Voltman stretched as he stepped off of the river, listening to the gurgling of the water now that the viruses had been taken care of. The creaks of the wood broke the stillness of the scene as he went to cross the river properly, the dilapidated bridge managing to hold steady under his weight.
Beneath the facemask you could almost make out a small smile as he marked a brisk pace through the rest of the clearing. "You know there's something to be said for these outdated areas. It's practically wilderness. Like a, uh... a park, I guess?"
Julian's screen popped up, his expression deadpan. "A park? A literal walk in the park, you're comparing it to now." He shook his head, his mouse wheel clicking lightly as he scrolled through available data about the Yoka Rogue Net. "This place is more like an abandoned city than a park, Volt. Entire zones made obsolete years ahead of schedule. And instead of spending the time to work it together and just rebuild, they just thought it was cheaper to literally bury it and leave it be." His chair let out a groan as he sat back, his hands crossed behind his head. "It's a breeding ground. They just ignored the problem and moved on, and while I can appreciate an area to fish for viruses, this can't be healthy for the upper nets."
Voltman shrugged, absentmindedly kicking a rock as he kept walking. "I mean I get it, Jules, but most of our systems are just held up with sticks and wire behind the scenes anyway. That's how software's always been. It's just that before the net..." He kicked a nearby piece of wood, the rotted timber giving way and spreading a cloud of dust into the air "...we couldn't literally see the old stuff rotting away."

Minutes passed as they continued talking idly, making minor folder changes and walking a straight line across the abandoned network. There were always more viruses to find, more money to be made, more chips to collect, and Voltman was finally enjoying a chance to stretch and do all of it.

(Battle 2)

Standing over the river, Voltman lifted the lightly damp mystery data and tapped the outside of the casing to crack it open.

[Y]

His footsteps silent, Yoka Rogue remained as still and quiet as any of the decommissioned networks as Voltman reached the bridge.

Jules didn't bring up a hologram live, instead projecting himself into the corner of Voltman's visor for purposes of remaining stealthy. ["Three enemies, all aqua, one asleep."] Voltman whispered, a small highlight on his HUD identifying the unopened BMD in the water. It wasn't but a moment more before the unintelligible speech of the nearby viruses broke the silence, though they appeared to not have noticed him yet.
"Voltman, the awake ones are grouped and distracted. It's... basically free, as long as you can approach without being seen or heard. The problem then is the enemy in the water. It's unconscious for now, but who knows how long that'll keep." As he spoke, he slotted in an Areagrab and Elecsword, the yellow blade's glow dulled to nearly nothing for purposes of remaining stealthy.
Voltman looked down slightly. ["If I land on that bridge, the Floatshoes might not be enough to prevent it from making significant amounts of noise under my weight..."] His eyes lit up ["...So I don't land. A teleporting strike, and another teleport before I ever hit the ground. The sound of the river under Floatshoes might be significantly less noticeable to the sleeping enemy, which would allow me to get close and save the data."]

The sound of several more chips being inserted came through his earpiece, and Voltman prepared his Elecsword for immediate dissolution after the initial strike. Closing his eyes as he let out a deep breath, he inhaled...

Visualize your target. Strike with force and precision both. Empty all else from your mind.

A ghost vanished from the edge of the clearing and appeared directly behind the pair of chattering foes. A single, silent, swift slice, with a twist of the blade to ensure the death of the Bark. And as quickly as it had appeared the sword vanished from the hilt outwards, barely leaving more evidence of its presence than the slight arc of light it had trailed a moment before. The ghost vanished again from the air above the bridge.

...and exhaled softly, landing on top of the river without disturbing the water below him. If his plan had worked he was safe, but realistically he had only moments. If either one of the bridge viruses had dodged his attack it could ruin his plan to catch the sleeping enemy unaware. Crouching forward as the Blue Mystery Data drifted toward him with sleeping passenger in tow, he summoned a much smaller blade and gripped the handle tightly.

The moment his hand gripped the data, he tore his arms simultaneously in both directions from the center. In his left, the Blue Mystery Data, taken to protect it from its dozing rider. In his right, the Elecknife, taking the dozing rider from this world.

And with that, if only for a moment, the clearing was deadly silent once more.

[Turn summary]
1) Offense of the Swordsmet (Accuracy Enhancement, Strengthen 40 [x2])
2) Areagrab to just behind/above the distracted viruses on the bridge
3) Elecsword to Aquagear, Bark (190 to Aquagear [95x2], 270 to Bark [(95+40)x2 (Accuracy enhanced)(Strengthen used on Bark hit)
4) Areagrab to beside Snoozier on the river
[Floatshoes function: Try to remain quiet on the water, standing 'on top' of the river]
5) Hold Blue Mystery Data steady (try to not disturb the Snoozier, BMD is held if snoozier moves)
6) Elecknife to Snoozier [75x2](Accuracy enhanced)

Hey! So I've been in the Discord for the past day or so, but I also wanted to say here that I'm going to be giving this another try! I won't be posting as often as I used to, but I do want to continue the adventures of my old pair in earnest.

Glad to see y'all are well!

[From here]

A beam of light struck the ground from above as Voltman hit the net for the first time in entirely too long. Standing up he shook his arms and legs as if removing a fine coat of dust only he could see, and stopped just as suddenly. "Jules, I feel... lighter. Is there network interference? You getting me ok here?" He waved upwards towards where he had jacked in from, knowing full well that his operator could see him regardless.

