Hidden

The meadow shimmered as she stepped further in, wind curling through the tall grass like it was painting the air around her. Hidden’s eyes found the woman at the center — pale hair flowing like snowfall, skin untouched by sun, bare shoulders exposed beneath the slow burn of sunset. Still, but heavy with presence. She looked like she belonged here in a way that didn’t feel possible.

Then the wind shifted.

Not just the grass or the breeze, but something deeper — like the floor itself had exhaled after holding its breath for far too long. The wind rolled across the field with new weight behind it, and Hidden felt the shift before she understood it. A hum, low and distant. A tension in the air, threading itself through every stem and petal like static. Then came the grinding. Metal on metal. A heavy click. She turned her head slightly, just enough to glimpse the rusted clock face at the tower’s edge begin to move.

BING. BONG.

“Hilda.”

ID: 244784 LD: 15+3=18 History Check Successful

Her real name struck like a stone in still water. She tensed, just slightly. Then came more strange words — Yggdrasil, Avalon — unfamiliar, but spoken like they mattered. And somehow, so did the speaker. The memory came in pieces. Fireworks. Stars. A lake. Tanabata. She blinked. “You were at the lake that night,” she said slowly. “I remember you.”

The silver light came fast, blinding her for a moment. When it faded, the woman had shifted into a smaller form — younger, shorter, and red. Still familiar. Still watching.

ID:244785 LD: 18+5=23 Arcana Check Successful

As her vision cleared, Hidden squinted, piecing it together. That light — the sudden shift — it had to be some advanced use of the Disguise Skill, twisted into something almost divine.

She heard the voice clearly this time — softer, younger, but still edged with something sharp. The words cut through the quiet like they belonged here, slipping past the wind and settling deep.  "Yet, you're lonely. Peace wasn't everything you'd hoped it be huh?”. It wasn’t an accusation. Just truth, spoken plainly. Hidden’s gaze lingered. “Peace was kind to me,” she said at last. “But time dulls even kindness. I don’t regret the quiet… but it wasn’t enough.” She looked out at the flowers, the field beginning to shift as if stirred by more than wind. Petals twirled unnaturally, light catching on their edges like something just below the surface had turned over. The Gardens of Avalon, she thought. Listening.

She stepped closer, her voice steady. “Was I really following something?” Her eyes didn’t waver. “Or was I being led? And if I was…” She narrowed them, just slightly. “Why?”

440 Words

The path faded slowly beneath her feet, grass overtaking dirt until there was nothing but wild undergrowth and the sound of her own steps. The petals had stopped appearing some time ago, but she didn’t need them now. The pull in her chest was stronger than any trail. The forest broke open all at once.

Hidden stepped into the clearing and felt her breath still. The meadow stretched wide beneath the orange sky, glowing in the late light. Flowers bloomed in every color — tall white lilies, violet clover, bursts of red and soft amber — all swaying together like the field itself was alive. The wind stirred the tall grass in long, curling waves. Sunset hung low, casting the whole scene in a warm, breathing gold. She took a few steps forward, then stopped. It didn’t feel like a place you charged into. It felt like somewhere sacred — a secret being kept by the floor itself.

Then her eyes caught movement. Not from the wind. From her. A woman stood alone in the middle of the meadow, back turned slightly, half-caught in the falling light. Her hair was long and pale — almost the same shade as Hidden’s — and it drifted gently with the breeze. She didn’t move. Didn’t call out. But something in the way she stood felt expectant. Hidden didn’t speak. She just stood at the edge of the flowers, watching, wondering—

Had she followed this trail?

Or had she been led?

247 Words

Leaving Taft always felt strange. Not dangerous — the floor had long since been cleared of anything that could harm her — but quiet in a way that was hard to put into words. The city behind her was still buzzing: bells ringing, stalls opening, players coming and going. But once she passed the gate, it all fell behind her like a closing door. The petals didn’t stop. They caught on low shrubs. Drifted between the trees. Danced across the path like they knew where she needed to be. She followed without forcing it, hands tucked into the folds of her cloak, steps light but unhurried. This wasn’t a quest. There was no objective marker. No map to mark. Just her, the forest, and the feeling that something was waiting ahead.

