Charcoal Buddies

---------------

Success! Vasilia cheered the initial hit of her attack and the appearance of the rain cloud. The near-miss brought a gasp from her as the whirling misdirected her opponent just enough for her to jerk out of the way entirely. "Ah! You missed, try again later!"

Sophia stared at her PET, a confused look on her face because she had misheard that, right?

Of course, between dodging and cheering she had to check on VenusMan right? To make sure he knew what to do! Fighting seemed pretty simple so far, but he'd forgotten so quickly about her letter! A quick peek in his direction revealed that this at least he seemed to be doing fine! In fact from the red light and gift he gave her, it seemed like fighting really was his thing!

"Ah, thank you for the gift!" She called with a wave of her hand. She felt better after the weird red light lit up everything, it was maybe a bit easier to see or maybe it was just because it was a warm color but either way she definately felt safer! The ORCHID that flew over to her seemed pretty big, was all of VenusMan's equipment so large? She dropped her broom where it disintegrated into blue sparkles similar to the one coming off her hands. She reached up, the ORCHID drifting into reach.

Mistakes were made.

Mistakes beginning with Vasilia's hands carelessly wrapping around the handles of the jackhammer-like ORCHID and triggering a quiet 'click' in the process. One of the smokey hands slithered up the side to wrap around the shaft, unnoticed due to Vasilia's sudden preoccupation with the fact the floral machine was on.

It shot forward at the sword weilders, zig-zagging wildly as it dragged Vasilia along by the hands. Her body streamed out after it like a windchime caught in high winds with her boots even providing a clacking noise as they knocked together repeatedly.

"AAAA! Get out of the way!" Vasilia screeched, panicked at the thought of collision. Who knew what would happen?

"What-No! Don't get out of the way!" Sophia countermanded but too late! The chip-infused ORCHID went wildly veering off in the opposite direction from the MonoSword then made another sudden shift in direction and went flying toward the Windbox and the Hothead. Sophia's jaw worked noiselessly for a moment before she spoke up. "Let go! Just, drop it! That thing is out of control!"

"R-right!" Vasilia said, a large sticker-like sweatdrop sliding down the side of her head. Dropping such a gift, was it really going to be okay? Sophia told her to, so regardless of the outcome she had to do it anyways! Opening her hands should be easy, right? Tiny smokey fingers laced through hers said otherwise.

The Windbox and its metal-headed friend were looming large in Vasilia's view and the Navi panicked even more when her hands appeared to be incapable of the simple feat of letting go. More sticker-like sweat drops slid down her face as she looked between her hands and the viruses several times. She didn't want to crash! Or at least, she didn't want to be hurt in the crash! She didn't mind if the ORCHID-machine-chip thing crashed into the viruses but she didn't want to!

"Sophia! I-I can't let go! I'm stuck!"

Sophia dropped her chips and flipped through her Netbattling guide because there had to be something! Hadn't she read something about Navis being limited to chips they could use at once? Wasn't it something about hands? Impatient she slapped the book shut. Close enough! They didn't have enough time to do more than try!

"Vasilia! Activate these at the same time! RollingLog, Shake, double slot-in!"

"R-Roger!" Vasilia called nervously because there really wasn't that much space between her and the Windbox to begin with and while the detour earlier had added some space that was almost gone! She felt the data seep into her system and activated the spells immediately. Blue sparks danced around her fingers, driving back the shadows that clung to them and she was finally able to pull herself free.

She hopped into the air just before the PileDriver attempted to smash into the Windbox, the shadowy hand and its corrupted code all but leaping from the transformed ORCHID to the foe.

Vasilia didn't notice. She quite literally had her hands full, and while it had saved her it did lead to a moment of needing to pinwheel wildly with magick sparking from each appendage to keep her balance. Her feet tipped forward and hit the ground more steadily.

"Alright! Prepare yourselves! VenusMan, sorry to make a mess!" She called then began her work. Twin spirals formed above her left hand while a quartet of circles formed above her right. With a twist of her fingers the spirals grew in shape and flew apart, their innermost coil stretching in the opposite direction to twin around their opposite number. The circles shifted from blue to green and paired off, each pairing sliding away as the spirals had done to a set distance between them. With a flick of her left hand the newly connected spirals fell onto their side and heavy iron began to form around them. Vasilia spun on her heels to face the way she had come before throwing the newly formed dumbell of her hand and toward the MonoSwords. Keeping her momentum up she spun about on her heels again to face the trio that had been hiding behind them and flicked her right hand forward. The glowing outlines toppled forward and rolled, dense wooden logs forming between the glowing outlines as they approached their targets.

The protective blue magic gleamed as she set her feet solidly in place. Would it be enough to protect her against the fall out?

CRUNCH CRUNCH, were the joyful sounds that came from Carnivore as it had its mouth full of data, CHOMP CHOMP, while flung backwards to VenusMan's body again. "Okay, you've had your fill," VenusMan's voice said from his body, "Time to com-" His voice quickly stopped as he realized that while he was floating just barely over lava, Carnivore was hanging from him with a very long vine. A very long vine that could easily reach the lava below him. "No, come back come back come back!" he exclaimed as he tried to grab hold of the swinging vine in order to pull Carnivore back himself, or at least to wrap up the vine around his arms to decrease the length. A short moment later Carnivore was hanging by VenusMan's chest while the vine slowly retracted into his neck. "Okay, this has to go faster. We're going to need some updates on his scripting."

"Carnivore is a very delicate program," Maru commented, "You simply have to adapt to his wishes. Can't you see he's eating. Let nature take it course, runt."

It wouldn't have looked pretty if VenusMan had his face at this point in time, but at least he managed to get Carnivore back onto his neck. The leaves that created Carnivore retracted and out sprang VenusMan's head again. "Yeah. Right. Of course," he said with a neutral expression on his face.

"Oh, also," his Operator continued, "Your head is the vessel of Carnivore when he's out, so you may notice some... Oh. You're already noticing it."

