<Nocturnal Harmonia>

[Apollymi]

The Players were many things, but tame was not on the list. They had an opportunity in front of them and they would surely take it. From slow rolling hips, to refreshed barriers they were easily able to fill the space of about half-an hour on a gentler kind of fucking than they'd managed so far. Miko was quite enjoying herself, even as she was groped and had her head held and tilted so that she could happily make out with him. Her tongue danced against his and those normal moans were transferred directly into his mouth as her movements were somewhat controlled and extended all the way until her body was filled.

Some ten minutes after that, Miko was standing dressed in a light lavender sleeveless shirt which was fit directly to her form. She also had on a short skirt black in color and a hoodie which she managed to have fit the way she liked it best. Once she was comfortable in another pair of those little heeled boots she was appreciative of her own look. Her hair was even down, that little curl on top of her head, highlighted by a different kind of purple glow and her hair seeming to have light flickers of it at the bottom as well. It was lightly enchanted with some extra Mana applied to help mediate her current lock out. She should have been looking at that ominous door but instead she was staring at Yugi. She unleashed then a statement which was likely going to invoke fear or excitement into the hearts of many. "Oh box is open♪!~" Miko chirped while her eyes were blatantly locked onto his chest and abdomen. She'd had an idea when she'd looked at him earlier and made a purchase with him in mind. She went on to equip to him, a fishnet under shirt to fill-in the empty space and complete his look. "Definitely ready physically, emotionally... I don't wanna. I hate mandatory boss fights, but... I'll do my best♪!~" Miko said. "So we walk in, Bloodlust it... and see where it goes from there?" she said, there was a bit of winging done from such a statement but that didn't mean she'd be any less ready for this fight.

[Bloodedge]

Yugi was prepared, but apparently not prepared enough. Miko announced the opening of another box. He thought that would become a more frequent occurrence over time, but what was this one about specifically? Well, he'd find out when a fishnet shirt suddenly appeared beneath the jacket he'd intended to zip mostly closed. Yugi looked down to his own chest and pulled at the new article lightly. "Fishnet?" he questioned before shrugging. It wasn't something Yugi would have ever envisioned himself in, but... he also didn't have an impossible physique until the past couple of days. "Is it awesome?" he asked.

Regardless, Yugi would soon have a hand on that massive door. They had a suitable plan in mind, he thought. Bloodlust would be a necessity even if they could handle the boss, as their four-hour countdown had yet to start. "Definitely. I'll use Bloodlust first, since we might want to rotate and keep the boss weakened for the whole fight. Ideally we finish this in like, two minutes... but let's be honest; that's not gonna happen. I've got a defense ready, so I'll handle the first charge while you set your shit up, yeah?" he asked for confirmation. With that, Yugi would be pushing against that massive double door from one side. If Miko joined in, they'd step into a massive throne room with huge, stone pillars leading to...

A red-clad knight sat upon the obsidian throne at the far end of the chamber, crimson cape draped motionless across the armrests. His greatsword rested point-down between his armored knees, gauntleted hands folded over the hilt in perfect stillness. A long crimson mane flowed from beneath his helmet like blood-red hair, cascading over his shoulders and down his back, shifting faintly as though stirred by an unseen wind. The faint crimson glow of runes etched into the throne pulsed in time with his unblinking gaze. As Yugi and Miko stepped through the threshold, the tall knight rose in one fluid motion. Armor clinked softly, cape falling back like spilled blood. He lifted the greatsword with both hands, point rising to rest against the floor once more, stance wide and unyielding. The System's blue window appeared before both Players:

〔SYSTEM NOTICE — BOSS ENCOUNTER〕
Blood-Red Commander Igris
Guardian of the Shadow Throne

He has awaited the one worthy to claim the seat.
Prove your strength.
Or fall before his blade.

He lowered the greatsword into a ready stance, crimson eyes fixed on them both, waiting. Upon seeing that tall, slim-yet-imposing knight... Yugi became the one who took pause. "... Fuck," was all the lad could say.

