From Beyond {lurking;grasping}

In a strange reversal that left the normally destructive Champy feeling more like the defending heroes, the pair of viruses watched the incomprehensible mass swell and burgeon before them, seeming to devour itself and grow larger still. Their previous blows had landed at least... perhaps they had a chance, if they could just stay away from the monster's rending teeth and violating blades.

One rushed in first, seizing a moment. Its fists struck against the swelling carapace of the beast, but could only scuff the outer corpse-like mass; it was hard to tell if any real damage had been sustained. The white swelled, generated more of itself and spread; the other champy picked its moment and lunged in to strike, but like its partner, could only land a light scoring against the growing mass of matter. As it spread up above them, unfolding branch-like limbs in a hideous display, the pair backed off as much as they could, but not fast enough... One branch swept down grabbing and piercing as it coiled about the first virus. The champy tried, desperately, to punch at the branch tearing into it, but its strength quickly failed, stolen away and consumed by the terrible creature.

The second champy struck forward again, trying to sever the branch, but only grazed it once, to no avail. In its moment of vulnerability, and other branch from the all-consuming white reached down and took hold of it, encasing and piercing even as it drew it up, and then in. In moments, the pair of viruses were gone, consigned to a fate worse than any simple deletion.

Close by, the Miner virus remained, hoping in silence to remain beneath the monstrosity's notice. A quietly and carefully as it could, it dispensed more mines ant attempted to lace the field surrounding the beast with them... though it daren't get too close as it worked.

-=Viruses=-
ChampuChampu (Champy)

Champy viruses teleport when they attack.

Area: ACDC, SciLab, Electown, Kotobuki Town, Hades Isle

HP: 60
Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Fire + Impact x 2 Punches
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Punches twice with fire.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): FireHit1, Zenny A: ALL RETURN TO WHITE (Ping!)
ChampuChampu (Champy)

Champy viruses teleport when they attack.

Area: ACDC, SciLab, Electown, Kotobuki Town, Hades Isle

HP: 60
Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Fire + Impact x 2 Punches
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Punches twice with fire.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): FireHit1, Zenny B: OBLIVION IS NO RELEASE (Ping!)
Megalian-EMegalian-E (Megalian-E)

All Megalian-E viruses are equipped with Omnishoes, and fight from the air. This virus type will spend an Action Dodging, and then Attack the following Action. If there are more than one Megalian (family does not matter) the viruses will work together, alternating their attack Actions or attacking as a group (mod's discretion). When attacking, both the head and the base can be damaged separately (if the Aura protecting the base has been destroyed).

Area: NAXA, SciLab

HP: 130
Attack Damage/Effect: 40 Elec + Break + Piercing + Group attack.
Attack Accuracy: B (special)
Attack Description: Lines up with a target and launches its head at the enemy. Accuracy decreases with each hit.
Element: Elec
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): AuraHead1, Barrier, Zenny
Special: Omnishoes: capable of free flight.
- Dodges every other Action. Attacks when not dodging.
- Has a 10HP Elec Aura (Pierced and destroyed by Wood attacks).
- Can be attacked while head is extended.: RIPPED AND TORN
MinerMiner (Miner)

Area: SciLab, Hades Isle

HP: 100
Attack Damage/Effect: 50 Null + Ground (Trap)
Attack Accuracy: -- (See Description)
Attack Description: The virus dispenses a stack of mines, sinks into the ground, and randomly places them within various panels all across the field. Every time a stack of mines is placed, it covers 5% of the field. When stepped upon, they explode, and 5% of the field is freed up again.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Mine1, Zenny
Special: Immobile
- This virus may dodge by ducking an attack while placing a mine.
- Trap [Movement Triggered]: Whenever a Player Navi or allied character Dodges or Moves, there is a chance they will trigger the mines. Mods will roll 1d20 for every move action made by allied characters. A roll of 1 is always a hit, with the threat range increased by 1 for every 5% of the field covered in mines. The max coverage of the field is 90%. Characters with Omnishoes who are flying at High Altitude can ignore this effect entirely.
- Panel Breaking can destroy mines.: 100Hp (Solar) (To Hex and Ego's left in the South-Western quadrant)
DarkProgDarkProg (DarkProg)

DarkProgs are Mr. Progs cruelly corrupted and warped to become expendable soldiers. They appear mostly as normal Mr. Progs, but their face is much more darkly colored, and have glowing white eyes, as well as missing their left arm. They attack by emitting static around themselves. While they are fairly strong attackers, especially in groups, they have poor endurance, which is only exacerbated by the fact their attacks harm themselves. They very rarely dodge, but will often try to move close to the enemy before attacking.

Area: SciLab, Netopia, NAXA

HP: 60
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Elec + Nova 2
Primary Attack Accuracy: C
Primary Attack Description: Emits some of its life energy as a static field.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: Damage x 2, Self-Sacrifice x 2
Secondary Attack Accuracy: S
Secondary Attack Description: Charges up energy within itself. On its next turn, all of this virus's attacks deal +100% Source Damage, and deal twice as much damage to itself. This effect does not stack with itself.
Element: Elec
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): RingZap1 (Rare), Zenny
Special: ElecBody: This virus takes no damage from Elec elemental attacks.
Special: Self-Sacrifice: Every time this virus uses its Primary Attack, it loses 5 HP.
Special: Can use PanelGrab once.: READY FOR ASSIMILATION (Ping!)

-=Navis=- (Roughly near the border of the south-east and north-east)
Hexadecimal.EXE: 180Hp (Solar)(Casing10)(Buster Charge: 2)
Ego.SP: 90Hp (Equipped to Hex)

-=Terrain=-
80% Solar

• Elec Elementals get +5 HP/action.
• Wood attacks: +100% Source Damage, change terrain hit to Cracked.
• PanelShot: Imbue Elec + Stun1.

