Zajcica

Yuki would listen to her sword’s words as she readied to jump into the fight. “I understand what you mean. However, I think the fight with the Shadow changed a lot about this floor that maybe we weren’t aware of. Perhaps mobs from other floors were pulled into thralls and still seek out players in the maze because of it. That’s my best guess anyway.”

The two haven’t fought along side one another in what felt like years. The paladin was a little rusty but soon found out that it wasn’t unlike a riding a bike. She swiftly followed up her sword’s attack with her own - something she almost never did usually. The results were much better than expected too. Her spear gleamed brighter than the radiance of the sun, quite possibly the brightest thing inside the maze. It’s deterring radiance was almost enough to eradicate the minotaur from it’s existence.

After her hit, it’s body shone with a radiant glow, nearly finishing it off. “Equipping a weapon gives me less thorns but I can use my thorns as a weapon. What an interesting way to play.” The shield would comment as she watched the minotaur bleed to death.

[3, 0] Zajcica | HP: 840/840 | EN: 86/96 | DMG: 4 | MIT: 204 | ACC: 1 | BH: 46 | LD: 5 | BLD: 48 | FL. AURA: 16 | H.M.: 4 | REC: 8 | TAUNT | THRNS: 72
[2, 3] NIGHT | HP: 1060/1060 | EN: 144/144 | DMG: 25 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 6 | MIT: 44 | LD: 13 | VAMP-D: 58 | FS | [DoT: 160 DMG, -20MIT, -1ACC]

Lost One #1 | HP: 7/640 (-184+48) | DMG: 192 | ACC: 2 | Blight T4
Lost One #2 | HP: 75/640 (-405-160) | DMG: 192 | ACC: 2 (-1) | Blight T4 | [DoT: 160 DMG, -20MIT, -1ACC] (1/2)

Yuki sighed heavily as Night revealed to her the reason she’d gotten so lost in the maze: It was not a static feature to the floor’s design. It shifted it’s layout indiscriminately over time. “Nice, so people just get completely lost and starve to death in a labyrinth.” The Paladin groaned as she led the way through the corridors of stone, her armor clanking and shifting with every step that echoed off the walls. Then Night would mention the chalk.

“Oh, that’s why I got so lost then. I was trying to avoid people for the most part so I didn’t stay long.” Yuki would admit, trying not to be too embarrassed about it.

Night would pull up a picture of the boss that she was looking for to show to the tank. She would take a mental note of the golem before nodding. “I’m not sure I’ll need it but maybe a low level player could use it. I try to help them whenever I can.”

Their conversation would be swiftly interrupted as they turned the corner to meet with some random mobs. “Well, let’s see how rusty this shield really is.”

215598 & 99 are invalid

Before NIGHT could even ask the Paladin if she'd want to come along, the shuffle of her armored boots would move past her towards the ruins of a labyrinth. "What good is a shield if you leave it at home? I've polished the rust, I do not need a shield for I am just that." Her spear would shine against the wandering rays of light. The usual smile that NIGHT was accustomed to might be even brighter. "So long as I stand, nothing will threaten my friends - My life."

The tank would offer a party request, something that neither of them had been seen in quite awhile. The girl would open her map and NIGHT would instantly see the absolutely awful scrawl of a picture that she'd created over an outline of a map. "...I've lost track of the directions of this map...I SUCK WITH DIRECTIONS NIGHT PLEASE HELP ME." Yes, back to things as usual.

The Paladin was left on her knees, wrapped in the arms of one of her best friends in Aincrad, maybe even in the real world included. Tears rolled down her face, and just as NIGHT was pulling away from her she would pull her back into the hug. "Thank you. I really need to hear that... I will message Cro, please don't do it in my stead. I might disappear without a word but I don't lie." Then she would release the girl from her grasp.

Standing up and clearing her throat Yuki would offer her friend a smile. "So, how do I look? This is a little more true to my untreated appearance in the real world. My hair has probably grown so long that my blonde is coming back out. I wonder if they've cut it." She would ponder for a moment before coming back to virtual reality. "Oh, what are you doing here? Isn't the front lines a lot more ahead than I've been through at this point?"

