Visions of Monsters

The creature had a resiliency that Vigil hadn't expected. Truth be told, she wasn't entirely sure what she had expected during this fight, but it seemed like everything that she was used to, was geting turned onto its head. There was nothing that she could do that wasn't currently being stopped or overturned by this little dancing Cactus. It was infuriating on so many levels. The woman had been blessed thus far with mostly easy victories and as such, she might have gotten a little bit spoiled as well, and that caused her frustration on a level that she wasn't quite sure how to vocalize.

Despite her nonstandard methods of Seeing, the fact remained that her vision was still clouded to a point where she could barely keep track of what was where. The lack of haptic feedback let her know that her attack hadn't hit, but hopefully on the return trip it would, as how that particular attack seemed to work. Still, all things considered, the situation was frustrating, though Asymptote seemed to be making some headway with his newly equipped fangs.

She frowned, the angry scowl crossing over her features for a moment before she made a gesture with one of her hands, creating yet another eye as she sent it up to the far upper right corner of this field to look down through everything here as well. She would need to be able to see exactly what was going on in order to make a decision on her next steps...but of course, the woman's main source of vision was still diluted.

It was at that point that Asymptote announced that he had a plan and the woman gave the man a winning smile. "I do hope it is better than the plans I have come up with," the woman spoke. Most of them were to simply tear apart the CactoLimbo with her bare hands but she knew fully well that such wasn't going to happen. Whatever it was, it had more than enough longevity to deal with them both. She just needed to know what she could do to help, here.

However, whatever the plan was that Asymptote had, it was mostly just keeping herself protected, it seemed like. The woman gave a small sound of discontent then. She would need to wait before she unloaded her attacks upon this creature, it seemed. With a small sigh, she exhaled. "I do very much look forward to what you can do!" she called out, before she began to prepare herself for the oncoming attacks from the cactus-like creature.

After she shifted a bit to the side, she began to allow her three eyes around the arena to widen, beginning to take in more and more information, allowing her to do what would be needed, should it occur, to deflect yet another attack. It would only work for one, and as such, she would need to make sure that it counted. As they began to pull in that information, she darted again to the side, trying to play keep away from the CactoLimbo, not wanting to let the attacks come at her unprepared.

Lastly, she extended her hand, an eye manifesting itself in her palm before it opened wide, the pupil dilating suddenly and heavily as a burst of energy emerged, heading right for the same target as her Thunder Chip as it came back around, trying to connect both blows and create a pincer attack that would hopefully keep the creature from being able to dodge this attack as well!

===

ACTIONS Free: Create 1 Eye Free: Move Eye to the Back-Right corner of the arena. Action 1: Precognition [1-Hit Shield] | 1 CD Action 2: Dodge slightly to the left. Action 3: All Seeing Eye | 20 Null Shot Damage | A Accuracy | Seeking @ CactoLimbo.Stack

ALLIED INFORMATION Vigil.exe: 150/150 - Metal Panels | [1-Hit Shield][30Hp Casing][Blind(1)][Cactus Segment Homing][+40 Strengthen in the wings] Eye1: 22/22 - SW Corner, Facing NE Eye2: 22/22 - SE Corner, Facing NW Eye3: 22/22 - NE Corner, Facing SW

SIGNATURE COOLDOWNS Precognition - 1 All Seeing Eye - 1

CHIPS USED ShieldGuardEffect: (1 Hit Shield) + (Reflect(40 + Piercing + Line Attack + Ground Attack) + Strengthen 40: On Hit) Accuracy: S Description: Description: Generates a 1-Hit Shield upon activation. When this shield blocks one hit from a non-Break attack, it responds with a shock wave, and some of the produced kinetic energy is bestowed onto the user. Duration: Until broken or overridden. Element: Null Special: Negated by Break. Ignores Impact. Special: Reflect: Damage returned is equal to the damage of the attack blocked or the damage cap listed, whichever comes first. Reflect is not subject to negation by Impact. Special: Status Guard: This chip blocks debuffs. Trader Rank: D: (1 Hit Shield) + (Reflect(40 + Piercing + Line Attack + Ground Attack) + Strengthen 40: On Hit) (Acc: S) | x1 Used Thunder1Damage: 40 + Stun 1 + Homing Accuracy: C Description: Shoots a slow moving ball of electricity that homes in on its target. Duration: Once Element: Elec Trader Rank: D: 40 + Stun 1 + Homing (Acc: C) | x1 Used FireBurner1Damage: 50 + Line Attack(3) Accuracy: A Description: Looses a stream of fire that can penetrate enemies and keep going. Duration: Once Element: Fire Special: Line Attack(3): Attacks up to 3 targets in a straight line. Trader Rank: D: 50 + Line Attack(3) (Acc: A) | x1 Used

Somewhat blinded as they were, the bobbing and wriggling of the increasingly tall cactus creature seemed to sway with amusement and enjoyment of the situation. It's grin rocked from side to side as another segment formed, making it taller still. Vigil, at least, found that her non-standard modes of seeing were helping her more than she might have initially expected; the majority of the blinding darts had struck her body, rather than her floating eyes, and with the addition of another, she was able to keep a fair to decent view of the battlefield, blind or not.

Asymptote wasn't as fortunate, but the math-monster had tactics up his sleeve, figuratively speaking, and focused his efforts on methods that didn't rely heavily on his own eyesight. The crackling thunder-ball streaked back at the cactus creature, but the segments rippled around it, swinging out of the way a second time while the scattering of loose cactus segments made another pass at both asymptote and Vigil. The larger of the two managed to dodge the one that came for him, and while Vigil seemed like she might have been hit by the one the skittered in her direction, the extra feedback she had from other sources let her make just the right corrections she needed to deflect it harmlessly.

The cactus in the centre seemed like it might have been about to begin some other activity, then the sudden arrival of Asymptote's remote tower drew its attention. At first it seemed pleased by the way the tower sprouted from the ground, but as it gre the cactus-creature's grin grew a little bit... poutier. Finally, when the tower was almost as tall as it was, the head of the cactus bounced once or twice on its stem, flipping upside-down long enough for the manic grin to seem like a sulky frown, then back again as the head righted itself. It leaned back from the tower, stretching and bending. Asymptote swiftly coated and reinforced it. The head of the cactus pulses and swelled in size, to more than double its original proportions. It twitched once or twice and its eyes swirled, then the next beat of the music hit and it sprung back, slamming its over-sized head onto the top of the tower with force. The outer reinforcements shattered away as the ufo launched, just clear of the impact, but the cactus seemed to be having a small tantrum about the over-tall structure and it arched back again, powering up for a second hammering whack.

It was, thus, distracted as the scrap-metal ufo blasted its base with a pulse cannon, striking the lower chunks of the cactus and sending lace-work cracks through the ground beneath it. The cactus seemed to shrug this off, caught up as it was in beating at the tower with its face again, this time sending dangerous shudders through the structure and causing broken metal parts to twist and scatter off it. Vigil managed to follow up with a quick shot of her own, piercing through another segment, which the creature seemed too distracted to dodge for the moment, though it was still wiggling to the music despite its focus.