The path wound gently through the Reverent Forest, never steep, never rough. The trees here were old and tall, branches laced with golden light where the sun pushed through. Every now and then she’d hear a rustle — a squirrel, maybe. Wind. Leaves shifting. Nothing more. She didn’t rush. It took hours, but she didn’t check the time. There was no need. She could feel it. The way the air got warmer, softer, touched by the edges of evening. The shadows stretched longer. The light turned more amber than gold.

That was when she saw it — half-hidden behind a bend in the path.

A stone structure, worn and bent with age. It was barely taller than the surrounding trees now, its top half crumbled in places. Ivy wrapped around the base like it had been left alone for years. A clock tower. She stepped closer, cautiously at first, but nothing stirred. No traps. No signs. Just the same wind and the same quiet. The clock face was rusted through, hands frozen.

The time: sunset.

Beneath the clock, scratched into the old stone with something sharp, were words. Not carved, just scraped — barely deep enough to last more than a season.

Come when the sun reaches the trees.

Hidden stood there for a moment longer, eyes lifting to the forest canopy. The sun wasn’t quite there yet. But it was close. She looked down at her feet. Another petal rested by her boot — orange this time. Soft and still. She stepped past the tower. The forest welcomed her without sound and the sky began to burn with color.

401 Words

It had been about fifteen minutes since the bell tolling twice echoed across Taft.

Long enough for the light to shift again — not by much, but just enough to change the way shadows fell across rooftops. The golden tone of late afternoon had started to settle in, softening the edges of the buildings and turning window glass to pools of orange. The streets, once sharp and cool in morning stone, now glowed like they’d been warmed from the inside out.

The petals were still there.

They didn’t always fall where she expected, but they were always waiting. One tucked into a shop awning. Another resting on the edge of a café table. A third drifting down a narrow alley that looped her closer to the southern edge of the city. She hadn’t seen anyone leave them. And by now, she had stopped asking herself how they were appearing. They were just… there. Soft color guiding quiet steps. As she neared the southern gate, the city began to stir a little more. The traffic of carts and conversation thickened, mixed with the smell of fresh produce and leather harness. Familiar noise. Familiar rhythm. She passed the stables, the crates, the guards chatting like it was any other day.

And then — just a glance:

A boy with black hair leaned down beside a cart, lifting a crate of apples with both hands. The merchant nearby scolded him lightly for being late, though not cruelly. The boy said nothing, only carried the crate to the nearby produce stall and helped stack it on the rack. His smile — quiet, almost too calm — passed unnoticed by most.

So did he.

And so did she.

Hidden gave the scene only a passing glance before her eyes were drawn elsewhere — to the next petal caught on the stones near the open gate, fluttering like it had waited just for her. She stepped beyond the threshold of Taft without hesitation. The trees were close now. The forest just ahead. And as the stone roads gave way to dirt paths and grass, she noticed the breeze again — warm and light, carrying a hint of something sweet. The next petal danced ahead of her.

She followed.

372 Words

The rest of the city didn’t seem to notice. The bells had rung. The light had shifted. People kept moving. Shops opened. Merchants called out. Birds hopped across rooftops. Everything went on, as it always did. But Hidden felt… a step behind it all. Like she was moving through glass. The edges of the world felt thinner than they had this morning. She walked without direction, letting her shoes find the familiar turns. Narrow streets. Back alleys. Overhanging balconies with flower baskets swinging gently in the wind. She didn’t want to go home, not yet. She wasn’t sure what she was waiting for — only that she didn’t want to miss it.

At some point, she ended up near the square. A little off to the side, where the stones warmed faster than the rest. She caught the scent before she saw it: burnt sugar, butter, spice. A scent she hadn’t let herself stop for in a long time. The candy apple stand was still there. Same old faded paint. Same stall keeper — a man who never asked her name, never expected her to linger. She bought one anyway. It was heavier than she remembered. She sat on the edge of a low wall nearby, apple in hand, and stared out at the crowd.

She didn’t eat it. She thought of him — the way he used to tease her for how much she liked these things. Said it didn’t match her “quiet killer” vibe. He used to buy two, pretend one was for him, and then hand her both when he thought no one was looking. She smiled, just barely, then looked down.

That’s when she saw it. A single red flower petal. Just sitting there, next to her foot. No wind. No breeze. No flowers anywhere near. She looked up, and another one drifted down — this one pale lavender. It landed gently on the surface of the fountain, spinning in circles. Then a third. White. Caught in a crack in the stone.

They were leading somewhere. Hidden stood up, candy apple still in hand, and took a step after them. Not fast. Not eager. But not turning away, either.

