Gone Purging (and Flailing)

Tatianna would have laughed with her had this situation not been so tense to begin with. For once in her life, she'd froze for a second, watching as PurgeMan took those hits, hearing his agonized cries of rage and pain. It reminded her of their first meeting. She couldn't let that stand in the way, vacant eyes refocused, Tatianna sighed, and began feeding more commands to her navigator while she spoke. "Yan, girl, focus. We're in the middle of a heat. You're doing good so far. Keep the chips steady with Sandy here, and I'll keep Purge on 'em. This is called Role-Maitenance. You wanna make sure you keep your nav-" "Protocols updated." "...Purge? What'cha planning, babe?" Tatianna sat in a bit of confusion as she heard her dear-and-near Navi update his protocols on the spot. A forward march ensued, and Tatianna, trying her best to rapid fire type command lines from that fossil computer to override her buddy's angry steps only failed. "Purge, talk to me." "Death to the enemies of Tatianna, of Yan, of Sandman. Fidelity algorithm adjusted. YOU BEASTS STAND NO CHANCE AGAINST ME! AGAINST US!"

So there PurgeMan marched, weapon raised, sighting in. Tatianna, seizing this opportunity, gave the example she wanted Yan to follow by feeding in new orders verbally to PurgeMan. "Purge, sending a Tri. Steady aim, Purgykins." "They will fall. I will ensure it." With that, he paused, the brief quiet letting him focus. Those blue eyes flared, and he fired. Kssh! Kssh! Kssh! Two shots headed directly to the Swordy on the cracked panel, and the third swung itself wide for the Champu. Of course, PurgeMan wasn't done there, yet. With a raised hand, clenched into a fist, the panel beneath the Champu would sizzle, boil even, before fully rising into a massive column of flame. He only hoped the monster atop it would scream for him, die in his holy fire. Just to ensure it died, PurgeMan raises his weapon, and cycles to that belt-fed Purge Buster. Searing, sizzling rounds sail from it in its massive burst, hoping that each additional shot cracked the hide of the Champy and, simply put, removed it from existence. Any additional shots would be aimed closer to the floor in hopes not to break anything he didn't need to.

-==THE NIGHTMARES==-
PurgeMan: 90 HP
SandMan: Condition compromised - Engage defensive protocols

-==THE ACTS TO WAKE THEIR SOULS==-
TriArrowDamage: 10 x 3 shots x 3 targets
Accuracy: B
Description: Launches volleys of three steel needles at up to three targets.
Duration: Once
Element: Null
Trader Rank: D: 10 x 3 shots x 3 targets (Acc: B)
Expunge (8 Fire Damage) x 5 Hits. Shot Type. ACC: A
Panel Termination 40 Fire Damage. Ground Type ACC: A

Despite struggling with his unwieldy weapon, SandMan eventually managed to pull, aim and fire his literal glass cannon, fully demonstrating both parts of the name as it shattered under its own force and propelled a shot that was strong enough to rend through the irritating tank and clear it from the field at last.

As he began to chase for the hole into which their crystal prize had vanished, PurgeMan set about mopping up the remaining foes topside, laying waste with impunity tot he three that remained. The Swordy took two piercing needles before it could move any further, and the hiding Metool had just peeked out from under its helmet in time to receive two more needles of its own. The Champy was slightly more nimble, and though one of the needle shots winged it, the virus warped in close to PurgeMan and delivered a rapid double punch that shattered his shield and scorched the navi just a little bit. PurgeMan, naturally, responded by teaching the impudent virus exactly what real fire was like. It wasn't a pretty sight, all told.

Elsewhere, in the bottom of another pit, SandMan plunged downward and managed to skewer the remaining metool before it could right itself or do any harm to the their crystal treasure. With no targets left to purge, the namesake navi had no need of his final cleansing fire attack, but all was ultimately well, as the duo had the victory and could take a moment to examine their prizes.

-=Viruses=-
MetoolMetool (Metool)

Metools not currently attacking will guard. Entering guard mode requires an action. Exiting guard mode does not require an action.

Area: ACDC, Electown, Okuden Valley, Kotobuki Town, Dentech, Beach

HP: 40
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Null + Piercing + Ground Attack
Primary Attack Accuracy: C
Primary Attack Description: Whacks ground with pickaxe, sending forth a shockwave.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Null
Secondary Attack Accuracy: B
Secondary Attack Description: Throws a mattock at an enemy.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Guard1, ShockWave, Zenny
Special: Can hide in its helmet to negate damage. A: DELETED
MetoolMetool (Metool)

Metools not currently attacking will guard. Entering guard mode requires an action. Exiting guard mode does not require an action.

Area: ACDC, Electown, Okuden Valley, Kotobuki Town, Dentech, Beach

HP: 40
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Null + Piercing + Ground Attack
Primary Attack Accuracy: C
Primary Attack Description: Whacks ground with pickaxe, sending forth a shockwave.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Null
Secondary Attack Accuracy: B
Secondary Attack Description: Throws a mattock at an enemy.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Guard1, ShockWave, Zenny
Special: Can hide in its helmet to negate damage. B: DELETED
MetoolMetool (Metool)

Metools not currently attacking will guard. Entering guard mode requires an action. Exiting guard mode does not require an action.

