From Beyond {lurking;grasping}

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)

They return.

All around is churning white and a squelching noise, and bodies hollowed and bleached like seashells. They see all around them, through too many eyes - they moan, through too many mouths. The thing the Net called Hexadecimal has abandoned them, discarded them, resigned them to a reality in which they exist, and are present. The Egomorph contorts and writhes, and little else, for they are the white and the white is them, and the white has prey in its grasp.

There is no more predatory instinct, no more flanking and pouncing. There is only an ocean somewhere beyond the Net, and a tide of white waves to pummel and crash and wash the world away, bite by byte. Hex breaks over the Sledge like a shore washes a body out to sea: a remorseless white wave smashes down, empty of thought and malice. Ego watches, detached as only one whose hands are not their own can be, as the bodies caught in Hex's current rip and claw at the Sledge's aura.

Tide comes in, tide goes out. Tide comes in, tide goes out. Mass gathers and swells, more white rushing in from beyond to bloat Hex's net-side window. A wave rises, the bodies sewn to serve as Hex's hide raise their arms to the skies like a mockery of supplication - and yet, there is no malice behind the grotesque desplay, for Hex has no brain. It derives no pleasure from inflicting harm, but devours the pain all the same. The next wave comes crashing down - Ego's world is the thunder of the breaking wave, the muted rush of air through the barrel, the swirling and grinding of their body.

Tide goes out. Tide goes farther out. The pool of white stretches itself higher, yet higher. A tide is inevitable; one cannot fight it. Egomorph tried once, oh how they tried. They remember having strong arms, and agency of their body. They remember the calm that quieted the amalgam of her brain enough to cooperate, and fight back if only briefly, just enough to save one precious life. The virus before them is not a Navi, not even close, but they would still fight to keep the white back from it if they could.

They can not. They will not be able to save this one.

The wave breaks like a thunderclap - the world before the Sledge is reduced to a white horizon, and a battering riptide washing it out to sea. The Net itself seems to groan under the assault, straining under the weight of the mass from nowhere. Ego hears the world smash asunder, and moans. There is nothing else they can do.

=Turn Summary=

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

Overwhelmed and engulfed by the seemingly inevitable corrupting white, the sledge thrashed and struggled against the relentless tide as the remnants of broken bodies clawed and chewed their way through its aura once again. It swung with its hammer, sinking the weapon into the flood of white mass with a splatter that seemed to have little impact – the entity, whatever it was, seemed to be done playing at defence as it tore, invaded and gnawed. The tide crashed over it, corroding and consuming, piece by piece.

From detached space where no part of herself was permitted hers to command, what remained of ego could observe what parts of a body she was still allowed to have absorb some of the impact of the blow, twitching with electrical discharge within the white, unheeding mass.

The once impressively large virus thrashed again, desperate now as it tried to rise up and away from the oncoming destruction but was dragged back by the broken clutches of its doom. It was hard for it swing to miss what was all around it, engulfing it now and from her disconnected place, Ego may have been aware of the forceful strike as the body that had once been hers was permitted to share in the pain, and the damage. The thunderous crash that followed became the tortured shriek of data being rent apart, form broken and essence consumed. A final flailing swing from the virus, now deep within the all-obscuring white lacked the power to strike properly. A last flare of electricity from the devoured data, and then the struggle was over.

What there was of Ego to watch, what was of them to listen, might perceive the damage wrought upon what remained of her form, passed to it by the red link. What remained might perceive the inevitability of the entity... but also the damage that touched not only their body, and the bodies of all the forms it had eaten, but also the whiteness itself. Overwhelming, all-consuming, but perhaps not quite invulnerable, not quite unstoppable... but for now, there was only consumption.

-=Virusectims=-
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: OVERWHELMED
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)

-=Naviscence=-
Hexadecimal.EXE: 150Hp (Metal)
Ego.SP: 25Hp (Equipped to Hex)

-=Terrainor Infirma=- (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/movementruined)
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 epicentre of Hex's appetite...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)

-= BAssmilationttle 2, ViCompletedtory!=-
Spoils: 1200z, 17 BugFrags, BigHammer1Damage: 160 + Impact + Break
Accuracy: B
Description: Summons a giant metal hammer to utterly crush one enemy that stands before you.
Duration: Once
Element: Null
Trader Rank: D

All is quiet, save the creaking of the Net. Broken shells slough off the misshapen white mass to be collected by the pool and recycled - a few crumbs bounce away at odd angles to clatter to the floor. The white doesn't notice the waste, not when the land is rife with the trails of more interesting scents. It picks a thread, and the pool drags itself across the ground to follow; splintered hands and faces litter the ground in its wake. The Net groans and creaks.

The Egomorph feels nothing save the sensation of having sensation torn away, as the white plucks out their eyes, peels off their faces, crumples their skin like so much garbage. They are once more disembodied, and can only feel the ebb and flow of the tide. They try not to feel. They try not to think.

<(;grasping;third;iteration;)>

Roving further and deeper in search of more data to consume, Hex would soon happen upon a shallow depression in the network ground, with what seemed like a pair of small block forts built on either side. Atop the two small forts, a Gunner and a ColdHead virus perched respectively, while in between them, wearing a small white and black checked strip on its helmet, an electrically aligned Swordy seemed to be acting as some kind of referee to their game of fort wars.

On the far side of the area to where Hex was approaching from, a handy virus was also watching – though it was possibly a participant in the game as well; the forts seemed to have been built out of blocks that resembled inert versions of the Handy's bombs, and several bomb-like objects also seemed to litter the battleground between the two forts.

