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"Well, I hope I won't spoil your air of mystery as I try to get to know you better," Mary flirted harmlessly, seeming much less pouty now that she'd managed to establish some communication. "Yes, Grin, it's very fun. I'm having a great time. But I certainly hope we aren't done already! I'm just getting warmed up~"

As the change occurred, she did her best not to look down and ruin her illusion of blindness, instead relying on the opinions of others. Chuckling just a bit snidely, she questioned, "Oh? Was my first swimsuit a good bit more pious than this one? But they feel similar, in some ways!" With joke imparted, she quieted down for a bit to listen to the others speak, playing with one of her bikini-chains, such as they were, while the two talked. "Is this really a swimsuit? Hmmm..." Mary thought to herself, trying to decide if it was less reasonable to swim in jean shorts or in a bikini that looked as though a relatively gentle wave would probably displace it.

The nun hadn't been able to understand the technical lingo earlier, but the new details sounded juicy enough that she again felt miffed that she'd been excluded from all of it. "All the more reason to enjoy myself," Mary thought to herself, as she enjoyed a close look at her hostess's buttocks, for once enjoying a show without having to do much to hide her working vision. As ever, and especially with the new voice in her head, Mary found herself compelled to press her luck. The fact that Grin was so occupied with AdjustLady made a more garden variety form of mischief easier than one that relied on her silver tongue.

With a quiet, practiced motion, Mary reached down to unhook one side of her bikini's chain, then, just as silently, hooked it to the side of Grin's black garment, piercing the fabric. With an innocent motion, she reached out for a moment for something to grab onto, finally slapping one hand onto the broad of Grin's haunch in order to leverage herself up. "Whoops! Was that the Gold-Digger I just hit? Sorry about that," she apologized insincerely. She debated whether to mention the wardrobe shenanigans that had just happened as though they were some sort of accident, but thought it would be better if she acted unaware. "Just stretching my legs~" If Grin didn't notice anything was the matter, she'd notice soon enough, whenever she attempted to move. At that time, Mary would be ready to fall into her. Of course, if Grin wanted to retaliate with some slapping of her own, that could be fun. If Grin chose to retaliate in more Mafia-like fashion, however, that could be unfortunate for the nun, who, despite her yet further increased boldness, still didn't have much in terms of the means to back it up.

---

"I love surprising people! And teaching them, of course," Exorcist giggled along with her host, still looking slightly mad even when she was acting cute. "You look like your sweating too, but the lesson's only just begun!"

"Yes... we all need to sweat a lot more..." Yajna echoed, nodding slowly. "That's why we need to make it hotter and hotter..."

"Yes, let's!" Exorcist agreed, making her hands into fists, clenching them around her collarbone, and framing her breasts with her elbows, bouncing up and down excitedly in a way that made it hard to tear one's eyes from her chest. "It is a shame Mary couldn't be here, though. She would have really loved this sort of thing! Seriously."

"Psh. With her here, it might get kinda perverse. That nun's only got a mind for one thing," Bhikkhuni scoffed by sticking out her tongue. The comment didn't really seem to acknowledge the role she'd seemingly just given herself, that of drawing crowds by shaking her ass. "Anyway, let's get back to helping your audience grow! I hope we've started them growing already," the somewhat out of character Buddhist suggested, smiling and running one hand up her mostly bare leg, which jutted from the slit of her robe beneath the sash, clad only in a short black sock and sandal.

"I'm glad you asked those questions, Mikey, because I'm going to answer them all!" Exorcist continued excitedly, standing up on the bed and raising her fist excitedly. She brought the hand back down and counted off with her fingers. "Counterinfectualism is a religion founded off the belief that evil from the outside world is captured in the net like, well, a net, and crystallizes as viruses! Don't worry, folks: we don't consider what you're doing in front of your screen to be 'evil!'" she winked, holding up her pointing finger. Raising one more, she continued to the next question. "Anyone who busts viruses can be a Counterinfectualist! That means basically any navi!"

"Number three I basically answered a moment ago, but number four..." she continued, now raising two hands to the side of her face in peace signs, as she began to wiggle her hips with what might be genuine excitement, but came off looking especially undignified. "We do all sorts of people!" she answered, turning around to let the camera capture the other side of her swaying dance. "But we also bust a lot of viruses! That's the most important work a Counterinfectualist can do, besides converting other people to our cause. Right now, we're doing the latter part! Counterinfectualism was started by a great scholar named-"

"Naaah, we're skipping that part," Bhikkhuni griped, pulling Exorcist down onto the bed by her leg, causing the other girl to start and land with her legs splayed, still holding just the central part of her front cloth down so the rest was away from her legs. "We're gonna lose every bit of our eroticism if you start talking about that guy." Burt felt his boner killed ever so slightly, but kept watching anyway. "Now anyway, you could consider just about everyone Counterinfectualists, right? All you gotta do is bust viruses! So don't worry, everybody; you've already saved up plenty of brownie points with us," she explained shading half her mouth with one hand while licking her lips. "Our rituals are basically just virus busting, though, we also find that wherever we go to spread our message, our fellow navis find themselves rewarded. There was the time we dressed up like schoolgirls in Internet City and that other time we wore bikinis while hunting ghosts..." These were actually true parts of their history, despite being recited by the so-called "Booty-Bouncing Buddhist," who had never had much of a booty to bounce hitherto this point.

"Needless to say, you should be a Counterinfectualist, Mikey. The rest of the audience too! We work extra hard when we know our other disciples appreciate our efforts," she explained again, planting her shakujo in the center of the bed and letting both legs come out the slits to the sides of her robe. She made a show again of her namesake, bouncing up on down upon the bed to solicit both a ringing of her staff and a creaking of the bed in rhythmic motions. "Consider this a treat for all of you devotees! Hopefully, there'll be plenty more in store tonight~"

"The sexiness is just another way we get people to do the right thing," Exorcist explained as Bhikkhuni slowed down. She scooted over next to Mikey, looking, at least for the moment, like an excited gal pal at a slumber party. "Not to mention: it's fun! So in a way, you could say our sexiness is blessed: it's a vital tool in encouraging members. I do hope we're encouraging members tonight! So Mikey: you're plenty sexy as it is, but if you want to be a Counterinfectualist too and really encourage people to live good lives and eliminate all the evil that's out there, you should just make sure your fans get more and more excited! We don't want them to change the channel!"