[Apollymi]

Miko was starting to open boxes both big and small. Some were ideas about things like her own skills set, and others were things like a choice of shirt she wanted to see Yugi in. She took the liberty of equipping it to him even, thinking that he'd be fine with it regardless given his propensity of putting clothing on her and others as well. As for the question Miko shrugged, "Hai, I've been thinking the rave body look would go over well and it gives a bit of extra badass energy♪!~" Miko would have described the look as Delinquent Chic. "It's so fucking awesome, hands down top five best choices♪!~" Miko confirmed giving them man in front of her a genuine smile and two thumbs up with a hint of her childishly innocent energy.

As they moved on from fashion choices, they figured out a pretty decent start to their newest form of combat. He went through the plan in his own terms and Miko nodded her head. "Hai hai, I can work with that. I managed a pretty short incantation, once it's up it'll last five minutes but has a 20 minute cooldown. I know we're probably aiming for shorter, but... prepare for the worst and all that♪~" Miko said trying to sound so very calm about something she felt rolling deep into her gut. And in just a moment after stepping into that room she felt it. The unnerving power of that impossibly slim knight sitting on a throne. She didn't have to look at the readout to know what was being said. It was being read to her, in a smooth voice, and she was freaking out.

'That outfit is fire but I can't say that because of this situation♪!~' Miko couldn't help herself, that knight gave off such energy and raw power. If not for the fact that it was confirmed the boss and an ememy which was definitely about to work them over she likely would have been gushing over the look of it. Now there was something else with her excitement, legitimate fear. "Why... do I hear boss music?" she asked of the universe at large. That uttered swear said all it needed to, what were they about to do? Fight for their lives. She kept to the plan, as that knight rose, jumping back, refreshing the cast on the Veil before calling her catalyst to her hand and beginning the incantation for that overly aggressive magic.

"Let the sky become a field of mirrors♪!~" That first line had a series of watery mirrors forming over head. There was some moisture left over from their earlier use of skills against the knights in the hall... so that wouldn't be taking too much of her mana to cement dozens of little perfectly refractive water lenses in high ceilings of this throne room.

[Bloodedge]

Once they were within the boss chamber, the intimidating aura of Igris became clear to both Players. Yugi swore a subtle 'fuck' in the moment of realization for what they would have to undertake. He didn't need to see that red name over the boss's head, nor did he need the System's warning to know that tall knight would be their greatest challenge yet. Though they had entered this room with a plan, he hesitated for a moment. Luckily, the Blood-Red Commander hadn't attacked immediately.

At the very least, Miko was still able to prepare her magical attack. A short incantation had disks of water spawning high above. Their use would become apparent soon enough... but first, Yugi had to execute his part of the plan. He stared into the knight's eyes, Sharingan active, activating the Skill: Bloodlust. If it actually worked, Igris would have his stats reduced by 50% for one valuable minute. Miko wondered aloud why she was hearing boss music while Yugi's attempt was being made. "Probably because this big bitch is an absolute unit!" he said in praise of the boss, angry though the realization was. For Igris himself, Yugi had something else to say. "Alright... I've got first. Come get some, bitch!" he challenged the silent knight, chokuto at the ready for whatever onslaught came.

Igris did not flinch at Yugi's curse, nor at the defiant words that followed. The Bloodlust aura rolled over him like a wave of cold wind—intense, oppressive, meant to shatter wills—but Igris remained unmoved. His armored shoulders rose and fell once in a measured breath, the crimson mane beneath his helmet shifting slightly as if stirred by an unseen current. The knight raised his greatsword in a slow, unhurried arc. The blade scraped the stone floor with a low, resonant scrape as he brought it into a two-handed guard. His stance widened, boots planted firm, cape settling behind him like spilled blood. Igris lifted the greatsword higher, point leveled at Yugi's chest—not yet striking, but poised. The air around him seemed to thicken, the runes on his armor pulsing brighter in slow, steady rhythm. He did not speak. He simply advanced another step, blade steady, waiting for the first true clash. The challenge had been issued. The Blood-Red Commander answered in silence and steel.

Seeing that unyielding stance, Yugi froze once more ─ part wariness, part calculating. He'd expected an attack, but this knight wasn't taking the bait... nor Bloodlust, apparently. "... Didn't work. Plan gone! Time on cast?!" he asked of Miko.

