10K Run

Three beams of light became lost in all the other beams of light as DragonierMan, Aya, and Suzume logged into the glitz and glam of NetVegas Net. The constantly shifting surface of the terrain unnerved the two SPs, who did not have the same floating-protection that their leader had. Regardless, they unsheathed their daggers and took their places at the flanks as DragonierMan took off at a jog. Ready to fight until they had a ton of money for upgrades.

[Battle 1: Ready.]

Ah NetVegas, so many places to see, things to do, people to meet, and DragonierMan seemed to want to do it all. Quickly rushing out the trio would soon find themselves slipping and sliding as they arrived in a peculiar sight. Almost like a skate park, all around there was Icy terrain for people to slide around on, but most unusual there were several large patches of smoldering embers and coil, some could easily jump, others, like the particular virus was more than content to remain resting on. While speaking of viruses, an almost ghostly apparition would appear baring their path, while something that finally seemed to belong on the ice, a giant hockey puck drifted over to join in the party, well what can you expect when heading to the surprising little network of NetVegas!

Viruses
Dharma: 90HP (Ice)
Haunted Candle: 100HP (Heat body) (Coal)
Shadow: 80HP (Ice)

Terrain
50% Ice
50% Coal (firewalk lines scattered about)

Navi & SPs
DragonierMan: 200HP (Ice)
Suzume.SP: 60HP (Ice)
Aya.SP: 60HP (Ice)

Misc
GMD: 15HP

—Battle 1, Start!—

[x1] [x1] [x1]


DragonierMan pushed off one foot and skated forward into battle, unhindered. Suzume and Aya, however, were not as sure-footed and began sliding around uncontrollably. They quickly popped off their own shadows, making multiple copies of themselves to throw off the aim of their enemies. Though those copies also began sliding around uncontrollably. And so, as DragonierMan leapt forward into battle, sliding from side to side like a professional hockey player, spinning and dodging, his colleagues were lurching around in the background like out-of-control hockey pucks.

Drago slowed his pace as he neared the main force, taking careful aim with his eyes. He wanted to make sure that the virii did not spread out too much before he struck. He circled the group as a sheep-hound circles sheep, rounding the group up for a close blast. Electricity sparked across his teeth as he looked for an opening. When he found his opening, he opened his mouth and expelled crackling lightning into their midst. The electrical discharge conducted well along the icy arena, causing two-fold pain to those affected.

Drago spun away as the shock died out. It was possible that one or more of the virus(es) probably weren't finished off by his flashy attack. So the navi unsheathed a sword and turned back to the virus(es). He swept around the icy arena as he chased down his remaining foe(s), skirting and sliding to one side or the other as he closed, giving as little to target of himself as he could. At the last moment he slashed across the virii with his wide-bladed sword, carving through the air. The blade singing as it caught the wind.

[Bump.]

Working like such a pro athlete, DragonierMan charged the ice and rushed out to take those viruses on, and after trying to loop them all in he let loose a charged electrical blast of energy that easily enveloped the Dharma and Shadow, and while the former was deleted quickly, the shadow seemed to pass the damage right off. Though it couldn't shrug off the sudden sweep of a blade that followed and quickly sliced it in two, deleting it.

The Haunted Candle however seemed to be just out of reach while resting on one of the firewalks, and quickly let out a blast of burning fire beneath Suzume and Aya. Or, as it turned out, their Decoys, as thankfully all that sliding around had thrown off its aim on the originals.

Enemies
Dharma: Deleted
Haunted Candle: 100HP (Heat body) (Coal)
Shadow: Deleted

Terrain
50% Ice
50% Coal (firewalk lines scattered about)

Allies
DragonierMan: 200HP (Ice)
Suzume.SP: 60HP (Ice)
Aya.SP: 60HP (Ice)

Misc
GMD: 15HP

"Ahhh!" Suzume screamed and flailed her arms wildly just as fire erupted from the ice and burned her to ash. Then stopped flailing when she saw that it was her clone that took the hit and not herself. She blushed bright red at her mistake as she continued to slip and slide around some more. Though she found herself checking for burns on her fair skin. "You're fine!" Aya called out to her twin as she saw Suzume pat herself down. Aya's cheeks were flushed with cold and effort, as she was having trouble stabilizing her own self.

