The Dark Knight Returns Once More!

RuneKnight runs over and grabs a Metool, then pitches it into another with a mighty swing. It crashes into the hiding Met and disintegrates, and the hiding Metool knows better than to come out now. His claws slip off of his next target's unbreakable helmet, so he settles to launch the last one in the air with an upper slash, then spike it into the ground, where it vanishes.

Two more Metools raise their helmets and launch a simultaneous shockwave attack at Runeknight. One of them is too dazed to attack with any accuracy, but the last blindsides the armored Navi. It doesn't hurt.

Metool A: DELETED!
Metool B: DELETED!
Metool C: DELETED!
Metool D: 10 (Helmet Hide)
Metool E: 10
Metool F: 10
Metool G: DELETED!
Metool H: DELETED!

Runeknight: 110
A wave of energy traveled across the ground, smashing into Runeknight as he dodged away from another Metool. The attack didn't hurt, but it still damaged his armor. He grunted, backing away from the trio of Metools and dismissing his RageClaw. The jet black claws vanished in a fine data mist as a new weapon took its place.

The wooden crossbow materialized in his left hand and a small clip full of bolts appeared in his right. He loaded the clip into his crossbow and took aim at the Metools, sliding his finger over the trigger and pulling back with a slight pressure. The air was filled with a cacophony of sound as five small bolts exploded from the crossbow and sailed through the air. Runeknight ripped out the clip and replaced it with a larger version. He took aim at another Metool, setting the butt of the crossbow against his shoulder to steady his arm. He pulled the trigger and a hail of arrows erupted from the crossbow, sailing straight toward the Metool.

The knightly Navi tossed aside his crossbow, raising one hand toward the last hiding Metool. An azure glow surrounded the Navi as he began a low chant. A circle of inky darkness appeared below the Metool, the surface writhing like an ocean. As Runeknight reached a crescendo, jet black flames erupted from the circle, engulfing the Metool and obscuring it from view.

Summary:
1. Vulcan 1(10x5) to MetoolE
2. Vulcan 2(15x10) to MetoolF
3. Rune Purge(70) to MetoolD with a (25) heal to Runeknight.
4. Nothing...

Keep in mind that Knightly Aura is a passive SigAttk and thereby always active...
Crushing victory for the chivalric warrior!

Metool A: DELETED!
Metool B: DELETED!
Metool C: DELETED!
Metool D: !DELETED!
Metool E: !DELETED!
Metool F: !DELETED!
Metool G: DELETED!
Metool H: DELETED!

Runeknight: 135

Victory!
GET: Guard1, 500 zenny
"Another Guard1?" Zan asked as he reviewed the remnants of the viral army. "How very nice of them."

"Quite," Runeknight responded. "Though I can't help but think that they are weaker than they used to be."

"Well, perhaps we've just gotten stronger."

"Perhaps..."

"But the real question is, do you think you can continue on?"

"Most assuredly, Sire. I feel quite well."

"Then let's go."

"Yes, Sire!"

Runeknight continued his patrol, wandering ever deeper into the ACDC Network.

((Battle 5, please))
In the distance, Runeknight sees a lone cloaked figure. The cloak covers the figure's entire body, with only a digital frowny face on a black screen where the head would be.

Runeknight feels a strange sense of apprehension...
Runeknight stalked toward the new arrival, something about the cloaked figure setting off warning bells within the armored Navi. His spear was held at the ready, though he shifted into a more passive stance as he neared the strange Navi. After all, there was no real reason to look tense or suspicious despite his misgivings.

"Sire?" Runeknight asked silently over the private link.

"Scanning now, but I haven't found much." Zan answered.

Runeknight nodded in response. He turned to look the new Navi in the equivalent of what should have been his eyes. He gave a brisk salute, armored fist smashing against his chest.