Asymptote, meanwhile, was having to deal with the after-effects of his own code mess glitching him up further. This one, it had to be said, didn't feel quite so good... it was hard to pin down at first, but there was a sense of fatigue to in some way. On the bright side, the pair's blinded vision seemed to have cleared up quickly enough.

-=Desert Exile=-
CactoLimbo.Stack: 490Hp [Cracked][Debuff -20]

-=Eyes on a Prize=-
Asymptote.Exe: 190Hp [Furnace][Right by CactoLimbo][Floating Point (2)][1-Hi Shield (Guard1, Elec-Imbued)][Glitch: With Love, Retorno (1 Turn)][Glitch: SAS Fall (3 Turns)]
Vigil.Exe: 150Hp [Metal][Back towards the southern edge of the area][30Hp Casing][40 Strengthen]

-=Not Your Sand Pit=-
20% Normal

• No effects.

[Edges of the square]
40% Metal

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

[Most of the former sand pit]
35% Furnace

• Fire attacks: Splash to all adjacent panels for 20% Source Damage. Does not chain across multiple Furnace panels.
• Heat Mirage: Non-Fire Elementals get -10% Accuracy, +10% Evasion against Non-Fire Elementals.
• Aqua attacks: Vaporize into steam, increase accuracy penalty to -20% for Non-Fire Elemental and -10% for Fire Elemental for turn after hit.
• Changes to Metal Terrain when hit with an Aqua attack of 100 damage or greater.
• Echolocation nullifies the effects of the steam cloud and heat mirage for the user, and Seeking just ignores it.
• PanelShot: Imbue Fire.

[Centre of the old sand pit, around CactoLimbo]
5% Cracked

• Changes to Broken when stepped on, chance to fall in when triggered.
• Burrow: Change terrain to Broken, Null 50 to burrower.
• Panel Crack attacks, >100 Damage Break/Impact/Drop attacks: Change terrain hit to Broken.
• PanelShot: Splash1.

[Tile directly under CactoLimbo]

-=Ok, But Why?=-
Sand Pit border: BURNED

Vigil Eye A: 22Hp [Southwest corner]
Vigil Eye B: 22Hp [Southeast corner]
Vigil Eye C: 22Hp [Northeast corner]

Remote Tower: 60Hp [Furnace][Beside CactoLimbo]

-=Glitches=-
With Love, Retorno (Positive Glitch): The victim gains a tingling sensation over their entire body which reacts violently to any harmful attack that strikes them directly (Layer 3 or below). The glitch immediately returns an attack of the same element, accuracy and damage actually dealt of the attack that hit, though it does not negate or diminish the damage taken by the victim. Lasts two turns, or until removed with Status Cure, Glitch Eater or other similar effect.

SAS Fall (Negative Glitch)(Mutable Glitch): The victim suffers a glitch in their Signature Attack System which causes a degrading effect on their duration. All effects generated by signatures used while this glitch is in effect end immediately at the end of the same turn, even if they would last longer. The signature goes on cooldown as normal. SPs and Navigators are treated as independent by this glitch; an SP whose navigator has allocated them personal signatures is unaffected if their navi has this glitch, and similarly an SP with this glitch finds only their personal signatures effected, without infecting their navi's. Lasts three turns, or until removed with Status Cure, Glitch Eater or other similar effect.

This creature was slowly being whittled down, and Vigil knew that there was enough going on here that she and Asymptote could win...at least she hoped so. It was still throwing out a number of dangerous attacks, but with everything that they were doing, so far they were managing to keep from taking too much damage. She was tempted to see if Alexander had any ideas to offer her, but at the moment, she wanted to be the one to run this. Certainly Alexander could give her ideas...but she wanted to take this all the way to the end of the line on her own. If she needed to rely on him for anything aside from the chips then that was something that would make her feel...inept.

Instead, she relied on her own judgment here as she moved, wanting to keep her own offense moving. She just wished she could move more quickly than she could at the moment. But right now, she had her own small army and was very nearly at a point where she would have perfect vision of the battlefield. Snapping her arm outward, she let an eye manifest on her left hand, letting it roll down onto the ouside of the arena, beginning to head out to where it was going to settle in, and from that, allow her to finally have the perfect vision for the battlefield.

As it settled in, Vigil could feel the perfection of her Sight now starting to fall togther. Getting four of them together was the maximum for her vision and right now, that was something that had occurred. She could see it moving in all directions now, could tell just how from any dance and shift what it was going to do. She felt herself growing more and more ready by the moment, and as she turned her main gaze to Asymptote, she could feel her connection with her ally growing a bit stronger for the moment. She exhaled, breathing out as she focused on the lingering data that she had in her body from her ally.

An arc of electricity came from her then as the current roared outward, she gave a small sound before her dress began to tear, the material starting to fall apart as her legs started to be revealed, the long, supple skin slowly making itself visible as the dress itself was torn into pieces, the data scattering out to the winds before the remnants of the dress began to fall even further apart, before the upper portion began to tear along with the gloves as her fingers tore through the data, long, spindly limbs as she grew in height, her hair starting to spin together to look like long, broken power cables.

But she didn't stop there.

Giving a shout of power, the electrical energies intensified, and the remaining dress continued to fall away, leaving her lower (and upper) body mostly barren as the eyes that followed here suddenly found other electrical cables tied to them...and in a single frame of movement, nearly two-dozen eyes opened all over her body, looking in all different directions. The eyes themselves were wide, with the irises looking to be peppermint stripes of white and green as a wicked grin spread across her features. "I think that it's time for something a bit more fun..!" she called out as she moved, pivoting like a dancer, a pirouette upon one of her her long, sinuous legs before she extended a hand, the woman's body itself shifting into the cannon as the electrical energies began to thud through her, taking the residual energies that were gathered within her from her shield as a wide grin spread across her face. "Bang."

===

ACTIONS Free: Create 1 Eye Free: Move Eye to the NW corner of the arena. Action 1: Asymptote Cross | Elec Element gained! Gain Adaptive and Transform! Free: GMO Switch to GMO1! Fire Panel integration gained! Transform improves Accuracy and evasion rolls by 1 rank for 3 actions! Action 2: Dodge back toward the SE corner. Action 3: CannonDamage: 60 + Knockback Accuracy: A Description: A decent sized cannon with a single shot. Duration: Once Element: Null Trader Rank: E: 60 + Knockback (Acc: A) | +40 Strengthen! Transform accuracy bonus!

