Coastal Paths

((First post with Rogan formally 'absent', making shop purchases))

It was surprisingly easy to forget that she was wearing just underwear that were not particularly opaque while they remained damp, rather than proper swim wear. Lyntael continued down the beach, kicking her toes in the rolling surf and enjoying the delicate breeze while clouds dappled the beach with patches of shade between the sun. She did her best to put the awkwardness of their last exchange out of mind while she continued to search for signs of the source of her bounty request, trusting Rogan to redirect her if she strayed off the course that Eurayle had pointed out to them.

((Ready for Battle 8, Shellnerd Bounty, Operator Absent))

Continuing along on her path beneath the undercarriage of the rocky cliffside, Lyntael would soon find the land beginning to encroach upon the coastline. The coastline would be more and more shallow as time went on, it didn't seem like much was going on...at least until a crackle of lightning struck down in front of her, displacing sand and getting it all over her legs, thighs and feet, before a much larger than normal virus crashed down from atop the rocky outcropping.

A deeply chartreuse colored monster on spindly, jagged and thin legs...a long forgotten piece of the lifevirus...or at least...a mostly finished simulacrum of such. It's wireframe was showing from beneath it's textures, the face was...just not there...and worse yet, you could practically see through the creature if you looked at it from the right angle. The creature was clearly angry at it's half-finished state as viruses dropped down from the outcropping as well...a RareVaccumFan in a deeply gaudy gold coloring and a ShellnerdEX atop it's body, in a similar coloring...whilst in the shallows, a Jelly2 would rise up, floating just above the waves as it raised it's tentacles up, agitating the waters around it. Battle Routines would set in for the navi, and battle began.

-- Viruses --
Jelly2 EXJelly2 EX (Jelly)

Jelly are floating, jellyfish-like viruses, that seem to simply float nonchalantly, yet are deceptively difficult to combat. Fortunately, their rarity ensures they they never appear before a Battle 6, and there are never more than 2 in a single battle. While their horizontal movement is terrible at best, they can easily adjust their altitude as needed. By default, however, they tend to hover a couple of feet above the ground. The exception to this is when they attack. Jelly attack by launching large waves of water at enemies The attack cycle of Jelly is 2 actions long. It requires one action to charge before firing. If they are stunned or otherwise temporarily disabled, they resume their attack cycle where it was halted once the stun wears off. When they attack, they drop to the ground in order to pump out as much liquid as possible. This allows them to harness the power of certain kinds of terrain to boost their attacks, but it also makes them immobile and vulnerable to ground-based attacks for the duration.

Area: Beach

HP: 290
Attack Damage/Effect: 90 Aqua + Ground Attack + Wide Attack + Sea Terrain Boost 50 + 1 action charge
Attack Accuracy: A
Attack Description: It charges itself with innate elemental energy, then launches a hard-to-avoid wall of water at enemies. The attack is stronger if performed over Sea terrain.
Element: Aqua
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Wave2 (Rare), Zenny
Special: OmniShoes
Special: This virus can move forward, backward, or to the side, but it does this so slowly that it cannot evade attacks this way.
Special: This virus can move up and down at high speed in order to avoid attacks while charging. While they can float fairly high, they cannot achieve High Altitude status.
Special: This virus is anchored and cannot move when attacking.: 290 HP (Sea) (Hovering in the water, about a 6-o-clock position)
RareVaccumFanRareVaccumFan (Wind & Fan)

All viruses in this family are immobile during combat, with the exception of being able to turn to face any direction it wishes. Later versions of this virus may switch between Wind and Fan effects, which requires one action, during which time all wind or fan effects cease. Bonuses and penalties do not stack if multiples of the same virus family exist on the field. Wind and Fan do not push or pull Objects, only creatures.

Area: SciLab, Yoka, Beach, Sharo, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 200
Attack Damage/Effect: Fan Effect, Northwind
Attack Accuracy: S
Attack Description: Causes a large scale gale of wind to blow across the entire field in the opposite direction the virus is facing. This gale will constantly move all targets this virus considers to be enemies in the direction the wind is blowing, which makes it difficult to avoid many kinds of attacks executed by its allies. All those affected by the wind will also have their barriers and auras blown off by a constant Northwind effect.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Fan, Zenny
Special: Causes all targets this virus considers to be enemies to suffer a 30% evasion penalty against all close range attacks, such as swords, melee attacks, and flamethrower style weaponry. Both sides of the engagement suffer a 30% accuracy penalty with direct attacks perpendicular to the direction of the wind, and all thrown attacks.
Special: Those allied with this virus may opt to take advantage of the wind to increase movement speed or evasion by going with the wind. They do not suffer any penalties, however. Conversely, anyone may move along with the wind to increase accuracy by 10% for close ranged attacks, assuming the target is in that direction.
Special: Northwind effect to all enemies once per virus action while maintaining fan effect.: 200 HP (Sand) (Seated against the rocky outcropping at a 1-o-clock position, pointing roughly towards Lyntael, about to begin operation)
Scuttler-4Scuttler-4 (Scuttler-)

Scuttler- is an angry looking insectoid creature. Unlike the virus it was designed to be like, it is chartreuse instead of yellow. This metavirus were made in an attempt to recapture the devastating power of the LifeVirus's creations, byte for byte, to the inclusion/exclusion of various aspects of their virus components, such as removing all flight capability, and cranking up their innate aggressiveness. That they were regarded as failures is more an indication of the real things' incredible might than the metaviruses' weakness. They're still extremely vicious, and very much prefer attacking to dodging.

Area: All

HP: 780
Element: Elec

Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 100 Elec + Break + Piercing + Group Attack
Primary Attack Accuracy: B (special)
Primary Attack Description: Lines up with a target and launches a ball of electricity at the enemy. Accuracy decreases by one rank with each hit.

Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 80 Elec + Seeking
Secondary Attack Accuracy: C
Secondary Attack Description: Drops a thunderbolt on an enemy.

Tertiary Attack Damage/Effect: 80 Elec + Small Solar Terrain Change + Cone Attack
Tertiary Attack Accuracy: C
Tertiary Attack Description: Uses plasma breath to give the enemy and the ground an unhealthy glow.

Special: ElecAura: Begins each battle with a 100 HP ElecAura, which is pierced and instantly destroyed by Wood attacks. This reforms at the end of each turn.
Special: LightningProof: Cannot be inflicted with Stun. Takes half damage from Elec attacks.

Possible Rewards (Per Virus): ElecShock2, AuraHead2, ElecAura2, Elec+30, Strike (Rare), Zenny: 780 HP (ElecAura100) (Sand) (Standing there. MENACINGLY. Right across from Lyntael, at about a 3-o-clock position)
Shellnerd EXShellnerd EX (ShellGeek)

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

Area: Yoka, Sharo, Beach, Okuden Valley

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

-- Navis --
Lyntael.EXE: 350 HP (Sand) (Facing the Scuttler, roughly at a 8-o-clock position, near the coastline)

-- Terrain -- (A towering cliff rises above Lyntael, can be used for climbing and is otherwise treated as Normal terrain, doesn't seem to need any "expert" climbing ability or equipment)
80% Sand

• -20% Evasion and reduced movement speed to all.
• Can Burrow as standard action, incurable Blind1 until turn after exiting Burrow.
• Wind attacks: +100% Source Damage + Blind1, change terrain hit to Normal, trigger Sandstorm for 3 turns: Lose 5 HP/action, Blind1, Fire attacks gain Slashing.
• Fire attacks: Change terrain hit to Glass.
• Terrain changes between Sand and QuickSand do not inflict damage upon burrowed entities, nor do they eject burrowed entities to the surface.
• PanelShot: Blind1.

(The current beach area, more beach than sea right now)
20% Sea

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

(Nearby coastline, more shallow than before)

Battle Mode: ELITE! Meta dies, battle ends! Full rewards regardless of viruses on the field after.

-- Rogue Battle 8 Ready? Start!! --

The pleasantly shaded walk was interrupted with a blast of energy and flying sand as Lyntael jumped back from the sudden impact, her breath catching. A pulse rippled through her body, ready, as latent electricity flooded to the surface of her skin in response and the softly curling air around her whipped into a faster, more turbulent barrier, warding off further sand, at least a little. Without really being aware of it, she felt her body shift into a more balanced combat stance, hands raised as much to shield herself from the sudden sand spray as to defend but as her heart beat jumped upwards Lyntael tried to take a moment to see what the source of the disturbance really was.

The virus that followed the blast had landed in front of her with a heavy impact and a flash of uncomfortable memories darted through her mind. The creature looked broken and damaged, its inner structure exposed or rent apart in places, and the jerky skittering of its legs amidst the looming presence of its form made the creature seem wild and feral. Carefully, Lyntael opened her hands, lifting them up, palms out, though she still kept her defensive stance. For now, she didn't have time to focus on the other viruses she could see in her periphery.

“Easy... Easy there.” Images in her mind of the programs she'd encountered previously; broken and abused, desperate for their suffering to end. It was painfully similar, even if not quite the same. “No-one's going to hurt you here, okay?” She tried a tentative step forward, then another, approaching so that she could slowly reach out an open hand towards the incomplete body of the virus. “Just stay calm, okay? If you're in pain, I might be able to help...” the words almost caught in her throat. The only help she'd been able to give those other programs had been a quiet end and a moment of companionship when it came... Rogan had spoken before, when she'd fought the mutated abomination, as though it had been her first time ending a life, and in a way it had, at least violently like that... but he didn't know what she'd already had to put herself through before that... and here it was, potentially, again.

Ignoring the other viruses for now, Lyntael reached up to try to put one hand gently against the larger one, to see what she could learn about what had been done to it. Rogan hadn't said anything yet; in the back of her mind, she'd half expected him to chide her again. There might be no calming the creature; she knew that, and she was ready to leap away again if it just attacked, but she had to try. The thought repeated itself like a mantra. She accepted the risk, because that was better than not trying at all.

((Turn Splice; I know it won't work, but I don't want to assume the immediate reaction before getting to the rest of the turn))

Summary
L*) Knock Back effects are Double Strength, and attacks with them gain Wind type
L*) Turbulence: Frontal Deflection against shot or lobbed (hands free, layer 5)
L*) First Armour: (20Hp Casing)
L1) My Pain is Real; it lingers after (Counter (On Hit): (10Elec Nova2, Knockback (Wind), Time Delay (Start of next turn): Counter (On Hit): (10Elec Nova2, Knockback (Wind))), 15Hp Sacrifice) (Overcharge +1 per Counter Triggered)
L2) A Scarred Soul, with love to give (Damage Reduction (10, 1 Round), 40Hp Casing, Stun (1 Action), Self-Slow (1 Rank, 1 Round)) (Overcharge -2) (Stun as attempting to pacify the Meta)

-=Turn Splice=-

As Lyntael made her intentions clear with the virus in front of her, whilst setting herself up for potential attacks, the...malformed creature in front of her skittered to either side as it kept it's balance with it's half-made structure, she could feel it's unfettered rage and ferocity, whatever had happened to it had made it distrustful of others that didn't share it's own viral signature. Even without a face, it could see just fine, likely it's face textures hadn't been fully made before it had been set into the net or escaped from where it had been made, hard to say either way.

But regardless of Lyntael's intent or her motives to talk with it, the other viruses were more willing to go on the offensive as she was preoccupied, the Vaccumfan clicking on and letting loose gales of wind immediately, sand immediately beginning to kick up from the ground as it's high powered gusts of wind began to create a sandstorm in the general vicinty, eyes abound watering as the sand began to reduce visibility, as well as in general getting everywhere and making things awkward to so much as act through. This, of course, would not help the Scuttler any, or Lyntael's position with it, as things quickly began to get out of hand. The Jelly on the beach would begin to charge itself up for an attack whilst the Shellnerd kept concealed in it's shell. A loud hissing noise from the metavirus would escape from it, as it began to move closer to Lyntael in an attempt to attack...a bad move on it's part, as it began to feel the electrical charge of Lyn's hand upon it, a numbness coursing through it's body as it was unable to move more for the time being. Though if Lyn looked upwards, the outcropping seemed to be tall enough for her to escape the stinging pain she felt from the sandstorm, weather she could get up there or not was another story entirely, she'd likely be completely defenseless if she tried to climb.

-- Viruses --
Jelly2 EXJelly2 EX (Jelly)

Jelly are floating, jellyfish-like viruses, that seem to simply float nonchalantly, yet are deceptively difficult to combat. Fortunately, their rarity ensures they they never appear before a Battle 6, and there are never more than 2 in a single battle. While their horizontal movement is terrible at best, they can easily adjust their altitude as needed. By default, however, they tend to hover a couple of feet above the ground. The exception to this is when they attack. Jelly attack by launching large waves of water at enemies The attack cycle of Jelly is 2 actions long. It requires one action to charge before firing. If they are stunned or otherwise temporarily disabled, they resume their attack cycle where it was halted once the stun wears off. When they attack, they drop to the ground in order to pump out as much liquid as possible. This allows them to harness the power of certain kinds of terrain to boost their attacks, but it also makes them immobile and vulnerable to ground-based attacks for the duration.

Area: Beach

HP: 290
Attack Damage/Effect: 90 Aqua + Ground Attack + Wide Attack + Sea Terrain Boost 50 + 1 action charge
Attack Accuracy: A
Attack Description: It charges itself with innate elemental energy, then launches a hard-to-avoid wall of water at enemies. The attack is stronger if performed over Sea terrain.
Element: Aqua
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Wave2 (Rare), Zenny
Special: OmniShoes
Special: This virus can move forward, backward, or to the side, but it does this so slowly that it cannot evade attacks this way.
Special: This virus can move up and down at high speed in order to avoid attacks while charging. While they can float fairly high, they cannot achieve High Altitude status.
Special: This virus is anchored and cannot move when attacking.: 285 HP (Sea) (Hovering in the water, about a 6-o-clock position) (Charging it's attack) (1 action remaining)
RareVaccumFanRareVaccumFan (Wind & Fan)

All viruses in this family are immobile during combat, with the exception of being able to turn to face any direction it wishes. Later versions of this virus may switch between Wind and Fan effects, which requires one action, during which time all wind or fan effects cease. Bonuses and penalties do not stack if multiples of the same virus family exist on the field. Wind and Fan do not push or pull Objects, only creatures.

