>>5350385"MASTER!? WHERE ARE YOU!? MASTER!! MAAAASTEEEEER!" Schierke's screams are heard in the distance as Violet glides to the direction of her voice, attempting to reach the panicked child seeing her home being demolished with her master inside.
All of them are returning soon, you just have to hold them off a while longer...
Chanting with her scythe, the entity made all the apostles near it glow into a tint of gray, empowered by it's magic, they now had a similar, though thinner layer of protection to ensure their safety now that the monsters were not considering you incompetent buffoons.
"So the three of you are united again with the three of us... It seems we are truly connected." Zodd makes his grand entrance, though Grunbeld decides to speak over the immortal minotaur as he finally introduces himself.
"If possible, I wish to be the one who fights the black swordsman."
"Do I know you?"
"Perhaps not, but your rumors are nearly inescapable. The man who though human, survived the eclipse, going around his land to hunt for apostle blood. Though I have forced myself to invade the old woman to display my loyalty to the falcon, I was wondering why he sent his strongest soldiers to defeat a single woman. But seeing the display of the halfling besides you, I can see that this journey has been worthwhile. As the strongest human alive, you are a forced to be reckoned with. I, Grunbeld as a warrior of the band of the falcon, call upon the black swordsman in a single combat." Grunbeld takes a light bow before bashing his hammer at his shield.
"...What?" Guts was overcome with rage after hearing what Grunbeld entitled himself as.
"You... THE BAND OF THE FALCON!? HOW DARE YOU!"
"AAAAAARGH!" Before either of them could attack, the still exasperated Casca attempted to hit the axe onto grunbeld, who simply took the blow on his armor as the elementals had long abandoned her blade from the abuse of the weapon.
"I believe I've made myself clear when I said 'a single combat.' Though I would say the same to my group. Turn your blessings off of me, sorcerer. I will not require assistance from your side either."
"As you wish..." The entity retracted it's Od barrier from both Grunbeld and Zodd, who was likely thinking the same thing.
"Save your energy for those who need it. I can take The Skull Knight by myself!"
"<span class="mu-s">None of you shall lay a finger on the witch."</span> He draws his weapon while the empowered apostles obey Zodd's commands.
"Bring me the witch's head!"
>Assist Skull Knight in fighting Zodd and the empowered apostles, keeping them away from Flora as she ascends.>Offer a tag team fight with Grunbeld. Him and The entity vs you and Guts.>The entity is fueling the apostles, it's best to maintain your focus on it.>Bluff that Guts is not in his full power, he needs an armor for it to be a true man's duel.>Mount on Gunpowder and trace back to the trident. Time to beat fire with ice.>Something else