Coastal Paths

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

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

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

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

((Open PMD))

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

PMD reward: 18,000z

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

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

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

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

((Ready for Battle 13))

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

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

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

-- Viruses --
Aquagear EXAquagear EX (Raingear)

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

Area: Yoka, Beach, Sharo

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

Area: Beach

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

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

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

Metools not currently attacking will guard. Entering guard mode requires an action. Exiting guard mode does not require an action.

Area: ACDC, Electown, Okuden Valley, Kotobuki Town, Dentech, Beach

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

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

Area: Yoka, Sharo, Beach, Okuden Valley

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

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

-- Terrain --
65% Mud

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Summary

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

Cooldowns and Overcharge

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

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

Adopting her defensive stance, barrier coming alive as she spoke towards the viruses, the viruses somewhat confusedly looking at one another as those words came forth. Though it wouldn't stand for long as the Fishy would fly towards her for a head-on collision with her, just missing as she moved out of it's path, whilst the Met would move just a bit forward and strike at her with it's pickaxe, but just barely missing it's tip on her flesh.

Her flesh rippling with electrical charge, the Shellnerd would make its attempt to attack, coming out of it's shell to spit a pair of spears right at the navi and unfortunately for her, one spear would find purchase in her barrier (50) whilst the other would be deflected by her turbulant currents...right into the eye of the Metool (50) whilst her currents would immediately shock and send it flying to her left, as well as catching the Tuby in it's radius, making it's landing with a resounding SPLAT in the mud (10)...upside down on it's helmet, wriggling it's little feet in defiance of this fact. Whilst the Tuby would be sent off towards her east, with another resounding splat of mud.

The viruses, despite her cries to stop this fight, were entirely ready to fight to the death despite the unintentional friendly fire. The Aquagear opening up wide with a growl and sending a massive blast of water into the area, a loud rumble followed by a massive geyser of water...where Lyntael WAS at. The Shellnerd immediately shuttering itself partly out of it's defensive nature and it's blunder against the Met. The Fishy would immediately divebomb her again as she moved, but before it could finish its divebomb, the navi would manage to shock it mid-flight as it got into her area, just barely knocked off course in it's attack and sending itself face first into the muddy landscape (50).

Whilst the Tuby would also suffer from the electrical blast, though it was certainly not being blasted off again being more than a little stuck in the mud as it began to clear itself of it's muddy tomb (50). The Aquagear would take another jab at attacking Lyntael, another Geyser of water exploding out from beneath the paneling...and STILL somehow missing being a good several feet away from her. Though at the end of the day, this wouldn't help much for Lyntael as she patched herself up (+80)...the Tuby would finally get a chance to start inhaling deeply, Rogan's PET pinpointing it as a troublesome target as "Confusion Risk" would flash in a corner of the screen.

-- Viruses --
Aquagear EXAquagear EX (Raingear)

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

Area: Yoka, Beach, Sharo

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

Area: Beach

HP: 150
Attack: Confusion + To-All-Clause (Enemies)
Attack Accuracy: S
Attack Description: Plays a tune that confuses its enemies.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Discord (Rare), Zenny
Special: Attacks every other turn.: 90 HP (Sent into the mud from her knockback, still on her right) (Mud) (Singing next turn)
Fishy2Fishy2 (Fishy)

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

HP: 150
Attack Damage/Effect: 45 + Stun 1 + Line Attack(5) + Impact + Piercing
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Flies into a group of enemies, and stuns them.
Element: Normal
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): DashAttack2, Zenny
Special: Omnishoes: 100 HP (Crash-landed into the Mud, just behind and to Lyntael's left) (Omnishoes)
Metool2Metool2 (Metool)

Metools not currently attacking will guard. Entering guard mode requires an action. Exiting guard mode does not require an action.

