With the dark tree no longer clinging to the shadows, Delta was increasingly hemmed in by foes – though it seemed as though the collection of ancient beehives remained inert for now, each with a swarm of skeeters already buzzing above them. The tree itself rattled its branches and the moaning wind through the wood became a roaring wail of sound amidst the rustle of boughs and the fiercely whipping winds. Exposed to it a second time, Delta might notice that the blast of air that rushed through the clearing crackled with viral code, enough to interfere with any fields or barriers he might be using – fortunate for Delta then, that he wasn't in the habit of utilising that sort of defence.

He struck out with his blade, removing another of the dark tree's possible duplicates then turned his attention on the skeeters and their hives... but a grave miscalculation of past experiences seemed to have led the navi astray at a tactical moment. Even as he began making his flurry of swift buster shots at the smaller targets the tree's long scything branches continued to lash out at him, largely unhindered by its iron-bark defence. The tree certainly seemed to be rooted to the spot and immobile, but perhaps this wasn't a condition too unfamiliar to trees in general. It definitely didn't seem to be inhibiting it from attacking him and its branches had Delta well within reach. A storm of rapid shots and swings ensued from both sides of the battle as each tried to assail the other.

Delta's first two shots swiftly eliminated one of the skeeter swarms before it could react, but in turn GloomScythe swung two strikes in his direction, landing one scoring blow on the navi in the process. Amidst the rapid movements the long shadows played in the candle's flickering light and the dark tree seemed to take note of the way the flame was healing its prey and its attention began to split between delta and his summon. It aimed one scythe at each the navi and the candle, but was clearly becoming more focused on the troublesome light – the scythe aimed at Delta missed, while the other bit into the wax and made the flame waver for a moment.

Delta, meanwhile took another pair of shots at one of the hives, destroying it and preventing any further summons from that particular source, while the second swarm of skeeters rushed him, missing by a hair. Not far away, the third skeeter swarm followed suit, this group succeeding at finding exposed points on Delta's body and hungrily draining data from him. Fully distracted for the moment, the tree continued to slash at the cursed light, sending globs of wax flying left and right across the clearing and making the shadows warp and twist while Delta handily eliminated another swarm of insects with another pair of quick shots. If nothing else he was getting good bounty credit here...

The light from the candle continued to flow, healing both Delta and the candle itself, and as the navi continued to destroy bugs and hives, the tree's attention seemed to begin turning back towards the more obvious threat. It struck the candle one more time, but still failed to destroy it, before sweeping its scythes back in Delta's direction – another half-distracted miss, fortunately.

Harried by the attacks, Delta's next target only received one of his buster shots, the other going slightly wide, and so the second beehive remained; damaged and dripping from its ancient combs, but still intact. A final pair of strikes from both the navi and the tree saw Delta take a last pair of slicing blade strikes even as he successfully destroyed the third skeeter swarm.

The deluge of rapid assaults seemed to let up for a moment as the tree's hardened defence faded and the darkness drew in around it again. It was still looking worse for wear and that aggressive assault seemed to have taken some energy for the twisted entity to exert in is damaged condition. Maybe now Delta would have an opportunity to finish it off.

-=Hive-Hoarder=-
GloomScythe.Tree: 80Hp [Directly North of Delta, at the edge of the clearing][Soil]

SkeeterSkeeter (Skeeter)

Area: Yoka, Okuden Valley, Beach, Yumland, Netfrica

HP: 30
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 30 Drain (Null)
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: A swarm of Skeeters flies at the target. They will drain HP if they connect.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Drain1, Zenny
Special: Omnishoes A: DELETED
SkeeterSkeeter (Skeeter)

Area: Yoka, Okuden Valley, Beach, Yumland, Netfrica

HP: 30
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 30 Drain (Null)
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: A swarm of Skeeters flies at the target. They will drain HP if they connect.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Drain1, Zenny
Special: Omnishoes B: DELETED
SkeeterSkeeter (Skeeter)

Area: Yoka, Okuden Valley, Beach, Yumland, Netfrica

HP: 30
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 30 Drain (Null)
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: A swarm of Skeeters flies at the target. They will drain HP if they connect.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Drain1, Zenny
Special: Omnishoes A2: DELETED
SkeeterSkeeter (Skeeter)

