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At the sound of shouts – navigator shouts – Lyntael's attention snapped forward and her breath caught. Without thinking, she darted forward, one foot kicking off a solid rock and launching her swiftly on over the mud as a curling tailwind lengthened her stride and raced her towards the sounds.

As the scene came into view between the landscape, her eyes locked first to the floating skull shape, and then briefly all around; fallen weapons, churned ground, but no sign of any other navis. The creature began to take note of her, more pieces of its form rising from the mud, and Lyntael skidded to a brief halt a short way from it. Her heart beat had spiked up sharply in her chest and her charge hummed in adrenalin-spurred instinct as she grit her teeth, trying to assess.

“Lyntael, it's reading here as another one of those... abominations that Eurayle was contending with.” Rogan's voice sounded cold and unamused. “I wonder if this is truly the source of the viral issues, or if she took the opportunity to point us at another of her problems instead...”

“Doesn't matter.” Lyntael drew herself up and ready, pulling in the tailwind that had come with her to form a protective shell as her inner charge began to suffuse her skin and send glowing light caustics across her body. As the charge flooded her skin, the same pulse expanded outward into a familiar shell of energy that stabilised as it passed her strikers then faded from sight. If it was another one, like the one she'd had to fight before, it was probably in pain as well, and confronting it was the right thing to do, no matter how she'd ended up here. Louder than her soft response to Rogan, she called out.

“I'm here to help, if anyone can hear me!” She doubted the creature itself would respond, but she definitely heard the shouts of other navis before. Hopefully they they made it out alright, if they weren't here any more. Lyntael tried to keep her steps light as she circled cautiously, making small darting steps and jumps as she traversed the mud and remained wary of what the creature was going to do.

“If there's any part of you in there that can be calm; any part of you that doesn't want to fight, please... we can find someone to help you.” she kept her guard up as she called to it, and her body was primed to retaliate if it managed to strike her, but she held off on attacking in full, at least for the moment.

“Lyntael, you know that won't have any effect on a program like this.” Rogan wasn't scolding her, or really chastising her with his words; she knew he felt compelled to speak them, just as much as he knew she would do as she had to regardless. He sounded serious and patient, and Lyntael nodded in turn.

“I know... I know, but I have to try; I could be wrong. It matters.” She murmured her response and listened to the soft sigh that followed.
“I know it does, Lyntael. Just be careful... this looks very dangerous.”

With his warning given, Rogan relented into silence as Lyntael moved around the creature, doing her best to avoid and evade any hostilities while she sought to learn what kind of threat it posed. The central core looked like a more obvious target, but she doubted whoever had performed the horrible experiments to create creatures like this would have left it exposed and undefended. Her eyes darted to the scattered weapons lying about the muddy area. They seemed like disarmed or disconnected chip data, maybe something the other navis had been trying to use. If blocking or breaking chips was a part of the creature's method, at least she'd be safe from that...



Summary

L*) Turbulence (Auto-deflect on shot or lobbed attack)
L*) Gust (Knockback effects are Double Strength, and attacks with them gain Wind type)
L*) First Armour: (20Hp Casing)
L1) A Burning Ache, for laughter recalled (Buster Charge, 40Hp Barrier, SupportBase(20), Counter(On Hit): (20Elec Nova2, Knockback)), 15Hp Sacrifice, Off-Target (1 Rank, 1 Round), 4CD (Overcharge -1)
L2) My Fear Swells, but I hold tight (Dodge, 20Elec Nova2, Knockback), Charge-Burner, 3CD (Overcharge +1)
L3) My Faith Can Heal, with time for laughter (Buster Charge, Feint, Movement, 10Elec Nova2, Knockback), Self-Slow (1 Rank, 1 round), 3CD (Overcharge -2)
L*) Fast Armour: 20Hp Casing Refresh
L4) Dodge (with the movement above, circling the creature, trying to get a good look at all of it, and the surrounding battlefield)
L5) Dodge (Assess the battlefield weapons; do they look like they've been here long; are some more recently discarded than others?)
L6) Dodge (Assess the creature; try to learn what she can about how it moves, and what dangers it poses)

Cooldowns and Overcharge

A Burning Ache, for laughter recalled
My Fear Swells, but I hold tight
My Faith Can Heal, with time for laughter

Overcharge: Begin: +0, A Burning Ache (-1), My Fear Swells (+1), My Faith Can Heal (-2), End: +0