[Apollymi]

Everything about how this fight was shaping up, was becoming a thing of grand ceremony. Miko could hear the boss music, she could see the steady resolve of the enemy in front of her... and her partner, freezing. That was fine, that sort of thing happened, she'd panicked into motion, she couldn't blame anyone else for not knowing what to do about this beast of a knight. As for the mention of the boss music, Miko was apparently not the only one talking crazy about the Blood-Red Commander. "Right? I thought it was just my brain being confused!~" Miko chirped about the situation. No matter... with one line up, she'd do the next while Yugi tried to apply Bloodlust.

"Let the sun be drawn into my hand♪!~" she chimed as a bright light shimmered in her right hand, dancing through that crystal sword of hers and being held, there like a light at the end of a baton. A gentle shimmer appeared across that water mirrored ceiling as the light was being caught, refined and focused by her words. What she wasn't expecting, was the next words from Yugi's mouth. She heard that blade scraping the ground and then the sound of it lifting while her eyes remained focused on the Knight's physical form.

Her knees would soon be shaking with the uncommon desire to run. Holding her nerve in a moment like this was hard, but she was managing by distracting herself with her prescribed tasks. "Great. Plan gone, acting on the new plan. It's a four lines... I'm two deep. I need 20 seconds, before I can fire at will," Miko confirmed by her own counting methods. Just the same she was preparing that next line while making sure her own concentration wouldn't truly be broken in the meantime.

[Bloodedge]

Bloodlust didn't seem to be working, even with Yugi's Sharingan active... or was it? Frankly, Yugi couldn't truly tell. Either it didn't work, or it did work and this boss was simply strong enough to show no notable differences. Yugi would have to find out the truth with more direct observation. Igris hadn't acted on Yugi's provocations; he hadn't attacked. According to Miko, another twenty seconds or so would be needed for her spell's completion. Well, surely Igris wouldn't just stand there and wait for it. Yugi couldn't risk waiting either. "Twenty seconds. Right. Yeah, sure. I can fight him off for twenty seconds... right?" Yugi said, having zero certainty about his ability to go through with that claim. Chokuto in his right hand, he charged its blade with arcing lightning to prepare for hellish combat. Yugi's right foot slid forward slowly, carefully in half a measured step. "Alright... come on. Fight me, bitch!" he challenged further. Yugi felt it would be stupid to be the attacker in this situation. No, he'd be waiting for Igris to strike first. . .

Igris held his high guard for only a heartbeat longer. Then, with sudden, explosive grace, he surged forward. The greatsword swept in a wide, rising arc—blade whistling through the air as crimson light trailed from the edge like spilled blood. The strike aimed not to kill outright, but to test: a powerful diagonal cut meant to force Yugi to parry or evade, the force behind it enough to shatter stone if it met no resistance. At the same moment, Igris's free hand snapped out. An invisible pressure erupted from his palm, targeting Miko's position to yank her off-balance with crushing strength, disrupt her incantation and pull her toward him across the stone floor. He'd closed the distance in two powerful strides, armor ringing with each step, cape billowing behind him like a banner of war. The crimson mane flowed in the wake of his movement, eyes locked on both Players with unyielding focus. No words were spoken. There was only the silent, relentless advance of a commander who had guarded this throne for centuries.

[Apollymi]

This fight was already seeming pretty daunting. Miko was already starting to feel like this timing was going to be an issue. Twenty seconds never seemed like a lot, until a fight was taking place or one was in a gym. Right just now, Miko knew this was going to be a terrible time for Yugi, but that was just a part of this dance she thought. "I know... I know... I'm also a bit sketched out by this whole thing," Miko confirmed quietly.