Area: SciLab, Yoka, Beach, Sharo, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 200
Attack Damage/Effect: Fan Effect, Northwind
Attack Accuracy: S
Attack Description: Causes a large scale gale of wind to blow across the entire field in the opposite direction the virus is facing. This gale will constantly move all targets this virus considers to be enemies in the direction the wind is blowing, which makes it difficult to avoid many kinds of attacks executed by its allies. All those affected by the wind will also have their barriers and auras blown off by a constant Northwind effect.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Fan, Zenny
Special: Causes all targets this virus considers to be enemies to suffer a 30% evasion penalty against all close range attacks, such as swords, melee attacks, and flamethrower style weaponry. Both sides of the engagement suffer a 30% accuracy penalty with direct attacks perpendicular to the direction of the wind, and all thrown attacks.
Special: Those allied with this virus may opt to take advantage of the wind to increase movement speed or evasion by going with the wind. They do not suffer any penalties, however. Conversely, anyone may move along with the wind to increase accuracy by 10% for close ranged attacks, assuming the target is in that direction.
Special: Northwind effect to all enemies once per virus action while maintaining fan effect.: 200 HP (Sand) (Seated against the rocky outcropping at a 1-o-clock position, pointing roughly towards Lyntael, about to begin operation) (Turned on)
Scuttler-4Scuttler-4 (Scuttler-)

Scuttler- is an angry looking insectoid creature. Unlike the virus it was designed to be like, it is chartreuse instead of yellow. This metavirus were made in an attempt to recapture the devastating power of the LifeVirus's creations, byte for byte, to the inclusion/exclusion of various aspects of their virus components, such as removing all flight capability, and cranking up their innate aggressiveness. That they were regarded as failures is more an indication of the real things' incredible might than the metaviruses' weakness. They're still extremely vicious, and very much prefer attacking to dodging.

Area: All

HP: 780
Element: Elec

Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 100 Elec + Break + Piercing + Group Attack
Primary Attack Accuracy: B (special)
Primary Attack Description: Lines up with a target and launches a ball of electricity at the enemy. Accuracy decreases by one rank with each hit.

Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 80 Elec + Seeking
Secondary Attack Accuracy: C
Secondary Attack Description: Drops a thunderbolt on an enemy.

Tertiary Attack Damage/Effect: 80 Elec + Small Solar Terrain Change + Cone Attack
Tertiary Attack Accuracy: C
Tertiary Attack Description: Uses plasma breath to give the enemy and the ground an unhealthy glow.

Special: ElecAura: Begins each battle with a 100 HP ElecAura, which is pierced and instantly destroyed by Wood attacks. This reforms at the end of each turn.
Special: LightningProof: Cannot be inflicted with Stun. Takes half damage from Elec attacks.

Possible Rewards (Per Virus): ElecShock2, AuraHead2, ElecAura2, Elec+30, Strike (Rare), Zenny: 775 HP (ElecAura100) (Sand) (Next to Lyn) (Stun1) (1 action remaining, thanks to Stun)
Shellnerd EXShellnerd EX (ShellGeek)

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

Area: Yoka, Sharo, Beach, Okuden Valley

HP: 160
Primary Attack Damage/Effects: 25 Null x 2 Spears
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: Fires two spears at one target.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effects: 50 Null
Secondary Attack Accuracy: B
Secondary Attack Description: Fires a star tipped arrow. Can be used on an ally to move them. Causes no damage to allies.
Element: Aqua
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): TripleNeedle, StarArrow2 (Rare), Zenny
Special: Attacks every other action. IronBody when not attacking.: 155 HP (Atop the VaccumFan) (Guarding) (1 action remaining)

-- Navis --
Lyntael.EXE: 330 HP (Sand) (Next to Scuttler) (Counter on hit: 10 Elec in Nova2+Wind-based knockback, repeat next turn) (DR10) (Casing40) (Slow1 next turn) (4 actions remaining)

-- Terrain -- (A towering cliff rises above Lyntael, can be used for climbing and is otherwise treated as Normal terrain, doesn't seem to need any "expert" climbing ability or equipment. From a quick look, the sandstorm does not seem to go as high as the cliff, but would take multiple actions to get up there without a microburst or similar effect)
80% Sand

• -20% Evasion and reduced movement speed to all.
• Can Burrow as standard action, incurable Blind1 until turn after exiting Burrow.
• Wind attacks: +100% Source Damage + Blind1, change terrain hit to Normal, trigger Sandstorm for 3 turns: Lose 5 HP/action, Blind1, Fire attacks gain Slashing.
• Fire attacks: Change terrain hit to Glass.
• Terrain changes between Sand and QuickSand do not inflict damage upon burrowed entities, nor do they eject burrowed entities to the surface.
• PanelShot: Blind1.

(The current beach area, more beach than sea right now)
20% Sea

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

(Nearby coastline, more shallow than before)
WARNING! WARNING! SANDSTORM IN EFFECT FOR 3 TURNS! -10% ACCURACY AND -5 HP AN ACTION!

The moment of hesitation from the creature was only that, and as the wind kicked the sand around them into a scouring, blinding storm Lyntael felt only renewed destruction emanate from the huge metavirus. She grit her teeth, pulling back and doing her best to skip back a few feet from it, dodging quickly as the virus redoubled its aggression. Her charge rose and filled her in response, straining, and Lyntael wove a shell from the sparks distorting the air and light around her to hide her form from its sight.

She recovered her footing, looking around, but it was no use; this was definitely a fight now, no matter what else she might say. A murmured “Alright” rose in her throat but a last moment instinct made her keep her mouth shut and swallow the remark, in the midst of the whipping sands. Instead she wove into position so she could keep the nearby viruses within her reach, braced her stance and waited for the right moment, then let her charge flow like it was straining to. Energy flowed inwards from her strikers to her chest as she circled the storming winds about her and turned them outwards again along with a bursting wave of dancing lightning, crackling and dancing amongst the shards of accelerated sand.

Her eyes were squeezed shut as much from the rush of release as to guard against the sandstorm, but the momentary emptiness of her expenditure felt like a second or two of drained stillness before it was met with the next cycle, and the beat of energy that surged back to fill the space. As she opened her eyes, it was to look right back at the large meta, still fixated on her. Its violent gaze had followed her movements, as though it could still see her. No time to worry about that. She didn't hesitate this time as her charge pulsed, but reached for it and embraced it, pulling more power from the seemingly inexhaustible spark at the very core of her being. Lightning burned through her limbs, hot and scoring, and she crouched low for a moment, twisted her body, then lunged up and inward, bringing her left palm up in flat, forceful strike towards the meta's mid-section; she'd felt a field about it before, like some kind of protective aura, almost like the barriers she made, but different. Getting through that would be the first task to stopping the creature now.

As she struck towards it, lighting flaring down her striking arm and out into a bursting shock of energy, a wave of electrical fall-off fanned out from her in the other direction, chasing trailing lines of lighting back behind her towards the other two viruses caught in the middle of the sandstorm, striking out with a shattering force at anything they could hit. Lyntael pushed off from the force of the expenditure, arm up and body rising as she made gliding half a step back before the momentum turned it into a graceful backward twist. Her feet left the sand as the motion carried her over, one hand down on the sand briefly before she landed back on her toes a few feet from the virus. Amidst the swirling, scoring sands, an intrusive thought took the time to mutter in her mind: she was glad that, or all options, she still had her underwear this time; unintentional flashing aside, there were some places she especially didn't want exposed to a sandstorm.

The void of charge left its hollow ache in her chest for only a moment after she landed, before it was answered, faster again, and Lyntael grit her teeth and drew it out into something she could use and direct. It was starting to burn at her, hot discomfort in her muscles where the current flowed, but this creature seemed very sturdy, and she had a feeling that her natural lighting might not be the most efficient way to overcome it. But it was what she had, for now, and it wanted to be spent. She took a breath, trying not to breathe sand while she struggled to maintain a protective shell of wind around her own body against the blustering of the powerful windbox. Whether it could see her or not, she squared her stance and put her hands out to the side, low and palms outward, then embraced the flow of her charge again. It hurt this time, there was no denying it, but it was only enough to drive her focus; light from her strikers drew in with the beat of energy to combine in her chest, her hands lifted as her wrists came together and the current roared outward. The brilliant flare of lightning arced from her hands across the space, lighting up the sandstorm for a few moments as it flashed and pulsed, rending at anything in its way and dragging threads of the howling winds along with it in a very literal salt-in-the-wound blast of wind-driven sand.

Lyntael staggered back another half step as the charge drained from her and left the void behind; a yawning blackness that threatened to swallow everything until it was answered by the thundering wrath of her charge filling every inch of her awareness, like a static across her mind. Why was it that she only ever remembered to pace herself, when she realised she wasn't doing so? She caught her breath and tried to focus on the fight as the lightning filled her.

Summary

L*) Turbulence is still up and hasn't been pinged yet, I think? : Frontal Deflection against shot or lobbed (hands free, layer 5)
L3) My Vision Alters, yet I see through (Buster Charge, Dodge, Invisibility (1 Target, 1 Round), Off-Target (1 Rank, 1 Round)) (Overcharge -2) (Dodging and repositioning; this is in response to assuming the scuttle reacts violently)
L4) My Soul Screams, and yet I fight (ShotBase(50)Elec Nova2, Knockback (Wind), Charge-Burner) (Overcharge +2) (should be Scuttle, Windbox and Shellnerd, hopefully)
L5) My Fear Rejected, with hopeful stride (Take Aim, ShotBase(50)Elec Spread2, Break, Knockback (Wind), A, Self-Slow (1 Rank, 1 Round)) (Overcharge +4) (First strike is Melee, A to Scuttle, spreads are Shot, A, directly back (to Windbox and Shellnerd))
L*) Fast Armour: 20Hp Casing Refresh
L6) My Anger Directed, 'gainst violent threat (ShotBase(50)Elec Break, Impact, Slashing, Knockback (Wind), A, Buster Shot (30null, Disarm x 5 hits, A), Off-Target (1 Rank, 1 Round)) (Overcharge +6) (To Scuttle)

Cooldowns and Overcharge
My Pain is Real; it lingers after (2TCD)
My Vision Alters, yet I see through (3TCD)
My Soul Screams, and yet I fight (3TCD)
My Fear Rejected, with hopeful stride (3TCD)
My Anger Directed, 'gainst violent threat (3TCD)
A Scarred Soul, with love to give (3TCD)

Overcharge: Begin: 0, My Pain is Real (+1, +1 if triggered), A Scarred Soul (-2), My Vision Alters (-2), My Soul Screams (+2), My Fear Rejected (+4), My Anger Directed (+6) End: +12

Lyntael would begin to hide from sight as the Scuttler would rear back in anger as it's body tingled, perhaps some wires didn't get properly connected or it was some sort of bug within, but the virus spat forwards as she moved, an unhealthy glow eminating in front of it in a short T-shape, glowing panels covering parts of the sands that still whipped haphazardly, even as it's body stiffened up, it's faceless body would keep a general track of where Lyn was at in some capacity, not seeing directly where she was, but at the very least a generalized idea of where she could be. But this didn't stop the Shellnerd from taking a potshot at her as she tried to reposition, taking cues from the Scuttler's body moving in tandem with the dancer's movements...and unfortunately, one of the attacks would graze her shoulder in retaliation of her actions against the Scuttler, casing managing to stay solid (15), but regardless, this caused two explosions one after the other, one from her trap and the other from her soul's screams, pushing back the Scuttler back twice breaking through its aura on the second (aura broken!) and knocking the Shellnerd off it's perch, causing the virus to tumble into the sand upside down as it knocked against the cliffside behind it and again as it was thrown further away , just to the side of where the Vaccumfan was at and towards it's left managing to cause both fan and shelled menace to sustain a fair bit of damage as they knocked against the wall behind them (80) (130) even as the fan would redouble it's efforts against Lyntael.

This is where the Jelly off in the sea got it's turn to move against her, it's charge completed, seas would churn and rumble against the navi as it began to cause a massive wave of water to rise up against Lyntael from the sea itself. Unfortunately for it, it wasn't paying attention to the Scuttler as it's wave of water crashed harmlessly against the sand, leading it to miss entirely, though she certainly got a little seawater splashed upon her despite the whirling hell of sand that surrounded her.

But this wasn't the end of her movements as she lashed out towards the Meta, even as the sands blinded her, her fist met the Meta's body as a jolt from it flowed into her through the fist that struck it and up her arm as it's body held tightly against her strike, the resulting clash of polarities would then feed back, sending electrical pulses back behind her and, with no wasted energy, struck behind and slammed it into the wall behind her (50!) (100!) (100!), though she felt pain, it was not hers...the Meta's...a searing pain from being a half-finished amalgamation of various bits and bytes...

Though she wasn't done yet, one more strike of lightning centered on the Scuttler called down from the heavens, piercing through the sandstorm and striking directly at it's heart, as it was struck thrice in tandem afterwards with the buffetting winds leaving a hefty singe where it had hit, the virus crying out, not in pain, but surprise as it had it's body so theroughly struck though she could feel some had missed in the back of her head as her vision blurred and her movements slowed in tandem with the aching emptiness that followed (50!+30x3) and her body returning to view of the remaining three.

