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Pressing further into the Okuden woods in search of challenges and more bounty targets, Delta found a section of the wood that seemed to grow gloomier and more shaded the deeper he went. The air was still and grew humid and stick, with a scent like sap filtering through the woods. At the edge of hearing, the irksome sound of skeeters buzzing scratched at his senses; it sounded like there were swarms of the things throughout the area, just loud enough for their buzzing to be annoying.

With no sight of identifiable hostiles, however, the navi had little option but to press deeper into the darkening wood. It wasn't much longer, making his way through the unpleasant warmth and cloying scent, that Delta emerged into something that looked and felt like a modest clearing between the trees. The buzzing had grown loud now, but the light had fallen to gloom by equal measure, making it all too easy to imagine seeing malignant shapes in the shadows of the trees.

A creak of ancient wood and a groan that sounded like the death rattle of some ancient beast rasped behind him, blowing a gust of hot, sickly sweet air across his back, before a pair of razor-sharp scythes swung around from either side, attempting to bisect the navi. Delta was able to avoid this initial surprise attack, but a glance back revealed an ancient, twisted and decrepit-seeming tree twisting in place and writhing as its trunk creaked and its branches rustled. All around, the other trees in the clearing seemed to shudder and sigh; the gloom made it hard to see where the branches of one ended and another began, but as the hideously scarred tree pulled itself back up, Delta could at least tell that the swinging scythe blades were only two of its many blackened branches, cracked and twisted along their gnarled lengths, but honed to lethal blades and stabbing points.

The buzzing grew more agitated, and above, dimly visible through the darkness, a series of ancient hives nestled amongst the old tree's grasping branches swayed and swarmed with insects. One hive dropped heavily to the ground beside the tree and began to spill forth a swarm of angry skeeters as the tree itself seemed to pull the dark shadows round itself and prepare to strike again.

-=Hive-Hoarder=-
GloomScythe.Tree: 300Hp (Directly South of Delta, at the edge of the clearing)(Soil)
SkeeterSkeeter (Skeeter)

Area: Yoka, Okuden Valley, Beach, Yumland, Netfrica

HP: 30
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 30 Drain (Null)
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: A swarm of Skeeters flies at the target. They will drain HP if they connect.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Drain1, Zenny
Special: Omnishoes: 30Hp (Swarming above the beehive)(Grass)

-=Bee-Seeker=-
Delta.EXE: 170Hp (In the middle of the clearing)(Grass)

-=Terrain=-
(Terrain is mostly grass in the middle of the clearing, with soil around the edges)
40% Soil

• Wood Elementals get +10% Evasion.
• Wood attacks: +100% Source Damage, change terrain hit to Grass.
• 100 Damage Aqua attacks: Change terrain hit to Mud.
• 100 Damage Fire attacks: change terrain hit to Coal.
• PanelShot: Imbue Wood.

60% Grass

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

-=Objects=-
Twisted Tree North: 60Hp (Woodbody)(Soil)
Twisted Tree North-East: 60Hp (Woodbody)](Soil)
Twisted Tree East: 60Hp (Woodbody)(Soil)
Twisted Tree South-East: 60Hp (Woodbody)(Soil)
Twisted Tree South-West: 60Hp (Woodbody)(Soil)
Twisted Tree West: 60Hp (Woodbody)(Soil)
Twisted Tree North-West: 60Hp (Woodbody)(Soil)
Ancient Beehive A: 30Hp (Woodbody)(Grass)

-=Battle 5, Start!=-

((Welcome back ^.^ ))

Despite the enthralling rhythm and enticing dance partners, the consistent jostling was enough to let SeaFoam rouse at least partially from the cloying charm and she began trying to distance herself from the press of dancing bodies. It seemed almost like there were more of them than before, and the crowd was denser and more tightly packed than it had been a moment ago. There was a sense of the many dancers trying to hold on, or catch at her clothing as she extricated herself, but after a few drawn out, sluggish points of effort, the navi was able to pull herself free of the crowd and force her seemingly unwilling feet to take a few steps back and away from it again.

The glittering sparkle of colours hanging in the air shimmered and the pounding beat of the music continued to pulse; sure enough there were even more dancers than before, now that she was able to look at the group; where had the others even come from?

With clearer senses, Coral was able to see her navi finally struggle free of the many weaving columns of the peculiar cacty virus, her outfit snagging on its spines as it continued trying to encircle her and prevent her escape. Fortunately, Seafoam prevailed and got some distance, but the other detail Coral might notice was another tall-bodied cactus part forming on the end of the conga-line, making the worm longer still and clogging up the valley passage even more. Some strange reading on the PET showed its HP Value growing above its maximum as the virus proliferated in the space. If it kept growing like this, then, with their limited resources, simply busting it directly might not be easy, unless they could find some other way to deal with the problem.

Free of the press of bodies, though her feet continued to tap to the beat and the urge to sway and dance was still strong, Seafoam called out to the group of dancers, trying to reason with them to clear the path. Even as she attempted the more diplomatic path, however, the illusory party began to fray at the edges and her vision wavered and clarified; the dancers in all their lightly-dressed appeal faded and she could see the virus itself more clearly again, its many cacty bodies swaying and dancing to the beat of its own song in an ever growing and extending conga-line of congestion.

The main head of the virus focused on Seafoam, rocking back on forth on top of the lead body, then beginning to hop down the line of bodies on-beat, to keep its place as it stared at her. Its swirling kaleidoscopic eyes locked onto hers above its manic grin and though the illusion was now fading to tatters, a dire sense of confusion was clawing its way into Seafoam's mind; something wasn't right about this... She could see the virus clearly now, see its amused, gleeful grin as it danced, but her thoughts felt scrambled and acting felt difficult.

