To Hell With This: Part 2

As Eidolon made her way through the NetSquare into Hades Net, then down into the depths, she came out in a great underground chamber, with walls glowing red from the heat, pools of lava lighting the floor, and deep chasms ending in spikes down below. Rather than a volcanic island, as the real world locale was, the network seemed to live more up to its name. It was an attempt to recreate an image of hell, within the underground, magma-filled tunnels of an active volcano. Still missing a...certain something, though, although Eidolon didn't exactly have room to criticize net design.

"I'm in," she said.

"How are you holding up?"

"Just fine. I shouldn't have any problems with the lava, either. Not having tangible feet helps."

"Hah, I remember a time when you insisted they were still there." Andrew chuckled.

"They are."

"...Never mind. You know more than me, so lead the way."

((Battle 1))
The darker depths of the Hades nets were rarely welcoming of visitors, and today was no exception; the dim cavern, lit only but molten rock and the heat glows of the hostile terrain created a stiflingly hot air that would burn in lungs of anyone not prepared for it, provided they were so equipped. In this particular cavern, there was something ever so slightly different, however; a very faint blue glow of light, tucked away behind an outcrop of rock that seemed to be serving as the barricade to an otherwise spreading pool of magma, fed from a vent high in the wall above.

Eidolon herself didn't have much of a chance to inspect this off the bat, however, since there were other entities in the broad chamber that were beginning to make themselves known, now that new sport had so unexpectedly tumbled into their home.

The first to show up were a pair of melty-looking candles, each topped by a brightly burning flame. when Eidolon showed up, it was the flames that flickered to life first, with the candles themselves fading into sight beneath them. Closer, the red shades of two dark shadows had appeared, drifting in the dim light. their forms seemed fluid to begin with, becoming more firm as they fixed their attention on the incoming navi and her SP. If she wanted the data, Eidolon would probably need to clean up these suddenly apparent threats first.

-=Ghostly Greeting=-

HauntedCandle2A: 200hp [Normal]
HauntedCandle2B: 200hp [Coal]

RedDevilA: 160Hp [Normal]
RedDevilB: 160Hp [Furnace]

-=Hell-Seeking=-

Eidolon.Exe: 200hp [Normal]
Icaro.SP: 60Hp [Normal]

-=Hot and Leaking=-

30% Lava [Two large pools on either side of the chamber, blocked in by raised rock]
20% Furnace [Glowing hot metal rings around the lava pools]
10% Coal [Scattered patches]
30% Normal [The rest]
10% Missing [Two small holes on opposite corners of the chamber]

The two lava pools are being fed by vents on the walls, pouring lava into them at a steady rate; if the rock walls were damaged, the lava would begin to spread.

-=No Peeking!=-

BMD: 20Hp [Behind the back of the left lava pool, mostly out of sight]

-=Hades Rogue Battle 1, Start!=-

"We have a welcoming party. I'm going to give them a greeting."

A...what? Andrew did a double take. "You're going to what?"

"Andrew, help me out here. Do swords make good welcoming gifts" Eidolon's tone was uncharacteristically inquisitive.

"Are you...seriously asking this?" Andrew asked.

"Andrew just give me the damn sword chip already." Aaaand back to normal.

"Eidolon, one of these days I'll figure you out," Andrew said, pulling out a set of chips to send to Eidolon. Some of them were a bit dusty, which struck Andrew as odd. It hadn't been that long since he'd used them, had it? ...Well, no matter. It was easily wiped off, and Eidolon would still know what to do with them. He inserted them in sequence, giving Eidolon her requested sword...and a few more toys.

As the chip data entered her system, Eidolon strode towards the viruses, drawing her sword from its unsettling 'sheath' and extending it towards the viruses. Spectral energy crackled ominously around the blade, giving it a shifting, messy glow like television static. "I bid you greeting. I am..." Her form flickered. "...not here." and vanished.

"I can't tell if you're aggressively trying to convince me that nothing's wrong or you're just exceedingly bored," Andrew muttered.

It was only a moment later before she reappeared, directly behind one of the shadowy viruses. She swung the glitched sword in a wide arc, and flashes of the same television static-like energy lashed out from the blade to strike at each virus individually. An unseen force preceded the swing of the blade, drawing the first of the viruses toward Eidolon to attempt to bring it into range of the broad slash.