Area: ACDC, Electown, Okuden Valley, Kotobuki Town, Dentech, Beach

HP: 40
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Null + Piercing + Ground Attack
Primary Attack Accuracy: C
Primary Attack Description: Whacks ground with pickaxe, sending forth a shockwave.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Null
Secondary Attack Accuracy: B
Secondary Attack Description: Throws a mattock at an enemy.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Guard1, ShockWave, Zenny
Special: Can hide in its helmet to negate damage. C: DELETED
BeetankBeetank (Beetank)

Beetank simply wander the battlefield, constantly shooting bombs at any and all foes. They prefer attacking to dodging. They have one passive movement per turn.

Area: ACDC, SciLab, Kotobuki Town, Netopia, Yumland, NetVegas

HP: 80
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 15 Null + Blast 2
Primary Attack Accuracy: C
Primary Attack Description: Launches a bomb that explodes in a small radius.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 15 Null + Blast 2 + Small Area Cracked Terrain
Secondary Attack Accuracy: D
Secondary Attack Description: Launches a bomb that cracks the terrain underneath its explosion.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): MiniBomb, LilBomb, CrackerBomb, Zenny A: DELETED
BeetankBeetank (Beetank)

Beetank simply wander the battlefield, constantly shooting bombs at any and all foes. They prefer attacking to dodging. They have one passive movement per turn.

Area: ACDC, SciLab, Kotobuki Town, Netopia, Yumland, NetVegas

HP: 80
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 15 Null + Blast 2
Primary Attack Accuracy: C
Primary Attack Description: Launches a bomb that explodes in a small radius.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 15 Null + Blast 2 + Small Area Cracked Terrain
Secondary Attack Accuracy: D
Secondary Attack Description: Launches a bomb that cracks the terrain underneath its explosion.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): MiniBomb, LilBomb, CrackerBomb, Zenny B: DELETED
Swordy-NSwordy-N (Swordy-N)

Area: ACDC, Kotobuki Town, Netopia

HP: 60
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Null + Long Range Attack + Slashing
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: When this virus is 2 panels away from the target, or its enemies are 2-deep, it will attack with Long Sword.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 15 Null + Wide Range Attack + Slashing
Secondary Attack Accuracy: B
Secondary Attack Description: When this virus is standing directly adjacent to its target, or diagonally from it, it will attack with Wide Sword.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Sword, Zenny
Special: Sword-N's are immune to Sleep Status.
Special: Uses Area Grab to get into attack range. A: DELETED
Swordy-NSwordy-N (Swordy-N)

Area: ACDC, Kotobuki Town, Netopia

HP: 60
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Null + Long Range Attack + Slashing
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: When this virus is 2 panels away from the target, or its enemies are 2-deep, it will attack with Long Sword.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 15 Null + Wide Range Attack + Slashing
Secondary Attack Accuracy: B
Secondary Attack Description: When this virus is standing directly adjacent to its target, or diagonally from it, it will attack with Wide Sword.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Sword, Zenny
Special: Sword-N's are immune to Sleep Status.
Special: Uses Area Grab to get into attack range. B: DELETED
ChampuChampu (Champy)

Champy viruses teleport when they attack.

Area: ACDC, SciLab, Electown, Kotobuki Town, Hades Isle

HP: 60
Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Fire + Impact x 2 Punches
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Punches twice with fire.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): FireHit1, Zenny: DELETED

-=Navis=-
PurgeMan.Exe: 65Hp [Cracked]
SandMan.Exe: 115Hp [Broken Hole]

-=Terrain=-
20% Sand

• -20% Evasion and reduced movement speed to all.
• Can Burrow as standard action, incurable Blind1 until turn after exiting Burrow.
• Wind attacks: +100% Source Damage + Blind1, change terrain hit to Normal, trigger Sandstorm for 3 turns: Lose 5 HP/action, Blind1, Fire attacks gain Slashing.
• Fire attacks: Change terrain hit to Glass.
• Terrain changes between Sand and QuickSand do not inflict damage upon burrowed entities, nor do they eject burrowed entities to the surface.
• PanelShot: Blind1.

[Street Leading up to Dead End]
30% Normal

• No effects.

[Patch between Sand and Cracked, Rest of Street Past the Sand]
30% Cracked

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

[Dead End and Patch between Sand and Cracked]
20% Broken

• Not bottomless.
• Reverts to Normal after a time, if no one is inside.
• Doubles dodge penalties for bad RP.
• 1-4 Movements actions to climb back out depending on method.

[Four 5% Holes in the Cracked]

-=Objects=-
GMD: 25 HP [Broken]

-=Battle 1, Victory!=-
PurgeMan: 600z
SandMan: 600z
Both get: Mutual 5FXP (2 Base + 3 for Teamwork and interactions)

Open GMD?

So there he stood, heaving, barrel still sizzling with the heat of his Expunging protocols when finally, the battle routines ceased for a time. PurgeMan stood idly, before lowering his weapon suddenly. He calms his breathing, and looks on over to SandMan, the poor soul, who'd had his first taste of carnage. His first drops of data to meet his taste, and of course, his first kills. Heavy bootfalls finally tread in the path of SandMan, and for a moment, silence overtakes PurgeMan. He watches with those blue spheres that brilliantly shone through his helmet, the scars of battle still upon him, singed plate and dented. Only to reach to grab SandMan by his collar and lift him...

...into a hug?

