Wrapping Up Practice

Martia frowned as Scourge rebutted, then started to seek out a new fight. "Well, there's more to fighting than just defeating your opponent, you know..." ...It was pretty apparent the other Navi wasn't going to listen, though, so she just sighed and followed along, in search of new foes. In a rarity for her, she was really hoping they were the soulless kind that were most associated with viruses. At least then she wouldn't have to worry about protecting anything from her own busting partner.

(Searching for Battle #2)

Philosophical differences aside, the pair moved on together searching for more viruses to... well, to alternately delete or save. The landscape of the Kotobuki net around them continued in its overly warm way, though the small paths tracing their way through the grass trailed away before long, leaving larger expanses of untamed grass field. To their left, however, the grass browned back, became hard earth, and small pockets of surface magma began to show up. Set back from where they were walking slightly, a few thin strips of metal panelling suggested a path, though it seemed to lead directly into a broad puddle of magma.

Far off tot he right, they'd both be able to see something that looked a lot more colourful in the distance; it was hard to see, but it seemed to be a cluster of festively decorated stalls and tents, all waving multi-hued streamers in the sweltering air. Unfortunately for those interested in such things, there wasn't enough time to go and check just yet. It seemed as though passing by the metal strips triggered something in response.

There came the sounds of metal plates shifting, and the muffled thud of hydraulics shifting place, before the gap between the metal strips opened as something hovered upwards, humming quietly. It looked mostly like a needler virus, but it was slightly larger, and some of its weaponry seemed to have been replaced with more heavy duty armaments. Hanging beneath the platform as it rose up and up, was a suspended cannon turret of some kind, also displaying a somewhat dangerous-looking arsenal. It turned about, surveying, then fixed on Martia and Scourge. A soft shimmer passed over the hovering virus and if faded from sight, though if they listened, the quiet humming sound it made could still be heard, though now it had moved; it was coming from somewhere slightly further off, over the lava.

It wasn't the only thing that had apparently triggered, either; Sets of the metal panels flipped over or opened up, revealing a series of fixed defence viruses, weapons primed. there were two CannonGuards and two Gunners, positioned in a symmetrical pattern on either side of the path made by the metal strips, as though guarding the entry way from which the first virus had emerged. the same passage, which seemed to descend under the lava pool, now produced a pair of Drixol as well, which immediately took sight on the two nearby navis.

It was difficult to see any more of the passage from where they were, but it seemed to lead down under the lava pool, with steps, and there was also a faint glow of light... maybe green light?


-=Over-Sensitive Security=-

CannonGuard A: 60Hp [Left side of the metal strips, nearest][Metal]
CannonGuard B: 60Hp [Right side of the metal strips, nearest][Metal]
Gunner A: 60Hp [Left side of the strips, back by the passage][Furnace]
Gunner B: 60Hp [Right side of the strips, back by the passage][Furnace]
Drixol A: 90Hp [At the mouth of the passage][Metal]
Drixol B: 90Hp [At the mouth of the passage][Metal]
Gungeist: 150Hp [Somewhere over the far magma][Invisible]

-=Navis at Odds=-


Martia: 250Hp [Metal strips, passage way and viruses are all on Martia's left][Grass]
Scourge: 170Hp [Metal strips, passage way and viruses are all on Scourge's left][Grass]

-=Secret Base...?=-

20% Metal [Two broad strips of metal panels run away from Martia and Scourge, on their left, forming the suggestion of an entry path]
40% Lava [Large pools exist in this area. A particularly broad one dominates much of the area to the navis' left, in a crescent shape that allows the metal 'path' to reach out into it]
15% Grass [Some grassy patches remain on where the navis are, and to their right]
15% Normal [The grass fades to normal hard earth before reaching the lava]
10% Furnace [Some of the metal panels, especially near the entrance to the passage, are quite super-heated.]

At the end of the metal strips, a passageway seems to lead down below the lava pool, with stairs, but it's hard to see any more currently... though there may be a glow of green light coming from it somwhere.

-=Battle 2, Start!=-

Being slightly estranged from her busting partner wasn't going to deter Scourge from moving onwards through the Kotobuki network. While idly rebinding her wrappings, she thought about what Martia had said earlier. More to fighting than just defeating your opponent? Unthinkable, she thought. There was only one good way of defeating an opponent, and that was complete destruction. How else were they supposed to survive? Being a pacifist wouldn't put data fragments on the table, and she would rather not shrink into deletion. Stealing a few glances at Martia, who also looked slightly distracted, she redoubled her focus on her wrappings, her brow furrowed in anger, though she didn't know who exactly it was directed at.

Suddenly, a loud clanking noise brought Scourge to her senses, as she jolted upright in surprise. Somewhere beneath the surface, some machinery started to whir to life. Scourge observed in wonder as a weird suspended cannon platform emerged from the pathway, and shimmered into inexistence. ""What the heck, where'd that thing go?!"" blurted out operator and Navi in sync. Scourge jumped a little at the unexpected match, but had no further time to react to it, as more of the paneling flipped up, revealing more gun turrets, this time more or less fixed to the ground. Some drill-lookalike viruses came up from the lava pool slightly ahead as well, as Scourge instinctively widened her stance.

Around her body, the bandages started to have a life of their own, as they divided their tasks. Half of them extended down into the grassy bed that Scourge was standing on, snaking through like hyperactive roots. The rest enveloped Scourge's body in hardened linen, protecting her somewhat from a bit of damage. Shortly after, the bandages that had been in the ground shot up from beneath the turrets, aiming to disable their weaponry by gunking up their barrels, or otherwise restraining them. Satisfied, Scourge barked at the audio link that was still open to her operator. "Sofia, give me that Synapse chip again. Make it quick," she ordered.

"Coming right up!" the girl responded, as the sound of a clumsy slot-in came in through the audio link yet again.

Scourge felt the chip's attack activate itself, and a slightly numbing pain went through her temples. Almost immediately, a bolt of lightning escaped from one of her bangs, rocketing off towards the Drixol viruses. Scourge was rather surprised, she hadn't even thought of hitting them, but it looked like it was some kind of auto-targeting attack. Either that, or she was so good she even surprised herself. Nevertheless, she still had to prepare to avoid any incoming retaliatory attacks, and sidestep them, so she did just that. In that time, she glanced over to her busting partner again, which she had half-forgotten was even there in the first place.

// Summary
[Sc.1] Sig: Reinforced Linens to Self (40HP Casing, 1TCD)
[Sc.2] Sig: Witch's Trial to CannonGuards + Gunners (Blast2 Freeze, Ground-Type, 3TCD)
[Sc.3] Chip: Synapse1Damage: 80 + Piercing + Chain 2
Accuracy: B
Description: Produces a powerful ray through sheer force of thought, which arcs towards nearby enemies when it hits a target.
Duration: Once
Element: Elec
Special: Chain 2: This attack, upon striking a target, may change directions towards a new target. This may be done up to 2 times in one attack.
Trader Rank: D: 80 + Piercing + Chain 2 (Acc: B) to DrixolA/B, Gungeist (+100% Metal?)
[Sc.4] Act: Sidestep incoming attack (Dodge)

Much like her busting partner, a clanking noise immediately absorbed Martia's attention, and she immediately pivoting to see some sort of floating cannon-like apparatus...but, just as quickly as it came out, it vanished. She looked around, but even with top-level martial artist senses, she couldn't pinpoint it. "What in the world...? How does something that big just disappear?" ...Besides the fact this was the Net. She'd need a slightly better answer for that. Before she could ponder it further, however, several other, more typical viruses popped up. Which...just raised further questions, the more she thought about it. "I don't get it. This looks like auto-defense security...but what could be here that's worth guarding to this extent?"

"It's Cyberworld, who even knows." Leslie seemed to be pretty content with just stating the obvious answer. "But if you don't get rid of these guys, we're not going to find out."

"...Yeah. At least it looks like we can both cut loose on this group!" Everything here looked dead set on protecting whatever it was they were supposed to protect. No need to feel bad about wiping the floor with them.

"Which is great and all, but first up, a little protection never hurt! BattleChip, BubbleWrap! Slot in!"

Once again, a large bubble surrounded the martial artist Navi. She had a feeling she should get used to having it around. Especially since even if it popped, it'd reform before long. "Okay, so how are we going to go on the offense?" Before she could get an answer, Scourge was already at work, bandaging half of the viruses and zapping the rest. "...Well, I guess since Scourge was nice enough to leave those ones nice and helpless, we should thank her by turning them to junk data, huh?"

"Sounds good! Anything in particular you want?"

"...Actually, yeah! Send over those FireHits!"

"FireHit? ...Well, if that's what you want!" Bam! Bam! Two chips in, just like that. "BattleChip, FireHit! Double slot in!"

