In the moments before things kicked off, Aya's comment brought a small giggle from the figure in the tree, stifled by one hand. As Suzume picked up the train of thought though, the lapin girl raised an eyebrow, cast a confirming glance back to Drago, then broken out in a fresh grin.
Just as the two Tempests had started to rush forward, Prose pushed off the tree branch and jumped back down into the middle of the field and, as before, it seemed to give the viral entities pause. The tempests in particular seemed to be growing frustrated with the interruptions but, even so, the aggressive winds about them stall briefly and they held still as she skipped lightly across to them, rustling in her basket.
“Aww, look at you...” She called back over her shoulder, half glancing at Drago, though catching the eye of the other girls more. “I'm starting to think there's a nice guy hiding away under that big scary exterior...” She giggled again, coming to stand in front of one of the Tempests, which eyed her warily. It didn't attack, and looked more like it wanted to draw away from the woman, though it held still regardless. “Here you go... now open up... say 'Ah'... 'Ahhhhh'...that's right, there we go...” her position obscured exactly what it was Prose was doing to the virus, though her cutesy, playful chatter painted the picture well enough, and when she moved on the virus was now seemingly sucking on a long chocolate pocky stick, rather than its normal bamboo shoot. The next received a similar treatment, and she skipped past them, towards the dragon pot. The ForestDragon was watching this display, and had gotten to the point of grumbling about other creatures on its territory. It rumbled in its throat, threatening, as Prose stepped up to the pot; she smiled at it, bright and broad, meeting its eyes, before the dragon fell silent and retreated, slinking back into the pot until only the top of its head and eyes peeked out.
“Good boy.” Another soft giggle. “Here you go...” Something dark and broad was placed into the dragon's mouth and it nervously received a pat on the head before she darted on. At the back, she paused, folding her arms with a considering look towards the IronWall viruses. After a moment extra, she brightened snapping her fingers, then dashed in the last few paces to clamber up the rock, alongside the first defender. It half turned towards her, shuffling, but the rabbit girl placed a hand on its flank, stopping it from turning to face her properly.
“Shh, shhh... it's okay, I'm not doing anything weird... just...” Her fingertips lit up with faint trails of red light and a hatch on one side of the virus opened, spilling out a number of wrecker shells and mortar shots that clattered down the rock and dissipated when they rolled too far from the virus. Meanwhile, Prose did... something... to the internals of the virus and closed it up again. As she moved to the other IronWall, the first one shuddered, raising and lowering its shield multiple times in a state of seeming confusion. By the time the procedure had been completed on the second virus, the dragon could be seen opening and closing its jaws, chewing in a distracted state with some kind of thick, caramel-chocolate substance gumming up its mouth. Prose clapped her hands, then made another small spring that became a blur of white fur, leaving her sitting back in her branch off to the side.
“I'll give you yours when your done! Okay, Go! This is going to be fun!” Despite her almost laughing reassurance, the viruses seemed uncertain, almost waiting for another interrupt, before Dragon got things started properly with a dragon of his own.
This was enough to snap the viruses' attention back to the actual conflict at hand; At the other end of the field, the native dragon started to roar a threat to the sudden appearance of an interloper, but as it stretched its jaws wide, the only thing that came out was a large toffee-like bubble. It chewed furiously instead, trying to free its teeth. Meanwhile, Drago's dragon dived across the field, striking between the two Tempests on its path towards the mechanical viruses behind. It had a lot of ground to convert as it travelled, but managed to reach first one, then the other shielded targets and leaving them badly damaged on their now grass-covered platforms.
In return, the two shield viruses rumbled then began to fire their arcing mortar cannons, to bombard the team with explosive shells... except something was off. What launched towards the group looked distinctly more oblong, and foil-wrapped. Festive eggs or not, the shells still exploded into fragments – each brightly coloured payload was, it seemed, filled with a cluster of smaller, harder mini eggs that scattered with each burst. One by one the Dragoniers phased away from the site of the bombardment, and they each managed to avoid being struck by any of the distinctly non-standard weapons.
