Chapter 25, Page 31
XCAL Sword Cane (from manufacturer’s catalog)
Elegance meets functionality with the XCAL, designed for those seeking unparalleled craftsmanship and discreet personal protection.
The shape of the handle offers a comfortable hold and features a locking mechanism to keep the hidden blade firmly secured when not in use. The wooden shaft, fitted with a no-slip rubber toe, ensures sturdy support while maintaining the cane’s refined appearance.
As with all Wasson-Delcor products, each hand-forged nu-miridium blade is rigorously designed, inspected, and guaranteed to deliver uncompromising quality.
A testament to masterful swordsmithing, the XCAL is the perfect fusion of style and practicality.
Danger Zone One. Story by Midnight. Art by Salaiix.
Looks like Wilkos was wrong. Dorian IS willing to get his hands dirty!
Considering that this is a grungy cyberpunk type story, it actually wouldn’t surprise me if Madison lost a limb here to that thing. Doesn’t matter how well someone fights unarmed–you can’t block a well-made sword with your bare hands, and the whole anime catch-the-sword-between-your-hands is an absolute fantasy.
It’s been a relatively one-sided one-by-one beatdown ever since Madison woke up from her Euphoria-induced coma. Let’s see if the tables turn a bit.
That was a surprise! Even if Dorian’s not much of a fighter, the sword’s going to give him an edge in this encounter.
Not really, if Madison can dodge his initial strike, Dorian will be wide open to a counter attack.
Long thin blade, almost useless for cutting and while the point can be moved rapidly, can be trapped in a thrust if the opponent is skilled and prepared to take a chance, which Madison has little other recourse to right now.
Or she can use Wilkos for a shield, probably the best thing he’d ever do 🙂
A thin blade is crap at hacking, yes, but if you use a sawing motion while the sharp edge of the blade is touching flesh, it will cut. Like if it’s against the neck, pulling back and/or pushing forwards while pushing the blade into the neck, it will slice into the arteries and veins. Just like a chef’s knife slicing a roast into steaks.
Although using the sword with a stabbing motion is the best way to utilise it.
A 2×4 will cut if you use it in that motion, but not as well as a machete or a broadsword.
A rapier’s primary use is to create distance from an opponent and stab them before they can stab or cut you. Once you’re inside the point though, or if the blade can be trapped or bound, it’s a whole new game.
You can slash with that type of blade, but odds are you won’t do much more than raise a welt, human skin is surprisingly tough and cutting through it completely isn’t as easy as it looks.
Hmm, Dorian’s blade appears to be a rapier without a ‘cross-guard/quillon’. This is a problem as the rapier is mainly a thrusting weapon, not a cutting or slicing blade. A cross-guard is necessary for such a weapon to prevent the hand from sliding forward during a thrust. Now, it does have a ‘rain-guard’ which is helpful, but not much. Madison’s problem is that she has literally no protection from such a weapon, just thin cloth and not much of that. Another thing, does Dorian have any skill with that blade or did he just pick it up as a “hold out” weapon and didn’t practice with it all that much. If he’s unskilled then Madison’s chances against him improve dramatically because she IS skilled in unarmed combat. That room is full of junk, if there is anything she can use, even a broomstick, because that rapier is only going to leave a notch in such, then he’s in big trouble. Be interesting to see in the next page if Dorian’s first move is a slash or a thrust.
Not going to lie, but Blade Canes are just as cool as regular blades here.
But nevertheless, given the fact that Dorian carries a sword cane, I’m guessing that he must be a skilled swordsman and somewhat of an expert fencer as well. And while Madison’s a good soldier and an excellent Police Officer, I get the feeling that it’s not going to do her any good, since she’s definitely at a disadvantage due to Dorian wielding a deadly bladed weapon here, man. TRULY!!!!!!!!!!!! 😱☠️
I do wonder about that. Because in a cyberpunk 20-minutes-in-the-future type world, who the heck is going around practicing swordsmanship when a concealed carry just puts a hole in somebody and that’s that? And even if a gun isn’t the tool in question, a simple combination of tough jacket combined with pepper spray might work against some nutjob with a sword these days.
Though, there have been cases in the news with some lunatic actually doing damage with a sword, before the cops put him down.
Belanie is still standing, presumably behind Dorian. She’s not Madison, but still no slouch!
Have you people never watched a Jason Bourne movie? That room is full of things Madison can use defensively and offensively. And remember, John Wick killed three men with a pencil.
Nice sword cane. I was wondering if Dorian had any tricks up his sleeve. I guess he did.
Lets hope Doc Belanie has the presence of mind to:
A – grab the syringe and refill it
B – grab the knife on the floor (and toss it to Madison)
Option B would be the quickest and easiest action, producing the best results. She can then take a moment to refill the syringe if there’s time.
Yes, as soon as I hit Post Comment I realised I should’ve had them reversed