All of Martia's limbs started to give off a flaming aura. She took a deep breath, turned slightly to her left...and what followed would probably not be able to be followed by anyone but her operator, as she delivered a series of strikes nearly too quick for the eye. First, she laid out a simple forward punch. Then, with a spin, a sideways karate chop. After a slight turn to the right, she focused on her legs, with a basic kick, and ending with a strong knee attack. As she delivered each blow to the air in front of her, a fireball resembling the limb used was launched forward, to strike the immobile and impotent viruses before they could recover. After her last one, she placed her left hand on her hip, and nodded approvingly. "Yep, still got it!" Hopefully, her results would back up her assessment...

[Order of Turn:
1- BubbleWrap1Protection: 1-hit Aqua element barrier, per turn, for 3 turns
Accuracy: S
Description: Encases the user in a protective bubble, which can take a single hit before bursting. The bubble reforms at the beginning of each turn. Elec attacks completely destroy the bubble and damage the user.
Duration: Until end of battle, hit with an Elec attack, or overridden.
Element: Aqua
Special: Status Guard: This chip blocks debuffs.
Special: If an Elec element attack hits BubbleWrap, it is destroyed, and will no longer regenerate. The user will also take full damage from the attack.
Special: The bubble regeneration stops after 3 turns. An existing bubble will remain in place until broken, however.
Trader Rank: D on Martia
2- FireHit1Damage: 60 + Impact + Double Attack
Accuracy: A
Description: Throws a blazing punch from a distance, Hadoken style.
Duration: Up to 2 uses before the end of the turn
Element: Fire
Special: Double Attack: After spending an action to attack with this chip, you may choose to spend a second action and attack with it again before the end of the turn.
Trader Rank: D on CannonGuardA (+1 accuracy rank)
3- FireHit1Damage: 60 + Impact + Double Attack
Accuracy: A
Description: Throws a blazing punch from a distance, Hadoken style.
Duration: Up to 2 uses before the end of the turn
Element: Fire
Special: Double Attack: After spending an action to attack with this chip, you may choose to spend a second action and attack with it again before the end of the turn.
Trader Rank: D on GunnerA (+1 accuracy rank)
4- FireHit1Damage: 60 + Impact + Double Attack
Accuracy: A
Description: Throws a blazing punch from a distance, Hadoken style.
Duration: Up to 2 uses before the end of the turn
Element: Fire
Special: Double Attack: After spending an action to attack with this chip, you may choose to spend a second action and attack with it again before the end of the turn.
Trader Rank: D on CannonGuardB (+1 accuracy rank)
5- FireHit1Damage: 60 + Impact + Double Attack
Accuracy: A
Description: Throws a blazing punch from a distance, Hadoken style.
Duration: Up to 2 uses before the end of the turn
Element: Fire
Special: Double Attack: After spending an action to attack with this chip, you may choose to spend a second action and attack with it again before the end of the turn.
Trader Rank: D] on GunnerB (+1 accuracy rank)]

Scourge started things off by gathering bandages around herself and forming a hard protective casing around her body. Safe within her warm cocoon more bandages struck into the ground and came up around one of the CannonGuard. Unfortunately the virus turned suddenly and shook the bandages off before they could take hold. The rest of the bandages tried to reach out to the other viruses, and they made the effort to streeeetch in all directions, but their prey was too far apart and they could not grab hold. They all drooped in defeat. It was a sad sight to all who were there to see it.

Meanwhile, Martia equipped a bubble. Yes, a bubble. It formed around her in a semi-transparent shell, giving her a protective barrier against the heat. It was like having a mini air-conditioner equipped. It was very nice.

The GunnerB on the right strip didn't like all those defenses and open fired on the pair. It sprayed the area with its twin machine guns, pockmarking the pathway. The wild spray tagged Scourge once, chipping a single bandage away. DrixolA followed that up by dashing forward, drill spinning, but Scourge dodges and it barely misses Martia as she stands there in her bubble. It runs right into a portal as it passes and re-materializes right on top of the navis, heading back the way it came from. It misses Martia again but plows right through Scourge, shattering the remainder of her heavy bandages and nicking her skin with its drill.

In retaliation, Scourge has a headache and unleashes a crackling chain of lightning. Unfortunately, DrixolA, coming back from its teleportation, was a little too evasive and the bolt sailed past. With nothing struck, it fizzled out, leaving Scourge with a bigger headache as nothing was hit. Martia let loose a barrage of fiery punches as the other viruses attacked. The first one slammed into CannonGuardA and melted it to slag. The second hit GunnerA before it could unload its twin machine guns, melting both barrels and causing the little guy inside to cook. DrixolB follows the path that DrixolA took, striking both navis on the initial pass. Martia's bubble pops while Scourge is scratched up. However, after it runs through its own portal and comes back through the navi line, it misses to connect with either navi before joining its brother back at the entrance to the cave.

CannonGuardB took aim at Scourge, now that she was defenseless, and fired. The cannon shot struck her straight center in the chest, following a little red dot perfectly as it was projected from above the barrel of the gun. More flaming punches followed that strike. The third passed by its target, missing it completely. But the forth vaporizes GunnerB. It is only then that the invisible Gungeist acts.

Capitalizing on the attacks inflicted on both Navis, and the mark by one of the CannonGuard, it also takes aim with its own mark on poor Scourge. The cannon shell hits Scourge in the stomach and causes her to be knocked backwards a few feet. The virus then unloads with a trio of vulcans, spraying the navi position with many bullets. Each take two of three shots, chipping away at their lives.

-=Over-Sensitive Security=-

CannonGuard A: DELETED
CannonGuard B: 60Hp [Right side of the metal strips, nearest][Metal]
Gunner A: DELETED
Gunner B: DELETED
Drixol A: 90Hp [At the mouth of the passage][Metal]
Drixol B: 90Hp [At the mouth of the passage][Metal]
Gungeist V1: 150Hp [Somewhere over the far magma][Invisible]

-=Navis at Odds=-

Martia: 240Hp [BubbleWrap1: Broken! 2/3 Turns Remaining. Will reform on Action 1.] [Metal strips, passage way and viruses are all on Martia's left][Grass]
Scourge: 100Hp [Casing Broken!] [Metal strips, passage way and viruses are all on Scourge's left][Grass][A panel or two behind Martia, but not directly behind]

-=Secret Base...?=-

20% Metal [Two broad strips of metal panels run away from Martia and Scourge, on their left, forming the suggestion of an entry path]
40% Lava [Large pools exist in this area. A particularly broad one dominates much of the area to the navis' left, in a crescent shape that allows the metal 'path' to reach out into it]
15% Grass [Some grassy patches remain on where the navis are, and to their right]
15% Normal [The grass fades to normal hard earth before reaching the lava]
10% Furnace [Some of the metal panels, especially near the entrance to the passage, are quite super-heated.]

At the end of the metal strips, a passageway seems to lead down below the lava pool, with stairs, but it's hard to see any more currently... though there may be a glow of green light coming from it somewhere.

As Scourge was distracted slightly by Martia's fireball movements, the Drixol drove into Scourge's side with its headlong charge. The bandage-bound Navi recoiled in advance, expecting to feel the pain of the drill bit driving into her side, but fortunately, it only managed to nick her through the reinforced bandages that wrapped around her. Sofia was equally as enthralled by the performance, letting out an "Ooh! Awesome!", as Martia's fiery punches melted through nearly all of the turret viruses like a hot knife through butter. She neglected, unfortunately, to see Scourge being re-attacked by the turrets' retaliatory fire.

Weirdly enough, Scourge didn't seem the least bit fazed by the attacks. This fact surprised even Scourge herself, as she was blown back by the force of the energy cannon shot that struck her squarely on the chest. Despite her recoiling, as she looked down at her obviously bruised chest, she blinked, and touched the skin tentatively. As the Gungeist's laser mark appeared on her chest, and looked back up just in time for a cannon shell to strike her in the stomach, along with a trio of rapidfire Vulcan automatics. The barrage of attacks drove her further back from her position, but just as the Gungeist's laser pointer had been locked onto her, her own violet eyes shone as she locked them onto the lava pool. While there was already a bit of a heat mirage above it, she was more focused on the shimmering anomaly that was trying to hide within the mirage.

"There you are."

"Eh?" her operator said. At that point, the video link restored itself, and she finally realized that her Navi (or so she claimed) had been attacked. The number on the screen earlier, which had been reading out a hundred and seventy, scrolled down to read out zeroes on the last two digits. Sofia might not have known much, but she knew that the number going down meant trouble.

"S-Scourge? Are you okay?"

A grin slowly widening on her face, she grabbed one of the screws on her shoulders. The flesh twisted about as she pushed it in slightly, and her eyes widened. "Wow! That didn't even hurt! Crazy!"

Sofia appeared to panic in the dojo, as she watched Scourge appear to mutilate herself, and scrambled through the chips that she had. "U-Um...! Okay! Okay! Hold on! I can fix this!" she exclaimed, as she shoved the blue +20 chip once again into the PET. Surely it would patch her up or something, it had to, right? Maybe even some other stuff to defend herself with. Yeah! She could do this operating thing! She looked next to her as she heard Leslie announcing earlier. What was it? "Um, uh, chip... triple slot in!"