While floating above the lava, VenusMan stumbled around a bit and tried to get an eye on the ORCHID he had sent for his cloudy attack. "There are 4 ORCHIDs coming my way," he commented, "Oh. Yeah. You're right." A long sigh came from VenusMan's lips, while the singular ORCHID reached him and reconnected to his backpack. "Using Carnivore messes up my vision from the crazy motions. That'll be helpful."

"Oh, don't be that way. This'll keep Carnivore satisfied for some time," Maru said as the clattering sound of chips was heard in the background, "But I've noticed something about your fighting style. This is not a bad thing." And with those words, Maru slotted in one chip.

"My screwed up vision isn't a bad thing? I'd love to hear your theory, but later..." VenusMan groaned. He loaded the newly loaded chip into his system and immediately sent the data to his right hand. The petals around his wrist enveloped his right hand, opening up afterwards to reveal a small flower bud with a three-pronged spear sticking out of it. "Cool," VenusMan remarked, but it wouldn't be any use for him. His eyesight was still too messed up, "But I'm seeing it. Quadruple times, even." With a slick motion he grabbed his pistol with his left hand and aimed it at the Quaker virus. Or he tried. But it didn't matter. "Preparation, isn't it?" A dim light was seen in the barrel of the gun as it slowly started to collect more energy. And with a pull of his arm, VenusMan disconnected the hand from his arm. "I'll send coordinates later," he commented before the particles around his backpack intensified and VenusMan took off again. This time, however, he went back to the main land. Without a plan. "Uhh..."

"Whoo, look at that Vasilia go!" Maru suddenly shouted, "You go, girl!" Followed by an awkward silence and a muttering of confusion. "She is a girl, right? Considering the voice and all..."

Turning his head to look at Vasilia, or at least four of her, he noticed she was having quite some fun with the gifted weaponry. Right in the middle of all the viruses. And she was making a big fat target of herself with her hostility. "Good," VenusMan commented and stared ahead at the HotHead, "That means I can afford some risk. Right...?" Even if his eyesight was terribly wonky, even if he could still hear the crunching from Carnivore in his head, even if the battlefield was a mess, not even he would miss a virus if he was directly in front of it, right? With a quick shake of his head, he managed enough clarity to figure out where to stop moving so he'd be directly in front of the HotHead virus and aimed his trident weapon at it. "I still see four of you, but at least you're close together!" he exclaimed and fired a trident at the virus, as a new one sprang out of the flower bud immediately.

Presented with assistance in the form of a strong Battlechip, Vasilia tried out the new flowery equipment, only to be suddenly brought forward by its unexpected power! The WindBox seemed to be caught off guard by the sudden attack, and its fan blades were mulched with little recourse for retribution. The MonoSwords chased after her just as she let go of the ORCHID housing the PileDriver's attack data, appearing directly in front of her, and swung their rocky blades in unison. The first managed to connect (-1 shield hit x2 Break), but was blown backwards by a pair of enchanted footwear, sending it into the path of its comrade's blade! It connected with both Vasilia (-20) and the MonoSword, deleting the unfortunate statue virus instantly in the process.

VenusMan, meanwhile, was dealing with a case of multiplied vision, impairing his ability to do much, if anything. The Quaker was one point of importance, but his ORCHID was only merely prepared for now, leaving the HotHead up for grabs. He sped over to it, intending to skewer it with his speared flower, but unfortunately his quadrupled vision was much worse than he had anticipated, and his shot went wide above the HotHead's... head. In return, the spherical turret head spat out a bright red cannonball directly in his face--and also missed, with the shot sailing past just inches next to his head. It then clamped its mouth shut, unwilling to spend more time on the plant Navi. Another virus seemed to be more interested in him as well, however, as the ground shook vigorously from the nearby Quaker landing on the ground. A shockwave rocketed out from it towards VenusMan, but through some luck of the draw, it simply raced past him, just as the HotHead's cannonball did earlier, but his footing was still unstable from the quake.

To the side, Vasilia's antics continued despite the rough footing from the quake, with her simultaneous usage of the Shake and RollingLog chips. The massive dumbbell crashed onto the MonoSword in front of her, deleting it with haste, but not before she was on the receiving end of a Momogra's shovel from behind her, directly on her rear end! (-15) It received a large wooden log in return, nearly deleting it, but not quite. Luck didn't seem to be with Vasilia at the moment compared to her comrade, but at least she was still standing thus far.

-=Appearing Advesaries=-
HotHeadHotHead (HotHead)

HotHeads alternate actions between attacking and guarding. These are the only actions HotHeads may perform, and the first action of every battle is always guarding. HotHeads will not break from this pattern unless forced to by status effects. HotHeads cannot be lifted or thrown, even with Rageclaw.

Area: Netopia, Hades Isle, Kotobuki Town

HP: 60
Attack Damage/Effect: 30 Fire + Break + Small Lava Terrain Change
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Fires Cannonball. Breaking. Creates Lava Terrain.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): LavaBall1, Zenny
Special: Immobile.
- Iron Body when not attacking.: 60Hp [Metal][Closed][Directly in front of VenusMan]
WhomperWhomper (Whomper)

Whomper viruses drop down from way up high, execute a breath attack, and rise back up. Dropping and attacking is an action, while moving back upward is a second action. They may also adjust where on the battlefield they drop next while in High Altitude as a free action. These are the only actions this virus family performs.

Area: Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 80
Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Fire + Small Lava Terrain Change + Cone Attack
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Uses a scorching hot breath weapon to slag the enemy and the ground.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): HeatBreath1, Zenny
Special: Has High Altitude every other action. This virus cannot attack while in High Altitude, but may adjust its positioning as a free action.: EATEN
MonoSwordMonoSword (MonoSword)

MonoSword are distant cousins of Swordy, but have evolved further in an attempt become more a threat. They attack by teleporting in front of their target, and slashing with their namesake before returning to their original position. Their blades are sturdier than most, and can cut through things regular ones cannot, such as shields. Their bulky armor also gives them above average stamina, but it weighs them down to the point where they do not move or dodge, aside from attacking. Despite it lacking any sort of defense that would bestow such a weakness, they ironically take additional damage from Break attribute attacks.