Yajna scooched closer, moving one of the candelabras nearer as she did in order to illuminate the corner, which now contained the three of them, apart from Bhikkhuni. "Yes... burning... you're doing very good, Mikey. But we need this to be your best broadcast ever. Maybe... there is a thing or two you've been holding back? Something your fans would like to see... but you've been saving it for your hottest broadcast...?" she questioned, now placing one hand upon the leg of the show's host. "I'm still holding back myself..." she murmured, casting her eyes briefly over at the candelabra, before rooting them back onto Mikey's face.

"Yes, yes! If you show me something good, I'll show everybody something good! That will get more and more eyes on us!" Exorcist added, sitting up straight with a start so that her breasts seemed to bounce next to MicrophoneGirl's face.

"Hey, that reminds me. Is there any money in this? Counterinfectualism's great and all, but I feel like some cash on this bed would make me work even harder," Bhikkhuni perhaps suggested, perhaps joked, slowly snaking her hips back and forth, an eye-catching but quieter motion that would let everyone talk without being drowned out.

The response was quick enough, as Spartoi paused to read and also to let her ally catch up.

Quote (Spartoi)

We are pleased that you trust us, Assy. Let's accomplish this mission quickly. We spotted SecondGuess at the back too, but it will be easier to start speaking with FirstGuess at the front. We have no plans to eat her if we don't need to. Hopefully, neither knows to suspect us of anything.

The two would join up together, adopting the role of one looking to leave the mafia and a bodyguard, then brazenly approach the house. Spartoi run the doorbell, rousing FirstGuess on the couch. It must be normal for them to receive strangers, even at late hours, because the girl was merely sleepy and not alarmed as she stumbled towards the front.

Still, she paused at the door, asking through the thin barrier. "Who is it?" came a women's voice from inside the white shroud. They sounded younger than expected and also somewhat drunk. From this distance, it became apparent that the white shroud was something more like a snug sleeping blanket, dotted with black "one" emblems.

"We are Spartoi, allies of yours in the NetMafia. We are here to meet with SecondGuess of an important matter. Please tell her its urgent," Spartoi responded, speaking more articulately than she used to. "This is our friend and companion, Assy."

"Pfft! Assy? That's a *hic* doozy of a name! Though I heard people with names like that often fall into the NetMafia because of it, so I shouldn't laugh. Uuuh... There's a problem, though. SecondGuess isn't uuuuuuuh," she droned, excruciatingly slow in her drunkenness. "Here."

Spartoi cast a glance to Asymptote; the look wouldn't be seen with the door in the way. "Should we...?" she asked, pausing to flex her killer tail. The armor peeled away, revealing a scary black blade, so sharp it almost hurt to look at. Her words seemed more for Asymptote than the Guess sister. "...Come back another time? But what we have to talk to her about is both private and terribly urgent."

"Yeah... yeah, come back another time. She's really not here right now. It's just me and like... three friends," she hiccuped again, making things even more confusing by inflating the number of people inside the house.

Finally, PantheonMan responded to the message.

Quote (PantheonMan)

Sorry there, buddy. Busy with some recreational activities.

Sounds like you have it all well in hand, though. I'd say stick close to her. Don't let her catch on that anything's different. So long as you do that, you can react with the button if you have to. Just do me a favor: don't go into any monologue if you plan to use the button, okay? That tail of hers and that armor are not to be underestimated.

Huh... Hey, stall a while if you can. I have some new intel I need to confirm, but it may be important to your mission. Do what you gotta do, but might be better if you don't attack anyone till you hear back from me.

"Aw, shoot. That was dumb," Disappearance agreed, placing her mask back upon her face. "I should have cracked the security cube without even asking her. I'm not used to breaking protocol..." As if by way of apology, she prepared a spool of black tape between her hands, stuck it across the cube, then began making motions as though typing upon its surface.

HoundMan looked just as apologetic, though, in his case, it was probably because he was having a hard time putting himself in the right mindset for the mission. "Well, yeah. I definitely wouldn't go along with it if it wasn't the right thing to do. But I get a feeling in my chest that it is the right thing to do!" he explained, snapping another salute. It was hard to tell if his brain and moral compass were both working properly or if he'd just decided that whatever Pirouette came up with was probably the right thing to do. "Don't worry, ma'am! I'll be watching the hall like a guard dog, aroo!" And that he seemed to be.

"Th-That would certainly be a twist," Disappearance agreed in response to Pirouette, sounding vaguely concerned about the prospect. At the same moment, the security cube parted into two halves and dispelled, as if it had been opened legally. Annoyingly, the out of office message stayed hanging in the air space, forcing them to walk right through the hologram to reach the gate and proceed inside.

The inside of NightMan's office was about as ritzy as Bank's, though not nearly as bright. Most of it was as dark as his namesake, with white lights on the floor illuminating a few chairs and a bench for visitors to sit in. A larger area was set aglow by a moon-shaped skylight, casting a circular pool of light near the back of the room. A black desk with a terminal sat there, seeming to be the only other piece of furniture in the room, besides the nearly hidden bookcases encircling it. A few titles could be read, but they sounded like useful, but dry, non-fiction subjects, like criminal psychology and historic reports.

"That terminal is sure to have something interesting. I'll [REDACTEDP it while you search the rest of the room. I guess... he can see in the dark, huh? Pretty convenient for him... not so much for his guests," she mused, as she hurried behind the desk and leaned over the terminal.