363 Words

The name was gone.

The stone beneath her feet looked the same as it always did — plain, worn down by time and rain, cracks filled with tiny bits of moss. The violet light that had circled her just moments ago had already moved on, carried away by the slow turn of the sun. But the feeling stuck with her. Hidden stood there for a while longer, surrounded by the fading color, eyes half-closed, listening. The bells were quiet now. The streets had gone still again. But something in the way the light had landed — right there, right on her — felt too precise.

Like it had meant something.

“Just a trick of the light,” she muttered under her breath. "Or, I need a nap."

Still, she didn’t sound like she believed herself. She started walking again, slowly. There was no rush, no threat. But something in the air felt different now — like the whole city had paused for a moment to look at her. Sunlight kept slipping through the stained-glass windows of the Grand Cathedral, falling across the stone buildings in streaks of soft green and fading red. As the sun climbed, the colors shifted. They always did. But now, for the first time in a long time, she really noticed them. She had walked these streets for months, maybe more. Always keeping to the edges. Always just outside the light. It had become second nature — moving through the floor like she wasn’t even there.

But now, it felt like the light was starting to notice her, too. She turned a corner and caught a glimpse of herself in a window. Pale hair touched by sunlight. Her cloak catching a bit of red where the light passed over her shoulder. The glass was fogged from earlier rain, but her reflection was still clear enough to hold her gaze.

“There was a time I would’ve vanished the second I saw myself.”

And she nearly had. Back then, she thought peace meant disappearing. Staying hidden. Letting the world forget her. The name she had chosen — Hidden — had felt right. Like armor. Like safety. But maybe now… it felt a little more like a box. She hadn’t noticed how small it had gotten. Maybe she was tired of only being seen when she chose it. Of acting like she didn’t leave a shape behind. She walked a little slower now. Let the light fall on her without stepping away from it. The colors still danced along the walls, changing with each passing hour — but this time, they didn’t move past her. They followed. And she couldn’t shake the feeling that the floor had been waiting for her to stop hiding, too.

She looked back toward the cathedral. Its stone walls glowed faintly in the sun, warm and soft instead of blinding. Inside, the windows would already be casting new colors. In a few hours, they’d shift again.

491 Words

The bells rang again.

That slow, familiar chime echoed across the rooftops, drifting through the narrow streets like it always did — soft and heavy all at once. Taft’s rhythm. Every four hours, without fail. The sound rolled past like a breath through stone, and sunlight followed behind it, slipping through the Grand Cathedral’s stained-glass windows and scattering color across the city. Reds, violets, golds — the usual glow. Gentle, quiet. Moving like water over everything it touched.

Hidden stood still, watching it happen. She’d seen this before. More times than she could count. This was just how the city moved — always shifting, always changing. Every few hours, it put on a different face, and she moved with it. Not noticed. Not needed. Just part of the pattern. She used to like it that way.

But today felt different.

The bell came early. Or maybe she heard it late. And when the light changed, it didn’t just slide past her like it always had. It stopped. Right in front of her. And there, in the middle of the cobblestone: her name.
Hilda.
Clear as anything. Written in shadow, like it didn’t belong to the world around it. No system tag. No player nearby. No reason it should be there. She crouched down and ran her fingers across the stone, even though the name had already faded. Just smooth rock now. Like nothing had happened.

But something had.

She stayed there for a while, in the light, letting it touch her.

251 Words

Howdy! I'm currently dipping my toes back into the site to see if its a hobby i'd like to lightly pursue again; however, there has been quite a bit of progress made on the site and my character is a bit dusty as well as my knowledge of every last rule/mechanic on site. During my time gone, stealth got a complete rework and Vanish actually became my Custom Skill as Hidden's Custom Skill, "Lady Midnight", does the following:

The user may use the <<Vanish>> mod as a free-action. 

If I could, I'd like to change my Custom Skill to the below mentioned skills. I don't have a real handle on mechanics at the moment so the balancing may be off. Here soon I also plan to post a weapon-skill refund so I can use the "new" throwing weapons.

OLD CUSTOM SKILL

► Lady Midnight
Cost: 10 SP
Active
Requirement: Rank 5 Hiding | Vanish
Effect: The user may use the <<Vanish>> mod as a free-action. 
Description: Legend has said there are three that preside over the shadows. The Master of Shadows, The Lord of Darkness, and Lady Midnight. Lady Midnight directly ties the user to the shadows, and allows for the user to gather and manipulate shadows at will, however; this more affects the ethereal realm than that of the physical. 