While Scourge was having fun with the screw on her shoulder, a blue light started to infuse within her, and she looked up, mostly at nothing in particular, though she knew the video link had been restored, albeit only one-way. Maybe this operator wasn't so useless after all, somehow, she thought. She then returned her focus onto the pool. Suddenly, a piercing ping sounded, and a nearly imperceptible disruption laser fired out of Scourge's eyes, aimed directly above the pool. As soon as it ended, however, she jumped slightly, shaking her head. At that moment, the remaining chips activated into her arm, unfurling the bandage from her arm into a long bandage whip.

She looked rather surprised at the whip, but quick to adjust, as she focused onto the remaining enemies. Lunging forward, she veered slightly side-to-side as she approached the CannonGuard turret that had unloaded onto her, and swung her whip at it with a crack. With luck, her whip would catch on the cannon and yank it off, where her whip would consume it into her systems. Her focus then shifted towards the Drixol viruses, leaping forward towards them with her whip. The whip started to twirl into a spiral as Scourge wound up her hand, and thrust it forward, releasing it into a large cone. The bandage cone lit up with an electrical lightshow, meant to catch both of the drills in its wake, before it retracted back onto her arm rapidly.

// Summary
[Sc.1] Chip: Aqua+20Status: Aqua Element UP 20, Stackable
Accuracy: S
Description: Adds 20 Damage to all hits of an Aqua Element attack chip, before any external environment-related or target-related damage modifiers apply.
Duration: Once
Element: Aqua
Trader Rank: D: Aqua Element UP 20, Stackable (Acc: S) to Gungeist (Convert to Debuff)
[Sc.2] Act: Sidestep left and right rapidly (Dodge)
[Sc.3] Chip: Drain1Damage: Drain 50
Accuracy: C
Description: Summons a cloud of Skeeter viruses, and sends them flying at one enemy. They surround the target, proceed to drain HP from it, and send the stolen energy back to their summoner before vanishing. This attack has a slow travel speed.
Duration: Once
Element: Null
Trader Rank: D: Drain 50 (Acc: C) to CannonGuardB (Buff: Damage +15)
[Sc.4] Chip: ElecShock1Damage: 70 + Medium Solar Terrain Change + Stun + Cone Attack
Accuracy: C
Description: Blast up to 4 enemies with a cone of lightning breath that stuns. Changes terrain to Solar.
Duration: Once
Element: Elec
Trader Rank: D: 70 + Medium Solar Terrain Change + Stun + Cone Attack (Acc: C) to DrixolA/B (+100% Metal?)
// Continuity Note: Trade of ElecShock1 for PhoenixShot1 is not in effect until the battle ends.

Aside from a couple of machine gun bullets, Martia found herself mostly unharmed from the virus assault. Her attacks also managed to do a pretty good job of picking off the ranged enemies, making her pose mostly justified. Though, there was one she kinda...well, missed. "Well, that wasn't so bad. Wouldn't you sa-oh crap!" She looked over just in time to see Scourge literally put the screws to herself. She appeared pretty banged up, as well. Although, what'd she say? "...Wait, that DIDN'T hurt? Wow...you must have some crazy high pain tolerance." She wouldn't mind having some of that, herself. Though, dulling any sense was suicide for a martial artist, including touch. Maybe there was a way to have it without harming any other sensation? She'd have to look into it.

And speaking of looking into things, Leslie took a peek at Sofia's PET screen, a bit curious as to how much getting shot repeatedly had taken out of the other Navi. 100? That was...actually really unhelpful, not knowing what it normally was at full. Still, it was clear she was worse for wear. "Hey, Martia? I think we should take a moment to, uh, bandage up Scourge."

"So long as you mean that metaphorically, because literally I think she's just fine doing that herself."

"Um, yeah, I have eyes." She also had a BattleChip that aided in such things. Not often it didn't wind up being utilized by Martia directly, though. "BattleChip, Recover80! Slot in!"

A pink aura surrounded the martial artist Navi, but she simply turned to her busting partner, and raised an arm. The aura faded, and a ball of pink light formed in front of her open palm, which floated over to Scourge and enveloped her in healing energy to undo the slight inconvenience of having the better portion of a virus ammo dump unloaded into her. "There. Just because you didn't really feel it, doesn't mean you weren't affected, after all!"

"Right. Now, maybe we oughta think about trying to make it where you guys don't go through that again?"

"Works for me. Looks like Scourge is going after all of them...I think we should help her along!"

"Sure." One chip, coming up. Didn't sound like she had to worry about strength, so... "BattleChip, MeteorKnuckle! Slot in!"

A white aura surrounded Martia's hand, but she looked at it for a moment and smiled. She could feel it resonating with her very soul...maybe if she...yeah, that'd neat, and it would take little effort, to boot. As the bubble surrounded her once more, she stood up straight, and clasped her hands, pointing her index and middle fingers straight up as the rest of them remained tucked in. As she did, the aura began to surround her entire body, and continued to grow...soon, three pure light replicas of her formed in front of her. Each one turned to face a different foe, and flew forward, with a fist fully extended. Whether each hit or miss, they continued to fly ahead a bit further, before dissipating into the ether.

Her operator took a moment to watch the display, before frowning slightly. "Too bad I can't do that. I'd be all for kicking someone's ass without moving." For now, she'd have to experience it vicariously through her Navi.

"Ha, I bet!" ...Hmm? She sensed...something, out over the lava. No surprise there, but...hmm, Scourge had looked that way earlier. Maybe she sensed it, too? It was worth taking a chance to see. "Hey, Leslie? Think you can send me some water chips? I wanna try something."

"Water? ...Sure thing." She must know something she didn't. Let's see...hmm, ice was water when it came to NetBattles, as she recalled. Yep, that'd work. Still, one at a time. That's how they usually did it, at least. "BattleChip, MistConvergence! Slot in!"

As it often did during battles, Martia's right hand gained an aura, this one being a whitish-blue. It was definitely wispier than usual, though...and the reason became clear as she thrust it to perform an open hand punch, as it went forward as a steam projection of her hand. It sailed forward, and if she was lucky and her senses didn't just fail her, it'd give the invisible floating virus quite the slap in the face.

"And another! BattleChip, Avalanche! Slot in!"

As the steam dissipated and rose into the air, the Navi raised an arm, causing it to start to condense. Before long, it had formed into icy snow that hovered over the area. She just had to split it up into three equal parts...like so...and let them drop. With a plop. It'd harden some of the lava, at least. ...Hardening things seemed to be something she was good at lately...no, bad memory! Abort, abort! ...Okay, tucked away in the dark corner of her mind, as it should. Now she could focus on sidestepping the remnants' attack. Sure, the bubble around her gave her some leeway, but it never hurt to be careful. And it did often hurt to be careless.

[Order of Turn:
1- Recover80Recovery: 80 HP
Accuracy: S
Description: Heals 80 HP.
Duration: Once
Element: Null
Trader Rank: C on Scourge
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 on CannonGuardB, DrixolA, and DrixolB (+1 accuracy rank)
3- MistConvergence1Damage: 100 + Impact
Accuracy: B
Description: Summons a steaming hot hand of mist to crush an enemy.
Duration: Once
Element: Aqua
Trader Rank: D on Gungeist (+1 accuracy rank)
4- Avalanche1Damage: 50 x 3 Targets + Drop Attack + Freeze 10%
Accuracy: C
Description: The navi slams their fists together to make a loud noise. A shower of snow drops down on up to 3 targets. There's normally a 10% chance of freezing a target on-hit, but a guarantee if the target is on Snow Terrain.
Duration: Once
Element: Aqua
Special: Ice Type: This chip counts as Ice Type for the purposes of potentially freezing targets on Aqua Element Terrain or environments, as applicable.
Special: Drop Attack: This attack originates above the battlefield, and falls to the ground. It gains one rank of accuracy against High Altitude targets.
Trader Rank: D on Gungeist
5-Dodge]

With round two beginning in earnest, Martia's bubble restored itself, and she restored her buddy. Scourge paid it forward sending a hefty debuff out over the lava and affecting the weaponry of their seldom-seen foe. That done, it was game time again and Martia opened up with a triplicate of herself; oh the things young investigative navis might say! One thing might be: 'How did you hit the two moving targets, and miss the anchored one?' Martia might never know, but that is indeed what her meteor strikes did.

The CannonGuard that she missed aimed well and fired a return shot at Martia, but she darted out of the way of the shot before it could pop her bubble. Hovering over the lava, the invisible weapons platform might have made another attempt on it, but the faint sounds of clicking and hissing could be heard, and nothing actually happened. Unseen, the GunGeist finished analysing itself and realised that its systems were compromised beyond use; it prepared to flee back deeper into the entryway.

