[nathan67003]

As the Deathstalker started pacing about, Anna made sure to keep at an even distance. The slight tension that had started to take place in her head was slightly distracting for a moment, but she rapidly overcame it.

Then Calen dropped down onto the Grimm, which promptly went nuts trying to get him the heck off. To do so, it ran right into some trees, throughly defacing them, before coming back around at high speed towards the two other conscious teammates. Anna rapidly threw a chain around a nearby, intact tree and used it to pull herself out of the way, gathering the links back to herself after the immediate range had passed.

As it turned out, that moment without danger was shortly lived: the large arachnid-like creature turned back and this time, tried to grab them. Anna ducked under its first try before launching her right chain around the right pincer, attempting to clamp it shut. Whilst doing so, she yelled at Calen "Just yell out if you want a Dust-powered knife or anything!"

[MonsterManic]

Yep, Calen had a plan alright. Whether it was working or not was up to him. Unfortunately, his presence on the Death Stalker's back made it go rampant again, rushing at Setsuna and scraping its claw off Harmony. When the Grimm reached for both him and Anna, the latter responded by trying to keep the claw shut. He doubted she had the strength to do that for long, and neither did he. Which gave him an idea...

Setsuna did the opposite; wedging Equilibrium into the oncoming gaping claw and keeping it open for the time being, he drew his sword and started slashing, as many strikes as he could, at the exposed flesh left from previous encounters, hoping that the injured eye would give him some breathing space.

[Kingnoname1]

Tightening his whole body, Calen dared not reply to his teammates unless it somehow loosen his grip and caused him to fall back on to the ground. Bad idea, bad idea. Calen thought to himself as he slowly made his way along the flank of the Death Stalker. Why couldn't we have someone with a gun, not just chains, swords and knives. Calen did however start making some decent progress once the Grimm had stabilised, turned it's focus on Anna and Setsuna and he managed to climb up on it's back.

The surface of the Death Stalker's claws was too smooth for Anna's chains to find much purchase and they started to slip off even before they had fully tightened. Still by angling it's claw up the creature managed to try to flick the blind huntress-in-training behind it before spinning it's claw and trying to direct the girl into Setsuna. The teams leader on the other hand managed to keep the claw open at least for now and do some damage with heavy blows against it's claws. The carapace started to crack and buckle under Setsuna's sustained pressure but the Death Stalker kept advancing, even if it couldn't grab the swordsman it would try to pin him, and his blind team mate, to a nearby tree.

Calen progress along the creatures back brought it's own punishments however as the hunter-in-training was now far enough away from the tail for the Death Stalker to strike at him with it again. Luckily finally managing to predict the blow coming Calen dove forward managing to slip down past the Death Stalker's primary shoulders and get another few good knife stabs along it's left eyes. Roaring again in pain it showered Setsuna, and Anna if she crashed into him, in black ichor before smashing the left side of it's head into the ground. Bringing Calen with it the retribution only sped up the boys stabs as he seemed determined to lock himself in a race with the creature, neither one going to give up until the other did. At least temporarily with it's tail over extended and it's face preoccupied, and eyes half missing, the Death Stalker slightly stumbled backwards as if subconsciously aware of it's vulnerable state.

Grimm's Battle Data
Anna: 4% Whip lash from being swung around, 4% from crashing into Setsuna, 3% from ichor spray
Calen: 2x4%+2% Being smashed into the ground plus acidic ichor
Setsuna: 4% Anna being crashed into him, 3% from ichor spray

Calen's Battle Data
Fatigue: 10%
Aura: 10%

[nathan67003]

As the chains began to tighten, then failed to grab anything, Anna didn't have much choice but to be thrown behind the Grimm with too much goddamn acceleration for comfort. After a passable landing to the left and behind of the Deathstalker, a small noise - one she'd personally set - as well as another, different noise coming from somewhere else grabbed her attention.

Oh. Oh no. It was the sound notification for someone with low Aura.

Seeing that Setsuna was more or less doing fine, she outright lunged at Calen, a knife with a Kinetic phial inserted in her left hand. As she was about to crash into him to knock him away from his somewhat probable doom, she went right for what she believed to be the center of the beast's head, attempting to stab it into oblivion which would simultaneously give her an anchor, if a somewhat temporary one.

(Aura: 88%)
(Dust capsules remaining: 0 Kinetic (upon successful stabbing) , 3 Fire, 5 Lightning)

[MonsterManic]

Once more blocking the acidic spray with Harmony--Equilibrium was still clamped between the claw--Setsuna was forced to pull back for a bit, when Anna went flying his way. Thankfully she changed course, but another noise, coming from two sources, reached his ears. While he didn't recognise one of them, the other made him cold with realisation.

Shit. This is really bad. Apparently Anna recognised the situation too, as she launched herself straight at Calen, the first really offensive move he'd seen her do. Need to distract it, or outright kill it before Calen gets injured. But how?

Concluding that the situation warranted it, he used his semblance again, once more gaining that pink glow, before starting to run circles around the Death Stalker, creating a blurry band of images surrounding the body in hopes of confusing the Grimm. As he ran, he rained as many strikes as he could on the body, the legs, the tail, any part that his sword could reach. "Calen, get out of there NOW!" he yelled.