Behind her, two of her metool charges were continuing to dance happily with one another to the music, but the map-carrying met had paused and now looked back and forth between Seafoam and the grinning virus. Its eyes drew down slightly, and had it a visible mouth, the little guy might well have been frowning as it realised something was off.

Seafoam's efforts at diplomacy didn't seem to be getting any traction, try as she might, and the virus danced and snaked its way closer to her again. The line of swaying bodies leaned down so that the head of the virus could bend close to her as it hopped from body to body; it only grinned and swayed, its large eyes a myriad of dazzling colours. Below, the mouth opened from cheshire grin to toothy maw.

Completely focused as it was, the virus was caught unaware as a mattock sailed through the air past Seafoam's shoulder to knock its fancy party had from its head with a clang. The virus swayed back upright with it, still dancing to the beat and grinning like a thing possessed, but its eyes turned towards the miffed metool still standing with its group behind Seafoam. The met let out a challenging “Meep!” and held its ground but the party virus only stared at it, eyes swirling, before a fresh party hat burst into existence on its head in spray of confetti; this one was bigger, fancier, and even had a couple of little spinning pinwheels on it.


-=Delirious DJ =-
CactoCongo.Worm: 330/300(!?)Hp [Such Dancing!][1-Hit Party Hat: Reformed: Now Even Fancier than before!][Strengthen: 20][Normal]

-=In The Spotlight =-
Seafoam.Exe: 95Hp [Normal][Confusion (1 Turn)][Glitch: Toe-Tapping (1 turn, or until removed)]

-=Back-up Dancers?=-
Map-Wielding MetoolMetool (Metool)

Metools 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
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Null + Piercing + Ground Attack
Primary Attack Accuracy: C
Primary Attack Description: Whacks ground with pickaxe, sending forth a shockwave.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Null
Secondary Attack Accuracy: B
Secondary Attack Description: Throws a mattock at an enemy.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Guard1, ShockWave, Zenny
Special: Can hide in its helmet to negate damage.: 40Hp [Normal] [Just behind Seafoam] [Doesn't like the cut of this virus' jib]
Sculptor MetoolMetool (Metool)

Metools 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
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Null + Piercing + Ground Attack
Primary Attack Accuracy: C
Primary Attack Description: Whacks ground with pickaxe, sending forth a shockwave.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Null
Secondary Attack Accuracy: B
Secondary Attack Description: Throws a mattock at an enemy.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Guard1, ShockWave, Zenny
Special: Can hide in its helmet to negate damage.: 40Hp [Grass] [Behind and left of Map Metool]
Nervous MetoolMetool (Metool)

Metools 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
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Null + Piercing + Ground Attack
Primary Attack Accuracy: C
Primary Attack Description: Whacks ground with pickaxe, sending forth a shockwave.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Null
Secondary Attack Accuracy: B
Secondary Attack Description: Throws a mattock at an enemy.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Guard1, ShockWave, Zenny
Special: Can hide in its helmet to negate damage.: 40Hp [Grass] [Behind and right of Map Metool]

-=Not Meant To Be a Mosh-Pit =-
60% Normal

• No effects.

40% Grass

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

Valley area starts grassy and become rocky (normal) towards the virus' end; terrain is mostly even, but the valley is moderately narrow.

-=Glitch Record=-

Toe-Tapping: Balance Glitch (2 rounds, or until removed with status cure or other similar effects). The target can't help but respond to a beat that they can hear, tapping, bouncing or otherwise jigging to it. The sense of rhythm helps them dodge more effectively, at least if they dodge to the beat, but ti also hinders their ability to take proper shots and strikes when they need to, rather than hesitating for the right 'rhythm' Dodges are increased by one rank when roleplayed as being made on beat, while attacks accuracy suffers a 1 rank penalty.

Lynael let herself enjoy the calm weather and the breeze as she moved forward, though a part of her remained subtly aware of how the new bodysuit hugged her skin, at once making it more sensitive to the touch, but also dulling her sense of the circling winds around her. The settings on it had mostly been for cosmetic display, as far as she understood, but maybe there was a way to adjust its tactile feedback as well perhaps. Something to ask about if she ever saw BeastKnight or his operator again, she supposed. Without noticing she had done so, Lyntael unconsciously ran her hands across the contours of the suit as she walked; chest and sides, hips and thighs in turn, and let out a soft sigh in appreciation without really being aware of the the action.

It was only a short walk before the high bluff descended down into a tidal marshland closer to the edge of the shore again and Lyntael felt a quiet giggle urging to rise to her lips as she cautiously tested her steps in the growing mud and pushed forward through it. It was a fun feeling between her toes, and this time she wouldn't have to worry about her clothes getting indecent or needing to wash off in compromising ways. At least, she assumed the suit would clean easily if she slipped anywhere.

Partway through the tidal muds, sudden movement made Lyntael take a sudden skipping step backwards to avoid a dive-bombing virus. Wind curled about her form as she caught her balance in the slippery mud and the startled shock made her charge pulse in reaction. A warding shell of electrical energy radiated outward from her body, stabilising as it passed her strikers before it faded from sight and she looked up to locate the hostile creature.

A Fishy had just arced about after its initial rush, and more splashes in the mud to either side of her announced the arrival of more viruses alongside it; had they jumped from its back? As she backed off a step, hands raises and palms out for the moment, the bubbling of water just ahead, partially cutting off her path, showed one she knew as a substantially more dangerous species of virus, along with another shelled one. An ambush then? It seemed like it. She slid her feet in the mud, adopting a stance better for her balance and glanced about.

