Posts made by LunarianKnight

Cassius rubbed his eyes and blinked a few times, both stinging from the flash Coronaman produced. When the light faded, he looked just in time to see Aestus dodge the bomb the opposing navi laid down. He had to think quickly. He looked around the battlefield, looking for something to even the odds.

"You can't let him hit you with that buster... it's powerful." Aestus grimaced and tried to blink the spots out of her eyes as she stood up, ready to deliver her next attack.

"Wonderful observation! What do you want me to do now?" Cassius smirked and slotted another set of chips into the terminal.

"Alright, here's how it's going to go. Just wait for the next attack, make sure he stays -right- there." A flash of prismatic light enveloped Aestus for a brief moment before fading away as the first of the set chips took effect. As ordered she readied her weapon and stood in wait for Coronaman to make his move. The moment after the first counterattack was delivered, Cassius pushed a button on the terminal. In an instant, Aestus was standing on top of an enormous block suspended from the ceiling. Beneath her was Coronaman in the spot she'd just occupied.

"Keep low, stay quiet.. Use that naginata to cut the cable. When I say so, jump." Aestus nodded, quickly and quietly cutting through the only thing keeping the great cube from the ground. The cable severed and the heavy thing began its rapid descent toward the ground and Coronaman below.

"Okay, now! Jump off and use it for cover!" The navi obeyed, leaping off the block before it landed and took cover behind her new shield.

~Synopsis~
Guard1
AreaGrab (teleportation to the cube above)
Action: (Cut the cable of the cube and leap off to take cover behind it once it hits the ground)

Cassius was taken aback by his opponent, a miliatary woman if her dogtags were any indication. Aestus was equally surprised by the towering figure that was her opponent. Regardless, the operator grinned and took her hand to shake it in his own.

"Cassius Markai. Nice to meet ya. Nice work on your navi's coding, the voice is an excellent touch." The announcer blared his warning for the match to start and the operator jumped a bit. The fight was about to begin.

"Aah, guess it's time to fight now. Wish ya the best." He flashed a playful grin and quickly walked to his terminal. He opened the folder and looked at the chips inside, making a quick inventory of what was inside.

"Wood... that's an interesting coincidence. Aestus, did I ever tell you that I almost made you a wood navi before I decided to make you a water navi?" The navi bristled, keeping her eyes on her opponent.

"Is now really the best time?"

"Just hear me out. I did some work on some chips we got in the folder before. Looks like we got lucky."

"We wouldn't have to rely on luck if you just submitted your request for a water folder like I told you time and time again..." She replied tersely through pursed lips.

"Not the point. I'm going to send you something. When you get it, charge in." The navi nodded, watching the flash of code wash over her arm. On her left forearm a black box with a red question mark on each face appeared.

"What the hell... Did the code not translate over?" Cassius was mortified to see the generic glitched object box floating where his chip should have been.

"J-just.. Use it as a shield Aestus. The chip will still do the same thing." The navi nodded, setting her feet and tightening her grip on her naginata in her other hand. She dashed forward, the strange block held in front of her like a shield. A flash took her naginata's form as the operator set another chip. The blade of the back end of the weapon disappeared and the shaft shortened slightly, forming into a much lighter material. The bamboo knife's blade formed at the end, keeping some part of her original blade's shape.

The navi acted without hesitation, feeling the change in weight and size and leapt into the air, aiming to fly past the navi's side. She held the box foward still, the supposed shield to block an oncoming attack, and swung the knife at the navi's side, aiming for the area of the armor beneath his arm socket.

She landed just behind him and quickly swept her leg to turn her self to face the large navi's back and went for the leg-hip joint before making a quick leap backwards in hopes of avoiding a counterattack.

~Synopsis~
RiskyHoney:Damage: 5x10 + Homing (used as the shield)
BambooKnifex2: Damage: 60 + Slashing
Free Dodge Action

Aestus.exe... Jack In!



* * *
She looked around at the arena and walked around, surveying the large columns coming out of the floor.