Area: Yoka, Okuden Valley, Beach, Yumland, Netfrica

HP: 30
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 30 Drain (Null)
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: A swarm of Skeeters flies at the target. They will drain HP if they connect.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Drain1, Zenny
Special: Omnishoes B2: DELETED
SkeeterSkeeter (Skeeter)

Area: Yoka, Okuden Valley, Beach, Yumland, Netfrica

HP: 30
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 30 Drain (Null)
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: A swarm of Skeeters flies at the target. They will drain HP if they connect.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Drain1, Zenny
Special: Omnishoes C: DELETED

-=Bee-Seeker=-
Delta.EXE: 125Hp [In the middle of the clearing][Grass][Regen: 5Hp per action while Candle lasts][Sword: 2/6]

Candle: 60Hp [Behind Delta][Grass][Regen: 5Hp per action (it counts as taking a single action each round, refreshing the regen)][1 Round]

-=Terrain=-
(Terrain is mostly grass in the middle of the clearing, with soil around the edges)
40% Soil

• Wood Elementals get +10% Evasion.
• Wood attacks: +100% Source Damage, change terrain hit to Grass.
• 100 Damage Aqua attacks: Change terrain hit to Mud.
• 100 Damage Fire attacks: change terrain hit to Coal.
• PanelShot: Imbue Wood.

60% Grass

• Wood Elementals get +5 HP/action.
• Fire attacks: +100% Source Damage, change terrain hit to Soil.
• PanelShot: Imbue Wood.

-=Objects=-
Twisted Tree North-East: DELETED
Twisted Tree East: DELETED
Twisted Tree South-East: 60Hp [Woodbody][Soil]
Twisted Tree South: IMMOLATED
Twisted Tree South-West: 60Hp [Woodbody][Soil]
Twisted Tree West: DESTROYED
Twisted Tree North-West: 60Hp [Woodbody][Soil]

Ancient Beehive A: DELETED
Ancient Beehive B: 10Hp [Woodbody][Grass]
Ancient Beehive C: 30Hp [Woodbody][Grass]

Capitalising on the momentary hesitation of her foes, Seafoam manoeuvred swiftly to line up the two remaining bats as they each swooped upward to take cover amongst the hanging stalactites. Her shotgun rang out, buckshot scattering across the jagged rock of the ceiling as the main burst of the shot eliminated one of the two bats before it could get out of the way. The piercing round blasted through more of the stalactites but amongst them the second bat wove away from the blast, avoiding it.

With the remaining bat lurking up high, Seafoam attempted to reach it with a swing from her newly formed claws, but her opponent was just too high to reach for now. Two more pickaxes flew up towards the target from her allies, followed by annoyed 'Meep's as they deflected off the hanging stalactites. No luck for now, but as the PulseBat emerged from the higher sections of the cave and prepared to swoop down again it seemed that Seafoam would get another chance to nail the irksome virus.

-=Cavern Cravens=-
PulseBatPulseBat (PulseBat)

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

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

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

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

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

HP: 80
Attack Damage/Effect: 30 + Seeking
Attack Accuracy: A
Attack Description: Uses a sonic screech to damage its opponents.
Secondary Attack Effect: EchoLocation
Secondary Attack Description: Launches a sonic pulse to reveal hidden or illusory targets.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Pulsar1, EchoLocation, Zenny.
Special: Airshoes. If PulseBat hits an object, its attack spreads to up to 8 other targets at half damage while dealing full damage to that object. Every other turn, this virus enters High Altitude (dropdown) status and does not attack. C: 70Hp [High Altitude]

-=Hopefully Home=-
Map-Wielding Metool: 40Hp [Normal] [Cover behind a stalagmite, checking his map]
Sculptor Metool: 40Hp [Normal] [Cover behind a stalagmite, mining gently at it]
Substantially-Less-Nervous Metool: 40Hp [Guarding] [Beside Seafoam, on her right]

-=Met Protector=-
Seafoam.Exe: 80Hp [Normal][RageClaw: 5/6]

-=Are we back in Kansas now? =-
100% Normal

• No effects.

The main reasoning that I've always been given (it's no oversight - I've campaigned for it multiple times and been shot down by other mod staff) is that chips are meant to have things you can't access any other way and are meant to be better. These reasons never felt very satisfying to me, personally, but it is what it is... Like you say, there are ways around it that come at the sacrifice of other things.

