Monster Hunting (A-rank Midgame Grind)

Recently, it seemed as though the young woman's efforts at conservation had gone to waste. Perhaps more accurately, they had been utterly useless. For every scrap of litter and trash that Juliet snatched up, an ignoramus elsewhere dropped with the most casual of movements. The blonde was hopeful that her efforts here would not be wasted. In the end, cynicism was a defense against being let down. In this case, it was entirely possible that the monster hunting would go well and only have a net positive effect.

However, Juliet was doubtful. She would temporary suspend disbelief at the large scale encounter the natives of the island were requesting, but the end result, she felt certain, would involve high degrees of chaos. For that reason solely, she felt obliged to attend. The first order of business, now that she had successfully found her way to the island, was to explore. The locals themselves had taken out this job request, meaning that the leaders of the population ought to at least be aware of the presence of multiple mages at the location. The site of the mission, therefore, encompassed the entire isle.

While she felt confident there were other members of Dies Irae hovering around here, the blonde actually preferred to go off on her own. The presence of her fellow guild mates could reassure her that things might be a bit less unpredictable and chaotic than she had worried over, but at the same time... it could also mean there would be lots of death involved. If that certain member was present. Sighing, Juliet was just grateful that this job wasn't in the city. She much preferred their current setting, as opposed to something like concrete and steel skyscrapers.

289 Words

For a moment, Sakura had thought to stop and say something to the Wizard Saint, but she just smiled lightly and began to move on herself. if she wanted get others distracted on this job, then she would feel slightly at fault for it. But only slightly. The inner realistic side of her simply pulled the comment that if they couldn't worry about the job first and then that was on them if they got hurt or died. Quickly, the idol shook that thought off as she couldn't allow her different thoughts blend together even on a job like this --rather especially on a job like this. With so many people around, one couldn't risk something coming out like that and needing to remain focused was of her main priority at this point.

Shrugging it off, the rainbow slayer hopped off the dock and began to make her way down the opposite way, staying along the shore and waving her left hand along the water, pulling a small water up from the wave of water pushing in. Making the water dance around lightly, she had brought it over toward her face and reshaped it into a small ball of water enough to be the size of a gumball. And much like the piece of candy, she tossed it right into her mouth and swallowed. Smiling, she would continue on her way until something caught her eye. A young looking girl with a sword easily as tall as its owner standing still. Seeming to be staring out to the sea, she would get closer and closer until the feeling of the heat radiating from her or her weapon kept her at a slight ease of distance. "Hey there. Do you want some company?" She offered, now that she took a closer look to the girl, she seemed a little too young to be out on her own, however knowing the stereotype of being confused as a young child quite often, she wasn't about to impose that on her either.

339 words

*Burp*

Well, couldn’t let himself fall short, could he? Gently setting one foot forward, Mura walked further into the land of Shadow Island, trying to recollect exactly what it was that he was called here for. However, his thread of thinking would be cut short by the next event that took his attention; a huge explosion in the distance, a resurface of light and energy big enough to be seen from miles away. Shit… Mura remembered none of that to be expected by whoever led him here. Was that… magic?

Mura quickly leapt straight forward, letting himself float and fly towards the expansion of power at a high speed. He kept accelerating, trusting his level of velocity and skill therein to bring him closer to the site in no time… until a bolt of lightning passed by, causing him to stagger for a brief moment in a mild surprise. No, that was a person…

Taylor?

He began following her trail carefully. Nothing but the after-bolts flowing in the air from her advance led him her way. He had to be quick, though; her Lightning Magic proved flawless in acceleration, but he was confident that he could track her down. If not by the bolts, then just by her magical signature, given that he was now certain of its exact look and sense.

At one point, when he had caught up to her - give or take 12 seconds or something - he would call out to his fresh guildmate: “Hey, Taylor! Nice to see you again! Don’t mind me; just trying to catch up to lightning, just another Tuesday…”

WC: 269
@Taylor Akerley

The distress from Shadow Island had even managed to garner the attention from the Rune Knights' own twin engineers, as the kids in question would be flying towards the land mass surrounded by waters. Grappa held a device in her hand similar to a tablet, though at its sides would be two handles with a small sensor near the upper left corner. "I think this is the place. The magic readings here are off the charts." Jellisha huffed to herself, thinking over the situation in her head. The others had been so busy, so of course the two would be the first to volunteer to go and investigate this disturbance on the island so that their parents or fellow generals had been forced to do so. "Something's bugging me though. Make sure to stay on your guard...and don't run off this time." Her tone of voice made it evident that her sister had a bit of a tendency to barrel through the first thing that caught her eye, leading to some rather inopportune moments of ensuring her cute head stayed on her shoulders. Grappa nodded in agreement while then looking down at an outcropping within the island. Near one of the shores would be a clear strip of land without any trees. Perfect for a landing! "Look!" she said, pointing the spot out to her sibling. Jellisha's crimson eyed peered downwards and then flew upwards towards Grappa again. "Good eyes. Follow me."

Their descent was quick, wings stretched to the sides as they sped down towards the ground. Before impact was made, they came to a halt, folding them back as the winds found their stream interrupted by the plumage of Exceed wings, halting their fall. By the time their paws touched the earth, they had become the child sized boots that house their human disguises. Grappa messed with the device again, this time by simply pressing a button and holding the back of it all across the scenery. "Geez. It's like a magic party here, and everybody's a mage. Humans, animals...are the trees made out of magic too?" She shared her results with her sibling, passing the device to her while securing the controller to her left arm just in case they would need to call for backup. Jellisha, on the other hand, would look up just as she had finished doing the same. From above a distance off from the island, their handy pet turned personal ride, G.O.L.I.A.T.H., would be hovering in the air, waiting for his next set of orders to be given. Was it a wise idea to agree to this job and not tell anybody? Probably not. But it wasn't like anybody would find out. Just a quick job and done. Back before anybody realized they were gone. Sure, their secretary would be beside himself but some stress was good for you.

"We're going in. Make sure that you keep our scanner ready. We don't know what's going to come at us in here." "Yep! Let's go!"

The two began their trek into the thicket, Jellisha leading the charge while Grappa would find herself lagging behind and keeping an eye out for any kind of dangerous beasts of any kind nearby.

WC: 536