"I am called Runeknight," the Navi said as he regarded the figure. "In the name of the NetPolice, I ask your name and your business in this section of the Network."
"Member of the NetPolice?" The cloaked figure chuckled, as a strange breeze caused the shroud to quiver and drift... "One of Nexion's underlings, is it?"

The frowny slowly began to curl, until it was a straight line across the digital face.

"This should be interesting. I've always wondered if the grunts would be of any use other than cannon fodder... How about it, grunt? A duel."

The breeze escalated into a gust, as the cloak whipped around the Navi desperately--
"I know not of whom you speak. I serve only my Lord, Zanallen." Runeknight stated with a curt certainty.

"Runeknight," Zan said as he tried to scan the strange Navi once more. "I don't like the look of this guy. You don't have to fight if you don't want to."

"Nay," was the knightly Navi's only response. He turned back to the Navi. "You wish to challenge me? And with wry insults as well? Very well. On my honor as a knight, I accept your challenge stranger. However, I would know the name of my advisary."
"Heh. Demands already? The nerve." The line now bent upwards, until it was a sadistic smiley.

"You'll get my name if you manage to take my cloak off..." With that, a blazing blue blade appeared at the Navi's side, floating freely--

???: ??? (EQUIP: Sword!)
Cloak: 300 HP

Runeknight: 135

Heaven or Hell?

Battle 5, start!
"Well well," Runeknight said as he stepped back, spear held low and at the ready as he circled the stranger with slow, deliberate movements. "A fine blade, quite fine. Let us see if you know how to use it, shall we?"

Runeknight felt the all too familiar surge of energy flowing through his body as Zanallen slotted in a few BattleChips. The energy swirled about, coalescing in the Navi's left hand in the form of a icy crystal orb. Runeknight adjusted the hold on his spear, freeing his left arm. He hurled the ball of ice, the orb expanding to a wave of frozen energy that rumbled toward the strange Navi.

Runeknight didn't pause to observe his strike. Another BattleChip was already uploaded and his spear began to fluctuate with the surge of data. The weapon widened and flattened at the sides as the spear tip morphed into a blade. The weapon became a massive sword that Runeknight hefted against his shoulder. Both hands wrapped tightly around the hilt of the blade, Runeknight charged in after the wave of ice. He took three steps and disappeared in a flare of cobalt flames.

The knightly Navi appeared in the air behind the strange Navi. He swung the massive sword as he fell the few feet to the ground, the powerful BattleChip slicing through the air with a low hum. The weapon shattered as it struck, though Runeknight could not be sure of what what, precisely, he had hit. The remnants of the BigHammer chip rose up in a fine data mist.

Runeknight jumped back, unsure of where the strange Navi was amidst the ice and dust. Cobalt flames erupted along the length of his arm and he thrust his palm toward where he thought the strange Navi to be, the flames engulfing the area. He hoped that his attacks had been precise and struck true, but there was no way to tell at this point.

Summary:
1. IceWave1(80) to the Navi((Though I assume that his cloak absorbs the damage, right?))
2. AreaGrab to teleport behind the Navi
3. BigHammer1(160) to Navi
4. Rune Blast(90) to Navi
"At least you aren't lacking in weaponry..." The Navi growled as the icy wave came towards him. "Ignite!" He roared, as a ball of fire slammed into the Sword, which then blocked the icy wave. The Sword still ablaze, the Navi took a second before realizing what Runeknight had done--

"A distraction? Impressive..." Faster than the eye could blink, the Navi shifted to the side, sidestepping the heavy blade as Runeknight slammed the blade down. "I suppose that's the only way you can compensate for the speed descrepency."

The Navi slashed at Runeknight's prone form, only to find that Runeknight had backstepped. He was rewarded with a blast of cobalt flames--

"Nnngh!" The cloak around him singed and ripped, the figure rises. "Interesting. Let's see how you are on the defensive!"

The blade changed again, the head of a fallen Phoenix materializing on the handle...