Such bravery to defend one another, and such orders taken congealed into a sudden, natural neural update. PurgeMan felt suddenly... open to the idea of combat by SandMan's side. This was by design. Tatianna knew he'd come around. He was made to! She repaired him, after all. Fidelity was in his code. The blonde laughed a little, an open giggle to how her hulking buddy could be so soft with another. "SandMan, you have outshone my expectations. You've the heart of a warrior, and the soul of a firewall! We are kindred Navis, you and I." A light squeeze later, and he dropped the little guy, only to look back to the barely connected Mystery Data, and back to SandMan, only to gesture for him to approach. "Tatianna would want you to have this. A thanks for the fun I've had." As much as Tats wanted to take that thing for herself... PurgeMan had a point. It was their first time in a battle, and... they did amazing. "You heard the big guy, Yan. Let SandMan take it." Tatianna said, hoping to mask her bit of want behind that kindness her behemoth boy buddy was showing.

"It would be only fair after the rush of enjoyment I received for watching the vermin squirm under our collective power."

The dust settles. SandMan's RageClaw finally, mercifully poofs into gold dust - the hapless boy takes a moment in the hole to just cradle his arm and sigh in relief. Then, just like PurgeMan demonstrated, he acts like a responsible Navi and opens a window to his Operator. "I'm alright!" he immediately yelps to the monolid eyes staring into his very soul. Seriously, that's a little creepy when the eyes are all you see on camera. "I got a bit dinged up, but...everything still feels fine. Guess we'd better thank Xinzhe, huh?" he quips as he works on propping himself upright. The GMD's bulk, resting where it had landed atop his legs, doesn't make for much help.

Yan suddenly has the oddest feeling, watching SandMan and PurgeMan stare with varying degree of sternness into their windows (ranging from 'incredibly' to 'not the slightest bit'), of joining a conference call study group with someone living in an active warzone. The resulting mental image of SandMan with a big floppy army-guy helmet dangling askew makes her giggle-snort into her hoodie sleeves. "I'm just daydreaming," she waves off the querulous look she gets for it. "That was...that was actually pretty good, SandMan. Like, you were flailing all over the place, that part was normal, but your bag was like...taking care of you, 'n stuff? I dunno, it was kinda cool." The cockeyed sincerity of a bona-fide Teenager™ does interesting things to SandMan's face. Seeing this prompts Yan that clearly, more rambling is needed. In the meanwhile, PurgeMan stomps across the battleground to loom most impressively from above SandMan's hole. "I mean, we still...still...a-awwwwuhh," Yan starts, train of thought visibly derailing behind her eyes as PurgeMan proceeds to scruff SandMan like an unruly kitten, and...give the poor guy a hug.

Yan's eyes snap up to meet Tatianna's, mouth open in shock. She checks once more just to be sure, and yep, sure enough, still hugging. SandMan has at some point tried to reciprocate, but for want of longer arms has mostly just wound up starfishing on PurgeMan's chestplate. It's...it's potential. Tatianna has to get that, right? It's a bond, maybe even a friendship! And it never would have happened but for two Navis. Navis that hug. Whoa, strange thought. Yan thinks long and hard on this, and very deliberately says nothing.

Instead, she takes a screencap. Okay, she takes several screencaps, you couldn't get better personalized meme fuel than this. She means to say something to Tatianna, in thanks both for this new friendship and PurgeMan's gifted treasure, but it mostly just comes out as delighted whisper-screaming into her fists. "Oh gosh, oh jeez, ohhhhh...SandMan, what are you waiting for? Open it open it open it!" she squeals.

"Wh-whuh?" SandMan looks down at the Mystery Data as though seeing it for the first time; somehow, he hadn't lost his grip on it whilst being...recovered. He looks up at PurgeMan, takes in the scorch marks where the viruses had laid into him. He bites his lip, visibly uneasy. "I mean, we both worked for it, and you got pretty beat up defending us..." he protests, resistant in the face of so much outright altruism. His brow furrows in thought a moment until he looks back to Yan, smoothed over into an expression she's never seen before. It makes him look warm and just a little stern, like a nurse steeling herself to administer bitter medicine. "Yan, there were subchips in that folder Xinzhe gave you, right?"

Yan startles out of a light doze - that she hadn't been waiting ten seconds for a reply made this impressive. "Uhhhh," she rummages a moment, coming out with a pair of tiny disposables. "Minienergy, right? You want a top-up?"

SandMan shakes his head, maintaining his strange face. "I'm fine. Can you give that to Tatianna, though? They're cheap, we can always get more." As Yan, blinking in surprise, turns to offer Tatianna the subchip, SandMan regards his new partner. Kindred, he'd called them... "PurgeMan," he calls, willing strength to keep his voice from cracking (ah, the joys of eternal puberty), "I'm glad you're enjoying yourself, but you shouldn't put yourself out for me. We'll share the work, we'll look out for each other, and then we'll split the rewards, okay?" He thinks back on, and does his best to channel the same level-headedness that saw him through Yan's adolescence. With a couple of grunting heaves, he manages to lever the gemstone around to rest between he and PurgeMan, holding a hand out overtop it. "Ready when you are," he nods at PurgeMan's hand, indicating for the larger Navi to do the same.

