How many ways can you say "killing time?"

"More of the same," Pianissimo muttered, seeing the viruses. Still, they were an interesting mix, and...wait.

His vision was diverted to a point in the middle of the group, where he caught a glimpse of...something...among them. Something gray.

"I've got a bad feeling about this," Duke yawned.

"Ya don't say," the assassin muttered dully. Deciding the best he could do was fight as usual and stay on his guard, he requested three chips. The first two were an elecreel and a woodtower.

Let's rock, he thought, taking a step back, then swinging his katana in a wide arc. A loud crack echoed across the field, followed by the rush of wind.

Then, all was silent.

Haven't done that in awhile, Pianissimo thought, swinging his sword again, this time against the ground. Streams of electricity spread out from the tip, traveling across the ground before erupting into the air in bolts of lightning from under the armadillos. The sooner those died the better, and what better way than by frying them with lightning. More lightning erupted seconds later from under the scarecrow viruses, though he doubted it would have too much effect.

From his position, Pianissimo scraped the blade across the ground, then pulled it up in another slashing arc. This time, from where the blade left the ground a series of wooden spires erupted from the ground, traveling in a wave before homing in on the same scarecrows that were likely unaffected by the lightning.

And now to see what's hiding, he thought, shuffling his body backward in a reverse dash, then preparing to counter anything attacking. As he moved back, the blade of his katana pulsed a soft blue...
___

1. Enjoy The Silence: Gain five instances of +30 Strengthen
2. ElecReel Armadills: 110 Elec each (three Strengthens used)
3. WoodTower Scarecrows: 100 Wood each
4. Dodge
<Splice>
As soon as the silence Pianissimo created was gone, lightning bolts crashed all over the Armadils and created a thick blanket of smokes. The cloud subsided to reveal the two Dominerds protecting the viruses except one. Also, few lightning went astray and happen to strike the Fishy nearby. The wooden spires traveled right towards the Scarecrows and deleted the two instantly while another one lived for another day as the spires was slightly off track.

DominerdA: 99 HP [Stonebody]
DominerdB: 99 HP [Stonebody]
ScarecrowA: 100 HP
ScarecrowB: DELETED
ScarecrowC: DELETED
Fishy EXA: 120 HP
Fishy EXB: 120 HP
Fishy EXC: 40 HP
ArmadillA: 100 HP
ArmadillB: 100 HP
ArmadillC: DELETED

Terrain: 100% Normal

Pianissimo.exe: 200 HP
"I see," Pianissimo said, seeing the Dominerds defend two of the armadillos. He had no experience with the cursed viruses, but he knew what they could do.

However, breaking it down to pure theory, fighting them was simple. Wait for them to attack, dodge, strike back. Preferably with a hit powerful enough to take it out in one hit.

Still, the other viruses could...

"Pianissimo, get out of there as soon as you can," Duke said. His tone had changed from both the yawning and stupid of earlier and the 'bad feeling' of when the presence of the Dominerds was first felt. It was a sense of calm urgency, the kind that meant something that was not 'you're fucked', but somehow, in some way, more important.

"What is it?" he asked.

"The third round was just announced. I kinda dozed off for a few minutes, so we're pretty low on time to sign in."

In response, two responses floated through the assassin's head, almost simultaneously.

Oh.

And

Idiot.

"Whatever. Escape me," he said, raising his katana in defense for the few seconds before Duke could use the subchip. In the real world, Duke fished out one of his two Escape subchips and inserted it. Pianissimo's body broke apart into shadow, then faded.
The bits and pieces of shadow that were once Pianissimo disappeared into the distance, leaving the remaining viruses to live another day.

DominerdA: 99 HP [Stonebody]
DominerdB: 99 HP [Stonebody]
ScarecrowA: 100 HP
ScarecrowB: DELETED
ScarecrowC: DELETED
Fishy EXA: 120 HP
Fishy EXB: 120 HP
Fishy EXC: 40 HP
ArmadillA: 100 HP
ArmadillB: 100 HP
ArmadillC: DELETED

Terrain: 100% Normal

Pianissimo.exe: SUBCHIP'D

(Battle Over)