"Purification, Fire style!" The Navi roared, as he charged at Runeknight, the blade glowing an unearthly blood red... With each step, the Navi shifted from side to side, flickering as he went--

???: ??? (EQUIP: !?!) (Charging!)
Cloak: 210 HP

Runeknight: 135
"A quick one, eh?" Runeknight said as he backpedaled away from the advancing Navi.

"Runeknight," Zan sounded worried. "Dodge! Don't let that blade come anywhere near you!"

"Oh," Runeknight leaped to his left in a defensive roll and broke into a run. "Do you know something that I don't, Sire?"

"No, but I have a bad feeling..."

"Fair enough."

Runeknight felt a surge of energy and he held out his hand in response. A wooden crossbow materialized in a flash of cobalt light. Hooked up to the wooden frame was a clip filled with a mass of small crossbow bolts, the whole of his Vulcan ammunition. Runeknight continued his run, dodging back and forth in an attempt to avoid the strange Navi and his fiery blade.

Runeknight dashed to his left, pivoting on his left foot to bring his body around. He spied the stranger charging at him and the knightly Navi's armored finger slipped over the trigger of the crossbow. The majority of the bolts exploded from the wooden weapon at a rapid clip, soaring through the air toward the Navi. Runeknight strafed to his left, firing the final few shots at the Navi more as a distraction that to actually hit him. He trusted Zan's instincts and he didn't want to meet the business end of that sword.

Summary:
1. Dodge
2. Dodge
3. Vulcan2(5x15)
4. Vulcan1(3x10)
As the Navi continued his deadly charge, the blade carved a patch in the earth, a line of magma spewing out from the lengthening fissure--

Volleys of bolts plunged into him, ripping holes in the fabric as the Navi locked on to Runeknight's path. Wordlessly, he brought the sword up, ripping it out of the ground and sending the wave of fire foward--

The animated hilt of the blade shrieked, as a second fiery blast emitted from the sword, joining with the column of magma to form a massive flaming arrow, headed straight for Runeknight!

With a gesture, the Navi calls up another sword--through the heat, Runeknight sees something... glittering from the tears in the fabric?

He probably wants to pay attention to the massive burst of fire coming towards him, though.

???: ??? (EQUIP: Sword!)
Cloak: 105 HP

BIGASS WAVE OF FIIIIIIRE!

Runeknight: 135
"Bah!" Runeknight shouted. "I tire of all this dodging about."

The Navi charged to his right, running at full speed. His opponent was a powerful one who's abilities seemed to be based in the element of fire. It was too bad that he had wasted his only ice based BattleChip in what had only become a feint. The knightly Navi dived forward a the end of his charge, landing in a roll that would hopefully take him out of the range of the wall of flames.

Runeknight came to his feet, another BattleChip already in his hands. It was a small golden ring that pulsed with an electrical current. He took aim at the powerful stranger, tossing the ring like a shuriken. The projectile picked up speed as soon as it left his armor clad hand, flying at unbelievable speeds toward its target. With any luck, it would stun the stranger long enough for the knightly Navi to strike a more decisive blow.

Another weapon formed in Runeknight's hand, a small sphere that shined with a wealth of colors. It was a bomb, formed from compressed energy. The Navi took aim, cocking back his arm, and hurled the bomb toward the strange Navi. He could only hope that the ZapRing had done its work and that his advisary was too stunned to dodge.

Summary:
1-2: Dodge
3. ZapRing(40 + Stun) to Navi
4. EnergyBomb(3x40) to Navi
Runeknight feels the heat from the fiery burst across his back as he barely makes the rolling leap--

Meanwhile, the blue glow of the Navi's new Sword intensifies, whiteish powder forming in the air around the blade--

"You've done better than expected." The smiley face's mouth expands, until it appears to laughing in mirth. "But I wonder... can you dodge this?"