While this was going on, Scourge moved up, taking her own fury out on the cannon that had attacked her before, and her bandage whip successfully tore the firing piece from its housing with the sound of wrenching metal. The data fed and sustained her.

As much as she didn't know that her invisible foe was preparing to flee, Martia took a shot at it anyway. She couldn't see it, but had enough other information from her senses to make an educated guess. the mist convergence blasted out across the lava, and a moment later there came a massive explosion of hissing steam, creating a cloud that covered a whole patch of the pool. There was a crash, and a thump, followed by the sounds of bubbling magma. When the mist cleared, she would be able to see the broken remains of the floating platform they'd first seen, half on a patch of stable terrain, while the surrounding lava eroded other pieces of it. That had been some lucky shot.

So impressive was it, that Martia herself failed completely to get out of the way of the Drixol which took the opportunity to begin a fresh attack run at her. It struck, but only managed to pop her bubble for the second time. the other Drixol rammed towards Scourge, but it failed to aim its first assault properly. At the end of their runs, the two viruses passed through portals, appearing at the far end of the field, aimed as though they were about to cross over each other and make another pass at their respective targets.

At least, they might have done, if Martia hadn't swiftly dropped sizable ice balls on both of them, while Scourge finished up the business with her devastating Electric shock.

That's all there was; there wasn't any more. While inspecting the remains and scooping up their winnings, however, the two navis would also find a mystery data crystal, just a short way down the stairs leading under the lava pool.

-=Over-Sensitive Security=-

CannonGuard A: DELETED
CannonGuard B: DELETED
Gunner A: DELETED
Gunner B: DELETED
Drixol A: DELETED
Drixol B: DELETED
Gungeist V1: DELETED

-=Navis at Odds=-

Martia: 240Hp [BubbleWrap1: Broken! 1/3 Turns Remaining.][Grass]
Scourge: 170Hp [Metal][Near where the second CannonGuard was]

-=Secret Base...?=-

20% Metal [Two broad strips of metal panels run away from Martia and Scourge, on their left, forming the suggestion of an entry path]
35% Lava [Large pools exist in this area. A particularly broad one dominates much of the area to the navis' left, in a crescent shape that allows the metal 'path' to reach out into it]
15% Grass [Some grassy patches remain on where the navis are, and to their right]
20% Normal [The grass fades to normal hard earth before reaching the lava]
10% Furnace [Some of the metal panels, especially near the entrance to the passage, are quite super-heated.]

-=Battle 2, Victory!=-

Spoils:
Scourge Gets: 785z, DrillArm1Damage: 60 + Break + Knockback + Long Attack
Accuracy: B
Description: A long drill is created to bore through enemies. It can hit one enemy twice, and a second enemy once.
Duration: Once
Element: Null
Special: Knockback paired with Long Attack causes the drill to hit close ranged targets twice, instead of once. This is because it pushes the closest target through both hit zones. Knockback only triggers once.
Trader Rank: D
Martia Gets: 910 z

Both Get 5 mutual FXP (3 base + 2 for interactions and teamwork)

Open GMD?

"Hahaha! Now that's more like it!" laughed Scourge, as she drew back the bandages from her attack. Turning to Martia, she grinned, and smacked her fist into her palm. "You can fight after all! Those were some pretty lit up moves, heh heh." Sofia exhaled in relief, though she did see that some pink ball had flown out from Martia's hand to Scourge. Turning to Leslie, she said, "Um, thanks for the assist, Leslie," with a slightly sheepish smile.

"Right, let's get going, then," said Scourge, before walking out towards the pool slightly. "Oh, wait, what's this thing here?" she said, as she stumbled on the Green Mystery Data crystal, touching it to decrypt it.

[Open GMD]

Scourge opens the GMD. As soon as she did, she got the distinct feeling of being watched by a very disgruntled observer. It was gone a moment later, though, and she collected a sweet prize.

GET: CurseShield1Damage: (1 Hit Shield) + (Counter(160): On-Hit)
Accuracy: A
Description: Blocks one attack, teleports to face the attacker, and then charges the target to deliver a crushing bite attack. Break attacks will pierce the defense, but only Impact will stop the Dominerd's Counter.
Duration: Once
Element: Null
Special: Status Guard: This chip blocks debuffs.
Trader Rank: D one each

"Oh, this looks good," said Scourge, as she picked up the chip data, and tossed half of it over to Martia. There was a bit of a weird feeling, where she felt like someone was watching her, but it disappeared as quickly as it came, so she shrugged it off. She then glanced further down the steps, and grinned. "Hmm... this looks like it leads somewhere. You wanna bet it has more stuff we can beat up, Martia?"

[Z > 2005, F > 15]
[Battle 3 - Ready.]
[Scourge.EXE: 170 HP.]

"All right, we did it!" Martia placed her hands on her hips and puffed out her chest a bit, still rather proud of herself for hitting an enemy she couldn't even see. "You did pretty good yourself, you know!" But amazing shot aside, she couldn't take all the credit. Scourge wasn't exactly cheerleading, after all.

"Heh, don't worry about it." Not like Martia needed TLC then. "Hang on. What's that over there? Is that a...?"

"Mystery Data? I think so." Scourge was already at it, though, and opened it before she could say anything. Still, she walked over, curious as to what was inside. "So, what's in it?" She got her answer in the form of chip data, which she quickly sent over along with the money she'd gotten from the fight. "CurseShield? It looks powerful, but I dunno if something cursed is really my style..."

"It's just a name, relax!"

"I guess so..." It did look like a powerful chip, at least. No need to avoid using it because of the name, anyway. Now, where to go from here? Her busting partner seemed to have an idea in mind, and she looked down the stairs for herself. "Down there, huh? Sure, but be careful. If it was guarded by all those viruses, who knows how many might be inside?" That said, she started head down first, as the more experienced of the two. ...That was kind of a rare thing for her, come to think of it.

(Searching for Battle #3)

(+1 bonus FXP)

Curious the two exploring navis decided that the best way to explore was, indeed, down into the apparently guarded structure beneath the boiling lake of lava. Who wanted to go to a fair when something as creepy and sinister like this was on offer, after all?

The steps down were a short flight that ended in a large steel doorway. Fortunately for the navis, it hadn't been sealed shut, and there was enough space between the doors to slip through. The entry tunnel was stifling — a dry heat that made it hard to breath, and the flagstones felt hot underfoot, though not enough to be uncomfortable. It seemed as though the structure was mostly made of carve,d reinforced stone, as the passage led forward, occasionally taking another small set of steps downwards as it passed beneath the lava lake.

It was only a short walk before they passed into a larger entry chamber. The ceiling was higher now, giving them both several body-lengths above themselves worth of space to work with, and the room itself seemed to be a large oval shape. A series of six columns, three on each side, maintained the impression of a thoroughfare through the middle of the room, but they were each draped with banners bearing a stylised flame emblem, crossed over by a staff with a crystal ball on the tip.

The lighting was, in fact, a rather intimidating affair: there were no lights, save for the ceiling, which was made of glass. The first layer of glass was several body heights above them, and covered the entire ceiling of the chamber. This appeared to be a false layer, however, because a secondary space clearly existed above it; a number of panels dotted the glass, with lights on them, looking suspiciously like buttons. Above that, a second glass ceiling was all that kept this hidden structure from the lake full of lava above; the navis would be able to see it through the glass, casting an orange glow over the room.

This was about all they had time to take in before company arrived. It arrived in the form of two Swordys, flaming swords held ready, and two Champy viruses accompanying them, emerging from the doorway at the far end of the oval space. None of the four looked friendly, and the Swordys quickly warped to more offensive positions while the Champy's approached head on. This likely wouldn't have been much stress for Martia and Scourge together, but as their opponents were forming up, a musical chime sounded. Up above, in the smaller ceiling space, two side passages opened, and threw a selection of three confused-looking Melody viruses into the space. They picked themselves up, and then began jumping about to explore the space, as Melodies are wont to do, until one of them landed, by chance, on one of the glowing panels. It let out a musical note, which made the Melody stop still, before jumping up and down on the spot a few more times with a pleased expression. More notes played, while down below a series of slits opened in the walls, emitting a group of ground-anchored viruses, low-slung and spinning as they moved, kitted out with dangerous-looking spiked protrusions that rotated as the viruses spun along their courses.

