436 Parse (1/2)
The Guardian tried to... kick him.
Its execution was embarrassingly sloppy, only threatening because of the construct's size and relative strength. To blunt the force of the attack, Tycon smashed his adamantine scabbard into its shin, the force easily capable of breaking half the bones in a Gold-Rank creature's body.
His stamina reserves were being taxed heavily... but he had the advantage of the soothing winds of Zenon's comfortable support skills and whatever healing skills that Aria's healers were casting on him. He was free of muscle fatigue... his focus remained... and his skill activations were smooth and without the possibility of recoil.
However... his head was beginning to ache... He felt a minute, dull, throbbing sensation just behind his brows. If it wasn't a mana or stamina issue... then he was merely suffering from general frustration.
”Lookin' good, Boss,” Sorina Capulet commented.
Tycon spun his helmeted head around so hard, his neck hurt, ”Sorina, what the hells are you doing this far in the front?!”
The drill-haired girl raised an eyebrow, ”Observing the front line? Like you told me to. Absolute willfulness and subservience to orders, right?”
That was wrong.
The Guardian raised her blade to the sky, charging it with purplish, noxious energy. With a fell swoop, it plummeted down towards the two of them.
Tycon sighed, crouching down. Springing upward, he cut his blade deep into the giant construct's wrists, stopping the attack's momentum. Because the creature was made of mana... more an idea or a concept than an actual being, it didn't cut completely through. Still, it was nice that there were deep indentations left where he had struck.
”Ooh, thanks, Boss!” Sorina squealed as Tycon landed. ”We nearly died!”
”YOU, young lady, nearly died,” Tycon chided. ”Now... please withdraw to a safer place.”
”Isn't the safest place where you are?”
Tycon pursed his lips, scrutinizing Sorina Capulet's armored form. The Calculator had initially requested metal armor... but as she had trouble moving in them, she wore Guild Letalis leathers instead. That level of defense was not nearly enough to protect her from the Guardians' attacks.
In theory, it was dangerous to keep the Calculator close... she could be caught in the cross-fire of skills and cleaving sword swipes. However... the fight was winding down. The construct was steadily losing mana and its attacks were growing weaker (instead of stronger-- which does inexplicably happen, sometimes.)
”Very well,” With a lazy swipe of Tycon's off-hand scabbard, he deflected another of the massive, Adamantine-Rank Guardian's sword attacks... ”Report.”
”Who do you want first, Boss?”
”Does it matter?”
”Of course, it matters! I wanna save the best one for last!”
After activating another ⌈Taste the Hydra Blade⌋, the Guardian staggered back, trying to swat at the eight mana-created snakes that bit into its form.
It allowed Tycon a moment to think...
”Then... how are my abilities, according to your ⌈Parse⌋ skill?”
”Oh, no! That one's last, Boss!” Sorina grinned, ”Gotta keep the SUSPENSE!!”
Tycon narrowed his eyes at the young, drill-haired brunette.