Battle Stats:
-Aura: 54%
-Fatigue: 35%
-Semblance Activated

[Kingnoname1]

When Anna collided with him Calen needed to use one last application of his semblance to absorb the impact holding them both still hanging off the now blind left side in perfect position for both of them to drive their blades deep into the creatures skull. Unfortunately it also left them in perfect position for one last final crush before the kinetic charge detonated and the Death Stalker reeled backwards, trying in vain to limp away from the vengeful hunters in training. The last crash shook all but the tiniest sliver of Calen's mind into unconsciousness but he remained hanging limply as he the creature tried to flee.

The Death Stalker knew it was going to die. It could feel it's life ichor spilling out on the forest floor, killing even in it's last moments. Decades of hunting and killing ending with it's nest destroyed and most of it's scourge lay broken beneath it's rubble. But it could still kill once more, it could still take more from the world even if they aren't the hunters-in-training which have given it so much strife. The research team had left their hut and unlike, most, of the students their aura were almost gone. Thrashing halfheartedly as pulled back the Death Stalker surged back into clear angling to crash straight in the middle of the fleeing research team ignoring Setsuna.

The Death Stalker was in so much pain that it had completely forgotten about Calen. The screams of fear and panic shocked Calen out of his stupor and the situation quickly dawned upon him. With the last of his strength embedded the dust satchel in the gushing wound on top of the Death Stalkers head with a knife.

Grimm's Battle Data
Anna:4%+2% Smash
Calen: 4%+2% Smash

Calen's Battle Data
Fatigue: 5%
Aura: 4%

[nathan67003]

After immediately losing her anchor as it plunged deep within the Grimm, Anna held herself on by leaning on Calen, getting smashed alongside him, before resorting to balancing herself on the creature. Seeing Setsuna whirl around them was a weird experience, her sight still keeping good track of him even at such speeds.

As the Deathstalker seemed to have forgotten about Calen, she didn't make a too-too big case of his unconsciousness or position. What she did worry about is that it was going straight for the research team.

As Calen stabbed the Dust pouch into the beast's head, she unceremoniously took him by the belt and collar then threw him with all her strength, right into the first bush she could see. As soon as he'd left her hands, she took three knives loaded with Fire Dust, held them with both hands in a bundle and attempted to stab the Deathstalker, right through the pouch and into the ever-deepening wound.

(Aura: 82%)
(Dust capsules remaining: 0 Fire (upon successful stabbing), 5 Lightning)

[MonsterManic]

Of course the dumb beast ignores the pink, whirling blur constantly hitting it and chooses instead to go for three far-away figures who have done nothing to attract its attention. Gritting his teeth, Setsuna put one hand on the carapace and jumped over it, using the airtime to get a few more slashes in, before intercepting Calen as he soared rather ungracefully through the air toward an uncomfortable-looking bush. Better him than the floor.

Still carrying the near-unconscious boy, he then made a mad sprint toward the research team, tackling them to the side, before raising his shield over the five of them to try and hold the Death Stalker off as long as he could. Alternatively, if Anna could detonate that Dust satchel, he would absorb any of the explosion damage that would reach the 4 people behind him.

Battle Stats:
-Semblance Activated

[Kingnoname1]

Calen had a few choice words he wanted say as he felt himself get thrown off the creatures side by Anna. Try as he might the gaunt boy couldn't activate his semblance one last time leaving him flying limply into the closest bush. Luckily Setsuna was still keeping up his blistering pace and managed to intercept Calen before he crashed and then set himself up in a defensive postion against the charging Grim.

Completely blind on that side the Death Stalker could do nothing to prevent Anna's assault as she plunged a trio of knives through the dust satchel which then burst into flames. For a long moment the satchel seemed inert but as the fire burned around it the dust started to crackle then after a few seconds detonate in a huge blast of air. Luckily Calen and the research team were protected from the gale by Setsuna who acted as a wind break against the on coming storm. Every tree within sight had all it's leaves blown right off while the ones closest had been ripped out the ground. Even the hut which the research team had worked so hard to fortify was complete gone in the face of such an explosion. The Death Stalker being at the epicentre fared far worse and almost completely vaporised even before it started dissolving.

As the defining affect of the wind dust explosion finally faded the research team started cheering wildly for their saviours. One member of the team wasn't carried away however and after taking a few moments to compose herself strode towards Setsuna and coughed quietly to get his attention. Calen was still active, barely, and he tried to give Anna an evil glare as he slowly got to his feet not knowing how useless that gesture was. Stumbling a few times Calen none the less once again got to his feet and after giving a quick glance to make sure the Death Stalker on the other hand wasn't going to get went off to try to find his knives including the one blasted away and probably still falling.

Battle Data
Anna: Full Blast 20%, 6% Exploding knives?
Setsuna: Partial Blast 10%

[nathan67003]

Anna successfully nailed the bugger. For a few instants, nothing happened, making her worry.

Then she was sent flying, hitting a tree trunk at breakneck speeds before slumping on a nearby branch, her head ringing. Her semblance turned off by itself while she recuperated.

