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And finally it pays off. Because Valsen, his pride stung one time too many, his anger at having his competence constantly questioned boiling over, attempts to do the one thing you shouldn't do in the middle of a fight: he tries to prove to you he's one of those "competent psions" by using a complex, unfamiliar, untrained technique.
And while he's busy trying to figure it out, you leap forward, closing the distance between you in three quick strides, and kick him square in the chest.
The personal shield activates of course, the point of impact briefly outlined in a blue glow as the energy field absorbs your kick. And even though you didn't put all that much strength into this kick, Valsen still stumbles back a couple steps, while you also hop back, avoiding his reflexive but belated sword swing.
"Oh-ho, what's this?" you grin at him. "A personal shield? That's quite an expensive toy there, Valsen. Does everyone in your cult get one, or is it just you? I have to say, you can't be very confident in those psion abilities of yours, if you-"
"SHUT UP!" Valsen roars, charging forward with his sword held high. "Shut up! Shut up, shut up, shutupshutupshutup!" wild blows rain down on you, all of which you block or deflect with your own weapons. "You stupid bitch! You fucking whore! I'll fucking kill you! Mock me? Laugh at me?! I'll show you, you knife-eared slut! I'll show you the true gap between us!"
If he hadn't started making all that noise all of a sudden, you were going to inform him about how personal shields - the civvie models, at least - are actually kinda bad for anything outside their original intended purpose: safety equipment for sapients engaging in extreme sports.
As it is, you'll just have to demonstrate.
>Moving slowly enough to avoid triggering the activation threshold, yank the pendant off his neck. Then proceed to punch Valsen in the face
>Rip up some of those fancy clothes of his to change his silhouette and disrupt the shield's integrity. Then proceed to punch Valsen in the face
>Go on the offensive, landing enough quick blows on the shield to deplete its battery. Then proceed to punch Valsen in the face
>Kick him again, but this time put some actual strength behind it - a single, massive impact will drain the capacitor and blow a safety fuse. Then proceed to punch Valsen in the face