The twins popped off replacement clones and everyone went back to flailing around on the slippery ice, like before. Drago, meanwhile, began skating directly at the Haunted Candle. He gripped his sword with both hands and brought the blade down to his knees like a hockey stick. He slid from side to side as he closed, waiting until he was right on top of his opponent before he struck. He bent his legs as he approached the firewalks and sprung at his enemy, leaping onto the burning coals. The coals flared at the impact of the landing as he whipped his sword out at the virus in a wide, diagonally-upward swinging arc. The energy-blade expanded as he swung, trying to encompass the surrounding tiles and cut through the virus.

Rolling with the swing, the momentum carried the navi into a sideways roll. When he uprighted himself, he took another swing at his opponent. The blade bit into the air again as he brought it around for another pass. Though at the end of the brazen swing the sword struck the hard ground and shattered. The coals flared where each of the shards landed.

Dashing forth, DragonierMan charged his last opponent while the girls continued their... Well we'll say flailing antics, still with each sudden slash DragonierMan made, that poor immobile candle seemed to get sliced up before finally getting cut in half. When all was said and done, an ominous voice seemed to call out "Penalty, high-sticking!" only to suddenly cut off as this wasn't actually hockey, very odd.

Enemies
Dharma: Deleted
Haunted Candle: Deleted
Shadow: Deleted

Terrain
50% Ice
50% Coal (firewalk lines scattered about)

Allies
DragonierMan: 200HP (Ice)
Suzume.SP: 60HP (Ice)
Aya.SP: 60HP (Ice)

Misc
GMD: 15HP

—Battle 1, Victory!—
DragonierMan: 645z, 14 Bugfrags

Open GMD? (Y/N)

Hearing the penalty call, DragonierMan looked around as the "game" ended. "What?..." He shook his shoulders and brushed off his heavy cloak, standing straighter. His voice echoed across the arena in command, "Who's there? Show yourself!" But there was no one there.

A moment later he shook his head and turned to the Green Mystery Data. Cowards. He walked over to the data packet and placed his hand upon it. Aya and Suzume regained their footing now that there was no threats. As Drago opened his prize, the girls collected the rest of the winnings.

Open GMD? (Y)

Attempting to talk to the now probably long gone voice, the knight decided to simply ignore it while finally his party mates were getting their staking legs. Still as he stepped up and placed his hand upon the data cube, it cracked and shattered! Leaving behind in it's place a collection of data information for a new chip!

[GMD Opened]

DragonierMan: Counter1

Quote ()

Counter1
Damage: (1-Hit I-Field) + (Counter(70 + Impact + Break): On-Hit)
Accuracy: S Block, A Return
Description: Defends against one attack, teleports to enemy, and strikes with Gutpunch. Impacting. Breaking.
Duration: Once
Element: Null
Special: I-Field is pierced by Impact, Counter is negated by Impact.
Special: Status Guard: This chip blocks debuffs.

Drago absorbed the data and felt stronger. "Suzume, Aya, come. We have much more wealth to acquire." The girls finished pouring the digital coins into their satchels and strapped them to their belts. And the three of them continued through NetVegas on their way to more riches.

[Requesting Battle 2.]

Venturing through more of the vast and constantly changing world that was NetVegas, the party would soon find themselves on a major street, all around Metal spanned with pockets of glass shining colorful lights of blue, red, green and yellow. All flashing and shining like signs. But it wasn't all lights and glamour, because as they walked they'd find themselves face to face with a small parade, led by a staff wielding virus while three large glasses wearing viruses seemed to be marching behind. Though once the trio had been spotted, a wave of that staff sent the cool looking viruses rushing forth, ready to cause havoc!