The chocolate mist and haze of the egg-shells obscured the space briefly as the forest dragon, finally getting its mouth under control, now surged forward, looking for something to really get its teeth into – however, all it found this time was the empty space where the dragoniers had been moments ago. In its wake, it left its usual trail of mud... no... no it didn't. That was definitely melted chocolate now. Close enough.
The two tempest viruses kept track of where the dragoniers had each teleported to more easily than their compatriots; one followed Magistrate with its gaze before launching itself upwards towards her, winds flaring in a storm about its body. Magistrate managed to avoid the worst of the attack, though she was still buffeted by the winds a little bit – enough to break through her outer barrier, before the virus fell back to the ground and switched its pocky stick over to the other side. The other one had followed Drago instead, dashing across the ground towards his new position in a stormy assault of its own. DragonierMan's larger frame and more grounded position left him to weather slightly more of the assailing winds that his ally – both layers of his outer defences gave way under the rending gale, though the navi himself avoided any harm.
Not too far from him now, the two shield viruses had raised their shields when the other dragoniers took to their higher positions, and now rotated to face DragonierMan with their main guns. As they prepared to fire, two large spheres appeared at the muzzle of each cannon. One was bright blue, the other hot pink... though hard candy or not, they still looked like they might do some real damage if they connected. Fortunately, it seemed like neither virus was particularly used to firing jawbreakers, and both shots crashed into the ground to either side of Drago, missing him.
A moment later, three shots from on high sounded the end not only of the two shield viruses that were focused on Drago, but also the gum-jawed dragon as Magistrate's fiery magnum round eliminated the forest native with exact precision. At other sides of the area, Aya and Suzume followed up with carefully aimed shots of their own, though the remaining tempest viruses continued to push their own assaults. The first was in the midst of launching itself back at Magistrate a second time when Suzume's shot put it to rest. The second rushed Drago again and Aya's shot, though accurate initially, just barely scrapped past the virus without managing to connect cleanly. The wind-assisted near-miss hardly mattered, however; Drago moved to meet the on-coming virus and his dashing force-wave proved far stronger as he blasted through its position, unscathed. The virus was not so fortunate.
-=Viruses=-TempestTempest (Storm)
Storm loosely resemble the Weather line, and may in fact be a distant off-shoot of them. They wear metal hats that loosely resemble straw hats. Their faces are mostly nondescript, aside from their always closed eyes, and beak-like nose. They have no visible mouth, though from somewhere beneath their nose, they appear to be chewing on a bamboo shoot. Their bodies appear to be simple gowns, decorated with swirls. This virus is normally no more or less aggressive than most viruses, but if the enemy is using exclusively/near exclusively Shot or Thrown type attacks, it will attack more frequently, knowing that its attack will help protect it from them.
Area: Dentech, Yumland, NAXA
HP: 230
Attack Damage/Effect: 25 Null + Nova 3 + Knockback + Wind Attack x 3 hits
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Creates a wind storm around itself, knocking enemies backward.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Squall1, Zenny
Special: High Turbulence: The accuracy of Shot and Thrown-type attacks is reduced by 3 ranks against this virus while it is attacking.
Special: FloatShoes, ShadowShoes A: DELETED
TempestTempest (Storm)
Storm loosely resemble the Weather line, and may in fact be a distant off-shoot of them. They wear metal hats that loosely resemble straw hats. Their faces are mostly nondescript, aside from their always closed eyes, and beak-like nose. They have no visible mouth, though from somewhere beneath their nose, they appear to be chewing on a bamboo shoot. Their bodies appear to be simple gowns, decorated with swirls. This virus is normally no more or less aggressive than most viruses, but if the enemy is using exclusively/near exclusively Shot or Thrown type attacks, it will attack more frequently, knowing that its attack will help protect it from them.