Pirouette would find little else in her search... but what little she did find was of extreme interest. First, she discovered what seemed to be some sort of small remote control device, black and discrete, with only one button that went up a few settings. Someone had left it in one of the chairs. Next, she found what appeared to be a black pair of women's panties, adorned with an embroidered, white crescent moon. Either NightMan liked for his hookups to dress to his theme... or perhaps he just had some interesting hobbies of his own. Either way, it seemed very careless for these to be left out, almost to the point of some kind of trap.

"Bingo! These are the [REDACTED] spreadsheets we needed all along. Let's get that Mafia financier evidence," Disappearance cheered, sounding excited for probably the first time since Pirouette had met her. "Let's look at them together..."

Pirouette would find a black and white spreadsheet displayed on the terminal screen. The data clearly showed, first of all, that AppraisalMan was extremely wealthy. The streams of cash were apparent; he received a few big hits from select customers when he made sales of rare or important data. That wasn't the most important part, though... it was no secret that he was rich and the question was less where the money came from and more who it went to.

The answer to that was... confusing. Another page showed large payments to all sorts of names in shorthand. "Blue, Black, Black, Gold, Black, Black, Black" were the latest ones. The "black" ones seemed to grow smaller and smaller in zenny count as time went on.

Disappearance tilted her head pensively. "There's no mention of the Mafia here, but he is clearly financing someone and went through the trouble of hiding their names with these color codes," she explained. "Any ideas? Oh... one more thing. I don't know if I should mention but... there is clearly [REDACTED] of some woman in the browser history. It includes pictures and videos... It could lend some credence to the idea that NightMan is just enjoying the show somewhere."

"Harrassment!" would be the last word Bruce heard before things went spinny for a while. It probably wasn't the worst way to get a concussion that Bruce "Danger" Shiner had experienced, at least.

Of course, the cries of harassment didn't stop just because of his injury; Terumi would keep going almost until he recovered. Oddly, when he came to he would find her looking oddly placated, but her frown came back once she saw Teruko run back over. She didn't look upset about her loss, but she didn't look apologetic about hitting him either. Instead, a big grin was plastered across her cheeks. "Brucey! Hey, hey, have to talked to Dare yet? Ohmygaaaawd," she cackled, clearly savoring the various tidbits she had managed to get out of Ante and Fold so far.

Teruko was agonizingly slow picking up what Bruce was putting down, but once she did, she looked hype. "Woo, gracious winner, huh? I'm down for that! Hehehe," she giggled, glancing back at the others. "Uuuh... we can probably give the others the slip, but it won't be so easy with Terumi. She's glued onto me- and you, Mr. Danger, don't think I can't see just cause I watch like this," she scolded him, pointing two fingers at the narrow squint of her eyes. "But don't worry! I got a sweet idea!"

Quickly, she jogged (her default state of movement) until she reached Becky. She whispered something for a moment, then suddenly, Becky was jogging over to Terumi. The fallout of further harassment might be fun to watch, but there was no time, as Teruko came sprinting back over towards Bruce. "Okay! We got some time! Think of this as another game where you try to be as fast and good at the same time as you can, he he he... and I promise, I won't sue you one way or another!"

For her part, Ante was out of the conversation. She was eager to let Teruko do whatever she liked as long as it let her nurse her hangover and avoid the embarrassment of any further interrogation.

Asymptote composed a message while staying concealed in the shadows. Spartoi slowed her walk slightly in order to speak with him; her armored tail dragged in the sand, snaking back and forth in view.

Quote (Spartoi)

Hello, Moron. Or would you prefer Assy? One of those two.

We Spartoi received the briefing from PantheonMan already. We deduced the fastest way to get this done will be for me to pretend we're also jumping ship from the Mafia and want to go with her. We'll give her a sob story about how the Mafia has been abusing and trashing us Spartoi since our early production days and we fear for our lives. Then, when we spot a moment's weakness, we will attack and consume.

In our briefcase, we have a peace offering, several of DesignMan's weapons we've managed to reverse engineer. There is no deletion virus like DesignMan stole. Practically, they're more like curiosities.

Would you like to join us Spartoi and enter together? If so, hurry up. I can tell them you're not affiliated with the Mafia. They won't know you, since you aren't officially part or the Mafia yet.

Oh and despite the briefing... let's be suspicious of both sisters. For starters, it is truly difficult to believe that someone could be in a position to inform us of the betrayal, yet suspect the sister would have no particular feelings about it. This makes me suspect that the sister is the one who reported it and that she is in on it. With any luck, the sister has a grudge that will make her an uninvolved bystander in the assassination and she simply didn't reveal her identity so that we would leave her out of it. However, it could just as easily be we are being drawn into a trap, meant to give them a leg up on the Mafia and secure their escape. I'll eat them both if I have to.

It was hard to tell it this was actually a decent plan or if Spartoi's personality, like DesignMan she'd absorbed, thought it was better at the calculus of the double cross than it really was. After all, she hadn't explained any way she planned to explain how she knew to seek the deserter out. Whatever the case, Asymptote would have to either agree and join in or immediately stop her approach. Spartoi was nearly in the range where you would consider the Guess sister on the couch would see her through the glass, unless that sister was actually asleep like her still body suggested.

"Very good, Officer. I look forward to hearing that our long-time squatter has finally gotten what's coming to him," Bank almost chuckled... almost, as she returned to thumbing through her documents, such as they were. "Please see to your duty."

Outside the gaudy office, HoundMan and Disappearance listened intently to Pirouette as she reminded them that the issue was down to the wire and whatever came, this was probably the end of AppraisalMan's stay. The two looked as though they felt a renewed sense of duty to get to the bottom of it, rather than relief they'd soon be rid of him.

HoundMan tried to follow along, then nodded, hoping to show he comprehended the topic. "Aroo! Yes, ma'am, I have some experience with this! Like the time the criminal, Piper, used that drug to control Bayonet's mind, right? She was- [REDACTED]!"