Still while Yugi took over the fight in earnest, she could concentrate on the next line of her incantation. "Target's marked beneath the heavens♪!~" she finished a line. There was only one more left, but in this one room, there was nothing else going on. She could hear every movement the Blood-Red Commander Igris. It was such a consistent noise, so uptempo and menacing. Every whistled movement, every swing of the blade, and every light step. "Oh no... that sounds so quick! I'm not going to like this..." Miko muttered softly an odd form of prediction made her realize she was in trouble an she was suddenly in pain that barrier around her person cracking and her body flying around. "WUUUUP♪!~ He has a fucking force powers!!~" Miko chirped in pure fear and a slight bit of admiration. She still had one more line to finish and technically she could finish it, as soon as she managed to scramble back to her feet. As long as she got those last few words out she'd be alright.

[Bloodedge]

Yugi's provocation did work the second time. Alas, that only meant he had to deal with Igris closing the distance between them before Sharingan could fully register the movement. 'Shit! Skill!' he thought, activating Knight's Bastion as an emergency reflex. As he established his defense in a rush, there was no time to form the shield; he had to settle for the armored form. If nothing else, that decision cloaked him in a defensive ethereal armor just well enough to avoid immediate critical damage. Igris's greatsword shattered the veil Miko had already placed on Yugi in the moment of impact, and was in the process of cleaving through his Knigh's Bastion Skill by the time his chokuto swept over to meet the offending blade. While Miko was being dragged toward Igris, Yugi was being launched away and disarmed, blood spilling from his side as the knight's blade couldn't be kept fully from his flesh. "Gah! Shit!" he grumbled. Yugi attempted to slide to an eventual stop near where his chokuto landed, holding out a hand to prepare a defense not for himself, but for Miko. He casted Knight's Bastion again, this time forming a shield between Miko and Igris.

Igris pressed forward without pause after the clash. The greatsword continued its arc, the crimson glow along the blade flaring brighter as it met the ethereal armor Yugi had summoned in haste. The veil shattered under the blow—fragments of spectral plate dissolving into wisps of shadow—but the impact was blunted just enough. The blade carved a deep gash across Yugi's side, blood spraying in a thin arc, yet it did not reach bone or vital organs. As Yugi was launched backward, Igris pivoted smoothly on one armored boot. His crimson mane whipped behind him like a banner caught in a sudden wind. Igris stepped into the space Yugi had vacated, boots ringing against the stone. He raised the greatsword in a high guard again, point leveled at the shield Miko had conjured between them. The glowing eyes beneath his helmet fixed on her—unblinking, assessing—then shifted to Yugi sliding across the floor, blood trailing from his wound. He did not pursue immediately. He waited, stance wide, blade steady. The chamber's silence returned, broken only by the faint drip of Yugi's blood and the low hum of Miko's forming disks overhead. Igris tilted his helmeted head slightly, as though acknowledging the shield. Then, with deliberate slowness, he lowered the greatsword's point to the floor once more—resting it there, both hands on the hilt, waiting for their next move. Yugi thought strangely of that hesitation. 'Is that Chivalry? Or is that prep?' he wondered. "Watch out!" he warned just in case.

[Apollymi]

Provocations worked and both Miko and Yugi were feeling the danger of the Blood-Red Commander Igris. Miko was being dragged across the room. Yugi now had a dripping wound Miko could hear, and just as quickly as Igris' assault started in full swing, Miko thought she was about to be dragged into hell, but soon there as a shield up in front of her allowing her to stop, finally. She sighed but was still on high alert. And all she could hear, was that dripping and the sound of her own magic humming at the start of its wouldn't be casting arc.

And in this moment, it was Miko's turn to feel oppressed. She was barely fighting back a shiver and the glowing eyes of the Blood-Red Commander settling on her for a few seconds had her pausing in consideration. She was told to watch out... "You don't have to tell me that... when he's not moving that silence is terrifying♪~" Miko's words were still coming out in chirps. It was like being scared was rising her natural speaking octave and placing a rhythm on words that shouldn't have it. "Yeah, I know... Chivalry. So... I have an opening, slight though it is. I can finish the incantation, and maybe put us under direct fire for the duration of it. Or... I can heal you and take the aggro for a second. I'll heal the damage almost instantly but it'll hurt like a son of a bitch, I know it," Miko murmured quickly and softly as if afraid to accidentally provoke the being in front of her.