At the end of the arc, the blade shadows, leaving specks and wisps of junk data behind before vanishing entirely. For a brief moment, she was unarmed and defenseless. Then she extended her left arm towards the candles. Straight winds flowed from the room towards her hands, distorting the heat mirage given off by the furnace panels as they passed. Whether or not they succeeded in pulling the ghostly candles toward her, the winds would quickly become turbulent, whipping up into damaging windstorms aimed at both of them. The wind was heavily weighted towards the first of the two, while Icaro assisted in a lesser capacity with a stream of rose petals following the wind towards the other. But still, Eidolon wasn't done. She clasped her sword arm (or what was normally her sword arm, rather), to the back of her left hand where the damaged emblem of a fallen navi remained. With a twist, the cap over the emblem was loosened, and her internal energy started to flow.

Quite literally, even, as water flowed out from between her hands and then formed into the shape of a shortsword.

Eidolon rushed towards the first of the candle-like viruses, swiping her arm in its direction to swing the watery blade. She then turned towards the other, only to vanish once more. Then, like surfacing on a lake, she reappeared in a ripple behind it, bringing the water sword down in a vertical leave over the candle.


1. Ghost Sword: Gain two instances of Strengthen40+Glitch, Buster Lock
*Toward: Pull - Assist:
2. Stepsword: Teleport behind RedDevilA, then 120+40 damage each to RedDevil A and B (pulling B towards self to increase chance of it being in range)
3. AirStorm: 60x3 Wind - Pull HauntedCandle2 A and B towards Eidolon, then attack with wind attribute damage (2 hits to A, 1 to B)
4. AquaSword: 80 Aqua (x2) to HauntedCandle2A
5. AreaGrab behind/over HauntedCandle2B
6. AquaSword: 80 Aqua (x2) to HauntedCandle2B

Icaro:
1. Attack HauntedCandle2B - 10
The welcoming committee to this section of the hades rogues was, it had to be admitted, not quite prepared for Eidolon's sudden onslaught. One of the red devils attempted to strike out at her with a piercing sword shockwave, but in the time it took to swing, Eidolon was already gone, reappearing in front of the two spirits and slicing her weapon with precise finality. The other shadow began to transform, as though to attack her, but they were both cut down before either could do anything else. While they died, one of the red devils turned a brilliant, vibrant pink, and burst into hideously distorted laughter as it faded. the other seemed to swell, growing around the blade that had struck it and expanding, larger, and larger, until it popped with an oddly goopey sound, and splattered Eidolon with a thick, viscous slime that was an impossibly midnight black.

Neglected for the opening seconds, however, the two candles turned and reached out their melting arms, their two flames growing bright for a moments, before rushing columns of flame burst up from the ground beneath her feet. Flush with the professional execution of her first strike, Eidolon didn't manage to get out of the danger zone fast enough, and got herself torched surprisingly badly; one of the candles seemed to have drawn extra strength from the coals it was sitting on, and the flames hurt.

Of course, Eidolon wasn't about to take this standing still, and countered with a tempestuous storm of wind that pulled both candles closer to her and snuffed their wicks while it battered them about. They looked to each other as the winds died down, each gesturing as though it was trying to call flames to relight its comrade, but no fires came. A moment later, Eidolon was there amongst them, slicing with her watery blade. The candles didn't last.

All that remained, once the deed was done, was for Eidolon to collect her spoils, and decide what she wanted to do with the only point of blue light in the area.

-=Ghostly Greeting=-

HauntedCandle2A: DELETED
HauntedCandle2B: DELETED

RedDevilA: DELETED
RedDevilB: DELETED

-=Hell-Seeking=-

Eidolon.Exe: 60hp [Normal]
Icaro.SP: 60Hp [Normal]

-=Hot and Leaking=-

30% Lava [Two large pools on either side of the chamber, blocked in by raised rock]
20% Furnace [Glowing hot metal rings around the lava pools]
10% Coal [Scattered patches]
30% Normal [The rest]
10% Missing [Two small holes on opposite corners of the chamber]

The two lava pools are being fed by vents on the walls, pouring lava into them at a steady rate; if the rock walls were damaged, the lava would begin to spread.

-=No Peeking!=-

BMD: 20Hp [Behind the back of the left lava pool, mostly out of sight]

-=Hades Rogue Battle 1, Victory!=-

Spoils: 2480z, SonicBlade2Damage: 90 + Slashing + Piercing + Line Attack
Accuracy: B
Description: The user swings a special sword, producing an air shock wave that penetrates enemies and obstacles.
Duration: Once
Element: Null
Trader Rank: C
, 36 BugFrags

Open BMD?
"Ghgkk...that hurt...more than expected..."