Before he could get into the details, Disappearance spotted her mask over his face to stop him from talking. "I believe she would rather that be kept private..." Disappearance murmured, though one might speculate that the cat was already out of the bag if a career spreadsheet jockey knew about it. "I guess we can check his office. Hopefully he's in... that would be a piece of good news." It didn't sound like she had any complaints about searching it. More than likely, she suspected that Bank would be understanding of the methods they had been forced to use at this point.

HoundMan was understanding of his role as well. He snapped a salute, then took up guard outside NightMan's door, not seeming as though he questioned the order. It was worth noting that NightMan's office was actually located very close by Bank's just around the corner and a few doors down. It could be reasoned that Bank herself must not leave the office much or interact personally with the other officers, even though she was both ranked and a part of Internal Affairs.

The office was not unlocked and indeed displayed an "Out of Office" notification posted quite literally upon the gateway, with a security cube atop the transporter. Disappearance immediately contacted Bank about acquiring some sort of override, using messaging rather than running back around the corner. She displayed Bank's response so they could all follow along.

Quote (Bank)

"I would call him a nuisance, but I suppose leaving one's office locked while one is out is simply logical. Give me a bit of time and I'll have one of our specialists unlock it. If you'd like, I will additionally have the room searched once it's open. That way, you can focus on your investigation."

It probably wasn't the news Pirouette was hoping for, but at least Bank was willing to get it open for them. The woman seemed punctual... at least when it was her own time on the line, so presumably, she was already making the arrangements she'd just promised. "Where to now?" HoundMan asked.

Disappearance crossed her arms, then looked around the corner they'd just come from. "Officer Pirouette... I was thinking. Perhaps I should open the office up myself? I'm rather used to working around security measures," she inquired, in a voice even more subdued than usual.

"Aroo?" the officer she had named barked in confusion, not seeming to understand the order.

"I was thinking... we don't know who all is involved in the scheme here. It might sound funny coming from me, but if there is any evidence or documentation to be found in that office, it could be heavily edited before it reaches us," she explained. Either she had her suspicions about Bank and her subordinates, or else, maybe she was just high on getting out of her daily routine, like Bank had implied. "What do you think? I believe the situation allows for it... Unusual circumstances and all."

Keeping the belt affixed to his arm, Kemix went along the path through the Kotobuki network, before being stopped briefly by a piercing howl. In front of him, a small ledge presented itself at about his height, on top of which stood a large, brightly burning Spikey virus. Around its front, a moat of molten paneling glowed bright red, with vents of hot gas hissing out on either side of the ledge. The Spikey's howl was followed up by the screeches of a pair of FirePhoenixes, both of them hovering right above the gas vents. Around the whole setup, a sparse, dry grass grew, ending at about where Kemix currently stood. The Spikey turned its gaze down towards Kemix, its eyes revealing motes of fire instead of the usual eyeballs, as it issued a howl of challenge at him.

-- Viruses --
FirePhoenixFirePhoenix (FirePhoenix)

FirePhoenixes are medium sized birds, constantly emitting fire from their body. Despite being able to fly, they lack some of the grace other flying viruses, and have only average dodging capability. Higher versions are truer to their name, and are capable of reviving themselves. However, a Wind-type attack will blow away their ashes before they can regenerate, and if they're deleted with an Aqua attack, the ashes don't form.

Area: Hades Isle, Kotobuki Town

HP: 110
Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Fire + Wide Attack
Attack Accuracy: A
Attack Description: Launches a wide wave of fire, shaped like a bird.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): PhoenixShot1, Zenny
Special: OmniShoes
Special: Rebirth: When this virus is deleted by a non-Aqua attack, it fades to ashes, then rises from them at the end of the turn at 30 HP. This effect only works once per virus. Does not trigger if the virus was deleted by a Wind-type attack, or if a Wind-type attack is used on the ashes prior to revival. A: 110 HP (High Alt, above left Furnace vent)
FirePhoenixFirePhoenix (FirePhoenix)

FirePhoenixes are medium sized birds, constantly emitting fire from their body. Despite being able to fly, they lack some of the grace other flying viruses, and have only average dodging capability. Higher versions are truer to their name, and are capable of reviving themselves. However, a Wind-type attack will blow away their ashes before they can regenerate, and if they're deleted with an Aqua attack, the ashes don't form.

Area: Hades Isle, Kotobuki Town

HP: 110
Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Fire + Wide Attack
Attack Accuracy: A
Attack Description: Launches a wide wave of fire, shaped like a bird.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): PhoenixShot1, Zenny
Special: OmniShoes
Special: Rebirth: When this virus is deleted by a non-Aqua attack, it fades to ashes, then rises from them at the end of the turn at 30 HP. This effect only works once per virus. Does not trigger if the virus was deleted by a Wind-type attack, or if a Wind-type attack is used on the ashes prior to revival. B: 110 HP (High Alt, above right Furnace vent)
AlphaSpikey V1AlphaSpikey V1 (AlphaSpikey)

AlphaSpikeys are a combination of the Spikey, Dragrin, and Armadill viruses. They appear to be larger than normal Spikeys wreathed in flame with the ability to roll up into a ball and shred along the ground as a fireball.

Area: All

HP: 310
Element: Fire

Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 5 Fire + SeriesSpread x 4 Shots
Primary Attack Accuracy: A
Primary Attack Description: Attacks with HeatShot, then Heat-V, then HeatSide, and finally HeatCross.

Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Fire + Seeking + Nova2
Secondary Attack Accuracy: B
Secondary Attack Description: Roars, releasing a rage-driven blast of fire in all directions.

Tertiary Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Fire + Impact + Slashing + LineAttack
Tertiary Attack Accuracy: C
Tertiary Attack Description: Curls up into a fireball, and shreds along the ground at high speed, rolling over all who stand before it until it reaches its intended target. When it does, it uncurls into a sudden pounce attack.

Special: Improved Pack Tactics: Same as Pack Tactics, but the bonuses are doubled. Works with both Spikey and AlphaSpikey viruses.
-- AlphaSpikey are immune to the attacks of Spikey and AlphaSpikey viruses.

Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Heatshot, HotBody1, IronShell1, Fire+30, Burner, Zenny: 310 HP (In front, top of Grass slope)

-- Navis --
Kemix.EXE: 90 HP [Champion Belt equipped (20Hp): Passive 10 Strengthen][Normal]

-- Terrain --
30% Lava

• Non-Fire Elementals lose 5 HP/action standing, 10 HP/action submerged. Doubled for Wood Elementals, nullified for Fire Elementals.
• Aqua attacks: Panel explodes, +100% Source Aqua Damage, change terrain hit to Normal.
• PanelShot: Imbue Fire.

(Forming a semicircular moat in front of ramp, above a couple feet wide)
15% Normal

• No effects.

(In front of Lava)
45% Grass

• Wood Elementals get +5 HP/action.
• Fire attacks: +100% Source Damage, change terrain hit to Soil.
• PanelShot: Imbue Wood.

(A ramp rising up to about Kemix's height, starting further back)
10% Furnace

• Fire attacks: Splash to all adjacent panels for 20% Source Damage. Does not chain across multiple Furnace panels.
• Heat Mirage: Non-Fire Elementals get -10% Accuracy, +10% Evasion against Non-Fire Elementals.
• Aqua attacks: Vaporize into steam, increase accuracy penalty to -20% for Non-Fire Elemental and -10% for Fire Elemental for turn after hit.
• Changes to Metal Terrain when hit with an Aqua attack of 100 damage or greater.
• Echolocation nullifies the effects of the steam cloud and heat mirage for the user, and Seeking just ignores it.
• PanelShot: Imbue Fire.

(Two small vents in the Lava moat, to the left and right of the ramp)

-- Elite Battle Mode: Defeat the AlphaSpikey! --
-- Battle 3, Start!! --

"Yeah, maybe I'll start looking into it again... Sounds nice..." muttered Karen, though Suien might note that her expression looked rather resigned, as the researcher let out a sad sigh. Turning her eyes to scan the screen in front of her, the two frozen Navis came on-screen, along with the amalgamation of Navi and virus that seemed to be unaffected as they were. As if on cue, Karen took a sharp breath, and sat up with a more serious look, pushing herself up to the terminal's keyboard. "Right... there we are," she murmured to herself, tapping a few keys to bring up a few more windows, each of them immediately starting up to display lines upon lines of diagnostic text on all three of the new faces.

When Suien turned to face her, she had an irritated look on her face before he even began talking. "Ugh, this is getting complicated..." Not bothering to turn her own gaze in Suien's direction, she glared ahead at the screen, particularly on the clearly abnormal-looking Navi. "This is a gateway server between the normal layer and the Rogue layer of Sharo's network. Time is about... five years ago or so?" Her head gestured towards one of the diagnostics screens that she had pulled up, clearly showing the current year's timestamp, alongside a network address marker and another timestamp, five years in the past. The data showing the two Sharoan Navis was displayed in the text logs, though he wasn't able to see any identifying information; their program names were mass-production Navi IDs that were clearly zeroed out.

"Of those three you see on-screen, two of them have been deleted," she said. Her thumb moved to point towards the virus-infested Navi, and the male-looking part of the two Sharoan Navis. Lingering on the latter, she continued, "Right now, we've gone through a lot of trouble, to reconstruct--to bring back--this one, from this whole research deal. This is that Navi's last excursion into a public network: the last snapshot of him being at full data integrity."

Pulling back her hand from the screen, she looked at the other one that she had pointed at, the one that was currently staring down both Rass and Argo on either end of the snapshot server. "I'm not risking my ass telling you exactly what happened in this snapshot--I'm already probably telling you too much already--but you can probably figure it out by yourself. That Navi over there, the one that's still talking and moving; it's been marked down as permanently deleted. I don't know why, or how it's still active, in this snapshot. I just know that it'll definitely be on my ass if we have to update that status," she said. Her eyes met Suien's, and... despite the harsh tone that she was using, she looked a little conflicted.

"You get what I'm saying, right?"

---

As Rass and Argo both extended their arm out to the Navi in front of them, the CanDevil face's red eyes widened slightly, changing into a confused expression. "Ahhh...? W-What?" the raspy doubled voice said. "Jack... out?" The head started shaking, visibly less aggressive than before. Without saying anything for a while, it continued to shake. The six Ashuraid metal arms around it started to cradle its head as it backed away.

"No... Nowhere out..." the voice said, sounding frustrated, devoid of hope. "Need to go... Nowhere. Nowhere to go..." As it did so, the amalgamation of viruses began to melt together once more, forming a new configuration: its body shrank down to that of a Powie's small form, paired with a relatively large electrical sword from a Swordy-E. Below it, a pair of Metool boots hovered in disuse. However, especially of concern, the Navi's head morphed into the shape of a virus long forgotten--the insectoid-shaped spawn of the Life Virus, a Scuttle. The head was slightly yellowish-green, and the requisite yellow gleam of an elemental aura surrounded the Navi's whole body.

-- Rass Side --
.AMALGAM: 500 HP (Normal) (10 HP ElecAura)
-- Head: Scuttler-Scuttler- (Scuttler-)

Scuttler- is an angry looking insectoid creature. Unlike the virus it was designed to be like, it is chartreuse instead of yellow. This metavirus were made in an attempt to recapture the devastating power of the LifeVirus's creations, byte for byte, to the inclusion/exclusion of various aspects of their virus components, such as removing all flight capability, and cranking up their innate aggressiveness. That they were regarded as failures is more an indication of the real things' incredible might than the metaviruses' weakness. They're still extremely vicious, and very much prefer attacking to dodging.

Area: All

HP: 410
Element: Elec

Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 40 Elec + Break + Piercing + Group Attack
Primary Attack Accuracy: B (special)
Primary Attack Description: Lines up with a target and launches a ball of electricity at the enemy. Accuracy decreases by one rank with each hit.

Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 50 Elec + Seeking
Secondary Attack Accuracy: C
Secondary Attack Description: Drops a thunderbolt on an enemy.

