act9mini

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.

Post-infection, no-one her generation or above in her knight family showed her any sympathy.

Everyone put the blame for the family's slow fall on her.

Normal people would know that's nothing to do with getting ill.

But that's what they did. Her family, every Kaliska Zalak agreed to strip Ashley of her position and boot her out of the lineage.

She used to trust all the family, so much. She loved sharing fun stories with them. Comparing techniques with them.

But in the end, no one she thought a friend reached out a hand to help.

I heard some were looking to have her disappeared altogether—

It—can't be that bad.

One day, I was there. Helped keep them off Ashley.

So you can guess why Ashley has such a bitter hatred for the old knight lords.

As for Brassrust Ingra...

Every single thing he does is a deep sting on Ashley's heart.

That's what's going on. I'm guessing it's why she was ready to stand off in a close contest until the end.

To bring a lofty, high-ranking knight straight into the ground.

And to... keep her own anger in check.

Hey, Justyna, can you tell how many shells Ashley has left in her mag for me?

Four.

Ooh.

Nearly closing time.

A fierce offensive has not toppled the Ashlock Knight! And Brassrust is beginning to wear out!

He's readying for his final charge!

This marathon back-and-forth is about to pay off!

Ladies and gentlemen, knights and dames, keep an eye on your betting numbers, please! Who knows if you're suddenly in for a prize when the results come in!

This post-match lottery is sponsored by Roar Guards Co., and the rates will boggle your mind! An astonishing zero point FIVE percent! If you still haven't placed your bets, you have one last chance now!

Ingra has lifted his hatchet, the blade of the abattoir!

Greynuty assumes a defensive position!

We're about to see who wins and who loses!

Jeez, Louise! When'd Ashley make off with my moves?!

Brassrust is charging, he's still charging, Ashlock has her shield up, but she's pointed the barrel backwards!

Could she be taking Brassrust for a head-on impact?!

Both are coming in hot, red-yellow-white-hot!