"Lots of places for cover. Not great for ranged fighters because there's stuff to hide behind. But then, it's great for ranged fighters because there's stuff to hide behind." Aestus rolled her eyes.

"Insightful, Cassius. Truly..." Cassius laughed and thumbed through the chips he recieved.

"Why so serious, my dear. The fight hasn't started yet. You don't have to worry either, you'll be perfectly fine."

"I'm not worried.." She retorted, gripping onto her blade. Her prismatic armor took form and wrapped around her, glistening with every shade of blue. Her hair took a like quality, or so much that spilled from beneath her battle helm.

"I don't remember having this helmet.." Cassius clicked his tongue and grined.

"I made a rewrite or two, it won't hinder you any. It just looks cool." Cassius' grin faded and he took a deep breath. The navi did the same, noting that he was -finally- settling into a serious mood.

"Alright Aestus. Get yourself ready. It looks like whoever we're fighting isn't here yet." Aestus nodded, clenching her fist around the shaft of her double naginata.

"Quick reaction times on those things.." Cassius sighed and smirked, his virual likeness grinning at the remaining spikey.

"I sense a great warrior's spirit within you, young wolf..." His voice dropped low and held a overly dramatic overtone. His virtual projection was suddenly wearing a gi much like those of old kung-fu masters in action and martial arts movies. Upon his chin was an absurdly long and white beard that blew with his equally long and white hair in the absence of wind. He nodded to the navi who rolled her eyes and charged forward with her naginata/sword raised.

"While your reserve may be strong, the warrior spirit of my battle goddess is stronger still." His eyes narrowed and his virtual arm pointed at the spikey facing Aestus down.

"You were dead the moment you set foot on the battlefield" Aestus brought the blade down toward the spikey's head, then leapt over it to swing at its flank. She leapt off to the side and held her naginata firm, ignoring her operator's bizarre act and preparing to fend off the next attack.

~synopsis~
Sword [80+slashing] x2 : Spikey A
FAD
Guard

"One hit from that sword near killed it... Aestus, you know what to do. Lets end this quick, okay darlin'?" The navi didn't respond to the playful nickname, charging off toward the yet untouched and uninjured spikey before it had time to launch a counterattack.

She brought the sword across the breadth of the wolf-virus' gut, then brought the unaltered end of the transformed weapon on it in quick succession. The path of the initial blow laid, she leaped to the virus' side and let a quick sweep find itself rushing toward the creature's leg. The final thrust was aimed after she pivoted and turned, gracefully stepping around her quarry to land a blow on the injured Spikey.

"Lets be sure it's done, I don't want any chance of an unexpected cheap shot. Aestus, do your thing." By reflex and sheer knowledge of Cassius' battle preference, Aestus instantly interpreted her operator's instruction and brought her naginata-sword buster up like a shield before jamming it into the ground to launch herself backward and out of the way of any of the virus' retaliation. The weapon glowed and the warrioress obediently spun it in her hands. With each rotation the weapon's glow became much more intense, soon forming a glimmering sphere in the center of the spinning weapon's shaft. All at once the sphere shattered and a flurry of energy shards rushed from the central point of the navi's staff, rushing forward to pepper her foes and the ground around them.

~Synopsis~

Sword [80+Slashing]---> Spikey A
Unda Del Ultronis: [5]--->Spikey A [10]--->Spikey A [25]--->Spikey C
FAD
Shotgun [50+Spread]--->All Remaining

][My mistake. It's the details that catch me from time to time.][

"Cannons, knights and ghosts, now hell hounds. The net has an interesting host of viruses that call it home. Alright." A shine overtook one end of Aestus' naginata, the blade lengthening considerably and expanding down a portion of the weapon's shaft. She took a brief moment to evaluate the weapon's new weight and gave it a small trial swing before rushing into battle.

"This thing is powerful, soften up each of em with one swing and we'll fly it from there. Stay sharp, I don't know what these things can do and I don't want to have them hitting you to find out." The navi rushed toward her opponents, leaping left and right as she advanced to keep from having a bead drawn. She came within ten feet of the central spikey then leaped into the air, doing a somersault with her blade held outward. As she passed over the wolf, the blade's path directed where it stood beneath her. The moment she landed behind the virii, she spun quickly to her left, swinging the sword's blade in a wide arc toward another of the spikey's backs.