(A quartet of smallish squares in the area)
20% Metal

• Cannot be Broken or Cracked except with Geddon/PanelShot, cannot be Burrowed into.
• Elec attacks: +100% Source Damage.
• 100 Damage Aqua attacks: Change terrain hit to Cracked.
• 100 Damage Fire attacks: Change terrain hit to Furnace.
• PanelShot: Imbue Elec + Break.

(Between the squares as a sort of divider for "quadrants" of metal panels)
20% Mined (20% chance of being hit with 50 null damage, per movement, dodge or feint)

-=Objects=-
GMD: 25 HP (Glass) (Damn near middle of the field)

Sight returned to Ego in strange, disjointed clips of view. Dingy dim light, white oozing over the ground, these were to be expected. Their body wasn't her body anymore, wasn't a he or a she or anything recognizable at all. They might as well be an it, if not for the distressing truth to the plurality.

They couldn't move very much. There were no limbs on this body, just a warped pustule of a shell that couldn't do much but rock back and forth. They rocked back and forth anyway, if just to feel something. They had too many faces to make sense of, and too many eyes. The world stretched wide around them, and the virus they loomed over looked so very small. The white moved through them; they could do nothing to stop it, any more than a human's skin could stop its muscle. They were nothing but a part of it.

And Hex had no further need for eyes or ears or brains, so here they are, awake and aware and unable to do anything but watch. Watch as, bloated from its feed, it stretched a pair of tongues. Unhurried, they oozed from the rents in its carapace. Confident enough, Ego thought, in its dominance over its prey to feel no need to immobilize or kill. Instead they just leaned in to lap at the Miner, their touch rasping and corrosive.

They were not quick about it.

And what would follow a tongue, but the mouth from which it stretches? Hex's carapace unfolded into a segmented abstraction, the base widening its purchase in the ground while the length of it narrowed into something like a long worm. At its tip, a ring of jagged, shivered teeth ground together: a logical endpoint of mechanical digestion, breaking matter down to allow the white greater immersion. Maw hanging overhead, Hex bit down, not hard enough to shatter outright, but enough for the limits of mortality to feel very near. Why such restraint? The question pounded like a physical force in Ego's mind, the implications vast enough to crush her beneath the processing load.

It had no brain, no thoughts, nothing with which to glean pleasure, or provide malevolent intent. So why, Ego wonders, would it wait? What purpose could be served by holding a tiny, squirming child up to your mouth, giving it time to learn the sharpness of your teeth and the crushing strength of your jaw, and the realization that any further life was a bygone dream? Where did this fit in the simple, defining equation of more equals more equals more? The white had no answer, it only swelled itself in its carapace until Ego felt their borrowed skin tearing at the seams. The world jumped and skipped as their perception skipped seconds at a time, the processing load of so much sensation too much to handle. It was the closest thing to mercy they had at hand, that they need not feel every moment in its entirety.

Finally, finally Hex's mouth came down. If only that were a mercy! That the torment were to end with one final bite; that consciousness and life should be snuffed out, to be mercifully absent for the process of digestion. This would not be, for however much of a virus might be as meat to the white, the true prize it stripped viruses of their bodies for was the mind within: that little spark of life that made a being a being, that gave it thoughts and choices and wants and needs. Those, it took, and deep in its belly brought into itself in some unseen unity, some process none could see, but Ego could hear. And those pieces, sewn together in Ego's head and gnawed on to fuel the white's own processing - those pieces never, ever stopped screaming.

E1. Watch
1. Buster Shot: Miner [15 Null {A}]
2. Buster Shot: Miner [15 Null {A}]
3. Half Charge Shot: Miner [60 Null {A}]
4. Buster Charge
5. Wait
6. Charge Shot: Miner [120 Null {A}]
E2. Listen

(A quick reminder that a full charge is two charge actions/signatures with Buster Charge without expending the charge)

The white began to lap and lick at the Miner, the corrosive navi...no...thing...slowly tasting it's prey, not moving a step away from it's position as it's corrosion began to slowly dissolve, the Miner's arm being dissolved at the shoulder and falling unceremoniously to the floor and disappearing, unraveling at the basest parts of it's code as the ones and zeroes were absorbed into Hex. (15, 15) All the while the miner tried to avoid the attacks...the inevitable...in vein as teeth tore into it's flesh from the White's "tongue", lapping up more data and devouring it slowly, a gaping, bleeding chasm of data being torn open in the virus' body along it's side, spilling it's data onto the floor more and more for the White to devour. (60)

In it's last act of defiance against the White, however, the miner disappeared down into the floor ever so briefly to begin mining the floor again...for whatever good it did, as it was still close enough to the White as it lunged enough to tear into it's head and core with a sickening crunch, data and what seemed to be bone being torn from flesh, only to be absorbed and disappearing into Hexadecimal (60)...money and bugfragments scattered about for the White's PET to absorb into it's human's account...and...curiously enough...a fist from one of those Champu viruses just...sitting, glitching in and out of existence...could be used as chip data for the idiot human Hex associated itself with to use...if nothing else...now about that curious spinning diamond of junk data...

-=Viruses=-
ChampuChampu (Champy)

Champy viruses teleport when they attack.

Area: ACDC, SciLab, Electown, Kotobuki Town, Hades Isle

HP: 60
Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Fire + Impact x 2 Punches
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Punches twice with fire.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): FireHit1, Zenny A: ALL RETURN TO WHITE (Ping!)
ChampuChampu (Champy)

Champy viruses teleport when they attack.

Area: ACDC, SciLab, Electown, Kotobuki Town, Hades Isle

HP: 60
Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Fire + Impact x 2 Punches
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Punches twice with fire.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): FireHit1, Zenny B: OBLIVION IS NO RELEASE (Ping!)
Megalian-EMegalian-E (Megalian-E)

All Megalian-E viruses are equipped with Omnishoes, and fight from the air. This virus type will spend an Action Dodging, and then Attack the following Action. If there are more than one Megalian (family does not matter) the viruses will work together, alternating their attack Actions or attacking as a group (mod's discretion). When attacking, both the head and the base can be damaged separately (if the Aura protecting the base has been destroyed).

