Drawing A Blank

[From Electown]

Blank Man dropped into the ElecTown Net, appearing in a beam of pale light. He rose to a stand, turning his head to look around the busy network. It was bustling with activity, bright lights and colors advertising a wide array of virtual assets. The faceless Navi paid them little heed. He was here because it was local.

Blank Man turned his assessing gaze to the various Navis about as he passed by, walking deeper into the network with a single-minded stride. He was here to demonstrate his capabilities to his new operator. He was here to show off. "Do you know about virus busting?"

He could hear Blanche's voice replying, "Yeah, I took the class in school."

"Did you pass the class?"

Blanche was quiet.

[Request Battle 1]

BlankMan didn't need to wait long before a trio of viruses came around the nearby corner. The floating monkey creatures' hands burst into flame as they prepared for combat.

The School for Hard Busting was now in session.

-Viruses-
ChampuA: 60HP
ChampuB: 60HP
ChampuC: 60HP

-Terrain-
100% Normal

-Navis-
BlankMan.EXE: 100HP

~Battle 1: Start!!~

This was it. Blank Man's first battle with his new operator. This would be his opportunity to make a good first impression. He was certain he wouldn't disappoint. His featureless face turned as he surveyed the viruses briefly. He had never encountered this partcular type of virus before, but they didn't appear to be terribly tough. His feet shifted apart as he took a fighting stance. "The first step is to send chip data," Blank Man helpfully informed his operator.

"I know that!" Blanche replied.

A moment later, the chip data arrived. It was RageClaw1. Blanche's folder was still rather sparse, no doubt, but perhaps a few battles would help to fill it out.

Blank Man lifted his right arm, his hand briefly glowing with a pale light as he accessed his chip data. In a flash, his hand metamorphosed animal paw, like that of a bear, each digit capped with a menacing, talonous claw. An instant after, he darted forward towards one of the strange boxer viruses, swinging the claws at it with devastating strength.

The white Navi turned to another of the viruses, dashing towards it. He reached out that massive animal hand to wrap it around the rogue program, claws digging into it, and then he put the power of his full body into a broad overhand throw, hurling that second virus back towards the first. Blank Man allowed his momentum to continue into a foreward somersault, rolling out of the way and popping up out of the maneuver into a stand, ready for more.


Turn Summary:
1. RageClaw1: [40 + Slash] @ ChampuA
2. RageClaw1: Throw ChampaB [30 (Buff +10) + Impact] @ ChampuA [20 + Impact]
3. Dodge

As Blanche attempted to operate her Navi for the first time, BlankMan did his thing with the battlechip data, easily tearing through the first of the boxer viruses with a quick rake of his new claws. Now in close quarters with its adversary, the Champu managed to land one solid punch (10) on BlankMan's shoulder before one of its allies was sent flying towards it, deleting it. The remaining two attempted to spring some attacks as they teleported in BlankMan's face, but his quick roll managed to let him avoid their fiery fists.

-Viruses-
ChampuA: DELETED
ChampuB: 30HP
ChampuC: 60HP

-Terrain-
100% Normal

-Navis-
BlankMan.EXE: 90HP

[Little bit leaning towards godmoding there with the throw, but well, throws are hard to RP without a little bit of it so I'll let it pass.]

Blank Man took that punch squarely to his shoulder, reeling back a bit. But it wasn't enough to impede the flow of his movement. With one virus deleted and a second heavily damaged, the Navi turned his attention to the third. He rushed toward that boxer, his heavy claw still extended, and he swung it in two rapid, back-and-forth slashes.

Finally, Blank Man spun on his heels to face that damaged boxer, the same one he had thrown through the air. He extended his left hand, the one that was still a hand, to grasp the virus. It was Blank Man's signature move, his special attack. The Navi had the ability to draw fragments of a program's data into his own variable code, and his draining touch was aimed at his opponent.


Turn Summary:
1. RageClaw1: [50 (Buff +10) + Slash; Acc. B] @ ChampuC
2. RageClaw1: [40 + Slash; Acc. B] @ ChampuC
3. Data Drain: [30 Life Drain, Null; Acc. A] @ ChampuB

TCD: 2


((Thanks for the heads up; I'll try to be more careful about that))

Without letting up, BlankMan continued his assault, making full use of his RageClaw's sharpness and pointiness. The flow of his movement carried him to the untouched Champu's location, and a one-two swipe took care of things on that end. The remaining boxer virus, desperate to carry on its life, swung twice at BlankMan's chest. (10x2) Deletion soon came upon it despite its efforts, and the Navi's hand drew upon the virus's program integrity, absorbing it into his own. (+30)

-Viruses-
ChampuA: DELETED
ChampuB: DELETED
ChampuC: DELETED

-Terrain-
100% Normal

-Navis-
BlankMan.EXE: 100HP

-Battle 1, Victory!!-
Rewards: [FireHit1] Battlechip, 220z

"All clear," Blank Man stated, straightening upright as his claws dissolved. He accessed his new chip data, relaying it to his operator.