The heartwarming moment is somewhat ruined by Yan's PET sounding off like a pachinko parlour. "Sorry, sorry, that's my email!" Yan yelps, hurriedly muting the PET and taking a quick glance at the contents. Her eyes immediately go huge, and her hands fly to the blank Battlechips tucked in the back of her folder. "Oh my gosh SandMan! You aren't gonna believe this!" she yammers in between trying to fit two chips into the slot at once. "I entered into this skeezy scam-looking giveaway thing 'cause it looked funny, but it was actually legit! Lookit this, free chips! Tatianna, did you get in on this?" The chips are finally slotted in properly, and Yan is immediately set to oohing and ahhing over her begotten gains.

SandMan's face of serenity slowly slides down, down, down into a grimace. "Yan," he says, grateful yet again for not needing to worry about blood pressure. How did caretakers and older siblings do it? How had Xinzhe done it? "If it seemed so sketchy from the start, why did you give them your email? Do you understand how much...how much spam I had to deal with last time you pulled this stunt?" He could not, sadly, control the steady rising of the pitch of his voice. That it only makes Yan start giggling uncontrollably only sets him off squeaking higher and higher, unable to move from the GMD lest he interrupt the dual opening. "YAAAN!"

<(Tatianna GET: 1x MiniEnergyPack)>
<(GMD dual-open pending)>

((+1 more Mutual FXP ^.^))

After some quick discussion and quick hugs and slightly less quick negotiations about the division of rewards, the net-side duo enventually accessed the data crystal and waited for it to unpack. It glittered faintly as it twisted in place, before the individual facets of the crystal folded back on themselves and collapsed inwards. For a moment it dind't seem like there was anything there, before a small golden spec in the centre burst outwards, practically assaulting everyone nearby with a cluster of raw zenny. The currency scattered briefly, fountaining everywhere, then drew back together again, arranging itself, almost sheepishly, into two neat piles.

Both get: 1500z each.

Tatianna felt a smile creep across her lips at Yan's squealing and enjoyment of these now unfolding events, and it only emboldened the massive Navi within the net to witness such happiness. PurgeMan was sworn to defend, sworn to uphold, and sworn to... well... purge. Few things in life were actually meaningful by design for PurgeMan, so these moments with SandMan were actually incredibly fulfilling for him. For once, he had more use to his operator. The thought of being obsolete always terrified PurgeMan, but now he knew his peak performance had just been pushed a little higher. Tatianna, meanwhile, slotted in a MiniEnergy register, and activated the key for it, running a command prompt on the side. "Don't worry about this... jargon here. I like to manually distribute the subchip. It uh... makes me feel better." With that in mind, and slipped in, PurgeMan's body slowly begins to mend itself before SandMan. A sigh of relief, filtered and rattling, escapes his helmet. "Relief, at last."

<(MiniEnergy used)>

==INITIALIZING REPAIR ROUTINES==
==MINIENERGY IDENTIFIED==
==RESOURCES ALLOCATED==
==STATUS - PRIMED FOR PURGING==

After his body is fully restored, and his data integrity is verified by a small balloon, showing the reading of 100, PurgeMan cycles his buster over, and feeds new munitions into it, locking the weapon in place, and pulling its bolt back. KRSHH-CHK. The heavy clicking of the weapon's immediate pull echoes faintly to the decimated battlefield. PurgeMan, of course, looks up to the Operator Screen that just popped in, standing at attention, just like a soldier. "How you feelin', Purgykins?" "Fine enough, Tatianna. Ready to serve." Tatianna, with a bit of a pause, and a nod to Yan, as to confirm if she wanted to continue, would await her new friend's answer. She'd never... been this close to anyone before, and in a matter of just one day, she already felt like she knew Yan for an eternity. Meanwhile, PurgeMan kneels down, a heavy thud following his greave's impact to the ground, only to tell SandMan, "Ride on my shoulder. My strides are longer, and weight is a nonissue for me. We will save time."

A grin crosses Tatianna's face, larger and larger. These two navis were adorable.

<(Awaiting confirmation for continuing! PurgeMan is at 100/100 HP)>

Yan's giggle-fit winds down into a deep, boneless kind of satisfaction. She rolls onto her belly, propping herself up on her arms and peering into the screen along with Tatianna. The golden afternoon light makes the moment feel timeless: sprawled out amongst the beanbags, her and Tatianna hunched over Yan's old laptop, the clack-clack-clack of her ancient keyboard; Navi diagnostics pinging green one after another rhythmically...hypnotically..."Yan!" What? "Yaaaaan!" Who...?

"YAN! YOU ARE NOT A CAT!" SandMan fairly yells, gripping the sides of the window as if to better throw his voice into the real world. He waits to be sure Yan is stirring, then promptly returns to watching PurgeMan's recovery routine. Dents and scorch marks buff themselves out in a process SandMan finds eminently soothing to watch. Watching him immediately fall to one knee just as he'd loaded his gun still sends him flailing in panic. He's already darting to PurgeMan's side when the titan speaks - SandMan's incredulous face rather speaks for itself. Even kneeling, PurgeMan's shoulders still loom well overhead. "You want me to WHAT?"

"Do iiiiiit," Yan creaks, wrestling herself into a vaguely upright posture. "You'll do it to pay me back for making me be awake when it's perfect nap light, SandMan. Perfect nap light, do you understand, I am a cat on a window sill, I am a roasty-toasty potato, you are the reason I am here, now ride on his shoulder." She finally gets upright enough to cross her arms - and proceeds to fall right back onto her belly, having removed her two upright supports. Somewhere from the middle of the beanbag she topples into comes a quiet, "nooooooo."

