First Reply Back on the Streets

[Shan Pavond]

No time for rest. Shan could rest when he was dead. For now, the people of Coruscant were going to need aid. There were still plenty of chaotic occurrences going on, crime, assaults. Of course, Shan knew he wouldn't be able to deal with all of that. It would be a long while before Coruscant was back to normal but that didn't mean he couldn't start to make a small impact at cleaning up the mess. Whilst most people would probably be trying to deal with the gangs, or the people trying to take advantage of the situation, Shan was instead working on giving out care packages. His satchel was filled with various different relief supplies, medical kits, food. Things that he thought people were going to need right now whilst times were hard. Sure, it was pretty mind numbing work to just be on the streets, but it was important work. The idea of being in the limelight or standing out for what he was doing wasn't what Shan wanted. He'd be happy to know that he helped bring a bit of light into the lives of those going through such an awful experience. In a way, you could say he wanted to be seen as a friendly neighbourhood Jedi. Helping out when he could and where he could.

"Help! Someone help! Papa is hurt! Anyone? Why is everyone walking past me?!"

With that, Shan came to a sudden stop, turning his head over towards the cries of a small soot covered child. Tears streaming down their face as they cried and called for help, waving their arms around. Nearby, an older looking fellow was slumped up unconscious against the wall with what seemed like a quite serious head wound. The Mirialan Jedi hurried straight on over, crouching down to start treating with various bandages, listening to the child's story. Some men had mugged the man, wanting some shiny trinkets he had. Shan expected this kind of thing from Nar Shaddaa, or maybe even the lower streets of Coruscant, but having this on the upper levels? Maybe it was about time that Shan decided to get down to taking out the trash. The living kind, of course. Of course first, he had to get the child and their father off to somewhere safe.

 

[Bolk Ti-Kharatal]

-:- The Sundered Planet, Coruscant -:-
-:- Tag: Shan Pavond -:-
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Coruscant, the Crown Jewel of the Galaxy, had been survived the deadly onslaught of the Dark Empire, setting in motion the city's reconstruction efforts through various grants and programs established by the Federal Assembly on Fondor. ​

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In the midst of the turmoil, the breakdown of law and order occurred, resulting in a surge in crime rates as various factions fought for control over essential resources and food. ​

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Such a crime wave had occured even on the highest levels of the Planet, which was where the Morgukai warrior found himself. He had been assigned by the Viceroy to monitor the Trade Federation's warehouses and commercial zones, where key raw material was being stored.​

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Keen eyes spotted the back of an individual, as they moved to assist with a small child whose parent was bleeding on the floor. ​

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-- Moving to observe, spotted an unknown individual tending to a wounded human. -- came the hushed whisper into a communication pack, as Bolk stealthily descended from the vantage point and disappeared into an alleyway.​

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[Shan Pavond]

"Just stay in front of me, where I can see you, alright? I'll get you and your father to a relief station, and then I'll try to find those bad men."

No promises though. Shan wasn't exactly built to be an investigator. Sensing things was a skill that he was never too skilled in. But it was something that he had accepted. No matter how hard he tried, it was near impossible for him to use the Force to track anything. Perhaps he could get study physical tracking...but with the mess that Coruscant was, that wouldn't have been any help right now. None of that was important though, as he waved down one of the relief workers situated nearby, to pass off the unconscious father to.

"Alright. Here we go. You and your father are going to go with this nice man. I want you to take these for yourself, and then give the bag to the man."

He rummaged around in the satchel he was carrying, taking out two small packed meals for the child and their father. It wasn't going to be much, but a good warm meal could do wonders for someone in his eyes. The rest of the supplies were going to be handed out to the other civilians that needed aid. But that wasn't Shan's job now. As much as he loved the idea of just doing work like this, the harder jobs needed his attention like tracking down the muggers as the Mirialan just adjusted his lightsaber at his belt and hurried off to try and find any tracks.