"Take up the defensive, I'm not going to take chances with this one." The navi seemed to understand the command before it was issued, pushing the sword into the ground an pulling the weapon with her as she vaulted backward and out of immediate range. Again the shining form of a shield washed over the warrioress, forming a prismatic and ethereal luster as it took it's hardened and finished form.

~Synopsis~

Sword--->Spikey B [80+Slashing]
Sword--->Spikey C [80+Slashing]
FAD (Free Action Dodge]
Guard 1

The navi sighed as she finally addressed the wound on her lower chest. Concern flashed in Cassius' eyes as he assessed the damage.

"That sword dealit got a pretty good slash in... Great job on maintaining in spite of it all." Aestus smiled slightly, brooding over letting herself make such a careless mistake as to be hit.

"Your combat skills have increased something crazy though. You were amazing, I have to say." The warrioress straightened herself and regained her composure, gazing into the screen her operator floated beside her in with anticipation.

"If you're ready to go back out, I won't stop you. If you do though, the viruses are bound to get tougher, so we have to take that into consideration. Bu-"

"Yes." She replied simply, cutting Cassius off mid-sentence. Her eyes hardened and she turned to face the openness of the net. He smirked and nodded, examining his new chip data.

"Hey, we got a sword chip. That'll work out nicely, eh?" Aestus nodded vaguely and set herself in her battle stance.

"Ready when you are, darlin'."

][Next Battle Request][

The navi didn't need to consult with her operator to know what she had to do. The moment the shield dissipated the navi rolled quickly behind the knight closest to her, quickly bringing up her rage claw weapon up beneath it, attempting to get off another throw at the other knightly virus.

Before it would reach him however, Aestus would quickly dash over behind the other knight to thrust her naginata into the ground just before it, with the intent of impaling and holding it to keep it from moving.

Once her weapon found ground, she leaped to the side and away from an immediate counterattack.

~Synopsis~

Rageclaw Swordy A[20]----(before impact (if workable))
Buster/attempted holding action (melee action regardless)
Free dodge action
----Swordy B[20]

<<Convoluted though it may be, I'm just looking to see if it can be done.>>

The navi winced as she received the blow, jumping back a foot or two. She quickly reset her step, bringing down her now normal weapon down toward the swordy's head, then stepped quickly out of its slash range to have another chance at its side before turning to stab him in the back. As the weapon made its final thrust, the end shone again to take a claw-like shape. She shoved it beneath the knight and made a quick sweeping motion, arcing a path that lead from one knight to the other.

"Good, now get out of dodge. Those things can produce a nasty wallop if you let them get too close it seems."

The navi did a quick leap backwards, holding her weapon at the ready to parry another oncoming strike.

"I won't make the mistake of being hit twice..."

"Better play it safe..." Cassius muttered, sliding in another chip. A shield too the breadth of the naginata's shaft, then shifted to the navi herself. Her colors shifted prismatically as the shield solidified.


~synopsis~

Unda Dea Ultonis (all three strikes on Swordy B 40 dmg)
Rageclaw (swordy B [20]------>swordy A [20] )
Free Action Dodge
Guard

"Well these are new." The operator mused, arranging his chips in preparation for the oncoming rush. The warrioress navi firmed her footing and sized up the competition.

"Two of them are in armor, the other one.. Well it looks like a ghost... I'm thinking that we should keep our distance and see what they can do." The navi nodded, holding her naginata out in front of herself.

"What strategy do you suggest?" Cassius paused for a moment before loading a chip into the PET.

"Back up a good distance and focus on your target. I'll take care of the rest." Aestus offered a compliant nod, leaping back a good several feet before setting her eyes on the center of her opponents. Her naginata transformed and she set her feet, aiming the barrel of her newly formed cannon at the end of the naginata's shaft. She let the blast fly toward the apparition in the middle of the group, bracing against the kick of the weapon.