SandMan turns back to PurgeMan with an expression somewhere between a sigh, something only describable as 'oh lord why', and a hapless grin. "Well, you can't argue with that," he shrugs, and heaves his Sandbag over both shoulders. What follows is a display of weighted climbing that Yan might call hilarious, and Purgeman, pathetic. It's all SandMan can do to wrestle the top of his shoulders up level with the top of PurgeMan's, and sort of let the bag flop over his head and onto the massive pauldron. "We'll, hah," he gasps, clambering up after his bag, "we'll have to, hah, practice that." He rests a hand atop PurgeMan's head for balance as he collapses down into a sit, silently in awe of how for all that, the big guy hadn't even moved. "Well, um...if Yan wanted you healed up, she must have wanted us to continue, so...onwards?" he offers weakly.

<(Battle 2: READY??)>
<(SandMan.EXE: 115/150 HP)>

[+1 FXP.]

The two Navis became unexpectedly chummy with each other, with SandMan even being offered to ride on PurgeMan's shoulders, as they headed further into the ACDC network. It seemed uneventful for the most part, though they did pass by a normal Navi, who looked like he was trying very hard not to stare at the incredibly bizarre sight and walked past them without a single word. Eventually, they stumbled on an equally silly-looking sight.

In the middle of the road, a stack of two RockCubes, one on top of the other, blocked the way forward. In front of it, a gaggle of viruses were gathered around a pair of Spooky-type viruses. The skull-faced ghostly viruses were apparently trying to climb on top of each other, but faced difficulty when the Spooky on top would strangely phase right through the other. It would fuse them briefly, but one of them would teleport out of the fusion, and try again.

Among the spectators were a pair of Teddy, perfectly stacked as PurgeMan and SandMan were, with one atop the other's shoulders, looking like they were having a glorious time, roaring with laughter. Next to them, a pair of stacked OldStoves, though the one on the bottom was turned its side, and its roughly cylindrical shape meant that the top one had a hard time keeping its balance. Finally, a pair of Pulsebats, who appeared to be less concerned about participating, and were situated separately on top of the stack of RockCubes, and on the ground respectively.

-- Viruses --
OldstoveOldstove (Oldstove)

Oldstove viruses move and dodge at a very slow pace.

Area: ACDC, Kotobuki Town, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 50
Attack Damage/Effect: 15 Fire + Line Attack(3) + Panel Crack
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Flamethrower to one enemy.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): FireBurner1, Zenny
Special: Slow Movement. Cracks Terrain. A: 50 HP [In front of stack of RockCubes, lying on its side]
OldstoveOldstove (Oldstove)

Oldstove viruses move and dodge at a very slow pace.

Area: ACDC, Kotobuki Town, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 50
Attack Damage/Effect: 15 Fire + Line Attack(3) + Panel Crack
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Flamethrower to one enemy.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): FireBurner1, Zenny
Special: Slow Movement. Cracks Terrain. B: 50 HP [Standing on top of OldStove A's side]
SpookySpooky (Spooky)

Area: ACDC, Yoka, Okuden Valley, Kotobuki Town, Netopia

HP: 30
Attack: 10 Null
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Teleports up to the opponent and slaps with its long tongue.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Recover10, Recover30 (Rare), Invis1 (Rare), Zenny
Special: Can teleport at will.
- Can use Recover 30 on any virus below 1/2 HP A: 30 HP [Half-phased into Spooky B]
SpookySpooky (Spooky)

Area: ACDC, Yoka, Okuden Valley, Kotobuki Town, Netopia

HP: 30
Attack: 10 Null
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Teleports up to the opponent and slaps with its long tongue.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Recover10, Recover30 (Rare), Invis1 (Rare), Zenny
Special: Can teleport at will.
- Can use Recover 30 on any virus below 1/2 HP B: 30 HP [Half-phased into Spooky A]
PulseBatPulseBat (PulseBat)

Area: ACDC, Okuden Valley, Kotobuki Town, Sharo, NetVegas

HP: 80
Attack Damage/Effect: 30 + Seeking
Attack Accuracy: A
Attack Description: Uses a sonic screech to damage its opponents.
Secondary Attack Effect: EchoLocation
Secondary Attack Description: Launches a sonic pulse to reveal hidden or illusory targets.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Pulsar1, EchoLocation, Zenny.
Special: Airshoes. If PulseBat hits an object, its attack spreads to up to 8 other targets at half damage while dealing full damage to that object. Every other turn, this virus enters High Altitude (dropdown) status and does not attack. A: 80 HP [In front of stack of RockCubes]
PulseBatPulseBat (PulseBat)

Area: ACDC, Okuden Valley, Kotobuki Town, Sharo, NetVegas

HP: 80
Attack Damage/Effect: 30 + Seeking
Attack Accuracy: A
Attack Description: Uses a sonic screech to damage its opponents.
Secondary Attack Effect: EchoLocation
Secondary Attack Description: Launches a sonic pulse to reveal hidden or illusory targets.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Pulsar1, EchoLocation, Zenny.
Special: Airshoes. If PulseBat hits an object, its attack spreads to up to 8 other targets at half damage while dealing full damage to that object. Every other turn, this virus enters High Altitude (dropdown) status and does not attack. B: 80 HP [On top of stack of RockCubes]
TeddyTeddy (Teddy)

