Sword Astraea

The Jeweler

Blood. Blood was all that Welf's tongue tasted. It was nasty and iron-like. But his teeth had done the job he needed them to.

Biting down harder he wretched a piece of flesh into his jaw and pulled his head back. The flesh came with him as blood spurted everywhere. Covering Welf's lower jaw and chin, it ran down his chin and onto his neck, then his shirt.

As the sputtering man fell to the ground Welf reached forward and grabbed his dagger from his belt. He spit the flesh out before grabbing the man closest to him by the collar.

The man was too stunned to even react as Welf raised the dagger and brought it down. The blade buried itself in the man's neck as Welf grabbed the mace from his belt.

Spinning on his heel Welf slammed the mace into the third man's head. His skull cracked before caving in on itself completely. Blood and brain matter splattering everywhere, even getting on Welf's clothes. Painting his teal blue long shirt red.

He wretched the mace free and with another roar cracked it across the final man's jaw. A small sickening crack was heard as the jaw dislocated. The man couldn't even scream before Welf had lifted the mace up once more and bashed the man's skull in.

Once he wretched it free once more Welf looked around the room. Seeing both Evilus and his familia alike had stopped fighting. Then wondered when Rethusa showed up with her group.

The room was filled with dead silence, everyone stared at Welf in shock at what he had just done.

Welf didn't seem to process anything, however. His eyes were hollow and glassy, like what had just occurred had not processed for him.

"We gonna kill these guys or what?" His monotone voice asked.

That seemed to spur everyone up again. Rethusa had already drawn back an arrow and loosed it. It soared through the air and impaled the neck of one goon next to Daphne.

Daphne was quick to capitalize on this moment as she thrusted her rapier into another one's heart. Before pulling it out and slitting another one's throat.

Emma was able to finally push her attacker away thanks to the distraction. Which Rethusa quickly put down with an arrow through their eye.

Four members of the Takemikazuchi familia shot forth. Two stayed behind to guard Lefiya as the elf began chanting. While Rethusa stood loosing arrow after arrow.

She was able to kill two of the five near Lili. Giving the prum some much-needed breathing room to ward off the remaining three.

Emma moved to help her. Dragging her blades down one of their backs. The woman screamed in agony and wildly swung her club back. It hit Emma in the cheek causing the pink-haired girl to stumble, and almost lose her footing.

Lili took the opportunity of the distracted woman and drove her spear into her kneecap and out the other side.

The woman fell to her knee, tears pooling in her eyes at the intense pain. Only to be snuffed out a second later by one of Rethua's arrows.

Daphne still struggled with her five remaining foes. Each attack she was able to block meant two more went past her defenses. Her long white battle dress was ripped in so many places that she knew she'd have to get a new one once she returned to the surface.

If she returned to the surface.

She had blocked another attack. This time a short sword aimed at taking her nose off. But that left her open to a thrust from a dagger aimed at her kidney.

Daphne knew she would have to block this. If she didn't there was a good chance this would be the attack that killed her.

She went to pull her blade back. But her wrist was caught and held tightly in place. Her eyes widened in fear as she knew this was it. She was going to die here.