Bolk Ti-Kharatal

 

[Bolk Ti-Kharatal]

-:- The Sundered Planet, Coruscant -:-
-:- Tag: Shan Pavond -:-

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The Morgukai warrior deftly navigated the remnants of skyscrapers and small pop shops, his hand with black nails tightly clutching the building's edge as the observation continued on the individual. ​

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The sight of the corpses buried beneath the rubble provided only a momentary distraction from the assignment, their faces frozen in horror from the brutal actions of the Imperials or the swift demise caused by the collapsing debris. ​

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Bolk meticulously crafted a brief dossier on the individual, documenting his Mirialan heritage, a near-humanoid species recognized for their remarkable agility and lightning-fast reflexes. In the event of a direct confrontation, this could pose a significant challenge even with Bolk's physical advantage in size and strength. ​

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-- It would not be hard for me to arrange a little test, to see who we are dealing with -- The voice remarked, upon encountering a group of Mancharunk refugees, which was an unusual occurrence as they typically remained on their native planet. It only required a couple of murmurs and a small amount of currency to entice them to approach the Mirialan.​

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"Hand money over, we starvin." - the lead cat-fish alien said, with crude galactic standard basic. Aiming a home-made Mancharunk Flechette Cannon. ​

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[Shan Pavond]

Hm. No-one would probably blame Shan if he went straight for his lightsaber. He was fast enough and could easily slash the Flechette Cannon in half. But Shan was a firm believer in Form Zero. Find a non-violent solution to a situation. So Shan just raised his hands up into the air, giving the Mancharunk refugees a slight smile.

"You're Mancharunk, yes? You don't need to threaten me with that. We can have a civil discussion. You're hungry, yes? Do you want some form of fish? I can give you directions to where you can get some, alongside some basic medical supplies if you need them."

Considering the situation, Shan was just keeping his eyes between all of the Mancharunk. An outsider looking in might have assumed that Shan was stepping into a position that would cause him to be surrounded by all sides, and well...he was doing that. But it also meant that if the lead Cat-Fish alien fired off his cannon, it would hit the alien behind him when Shan dodged.

"Let's work this out. We can negotiate, alright? I'm looking for some people. You're looking for food and credits. I also presume you're far from home. I can help you get back home, in exchange for your assistance. Though of course, if you attack me, that deal is off the table. I'll still give you food and medical supplies however."

Ever the pacifist. By now, there were probably a few Jedi that Shan could think of that would have finished the situation already. After all, this was technically a threat to his life but Shan would never think with his lightsaber first. It was always his heart. Even if it was somewhat of a detriment to himself.

Bolk Ti-Kharatal

 

[Bolk Ti-Kharatal]

-:- The Sundered Planet, Coruscant -:-
-:- Tag: Shan Pavond -:-

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-- Smart, very smart -- The voice spoke from the concealment of a wall, observing the Mirialan as he willingly positioned himself amidst the Mancharunk refugees. The homemade Mancharunk Flechette Cannon had the capability to scatter its projectiles over a broad expanse, potentially taking out multiple refugees in one strike. ​

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Bolk understood why the Mirialan had taken such a strategic move, as it could diminish the numerical superiority of the adversary in case, peace talks were unsuccessful. The Mancharunk were not an aggressive species, by any stretch of the imagination, which would lead them to acquiesce to the enemy's offer of provisions. ​

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Despite the test not working as intended, he gained invalueable insight that the Mirialan would not resort to violence first should they engage one-another within the street. ​

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"We'll take some food and supplies, hand it over." - the lead cat-fish alien said, lowering the cannon as the other refugees backed off. ​

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[Shan Pavond]

"I don't have much in the way of food. I gave my bag off to the refugee center, but I can give you my lunch, alongside my medical supplies. Alright? I'm going to put my hand in my jacket, to pull them out. Okay?"

Might as well warn them about any sudden movements. Shan didn't want to make them too jumpy and have them end up blasting him over a misunderstanding. Rummaging around to pull out his salad lunch. He was a preferred vegetarian at the end of the day so if he had a choice, he was always going to go with leafy greens over anything meat based. He also brought out his bundled up med-kid, hooking his fingers around it to offer out to the Cat-Fish aliens

"The refugee center will have more specialised supplies and food for you. I can also get transport off world for you much more easily if I know where to find you and get a ship ready."