Area: ACDC, Electown, Okuden Valley, Kotobuki Town, Dentech, Beach

HP: 100
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 50 Null + Piercing + Ground Attack
Primary Attack Accuracy: C
Primary Attack Description: Whacks ground with pickaxe, sending forth a shockwave.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 50 Null
Secondary Attack Accuracy: B
Secondary Attack Description: Throws a mattock at an enemy.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Guard2, SonicWave, Zenny
Special: Can hide in its helmet to negate damage.
Special: Can use Recover150 on self once.: 40 HP (On Lyntael's left, faaaaaaar off towards the edge of the field and roughly a movement away) (Mud) (Attempting to guard, it's kinda on it's helmet and wriggling it's feet in defiance) (Eye gouged by a Shellnerd spear)
Shellnerd EXShellnerd EX (ShellGeek)

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

Area: Yoka, Sharo, Beach, Okuden Valley

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

-- Navis --
Lyntael.EXE: 350 HP (Mud) (Self-Slow1) (Off-Target1) (Charge2) (Casing20) (ElecBarrier30)

-- Terrain --
65% Mud

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amidst the ebb and flow of her charge Lyntael wove between the various attacks of the viruses surrounding her and guided the air currents in small ways that moved with and complimented the delicate steps and turns that she made. As one of the Shellnerd's spears passed through her barrier, the motion of it spun her partially around with a tugging that lacked any power to injure but still made the girl start slightly. She spared a glance for where it had scraped cross her side and blinked away a surprised thought when there was no clear damage to her new suit, and no inappropriately exposed skin to be seen. She shouldn't be surprised by that... but she was.

She hadn't had much hope that her words would find traction with the group that had tried to ambush her, but it was still sad that they weren't listening. She could leave, it was true... just push forward and let them be, but... even these lower nets weren't as deserted of other navis as she'd first thought, and if she didn't stop them from threatening her, then they would almost certainly go on to threaten someone else later. She caught her balance, pulling the circling winds around her body again and focused her resolve as the charge under her skin flared to continued readiness. If it must be done, then do it swiftly.

“Lyntael. In case you are hesitating, the... instrument... is no less a threat. It is a debilitator virus, and will hinder you, according to this reading.” Rogan's voice was calm and only mildly engaged, by the sound of it. Lyntael nodded her head and murmured a short acknowledgement as she assessed the scene.

Her eyes darted around to the viruses that had succumbed to the trials of the mud all around them, then focused forward instead to the more dangerous threats. With a short breath, Lyntael dashed forward a few steps, the winds around her body lightening her steps across the mud until she let one foot land firmly, crouching and drawing the press of her charge up to her chest and then out in a fluid sweeping kick that lifted her body upward and over into a graceful backward flip. Lightning crackled from her leading striker and tore free into a thundering wave of electricity that coursed outward towards the sealed-up shell virus with shattering, disintegrating force.

The force wave split into arcing lines as it reached the shellnerd, passing forward beyond the virus and on towards the beefier Aquagear behind it while other trails of electricity blasted back along the recoil, flaring back down the line it had already travelled and beyond. The returning arc seared beneath Lyntael's body as she let the wind guide her aerial twist, turning over to land back where she had come from on nimble toes as sparks rolled off her in waves that kept the pulsing beat of her energy stable. The sparks still danced beneath her skin, ready to lash out at anything nearby trying to strike her, but Lyntael's focus was still forward. As she landed, she let herself step back, bracing her slight weight more firmly and reaching out to embrace the cycle of her charge as it swelled in response to the first expenditure. Now she drew it deliberately, urging the build up and letting it flow until it filled her. Her arms lifted, wrists snapping together in front of her as her strikers sang with an electrical hum.

The bolt lit up the mud pit in a flare of bright light as it arced across the battlefield, once more dwarfing her small form with the force of its magnitude. Errant sparks arced and twisted from the main blast as it hammered towards the far off Aquagear in a succession of searing pulses.

Lyntael felt the blast steal her breath with it, the void opening up in her chest at the empty sensation, but she drew a breath: a moment of stillness between one heartbeat and the next, and then the power came roaring back again. The flood filled her and Lyntael let her body rise from its braced pose, limbs tingling with warmth and static. She looked up and out; the wind was there, caressing her senses, and with it... She reached.

