Despite how appreciated Sheena's confidence is, everything's still pretty fucking tense around all six of them that Zelos can't really find it in himself to relax just yet. And unfortunately, preoccupied in so many things at once as he is--the head count of signals outside of their main cluster, keeping an eye out for the man's movements, trying to pinpoint entry and exit points, gathering his own ether in his free hand, keeping Lloyd in place while trying to get Sheena's attention--Zelos can't exactly make way in his mental juggling to factor in the unpredictable.
Because he'd expected it to be Lloyd, really. Either him or Anna, who's behind him, or maybe even Sheena. But when the unpredictable turns out to be none other than Malos himself, Zelos blanches.
The cut on the old man's shoulder leaves him staggering backwards, one hand flying up to touch where dark blood mixed with ether suddenly begins to seep out, staining his blue shirt. And then the man laughs, dropping the cigar and reaching back as if summoning something--a sword. It materializes in his hand in a flash of yellow light.
For a blade eater to have a weapon he must be more blade than human now. "You shouldn't have done that, you bastard," the man says, right before he swings for Malos.
Zelos abruptly lets go of Lloyd. "Oh, hell--!"
He doesn't finish that. The Aegis chokes when the ambient ether suddenly explodes around him with signals everywhere, oversaturated as ten blades jump out from their hiding spots to ambush the rest of them. Someone shouts out a name--'Dickson.' Choking, yet snapping to attention immediately, at least Zelos manages to summon his sword and block a slash from behind that was meant for his back, gritting his teeth as the impact reverberates in his bones, yet holding his ground.
Just as soon as the impact comes and goes Zelos remembers Sheena and how he's left her without a weapon to defend herself, but if he lets go now, Zelos risks an injury. Keep your driver in your sight, comes an instinct deep in the Aegis' gut. She dies, he dies. They cannot risk to be separated. So mustering his strength, Zelos shoves at his assailant and steps backwards, back back back to where his gut feeling tells him his driver is while fighting off the blade when they return for more.
YOU FUCKED IT
Because he'd expected it to be Lloyd, really. Either him or Anna, who's behind him, or maybe even Sheena. But when the unpredictable turns out to be none other than Malos himself, Zelos blanches.
The cut on the old man's shoulder leaves him staggering backwards, one hand flying up to touch where dark blood mixed with ether suddenly begins to seep out, staining his blue shirt. And then the man laughs, dropping the cigar and reaching back as if summoning something--a sword. It materializes in his hand in a flash of yellow light.
For a blade eater to have a weapon he must be more blade than human now. "You shouldn't have done that, you bastard," the man says, right before he swings for Malos.
Zelos abruptly lets go of Lloyd. "Oh, hell--!"
He doesn't finish that. The Aegis chokes when the ambient ether suddenly explodes around him with signals everywhere, oversaturated as ten blades jump out from their hiding spots to ambush the rest of them. Someone shouts out a name--'Dickson.' Choking, yet snapping to attention immediately, at least Zelos manages to summon his sword and block a slash from behind that was meant for his back, gritting his teeth as the impact reverberates in his bones, yet holding his ground.
Just as soon as the impact comes and goes Zelos remembers Sheena and how he's left her without a weapon to defend herself, but if he lets go now, Zelos risks an injury. Keep your driver in your sight, comes an instinct deep in the Aegis' gut. She dies, he dies. They cannot risk to be separated. So mustering his strength, Zelos shoves at his assailant and steps backwards, back back back to where his gut feeling tells him his driver is while fighting off the blade when they return for more.
"Sheena!"