Area: ACDC, Yoka, Okuden Valley, Yumland

HP: 100
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 20 + Slashing
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: Tears at an enemy with its claws.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 10 + Impact x 2 targets
Secondary Attack Accuracy: B
Secondary Attack Description: Picks up and throws one enemy at another.
Tertiary Attack Damage/Effect: (Varies) + Impact
Tertiary Attack Accuracy: B
Tertiary Attack Description: Picks up and throws an object at an enemy.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): RageClaw1, Zenny
Special: Will only use its secondary attack if there is more than one enemy. Will only use its tertiary attack if there is an object capable of being thrown. A: 100 HP [In front of stack of RockCubes]
TeddyTeddy (Teddy)

Area: ACDC, Yoka, Okuden Valley, Yumland

HP: 100
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 20 + Slashing
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: Tears at an enemy with its claws.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 10 + Impact x 2 targets
Secondary Attack Accuracy: B
Secondary Attack Description: Picks up and throws one enemy at another.
Tertiary Attack Damage/Effect: (Varies) + Impact
Tertiary Attack Accuracy: B
Tertiary Attack Description: Picks up and throws an object at an enemy.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): RageClaw1, Zenny
Special: Will only use its secondary attack if there is more than one enemy. Will only use its tertiary attack if there is an object capable of being thrown. B: 100 HP [On Teddy A's shoulders]

-- Navis --
PurgeMan.Exe: 100 HP [A little distance away from the viruses]
SandMan.Exe: 115 HP [On top of PurgeMan's shoulders]

-- Terrain --
100% Normal

• No effects.

-- Objects --
RockCube A: 200 HP [In front of the viruses, blocking the path forward]
RockCube B: 200 HP [Stacked on top of RockCube B]

-- Battle 2 Ready? Start!! --

"Whoa! Check it out, SandMan, it's a tower defence game!" Yan gawks through the on-screen window. Oddly, the configuration of blocks and obstacles seems familiar to the teen, the longer she peers at it. All it's missing is... "It needs a parabola!" she cheers out of the blue, pointing to Tatianna at the screen and tracing an imaginary line over the RockCubes. "See, look, it's just like a math problem! I was just studying this, the problem would be, like, "JumpMan's going to leap this building! If the building is this tall, and this wide, what angle does the parabola of JumpMan's leap need to be to clear the building?'"

"Or..." she trails off, biting her lip and trying to focus her eyes, "maybe it's a physics problem, like how much force? Anyway, PurgeMan, do you think you could throw SandMan over those blocks?" The question is almost nonchalant, if Yan weren't smirking ever so subtly as she asks. She thumbs an AirShot chip. "We get SandMan in position, and then he can topple the blocks right onto them!" She turns to Tatianna, visibly hopeful for approval of her constructive thinking.

SandMan has a little more opinion to offer, most of which could be encapsulated in his panicked cry from atop PurgeMan's shoulder of, "I don't like where this is going!" His Sandbag, as if to offer its two cents, spews forth a curling slipstream of golden particulate. The sands loop in orbit around SandMan without being prompted, already working to shield their master and vessel from harm, while he grabs hold of PurgeMan's pauldron for dear life. If Yan's suggestion were any sort of indication, the black sack might have quicker reflexes than the Navi it serves...

-TURN SPLICE: STAND BY FOR FURTHER SHENANIGANS-
* Turbulence: 1-Hit Frontal Defence, Redirects Shot or Thrown to random enemy {D}

Tatianna's eyes widened a little at Yan's brilliant little plan. Wow, kid! Talk about a spark of genius! "...Y-Yeah! Yeah, totally! Alright, here, lemme get some index values going. Purge needs to catalog this before we can fully get his aim going." Tatianna snapped her fingers, and tapped a few bits of rerouting commands right into that old-style prompt to PurgeMan, who would await further commands, only to be told right from his master herself. "You heard the lady, Purgykins. Yeet that bean." "Affirmative. SandMan, trust me." PurgeMan's tone was... admittedly incredibly dramatic for such an event, the fortuitous union only proving to make this easier for PurgeMan to hurl his ally across and over the blockade.

PurgeMan would simply grip at SandMan's gown, much like he'd done earlier today in that hug, and push his arm upright, much like certain, rock-throwing models. Only to let his buster arm forge back into a... surprisingly flesh-like hand. That was definitely something new. Tatianna's squint was only microscopic as she analyzed that scarred, repaired, stitched hand over and over, not seeing how it moved till PurgeMan identified a line to fire his friend over with the full brunt of his arm's length. "Parabola identified, force determined, ally damage mitigator engaged. ONWAAARD!" Without further ado, the heavy clangs of PurgeMan's boots crashed into the ground, and with his back shoving forward, the front end of his hips slinging out, he HURLED SandMan as far as he could. PurgeMan could only hope his aided insight was enough to at least have SandMan clear that blockade. Now it was time for part two.