Clouds formed, slowly at first and then swifter into a rolling grey storm that rumbled once then cracked with a flash of lightning in response to her call. Rain began to fall, pattering in the mud and filling in the divots caused by their conflict until it had drenched everything. Lyntael stood still in the centre of the battle shifting to avoid threats only absently, her body crackling and glowing as winds curled around her limbs and the viruses around her seeming to fading into the background for just a moment as she let herself experience the falling rain.

“Last chance...” Her voice murmured quietly towards whichever viruses remained on the field. “You can leave; I won't stop you.” She could feel her limbs flooded with electricity, burning in her muscles and glowing around her strikers ready to burst, but the warmth was still a comfortable tingle – a buzz that wasn't even close tot he pain she was used to feeling under stress. She could control this.

Summary

L*) Turbulence (Auto-deflect all hits of one shot or lobbed attack)
L*) Gust (Knock Back effects are Double Strength, and attacks with them gain Wind type)
L*) My Pain is Real (Start of Turn, Counter Refreshes: (On Hit): (10Elec Nova2, Knockback))
L1) My Fear Rejected, with hopeful stride (Take Aim, ShotBase(50)Elec Spread2, Break, Knockback, A) (Self-Slow (1 Rank, 1 Round)), 3CD (Overcharge +4) (To the Shellnerd, Spreading onward towards the Aquagear, and back in the opposite direction (might line up with Tuby or Fishy but maybe not, your call)
L2) A Manifest Spirit, and eyes that dance (Dodge, Movement, 10Elec Nova2, Take Aim) (Off-Target (1 Rank, 1 Round)), 3CD (Overcharge -1) (Movement takes her back to centre, between Tuby and Fishy, Take Aim comes after the pulse, for the next attack)
L3) My Anger Directed, 'gainst violent threat (ShotBase(50)Elec Break, Impact, Slashing, Knockback, Buster Shot (30null, Disarm x 5 hits) (Take aim cancels off-target for the main bolt)) (Off-Target (1 Rank, 1 Round)), 3CD (Overcharge +6) (To Aquagear)
L*) Fast Armour: 20Hp Casing Refresh
L4) As I Look To The Sky, and my wounds bleed wet (Stage Chance (Sea; as torrential rain), 10Elec Nova4, Knockback, 15Hp Sacrifice, Recovery Time (1 Action), 4CD (Overcharge -4)
L5) Action Precluded: Recovery Time
L6) A Fresh Start, and the will to live (Status Cure, SupportBase(20), Feint) (15Hp Sacrifice), 2CD (Overcharge -2) (Status Cure pre-emptively clearing the Confusion before it takes effect, presuming it landed at some point during the turn)

Cooldowns and Overcharge

My Pain is Real; it lingers after (1TCD)
My Soul Scream, and yet I fight (2TCD)
My Faith Can Heal, with time for laughter (2TCD)
My Heart Falters, and beats anew (2TCD)
My Fear Rejected, with hopeful stride (3TCD)
My Anger Directed, 'gaint violent threat (3TCD)
As I Look To The Sky, and my wounds bleed wet (4TCD)
A Manifest Spirit, and eyes that dance (3TCD)
A Loving Heart, and a second chance (1TCD)
A Fresh Start, and the will to live (2TCD)

Overcharge: Begin: +0, My Pain is Real (+1 if triggered), My Fear Rejected (+4), A Manifest Spirit (-1), My Anger Directed (+6), As I Look To The Sky (-4), A Fresh Start (-2), End: +4

Moving towards her target, Lyntael would let out a devistating flashkick that would tear through the Shellnerd with little effort, a sicking crack would cry out between the thundering sounds across the field, deleting the Shellnerd within it's own shell, whilst the disentigrating force would fly out towards other directions, just barely missing the Aquagear as it moved just in time and clipping the Tubby as it continued to prepare to blast it's musics, whilst the Fishy was busying itself with escaping the mud, popping out just in time to watch the instrument get blasted, this did not stop it from beginning to sing however, an annoyingly off-pitched tune escaping from the living instrument, grating HEAVILY on Lyn's mental stability, if not stopped before long she'd likely go insane!...or the closest analgue for her at the very least.