The blonde was just as shocked as her dark haired partner was to see her. So much so that she could hardly muster words. "I... I uh..." Clearing up her throat, the paladin hung her head in shame. "Night. I hadn't meant to be so distant." The paladin started. She rested her spear in the dirt, looking way different from when she'd last saw her. "I look a little different, I know. I may have been hiding my details and changed my appearance so I could reflect a little on some things."

Her sword, respective to her being the shield, would hold up a piece of white chalk asking if she needed it. The paladin would keel over and break at that. "Oh my god I was lost in there for three days NIGHT, if I wasn't a cook I would have starved. I had so many left overs packed because I'm paranoid. I got attacked in my sleep and things would just die from smacking my armor but I barely got any sleep. Seeing your face is the best part of my entire week." The blonde would start gushing, bleeding out her anxiety like an a gore-y wound. After a short pause to breathe she would sigh and look back up to her friend. "I've been a bad friend lately. I just... didn't want you or Cro to see me the way I was."

How long had it been? Hours now that she'd been lost in this god-forsaken labyrinth? That's what it had felt like. In order to get back into her element, Yuki had put her armor on once again to wander a decently high level area. She knew she could survive just about anything and with a teleportation crystal she would be able to swoop out without a problem. Too be honest, she probably could have used it by now considering how long she'd been stuck but something about her pride wouldn't let her.

Her luck was finally turning around though as she finally rounded the entrance to the place. Seeing a clearing was probably one of the best feelings she had all day after the walk she'd been through. However, as she rounded the corner of the entrance, the paladin came face to face with someone familiar. A slight blush flushed her features as she realized who it was. "Oh." Was all she could muster for the moment as she looked to NIGHT.

While everyone got acquainted, Yuki would start thinking about what general location the labyrinth would be. Of course they couldn't find the boss room without first finding the labyrinth but that shouldn't be too difficult. Her focus would soon be interrupted by a party invite, however. She would promptly accept the invite and turn back to the party. Zandra would then suggest they start looking outside of the settlement  to begin. "Agreed." Yuki would nod with a smile. "Several of the floors tend to keep the main settlement in the center of the floor so narrowing down an exact location can be difficult. The darkness of the floor won't really do much for us either. We'll just have to get out there and start looking I think, keeping track of where we've been until we find it. Let's go."

The paladin would take the lead, not so much because she wanted to be a leader but more so for future traps or ambushes. If there's one thing she wanted it was to protect the others. "Let's look for crevices or mines. I have a sinking feeling the entrance would be sneakily hidden in plain sight on this floor."

Player CD:

1-3: Zandra
4-6: Zajcica
7-9: Jomei
10-12: Vigilon

As the group introduced themselves, Yuki would take stock of her gear to make sure everything was in order. The last thing she wanted was to be wearing the wrong gear if trouble sprang up. Nevertheless, she would be approached by the blonde fellow who would arrive soon after herself. "Likewise, Jomei. You may call me Yuki, it's much simpler than my username." Closing her window she would look over to Vigilon and nod. "I don't think we've been introduced either, else my memory fails me. I'm looking forward to working with you, so stay behind me if we get into a scrap."

Zandra would then speak up, asking if anyone here had information on the floor. Sadly, she could not provide. "Apologies. I have only just taken my first steps on this floor. That being said, I do not fear what we are walking into. My skills along with your healing will keep us all safe." The paladin would encourage, trying to raise everyone's spirit. Good morale was always good for a possible combat situation. She didn't want anyone to be afraid when she was here to protect them.

Yuki would wait patiently for Syra to collect all the information that she needed. Obviously the paladin had nothing better to do in the moment and getting engrossed with the world was a good first step to seeing past it. If they were to escape this prison they would need to understand it first. Once they were finished and the newbie had collected her quest, Yuki would extend a party request to her. She could probably aid the red-head without needing to do such but it was a nice incentive to be able to see her health bar. That being said, she was sure that the enemies on this quest could kill her in a couple of hits and it was exactly for that reason that she was standing out on the sidewalk waiting for her. If she was to attempt such recklessness alone she would become nothing but data in the metaphorical wind.