“I've no quarrel. Just moving through... that way...” She nodded ahead towards the rockier outcropping in the distance. “I'll only defend myself against any of you if you make me...” Given the ambush, and the seemingly thoughtless aggression that several of them looked to be showing, Lyntael was sure the words were probably a futile gesture, but she spoke them anyway and readied herself to avoid whichever of them decided to strike at her next.

As she shifted to avoid whichever hostilities came her way first, Lyntael could feel her own body more eager to respond to the threat than she really wished it would be; her charge thrummed to a warm glow beneath her skin rising to a crackling buzz within her, eager to expend itself in retribution to any virus unlucky enough to land proper contact on her, try as she might to avoid it.

Sparks rippled off her body as she held her position, weaving and evading in the slippery mud as best she could and vying to keep her balance at the same time. Twists of wind and curling breezes pushed back to help catch the moments when her feet slipped or her motions were less stable as she remained in the centre of the group of ambushers. Smaller bursts of sparks, then larger ones followed, and Lyntael could feel her charge rising and falling in a fluctuating beat alongside the rhythm of hear heart and breath; alert, but for once strangely calm amidst the sudden hostility. As a larger flood of electrical energy washed out from her in a wave of sparks, Lyntael caught her breath in the empty sensation then called out as her charge cycled back up again to answer the brief void.

“Any of you can leave, any time you want! You stop, I stop, and go on my way.” She steadied herself again, taking a deeper breath after the call and sparing a glance for the viruses that still surrounded her. Maybe some would give up, though she doubted it. She didn't truly know, one virus to the next, which of them even understood her words and which didn't. The best she could do was make the offer, and protect herself when it failed. Focus on staying safe for now.

Summary

L*) Turbulence (Auto-deflect on shot or lobbed attack)
L*) Gust (Knock Back effects are Double Strength, and attacks with them gain Wind type)
L*) First Armour: (20Hp Casing)
L1) My Heart Falters, and beats anew: (Buster Charge, 80Hp Elec Barrier) (Off-Target (1 Rank, 1 Round)), 3CD (Overcharge -3)
L2) Dodge (Watching other viruses and defending herself for the moment.)
L3) My Pain is Real, it lingers after: (Counter (On Hit): (10Elec Nova2, Knockback, Time Delay (Start of next turn): Counter (On Hit): (10Elec Nova2, Knockback))) (15Hp Sacrifice), 2CD (Overcharge +1 per Counter Triggered)
L4) My Faith Can Heal, with time for laughter: (Buster Charge, Feint, Movement, 10Elec Nova2, Knockback) (Self-Slow (1 Rank, 1 round)), 3CD (Overcharge -2)
L5) My Soul Scream, and yet I fight: (ShotBase(50)Elec Nova2, Knockback, Charge-Burner), 3CD (Overcharge +2)
L*) Fast Armour: 20Hp Casing Refresh
L6) A Loving Heart, and a second chance: (SupportBase(20) x4 Instances) (15Hp Sacrifice), 2CD (Overcharge -1 per instance effectively used)

Cooldowns and Overcharge

My Pain is Real; it lingers after (2TCD)
My Soul Scream, and yet I fight (3TCD)
My Faith Can Heal, with time for laughter (3TCD)
My Heart Falters, and beats anew (3TCD)
A Loving Heart, and a second chance (2TCD)

Overcharge: Begin: +0, My Heart Falters (-3), My Pain is Real (+1/+1 on trigger), My Faith Can Heal (-2), My Soul Screams (+2), A Loving Heart (-4), End: +0

Continuing through the area, Lyntael would hear the waves moving slowly, calmly, despite her proximity from the main beachline the sea was as clear as ever if a bit quieter. The winds comfortably blowing into her face as her travels continued, a mountainous rocky outcropping in the sea coming more and more into view with every step, a likely repository for the viral outbreak.

Unfortunately, she'd be forced to stop dead in her tracks as something swooped by, nearly clipping the dancer's nose in the process. Though seeing the overbearing shadow nearby, a simple tilt of her head would find the culprit, a Fishy virus. Immediately, however, she could tell this one was hostile as it began to move about a marshy area, mud just about everywhere as pockets of grass poked up around in small areas of relative stability, with a pooling of water in the back of the area, likely the remnants of a high wave or even a tsunami from before.

Dropping about the area from the virus' back, a Metool to her side, a Tubby on the other as both were trying to get used to the slippery mud. And in the back, splashing into the pool of water, an Aquagear with a deeper blue paint job than the others she's likely seen. Oh, and a Shellnerd would hop in near the far corner of the area. All together, a Quintet of viruses, and more than likely, this was their attempt to jump the electric dancer. Battle routines flared up, Rogan's PET scanned the quintet and at the end of it all, it was another battle for Lyn to face...and none of the targets looked all too happy to see her in what she could only assume to be their territory.