Her naginata changed again, shimmering in her hands. She spun the newly formed shotgun weapon and let the shards of energy fly toward the whole of the group.


~Synopsis~

Take Aim
Cannon Spooky (40)
Shotgun Spooky (50+Spread1)

The virii disappeared as the navi slid to a stop. She held her weapon in hand, standing rigid as she watched the remnants of her attackers dissolve into fragmented code.

"Hey, this is interesting." Aestus turned to look to the screen her operator floated next to her in. He held up a new chip.

"Want to see what it does?" He smirked. The navi simply shook her head.

"You are going to show me anyway, and it's stupid not to know what's in my arsenal. Just tell me." Cassius loaded the chip into the PET. Aestus leaped a bit in shock as the upper half of her naginata shone and began to broaden. The blade became the shining metal of the broadened tube of a cannon. The edge of the blade morphed at the end of the tube to form a sort of bayonet.

"Looks like another ranged weapon. Single shot unlike the shotgun. Can't say that I like what it does to your naginata though, I'll see if I can't get someone to customize it a bit. In the mean time, there's only one real way to test it out. Get ready Aestus, we're going to field test this new chip."

The navi nodded as the chips were reset and the cannon disengaged. She set her feet and held her weapon at her side, searching for her next set of challengers.'

][Battle 2 Request][

Cassius smirked, a screen popping up next to the battle-ready navi.

"Alright, we've fought these things before. You know the routine." Aestus nodded as she spoke, her operator spoke at the same time as she did, mirroring everything to the inflection of her voice.

"Go in low, sweep from the side, stay out of the line of fire. Fast. Precise."

The navi dashed as the cannons lined up and prepared to attack, cutting a quick circle left and wide around the leftmost cannon. Her naginata began to spin on the surface of her open hand as she approached the opponents' side. She set her feet and pushed the spinning weapon forward, a hail of fire showering the cannon and the ground around it.

She grabbed the shaft of her weapon as the final shots rang out, a quick shine taking one end of the double bladed weapon and turning it into something resembling a claw. She quicky resumed her advance, completing the last few steps of her advance to the enemies' rear, then took one more quick step forward and swung at the met, aiming along a clear path that lead from beneath it to the back of the cannon to her right.

As the weapon swung she took another step forward, swinging it down toward the untouched cannon. The moment her blade was level, she made a quick horizontal swing, spinning to increase its momentum as it rushed toward the large cable connecting the head of the cannon to its base on the second cannon. She followed the swing, making a somersaulting into the air and over her current target to thrust the blade down into the cannon's head.

The moment she landed she made a dash backward, readying herself for her opponents' retaliation.


~actions~
Shotgun Canodumb B(50+Spread1)
Rageclaw Met(20)--->CanodumbB(20)
Unda Dea Ultionis (3 strikes; 5dmg CA, 10 CB, 25 CA)
Free dodge action

Cassius stared out of his window, bored out of his mind. School had been out for hours and his homework had been done long since too.

"You gotta give me something to make you yell at me for. Life is just too dull without it." The screen on his computer blinked as a window containing the azure-skinned greek warrior appeared, her usual soft scowl replaced by a distant look of nonchalance.

"You're usually more social than this, Cassius. Normally I can't get you to do your homework to save your life, now you're doing it early and sitting around the house.." Cassius smirked in slight.

"Yeah, the whole world's gone upside down. However..." Cassius started, his usual airy, aloof tone creeping back into his voice. The navi perked up a bit hearing his energy returning to him.

"With all this free time, we can get -you- a bit more battle experience." He put his elbows on the desk and rested his head on his hands, leaning close up to the screen.

"So Aestus, how's about we get you online? We'll laugh, we'll talk, we'll drink in the wine that is your magnificent grace on the battlefield, we'll make a regular date of it." The navi's face transitioned once again to a deeper shade of blue before her indignant protest faltered Cassius' smile.

"Don't say strange things!" She folded her arms, her eyes locked on Cassius' own.