ALLIED INFORMATION Vigil.exe: 150/150 - Metal Panels | [30Hp Casing] Eye1: 22/22 - SW Corner, Facing NE Eye2: 22/22 - SE Corner, Facing NW Eye3: 22/22 - NE Corner, Facing SW Eye4: 22/22 - NW Corner, Facing SE

SIGNATURE COOLDOWNS Precognition - 0 All Seeing Eye - 0

CHIPS USED ShieldGuardEffect: (1 Hit Shield) + (Reflect(40 + Piercing + Line Attack + Ground Attack) + Strengthen 40: On Hit) Accuracy: S Description: Description: Generates a 1-Hit Shield upon activation. When this shield blocks one hit from a non-Break attack, it responds with a shock wave, and some of the produced kinetic energy is bestowed onto the user. Duration: Until broken or overridden. Element: Null Special: Negated by Break. Ignores Impact. Special: Reflect: Damage returned is equal to the damage of the attack blocked or the damage cap listed, whichever comes first. Reflect is not subject to negation by Impact. Special: Status Guard: This chip blocks debuffs. Trader Rank: D: (1 Hit Shield) + (Reflect(40 + Piercing + Line Attack + Ground Attack) + Strengthen 40: On Hit) (Acc: S) | x1 Used Thunder1Damage: 40 + Stun 1 + Homing Accuracy: C Description: Shoots a slow moving ball of electricity that homes in on its target. Duration: Once Element: Elec Trader Rank: D: 40 + Stun 1 + Homing (Acc: C) | x1 Used FireBurner1Damage: 50 + Line Attack(3) Accuracy: A Description: Looses a stream of fire that can penetrate enemies and keep going. Duration: Once Element: Fire Special: Line Attack(3): Attacks up to 3 targets in a straight line. Trader Rank: D: 50 + Line Attack(3) (Acc: A) | x1 Used CannonDamage: 60 + Knockback Accuracy: A Description: A decent sized cannon with a single shot. Duration: Once Element: Null Trader Rank: E: 60 + Knockback (Acc: A)

Asymptote's tower had been attacked, his paling removed and the tower being hit, causing the structure to drop a few pieces of it's self, fracture spidering up across the tower's body as it took it's lumps, unlike Asymptote and Vigil who had not been touched once since the fight had started, his friend making her way backwards and...with a crackle, she became...crossed? And GMO'ed? Asymptote hummed as he wondered if he had a cross with her as well. Either way, he could feel the glitch run through his system...and all was not good, he could feel something happening with his signature attack systems, it was...exhausting to be quite blunt. Asymptote groaned as he held onto his chest, he could feel his heart beating heavily, like a sickness invaded him, sweat pouring from his body in rivulets as they smacked wetly across the paneling, his one-eyed tail giving him a wet, endearing lick as it tried to comfort Asymptote in his current state. Haaaaa...getting...so...god...damn...hot... he mumbled under his breath, tugging at the body suit, a comical burst of steam flooding out and into the air as he dropped his aquaknife onto the ground with a clatter, data dissipating into the air as it went unused. Asymptote groaned as he tugged at his collar some more, steam continuing to leak out as he took a couple steps back from the virus in front of him. Nnnnngh...need...to get...out of...this SUIT! He grumbled, an audible rip as he began to rip the navisuit away from his chest.

Steam continued to rise about Asymptote, his body covered in a cloying cloud of sweat, electrical impulses exploding outwards from the navi as two hit against Vigil's body, one to help her accurately attack the foe and another to imbue into her later cannon shot. He could handle all of this. But the heat that poured forth from his form obscured him, if only for a few brief moments. As Asymptote came out of it, the steam finally dissipated, his body readily staying around where it was in his ErisCross, but however...it seemed less buff or toned, a little inkling of flab could be seen behind the robes that he began to wear, a white and green adoring them. He looked something like out of a fantasy novel or game, a "mage" one could say. He couldn't help but grin goofily as the steam of sweat finally disappeared around him. His eyes...were gone. Simple black holes boring deep into his skull, an inkling of where the two red irises were at, but before Vigil or the virus could get a deeper look into his skull, a dark visor slid down, audibly letting out a "ka-chik" kind of noise. Seems like...my signature processors were damaged in that last glitch goo ball from my former tail. He spoke, calmly, a voice unlike a normal man...an effeminate man, no less, but far less gravely and coarse than before. Joseph. Remind me not to put too much faith in glitches anymore, I seem to forget the plane ride down to Netopia and how bad they were back then. He spoke calmly, behind the visor two channels for his sight as they scanned the field...but to either side of him? A pair of floating red and emerald eye balls, acting as his seeing eye...eyes, the irises looking across the field, swiftly taking in the sights as they moved all about their confined reaches, blood and viscera dripping down onto the floor beneath each of them.

But as Asymptote could even begin to speak again, he remembered what he was doing. Setting up for his finale of the CactoLimbo virus in front of him. Right. Right. Gotta give the spiky horror a taste of his own medicine and all that shit. I'll be sure to boil him thoroughly. We will have plenty of cactus juice to drink. And, might I say, my dear Vig, you look STUNNING rocking that amazonian monster look. I'll need to...hehe...get a bit hands on with it later~ He spoke again, calmly assessing the situation, though he seemed...more flirty now? Guess Vigil had more of an impact on Asymptote than even he realized, practically singing out his last words with glee. Joseph, my partner, be a dear and send me the LittleBoiler, I wish to end this with one final explosion and I wish for this battle to go out with a blast, if you catch my meaning. He spoke yet again, practically taking things in stride despite everything going on around him. He then quickly looked at his signature systems again. Shoot. This won't last as long as I would want it to. Oh well. I'll get my mileage out of it even if it but for a single moment.

Chip delivered to his processors, Asymptote held out his hands and in the palms of the shrunken down monster, a thick bound book landed into his hands without a single qualm from him, bound in what looked to be human skin, an eye peering at him as he opened his signature processors. A second later, an eye would drop out of an infinitesimal void, the screams of the tortured sounding out as...what looked like a KillerEye bound in not armor and metal, but bone and sewn together human flesh. Internally, a fuse lit within the summoned eye, as if expecting it to explode within a moment. It turned to the virus that towered above it, and without a second thought began to scan it, green lasers beginning to slowly move upwards from it's green iris and sent back data to Asymptote, he clicked his metal tongue once and discarded the data without hesitation. It wasn't going to help him right now. Regardless, he flicked open the book and stopped on a page made entirely of metal. Come forth spirits of the damned, send me your energies so I may, even for but a moment, BRING METAL TO THE FIELD AND GALVANIZE THE GROUND BENEATH US! He shouted out, the pages that weren't metal began to flip about erratically as the navi summoned the spirits of hell themselves to attack the field! Everything around the virus and under the virus, and both navis that wasn't metal, began to hear the spirits of the damned, tentacles bursting up from the ground as thunder clashed in the air. Every time lightning struck, a panel was turned to metal. And again. And again. Over and over until everything that the attack could hit was metalized for Asymptote's use. Asymptote slammed the book closed as the attack finished.

Asymptote was quick to begin the next step of his plan, his eye in place, he held his hand outwards, a kettle taking place in the palm of his hand. The navi taking aim as to where he wanted to throw the weaponized kettle at, and with bringing his arm back, he tossed the kettle towards the virus, his hand sending it flying towards the east of the CactoLimbo.Stack virus, the small kettle enlarging almost immediately as it reached where Asymptote wanted it to with a loud thud against the then currently metal paneling the kettle in the style of a...giant pulsating eye alright whatever. Asymptote would then quickly beat feet from his current position, trying to catch some distance from his makings of a good-bad idea, he wasn't even so much wanting to avoid himself getting hit by the virus as he wanted "to get out of the way of the boiling water as soon as fucking possible oh god I don't want fourth degree burns all over my body".