Sometime after the two's chat and Lyntael continued onwards, several loud screams would sound out over the quiet waves of the sea waves rolling in and out. Moving forward towards the screams, a swamp at best with various bits and dealings from the sea strewn about in semi-dried up mud on the surface, clear signs of sand having mixed in throughout to create more "stable" footing, there were various HighCannons, WideSwords and other such weapons strewn about the area...and nobody around to wield them...a few steps more and the perpetrator would rise out of the swamp slowly. A fuzzy grey-purple skull caked in mud, rivulets of the thick brown substance sliding down as a pair of crimson red dots came to life like flickering lights.

Rising out of the mud after was a pair of towering above Lyntael's body, the same thick mud sliding down, grey-purple bones visibly flickering behind thin parts of the sludge that clung to it, a trio of rectangular fingers filling out the bottoms of each like giant hands as the head began to rise up even further above the dancer. Whilst this happened, a grey and purple core would float up between the two towering arms. flickering malevolently despite the light above, the creature letting out what sounded like a deep, unnerving chuckle as it's face curved upwards in a grin, muddy broken teeth in it's maw, as strands of energy would connect to the three parts to it like a puppeteer's core and strings.

Weather it was mimicry that brought Lyntael here or the beast devouring other navis in the area was unsure, and it was likely she'd not get an answer from the beast itself...but, despite all that, Rogan's PET flashed a name on the screen...ABOMINAVI: LEGION. Hidden identifiers for each of it's separate parts, but the core's integrity, the pulsating evil thing, was visible on Rogan's screen. All while the weaponry began to sink down into the mud like rocks.

-- Viruses --
Abominavi: Legion (All on Mud, to Lyntael's North, all close enough for Melee)
Head: ??? HP (Middle of the creature's form, between the two arms)
Left Arm: ??? HP (On Lyn's Left)
Right Arm: ??? HP
Core: 900 HP

-- Navis --
Lyntael.EXE: 350 HP (Mud)

-- Terrain --
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.

60%
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.

20% (Strewn about, mixed in with the mud, but still usable to Wind types)
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.

20% (Small puddles that are being absorbed by the mud)

BATTLE 15!

BATTLE ROUTINE. SET. EXECUTE.

As she caught her breath, Lyntael wobbled slightly, steadying her footing on the unstable ground and panting hard. The rushing swell of her charge replenishing itself made her wince and grit her teeth but she held it back and began forcing herself to cool down again, gradual small pulses of sparks crackling and rolling from her skin as the bursting need to expend again gradually calmed. Around her, the remaining other viruses had indeed decided to leave her alone, with the defeat of the violent bird of prey and Lyntael swallowed, watching its metallic parts breaking down rapidly. She probably could have run, instead of destroying it... probably, though it had been fast... but who else would it have preyed on if she hadn't stood her ground? It didn't feel good, but... maybe that was how it should be. She didn't want it to feel good.

“You know, Lyntael...” A dry and wryly amused Rogan spoke up, his voice emanating from just behind her as it usually did. “I suspect you'd have a very hard time convincing anyone that you 'weren't made for fighting' these days.” She heard him give a soft laugh at the comment, but there was a weight behind it that he was hiding as well, and she nodded slowly. With one hand she reached out, gathering the fragmented data and letting it coalesce into faint green strings that curled around her wrist and arm before trailing away.

“Maybe... But I wasn't, Rogan. You know that. I wasn't made for this, but I've learned, and I've grown...” She drew a deeper breath, letting the last of her sparks scatter and fade as her heart rate returned to a resting pace. “No matter what else has happened, I've always wanted to be what you... Hm...” She paused, drifting to silence for a moment as her thoughts corrected themselves and her footsteps began to gradually push her forward again, across the mud and muck and towards her destination. “Not... Not to be what you want, Rogan... we've argued enough about that... but to be able to do what you need me to do. There's a difference there that I think I didn't quite understand, in the early days.” She glanced out towards the sea, then forward again as she heard Rogan sigh.

“If I may confess, Lyntael... I suspect that what I thought I wanted of you, and what you wanted to be, were very distinctly different things.” He was quiet for another moment, but Lyntael let the silence hold until he continued. “They might still be, now, if I'm honest...” She heard him draw a breath, hesitating across the connection. “Lyntael, I...” He breathed out again with a short sigh. “Later. You should be almost there...”