When Syra introduced herself, Yuki nodded to her. "My username is confusing. Simply address me as Yuki. Most people mispronounce it. Also, don't mention it. As I said before, I want to escort but I have no intention of holding your hand. So long as you stand behind me, my shield is your shield. Unfortunately, my shield cannot protect everyone so you must learn to protect yourself as well." Opening her menu, the paladin would do something akin to suicide to anyone at Syra's level: Remove all her leveled gear. "When we get into a battle, I will keep the enemies attention. You just take your time and learn the basics of combat. It will be dark inside and even I will have difficulty seeing in the darkness. That should be nothing to worry about though."

It happened while she was lying in bed that morning. A message from a familiar face that she had not yet had the chance to meet up with since her recent absence for reflection. How many people would recognize her beside her name these days? Hell, she'd probably catch night off guard doing away with her usual dyed hair and change of gear.

Despite her aforementioned absence, there were still players relying on her to help them. Perhaps not her in particular but she was still glad to be considered when she hadn't even shown up for the last floor boss. Times have changed though. Yuki was a different woman and she had a job that she need to do. It was time to get back to the frontlines.

~

As the paladin stepped off the teleporter onto floor 27, she was graced with a beautifully ambient setting. Lapis Lazuli and beautiful crystals decorate the cavernous walls where no sunlight can reach. For a moment, Yuki wondered if she should move her shop to this floor. She was really liking the appeal of it so far. Nevertheless, that she could be left for the back burner. When she stepped down into the plaza she would see her query: Aincrad Trading Post's Zandra, the Berserk Healer she enjoyed calling herself. With luck, her healing skills would not be necessary but it gave her some comfort to know she would have a safety net in place.

"Zandra. It's been sometime. I do hope I have not missed anything important lately." Yuki would say as she approached, waving down the guild leader. 

Zajcica | HP: 880/880 | EN: 100/100 | DMG: 5 | MIT: 204 | ACC: 1 | BH: 48 | LD: 5+3 | BLD: 48 | FL. AURA: 16 | H.M.: 4 | TAUNT | THRNS: 72+40
Consuming LD III - Mochi; Immolation Potion T4 +40 Thorns

Several players would walk by. Eyes were trained on her, despite it not being uncommon for high level players to make their rounds on lower floors. Many of those people owned houses on these floors so some of them even lived here. That being said, the paladin herself probably stood out a bit more than others thanks to her attire. The way someone carried their self really changed how they were presented to strangers.

Soon, she would find the person she was looking for. Young, even moreso than herself. To be completely honest, Yuki had spent so much time in this game tearing through mobs and dungeons and bosses that she couldn't even grasp her own concept of time. She had practically lost track of how many years they'd been stuck in here. Of course none of that really matter when you thought about the distance they still had left on their marathon.

Getting off track. Yuki would see the person before they even approached her. A girl finishing her teenage years probably, red hair and unmistakable beginner gear. If the paladin knew one thing, it was that gear meant everything in this hell. She had come close to death before but at the same time, she had become invincible from sheer numbers. It all matters in what you are wearing.

As the girl approached, Yuki took her back off the wall and stood straight. Thanks to her heels she barely stood taller than the other woman but not by a noticeable amount. The red-head would ask her if she knew of a quest location that she was looking for. Of course, she did. That was why she was standing in this spot. "I do." Her authoritative tone came out, deep and somewhat sultry. She would confide in Yuki that she was new to leveling, which was obvious to a veteran of the game. The blonde would nod in response. "Then you will not mind if I escort you through the quest. My gear will annihilate anything that threatens you. I will not hold your hand, just simply ensure that we lose one else to this needless endeavor. Follow me, please."

The golden paladin would lead her to the quest giver without hesitation. A frantic mother would approach Syra the instant they came into view. She would almost ignore Yuki, seeing as how she's already cleared this quest, the giver would obviously target the one who hasn't. With her searching skill and reveal, it would easy for her to navigate the cave they were about to go through and protect the budding player from a death they would have trouble seeing.