Her movement back towards the center of the area would be met with the Aquiagear unloading a torrential blast of water again in turn right under her feet, managing to finally strip away the barrier (60) from her form, but causing a ripple effect that would damage the two she was between with a dual blast of electiricity, sending the Tubby head over ass into the mud, head first, causing it to stand perfectly upright whilst the Fishy was pushed back into the mud, but it would get back up almost immediately this time. All the while the met that could would FINALLY manage to right itself...and watching as Lyn would begin moving against the Aquagear in that moment...it decided immediately to peace the hell out, running from the battle as fast as it's stubby legs could allow.

With her movement against the Aquagear, it tried in vein to avoid her attacks, the first striking clear as day, both typing and it's own conductive lake would GREATLY do it's job, it's internal structure flashing for a brief moment upon it's strike and, moreso there, enough of her strikes landing true to finally remove the annoyance, it's metal body crumpling beneath her strikes before the body sunk beneath the waves, never to be seen again. All the while, her core would bring forth the stormclouds above, rain coming quick and hard, every muddy patch and even the grassy ones, would begin to disappear beneath the waves, as lightning flickered between Fishy and Tuby, the latter disageed with this however...before turning to a blackened ash, dead in a moment. Her words came as the Fishy looked about...and took it's immediate leave, flying off into the distance, knowing full well only an idiot wouldn't take this.

Data scoured the now water logged battlefield and, with it, data Rogan would be happy to take along most likely.

-- Viruses --
Aquagear EXAquagear EX (Raingear)

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

Area: Yoka, Beach, Sharo

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

Area: Beach

HP: 150
Attack: Confusion + To-All-Clause (Enemies)
Attack Accuracy: S
Attack Description: Plays a tune that confuses its enemies.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Discord (Rare), Zenny
Special: Attacks every other turn.: TOASTY
Fishy2Fishy2 (Fishy)

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

HP: 150
Attack Damage/Effect: 45 + Stun 1 + Line Attack(5) + Impact + Piercing
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Flies into a group of enemies, and stuns them.
Element: Normal
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): DashAttack2, Zenny
Special: Omnishoes: RUNNING VERY FAST (Ran)
Metool2Metool2 (Metool)

Metools not currently attacking will guard. Entering guard mode requires an action. Exiting guard mode does not require an action.

Area: ACDC, Electown, Okuden Valley, Kotobuki Town, Dentech, Beach

HP: 100
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 50 Null + Piercing + Ground Attack
Primary Attack Accuracy: C
Primary Attack Description: Whacks ground with pickaxe, sending forth a shockwave.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 50 Null
Secondary Attack Accuracy: B
Secondary Attack Description: Throws a mattock at an enemy.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Guard2, SonicWave, Zenny
Special: Can hide in its helmet to negate damage.
Special: Can use Recover150 on self once.: PEACE OUT BABY! (Ran)
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.: DELETED

-- Navis --
Lyntael.EXE: 340 HP (Sea) (Self-Slow1) (Off-Target1) (Charge2) (Casing20) (ElecBarrier30)

-- Terrain --
100% 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.

(Waterlogged and rainy field anyone?)

Battle 13 Victory!
13,500z, 25 Bugfrags

Lyntael stood amidst the falling rain and felt the charge thrumming beneath her skin, straining to be used and setting her body alight with warmth and pressure, but as she felt the storm rumble overhead and the wind curling about her form at the centre of it, the sense of calm remained. She looked around, almost dreamlike for a moment, as the remaining viruses fled and let a ripple of stabilising sparks scatter from her gently. The strain of her charge faded as she let them go and Lyntael turned her head towards the clouds, eyes closed and feeling the rain on her face. It was strange, in a way; now, as she had never really understood before, she could feel the serenity in the storm as well as its force and violence. With another long breath in and out again, she let the feeling go. Far above, the rain slowed and stopped then a break formed in the clouds to let fresh sunlight fall across her. Swiftly then, the clouds began to break away and before long the whole event seemed to be returning to the network's normal weather patterns.

