Distracted by the ongoing snowball war, Shen only turned when he felt the thud hit his back, confused, at first, then grinning as soon as he saw Percy standing behind him. He couldn't help but chuckle. "Y-yeah, the most fun I've had in a long time ...", turning his head back to the arena around him, though a little more lost in thought than before. The realization that the nervousness he had felt earlier had begun subsiding hit him, and he acknowledged the fact that, despite what he perceived to be quite the awkward start, he was getting comfortable with this festival. It felt like meeting Percy had somehow transported him back to a time when things had been somewhat easier, when he'd felt more alive. It wasn't unwelcome. He stood up, taking note of the dimming daylight and the fading excitement for the festival game, unknowingly sharing Percy's mindset when it came to hot chocolate only to be turned around by a tumult, seeing the young Dagger aggressively smack down onto one of his pant legs, raising both eyebrows in surprise when the other called out to him. "Yeeeeaaah ...?", his tone was inquisitive, though his eyes widened when he saw the crumpled up scorpion. And not just that, the other creatures that suddenly and without warning began rising from the snow around them. "Uhhhhm", the young Rune Knight recruit barely managed to stumble back, his limbs frozen from cold and shock only to witness the creatures go up in flames only seconds later, wide eyes staring at Percy, who had undoubtedly just saved the two from getting swarmed by these unfriendly critters.
Nevertheless, it seemed the scorpion from earlier had bit Percy, Shen staring at the wound on the other's leg. "Y-you're hurt!". Of course, he only gave word to the obvious. Shen wanted to help but didn't quite know how he could even possibly do so. He had no magic, he had barely started his career as a Rune Knight and had about a month of training down, his shock turning into panic, adrenaline coursing through his veins as his heartbeat, like a beating of drums, began to pick up. "Uh-Uhm, okay, shit, uh", he began stumbling from side to side, his hand pressed against the side of his face that was distorted with an expression of worry. Of course, that was when Percy had to clarify that he knew what these circumstances entailed and that, most likely, more monsters would be in the area, Shen's vision already beginning to blur. Just how did things take a turn from a fun festival to suddenly being in the middle of a fight for their lives yet again? Shen suddenly felt reminded of the Pumpkin patch where he had nearly lost his life once before when he had been sent along with Lili, the same instincts threatening to overtake him again. He would've loved to just turn around and run, run as fast as he could and let others deal with the mess, but ... while he was perfectly comfortable doing that with Lilith, he couldn't bring himself to abandon Percy, someone Shen actually respected, especially given the show the other was putting on.
Using what was undoubtedly the fruit of his research, Percy lost no time when more creatures appeared, roaring streams and projectiles of flame shot from one of his hands crashing into some kind of humanoid ice monsters that had appeared out of nowhere. Not only that, roars of different creatures and monsters began ringing out all around them. "Rune Knight secrets?", Shen repeated, his face pale as the snow around them, his mouth wide agape. "I- I uh ...", he stuttered out, wanting to say "I don't have something like that, and I think we're fucked either way", though that certainly wouldn't have had a positive effect on overall morale. It wasn't like Shen had time for big speeches, anyway. Suddenly finding himself face to face with an Ice Elemental, cold sweat began to build on his forehead, his eyes particularly focussed on the spear-like icicle in the monster's grasp. Of course, Shen, apart from the snowball gun he still held in his grasp and the remaining heat grenades he had in pocket, carried no weapon, although ... the young recruit thought back to how effective the explosives had been on the snowmen ... and how the entity before him seemed to be entirely made of ice.
Shen dropped the snowball gun, figuring it would be of very little use, raising his hands into a stance that was more suited for combat, following what he had learned in basic, but still trembling in his winter boots. The mute elemental made its move, bringing the spear around for a wide swing, Shen using his arm to block the swing, though not anticipating the weapon to be quite as sharp as it actually was, the icy blade skinking a good two inches into the muscle of his triceps. A suppressed growl of pain escaped the Rune Knight, who now, however, found himself a position that left the elemental open, pulling the grenade from his pocket and arming it with the click of a button, a beeping making it obvious that, in but a few moments, it would go off. Losing not much time, Shen slammed his hand into the creature's face, pressing the grenade into it before, with another flash of light and singeing heat, the thing started boiling away. Shen, relieved, stumbled back a few steps, drawing heavy, pained breaths, a small trickle of scarlet fluid periodically separating from his lowered left arm. Needless to say, the Rune Knight recruit was, after what had just transpired, thoroughly displeased with the turn this had taken.
The displeasure would only intensify, a terrifying roar behind him uncomfortably shaking the air in his lungs, Shen slowly turning before laying eyes on a massive, ape-like monster which, without his notice, had already begun charging the Rune Knight and would reach him any moment now. Reflexively, Shen raised his arms to protect his torso and head, but only to little effectiveness.
A wide swing of the creature's massive arm lifted him off his feet with an audible crack that resonated through his form, agonizing anguish soaring through every fiber of his body before he had even hit the ground, Shen slamming into the snow, skidding across the ice and leaving behind a small trail of crimson. Now he definitely experienced a deja vu moment, his vision blurring with throbbing pain as he attempted to lift himself back up only to realize his arms were not moving, and no matter how much he tried, willed them, they would remain limp at his side. So this was how he'd go out? Crushed by yet another monster, lying in the cold, frozen snow. He really was pathetic, or at least, so he felt. In the end, he hadn't been able to make any kind of difference. He'd die and leave the heavy lifting to Percy, be forgotten, and that would be it. "Fuck ...", he exhaled with weak voice, his eyes locked to the sky above, a white blanket that spanned his entire vision, snowflakes gently falling towards him, the Yeti stepping closer with every passing moment. The metallic taste of blood filled his mouth. An oddly peaceful end, he thought, a befitting end for someone as useless as himself. If only he'd gotten his chance ...
Was he really willing to give up? Didn't he at least have to try something? What could he do? There was nothing. Nothing except his rudimentary understanding of magic. Would that really be enough? Perhaps. He hadn't used it for such purpose, nevermind trained with it, but if he didn't want to kick the bucket then it was the only chance he'd have left. Shen spit out a small puddle of his own blood, rolling onto his side with a groan of pain and raising himself onto his feet, his eyes locked to the clamoring Yeti.
He'd come too far to just die now. Bringing to bear all of the fighting spirit he could muster, arguably, the most he'd ever mustered in his entire life, he, under soul-crushing torment, face shifting into a contorted grimace, raised his arm, his pupils glowing with magical energy. The truth of the matter was that the Rune Knight had no idea what he was doing, but he knew that he didn't want to let down Percy, let down himself, this little shred of purpose he had found, channeling whatever life force his body would allow him to into his raised palm. With a brief flash, a shot of brilliant glow was fired from his extremity, slamming into the ape's chest and exploding out of his back with a scatter of sparks, leaving a gaping wound behind. The creature promptly slumped to the ground, its body seemingly collapsing in on itself. "H-hah ... d-did you see that, Percy ... ? T-that was ... too easy", Shen chuckled to himself, before finally, his consciousness slipped from him, Shen collapsing forward, hitting the snow face-first.
Word Count Total: 1,500 / 1,500 (Event word count reached)
New Word Count: 1,520 + 84 (Left over words)
New Word Count Total: 2,574