Area: NAXA, SciLab

HP: 130
Attack Damage/Effect: 40 Elec + Break + Piercing + Group attack.
Attack Accuracy: B (special)
Attack Description: Lines up with a target and launches its head at the enemy. Accuracy decreases with each hit.
Element: Elec
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): AuraHead1, Barrier, Zenny
Special: Omnishoes: capable of free flight.
- Dodges every other Action. Attacks when not dodging.
- Has a 10HP Elec Aura (Pierced and destroyed by Wood attacks).
- Can be attacked while head is extended.: RIPPED AND TORN
MinerMiner (Miner)

Area: SciLab, Hades Isle

HP: 100
Attack Damage/Effect: 50 Null + Ground (Trap)
Attack Accuracy: -- (See Description)
Attack Description: The virus dispenses a stack of mines, sinks into the ground, and randomly places them within various panels all across the field. Every time a stack of mines is placed, it covers 5% of the field. When stepped upon, they explode, and 5% of the field is freed up again.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Mine1, Zenny
Special: Immobile
- This virus may dodge by ducking an attack while placing a mine.
- Trap [Movement Triggered]: Whenever a Player Navi or allied character Dodges or Moves, there is a chance they will trigger the mines. Mods will roll 1d20 for every move action made by allied characters. A roll of 1 is always a hit, with the threat range increased by 1 for every 5% of the field covered in mines. The max coverage of the field is 90%. Characters with Omnishoes who are flying at High Altitude can ignore this effect entirely.
- Panel Breaking can destroy mines.: A LIGHT SNACK FOR THE WHITE
DarkProgDarkProg (DarkProg)

DarkProgs are Mr. Progs cruelly corrupted and warped to become expendable soldiers. They appear mostly as normal Mr. Progs, but their face is much more darkly colored, and have glowing white eyes, as well as missing their left arm. They attack by emitting static around themselves. While they are fairly strong attackers, especially in groups, they have poor endurance, which is only exacerbated by the fact their attacks harm themselves. They very rarely dodge, but will often try to move close to the enemy before attacking.

Area: SciLab, Netopia, NAXA

HP: 60
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Elec + Nova 2
Primary Attack Accuracy: C
Primary Attack Description: Emits some of its life energy as a static field.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: Damage x 2, Self-Sacrifice x 2
Secondary Attack Accuracy: S
Secondary Attack Description: Charges up energy within itself. On its next turn, all of this virus's attacks deal +100% Source Damage, and deal twice as much damage to itself. This effect does not stack with itself.
Element: Elec
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): RingZap1 (Rare), Zenny
Special: ElecBody: This virus takes no damage from Elec elemental attacks.
Special: Self-Sacrifice: Every time this virus uses its Primary Attack, it loses 5 HP.
Special: Can use PanelGrab once.: READY FOR ASSIMILATION (Ping!)

-=Navis=- (Roughly near the border of the south-east and north-east)
Hexadecimal.EXE: 180Hp (Solar)(Casing10)(Buster Charge: 2)
Ego.SP: 90Hp (Equipped to Hex)

-=Terrain=-
80% Solar

• Elec Elementals get +5 HP/action.
• Wood attacks: +100% Source Damage, change terrain hit to Cracked.
• PanelShot: Imbue Elec + Stun1.

(A quartet of smallish squares in the area)
20% Metal

• Cannot be Broken or Cracked except with Geddon/PanelShot, cannot be Burrowed into.
• Elec attacks: +100% Source Damage.
• 100 Damage Aqua attacks: Change terrain hit to Cracked.
• 100 Damage Fire attacks: Change terrain hit to Furnace.
• PanelShot: Imbue Elec + Break.

(Between the squares as a sort of divider for "quadrants" of metal panels)
20% Mined (20% chance of being hit with 50 null damage, per movement, dodge or feint)

-=Objects=-
GMD: 25 HP (Glass) (Damn near middle of the field)

ASSIMILATION 1, WIN!
Rewards: 5 Virus Souls (or something IDFK), 600z, 21 Bugfrags and FireHit1Damage: 60 + Impact + Double Attack
Accuracy: A
Description: Throws a blazing punch from a distance, Hadoken style.
Duration: Up to 2 uses before the end of the turn
Element: Fire
Special: Double Attack: After spending an action to attack with this chip, you may choose to spend a second action and attack with it again before the end of the turn.
Trader Rank: D

ASSIMILATE GMD?

One meal remained. Hex made to pull it in like any other. Ego only prayed this one would not shriek as it was pulled apart.

<(Enter GMD)>

As the White began to open the GMD, ones and zeroes being torn away as it began to unravel and out came a small cache of zenny in small gold coins and bills for Hexadecimal's continued growth.

GMD reward: 3000z

Meal consumed, the white resumed its crawl through SciLab's backrooms. The usual humming white noise of the Net's processes was left muted in its wake, as code was caught on its surface and torn from their processes. In time, the errors would fester into glitches and virtual rot, if left unchecked. Somewhere, days out, a debugger would be left sitting at their terminal, staring at strings of broken code and trying to determine why whole chunks of the line had just disappeared, as though erased by an errant backspace and forgotten.

This, from the barest fleeting touch. Time would tell what greater problems would be left to that Net repairman, as Hex continued on its path.

<(Seeking Battle #2, Hex 180/180 HP, Ego 90/90 HP)>

As Hexadecimal continued through the networks, devouring data bits and pieces along the way, the network was quickly referring to Hex as a malignant creature shlopping through the area, despite it's empty halls and paths, the network would be quick to close off Hex's direct path, a large area being grabbed from the network and trying to trap the "navi" inside for someone better equipped to take on The Blob.