Although, considering it... Our signature system used to have the option of passives, wherein you could pay 4x the signature cost, and (provided it was still under your individual sig limit), have the effect as a passive constantly. It eventually got a bit out of hand, because it threw the action economy out of balance and there was no way to rein it in outside of changing a lot of other things that didn't otherwise need changing... Now, at the value point the statusguard effect would have been, it would have been possible to make it a passive to any navis over level 20-ish... But, passives aren't a thing any more, so that 'risk' isn't really a danger now, so perhaps it might be worth looking into again, who knows ^.^

There are a lot of ways in which the Signature system has gotten the raw end of the stick compared to the Chip system; the system was designed after the games and focused heavily around the assumption that using battlechips would be your bread and butter the vast majority of the time... My Lyntael is actually a very extreme outlier in her non-use of chips at all. (My biggest gripe with it is that ALL chip defences have StatusGuard baked in... and we have NO way at all to get StatusGuard with signatures)

You're not incorrect that attributing a signature as Melee, and then giving it Slashing gives you a default accuracy as C... but if you're a navi that specialises in neither Melee nor Swords, then it kind of makes a certain amount of sense that they might not be as proficient as they'd like with that combination... or at least you could look at it that way.

Here's what I can say: You don't, technically, have to attribute your signature to Melee if you don't want to; by default signatures are treated as having A rank accuracy in lieu of having a nominated range attribution, and you can stick with that, play the signature as you describe and register it, and no-one will complain. You won't get the perks of having it attributed to melee (such as getting effectively a free movement to target), that's all.

Remember also that what actual effects the illusion ha is ultimately up to moderator discretion - you can make an illusion with the intent and hope that it might make things harder for your foes, but you can't say that it gives an accuracy penalty because that's up to moderation. As a general rule, if you sell it well and don't try to over-reach, you're more likely to get what you're trying for.

Most sword chips are B accuracy, while basic buster work is A. Buster chips that make your buster into a slashing sword (not to be confused with Sword battlechips...) enforce that accuracy drop as well, if I recall correctly. Sword subtype navis can negate this with their passive that grants an additional accuracy rank to all sword chips they use, and lets that accuracy surpass A rank if appropriate.

(Edit: compare your Shotgun, Cannon and FireHit with your RageClaw and Sword chips - the adjustment is built in.)

So, we have three types of illusion that cover different types of functions and, more specifically, different modes of application.
The key points to your question would be:

- Yes, an illusion can obstruct vision. The illusion of a solid brick wall cannot be seen through except by creatures unaffected by illusion.

- You cannot make an illusion 'selective' in any way beyond the modes described in the three different types: Hallucinating illusions, for example, are selective in that they only affect the targeted creature, and no-one who isn't specifically targeted sees (or hears) anything at all. A Small Area illusion, is a stand-alone illusion that everyone sees equally because it is what it is, and it's not in the scope of the illusion to look different to different targets.

- If the illusion filled a certain amount of space, you could design a Small Area illusion to have an internal visual different from its external visual, but it would still be the same for everyone, friend or foe.

Lastly, Illusions are intangible, and they are not affected by external effects - so, they cannot interact with real gusts of wind or other phenomena.

You *Might* be able to write a signature that conjures an illusion, and that also has a Counter trigger that you can reasonably describe that will end the illusion by directing a small amount of seeking damage at it when the effect that you want to cancel the illusion occurs in its space; it would need to be a counter since they are what respond to effects, and you could flavour and aesthetic it as the effect ending the illusion, but mechanically, under the hood, it wold be your navi delivering the counter to end the illusion, and they'd need to obey counter rules to do it. So, you might be able to do it, but it may feel messy and unsatisfying.

(And yes, I believe there is a long history of navis adding a cheeky Take Aim to sigs that they have added slashing to)

Amidst the ebb and flow of her charge Lyntael wove between the various attacks of the viruses surrounding her and guided the air currents in small ways that moved with and complimented the delicate steps and turns that she made. As one of the Shellnerd's spears passed through her barrier, the motion of it spun her partially around with a tugging that lacked any power to injure but still made the girl start slightly. She spared a glance for where it had scraped cross her side and blinked away a surprised thought when there was no clear damage to her new suit, and no inappropriately exposed skin to be seen. She shouldn't be surprised by that... but she was.