While Asymptote threw his piping hot kettle, the tower began to hover it's UFO down towards the field for another round of "Zappity zappity zapping" as the UFO took a look over at the CactoLimbo before watching the Kettle land and enlarge itself. Taking decisive calculations between what to hit and how, the UFO would slowly descend upon the kettle, taking a quick bit of aim at the weaponized pot, it brought out it's death laser beam and with a loud KA-ZAAAAAAP, electricity began to pour through the UFO, electricity hopefully hitting the stationary object, the Kettle would hopefully shoot up a good few feet into the air should the attack land, the panel below it helping to boil the water to an immense temperature far beyond it's own means to hold so that hopefully, Asymptote and Vigil's fight could end.

Overview
*Mathmatician's Gaze 1 (Passive Take Aim 1, Added to Vigil's Cannon)
*Mathmatician's Gaze 2 (Passive Take Aim 1, Added to RemoBit1)
*Conservation of Generation (Passive Recover15, use on first instance of damage this turn)
*Generator Charge (Imbue Vigil's Cannon)
*Unequip AquaKnife
*Guard1 Equipped on left arm
1: VigilCross (+10 to Normal chips, Normal/Summon, Gain access to Masterwork (Level(10)+20 HP to objects) and SelfDestruct (HP/2 damage in Blast2 radius upon object destruction)
*Monster's Visionary: Passive 10+20+10 HP Scan Eye once per turn, Passive Take Aim1 upon summon
*Summon Scan Eye within Blast2 distance to the SW of CactoLimbo.Stack (Add Take Aim to LittleBoiler1)
*Masterwork Scaner Eyes (+30 Max/Current HP)
2: Field Galvanization to the middle of the field (Large Metal terrain, 1 TCD)
3: Put down LittleBoiler1HP: 1
Properties: Light
Object Damage: (100 Aqua + Damage Absorbed) + Blast 3
Damage Method: Throw, Knockback, Microburst, Telekinesis, Gust
Attack Damage: (100 Aqua + Damage Absorbed) + Blast 3
Accuracy: E (thrown) / B (trigger)
Description: Throws a boiling kettle 3 panels ahead that boils over when hit once, dealing aqua damage to everything around it without regard to who or what that may be. The damage of the attack that strikes it is added to the blast.
Duration: Until destroyed.
Element: Wood
Special: Time Delay: Upon taking damage, there is a 2 action time delay before the attack triggers.
Special: For the purposes of Elemental Bonuses, this chip is counts as Aqua Element.
Trader Rank: D to the East of CactoLimbo.Stack
RB1: Attack LittleBoiler1 (80 Elec, Drop, Panel Crack, +Accuracy, X3 damage to LittleBoiler1 due to AquaBody+Metal Panel)
4: RUNNING RUNNING RUNNING (Dodge away from CactoLimbo.Stack to avoid inevitable BOOM)

Sig Cooldowns: Field Galvanization (1TCD)
Chips Used: Fire+20, SlowGauge, AquaKnife, Guard1, RemoteBit1 (2 turns remain in effect), LilBoiler1

Asymptote was getting hot under the collar, and while the cactus towered above them wiggling back and forth to the music and eyeing the remote tower as though it was contemplating giving it another head-butt, the two navigators decided that a change of clothes was most in order. The cactus picked up its pace again while they did, the tempo of the music increasing rapidly.

Asymptote galvanised the ground again, though all that this did at first was make the peculiar creature look down at its base once more, then bend and twist to look at asymptote, its head rocking back and forth as it grinned at him in amusement. When it 'stood' straight again, another few segments popped out, causing the creature to grow even taller than before. Its head was brushing the clouds about the area now, and any more segments would put its loopy eyes out of view from the two navis.

Vigil had summoned up another eye while Asymptote made one of his own, and the two had repositioned to enact a plan to hopefully end the virus; the boiler kettle landed quite close to the base of the cactus, though not near enough that the wiggling segments were likely to jostle it. the cactus sways grew broader and more wild. Vigil lined up a shot and took it, her aim enhanced by a fresh change of clothes and Asymptote's assistance, but the electrically charged cannon shot blasted through space as the long chain of cactus segments bent improbably to one side, in an almost cartoonish manner, to dodge around the shot. Though it had missed ultimately, however, the shot served a more important purpose between the navis; The cactus leaned down again briefly, peering in Vigil's direction and seemed to be quite distracted by eyeing her with its made and erratic gaze, while Asymptote's remote pilot lined up and blasted the kettle; the distraction had held long enough that their foe hadn't beaten the tower into scrap metal, and now the bubbling kettle began to boil and whistle violently.

Vigil dodged back, Asymptote ran for it. In an almost comical display, the cactus bent low, doubling over on itself to turn its head upside down and peer at the small object whistling away near its base. Its head rocked back and forth while it contemplated it, before a moment later the kettle boiled in the most extravagant and violent manner imaginable.

It was hard to see exactly what happened in the massive cloud of super-headed steam that engulfed the former sand pit, the edges of it almost reaching vigil's eye sentries and just falling short of scalding the two navis. Somewhere inside that maelstrom, Asymptote felt his scouter eye get vaporised and respond with its own chain reaction, though his trusty UFO tower only experienced the first half of that effect.

When the steam cleared, Asymptote and Vigil could see the main body of the cactus standing bolt straight, looking blistered and scorched with most of its spines blasted away. It was quivering in what one could only presume to be sudden pain shock, though the music hadn't stopped. No sound came from the cactus itself, though with it standing as bolt upright as it was right now, they could no longer see its eyes for the cloud layer. It took a few long seconds for the tension to begin to relax from it, and it started to bob again slowly, though its movements were a little more delicate and gingerly done. The metallic terrain began to fade moments later, returning to more mundane panels.

-=Desert Exile=-
CactoLimbo.Stack: 240Hp [Normal][Haste (2 turns)][Buster Charge][Debuff -20]

-=Eyes on a Prize=-
Asymptote.Exe: 190Hp [Normal][Edge of the area, not far from Vigil][1-Hit Shield (Guard1, Elec-Imbued)][Glitch: SAS Fall (2 Turns)][VigilCross]
Vigil.Exe: 150Hp [Normal][Back towards the southern edge of the area][30Hp Casing][AsymptoteCross]

-=Not Your Sand Pit=-
100% Normal

• No effects.

[Asymptote's large terrain has normalised, and the outer edges were normal to begin with]

-=Ok, But Why?=-
Sand Pit border: BURNED

Vigil Eye A: 22Hp [Southwest corner]
Vigil Eye B: 22Hp [Southeast corner]
Vigil Eye C: 22Hp [Northeast corner]
Vigil Eye D: 22Hp [Northwest corner]

Remote Tower: BLASTED

-=Glitches=-
With Love, Retorno (Positive Glitch): The victim gains a tingling sensation over their entire body which reacts violently to any harmful attack that strikes them directly (Layer 3 or below). The glitch immediately returns an attack of the same element, accuracy and damage actually dealt of the attack that hit, though it does not negate or diminish the damage taken by the victim. Lasts two turns, or until removed with Status Cure, Glitch Eater or other similar effect.