[Bloodedge]

"Unit! U-nit!" Yugi reiterated when Miko spoke of 'terrifying' silence from the boss. His right arm was crossed over his torso, covering that gash at his left side. Chivalry had activated for him, but it didn't make that much of a difference. Ah, but he now had more offensive ability because of it. Strangely though, he couldn't blame the Chivalry set bonus on Igris's current hesitation in front of Miko. Why wasn't he attacking though? Either it was traditional chivalry: the knight refraining from further assault because neither of them currently wielded a weapon... or it was something much worse in the immediate sense. "I can go without the heal for a minute. Total flesh wound, y'know?" he said sarcastically when offered healing by Miko. He thought her best move would be finishing that spell's incantation... so he took a chance. Yugi reached for his sword, intending to pick it up and ready himself again. If his assumption was right, he'd take the aggro by virtue of being the only combat-ready opponent. 'Come on, come on,' he thought.

Igris remained rooted in place as Yugi reached for the fallen chokuto. The knight's eyes tracked the movement without haste—unblinking, unreadable. The greatsword stayed low, point resting against the stone floor, both gauntleted hands steady on the hilt. The moment Yugi's fingers closed around the grip, Igris moved. He took one heavy step forward, boot ringing against the stone. That crimson mane shifted as he raised the greatsword in a smooth, rising arc. The blade cut through the air with a low hum, aimed in a wide diagonal sweep toward Yugi's midsection. At the same instant, Igris's left hand snapped outward. That telekinetic ability surged from his palm in an invisible wave. The force seized the chokuto before Yugi could fully lift it, wrenching it from his grasp and sending it skidding across the floor toward the far wall. Igris advanced another step, armor clinking softly. The greatsword continued its arc, now leveled at Yugi's chest once more. The crimson eyes shifted briefly to Miko—taking note of the disks of water still forming above—then returned to Yugi. By the time he did look to Yugi again...

"Finish it!" Yugi called out to Miko. His body was presently tilting at the waist, weaving beneath Igris's greatsword. His Sharingan was spinning, soon to spawn a second tomoe in each eye ─ though the extreme focus already had his eyes bloodshot as they followed Igris. That didn't matter to Yugi presently. He fully intended to disrupt Igris's movements here and now. His right arm was drawn back, fist at the ready to deliver a powerful strike to the knight's abdomen. It didn't matter to Yugi if he'd been disarmed; he'd fight hand-to-hand! That would be proved when he connected with Igris's abdomen, triggering Black Flash's activation. "Bitch!"

[Apollymi]

The idea that Blood-Red Commander Igris was a "UNIT" was reiterated. Miko didn't need that either. She realized that she'd consciously been using the man's whole title in her head every time she thought of him. That daunting music she heard... felt like a death march. Every step they took one way or another was still leading to one ultimate end, it would either be him or both of them... and if she was being honest, their odds didn't seem favorable. When the plan of action was offered, it would seem that Yugi was willing to go without the heal initially. There was a flesh wound he claimed, so sarcastically, Miko chuckled. "Tehe♪~ Yeah, just scratch, no biggie. Obviously nothing a bandaid won't fix♪~" Her tone light and joking but they both knew the truth.

This was an ordeal. Even the Riverglass Phantom of their earlier adventure paled in comparison to this calculating and battle ready Blood-Red Commander. Everytime that man's eyes shifted, Miko knew he was calculating. Even as Yugi went for his weapon to try and trigger aggro, it wasn't as if he'd forgotten about Miko's existence. Something told her, even an Assassin, might have a hard time, fighting against a man with such aware senses. She held the gentle thought, that it might be possible to overwhelm his senses for just a moment, and if itwas, they might be able to get back into a rhythm more suitable to themselves.