Tertiary Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Elec + Small Solar Terrain Change + Cone Attack
Tertiary Attack Accuracy: C
Tertiary Attack Description: Uses plasma breath to give the enemy and the ground an unhealthy glow.

Special: ElecAura: Begins each battle with a 10 HP ElecAura, which is pierced and instantly destroyed by Wood attacks. This reforms at the end of each turn.
Special: LightningProof: Cannot be inflicted with Stun. Takes half damage from Elec attacks.

Possible Rewards (Per Virus): ElecShock1, AuraHead1, ElecAura1, Elec+20, Lightning (Rare), Zenny
-- Arms: Swordy-E EXSwordy-E EX (Swordy-E)

Area: SciLab, Electown, NAXA

HP: 120
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 30 Elec + Long Range Attack + Slashing
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: When this virus is 2 panels away from the target, or its enemies are 2-deep, it will attack with Elec Blade.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Elec + Wide Range Attack + Slashing
Secondary Attack Accuracy: B
Secondary Attack Description: When this virus is standing directly adjacent to its target, or diagonally from it, it will attack with Elec Sword.
Element: Elec
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): ElecKnife, Zenny
Special: Swordy-E's are immune to Stun Status.
Special: Uses Area Grab to get into attack range.
-- Body: Powie EXPowie EX (Powie)

Powies are never encountered in confined spaces, like a low ceilinged cave and such (for obvious reasons). Powies also never intentionally jump to broken or missing terrain. They will, however, attempt attacks over broken or missing terrain if they see an enemy there. Powies will not attempt to attack the same target on two consecutive actions.

Area: ACDC, Electown, Netopia, Beach

HP: 100
Attack Damage/Effect: (Movement(High-Alt) + Knockback) Then (40 + Break + PanelCrack + Nova1)
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Leaps quickly into the air, knocking away anything it collides with, before stopping directly above an enemy. They will then immediately change into a 10-ton press and fall down. The impact of the fall creates an explosion.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Quake1, Zenny
Special: AirShoes.
Special: The explosion does not trigger if the virus attacks a target on Broken/Missing terrain and misses. It will not fall into Broken/Missing terrain with its attacks unless forcefully pushed in.
-- Affix: NeoMetoolNeoMetool (NeoMetool)

NeoMetool not currently attacking will guard. Entering guard mode requires an action. Exiting guard mode does not require an action.

Area: ACDC, Electown, Okuden Valley, Kotobuki Town, Dentech, Beach

HP: 40
Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Null + Spread 1
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Spits out a bullet that penetrates an enemy to hit another one directly behind it.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Shotgun, ShieldGuard, Zenny
Special: Can hide in its helmet to negate damage.
Special: If hit while hiding with a non-Break attack, its next attack will do 30 damage instead of 10. This effect does not stack across multiple hits.

Rass.EXE: 100 HP (Normal) (BusterCharge2)

Terrain: 20% Snow

• Non-Aqua Elementals get -10% Evasion and reduced movement speed.
• Wind attacks: +100% Source Damage. Imbue Aqua if Null. Change terrain hit to Ice for 1 turn after turn hit, then back to Snow.
• Aqua attacks: 25% Freeze chance, change terrain hit to Normal if triggered. Boost chance to 100% if Ice-type.
• Fire attacks: Change terrain hit to Ice, generate Frosty Mist: -10% Accuracy for Non-Aqua Elementals, +10% evasion against Non-Aqua Elementals, Freeze1 effect for any Aqua or Wind attacks.
• PanelShot: Imbue Aqua + Freeze1.

, 80% Normal

• No effects.

-- Argo Side --
.AMALGAM: 500 HP (Normal) (10 HP ElecAura)
-- Head: Scuttler-Scuttler- (Scuttler-)

Scuttler- is an angry looking insectoid creature. Unlike the virus it was designed to be like, it is chartreuse instead of yellow. This metavirus were made in an attempt to recapture the devastating power of the LifeVirus's creations, byte for byte, to the inclusion/exclusion of various aspects of their virus components, such as removing all flight capability, and cranking up their innate aggressiveness. That they were regarded as failures is more an indication of the real things' incredible might than the metaviruses' weakness. They're still extremely vicious, and very much prefer attacking to dodging.

Area: All

HP: 410
Element: Elec

Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 40 Elec + Break + Piercing + Group Attack
Primary Attack Accuracy: B (special)
Primary Attack Description: Lines up with a target and launches a ball of electricity at the enemy. Accuracy decreases by one rank with each hit.

Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 50 Elec + Seeking
Secondary Attack Accuracy: C
Secondary Attack Description: Drops a thunderbolt on an enemy.

Tertiary Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Elec + Small Solar Terrain Change + Cone Attack
Tertiary Attack Accuracy: C
Tertiary Attack Description: Uses plasma breath to give the enemy and the ground an unhealthy glow.

Special: ElecAura: Begins each battle with a 10 HP ElecAura, which is pierced and instantly destroyed by Wood attacks. This reforms at the end of each turn.
Special: LightningProof: Cannot be inflicted with Stun. Takes half damage from Elec attacks.

Possible Rewards (Per Virus): ElecShock1, AuraHead1, ElecAura1, Elec+20, Lightning (Rare), Zenny
-- Arms: Swordy-E EXSwordy-E EX (Swordy-E)

Area: SciLab, Electown, NAXA

HP: 120
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 30 Elec + Long Range Attack + Slashing
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: When this virus is 2 panels away from the target, or its enemies are 2-deep, it will attack with Elec Blade.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Elec + Wide Range Attack + Slashing
Secondary Attack Accuracy: B
Secondary Attack Description: When this virus is standing directly adjacent to its target, or diagonally from it, it will attack with Elec Sword.
Element: Elec
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): ElecKnife, Zenny
Special: Swordy-E's are immune to Stun Status.
Special: Uses Area Grab to get into attack range.
-- Body: Powie EXPowie EX (Powie)

Powies are never encountered in confined spaces, like a low ceilinged cave and such (for obvious reasons). Powies also never intentionally jump to broken or missing terrain. They will, however, attempt attacks over broken or missing terrain if they see an enemy there. Powies will not attempt to attack the same target on two consecutive actions.