 

[Bolk Ti-Kharatal]

-:- The Sundered Planet, Coruscant -:-
-:- Tag: Shan Pavond -:-

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"Okay, we head over to the center for transport. Thank you for the assistance" The Mancharunk refugee leader said, as they took the small med-kit and salad lunch before guiding the rest of the refugees towards the relief center for transportation back to Mancharakorkon. As they walked towards the relief center, the refugees expressed their gratitude for the assistance they had received from the Mirialan. ​

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Once they had vanished from view, the Nikto revealed himself from the concealment of the wall. Standing at a height of 6 feet 4 inches and weighing 189 pounds, his imposing figure cast a prominent shadow under the Coruscant sun shining through the debris of the once massive city. ​

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Despite his imposing figure, there was a sense of grace in the way he moved, as if every step was calculated and precise. His rugged face was shown, highlighting the scars that told stories of battles fought and victories won.​

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- Jeedai - the voice said, glancing down, grasping the long handle of the Cortosis Staff​

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[Shan Pavond]

Mission accomplished. At least slightly. He still needed to figure out where the mugged man's assailants had went to. His objective for the day kept changing all over the place. Handing out supplies, finding these hooligans, dealing with the Mancharunk. Sometimes he felt like going off to university to become a Doctor would have been less stress-ridden than this was.

Shan glanced over towards the voice, looking up towards them. Huh. They didn't seem as big as Kahlil did. Shan wasn't too sure about the weight. He didn't really pay attention to people for how heavy they looked as he tilted his head slightly. His eyes glancing over towards the Cortosis Staff. A few different ideas jumping through his head on how to deal with it if it came to blows...but there was no need for him to immediately jump into fighting. Not yet at least.

"Hey there big guy. I'm currently looking for some muggers, and I doubt a man such as yourself would know where they went. I mean, you're so big, you could just take whatever you want."

Heh. He just gave out a few awkward chuckles at that. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that this wasn't exactly going to be a good situation for him as Shan rubbed the back of his neck, taking a look at their surroundings. There was a chance that he was going to need it to his advantage. Sometimes he wished Coruscant was more of an earthy planet than a Force damned metal one...but he was stuck with it whether he liked it or not.

Bolk Ti-Kharatal

 

[Bolk Ti-Kharatal]

-:- The Sundered Planet, Coruscant -:-
-:- Tag: Shan Pavond -:-

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What crowd had been around the pair was slowly starting to disperse, as the tension between the two individuals continued to escalate. The air was thick with anticipation as onlookers held their breath, unsure of what would unfold next. The silence was deafening, broken only by the occasional murmurs of spectators. It was as if time had stood still, with all eyes fixed on the impending confrontation. ​

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The Morgukai Warrior slowly moved into a form reminiscent of Form VII, or the Way of the Vornskr, as the Mirialan attempted to settle any differences with peaceful negotiations. -- On any other day, we could have come to a peaceful accord. Jeedai, but the new empire is offering 20,000 for each jedi slain -- Bolk uttered a response, a straightforward reply, indicating that any chance for a peaceful settlement had vanished with the arrival of the New Empire's reward.​

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He made sure not to implicate the Trade Federation in such a scheme. ​

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[Shan Pavond]

"Is that really worth killing a Jedi in public though? Then you can't operate in public as much anymore. You'll have your name plastered on nearly every wanted poster in Alliance space. Not to mention the fact that I was the Padawan of Master Kahlil Noble. I'm sure I don't need to explain who that is. If I was killed, I'm sure him and Master Valery would hunt you down. And I'd rather not have that happen, y'know. Just 'cause you've threatened me, doesn't mean I want you to get hurt at the end of the day."

Of course, Shan was preparing himself at the same time, stretching his arms out a few times. There was no point in going for his lightsaber straight away. Especially when the alien had the Staff. He'd need to figure out a way to deal with the Cortosis. If he could recall properly, Cortosis was quite brittle...Maybe the technique that Jasper had taught him would come in handy if they did actually need to come to blows but Shan focused on being defensive. He wasn't going to throw the first strike.

"I just have one question for you. Is the Dark Empire really worth you ruining your reputation? I'm sure they'll turn against you sooner or later. After all, people who work for money are usually the easiest to persuade to work against you."