Area: Dentech, Yumland, NAXA
HP: 230
Attack Damage/Effect: 25 Null + Nova 3 + Knockback + Wind Attack x 3 hits
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Creates a wind storm around itself, knocking enemies backward.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Squall1, Zenny
Special: High Turbulence: The accuracy of Shot and Thrown-type attacks is reduced by 3 ranks against this virus while it is attacking.
Special: FloatShoes, ShadowShoes B: DELETED
IronWallIronWall (IronShield)
Area: SciLab, Dentech, Sharo, Netfrica, NetVegas
HP: 280
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 25 Null + Blast2 x 3 Hts @ 2 Targets
Primary Attack Accuracy: C
Primary Attack Description: When the shield is lowered, it fires EnergyBombs from its twin mortars.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 75 Null + Break
Secondary Attack Accuracy: B
Secondary Attack Description: When the shield is raised, it fires a wrecker from it's main gun.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): IronShield3, GigaEnergyBomb, Zenny
Special: IronShield can defend against all non-Break attacks from the front or above.
- The virus may turn towards an attacker to keep itself defended.
- The virus may raise its shield over it's body to ward off aerial attacks as a free action. However, once the shield is raised, it must remain raised for 1 turn.
- The virus may lower its shield from the raised position to guard against frontal attacks as a free action. However, once the shield is lowered, it must remain lowered for 1 turn.
- This virus can move, but it's size and slow pace makes dodging impossible. It can turn quickly, however.: DELETED
IronWallIronWall (IronShield)
Area: SciLab, Dentech, Sharo, Netfrica, NetVegas
HP: 280
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 25 Null + Blast2 x 3 Hts @ 2 Targets
Primary Attack Accuracy: C
Primary Attack Description: When the shield is lowered, it fires EnergyBombs from its twin mortars.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 75 Null + Break
Secondary Attack Accuracy: B
Secondary Attack Description: When the shield is raised, it fires a wrecker from it's main gun.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): IronShield3, GigaEnergyBomb, Zenny
Special: IronShield can defend against all non-Break attacks from the front or above.
- The virus may turn towards an attacker to keep itself defended.
- The virus may raise its shield over it's body to ward off aerial attacks as a free action. However, once the shield is raised, it must remain raised for 1 turn.
- The virus may lower its shield from the raised position to guard against frontal attacks as a free action. However, once the shield is lowered, it must remain lowered for 1 turn.
- This virus can move, but it's size and slow pace makes dodging impossible. It can turn quickly, however.: DELETED
ForestDragon3ForestDragon3 (ForestDragon)
This high tier virus is only encountered after battle 5. A PotDragon's pot is stationary during battle, as it remains above the panel the virus appeared on until battle is over or the virus is deleted, and will not fall even if the panel below it should be destroyed. PotDragons have two main attacks, each geared towards either ground or aerial targets. When executed, the pot tilts or falls over, and the dragon charges at the enemy before looping back and returning to the pot. When threatened, they will duck into the pot, which is both indestructible and capable of shielding them from all damage and effects except those that manage to fly into the mouth of the pot. Even Beam Attacks and Blast damage won't leave a mark.
Area: Dentech, Yumland
HP: 300
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 150 Wood + Ground Attack + Medium Area Mud Terrain Change + Terrain Changer
Primary Attack Accuracy: C
Primary Attack Description: Charges from its pot at high speed to attack ground-based enemies whilst leaving a trail of Mud in its wake.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 150 Wood + Impact + Group Attack (Arc)
Secondary Attack Accuracy: C
Secondary Attack Description: Flies from its pot at high speed to attack airborne enemies.
Tertiary Attack Damage/Effect: Invulnerability to Non-Drop Attacks/attacks from above.
Tertiary Attack Accuracy: S
Tertiary Attack Description: PotDragons hide in their pots instead of dodging. Doing this protects them from attacks from every direction but up, which is where the opening of the pot is.