Eidolon's voice faded in and out of a static-y haze as she spoke, clutching the back of her hand and forcing the vent shut to prevent more internal energy from leaking out. Icaro rushed to her side, raising a hand to her. "Here, I can help..."

"I'm fine, for now. I can...deal with it."

"Eidolon, please stop fighting so recklessly." For all his worry, Andrew sounded as stern as always when discussing her bad habits. "Eventually you're going to put yourself in a situation where you can't shrug off damage like that."

"I'll drain another virus later to heal. And I've got Icaro with me if it gets really bad."

"That's not the point. Just...be a little more careful."

"What would you have me do? I took out the viruses as efficiently as possible. I only left myself open for a few seconds, and they still hit me."

"..."

"Putting yourself in a position where you were flanked probably didn't help."

Why did the healing spirit know combat tactics? "Noted. I'm moving on." Eidolon dropped the conversation entirely as she made her way towards the far end of the pair of lava pools. As she did, she noted a glowing blue crystal nestled behind the ring of rocks around the latter, and made her way over to it to open it.

[Open BMD]
After being lectured by her support on battle tactics, Eidolon moved on to unlock the blue treasure crystal, which decrypted at the touch to reveal... a floating head!

[BMD: FireAura1Protection: Any Non-Aqua attack lower than 40 HP
Accuracy: S
Description: Negates any Non-Aqua attack less than 40HP
Duration: Three turns, or until destroyed
Element: Fire
Special: Status Guard: This chip blocks debuffs.
Trader Rank: C
]
"It's a...what?" Eidolon expressed uncharacteristic surprise as the crystal of data unlocked to reveal a floating, statue-like head, with a glowing red sphere of light around it. She extended her gauntlet-shielded hand to touch it, and the head immediately disappeared, transferring to Andrew's PET.

"Looks like an aura chip," Andrew said once he received the data. "Not a particularly strong one, though. I'll hold onto it for now at least."

"Noted."

Eidolon moved on past the lava lakes and deeper into the underground cavern, with Icaro casting wary glances around the fiery environment as she floated behind.

[Battle 2 - I think Greco's called this one]
The underground cavern dipped further in in terms of angled slopes and reduced a bit in height as Eidolon and Icaro went along, with the stalactites often brushing up rather uncomfortably close to Eidolon's head at times. The cavern funneled into a relatively large doorway, though before Eidolon could get close, she heard the sound of clashing blades further beyond the doorway. Were she to approach for a closer look, she would find that the doorway opened up to a relatively closed-off circular cavern with a high ceiling. A bed of hot coals in the middle of the area surrounded a small patch of lava in a circular area. On the coals themselves, two red Blazer viruses were facing off, along with an unexpected accompaniment of a Zemon virus each. The Zemon brandished their katanas at the ready as their Blazer rides prepared to charge at each other.

On the opposite side of the large doorway, a sheer wall oversaw the area, with a ledge about halfway up its height and a HotHead sitting pretty on top of it, looking as if it was a referee for the fight. Directly under the ledge, a heat vent released some hot air up towards the ledge, occasionally releasing a sudden burst of pressure as well. To the sides of the circular chamber, two more doorways existed, going off to who knows where. It seemed that the viruses hadn't noticed Eidolon yet, so she could get in a surprise attack if she wished to do so.

-- Enemies --
HotHead2HotHead2 (HotHead)

HotHeads alternate actions between attacking and guarding. These are the only actions HotHeads may perform, and the first action of every battle is always guarding. HotHeads will not break from this pattern unless forced to by status effects. HotHeads cannot be lifted or thrown, even with Rageclaw.

Area: Netopia, Hades Isle, Kotobuki Town

HP: 120
Attack Damage/Effect: 90 Fire + Break + Small Lava Terrain Change
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Fires Cannonball. Breaking. Creates Lava Terrain.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): LavaBall2, Zenny
Special: Immobile.
- Iron Body when not attacking.
: 120 HP (Currently guarding) (High up on a ledge, Coal, 2 moves to melee)
Zemon2Zemon2 (Zemon)

Area: Dentech, Yumland, Hades Isle

HP: 200
Attack Damage/Effect: (30 Null + Slashing + Long Attack or Wide Attack) then (30 Null + Slashing + Wide Attack or Long Attack)
Attack Accuracy: B / B
Attack Description: Attacks with a 2 stroke sword combination attack.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Katana2 (Rare), Zenny
Special: Each stage of its attack must each have a different range. It must follow up a Wide Attack with a Long Attack, and vice versa.
- Can use AreaGrab once as a free action.
A: 200 HP (Standing on Blazer2 A)
Zemon2Zemon2 (Zemon)