-=The Second Line=-

Swordy-F: 80Hp [Normal][Forward and left, between two columns]
Swordy-F: 80Hp [Normal][Forward and right, between tow columns]
Champu: 60Hp [Metal][Directly ahead]
Champu: 60Hp [Metal][Directly ahead]

Gabyoall: 70Hp [Normal][Directly right of Martia and Scourge]
Gabyoall: 70Hp [Normal][Far back left — More than 1 movement away]
Gabyoall: 70Hp [Normal][Directly left of Martia And scourge]
Gabyoall: 70Hp [Normal][Far back right — More than 1 movement away]

Melody: 80Hp [Glass][On the upper floor]
Melody: 80Hp [Glass][On the upper floor]
Melody: 80Hp [Glass][On the upper floor]

-=Investigative Partners=-

Martia: 240Hp [Metal][Near the entrance, front and centre]
Scourge: 170Hp [Metal][Near the entrance, front and centre]

-=Load-Bearing Supports=-

ColumnA: 50Hp [StoneBody][Anchored][First left]
ColumnB: 50Hp [StoneBody][Anchored][Second Left]
ColumnC: 50Hp [StoneBody][Anchored][Third Left]
ColumnD: 50Hp [StoneBody][Anchored][First Right]
ColumnE: 50Hp [StoneBody][Anchored][Second Right]
ColumnF: 50Hp [StoneBody][Anchored][Third Right]

-=Base?=-

40% Glass [The upper floor, also the ceiling, no direct access visible]
20% Metal [Broad strip leading up the centre of the chamber]
40% Normal [Floor of the oval chamber]

Space is a large, long oval chamber, with a strip of metal panelling up the centre, escorted on either side by a set of six stone pillars. The ceiling is glass, and reveals an upper space, also ceilinged by glass, which in turn reveals the bottom of the lava lake. There is no visible access to the upper space from here.

-=Battle 3, Start!=-

"Heh, if you don't want anything cursed you can pass it off to me. I could use something like that!" laughed Scourge, as she followed Martia down the stairs. Rather disappointingly, the flight of steps was a bit short before they were halted in their tracks by the large steel doorway. "Aw, stupid doors."

"Looks like it's closed off," said Sofia. "Maybe you could find viruses somewhere else? It looks kind of bad anyway, it might be someone else's property or something."

Scourge's brow furrowed slightly, though under the bandages it wasn't exactly visible. She laid her hand on the steel door, shifting her weight onto it. Creaking heavily, the door swung itself open with the push, much to her surprise. Though it didn't open entirely, it was enough space for both of them to squeeze through the opening that had been made. "Well! Doesn't look closed off to me. Should've locked their doors if they didn't want anyone coming in," chuckled Scourge, as she let herself in.

"Jeez... be careful!"

"Come on, you worry way too much. We'll just apologize to anyone if we come across them, say we got lost or something. Ugh, this place looks kind of stuffy, though," said Scourge, slightly disgruntled at the stone passageway's small area as they passed through the steel door. However, despite her earlier comment, her senses were rather muted to the heat that was going through the area, though whether the same could be said for Martia, she didn't know, and didn't want to know. She certainly wasn't going to sweat the details herself.

Not long after, they encountered the larger chamber, with some weird decor everywhere. Above them, the lava pool provided some eerie orange lighting above a suspicious glassy second floor. The columns with all the flame-emblazoned banners made it look very grandiose, and both Sofia and Scourge gawked at the area. It seemed that someone spent quite some time outfitting the place.

"Wow, that looks so cool!" commented Sofia.

"Yeah, I guess. Doesn't look like any viruses are coming in, though," continued Scourge, slight disappointment in her voice.

Suddenly, Scourge's wish was granted, as all of their escorts shifted into the room, and she instinctively adjusted her stance with a grin on her face. It didn't look like there were any weird viruses this time around, either, which was good. "Well, I stand corrected! Sofia, send me a sword with that new chip we just got, would ya?" said Scourge, as her bandages were already unfurling themselves wildly in preparation for what was to come.

"O-Okay! Stay safe!" said Sofia, as she slotted in the two chips, this time with a lot less fumbling around. She was getting used to it, but she was a bit sad that she couldn't do more. For now, though, she tried to keep an eye on both her Navi and Martia, who was mostly the entire reason she was persuaded to jack Scourge into the net in the first place. The girl watched as Scourge's bandages began to go wild from the chips they were supplied, starting with the CurseShield. A large amount of bandages started to sprout from Scourge's left arm, which started to dye themselves a jet black color, and formed an enormous gauntlet, shaped like a monster's jagged maw. Her other arm formed the standard sharpened bandage blade, which she was used to by now.

"W-Whoa, that looks pretty impressive," said Scourge, as she inspected the gauntlet. Turning to Martia, she flashed her busting partner a thumbs up. "Okay, I'm going for the right side of those things. You do whatever it is that you do!" she said, grinning wide. Strangely enough, Martia would feel Scourge's words slightly more motivational than usual, though it would be a short-lived feeling as Scourge dashed off. Heading first towards one of the small spinning spike discs, she drew her bandage sword, and brought it down towards the virus in a heavy strike, before dashing off towards the Swordy knight between the pillars. Her body twisted in a spiral as she leapt for the virus with her blade, aiming to bisect it entirely from shoulder to waist. Lastly, her attention was focused towards one of the boxing Champu, ending her movement by planting her feet firmly onto the white floor paneling, and stabbing forward at the virus.

// Summary
[Sc.1] Chip: CurseShield1Damage: (1 Hit Shield) + (Counter(160): On-Hit)
Accuracy: A
Description: Blocks one attack, teleports to face the attacker, and then charges the target to deliver a crushing bite attack. Break attacks will pierce the defense, but only Impact will stop the Dominerd's Counter.
Duration: Once
Element: Null
Special: Status Guard: This chip blocks debuffs.
Trader Rank: D: (1 Hit Shield) + (Counter(160): On-Hit) (Acc: A) @ Self
[Sc.*] Act: Variable Buff: +16 Damage @ Martia
[Sc.2] Chip: SwordDamage: 80 + Slashing
Accuracy: B
Description: Creates a sword made of solidified energy, with a very short blade. Hits one target per slash
Duration: Until Overridden/Broken. Breaks automatically after 6 swings.
Element: Null
Trader Rank: D: 80 + Slashing (Acc: B) to Gabyoall A (Use 1/6)
[Sc.3] Chip: SwordDamage: 80 + Slashing
Accuracy: B
Description: Creates a sword made of solidified energy, with a very short blade. Hits one target per slash
Duration: Until Overridden/Broken. Breaks automatically after 6 swings.
Element: Null
Trader Rank: D: 80 + Slashing (Acc: B) to Swordy-F B (Use 2/6)
[Sc.4] Chip: SwordDamage: 80 + Slashing
Accuracy: B
Description: Creates a sword made of solidified energy, with a very short blade. Hits one target per slash
Duration: Until Overridden/Broken. Breaks automatically after 6 swings.
Element: Null
Trader Rank: D: 80 + Slashing (Acc: B) to Champu on the right (Use 3/6)

"Hmm..." It didn't take long to reach a road block, and Martia stopped at the door. "That's quite a door. If it's locked, we'd have to break it down, and I'm not sure that's a good idea-" Naturally, Scourge went right in and tried to open it up...and succeeded? Huh. Guess it wasn't locked. She noted Sofia's concerns, but... "I dunno...given how the area looks, I think it's safe to say this is a derelict location, which means there shouldn't be a problem. And if there is, we honestly didn't know, so we wouldn't have to lie about anything."

"Just be careful. If there's lava at the surface, who knows what's down there at the bottom?"

"Point taken...but just think of it as an occupational hazard!" And in she went. And almost instantly regretted it. "Ick. You weren't kidding. I'll be lucky if I'm not completely glued to my clothes by the time this is over..."

"Well, there's always your swimsuit..."

"...No thanks. I'll tough it out. Fully covered." Note to self: try to make your outfit more breathable sometime soon. But until then, she'd have to suffer through it. But it wasn't for too long, at least, before entering a large room. It...sure was something, though that there was only glass and air between her and a lava lake was a little nerve wracking. Still, she was getting an evil lair vibe from it, that aside. "It almost looks like some madman's lair, huh?"

"Huh? Sorry, I was too busy noticing the LAKE OF LAVA ABOVE YOU. Good thing cyberglass is sturdier stuff than the real thing..."

"Yeah. I'm kinda glad there's nothing here...imagine if something broke that uppermost glass." Almost as soon as she said it, Martia looked back ahead, half-expecting to see a small virus horde come out to fight. ...And, sure enough. "...Me and my big mouth."

"Okay, let's see...Swordy, Champy...Gabyoall? What the hell kind of a name is that?"

"I dunno, but it's pretty obvious what it is." It was...a disc thing, with spikes. That seemed...fun? "At least we don't have to worry about those guys...for the time being." She looked back up, at the Melody above them. They seemed harmless for the moment, but she didn't like how they were happily bouncing on the large button-like areas..."...Okay, no sense in worrying about them right now. Let's focus on the ones in front of us!...And the side! ...Looks like Scourge is handling the right, so let's get the left!"

"All right. So, how do you wanna do this?"

"Let's just go full bore, without worrying about too much strategy! GutsPunch'll do the trick for now!"

"Full bore, got it!" Not worrying about strategy would be nice. Just sit back and let her Navi do the work. "BattleChip, GutsPunch! Slot in!"