-- Viruses --
Aquagear EXAquagear EX (Raingear)

This virus family is positively deadly when fighting on Ice Terrain, to the point where the players are at a severe disadvantage. Unless you just have it in for the player, try not to combine the two very often. I'm serious about this. -Pally

Area: Yoka, Beach, Sharo

HP: 200
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 60 Aqua + Wide Attack + Ground Attack
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: Blasts enemy with a geyser that bursts suddenly from the ground.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 80 Aqua + Group Attack + Ground Attack
Secondary Attack Accuracy: D
Secondary Attack Description: Blasts the enemy with a marching line of geysers.
Element: Aqua
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): WaterLine2, AquaTower2, Zenny
Special: This virus' attacks will freeze the target solid on ice terrain.: 200 HP (Threatening Lyntael in the North-East, about a movement away) (Sea)
Tuby2Tuby2 (Tuby)

Area: Beach

HP: 150
Attack: Confusion + To-All-Clause (Enemies)
Attack Accuracy: S
Attack Description: Plays a tune that confuses its enemies.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Discord (Rare), Zenny
Special: Attacks every other turn.: 150 HP (Hopping about to Lyntael's right, not far from her starting position) (Mud)
Fishy2Fishy2 (Fishy)

Area: ACDC, Okuden Valley, Dentech, Beach, NetVegas

HP: 150
Attack Damage/Effect: 45 + Stun 1 + Line Attack(5) + Impact + Piercing
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Flies into a group of enemies, and stuns them.
Element: Normal
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): DashAttack2, Zenny
Special: Omnishoes: 150 HP (Flying above Lyntael's head, roughly North-West) (Omnishoes) (Airborne, can use a movement to get near, jump and Melee it)
Metool2Metool2 (Metool)

Metools 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: 100
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 50 Null + Piercing + Ground Attack
Primary Attack Accuracy: C
Primary Attack Description: Whacks ground with pickaxe, sending forth a shockwave.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 50 Null
Secondary Attack Accuracy: B
Secondary Attack Description: Throws a mattock at an enemy.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Guard2, SonicWave, Zenny
Special: Can hide in its helmet to negate damage.
Special: Can use Recover150 on self once.: 100 HP (On Lyntael's left, easily within reach) (Grass)
Shellnerd EXShellnerd EX (ShellGeek)

Shellgeeks alternate actions between attacking and guarding. These are the only actions Shellgeeks may perform, and the first action of every battle is always guarding. Shellgeeks will not break from this pattern unless forced to by status effects. The secondary attack of Shellgeeks can be used to grant an ally of this virus a free movement, or even to knock an ally out of the path of an oncoming attack.

Area: Yoka, Sharo, Beach, Okuden Valley

HP: 160
Primary Attack Damage/Effects: 25 Null x 2 Spears
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: Fires two spears at one target.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effects: 50 Null
Secondary Attack Accuracy: B
Secondary Attack Description: Fires a star tipped arrow. Can be used on an ally to move them. Causes no damage to allies.
Element: Aqua
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): TripleNeedle, StarArrow2 (Rare), Zenny
Special: Attacks every other action. IronBody when not attacking.: 160 HP (Off towards the far North-East of the area, roughly a movement away) (Mud)

-- Navis --
Lyntael.EXE: 290 HP (Mud)

-- Terrain --
65% Mud

• Non-Wood Elementals get -10% Evasion penalty and reduced movement speed, 25% (+/-25% RP) chance to fall or get stuck (1 action to get free).
• Automatically triggers Aqua Boost for appropriate chip attacks.
• Wood attacks: Change terrain hit to Soil.
• PanelShot: Imbue Wood + Slow1.

(Majority of the area, mostly in the area near/around Lyntael)
25% Grass

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

(Scattered about in small 1x1 panel layouts, mostly all are a movement away from each other)
10% Sea

• Fire Elementals lose 10 HP/action standing, 20 HP/action submerged. Other Non-Aqua Elementals lose 5 HP/action submerged. Nullified for Aqua Elementals.
• Ice attacks: 50% Freeze1 chance, Changes terrain hit to Ice.
• Terrain changes between Sea and Onsen do not inflict damage upon submerged entities, nor do they eject submerged entities to the surface.
• Elec attacks: +100% Source Damage.
• PanelShot: Imbue Aqua.

(One pool of salty water near the edge of the field opposite Lyntael, roughly wide enough for a trio or quartet to fit on)

-- Rogue Battle 13 Ready? Start!! --

As the crystal resolved, Lyntael took a pair of quick steps backwards and bit off a small note of surprise, before reaching out to convert the date for transfer back to Rogan. It was definitely far more than she'd seen in any previous data crystal they'd come across, and she counted it quickly as the green threads flowed to her fingertips and coiled around her arm.

“I hope that wasn't left there for someone deliberately...” She glanced around just in case, but the surrounding network remained as empty as it had been for the past few moments. A quiet chuckle from Rogan was enough to make her shrug and continue on.

“If it was some kind of dark world dead drop or payment, then they ought to have secured it more thoroughly. Don't worry, Lyntael, from what I can see the last update signature on the cache was several years ago. Just lost data.” His voice, seeming to emanate from just behind and above her shoulder as it usually did, made Lyntael glance back in that direction before casting her gaze up to the cloudy sky as she walked on.

“I can't imagine how someone could just 'lose' an amount like that... it's more than a hot chocolate and a snack...”
“Try not to worry about it, Lyntael. There are a lot of reasons that currency gets hidden or set aside where it's unlikely to be found, and just as many reasons why the hands intending to come back for it don't manage to... and to be honest, they aren't... all... nefarious or tragic. We may never know.” At Rogan's reassurance, Lyntael nodded and shrugged once, then turned her eyes to the path ahead, trying as best she could to press deeper into the territory where the viral upsurge was thought to be sourced.

((Ready for Battle 13))

Touching the PMD in front of her, the crystalized data would begin to unfurl and open up widely for her, a massive amount of workable data flooding out of the top towards her feet, quickly covering her ankles in usable zenny.