-- Viruses --
Jelly2 EXJelly2 EX (Jelly)

Jelly are floating, jellyfish-like viruses, that seem to simply float nonchalantly, yet are deceptively difficult to combat. Fortunately, their rarity ensures they they never appear before a Battle 6, and there are never more than 2 in a single battle. While their horizontal movement is terrible at best, they can easily adjust their altitude as needed. By default, however, they tend to hover a couple of feet above the ground. The exception to this is when they attack. Jelly attack by launching large waves of water at enemies The attack cycle of Jelly is 2 actions long. It requires one action to charge before firing. If they are stunned or otherwise temporarily disabled, they resume their attack cycle where it was halted once the stun wears off. When they attack, they drop to the ground in order to pump out as much liquid as possible. This allows them to harness the power of certain kinds of terrain to boost their attacks, but it also makes them immobile and vulnerable to ground-based attacks for the duration.

Area: Beach

HP: 290
Attack Damage/Effect: 90 Aqua + Ground Attack + Wide Attack + Sea Terrain Boost 50 + 1 action charge
Attack Accuracy: A
Attack Description: It charges itself with innate elemental energy, then launches a hard-to-avoid wall of water at enemies. The attack is stronger if performed over Sea terrain.
Element: Aqua
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Wave2 (Rare), Zenny
Special: OmniShoes
Special: This virus can move forward, backward, or to the side, but it does this so slowly that it cannot evade attacks this way.
Special: This virus can move up and down at high speed in order to avoid attacks while charging. While they can float fairly high, they cannot achieve High Altitude status.
Special: This virus is anchored and cannot move when attacking.: 280 HP (Sea) (Hovering in the water, about a 6-o-clock position)
RareVaccumFanRareVaccumFan (Wind & Fan)

All viruses in this family are immobile during combat, with the exception of being able to turn to face any direction it wishes. Later versions of this virus may switch between Wind and Fan effects, which requires one action, during which time all wind or fan effects cease. Bonuses and penalties do not stack if multiples of the same virus family exist on the field. Wind and Fan do not push or pull Objects, only creatures.

Area: SciLab, Yoka, Beach, Sharo, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 200
Attack Damage/Effect: Fan Effect, Northwind
Attack Accuracy: S
Attack Description: Causes a large scale gale of wind to blow across the entire field in the opposite direction the virus is facing. This gale will constantly move all targets this virus considers to be enemies in the direction the wind is blowing, which makes it difficult to avoid many kinds of attacks executed by its allies. All those affected by the wind will also have their barriers and auras blown off by a constant Northwind effect.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Fan, Zenny
Special: Causes all targets this virus considers to be enemies to suffer a 30% evasion penalty against all close range attacks, such as swords, melee attacks, and flamethrower style weaponry. Both sides of the engagement suffer a 30% accuracy penalty with direct attacks perpendicular to the direction of the wind, and all thrown attacks.
Special: Those allied with this virus may opt to take advantage of the wind to increase movement speed or evasion by going with the wind. They do not suffer any penalties, however. Conversely, anyone may move along with the wind to increase accuracy by 10% for close ranged attacks, assuming the target is in that direction.
Special: Northwind effect to all enemies once per virus action while maintaining fan effect.: 30 HP (Sand) (Seated against the rocky outcropping at a 1-o-clock position, pointing roughly towards Lyntael) (Turned on)
Scuttler-4Scuttler-4 (Scuttler-)

Scuttler- is an angry looking insectoid creature. Unlike the virus it was designed to be like, it is chartreuse instead of yellow. This metavirus were made in an attempt to recapture the devastating power of the LifeVirus's creations, byte for byte, to the inclusion/exclusion of various aspects of their virus components, such as removing all flight capability, and cranking up their innate aggressiveness. That they were regarded as failures is more an indication of the real things' incredible might than the metaviruses' weakness. They're still extremely vicious, and very much prefer attacking to dodging.

Area: All

HP: 780
Element: Elec

Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 100 Elec + Break + Piercing + Group Attack
Primary Attack Accuracy: B (special)
Primary Attack Description: Lines up with a target and launches a ball of electricity at the enemy. Accuracy decreases by one rank with each hit.

Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 80 Elec + Seeking
Secondary Attack Accuracy: C
Secondary Attack Description: Drops a thunderbolt on an enemy.

Tertiary Attack Damage/Effect: 80 Elec + Small Solar Terrain Change + Cone Attack
Tertiary Attack Accuracy: C
Tertiary Attack Description: Uses plasma breath to give the enemy and the ground an unhealthy glow.

Special: ElecAura: Begins each battle with a 100 HP ElecAura, which is pierced and instantly destroyed by Wood attacks. This reforms at the end of each turn.
Special: LightningProof: Cannot be inflicted with Stun. Takes half damage from Elec attacks.

Possible Rewards (Per Virus): ElecShock2, AuraHead2, ElecAura2, Elec+30, Strike (Rare), Zenny: 580 HP (ElecAura100) (Sand) (next to Lyntael, roughly middle of the field)
Shellnerd EXShellnerd EX (ShellGeek)

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

Area: Yoka, Sharo, Beach, Okuden Valley

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

-- Navis --
Lyntael.EXE: 310 HP (Sand) (Next to Scuttler, downwind of the RareVaccumFan in the middle of the field) (Counter on hit: 10 Elec in Nova2+Wind-based knockback) (DR10) (Casing25) (Slow2) (Off-Target2) (Turbulance defense)

-- Terrain -- (A towering cliff rises above Lyntael, can be used for climbing and is otherwise treated as Normal terrain, doesn't seem to need any "expert" climbing ability or equipment. From a quick look, the sandstorm does not seem to go as high as the cliff, but would take multiple actions to get up there without a microburst or similar effect)
70% Sand

• -20% Evasion and reduced movement speed to all.
• Can Burrow as standard action, incurable Blind1 until turn after exiting Burrow.
• Wind attacks: +100% Source Damage + Blind1, change terrain hit to Normal, trigger Sandstorm for 3 turns: Lose 5 HP/action, Blind1, Fire attacks gain Slashing.
• Fire attacks: Change terrain hit to Glass.
• Terrain changes between Sand and QuickSand do not inflict damage upon burrowed entities, nor do they eject burrowed entities to the surface.
• PanelShot: Blind1.

(The current beach area, more beach than sea right now)
20% Sea

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

(Nearby coastline, more shallow than before)
10% Solar

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

(Where the Scuttler-4 breathed at, roughly where Lyn started on the lefternmost side of the field)
WARNING! WARNING! SANDSTORM IN EFFECT FOR 2 TURNS! -10% ACCURACY AND -5 HP AN ACTION!

Lyntael heard herself bite back a small sound of effort as errant shots glanced off her and her body responded with repeated waves of retaliatory sparks. Each little sharp, sudden expenditure like that made the next faster, and she could feel the cycle of charge starting to numb her extremities from the volume of charge moving across her. Errant splashes of water went ignored for now, though some part of her was keenly aware of the now wet sand clinging and sticking with a gritty insistence as she moved. The small thread of awareness that remained ever aware of being a young woman was, at this moment, keenly glad that it had been her skirt she'd lost, and not her actual underwear this time. She shook her head and refocused.

Energy flickered beneath the surface of her skin in a pattern of dancing light caustics, straining to release at any provocation, and Lyntael tried to squint, keeping the sand from her eyes as best she could while she focused on the fight in front of her, as well as keeping herself under control. Sparks rolled from her body, fanning out into the storm as the personal spiral of wind about her tried to counter the blowing sands. She darted back, light on her toes and did her best to avoid the aggression from the scuttling virus. In flashes of contact, she had felt pain and wrath from the half-constructed creature in front of her, but there was nothing else beneath it that she'd found; no being to save or mind to acknowledge. Maybe there hadn't ever been one, if the virus was incomplete, or maybe it was just too far gone; she hadn't any more way of knowing, but the reality here and now was that it was dangerous, and violent.

“Alright... and I'm sorry...” As she murmured the words, a ripple of calmer energy shivered across her skin and her shoulders set in a more determined readiness. The winds around her tightened and renewed their efforts are keeping the girl safe and her eyes drifted shut for a moment amidst the sensation. Her hair softened and fell flat, almost in tune to the sense of calm, and faded slightly towards a more platinum blonde, with nearly silver tips. It was only visible for a moment, however, before the ripple of energy created a single proud dragon scale in the middle of her brow. The ripple of energy flowed out and downwards, forming first a diadem from additional sweeping silver scales, and then a delicate visor to protect her eyes while, to the side, the metallic scales transitioned into a pair of backward arching dragon wings that protected her ears as well, extending just barely back and up, past the back of her head.

The transformation of her gear washed down the rest of her body in a wave, covering her skin with a close and form-fit undersuit made from a matte grey mesh of tight-woven metal links that covered her from neck to wrist and ankle. Over the top of it, forming in line with the wave of energy, a flat-lying metal gorget covered her collar region, picked out in downward-pointing metal scales, while a series of three larger scale plates formed shoulder guards that tapered to about halfway down her upper arms.

The rest of the armour followed rapidly, a series of three interleaved dragon scale plates protecting her chest from the front, down to her midsection while a similar pair interlocked across her back, delicately stylised to give the impression of folded dragon wings. The faulds followed suit, each stepped section a ring of layered dragon scales that grew out one beneath the next.

As Lyntael clenched her fists, matching boots and gauntlets took shape; slim, light and elegant, like the rest of the armour, but fully encasing metal all the same. Each resembled taloned claws at the fingers and toes, and they reached back as high as her calves and forearms. The last motes of the transformation completed as scrolling lines traced their way back from the points of each gauntlet and boot, to where draconic scale sigils etched themselves into strong emblazoned points at the base of each of her wrists and on either side of her ankles, where her strikers would normally build energy.

Lyntael took a slow breath and let it out again in a moment of stillness amidst the storm.
“This has to be done.” She fixed her gaze on the much larger virus, then moved.

The clawed toes of her boots dug into the sand as she darted forward through the storm, low and fast, the tips of her talons streaking trails of white lightning to either side. She could feel the pulse of her charge, but it was distant and muted now; still a roar of energy, but muffled just enough to let her focus. She slashed upwards with both talons coming together as she reached her target, pushing the claws forward and up as she tried to drive them through the creature's renewed barrier. A low growl rose unbidden in her throat as she channelled a blast of raw power through the gauntlets and ripped them apart again in her effort to break through and take some of the hostile virus' more fragile extremities with the motion if she could. Lightning flared, crackling into waves that thundered off to either side of her as she assaulted her target and as her momentum carried her upwards, Lyntael stepped up part of the creature's body and kicked back and away again.

Her body turned over in the air in a graceful arc and she landed back on her toes again a handful of feet away, stance ready and guarded as she assessed her target with fresh eyes. That aura was going to keep reforming. This might call for something with a bit more direct precision and punch. As she shifted her fighting stance, light on her feet, Lyntael turned her body to a more streamlined, side-on position and raised her right hand in front of herself. Silvery light traced through the etching scroll work around her striker and Lyntael felt the calmer flow of energy pass through her body to begin forming a light dragon scale shield in her grip. It bore the same style as the rest of her armour, save for the faint outline of a stone rampart tower in the central boss. The rest of her armour glowed with a renewed platinum sheen as she set herself and got ready to make her next strikes count.

Summary
L1) Action Precluded: Buster Charge
L2) My Fear Swells, but I hold tight (Dodge, 20Elec Nova2, Knockback (Wind-type), Charge-Burner) (Overcharge +1) (Dodging to avoid Scuttle, but staying close and engaged between it and the fan)
L*) Fast Armour: 20Hp Casing Refresh
L*) Turbulence refresh, in case it's been triggered
L3) Dragonier Cross (Lvl2: +20Hp, Normal/Wind (Subtype recalibrates to Gust/Airstep)) Overcharge Dampener: Buster no longer adds expend, electrical expends capped at +1, Electrical cool-off does not reduce overcharge, Overcharge cools automatically by 1 per round, active Overcharge treated as Overcharge - CrossLevel.
L4) My thoughts Collected, no more to hide (Take Aim, ShotBase(50)Elec Spread2, Impact, Knockback (Wind-Type), Self-Slow (1 Rank, 1 Round)) (Initial strike is Melee, at Scuttle, spread is Shot at one target (aesthetically, she's sending the spreads in opposite directions, and I think the fan and the Jelly are on the same side relative to her, so it wouldn't be at both in this case, I don't think)
L5) Dodge
L6) A Knight's Ward (40Hp Casing, 2-Hit Shield)

Cooldowns and Overcharge
My Pain is Real; it lingers after (1TCD)
My Fear Swell, but I hold tight (3TCD
My Vision Alters, yet I see through (2TCD)
My Soul Screams, and yet I fight (2TCD)
My Fear Rejected, with hopeful stride (2TCD)
My Thoughts Collected, no more to hide (3TCD
My Anger Directed, 'gainst violent threat (2TCD)
A Scarred Soul, with love to give (2TCD)

A Knight's Ward (2TCD)

Overcharge: Begin: +12, My Pain is Real (+1 if triggered), My Fear Swells (+1), My Thoughts Collected (+1), Cross Cool-off (-1) End: +14 (Effective Overcharge: +12)

The scuttler continued to threaten Lyntael's form as she charged herself and let out another rolling discharge of electricity as she moved out of the way of the Scuttler, managing to catch the VaccumFan in the process, causing it's form to sputter and cough loudly, before it's torrential winds could be stopped...but the sandstorm still raged, albeit not AS badly as with the VaccumFan's continued blowing, but she could still feel the sting of the sand pelting her skin, clothed or not, and her eyes watered as she continued to see through the storm.