As she pushed forward, looking around for further signs of whatever it was that Eurayle had pointed them towards, Lyntael didn't press Rogan to continue. There were plenty of things they probably needed to talk about before it was time for the next mission, and several things besides that she... wasn't really letting herself process with until after she was back home and could unpack it more. Her body was aching by this point, and as much as Rogan had reported that her vitals were stable, according to the PET and its readings of her, she felt exhausted and worn down from the day's training. If they could just take care of whatever the threat was here, that would be enough... she needed tea and a shower, and ideally a bathroom, and was very much ready for this outing to be completed.

((Ready for Battle 15))

Quickening pulse and instinctually bringing her defenses up to protect against the massive bird before her, the navi was beset upon without a second to think, the Swirly moving in without a second thought and attempting to catch her up in it's vortex of a body, the navi stepping just back enough to avoid it's boomerang path. Whilst the virus had missed, the Tinhawk would take it's chance to strike, bringing it's massive wings back and with a few mighty flaps would create a sharp tonado, feathers caught in the vortex as it sent it down at the navi, only for her own blustery winds to manage to buffet it's own winds back to sender, if off-course just enough to miss the bird entirely.

This would cause ire in the eyes of the bird above her, but with her sparks, a small shock would begin to crawl up the feathered fiend's leg, causing a small amount of discomfort in the creature, as well as the Swirly that had nearly hit her a moment ago (10, 20!) leading towards her sending another out, managing to hit the two again as she continued to gather charge inside her (10, 20!). The Shellnerd continued to hold steady in it's shell as the Genin looked onwards, it's moveset entirely set to counter attacks against it, not others, since it was unable to find any sort of terrain to hide behind. But that didn't stop the Tinhawk from attacking again, talons quick to smash against the soft mud underfoot, and getting a bunch of it on Lyntael's borrowed suit, whilst it struk furiously against the navi, she was more than ready to avoid, bobbing and weaving through the attacks like droplets of rain in a thunderstorm. As, again, she shocked the bird whilst the Swirly would lunge in again like a boomerang, only to both get a nasty shock twice over and, additionally, missing it's attack entirely from the shock of it all (20, 40!/10, 20!).

All this time having been spent preparing her attack, her body was ready to unleash it's attack and, with it, the Tinhawk would immediately swoop down obliviously against the navi, talons outstretched, but while it had been unnoticed, the Shellnerd made a gambit with it's attack as Lyntael moved to strike in turn finally, the shelled virus would shoot out a star of energy and aimed it right at the massive virus in front of it as it moved in for attack...despite the travel time, it was all but sure to hit the tinhawk at the end of it...if Lyntael had been slower on the draw that is. She had calculated it right. She hit the Tinhawk square on the chest with her built up power. Thunder roared out, and with it, the Hawk would be little more than dispersed data when vision returned. Nothing left of the Tinhawk...and scared faces on the trio of remaining viruses. The Genin would quickly pick up the Shellnerd without a second thought...and all three would flee the battle...and upon a cursory glance...a single talon would survive the Tinhawk's vaporization...

-- Viruses --
SwirlySwirly (Whirly)

Area: Yoka, Beach, Sharo

HP: 140
Attack Damage/Effect: 40 Aqua x 3 targets
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Tries to spin into you along a boomerang shaped path.
Element: Aqua
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): AquaWhirl2, Zenny
Special: Omnishoes. Cannot fly into high altitude.: 40 HP (Sea) (Behind the shadow of the TinHawk)
TinHawk V4TinHawk V4 (TinHawk)

TinHawk is a combination of the Fishy, Genin, and Typhoon viruses. It appears to be a large, dark brown bird, with razor sharp wings and short but thick legs and feet. As one might expect, it prefers to attack by swooping in and overwhelming foes with its size, repeatedly tearing foes with its claws, and by creating mighty gusts of wind with its wings. But it does have yet another trick for the unwary...

Area: All

HP: 580
Element: Null

Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 60 Null + Impact + Piercing + Line Attack(5)
Primary Attack Accuracy: C
Primary Attack Description: Swoops down and through a straight path.

Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: (25 Null x 3 Hits) + Homing + NorthWind + Wind Type
Secondary Attack Accuracy: C
Secondary Attack Description: Creates a small whirlwind that hunts down its target. Blows away barriers and auras on contact.