It wouldn't be long before a trio of viruses dropped in, one much bigger than the other two. A large fan on wheels known only as the Typhoon virus skirting across the checkerboard area of Normal and Metal, dusty as they were, practically staring down the malignant creature with it's non-existent face, as a Ratty came in, squeeking around on the ground, tail in the air and ready to attack Hex and it's captive SP...then came the big daddy of the trio, only known as the Sledge Metavirus, a creature made to look like the statue holding the ZeusHammer battle chip, this one however seemed to be painted in the Green and Yellow that Scilabs were associated as...seems they were keeping some viruses they seemingly tamed as security detail...or at least it seemed like it. Even as the creature's arm rose into the air with a crackle of lightning, it would likely not deter Hexadecimal...no...it was just a bigger meal than it was used to...

-- Viruses --
Sledge V1Sledge V1 (Sledge)

Sledge are a combination of the ElecOgre, Gaia, and Megalian-E viruses. A Sledge looks like a floating Gaia statue carved to look like the chip image of Zeus that holds a Zeus Hammer slung over one shoulder. The viruses use the Zeus Hammer in all of their attacks, and should they throw or lose theirs, they will generate a new one as a free action.

Area: All

HP: 350
Element: Elec

Primary Attack Damage/Effect: (30 Elec + Impact + Break + Panel Break) + (10 Elec + Nova2)
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: Slams enemy with ZeusHammer for extreme damage. Calls down lightning upon nearby foes.

Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: (20 Elec + Impact + Break + Panel Break) + (10 Elec + Blast2)
Secondary Attack Accuracy: C
Secondary Attack Description: Hurls ZeusHammer at enemy. Calls down thunder upon nearby foes when it lands.

Tertiary Attack Damage/Effect: (10 Elec + To-All-Ground) + (10 Elec + To-All-Clause)
Tertiary Attack Accuracy: C
Tertiary Attack Description: ZeusHammer sends thunder wave rolling across the ground and strikes enemies with lightning.

Special: SuperArmor: Immunity to Knockback, Microburst, Pull, Gravity, and similar effects.
Special: This virus has a 40 HP ElecAura that regenerates at the end of every turn.
Special: Floatshoes.

Possible Rewards (Per Virus): ElecReel1, Gaia1, BigHammer1, HammerToss1, ElecAura1, Hammer, Zenny: 350 HP (Roughly a feint behind Typhoon) (Metal)
TyphoonTyphoon (Typhoon)

This family is an upgrade to the viruses found in MMBN. Unlike their game version counterparts, these roll around on four wheels. They are thus able to move and dodge. All of their attacks have the Wind Type attribute, and thus deal extra damage and other added effects when used on Sand and Snow terrain. The viruses themselves are not able to summon this terrain, however. Their secondary attack is mainly used to counter Object chips or creatures that are closing in to attack them.

Area: SciLab, Yoka, Sharo, Netfrica

HP: 100
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: (10 Null x 3 Hits) + Homing
Primary Attack Accuracy: C
Primary Attack Description: Creates a tornado that chases the target. This attack is Wind Type.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Null + Microburst
Secondary Attack Accuracy: A
Secondary Attack Description: Shoots a single target with a concentrated blast of air that is virtually guaranteed to send them flying. This attack is Wind Type.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Typhoon, AirShot1, Zenny
Special: Wind Type: This Attack counts as Wind Type for the purposes of Wind triggered effects, such as traps and terrain.: 100 HP (Acting as a meat shield in front of Sledge V1 practically in Hex's non-existent face) (Metal)
RattyRatty (Ratty)

Area: SciLab, Kotobuki Town

HP: 60
Attack Damage/Effect: 30 Null + Blast1 + Homing + Ground Attack
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Fires a ratton missile that scurries in a tricky pattern toward an opponent.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Ratton1, Zenny
Special: Gains one free dodge at 30 health, but this only activates if the virus remains alive at this value. Missile has object properties, as an object equal to the damage dealt: if a missile is fired and dodged, it will remain active at 30 HP and attack the opponent again before it is destroyed. Never comes alone, favors pack mentality.: 60 HP (Flanking to the right and back behind the Sledge V1) (Normal)

-- Navis --
Hexadecimal.EXE: 180Hp (Normal) (Roughly near the middle of the field)
Ego.SP: 90Hp (Metal) (Just barely behind Hex)

-- Terrain -- (The area is checker-boarded, all combatants roughly have a 50/50 shot on being one or the other unless specified with a dodge/feint/movement)
50% Metal

• Cannot be Broken or Cracked except with Geddon/PanelShot, cannot be Burrowed into.
• Elec attacks: +100% Source Damage.
• 100 Damage Aqua attacks: Change terrain hit to Cracked.
• 100 Damage Fire attacks: Change terrain hit to Furnace.
• PanelShot: Imbue Elec + Break.

(Scattered across the area)
50% Normal

• No effects.

(Scattered across the area)

Battle Mode: Elite

Kill the Metavirus to win!

-- Meal 2 Ready. A S S I M I L A T E!! --

The white's advance did not slow, no matter the obstacle. A husk-body was dragged up, the skins of three Navis sewn into an amorphous snare of limbs that hinged like a bear trap. The husk surged forward with the pool for a moment, then jerked to a halt as though unable to progress past an unseen line. At its feet, Hex's true body continued onward, a creep of white tendrils burrowing into the cracks between panels and disappearing underfoot. When the panels reinforced into a mimicry of steel proved too strong for easy digestion, the unmodified panels woven through them proved the path of least resistance, and in seconds every other panel around the viruses was a gnawed-out pitfall.

Passive, uncomplicated flooring was quick to absorb, easily rotted into more white slurry. The mass crept back into the pool, twice as large now for its meal where it packed in behind the husk. Tendrils surged into the empty limbs until they bulged from the pressure, enough that relaxing the seams on its back made it shoot forward on a tide of itself, chasing down the smaller fry to leave their master unprotected. With the Typhoon so close, it would only have time to register a flailing tangle of arms and legs before the jaw snapped shut.