NEW CUSTOM SKILL

► Lady Midnight
Cost: 10 SP
Active
Requirement: Rank 5 Hiding | Vanish | Assassinate | Undetectable
Effect: The user gains an additional use of <<Vanish>>, acting on its own separate cooldown. The Vanish Energy Cost is reduced by 1 for each slot of the <<Sneaky>> enhancement you possess at the time of casting Vanish. 
Description: A signature art of darkness, this skill allows its wielder to command shadow as if it were silk. With a thought, Lady Midnight conjures spectral hands woven from pure shadow, reaching and coiling at her whim. Just as deftly, she draws the gloom around herself, cloaking her presence in a veil of living darkness that shrouds her every move.

The interesting purpose of this new design of the custom skill is to design my character as a Low-Accuracy character that relies more on the Auto-Hits than a standard character would but also just kind of specializing in that rogue/sneak attack playstyle. The reduction in energy cost based on Sneaky is attributed to the fact that for each attack I will be expending 5EN(Vanish)+8EN(Assassinate)=13 Energy before add the cost of the sword art pretty consistently. But, you can't have things just for free which is why I added the Sneaky requirement as I will be limiting myself from the better Unique Enchancements just to stack some Sneaky for the energy reduction. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to hit me with a message on discord: Morg. Thanks a bunch!

The ambiance of the room was warm and quiet, contrasting the weight of each and every word that passed over the wooden table between the two participants. The mingling scents of pasta, cider, and tea wove together into a tantalizing aroma, infusing the air with a calming allure that enhanced the cozy ambiance. The wooden table between them held the weight of unspoken words and past conflicts, now littered with a peculiar collection: a black feather, a cup of cider, and the latest additions—a vial of clear liquid and a single white tablet.

The woman was a bit pleased to hear that he felt she could take care of herself except when facing the impossible. She felt that this was a stark contrast to an earlier conversation between them. A time when she had believed the Wanderer had thought her inept and had sent various individuals to trail her to protect her. Like Setsuna, like Shiina. The pleasant smile faded a bit as he began to explain the 'erasing' of her existence with a vial of a clearish liquid.  "I find it flattering that you went that far for me, but it's surprising that you would go all of that way and even get Setsuna to assist. I was managing perfectly fine on my own..." 

For some reason, the thought of forcibly changing someone's mind didn't sit right with her, even if it was for her own benefit. Her eyes turned to the items laid out in front of her, the soft glow of the lantern-light casting flickering shadows across their surfaces. Her fingers traced the rim of her cider cup absentmindedly, her mind processing the heavy information that was casually being tossed her way. The Wanderer brought her attention to the tablet, his words, while said with a calming tone, carried a piece of chilling information. The ability to, albeit temporarily, to completely change her appearance. The disguise skill was no small ability and having access to a longer-version would allow for someone to become someone else entirely. 'Hell, it could make you someone specific for some time. This is no small item, it could be dangerous in just anyone's hands.'

Her hands gripped her cup a bit more at the mention of his name. At least she had some comfort in knowing he was safe; however, it was tempting to ask for his location. If he could live a peaceful life like this though she wouldn't be the one to potentially sabotage it. The man had treated her well, better than most, and she was thankful. "Certainly a risky bet but I guess it worked out well. It is a bit sad how many times I have been manipulated into doing things." Her voice drops a bit, adopting a somber tone. How many times had it happened? Domarus, Adrian, Raidou, and even Risque to an extent. 

Her eyes snapped to attention as Raidou moved to to pick up the tablet, placing it closer to her. Looking past the condensation on his glasses, she could see the seriousness in his eyes. What he was offering her was no small decision. Despite the weight of it, there wasn't really any reason to deliberate on the matter. The woman would pick up the tablet and examine it for a moment. How difficult would it be to make something like this? 'I doubt I could ever make something like this.' she would think before holding it out to drop it back in the Wanderer's palm. 