<Let There Be Light>

Back to basic. With the change of appearance, Yuki would be leaving behind the old title of The Pink Paladin and ushering in a new era for herself. No more hair dye or hiding behind an emotional shield. The blonde will carve a path to the future in whatever way she saw fit. Seeing as how the frontlines had yet to amass on the 27th floor's labyrinth boss so far, she would do with her time as a mentor for those still trying to find courage and skill to become strong player like herself. Well, stat wise at least.

Floor two, Urbus. The eagerness she had when she first started leveling her stats didn't keep her in this low level area for very long but she knew that she would see budding players around these parts if any. Standing near a significant quest location would only help her find those looking for experience to bolster their strength. Of course, she would stick out like a sore thumb with her unique gear and glowing figure. Passerby's gazes gravitated to her, easy to point her out as a high-level player and, in turn, a front-liner.

Zajcica | HP: 880/880 | EN: 100/100 | DMG: 5 | MIT: 204 | ACC: 1 | BH: 48 | LD: 5 | BLD: 48 | FL. AURA: 16 | H.M.: 4 | TAUNT | THRNS: 72

Within moments, the house started smelling like home again. The dusty cobwebs swiped away and the wonderful scent of meat and vegetables returned life to the disheveled abode. Crozeph's words rang true to her when he spoke about emotions being difficult to take on alone. It was even more difficult to ask someone else to burden what you feel are your own responsibilities. Learning to confide in someone you can trust is something she would have to adapt to. "Thank you, Cro. I appreciate you."

A couple minutes later, the food would be finished. No matter how often she cooked in Aincrad she was still amazed how little time it took to make food, especially as you leveled up your cooking skill. Gyoza, rice and miso soup was the finished product and, despite it being nothing but pixels, it smelled like the real thing. "Food is done. Here's a plate for you." The paladin would say handing him is food.

If this was a cartoon, a sweat drop would be running down Yuki's head right now. It seemed that they took her metaphor a little too literally. Maybe it wasn't the best comparison but it got the point across to Becky at the least. "Of course, tanks are not literally swords. Like Becky said, I only meant to say that you're a rallying flag in the face of adversity. If you believe in your team, they'll believe in you. Be that inspiration to them and they will follow you come hell or high water."

As they stepped into the courtyard, Yuki walked in fearing absolutely nothing. Her bravado may look suicidal to others but if there's one thing the tank knew, it's that nothing in this game, save two bosses, has ever made her made her feel fear. "If it's a trap, I will be ready for it. Be ready for any ambush attacks you guys." Yuki would say dutifully, her deceivingly deep voice bellowing as her hand grasped the handle. From the moment she touched it, the blade's information would appear in front of her. A wonderfully crafted blade, blazing ready with the fires of heaven. 

"It's blessed. The weapon will form to the player's level. It also has Holy 2 and Burn on it. I cannot wield this or it will make me inaccurate. Who has a high accuracy stat here?" Yuki would ask the party but before she could draw it, shambles of the remaining would awake. "Trap indeed. Someone who can wield this sword take it. It's a powerful weapon that will bolster your damage."

The zombie like beings would then run to the machina around. Yuki's brow would furrow. "They're attracted to the automatons. Take them down quickly before they power them up!"

As she walked into the house, Crozeph would voice his regrets to her. Yuki would simply shake her head in response. “I’m the only one to blame. I tried to shoulder pain that I could not take alone. I should have sought you out and asked you to share that burden with me. If I had done that, maybe I would have been back for the floor 26 boss.” The pinkette would say, making her way into the lovely kitchen. It was much less maintained than she would have wanted but that’s what happens when you don’t go home for months.

One of the first things she noticed was just how much of her stocked food was gone at this point. “I see I’ve been gone for far too long. At least I have enough scratch here to make something out of. Give me some time and I’ll have us something ready.” 

Her speed was almost second nature. Even though she hadn’t been in her kitchen in so long, she still remembered where everything was without even skipping a beat. It wouldn't be long at all until they had a wonderful Japanese meal that Crozeph probably hadn’t had the pleasure of in so long.