Tertiary Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Null x 9 hits + Slashing
Tertiary Attack Accuracy: B
Tertiary Attack Description: Flies down to a target, and repeatedly claws the foe with its powerful talons.

Special: OmniShoes
Special: SuperArmor: Immunity to Knockback, Microburst, Pull, Gravity, and similar effects.
Special: Once per turn, this virus can counter a BattleChip with a ranged version of its Tertiary Attack as a free action.

Possible Rewards (Per Virus): DashAttack2, Kunai2, Hurricane, HawkCut2, NorthWind, Zenny: DELETED
Genin2Genin2 (Genin)

Area: Beach, Yumland, Netfrica

HP: 140
Attack: 70 Null + Slashing + Group Attack (MoonBlade) / 10 Null + Slashing x 7 Attacks x 2 Targets (Kunai)
Attack Accuracy: B / B
Attack Description: Counter attacks with either a spinning cut or a volley of Kunai.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Kunai2, MoonBlade2, Zenny
Special: This virus does not initiate attacks on it's own.
- Seeks cover behind objects when not attacking.
- If no objects are present, this viruses evasion is enhanced.
- Counters Battlechip use with Kunai once per turn.
- Counters Buster use with MoonBlade once per turn.
- Counters Sig Attack use with either Kunai, or Moonblade once per turn.: 140 HP (Mud) (To the North-West, roughly within a movement's worth of distance)
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 (Mud) (Towards the Eastern area of the field, but still within feint distance)

-- Navis --
Lyntael.EXE: 350 HP (Mud) (Roughly in the center of the area, more towards the south) (Casing20)(Barrier40)(Counter:20Elec Nova2 knockback) (off-target2)(Self-slow2)

-- Terrain --
45% 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.

(Smaller patches scattered about, with a much larger area in the North)
55% 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.

(Roughly the rest of the area, bleeding into the sea)

BATTLE VICTORY
14,400z, 15bugfrags, HawkCut2Damage: 40 + Consecutive Strike + Slashing x 3 hits
Accuracy: B
Description: Performs a flashy 3-hit sword strike. Gets stronger with each hit, but it's very easy for the timing to be thrown off and fail.
Duration: Once
Element: Null
Special: Consecutive Strike: This attack's power increases by 10 with each consecutive successful hit. This stacks with other HawkCut series chips, including DeltaRayEdge. This chip immediately ends upon missing, and the power boost is reset to 0.
Trader Rank: C

As she focused on the map, eyes closed, Seafoam felt almost like she could hear the roll and crash of waves, and the scent of salty brine. The ground seemed to lurch underneath for for a moment, and as her eyes snapped open to catch her balance, the inquisitive navi found herself on what looked like the deck of a small raft, crudely cobbled together with a shallow keel and low guard rails all around. Tall waves dwarfed the tiny raft, lifting and dropping it again while a black storm rumbled and cracked overhead. Huddled in the centre of the raft, a familiar-looking trio of metools hid under their helmets, bopped around like beans in a basket while the storm battered at them. Far off, a rocky cliffside was just visible off the bow of the raft and its single-mast sail was straining in the storm winds as it tugged the tiny craft gradually towards the land.

Shapes moved in between the dark waves, and the raft seemed to be taking on water; one of the trio had begun attempting to bail water, while another fought to keep the sail straight, but they each ended up ducking for cover beneath their helmets again any time the raft lurched badly. It seemed like it might make land, just... or it might not, and that was without dealing with whatever danger lurked in the waters.

For a moment or two, Seafoam was aware of the sense of this being some kind of memory or vision, but then the sense faded and the world around her began to feel and seem real in every way that mattered... though it didn't seem as though the trio of metools cold see her or were aware of her presence in their unfolding story. The question was, what seemed more important for Seafoam to do in this moment?

A quick check failed to reveal any extra features on the badge Prose had given him, unfortunately. It was convincing enough visually, and it would probably get him past and staff or security doors that needed an ID scan, but there didn't appear to be any higher order functions to the tag... it seemed like Delta might be on his own for now.

His shouts caught the attention of the playing navigators who each looked around in confusion for a moment, before beginning to make a hasty retreat towards the sand while Delta approached the shape below the waters. The reaching tentacles lunged upward but their ambush was spoiled; most of the grabbing tendrils missed their marks and the one that managed to catch at a navi's ankle only held for a moment before she slipped free with a shriek of panic and swiftly rushed to join her friends. Frustrated, however, the dark shaped turned its attention to the noisy navi interrupting its schemes. At least it seemed like Delta had something of a clear space to operate in for the moment.