Curiously, despite the name, both Martia's gloves and boots started to glow, turning yellow, with her fingers becoming black. With the chip data spread throughout her limbs, she could use it just about however she wanted...hmm, who first? How about...the one with the stylish headgear? She brought her fists up in front of her, and burst forward, running it down...and performing a speedy uppercut as she neared it, aimed precisely for the chin. There was definitely a satisfaction in watching the boxer virus recoil from the force of the blow, even though it'd be erased from the Net as it did so. Yeah...she did miss this. Being able to fight without worrying about whether something was sentient. These were just guardian viruses, who only existed to remove intruders. ...Wait, what? That meant there was something worth guarding down here. Maybe it wasn't as abandoned as she thought...

She could think more later, though. Deciding to go counterclockwise, next up was...that Swordy. Without hesitation, she...turned her back to the virus? But the reason was clear, as she started backflipping towards it. And backflipping. And backflipping...but as she drew close, she leapt high into the air, still spinning from her momentum. This didn't last, for as she approached impact with the knight virus, she spun around, and attempted to plant her heel into its head via aerial axe kick. There were plenty of swords in the net, but not many axes. Might as well change that a little.

Now, time to check out that new one...Gabyoall, Leslie said it was called? Weird name...but she was more interested in how well it could take a hit. And so, she ran towards her target one more time, but soon performed a jumping kick. Against either of her previous foes, it would've been a bit too soon, and would've fallen short. But they floated, and lacked legs. This virus was quite bound to the ground. And so, her kick would fall right down onto it...if her timing was right. If she struck true, she would feel some sort of resistance from it at first...then suddenly that would fade, even before the virus did.

...All right, that was everything in the nearby area. There were still those Gabyoall in the distance, but even she'd need a bit to run over there. She needed a more...ranged solution.

Luckily for her, her operator was already thinking along those lines. "Wanna weaken those guys, I'm guessing? Pretty sure I can help you out there!" Incidentally, that involved a chip involving one of the viruses Martia had previously gone womano y mano with. What were the odds? ...Probably higher than she thought, considering how much they used it. "BattleChip, FireHit! Slot in!"

The martial artist Navi's right hand became its normal pink, only for it to instantly light up on fire. She eyed the two disc viruses off in the distance, too far away to reasonably punch...but this was the internet. If you had the tools, punching knew no distance. And so, she let loose with a flurry of punches, almost too fast for the eye to see. During this, two fist-like fireballs shot forth, each of which appeared to be headed towards a Gabyoall in the distance. It might not get them in one shot, but they'd be weakened enough that pretty much anything could finish them off.

...Unfortunately for Martia, in her focus to go full bore, she had entirely forgot to make any kind of defensive or evasive maneuver. Oh well, at least she got to show off some moves.

(NOTE: Assuming that each virus is A/B/C/D, from top to bottom in the listing.)

[Order of Turn:
1- GutsPunchDamage: 70 + Impact + Knockback
Accuracy: A
Description: Creates a large fist for the user to punch with. Anything it hits is knocked back a sizable distance, even objects.
Duration: Until Overridden/Broken. Breaks automatically after 6 swings.
Element: Null
Trader Rank: D on ChampyA (+1 accuracy rank)
2- GutsPunchDamage: 70 + Impact + Knockback
Accuracy: A
Description: Creates a large fist for the user to punch with. Anything it hits is knocked back a sizable distance, even objects.
Duration: Until Overridden/Broken. Breaks automatically after 6 swings.
Element: Null
Trader Rank: D on Swordy-FA (+16 from Buff) (+1 accuracy rank)
3- GutsPunchDamage: 70 + Impact + Knockback
Accuracy: A
Description: Creates a large fist for the user to punch with. Anything it hits is knocked back a sizable distance, even objects.
Duration: Until Overridden/Broken. Breaks automatically after 6 swings.
Element: Null
Trader Rank: D on GabyoallC (+1 accuracy rank)
4- FireHit1Damage: 60 + Impact + Double Attack
Accuracy: A
Description: Throws a blazing punch from a distance, Hadoken style.
Duration: Up to 2 uses before the end of the turn
Element: Fire
Special: Double Attack: After spending an action to attack with this chip, you may choose to spend a second action and attack with it again before the end of the turn.
Trader Rank: D on GabyoallB (+1 accuracy rank)
5- FireHit1Damage: 60 + Impact + Double Attack
Accuracy: A
Description: Throws a blazing punch from a distance, Hadoken style.
Duration: Up to 2 uses before the end of the turn
Element: Fire
Special: Double Attack: After spending an action to attack with this chip, you may choose to spend a second action and attack with it again before the end of the turn.
Trader Rank: D on GabyoallD (+1 accuracy rank)]

With new viruses showing up and bearing arms, the two navis quickly jumped into action, each beginning with one side of the room and getting to work. While Scourge readied her new shield, Martia was first off the mark, delivering a solid strike to the boxer in front of her before it could react, and removing it from the scene. A moment later the two sword-bearers retaliated; one warped the short distance to take a swing at Martia's exposed back, but missed the strike, while the other had already decided to have a go at Scourge. It stabbed, as though trying to thrust clean through her defence, but the cursed shield was having none of that, and promptly opened its maw to devour the attacking virus whole.

The shield vanished after its meal, but this only left Scourge light and free, and able to make her next strike on the low bearing spine virus that was racing towards her. Her sword put it out of action before it could make contact. Barely a second or two had passed, but already the two navis were thinning the field. Martia turned back to deliver a second brutal strike, buffed up by her ally, to eliminate the second Swordy, and continued on to crush the Gabyoall that had rushed close to her a moment after.

Up above, the Melodies were still bouncing about. One of them landed on another switch, which cased each of the pillars in the room to grind and begin shifting their position; as they moved the remaining Gabyoall were diverted, bouncing off in an erratic pattern that threatened to slip in for a drive by on the two navis any moment. A second one landed on a different panel, and a series of vents opened up on either side of the chamber. One by one, in rows, the panels at the sides of the room dropped inwards to allow a steady flow of glowing magma to begin filling them as it flowed out at ground level. the Melody in question paused in what it was doing to look down through the glass, clearly fascinated by what had happened below.

As this happened, the remaining champy virus managed to get a subtle drop on Martia, teleporting in for a quick double strike. They both hit, but to a trained martial artist like her, it didn't really hurt that much. In response, Scourge bore down on it, and managed to swiftly remove its threat with her own weapon. Another switch was landed on overhead, and a short few steps to Martia's left a panel blinked. the melody jumped again, and the blinking panel erupted in a column of fire that roared up to the glass ceiling. The sound of shattering glass sounded through the chamber as it blasted a hole in the first ceiling, but thankfully didn't reach the second.

Despite this, the two navis were still delaying with the immediately hostile viruses, and Martia let lose some of her much favoured FireHits. The movement of the pillars and the rapid redirection of her targets made it difficult to strike, but she scored a solid blow on one of them at least. The other happened to pass behind one of the shifted pillars, and her fireball crashed against the stone instead.

Above, one of the melodies was now examining the shattered hole in their play pen, but the others still seemed quite content to bounce around aimlessly — and potentially dangerously.


-=The Second Line=-

Swordy-FA: DELETED
Swordy-FB: DELETED
ChampuA: DELETED
ChampuB: DELETED

GabyoallA: DELETED
GabyoallB: DELETED
GabyoallC: DELETED
GabyoallD: 70Hp [Normal][Near right Behind Column E]

MelodyA: 80Hp [Glass][On the upper floor][Looking at the hole]
MelodyB: 80Hp [Glass][On the upper floor]
MelodyC: 80Hp [Glass][On the upper floor]

-=Investigative Partners=-

Martia: 220Hp [Metal][Middle of room]
Scourge: 170Hp [Metal][Towards the far end, central]

-=Load-Bearing Supports=-

ColumnA: 50Hp [StoneBody][Anchored][Far End, Centre]
ColumnB: 50Hp [StoneBody][Anchored][Mid Back, Left]
ColumnC: 50Hp [StoneBody][Anchored][Mid Back, Right]
ColumnD: 50Hp [StoneBody][Anchored][Near Left]
ColumnE: 49Hp [StoneBody][Anchored][Near Right]
ColumnF: 50Hp [StoneBody][Anchored][Centre of Chamber]

-=Base?=-

40% Glass [The upper floor, also the ceiling, no direct access visible]
20% Metal [Broad strip leading up the centre of the chamber]
20% Normal [Floor of the oval chamber]
20% Lava [Creeping in evenly from both sides of the chamber]

Space is a large, long oval chamber, with a strip of metal panelling up the centre, escorted on either side by a set of six stone pillars. The pillars are now in the shape of a five-pointed star, with one in the centre. The ceiling is glass, and reveals an upper space, also ceilinged by glass, which in turn reveals the bottom of the lava lake. There is no visible access to the upper space from here, save for a small hole that has been made in the glass.