The Scuttler however, had other plans as a blast of electricity shot from it's mouth, plasma crackling loudly as electrical tendrils attempted to grasp at Lyn's bare skin, but her own turbulant winds would send it wide, and unfortunately, not back into it or the Jelly as it harmlessly smacked against the wall behind her and bounced into the air to not be seen again, whist the Jelly would slip down into the water for a brief period of time and begin to bound up and down fairly quickly, from sea to air to attempt to avoid any attacks directed at it.

Lyntael would quickly take to activating the power of her cross partner, a Dragonierman's data being melded with hers as she dug her boots in the sand and readied herself for a redoubled effort against the metavirus in front of her, the virus in turn, calling down a crack of lightning towards her head, and unfortunately for her, cracked her defenses as it landed straight atop her head as if the virus' "divine intervention", but this caused a rolling round of electricity to come back, pushing it back again as it managed to move just enough to the side to avoid Lyntael's strike in turn, as well as missing the Jelly in turn, her aim having managed to falter enough to miss both. Though she could always blame it on the sandstorm if nothing else.

The Jelly in turn would strike back, a massive wall of water being sent the dragon knight's way as she would avoid it entirely in turn, only doing the bare minimum to wet down the sand it struck. Her defenses back from a silvery ward on her person, the Scuttler took one more strike at her, another arcing ball of electricity would be shot towards her, but again, it missed entirely, bounding off her turbulant winds and into the skies to dissipate entirely. The battle had reached a sort of stalemate for the time being, but, the battle was not done yet as the winds continued to stir, though weakening as time continued, another moment or two and she'd be free of the stinging sands.

-- Viruses --
Jelly2 EXJelly2 EX (Jelly)

Jelly are floating, jellyfish-like viruses, that seem to simply float nonchalantly, yet are deceptively difficult to combat. Fortunately, their rarity ensures they they never appear before a Battle 6, and there are never more than 2 in a single battle. While their horizontal movement is terrible at best, they can easily adjust their altitude as needed. By default, however, they tend to hover a couple of feet above the ground. The exception to this is when they attack. Jelly attack by launching large waves of water at enemies The attack cycle of Jelly is 2 actions long. It requires one action to charge before firing. If they are stunned or otherwise temporarily disabled, they resume their attack cycle where it was halted once the stun wears off. When they attack, they drop to the ground in order to pump out as much liquid as possible. This allows them to harness the power of certain kinds of terrain to boost their attacks, but it also makes them immobile and vulnerable to ground-based attacks for the duration.

Area: Beach

HP: 290
Attack Damage/Effect: 90 Aqua + Ground Attack + Wide Attack + Sea Terrain Boost 50 + 1 action charge
Attack Accuracy: A
Attack Description: It charges itself with innate elemental energy, then launches a hard-to-avoid wall of water at enemies. The attack is stronger if performed over Sea terrain.
Element: Aqua
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Wave2 (Rare), Zenny
Special: OmniShoes
Special: This virus can move forward, backward, or to the side, but it does this so slowly that it cannot evade attacks this way.
Special: This virus can move up and down at high speed in order to avoid attacks while charging. While they can float fairly high, they cannot achieve High Altitude status.
Special: This virus is anchored and cannot move when attacking.: 270 HP (Sea) (Hovering in the water, about a 6-o-clock position)
RareVaccumFanRareVaccumFan (Wind & Fan)

All viruses in this family are immobile during combat, with the exception of being able to turn to face any direction it wishes. Later versions of this virus may switch between Wind and Fan effects, which requires one action, during which time all wind or fan effects cease. Bonuses and penalties do not stack if multiples of the same virus family exist on the field. Wind and Fan do not push or pull Objects, only creatures.

Area: SciLab, Yoka, Beach, Sharo, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 200
Attack Damage/Effect: Fan Effect, Northwind
Attack Accuracy: S
Attack Description: Causes a large scale gale of wind to blow across the entire field in the opposite direction the virus is facing. This gale will constantly move all targets this virus considers to be enemies in the direction the wind is blowing, which makes it difficult to avoid many kinds of attacks executed by its allies. All those affected by the wind will also have their barriers and auras blown off by a constant Northwind effect.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Fan, Zenny
Special: Causes all targets this virus considers to be enemies to suffer a 30% evasion penalty against all close range attacks, such as swords, melee attacks, and flamethrower style weaponry. Both sides of the engagement suffer a 30% accuracy penalty with direct attacks perpendicular to the direction of the wind, and all thrown attacks.
Special: Those allied with this virus may opt to take advantage of the wind to increase movement speed or evasion by going with the wind. They do not suffer any penalties, however. Conversely, anyone may move along with the wind to increase accuracy by 10% for close ranged attacks, assuming the target is in that direction.
Special: Northwind effect to all enemies once per virus action while maintaining fan effect.: DELETED
Scuttler-4Scuttler-4 (Scuttler-)

Scuttler- is an angry looking insectoid creature. Unlike the virus it was designed to be like, it is chartreuse instead of yellow. This metavirus were made in an attempt to recapture the devastating power of the LifeVirus's creations, byte for byte, to the inclusion/exclusion of various aspects of their virus components, such as removing all flight capability, and cranking up their innate aggressiveness. That they were regarded as failures is more an indication of the real things' incredible might than the metaviruses' weakness. They're still extremely vicious, and very much prefer attacking to dodging.

Area: All

HP: 780
Element: Elec

Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 100 Elec + Break + Piercing + Group Attack
Primary Attack Accuracy: B (special)
Primary Attack Description: Lines up with a target and launches a ball of electricity at the enemy. Accuracy decreases by one rank with each hit.

Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 80 Elec + Seeking
Secondary Attack Accuracy: C
Secondary Attack Description: Drops a thunderbolt on an enemy.

Tertiary Attack Damage/Effect: 80 Elec + Small Solar Terrain Change + Cone Attack
Tertiary Attack Accuracy: C
Tertiary Attack Description: Uses plasma breath to give the enemy and the ground an unhealthy glow.

Special: ElecAura: Begins each battle with a 100 HP ElecAura, which is pierced and instantly destroyed by Wood attacks. This reforms at the end of each turn.
Special: LightningProof: Cannot be inflicted with Stun. Takes half damage from Elec attacks.

Possible Rewards (Per Virus): ElecShock2, AuraHead2, ElecAura2, Elec+30, Strike (Rare), Zenny: 560 HP (ElecAura100) (Sand) (next to Lyntael, roughly middle of the field)
Shellnerd EXShellnerd EX (ShellGeek)

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

Area: Yoka, Sharo, Beach, Okuden Valley

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

-- Navis --
Lyntael.EXE: 300 HP (Sand) (DragoCrossV2: +20 HP) (Next to Scuttler in the middle of the field) (Casing40) (Shield2) (Slow1) (Turbulance)

-- Terrain -- (A towering cliff rises above Lyntael, can be used for climbing and is otherwise treated as Normal terrain, doesn't seem to need any "expert" climbing ability or equipment. From a quick look, the sandstorm does not seem to go as high as the cliff, but would take multiple actions to get up there without a microburst or similar effect)
70% Sand

• -20% Evasion and reduced movement speed to all.
• Can Burrow as standard action, incurable Blind1 until turn after exiting Burrow.
• Wind attacks: +100% Source Damage + Blind1, change terrain hit to Normal, trigger Sandstorm for 3 turns: Lose 5 HP/action, Blind1, Fire attacks gain Slashing.
• Fire attacks: Change terrain hit to Glass.
• Terrain changes between Sand and QuickSand do not inflict damage upon burrowed entities, nor do they eject burrowed entities to the surface.
• PanelShot: Blind1.

(The current beach area, more beach than sea right now)
20% Sea

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

(Nearby coastline, more shallow than before)
10% Solar

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

(Where the Scuttler-4 breathed at, roughly where Lyn started on the lefternmost side of the field)
WARNING! WARNING! SANDSTORM IN EFFECT FOR 1 TURN! -10% ACCURACY AND -5 HP AN ACTION!

As the ball of crackling energy deflected off the last burst of warding winds encircling her and crackled overhead, Lyntael glanced towards the light show and resettled her stance. She'd met people that a blast like that would probably have killed; whether it was a victim of torment or not, she wasn't getting through to the creature but she really couldn't leave it be either, now that she was here. Even if the cycling roar of her charge was more stable for now, the longer she spent fighting the more it continued to press on her; she was having a hard time holding it back now, and the pain in her limbs, and her chest, was beginning to reach those old, familiar levels that made it difficult for her to function. She grit her teeth; she had to get this done with.

The sands were still impeding her focus, even if they were finally beginning to die down, she needed a better perspective. Lyntael pulled on the remaining flurry of sandstorm winds as another wave of sparks rolled from her body, scattering into the air. She gathered herself, ready, then sprang upwards, trailing a spiralling vortex of wind in a column behind her and casting her whole body gracefully aloft, high up above the skirmish. Though she didn't see it herself, Lyntael felt a subtle flow of calmer energy down her back as she leapt; silvery platinum light traced across the folded dragon wing design on the back of her armour, then lifted out behind her into a slender set of spectral wings, almost as though the armour itself had unfolded them.

She hung, hovering briefly at the top of the updraught as she focused her aim on the hostile metavirus, then embraced her charge again. It swelled in her chest, drawing in from the rest of her body as she drew her free hand backward to anticipate the flow. The charge combined then rushed outward as Lyntael thrust the hand forward, sending a brilliant flare of lightning arcing downwards at the Scuttle. The burst spiralled on itself guided by an encasing tunnel of wind, while Lyntael herself pulled her hand back before the bolt could drain her body completely; even with the dragoniers' focus, too much at once was still dangerous.

The brief feeling of expending her energy was replaced by the resounding flood of it rushing back faster, burning at her muscles and pulsing in her chest. Maybe if she could hold it still, or stop it from attacking somehow, she could put things to rest more quickly. Still focused on the Scuttle below as she floated just at the edge of the wind column, Lyntael reached back with her free hand, focusing her intent. Her armour traced with silvery light as the cross responded and, as she let energy build in her strikers, it formed into a slender, graceful rapier in her gauntleted grip. On the next pulse of her charge, Lyntael lunged, dashing forward and down as she left the air current and descended. Behind her, the faintly spectral silver dragon wings swept back into a dive while ahead her weapon thrust out, cracking with light and energy and trailing a protective current of wind about her swooping form.

She struck down, sending a crash of sand flying up in every direction as she aimed to pin some part of the massive virus down, or even to itself, with the weapon. Whether to hold it still or impede its attacks, she just needed something that would give her more freedom to stop it quickly. She sprung clear, leaving the blade where it lodged as the momentum of the downward dive rebounded through her. The spectral wings folded and faded away as her clawed boots hit the sand and she caught her stance, then immediately dashed back in at the creature, taloned gauntlets low.

Lyntael didn't let herself slow as she met with the creature, moving swiftly in and around its legs and body now in a rapid flurry of clawed strikes and kicks, each aimed at different joints or other potential weak points. Each time a blow landed or pushed the creature back, she moved with it, closing again as she unconsciously matched its aggression with her own. The growing ache in her limbs gave way to a breathy growl in her throat that eventually became a half-snarled shout alongside her final kick for the moment. She sprang off and away from the creature's form, turning over in the air to land on her feet again, panting and with her teeth bared. Her charge was desperate to expend again, straining against her body, and she could feel her limbs tremble ever so slightly with the adrenalin and the burgeoning weight of electricity. Sparks crackled on her skin as she stood, glancing to one side where the jelly in the water had continued to harass her through the encounter. She straightened for a moment, holding one hand out towards it as ready lightning crackled in her palm.

“You can leave any time! You don't have to be here.” What might normally have come out as an invitation or a plea towards the side-lined lesser virus, this time emerged as growled shout, and something more of a threat than she knew she would have wanted, if she'd been calmer. Any virus that wasn't sapient enough to be swayed by persuasive conversation was equally unlikely to be moved by threats or fear, she knew that... but in this moment, her mind was focused more on threat removal than mercy.

Summary
L1) Action Precluded: Buster Charge
L2) AirStep Creating High Altitude Updraught
L3) My Faith Can Heal, with time for laughter (Buster Charge, Feint, Movement, 10Elec Nova2, Knockback (Wind-Type), Self-Slow (1 Rank, 1 round)) (Leaping to HA with the wind, not intending to take anything with me)
L4) My Torment Rebels; I will not break (ShotBase(50)Elec, Break, Impact, Slashing, Knockback (Wind-Type), Charge-Burner)(Overcharge +1) (To Scuttle)
L*) Fast Armour: 20Hp Casing Refresh
L5) Half-charge Strike (300Elec, Disarm, A)
L6) A Knight's Valour (Buster Strike (30null, Disarm x 5 hits, A), Knockback (Wind-Type, Double Strength), Buster Strike (30null, Disarm x 5 hits, A), Knockback (Wind-Type, Double Strength) (Overcharge +1)
L*) Overcharge Dampener (Overcharge -1)

Cooldowns and Overcharge
My Pain is Real; it lingers after (Ready)
My Fear Swell, but I hold tight (2TCD
My Vision Alters, yet I see through (1TCD)
My Soul Screams, and yet I fight (1TCD)
My Faith Can Heal, with time for laughter (3TCD)
My Torment Rebels; I will not break (3TCD)
My Fear Rejected, with hopeful stride (1TCD)
My Thoughts Collected, no more to hide (2TCD
My Anger Directed, 'gainst violent threat (1TCD)
A Scarred Soul, with love to give (1TCD)

A Knight's Ward (1TCD)
A Knight's Valour (2TCD)

Overcharge: Begin: +14, My Torment Rebels (+1), A Knights Valour (+1), Overcharge Dampener (-1), End: +15 (Effective Overcharge: +13)

As the fight continued on, Lyn would charge her buster and prepare to leap high into the air as the virus would rain down another crack of lightning upon the warrior dancer, though this time it landed far too off to the side to warrant being worried about in turn, pushing herself off into the air as the virus sent out a blast of lightning in turn, though the paneling would turn to a translucent capacitor for energizing electrical navis, this would miss her entirely as they glowed below her in the shadows of the sandstorm, having avoided being struck in turn. Though she in turn would break through it's aura without a second thought, though a little more to the left and she would have missed her prey...