A swish of the cloak, and the Navi is dancing left and right, the azure weapon flashing at his side. "Purification, Ice style!" Two prongs erupt from the hilt of the blade, nearly as wide as the sword is long--

The electric missile slams through the cloak, punching through it both entering and exiting. The figure slumps, as the prongs stop extending. "Let's end this charade..." A stream of white energy streams from the openings in the cloak, as the Navi seems suddenly revitalized!

Raising the blade to shoulder level, the warrior began spinning like a top, his sword forming a sapphire ring around him. "Kai!" With a cry, he stopped spinning, the sword pointed directly at Runeknight as a bomb sailed through the air at him. From the "sword", a sickle of ice emerged, cutting a freezing arc through the air as it slammed into the Energybomb.

The resulting explosion sent a shower of icy shrapnel at the NetPolice Navi, some striking him and others impeding his movement--

???: ??? (EQUIP: Sword!)
Cloak: 25 HP

Field of ice caltrops!

Runeknight: 95
"Damn it," Runeknight cursed as he examined the glittering field of tiny spikes that surrounded him. "Sire, there is no room for evasive maneuvers."

"Don't worry," Zan said encouragingly. "We still have those two Guards."

Runeknight felt the energy from the uploaded BattleChips surging through him, but what materialized was not a shield. First came his trusty crossbow, equipped with a glass scope. Perhaps a final shot would end the battle before the stranger could attack again. He aimed quickly, using the scope to adjust his shot for him. The targeting reticule within his visor flared crimson and Runeknight slipped his finger along the trigger. A beam of energy erupted from the crossbow, sailing straight toward the cloaked Navi.

The next two BattleChips to materialize were the Guards. Twin shields of black and cobalt steel formed along both arms. They were bulky, sure to impede his movement, but he had no where to run. Surrounded by shards of icy shrapnel, he could only stand where he was, hoping that his shields would protect him. He crouched down, raising one shield in front of him as he glared at the strange Navi over the black rim. The other shield he held at his side, in reserve as he watched his opponents movements. He would adjust his stance accordingly, to block whatever he could.

Runeknight's voice rang out in a low chant, his black armor beginning to glow with an azure aura. His voice grew louder as the glow brightened and a circle of darkness opened below his opponent. The darkness boiled as black flames erupted from within the circle, trying to engulf the cloaked figure and drag him down to hell.

Summary:
1. MarkCannon(70) to Navi
2. Guard
3. Guard
4. Rune Purge(70) to Navi with a Heal(25) to Runeknight.
"Lucky--" The Navi snarled, the face again a frowny for a mere second before it turned into a face of shock, a purple beam blasting through the right side of his cloak.

Rips spiderweb across the cloak, the fabric fraying and drifting apart in an explosion of white light--

Runeknight watches behind his wall of metal, the shock almost knocking him out of his concentration.

Almost.

A chrome and grey figure emerges from the light, a storm of blindingly white data clawing at the air around him. The real head is visored, a cocky smirk playing across the lips. His arms are elongated and wider than the usual Navi's, with a thick black line running from elbow to forearm, through the center of each arm. Supporting these arms are two massive shoulderpads, behind which are twin jet thrusters.

In the center of the Navi's chest, white data continues to stream out, filling the area around him-- "Feh. Didn't count on this." He scoffs, as a black vortex opened beneath him, attempting to bathe him in hellfire--

Black collided with white, before instantly fading away. Around the Navi, the white data rapidly regenerated, continuing to expand--

"Bothersome." Tetra.exe growled, as he suddenly looked at his opponent again. "Congratulations. You've managed to survive this far, at least..." With a glare, he continued: "I am known as Tetra.exe. As to what I am... Keep looking. I'm closer than you expect..."

With a dark laugh, Tetra turned his back on Runeknight, a new cloak descending upon his body before he disappeared off the Net...

Runeknight can't help but heave a sigh, as the caltops around him slowly shatter...

Runeknight: 120

Victory!
GET: 1600 zenny.
"Heh," Zan laughed as Tetra disappeared. "That guy was quite the contender."