Area: Netopia, Yoka, Hades Isle

HP: 120
Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Null + Break + Slashing + Wide Attack
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Delivers an armor cutting slash.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): BreakKnife, Zenny
Special: Break Weakness: Attacks with the Break attribute deal +100% Source damage to this virus, as though hitting an elemental weakness.
Special: Moves by teleporting. This is not treated as a formal Teleport, and does not confer any bonuses. A: CRUSHED
MonoSwordMonoSword (MonoSword)

MonoSword are distant cousins of Swordy, but have evolved further in an attempt become more a threat. They attack by teleporting in front of their target, and slashing with their namesake before returning to their original position. Their blades are sturdier than most, and can cut through things regular ones cannot, such as shields. Their bulky armor also gives them above average stamina, but it weighs them down to the point where they do not move or dodge, aside from attacking. Despite it lacking any sort of defense that would bestow such a weakness, they ironically take additional damage from Break attribute attacks.

Area: Netopia, Yoka, Hades Isle

HP: 120
Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Null + Break + Slashing + Wide Attack
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Delivers an armor cutting slash.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): BreakKnife, Zenny
Special: Break Weakness: Attacks with the Break attribute deal +100% Source damage to this virus, as though hitting an elemental weakness.
Special: Moves by teleporting. This is not treated as a formal Teleport, and does not confer any bonuses. B: CLEAVED
MomograMomogra (Momogra)

Momogras move by tunneling through the ground. They poke their heads up just far enough from time to time to see where the enemy is, but they are still protected from most forms of attack. Drop attacks, Bomb attacks (which fall out of the air after being thrown), and Ground attacks damage them in this state. Other attacks executed from a high angle/altitude also work. All movements performed by a Momogra are considered a dodge, as they occur underground, and out of sight. Momogras only attack in response to having an attack launched in their direction, and only if they have an action remaining for that turn. Momogras attack by instantly tunneling to the panel behind the enemy, popping out of the ground, and striking with a shovel. A Momogra is completely vulnerable to any form of attack during its own atack, and until it moves again following that attack. The movement prior to the attack does not require an action, but movement afterwards does. The attack cannot execute if the panel behind the target is a liquid terrain type, Metal, Broken, or Missing. The attack also will not execute if there is something currently occupying the panel they would be attacking from. If the attack cannot execute, the Momogra will not move. In the case of Glass and Cracked terrain, the Momogras will still attempt to attack, but suffer the consequences of doing do as those panels will break and damage the Momogra, also causing the attack to fail. Momogra get 1 free movement per turn at the start of the turn before their first action.

Area: Okuden Valley, Hades Isle, NetVegas

HP: 60
Attack Damage/Effect: 15 Null + Backstab
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Hits enemy with shovel.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Mole1, Zenny
Special: Always attacks if it is targeted, though it can attack otherwise. Only overhead-striking attacks can hit these viruses while they are not attacking (bombs, etc.): 5Hp [Normal][Behind Vasilia]
WindBoxWindBox (Wind & Fan)

All viruses in this family are immobile during combat, with the exception of being able to turn to face any direction it wishes. Later versions of this virus may switch between Wind and Fan effects, which requires one action, during which time all wind or fan effects cease. Bonuses and penalties do not stack if multiples of the same virus family exist on the field. Wind and Fan do not push or pull Objects, only creatures.

Area: SciLab, Yoka, Beach, Sharo, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 100
Attack Damage/Effect: Wind Effect, Northwind
Attack Accuracy: S
Attack Description: Causes a large scale gale of wind to blow across the entire field in the direction the virus is facing. This gale will constantly move all targets this virus considers to be enemies in the direction the wind is blowing, which makes it difficult to land many kinds of attacks on it and allied viruses, such as thrown attacks and close ranged attacks. All those affected by the wind will also have their barriers and auras blown off by a constant Northwind effect.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Wind, Zenny
Special: Causes short ranged attacks, such as (but not limited to) swords, melee attacks, and flame thrower style weapons, to suffer from a 30% accuracy penalty against targets they are being pushed away from. Both sides of the engagement suffer a 30% accuracy penalty with direct attacks perpendicular to the direction of the wind, and all thrown attacks.
Special: Those allied with this virus may opt to take advantage of the wind to increase movement speed or evasion by going with the wind. They do not suffer any penalties, however. Conversely, anyone may move along with the wind to increase accuracy by 10% for close ranged attacks, assuming the target is in that direction.
Special: Northwind effect to all enemies once per virus action while maintaining wind effect.: PILEDRIVEN
QuakerQuaker (Quaker)

Area: Netopia, Hades Isle, NetVegas

HP: 80
Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Null + Piercing + Ground Attack + Chain(2) + Earthquake
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Jumps high into the air, then slams its wrecking ball onto the ground when it lands, making the ground shake, and forming a shock wave that zeroes in on enemies.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): WaveArm1, RockArm1, Zenny
Special: High Altitude Status while Jumping.
Special: If underground or in a building, it can break through ceilings or cause a rock-fall.
Special: Earthquake: Whenever this virus lands when using its attack, all enemies touching the ground have their evasion reduced by 1 rank until the end of the next turn. This effect does not stack with other Earthquake instances, and does not affect allies of this virus.
Special: Chain 3: This attack, upon striking a target, may change directions towards a new target. This may be done up to 3 times in one attack.: 80Hp [Normal][Edge of the land, facing VenusMan]

-=Venturing Virus Vanquishers=-
VenusMan.Exe: 100Hp [Metal] [ORCHID - Pistol @ Quaker: Launching!] [Earthquake! Evasion -10%]
Vasilia.Exe: 65Hp [Normal][Shield Broken! Counter Triggered!] [Earthquake! Evasion -10%]

-=Lava-filled Landscape=-
45% Lava

• Non-Fire Elementals lose 5 HP/action standing, 10 HP/action submerged. Doubled for Wood Elementals, nullified for Fire Elementals.
• Aqua attacks: Panel explodes, +100% Source Aqua Damage, change terrain hit to Normal.
• PanelShot: Imbue Fire.