SAS Fall (Negative Glitch)(Mutable Glitch): The victim suffers a glitch in their Signature Attack System which causes a degrading effect on their duration. All effects generated by signatures used while this glitch is in effect end immediately at the end of the same turn, even if they would last longer. The signature goes on cooldown as normal. SPs and Navigators are treated as independent by this glitch; an SP whose navigator has allocated them personal signatures is unaffected if their navi has this glitch, and similarly an SP with this glitch finds only their personal signatures effected, without infecting their navi's. Lasts three turns, or until removed with Status Cure, Glitch Eater or other similar effect.

Vigil's own excitement and the lust for battle had been amplified by the Asymptote Cross, and the woman gave a small sound in the back of her throat. It was pleased, at the compliments that Asymptote had paid her. "Perhaps if you are suitably exciting as a partner, I can see about giving you a more...thorough examination of this form..." the woman purred, much like a cat, before she had turned, firing her cannon at the dancing cactus that she was ready to just rush forward against and tear it apart with her bare hands, if she could.

Her shot had missed.

The woman gave a low, growling sound in the back of her throat. The growling gained a strange, clicking sound as it continued, like some sort of crocodile or some other lizard-like beast. She hated missing. It made her feel as if she hadn't had a chance to fully unleash her abilities upon her opponent. In her normal form, she might have been suitably miffed. Right now, however, it was an all-consuming rage. "EEEEAAAAAAAAAA!" the woman shrieked, before she could feel the energy flowing off of her in waves of heat, like vents installed directly into her body.

She gave another small shriek, even as she felt Asymptote's now-calmer extension of her persona weighing back on her. It was a nice, calming presence that in a normal battle, when she wasn't currently switched to Asymptote's energies, she might have found it more helpful. But right now, the calming presence that told her how and where to aim her attacks felt like it was just another annoying fly, buzzing in her ear. The woman, tall, and spindly, felt her fingers extend outward, and the dangerous, claw-like fingertips that were present on each of the long digits clawed at the air between her and the cactus.

She was going to need to get close to it in order to harm it, she knew that. It didn't particularly intimidate her, but the swaying and movements were obnoxious. Normally, the eye beneath Vigil would serve as her transportation...but not now. Instead, the four eyes surrounding the battlefield focused in on the creature that was before them, allowing her vision far beyond what would normally be reachable by a Navi. She saw the creature in four dimensions and she knew exactly how it would move and how it could attack her...and how she would decimate it.

The woman leaned forward for just a half second, and then she was gone, her body sprinting across the panels as she approached the cactus, shrieking as she did so, her fingers becoming larger and more wicked as she aimed to clamp down around the cactus, simply pinning it in place before she lifted her left hand, not even bothering to wait for her hand to come off before the shotgun formed on the stump of her left wrist and she let another grin split her face. "Die, CRETIN!" the woman raged as she fired her attack at point-blank.

-

Outside, Alexander tilted his head to the side slightly as he watched the goings-on. "Vigil are you doing all right?" he asked simply, earning a screeching, spastic laughter from the other side, one drenched in bloodlust and hunger. He paused, glancing to Travis. "So is this normal?"

"Yeah man. Well. That's not. But taking on traits of allies is totally normal. She's fine. She's just a little nutty right now."

Alexander frowned, looking back to the PET.

-

Within, she looked over to Asymptote then. "KILL IT FOR ME. SPREAD ITS INSIDES ACROSS THIS PIT. I WANT TO WATCH IT DIE." The woman was more than a little...gone at the moment, but she didn't seem at all to notice as she continued to just unleash her own excitement unto the whole field around her, regardless of who or what heard her.

===

ACTIONS Action 1: Precognition | 1 Hit Shield | 1 CD Action 2: Clawed Restraints | 30 Melee Elec Damage | 1 Turn Hold | CD: 2 | Transform Accuracy Bonus! | Movement included | Asymptote's Take Aim Applied! Action 3: ShotgunDamage: 50 + Spread 1 Accuracy: A Description: A gun whose shot penetrates an enemy to hit another one directly behind it. Duration: Once Element: Null Trader Rank: E: 50 + Spread 1 (Acc: A) | Asymptote's Take Aim Applied!

ALLIED INFORMATION Vigil.exe: 150/150 - Normal Panels | [Right up on it] [30Hp Casing] [1-Hit Shield] [AsymptoteCross] Eye1: 22/22 - SW Corner, Facing NE Eye2: 22/22 - SE Corner, Facing NW Eye3: 22/22 - NE Corner, Facing SW Eye4: 22/22 - NW Corner, Facing SE

SIGNATURE COOLDOWNS Precognition - 1 All Seeing Eye - 0

CHIPS USED ShieldGuardEffect: (1 Hit Shield) + (Reflect(40 + Piercing + Line Attack + Ground Attack) + Strengthen 40: On Hit) Accuracy: S Description: Description: Generates a 1-Hit Shield upon activation. When this shield blocks one hit from a non-Break attack, it responds with a shock wave, and some of the produced kinetic energy is bestowed onto the user. Duration: Until broken or overridden. Element: Null Special: Negated by Break. Ignores Impact. Special: Reflect: Damage returned is equal to the damage of the attack blocked or the damage cap listed, whichever comes first. Reflect is not subject to negation by Impact. Special: Status Guard: This chip blocks debuffs. Trader Rank: D: (1 Hit Shield) + (Reflect(40 + Piercing + Line Attack + Ground Attack) + Strengthen 40: On Hit) (Acc: S) | x1 Used Thunder1Damage: 40 + Stun 1 + Homing Accuracy: C Description: Shoots a slow moving ball of electricity that homes in on its target. Duration: Once Element: Elec Trader Rank: D: 40 + Stun 1 + Homing (Acc: C) | x1 Used FireBurner1Damage: 50 + Line Attack(3) Accuracy: A Description: Looses a stream of fire that can penetrate enemies and keep going. Duration: Once Element: Fire Special: Line Attack(3): Attacks up to 3 targets in a straight line. Trader Rank: D: 50 + Line Attack(3) (Acc: A) | x1 Used CannonDamage: 60 + Knockback Accuracy: A Description: A decent sized cannon with a single shot. Duration: Once Element: Null Trader Rank: E: 60 + Knockback (Acc: A) | x1 Used ShotgunDamage: 50 + Spread 1 Accuracy: A Description: A gun whose shot penetrates an enemy to hit another one directly behind it. Duration: Once Element: Null Trader Rank: E: 50 + Spread 1 (Acc: A) | x1 Used

Asymptote watched as the chain reactions went off...and unfortunately...his plan failed to one-shot the virus. Unfortunately Vigil had missed with her cannon shot...and his remote tower was completely vaporized without a second thought, he forgot to touch it and enable it's self-destruct protocols. All things considered though, it wasn't a COMPLETE loss. It was blown up to hell and back again and he just about halved it's HP reserves and it's going to keep getting hit regardless of what the thing does. Him neutering it's damage output was the best thing he's done this fight. But he isn't about to be outdone by an overgrown cactus.