Still at the point where Miko had taken a breath to prepare herself and Blood-red Commander Igris fully gave his attention to Yugi, she was told to finish it. "Hai♪!~" she chirped, a little snap leaving her fingers as she'd allowed the count to continue in her head so as not to disrupt the rhythm of her cast even when she was technically pausing it for the sake of the solo being committed against them by this boss of an enemy. "Be erased by the light---♪!~" Miko chirped out finally, a catalyst coming back to each hand with a very specific thing in mind. "MEGIDDO♪!~" and just like that the lenses formed and snapped back into the place, and the light she'd held in those catalyst began firing in rhythm with Yugi's statemen. "Pulse healing!♪!~ Veil♪!~" she said casting each spell while light beams rained down from above aiming to target Igris around his form while she aimed to give those catalysts over to Yugi. She was working on the timing of the Black Flash readying her own and trading her catalysts with him so he could be healed and technically direct the light. "You can aim it♪!~" she mentioned, knowing his ocular prowess might help with it a bit better.

[Bloodedge]

Igris pivoted sharply as Yugi's fist connected with his armored abdomen. The impact rang through the chamber like a hammer on anvil—Black Flash detonating in a burst of raw, dark energy that cracked the crimson runes along the knight's breastplate and sent a shockwave rippling outward. The force staggered him half a step, armor groaning under the strain, but he did not fall. 'Oh shit it did something?!' Yugi thought. The crimson mane whipped as Igris twisted his torso. His greatsword swept upward in a tight, vicious counter-arc, the blade catching Yugi mid-recovery and cleaving across his chest. The edge glowed faintly crimson, trailing sparks of dark mana as it cut through the air. "Grk─!" winced Yugi just before a new Veil and healing pulse were applied to him. At the same moment, the first beams of Miko's Megiddo rained down. Light lanced from above in rhythmic pulses, striking the stone around Igris and searing his armor. The knight raised his free arm instinctively, the spectral veil of his own power flaring to life—absorbing the brunt of the beams while the rest scorched the floor and sent cracks spiderwebbing across the chamber. Igris stepped forward through the barrage, boots thudding heavily. He lunged at Yugi with the greatsword in a downward chop meant to drive him into the ground, while his left hand snapped outward again—telekinesis surging toward Miko, seizing her catalysts mid-air and yanking them toward him in an attempt to disrupt her follow-up. The glowing eyes beneath the helmet remained fixed on both Players, unblinking, the knight's silence more oppressive than any roar. He pressed the assault, relentless, forcing them to adapt or break.

Alas, there was a silver lining for the Players. Black Flash could work, even if nothing else before it did. Yugi coughed as he came to a rolling stop, having tumbled to his left to avoid that downward chop. Both of Miko's catalyst swords were taken before they could reach Yugi, but he wasn't too worried now. No... in fifteen seconds, he would be able to use Black Flash again. Before that time came, there was already hope for the rest of this fight. "Fuck a weapon and fuck aiming! Tell this bitch to get his paper up! I got your cover!" he shouted to Miko. Black Flash may not have done much to hinder the Blood-Red Commander, but... it was the only thing that managed something─anything─thus far.

[Apollymi]

Much to the surprise of both Players, something in their combined arsenal worked! 'Holy shit, we can do damage♪!~' Miko thought as the punch to the Blood-Red Commander's body did something that actually made him move off his rhythm, even by just a small margin. What was more, it wasn't just the Black Flash that worked, until a moment of extra layered armoring that Miko realized was similar to her own, Igris had also put up his hand in defense of those lances of light raining down from above. Even with magical resistence those were super heated light sources, they had to burn if they got through the armor. Though it was still rather bleak, this situation didn't look too bad.

Or at least that was the thought, until her catalyst were pulled from her towards the boss himself. It would seem that he found her threatening enough to try and keep her immediate magical follow up from happening. Even so, a grin crossed the girl's face. She was told something very familiar but with those catalysts of hers already being pulled towards Igris perhaps it was as good a time as any to make a hit count a little more. "AAAAYYYYEEEE♪!~" a high note rang out which would echo through those crystal catalysts as Miko rushed forward against Igris. Her intention to add extra vibrational stun to this combo before she put herself in range. "GET YO PAPER UP♪!~" she demanded happily as she jumped this time a punch was being aimed downward with the added momentum of gravity to help the Black Flash activation. Her energy pushing outward in an attempt to double up the combo and keep the rhythm. "You again in 7 seconds!~" Miko chirped she was still keep track of the rhythm, even as the next barrage of light lances would prepare themselves to fire. He said he had her on defense, so she'd allowed herself to be quite open for the attack she aimed at that unwavering knight. Either he'd counter and she'd feel it... or they'd start a proper combo. Either way, it was the best plan of action they had...