[Three large, broad pools that take up much of their surrounds]
40% Normal

• No effects.

[the solid land forward; mostly a broad, slightly jagged strip of land between the lava pools]
5% Metal

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

[Single panel a little way ahead of the navis]

"Ow! Ow!" Vasilia yelped as the MonoSword swiped at her and the Momogra swatted her rear. The puppet's body jerked and twitched with the impacts and she whirled to face the Momogra with a watery bubble forming in the middle of her head. It looked very much like unshed tears despite the lack of any visible eye to form them.

Evidentally whatever code expressed her emotional state didn't account for the lack of any obvious facial structures.

"I hear crunching and everything was shaking, did you two break the Net?" Sophia asked as she stared at the screen of the Pet which was currently locked to an over the shoulder view by Vasilia. She had had to look away from the screen a couple times, especially during Vasilia's wild rid and then the sudden shaking that even affected the camera! It was super disorientating, she had never been good that those kinds of movies!

"I'm okay, I'm okay." Vasilia wheezed, her head dipped forward and down and then back again, her hands seemed to rest on invisible knees. With a loud sigh she straightened up and wiped the back of her free glove across her head. "I hurt but I can keep going!"

"That's the spirit! No matter how many hits you take the important thing is standing up again!" Sophia cheered. According to the sidebars there were only a few enemies left. She sorted through her pile of chips until she found the one she thought she wanted then checked it against the book open near her. Close enough! She slid it home with a click. "Take that mole down! Battlechip Rageclaw, slot-in!"

"Okay! Time to clean up!" Vasilia called as she lifted her broom high. The bristles of the broom took on a shinier appearance and closer inspection would reveal that the individual straws had turned into literal needles instead of straw.
Vasilia was planning to give the Momogra a good close look at them.

"Look out Mr. Mole, here I come!" She crowed. She twirled the broom needle-side forward and lunged at the with needles pointed out. Almost immediately she'd jerk the broom back again to grasp it with both hands vertically in front of her and spin about on her heel in an effort to block the retalitory strike.

"Okay Mr. Venusman I'm coming to help!" She called as she skipped across the battlefield to the Quaker. She clattered to a stop behind it and immediately lifted her broom over her shoulder and then brought it down and across in an attack that looked like it promised to leave scratches. One of those smokey, shady hands snaked up from her shadow and slashed at the Quaker as well when Vasilia's back was turned.

"Not a word," VenusMan exclaimed, paired with a loud sigh. Of course, he missed his attack. "Not a word..." he repeated, already hearing the stifled laughter from the PET's input. Nonchalantly he brushed aside the charred dust from the two viruses' attacks, at least satisfied he wasn't alone in his failed attempts at attacking. It sounded like Maru had taken some distance from the PET for this situation, and considering he was running the PET he could also tell a video and various screenshots were made. "Because words are unnecessary..." VenusMan commented and turned to face the viruses that had taken an interest in them. "Because my eyes are focused now..."

"Are you done monologueing, runt?" Maru's voice sounded, "How about fixing your fault?"

"Already on it," VenusMan said, his eyes trained on the Quaker virus. Inside of his programming he was estimating the coordinates of the virus, raising the trident on his arm to assist in getting the digits right. But he wasn't getting the coordinates from his own position. Hanging over the lava was still his left hand, holding his pistol firmly and still charging energy for an attack. "This time, I won't mi-" he started to boast, but quickly decided against it considering his previous mistake. It was point-blank, how did he miss it completely? "-stake. Yeah. I won't mistake!" he continued loudly. With his trident he aimed straight at the Quaker virus and shouted out loud, "BANG!" But rather than the trident getting shot, a tremendous beam of energy was launched from the hovering pistol setup with the Quaker's coordinates locked and loaded. But it was too soon to relax, because his previous adversary revealed its cowardly state. While being wary of the Quaker, no matter how many attacks he had thrown at it, he spoke up to Maru. "Do we have anything to break this guy?"

"Nothing that breaks metal at least," Maru commented. But her eyes weren't so much on the virus VenusMan was worried about, but the surroundings. If there was one thing she had learned dealing with animals was that the surroundings usually provided the best methods to victory. Stealth, improvised weaponry, sudden allies, the outside world provided the animal kingdom with a lot of perks. But the digital world wasn't much different. "I'll send you this, runt." Her words were paired with the slotting in of the BusterPunch chip. "How about you show the lady your muscles?"

Data streamed in while VenusMan's left hand flew back to its owner's arm. A soft click later and he was more or less complete again. "ORCHIDs!" he bellowed, commanding all the other ORCHIDs to return to his back. "Let's see how this'll go..." he continued while letting the data flow into his right hand. The petals around his wrist embraced the trident that was sticking out of his arm and returned his hand to normal again, except it was bigger. And then even bigger. Even more bigger! "Hey hey hey!" VenusMan shouted as his hand had almost grown as big as his head, "Isn't this too big!? Well whatever!" With the Hothead so close, he reeled back his fist in preperation of an attack. "Okay, here we g-"

"You blithering retard!" Maru exclaimed and tapped the screen as loud as possible to get her Navi's attention. "Punch him into the lava! Move him! Make him sink! Put your heart behind it!"

VenusMan nodded and, with the help of his particle emission, flashed to the other side of the HotHead in an instant. Still in preperation for an attack, VenusMan swung his fist as swiftly as possible as he could towards the virus, praying he would actually hit this time. But would it have mattered? Had the virus actually been moved if he punched it? It was made of metal after all. But VenusMan had made a mistake. And this time he wouldn't fail. "Another time!" he exclaimed as he reeled his fist back again. Whether he was succesful or not, he approached the HotHead virus again and released another fast attack of his fist, this time from below. "Go for a swim, damn it!"