She hadn't had much hope that her words would find traction with the group that had tried to ambush her, but it was still sad that they weren't listening. She could leave, it was true... just push forward and let them be, but... even these lower nets weren't as deserted of other navis as she'd first thought, and if she didn't stop them from threatening her, then they would almost certainly go on to threaten someone else later. She caught her balance, pulling the circling winds around her body again and focused her resolve as the charge under her skin flared to continued readiness. If it must be done, then do it swiftly.

“Lyntael. In case you are hesitating, the... instrument... is no less a threat. It is a debilitator virus, and will hinder you, according to this reading.” Rogan's voice was calm and only mildly engaged, by the sound of it. Lyntael nodded her head and murmured a short acknowledgement as she assessed the scene.

Her eyes darted around to the viruses that had succumbed to the trials of the mud all around them, then focused forward instead to the more dangerous threats. With a short breath, Lyntael dashed forward a few steps, the winds around her body lightening her steps across the mud until she let one foot land firmly, crouching and drawing the press of her charge up to her chest and then out in a fluid sweeping kick that lifted her body upward and over into a graceful backward flip. Lightning crackled from her leading striker and tore free into a thundering wave of electricity that coursed outward towards the sealed-up shell virus with shattering, disintegrating force.

The force wave split into arcing lines as it reached the shellnerd, passing forward beyond the virus and on towards the beefier Aquagear behind it while other trails of electricity blasted back along the recoil, flaring back down the line it had already travelled and beyond. The returning arc seared beneath Lyntael's body as she let the wind guide her aerial twist, turning over to land back where she had come from on nimble toes as sparks rolled off her in waves that kept the pulsing beat of her energy stable. The sparks still danced beneath her skin, ready to lash out at anything nearby trying to strike her, but Lyntael's focus was still forward. As she landed, she let herself step back, bracing her slight weight more firmly and reaching out to embrace the cycle of her charge as it swelled in response to the first expenditure. Now she drew it deliberately, urging the build up and letting it flow until it filled her. Her arms lifted, wrists snapping together in front of her as her strikers sang with an electrical hum.

The bolt lit up the mud pit in a flare of bright light as it arced across the battlefield, once more dwarfing her small form with the force of its magnitude. Errant sparks arced and twisted from the main blast as it hammered towards the far off Aquagear in a succession of searing pulses.

Lyntael felt the blast steal her breath with it, the void opening up in her chest at the empty sensation, but she drew a breath: a moment of stillness between one heartbeat and the next, and then the power came roaring back again. The flood filled her and Lyntael let her body rise from its braced pose, limbs tingling with warmth and static. She looked up and out; the wind was there, caressing her senses, and with it... She reached.

Clouds formed, slowly at first and then swifter into a rolling grey storm that rumbled once then cracked with a flash of lightning in response to her call. Rain began to fall, pattering in the mud and filling in the divots caused by their conflict until it had drenched everything. Lyntael stood still in the centre of the battle shifting to avoid threats only absently, her body crackling and glowing as winds curled around her limbs and the viruses around her seeming to fading into the background for just a moment as she let herself experience the falling rain.

“Last chance...” Her voice murmured quietly towards whichever viruses remained on the field. “You can leave; I won't stop you.” She could feel her limbs flooded with electricity, burning in her muscles and glowing around her strikers ready to burst, but the warmth was still a comfortable tingle – a buzz that wasn't even close tot he pain she was used to feeling under stress. She could control this.