Area: ACDC, Electown, Netopia, Beach

HP: 100
Attack Damage/Effect: (Movement(High-Alt) + Knockback) Then (40 + Break + PanelCrack + Nova1)
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Leaps quickly into the air, knocking away anything it collides with, before stopping directly above an enemy. They will then immediately change into a 10-ton press and fall down. The impact of the fall creates an explosion.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Quake1, Zenny
Special: AirShoes.
Special: The explosion does not trigger if the virus attacks a target on Broken/Missing terrain and misses. It will not fall into Broken/Missing terrain with its attacks unless forcefully pushed in.
-- Affix: NeoMetoolNeoMetool (NeoMetool)

NeoMetool not currently attacking will guard. Entering guard mode requires an action. Exiting guard mode does not require an action.

Area: ACDC, Electown, Okuden Valley, Kotobuki Town, Dentech, Beach

HP: 40
Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Null + Spread 1
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Spits out a bullet that penetrates an enemy to hit another one directly behind it.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Shotgun, ShieldGuard, Zenny
Special: Can hide in its helmet to negate damage.
Special: If hit while hiding with a non-Break attack, its next attack will do 30 damage instead of 10. This effect does not stack across multiple hits.

Argo.EXE: 100 HP (Normal) (BusterCharge2)

Terrain: 20% Snow

• Non-Aqua Elementals get -10% Evasion and reduced movement speed.
• Wind attacks: +100% Source Damage. Imbue Aqua if Null. Change terrain hit to Ice for 1 turn after turn hit, then back to Snow.
• Aqua attacks: 25% Freeze chance, change terrain hit to Normal if triggered. Boost chance to 100% if Ice-type.
• Fire attacks: Change terrain hit to Ice, generate Frosty Mist: -10% Accuracy for Non-Aqua Elementals, +10% evasion against Non-Aqua Elementals, Freeze1 effect for any Aqua or Wind attacks.
• PanelShot: Imbue Aqua + Freeze1.

, 80% Normal

• No effects.

---

"Ema! Hey! Ema! You in here?!"

All of a sudden, the serious atmosphere was suddenly broken by the sound of another voice, echoing throughout the lab. Karen immediately shot up from her seat at the sound of the voice, and she turned to find a figure at the door to the server room. There, a long black-haired woman in a pair of loose pink pajamas and fluffy white sandals, her bed head signalling that she had likely just left her bed. Though the woman at the doorway looked a little younger, and had a smaller... build, than the scientist woman in front of her, Suien could definitely see that there was no denying the similarities in appearance between the two.

"Oh, there you are. Hot water's--" the woman started, before she paused, seeing that there was someone else in the room. "Whoa, okay, you brought someone in." A whistle escaped her lips. "Kinda cute."

"K--!" Something seemed to cut off out of Karen's lips as her face turned crimson red, before she stormed up to the doorway, with the unknown visitor quickly making a run for it, to the point of immediately leaving her sandals on the floor in front of the doorway. Karen only got up to the entrance herself, angrily clenching the doorframe as she watched the visitor escape off to another part of the building. Karen's head dropped immediately afterwards, and Suien could hear her frustrated groan from across the room. After a short while, she turned back, pressing at her temple with one hand.

Wordlessly, she sank into her swivel chair, refusing to meet Suien's gaze as she watched Rass and Argo negotiate with the Navi, with its body now freshly transformed once again. She returned to massaging her temples, muttering a "Why me..." under her breath.

"Oh yes. Very blind. And thank you, AdjustLady, I'm very flattered! You seem to get me," the pink-haired nun tittered, smiling sweetly. "You're a bit of an enigma, aren't you? You do a lot to stir the imagination yourself, even without seeing you." She put on a look of mock surprise. "Now Grin, do I strike you as the kind of lady who explores her own body in intimate places on the regular?" Mary questioned, wearing an innocent smile as she joked around. "But I'll take your word for it. Oh my! I'm so embarrassed~" Blindness Mary could fake, but it was hard to imagine she'd ever be able to fake shame.

Mary could probably get plenty excited just listening to the conversation, but of course, she could cheat as well. There was plenty to catch from brief glimpses through her gray eyes. "Oh my! I need some of these to take home for parties," she thought to herself, finding herself with a new appreciation for the earpieces they'd shared. "Ooo! My imagination is working overtime right now, ladies," Mary informed them, squirming in her seat. It wasn't often she got to have so much unsupervised fun. "Are we doing nicknames now? I suppose I could be the Naughty Nun. Or the Naked Nun, judging by what you've told me of my appearance. Ooo, perhaps for my role in all of this, you'd prefer to call me the Sinister Sister? The Sightless Sister? The Blind Bitch?" Mary could continue doing unproductively all day, but she cut herself off, since there was probably more fun she could get up to than simply renaming herself.

She gave a kind smile vaguely in the direction of AdjustLady's voice. "Well, Miss... what was it, Amorphous Angel? Something like that. It sounds like your wardrobes are all so wonderfully random that turning on your GMO is almost like a blind draw! How very fitting," she joked. "I think I'll have one. When in Rome, pray as the Romans do~" Another joke. The nun attempted to activate whatever GMO was loaded, not knowing what it may be. This would be a bit of fun, as she could only understand so much of her own costume by the slits of her eyes. Knowing this, she opened her mouth in an excited smile as the GMO loaded. "Would you mind describing it to me?"

--------------------

Yajna nodded along, smiling wider. It could be interpreted as endearing that she was finally opening up a bit or a bit creepy, based on the context. "Yes... Yes... No such thing as too... many candles," she agreed, seeming increasingly excited.

Bhikkhuni shrugged, lacking the same overt excitement. "Moloko sounds as good as anything. Not really the kind of thing you show off from a hunt, but on the bright side, plenty of comfortable to stretch out on," she agreed.