PMD reward: 18,000z

Spots still wavered across her vision for a few moments more as Lyntael held her stance, watching the remaining viruses flee the scene of destruction. Her charge strained, throbbing beneath her skin and she felt herself sway to a moment of dizziness at the effort of holding it back. Once it was clear they were leaving, she closed her eyes again for a moment and tried to catch her breath as she focused on diffusing the force of her charge safely. A couple of big bursts was still all it took to push her into dangerous territory, even if she felt like she had more control. Around her, the warding energy field shimmered into visibility, crackling softly while small cascades of free sparks rolled off her in radiating fans.

After another moment she stood straight and drew a longer breath; the charge was still aggressively strong, but it as enough to press on with. Her muscles felt hot, with the beginnings of the familiar electrified burning, but the sensation was fading slowly as long as she continued to cool off. She moved to inspect what remained of the viral machine.

“Just broken code and data, Lyntael.” Rogan's voice reassured a worry she hadn't realised she felt, but he was right; the remnants were breaking apart further, but they were clearly mechanical and cybernetic, nothing more. There had been a moment, she realised, as she struck, when the thought of the twisted abomination of a navi had flashed through her mind, and the image of her brutal strike rending flesh and boiling blood had stung at her subconscious. She looked at the broken parts in front of her again.

“Y-yeah... I know.” A spark of flickering data caught her eye as her gaze traced over it, and Lyntael reached out one hand to pull it towards herself. It came as a thread, still coherent in function, and she let it wrap around her wrist and fingers before sending it away. How many of these pieces of chip data had Rogan managed to hawk, she wondered. With a last lingering look at the destroyed metavirus, Lyntael turned away to give the rest of the battlefield a cursory glance. Quick steps took her across to the purple data crystal, but she hesitated a few feet from it. She waited to give her body one more chance to shed sparks, then stepped up to it and reached out a hand. She'd never seen one of this colour before, but the data density was magnitudes higher than most of the others she'd encountered before, and it was strange to think that caches of this capacity were just forgotten and lost, left unprotected. Still careful of her cooling charge, Lyntael set about decrypting the data's outer seal.

((Open PMD))

As Lyntael began to make her move, the two viruses on the edge of the field opened up from listening to her footsteps, the Bark looking slightly shocked at her sudden movements away into the center of the field. Her steps over the sand brushing the grains aside as she continued towards her target, whilst the Shellnerd would open up for an attack upon the encroaching navi, one spear off to the side, whist the other would be brushed aside from her torrential winds.

The metool would open up in turn as well, sending out a blast of energy at the encroaching navi as she made it to her target, the barrier absorbing the shot and brushing aside the damage entirely, as she unloaded upon the metavirus, pushing it back into the sand almost immediately after starting her assault and, while a couple attacks would go wide, she would find purchase with the others...but underneath the attacks, the final one would seal the deal, sending half it's body flying off into the distance...while the other half, drained of integrity, would indeed fall over into the twisting sands, dead. The trio of viruses remaining would watch in horror as the big virus they followed fell over dead, the lark immediately floating over to the Shellnerd and grasping it firmly in it's mouth, as the Met would waddle over and jump onto it's back, before the three would leave without further confrontation. Battle Routines faltered and ended immediately afterwards. Little remained of the virus in front of her, but...at least it's remains would make for good chip data at least.

-- Viruses --
Shellnerd EXShellnerd EX (ShellGeek)

Shellgeeks alternate actions between attacking and guarding. These are the only actions Shellgeeks may perform, and the first action of every battle is always guarding. Shellgeeks will not break from this pattern unless forced to by status effects. The secondary attack of Shellgeeks can be used to grant an ally of this virus a free movement, or even to knock an ally out of the path of an oncoming attack.

Area: Yoka, Sharo, Beach, Okuden Valley

HP: 160
Primary Attack Damage/Effects: 25 Null x 2 Spears
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: Fires two spears at one target.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effects: 50 Null
Secondary Attack Accuracy: B
Secondary Attack Description: Fires a star tipped arrow. Can be used on an ally to move them. Causes no damage to allies.
Element: Aqua
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): TripleNeedle, StarArrow2 (Rare), Zenny
Special: Attacks every other action. IronBody when not attacking.: RUNNING
Bark EXBark EX (Lark)

Area: Electown, Yoka, Beach

HP: 250
Attack Damage/Effect: 60 Aqua + Wide Attack
Attack Accuracy: A
Attack Description: Fires wideshot.
Element: Aqua
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): WideShot2, Zenny
Special: Omnishoes
Special: Can blind one enemy once instead of attacking.: RUNNING
RapidFire V4RapidFire V4 (RapidFire)

RapidFires are a combination of the Megalian-F, Cirkill, and OldStove viruses. They look like a Cirkill painted red with two arms instead of one. The virus is orbited by four flaming red option bits that assist it in attacking. The virus itself attacks close range opponents with flamethrowers, while the option bits launch volleys of fireballs at more distant targets or dash at enemies.... sometimes both.

Area: All

HP: 620
Element: Fire

Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Fire + Seeking x 4 Shots
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: Bits launch a volley of fireballs at the enemy.

Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 80 Fire + Break + Piercing
Secondary Attack Accuracy: B
Secondary Attack Description: Sends a flaming Bit flying ahead in a line. The bit may be attacked to damage the virus when executing this attack.

Tertiary Attack Damage/Effect: 60 Fire + Line Attack(3) + Panel Cracking
Tertiary Attack Accuracy: B
Tertiary Attack Description: Use Flamethrower on enemies that get too close.