Summary

L*) Turbulence (Auto-deflect all hits of one shot or lobbed attack)
L*) Gust (Knock Back effects are Double Strength, and attacks with them gain Wind type)
L*) My Pain is Real (Start of Turn, Counter Refreshes: (On Hit): (10Elec Nova2, Knockback))
L1) My Fear Rejected, with hopeful stride (Take Aim, ShotBase(50)Elec Spread2, Break, Knockback, A) (Self-Slow (1 Rank, 1 Round)), 3CD (Overcharge +4) (To the Shellnerd, Spreading onward towards the Aquagear, and back in the opposite direction (might line up with Tuby or Fishy but maybe not, your call)
L2) A Manifest Spirit, and eyes that dance (Dodge, Movement, 10Elec Nova2, Take Aim) (Off-Target (1 Rank, 1 Round)), 3CD (Overcharge -1) (Movement takes her back to centre, between Tuby and Fishy, Take Aim comes after the pulse, for the next attack)
L3) My Anger Directed, 'gainst violent threat (ShotBase(50)Elec Break, Impact, Slashing, Knockback, Buster Shot (30null, Disarm x 5 hits) (Take aim cancels off-target for the main bolt)) (Off-Target (1 Rank, 1 Round)), 3CD (Overcharge +6) (To Aquagear)
L*) Fast Armour: 20Hp Casing Refresh
L4) As I Look To The Sky, and my wounds bleed wet (Stage Chance (Sea; as torrential rain), 10Elec Nova4, Knockback, 15Hp Sacrifice, Recovery Time (1 Action), 4CD (Overcharge -4)
L5) Action Precluded: Recovery Time
L6) A Fresh Start, and the will to live (Status Cure, SupportBase(20), Feint) (15Hp Sacrifice), 2CD (Overcharge -2) (Status Cure pre-emptively clearing the Confusion before it takes effect, presuming it landed at some point during the turn)

Cooldowns and Overcharge

My Pain is Real; it lingers after (1TCD)
My Soul Scream, and yet I fight (2TCD)
My Faith Can Heal, with time for laughter (2TCD)
My Heart Falters, and beats anew (2TCD)
My Fear Rejected, with hopeful stride (3TCD)
My Anger Directed, 'gaint violent threat (3TCD)
As I Look To The Sky, and my wounds bleed wet (4TCD)
A Manifest Spirit, and eyes that dance (3TCD)
A Loving Heart, and a second chance (1TCD)
A Fresh Start, and the will to live (2TCD)

Overcharge: Begin: +0, My Pain is Real (+1 if triggered), My Fear Rejected (+4), A Manifest Spirit (-1), My Anger Directed (+6), As I Look To The Sky (-4), A Fresh Start (-2), End: +0

On surer footing, Seafoam led off the assault with a rising wave as she attempted to douse the nearest bat. Despite the difficulty of lifting her wave up high enough to reach the airborne foe, she was still able to push the attack to crash over her target before it could escape any higher. Sodden and disoriented, the PulseBat twisted in the air, seeking upwards towards the sheltering spikes of the ceiling, but Seafoam's cannon shot chased it and connected with enough impact to remove the foe from competition.

As she dealt with the first aggressor, the other two bats swooped down, each releasing sonic blasts from their mouths loud enough to make the rocky structures in the cave shudder and crack. Seafoam was able to throw herself to one side in time to avoid one of the blasts, but the other clipped her and sent a heavy, uncomfortable vibration through her body. Even so, the navi was able to focus on charging up a stronger attack and returned fire, striking one of the two remaining bats with her harpoon and damaging it badly.

“Meep!” Beside Seafoam, one of her small metool charges had stepped forward – while the map-wielding met had taken cover behind one of the stalagmites to examine his chart for a moment, and the more artistically inclined of the trio had started to chip away at another spire of stone, the formerly more nervous of the three took the opportunity to arc a pickaxe up towards the other bat that had struck Seafoam, winging it. It ducked under its helmet after confirming the throw, hiding from any potential retaliation. The two remaining Pulsebats seemed shaken by the strong response to their attacks and seemed like they might retreat to the upper reaches of the cavern, at least for a moment or two.

-=Cavern Cravens=-
PulseBatPulseBat (PulseBat)

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

HP: 80
Attack Damage/Effect: 30 + Seeking
Attack Accuracy: A
Attack Description: Uses a sonic screech to damage its opponents.
Secondary Attack Effect: EchoLocation
Secondary Attack Description: Launches a sonic pulse to reveal hidden or illusory targets.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Pulsar1, EchoLocation, Zenny.
Special: Airshoes. If PulseBat hits an object, its attack spreads to up to 8 other targets at half damage while dealing full damage to that object. Every other turn, this virus enters High Altitude (dropdown) status and does not attack. A: 40Hp [Normal]
PulseBatPulseBat (PulseBat)