"You really always think of everything. It almost seems like you are the one pulling on all of the strings, pulling things together to end up how you hope. You even opened a path for someone like me to completely be able to start off from scratch." A violet gaze looked to the tablet in his hand. "I appreciate the offer, truly. But I've spent a long time hiding... running... trying to be someone I'm not..." She let the last few words roll off her tongue slowly, emphasizing every one. Flicking her porcelain cup, a *tink tink* could be heard. She cast her eyes downward, seeing her own rippling reflection in the cup's contents. "I think I'd rather just be myself and enjoy the rest of the time I have here. I will always help you whenever you ask, but it would be a waste to wish the game to be over." 

She take a sip of her cider, nearly finishing it off. The one thing would continue to remain. Why would she want to leave? Everything she had was here. The control over her own life that she had just finally manage to claim was here. Raidou... Simmone... Shiina... and the rest of Firm Anima was here and things would just go back to the way things were as soon as she left. 'At least when we go back, I will have some fond memories to go back on. I should also be old enough to move out on my own if I can get the chance.' Her gaze would rise, violet meeting red. Her face curled into a smile as her next breath summarized the progress of her entire journey thus far. 

"The long story short is... I don't want to be hidden anymore."

The cup of cider would make a satisfying *chink* sound as she set it down on the table, adjacent to the black feather. Violet eyes would hold the feather for a moment as she attempted to understand the meaning of it, including the information the Wanderer was providing. "I guess the next step is discovering in what kind of bird it comes from. I'd love to help; however, birds aren't exactly my area of expertise. Now, if you need someone to make suspiciously average spaghetti let me know." Crossing her legs and leaning back in her chair, she would think for a moment to herself. 

|History Check: 2+2=4. Failed Check| 'What kind of birds are black? Penguins? There are better people to dwell on this than me.' 

A sigh would escape the woman's lips as Raidou would begin to remark on how exactly difficult she was to find. As he pulled a thermos of liquid that brought an herbal scent to the air, she would begin to speak, "Well, it would be pretty unbecoming of an individual that has the username 'Hidden' to be easily found. Truth is this place is more to serve nostalgia than safety. It is rather serene though and I can take pleasure in not being near everyone at all times." Steam began to fog up the Wanderer's glasses, forcing an uninvited smile to her face. Grasping a metallic object in the pocket of her jacket, she would pull a flower-shaped object from within and begin to fiddle with it. The petals themselves seemed to be independently moving from one another. "Yeah yeah, I can pay her a visit. Such a worrywart, someday she'll understand that I'm not some child that can't take care of herself. Guess I'll be making a trip into town tomorrow after all." She watched as Raidou wiped the film from the steam from his glasses and added it to the collection of miscellaneous items that littered the table. For this rare moment, Hilda's eyes looked directly into Raidou's, their gaze unfettered by the usual glass pane. 

"Hello Hilda, I don't believe we've met. The former Faceless Lord of Laughing Coffin. The guild that has been making your, Sey's and Adrian's life difficult for the last few years."

The woman's lips would part, held open with her own appall. A wave of different thoughts begin to push into her mind. A moment of disbelief: 'Is this some kind of joke?' A few seconds later and she was certain from the look in his eyes that he was not attempting to trick her nor telling a joke. He was being absolutely serious. 

"Even Hanma turned herself in to Black Iron Dungeon. You outlasted them, Finally you've won."

Reaching for the cup of cider, she would gingerly begin to take a few sips. Her eyes would close as she enjoyed the taste for a moment. "Well this is certainly pleasant news. I'm not certain how much it is going to change my current lifestyle.... There is opportunity for me to do something else, meet new people and completely turn a new leaf." Staring over the cup at Raidou, a small smile would grow on her face to match the one he was giving her. "However, I think I've found happiness in the few people that accepted who I was from the very beginning." 

Setting the cup back onto the table, she would almost scoff to herself for a moment. "As for you being the Faceless Lord, I guess it doesn't come to a complete surprise. This sounds like the kind of ridiculous scheme you'd get yourself caught up. I guess you can consider yourself lucky that I never reached the finish line, could've been messy." Her entire face seemed to smile as she left out a decently hearty laugh. Wouldn't this mean that Raidou had been more of a Wanted Criminal than her all of this time? 

A finger would run across the rim of that white cup playfully. "I think you've just revealed your hand to me. Our meeting in the cold was certainly no coincidence, was it?"

ID: 218267 
CD: 8 - Recovery Activate
+12 EN
+53 HP

As the battle raged on, one couldn't help but notice that the large dragon was growing slowly. His attacks seemed more sluggish and it finally seemed to be noticing the various amounts of weapons that were striking it. The end was nearing. Brandishing her dagger, she would prepare to make a strike but found a large tail crushing down on her. A couple of acrobatically enhanced dodges would steer her clear of the brunt of force but serve her with the impact of the blow and the rubble that ensued from it. 