The meta would hiss angrily at her in defiance as she hung in the air out of it's reach, defiantly staring at her in turn as she wound up her strike...and flew in for her prey, the rapier striking the virus straight through the head as the remaining sand around her burst outwards from the ferocity of the strike (300/2=150)...sticking out of it's head as it stared, half through pain, half...through sheer incredulous power as it's body began to slow from the strike. And the unmatched ferocity of the dragon knight's strikes, combined with the sand and the...sheer power...of her strikes would begin to twist the virus inwards on itself. Legs crackling under the pressure as they began to move in worse and worse ways, dents, punctures...even a leg practically flying off from it's body towards the sealine...she had made sure to strike true enough to end the virus' suffering ((30x2)x7 hits=420). A soft "thank you" resonating in the back of her mind from an electrical discharge as the meta would begin to corrode and delete at the end of her attacks...and the Jelly...well...it sure didn't need to stay...it was long gone by the time Lyn had finished her assault. The beach now little more than waterline and warn down, extremely smooth stone beneath her feet, the battle was over. And the leg she had dislodged in her frantic attacks...it still crackled and hummed with electricity...perhaps...it could be used as chip data?

-- Viruses --
Jelly2 EXJelly2 EX (Jelly)

Jelly are floating, jellyfish-like viruses, that seem to simply float nonchalantly, yet are deceptively difficult to combat. Fortunately, their rarity ensures they they never appear before a Battle 6, and there are never more than 2 in a single battle. While their horizontal movement is terrible at best, they can easily adjust their altitude as needed. By default, however, they tend to hover a couple of feet above the ground. The exception to this is when they attack. Jelly attack by launching large waves of water at enemies The attack cycle of Jelly is 2 actions long. It requires one action to charge before firing. If they are stunned or otherwise temporarily disabled, they resume their attack cycle where it was halted once the stun wears off. When they attack, they drop to the ground in order to pump out as much liquid as possible. This allows them to harness the power of certain kinds of terrain to boost their attacks, but it also makes them immobile and vulnerable to ground-based attacks for the duration.

Area: Beach

HP: 290
Attack Damage/Effect: 90 Aqua + Ground Attack + Wide Attack + Sea Terrain Boost 50 + 1 action charge
Attack Accuracy: A
Attack Description: It charges itself with innate elemental energy, then launches a hard-to-avoid wall of water at enemies. The attack is stronger if performed over Sea terrain.
Element: Aqua
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Wave2 (Rare), Zenny
Special: OmniShoes
Special: This virus can move forward, backward, or to the side, but it does this so slowly that it cannot evade attacks this way.
Special: This virus can move up and down at high speed in order to avoid attacks while charging. While they can float fairly high, they cannot achieve High Altitude status.
Special: This virus is anchored and cannot move when attacking.: RAN AWAY
RareVaccumFanRareVaccumFan (Wind & Fan)

All viruses in this family are immobile during combat, with the exception of being able to turn to face any direction it wishes. Later versions of this virus may switch between Wind and Fan effects, which requires one action, during which time all wind or fan effects cease. Bonuses and penalties do not stack if multiples of the same virus family exist on the field. Wind and Fan do not push or pull Objects, only creatures.

Area: SciLab, Yoka, Beach, Sharo, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 200
Attack Damage/Effect: Fan Effect, Northwind
Attack Accuracy: S
Attack Description: Causes a large scale gale of wind to blow across the entire field in the opposite direction the virus is facing. This gale will constantly move all targets this virus considers to be enemies in the direction the wind is blowing, which makes it difficult to avoid many kinds of attacks executed by its allies. All those affected by the wind will also have their barriers and auras blown off by a constant Northwind effect.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Fan, Zenny
Special: Causes all targets this virus considers to be enemies to suffer a 30% evasion penalty against all close range attacks, such as swords, melee attacks, and flamethrower style weaponry. Both sides of the engagement suffer a 30% accuracy penalty with direct attacks perpendicular to the direction of the wind, and all thrown attacks.
Special: Those allied with this virus may opt to take advantage of the wind to increase movement speed or evasion by going with the wind. They do not suffer any penalties, however. Conversely, anyone may move along with the wind to increase accuracy by 10% for close ranged attacks, assuming the target is in that direction.
Special: Northwind effect to all enemies once per virus action while maintaining fan effect.: DELETED
Scuttler-4Scuttler-4 (Scuttler-)

Scuttler- is an angry looking insectoid creature. Unlike the virus it was designed to be like, it is chartreuse instead of yellow. This metavirus were made in an attempt to recapture the devastating power of the LifeVirus's creations, byte for byte, to the inclusion/exclusion of various aspects of their virus components, such as removing all flight capability, and cranking up their innate aggressiveness. That they were regarded as failures is more an indication of the real things' incredible might than the metaviruses' weakness. They're still extremely vicious, and very much prefer attacking to dodging.

Area: All

HP: 780
Element: Elec

Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 100 Elec + Break + Piercing + Group Attack
Primary Attack Accuracy: B (special)
Primary Attack Description: Lines up with a target and launches a ball of electricity at the enemy. Accuracy decreases by one rank with each hit.

Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 80 Elec + Seeking
Secondary Attack Accuracy: C
Secondary Attack Description: Drops a thunderbolt on an enemy.

Tertiary Attack Damage/Effect: 80 Elec + Small Solar Terrain Change + Cone Attack
Tertiary Attack Accuracy: C
Tertiary Attack Description: Uses plasma breath to give the enemy and the ground an unhealthy glow.

Special: ElecAura: Begins each battle with a 100 HP ElecAura, which is pierced and instantly destroyed by Wood attacks. This reforms at the end of each turn.
Special: LightningProof: Cannot be inflicted with Stun. Takes half damage from Elec attacks.

Possible Rewards (Per Virus): ElecShock2, AuraHead2, ElecAura2, Elec+30, Strike (Rare), Zenny: DELETED!!1!
Shellnerd EXShellnerd EX (ShellGeek)

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

Area: Yoka, Sharo, Beach, Okuden Valley

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

-- Navis --
Lyntael.EXE: 270 HP (Solar) (DragoCrossV2: +20 HP) (Next to Scuttler in the middle of the field) (Casing40) (Shield2) (Slow1) (High Altitude)

-- Terrain -- (A towering cliff rises above Lyntael, can be used for climbing and is otherwise treated as Normal terrain, doesn't seem to need any "expert" climbing ability or equipment. From a quick look, the sandstorm does not seem to go as high as the cliff, but would take multiple actions to get up there without a microburst or similar effect)
60% Normal

• No effects.

(The current beach area, more beach than sea right now)
20% Sea

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

(Nearby coastline, more shallow than before)
20% Solar

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

(Where the Scuttler-4 breathed at, roughly where Lyn started on the lefternmost side of the field and where she dodged as she went into HA)


Battle 8 WIN!
9000, 30 Bug fragments, ElecAura2Protection: Any Non-Wood attack lower than 80 HP
Accuracy: S
Description: Negates any Non-Wood attack less than 80HP
Duration: Three turns, or until destroyed
Element: Elec
Special: Status Guard: This chip blocks debuffs.
Trader Rank: B

Current coursed through her body and filled her, burning in her limbs and raging for further release. Lyntael could feel her chest heaving with heavy panting as she stood still in a ready stance, with her teeth grit and light caustics dancing across her form. Without any conscious thought behind it, she lifted her head, exhaling a breathy growl of victorious exultation, hands flung wide as the claws on her gauntlets flexed. She looked around for other threats in the midst of the crumbling metavirus while her thoughts waded, heavy, through a growing sense of static. Then, through the electrical feedback of her final strikes, the briefest flicker of relief, calm and gratitude. The sensation pulled her back again, grounding. Lyntael blinked a few times, gasping air as she fought to take deeper, longer breaths. Sparks rolled from her body, skittering across the outside of her armour and tumbling away while further excess flared in smaller fanning arcs from the corners of her eyes, heralded by the familiar stinging sensation.

“...Lyntael?” Rogan's voice brought her back to her senses further and she straightened. It took a moment to relax her jaw and unclench her teeth as she struggled for calm. “Lyntael, I have many warning readings here; you're under substantial strain, are you alright?” Another wave of sparks flooded out from her and with a tracing of soft silver light her draconic armour faded away, leaving just her slightly torn vest and undergarments again. The sense of combative defiance faded with the cross, but the strain of her charge, beating hard inside her, remained insistent. She swallowed, lifting palms to press at her stinging eyes.

“I'm... I'm okay, Rogan. I'm okay. Just... I just need a minute. I can keep this under control. I can.” The words were more difficult than they ought to have been, but she did manage to speak them between harsh breaths. The urge to release the full weight of her charge again; the burning pain of the build up and the promised relief that letting go would bring, if only for a moment, wore at her willpower, but Lyntael focused and held off, letting her body stabilise bit by bit. Her eyes caught on the transformed patch of solar panels and a distant memory surfaced. Those helped; Martia had discovered that. She made the few steps across to the glowing patch and dropped to her knees, pressing her hands to the panels and letting them take up stabilising bursts; each pulse of sparks became more of a balm to the next gradually until the hammering of her charge had subsided to a warm beat and her breathing returned to something more normal.

“Hahh... okay... I'm okay.” She stood slowly then lifted her arms above her head, and out to the sides. As calm returned, Lyntael began to stretch gently, working her muscles out. The motions began to flow one into the next as she closed her eyes and let herself slip into the warm calm that tended to follow these moments of heavy charge. She heard Rogan start to say something, but the channel simply remained open without him speaking while she pulled small threads of air and wind around her, let them brush her skin and swirl as her gentle warm down became a graceful dance. Despite the violence of the moment, there had been something there, at the end. She'd felt it, in that moment of final release. It hurt to know that she hadn't been able to save the poor creature, or help it, but it told her at least that she'd done the right thing, or at least as right as she had the power to do.

“I know you tried, Lyntael, but I'm sure there was nothing you could have spared, in that virus.” As he spoke again, Rogan sounded worried. He was keeping his voice level and calm, but she could hear it, hidden away behind the words. Her mind drifted to how he had spoken to her, after she'd defeated the abominavi that had attacked earlier. She hadn't been ready for the visceral nature of what she'd done, but... I hadn't been the first time she'd had to end a life. Not that it made it any easier. She let her dance drift to a stop and stretched slowly, working out her limbs one more time.

“I couldn't bring anything back, but what there was was only suffering, and now it isn't. I'm alright, Rogan, really.” She wasn't entirely sure how true that last reassurance was; it was still difficult, and made her chest feel tight to think about, but... but she didn't doubt her choice.

Calm at last, she began to walk forward, as Rogan spoke about some of the things she'd been through, and reassure her feelings. She caught herself wishing she'd been more open with him, the first time. As much as his words were solace now, they'd have been moreso then... but they'd been working, and there hadn't been time. Even so, she nodded along. Her trek down the beach continued, moving more into the uneven and less picturesque sections of terrain that common beach-goers would be unlikely to visit as she pursued the source of the local viral upsurge. There was still some time for them to talk safely though, and things probably weren't going to get much more private than this any time soon. She rubbed at the back of her neck and glanced off to the side as his words came to a pause.

“I know... and you're right. Back with Eurayle, I wasn't ready for what happened even if I had to do it. The...” she still felt a small shudder of horror pass through her as her mind supplied the memory of the moment. “The rawness of it, I guess. I wasn't ready. I'm still not... but... I know I had to do it, and... Rogan, it... it wasn't the first time I've had to do that, for someone who was alive, and suffering.” She heard the faintest catch of breath from her operator, before he controlled it. She'd have missed it if she wasn't already listening for his reactions, the attention spared for where she was going as she picked her way across the coastal terrain a background secondary to her focus on the conversation.

“...I'm sorry. If I had my choice now, I wouldn't ask for you to deal with that.” There was a pause as Lyntael felt herself biting back a comment on the irony of of his words; that he had asked her to, though he didn't know it. He was feeling guilty enough already... there was no sense in her adding to it. In the silence, as she didn't answer, Rogan sought to fill the space again.

“Is... it something you can talk to me about, Lyntael?” The question was unexpected, and she stumbled as she climbed over a rocky outcrop. As much as she knew Rogan was doing his best to treat her better now, the level of caution and care he was using around this topic was still unusual. It was more personal in a way though, she supposed; it had taken her a while to understand it, but the lives he had on his own conscience weighed on the man far more than he liked to let on, and she found herself wondering if Rogan had had anyone close by to turn to, the first time he'd ended up in that position. Eric, of course, her thoughts replied immediately... but now they weren't on speaking terms. She still hadn't answered. Lyntael paused to sit on the rock she'd stumbled over, and looked out to the slowly rolling waves.

“It wasn't bloody or violent, like that. I think I'm still sort of... holding onto it, and dealing with it, you know? It was only...” She paused. She hadn't meant to put any extra guilt on him, but she was saying it now, and Rogan was smart. She'd just have to be honest about it. “You told me all about the sorts of thing they were doing to the navis they... captured. It was horrible, but, it wasn't really real, for me, until the rescue operation. Not just the ones we got out, Rogan... there were... others. Others I couldn't save.” She half expected a quick reassurance from her operator, but this time Rogan seemed to realise that she needed him to hold his peace until she was finished. Gradually, she told him, starting with careful words that swiftly descended into a broken, tearful recount the more she spoke about it; of the other four she'd found, twisted and mutilated, kept alive by the functions they'd been put to, and her own part in ending their stories. Each of their names was etched into her mind along with the fragments of memory that had passed to her. As the story drew to a close, she sniffled and scrubbed at her eyes and nose.