[Bloodedge]

Igris shifted his weight as Miko's high note echoed through the chamber, the sound reverberating off the stone walls and crystal catalysts. The crimson mane stirred faintly as her punch descended, Black Flash crackling in the air between them. He met the strike head-on. His left gauntlet rose in a swift arc, palm outward—telekinesis surging in a dark, invisible wall that met her fist with unyielding force. The impact rang like metal on metal, Black Flash exploding against the telekinetic barrier in a burst of dark energy that cracked the floor beneath his boots. The shockwave rippled outward, but Igris did not stagger. His armor held, runes flaring brighter for a heartbeat as he absorbed the blow. In the same motion, his greatsword whipped upward from its low guard. The crimson blade cut a tight, rising crescent aimed to catch Miko mid-air as she descended—intended to force her to twist away or block, the edge trailing faint sparks of dark mana. At the same instant, the catalysts Miko had summoned hurtled back toward her under the pull of telekinesis. Igris released the telekinetic grip the moment they were in range, letting them fly past her like returning weapons, forcing her to decide whether to catch them or evade the sword strike. He advanced one step, boots thudding heavily. The greatsword settled back into a high guard, point leveled at her chest once more. Crimson eyes remained fixed on both Players, unblinking, the knight's silence unbroken. He waited. The rhythm of battle had shifted, but he had not yielded an inch.

Ah, but Igris's use of Miko's bladed catalysts would prove more of a boon than a bane for the Players. When the commander's attention was focused on Miko, Yugi applied his mana webbing to both catalysts by the hilts. Miko wouldn't be required to catch the catalysts at all, nor would the responsibility of avoiding Igris's sword fall entirely on her. First, Yugi cast his Knight's Bastion again to place a large shield between Igris and Miko once more. Without waiting to see the outcome of that, Yugi jerked his webs to pull those crystal catalysts swords toward himself. Igris had made a mistake focusing on one Player at a time, Yugi thought. As any gamer would say, it was time to punish the dropped combo ─ which Yugi intended to do once he had both catalysts in hand aiming the point of both blades at Igris's lower back, where one's kidneys would normally be found. "Oi, Blood-Red! You need that blood?" he taunted before sharing a few words with Miko. "Didn't hit, doesn't matter! Push!"

[Apollymi]

Miko was beginning to learn a lesson, one which would be boxed and saved for future purposes. When enemies weren't affected by her voice, they truly were something else. She found this current moment a bit jarring but she also wasn't expecting anything big, just adding to the chances of success. Of course, she was being shown that such success would never be as easy as a few points of luck in the favor of the Players. No... it'd take grit to get through this endeavor and teamwork. The teamwork part was definitely covered, dividing and conquering would not work in Igris's favor this day, because settling the focus on Miko left the brainer of the pair to figure out what to do about his actions.

Miko was able to trust her partner, as such she didn't flinch when her own blades were suddenly flying back towards her, and she also was only a bit miffed by the idea that her hit hadn't struck him. "Do you really need that much defense? Aren't you menacing enough?" Miko wondered as if she wasn't built in a similar way. Of course, she kept it up, pushing against a barrier formed in front of her with her other hand, to change the direction of her fall like her Judo instructor taught her. She land on her feet taking a deep breath. Yugi had her catalysts and they were full of light, healing, pulses and the ability to control one other thing... the directionality of her spell when she wasn't controlling it herself. He pointed at Igris, and while he did that she said the thing that would help. "MEGIDDO♪!~" the next barrage started, lances of light beaming down into the Blood-Red Commander's lower back and the area around him. Well, with that going Miko also found herself looking for a downed weapon... Yugi's chokuto wasn't too far off from her she Thread bound his weapon to her waiting for the opportune moment to slide it back to is owner. And since Yugi was currently holding on to her catalyst he'd also be receiving another pulse heal thorough them, making sure he was kept in prime condition for the follow-up she figured Igris would be launching soon enough.