Enemies
BigHat A: 100HP (Metal)
BigHat B: 100HP (Metal)
BigHat C: 100HP (Metal)
Mettfire: 100HP (Glass)

Terrain
50% Metal
50% Glass (Scattered)

Allies
DragonierMan: 200HP (Metal)
Suzume.SP: 60HP (Glass)
Aya.SP: 60HP (Metal)

—Battle 2, Start!—

[x3] [x1]


Suzume and Aya followed behind DragonierMan through the streets of NetVegas until they came upon a similar group playing "follow the leader." The two groups stopped and stared at each other from across the wide metal street. Tiny flashing squares of lighted glass illuminated the causeway in splashes of color. The virus' leader raised its staff into the air and called a charge. Drago drew forth his own metal staff from the furrows of his great cloak and called for the same.

The top of his staff sent up a few sparks before it was wreathed in magnetic energy. He aimed the staff at the enemy leader, attempting to reel the virus to him with the strong magnetic pull. A moment later he aimed the staff to the sky. Electricity traveled down the length of the metal pole, missing his metal gauntlets by mere luck, and sparked off the butt of the staff. Drago, gripping the staff firmly in both hands, brought the metal rod down to strike the metal plates around him. An explosion of lightning fried the area immediately in front of him, where the virus leader should have been pulled.

The twin sisters then drew their daggers and leapt past Drago into battle. They crisscrossed each others' paths as they ran into combat, breaking off pieces of their shadows each time they crossed so as to better confuse who was the real one. Multiplied two fold, the six identical blonde-haired girls began mixing it up with the viruses. But it was all a ruse. Each time one of them would strike, bringing their arm back to thrust the dagger into the body of their opponent, another would dash right between them, and the first would break off.

Drago followed the six girls into battle, dropping his lightning rod to the ground. Though he spent the time weaving through the mess to get to the other side. He was quite light on his feet for someone so big and wearing so much armor, circling around the bouts of combat and making himself a hard target to pin down. As he moved through the throng his eyes also danced around, taking in all the angles. Marking each of his targets and noting their positions.

When he finally slipped out of the mob he spun around on his heels, facing the crowd. He raised his voice and shouted out to be heard amongst all the din of combat. "Scatter!" his voice commanded. Suzume and Aya heard the command and began to withdraw as Drago opened his crackling maw and spewed forth a great wave of twisted lightning. The cyclonic discharge burned cold and caused the air to pop, snap, and sparkle. As it swept out across the field, it altered some of the metal tiles under its heel, making them glow as bright as the shining panels of colored glass.

Immediately after the Mettfire issued the command to charge, it itself retreated further from the frontline, warping from panel to panel with great effectiveness, disabling DragonierMan's pull-in tactics.

The BigHats panicked, each throwing a ball of light every-which way, but no contact was made with any of the support units. The balls landed seemingly uselessly on the ground.

After enough distractions, DragonierMan blasted some electric breath at the BigHats, none of which was able to dodge the fatal spread. The orbs of light they threw disappeared as well.

There was only the Mettfire left.

Enemies
BigHat A: BREATH'D
BigHat B: BREATH'D
BigHat C: BREATH'D
Mettfire: 100HP (Metal)[3 actions from melee range]

Terrain
50% Metal
50% Glass (Scattered)

Allies
DragonierMan: 200HP (Metal)
Suzume.SP: 60HP (Glass)
Aya.SP: 60HP (Metal)

"You won't get away!" Drago shouted after the MettFire as he gave chase, the other three viruses defeated. Suzume and Aya, having just managed to escape the blast of electricity, stayed back as their master ran after the last virus. They kept a weary eye on the MettFire in case it came back and they would have to avoid it. Meanwhile, Drago had given up his defensive footwork in order to focus entirely on running down his opponent. He charged down the metal roadway, gliding over the bits of colored glass that blinked under his feet. The wind whipped around him, sending his cloak to ripple and billow out behind him, though the drag on his body seemed minimal.