“I... I felt the things that they felt, Rogan... felt the people they were, and the pain they were in and what they'd been turned into. They weren't 'just' programs... none of them were. They felt, joy and love and.... boredom, exasperation... inspiration, excitement... and in the end, agony, despair, terror... Two of them wanted to die, Rogan. One was so far gone, there wasn't anything left to want anything any more...” she felt her voice break as she tried to give air to the next words. “And one of them just wanted to see her operator again, hadn't given up hope, but... but cutting them out of the system was the end anyway, and I made it happen.” Despite her slow breaths and intermittent wipes, hot tears still made their way down her cheeks. “I never want to be responsible for ending lives like that, Rogan. Sometimes it might be all I can do, but... but I will always... Always... try to find another way first.” Talking about it aloud helped, somehow. Putting words to the flow of feeling that came with the experience helped turn the mass of distressed emotions into something clearer.

“Lyntael...” Rogan's voice was thick; somewhere between distress and anger, both feelings the man never let to the surface if he could help it. Now he sounded like he was close to tears, and possibly to breaking something. “I'm sorry. I gave you those orders, Lyntael. The responsibility should be mine, those losses mine to bear, not yours. I don't want those weights to be yours.” The overwrought sound in his voice clarified something else in Lyntael's mind and she felt herself take a longer breath, wiping her own eyes again and climbing back to her feet. Clearing the air was fine, but more suffering didn't help either of them. She wanted Rogan to care for her, and he did; that was what mattered. Enough with guilt.

“I'm glad I was there for them. I'm glad they weren't alone, at the end. If we hadn't done what we did, together, Rogan, then they'd still be suffering now, in a place where no help could ever reach them. I don't blame you for any of that. I don't.”

“Maybe, but I still—”
“I know, Rogan, I know... We had a mission, and a plan. You told me what you needed me to do, and I chose to do it... and together, we did the best that we could, alright? Listen...” For a moment, Lyntael looked out at the sea again, then closed her eyes and let her senses feel the soft movements of the wind, seeking calm.

“I know this situation is personal to you now, but it's personal to me too. We're going to set things right, however we can, and we're going to do it together. I may not know entirely who I am now, but I'm working it out. I'm going to do things my way, but that means that if I end up hurting, or getting hurt, it's because I chose to take that path. I know that you will do your best to keep me safe; sometimes you might not be able to, and that's okay, Rogan, because I know you will do your best. I'm going to be doing my best to keep you safe too, and I'm not going to be perfect either... but I'm not going anywhere, and we're going to see this through. I'm not brittle or fragile... not any more. You don't need to carry the weight of my decisions for me, alright?” It felt good to say it, in a way. Lyntael opened her eyes as a sense of fresh air seemed to light her senses and a peaceful, true calm spread through her as she set out again, continuing down the beach. This was right; this was who she wanted to be.

((Ready for Battle 9))

Continuing along the beachline as she and her operator talked, Lyntael would find herself with a curious sight, a quintet of viruses near the sealine soaking in the sunshine and enjoying a cool-ish summer-y breeze as sand kicked up and fell back to the ground. The Shrimpy2 and Shellnerd enjoying the waves as they crashed onto the shore, a Slimer in the shade of the nearby cliff and a Killweed doing the same...mostly out of aversion to the sand that populated the beach.

Unfortunately for Lyntael, the sound of a local Fishy would alert the quartet to her presence as it swooped in near her, just out of reach, as it began to look her up and down cautiously, though unfortunately the other viruses were far more willing to fight...minus the Shellnerd who immediately slipped into it's shell...and the Slimer's face having not changed since she was found out, hard to read those things. Battle routines flared up, yes, but it was more out of uncertanty than anything from the quintet.

-- Viruses --
Fishy2Fishy2 (Fishy)

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

HP: 150
Attack Damage/Effect: 45 + Stun 1 + Line Attack(5) + Impact + Piercing
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Flies into a group of enemies, and stuns them.
Element: Normal
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): DashAttack2, Zenny
Special: Omnishoes: 150 HP (Sand) (Hovering roughly above Lyntael's head, near her)
Shrimpy2 EXShrimpy2 EX (Shrimpy)

Shrimpy viruses are able to move between attacks as a free action, however dodging still costs them an action. They must pause movement to attack. Shrimpy viruses may move over fragile panel types without damaging them, such as moving over Cracked panels without breaking them. Shrimpy viruses cannot be forcibly submerged or smashed through fragile panels, even if thrown. They can submerge of their own free will, however.

Area: Yoka, Beach, Sharo

HP: 230
Attack Damage/Effect: 60 Aqua + Spread 2
Attack Accuracy: A
Attack Description: Bub-V
Element: Aqua
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Bubble-V, Shrimpy2, Zenny
Special: ShadowShoes: 230 HP (Sea) (Above the waters and putting itself in a stance)
SlimerSlimer (Slimey)

Slimey viruses were produced to be sources of major traffic lag. While a Slimey virus is on the battlefield, all Navis and SPs suffer from a passive Slow-like effect that imposes a -10% Evasion AND Movement Speed penalty. This effect is not a status ailment, and cannot be cured. This effect does not stack with itself if more than one Slimey is on the field at once. As this does not count as a true Slow effect, up to two instances of Slow may stack on top of this effect for a total penalty of -30% Evasion/Movement Speed. This effect expires when all Slimey viruses on the field are deleted or flee. Slimey viruses are very slow to move and dodge, but every move they make that is not a dodge counts as an attack. Slimeys deal damage by touching an opponent, thus touching a Slimey directly results in damage to any non-Slimey the virus considers hostile.

Area: Sharo, NetVegas, Beach

HP: 150
Attack Damage/Effect: 45 Aqua + Slow
Attack Accuracy: A
Attack Description: Body slams its foes. Any foes hit are slowed the following turn. Must be within melee range to attack a foe.
Element: Aqua
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): MetaGel2, Zenny
Special: While this enemy is on the field, dodge effectiveness is reduced by 1 Rank.: 150 HP (Normal) (Chilling out in the shade of the cliffside, still slowing down Lyn's processors regardless)
Shellnerd EXShellnerd EX (ShellGeek)

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

Area: Yoka, Sharo, Beach, Okuden Valley

HP: 160
Primary Attack Damage/Effects: 25 Null x 2 Spears
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: Fires two spears at one target.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effects: 50 Null
Secondary Attack Accuracy: B
Secondary Attack Description: Fires a star tipped arrow. Can be used on an ally to move them. Causes no damage to allies.
Element: Aqua
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): TripleNeedle, StarArrow2 (Rare), Zenny
Special: Attacks every other action. IronBody when not attacking.: 160 HP (Sea) (Near the coast, hiding in it's shell)
KillWeedKillWeed (KillPlant)

Area: Beach, Yumland, Netfrica, Dentech

HP: 160
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 90 Wood
Primary Attack Accuracy: C
Primary Attack Description: The virus spits a large wooden seed at one target, like a bomb. If it misses, it remains on the field for one turn.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 90 Wood + Ground + Line Attack + Aqua Boost(+90 Wood, +AccuracyUP)
Secondary Attack Accuracy: C / B
Secondary Attack Description: If the seed is left alone for one turn, it will erupt into a Wood Tower attack. If the seed is hit by any Aqua based attacks or it lands on a Sea Panel, it will double in power and speed.
Element: Wood
Possible Rewards (Per virus): TreeBomb2, Zenny
Special: This virus is immobile.
- The Seed is immune to damage.
- Fire and Impact will destroy the Seed.
- This virus attacks every other turn, starting on the first turn.: 160 HP (Normal) (next to the Slimer)

-- Navis --
Lyntael.EXE: 270 HP (Sand) (Roughly near the sea, at about 7-o-clock)

-- Terrain --
10% Normal

• No effects.

(A small patch of smooth rock near the cliffside, towards the north-west at 2-o-clock)
20% Sea

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

(The receeding coastline along the sand, in the south)
70% Sand

• -20% Evasion and reduced movement speed to all.
• Can Burrow as standard action, incurable Blind1 until turn after exiting Burrow.
• Wind attacks: +100% Source Damage + Blind1, change terrain hit to Normal, trigger Sandstorm for 3 turns: Lose 5 HP/action, Blind1, Fire attacks gain Slashing.
• Fire attacks: Change terrain hit to Glass.
• Terrain changes between Sand and QuickSand do not inflict damage upon burrowed entities, nor do they eject burrowed entities to the surface.
• PanelShot: Blind1.

(The majority of the area)

-- Rogue Battle 9(?) Ready? Start!! --

A couple of minutes of fresh air and rolling surf passed in silence between operator and navigator, and Lyntael let her thoughts drift away from more serious matters, into simply appreciating the moment of calm. She could feel the mild fatigue of the morning still lingering; light tenderness on her skin from the blasting sands, and one or two points that might well develop into bruises by afternoon, but overall she was feeling okay. Sand and damp undergarments not made for the sea side was also a less than ideal situation, but she tried not to pay too much attention to minor discomforts as she wandered.

The first thing to break her out of her casual strolling were the shapes on more figures scattered across the beach in front of her and Lyntael slowed her pace further, approaching the odd assortment of creatures at as much of a non-threatening pace as she could. It was a Fishy that zipped up towards her first, while the others took note of her presence, and she gave it a cautious wave while it inspected her. The other viruses seemed to get immediately defensive and Lyntael slowed her stride further, letting her other hand drift out to the side, lowered and palm open.

“Hey... I'm not here to trouble anyone, see? Just enjoying the beach, like all of you... I don't want anyone to get hurt.” She paused and let her feet come to a stop to give the fishy virus as much opportunity as it wanted to look her over. This time, there was no warning comment from Rogan about her actions but she took a deeper breath, relaxed her shoulders and let a soft smile brush her features instead of matching the initial aggressive actions that some of them made.

Other thoughts ran through her mind as she still found herself unconsciously assessing the viruses around her for the threats and dangers they might present, despite her own openness or perhaps because of it. It wasn't the first time she'd encountered viruses who seemed to be simply existing, not harming or damaging anything, but who still became immediately violent upon seeing a net navi. Was it instinct, she wondered, or some part of their original hard coding that many viruses simply couldn't overcome? What was the right course of action in those kinds of situations? It was hard to put them at fault if they couldn't control it... perhaps it was an easy enough decision for the ones that hadn't yet crossed that boundary into self awareness, and were genuinely just programs operating to function... but there were so many others that seemed to be in a much murkier grey space of existence than any of the navi training resources ever acknowledged.

Despite her best intentions, Lyntael's watching gaze still insisted that she give the viruses due care; she kept her hands down, palms open and out, but the calm, gently sway to her body as she shifted from the ball of one foot to the other and back again, still held a subtle readiness to turn each movement into a quicker dart to the side, if she needed to. Even so, she let her toes curl in the warm sand, and added a soft head tilt to her playful grin.

“See? No threat. I'm just heading that way.” She nodded up the beach further, in the direction Eurayle's guidance had pointed her. “Word is there's some real dangerous thing out there, or... something... something making lots and lots of really nasty programs, causing trouble. Though... I guess I could rest for another minute or two, if any of you wanted some company, or a game?” Here she winked sidelong at the fishy, then began to wander closer into the collection of other viruses. As always, she had no real way to be sure that they could understand her – sometimes a virus seemed to, other times not. No-one, that she knew of at least, had ever come up with a way of actively translating or decoding viral communications in real time. It might change a few things, if they could.

“Mind if I sit?” She moved, still slowly and with a relaxed non-threatening gait, across to the edge of the shaded area, dropping down in the sand close to the relaxing Slimer, though still in the sunlight herself. She leaned back on her hands and stretched her legs out.

“I wish there was some way to let more people know... you know, that there are so many of you out here nowadays, that just want to exist and be left alone. That things aren't like they were fifty years ago...” She watched the waves roll as she spoke; her voice was at least loud enough to carry to any of the other programs, if they were listening, but without any proper sign that they could, Lyntael knew she was most probably just musing to herself. Even so, her tone was relaxed and gentle, and she hoped that counted for something across the communication barrier. After a moment she lifted the back of one hand to her mouth, covering a yawn. The sun was pleasantly warm.

Summary
L*) First Armour: 2010Hp Casing
L1) A Loving Heart, and a second chance: SupportBase(20) x4 Instances, 15Hp Sacrifice (paid first) (Overcharge -1 per instance effectively used)
L2) Dodge (She'll do her best to avoid obvious aggression,)
L3) Dodge (but for now isn't going to take hostile action herself.)
L4) Movement, wandering over to sit in the sun, near the edge of the shade, close to the Slimer and KillWeed)
L*) Fast Armour: 10Hp Casing Refresh
L5) Relax and enjoy the sun
L6) Philosophise to herself and anyone listening

Cooldowns and Overcharge
A Loving Heart, and a second chance (2TCD)

Overcharge: Begin: +0, A Loving Heart, End: +0

As she held her hands outwards, the viruses began to heckle up...at least the trio not near her, the Slimer would just sit there and watch with it's goofy face, the Fishy was hovering there above her as it continued to slowly move around her as she began to talk, circling around her like a vulture overhead, monitoring her every movement as the quartet continued to watch on as her processors began to heal...even if a twinge of pain came through (-15, +80). The viruses began to shrink slightly as she began to move up towards them, her calm voice...her demeanor...and the wink towards the Fishy would earn her a few points, even if the other viruses were still weary of her presence.