Picking herself up after regaining balance, the violet-eyed woman would find her team breaking through the barrier and taking advantage of the moment of weakness that Wushen was displaying. It seemed that the team wasn't completely hopeless after all. 

"I think this should do it." She whispered to herself. The frontlines were a thing of her past after this moment, for now at least. The rush and thrill it used to provide had dulled. It was time for some much-needed rest. Even if rest meant being terrorized by Shiina and her pet hamster. 

The flash of purple light would indicate a strike, the slash piercing through Wushen's hide. 

ID: 218266
BD: 3+5=8 Hit
CD: 12- ST-B Unlocked
DMG: 30*18=540-15=525 DMG to Wushen

(8) Hidden | HP: 769/966 | EN: 26/102 | DMG: 30 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 5 | BH: 53 | REC: 8 | PHASE | HLY: 16 | V.O.: 106 | V.D.: 53 | LD: 1.

Wushen, Elemental Warlord | HP: ????/???? | DMG: 200 | MITI: 15 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 0 (433 damage accumulated)

ID: 218143
CD: 4 No Recovery
+53 HP
+4 EN

The sound of shattering ice was barely met with any action. A confused glance would pass over the individuals. Was she not being loud enough? Were they frozen in fear? It didn't matter much as the moment of opportunity passed. A chilled wind would assault her as the ice began to reform between them a Wushen. Biting her tongue, the Lily would instead opt for a sigh. It seemed as if she would have to do this herself. 

Flipping that dagger in her hand, a white gleam would brighten the area around her. Shadows would dance on the ground around her before the woman suddenly vanishes... just to appear moments later above the dragon's head. A single stroke sends a black slash through the air, striking the head down. A thud would be heard and the ground would shudder as it bounced from the ground. Landing cleanly, violet eyes scanned her teammates to see if they would take advantage of the dazed creature.

ID: 218142
BD: 10 - Holy (+16 DMG) | Phase | Vamp. Off (+106 HP) | 
CD: 4 - No ST-B
DMG: 15*48=720-(55/2=28)=692 DMG to Overgrowth

(10) Hidden | HP: 966/966 | EN: 31/102 | DMG: 30 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 5 | BH: 53 | REC: 8 | PHASE | HLY: 16 | V.O.: 106 | V.D.: 53 | LD: 1

ID: 217979
CD: 5 No Recovery or Vamp Def
+4 EN
+53 HP

Heat would eat away at her stamina and flame would attempt to nip at her cloak as the creature recovered from the status that bound it. Raising a hand to bring forth a blow that would smite the creature back down, the woman faltered as she watched with anticipation as two others took the lead. Crozeph and Koga working in tandem, striking down the energy-born creature until it had fallen to the ground and faded to nothing. 

"Good work you two." she would mutter under her breath as her violet eyes flicked to the next objective—the wall.

Bringing her hand back up, shadow hands would coil and weave themselves together before spinning violently. Suddenly, the shadow would send itself forward, drilling through the barrier. Cracks would slowly form around the puncture as Hidden strained herself. Larger cracks began to form before the sound of shattering ice would fill the air. 

"It's up to you guys now." she would call out, looking to the individuals to her left.

ID: 217978
LD:16 - WALL BROKEN

(8) Hidden | HP: 966/966 | EN: 41/102 | DMG: 30 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 5 | BH: 53 | REC: 8 | PHASE | HLY: 16 | V.O.: 106 | V.D.: 53 | LD: 1

ID: 217747
CD: 3 - no Recovery
+53 HP
+4 EN

It would seem that they at least got their enemy's attention. On the downside, life was much more preferable when he had chosen to ignore them. As the ice wall repaired itself, Hidden found herself pushed back as she did her best not to get caught up in its wake. With the ice wall, a new elemental head grew to replace the old. This one was red and simply being near it seemed to increase the temperature of the boss room. 

"Can't get enough of this shit, now can we?"

A dagger would flash as a gash would appear in the head's side. Like a blur, the white-haired woman would dash out from under... foot? Head? Oh well. Out of harms way the best she could be, violet eyes began to scan the woman's surroundings. It seemed the others... were not doing great. Poor NIGHT had gotten caught up in the fissure created by the ice wall. Everyone other than Zandra seemed to be deliberating on the next best course of action at the moment. 