(Aura: 22%)
(Dust capsules remaining: 5 Lightning)

[MonsterManic]

The wind rushing past his shield forced Setsuna to dig his heels in against the shockwave of the explosion. For a few moments, there was nothing but the loud howling sound of the wind. Then silence, followed by cheering. The timer on his semblance running out, Setsuna slumped visibly, leaning on his sword for balance. Equilibrium was lodged in a nearby tree, likely from the force of the blast, but he was in no shape to retrieve it. A weary look at his scroll indicated his teammates were no better off; strangely, he was the one with the most Aura, with Anna dropping to an alarmingly low level from that blast. However, both of them were still active with no injuries, and that's what mattered.

A cough from behind him caught his attention and turned him around; it was from a woman of the research team. "Sorry if...we were...a bit late...we had to kill...most of the...Death Stalker's family before...responding." Clearly out of breath, he took a few seconds to compose himself. "How may we help you, ma'am? I'm Setsuna, and this is Anna and Calen. We make up Team ASTC--well, one of us is currently away. We were on our initiation when we received your distress call. I do hope you are all right?"

[Kingnoname1]

The woman bowed repeatably in response to Setsuna's concern. 'We're just thankful you came when you did, I don't know how much longer we could have held out.' The woman responded still bowed over and held the position for an unnecessary amount of time. When the woman finally looked up she had tears in here eyes and had to choke back whimper before continuing. 'And to think you are all still students....not that I'm saying you are children... I'm just... I'm just saying you must be really strong.' The woman was clearly on the verge of breaking down as the reality of what she had lost started to dawn on her. Calen snorted contemptuously at the mention of their strength loud enough for everyone to hear and to have required a fair amount of force to communicate. Bowing again to hide the tears streaming off her face the woman introduced herself and their purpose here. 'My name is Mara Shine and I am currently... the most senior researcher of this Lexkvar Research team. Before the Greyed War my firm had set up these labs all over Vale, they were kept off the books but found a number of them by cross-referencing....' Mara would keep going until someone stopped her taking some small solace in keeping her mind off her surroundings. The other members of the research team started to calm down as the adulation from being saved was replaced with despair over what they had lost and concern over Mara oversharing classified intel. They didn't interfere or anything but the started to crowd around Mara providing both comfort and physical wall between their leader and Setsuna.

Calen had finally found his last knife, the one which had been blown away. The dust explosion hadn't warped the metal but the sheer force of the explosion had damaged the grip. Failing the brush the wear back down Calen stormed over to Anna as his brained whirled in a way to blame his team mate for damaging his weapon. Stopped in his tracks by the mention of Lexkvar, the name which had been on the research lab he and Anna had explored earlier. Giving his blind team mate another useless glare Calen walked back to the research team, interested in what the purpose of the lab was.

[nathan67003]

Anna finally sort of came back from the in-between, or whatever that place where you're half-conscious is called. Reflexively, slowly opening her eyes, to no avail, she felt that her hair was dangling in front of her - or even above her head. Something hard supporting her at the mid-section, her abdominal muscles resting on it, was the only external contact she had. Why was she...

Oh, right. She'd been sent flying. Riiiight. Turning herself, she swung her right leg over the large branch, straddling it, then pulsed her semblance to try and chart a way down. She vaguely heard Setsuna mention her name, waving towards the source of his voice as a response.

[MonsterManic]

Setsuna gave Calen a warning glare, before turning back to the research team."Well, ma'am, Beacon staff should be on the scene fairly shortly, we sent a message asking for backup before we arrived here." He was temporarily stopped by the other researchers gathering around Mara. "If I may. We came across one of your research labs within a cave, surrounded by ruins of an ancient civilisation. I personally did not enter the lab, but we retrieved Dust and an old book which we have yet to read. Are you allowed to disclose what you were doing inside? And what of the civilisation?" Setsuna pulled the small knife out of his pocket and held it out on his palm.

[Kingnoname1]

Mara had been shuffled to the back of the group and a more professional woman seemed to have taken her place. She didn't introduce herself and simply continued the conversation while staring intently at Setsuna with cold blue eyes. 'The dust can be forgiven considering it played a role in saving our lives but I must insist on the return of the book and information on where the find the research lab you came across. Simply looting is a crime but because of the possible scientific importance of that research lab not returning anything taken would constitute grand larceny carrying a jail term of 20 years and I ensure you we will push for the maximum sentence. Anyway the specific research goals are not public knowledge but you should know it wasn't some different civilisation. The ruins should be less than a century old, and you can keep the knife. It is still looting but it isn't Lexkvar property.' Her tone signified that she considered to conversation was over and although a few of the other researchers threw sympathetic glances at Team ASTC they walked away, deciding to wait out the air ship away from the students.

'Smooth.' Calen remarked sarcastically. 'Between you and Master Taro I don't think there will be anyone else for the rest of us.' The Lexkvar representative seemed to want the journal which Anna found and Calen could understand that. He wasn't going to give up the paperweight-come-relic although thinking more about it maybe that dagger would make more sense. In the distance an airship could be heard and Calen walked off to check on Anna to make sure they would get out of here as fast as possible.