The girl inclined her head and stretched slowly with fluid, graceful motions as she enjoyed the sunlight as much as she had appreciated the rain. It would feel better if she wasn't wearing a full body suit like she was, and the urge to feel the warmth of the sun across more of her skin swelled in her mind, but Lyntael relaxed all the same and began gathering the retrievable date over another few careful moments.

It didn't take long before she had gathered what she could, converting it to a slim green string of data that twisted up around her arm then faded from sight as she sent it across the link back to Rogan's PET. The thought gave her pause for a moment. A shift in her thinking and feeling... The device was Rogan's, really – it was how he communicated with her and how they exchanged data, but... As she sent off the last of the data, Lyntael glanced down at the centre of her own chest. The emblem she had once borne, an integral part of her being and the core element that represented so much about who she had been... was gone now. Shattered and destroyed, but yet she wasn't any less for it. If anything she was more herself now than she had ever been.

As she began to walk forward from the battle site, picking her steps in small skipping jumps between the lingering puddles, Lyntael let her thoughts explore what she was feeling. The PET was where her home was, but it was just that; a place she lived and space she'd made herself comfortable in... important to her, but no intrinsic part of her. She really did think of the device as Rogan's rather than hers, now. It was a peculiar realisation.

“Are we close to the target location, Rogan? I think I can see where I might be trying to get to, now, if that's where the co-ordinates are leading.” She hoped the rocky outcrop she'd been steadily heading towards was indeed their final destination for today. As much as she had protected herself well, Lyntael could still feel the strain and fatigue of the day's trek building up on her. Minor scrapes and bruises were starting to ache beneath her new suit and even refreshed by the rain and the wind and the sun that gave her joy, she was definitely feeling tired now. A cup of tea, something to eat, and a chance to curl up in her bed with something to read were all sounding like extremely appealing prospects... and that was without the time she knew she ought to take to really process through some of the other events of the day, and the feelings about those that she was putting to the back of her mind for now. Rogan's voice answered back after only a short moment.

“Not too far now, Lyntael. If you continue at your current pace, you should reach the supposed co-ordinates in another few minutes or so.” She nodded at his assessment, then murmured a small affirmation to him as she pressed on along the coastline. It might have been mostly a day of sorting herself out mentally, but it had definitely been a long day of physical testing as well, intended or not.

((Ready for Battle 14))

Continuing on through the area towards her fated meeting among the waves, her blustery wind and rainstorm seemed to have some longer reaching consequences than just in that last fight (for the viruses). Everything was a mess, from the deep patches of sea water scattered about in various formations, be it small pools to the much larger "sea" of panels towards the back of the area from her perspective in the north. Though a piercing screech could be heard in the distance, before a large bird of prey could come zooming down towards Lyntael's level, the navi ducking out of the way just in time to avoid the razor sharp claws that nearly grabbed the electrifying dancer.

Though she didn't get much of a reprieve as the bird came back around at lightning speeds, settling in front of her as it flapped it's giant wings, gusts of wind nearly knocking Lyn back from their slow, but powerful beats. The razor sharp claws flexing in front of her at eye level, their tips serrated like knives...and spots of leftover data clinging to them. With another screech, the bird summoned up a trio of viruses to fight alongside it. Emerging to the east and shaking off the mud that clung to it, another of her bounty, the Shellnerd would make itself known, whilst to the North-East, a similar appearance of a virus with a ninja motif would come crawling out of the mud, a small creature on two legs, a headband adorning it's head and in place of hands, two large knives known as Kunai would cling to either side of it. But behind the giant bird virus, known as the TinHawk, a crab-like virus bubbled up from a nearby body of sea water, tiny with two disproportionately sized claws, the crab would summon a cyclone of water beneath it and carrying it up to eye level with Lyntael.

Flashing on the PET, Rogan would see the TinHawk would be identified as a Metavirus. Battle Routines setting in, it was up to Lyntael to execute.

-- 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.: 140 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: 580 HP (Omnishoes) (Near-ish to Lyntael, on her left)
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: 340 HP (Mud) (Roughly in the center of the area, more towards the south)

-- 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)

-- Rogue Battle 14 Ready? Start!! --

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

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 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))

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.