"Okay, okay... fine... Calm down, Aestus... How about we just get you jacked in and we'll go from there." There was a pause and then she disappeared. Moments later his PET beeped, warning something had arrived on his terminal.

* * *

The navi fastened the last bit of her armor to her arm and pulled her weapon from her back as she refamiliarized herself with her surroundings.

"Heads up, Aestus, time to get back into the rhythm of things. They can pop up at any given moment."

Aestus nodded, setting her feet on the ground and scanning her surroundings, waiting for the next foe to challenge.

{Request for Battle 1}

The ad catches Cassius' eye. Smirking, he downloads the information for Aestus to see.
"Think you could handle a little competition?"

The navi frowns from her resting place, watching the details on the upcoming tournament.

"I'm sure you have far more important things to worry about Ca-"

"Then it's settled. Drone on about my work all you want, don't act like you don't want to."

"That's hardly the issue at hand, Cassius! You know good and well what you have to do in school."

Cassius smirked as he began to fill out the form.

"Yell at me after you win."
Net-Op Name: Cassius Markai
E-Mail Address:Jamiefujikata@gmail.com
Navi Name: Aestus.exe
Element/Type: Aqua/Sword
Event: <ONB Tournament>
Entry Fee: <Paid in Full>

Friends, compatriots, or anyone who cares, no I have not left the site. MY semester in school robbed me of most of my time here. I thought after that I would have some downtime, but family drama kicked in as soon as my break started. After that, Christmas family stuff, and now friend drama. I'll return as soon as I can, but I'm just letting it be known; I'm not dead

Aestus sized up the remainder of her opponents, eyes falling on the last Shrubby and Cannon.

"Ah that explains a thing or two." Aestus, prepared to charge, halted momentarilly.

"What do you mean?" Cassius's fingers were a flurry on the keys of the terminal as his eyes scanned the numbers appearing on the screen.

"Remember that program I told you about? Anyway.. I understand that weird inconsistency now." Aestus growled up at her operator, trying to get his focus back on the battle.

"Right.. Just use that throw attack one more time. It ought to finish them off this time." Nodding, the navi obeyed the command. The hooked end of her naginata hurtled once again toward the shrubby, aiming to hurl it at the cannon. For good measure, she followed behind it, slashing at the cannon herself. As better caution taught her, she again lept back to saftey after the blows were struck.

::Synopsis::

Rage Claw - Damage: 40 + Slashing / 20 + Impacting (ShrubbyB ---> Canondumb C)

Buster: 8 (Cannondumb C) x2

Dodge

][I'll keep that well in mind][

Aestus rounded off, surveying the virii for a moment before she crouched on the ready to attack again. Cassius nodded, sending the navi back toward the virii again. She noted the slightly smoking cannon.

"Focus your attack on that main cable attached to the head." Aestus made a quick slash across, up and down the length of, and jabbed her weapon toward the canondumb's main cable. Quickly spinning about, she took the clawed side of her naginata and swept it toward the remaining bush virus, attempting to hurl it at the other cannon. For good measure, she sliced at the cable connecting the head of the cannon to its base and leaped off to the side once again.

::synopsis::

Unda Dea Ultionis 40 dmg (back of Canondumb B.)

Rage Claw - Damage: 40 + Slashing / 20 + Impacting (launch remaining shrubby at Canondumb C.)

Buster Attack Canondumb C (8dmg.)

Dodge

Aestus watched as the Virii materialized before her, readying her weapon.

"Look out with these things, Aestus. Those three in the front are projectile. They look affixed to the ground and their mobility looks limited." Cassius loaded a chip into the terminal, Aestus's spear beginning to spin on the surface of her hand.

"Cut a wide berth around, they don't look like they would have an easy time rotating, but it looks like they can aim up. Avoid jumping over them, or staying in their line of fire." Without another word Aestus charged forward, obediently making a wide arc around the cannons and slipping behind them.