But as she sat down, the Slimer, listening to her and her calm manerisms...would begin to hop up towards the now sitting Lyntael. Rogan's PET would pop up with the Slimer's data out of "instinct" as it were...and highlight how a the Slimey family's way to deal damage was through simple touch, slamming themselves into whatever was considered an enemy. But, even as the Slimey's body began to pick up sand, it would stop just short of Lyntael, moments passing as it's demeanor showed nothing on it's wierdly happy looking face...before it leaned in, holding one of it's oval-shaped pseudo-hands out towards the navi. It was a clear sign that it was offering a handshake, but, knowing what the Slimey family was capable of behind it's dumb-looking faces, would she be willing to take the "offer"?

-- Viruses --
Fishy2Fishy2 (Fishy)

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

HP: 150
Attack Damage/Effect: 45 + Stun 1 + Line Attack(5) + Impact + Piercing
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Flies into a group of enemies, and stuns them.
Element: Normal
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): DashAttack2, Zenny
Special: Omnishoes: 150 HP (Sand) (Hovering roughly above Lyntael's head, near her)
Shrimpy2 EXShrimpy2 EX (Shrimpy)

Shrimpy viruses are able to move between attacks as a free action, however dodging still costs them an action. They must pause movement to attack. Shrimpy viruses may move over fragile panel types without damaging them, such as moving over Cracked panels without breaking them. Shrimpy viruses cannot be forcibly submerged or smashed through fragile panels, even if thrown. They can submerge of their own free will, however.

Area: Yoka, Beach, Sharo

HP: 230
Attack Damage/Effect: 60 Aqua + Spread 2
Attack Accuracy: A
Attack Description: Bub-V
Element: Aqua
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Bubble-V, Shrimpy2, Zenny
Special: ShadowShoes: 230 HP (Sea) (Above the waters, watching intently)
SlimerSlimer (Slimey)

Slimey viruses were produced to be sources of major traffic lag. While a Slimey virus is on the battlefield, all Navis and SPs suffer from a passive Slow-like effect that imposes a -10% Evasion AND Movement Speed penalty. This effect is not a status ailment, and cannot be cured. This effect does not stack with itself if more than one Slimey is on the field at once. As this does not count as a true Slow effect, up to two instances of Slow may stack on top of this effect for a total penalty of -30% Evasion/Movement Speed. This effect expires when all Slimey viruses on the field are deleted or flee. Slimey viruses are very slow to move and dodge, but every move they make that is not a dodge counts as an attack. Slimeys deal damage by touching an opponent, thus touching a Slimey directly results in damage to any non-Slimey the virus considers hostile.

Area: Sharo, NetVegas, Beach

HP: 150
Attack Damage/Effect: 45 Aqua + Slow
Attack Accuracy: A
Attack Description: Body slams its foes. Any foes hit are slowed the following turn. Must be within melee range to attack a foe.
Element: Aqua
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): MetaGel2, Zenny
Special: While this enemy is on the field, dodge effectiveness is reduced by 1 Rank.: 150 HP (Normal) (Near Lyntael within reach of her, still slowing down Lyn's processors regardless) (Holding a slimey pseudo-hand out towards Lyntael)
Shellnerd EXShellnerd EX (ShellGeek)

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

Area: Yoka, Sharo, Beach, Okuden Valley

HP: 160
Primary Attack Damage/Effects: 25 Null x 2 Spears
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: Fires two spears at one target.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effects: 50 Null
Secondary Attack Accuracy: B
Secondary Attack Description: Fires a star tipped arrow. Can be used on an ally to move them. Causes no damage to allies.
Element: Aqua
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): TripleNeedle, StarArrow2 (Rare), Zenny
Special: Attacks every other action. IronBody when not attacking.: 160 HP (Sea) (Near the coast, peaking out of it's shell cautiously)
KillWeedKillWeed (KillPlant)

Area: Beach, Yumland, Netfrica, Dentech

HP: 160
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 90 Wood
Primary Attack Accuracy: C
Primary Attack Description: The virus spits a large wooden seed at one target, like a bomb. If it misses, it remains on the field for one turn.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 90 Wood + Ground + Line Attack + Aqua Boost(+90 Wood, +AccuracyUP)
Secondary Attack Accuracy: C / B
Secondary Attack Description: If the seed is left alone for one turn, it will erupt into a Wood Tower attack. If the seed is hit by any Aqua based attacks or it lands on a Sea Panel, it will double in power and speed.
Element: Wood
Possible Rewards (Per virus): TreeBomb2, Zenny
Special: This virus is immobile.
- The Seed is immune to damage.
- Fire and Impact will destroy the Seed.
- This virus attacks every other turn, starting on the first turn.: 160 HP (Normal) (Near where the Slimey was at)

-- Navis --
Lyntael.EXE: 335 HP (Sand) (Roughly near the sea, near the middle of the field, surrounded by the viruses)

-- Terrain --
10% Normal

• No effects.

(A small patch of smooth rock near the cliffside, towards the north-west at 2-o-clock)
20% Sea

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

(The receeding coastline along the sand, in the south)
70% Sand

• -20% Evasion and reduced movement speed to all.
• Can Burrow as standard action, incurable Blind1 until turn after exiting Burrow.
• Wind attacks: +100% Source Damage + Blind1, change terrain hit to Normal, trigger Sandstorm for 3 turns: Lose 5 HP/action, Blind1, Fire attacks gain Slashing.
• Fire attacks: Change terrain hit to Glass.
• Terrain changes between Sand and QuickSand do not inflict damage upon burrowed entities, nor do they eject burrowed entities to the surface.
• PanelShot: Blind1.

(The majority of the area)

The yawn went on for several moments longer than Lyntael anticipated, and the urge to lie down properly and just enjoy the quiet moment crept up on her with surprising appeal. She rolled her neck and shoulders slowly, stretching them out with her eyes closed as she let the warm sunlight soak in.

“Lyntael...” Rogan's voice was cautious, if slightly bemused, and he didn't need to articulate words beyond just her name to communicate the gentle reminder. Lyntael caught herself wishing she had her proper beach towel with her. After a moment, she responded without opening her eyes.

“It's fine, Rogan, I'm only taking a minute. I was feeling a bit sore and tired from earlier anyway. Just a little break.” The sound of movement made her crack open one eye to take stock of the slimey that drew closer, seemingly more curious. It didn't seem aggressive, at least. She tried to remember if she'd encountered the virus family herself before, and where... surely she had, but it wasn't quite coming to mind through her sun-warmed thoughts. She stifled a second yawn.

“Not all viruses operate through violence, Lyntael... but I'm watching, so, if you want to make your own mistakes, I suppose that is what we're here for.” His voice sounded like he'd made extra effort to recompose himself between now and their last conversation, and was now trying not to sound too exasperated. In a way, it made her smile; a Rogan feeling exasperated at her foibles wasn't beating himself up with guilt, or getting angry at inefficiency... and in a way, it was a reminder of good humour they'd shared at the worse of times.

Beside her, the slimey was extending a questing pseudopod, and Lyntael opened one eye properly to look towards it. She wasn't entirely sure if it was slowly attempting to poke or prod her, or if it was actively looking for a reaction, but she let herself grin regardless.

“Careful, I get tingly sometimes...” gentle warning aside, Lyntael focused for a moment and assessed herself. She'd been prepared to react as needed, initially, and there was some underlying current still beating readiness in her chest, but it was calming and lowing quite rapidly now. With a little focus she should be safe enough. She took a moment, then reached up and across her body with her opposite arm so she could offer it a short hand-shake... fist-bump? ...something friendly at least, without losing her balance. Despite her best efforts though, the brief moment of damp contact still managed to spread a slightly slimy wetness across her front and quickly began to soak through her vest. She should probably have seen that coming... eww...

Lyntael let herself shift back to her more relaxed position again with a somewhat rueful smirk, then smothered another small yawn with the back of her hand. She plucked briefly a the now sodden and slimy front of her vest, then shrugged and lay back, back against the warm sand with her hands folded behind her head. Her eyes drifted shut again. What was the harm in enjoying a little sun before getting back to the fight. Rogan was relaxing at a beach-side cafe, after all. She caught her thoughts drifting more slowly as she wondered if the rogue network sunlight could actually let her get a tan... or burn her. She should really have brought some sunscreen.

After another few moments, she shifted again, wriggling in mild discomfort beneath the sticky sensation of her vest and opened one eye to cast around at the nearby viruses again. They didn't seem the type to know any better... probably... At a somewhat languid pace, she stretched one hand out and shook the sand off it, then carefully plucked at the two remaining buckles on the soiled garment, disguising the motion at first as a harmless scratch. When they were both undone, she glanced up and down the length of the beach again, then flicked the top open so that her whole front could get the sun.

“Lyntael!” Rogan sounded like he was trying very hard not to be mortified, and she felt the urge to giggle.

“It's okay, there's no-one around... I don't think these guys are really seeing anything they'll understand much.” She lifted her head enough to cast a lazy eye across the nearby viruses. “You guys aren't going to get any ideas, right?” It was an off-handed remark, delivered with a relaxed nonchalance as she rested her head down again on her hands and let her eyes drift shut. The fact that the comment would mean nothing at all to them if they genuinely didn't understand her words didn't really occur to her in the moment. The sun really was very nice, and she was feeling quite relaxed and restive.

“That's not— Lyntael, you can't just—!” Rogan bit off his own protest with the sudden silence of a person no longer grasping what he should think, but Lyntael let it go. Besides, it was only for a few minutes, and she was quite sure that Rogan would be looking to every location in her vague surroundings that wasn't exactly where she was anyway, so she was perfectly safe for sudden surprises. Probably.


Summary
L1) Gosh that sun feels nice
L2) It'd be okay to rest a while, right?
L3) Friendly fist-bumps for squishy friends
L4) Eww, now my vest is all slimey
L*) Fast Armour: 10Hp 5Hp Casing Refresh, since her top is mostly off
L5) There's no sign saying this *isn't* a topless beach, right?
L6) I'm sure this is perfectly safe.

Cooldowns and Overcharge
A Loving Heart, and a second chance (1TCD)

Overcharge: Begin: +0, End: +0

The Slimer would watch with bated breath, as would the other viruses, as she and her netop took a moment to chat, getting comfy on the beach before reaching forward to give the Slimer a friendly little "fist bump" as it were. The Slimer felt a VERY mild tingle from the navi, but not unpleasent as it would close it's eyes and give her a friendly smile, it's face hadn't changed much, but it was a slight change. This in turn would cause the Slimer to leap at Lyntael and engulf her from the chest down to her waist. Rogan would notice no damage being registered to the navi, but Lyntael would begin to feel...well...a half-body massage? Gentle squeezes and pressings on her body, around her sides, shoulders and even her back. A bit cold and slimy, yes, but...not all that unpleasent, even as the Slimer would get a bit of a tingle in turn.

The battle routines would finally release as the viruses around her stopped being hostile, it would take a moment before the Slimer would release her, more or less unmolested and unhurt, but otherwise would probably feel decently good, even as the wind hit her slime coated body. "Rewards" would feed into Rogan's PET, and more than that, there seemed to be enough slime to turn into a chip for Lyntael.

-- Viruses --
Fishy2Fishy2 (Fishy)

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

HP: 150
Attack Damage/Effect: 45 + Stun 1 + Line Attack(5) + Impact + Piercing
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Flies into a group of enemies, and stuns them.
Element: Normal
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): DashAttack2, Zenny
Special: Omnishoes: 150 HP (Sand) (Hovering roughly above Lyntael's head, near her)
Shrimpy2 EXShrimpy2 EX (Shrimpy)

Shrimpy viruses are able to move between attacks as a free action, however dodging still costs them an action. They must pause movement to attack. Shrimpy viruses may move over fragile panel types without damaging them, such as moving over Cracked panels without breaking them. Shrimpy viruses cannot be forcibly submerged or smashed through fragile panels, even if thrown. They can submerge of their own free will, however.

Area: Yoka, Beach, Sharo

HP: 230
Attack Damage/Effect: 60 Aqua + Spread 2
Attack Accuracy: A
Attack Description: Bub-V
Element: Aqua
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Bubble-V, Shrimpy2, Zenny
Special: ShadowShoes: 230 HP (Sea) (Above the waters, watching intently)
SlimerSlimer (Slimey)

Slimey viruses were produced to be sources of major traffic lag. While a Slimey virus is on the battlefield, all Navis and SPs suffer from a passive Slow-like effect that imposes a -10% Evasion AND Movement Speed penalty. This effect is not a status ailment, and cannot be cured. This effect does not stack with itself if more than one Slimey is on the field at once. As this does not count as a true Slow effect, up to two instances of Slow may stack on top of this effect for a total penalty of -30% Evasion/Movement Speed. This effect expires when all Slimey viruses on the field are deleted or flee. Slimey viruses are very slow to move and dodge, but every move they make that is not a dodge counts as an attack. Slimeys deal damage by touching an opponent, thus touching a Slimey directly results in damage to any non-Slimey the virus considers hostile.