Yuki's eyes would glow, confirming her use of the searching skill. Her eyes would pierce directly into Dazia's. There's no way could have missed their searing gazes meet. When Vigilon would speak up, asking if something was wrong, Yuki would deactivate her searching skill and shake her head. "You never know when some low-life could be lurking in the shadows to catch you by surprise. As a leader, it's my job to keep people safe. Luckily we are alone at this moment." The paladin would hide Dazia's position. The girl had a green cursor but Yuki had found her before she could catch them by surprise, if she had ill intent. If she did, she would have to contend with a frontliner. As such there was no need to intervene.

"Let us be on our way then. It's a far walk from town to the Cerberus cave." Yuki would mention before starting to make her way out of town. While on their way, she would activate her searching skill again, checking all the corners for any malicious individuals or mobs, while simultaneously keeping her eye on Dazia.

Searching: 15+5 Dazia is seen.

The group was now rallied together. Yuki was the spearhead of them all, leading the charge into battle. Astreya's response to her advice seemed to be taken somewhat lightly. Perhaps she had some doubts of her own and the fallen paladin couldn't really fault her for it. They only had one life and they had to make the most of it. That's why Yuki learned this MMO stuff. She needed to be able to protect herself and others from certain doom. "Your confidence is the team's confidence, friend. The blade of a sword is dull, it will not cut. Likewise, if a tank does not lead and show the team what they're capable of, you might as well be a dull sword."

Nari's comments about her damage and stun was answered with a shake of her head. "It will only reduce my damage by a little. I'm looking to try out a new, fun technique I just learned about so it shouldn't hurt." As they continued to walk, the NPCs that where apart of the quest would meet with them. Yuki would listen to them and nod. "It scares me none, ser." The pink haired tank would say before turning in the direction of the keep. "Victory is nothing but assured when I stand on the battlefield." And the girl would start making her way to the keep.

As another entered the fold, Mikoto would feel a little more certain about taking on the Cerberus. Usually, she would bring someone like Crozeph or NIGHT to help her fight but she wasn't sure how well she'd last against a higher leveled monster with ways through mitigation without some additional damage. Thankfully it looked as though they were completely covered in that aspect. Vigilon seemed nice enough. "Worry not, stand behind me and you won't even feel threatened." The girl would say so confidently that it almost sounded like bragging and she had almost every right to.

Though, as they began their journey, the paladin downing a signature immolation potion to ready herself, she almost felt like they were being watched. Maybe her time in isolation had just made her slightly jumpy, because despite having the skills to see people spying on her, she could find no one. That being the case, the paladin must really have just been jumping at shadows.

Failure, Yuki does not detect Dazia but feels like she's being watched.

After confirming that the team was hoping to do a quest, Yuki would nod and reach into her inventory. Scrolling through the menus, she would find herself a nice little immolation potion that she constantly had downed before. It was her only way helping the team besides being a meat shield, but recent discoveries had put her towards changing her build slightly. The ability to withstand any attack while also returning damage like her friendly damagers could do.

While discussing some strategy, the pink-haired paladin would chime in. "I focus solely on being a bruiser, to use the MMO term. While I'm strictly a tank, I can still dish out as much as I can take. Allow me to be your front line while you all focus on doing as much damage as you can." She would respond, accepting the quest, since for some reason she herself had never done it, then beginning to lead the way forward.

As Becky, she called herself, spoke up to her specifically, Yuki would rub the back of her head. "Well, I'm not really much of a teacher. When it comes to tanking, assurance is all in your numbers. Being able to take damage and sustain it until something dies, so to speak. My build utilizes thorns with high defense that allows me to kill things before they can kill me. It basically ensures that I cannot lose a fight." The girl would say, still unsure if it was at all helpful.

A ringing sounded as the teleporter whirred to life. The one who would be left in the beam of light was Yuki. The paladin was here to rend the Gatekeeper of Fire asunder, payment due for their first meeting after all. How was she going to get back into the game if she couldn't even tank this little bosses? As she stepped down into the plaza something caught her eye. A young, familiar girl looking somewhat confused? Upon a closer inspection, she could recognize the person: The smith that made some her new gear to go with Jack's Plate.

