act9mini

Hmph...

Greynuty, you're a good sprout.

Don't grow twisted.

Yes, Granny, I won't disappoint you!

The Bloodboil Knightclub's—Butcher of the Field—back after nursing those injuries—as ruthless as ever!!

And on—the other—side—

*cough*, *cough* *cough*...

Once the foresting magnate of the south—a name out of the Kaliska Group—

But now an Infected—part of the Pinus Sylvestris Knightclub—

Let's give a big warm welcome to—

Granny?

(Huff... relax. Granny already taught me. I can do this.)

(I'm ready!)

The Ashlock Knight, Greynuty Kaliska!

Man, oh, man, Ashley finally takes the field.

She's never in a hurry. Never gives the audience the time of day, either. Reveling just isn't Greynuty.

That's her selling point. Some people are suckers for that. Look over there.

Greynuty! Greynuty, look at me!!!

Eh... yeah, it works.

There's no faking cheers.

And that posture, the hunker with the cannon, it's got noble written between the lines.

Course I'm still most excited for her to fire off, though.

Well, you're gonna get that. The crowd's gone wild hearing the rumbles.

Just wish there was more to get a kick out of.

What, you want her bashing with the barrel?

Haha. Man, I hope I see it, if it ever happens.

Humongous hatchet meets sturdy shield! Who'll come out on top? We'll just have to wait and see!

Switch your terminals on, make your choice, and give your competitor your support!

And before we forget, the most important part—grab that chance to stuff your wallet full!

Let the match—begiiiiiinnnnnnnn—!

You'd best hope that hunk of plastic holds out.

Oripathic filth.

Baah, that's dull. She's not even saying anything.

This isn't your first time watching Ashley compete. It's called being serious. D'ja know what being serious is?

But this is mad boring... if you don't vent your feelings, how're you gonna keep momentum against your opponent?

Knight competitions aren't yelling contests, jeez. The important thing is to look good standing off.

See, just like that. Brassrust's getting forced back, and everyone's on cloud nine, right?

You don't think this match is too calm, though? Barely any active attacks.

You've gotta pick your opponents. With knights like Brassrust who go all in on offense, you wanna put together a good defense to be optimal.

And Ashley can use her favorite move now.

Block with a shield bash, get a shot in. Tried and tested.

(Ashley doesn't seem that hungry to attack this match. What's on her mind, huh?)

It's a shocker! The Butcher's cleaver has nowhere to go before the Ashlock Knight!

Each time he attacks! Each blast he takes! Ingra gives, but he gets nothing!

The Ashlock Knight's defense is perfect, and she's making every step forward hers, squeezing down the space the Butcher has to move!

Without a doubt, this is a battle of back and forth! We won't know who'll wear the victory laurel until the final moment!

Get your terminals out and lay your bets on your knight of choice!

Or buy a water bottle with your contestant's logo straight away, specially provided by the Major, and let the crowd around you know just who you support!

Order now! We're ready to hook you up, right there in your seats!

That's something they do now?

They do, but, uh...

These prices... why don't I just step out of the arena and come back with ten bottles?

Haha...

You wouldn't order one...

Just one. Just to try, heheh.

Can you do anything besides shrink behind that plastic board, hmm?

Hah. You'll have time to scream once I shatter it, rock-festered mouse.

A petty firm like the Kaliskas would never collect your corpse.

(Pulls trigger)

Whoa, Ashley's pissed now!

Ingra's being too cruel, though. What's he keep yanking her sore spots for?

Kaliska Forestry used to be pretty well-known, but you don't hear much about it in the news lately.

Can't be something to do with Greynuty.

If they had her doing things, they might still be as big as ever.

Doing piss-poor management yourself, taking it out on the others. Not a recipe for company success.

I heard it was at the table she got expelled from the family. Facing her uncles and aunts. Voted out by all.

Unanimous passage...

So her mom and dad...

Yeah, I hear blackmail had them throwing their own daughter out.

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.