Special: This virus has a 100 HP FireAura that regenerates at the end of every turn.
Special: This virus may attack while moving or dodging.

Possible Rewards (Per Virus): CircleGun2, FireAura2, Barrier100, FireBurn2, AuraHead2, Zenny: FINISHED IT
NeoMetool2NeoMetool2 (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: 100
Attack Damage/Effect: 40 Null + Spread 2
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Spits out a bullet that penetrates an enemy to hit up to two other enemies behind and to the side of it, as if forming a V shape.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): V-Gun, HiGuard, Zenny
Special: Can hide in its helmet to negate damage.
Special: If hit while hiding, it will counter with a Microburst effect as a free action. This does not lower its defenses.
Special: Can use Recover50 on itself once.: RUNNING

-- Navis --
Lyntael.EXE: 290 HP (Behind the Metal Pillar, from the perspective of the Rapidfire) (Grass) (Charge1)(20HP Casing)(20HP ElecBarrier)(OffTarget1 next turn)

-- Terrain --
30% Normal

• No effects.

(Lightly scattered about, roughly a feint away from one another and in a 1x2 formation each inner field. with a larger 3x3 square towards the center)
25% Grass

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

(Roughly in large chunks circling the outside of the sandy inner-fields)
5% Soil

• Wood Elementals get +10% Evasion.
• Wood attacks: +100% Source Damage, change terrain hit to Grass.
• 100 Damage Aqua attacks: Change terrain hit to Mud.
• 100 Damage Fire attacks: change terrain hit to Coal.
• PanelShot: Imbue Wood.

(Where the Rapidfire attacked at, in a straight line from it's position)
25% Sand

• -20% Evasion and reduced movement speed to all.
• Can Burrow as standard action, incurable Blind1 until turn after exiting Burrow.
• Wind attacks: +100% Source Damage + Blind1, change terrain hit to Normal, trigger Sandstorm for 3 turns: Lose 5 HP/action, Blind1, Fire attacks gain Slashing.
• Fire attacks: Change terrain hit to Glass.
• Terrain changes between Sand and QuickSand do not inflict damage upon burrowed entities, nor do they eject burrowed entities to the surface.
• PanelShot: Blind1.

(Mostly inner-field, mostly in one-chunk interspersed with the Normal within and bleeding into the outer circle of grass)
5% Glass

• Slip Effect: -10% Accuracy, -10% Evasion to all.
• Non-Ice Aqua attacks causes it to be Wet, doubles slip effect for Non-Aqua Elementals for 1 turn. Wet can expire early with Fire attacks. Can cause slippage for poor RP or heavy impacts on Non-Aqua Elementals, 1-2 actions to recover.
• 200 Damage attacks: Change terrain hit to Broken. Damage threshold cut in half for Ground, Break, and Impact, to a minimum threshold of 25 when all 3 are present. Null 25 + Slashing + Nova 2 per panel broken, up to 200 (8 panels).
• Burrow: Change terrain to Broken, 50 Null + Slashing to burrower, Null 25 + Slashing + Nova2 to surroundings.
• PanelShot: Spread1.

(Where the Rapidfire attacked in a straight line leading from it)
10% Broken

• Not bottomless.
• Reverts to Normal after a time, if no one is inside.
• Doubles dodge penalties for bad RP.
• 1-4 Movements actions to climb back out depending on method.

Where the RapidFire and the other viruses have broken the paneling

-- Objects --
PMD: 20 HP (Spinning behind the Neometool2) (Normal)
Stone Pillar: 40 HP (Half burried in the sand, to the Northwest, about a movement away) (Hardbody)
Metal Pillar: 39 HP (Standing tall, about 2 "normal" navis tall, extremely sturdy, near Lyn's position) (Metalbody)

BATTLE 12 WIN
12,600z, 30 bugfrags, FireAura2Protection: Any Non-Aqua attack lower than 80 HP
Accuracy: S
Description: Negates any Non-Aqua attack less than 80HP
Duration: Three turns, or until destroyed
Element: Fire
Special: Status Guard: This chip blocks debuffs.
Trader Rank: B

The crash of the flaming option scorching the ground as Lyntael darted to the side was accompanied by a rolling wave of heat that she had to turn her face from. The searing heat was met a moment later by a sudden freezing splash of water that drenched her through her barrier, from the other side of her hiding place. Lyntael gasped, but for once the potentially embarrassing situation was averted by her new suit. Water ran down her body and sizzled in her hair as sparks cracked, but this time there were no traitorously thin fabrics to render transparent. Small fortunes. She spared a side glance for the lurking Bark, but grit her teeth without retaliating.

Electricity danced under her skin as her charge rose and pressed against her, yearning to release, but there were bigger threats, and if the soggy old fish wasn't going to listen to reason then perhaps it would obey its own survival instincts instead... it had to understand, the more she parked up, that harassing her further wasn't a good idea for it. A threatening pulse wave of sparks cascaded from her body as a warning as she gave the Bark a final glare, before she turned her focus to the RapidFire and took a breath before darting out form behind the pillar towards it.

Her steps were fast and light as she darted across the more open space, shifting with small sips and dodges over the damaged terrain and around other obstacles to close in on the meta-virus. Her eyes were focused on her main target, without regard to the other viruses for now – this one was a clear weapon, and with any luck, destroying it would send the other little ones running without any further violence... at least she hoped so.