"Well, color me impressed," Blanche's voice was heard murmuring. "Are you alright? Did you get damaged?"

"I'm fine."

With his operator silent for a moment, Blank Man took the opportunity to walk around a bit, looking over his environment. He ignored the bright neon signboards and the tall buildings, focusing more on the other Navis and programs around, silently assessing them. Furthermore, he remained on the look out for more viruses.

"Well," Blanche finally spoke up, "Do you want to keep virus busting then?" Her voice seemed somewhat aloof, but her stoic tone hid a degree of excitement.

Blank Man simply replied, "I do."

[Request Battle 2]

Moving onwards into the Electown network, BlankMan encountered a maze of ramps and paths moving up and down and all around. The display is a little disorienting, and as he descended a wide downwards ramp, he encountered a few viruses blocking his path. A couple of spring-loaded Bunny viruses hopped about two paper-puppet Powies up along the ramp, when they saw BlankMan approaching. The Powies yelled out some indecipherable viral warcry as the Bunnies started to charge up their long ears with arcs of electricity.

On a nearby lone platform, connected to the ramp by a side road halfway down, BlankMan spotted something else: a glowing green data crystal! Perhaps it contained something nice.

>> Enemies
Powie A: 60 HP
Powie B: 60 HP
Bunny A: 50 HP
Bunny B: 50 HP

>> Objects
Green Mystery Data: 20 HP (Metal)

>> Terrain (All on Normal unless otherwise stated)
60% Normal (Downwards ramp, roughly 20 degree incline)
30% Missing (Sides of ramp)
10% Metal (Side road and small platform)

>> Navigator
BlankMan.EXE: 100 HP (Top of ramp)

>> Battle 2, Fight!! <<

Blank Man started to walk away from the lights and the other Navis, turning and taking an offramp that lead him to a tangle of paths. The data pathways were somewhat of a mess. Maybe they were in need of defragmentation. "I'll move away from the crowds," he noted.

"Good," Blanche answered.

Blank Man noticed the viruses first, though they were rather hard to miss, as some of them were yelling at him. The Bunny viruses gave a clue that they may have been of the Elec element, but he wasn't certain about the other ones. Second, Blank Man noticed the green crystal. Mystery Data. If he could protect it from harm, it might yield more Zenny or a battle chip. Perhaps if he moved away from it, he could draw the focus of the viruses to keep them from damaging it.

"Incoming viruses," he announced. As his operator briefly fumbled around to slot in chip data, he continued, "There's mystery data here. We should try not to let it get damaged." The chip data came in. Blanche had sent him the reward from his previous battle, no doubt curious to see what it would do, along with a ShotGun chip.

Blank Man sprung into action. With skill and a bit of luck, perhaps he could take out all of these viruses in one swoop. He rushed in, trying to move into the most advantageous position to use his ShotGun chip. He took aim, his arm transforming into a gun barrel, but only for an instant as he fired his blast at the spring-loaded Bunny viruses, trying to line them both up in his attack. Blank Man paid little heed to where he was standing, though, just so long as he was standing on something, inattentive to the importance of his terrain.

Regardless of the validity of the first attack, Blank Man moved on to his next. FireHit1 activated to set both of his fists ablaze with heat and flame. He darted toward the strange puppet-like viruses, swinging his burning punches first at one, then at the other in a pair of quick hooks.


Turn Summary:
1. ShotGun: [61 (Buff +11) + Spread; Acc. A] @ BunnyA & BunnyB
2. FireHit1: [60 Fire + Impact; Acc. A] @ PowieA
3. FireHit1 (Double Attack): [60 Fire + Impact; Acc. A] @ PowieB

BlankMan didn't waste much time in getting to the point, with Blanche sending him his armaments. He let loose a Shotgun shell, but the Bunnies were a bit too nimble for his aim, and he ended up shooting a little bit above their heads. The Powies twirled about before they leapt into the air near BlankMan, transforming their paper-puppet selves into huge metallic weights. Luckily, he managed to use Blanche's FireHit chip to full effect, with the Powies disintegrating as soon as his fiery fists knocked them away.