Area: Dentech, Yumland, Hades Isle

HP: 200
Attack Damage/Effect: (30 Null + Slashing + Long Attack or Wide Attack) then (30 Null + Slashing + Wide Attack or Long Attack)
Attack Accuracy: B / B
Attack Description: Attacks with a 2 stroke sword combination attack.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Katana2 (Rare), Zenny
Special: Each stage of its attack must each have a different range. It must follow up a Wide Attack with a Long Attack, and vice versa.
- Can use AreaGrab once as a free action.
B: 200 HP (Standing on Blazer2 B)
Blazer2Blazer2 (Blazer)

Blazers are a modified strain of Fishy virus made to fully exploit their previous possession of Burner battlechip data. While they retain, for the most part, the appearance of a Fishy virus, their fins are more heavily rounded and there are a set of specialized gills on either side of their underbelly that can spew flames. In addition, all Blazers are now a stark reddish color, with the intensity varying from a charcoal-ish gray-red at the first tier to a violent intensity with the Omegas.

Area: Kotobuki Town, Netopia, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 140
Attack Damage/Effect: Movement + 45 Nova 2 Fire Damage
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Flies forward and then SPINS, unleashing a gout of flame from specialized vents on its' flanks.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Burner2, Zenny
Special: Omnishoes
A: 140 HP (Flying on Coal, left, 1 move to melee)
Blazer2Blazer2 (Blazer)

Blazers are a modified strain of Fishy virus made to fully exploit their previous possession of Burner battlechip data. While they retain, for the most part, the appearance of a Fishy virus, their fins are more heavily rounded and there are a set of specialized gills on either side of their underbelly that can spew flames. In addition, all Blazers are now a stark reddish color, with the intensity varying from a charcoal-ish gray-red at the first tier to a violent intensity with the Omegas.

Area: Kotobuki Town, Netopia, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 140
Attack Damage/Effect: Movement + 45 Nova 2 Fire Damage
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Flies forward and then SPINS, unleashing a gout of flame from specialized vents on its' flanks.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Burner2, Zenny
Special: Omnishoes
B: 140 HP (Flying on Coal, right, 1 move to melee)

-- Cave Explorers --
Eidolon.EXE: 60 HP (Normal, outside the doorway leading in)
Icaro.SP: 60 HP (Normal, outside the doorway leading in)

-- Cave Explored --
45% Coal (Battleground circle)
5% Coal (HotHead's ledge)
5% Lava (Directly in the middle of the circle)
5% Furnace (Area directly under HotHead's ledge)
40% Normal (Everywhere else around the circle)

-- Rogue Battle 2, Ready? Start!! --
"Icaro, healing support," Eidolon said. "It'll be quicker than draining things."

Far be it from Eidolon to want to rely on the help of others. But she recognized when it was the better idea...well, mostly. She was still going to do her damndest to keep herself in fighting condition all on her own. Not because she was actually worried about herself, but because Andrew really needed to shut up about it. The last fight was not something she'd had any control over. That's what she was convinced of, at least. The reality of it was something for someone else to decide.

More importantly, this battle. Icaro had remained silent as she spotted the viruses up ahead, but Eidolon could still feel her healing magic at work: first a quick burst, and then a slower regeneration. She then remained in the doorway, trying not to stand out too much as Eidolon took a step forward...and then vanished.

Up on the ledge, she reappeared behind the shielded mortar virus, leaving a few feet of space between herself and its back. With a bit of chip data from Andrew, Eidolon materialized an eye-like entity in front of herself, with its eye pointed directly at the mortar.

Then she stepped back, and waited to see what would happen.



Eidolon:
1. AreaGrab behind HotHead2
2. Sensor1: 100 HP object pointed at HotHead's back (100 Elec+Beam+Stun1 if activated)
-Splice-

Icaro:
1. Song of Healing: 30 Heal to Eidolon
*IV: Attach 5HP per action heal to Eidolon
Opting to take a stealthy approach, Eidolon patched herself up a bit with Icaro's help, before reappearing on the tiny ledge inside the cavern. Once she was up on the ledge, she found that there was a slight recess in the wall, before she got to work. The summoned KillerEye made short work of the HotHead with a powerful electrical beam. The turret melted without much resistance, but there was more to come. The attack she had used wasn't entirely silent, and had drawn the attention of the virus pairs at the floor. However, with how Eidolon was positioned on the ledge, she was still rather hidden, but they still noticed the absence of the HotHead turret.

