Match 21027 Pirotess vs. Echidna

[JohnnyChany]

 

The full moon casted a ghostly glow over a secluded encampment. A trio of cloaked figures moved silently between the trees. They cloaked themselves in the shadows as they approached the clearing. 

In the center of the clearing, two mercenaries faced off. One was a towering brute with a jagged sword that wore an expression of grim determination. The other was more lithe and graceful with green hair tied into a messy ponytail. She was Echidna, the freelance mercenary elf from the southern forests, whose name had earned fear across many lands.

As the fight commenced, Echidna relied on her skill and centuries of experience to evade her opponent’s strikes. Her movements were fluid. She ducked, dodged, and twisted, She evaded her opponent’s every swing with minimal effort. Her flexible, snake-like blade coiled around her enemy’s weapon, and disarmed him. She then held a blade to his throat.

“Should’ve thought twice,” she taunted with a smirk.

She then dispatched him with ruthless efficiency. The cloaked figures exchanged glances.

When Echidna returned to her camp later, she was met by the three cloaked figures. They stepped forward and pulled down their hoods.

“Echidna, we’ve come with an offer. We hear you’re not opposed to… dangerous work.”

“Depends on the pay,” Echidna replied.

“We need someone capable of taking out a man. One with many guards and impressive ability. You might have heard of him…Ashram, the Black Knight of Marmo.”

Echidna raised an eyebrow. “Ashram, eh? The infamous Black Knight himself?” She grinned. “Doesn’t he have that cute elf always with him now, Pirotess? Right? Quite the prize.”

“Indeed,” replied one of the cloaked men. “Pirotess was once one of our most trusted agents. She betrayed us to stand by his side, and now, we need a mercenary who can bring him down. Are you up to the task?”

Echidna sheathed her blade and revealed a dangerous smile. “If the price is right, I think I’d enjoy a challenge like this.”

Days later, Ashram and Pirotress rode through a canopy of trees on a winding mountain path. The trail was narrow, full of jagged rocks and steep drops. This made it a perfect location for ambushes. Pirotess kept her guard up as she looked around for potential threats.

Ashram glanced at her, recognizing the look in her eye. 

"Our path is dangerous enough without assassins, yet I suspect there may be those still watching us," he noted.

Pirotess nodded. “Fear not, my lord. Any who seek to harm you will have to go through me first.”

The quiet night felt heavy with expectation. Pirotess drew her curved elven sword and dismounted from her steed. Moments later, the attackers revealed themselves. A gang of bandits emerged from behind the thick trees and boulders expecting an easy ambush. There were six in total. They grinned as they encircled here.

"You think it safe to take the high road at night?" one sneered as he held up a dagger.

Pirotess tilted her head. “You’ll regret crossing paths with me this night.”

The bandits hesitated, but quickly masked their unease with forced bravado.

Without warning, Pirotess raised her free hand. She whispered an incantation under her breath. In an instant, shadows began to swirl around her and coalesced into a dark mist that obscured her figure. The bandits were unable to see her clearly.

"Where'd she go?" one shouted.

The mist thickened, and suddenly, a whisper pierced through the fog. “Here.”

Pirotess stepped out of the shadows and swung her sword. The first bandit barely had time to register her presence before her blade cut through him. He fell without a sound, his eyes wide with shock.

The remaining bandits gasped. They drew their weapons in panic. One lunged at her, but she sidestepped his attack. Her sword struck again, and the bandit crumpled as she pushed forward.

A third bandit tried to retreat. He was caught when Pirotess unleashed a dark enchantment that gripped him in place. With his limbs frozen, his terrified eyes met hers as she closed in and delivered the final blow.

Soon, only two bandits remained. They stared at her in horrified awe. One dropped his sword and bolted. Pirotess raised her hand once more. She summoned a shadowy vine that wrapped around his ankle and dragged him back to her. She finished him off under the silent gaze of approval from Ashram. 

Pirotess gave a dismissive glare to the final bandit and allowed him to flee. She watched him disappear with the knowledge that he would send a message to any others who might dare try to follow them.

Pirotess sheathed her sword and stepped back toward Ashram. Her expression was calm, although she halted as there was still something else nearby.

“Well, that was quite a show.”

Pirotess immediately tensed, her hand drifted back toward her weapon. From the darkness emerged a female elf with a relaxed, almost amused smile. She was dressed in striking armor that did little to conceal her well-toned frame. The stranger looked at Pirotess with an approving, playful glint in her eye.

“That was a thing of beauty, dark elf,” she purred. “Elegant, efficient… and very, very deadly.” Her gaze roamed over Pirotess’s figure with open admiration. “I’d almost want to switch places with those poor fools, if it meant I’d get your undivided attention.”

Pirotess was not flattered or amused. “Who are you?” 

“Echidna’s the name,” the mercenary elf replied with a smirk. “I’ve been looking for your friend here.” She gave Ashram an appraising look. “Your leader. Your lover? Doesn’t matter to me, but I’ve got a contract on his head.”

Ashram’s face remained impassive. Pirotess stepped forward and positioned herself protectively between Ashram and the mercenary.

“If you wish to reach him,” Pirotess declared, “you’ll have to go through me first.”

Echidna chuckled. “Oh, I don’t think you understand. My contract is strictly for him. No need for us to get our hands dirty, unless…” She leaned in. “You’re just itching to cross swords with me. Then I’d be more than happy to oblige.”

Pirotess did not flinch. “Fight me, elven warrior. I shall be the one to face you.”

Echidna paused,she slowly broke into a grin.

“An elven duel, is it?” she gazed over Pirotess. “I have to say I am impressed you would fight me. And I can’t complain because,” she added with a teasing glint in her eye, “you are rather easy on the eyes.”

Pirotess’s expression remained stoic. She refused to rise to Echidna’s bait. “If you came here to fight, I suggest you prepare yourself.”

“Oh, I am always prepared,” Echidna replied.

[Callisto]

Learn More About
Pirotess
Read more about Pirotess at Wikipedia
Official Site: MadHouse Links: Wikipedia- List of Lodoss characters AbsolouteAnime.com- Pirotess AnimeVice.com- Pirotess

Echidna
Read more about Echidna at Wikipedia
Official Site: Hobby Japan Links: Wikipedia Queens Blade Wiki Animevice

[RakaiThwei]

I'm gonna go with Pirotess. She's actually a fairly decent swordsman (or woman in this case) and has access to magic similarly to Deedlit but is far more aggressive in her approach, and is nimble enough to where it looks like she teleports.

Yeah, I am feeling Pirotess.

[JohnnyChany]

Hopefully I did your character suggestion justice.

[Venom 2009]

Alright! A Queen’s Blade match! I’m going to give my vote to Echidna.

[Callisto]

Match Final Results

Member Ratings:
5.00 - Venom 2009
5.00 - Boratz

FPA Calculation:
2 Total Votes cast
10.00 Total Combined Score
10.00 / 2 = 5.00 Final Rating on the match

MATCH SCORE
Pirotess: 1
Echidna: 3