The maw retracted as quickly as it had shot out. Bloated under its own weight, Hex slid unhurried in a loop around its hunting ground. Its aim was clear: it was leaving the Sledge for last, the first goal to remove the distractions that would keep it from focusing all of its attention. Still more white bubbled up in a snakes-nest frenzy, creeping Hex and its puppet further out of reach. Ego just bowed their head, unarmoured and unbodied, creeping low. They couldn't move; instead they were moved by the pool they protruded from like a body half-submerged. Couldn't move, couldn't feel. They just were, more Hex for the pool, more white to consume the world with.

The white's next target was clear; the Ratton was small and would crunch easily under its jaws, and Hex had eaten the ground out from directly under it. Yet it had given the virus enough time for the gravity of its situation to sink in. It could try to scramble back up to the surface, but doing so would only further expose it to the white's snapping jaws. Or it could stay cowering in its hole, and wait for the snapping jaws to descend from above, with absolutely nowhere to run. Hex would stretch its body out nonetheless, a long coil of tendrils connecting its jaw to the oozing main body where it stood at the hunting ground's edge.

The white continued to circle. Ego felt it moving, erratic despite its sluggish build. Still it showed no hint of urgency, despite the dire speed at which its trapping jaws sprang out. Ego could only wonder why - and then, as the white filled her head and seized control of the Conduit through her, she was utterly gone, bereft of consciousness. There was just Hex, stretching high and pouring into the Conduit. As it was processed into the relic, a strange gravity bloomed within the two rings, increasing in intensity until the air shone a dim red. The Net had no natural procedure for such stimulus: time would tell what would manifest.

*SetArmour
1. Assembly [Large Broken under viruses, Buster Charge x2, Self Slow]
2. Full Charge Shot: Typhoon [120 Null {A}]
3. Dodge right around Broken
*One For All [Link Hex & Ego's HP, damage split evenly]
E1. Dodge Back
4. Buster Charge
5. Half Charge Shot: Ratton [60 Null {A}]
6. Dodge around Broken
E2. Dodge

The White was quick on it's feet, making sure to take a quick bite of the scenery and tearing through the normal paneling around the virus' area, sending the Ratty right into the eaten out panel before it could move, unfortunately the other two were fine as fine could be...minus being unable to move around for the most part.

Hex however wasn't out of the clear just yet, leading the Sledge to lash out as it reared it's arm back even further and threw the electrified hammer at the creature, leading to the blob being clocked right in the puddle it had melted into (20+Panel Break) and sending a blast of electricity around, leading to Ego getting a conducted zap along with a second hit for Ego (10/20!) whilst the Typhoon made an attempt to blast the creature away, tornados swiftly blaring up and attempting to hit Hex but missing entirely as it in turn was prompty devoured by The White in a single bite, nothing left behind but it's wheels (120).

Meanwhile, the Ratty was doing what it could to escape from the hole it fell into, the virus letting out annoyed squeeks as it kept trying to travel up the wall in an attempt to escape, only falling back in due to it's lack of grip to the wall. The Sledge, however, had better plans, summoning another hammer to it's hand and slamming it dwon on the ground, sending thunder waves rolling across the field, even the Ratty wasn't safe. Unfortunately, whilst the shake hit both white and SP (5/25!), the followup as lightning zapped the field would completely miss the duo thankfully, as IT would move, the Ratty attempting to climb again...and fail at it, making it a rat in a barrel as The White closed in...and devoured it whole with a sickening crunch from within the hole. If any scilab personel were watching, there'd be little more than sickened noises as the Sledge watched, another hammer thrown...only completely missing The White and the resulting thundercrash failed to hard either.

The Sledge watched on stone-faced as The White had it 2 on 1, hand trembling as another hammer appeared within it's grasp, but more or less safe behind it's flickering electrified aura, but it was just a matter of time...before The White had it's fill of the statue.

-- Viruses --
Sledge V1Sledge V1 (Sledge)

Sledge are a combination of the ElecOgre, Gaia, and Megalian-E viruses. A Sledge looks like a floating Gaia statue carved to look like the chip image of Zeus that holds a Zeus Hammer slung over one shoulder. The viruses use the Zeus Hammer in all of their attacks, and should they throw or lose theirs, they will generate a new one as a free action.

Area: All

HP: 350
Element: Elec

Primary Attack Damage/Effect: (30 Elec + Impact + Break + Panel Break) + (10 Elec + Nova2)
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: Slams enemy with ZeusHammer for extreme damage. Calls down lightning upon nearby foes.

Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: (20 Elec + Impact + Break + Panel Break) + (10 Elec + Blast2)
Secondary Attack Accuracy: C
Secondary Attack Description: Hurls ZeusHammer at enemy. Calls down thunder upon nearby foes when it lands.

Tertiary Attack Damage/Effect: (10 Elec + To-All-Ground) + (10 Elec + To-All-Clause)
Tertiary Attack Accuracy: C
Tertiary Attack Description: ZeusHammer sends thunder wave rolling across the ground and strikes enemies with lightning.

Special: SuperArmor: Immunity to Knockback, Microburst, Pull, Gravity, and similar effects.
Special: This virus has a 40 HP ElecAura that regenerates at the end of every turn.
Special: Floatshoes.

Possible Rewards (Per Virus): ElecReel1, Gaia1, BigHammer1, HammerToss1, ElecAura1, Hammer, Zenny: 350 HP (Surrounded by holes) (Metal) (Superarmor) (Floatshoes) (40HP ElecAura)
TyphoonTyphoon (Typhoon)

This family is an upgrade to the viruses found in MMBN. Unlike their game version counterparts, these roll around on four wheels. They are thus able to move and dodge. All of their attacks have the Wind Type attribute, and thus deal extra damage and other added effects when used on Sand and Snow terrain. The viruses themselves are not able to summon this terrain, however. Their secondary attack is mainly used to counter Object chips or creatures that are closing in to attack them.