Well, no time like the present. The paladin would approach her. "How's it going, friend? You're looking a little lost. Need help with anything?" Floor nine was well known for it Cerberus quest, so she could only assume that's why the girl was here. She didn't know what Nari specialized in, but one could never go wrong with an experienced tank in their group. A torch in a dark cave, so to speak.

Purchasing:

50x Immolation Potions[T4] (50x1200=60k)
50x Golden Keys (50x1000=50k)

Total: 120,000 Col

The paladin would wait quietly as the smith did their work. She knew that crafting attempts didn't take that much time being a high level crafter herself. In the mean time, she would spend her time in her menus, checking the numbers and seeing what extra gear she had to apply to this new build. Once the gear was finished she would approach her once more and nod. "Thank you. If you ever need food buffs, be sure to visit me on floor twenty-four just outside of Coral. You can't miss it." The girl would say before taking her leave.

Stepping into the heated smithy, Yuki took a deep breath. Walking into these places always made her feel weird considering she felt like her armor was already insanely good. However, things have changed and the paladin needed to change a bit of her build... She actually needed a weapon these days. Despite having used on before she could now take one up and maybe use it effectively.

She would approach the owner when they had a chance to talk with her. "Excuse me, I just need a new weapon and piece of armor please. Trying out a new thing in my build here." She would lay the information for the weapon and piece on the table.

Sword:

Armor:

How had her random wandering led her to this place? Even traveling down the floors from the boss towers, Yuki had yet to realize just how far she had made it from floor 24. Ten whole levels later she was sitting in floor 14, an infernal landscape that could incite horror in the hearts of the weak. Her pondering might make her think that she was one of those people, bailing on the recent floor boss fight to reflect on herself but still she walked through the open area uncaring of every monster that haplessly swiped at her. Each one met the same fate, nothing but death. The loot wasn't even worth picking up at her level so soon it would just dissipate into nothing.

Awhile later, she would find herself in the main settlement of Stonewall. Floor 14 was a pretty quiet place if she recalled. It was dreary for most players to want to stay on it for long. However it seemed a small group was forming in the square. She counted three people - All female with gear pretty close to her own level. She didn't recognize any of them as frontliners, though. Perhaps they were wanting to go that route, or they only leveled to keep themselves safe and alive. Both were admirable to the fallen paladin.

With a bit of hesitation, the pinkette would start walking their way. Without using her words, all they would hear as she approached would be the quiet clicking of her heels on stone. She would stop once she was close enough, look to them then to the teleporter in the square, then back to them. "Waiting on another friend to join you for a quest?" The girl would say, her voice surprisingly deep for what one might expect. "If you're in need of a tank, I would be happy to oblige. Frontliner, Zajcica. You may call me Yuki. My defense is impenetrable." It might be bragging a bit too those lower than her in level, but it was truth nonetheless. She would wait for answer before deciding if she would continue her walk.

Heels clicked on stone as slim legs stepped from the wooden boat. The fallen paladin stretched her arms and back in response to the rickety but quiet ride. She would turn back to the young carrier and give him a gentle smile. “Thank you for the ride, sir.” Her deep voice resonate before she started to head towards the festivities. An event hosted by Baldur was happening, some kind of tournament. Sad as she was that she missed the registration, that didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy the spectacle.

It seemed as though the final match had ended just recently, unfortunately. That being said, there was a small feast happening. Now, the last thing Yuki wanted to do was draw attention to herself but she wasn’t sure if her new sense of attire and slightly altered look was going to make her blend in as another person or people would jump on her wondering where she’s been.

In either case, she wanted to get back in touch with her friends even if one at a time. This seemed like a great time to do so. If Baldur was hosting, he might have a little time to talk and enjoy some company. Waiting for Baldur to take a seat for his own food, Yuki would get in line to get her own and surprise her husband’s teacher. As she approached where sat and would try sit next to him if possible.

”Evening, Sensei.” The paladin would say, clearly revealing herself by her voice if her appearance wasn’t recognized. “It’s been quite awhile, hasn’t it? Would you mind a conversation?”

@Baldur