Ngh. Who knew such an overgrown thing could be so limber and supple. Asymptote began, rubbing his metal chin, as it began to turn to a frown So...very very GOD DAMNED FUCKING ANNOYING WHY IS THIS THING STILL ALIVE?! he suddenly yelled, stamping his feet on the cold ground beneath him as he began to flail his arms like a child, though he did make sure he was a safe distance from his partner. A hammer conked Asymptote on the head, seemingly from the heavens. Control yourself Asymptote. A firm, annoyed, voice came from Joseph, looked like he found a way to play into Asymptote's tantrums, like a cat with a spray bottle of water. Asymptote sat down with a loud thud, blinking behind his visor acting like a dog having been commanded to sit. I really need to get these tantrums taken care of one of these days. Asymptote said plainly. So. What chips do you want? I signed you up for a mission after this, though I'm sure our employer will wait for us to finish this up and take a break. Joseph asked, plainly and to the point. Of course you did. He mumbled under his breath, rubbing the back of his head with his shielded hand. With a sigh, Asymptote would ask for Cannon, MeteorKnuckle, Cornshot and ThunderBeam.

With the four chips locked down, Asymptote noticed his partner...more unhinged than usual...perhaps her channeling his cross...was not the smartest of ideas...but either way, he got back to his feet, the irises glowing a faint green and red just the same as...Asymptote channeled his own cross' power, the same eye reappearing towards the south of the cactus, his eye sending a multitude of data to Asymptote's mind. Each second, he scanned it from close by, he could feel his aim get sharper, he could feel he could just...punch it from even this distance. But once again, Vigil got within melee of the virus, he expected that in all honesty. She was very reckless and she would learn to take a strategic prose to combat before long as he has. But even then, he could work with this. She was shielding herself...and it seemed she tried to hold it down...it was cute she thought it would work, after everything that happened, he could buy a lotto ticket tomorrow and expect to be run over by the ACDC cyber metro.

Loading the chips he received from his op, Asymptote took a knee as he tried to steady himself as much as he possibly could, he needed to not sway as much and he read this helped people take aim against targets. That aside, a bloodshot eye began to grow in front of him, enlarging to about half his size, the navi took it from either end, his own eyes keeping him on target as much as they possibly could. Clutching onto the bloodshot pupil he summoned, he squeezed the sides inwards, the iris flashing a bright red briefly before firing off a shot. A blast of energy attempting to curve inwards towards the cactus he had attacked, looking to rip apart the midsection of it's body.

With his next chip ready, Asymptote held out his hand, a book floating upwards in front of it. A five pointed star beginning to draw it's self out of the thin air, Asymptote's body crackling with built up electricity as the song continued to blare in the background of their fight. Hmph. This thing needs to get a catchier beat. This song just ain't doing it for me. He commented as the five pointed sigil finished drawing it's self, a magical blast of energy beginning to wrap around his arms, more and more weaponized data coming to the forefront of his powers. And before anyone could say anything, the sound of rockets blared in front of Asymptote, the pentagonal opening into a void of nothingness, until three simple stars began to shoot outwards. Fists made of gore and machinery blasting outwards from his portal, seemingly coming from a god of sorts. The gore covered machinery dripped across the field, heavy plops of blood coating the ground as the trio of fists attempted to crash into separate segments of the dancing cactus, mostly aiming for the upper segments and face, exploding in a gore covering splash wherever they might have crashed into, machine parts and fuel also dripping down upon the field for a brief second before cleaning it's self up.

Thirdly, the navi would reach in from the back of the portal he had created, the scholarly monster soon...pulling back an ear of corn, completely unshucked. Raising a curious eyebrow, the navi let the portal dissipate into the ether and with it, unshucked the corn. Tossing it's husk behind him, a multitude of tiny, eerie eyeballs looked up at him. Each with a different colored iris. You know, I might be a monster who uses body horror and shit, bit this is unsettling even to me He whispered to himself, shrugging his shoulder as he threw the ear of corn at an empty space in front of him, a loud blast of energy emanating from the space he threw it at. But out of the corner of one of his eyes, he saw a puffed up "kernel" of the eyecorn he threw out, the weaponized eye-kernel jumping up from the explosion and arching towards the virus without hesitation, exploding again a second time as it landed.

And finally, Asymptote finally having enough of this Non-Electrical shit, brought up his arms. Thunder clouds beginning to crackle up above him, a rumble of lightning in the distance as he caught a blast of lightning in his hands. The navi holding the intangible lightning in his hands, GRASPING FIRMLY between his fingers, the navi created what...seemed to be a lightning bolt in his hands, jagged ends and it going back and forth haphazardly. HEY, CACTUS FUCK! Asymptote shouted as he took a few steps forward, his hand tightly grasping the weapon, crackles of electricity zapping from the weaponized lightning. GET A LESS ANNOYING BEAT WHEN YOU GET TO HELL! He shouted again, throwing the weapon in his hand, the lightning bolt splitting into three, two of the balls of thunder zipping off to either side of the cactus, but the third...it began to quickly close the distance between the both of them, trying to hone in and invalidate it's dodgy movements.

Overview
*Mathmatician's Gaze 1 (Passive Take Aim 1, Added to Vigil)
*Mathmatician's Gaze 2 (Passive Take Aim 1, Added to Vigil)
*Conservation of Generation (Passive Recover15, use on first instance of damage this turn)
*Generator Charge (Added to Nothing)
*Guard1 Equipped on left arm
*Monster's Visionary: Passive 10 HP Scanner Eye once per turn, Passive Take Aim1 upon summon
*Summon Scanner EyeB within Blast2 distance of CactoLimbo.Stack (Add Take Aim to MeteorKnuckle)
*Masterwork Scanner Eyes (+30 Max/Current HP)
*Self Destruct (All summoned objects from Asymptote deal HP/2 damage in a Blast2 radius to enemies)
1: CannonDamage: 60 + Knockback
Accuracy: A
Description: A decent sized cannon with a single shot.
Duration: Once
Element: Null
Trader Rank: E--->CactoLimbo.Stack (+10 STAB)
2: MeteorKnuckle1Damage: 30 + Impact + Break + Knockback + Variable Targeting x 3 Fists
Accuracy: B
Description: Launches a triple rocket punch. Each fist targets separately.
Duration: Once
Element: Null
Variable Targeting: Allows the user to select a target for each individual hit of an attack. This means they may strike the same target multiple times, multiple different targets, or a mix of the two as they wish.
Trader Rank: D--->CactoLimbo.Stack (+1 Take Aim, +10 STAB to each hit)
3: CornShot1Damage: 50 + Trick-Shot Spread 1
Accuracy: A / A
Description: Fires a smart-bomb tipped bullet that explodes and fires a second shot that auto-targets the nearest enemy.
Duration: Once
Element: Wood
Special: Trick Shot Spread: Automatically aims and spreads damage at one enemy nearest the point of impact. Can shoot around corners and bank off walls, floors, etc.
Trader Rank: D--->throw shoot at empty space, rebound spread at CactoLimbo.Stack
4: ThunderBeam1Damage: 60 + Seeking x 3 Targets
Accuracy: A
Description: Shoots three beams of electricity at three different enemies. Pierces Invis.
Duration: Once
Element: Elec
Trader Rank: D--->CactoLimbo.Stack

Sig Cooldowns: Field Galvanization (Ready next turn)
Chips Used: Fire+20, SlowGauge, AquaKnife, Guard1, RemoteBit1, LilBoiler1, Cannon, MeteorKnuckle1, Cornshot1, ThunderBeam1

Someone, somewhere, would probably be interested to see the manner in which different kinds of insanity interacted with each other, at the level of navigator crosses. That person, whoever they were, would likely be fascinated to observe the progressing battle between Asymptote and Vigil, and their prickly opponent. As the pair played off each other further and further, they finally began to unload a large amount of their collective fire-power at the target.