While the duo shook off their mild scorches and minor mistakes, the HotHead went more completely into its defensive state and VenusMan's ORCHIDs locked and blasted the Quaker from the net before it could launch itself airborne again.

Close by, Vasilia readied her broom and began engaging in a rousing game of whack-a-mole. It ducked into the ground and tunnelled to her other side as she swung the first time, but the curious navi was prepared for the swinging shovel that followed and was able to dart back in time to avoid it. With the Quaker down and the Hothead defending itself, this left her free to smack the mole properly with her next strike, this time connecting with a solid thrash of bristles. An odd wash of colours flooded across the virus as she hit it, and it began to expand, and expand, and expand. In moments it swelled to the size of a carnival balloon, rippling in rainbow hues and looking desperately uncomfortable with its situation, before an audible pop saw it burst into a light mist of faintly soapy-smelling bubbles.

With only one target left to eliminate, and that one being stubbornly protected, Venus Man was given a more creative set of instructions, and with two swift, powerful punches struck the closed up turret with the intent of sinking it in the magma nearby. As heavy as the HotHead virus was, there was no real way to lift or throw it, but each punch did cause the metal base to grind and slide backwards across the ground. The second saw it teetering on the crumbling edge of the lava before it tipped backwards. The sound of it hitting the lava was less a splash and more a thudding impact; it began to sink into the surface very, very slowly, and would probably disappear beneath the surface after a while, but its threat also seemed to be largely removed now – there was no real way it could hope to aim at either of them in its present state. As it started to sink, its mouth clanked open, venting steam. Normally this might precede another hot ball of magma being launched at them, but from the present angle, all it was going to achieve was throwing the shot straight up in the air.

-=Appearing Advesaries=-
HotHeadHotHead (HotHead)

HotHeads alternate actions between attacking and guarding. These are the only actions HotHeads may perform, and the first action of every battle is always guarding. HotHeads will not break from this pattern unless forced to by status effects. HotHeads cannot be lifted or thrown, even with Rageclaw.

Area: Netopia, Hades Isle, Kotobuki Town

HP: 60
Attack Damage/Effect: 30 Fire + Break + Small Lava Terrain Change
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Fires Cannonball. Breaking. Creates Lava Terrain.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): LavaBall1, Zenny
Special: Immobile.
- Iron Body when not attacking.: 55Hp [Metal][About to fire (can't really hit much)][Face up in the lava beside VenusMan]
WhomperWhomper (Whomper)

Whomper viruses drop down from way up high, execute a breath attack, and rise back up. Dropping and attacking is an action, while moving back upward is a second action. They may also adjust where on the battlefield they drop next while in High Altitude as a free action. These are the only actions this virus family performs.

Area: Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 80
Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Fire + Small Lava Terrain Change + Cone Attack
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Uses a scorching hot breath weapon to slag the enemy and the ground.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): HeatBreath1, Zenny
Special: Has High Altitude every other action. This virus cannot attack while in High Altitude, but may adjust its positioning as a free action.: EATEN
MonoSwordMonoSword (MonoSword)

MonoSword are distant cousins of Swordy, but have evolved further in an attempt become more a threat. They attack by teleporting in front of their target, and slashing with their namesake before returning to their original position. Their blades are sturdier than most, and can cut through things regular ones cannot, such as shields. Their bulky armor also gives them above average stamina, but it weighs them down to the point where they do not move or dodge, aside from attacking. Despite it lacking any sort of defense that would bestow such a weakness, they ironically take additional damage from Break attribute attacks.

Area: Netopia, Yoka, Hades Isle

HP: 120
Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Null + Break + Slashing + Wide Attack
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Delivers an armor cutting slash.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): BreakKnife, Zenny
Special: Break Weakness: Attacks with the Break attribute deal +100% Source damage to this virus, as though hitting an elemental weakness.
Special: Moves by teleporting. This is not treated as a formal Teleport, and does not confer any bonuses. A: CRUSHED
MonoSwordMonoSword (MonoSword)

MonoSword are distant cousins of Swordy, but have evolved further in an attempt become more a threat. They attack by teleporting in front of their target, and slashing with their namesake before returning to their original position. Their blades are sturdier than most, and can cut through things regular ones cannot, such as shields. Their bulky armor also gives them above average stamina, but it weighs them down to the point where they do not move or dodge, aside from attacking. Despite it lacking any sort of defense that would bestow such a weakness, they ironically take additional damage from Break attribute attacks.

Area: Netopia, Yoka, Hades Isle

HP: 120
Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Null + Break + Slashing + Wide Attack
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Delivers an armor cutting slash.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): BreakKnife, Zenny
Special: Break Weakness: Attacks with the Break attribute deal +100% Source damage to this virus, as though hitting an elemental weakness.
Special: Moves by teleporting. This is not treated as a formal Teleport, and does not confer any bonuses. B: CLEAVED
MomograMomogra (Momogra)

Momogras move by tunneling through the ground. They poke their heads up just far enough from time to time to see where the enemy is, but they are still protected from most forms of attack. Drop attacks, Bomb attacks (which fall out of the air after being thrown), and Ground attacks damage them in this state. Other attacks executed from a high angle/altitude also work. All movements performed by a Momogra are considered a dodge, as they occur underground, and out of sight. Momogras only attack in response to having an attack launched in their direction, and only if they have an action remaining for that turn. Momogras attack by instantly tunneling to the panel behind the enemy, popping out of the ground, and striking with a shovel. A Momogra is completely vulnerable to any form of attack during its own atack, and until it moves again following that attack. The movement prior to the attack does not require an action, but movement afterwards does. The attack cannot execute if the panel behind the target is a liquid terrain type, Metal, Broken, or Missing. The attack also will not execute if there is something currently occupying the panel they would be attacking from. If the attack cannot execute, the Momogra will not move. In the case of Glass and Cracked terrain, the Momogras will still attempt to attack, but suffer the consequences of doing do as those panels will break and damage the Momogra, also causing the attack to fail. Momogra get 1 free movement per turn at the start of the turn before their first action.

