The three guards snapped their heads toward Joseph. He attempted to stand and reach for his weapon when one guard shouted, "Stop! Don't mo-"
However, while they confronted Joseph, our attack was already underway. I slipped behind the speaking guard, angled my longsword to his throat, and slid its edge against his skin. His once articulate and clear words were reduced to gargled choking as blood streamed down his neck.
Likewise, the other two had no time to react.
Mizuno stabbed her blade through the mid-guard's throat with absolute precision, causing a stream of blood to trail down the length of her sword.
The blade's bloodied tip peeked out the front of his throat, and he dropped his weapon in shock. Then, following a series of pained grunts, the guard moved his hands to fearfully clutch at the foreign object.