Building up a head of steam, the navi pounded across the ground like a warhorse. His steel boots clopped along the street as he ran after his opponent. As he closed to the final leg of the race, he dug his heels in and gave one final sprint to the finish line. He dashed at the last virus and plowed through the warm air. Smashing through to the other side.

Rushes across the battlefield like a mighty battle hardened beast, DragonierMan easily came up to the virus, and while it tried to zip away again, it was far too slow to escape and was easily smashed down by the charging navi.

Enemies
BigHat A: BREATH'D
BigHat B: BREATH'D
BigHat C: BREATH'D
Mettfire: Bull Rushed

Terrain
50% Metal
50% Glass (Scattered)

Allies
DragonierMan: 200HP (Metal)
Suzume.SP: 60HP (Glass)
Aya.SP: 60HP (Metal)

—Battle 2, Victory!—
DragonierMan: 840z, 20 Bugfrags

Drago skidded to a halt on the metal road, sparks flying off his heels. He stooped down to pick up the pieces of the virus he had just ran over as his SPs dealt with the rewards in their section of the battlefield. When they met together they poured the collected rewards into a sack and sent it off to Destin's PET, then moved on. 2.6k down, 8.4k remaining.

[Requesting Battle 3.]

Venturing further on into the net it almost started to look and sound like they had gone back in time. All around flashing lights of red, blue, green and yellow flashed every few seconds through the transparent terrain, while brightly glowing panels spotted the area, while above music from a long dead and buried generation really seemed to have found a foothold as it pounds in the background from an unseen source.

Though perhaps the most troubling part was as they ventured in they'd start to feel slightly sluggish, as if this particular part of the net was being bogged down by high lag inducing issues, and the cause would be easy to spot, as two bouncing slime creatures seemed to be taking up large amounts of network resources as they hop and bounce around to the beat. The lag didn't seem to be bothering the other viruses about, who quickly signaled an attack upon the new intruders on their dance floor.

Enemies
Bag 'O Candy: 100HP (Solar)
ElecOgre A: 120HP (Glass)
ElecOgre B: 120HP (Glass)
Slimey A: 90HP (Solar)
Slimey B: 90HP (Glass)

Terrain
60% Glass
40% Solar (Scattered)

Allies
DragonierMan: 200HP (Glass) (Network Latency)
Suzume.SP: 60HP (Solar) (Network Latency)
Aya.SP: 60HP (Glass) (Network Latency)

Misc
Network Latency: -10% Evasion and movement effectiveness.

—Battle 3, Start!—

[x1] [x2] [x2]


"Hey look, Ogres!" Suzume cheered as they came upon the disco scene. The Ogres sparked with electricity, and some of the energy was drawn to the nearby glowing panels. "Two of them." Aya chirped as she wearily looked around the battlefield. The terrain had poor conditions for the two girls, with slippery glass everywhere; but even worse was that the islands of glowing panels that seemed to be a haven, instead seemed to feed off their enemies attacks. They would need to focus even more on their defenses here. "Maybe we can get both weapons at once."

"Dodge!" Aya yelled as she pushed Suzume off her perch and began sliding on the glass. Two girls multiplied to six. But the glass under their feet and the lag slowing their movements, created a compounded nightmare on their attempts to avoid damage as they scattered about the battlefield.

To cut down on the lag, Drago reached out his hands toward the problem. Steam came out of his gauntlets before fire erupted from his palms and flashed across the field to strike at the slime viruses. The fire soared over the gleaming floor and exploded in a cloud of choking smoke. The navi ducked and weaved away, using the roar of the conflagration and clouds of smoke as a distraction. But with the latency issue still causing problems, he would seem to do so with sluggish movements. Shifting his feet with jerky movements.