-=Beach Invaders=-
JellyJelly (Jelly)

Jelly are floating, jellyfish-like viruses, that seem to simply float nonchalantly, yet are deceptively difficult to combat. Fortunately, their rarity ensures they they never appear before a Battle 6, and there are never more than 2 in a single battle. While their horizontal movement is terrible at best, they can easily adjust their altitude as needed. By default, however, they tend to hover a couple of feet above the ground. The exception to this is when they attack. Jelly attack by launching large waves of water at enemies The attack cycle of Jelly is 2 actions long. It requires one action to charge before firing. If they are stunned or otherwise temporarily disabled, they resume their attack cycle where it was halted once the stun wears off. When they attack, they drop to the ground in order to pump out as much liquid as possible. This allows them to harness the power of certain kinds of terrain to boost their attacks, but it also makes them immobile and vulnerable to ground-based attacks for the duration.

Area: Beach

HP: 220
Attack Damage/Effect: 30 Aqua + Ground Attack + Wide Attack + Sea Terrain Boost 20 + 1 action charge
Attack Accuracy: A
Attack Description: It charges itself with innate elemental energy, then launches a hard-to-avoid wall of water at enemies. The attack is stronger if performed over Sea terrain.
Element: Aqua
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Wave1 (Rare), Zenny
Special: OmniShoes
Special: This virus can move forward, backward, or to the side, but it does this so slowly that it cannot evade attacks this way.
Special: This virus can move up and down at high speed in order to avoid attacks while charging. While they can float fairly high, they cannot achieve High Altitude status.
Special: This virus is anchored and cannot move when attacking.??: 220Hp [Sea][Submerged; near the bottom, about a movement deep]
StarfishStarfish (Starfish)

Area: Yoka, Beach

HP: 60
Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Aqua + Bubble Trap + 3 targets
Attack Accuracy: D
Attack Description: Launches three slow moving bubbles that trap the targets in a bubble prison, immobilizing them. These bubbles act as 10 HP objects, and can be shot before they make contact to pop them. Conversely, the virus can block incoming attacks with them.
Element: Aqua
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): BubbleStar1, Zenny
Special: Bubble Trap: Any target hit with this virus' attack will be instantly trapped in a 10 HP Aqua Element Bubble that can only be popped from the outside. Targets trapped within these bubbles will take 100% more damage from Elec element attacks. The Bubbles will expire at the end of the turn, or when hit.
Special: This attack can hit the same target multiple times (up to 3), or attack 3 separate targets.
Special: Targets trapped in Bubbles are easier to move with Wind Effects, Knockback, and Microburst than normal.: 60Hp [Sea][Submerged; on the bottom, about a movement deep]
SlimeySlimey (Slimey)

Slimey viruses were produced to be sources of major traffic lag. While a Slimey virus is on the battlefield, all Navis and SPs suffer from a passive Slow-like effect that imposes a -10% Evasion AND Movement Speed penalty. This effect is not a status ailment, and cannot be cured. This effect does not stack with itself if more than one Slimey is on the field at once. As this does not count as a true Slow effect, up to two instances of Slow may stack on top of this effect for a total penalty of -30% Evasion/Movement Speed. This effect expires when all Slimey viruses on the field are deleted or flee. Slimey viruses are very slow to move and dodge, but every move they make that is not a dodge counts as an attack. Slimeys deal damage by touching an opponent, thus touching a Slimey directly results in damage to any non-Slimey the virus considers hostile.

Area: Sharo, NetVegas, Beach

HP: 90
Attack Damage/Effect: 15 Aqua + Slow
Attack Accuracy: A
Attack Description: Body slams its foes. Any foes hit are slowed the following turn. Must be within melee range to attack a foe.
Element: Aqua
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): MetaGel1, Zenny
Special: While this enemy is on the field, dodge effectiveness is reduced by 1 Rank.: 90Hp [Sea][Submerged; on the bottom, about a movement deep]

-=Beach Inspector=-
Delta.Exe: 200Hp [Sea]

-=Beach Resort=-
70% 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.

Most of the area
10% Normal

• No effects.

