-the swordsman howls as he charges for Ges-
-holding his sword out, about to use it to run him through, like a spear-
-not very sneaky, but-
-nothing remains of the swordsman, or his blade-
-there is a voice echoing in Cloud's head-
-it's beautiful-
-pure-
You're not fighting me.
-pauses-
-before smirking at Archer-
-turns his back to him, and looks right at Atton-
-as if daring either of them to make a move-
-they dissolve into existence at the top of the roof-
-one of them smashes the rifle over his kneecap, before leaping off the roof-
-the rest of the knights rush for the roof access, giving chase-
UN JOUR JE SERAI DE RETOUR PRÈS DE TOI(a brief pause later, and Archer does exactly that, too)
(the ebony and ivory Chinese shortswords form in his hands once again, and he throws the black one at him)
(don't mean to rain on your parade, Knights of the Roof Access)
(but the one leading your pack just broke a tripwire on the stairwell near the penultimate floor)
(that just detonated a small but powerful piece of plastic explosive)
edited 18th Dec '14 7:16:09 PM by foxmccloud4387
-brings his sword around and cleaves it in two-
-thankfully, this has distracted him for a moment-
-he surges for Atton far faster than any human being should be able to, ducking under the thrown sword, grinning wickedly-
-nothing of them remains-
-the final knight waits at the ground floor for Kiritsugu to emerge-
UN JOUR JE SERAI DE RETOUR PRÈS DE TOI-Click-
-The ground erupts into another explosion like that which destroyed one of his knights. However, the timing is slightly off, so that instead of catching him as he flies over it, the ground just ahead erupts instead-
-Atton affixes a breather to his mouth and reaches for his belt-
edited 18th Dec '14 7:23:44 PM by Thanatoseraph
-charges straight through the flames without hesitation, going straight for Atton-
-hopefully Archer can close the distance between the two-
-the knight slowly, resolutely begins to walk to there-
-raises his blade to meet Gespenst's-
-but the timing is off, and it's sent flying out of his hands-
-blurs slightly, like an out of focus picture-
-and roars-
UN JOUR JE SERAI DE RETOUR PRÈS DE TOII am the Ashen Blade. And you — you are weak. You are alone.
-doesn't say this unkindly-
-states it simply, like a fact-
-it takes one step towards Ges-
-then another-
-now it seems to be-
-smouldering, almost-
-the blast tears a hole clean through his chest-
-he stumbles back-
-just in time for Archer's sword to run him through-
.........
-stands there, swaying slightly-
-the knight stops just before the threshold-
-and waits-
UN JOUR JE SERAI DE RETOUR PRÈS DE TOIYou wish to protect people. You try. You try, and you fail.
-is beginning to sound-
-sympathetic, almost-
-the area around them is beginning to become surrounded by mist-
-the knight raises a gauntlet, deflecting the beam away from the two of them-
-he roars once more, in maddened fury-
-and lunges towards Gespenst, poised to tear out his throat-
-the madness fades from his eyes-
-the blade drops from his fingers-
-he falls-
-after the explosion, there is silence-
UN JOUR JE SERAI DE RETOUR PRÈS DE TOI...
(after confirming the man's death, Archer turns to Atton, senses keen for any more attacking knights)
I'm just an archer. (and yet, he's still holding the twin swords)
(is outside, leaning against a wall, in pain from that continuous usage of Innate Time Control)
(hand is in coat pocket, and attention is towards the rooftop - can the knight's mana sig be detected?)
-the knight tries to grab Ges's plasma cutter with his bare hands-
-but he's overestimated his strength-
-and is sliced neatly in two-
-his legs stand straight up for a silent moment, as if surprised by this sudden defeat-
-before toppling-
-his body dissipates into mist, his blade remains where it fell-
-if anyone was to look, they'd find that Cloud and the Ashen Blade had vanished without a trace-
-dives towards Cloud, attacking him-
-is becoming more and more aggressive-
You fail. Every time, you try and you fail. Who next will die to your failure?
You require strength. You require assistance.
You require me.
-it's faint-
-it's hard to tell if it's actually there or not-
UN JOUR JE SERAI DE RETOUR PRÈS DE TOI

(as the slashes get faster and faster and faster, Archer performs a tricky maneuver - he positions his blades so that he can break off the engagement at the cost of them being knocked out of his hands and vanishing)
(this maneuver - combined with the lucky timing of Atton's support fire - has allowed Archer to retreat to a distance of about ten meters from the man, though he keeps his eyes locked with him)
...! (sees the swords fly towards him)
Time Alter - Double Accel! (his internal time accelerating, Kiritsugu retreats back inside through the roof access in a burst of blinding speed)
(by the time the swords reach the roof, he's gone - all that's there is his gun case, his discarded Walther rifle, and a couple of extra mags)
edited 18th Dec '14 7:11:21 PM by foxmccloud4387