"A true warrior." Runeknight agreed. "I wouldn't mind dueling him once more."

"Well, we should do our best to increase our arsenal and expand your abilities. Next time we'll show him just what we're made of."

Runeknight nodded silently as he collected the remaining zenny data. Behind his mask he smiled softly, comforted by the knowledge that a true challenge awaited him in the future. He brushed a bit of dust from his jet black armor and adjusted his cape so it fell over his shoulders. His spear appeared in his right hand and he slammed the butt against the earth as he saluted, fist to chest, with his left.

"I am ready and more than willing to continue on, Sire." he stated proudly.

"Good," Zan chuckled. "Let us see what other challenges await us deeper in the Net."

((Battle 6. And thanks a lot Demon!))
Why would any virus in its right mind attack after Runeknight had been able to so efficiently dispatch such a powerful foe?

You got it. They weren't in their right mind; in fact, the viruses that came lunging toward Runeknight were frothing at the mouths, looking decidedly crazy.

RABIES SHOT?!

SpikeyA: 90 HP
SpikeyB: 90 HP
SpikeyC: 90 HP
SpookyA: 50 HP
SpookyB: 50 HP
ShrubbyA: 50 HP (behind SpookyA)
ShrubbyB: 50 HP (behind SpookyB)
MetoolA: 40 HP

Runeknight.EXE: 120 HP

--FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE!--
Runeknight stared at the approaching viruses with a sense of dread. It was a large group, as massive as the army of Metools, but most of these viruses were far stronger. Each virus looked crazed, as though their minds were warped and they lusted only for the kill. There would be no parlay in this confrontation. With their minds lost, these viruses would only understand the taste of steel.

"Sire," Runeknight whispered as he examined the approaching horde. "I shall need our most powerful arsenal."

"No worries." Zan answered. "Hit them hard and fast and take out those Spikeys first if possible."

Runeknight nodded in response, rocking on his heels as the BattleChip energy surged through his systems. A familiar feeling of empowerment washed over him as he stared down the mass of viruses. His spear twitched, broadening as the tip became a massive blade. He rested the zanbato against his armored shoulder, waiting for his moment to strike. One of the Spikeys ran ahead of the pack, leading the viral charge. Runeknight chuckled softly to himself, gripping the handle of his sword with both hands, and charged.

He dashed forward, moving swiftly in a slight zigzag pattern to evade any attacks from the viruses, and leaped into the air. He slammed the massive blade down, aiming to slice the Spikey in twain. The zanbato shattered as it struck, throwing up a wall of data mist that obscured the Spikey from view. Runeknight landed with a roll, a second BattleChip already forming. His roll brought him back to his feet, a small azure sphere in his hands, and he continued his charge for a few feet before pivoting to the left. Another Spikey reared up and the knightly Navi hurled the icy crystal at the virus, the sphere exploding into a wave of ice and snow.

The Navi twirled around, surveying the battlefield quickly to gain his bearings. His crossbow materialized in his hands, the wooden weapon already loaded. He spotted a pair of strange, ghost-like viruses looming just ahead of him and he took careful aim. He strafed slightly to the right, attempting to line up both ghosts, and slipped his hand over the trigger. The arrow sailed from the crossbow and exploded into a hail of buckshot just a few feet from the Navi.

Runeknight turned, searching for the other Spikey. A low growl alerted him to the virus and he dashed forward. Cobalt flames erupted from his hand, wreathing his left arm before coalescing into a large, fiery sphere. He moved within feet of the virus, extending his palm forward and shouting a word of command. The fire exploded outward, engulfing the virus and obscuring in from Runeknight's view.

Summary:
1. BigHammer1(160) to SpikeyA
2. IceWave1(80x2) to SpikeyB
3. Shotgun(50) to SpookyA and SpookyB
4. Rune Blast(90) to SpikeyC