At the approach of the ever-hungering white, however, the Swordy in the middle blew a whistle and the other three viruses left off their game to face the newcomer. None of them appeared to immediately identify Hex as a navi of any sort, and their initial behaviour was cautious.

-=Viruses=-
GunnerGunner (Gunner)

Gunners attack every action, if able. They don't bother attacking enemies they can't hit or enemies they can't damage, but they can select Objects as targets. Their accuracy with the machinegun attack is bad because it scatters everywhere. They are aware of this. They are also aware of the fact that their Vulcan attack pierces objects.

Area: SciLab, Kotobuki Town, Dentech

HP: 60
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 5 Null + Spay Fire x 9 Shots
Primary Attack Accuracy: E
Primary Attack Description: Targets an enemy and sprays the area with twin machineguns.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 5 Null + Spread1 x 3 Shots
Secondary Attack Accuracy: A
Secondary Attack Description: Targets and enemy and attacks with Vulcan.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Vulcan1, MachineGun1, Zenny
Special: Immobile.: 60Hp [Normal] (On top of Rock Fort A)
HandyHandy (Handy)

Handy Viruses attack by opening a dimensional gate below themselves, and dropping into it. The exit gate opens next to their destination, and they will rise out of it holding an explosive. This explosive is placed on an unbroken panel, and the Handy is free to move after. The use of gates does not count as teleporting, but can be used as a means of dodging as they attack. Gates are only used when attacking, and at no other time. Handy viruses will not set a new explosive until either a turn has passed, or they pass one action without setting a new bomb, whichever comes first. For more info on the bombs Handy viruses use, see below.

Area: SciLab, Yoka, Okuden Valley, Netopia, Hades Isle

HP: 80
Primary Attack Damage: 50 Null to all enemies after 2 turns
Primary Attack Accuracy: S
Primary Attack Description: Places a 100HP TimeBomb on the field, with a clearly visible digital timer on it. The bomb counts down for two turns, then explodes, dealing 50 damage to all enemies. If the bomb's HP is reduced to Zero before time expires, the bomb is harmlessly destroyed.
Secondary Attack Damage: 50 Null Counterattack + Blast2
Secondary Attack Accuracy: S
Secondary Attack Description: Places a 1HP DudBomb on the field, with a clearly visible digital X displayed on the side. The bomb remains on the field until the end of the turn after it was summoned, then self destructs harmlessly. If the DudBomb is attacked, it detonates whatever attacked it for 50 Null damage in a Blast2 area. This counterattack is indescriminate, and will trigger against the attacker no matter who or what it may be, without exception.
Element: Null.
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): TimeBomb1, Zenny
Special: This virus cannot attack unless there is at least 1 unbroken and unoccupied panel on the field for it to place bombs on.: 80Hp [Metal] (Sidelines opposite Hex's position)
ColdHeadColdHead (ColdHead)

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

Area: SciLab, Sharo, Hades Isle

HP: 60
Attack Damage/Effect: 30 Aqua + Break + Small Ice Terrain Change
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Fires Cannonball. Breaking. Creates Ice Terrain.
Element: Aqua
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): IceBall1, Zenny
Special: Immobile.
- Iron Body when not attacking.: 60Hp [Normal] (On top of Rock Fort B)
Swordy-ESwordy-E (Swordy-E)

Area: SciLab, Electown, NAXA

HP: 80
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 15 Elec + Long Range Attack + Slashing
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: When this virus is 2 panels away from the target, or its enemies are 2-deep, it will attack with Elec Blade.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Elec + Wide Range Attack + Slashing
Secondary Attack Accuracy: B
Secondary Attack Description: When this virus is standing directly adjacent to its target, or diagonally from it, it will attack with Elec Sword.
Element: Elec
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): ElecKnife, Zenny
Special: Swordy-E's are immune to Stun Status.
Special: Uses Area Grab to get into attack range.: 80Hp [Solar] (In the centre of the field)

-=Other Participating Entities=-
Hexadecimal.Exe: 150Hp [Metal] (Approaching from a point perpendicular to the two forts)
Ego.SP: 25Hp [Equipped to Hex]

-=Terrain=-
60% 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.

(Majority of the field)
25% Glass

• Slip Effect: -10% Accuracy, -10% Evasion to all.
• Non-Ice Aqua attacks causes it to be Wet, doubles slip effect for Non-Aqua Elementals for 1 turn. Wet can expire early with Fire attacks. Can cause slippage for poor RP or heavy impacts on Non-Aqua Elementals, 1-2 actions to recover.
• 200 Damage attacks: Change terrain hit to Broken. Damage threshold cut in half for Ground, Break, and Impact, to a minimum threshold of 25 when all 3 are present. Null 25 + Slashing + Nova 2 per panel broken, up to 200 (8 panels).
• Burrow: Change terrain to Broken, 50 Null + Slashing to burrower, Null 25 + Slashing + Nova2 to surroundings.
• PanelShot: Spread1.

(Two circular sections part way across the depression, equal distance from their respective forts)
15% Solar

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

(Circular section in the centre of the depression)

-=Objects=-
RockFort A: 100Hp [HardBody][Metal] (Perching on object counts as Normal

• No effects.

)
RockFort B: 100Hp [HardBody][Metal] (Perching on object counts as Normal

• No effects.

)
FakeBomb: 60Hp [Glass] (On the glass circle near Rock Fort B)
FakeDudBomb: 40Hp [Metal] (Off centre, on Hex's side)
DudFakeBomb: 20Hp [Solar] (Near the centre of the depression)

-=Battle 3, Start!=-