Element: Wood
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): WoodDragon3, Zenny: DELETED
-=Navis=-Dragonierman.Exe: 600Hp [Soil]
Magistrate.SP: 150Hp [Soil]
Suzume.SP: 150Hp [Soil]
Aya.SP: 150Hp [Soil]
-=Others=-Prosopopoeia .lapin: [Masked] [In a high branch, on the right edge of the field]
-=Ojects=-Rocky Spike A: DELETED
Rocky Spike B: DELETED
Rocky Spike C: 80Hp [HardBody][Near left]
Rocky Spike D: 80Hp [HardBody][Near right]
Rocks are four protrusions sticking out of the ground; the back tow are about level with on another, and fairly far apart, while the near two are also level and much closer to one another.
Easter PMD: [Spectral/Safe][Near Drago]
-=Terrain=-10%
Magnet- Non-Elec Elementals get -30% Evasion, and 50% (+/- 25% RP) chance to fail movement off the panel.
- Only Elec Elementals can burrow.
- Wood attacks: Change terrain hit to Normal.
- PanelShot: Imbue Elec + Seeking.
[Rocky protrusions all seem to be magnetic]
20%
Cracked- Changes to Broken when stepped on, chance to fall in when triggered.
- Burrow: Change terrain to Broken, Null 50 to burrower.
- Panel Crack attacks, >100 Damage Break/Impact/Drop attacks: Change terrain hit to Broken.
- PanelShot: Splash1.
[Around each of the rocky protrusions, as well as much of the area in between]
20%
Grass- Wood Elementals get +5 HP/action.
- Fire attacks: +100% Source Damage, change terrain hit to Soil.
- PanelShot: Imbue Wood.
20%
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.
? (It's chocolate...)
20%
Cursed- Doubles Final Damage.
- Cannot be in Sigs.
- PanelShot: Converts attack to Self-Damage.
[Scattered patches at the edges of the trees]
10%
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.
[The near end of the area]
-=Battle 3, Victory!=-Spoils: 9000
z,
GigaEnergyBombDamage: 80 x 3 + Blast1
Accuracy: C
Description: A powerful bomb that hits three times
Duration: Once
Element: Null
Trader Rank: B, 37 Bugrags, +1 Bounty Kill
Open PMD?
==
In a matter of moments, the field had been cleared and the spoils were free to be gathered by the team. Prose dropped down from her branch and moved to touch the floating data crystal; the spectral protections faded as the highly decorated data cache came into full phase with the surrounding network, ready to open. She stepped back from it with a grin and a small bow, leaving it for the victorious navi to claim and began rummaging in her basket once more.
“That was so funny! Hope you like it. Anyway... you said you're good for treats too, so, here you go!” She came up with a set of delicate, highly detailed chocolate figurines, each one shaped like a little rabbit in a fancy waistcoat – an actual rabbit, by the designs, not a humanoid one like Prose herself... Each was carefully decorated with coloured chocolate paint layers, giving them grey fur, brown eyes and making their waistcoats a charming blue. They were each wrapped in protective wrap, and tied with a delicate red ribbon. She started handing them out.
“They have little ones inside, too! You can hear it if you shake them! Hope you like them.” She shook her head slightly, still grinning as she got to Aya. “I love chocolate... but it'd be a bit strange if you actually had to eat, wouldn't it? I mean... not actually needing stuff like that... that's like one of the main things you navis have over human operators. Wouldn't it be weird to take that away again?” She shrugged. “Anyway, I can't stick around... more deliveries to make. You know how it is. You folks are really efficient you know, even down this deep. The viruses down here are pretty tough, and they're no joke. Not many come this deep, but you seem like you're breezing through them. Thanks, again. It means a lot, having folks like you doing you bit.” She glanced down at her basked, then picked up a small red crystal, flicking it over in the air before putting it back. “I've got deeper to go still, but you all stay safe!” The bunny-girl backed off after that, giving a small nod and wave to each of them, but she seemed to be lingering, at least long enough to make sure they opened their prize, before departing. Perhaps she had a bit more leeway to stay and talk, with the deeper level deliveries, than she did on the surface layers where navis were more populous.