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"....it was YOUR village Boreas destroyed?"
Mammon suddenly sounds angered.
"....that fiend. You should not worry about him. I....punished him for his misdeeds. Innocents were not meant to be targeted, and I made that clear. He paid the price. I am sorry you cannot revenge yourself upon him now."

[Now Playing: Madoka's Theme ~ Strawberry Crisis ~]
Madoka's Gnosis glows bright violet.

In that moment, she encapsulated the very meaning of Fulmen. To break boundaries. To exceed limits, no matter what. To defy expectations. Rau, ever-changing god of thunder, had awarded Horiuchi Madoka her Gnosis not for being a master of the sword. Rau was no god of talent, no god of mastery.

She had received one for daring to be one in the face of overwhelming competition, against whom in a world where she had less resolve, she would rightfully lose.

Like Todoroki. Like all those who had doubted her skills. Like Honda Hiroyuki. Like Todayama Tomoe.

In the face of a clearly superior opponent, even one not wielding a Gnosis, it was all she could do to push her limits. And it was worth it to try.

In one single slash, Madoka's strike lands true, moving before Tomoe can even react and knocking the lancer off her feet, the air smelling of ozone and the lightning blinding her allies and enemies alike.

(Madoka shines like a lonely star!)
(Madoka's Tenkaji activates!)

Madoka uses her Gnosis Art: Astral Blade Art: [Tenkaji]!
Madoka initiates!
Hit Rate: 53 to hit
Hit: 44, hit!
Critical: 32, crit!
Tomoe takes 15 damage!

Tomoe retaliates!
Hit Rate: 87 to hit
Hit: 81, hit!
Madoka takes 22 damage!

However, Madoka was right. Todayama was a superior foe still. The Imperial general quickly recovers her footing, her spear rising up to smash Madoka back with the blunt end, throwing the smaller swordswoman back with ferocity. She swings her spear back into position. She wipes her mouth, shuddering. The Cursed knew what it was; her transformation was incoming, and she was forcing it back through sheer force of will.

"A fine strike, challenger. You're no amateur. But...you are not the first Gnosis-wielder I have defeated. You rate highly among them, I will admit."

Hiroyuki, quietly watching the whole thing, simply gravitates between pride in his former student, and worry about the consequences of defeat.

~~Enemy Phase~~
Tomoe surges forward with a yell, intending to bumrush Madoka.

(Tomoe staves off her Metamorphosis....)
(Madoka shines like a lonely star!)
(Madoka's Vantage+ activates!)
(Tomoe's Brave Art activates!)

Tomoe uses her Brave Art: Amatsu Spearmanship [Rampaging Boar]!

Madoka initiates!
Hit Rate: 63 to hit
Hit: 47, hit!
Critical: 23, crit!
Tomoe takes 12 damage!

Tomoe strikes!
Hit Rate: 87 to hit
Hit: 88, miss!

However, Madoka's small size forces her lance to go wide, her charge to miss into the dirt road. She had the speed advantage, and Tomoe was trying not to transform, not right there.

Her strike bats the general back, forcing her to swing her lance wide to push Madoka away. Tomoe shakes her head, steadying herself.
"N-not bad. Not bad at all."

---

Madoka may move first!

"Hm. Good enough for me."

Hisao calmly approaches, hand on hilt.
"Todayama. What is the meaning of this?"
"One of them has challenged me to a fight. If we win, we take them in, bloodlessly."
"You can't be serious, can you? Not everyone has your sense of honour, General."
"Someone with the courage to challenge me, clearly outmatched and outnumbered, must do."
"You know this is ridiculous, right?"
"A challenge to duel must be answered. That, and I am not going to risk any more of my men being harmed if ending the fight faster will achieve the same aim. Only a few of the people here are Kiryu, Yugen and Hosokawa men, may I remind you. Most of them are mine, and I trained them personally. My duty is to them, not the Empress."
Hisao sighs.
"....if you insist, General. I never could stop you from doing what you wanted. You still can't defy her, anyway. Neither can I."
A bitter undertone resounds under that last sentence.

Hisao surveys the party. Yusuke's eyes noticeably narrow, eliciting a surprised look from Rin.
"Hosokawa. Finally decide to come out to take a break from sucking up to the Empress, have you?"
"I have no words for you, Cat. Your anger is misplaced."
"W-wait, you two know each other?"
"The redhead's the Rooster, and Todayama's, well...the Boar. They were the Empress' right-hand men back in the Palace."

Tomoe positions herself in front of Madoka, positioning her spear for combat.
"Fine. I, Todayama Tomoe, heiress to the Todayama Clan, General of the Imperial Army, accept your challenge. Draw your sword, challenger."

---

Madoka may move first!

"If Honda's right, we're in one of those Akuma Domain things. Right now, I just want to get everyone we can get, find my friend, and get the hell out of here-"

Then Mori speaks. Akihiko looks down towards the corridor, where Masaru, Mori and Shoji are visible.
"More of you in here? Dammit. Did you guys see any floating....rock, tentacle things?"

Tomoe pauses briefly, as if considering something.

Then she nods.
"On my honor as a Todayama, I agree to that request. If your party will allow it."

"Madoka....be careful. Are you sure you'll be fine?"
"What the hell are you thinking?!"
"Heh. Madoka's got this."

"If I could be less vague, I would be. We will not be the first to come after you, and the Empress will capture you. I am offering you a way out that involves far less bloodshed. You may succeed against me, but you will definitely not against her, and she will not be lenient. If you take my offer, you can change the terms of that meeting, maybe."
Again, subtle shifting towards the approaching Hisao and his group. They seem very, very close.

Tomoe doesn't seem to be lying, and Miyako does seem to somewhat grasp what's going on. But is it worth trusting her?

"Not much. A resolution to this situation, and my word."

Akihiko lands on the opposite side of the beast as Shiro and Mildred's projectiles smash into its gem-like eye. It emits a metallic, inhuman roar, screeching and falling to the side, with the chairshot to the head not helping matters. Still, it seems about as hurt as a human with a splinter in its toe. Which, one might imagine, isn't very much hurt, but it's down for now. Smashing a full garbage can into something's eye tends to have that effect.

Akihiko scrabbles to his feet as he lands, looking up at Shiro.
"No time to explain. We need to get out of here. We're trying to find a friend of mine. I...I think she's trapped in here too. Let's go, before it gets back up!"