A small screen opened up just in front of him, Julian's face looking sickly but slightly excited against the pale glow of the monitors. "Network connection is fine, but you may experience a bit of early weirdness with your combat capabilities. In the time since we've been virus busting I've significantly reduced your processing load-" a set of small graphs appeared on the monitor next to him "-which should result in an according uptick in your speed. This means your swordplay may be slightly more basic, but it should significantly open mobility options for you in battle."

Voltman turned his hands over, clenching and unclenching his fists and wiggling his fingers before letting off a few quick punches to the air. "Huh, alright. It'll take some getting used to, but I guess that's why we're here."

He wandered down the derelict net, eyes peeled, his footsteps making no sound but his armor lightly clattering as he proceeded towards combat for the first time in too long.

(Battle 1, 200 HP)

[From here]

Jules collapsed back into his chair, thinking. "Do you think- should I have talked with him more? Was I too 'to the point'? I mean I've never really thought about it before, but his job's gotta be pretty dull..." He started tapping his foot and biting his lip slightly. "I mean for all I know other folks actually have a rapport with him. I was- I've always- We never really connected, y'know, and-" Voltman's hologram popped up from the PET, interrupting his friend's nervous mumbling.
"It's a job, Jules. There's no expectation that you make friends with the employees, just that you treat them like people." His visor glowed slightly brighter as he smiled up at him. "Just relax, it's a free day for us. Now- nothing for it but to jump straight back into the deep end." Shuffling his feet slightly, he crossed his arms and looked downwards. "I've got an ice fishing score to settle, as it were. So I'd appreciate heading for Sharo net."

Jules immediately sat further up, shaking his head. "No can do. It took an entire squad just to pacify that thing last time, we are not trying to take it on alone." He pulled up the data of Squalo's tooth, stored safely away since the day they'd failed to stop him and been saved by an official.

"I'm stronger now, Jules. More powerful, more well equipped, and faster than ever. I can do this." Voltman's voice was almost pleading. But... Julian was resolute. He wasn't about to risk Voltman's life again, against a foe he was confident they couldn't face.

He sniffed slightly and avoided his navi's gaze, turning his chair towards his computer and opening a browser window. "We'll get our bearings in the second level of Electown net. If..." He turned his head to Voltman "...and I do mean if we manage to find enough here to boost your combat strength a bit further... then, we can start combing Sharo net for your whale."

"Now, Jack In, Voltman.exe! Transmit!"

[To here]

"I, uh- you're welcome! Thank you!" Slightly overenthusiastic, he waved and nodded his head as he left the shop. It was time to go home and get back into the swing of things.

[To here]

(From here)

Jules almost felt like a stranger in the chip shop despite having been there countless times before.

Hesitantly, he approached the checkout counter and started to point to the chips under the counter. "Hi, uh... I'll take... a Bambooknife." Falling silent again, a small cough from his PET seemed to shake him slightly and he looked down again. "Alright oh and, uh... four Untraps, and a bookmark."

(1800 + 1200 + 1000, total 4000z)

The low clattering of a keyboard was the only sound in the room, and the only light a faint glow from a monitor in the corner. With the heavy curtains drawn tight and the door closed you wouldn't be faulted for thinking it was the dead of night. The figure at the keyboard sighed and stretched, cracking his neck and sitting back in his chair as the PET on the desk lit up.

Voltman tapped a finger to his cheek, thinking briefly before breaking the silence in the room.
"Jules, are you... ok? With this?" The chair's creaking abruptly stopped as Jules looked at the projection of his navi, his expression harder to read in the dim lighting but visibly confused nonetheless. Voltman shook his head slightly. "This lifestyle. It's been days since you've left for anything but groceries, you spend hours just watching videos, reading message boards, or streamlining my code. We've only been virus busting enough to meet rent and for you to eat." He put his arms up, half shrugging and half gesturing to the apartment around him. Soundless, the apartment itself seemed to be holding its breath. "You just... you just used to seem so lively." As he finished, the chair creaked and some semblance of life returned to the room.
"I... I don't know." Jules leaned on one fist as he stared blankly at the monitors, his brow slightly furrowed in thought. "We're doing enough to get by, and more just seems... unreasonable." His expression seemed to shift as he lowered his gaze to his desk. "Some days it's hard enough to get out of bed for this, much less function as your operator for anything intensive." The words hovered in the air as he fell silent once more.

Voltman paused for only a moment, before a slight beep sounded and the curtains flew open. A wordless shriek barely made it out of Jules' mouth as he toppled over, shielding his eyes from the light. Voltman's image hovered over the figure now tangled in blankets and laundry on the floor, pointing directly at what was probably a head. "You're going out. Today. And we're going to go virus busting, get some petty cash, and get you some decent food for once."


An hour later, cleaned and presentable to the world, they were on the bus for ACDC town's chip shop.
(To here)

Given how my signature effects and game plan has been for a while, while Swords may be his main tool, his speed has always been his biggest asset.

As such, I'd like to change Voltman from a Sword subtype to a Speed subtype

All else remains unchanged for him

Edit: Volt not votl

Also, I would like to change my operator's name to Julian Tibbett. I made their name way back when I thought I had to make it sound japanese(?) and it's uh, a bit of an embarrassment.