Area: SciLab, Yoka, Sharo, Netfrica

HP: 100
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: (10 Null x 3 Hits) + Homing
Primary Attack Accuracy: C
Primary Attack Description: Creates a tornado that chases the target. This attack is Wind Type.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Null + Microburst
Secondary Attack Accuracy: A
Secondary Attack Description: Shoots a single target with a concentrated blast of air that is virtually guaranteed to send them flying. This attack is Wind Type.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Typhoon, AirShot1, Zenny
Special: Wind Type: This Attack counts as Wind Type for the purposes of Wind triggered effects, such as traps and terrain.: NOM
RattyRatty (Ratty)

Area: SciLab, Kotobuki Town

HP: 60
Attack Damage/Effect: 30 Null + Blast1 + Homing + Ground Attack
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Fires a ratton missile that scurries in a tricky pattern toward an opponent.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Ratton1, Zenny
Special: Gains one free dodge at 30 health, but this only activates if the virus remains alive at this value. Missile has object properties, as an object equal to the damage dealt: if a missile is fired and dodged, it will remain active at 30 HP and attack the opponent again before it is destroyed. Never comes alone, favors pack mentality.: CRUNCH (PING)

-- Navis --
Hexadecimal.EXE: 145Hp (Metal) (Near the broken up terrain IT ate)
Ego.SP: 45Hp (Metal) (Near Hex)

-- Terrain -- (The area is checker-boarded, all combatants roughly have a 50/18/32 shot on being one or the other unless specified with a dodge/feint/movement)
50% Metal

• Cannot be Broken or Cracked except with Geddon/PanelShot, cannot be Burrowed into.
• Elec attacks: +100% Source Damage.
• 100 Damage Aqua attacks: Change terrain hit to Cracked.
• 100 Damage Fire attacks: Change terrain hit to Furnace.
• PanelShot: Imbue Elec + Break.

(Scattered across the area)
18% Normal

• No effects.

(Scattered across the area not near the epicenter of Hex's appitite...or where Hex was struck at.)
32% Broken

• Not bottomless.
• Reverts to Normal after a time, if no one is inside.
• Doubles dodge penalties for bad RP.
• 1-4 Movements actions to climb back out depending on method.

(Gnawed out pitfalls where Hex ate the normal panels and where Hex was)

The white felt no pain. A noxious fog of static drifted from the holes in Hex's pool, the only sign any damage had been dealt as more bodies crawled themselves up into another heap. The Egomorph's body hung half-splattered, head lolling obscenely by a thin vein of neck left. Jerking erratically, they slithered into the husk-pile, oozing piles melding together with a disgusting slurp. Red light shone bloody through the buzzing grey fog. [COMMAND: REPLICATE] came a voice from below, a tortured approximation of speech that seemed to grind from the Net itself. The haze of static slowed as the holes in the white closed themselves.

Red light flared ever brighter. [COMMAND: ACTIVATE] came the awful voice again, as though the Net were being forced to translate the white's intent, and suffering for it. The exotic matter of the white was fed into the Conduit where it hung at Egomorph's back, foreign energy flooding the Net until the intrusive light took root and sprouted a fruiting body. All the while, the pool flowed in a sickening jerk off the metal terrain. The white felt no pain, but as long as the red light of its brain shone, it could think.

A surge rose from below. Bubbling, writhing coils crawled from rents in the husk-body, bloating the skin from beneath, fingers cracking as they were made to grasp and flex. Like flowers to the sun, the hands turned to the Sledge where it stood lone, defiant before the onslaught. Like flowers to the sun, they bloomed, fingers unfurling into petals of tongues and teeth. The white frothed and churned in anticipation.

Like flowers to the sun, they feasted. The light of the Sledge's aura could be torn into and digested as easily as bones and meat, and the white was eager for a taste. A braided coil of arms was brought to bear, split all along its length with slavering maws. It chewed as it lashed, lashed as it chewed, seeking not just an opening, but to inspire the fear of an encroaching predator. Why did it seek out the fear? It was impossible to say.

Still the static seeped, grey and noxious. From a rent the Sledge's hammer had managed to smash open, a man's head spurted free. Fog spewed freely from its gaping mouth, which gnashed until its teeth were jagged splinters. As the braided coil receded, the toxic flail was whipped at the Sledge on a long, oozing neck, looking to bite and spread its gaseous venom further.

Hex receded, leaving the head hollow and dead to be smashed like brittle china. The white tide writhed and surged, growing yet larger, yet deeper.

*SetArmour [40 HP Casing, Hex]
1. Equip Egomorph [Encase]
E1. Command: Replicate [30 HP Healing: Hex, Egomorph; 2TCD]
E2. Command: Activate [Random Effect; 1TCD]

2. Dodge onto Normal
3. Buster Charge
4. Half Charge Shot: Sledge [60 Null {A}]
5. Entry: Sledge [80 Null {A}, Break, Glitch; 3TCD]
6. Buster Charge

The White's advancement was briefly haulted as it began to set up it's defenses (the mod completely missed it last turn, whoops!) and began to equip it's hostage to itself in an attempt to shore up it's defenses. The Sledge watched as it began to move away from it's position, beginning to hasily hop from metal panel to metal panel, it's movements hampered by it's weight, but it was careful to avoid the holes despite this all, even as it's back eventually got turned to the monster threatening to devour it's very existence.

As this went on, Ego's corpse would begin to repair both herself and the creature that had taken her body, mind and soul, leaving the two mostly healed by the end of it all, before Ego would summon a mishapen heap of corpses in front of the two of them. The Sledge finally landing on the other side of the massive chasm of broken panels, turning back to Hex with a pump of it's arm, noticing the heap of corpses in front of it. It seemed to not care too much about it as it began to rear it's arm back again and rushing in with it's hammer, crashing it down on the Heap, triggering it's trap and giving Hex a quick boost in health, ae it managed to avoid being hit by the secondary effect of the hammer's smashing force, electricity barely avoided.