ID: 217746
BD: 7 - Hit
EN: 15+2=17 EN Used
CD: 3 - No ST-B
DMG: 18*30=540-35=505 DMG to the Red Head

(8) Hidden | HP: 966/966 | EN: 37/102 | DMG: 30 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 5 | BH: 53 | REC: 8 | PHASE | HLY: 16 | V.O.: 106 | V.D.: 53 | LD: 1

ID: 217378 
CD: 8 - 12(8+4) EN Recovered.

Things would not begin to calm down after she felled the head. In fact, it almost seemed as if they were put on a clock. Kill the big thing before heads start to grow back. Luckily, NIGHT seemed to be on the same page as she immediately began to break through the wall. As the ice shattered, a spray of fog and mist would sweep through the area, and when the dust cleared... all that was left was their target. 

The party charged through the broken barricade, beginning to hack and slash at the exposed dragon. Did she think they would be able to slay it? Not yet. This battle seemed to be more of a battle of attrition. Which would fall first? The enemy before them? Or would it be their energy reserves and inevitably them? For now, it wouldn't matter as her dagger slashed at what was simply a single scale. 

ID: 217379
BD: 6 - Hit
DMG: 30*15=450-75=375 DMG to Wushen | 14 EN Expended

(9) Hidden | HP: 966/966 | EN: 48/102 | DMG: 30 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 5 | BH: 53 | REC: 8 | PHASE | HLY: 16 | V.O.: 106 | V.D.: 53 | LD: 1

STK 2 activated, 80 DMG sustained

ID: 217245
CD: 9 - Vamp. Def and Recovery Activated. 106 HP Regained. 8 energy Regained.
80 STK damage received.  
 

Bad would only shift to become dire. Within mere moments, the entire situation had changed. The White Lily's eyes would widen slightly as several glowing heads spiral from Wushen's body. "What the hell?" the girl would mutter as she slowly backed away. A purple head would approach them, glaring menacing at her party. Hidden's eyes would begin to search the other parties' reactions to heads but she couldn't find them. The groups had become trapped in a cage of ice. 

It didn't seem like there was much escape for the parties. Weighing some options, the girl decided there was only one way to push in this scenario: forward. Keeping at range, Hidden would begin concentrating the energy for her attack within her weapon. The others were already beginning to batter the creature. Darting at high speed, the girl would duck through each party member's shadow for a short moment before suddenly she was in the air, behind the head.

Those same spectral hands that had protected Alkor would reach out and grab the head, restraining it. With it still, the white-haired woman's dagger would fall upon its neck, severing the creature's head from the body. Falling to the ground, the woman would land with the fallen head. Despite having lost its head, the neck was still moving and flailing. 'Is it a hydra? Did I simply make matters worse?' 

ID: 217243
BD: 8
SA: Grim Eclipse (x23) - 22 EN
DMG: 30*23=690-55=635 DMG. Head defeated!

(8) Hidden | HP: 886/966 | EN: 50/102 | DMG: 30 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 5 | BH: 53 | REC: 8 | PHASE | HLY: 16 | V.O.: 106 | V.D.: 53 | LD: 1 | STK 2 [80/0] | DSCH [2/0] FADED!

Caustic | HP: 0/2000 (617-635) | DMG: 250 | MITI: 55 (-20)| ACC: 4 | EVA: 0 | Envenom 2 [64/4] | TXC VNM 6 [64/3] | Neurotoxin 5 [5/3] | Shatter [1/3]

ID: 216258
CD:3 - No Regen
-80HP, Static | +53 BH

As if her thoughts willed it into being, the storm would only rage harder. Wushen, snapping to attention, would quite literally rain destruction itself. As waves of energy crashed onto the players, the White Lily did her best to dart away from the attacks. Unfortunately, there was no escape to be had. A stinging pain shot through her body as a searing electric surge forced its way through her. Her once straight hair was now quite frizzy from the sudden surge. 

Looking to her team and its health bars, Hidden would devise her own plan. With her repetitive attacks, she seemed to gain the boss's attention. She needed to sit back and let the tanks deal with that. Violet eyes shift to @Alkor before she calls to him, "Hey blondie, I'm gonna make an opening for you to get in there. Don't squander it." As she readied to <SWITCH> with Alkor, shadow hands began to slink over from her to cover the blonde, acting as a sort of umbrella. 