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

No response escaped the Legion as she prepared herself for the fight to come, the creature's face turning to a neutral expression before long. The fingers "flexing" for lack of a better word as the cubed bricks of slime would begin moving towards the navi, giant digits contorting and moving unnaturally as it attempted to flick at the dancer, kicking up mud and connecting as her barrier went up, shattering it into pieces and sending her skidding back slightly as her counter lit up in turn, leading the creature's other arm to cover the core with it's massive palm and take the hit as a singular digit swiftly disentigrated upon the hit, along on the other arm. The head seemingly unaffected by the shock, but it had connected all the same, an eye drooping slightly at the damage sustained.

The creature almost seemed amused at this, as if it was getting an actual fight for once. The creature was slow, but it sped up as it reached it's target, attempting to slam it's palm down upon the navi, but the dancer managed to speed out from underneath the shadow, sending another round of electric shocks, nailing both the core and arms, another digit falling away from each, but the core pulsing a brighter purple in turn at the damage dealt to it and a grumble from the creature itself. It's face contorting a little in pain as she continued to move, the head running straight down towards her in an attempt to crush her again, displacing mud in the area again before pulling back, having missed as the dancer sped along the outside of it, the creature attempting to keep up with her speed as another irritating shock hit it, missing one of the arms this time as it couldn't keep up on Lyn's movements all around it.

All the while, there were several weapons that Lyn spotted in all the chaos, including a few big old blue cannons, a longsword that somehow was standing upright in all the muck surrounding it and, as she was moving, a chipped widesword was coming up in her path she could easily grab on the way. All the while, the creature's "body" was fairly cut and dry, three tendrils connected to the limbs, though maybe with enough effort she could disrupt them and cut them away. But it was hard to get a proper idea of what all they could do should she touch them in turn should her efforts against them prove fruitless or outright miss them.

-- Viruses --
Abominavi: Legion (All on Mud, to Lyntael's North, all close enough for Melee, constantly turning to meet with Lyntael)
Head: ??? HP (Middle of the creature's form, between the two arms)
Left Arm: ??? HP (1 digit remain)
Right Arm: ??? HP (2 digits remain)
Core: 870 HP (Pulsating brightly, behind it's arms)

-- Navis --
Lyntael.EXE: 335 HP (Mud) (Casing20) (Slow)(Off-Target)

-- 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)

Lyntael braced, gritting her teeth as one of the lashing limbs managed to catch her before she could duck away. As much as her barrier robbed the attack of most of its power, the impact of it against her raised arms still drove her back a few feet through the mud before she managed to keep moving. Not something she wanted to take another hit form, that was for sure. Her eyes scanned the field as she continued to weave around her target, light steps splashing across the surface of the muddy sludge to keep ahead of its mercifully slow turning circle.

She reached out, one hand grasping the exposed hilt of the standing blade as she passed it by. The weapon came with her as her steps carried her past it, and she could feel the foreign code that constructed it in her hand. Some of the weapons here looked older, like they'd been discarded here for a while, but several of them definitely looked far more recent. She hoped again that the shouts he'd heard before were navis that had gotten out safely, or at least managed to hide themselves for the moment.

Her charge crackled beneath her skin, eager to release, but Lyntael kept her focus and drew the energy through her body with a firm control that kept it from lashing out. As she concentrated, the beat of her heart became the pulse of her charge and a shell of dense energy expanded from within her into the familiar protective field of her barrier. It stabilised at the edge of her strikers, balancing the power in her body evenly before fading from sight. A few sparks remained crackling in her right hand as she held the blade and Lyntael turned a distracted thought towards reconfiguring the data it was made from to something she could use more easily. It only took a second for the blade to convert itself to a long, thin edge of pure energy that extended beneath her now open palm to end at a stabilising ring of light that circled her right wrist striker. Much better. Her hand trailed back behind her, held low and to the side, ready to strike when the moment presented itself.