Area: Sharo, NetVegas, Beach

HP: 150
Attack Damage/Effect: 45 Aqua + Slow
Attack Accuracy: A
Attack Description: Body slams its foes. Any foes hit are slowed the following turn. Must be within melee range to attack a foe.
Element: Aqua
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): MetaGel2, Zenny
Special: While this enemy is on the field, dodge effectiveness is reduced by 1 Rank.: 150 HP (Normal) (Near Lyntael within reach of her, still slowing down Lyn's processors regardless) (Holding a slimey pseudo-hand out towards Lyntael)
Shellnerd EXShellnerd EX (ShellGeek)

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

Area: Yoka, Sharo, Beach, Okuden Valley

HP: 160
Primary Attack Damage/Effects: 25 Null x 2 Spears
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: Fires two spears at one target.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effects: 50 Null
Secondary Attack Accuracy: B
Secondary Attack Description: Fires a star tipped arrow. Can be used on an ally to move them. Causes no damage to allies.
Element: Aqua
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): TripleNeedle, StarArrow2 (Rare), Zenny
Special: Attacks every other action. IronBody when not attacking.: 160 HP (Sea) (Near the coast, peaking out of it's shell cautiously)
KillWeedKillWeed (KillPlant)

Area: Beach, Yumland, Netfrica, Dentech

HP: 160
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 90 Wood
Primary Attack Accuracy: C
Primary Attack Description: The virus spits a large wooden seed at one target, like a bomb. If it misses, it remains on the field for one turn.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 90 Wood + Ground + Line Attack + Aqua Boost(+90 Wood, +AccuracyUP)
Secondary Attack Accuracy: C / B
Secondary Attack Description: If the seed is left alone for one turn, it will erupt into a Wood Tower attack. If the seed is hit by any Aqua based attacks or it lands on a Sea Panel, it will double in power and speed.
Element: Wood
Possible Rewards (Per virus): TreeBomb2, Zenny
Special: This virus is immobile.
- The Seed is immune to damage.
- Fire and Impact will destroy the Seed.
- This virus attacks every other turn, starting on the first turn.: 160 HP (Normal) (Near where the Slimey was at)

-- Navis --
Lyntael.EXE: 335 HP (Sand) (Roughly near the sea, near the middle of the field, surrounded by the viruses)

-- Terrain --
10% Normal

• No effects.

(A small patch of smooth rock near the cliffside, towards the north-west at 2-o-clock)
20% Sea

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

(The receeding coastline along the sand, in the south)
70% Sand

• -20% Evasion and reduced movement speed to all.
• Can Burrow as standard action, incurable Blind1 until turn after exiting Burrow.
• Wind attacks: +100% Source Damage + Blind1, change terrain hit to Normal, trigger Sandstorm for 3 turns: Lose 5 HP/action, Blind1, Fire attacks gain Slashing.
• Fire attacks: Change terrain hit to Glass.
• Terrain changes between Sand and QuickSand do not inflict damage upon burrowed entities, nor do they eject burrowed entities to the surface.
• PanelShot: Blind1.

(The majority of the area)
|
Battle 9! Resolved!
9900z, 25 buigfrags, MetaGel2Damage: 130 + Slow + Drop Attack x 3 Targets
Accuracy: B
Description: Summons three Metagels to drop down on three different opponents. Causes Slow on contact.
Duration: Once
Element: Aqua
Special: Drop Attack: This attack originates above the battlefield, and falls to the ground. It gains one rank of accuracy against High Altitude targets.
Trader Rank: C

The tentative attempt at a handshake turned into a more enthusiastic tackle hug with barely enough time to half articulate a sound of surprise before the slimey was all over her.
“Ah- hey! Easy, just ah—” her half-formed protests cut into startled silence for a moment as she tried to deal with the eager creature. The sensation of its body wasn't uncomfortable – quite the opposite, in fact, and she could feel it covering her thoroughly underneath her vest as well as just on top of it. She tried to wrangle the virus gently as a hot blush spread across her features.

“Okay, if you just- hang on...” She shifted until she could move its massaging touch away from places she felt that she ought not to let it be groping, eventually lying on her front against the sand so that it could enjoy the rest of its adventure more appropriately. The sensation was kind of nice, she had to admit, when it wasn't somewhere that she was still determined to tell herself the virus didn't understand the significance of. By the time the creature relented and drew back again, there was no doubt that her vest was well and truly slimed, though for a wonder the slime that lingered on her own skin fragmented away swiftly as she felt the flow of data between her surroundings and her connection back to Rogan.

It was a few minutes of rest later, eyes closed and hands under her head as she relaxed on the sand, that Lyntael let out another long yawn without bothering to hide it this time and shifted to pull her vest the rest of the way off her body and lie it out on the sand beside her, just to let the sun take care of the remaining damp patches. She cast another glance up and down the beach, just to make sure she was clear of other navis, then lay back again.

“Rogan...?”
“Hmm? Yes, Lyntael?” His response sounded distracted, though she guessed he was busying himself with more planning.
“So... Lance, and... and Vigilance. When it comes down to it, we're trying to stop what they're doing, with this whole cloak and dagger corporation thing... but, Lance seems to think this is really personal. He knows who you are, and you... just because it was you, it made him change what he was doing. What happened... back north, Rogan?” It was a topic that had always lingered on the periphery, off-limits in a way that didn't need to be stated, and any time she'd hazarded questions that came close to the topic, Rogan's answers had made it clear that he wasn't going to talk about it any further than a one sentence response. There was quiet on the line, and then a quiet sigh.

“Until recently, I did not know who Lance was. I still don't really know him, beyond what my digging has revealed...” There was another pause, and Lyntael waited it out. “But I know his type, and I think I know how he fits into... the past.” Lyntael shook off another yawn and sat up on the sand, refocusing herself so she could pay attention; this wasn't the time to be drowsy or inattentive. Rogan continued a moment later.

“Eric and I came from... a large clan, far up in northern Netopia. They're the kind to put a lot of stock in blood and duty and the ties that bind, so to speak. The sort of family where being a member of that family came a long way before being an individual, and your duty to your clan came well ahead of your personal wants. There were responsibilities, and expectations...” she heard Rogan draw a long breath in, and let it out again slowly. “Expectations and a certain ruthlessness that wasn't afraid to cut and break and reshape pieces that didn't fit into the holes made for them, until they did.” Unconsciously, Lyntael nodded, and one of her hands lifted to rub in a nervous way at the place where her emblem had once rested. She'd suspected something a bit like that, given the way Rogan felt about the concept of 'family'. On the other end of the connection, there was enough of a pause for a dry, mirthless laugh.

“Eric and I... did not fit into the holes made for us.” The silence returned, and Lyntael could sense Rogan debating with himself, or possibly searching for words. “Lyntael would you please put your top back on?” The girl blinked, startled by the sudden tone of exasperation in Rogan's voice.

“O-Oh, um, right... sorry...” She quickly fumbled the garment, shaking out errant sand and slipping it over her shoulders so she could begin refastening the catches that weren't damaged.

“Anyway... we couldn't stay, couldn't bear to throw the majority of our lives into being what they wanted. Our clan had power and some level of influence, but they weren't, ah... well, they weren't the common mental image people have of north Netopian clans championing freedom from tyranny and individual courage. They were much more focused on clan duty and clan honour.”

“Why... why didn't you just leave? I mean... I'm guessing you did, but, surely that's not such a bad thing?” She knew she was pushing her luck, but if Rogan was in a mood to talk, she wanted to get as much as she could. She heard another tired exhale across the line.

“Unfortunately, Lyntael, such matters are rarely that simple. It...” his voice trailed to silence and remained quiet. It was several very drawn out seconds before he started again. “It's not something I like to think about, Lyntael, and especially not something to talk about in a public setting.”

“Right...” She didn't manage to keep the disappointment out of her voice, though she held back the sight that threatened to escape with her acknowledgement.
“Later, Lyntael. I mean that; this is something you should know now, just... not here, not now.” It wasn't his usual deflection, even if he was sill putting it off. Something in his tone was more earnest and she nodded silently before answering.

“Okay, alright... I should... probably keep moving then. I'm not exactly going to work out anything more about myself by lying on the beach.” She stood, brushing off her body and dusting away the clinging sand before giving a small wave to any of the other viruses that had lingered around while she took her break, then set out further towards her destination.

((Ready for Battle 10))

Getting herself proper as she waved goodbye to the viruses, the rocky outcropping in the distance would slowly get closer and closer, the sound of the waves continuing on not unlike the beach-line that this area imitated outside the network. There was little to be said outside of her thoughts, the natural sounds around and the breeze on her skin. At least...that was until this repetitive clanking sound could be heard from the distance, well above her on the cliffside. It wouldn't take long for the unknown noise to increase in decibels, closer and closer it came before a pregnant silence.

And then, falling from the ridge above, a massive greatsword in hand, a navi fell and landed hard onto the sand behind her. Once she turned around, a tall, broad, navi stood in front of her. Clad in head to toe armor, a blazing fiery red with gold accents and a greatsword clutched in it's right hand, almost as tall as Lyntael was, with her head maybe just breaching the breastplate of the navi in front of her. Segmented gauntlets on each hand, and a beast headed helmet based off some sort of fantasy creature, the navi spoke. "You, navi. Might you tell me your name? And your operator's? I'm looking for a Lyntael.exe." The voice spoke, masculine in nature, clearly male. "As for the purpose, I have wish to test my skills and a Eurayle pointed me in this direction." He continued, there was no malice in his voice, rather a curiosity more than anything, really. "Me and my operator are wishing to test a new "build" so to speak, and I would test it with someone she approves of."

A couple of short minutes passed in silence as Lyntael pushed forward, but despite the most recent conversation behind them it wasn't an awkward or uncomfortable one and she found herself relaxing and letting her senses spread out into the gentle breeze as she strolled. Even so, the peace didn't last too long before Rogan's voice spoke up again and she opened her eyes.

“Looks like you've got another incoming, Lyntael. One signal, navigator signature.” He still sounded calm, but underneath it Lyntael could detect the immediate caution and alertness in his voice. Briefly, she wondered what it said about her that her own immediate reaction to the approach of an unknown navigator was of wariness now. She looking towards the new sound as it approached from the ridge-line above and turned, skipping away an extra step or two on instinct as the newcomer made a dramatic entrance onto the sand behind her.

Her body had fallen into a loose combat stance as she repositioned, light on her toes and keeping her profile slim and she forced herself to relax again. She the navi began to speak, however, Lyntael found herself growing increasingly conscious of the fact that the top clasp on her vest was till broken, and her lower body was covered not in proper swimwear, but normal underwear that was only mostly dried out. Rogan had gone silent as the navi had arrived and, almost without thinking, Lyntael had slipped her normal masking into place so that any surface scan would cause her to show up as a generic normal navi. Something he said made her tilt her head slightly, niggling quietly in the back of her mind.

“Hi... Ah, just... Just Lyntael, is fine, please.” Something about hearing him enunciate her... extension... just felt strange to her. She shook her head, brushing the feeling away and stepped forward close enough to extend a hand and give the other navi a chance to introduce himself as well, if he felt like being polite. After another moment, she jumped back to the other things he'd said. “But, anyway... I don't work for Eurayle, or anything like that. I only just met her today, a little while ago. We had a misunderstanding, and I helped her out with a problem, but that's all.” She assessed the other navi as best she could while she took in the rest of what he'd had to say introducing himself. A navi that liked to fight for fun and challenge, she guessed, definitely leaning into the full warrior aesthetic, and the talking about a 'new build' filled out the picture a bit more. She glanced out to the sea and shifted her stance, rubbing at one shoulder and upper arm with her other hand.

“I'm not really a fighter, honestly... I can defend myself, and, you know, keep myself safe when I have to, but I mostly prefer not to.” She winced with an apologetic smile. “I kind of struggle with pain more than most navis, and I'm supposed to be out seeking bounties at the moment. We can have a bit of a spar if you'd like, but I'll probably tap out if I start to get too badly hurt... I need to keep going for a while today, I think.” She tactically avoided answering any questions about Rogan; hopefully the navi wouldn't notice – after all, he'd mentioned his own operator, but they hadn't introduced themselves or spoken up either. She offered him a renewed grin and a small shrug.

“If you'd like to give it a try, though, are you fine to have a match here, or did you want to find somewhere more solid?” She rolled her shoulders and stretched as faint curls of the breeze twisted in and circled about her for an extra moment.

"Oh, I know you don't work for her. She said something about a fierce fighter and I wanted a look, simple as that." He would reply, the broad navi cricking his neck and a fleck of white skin underneath the helm would flash in Lyntael's vbision, his stance fairly relaxed despite his grip on the claymore by his side, simple and unassuming with a couple chips in it's dull metal textures. But he noticed she wasn't neccisarily comfortable with things as she spoke again, rubbing her arm and shoulder.

"It's fine, not all navis are made equal, tollerences are wide and vast, much like skill and ability. I promise we'll end the fight when one of us gets low, my operator has a few tricks up their sleeves should things go awry on my end for a friendly spar. And don't worry, he's not much of a talker, he's there, but not...all "there" I suppose, he's kinda got me on a second screen while doing some work where he's at. So he's probably not about to say much of anything." He would speak as he tensed up a little bit beneath his armor, the navi obviously a little neglected by his op, but still doing things on his own regardless. "But...I have something I can use for a proper field." He trailed off briefly, raising his sword up out of the sand and sending it down into the ground again, the sand beneath their feet and water nearby beginning to harden and disappear, simple white tiling beginning to replace the field around them, slowly bringing the two of them up the cliffside and walling them off to keep them from falling off. "There we go. This should work for the two of us. Should make for a good match between the two of us."

With that, battle routines would kick up betrween the two navis. His name would then show up for Rogan, a "Beast Knight.EXE"...and his sword showing up with a separate HP signature, likely a summoned object.

-- Challenger --
BeastKnight.EXE: 1200 HP (Directly across from Lyntael)
Claymore: 200 HP (Equipped) (Unknown properties aside from Object)

-- Navis --
Lyntael.EXE: 335 HP (Directly across from BeastKnight and his sword)

-- Terrain --
100% Normal

• No effects.

(Walls have formed on the edges of the field to prevent falling off, if holes are made, they go down a floor to Sand paneling)