Area: Okuden Valley, Hades Isle, NetVegas

HP: 60
Attack Damage/Effect: 15 Null + Backstab
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Hits enemy with shovel.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Mole1, Zenny
Special: Always attacks if it is targeted, though it can attack otherwise. Only overhead-striking attacks can hit these viruses while they are not attacking (bombs, etc.): WHACKED
WindBoxWindBox (Wind & Fan)

All viruses in this family are immobile during combat, with the exception of being able to turn to face any direction it wishes. Later versions of this virus may switch between Wind and Fan effects, which requires one action, during which time all wind or fan effects cease. Bonuses and penalties do not stack if multiples of the same virus family exist on the field. Wind and Fan do not push or pull Objects, only creatures.

Area: SciLab, Yoka, Beach, Sharo, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 100
Attack Damage/Effect: Wind Effect, Northwind
Attack Accuracy: S
Attack Description: Causes a large scale gale of wind to blow across the entire field in the direction the virus is facing. This gale will constantly move all targets this virus considers to be enemies in the direction the wind is blowing, which makes it difficult to land many kinds of attacks on it and allied viruses, such as thrown attacks and close ranged attacks. All those affected by the wind will also have their barriers and auras blown off by a constant Northwind effect.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Wind, Zenny
Special: Causes short ranged attacks, such as (but not limited to) swords, melee attacks, and flame thrower style weapons, to suffer from a 30% accuracy penalty against targets they are being pushed away from. Both sides of the engagement suffer a 30% accuracy penalty with direct attacks perpendicular to the direction of the wind, and all thrown attacks.
Special: Those allied with this virus may opt to take advantage of the wind to increase movement speed or evasion by going with the wind. They do not suffer any penalties, however. Conversely, anyone may move along with the wind to increase accuracy by 10% for close ranged attacks, assuming the target is in that direction.
Special: Northwind effect to all enemies once per virus action while maintaining wind effect.: PILEDRIVEN
QuakerQuaker (Quaker)

Area: Netopia, Hades Isle, NetVegas

HP: 80
Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Null + Piercing + Ground Attack + Chain(2) + Earthquake
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Jumps high into the air, then slams its wrecking ball onto the ground when it lands, making the ground shake, and forming a shock wave that zeroes in on enemies.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): WaveArm1, RockArm1, Zenny
Special: High Altitude Status while Jumping.
Special: If underground or in a building, it can break through ceilings or cause a rock-fall.
Special: Earthquake: Whenever this virus lands when using its attack, all enemies touching the ground have their evasion reduced by 1 rank until the end of the next turn. This effect does not stack with other Earthquake instances, and does not affect allies of this virus.
Special: Chain 3: This attack, upon striking a target, may change directions towards a new target. This may be done up to 3 times in one attack.: SNIPED

-=Venturing Virus Vanquishers=-
VenusMan.Exe: 100Hp [Over Normal][Edge of the lava]
Vasilia.Exe: 65Hp [Normal]

-=Lava-filled Landscape=-
45% Lava

• Non-Fire Elementals lose 5 HP/action standing, 10 HP/action submerged. Doubled for Wood Elementals, nullified for Fire Elementals.
• Aqua attacks: Panel explodes, +100% Source Aqua Damage, change terrain hit to Normal.
• PanelShot: Imbue Fire.

[Three large, broad pools that take up much of their surrounds]
40% Normal

• No effects.

[the solid land forward; mostly a broad, slightly jagged strip of land between the lava pools]
5% Metal

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

[Single panel a little way ahead of the navis]

"Aaah! Pretty~" Vasilia put one hand against her face and swayed side to side as she watched the unfortunate mole burst into bubbles and mist. There was the sound of sniffing from her direction and then a sigh and a relaxed sag of her limbs and body. "It smells good too, like a nice bath~ Much better than all this sulfur!"

Her Operator was staring at the PET screen, then at the chip information, then at her battered copy of NetBattling 101 over and over again. What was with the lightshow? Was that weird? Was it normal? She...really didn't have a frame of reference for this beyond her old Netbattling classes and she'd only barely squeaked through those. She scratched the side of her head then shrugged and turned her attention to more important things, like their ally perched on the side of the lava pit.

"Hey! Ignore the bubbles for now, VenusMan's giving that last enemy a really hot bath!"

"Oh right! Helping!" Vasilia turned away from the nicely-scented patch air: her head and hat swinging a full 180 before her body began to turn. She rocked back and forth on her heels while she leaned forward, her head and the hand shading it stretching out far from the rest of her body.

"Ah! Look at it give off steam!" She snapped her fingers and pulled herself back together. Her head began to bob excitedly as she lifted her broom into the air and then dispelled it back to oblivion. "Let's end it quick!"

"This apprentice humbly requests the aid of those who came before her! The aid of the deep forest, the aid of the blue sky!" With that she put one hand on her waist and pointed the other at the roof of the cavern. Blue light began to flicker and build above her fingertip as she concentrated. Her shadow flickered and danced from the rapidly growing ball of symbols and lines of cyrillic script that flexed outward and then contracted again and again to form a seemingly solid ball. "Behold! The blooming of spring time that comes on the eve of summer!"

With a sharp gesture of her hand the ball floated out across the lava in jerks and starts. Vasilia leaned forward as she kept her hand pointed at the HotHead, small beads of sweat beginning to roll down the sides of her face from under her hat.

---Combat Log---
(This thread is still old system, rip)
1) Charge Buster
2) Charge Buster
3) 2/2 charged buster shot (30 @ HotHead)

With the HotHead being tipped over into the lava, Vasilia pointed out towards the ball of rapidly growing symbols of light that she had conjured up, with the ball slowly jittering its way towards the red ball-shaped turret head. The attack impacted against its metallic body with a little pinging sound, and the turret head was more visibly damaged at that point. However, it still wasn't quite enough to eliminate the last virus out of contention. The HotHead hissed with smoke from its open maw as a red cannonball materialized, and ejected itself straight up into the sky. The ball sailed up to its maximum height, halted for a moment in mid-air, and then fell back down to earth, unsurprisingly, back into the mouth of the virus that had just fired it. The weight of the ball crushed it from the inside out, finally deleting it for good.