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

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

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

HP: 80
Attack Damage/Effect: 30 + Seeking
Attack Accuracy: A
Attack Description: Uses a sonic screech to damage its opponents.
Secondary Attack Effect: EchoLocation
Secondary Attack Description: Launches a sonic pulse to reveal hidden or illusory targets.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Pulsar1, EchoLocation, Zenny.
Special: Airshoes. If PulseBat hits an object, its attack spreads to up to 8 other targets at half damage while dealing full damage to that object. Every other turn, this virus enters High Altitude (dropdown) status and does not attack. C: 70Hp [Normal]

-=Hopefully Home=-
Map-Wielding Metool: 40Hp [Normal] [Cover behind a stalagmite, checking his map]
Sculptor Metool: 40Hp [Normal] [Cover behind a stalagmite, mining gently at it]
Substantially-Less-Nervous Metool: 40Hp [Guarding] [Beside Seafoam, on her right]

-=Met Protector=-
Seafoam.Exe: 80Hp [Normal]

-=Are we back in Kansas now? =-
100% Normal

• No effects.

The shadows lengthened, coiling around the glowing candle in the middle of the gloomy clearing as the wavering image of the dark tree stretched its branches impossibly across the space. A heavy thud and the buzz of irate insects announced it dropping yet another of its hives onto the battlefield, the white noise of the skeeter swarms becoming an unnerving static in the back of delta's senses. Even so, the navi responded with the right weapon for the job, drawing his blade and slashing at the the shadows.

He was rewarded with a rending of the darkness as his sword cut through the murky defence and drew a brutal gash across the trunk of the tree, revealing it. With a shriek like tearing wood, the dark tree recoiled from the strike, bending back from the edge of the clearing and gnashing at Delta with the jagged split in its trunk as though it were a wood-toothed maw. One of its thick boughs responded almost instantly, slamming down at Delta with horrendous retaliatory force, but the navi dodged aside, ready for the attack and the limb slammed into the grass with enough force to leave a small crater.

As Delta made his next strike, hoping to end the fight before his foe could recover, the wooden grove before his vision seemed to blur again for an instant and he found his blade brutally bisecting another one of the inert trees instead of his target – it had swapped itself again, but it had to run out of other trees sooner or later. Turning to locate the tree again, Delta managed to duck away from the swarming dash on the skeeter swarm as they buzzed in his direction, but he was able to see in that moment that the other two hives, new and old, had both ejected fresh swarms of their own into the air; the new swarms were still getting their bearings and turning their focus towards Delta, but they would no doubt begin harassing him soon enough.

Delta had enough on his hands, however, dodging a flurry of furious scythe swings from the tree as it lashed out at him from its new location. It was all he could do for the moment to keep himself safe from its swings, his own sword stroke going wide in the effort of juggling offence and defence together. As the tree bore down on him, scything in a frenzy now, Delta noticed a glint in the light of his candle glow – the tree, no longer hiding in shadow, now swelled in presence and assaulted him directly, and its bark had taken on a metallic black sheen that reflected the light. He continued to evade the majority of its attacks, though the pace and amount of sweeps overwhelmed him for a moment; one blade caught on his shield, piercing it, and another grazed across his midsection before he managed to get clear and catch a breath. It was only a small scratch, fortunately – the healing energy from his candle more than outweighed it.

-=Hive-Hoarder=-
GloomScythe.Tree: 80Hp [Directly North of Delta, at the edge of the clearing][IronBody][Soil]

SkeeterSkeeter (Skeeter)

Area: Yoka, Okuden Valley, Beach, Yumland, Netfrica

HP: 30
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 30 Drain (Null)
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: A swarm of Skeeters flies at the target. They will drain HP if they connect.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Drain1, Zenny
Special: Omnishoes A: DELETED
SkeeterSkeeter (Skeeter)

Area: Yoka, Okuden Valley, Beach, Yumland, Netfrica

HP: 30
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 30 Drain (Null)
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: A swarm of Skeeters flies at the target. They will drain HP if they connect.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Drain1, Zenny
Special: Omnishoes B: DELETED
SkeeterSkeeter (Skeeter)

Area: Yoka, Okuden Valley, Beach, Yumland, Netfrica

HP: 30
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 30 Drain (Null)
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: A swarm of Skeeters flies at the target. They will drain HP if they connect.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Drain1, Zenny
Special: Omnishoes A2: 30Hp (Swarming above Beehive A)(Grass)
SkeeterSkeeter (Skeeter)