Outer perimeter, a floating walkway between the resort waters and the rest of the ocean
20% 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.

The distant shore, about two movements away.

-=Beach Battle, Start!=-

Delta's initial patrol along the main beachfront seemed peaceful and safe, for the most part. Beach-going navis didn't pay him much heed and everything seemed calm for now. The early-morning resort guests were now just beginning to be joined by the more relaxed starters and navis of all types were dotted about sunbathing, playing in the sand, swimming or surfing.

An outer ring encompassed a large body of the sea directly off the beach, with a floating walkway ringing the outside. This seemed like it might effectively e the resort boundary, on the seaward side of things and marked the limit for where swimmers could expect to be safe from the normal perils of beach net. As delta made a trip along the gently bobbing perimeter path, the sea inside the boundary appeared clear of any mysterious anomalies, until he reached a point about two thirds of the way around his sweep.

A dark shape moved slowly, blending in with the sandy sea floor at the very bottom of the water - a large shape that was easy to miss at a glance. Upon closer inspection, Delta could make out that the creature, whatever it was, was hard to spot because it was largely transparent as it edged along the sandy bottom, but once he had seen it, Delta began to pick out what looked like a mass of thinner, longer tendrils and tentacles reaching forward and upwards, every so slowly and carefully, towards a group of navis playing games in the water, splashing each other and seemingly unaware of what approached from below.

While there didn't seem to be any obviously lurking viruses in his immediate vicinity, who knew what lingered in the unseen places of the resort? Prose, for her part just nodded again, seemingly satisfied with Delta's down-to-business demeanour. She pulled a small trinket, seemingly from the chest band of her swim suit, and handed it up to him. It looked like a small pager, except that it was white and circular, with a single red button on the front, a stylised red wing design on the back and a short antenna that ended in a fuzzy red tip.

"Just give that a press if you need to get in touch, no problem and good luck. I think you'll be fine!" As she stepped back again the small bunny-girl gave Delta another grin and a wave then seem to jump backwards as though hopping off the edge of a cliff. There was a terrible screeching static sound like tearing code or the fabric of the nearby net complaining, and then her form was simply gone from sight.

This left Delta with a few choices, on his own and with a mission to do. A sweep of the beach itself didn't seem likely to turn up any viruses that the civilians frequenting the area hadn't already found... though if there was something lurking unseen beneath the sparkling waters, there would be a lot of navis potentially in danger. He could also start by heading towards the more structured areas of the resort; there was the main resort lodge that presumably housed the private rooms and other accommodations for guests, a secondary series of smaller buildings that looked like they were mainly designed as restaurants and cosmetic beautification opportunities...

He could also try clearing out the pool and spa zones where were apart from the main buildings between the formal structures and the beach itself. Finally there was the partitioned off section of the beach at the opposite end of the resort from where he was now, and there was a door between the main buildings that looked like it would probably lead into the more 'behind the scenes' inner workings of the resort - staff rooms, storage areas and the like. Where he decided to start was mostly up to Delta now.

Sure enough, after a few moments of decoding and recompiling, the crystal opened up to present Seafoam with an additional chip for her troubles.

((GMD: FanHP: 100
Properties: Anchored
Object Damage: 100 + Impact
Damage Method: Telekinesis
Status Effect: Fan Effect + To-All-Clause (Enemies)
Accuracy: S
Description: Creates a VacuumFan to pull enemies closer and reduce their evasion.
Duration: 3 turns or until destroyed.
Element: Null
Special: Wind Type: This chip counts as Wind Type for the purposes of Wind triggered effects, such as traps and terrain.
Trader Rank: D))

The sudden swooping dive of the flying metavirus buffeted Lyntael as she twisted aside just in time and tried to steady her footing, a small gasp of surprise bitten off in the moment. Even as she tried to turn her sight to track the massive creature, her body was already responding ahead of her, her instinctive barrier crackling into shape as it spread out from her chest, stabilised as it passed beyond her strikers and faded from sight. Her charge lifted with the sudden spike of adrenalin, tingling beneath her skin as Lyntael herself drew a breath and took quick stock of the development.