As she drew closer, sudden movement made her veer a half step and spring up, her leading foot sweeping around in a shell of buffeting wind that battered away the incoming attack as her body spun and she landed again, still running. With a final crouched skid on the sandy ground as she moved into the meta's personal space, Lyntael braced low then thrust herself upwards again, leading with her left fist this time. Her charge roared and she let it flow through her, combining from her strikers into a spiralling, shearing twist of electrical force that sheathed her arm as she punched upwards and twisted her body with the momentum. There was a pressure of heat all around the virus but she tried to batter through it and land in amongst its limbs and circling options.

She didn't let herself pause, or give the virus any time to react to her presence, if she could help it; her charge thrummed at the momentary empty void and cycled back swiftly but Lyntael held it down as she moved with precision. Small, light steps darted around the massive virus as she sought to debilitate its various weapons; two quick kicks, on foot after the other, aimed at downing some of its orbiting bits, twisting around its back flank to aim two more rapid fist strikes at the back of its arm cannons, and a last thrusting palm strike at its central column as she circled back around to its front on the other side. With each strike, the insistent build of her charge demanded release, but she restrained it, letting each forceful pulse add itself to the ever growing glow of energy massing at each of her wrists and ankles.

After the fifth swift debilitating strike, the force was too much and Lyntael heard the soft growl of effort in her own throat as she took a half step back, bent one knee and launched herself up towards the virus' head – She had to hope there were important systems there, given how it looked. A flurry of wind rose around her as she leapt up, dropping her shoulder as she drew level with its head and twisting hard to bring her back leg over the top in a scything axe drop towards her target. Lightning screamed in her muscles as she felt her charge break her hold and pour outward, burning a course through all of her limbs until it found release in a flare of blinding energy bright enough to illuminate the network for miles around. There was a moment of sensory obliteration; just her body as conduit for the overwhelming flood of lightning, and all other sense and awareness burned away.

She felt herself land after a moment that felt like it lasted an hour, every fibre of her body burning with the aftermath of the torrent to electricity it had processed. Inside her, the void of emptiness yawned and howled for a few seconds, but as her heat beat again it was answered by a resounding static that hummed and rose afresh, flooding her body and suffusing her skin as she stood up again.

“I asked nicely before. Believe me, none of you want to be here any more!” The words came out as a ragged shout while her vision was still clearing from the sight-blinding flash, but Lyntael took her stance again and pushed the rising charge down as best she could. One day she would learn proper pacing... too much too fast again, but if she was lucky the show of force might save her any further effort.

Summary

L4) My faith Can Heal, with time for laughter: (Buster Charge, Feint, Movement, 10Elec Nova2, Wind-Type, Knockback, Self-Slow (1 Rank, 1 round), 3CD (Overcharge -2)
L5) My Anger Directed, 'gainst violent threat: (ShotBase(50)Elec, Wind-Type, Break, Impact, Slashing, Knockback, A), Buster Shot (30null, Disarm x 5 hits, A), Off-Target (1 Rank, 1 Round), 3CD (Overcharge +6)
L6) Full-Charge Buster Strike: (600Elec, Disarm, Melee, A) (Overcharge +8)

Cooldowns and Overcharge

My Faith can Heal, with time for laughter (3TCD)
My Heart Falters, yet beats anew (3TCD)
My Anger Directed, 'gainst violent threat (3TCD)
A Loving Heart, and a second chance (2TCD)

Overcharge: Begin: +0, My Faith Can Heal (-2), My Anger Directed (+6), Full Charge Strike (+8)End: +14

As the viruses stared at Lyntael as she began her usual preperations, a soft breeze surrounding her, a casing wrapping around her body in preperation for attacks that the viruses could barely see...her words...falling on deaf ears as the Bark began to move inwards, slowly floating over the terrain as it got closer to the dancer, closer and closer it floated, slowly making it's way onto the grassy areas on the outer field and roughly a few meters away as it had circled around to her right.

The barrier went up and the Rapidfire, however, would immediately open up and send one of it's orbitals down the line, attempting to scorch Lyntael as the dancer darted behind the nearby metallic pillar, barely avoiding being scorched as her new suit warmed up almost immediately, not unpleasant, but would have been worse had she not moved as grass withered and burned away leaving the fertile soil unerneath and sand superheated into a rough glassy terrain, a little uneaven, but still unmistakably fragile, while it's Option unit would return with an audiable click. At that point the Bark would then open fire on the moving navi attempting to use the pillar as cover, while it would hit the pillar and the navi next to it, while her barrier stood against the threatening high pressure water wave, it was barely holding on as rivulets of water fell from her body.

Wet but undeterred, Lyntael would make her chance to heal up with a nice, deep breath...even if it took a bit of energy for a net positive. The NeoMet would take this lull in combat to hide away inside it's helmet and, with it, potential invincibility. The Shellnerd would stay clasped up in the same vein as it couldn't hit Lyn from where it was at just yet, her cover too much to pierce through with a couple needles.

-- Viruses --
Shellnerd EXShellnerd EX (ShellGeek)

Shellgeeks alternate actions between attacking and guarding. These are the only actions Shellgeeks may perform, and the first action of every battle is always guarding. Shellgeeks will not break from this pattern unless forced to by status effects. The secondary attack of Shellgeeks can be used to grant an ally of this virus a free movement, or even to knock an ally out of the path of an oncoming attack.

