fade away and know that she was dead and that he was left alone in this hell of a world. Her grip on her weapon tightened painfully and she was on her feet before she even realized it. Piera's hands were shaking, but her teeth were clenched in a fierce glare as the dragon roared at her and she echoed it back with her own pitiful attempt, rushing forward with Bleeding Lance raised to strike before it faltered, seemingly perturbed by something.

Before she could take a last stab at the beast, the brunette heard a familiar voice cry out and suddenly the form of a now equally familiar axe and hand protruded from the dragon's side before its entire body exploded into pixels. Piera's expression was blank as she watched the blonde man flop onto his back before declaring their victory, giving her a thumbs up. That was when the tears began to well up behind her glasses and she dropped her weapon, stalking towards the fallen man before dropping to her knees and pathetically beginning to hit his torso with a hail of weak slaps. "Don't ever f***ing do that ever a-f***ing-gain you f***ing ba*****!"

[Mack 0]

"Ow," Mack groaned as Piera slapped him. "Ow." She smacked him again. "Ow." Another smack. "Ow." That continued until the alchemist was slapped and cursed out, which surprisingly took less time than one would have imagined. Slowly, his massive arms found their way around the smaller woman. "Had to do it, sorry for the fright, but I couldn't let the most beautiful alchemist in all of Aincrad get eaten now, could I," Mack asked in a low tone, holding Piera tightly for a moment. 

[Piera 0]

Piera didn't let Mack's attempts to appear in pain fool her, but still eventually she stopped, her arms hanging at her side. She didn't move or push away when he hugged her, relishing a bit of comfort after the scare of her life. But at his horrible apology, her hand spushed at his shoulders as her teary face twisted in anger. "Okay now you're being stupid. Physical appearance doesn't matter, though I'm sure I'm not the most anything of Aincrad, except for forgetful maybe." Sniffling a little, the brunette was starting to calm down, though her hands were now bunched into fists. "I thought it killed you in one bite. I thought I was going to die. There was no way I could survive on my own against it if it killed you. Or even the way back if I somehow managed to get away into the tunnel." Her spine shivered as she considered her own fragile mortality.

[Mack 0]

"I'm sure you would have done just fine," the massive man said soothingly, reaching out to wrap one of his enormous hands around one of Piera's. "You've come a long way in just a day and a half, you know," he continued, giving the hand a slight squeeze. Given the state of the dragon's health bar all Piera would have had to do would have been to hit the creature one final time. That was, of course, assuming that it had managed to kill the blonde Grandmaster of the Crimson Blades which was utterly absurd. Not that Mack doubted for a second the Kayaba had programmed fun tricks into the game like the ability of a seemingly weak monster to one hit quit a player under the right circumstances.

"And don't sell yourself short," the soldier said in a low tone. No doubt it was the voice of Lee that he was hearing when Piera said she wasn't the most anything in Aincrad, other than forgetful. One more reason to dislike the man, as if Mack wasn't actively looking for every reason imaginable to dislike him. "If I say you're the most beautiful, then you are," he said, speaking in a tone of finality that officially closed the matter to further discussion so far as he was concerned. "Now, I imagine that the dragon was guarding some kind of treasure," Mack declared, sitting up and snatching up his axe as he began to look around for the treasure chest.