As the sound of the switches clicking went through the chamber, Scourge jumped slightly as things began to change inside the chamber. The pillars moving around made her raise her eyebrow a little, but it wasn't much cause for alarm; it looked kind of cool even, if not for the spiky Gabyoall viruses bouncing around madly to try and land a hit on them. The second switch was a bit more pressing, however, as one of the glass panels opened up, and the glowing lava started to pour in.

"Oh no. Oh no nonono," she said, as she drew back against a pillar away from the pouring lava. If she hadn't been feeling any regret from wandering in earlier, she was now. Even as she was unable to feel any of the smouldering heat that the lava was exuding, she knew enough that molten rock generally equated to a bad time.

"S-Scourge?! Is that the lava pouring in?!" exclaimed Sofia.

"Um, uh, it's okay! I got this! Just... just give me the blue chips again! I'll make it work!" blurted out Scourge, to an "O-OK!" from her operator. The chips that came in were one more than she had expected, though, with a stray Synapse chip slotted into the chip queue. Most likely that Sofia just shoved it in without thinking, perhaps looking out for her to put in as many strong chips as she saw fit. It wasn't the time to worry about that, though, as she materialized the AquaKnife in her free hand as a stumpy-looking blue knife. Without much thought, she lobbed it towards the hole in the glass ceiling, hopefully stemming the flow somewhat for a moment.

The next chip passed unconsciously through her system, as a nearly imperceptible energy pulsed out from her. The remaining Gabyoall hiding behind the nearby pillar would most likely be the recipient of the energy pulse, which would cause its offensive functions to malfunction. Meanwhile, Scourge herself was rather focused on the viruses that had caused the mess in the first place. The Synapse loaded into her system as her brow furrowed intensely. She cried out in a bellow, before releasing a heavy bolt of energy towards the bouncing black blob.

// Summary
[Sc.1] Chip: Throw AquaKnifeDamage: 60 + Slashing
Accuracy: B
Description: Creates a sword imbued with water energy, with a blade comparible to a large knife. Hits one target per slash.
Duration: Until Overridden/Broken. Breaks automatically after 6 swings.
Element: Aqua
Trader Rank: D: 60 + Slashing (Acc: B) @ Hole with Lava
[Sc.2] Chip: Aqua+20Status: Aqua Element UP 20, Stackable
Accuracy: S
Description: Adds 20 Damage to all hits of an Aqua Element attack chip, before any external environment-related or target-related damage modifiers apply.
Duration: Once
Element: Aqua
Trader Rank: D: Aqua Element UP 20, Stackable (Acc: S) @ GabyoallD (Convert to Debuff)
[Sc.3] Act: Line up the shot (Take Aim)
[Sc.4] Chip: Synapse1Damage: 80 + Piercing + Chain 2
Accuracy: B
Description: Produces a powerful ray through sheer force of thought, which arcs towards nearby enemies when it hits a target.
Duration: Once
Element: Elec
Special: Chain 2: This attack, upon striking a target, may change directions towards a new target. This may be done up to 2 times in one attack.
Trader Rank: D: 80 + Piercing + Chain 2 (Acc: B) @ MelodyA/B/C (Take Aim: Acc+)

Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam! ...Not bam! Darn, if it wasn't for that moving pillar, she'd be batting a thousand. ...Wait, moving pillar? Why was it moving? Martia took a quick look around, becoming extremely alarmed by the fact there was suddenly now lava seeping into the area. "Um, that's a problem...!"

"...Hold up. They built an area underneath a lava lake, then they added a way to flood it? Now I KNOW there's something up with this place."

"That's great and all, but I'd like to reiterate that THE AREA IS FILLING WITH LAVA. You know, like, liquid rock? Because it's so hot that the rock melts?"

"...Actually, isn't it magma right now? It's only lava if it goes above the surface. ...Heh, look at me, getting all science nerd."

"Yeah, real frickin' impressive. I'd rather not get baked here...and I don't see any stairs...and I know there's a hole there, but I can't exactly jump up through it, that's way too high..." Normally, she was pretty level headed, but the idea of swimming in lava was REALLY not appealing.

"Too bad you can't fly. That'd make it real easy." ...Hmm. Fly? Maybe there actually was a way for Martia to do that. "...Oh, I just got a great idea. Go grab Scourge."

"...You do? Great! I'll go get her!" The martial artist Navi moved over to her partner in busting, let her do her thing. The AquaKnife wasn't a bad idea, but considering there were two vents, and odds were they wouldn't be deterred forever...well, at any rate, it looked like Scourge was done. "Scourge! We need to get up there before we're swallowed up! But don't worry, Leslie has a plan!"

"Damn right I do! Now, step one! Grab her!"

Uhh...well, that did make sense. Without giving the other girl a chance to decline, Martia wrapped her arms tightly around her waist. "Okay, now what?"

"Now, we go up!" And that required two chips. One to protect Martia, and one to provide the lift. "BattleChip, BubbleWrap! FootStomp! Double slot in!"

A giant bubble suddenly surrounded the Navis, though thanks to the general quirkiness of the internet, she wasn't really sure if it protected both Navis, or just her. She then felt a sudden, but very powerful, burst of energy in her feet, which signaled what she needed to do. She looked up, making sure there was glass above her, tried to cover Scourge up as much as possible, and jumped. Normally, this would have managed to cover a good deal of distance, due to her physical prowess. But, augmented by the chip, she found herself leaping extremely high. So high, she'd go crashing through the first glass ceiling, and come very close to doing the same for the second...but thankfully, she hadn't done it as hard as she possibly could. But there was still a problem. With the chip still in effect, she'd probably just break through the glass again and land where she started. Leslie had thought of something for that, right...?

The answer, as it turned out...was 'not at first'. But once her Navi started her ascent, it dawned on her that, yeah, glass was not the most stable of materials to land on. But, once she was at the upper level, there was something she could do about that. "Now! BattleChip, ElecDragon! Slot in!"

A pot formed next to the hole Martia had created with her unorthodox method of climbing, and immediately tipped over. A ThunderDragon raced forward, but instead of actively seeking out viruses, seemed content to move in a spiral pattern, causing the glass beneath it to become altered and magnetized. It wouldn't stop if a Melody bounced into its path, though. Regardless, the important thing was the newly non-glass area, which the martial artist Navi landed on with a hard thud. There was no way the BubbleWrap was still on her, but with any luck, the Navis were safe.

--------

...Yep, that'd be perfect to not get them burned to a crisp. Just had to execute it, and they'd be safe. "...Oh, I just got a great idea. Go grab Scourge!"

[Order of Turn:
0-Let Scourge use all her actions
1-Go over to Scourge and grab her (Movement)
2- BubbleWrap1Protection: 1-hit Aqua element barrier, per turn, for 3 turns
Accuracy: S
Description: Encases the user in a protective bubble, which can take a single hit before bursting. The bubble reforms at the beginning of each turn. Elec attacks completely destroy the bubble and damage the user.
Duration: Until end of battle, hit with an Elec attack, or overridden.
Element: Aqua
Special: Status Guard: This chip blocks debuffs.
Special: If an Elec element attack hits BubbleWrap, it is destroyed, and will no longer regenerate. The user will also take full damage from the attack.
Special: The bubble regeneration stops after 3 turns. An existing bubble will remain in place until broken, however.
Trader Rank: D on Martia
3- FootStompDamage: 180 + Impact
Accuracy: D
Description: The user jumps into the air, acquiring High Altitude status for one action. Then, on the next action, they land on an enemy. Rare
Duration: Two actions
Element: Null
Special: Attacking with this chip counts as a dodge, and quite a lot of movement.
Trader Rank: B up into the upper level (ALSO: protect Scourge from incoming glass)
4- ElecDragon1Damage: 100 + Ground Attack + Medium Area Magnet Terrain Change + Terrain Changer
Accuracy: C
Description: Summons a ThunderDragon that attacks enemies as it glides across the ground. Changes terrain to Magnet as it passes.
Duration: Once
Element: Elec
Special: Terrain Changer: Ceases attacking when the Terrain Change effect is completed (once 25% of the terrain is changed).
Trader Rank: D on area around where Martia enters upper level (WILL NOT go after enemies unless they're right in its path)
5- FootStompDamage: 180 + Impact
Accuracy: D
Description: The user jumps into the air, acquiring High Altitude status for one action. Then, on the next action, they land on an enemy. Rare
Duration: Two actions
Element: Null
Special: Attacking with this chip counts as a dodge, and quite a lot of movement.
Trader Rank: B onto empty Magnet terrain]

With lava pouring into the lower half of the chamber rapidly, and filling the floor panel by Panel, Martia took a moment to assess the situation while her operator took time to assess the nature of molten rock in a more philosophical manner. Scourge was not nearly so patient, and made an attempt at stemming the flow. While her thrown knife did indeed cause one of the vents to harden over, stopping the progress of the lava on that tile, there were a goodly number of vents around the edges of the ground floor level, so it only hindered the spread very slightly. If they wanted to stop the lava that way, they'd need to block up about a dozen more such vents in similar fashion.