Of course, the Bunnies weren't about to let this happen so easily, and they released their electrical charge in the form of whizzing energy rings. One of them barely skirted BlankMan's shoulder, but another hit him square in the abdomen, overwhelming him with an immobilizing pain for a moment. (10, Stun1)

>> Enemies
Powie A: DELETED
Powie B: DELETED
Bunny A: 50 HP
Bunny B: 50 HP

>> Objects
Green Mystery Data: 20 HP (Metal)

>> Terrain (All on Normal unless otherwise stated)
60% Normal (Downwards ramp, roughly 20 degree incline)
30% Missing (Sides of ramp)
10% Metal (Side road and small platform)

>> Navigator
BlankMan.EXE: 90 HP (Top of ramp) (Stunned! -1 Action)

Blank Man turned his shoulders as he was assaulted with whirling rings of electricity, the first flying past, but the second one hit him square in the gut. He doubled over, dropping to his knees as his body crackled with energy, briefly immobilized.

His operator's voice was heard asking, "Blank Man, what happened?"

"I'm fine. Send me another battle chip."

She did. This time, it was Cannon.

Perhaps he had overestimated his own capabilities. He still lacked experience and combat upgrades, after all. Trying to finish the battle in an impressive display of speed had failed him. Perhaps he should take things slower and with more caution; but every second he was to waste would put that mystery data at risk.

When Blank Man finally shook off the stunning pain of that last blow, he dove forward, tumbling partway down the ramp to get out of the enemies' line of fire. Landing on one knee, he lifted an arm as he accessed his chip data, hand and forearm transforming with a pale flash into a massive cannon. He took aim with that bulky weapon, and jerked with recoil as he unleashed the powerful shot.


Turn Summary
1. -STUNNED-
2. Dodge
3. Cannon [71 (Buff +11) + Knockback; Acc. A; Ranged] @ BunnyA

Trying to minimize his losses, BlankMan started to get his move on, with the Bunny charging up its attack once again. A rolling tumble and a Cannon shot later, one Bunny stood untouched, while the other was deleted.

>> Enemies
Powie A: DELETED
Powie B: DELETED
Bunny A: DELETED
Bunny B: 50 HP

>> Objects
Green Mystery Data: 20 HP (Metal)

>> Terrain (All on Normal unless otherwise stated)
60% Normal (Downwards ramp, roughly 20 degree incline)
30% Missing (Sides of ramp)
10% Metal (Side road and small platform)

>> Navigator
BlankMan.EXE: 90 HP (Halfway down the ramp)

Only one virus remained. Blank Man was eager to finish this. The mystery data was still intact, and the Navi was no longer being assaulted from all sides. He rose to a stand, drawing in ambient energy, small wisps of light pulled in towards his form. Then he lifted his arm, which briefly took the form of a standard NormalBuster, and launched a powerful blast. The large sphere of white light screamed through the air, bolting towards that final virus.

Blank Man followed up by darting toward the Bunny, hand extended, to draw from its distinguishing data, to pull and assimilate its code into himself.


Turn Summary
1. Buster Charge
2. Half Charge Attack: [20 Null; Acc. B] @ Bunny B
3. Data Drain: [30 Life Drain, Null; Acc. A] @ Bunny B

TCD: 2

With almost all of his operator-sourced attacks depleted, BlankMan used his innate offensive skills instead, combining his default buster as well as the vampiric touch. Even as the Bunny once again launched an energy ring towards him (10, Stun1), he managed to delete the offending virus with ease. (+30) To his side, the rotating green crystal floated, waiting for the Navi's command to decrypt its contents.

>> Enemies
Powie A: DELETED
Powie B: DELETED
Bunny A: DELETED
Bunny B: DELETED

>> Objects
Green Mystery Data: 20 HP (Metal)

>> Terrain (All on Normal unless otherwise stated)
60% Normal (Downwards ramp, roughly 20 degree incline)
30% Missing (Sides of ramp)
10% Metal (Side road and small platform)

>> Navigator
BlankMan.EXE: 100 HP (Halfway down the ramp)

>> Battle 2, Victory!! <<
Rewards: 440z, Green Mystery Data (Open? Y/N)

"All clear," blank man announced. "The mystery data is intact. Shall I decrypt it?"

"Yeah... Yeah, open it," Blanche murmured in response. She was a little anxious. She had never opened mystery data before. She wasn't really sure whether Blank Man had either; She didn't know how much experience he had before he was handed over to her.

Without a word of affirmation, Blank Man complied. He moved in toward that green crystal, and lifted his hand to its surface, accessing the data that it contained.

[Open it]

As BlankMan accessed the crystal, the mystery data decompiled itself to reveal a glowing sphere...