-=Appearing Advesaries=-
HotHeadHotHead (HotHead)

HotHeads alternate actions between attacking and guarding. These are the only actions HotHeads may perform, and the first action of every battle is always guarding. HotHeads will not break from this pattern unless forced to by status effects. HotHeads cannot be lifted or thrown, even with Rageclaw.

Area: Netopia, Hades Isle, Kotobuki Town

HP: 60
Attack Damage/Effect: 30 Fire + Break + Small Lava Terrain Change
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Fires Cannonball. Breaking. Creates Lava Terrain.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): LavaBall1, Zenny
Special: Immobile.
- Iron Body when not attacking.: CANNONBALLED
WhomperWhomper (Whomper)

Whomper viruses drop down from way up high, execute a breath attack, and rise back up. Dropping and attacking is an action, while moving back upward is a second action. They may also adjust where on the battlefield they drop next while in High Altitude as a free action. These are the only actions this virus family performs.

Area: Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 80
Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Fire + Small Lava Terrain Change + Cone Attack
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Uses a scorching hot breath weapon to slag the enemy and the ground.
Element: Fire
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): HeatBreath1, Zenny
Special: Has High Altitude every other action. This virus cannot attack while in High Altitude, but may adjust its positioning as a free action.: EATEN
MonoSwordMonoSword (MonoSword)

MonoSword are distant cousins of Swordy, but have evolved further in an attempt become more a threat. They attack by teleporting in front of their target, and slashing with their namesake before returning to their original position. Their blades are sturdier than most, and can cut through things regular ones cannot, such as shields. Their bulky armor also gives them above average stamina, but it weighs them down to the point where they do not move or dodge, aside from attacking. Despite it lacking any sort of defense that would bestow such a weakness, they ironically take additional damage from Break attribute attacks.

Area: Netopia, Yoka, Hades Isle

HP: 120
Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Null + Break + Slashing + Wide Attack
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Delivers an armor cutting slash.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): BreakKnife, Zenny
Special: Break Weakness: Attacks with the Break attribute deal +100% Source damage to this virus, as though hitting an elemental weakness.
Special: Moves by teleporting. This is not treated as a formal Teleport, and does not confer any bonuses. A: CRUSHED
MonoSwordMonoSword (MonoSword)

MonoSword are distant cousins of Swordy, but have evolved further in an attempt become more a threat. They attack by teleporting in front of their target, and slashing with their namesake before returning to their original position. Their blades are sturdier than most, and can cut through things regular ones cannot, such as shields. Their bulky armor also gives them above average stamina, but it weighs them down to the point where they do not move or dodge, aside from attacking. Despite it lacking any sort of defense that would bestow such a weakness, they ironically take additional damage from Break attribute attacks.

Area: Netopia, Yoka, Hades Isle

HP: 120
Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Null + Break + Slashing + Wide Attack
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Delivers an armor cutting slash.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): BreakKnife, Zenny
Special: Break Weakness: Attacks with the Break attribute deal +100% Source damage to this virus, as though hitting an elemental weakness.
Special: Moves by teleporting. This is not treated as a formal Teleport, and does not confer any bonuses. B: CLEAVED
MomograMomogra (Momogra)

Momogras move by tunneling through the ground. They poke their heads up just far enough from time to time to see where the enemy is, but they are still protected from most forms of attack. Drop attacks, Bomb attacks (which fall out of the air after being thrown), and Ground attacks damage them in this state. Other attacks executed from a high angle/altitude also work. All movements performed by a Momogra are considered a dodge, as they occur underground, and out of sight. Momogras only attack in response to having an attack launched in their direction, and only if they have an action remaining for that turn. Momogras attack by instantly tunneling to the panel behind the enemy, popping out of the ground, and striking with a shovel. A Momogra is completely vulnerable to any form of attack during its own atack, and until it moves again following that attack. The movement prior to the attack does not require an action, but movement afterwards does. The attack cannot execute if the panel behind the target is a liquid terrain type, Metal, Broken, or Missing. The attack also will not execute if there is something currently occupying the panel they would be attacking from. If the attack cannot execute, the Momogra will not move. In the case of Glass and Cracked terrain, the Momogras will still attempt to attack, but suffer the consequences of doing do as those panels will break and damage the Momogra, also causing the attack to fail. Momogra get 1 free movement per turn at the start of the turn before their first action.

Area: Okuden Valley, Hades Isle, NetVegas

HP: 60
Attack Damage/Effect: 15 Null + Backstab
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Hits enemy with shovel.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Mole1, Zenny
Special: Always attacks if it is targeted, though it can attack otherwise. Only overhead-striking attacks can hit these viruses while they are not attacking (bombs, etc.): WHACKED
WindBoxWindBox (Wind & Fan)

All viruses in this family are immobile during combat, with the exception of being able to turn to face any direction it wishes. Later versions of this virus may switch between Wind and Fan effects, which requires one action, during which time all wind or fan effects cease. Bonuses and penalties do not stack if multiples of the same virus family exist on the field. Wind and Fan do not push or pull Objects, only creatures.