Destin Obscura watched his navis deal with the threat of the viruses. He shook his head at both the Network latency issue, having not known that viruses could do that if they got too dense, and at the necessity of the FloatShoes program for all of his warriors. According to his calculations, the battle would afford him the BugFrags necessary to upgrade the two girls and eliminate the latter problem. But would set him back a few hours from his goal as the SPs acclimated to their new programing. Though, he sighed to himself, it was necessary in order to continue in this Network.

As the operator strayed with his thoughts, Drago meanwhile unleashed another fan of flame at his opponents, thrusting his glowing gauntlets outward. The dragon roared and the air burned with hot cinders and ash, as a great bird of fire leapt from his outstretched hands and flew across the battlefield to smash into the viruses in a blaze of glory. Drago exhaled and spun to one side at the counterattack. He leapt onto the glass and slid across the ground on skates of air, dodging with each shift of his feet. Sparks of electricity replaced the extinguishing fire across his form, coming off the wings of his helmet and the heels of his boots.

He slid to a halt just as the electricity snaked across his armored form and met at his hands again. Welling with energy, the navi directed the power outward to ensnare the candy-flavored virus in a magnetic field, feeding it his own energy to make the field stronger. He yanked his arms back, attempting to drag the virus to him. If he could draw it into melee range, he would then attempt to place his electrified hands upon the virus, electrocuting it into deletion.

Starting out with a surprising fiery blast, those slow moving viruses didn't stand a chance and those high resourcing using viruses were roasted and shattered quickly, which thankfully caused the network lag to fade away quickly and allowed movement without being bogged down so much. Though his attacks didn't stop there as he turned upon the Ogres and released a second blaze, which seemed to smash into them and cut their lives down quite a bit. Though the action seemed to anger each of them as both begun to spark brightly and threateningly between their horns as they glared towards the navi and crew.

Sadly his final attack, which was aimed at the large bag of candy seemed to have just missed off to one side, while the odd creature tossed a candy towards one of the viruses, which oddly enough, caused it to regain some of its lost HP!

Enemies
Bag 'O Candy: 100HP (Solar)
ElecOgre A: 50HP (Glass) (Charging)
ElecOgre B: 30HP (Glass) (Charging)
Slimey A: Deleted
Slimey B: Deleted

Terrain
60% Glass
40% Solar (Scattered)

Allies
DragonierMan: 200HP (Glass)
Suzume.SP: 60HP (Solar)
Aya.SP: 60HP (Glass)

Feeling their reaction times returning to normal and their muscles loosen, the girls and their shadow clones continued to race around the battlefield. Like children just learning to skate, they slipped and slid around slightly unbalanced. Quite embarrassing. But there were six of them, so chances were good that the aim of their opponents would be off-target from the real ones. What with so many targets to chose from.

Drago meanwhile switched into a more defensive stance, his hands coming up in front of him. Eyes narrowed as they peered out of the dragon-helmet and sighted along the lines of the gauntlets toward his foes. Watching silently as the ogres charged their attacks. He exhaled slowly and closed his eyes. His steel gauntlets sparkled and gleamed in the light of the electric sparks and glowing solar panels. Ears straining against the metal of the helmet for the slightest danger. He waited to counter.

Then his feet shifted slightly once more, and he disappeared in a flash. He rushed forward to plant a heavy fist into one of the ogres' stomach. The impact from such a blow would crush at its ribs as well as the soft underbelly, and stagger the virus back. He then spun to one side and struck at the second ogre with a closed fist. He shifted forward and swung his arm to catch this second ogre straight on, potentially cracking more ribs. His muscles grew taught with the effort as he swung his fists to inflict such fatal blows to the guts of the ogres and cause them to spill their corrupted data all over the beautiful floor.

Then he broke past the ogres and leaped over the puddles of goo. The dragon tried to bring this battle to an end with a charged fist to the tote of life-giving sweets. He leapt at the virus with a mighty roar, the gauntlet crackling with power. He brought all of his weight to bear upon his foe, bringing a hammering blow down upon the virus to squash it into the glowing panel beneath.