Circling winds kicked up the mud and sent small splatters of it in every direction as she repositioned; in a brief moment, Lyntael was glad of the strange new outfit she'd been given, and the protection it was affording her from another mess. As her small form coasted in a tight circle around the creature, she bent low as her eyes picked out a rock raised up in the mud high enough for her to get a proper grip on. She grabbed on with her left hand and twisted the rest of her body to let the momentum whip her around the sudden anchor point. She pulled the wind currents with her into a supporting rush that helped pivot her circle inward and swing her straight towards her target at a sharp angle. Lighting crackled across her skin as she led with first one low sweeping kick, then another. Her charge rushed, drawing in towards her chest to unify then down towards each of her strikers in turn, but Lyntael grit her teeth, fighting to keep the expend of energy stable and controlled. As her body speared towards the monster, each kick was aimed towards the glowing core of the entity, but as electricity flared from each strike, arcs of branching lightning split away from each kick to lance towards each of the protecting arms as well.

The feeling of drain didn't last long as Lyntael landed in the mud again, feet sliding as her momentum carried her beneath the floating forms of the entity and past it to the other side. She could feel her charge cycling up and refilling her body faster and more furious than before and part of it seemed to send a rippling sheen across her new body suit, reinforcing it. As she drew a fresh breath, Lyntael let the end of her movement compact down into a tight crouch before pushing hard off her bent knee and springing back up in a leap that spiralled her body in the same direction her momentum was already spinning her. As she rose and turned towards the creature, her right hand whipped across her body, arm extended with the glowing edge of the reclaimed blade scything through the air with her main focus on removing the arms it kept shielding its core with. She had no idea how long the blade would hold out, but for now it was a tool she could use without over-exerting her own charge.

The leaping twist took the last of her momentum and as she landed beneath the creature's core half-turned from it her legs bent again, gathering into a driving jump that led with her left fist this time. Power flowed, harsher than before as the freshly generated charge flooded her, drew in then burst upwards through her leading striker into a flaring lightning bolt that bore up into the darkening clouds above, and hopefully might blast the core of the creature back away from her a little to let her reassess its reaction as she landed in the mud again.

Her balance faltered in he mud for an extra moment before she could steady herself. The feeling of drain after the third release in a row dragged at her and sent a momentary numbness through her limbs, followed by a tingling prickle as she recovered. Her charge cycled up again, rebuilding in response to the series of rapid expenditures but she took a breath, held it, and tried to focus the sensation as she let it out again. Still a lot to do; she had to pace herself.

Summary

L*) Turbulence (Auto-deflect on shot or lobbed attack)
L*) Gust (Knockback effects are Double Strength, and attacks with them gain Wind type)
L1) Movement (Continue circling the creature to hopefully slow down is ability to track with her, grab the upright blade as she circles past it.)
L2) My Heart Falters, yet beats anew: (Buster Charge, 80Hp Elec Barrier) (Off-Target (1 Rank, 1 Round)), 3CD (Overcharge -3)
L3) My Thoughts Collected, no more to hide: (Take Aim, ShotBase(50)Elec, Acc: A, Spread2, Impact, Knockback (Wind Type)) (Self-Slow (1 Rank, 1 Round)), 3CD (Overcharge +4) (Towards Core, Spread V-forward to both arms)
L4) My Fear Rejected, with hopeful stride: (Take Aim, ShotBase(50)Elec, Acc: A, Spread2, Break, Knockback (Wind Type)) (Self-Slow (1 Rank, 1 Round)), 3CD (Overcharge +4) (Towards Core, Spread V-forward to both arms)
L*) Fast Armour: 20Hp Casing Refresh
L5) Reclaimed LongSword: (Details unknown; aimed horizontally at the two arms if they are still active, or just the core if they're down (I figure she's committing to a horizontal slash, so head isn't really an option)
L6) My torment Rebels, I will not break: (ShotBase(50)Elec, Acc A, Break, Impact, Slashing, Knockback) (Charge-Burner), 3CD (Overcharge +3)