Area: SciLab, Yoka, Beach, Sharo, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 100
Attack Damage/Effect: Wind Effect, Northwind
Attack Accuracy: S
Attack Description: Causes a large scale gale of wind to blow across the entire field in the direction the virus is facing. This gale will constantly move all targets this virus considers to be enemies in the direction the wind is blowing, which makes it difficult to land many kinds of attacks on it and allied viruses, such as thrown attacks and close ranged attacks. All those affected by the wind will also have their barriers and auras blown off by a constant Northwind effect.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Wind, Zenny
Special: Causes short ranged attacks, such as (but not limited to) swords, melee attacks, and flame thrower style weapons, to suffer from a 30% accuracy penalty against targets they are being pushed away from. Both sides of the engagement suffer a 30% accuracy penalty with direct attacks perpendicular to the direction of the wind, and all thrown attacks.
Special: Those allied with this virus may opt to take advantage of the wind to increase movement speed or evasion by going with the wind. They do not suffer any penalties, however. Conversely, anyone may move along with the wind to increase accuracy by 10% for close ranged attacks, assuming the target is in that direction.
Special: Northwind effect to all enemies once per virus action while maintaining wind effect.: PILEDRIVEN
QuakerQuaker (Quaker)

Area: Netopia, Hades Isle, NetVegas

HP: 80
Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Null + Piercing + Ground Attack + Chain(2) + Earthquake
Attack Accuracy: B
Attack Description: Jumps high into the air, then slams its wrecking ball onto the ground when it lands, making the ground shake, and forming a shock wave that zeroes in on enemies.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): WaveArm1, RockArm1, Zenny
Special: High Altitude Status while Jumping.
Special: If underground or in a building, it can break through ceilings or cause a rock-fall.
Special: Earthquake: Whenever this virus lands when using its attack, all enemies touching the ground have their evasion reduced by 1 rank until the end of the next turn. This effect does not stack with other Earthquake instances, and does not affect allies of this virus.
Special: Chain 3: This attack, upon striking a target, may change directions towards a new target. This may be done up to 3 times in one attack.: SNIPED

-=Venturing Virus Vanquishers=-
VenusMan.Exe: 100Hp [Over Normal][Edge of the lava]
Vasilia.Exe: 65Hp [Normal]

-=Lava-filled Landscape=-
45% Lava

• Non-Fire Elementals lose 5 HP/action standing, 10 HP/action submerged. Doubled for Wood Elementals, nullified for Fire Elementals.
• Aqua attacks: Panel explodes, +100% Source Aqua Damage, change terrain hit to Normal.
• PanelShot: Imbue Fire.

[Three large, broad pools that take up much of their surrounds]
40% Normal

• No effects.

[the solid land forward; mostly a broad, slightly jagged strip of land between the lava pools]
5% Metal

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

[Single panel a little way ahead of the navis]

-=Battle 1, Victory!!=-
Rewards:
Vasilia: HeatBreath1Damage: 80 + Medium Lava Terrain Change + Cone Attack
Accuracy: C
Description: Blast up to 4 enemies with a cone of fiery breath. Changes terrain to Lava.
Duration: Once
Element: Fire
Trader Rank: D, 1500z, +4 VenusMan FXP
VenusMan: LavaBall1Damage: 120 + Break + Small Lava Terrain Change
Accuracy: C
Description: A bomb that changes the ground it lands on to Lava
Duration: Once
Element: Fire
Trader Rank: D, 1500z, 31 BugFrags, +1 Quaker Bounty, +4 Vasilia FXP

Vasilia lowered her hands slowly as she watched the red ball fly into the air. The tail of her hat coiled up tight but otherwise she was still as she watched the sphere fly into the air.

"oh no." She whispered and moved her hands up to cover the lower half of her head. Would noise attract the ball toward her? Would it land on VenusMan? He was already pretty beat up, it wouldn't be good if that was the case!

The ball reached its apex and feel and for a moment her view was obscured by a splash of lava and a burst of data-fragments that left her gasping. She watched as part of the data split from the rest in the sky then zipped toward her to surround her in a blizzard of colors. Her hands came up slowly, reaching out to touch the swarm of data carefully like a child tentatively touching something new and wonderous.

"Ooh! That tingles! But it was really pretty!" Abruptly the data zipped straight toward the swirl on Vasilia's finger and was absorbed, leaving behind the glowing envelope she had been chasing. The PET register the influx of cash and chip data while Vasilisa tossed out her hand to grab the edge of the letter with an excited squeal. "We did it! We did it VenusM-"

Abruptly the little wooden Navi was encased in the pillar of light from an emergency jack-out protocol. As abruptly as it appeared it was gone, and so too was the little Navi VenusMan had been helping.

Considering how odd she was, maybe that was a good thing.

"Hey, are you there?" Maru asked, checking out why VenusMan had suddenly stopped moving. He had succesfully pushed the HotHead virus into the lava, which turned out to be their push into victory. But there were no cheers from VenusMan. Instead he was just standing, frozen in motion.

"This doesn't feel right," VenusMan thought, "Something's wrong." His fist was still in the air, directly after connecting to the virus. Behind his goggles he could turn his eyes to look around, but any other motion he was trying to attempt were blocked by an internal system failure. "Maybe Vasilia will notice and help..." He could her cheer. "Yes, please notice..." He could hear his name. The first half, at least, as the second half was cut off short from Vasilia leaving the network.

Seconds passed and VenusMan still didn't move a muscle. Maru, noticing the malfunction, had already pulled her laptop by her side and had already hooked her PET onto the laptop to get additional debug information on VenusMan's systems. "Looks like Carnivore isn't liking what's going on, runt," Maru commented after a moment of checking both of the Navi's halves, "We made a mistake in the calibration of your systems." After sliding her finger across the PET, she tapped the jack-out button.

But VenusMan wouldn't jack-out. "I can sense the command. I can feel the system trying to execute it," VenusMan's thoughts continued as he closed his eyes, "Why are you resisting?"

"That must be it," Maru said as she tapped her finger on laptop's mouse in thought, "You're doing fine, Venus, but Carnivore got all confused and mixed up in the complex calculations you were doing for your attacks. He's shut himself down, because it was too much."

It remained quiet in VenusMan's thoughts as he was processing what his Operator just said. Until he suddenly shouted out loud in his mind, "I'M FUCKING LAGGING!? I'm a NetNavi! A creation on the internet! I can't lag! Wake up, you stupid, dumb attachment!" And in that instant, VenusMan lowered his fist and calmed down his posture before quickly vanishing in a beam of light.