act9mini

Had the funds for Ashley to head Grand Knight Territory-ways later, though.

But'cha probably figure, y'know. There's your parents, and everything sensible says they oughta be with you. And they put their hands up too...

That's just gotta hurt.

Good thing Ashley's strong enough stuff.

Especially strong.

Uh... she can't be pissed for REAL real.

Lemme look—

We're good, we're good.

It's normal enough to be mad at a time like this, right?

For sure, I'd ream a hole straight through Brassrust before thinking about the rest.

Ashley takes fights too cerebral, and ammo runs out. If she fires a round throwing a fit, she might just be boned.

Still oughta be the phase where she makes Brassrust THINK she's angry.

After all, misleading your opponent's important too.

Look.

I'm floored, and I bet you are too! Ingra's shoulder plates have been blasted to smithereens!

The Ashlock Knight is still pressing forward step by step! Could victory be at hand? Is the proclamation coming?!

Another crack of shellfire! It looks like the Ashlock Knight's got her own personal victory salute covered!

What's this?! Did you see that, everyone?!

Brassrust just cleaved a shell apart with his hatchet! We'd be remiss not to thank our two contestants! You only get spectacles like this on the soaps!

That's right, I'm talking about the classic scene from the Słoma-funded suspense-in-the-city production, 24 Nights in the G.K.T.! Anyone in the audience interested, you can put an order in for the discs straight away!

The first thirty to buy'll get a poster signed by the two leads! First come, first served! Don't miss out!

Glug, glug—phew. Man, this is basically the same as convenience store water.

Didn't I warn you already...

Heehee. Whatever, let's just say I bought it for her.

Forget that. Mob never misses a chance to shill, huh. Really gets on your nerves...

That's his job, isn't it? What else would he do?

Who thought Brassrust could cut a shell clean through, though? Really forced an ad spot right into Mob's lap.

If only Ashley didn't go soft for a moment. Wanted to knock Brassrust down, didn't aim for his head...

Match would've been over by now.

Her magazine's gotta be drying up.

Mmm.

Only one shot left, I think.

Time to swap mags.

Here's hoping Ingra doesn't give our Ashley any trouble then.

(One round left.)

(Gotta push him off, hop back on the recoil, and that should give me enough time.)

(With Ingra's competition style, he shouldn't have any out.)

(This is the moment.)

Is that all you can do?

(He sped up?)

(Shit!)

Is that a—thruster on Brassrust's shoes?

There's a wrench in the plan...

You've got this, Ashley!

*cough*...

You're out of shells. What else can you do?

D'ya still have ammo, Ashley?

None. I just used the reserve to block the bolts.

What now, then? Gonna bash with the barrel?

If you need it, I can make a distraction for you.

And then ride the opportunity to take my points like last time?

C'mon, let that go already...

We'd only just met then. Be a problem not having your guard up.

I won't do it again. We agreed on that.

I can trust you not to sacrifice other Infected for your own benefit, Greynuty.

So you can trust Sona here not to stab you in the back.

Right?

Hmph. I suppose.

So how are you gonna face down these knights now?

I can definitely make you a little space. Shout if you need me.

I won't.

I've got my methods.

Fresh from the advantage, the Ashlock Knight has been caught out reloading! Brassrust begins his revenge! Could the Butcher's cleaver taste blood when all's said and done?!

Just how is the Ashlock Knight gonna counter? There she goes—she's thrown her empty magazine at Brassrust, but it's had no—

Oh, wait a moment, sister, she's thrown her cannon down too and is charging Brassrust! What is she up to?!

Ingra's got his weapon up, and the Ashlock Knight only has a shield to her name! Ashlock—Ashlock has blocked the battleaxe, and—ooh!! She's clocked him straight in the head! I heard that all the way from here!

Ooh! Back-to-back and hand-to-hand! It's a barrage! Ingra's on the retreat!

Greynuty's rolled right back to her weapon, swapped and loaded! Not a beat missed! Is Ingra in for another artillery lockdown?!

Ah-ha! We're once again treated to the sound of cannon fire! The Ashlock Knight has the situation back under control!

Might be a little ugly, but... that's a pretty practical way to disengage.

Never dreamt she'd go so fast once she dropped that cannon, though.

Ashley's a Zalak too, y'know. A little agility's par for our course.

So why won't she use a light weapon like yours?

Personal preference, I guess.

I suggested she could switch to a more arena-friendly long-ranger—javelins, crossbows, slings, stuff like that. She's not a fan of any of them. Just likes using that old family cannon.

She can't even put it to full use sometimes, and the maintenance is a pain.

That's stubborn, alright.

You get used to it, y'know.

I think she's down to her last eight rounds.

If she runs clean out, what happens?

I've got no idea. What DOES happen?

I've never seen Ashley use up all her reserve ammo before.

...*pant*, *pant*—Are you toying with me, Ashlock?!

Say something—you damned—rock!

(Pulls trigger)

How long do you plan on playing the mute?!

I've had enough—enough of this!

Hrreaaagh!!

Man, Ashley really is another level of horrible.

There's no way she was planning a tug of war with Ingra from the start. Was she?

She doesn't respond, she doesn't go down. She'd get me mad too.

Why?

Oh, Justyna, you made it.

Why is Ashlock bent on humiliating Brassrust?

Thaaat's a long story.

When I ran into Ashley, she was stoked on anger, wrath for all the old knight lords at the top of the stands.

The other Infected knights thought she just resented the old guard, pure and simple.

But if—

If she wasn't an Infected, she'd be a knight noble too.

I've heard.