[ It's mostly the shock that saves him. The hard rush of adrenaline blocks out the worst of the pain, reducing it to a harsh burn that ripples up through his shoulder, something that he can ignore in the moment. After all, he can't afford to split his attention right now. Not when there's the thunder of hooves against the pavement surging closer to him, accompanied by the creak of that bow being drawn again.
No matter how frantically he tries to throw himself out of Hayame's immediate line of fire, there's no way he can avoid an arrow speeding his way. This second shot misses him, but not by much -- the arrowhead grazes past his side, sending another bright flourish of blood to paint the pavement behind him as Gen stumbles back a step.
But it's not in his nature to simply take blows like this. Even as he reels back, feeling blood starting to seep down his hip, the look that he gives Hayame is bright with focused rage. And the moment that Hayame moves to take another step
The ground beneath her front hooves suddenly gives way. Like an invisible hand's gouged a several-foot-deep trench right below her, just wide and deep enough to catch her forelegs and completely unbalance her. And this one comes without any swipe of the arm; it's harder manipulating the earth like this, and Gen can feel the weight of exhaustion starting to bear down on his shoulders. But it's necessary.
He needs his hands open so he can lob his mace right at Hayame, aimed right at her bow arm. If that hit lands and breaks either her fingers or the bow, or simply knocks that weapon away, he'll take it. But even with the element of surprise on his side, that's not an easy target to hit. ]
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No matter how frantically he tries to throw himself out of Hayame's immediate line of fire, there's no way he can avoid an arrow speeding his way. This second shot misses him, but not by much -- the arrowhead grazes past his side, sending another bright flourish of blood to paint the pavement behind him as Gen stumbles back a step.
But it's not in his nature to simply take blows like this. Even as he reels back, feeling blood starting to seep down his hip, the look that he gives Hayame is bright with focused rage. And the moment that Hayame moves to take another step
The ground beneath her front hooves suddenly gives way. Like an invisible hand's gouged a several-foot-deep trench right below her, just wide and deep enough to catch her forelegs and completely unbalance her. And this one comes without any swipe of the arm; it's harder manipulating the earth like this, and Gen can feel the weight of exhaustion starting to bear down on his shoulders. But it's necessary.
He needs his hands open so he can lob his mace right at Hayame, aimed right at her bow arm. If that hit lands and breaks either her fingers or the bow, or simply knocks that weapon away, he'll take it. But even with the element of surprise on his side, that's not an easy target to hit. ]