One of the Blazers flew up to the ledge, with its rider in tow, and summarily found their comrade executed. Enraged, the Zemon let out a cry before drawing its sword and striking at Eidolon twice. However, the furnace below them had caused a mirage effect, and it misjudged one of its strikes. The one attack still hurt pretty badly, though. (-30)

-- Enemies --
HotHead2HotHead2 (HotHead)

HotHeads alternate actions between attacking and guarding. These are the only actions HotHeads may perform, and the first action of every battle is always guarding. HotHeads will not break from this pattern unless forced to by status effects. HotHeads cannot be lifted or thrown, even with Rageclaw.

Area: Netopia, Hades Isle, Kotobuki Town

HP: 120
Attack Damage/Effect: 90 Fire + Break + Small Lava Terrain Change
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Fires Cannonball. Breaking. Creates Lava Terrain.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): LavaBall2, Zenny
Special: Immobile.
- Iron Body when not attacking.
: DELETED
Zemon2Zemon2 (Zemon)

Area: Dentech, Yumland, Hades Isle

HP: 200
Attack Damage/Effect: (30 Null + Slashing + Long Attack or Wide Attack) then (30 Null + Slashing + Wide Attack or Long Attack)
Attack Accuracy: B / B
Attack Description: Attacks with a 2 stroke sword combination attack.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Katana2 (Rare), Zenny
Special: Each stage of its attack must each have a different range. It must follow up a Wide Attack with a Long Attack, and vice versa.
- Can use AreaGrab once as a free action.
A: 200 HP (Standing on Blazer2 A) (1 action left)
Zemon2Zemon2 (Zemon)

Area: Dentech, Yumland, Hades Isle

HP: 200
Attack Damage/Effect: (30 Null + Slashing + Long Attack or Wide Attack) then (30 Null + Slashing + Wide Attack or Long Attack)
Attack Accuracy: B / B
Attack Description: Attacks with a 2 stroke sword combination attack.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Katana2 (Rare), Zenny
Special: Each stage of its attack must each have a different range. It must follow up a Wide Attack with a Long Attack, and vice versa.
- Can use AreaGrab once as a free action.
B: 200 HP (Standing on Blazer2 B) (2 actions left)
Blazer2Blazer2 (Blazer)

Blazers are a modified strain of Fishy virus made to fully exploit their previous possession of Burner battlechip data. While they retain, for the most part, the appearance of a Fishy virus, their fins are more heavily rounded and there are a set of specialized gills on either side of their underbelly that can spew flames. In addition, all Blazers are now a stark reddish color, with the intensity varying from a charcoal-ish gray-red at the first tier to a violent intensity with the Omegas.

Area: Kotobuki Town, Netopia, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 140
Attack Damage/Effect: Movement + 45 Nova 2 Fire Damage
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Flies forward and then SPINS, unleashing a gout of flame from specialized vents on its' flanks.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Burner2, Zenny
Special: Omnishoes
A: 140 HP (Next to the ledge) (1 action left)
Blazer2Blazer2 (Blazer)

Blazers are a modified strain of Fishy virus made to fully exploit their previous possession of Burner battlechip data. While they retain, for the most part, the appearance of a Fishy virus, their fins are more heavily rounded and there are a set of specialized gills on either side of their underbelly that can spew flames. In addition, all Blazers are now a stark reddish color, with the intensity varying from a charcoal-ish gray-red at the first tier to a violent intensity with the Omegas.

Area: Kotobuki Town, Netopia, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 140
Attack Damage/Effect: Movement + 45 Nova 2 Fire Damage
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Flies forward and then SPINS, unleashing a gout of flame from specialized vents on its' flanks.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Burner2, Zenny
Special: Omnishoes
B: 140 HP (Flying on Coal, right, 1 move to melee from Icaro) (2 actions left)

-- Cave Explorers --
Eidolon.EXE: 70 HP (Floating on Coal ledge) (IV Broken!) (4 actions remaining)
Icaro.SP: 60 HP (Normal, outside the doorway leading in)

-- Cave Explored --
45% Coal (Battleground circle)
5% Coal (HotHead's former ledge)
5% Lava (Directly in the middle of the circle)
5% Furnace (Area directly under HotHead's ledge)
40% Normal (Everywhere else around the circle)