Another metavirus; probably one of the largest ones she'd seen in person and clearly out for blood... the strange sensation struck her again as she watched it bank back towards her, just how calm she was in the face of the threat. She had no doubt those talons would rip her in two if they cold latch onto her properly, and the odds of reasoning with the creature seemed remote at best, but still... She let out a slower breath, setting her stance even as her heart rate rose to match her swelling charge. At the peripheral of her vision, she took note of the other viruses that had shown themselves – either disturbed by the larger one, or summoned by it to assist; either way, they weren't her enemies unless they made a point of it... but the large one certainly seemed to be barring her way forward, maybe even guarding it deliberately.

A small scattering of sparks fanned out from her body in between rising pulses of the charge in her chest and she focused on the hawk, tracking its movements and staying light enough on her feet to avoid any errant aggression from the surrounding viruses. She could feel the way the air curled around the flying virus, eddying about its wings as it arced in the sky... it almost felt like she could reach out to those same currents and pull them back from the creature... almost... around her a fresh flurry of cycling winds sprang up to enshroud her form and lift her steps as another pulse of electricity crackled from her skin into the surrounding mud and water.

She didn't strike out at anything actively, keeping her focus on the main virus and weaving in place as she needed to to track with its movements and avoid harm from other sources – any virus that got too close at the wrong time might get a sting, but Lyntael was focused on the more dangerous target alone, waiting for the right moment. She'd given it a chance to back off, but the hawk was making it clear that its first swoop was more than a warning shot, so dealing with it swiftly was the safest course now, to save herself and anyone else who passed by.

Her charge continued to build and she embraced it as another ripple of sparks washed off her form and her strikers began to glow brighter and brighter. Anything that managed to land a strike on her body at this point would receive a more thunderous cascade of electricity for its trouble, but Lyntael turned with the Hawk while the electric current filling her body made every part of her buzz with heat. She narrowed her stance and brought her hands close together on her central line, then let herself drop to one knee with her toes digging hard into the mud until she found the purchase of solid ground to brace against. Her own air currents circled, warding off attempts at ranged assault and she took a long breath then let it out slowly.

When the hawk dived for her again Lyntael held still, watching it, then sprang as it closed in. She leapt up and forward, driving with her braced leg to give the rising strike from her following foot as much speed and force as her small frame could put behind it. The power flooding her body flowed in a rush that gave sudden relief to its burning pressure, drawing in to her chest from every extremity then thundering outward through her ankle striker as her kick reached its peak. The flare of lightning obliterated all sense for a moment as Lyntael followed through. Her body arced over in a graceful turn that followed the momentum of her strike and trailed spiralling wind currents with her until she landed one foot after the other, a few feet back from where she'd leapt.

Her form held for a moment in perfect grace before the drain feeling dragged her to buckle and the empty void of charge gnawed at her. A pulse answered from somewhere deeper within her, and then the charge was surging back again, circling up inside her and filling her lungs with fresh breath as she blinked through the fading light of the blast to see if the aggressive virus had survived her response.

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) A Burning Ache, for laughter recalled (Buster Charge, 40Hp Barrier, SupportBase(20), Counter(On Hit): (20Elec Nova2, Knockback), 15Hp Sacrifice, Off-Target (1 Rank, 1 Round)), 4CD (Overcharge -1)
L2) A Manifest Spirit, and eyes that dance (10Elec Nova2, Take Aim, Dodge, Movement, Off-Target (1 Rank, 1 Round)), 3CD (Overcharge -1)
L3) A Single Ember, for a life once stalled (Buster Charge, Status Cure, SupportBase(20), 10Elec Nova2, Knockback, Self-Slow (1 Rank, 1 Round)), 3CD (Overcharge -1)
L*) Fast Armour: 20Hp Casing Refresh
L4) My Fear Swells, but I hold tight (Dodge, 20Elec Nova2, Knockback, Charge-Burner), 3CD (Overcharge +1)
L5) My Faith Can Heal, with time for laughter (Buster Charge, Feint, Movement, 10Elec Nova2, Knockback, Self-Slow (1 Rank, 1 round)), 3CD (Overcharge -2)
L6) Full-Charge Buster Strike (600Elec, Disarm, A (+Take Aim in case of negatives)), (Overcharge +12) @ TinHawk (meeting it if/when it comes for another fly-by)

Cooldowns and Overcharge

Overcharge: Begin: +0, A Burning Ache (-1), A Manifest Spirit (-1), A Single Ember (-1), My Fear Swells (+1), My Faith Can Heal (-2), Full-Charge Strike (+12), End: +12