Next, she weakened the one hostile virus remaining to the point that it was no threat, and directed her ire upwards, towards the obliviously bouncing Melodies. the first arc of the bolt struck cleanly on the Melody that was stationary, peering down through the broken glass hole, but as it arced to the next on, the virus hopped away, and the bold simply struck the upper layer of glass overhead.... fortunately, not hard enough to do it damage.

Down Below, the gabyoall bounced off the inner side of the pillars, doing its best to avoid the encroaching lava, which spread further and further each moment. this brought it into even tighter quarters with Martia and Scourge, but even when it bounced off one of them briefly, it failed to achieve anything, and continue to ricochet.

Martia then decided that now was the time for hugs. Let's be honest though, when is it not the time for hugs? In this case, it was an effort to try and encase her ally in her protective bubble, and as much as it was a fairly tight squeeze, it seemed like enough compromise of personal space would do the trick to keep them both safe from what was to come. What was to come, in this particular case, was a thunderous jump that launched them both upwards and shattered the glass overhead as they passed through. The jump itself held more power than any of them were probably prepared for in the enclosed chamber, and Martia found her leading shoulder crashing hard against the upper layer of glass as well. Cracks appeared in the surface, inches away from the lake of lava above, and began to spider outwards.

In a panic, the remaining tow Melodies jumped wildly, accidentally striking more buttons even as Martia made a small platform of magnetic terrain for them to land on as they came down. One button opened a vent above the door they'd entered from, adding another curtain of flowing magma to their worries, while another made several more panels on the floor below blink, then erupt in columns of fire. The lava had almost filled the room below, and the sounds of cracking and breaking glass were spreading; the fire columns had risen up near the door end, and they seemed to have exacerbated the spreading cracks in the uppermost ceiling as well as shattering the midway floor.

Martias dragon finished its work, having created a circle of terrain directly around the hole in the glass she'd popped them up through, and the two navis landed on it with a heavy thump. the thump was followed by another, louder crack, then another, before finally the whole mid section floor gave out, glass shattering all around them, as their ring of magnetic land crashed back down into what was now a complete floor of lava. The gabyoall was down there somewhere, and it popped up a moment late,r trapped in the single panel hole in the centre of the magnets, unable to move and being scorched by the lava... though it was probably better than being submerged in it. In the fall, one of the melodies had tumbled headlong into the lava, and was no nowhere to be seen, but the other had come down at the edge of the magnet platform, which bobbed slightly as it floated in the still-rising magma. It looked, for want of a better description, terrified and confused. It was also stuck to the magnets, and couldn't seem to move.

With a moment to take stock, the girls would see that they were now on a circular platform of magnet tiles, with a single hole in the exact centre, containing a stuck Gabyoall. This platform was floating, bobbing slightly, on a bed of lava, which rose further as the room filled. The pillars seemed to have either fallen down, or else collapsed on their own deliberately, and were gone now... which made it all the clearer to see that the only remaining glass ceiling above them was cracking and crazing badly, and probably wouldn't last much longer. The entry hall, behind them, was now obscured by a falling curtain of lava, and the hall ahead seemed to tilt downwards slightly, making the lave start, gradually, to flow in that direction.


-=The Second Line=-

Swordy-FA: DELETED
Swordy-FB: DELETED
ChampuA: DELETED
ChampuB: DELETED

GabyoallA: DELETED
GabyoallB: DELETED
GabyoallC: DELETED
GabyoallD: 70Hp [Lava][Debuffed][In centre of the Magnet platform, unable to get out.]

MelodyA: DELETED
MelodyB: 80Hp [Magnet][Edge of magnet platform][Scared and confused]
MelodyC: DELETED

-=Investigative Partners=-

Martia: 220Hp [Magnet][BubbleWrap][Still hugging Scourge?][Middle Magnet Platform]
Scourge: 170Hp [Magnet][Being hugged?]

-=Load-Bearing Supports=-

ColumnA-F: GONE

-=Base?=-

70% Lava [It's all awash now]
30% Magnet [Circular ring of tiles, with a hole in the centre, floating in the lava]

Space is a large, long oval chamber, which has now been flooded with lava. The midway ceiling has been utterly shattered, while the upper ceiling of glass revealing the bottom of the lava lake, is beginning to go.

"Wha-- hey, what the hell?!" yelled out Scourge, as she was involuntarily pulled along into an embrace with Martia, before being enveloped by her bubble barrier. The explosive jump that followed caused her to shriek out, with the powerful attack shattering through the glass ceiling over their heads, and busting her shoulder into the second half's ceiling as well. However, they did manage to stick a landing onto some paneling, which Martia's dragon had so kindly made for them. Unfortunately, it also sort of made her skin run prickly with electrical zaps every now and then. The following crash back down into the pool of lava was... interesting, to say the least, as Scourge had the breath knocked out of her.

"Grah!" Scourge choked out, as she managed to get her bearings back. The bubble protection had served them well, at least, but she'd had no affection for the suffocating hug that Martia was currently giving her. "Let-- let me go!" she grunted, planting her hand on Martia's cheek to pry herself off. Fortunately, that managed to work well, and she was free from her partner's embrace for the moment. Looking around the area, the shaking and the cracking and everything that was happening around them made her sweat a little. Or, well, it would have, if she didn't take on the appearance of a mummified person.

"This is a huge mess we're in..." she said to nobody in particular. Looking around, she saw the glass ceiling threatening to cave in, with the lava just above it. She turned away, and saw that further in, there was a hall that was tilted slightly downwards, where all the lava was flowing. Two pathways, and neither seemed very promising. Though... another thought came to her mind, as she looked around a little more.

"A-Are you gonna be okay?! T-That's a lot of lava!" panicked Sofia, interrupting Scourge's train of thought, as she sifted through the chips that she had. Unfortunately, there was no "get out of jail quick" card for this one, but Sofia didn't know that. An image of a flying Drixol virus stood out to her. Perhaps she could fly out, like the drill viruses she saw earlier! "W-Wait, okay, hold on, what about this one?!" she said, and she hurriedly slotted it in.

The large drill materialized in Scourge's hand just as she escaped from Martia, taking the form of an enormous bandage-made drill. The bandages had a metallic sheen to them. Unfortunately, the chip's displayed image was a rather misleading advertisement, as she did not experience any ability nor desire to fly off with the drill in hand, as the Drixol had done. The sight of the chip caused her to scream out in frustration. "What the hell am I supposed to do wi--" she yelled out, before the thought came to her again. Her eyes were drawn to a certain area of the wall, which was now obscured behind a curtain of lava. It was directly across the hallway that all the lava was pouring into... She looked at her partner again, who was currently being enveloped again by the BubbleWrap barrier.

The workings of a plan grinded within her mind, but where it led to wasn't something she particularly liked. Still, desperate times called for desperate measures. First off, though, she had to get rid of something. Her bandage sword-equipped arm was getting in the way, as she unbound it with a fleeting mental command. The sharpened bandage detached itself from her arm, at which point she whipped it off to the side towards the remaining Melody off-handedly. If it hit the virus, that was fine; it was one less potentially annoying factor. That left the second part of her plan, where her eyes drifted back to Martia, whose embrace she had just escaped from. Her eye twitched slightly, before she shook her head. Desperate times called for desperate measures! She repeated it to herself in her mind.

"Grrrrrngh... Hang on to me!" she said, as she pulled Martia towards her with a tight hug of her own, now that her free hand was no longer occupied by a sharpened cloth blade. She then stuck her enormous drill-equipped arm into the lava, and activated the chip. Molten rock was thrown up all over as she did so, and the platform began to jostle slightly. With enough luck, she would be able to use Martia's BubbleWrap barrier as a buffer between them and the falling lava, as she attempted to propel the makeshift raft they had gotten themselves on towards the entry hall, still obscured behind the lava curtain.

// Summary
[Sc.1] Act: Push Martia away to escape from hug (RP)
[Sc.2] Discard Chip: SwordDamage: 80 + Slashing
Accuracy: B
Description: Creates a sword made of solidified energy, with a very short blade. Hits one target per slash
Duration: Until Overridden/Broken. Breaks automatically after 6 swings.
Element: Null
Trader Rank: D: 80 + Slashing (Acc: B) @ MelodyB (Use 5/6)
[Sc.3] Act: Draw Martia back into the hug (RP)
[Sc.4] Chip: DrillArm1Damage: 60 + Break + Knockback + Long Attack
Accuracy: B
Description: A long drill is created to bore through enemies. It can hit one enemy twice, and a second enemy once.
Duration: Once
Element: Null
Special: Knockback paired with Long Attack causes the drill to hit close ranged targets twice, instead of once. This is because it pushes the closest target through both hit zones. Knockback only triggers once.
Trader Rank: D: 60 + Break + Knockback + Long Attack (Acc: B) @ Lava behind Magnet Platform, to attempt to propel towards earlier entry hall