The White would quickly lash out at Sledge and it's aura, leading to it's aura being destroyed with a quick gassious followup to the Sledge, rending into it's body and taking a meaty chunk out of the virus' body (80) as it recoiled in fear and pain. The virus rushing Hex again with it's massive hammer, the statue slamming it right at where Hex was at...but weather it was far...or the pain of a gaping wound in it's side, the swing went wide and slammed next to Hex on a Metal panel, but the two were still shocked lightly by the lightning that exploded outwards (10/10). Aura refreshing on the sledge as it reared back again, but...was only a matter of time...Hex had it's number.

-- Viruses --
Sledge V1Sledge V1 (Sledge)

Sledge are a combination of the ElecOgre, Gaia, and Megalian-E viruses. A Sledge looks like a floating Gaia statue carved to look like the chip image of Zeus that holds a Zeus Hammer slung over one shoulder. The viruses use the Zeus Hammer in all of their attacks, and should they throw or lose theirs, they will generate a new one as a free action.

Area: All

HP: 350
Element: Elec

Primary Attack Damage/Effect: (30 Elec + Impact + Break + Panel Break) + (10 Elec + Nova2)
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: Slams enemy with ZeusHammer for extreme damage. Calls down lightning upon nearby foes.

Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: (20 Elec + Impact + Break + Panel Break) + (10 Elec + Blast2)
Secondary Attack Accuracy: C
Secondary Attack Description: Hurls ZeusHammer at enemy. Calls down thunder upon nearby foes when it lands.

Tertiary Attack Damage/Effect: (10 Elec + To-All-Ground) + (10 Elec + To-All-Clause)
Tertiary Attack Accuracy: C
Tertiary Attack Description: ZeusHammer sends thunder wave rolling across the ground and strikes enemies with lightning.

Special: SuperArmor: Immunity to Knockback, Microburst, Pull, Gravity, and similar effects.
Special: This virus has a 40 HP ElecAura that regenerates at the end of every turn.
Special: Floatshoes.

Possible Rewards (Per Virus): ElecReel1, Gaia1, BigHammer1, HammerToss1, ElecAura1, Hammer, Zenny: 270 HP (Near Hex) (Metal) (Superarmor) (Floatshoes) (40HP ElecAura)
TyphoonTyphoon (Typhoon)

This family is an upgrade to the viruses found in MMBN. Unlike their game version counterparts, these roll around on four wheels. They are thus able to move and dodge. All of their attacks have the Wind Type attribute, and thus deal extra damage and other added effects when used on Sand and Snow terrain. The viruses themselves are not able to summon this terrain, however. Their secondary attack is mainly used to counter Object chips or creatures that are closing in to attack them.

Area: SciLab, Yoka, Sharo, Netfrica

HP: 100
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: (10 Null x 3 Hits) + Homing
Primary Attack Accuracy: C
Primary Attack Description: Creates a tornado that chases the target. This attack is Wind Type.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Null + Microburst
Secondary Attack Accuracy: A
Secondary Attack Description: Shoots a single target with a concentrated blast of air that is virtually guaranteed to send them flying. This attack is Wind Type.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Typhoon, AirShot1, Zenny
Special: Wind Type: This Attack counts as Wind Type for the purposes of Wind triggered effects, such as traps and terrain.: NOM
RattyRatty (Ratty)

Area: SciLab, Kotobuki Town

HP: 60
Attack Damage/Effect: 30 Null + Blast1 + Homing + Ground Attack
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Fires a ratton missile that scurries in a tricky pattern toward an opponent.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Ratton1, Zenny
Special: Gains one free dodge at 30 health, but this only activates if the virus remains alive at this value. Missile has object properties, as an object equal to the damage dealt: if a missile is fired and dodged, it will remain active at 30 HP and attack the opponent again before it is destroyed. Never comes alone, favors pack mentality.: CRUNCH (PING)

-- Navis --
Hexadecimal.EXE: 190Hp (Normal) (casing30) (In front of the Sledge, near the eaten out terrain) (Charge1)
Ego.SP: 65Hp (Normal) (Equipped to Hex)

-- Terrain -- (The area is checker-boarded, all combatants roughly have a 50/16/34 shot on being one or the other unless specified with a dodge/feint/movement)
50% Metal

• Cannot be Broken or Cracked except with Geddon/PanelShot, cannot be Burrowed into.
• Elec attacks: +100% Source Damage.
• 100 Damage Aqua attacks: Change terrain hit to Cracked.
• 100 Damage Fire attacks: Change terrain hit to Furnace.
• PanelShot: Imbue Elec + Break.

(Scattered across the area)
16% Normal

• No effects.

(Scattered across the area not near the epicenter of Hex's appitite...or where Hex was struck at.)
34% Broken

• Not bottomless.
• Reverts to Normal after a time, if no one is inside.
• Doubles dodge penalties for bad RP.
• 1-4 Movements actions to climb back out depending on method.

(Gnawed out pitfalls where Hex ate the normal panels and where Hex and the CorpseHeap was)

The white writhed and surged like waves on the tide. As the Sledge closed the distance, the oozing pool reached back with glistening feelers. Bodies were pushed up to the surface, grey and hollow and gaping, and pulled into a gruesome tableau of skin and armour. Hands flexed open and shut like prisoners reaching through their cell bars, but it was only that reached through them, a prisoner only of its unceasing appetite.

All at once the tide rushed in. There was no rhythm to be observed in its motion, no thought driving the thing the Net called Hexadecimal. There was only the push, the ceaseless force which with the white reached. The Sledge was close, close enough that the white rising would seem a vaster space than any Navi (or something taking the form of a Navi) had any right to take up. So near, and yet so exotic as to seem a distant world all its own. The world hungered, and reached with voracious intent.

Just as the world seemed about to vanish altogether behind the white curtain, with an upsetting lurch Hex was pulled back. The Conduit pulsed with dim red light where it was lodged in the white - in moving its puppet, Hex moved itself. Ooze retracted slithering on itself, pulling out of reach and piling higher. It grew. It grew. It grew, and grew, and swelled, and bloated, and burst ribbons of white from its seams to splatter and spread across the ground.