Asymptote's newest eyeball appeared with a close enough view to see the progressively longer desert plant sway and swing back and forth with a wild alacrity, curving its segments away from the first cannon shot with ease and managing to weave its body around two of the three meteor fists that Asymptote sent towards it directly afterwards. One of the three did hit it, sending shudders through the cactus and knocking out several segments, which rolled across the ground, crushed and damaged. The main body connected up again quickly, continuing its dance, but the odd creature was beginning to look severely beat up at this point. The pair could no longer see its madly grinning face, lost in the cloud layer above as it was, but the body was looking very battered.

In her rage, Vigil darted in and attempted to sink her claws into the lower portions of the virus, and though it tried to wiggle away from her, this time it didn't wiggle quite quickly enough and she caught it firmly, interrupting its dance in a way that must have felt at least a little satisfying. Up above, the higher sections of the cactus kept dancing, but the lower two thirds locked up under her electric grasp.

Above, the music hit another spike, and the highest sections began to whirl about in rapid circles; they caught occasional glimpses of the head, upside down and peeking through the clouds as it spun, scattering loose segments of cactus all around to rain onto the pair. Amongst the scatter-shot of cactus segments that fell around them, two struck Vigil, or rather, two would have, if her all around vision hadn't given her enough precognitive edge to deflect the first one that connected. A second one did manage to strike her even so, though it couldn't get through her armoured casing.

Only one spiky orb hit Asymptote, and his shield was ready for it, sending a small reflect laser of electricity back towards the base of the cactus fro its trouble. Without letting up, Vigil continued the onslaught, shooting off her next attack with a deceptive trick angle; the cactus slid away from the initial shot, but ended up with its body twisted just perfectly for the rebound ricochet to punch into it squarely. They were getting the hang of this monster now, it seemed. Battered and with most of its body segments damaged in some way, its hurried swaying wasn't enough to stay away from the shotgun blast that followed, though as the attack peppered it, the pair witnessed the cactus' entire body going steadily blacker and beginning to wither.

The spines in particular darkened to a tar blackness, before erupting in a barrage of spines and sticky sap. Both Asymptote and vigil were sprayed liberally with the small spines, and though they weren't enough to cause any harm to either of them, the same darkening of vision that had happened before began to overtake each of them in turn as their respective methods for seeing faltered.

Despite this, Asymptote had one more attack lined up, and his final bolt of lightning pinned down the remains of what they could still see; the two side bolts evoked small twitches to either side, but the central one arced high and connected, shearing through the upper parts of the cactus column with a resounding crackle.

This time, the gap in the body didn't close up again like it had before. Instead, the entire lower reach of the cactus body slowed to a sickly, blackened halt. The last two segments they could still see above the contact point of the lightning bolt continued to wiggle and dance, but with the beat that would normally have grown new segments, they were instead pulled up through the cloud layer and out of sight. The body, meanwhile, crumpled down, landing in heavy coils and loops on the ground and continued to twitch for a few more moments, before finally going still and beginning to disintegrate into data. The music faded away rapidly, until, by the time both of their sight had fully returned and the carcass had mostly degraded, neither of them could hear it at all any more.

As the remains of the virus degraded, both navis were able to recover an assortment of useful bits and pieces from it, though two pieces of data which resolved into workable chips contained an attached message which read 'See you at the next dance!' in a loopy, childish font.

-=Desert Exile=-
CactoLimbo.Stack: DEFEATED (...?)

-=Eyes on a Prize=-
Asymptote.Exe: 190Hp [Normal][VigilCross]
Vigil.Exe: 150Hp [Normal][AsymptoteCross]

-=Not Your Sand Pit=-
100% Normal

• No effects.

-=Battle 5, Victory!=-
Spoils: Both get 10 Mutual FXP (5 Base + 5 for team-work and assistance)
Asymptote: 2000z, FastGaugeEffect: Haste
Accuracy: S
Description: Dodge rate up 10% for 3 turns for one ally.
Duration: 3 turns
Element: Null
Trader Rank: C, 15BugFrags
Vigil: 2000z, AreaGrabEffect: Teleport + Accuracy UP
Accuracy: S
Description: Allows the user to teleport to any spot on the field, and raises the accuracy of the next attack by 1 Rank.
Duration: Once
Element: Null
Special: Accuracy UP: This effect raises the accuracy of the next attack by 10%, and is stackable with all other Accuracy buffs. In the case of AreaGrab, this replaces Teleport's RP-based accuracy bonus.
Trader Rank: D, 15BugFrags

As the cactus finally disappeared from sight, his partner managing to halt it's movements for the most part...Asymptote breathed a sigh of relief. His body ached. His mind raced with all sorts of things. But most of all...it was filled with relief. Flopping onto the ground with a loud thud, his cross faded, the navi returning to normal...or as close to there of...he could get. He breathed heavily, the navi having done a lot of the heavy lifting during their expedition into the network...but he was happy. It was a good tired that flooded through his body. He and Vigil did pretty well, and Vigil, despite her lack of...well...everything...he could finally say she was doing good.

Aaaaaahhhh...that...took a lot more out of me than I would have thought... He spoke, roughly as he began to slowly sit himself up, crossing his legs as he did. Did good out there Vig. You're really shaping up. Just...gotta be careful of going in close. You don't have the defenses to tank hits like I do.

As the woman's attack was successful, gripping the opponent tightly and keeping the bouncing and jiving cactus from moving any further, she and her ally unloaded on it, working to fully eliminate it from everything. A wide grin spread across her features then, stretching across the entire length of her face, far more than even a glasgow smile would go. Perfect.

It began to disintegrate then, slowly and surely, and eventually Vigil found herself looking at the chip that had been hand-delivered from the creature, holding onto a note as well that seemed to be from the creature itself. At the words that were there, the wicked inhuman smile reversed into a frown immediately as she crushed the note in one of her overly large hands.

Before she could comment further, she saw Asymptote come to take a seat on the ground, presumably having figured this fight over. Her arm tightened around the note further, before she let out a long, ragged sigh. Inhaling deeply, the woman allowed Asymptote's electrical energy to leave her, then, the amazoness form fading away.

Her arms and legs reverted to a more normal size, her fingers doing the same as her bust began to swell outward again, the woman forming once more into her usual form. "You did very well, Asymptote. I have no doubt that I would not have been able to handle this network without your very gracious assistance," she spoke as she moved, sashaying toward him, the eyes in the corners of the arena turning to look his way as well.