Bolk Ti-Kharatal

 

[Bolk Ti-Kharatal]

-:- The Sundered Planet, Coruscant -:-
-:- Tag: Shan Pavond -:-

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-- Embrace your death like a warrior, Jeedai -- Bolk internally acknowledged the veracity of the Mirialan's words, yet he disregarded them as an attempt to intimidate an adversary by invoking the name of a more formidable enemy. ​

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The Galactic Alliance encompassed a large expanse of space, incorporating numerous systems under its authority, but they could not patrol every shadowy place, and that was the sole advantage the Nikto had. ​

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The Morgukai Warrior moved into the opening stance of Form VII, clutching the cortosis staff tightly within hand. He moved to strike with the ends of the staff, his movements fluid and precise as he expertly navigated the intricate footwork required for this advanced form of lightsaber combat. ​

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Every twist of the blade, was calculated and deliberate, demonstrating considerable training. ​

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[Shan Pavond]

"Like a Warrior? Well. I feel sorry to tell you, I'm a healer. Not a fighter."

Shan broke out into a little grin at that, taking in the stance of Form 7. Offensive styles. He was used to staying on the defensive against this, especially with his lightsaber. But he didn't want to engage his lightsaber right now. It went against his code. Speaking of codes however...

"I do have my own little code like a warrior would though. Protect the innocent, cereal before milk, don't use my lightsaber against something I'm not willing to maim or kill."

With each swing and twist of the blade, Shan was twisting himself as well. Without his lightsaber, Shan was his own weapon. A shield and a spear to try and protect himself, dodging the staff where he could and attempting to block the metal of the staff with his legs and arms where he could, using soft to solid to harden his skin before taking the blow.

Though whilst he was hoping to try and make an impact against the staff, each strike he blocked sent jolts of pain through his bones. This plan wasn't going to work for long but it was what he was sticking to for now.

Bolk Ti-Kharatal

 

[Bolk Ti-Kharatal]

-:- The Sundered Planet, Coruscant -:-
-:- Tag: Shan Pavond -:-

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-- Martial Arts, impressive -- Bolk said between blows, acknowledging the fact that the Jedi was utilizing his physical form as a weapon. The strikes were precise and intentional, yet it appeared that the Jedi was anticipating them, deflecting the attacks or responding with his own arms and hands. ​

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Although he observed the subtle twitch of the body upon impact of the heavy weapon on each limb, it was evident to the Nikto that he would not endure the strain for much longer. ​

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He moved the cortosis staff in an arcing pattern towards his head, although it was a feint to enable him to close the distance between himself and his opponent. ​

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With calculated precision, he feigned vulnerability, trying to lure his adversary into overcomitting on defense. As the staff swept upward, he shifted his weight swiftly, transitioning into a low spin and aiming a sweeping kick at their legs. ​

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[Shan Pavond]

Block. Deflect. Wait. Shan needed to figure out an opening. Somehow, he needed to figure out a way to get in close. He'd need to change up plans sooner or later The main important thing was for him to try and disarm the Nikto of the weapon. In a one on one with his fists, Shan would have the upper hand but against the staff, he was a fair disadvantage. He had to focus.

Which is why when he thought he saw his chance, Shan took it. As the staff swung upwards, and Shan slipped to the side to let it past, he reached out to try and grab onto the staff! It was time for him to wrestle for the staff and get rid of it! Nothing could go wro-

As he reached his hand out for the staff to wrap his hand around it, he felt the sudden impact of a kick straight to his legs, sending the Mirialan hurtling up into the air with nothing to stand on or grab any purchase on, apart from the staff and the Nikto's body. Wrapping his legs around his opponent probably wouldn't be a smart idea right now though, so the staff was still his goal to grab onto.

Bolk Ti-Kharatal

 

[Bolk Ti-Kharatal]

-:- The Sundered Planet, Coruscant -:-
-:- Tag: Shan Pavond -:-

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Bolk emerged from the sweeping kick, using the cortosis staff as a counterweight to pull himself up from the floor. His eyes scanned the sky for the Mirialan opponent, knowing they were skilled and quick. As he regained his footing, he spotted a flash of movement overhead.​

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The Mirialan was descending gracefully, aiming to claim the staff that Bolk wielded. Anticipating the aerial assault, Bolk spun the staff in a defensive arc, intercepting the Mirialan's descent. Bolk's muscles strained as he tried to overpower his agile adversary, who moved with a fluidity that seemed almost effortless. Each clash reverberated through the air, each strike a testament to their martial prowess.​

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With a fluid motion, Bolk pivoted, aiming a series of swift strikes at the Mirialan's defenses. The cortosis staff hummed with each precise movement, its metallic sheen reflecting the determination etched on Bolk's face. He knew the importance of maintaining control over the staff, not just as a weapon but as a symbol of his strength and resolve. ​

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[Shan Pavond]

This was a lot more than Shan had bargained for. The cortosis staff was stronger than he had expected it to be as the Mirialan was trying to figure out the best way to deal with the Nikto. The humming of the staff echoing in the back of his mind. There was one idea he had in mind...but that wouldn't work. It was clear that the Nikto was trying to kill as opposed to stun with the staff so Shan wouldn't be able to reverse the charge.