The Egomorph stretched limbs and dragged the tide further back once more. It teetered high, high overhead, stretching vast limbs in every angle. Where did one aim, when the enemy was all around you? Where did one run, when the world had reduced itself to the ground on which you stood, and a great maw of a curtain descending all around? The white tide surged back in, twice over as heavy and hungry as its first lunge. Grasping fingers dove upon the Sledge like teeth in a gnashing jaw.

The tide pushed, and pulled back. Hex withdrew to slither out of the Sledge's reach once more. Mass pushed back into the pool under its own weight was built back up, dragged in and out of its window from the white world beyond.

-Turn Summary-

*SetArmour [40 HP Casing, Hex]
1. Half Charge Shot: Sledge [60 Null {A}]
E1. Dodge
2. Buster Charge
3. Buster Charge
E2. Dodge
4. Charge Shot: Sledge [120 Null {A}]
5. Dodge
6. Buster Charge

More and more The White hungered for the virus' existence to be absorbed into it. The massive green and yellow statue would continue to be on the defensive, Hex ripping away it's aura again and again as it surged up all around the creature, the hammer it held would smash into the ground, missing The White entirely, even as it's secondary thunder rippled outwards, The White and it's captive would be unharmed as The White continued it's assault. The White's existence practically all around the Sledge as it took another chunk out of the virus (120), the massive statue wobbling back and forth precariously as it leaked data from it's wounds. Hammer smashing again into the ground, again, missing Hex as it moved back, just barely out of the way of the secondary shock, even as cold metal slipped underfoot...there was little fight left in Hex's prey...just a few moments more and this virus will be just another memory...

-- Viruses --
Sledge V1Sledge V1 (Sledge)

Sledge are a combination of the ElecOgre, Gaia, and Megalian-E viruses. A Sledge looks like a floating Gaia statue carved to look like the chip image of Zeus that holds a Zeus Hammer slung over one shoulder. The viruses use the Zeus Hammer in all of their attacks, and should they throw or lose theirs, they will generate a new one as a free action.

Area: All

HP: 350
Element: Elec

Primary Attack Damage/Effect: (30 Elec + Impact + Break + Panel Break) + (10 Elec + Nova2)
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: Slams enemy with ZeusHammer for extreme damage. Calls down lightning upon nearby foes.

Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: (20 Elec + Impact + Break + Panel Break) + (10 Elec + Blast2)
Secondary Attack Accuracy: C
Secondary Attack Description: Hurls ZeusHammer at enemy. Calls down thunder upon nearby foes when it lands.

Tertiary Attack Damage/Effect: (10 Elec + To-All-Ground) + (10 Elec + To-All-Clause)
Tertiary Attack Accuracy: C
Tertiary Attack Description: ZeusHammer sends thunder wave rolling across the ground and strikes enemies with lightning.

Special: SuperArmor: Immunity to Knockback, Microburst, Pull, Gravity, and similar effects.
Special: This virus has a 40 HP ElecAura that regenerates at the end of every turn.
Special: Floatshoes.

Possible Rewards (Per Virus): ElecReel1, Gaia1, BigHammer1, HammerToss1, ElecAura1, Hammer, Zenny: 150 HP (Near Hex) (Metal) (Superarmor) (Floatshoes) (40HP ElecAura)
TyphoonTyphoon (Typhoon)

This family is an upgrade to the viruses found in MMBN. Unlike their game version counterparts, these roll around on four wheels. They are thus able to move and dodge. All of their attacks have the Wind Type attribute, and thus deal extra damage and other added effects when used on Sand and Snow terrain. The viruses themselves are not able to summon this terrain, however. Their secondary attack is mainly used to counter Object chips or creatures that are closing in to attack them.

Area: SciLab, Yoka, Sharo, Netfrica

HP: 100
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: (10 Null x 3 Hits) + Homing
Primary Attack Accuracy: C
Primary Attack Description: Creates a tornado that chases the target. This attack is Wind Type.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Null + Microburst
Secondary Attack Accuracy: A
Secondary Attack Description: Shoots a single target with a concentrated blast of air that is virtually guaranteed to send them flying. This attack is Wind Type.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Typhoon, AirShot1, Zenny
Special: Wind Type: This Attack counts as Wind Type for the purposes of Wind triggered effects, such as traps and terrain.: NOM
RattyRatty (Ratty)

Area: SciLab, Kotobuki Town

HP: 60
Attack Damage/Effect: 30 Null + Blast1 + Homing + Ground Attack
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Fires a ratton missile that scurries in a tricky pattern toward an opponent.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Ratton1, Zenny
Special: Gains one free dodge at 30 health, but this only activates if the virus remains alive at this value. Missile has object properties, as an object equal to the damage dealt: if a missile is fired and dodged, it will remain active at 30 HP and attack the opponent again before it is destroyed. Never comes alone, favors pack mentality.: CRUNCH (PING)

-- Navis --
Hexadecimal.EXE: 190Hp (Metal) (casing40) (Near the front of the Sledge, near the eaten out terrain) (Charge1)
Ego.SP: 65Hp (Equipped to Hex)

-- Terrain -- (The area is checker-boarded, all combatants roughly have a 50/16/34 shot on being one or the other unless specified with a dodge/feint/movement)
50% Metal

• Cannot be Broken or Cracked except with Geddon/PanelShot, cannot be Burrowed into.
• Elec attacks: +100% Source Damage.
• 100 Damage Aqua attacks: Change terrain hit to Cracked.
• 100 Damage Fire attacks: Change terrain hit to Furnace.
• PanelShot: Imbue Elec + Break.

(Scattered across the area)
16% Normal

• No effects.

(Scattered across the area not near the epicenter of Hex's appitite...or where Hex was struck at.)
34% Broken

• Not bottomless.
• Reverts to Normal after a time, if no one is inside.
• Doubles dodge penalties for bad RP.
• 1-4 Movements actions to climb back out depending on method.

(Gnawed out pitfalls where Hex ate the normal panels and where Hex and the CorpseHeap was)