Area: Yoka, Okuden Valley, Beach, Yumland, Netfrica

HP: 30
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 30 Drain (Null)
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: A swarm of Skeeters flies at the target. They will drain HP if they connect.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Drain1, Zenny
Special: Omnishoes B2: 30Hp (Swarming above Beehive B)(Grass)
SkeeterSkeeter (Skeeter)

Area: Yoka, Okuden Valley, Beach, Yumland, Netfrica

HP: 30
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 30 Drain (Null)
Primary Attack Accuracy: B
Primary Attack Description: A swarm of Skeeters flies at the target. They will drain HP if they connect.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Drain1, Zenny
Special: Omnishoes C: 30Hp (Swarming above Beehive C)(Grass)

-=Bee-Seeker=-
Delta.EXE: 170Hp [In the middle of the clearing][Grass][Regen: 5Hp per action while Candle lasts] [Shield Broken!][Sword: 3/6]

Candle: 100Hp [Behind Delta][Grass] [Regen: 5Hp per action (it counts as taking a single action each round, refreshing the regen)][2 Rounds]

-=Terrain=-
(Terrain is mostly grass in the middle of the clearing, with soil around the edges)
40% Soil

• Wood Elementals get +10% Evasion.
• Wood attacks: +100% Source Damage, change terrain hit to Grass.
• 100 Damage Aqua attacks: Change terrain hit to Mud.
• 100 Damage Fire attacks: change terrain hit to Coal.
• PanelShot: Imbue Wood.

60% Grass

• Wood Elementals get +5 HP/action.
• Fire attacks: +100% Source Damage, change terrain hit to Soil.
• PanelShot: Imbue Wood.

-=Objects=-
Twisted Tree North-East: 60Hp [Woodbody][Soil]
Twisted Tree East: DELETED
Twisted Tree South-East: 60Hp [Woodbody][Soil]
Twisted Tree South: IMMOLATED
Twisted Tree South-West: 60Hp [Woodbody][Soil]
Twisted Tree West: DESTROYED
Twisted Tree North-West: 60Hp [Woodbody][Soil]

Ancient Beehive A: 30Hp [Woodbody][Grass]
Ancient Beehive B: 30Hp [Woodbody][Grass]
Ancient Beehive C: 30Hp [Woodbody][Grass]

The tansit left Seafoam catching her bearing for a moment as she emerged into the usually much better maintained ACDC network. Due to the route she'd taken to get here, though, the navi emerged in the darkened back of what looked like some kind of craggy cave. Further ahead, between jutting stalactites and oddly shaped stalagmites, she could see the light of a bright and sunny network peeking in the cave entrance.

It was only a few moments before the trio of following metools arrived behind her, appearing tentative and cautious at first, but rapidly perking up with excited and relieved 'meeps' as they seemed to recognise the feeling of the network as one more familiar to them. One of them began to pick at one of the nearby stalagmites with experimental curiosity.

Before she could lead her charges out of the cave and into the sunlight, however, Seafoam's senses picked up a series of shrill, almost super-sonic squeaks of sound and the flittering of wings above. Their arrival seemed to have agitated a group of PulseBats, and unlike her met friends this trio of viruses rapidly moved to assault both Seafoam and her charges for daring to intrude upon them. The stalactites on the ceiling formed a dense obfuscation of rocks, making the bats harder to reach with weapons while they were up high, but one swooped down immediately, emitting a sonic blast that cracked a nearby stalagmite and sent shards of rock flying in every direction; it looked like it was moving to wing back up into the obscured roof area between blasts, while the other two were preparing to swoop down and make attacks of their own.

-=Cavern Cravens=-
PulseBatPulseBat (PulseBat)

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

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

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

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

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

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

-=Hopefully Home=-
Map-Wielding Metool: 40Hp [Normal] [Just behind Seafoam]
Sculptor Metool: 40Hp [Normal] [behind Seafoam, to her left]
Substantially-Less-Nervous Metool: 40Hp [Normal] [behind Seafoam, to her right]

-=Met Protector=-
Seafoam.Exe: 110Hp [Normal]

-=Are we back in Kansas now? =-
100% Normal

• No effects.

-=Battle 1, Start!=-