Area: Yoka, Sharo, Beach, Okuden Valley

HP: 160
Primary Attack Damage/Effects: 25 Null x 2 Spears
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: Fires two spears at one target.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effects: 50 Null
Secondary Attack Accuracy: B
Secondary Attack Description: Fires a star tipped arrow. Can be used on an ally to move them. Causes no damage to allies.
Element: Aqua
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): TripleNeedle, StarArrow2 (Rare), Zenny
Special: Attacks every other action. IronBody when not attacking.: 160 HP (Shielded) (In the west, about a movement away) (Grass) (2 Actions)
Bark EXBark EX (Lark)

Area: Electown, Yoka, Beach

HP: 250
Attack Damage/Effect: 60 Aqua + Wide Attack
Attack Accuracy: A
Attack Description: Fires wideshot.
Element: Aqua
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): WideShot2, Zenny
Special: Omnishoes
Special: Can blind one enemy once instead of attacking.: 250 HP (Floating within a couple arms lengths away from Lyntael on the right of her) (Grass) (0 Actions)
RapidFire V4RapidFire V4 (RapidFire)

RapidFires are a combination of the Megalian-F, Cirkill, and OldStove viruses. They look like a Cirkill painted red with two arms instead of one. The virus is orbited by four flaming red option bits that assist it in attacking. The virus itself attacks close range opponents with flamethrowers, while the option bits launch volleys of fireballs at more distant targets or dash at enemies.... sometimes both.

Area: All

HP: 620
Element: Fire

Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Fire + Seeking x 4 Shots
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: Bits launch a volley of fireballs at the enemy.

Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 80 Fire + Break + Piercing
Secondary Attack Accuracy: B
Secondary Attack Description: Sends a flaming Bit flying ahead in a line. The bit may be attacked to damage the virus when executing this attack.

Tertiary Attack Damage/Effect: 60 Fire + Line Attack(3) + Panel Cracking
Tertiary Attack Accuracy: B
Tertiary Attack Description: Use Flamethrower on enemies that get too close.

Special: This virus has a 100 HP FireAura that regenerates at the end of every turn.
Special: This virus may attack while moving or dodging.

Possible Rewards (Per Virus): CircleGun2, FireAura2, Barrier100, FireBurn2, AuraHead2, Zenny: 620 HP (Expressing it's superiority in the rough center of the area, through high grade firepower) (Normal) (2 Actions)
NeoMetool2NeoMetool2 (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: 100
Attack Damage/Effect: 40 Null + Spread 2
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Spits out a bullet that penetrates an enemy to hit up to two other enemies behind and to the side of it, as if forming a V shape.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): V-Gun, HiGuard, Zenny
Special: Can hide in its helmet to negate damage.
Special: If hit while hiding, it will counter with a Microburst effect as a free action. This does not lower its defenses.
Special: Can use Recover50 on itself once.: 100 HP (About mid-field, towards the western part of the sands) (Guarding) (Normal) (1 action)

-- Navis --
Lyntael.EXE: 290 HP (Behind the Metal Pillar, from the perspective of the Rapidfire) (Grass) (Charge1)(20HP Casing)(20HP ElecBarrier)(OffTarget1 next turn)

-- Terrain --
30% Normal

• No effects.

(Lightly scattered about, roughly a feint away from one another and in a 1x2 formation each inner field. with a larger 3x3 square towards the center)
25% Grass

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

(Roughly in large chunks circling the outside of the sandy inner-fields)
5% Soil

• Wood Elementals get +10% Evasion.
• Wood attacks: +100% Source Damage, change terrain hit to Grass.
• 100 Damage Aqua attacks: Change terrain hit to Mud.
• 100 Damage Fire attacks: change terrain hit to Coal.
• PanelShot: Imbue Wood.

(Where the Rapidfire attacked at, in a straight line from it's position)
25% Sand

• -20% Evasion and reduced movement speed to all.
• Can Burrow as standard action, incurable Blind1 until turn after exiting Burrow.
• Wind attacks: +100% Source Damage + Blind1, change terrain hit to Normal, trigger Sandstorm for 3 turns: Lose 5 HP/action, Blind1, Fire attacks gain Slashing.
• Fire attacks: Change terrain hit to Glass.
• Terrain changes between Sand and QuickSand do not inflict damage upon burrowed entities, nor do they eject burrowed entities to the surface.
• PanelShot: Blind1.

(Mostly inner-field, mostly in one-chunk interspersed with the Normal within and bleeding into the outer circle of grass)
5% Glass

• Slip Effect: -10% Accuracy, -10% Evasion to all.
• Non-Ice Aqua attacks causes it to be Wet, doubles slip effect for Non-Aqua Elementals for 1 turn. Wet can expire early with Fire attacks. Can cause slippage for poor RP or heavy impacts on Non-Aqua Elementals, 1-2 actions to recover.
• 200 Damage attacks: Change terrain hit to Broken. Damage threshold cut in half for Ground, Break, and Impact, to a minimum threshold of 25 when all 3 are present. Null 25 + Slashing + Nova 2 per panel broken, up to 200 (8 panels).
• Burrow: Change terrain to Broken, 50 Null + Slashing to burrower, Null 25 + Slashing + Nova2 to surroundings.
• PanelShot: Spread1.

(Where the Rapidfire attacked in a straight line leading from it)
10% Broken

• Not bottomless.
• Reverts to Normal after a time, if no one is inside.
• Doubles dodge penalties for bad RP.
• 1-4 Movements actions to climb back out depending on method.

Where the RapidFire and the other viruses have broken the paneling

-- Objects --
PMD: 20 HP (Spinning behind the Neometool2) (Normal)
Stone Pillar: 40 HP (Half burried in the sand, to the Northwest, about a movement away) (Hardbody)
Metal Pillar: 39 HP (Standing tall, about 2 "normal" navis tall, extremely sturdy, near Lyn's position) (Metalbody)