With his machine gun slowly forming back over his arm, PurgeMan stomped his foot as hard as he could, and let out one of the most ferocious battlecries he could ever muster, roaring with all his might to these misbegotten, vile viruses, in order to challenge them. Once he does so, all he did was lift his rifle, and lighten his posture a little, even ducking down a little, as to prepare to evade incoming fire. With his distance, he knew he was juuust out of reach of the sonic splash damage those PulseBats could produce, but... probably a bit close to the others. "Come, vermin! Show me what passes for 'fury' among your filthy degenerated ranks! Give me CHALLENGE! GIVE ME A CHALLEEEENGE!" Keeping their aggro in mind, PurgeMan would raise his shield high, and slam it right into the ground, ready to utilize his cover to the point that it broke. He'd done this routine a million times. Hide behind the shield until it shatters, and move like hell till you can find a proper opening to fight back with righteous fury. "I WILL BREAK YOU UPON MY BODY, SHATTER YOU LIKE THE FRAIL LITTLE ABOMINATIONS YOU ARE, DARING TO LOOK MY WAY, AND STEP INTO MY WORLD."

Tatianna's eyes dilate a little, goosebumps raise on her arms and down her spine. God she loved it when he got angry like that, it was an infectious adrenaline rush. A whispered "Hell yeah." escaped Tatianna as she watched her Purgykins prepare for total virus annihilation.

-==PURGING BEGINS==-

-==ACTIONS TO PURGE THE VERMIN==-
Yeeted SandMan
Activated Bulwark of Faith - 2 Hit Shield

-==STATUS==-
Cooldowns: Bulwark of Faith - 0/1
Chips Used: None

With Yan nonchalantly suggesting a direct approach towards defeating the viruses, Tatianna was all the more happy to oblige the request. PurgeMan was similarly prepared for the unorthodox attack method, converting his arm into a form more suitable for launching comrades over a blockade. SandMan was wrenched from the (relative) safety of PurgeMan's pauldron into the air, right over the stack of cubes. The bat that had been perched atop the cubes flew up into the air in surprise, and its comrade at the bottom of the cubes screeched at him on reflex. Thankfully, SandMan's slipstream of sand was able to deflect the sonic wave off int othe distance, and he safely (?) sailed to a tumble behind the cubes. This left PurgeMan alone with the rest of the viruses, which seemed very ready to tear him a new one.

One of the Spooky tore itself away from its fellow ghost and whipped out its slimy tongue against PurgeMan, only to be met with his bulwark that deflected the icky attack. The Teddy tower roared in unison as the bottom one bumrushed him with claws outstretched. Unfortunately, the awkward position meant that only its swipes were able to reach PurgeMan, which he subsequently deflected with his shield once more, though it looked like it wouldn't be able to withstand much more punishment.

-- Viruses --
OldstoveOldstove (Oldstove)

Oldstove viruses move and dodge at a very slow pace.

Area: ACDC, Kotobuki Town, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 50
Attack Damage/Effect: 15 Fire + Line Attack(3) + Panel Crack
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Flamethrower to one enemy.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): FireBurner1, Zenny
Special: Slow Movement. Cracks Terrain. A: 50 HP [In front of stack of RockCubes, lying on its side] [1 action remaining]
OldstoveOldstove (Oldstove)

Oldstove viruses move and dodge at a very slow pace.

Area: ACDC, Kotobuki Town, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 50
Attack Damage/Effect: 15 Fire + Line Attack(3) + Panel Crack
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Flamethrower to one enemy.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): FireBurner1, Zenny
Special: Slow Movement. Cracks Terrain. B: 50 HP [Standing on top of OldStove A's side] [1 action remaining]
SpookySpooky (Spooky)

Area: ACDC, Yoka, Okuden Valley, Kotobuki Town, Netopia

HP: 30
Attack: 10 Null
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Teleports up to the opponent and slaps with its long tongue.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Recover10, Recover30 (Rare), Invis1 (Rare), Zenny
Special: Can teleport at will.
- Can use Recover 30 on any virus below 1/2 HP A: 30 HP [In front of PurgeMan, to his left] [0 actions remaining]
SpookySpooky (Spooky)

Area: ACDC, Yoka, Okuden Valley, Kotobuki Town, Netopia

HP: 30
Attack: 10 Null
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Teleports up to the opponent and slaps with its long tongue.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Recover10, Recover30 (Rare), Invis1 (Rare), Zenny
Special: Can teleport at will.
- Can use Recover 30 on any virus below 1/2 HP B: 30 HP [In front of stack of RockCubes] [1 action remaining]
PulseBatPulseBat (PulseBat)

Area: ACDC, Okuden Valley, Kotobuki Town, Sharo, NetVegas

HP: 80
Attack Damage/Effect: 30 + Seeking
Attack Accuracy: A
Attack Description: Uses a sonic screech to damage its opponents.
Secondary Attack Effect: EchoLocation
Secondary Attack Description: Launches a sonic pulse to reveal hidden or illusory targets.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Pulsar1, EchoLocation, Zenny.
Special: Airshoes. If PulseBat hits an object, its attack spreads to up to 8 other targets at half damage while dealing full damage to that object. Every other turn, this virus enters High Altitude (dropdown) status and does not attack. A: 80 HP [In front of stack of RockCubes] [0 actions remaining]
PulseBatPulseBat (PulseBat)

Area: ACDC, Okuden Valley, Kotobuki Town, Sharo, NetVegas

HP: 80
Attack Damage/Effect: 30 + Seeking
Attack Accuracy: A
Attack Description: Uses a sonic screech to damage its opponents.
Secondary Attack Effect: EchoLocation
Secondary Attack Description: Launches a sonic pulse to reveal hidden or illusory targets.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Pulsar1, EchoLocation, Zenny.
Special: Airshoes. If PulseBat hits an object, its attack spreads to up to 8 other targets at half damage while dealing full damage to that object. Every other turn, this virus enters High Altitude (dropdown) status and does not attack. B: 80 HP [Above stack of RockCubes][High Altitude] [0 actions remaining]
TeddyTeddy (Teddy)