"R-Right, four girls together on a bed," Exorcist stammered, not quite settled into her role yet despite having been the one to make the suggestion. It was almost possible to believe that she hadn't thought of the implications beforehand.

The gang all got out of the way as Mikey set up the room, with Yajna running around in a circle behind her, evidently excited about the candles, and Bhikkhuni running away, possibly frightened by the prospect of being anywhere near Yajna and candles. Exorcist stayed out of the way in one corner, trying to digest what was going on. A thought had begun to form in Exorcist's head... Counterinfectualism needed to get out there more than anything. They couldn't have people trying to search the word "Counterinfectualism" and retrieving zero results. But was it any better for their image of Counterinfectualists to end up as something as sexual as their earlier photographs had suggested?

The thought continued to weigh on her as the others watched Mikey perform, entertained by her energetic opening. Bhikkhuni privately considered if there was money in this livestreaming thing, while Yajna watched the hostess, fascinated by the way light hit her from four angles at once. "Hot Mic..." she murmured under her breath, seeming to enjoy the turn of phrase. Both of those two ended up raising eyebrows at her strange avenue for introducing the star disciple of Counterinfectualism, while Exorcist found herself marveling at what a catchy phrase Mic had come up with on the spot. This ought to do wonders for their advertising!

"She didn't go for Sexorcist?" Bhikkhuni whispered to Yajna, almost inaudibly, as the other girl watched with a passive expression.

With her eyes spinning in some state of confusion, Exorcist did her best to fulfill the manufactured role of the Exhibitionist, which would, surely, be just fantastic for the long-term health of Counterinfectualism. "Hi everyone! Swish, swish!" she began, sitting on her knees atop the bed and pressing a fist on each hip, swaying back and forth so that upper and lower hems of her robe, sans-undersuit, already threatened to show off whatever was left underneath, if anything. "This is the first time I've gotten on TV before and it's got me very excited! I'm Counterinfectualism's star pupil and I'm very eager for exposure!" she explained, with a look like some mixture of a cute smile and overt madness on her face. It was likely that a mix of stage fright, an unusual voice in her head telling her what to do, and a desire to do whatever it took to get the name out there had created this cocktail of a new character.

"But while I am the foremost disciple, I'm not the only one! Wouldn't you like to be here on the bed with me and my two disciples? First, let's meet Bhikkhuni, the Booty-Bouncing Bbbbb-" she growled, barely fixing it. "Booty-Bouncing Counterinfectualist!"

"Really?" Bhikkhuni asked, seeming critical of multiple parts of the name, before moving on to her own introduction. She seemed to fall into the groove of it quickly enough, though. "I'm a bit of an exhibitionist myself. You know how the shakujo is used, right? Primarily to pound the earth and ward off God's creatures? Well, mine tends to have the opposite effect. When I get quaking, folks come running~" she winked, making a show of bouncing up and down upon the bed, seated a bit like Exorcist was, but with her back to the camera, while clutching her shakujo so that it clattered musically along with her motions. She put this behavior down to her natural business sense: it was about time one of the Counterinfectualists used a reasonable technique to gain some star power.

Still, she was aware that something seemed a little different. At first, she felt a bit like she was back in the cornfield, reveling in newfound assets... but that had been a remarkably unsexy adventure. Hadn't her most successful time been using her natural assets with Hoodwink? She found herself first noticing that the balance was... not quite as bad as in the cornfield, but still a little off. Would Hoodwink have preferred having more to work with like this? Somebody must, or else she wouldn't have been modified with it. With these existential thoughts on her mind, she tried to move on to introducing Yajna. "There's one more for you! Yajna, the Hindu-"

"COUNTERINFECTUALIST. The Counterinfectualist Hottie!" the newly loony Exorcist interjected, leaning across the bed to practically shout the words. Internal voices or whatever else aside, all logic fell apart if she let the two call themselves members of other religions.

"Thanks, Exxy... Yes... I'm Yajna and I want to make sure that this cast is Mikey's hottest one... ever..." she agreed, producing a lit candle in one hand and holding it delicately in the loop of her finger and thumb. She used the other hand to trace a finger down the hot wax, pulling it between two fingers in a suggestive way, before leaning back and lolling out her tongue. She made a show of "eating the fire," more of a magic trick, by which the candle seemed to disappear into her throat along with the fire. "Excuse me..." she smiled, extending out the hem of her robe at the neck as she wiped off the string of wax onto it, barely avoiding her ornate jewelry. "So, what's next?"

On the other side of his PET, Burt was watching with a stupid expression. He wanted to enjoy this, but the whole situation was too weird for him to easily do that. "Huuuh? Bio-corn weirdness that grows your boobies is one thing, but this is a little... hmmmmm..." he murmured, trying to decide how he felt about it all, like someone who'd stumbled upon a genre of adult entertainment he'd never actually considered perusing before, feeling it out to decide if he could incorporate it into his routine. "You know, I think I like it. Let's roll with it."

Evidently having heard him, Exorcist sent a message right after:

Quote (Exorcist)

"Burt, please make sure everyone uses the word Counterinfectualism. If they don't, then all of this is for nothing... Also, did you take away my bodysuit? That was a pretty good idea! I hadn't thought about it before, but the robe is kind of cute without it, isn't it? I guess it is sort of eye-catching. If you have any other ideas, let me know!"

Burt might consider this to be a dream come true, but he had the feeling that if he got involved on top of whatever else was going on, things would get even weirder than they already were. "I'll keep that in mind, Exxy. Don't go too craaazy, okay?" he laughed nervously, grabbing his soda off the end table and smiling to his niece and nephew. "You two staaay riiight heeere, Uncle Burt has to complete the rest of this mission alone in his room, okay? I'll be back in an hour or so! If you see Exorcist on any broadcasts online, dooon't watch them!" he insisted, before quickly rising, holding his book-shaped PET in front of his lap, and vanishing behind the door to his bedroom.