"Two virii behind the cannons!" Aestus took a moment to aim then let the shot fly at the virii. The moment the shot fired, Cassius pushed another chip into the console, the blades on Aestus's naginata instantly curling into a claw. Her weapon swept along the ground, its taloned blades taking a path from one of the shrub-like virii that would sent it into the cannon in front of it. Quickly spinning about, her blade would swing in an attempt to catch the other virus and fling it likewise into the cannon in front of it. Taking no chances, Aestus fliped backward several feet in an attempt to prepare herself for the enemy's counterattack

::Synopsis::
Shotgun - Damage: 50 + Spread 1 (Set A from behind)

Rage Claw - Damage: 40 + Slashing / 20 + Impacting (throw shrubby A into Canondumb A

Rage Claw - Damage: 40 + Slashing / 20 + Impacting (throw shrubby B into Canondumb B

Dodge

Aestus stood over the last virus as it slowly disintegrated back into the code from whence it came. Wincing, her weapon clearly trembles in her hand as she looks down at the ground. A long moment of silence passes before Cassius is heard.

"You did good, Aestus. I'm proud of you."

She scoffed, twirling her blades about through the air, eyes scanning their every movement.

"It's not the weapon, Aestus. I didn't take effective damage calculation into account. It just means we'll have to work on your agility a bit, that's all." Cassius's voice was soft, reverting back to its usual nurturing tone, or at least as far as Aestus was concerned.

"We'll just keep busting up virii until we don't have to make so many passes at the enemy. Look at the bright side, you didn't take a point of damage. You're good."

Aestus nodded, though still clearly disappointed with her performance. Cassius felt strangely detached from the navi at the other end of the terminal. Whenever it came to Aestus's proficiency in battle, she was always hard on herself. It was something he got used to seeing. But this time it wasn't a simulation or an exercise, it was a real battle. There was a deeper sense of disappointment in her eyes that he couldn't get over. Finally, his voice firmed up a bit.

"Subsisto res rumex quod amplio." He said, arms crossed. Aestus looked up and into the screen on the terminal, her expression a mix of shock and amusement.

"And what is that supposed to mean, Cassius?" She placed her weapon on her back, still retaining her battle regalia.

Why did she have to be so beautiful..

"And what's with that strange slack expression on your face?" Aestus's second question snapped Cassius back to the conversation.

"It means, if you're not satisfied with your performance, work on it. I mean, it's what you tell me all the time." Aestus managed a smile, something Cassius hardly got to see, at least in such earnest. It pulled his lips to curl into a grin. Her reply was a simple nod.

"Now, I believe that constitutes the resolution of our bet, my dear navi. You won, so I guess it's time for me to hit the books." Aestus started to nod, but her usual steely resolve faltered. As quickly as she tried to hide it, the grin on Cassius's lips broadened.

"You don't want to stop, do you?" Aestus's aloofness vanished in an instant and she folded her arms as a mother would right as she was about to scold her child.

Why are you so good at that..

"Must I remind you that your grades are at stake here, Cassius?" But her complaint seemed to fall on deaf ears. Cassius's grin remained.

"You know, if you want to fight again, all you need to do is say so." The most incredible thing happened as Aestus stood before her operator. Her azure skin got darker around her cheeks. If she were her regular self, Cassius imagined her face would be a tinted shade of red. The sight made his jaw drop slightly. She was either greatly embarrassed, or getting seriously angry with him. Either way, Cassius wanted to see how it would turn out. The navi bowed her head, hand gripping her weapon even tighter. Bowing his head in turn, he nods.

"You don't have to s-"

"Yes. I wish to continue." Her reply was more like a jumble of words shot from a cannon than a structured sentence from an intelligent navi. Cassius blinked a couple of times, more than surprised with Aestus's sudden change in behavior.

"Well, far beit from me to stop you." A bay in the terminal opened up, dumping the used chips onto the desk with one more that Cassius didn't recognize.

"Well look at that, a new chip. Well friend, let's wait around for a bit. I'm sure there's some virii still wandering about in the net. If those were the last ones, I'm sure we deserve some medals. Then again, this is -my- luck we're talking about here." They both snickered, then the playful candor on their faces faded away again. Taking her weapon from the ground, holding it at the ready, they waited for the next opponent to appear.

][Waiting for battle 2][