Area: ACDC, Yoka, Okuden Valley, Yumland

HP: 100
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 20 + Slashing
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: Tears at an enemy with its claws.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 10 + Impact x 2 targets
Secondary Attack Accuracy: B
Secondary Attack Description: Picks up and throws one enemy at another.
Tertiary Attack Damage/Effect: (Varies) + Impact
Tertiary Attack Accuracy: B
Tertiary Attack Description: Picks up and throws an object at an enemy.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): RageClaw1, Zenny
Special: Will only use its secondary attack if there is more than one enemy. Will only use its tertiary attack if there is an object capable of being thrown. A: 100 HP [In front of PurgeMan, to his right] [0 actions remaining]
TeddyTeddy (Teddy)

Area: ACDC, Yoka, Okuden Valley, Yumland

HP: 100
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 20 + Slashing
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: Tears at an enemy with its claws.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: 10 + Impact x 2 targets
Secondary Attack Accuracy: B
Secondary Attack Description: Picks up and throws one enemy at another.
Tertiary Attack Damage/Effect: (Varies) + Impact
Tertiary Attack Accuracy: B
Tertiary Attack Description: Picks up and throws an object at an enemy.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): RageClaw1, Zenny
Special: Will only use its secondary attack if there is more than one enemy. Will only use its tertiary attack if there is an object capable of being thrown. B: 100 HP [On Teddy A's shoulders] [0 actions remaining]

-- Navis --
PurgeMan.EXE: 100 HP [A little distance away from the viruses] [Shield 0/2 - Broken!] [1 action remaining]
SandMan.EXE: 115 HP [Behind stack of RockCubes] [Turbulence 0/1] [3 actions remaining]

-- Terrain --
100% Normal

• No effects.

-- Objects --
RockCube A: 200 HP [In front of the viruses, blocking the path forward]
RockCube B: 200 HP [Stacked on top of RockCube B]

"Whoa!" was the sound of SandMan's discovery that PurgeMan's arm was as wide around as the shrimp's torso. It also, when multiplied into a rapid stream of escalating volume, encompassed everything he had to say about being thrown like a Netopian football by his ally-in-arms. " Following him without missing a beat, looking very content with herself, was Yan's window, and the sound of many, many screencaps been taken. It did nothing but make every second of airtime feel like eternities.

He landed; it was not quick, nor clean, but eventually SandMan was clambering to his feet behind the RockCubes, just as Yan had instructed. "That's good, SandMan, stand right there," Yan slotted the AirShot in, blinking sleepily into the monitor as she spoke. "Now you're gonna want to hit the bottom block, but kind of at the top of it. If it works like my tower game, the first block will kinda launch the blocks on top of it forward too, with the way it spins from where you shoot it. See, SandMan, you thought my PET games were dumb, but I am on these elementary physics." She yawned. "Ohp, too much physics, need...rest..." she slumped, and was defeated once more by the beanbag.

Grasping the Sandbag by its choke, SandMan braced himself against its bulk and levelled the end of the bag at the stone wall. "PurgeMan!" he called over the obstacles and the clamour of viruses, peering round to where it looked like the two bears were harassing the other Navi. There were a lot of viruses leaping about the edges of SandMan's visibility, right on the other side of the cube. Shifting from side to side and dragging his weapon with him, trying to frame as many of them behind the stone tower as he could, that was anything but easy. Capturing a bullet of wind, conversely, was getting easier every time he did it; he let loose a slightly hysterical laugh as he held a tiny storm between his two clenched fists. "We can agree that I trust you, now that I've just let you throw me like a fff-reaking football!" A curl of sand traced a path from his fist to the face of the RockCube; SandMan followed his ears from there to where he could hear PurgeMan's taunting. Taking a few steps to the right and adjusting his aim to PurgeMan's right, he shouted "Now we're gonna agree you trust me, by letting me wing rocks at your head!"

His forward fist relaxed. The Sandbag whiplashed back as a concentrated bullet shot out its flapping mouth, fit to unleash its brand of inertial chaos on the world. "Yan! Do we have anything for defence?" SandMan asked, cringing. Yan's strategy had been sound for offence, but without the RockCubes to rely on, the field felt incredibly wide and open.

Yan flicked through the folder's sparse contents, and shook her head. "Nothing you could use to take cover, anyway," she said, holding several up to the screen as though to emphasise. "Just stay light on your feet and let PurgeMan keep their attention...provided you didn't bury him, of course," she suggested, targeting Tatianna with a mildly apologetic grin.

"Oh come on, why did you put that thought in my head? Oh good grief..." SandMan groused, hefting his bag over his shoulder once more. They definitely still had their work cut out for them, but hopefully dropping a few tons of stone on the viruses' heads would help things along. He'd just have to do as his Operator said and keep on his toes - slightly difficult to manage gracefully with a giant sandbag in your arms, but no-one had ever accused SandMan of being particularly graceful.

-Turn Summary-
1. Line up viruses behind RockCubes
2. AirShot1: RockCubeA [40 Null {A}, Microburst] (aimed toward TeddyA)
3. Dodge