"Certainly with this money we've earned, Alexander can no doubt afford some additional upgrades here for me...and that may allow me a bit more versatility in how I do battle," she cooed, before she leaned down, with Asymptote still being taller than she, even while he sat. She pressed a kiss onto his jawline then, before the woman smirked as she leaned back. "I look forward to the day when we may partner again...perhaps even more closely next time, hm?" she asked, before giving an amused smile at him.

Asymptote chuckled under his breath as the smaller navi practically wrapped herself up into his lap, letting out a pleased grunt as she planted a kiss on his lower jawline, the navi closing his eyes contently, wrapping his arms gengerly around her body to give her a hug. An immense warmth washing over Vigil's body as he just sat there for a time, enjoying the moment. Joseph, we have any free chips? Better to give them to her and her operator instead of just sitting on them. Or tossing them in the trader. Asymptote asked in a PM to Joseph, the operator having a hearty laugh that Asymptote couldn't hear.

A few clicks later, Asymptote could feel the data of various chips entering him. Turning his palm upwards for Vigil, four chip datas danced across his palm for her. Vigil. You could use more help when I gotta jack out. Think of it as a part of me to join you in battle. More so than the cross. You'll go far Vig, I can tell that plainly. You just need to learn more, and some self study might be in the bill for you. So...here. Take these chips. Think of it as present...and I hope only the best for you and your operator. Don't forget to have fun. And tell your operator not to squander his youth. Do what he feels is fun, because adulthood isn't a fun transition.

Asymptote offers Vigil: Recover30Recovery: 30 HP
Accuracy: S
Description: Heals 30 HP.
Duration: Once
Element: Null
Trader Rank: D, RageClaw1Damage: 40 + Slashing (Attack) OR 20 + Impacting (Throw)
Accuracy: B / B then B
Description: Creates an impressive bear claw. Can be used to slash or throw enemies or objects.
Duration: Until Overridden/Broken. Breaks automatically after 6 uses.
Element: Null
Special: Throw: The wielder must first grab the target to be thrown, then the target is thrown in the direction/area indicated. A second check is made if against another object/enemy. Throw deals damage to both thrown object/enemy and the second object/enemy. Damage occurs at point of collision with the ground/wall/ceiling/etc. or an object/enemy, not during initial grab attempt. Objects deal their max HP in damage (instead of the chip's damage) if they hit an object/enemy, then break. If they miss, the object just takes the chip's damage. This chip has a variety of uses.
Trader Rank: D, ShotgunDamage: 50 + Spread 1
Accuracy: A
Description: A gun whose shot penetrates an enemy to hit another one directly behind it.
Duration: Once
Element: Null
Trader Rank: E, FireBurner1Damage: 50 + Line Attack(3)
Accuracy: A
Description: Looses a stream of fire that can penetrate enemies and keep going.
Duration: Once
Element: Fire
Special: Line Attack(3): Attacks up to 3 targets in a straight line.
Trader Rank: D

Vigil couldn't help but to let a small smile spread across her features as she felt the man's warmth enshrouding her. It was like a familiar cloak, like a blanket from ages past. As that warmth wrapped around her, while it made her smile, it also opened up a sense of loneliness. This wasn't something where she had a definite answer to this eventually lonely life that she would lead. Alexander was the only one that she'd have by her side...and she couldn't touch him like she could the large Navi with her now. It wasn't the same. It wouldn't be the same.

However, before she had the chance to fall too deeply into her negative thoughts, she saw Asymptote extend his hand toward her. Four chips danced on his hand, and as she saw this, the four eyes around the edges of the arena widened at this. A part of Asymptote? She supposed that was correct. While chip data was standardized, even still, there was a sentimental value in receiving the chips from another. They carried traces of data from who they came from. Or so said a post on the BBS. She didn't know how true it was...but she liked to think it that it was true.

"Thank you, Asymptote. Truly. I will keep these with me. You will be a part of me, Asymptote. I only wish that I could offer the same to you. With your abilities...I could offer to you this Thunder1 chip..." she spoke, running her finger tips along one of his oversized biceps. "Or was that kiss enough for you, hm?" she asked, a smirk on her face as she watched him.

Asymptote chuckled as he began to gently squeeze Vigil between his arms as she took those chips. Hmhmhm. The kiss was more than enough my dear. He spoke calmly, almost teasingly to his partner. She would feel an almost pulse from Asymptote, like a heartbeat. It slowly grew as he hugged against her, but knew it could not last. The navi would gently plant his metal "lips" against hers, the steel warm to the touch much like the navi that surrounded her, holding her. There was little to no...friction...with his animatronic "lips", it was like kissing steel, but...still semi-pleasant regardless. Mmmm...seems I gotta head out Vig. Joseph wants me to go pick up something at the online shop before I gotta go do a mission he signed me up for. I'll keep in touch when I can. Just seek to grow stronger. Just...don't lose yourself to the power you get. He spoke, almost sweetly, and in a concerning tone. He watched her fight, she could become unhinged and...beastly...like him.

He wanted to see more of her, but knew he might not like what he might see...and then, sneakily, he sent a PM to her netop using her as a catalyst to it. Keep an eye on her. She's less than hinged. She might need to be looked at by a professional. If you need anything, contact me and my netop at the following e-mail address. The message said, in a simple bold font on Alexander's PET. Joseph's email right after. The navi would gently pick her up in his arms, slowly getting to his feet and then gingerly setting her down on the ground. See ya around, Vig, and don't be afraid to run from a fight if you get in over your head. He told her, like a teacher to a student, as his body began to disintegrate in front of her, disappearing from the net not a moment later.

Asymptote.EXE, Logging Out!

Alexander get: Joseph's Email! (Joseph Sine@ACDC Intermediate.com)

She smirked at his response, feeling the pressure of the other larger navi's mouth against her own body for a moment. There was that slight momentary sense of loneliness, but as she took the chips from him, she felt that familiar pulse from him then. She nodded as he spoke then, the woman elegantly coming to take a step back away from the brute as she let the chip data cycle around her arm for a moment before storing it away in the folder, nodding at the other. "Very well, my dear Asymptote. I hope that we do meet again in the future. It was a wonderful time to spend with you. I do hope that we get some more time to spend together in the future," she called, waggling her fingers at him in a wave as she watched the large navi begin to depart.

He gave her one last bit of advice then, and the woman leaned back, giving a throaty laugh. "Running...is not how I do things, my dear," she spoke, and for effect, activated the RageClaw chip that he had given her, the woman's fingertips extending out into long, dagger-like appendagers. "But I will keep this advice in mind," she spoke, smirking slightly.

--

On the outside, Alexander blinked as the email arrived. He opened it, and arched a single brow. He glanced over at Travis, who shrugged in response. "Hey man. You said you wanted something designed for combat. You got a problem with how she works?"

"Not that part, no. But I suppose I should take that into consideration. I imagine that he's been going against Viruses a bit longer than myself."

Travis shrugged again. "You do you, dude.

"Vigil. Let's go, we're jacking out."

"Hmmm? Jacking o-"

"Stop."

Vigil.exe - Logged out!

((Additional +3FXP, and Confirmation/Acknowledgement on the chip exchange))