Cooldowns and Overcharge

A Burning Ache, for laughter recalled (3TCD)
My Fear Swells, but I hold tight (2TCD)
My Faith Can Heal, with time for laughter (2TCD)
My Heart Falters, yet beats anew (3TCD)
My Thoughts Collected, no more to hide (3TCD)
My Fear Rejected, with hopeful stride (3TCD)
My Torment Rebels, I will not break (3TCD)

Overcharge: Begin: +0, My Heart Falters (-3), My Thoughts Collected (+4), My Fear Rejected (+4), My Torment Rebels (+3), End: +11

As she moved without a lost beat from the flick she took, the creature continued to move slowly as it attempted to try and keep up, her hand grasping firmly against a fiarly simple blade handle, a small crossguard to help balance the blade that curved downwards to act like a proper handguard. (Equipped LongSwordDamage: 100 + Slashing + Long Attack
Accuracy: B
Description: Creates a sword made of solidified energy, with an elongated blade perfect for extra long slashes. Can hit up to 2 targets per slash with good RP.
Duration: Until Overridden/Broken. Breaks automatically after 3 swings.
Element: Null
Trader Rank: C, full uses)

The creature's eyes glowing ominously in turn as a blast of energy was shot towards the sides, both beams honing in on Lyntael's signature, as she continued around, both managing to miss her as she weaved through them without a missed beat, though the two lasers seemed to be making 90-degree turns and such, attempting to come back around for Lyntael sooner rather than later.

All the while as she reformed her barrier and mud slicked down her new suit, another layer to prevent damage, but as she did and let loose another attack upon the beast, another blast of wind and energy flooding forth to blast the beast's core with as much force as she could muster, even if the hands tried to block the attack yet again, it was unfortunately in vain as it cut through the last of one of the digits and past it's palm into the core. A frustrated roar from the monstrosity would all but confirm to Lyntael that it had connected (50) as one hand fell to the ground with a twitch, it's connection severed for the moment, as the orb did all in it's power to try and stay connected.

Unfortunately for Lyntael, the beast's head had enough and rammed itself at her. Sending the navi flying back a bit, taking a bite out of her barrier's strength (50) as her shot would go slightly wide in turn, missing the orb, but catching the other hand, and causing it's digitless form to go to the ground for the moment, tendril snapping in turn. The face would flash anger at the dancer in turn, leading to it letting out another roar as it tried to move against the dancing navi.

But, with sword in hand, she would rush forward as she recovered from trhe knockback, barely avoiding a second hit from the head and, with a little luck, managing to clip the core with another hit, leading to the creature's core quivering in pain (100) and with her last attack managing to chip a small chunk of the core off (50), causing the core to let loose a blast of compressed air, sending the navi back quite a ways to keep the navi at bay for the moment.

Of course, this was when tendrils began to slither back to the palms, reconnecting and, with it, the crteature beginning to swing back around entirely...sans it's "head", which seemed a bit stuck in the mud at the moment. Either way, the new tendrils looked just a smidge weaker than before, leading to the beast to...well...sweat a little as a new digit for each hand to reform...almost as if giving Lyntael the finger. Suffice it to say if the beast was intelligent or not, it sure had some sass to it.

-- Viruses --
Abominavi: Legion (All on Mud, to Lyntael's North, all close enough for Melee, constantly turning to meet with Lyntael)
Head: ??? HP (Middle of the creature's form, between the two arms...or would be if it wasn't stuck in the mud for an action)
Left Arm: ??? HP (1 digit remain) (Detatched once)
Right Arm: ??? HP (1 digit remain) (Detatched once)
Core: 670 HP (Pulsating brightly, behind it's arms)

-- Navis --
Lyntael.EXE: 335 HP (Mud) (ElecBarrier30)(Casing20) (Equipped: LongSwordDamage: 100 + Slashing + Long Attack
Accuracy: B
Description: Creates a sword made of solidified energy, with an elongated blade perfect for extra long slashes. Can hit up to 2 targets per slash with good RP.
Duration: Until Overridden/Broken. Breaks automatically after 3 swings.
Element: Null
Trader Rank: C, 2 uses left) (Slow2)(Off-Target) (Homing: Eye Lasers, due to attack again next turn)

-- 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)