So he went with his other plan. That was a lot risker. And potentially a lot more foolish as Shan purposefully let himself be hit by the staff. Of course, he had tried to adjust his positioning so that it wouldn't be instantly lethal but that didn't mean it didn't hurt like hell and back. But it was part of his plan, as he clamped one of his hands down onto the staff to try and keep it where it was, whilst clenching his other hand into a fist.

Focusing on pulling the Force around him to his fist, Shan brought his hand back before swinging it forward. Still using the Soft to Solid technique at the same time, as a blue aura formed around his fist, Shan was putting all he had into the swing. The technique he had came up with needed him to concentrate to release all of the Force in one moment. As soon as the fist made contact, he would release all of the energy in that moment, sending out a close-ranged and reduced size version of a Force Repulse. He couldn't have released as much power as he wanted, with all of the people around them...but he hoped this would be enough.

Bolk Ti-Kharatal

 

[Bolk Ti-Kharatal]

-:- The Sundered Planet, Coruscant -:-
-:- Tag: Shan Pavond -:-

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After enduring the defensive arc of the swing, the Mirialan grasped the cortosis staff, leading to the release of the bright light of the force as a miniaturized and close-ranged Force Repulse occured, enough to lossen the Nikto's strong grasp of the weapon. ​

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The heels pressed firmly against the pavement of the street, while various debris were hurled into the collapsed buildings, yet thankfully the destruction was minimal and the bystanders were unharmed. ​

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-- An expert in force, I will reciprocate the kindness. -- Bolk uttered, clearing away some of the blood spattered across his chin from the shrapnel. He winced in pain as he felt the sharp sting of the wounds on his face, although let out a deep resounding growel. ​

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Feet shifted on the ground, in a sudden burst as the Cardio-Muscular Package buried deep within him, sprang to life as the Nikto picked up running speed. ​

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[Shan Pavond]

"No...No need to return the kindness...I insist...Seriously..."

Shan panted at that, trying to break out into a chuckle at that to try and convince himself that he was doing better than he actually was, though instead he broke out into a series of coughs, covering his mouth with his hand and looking down at the blood in his hand. Well. That wasn't a good sign. It was a very bad sign at the end of the day but he'd have to keep fighting.

As soon as the Nikto started to pick up running speed over, Shan tried to kick straight into action. He wouldn't be able to leap at this point with how much pain he was in but he could get rid of the staff, using the Force to just chuck it through the air. He didn't care where it landed, as long as it was out of the battle, that was what was the most important to him.

Of course that meant he only had enough time to focus on using the Force to harden his shoulder to take the impact that he assumed Bolk was trying to give him. That did mean that should he get tackled down to the ground, the rest of Shan's body was most definitely going to feel the pain from hitting the ground at a strong force.

Bolk Ti-Kharatal

 

[Bolk Ti-Kharatal]

-:- The Sundered Planet, Coruscant -:-
-:- Tag: Shan Pavond -:-

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-- Objection noted, but ignored -- Bolk acknowledged quietly to himself that the Jeedai possessed greater strength than anticipated. Despite having the upper hand in terms of physical size and cybernetic enhancements, he was prepared to utilize them strategically.​

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As the Nikto advanced with some speed using the cybernetics of the Cardio-Muscular Package, his heart pounded in rhythm with his quickening steps, each breath filling his lungs with a surge of adrenaline. With every step and motion of his legs, he experienced a surge of primal strength, as though he was liberating himself from the constraints of gravity in order to overpower his formidable and agile opponent. ​

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The rapidity of the charge did not obscure the gleam of the cortosis staff , which was easily noticeable as it vanished amidst the debris of the former formidable Alliance Capital. The two adversaries narrowed the gap between them, prepared to execute their offensive and defensive moves, when Bulk collided with Shan Pavond with great intensity. ​

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