[GMD: [RiskyHoney1] Battlechip!]

A glowing orb emerged from the green data crystal, then coalesced into battle chip data. It was RiskyHoney1, a chip that Blanche felt was very unusual. She was eager to expand her folder, though, and flesh out Blank Man's combat options.

"Keep going down that ramp. See where the pathway goes," Blanche said. This trip wasn't simply a matter of deleting viruses, apparently. She also wanted to do a bit of exploring.

Blank Man obediently followed the winding data pathway, following its twists and turns to see where it would take him.

[Request Battle 3]

BlankMan came upon a large garage at the end of the downward ramp. Inside were parked a number of vehicles for speedy travel throughout ACDC NET. Unfortunately one of those vehicles was also a virus. The turret of the tanks turned upon the Navi as a trio Metools came down the ramp from behind BlankMan.

-Surrounding Viruses-
Catack: 120HP [In front of BlankMan]

MetoolA: 40HP [Behind BlankMan]
MetoolB: 40HP [Behind BlankMan]
MetoolC: 40HP [Behind BlankMan]

-Terrain-
100% Normal

-Surrounded Navi-
BlankMan.EXE: 100HP

~Battle 3: Start!!~

Blank Man continued along the pathway until it led him to a garage. "There is a garage here," he reported succinctly. He strode in closer, moving through the garage door with caution, lifting his head to survey the surroundings. It was full of various vehicles that were used to travel the data pathways more quickly. Blank Man wasn't sure whether they were for general use, or if they had security protocols in place. "There are vehicles here."

Not a moment later, one of the vehicles, a tank, rumbled to life and turned to face Blank Man. A moment later, a trio of helmeted viruses descended the ramp behind him, leaving him surrounded in the enclosure of the garage.

"Incoming viruses."

The three new arrivals were Metools. Blanche and Blank Man were both familiar with them; Blanche had seen them in her virus busting classes. They had a reputation for being perhaps the most common and basic of viruses. They weren't likely to pose too much of a threat. The tank, on the other hand, Blank Man didn't recognize, and it looked dangerous.

Blanche slotted in chip data, starting with RiskyHoney1. She was eager to play with her new toy, no doubt. Blank Man didn't mind. It wouldn't hurt to improve his defenses when fighting a tank. The operator followed up with a pair of attacking chips: Cannon and Shotgun.

Blank Man quickly set to using his chip data, and in the order it was sent, no less. Immediately he accessed RiskyHoney1, equipping himself with a peculiar honeycomb shield. He turned first towards the tank, blasting at it with his powerful cannon attack. He followed by swiveling about to raise his arm, aiming his shotgun attack at the cluster of hardhats and firing, hoping to catch more than one of them with its blast.


Turn Summary
1. RiskyHoney1: [1-Hit Wood Shield + Riposte(10 damage x 5 hits + Homing): On Hit; Acc. A; Weak to Fire & Break; Blocks debuffs]
2. Cannon [71 Null (Buff +11) + Knockback; Acc. A] @ Catack
3. Shotgun [50 Null + Spread 1; Acc. A] @ MetoolA & MetoolB

Starting off with his newly-acquired chip, BlankMan put up an odd-looking honeycomb to defend himself with, while the tank fired a shell at him. Unfortunately for the artillery virus, it missed, and instead hit a couple of its comrades at the back. They weren't happy with it, and three pickaxes were raised, crashing down to send a trio of shockwaves his way. He managed to hit the Catack with his Cannon and absorb one of the shockwaves, but the RiskyHoney shield let the other two pass through. (10x2) The bees in the honeycomb retaliated against his assailants, letting him clear out the Metools in combination with his Shotgun attack.

-Surrounding Viruses-
Catack: 49HP [Behind BlankMan]

MetoolA: DELETED
MetoolB: DELETED
MetoolC: DELETED

-Terrain-
90% Normal
10% Cracked (In front of BlankMan)

-Surrounded Navi-
BlankMan.EXE: 80HP [Eq: RiskyHoney1 Used]

With the three Metools out of the way and the tank heavily damaged, Blank Man felt confident that he had this on in the bag. He dove to one side behind one of the stationary vehicles to get out of that tank's line of fire momentarily, reporting, "I need chip data."

Soon it came, starting with Recov30, which Blank Man used immediately to repair his own damage. With the second chip ready, FireHit1, Blank Man stepped out of his hiding spot again, and rushed at the last virus, swinging at it with a mighty, burning fist.


Turn Summary
1. Dodge
2. Recov30 [30 Healing; Acc. S]
3. FireHit1 [71 Fire (Buff +11) + Impact; Acc A; Double Attack]