"NOW!"

As the command was called, the shadows would dart forward, acting as both a shield and spear. These shadows would collide with Wushen, tearing at the scales that would protect it, hopefully making an opening for the man. As her attack finished, Hidden would retreat her hands to prevent further energy drain. The rest was up to the boy now. 

ID: 216257
BD:9 | +17 DMG, Phase, +106 HP
CD:9 - ST-B Unlocked
DMG: 47*15=705 DMG
Activating <SWITCH> with @Alkor

(7) Hidden | HP: 705/966 | EN: 54/102 | DMG: 30 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 5 | BH: 53 | REC: 8 | PHASE | HLY: 16 | V.O.: 106 | V.D.: 53 | LD: 1 | STK 2 [80/1] | DSCH [1/2]

Wushen, Elemental Warlord | HP: ????/???? [705 DMG ACCUMALATED] | DMG: 200 | MITI: 0 75 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 0 | [Shatter 3 {2/3}] | TXC. [32/1] | BLGT [32/1] | STK [40/1]

ID: 215837
CD: 12 -Recovery and Vamp. Def procced
Rec: 8+4=12 EN Recovered
104 HP Recovered

A blonde man stepped forward, taking the 'attention' of the boss. What was his name again? Alfred? Perhaps she should take the time to learn that at some point. Another brief moment appeared in which the health bars appeared. This was the first boss she had seen that was hiding them for brief moments. In fact, this was also the first boss that seemed disinterested in the players. Something it was doing was off. 

"You think it is waiting for something specific to happen?"

The words were lost to the thundering sounds as a divine stomach ache shook the battlefield. Another hand would be raised, sending a pair of hands forward to spear themselves into a scale on Wushen's side. Hesitant to continue without more information, Hidden would step back, passing a NIGHT that seemed to be having a bit of difficulty. A flick of her eyes would catch Crozeph as the woman would see what antics he was up to at this moment. 

ID: 215835
BD: 5+5=10. Hit ST-II used.
DMG: 30*18=540-20=520 Dmg Dealt
EN: 17 EN Used

(5) Hidden | HP: 966/966 | EN: 64/102 | DMG: 30 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 5 | BH: 53 | REC: 8 | PHASE | HLY: 16 | V.O.: 106 | V.D.: 53 | LD: 1

ID: 215636 CD:11 -> Recovery + V.D Procced!
12 EN Recovered
106 HP Recovered

-Charge is now off cooldown-

The deafening sound of another tail strike aimed towards NIGHT shook the ground beneath her feet. 'How bothersome.' Lily would think. Stepping forward from her backseat position in the party, she would take front and center. "Many have found that ignoring me is a rather big mistake." Those same shadow-spectral arms began to sprout from her backside, pushing off the ground to assist with her leap upwards. A myriad of soon-fading white flowers were left in her wake as suddenly she was body-to-face with the boss. 

A white gleam would shine like a tiny star above the battlefield as she brought her dagger right down onto its snout. The blade cut through its scales like putty, leaving a gash where it had torn through. A smirk played itself on her face as she fell back, hurtling toward the ground. The dark cloak that covered the woman seemed to billow like dark smoke as her fall seemed to slow. Landing gracefully on the ground, she would look up at the beast, awaiting its retaliation. Normally this would be the moment when she would retreat back to the backlines. Instead, this time she would face her foe head-on. 

ID: 215635
BD: 9 -> CRIT! Holy Activated! Phase Activated! Vampiric Off. Activated! 47*15=705 DMG to Wushen
14 EN Expended

(4) Hidden | HP: 966/966 | EN: 69/102 | DMG: 30 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 5 | BH: 53 | REC: 8 | PHASE | HLY: 16 | V.O.: 106 | V.D.: 53 | LD: 1

Wushen, Elemental Warlord | ACCUMULATED DMG: 2003 | DMG: 200 | MITI: 0 75 | ACC: 4(+3) | EVA: 0 | [Shatter 3 {2/3}] | BLGT [32/1] | BRN [56/1] | FRB: [40/1] | TXC. [72/2] | STK [40/1] | [Rend 28/1] 

Combat ensued around her, with it, an underlying tone of pure chaos. Each player had their own fighting style and way of attacking. Crozeph and Koga found themselves high in the air, while NIGHT and Alkor seemed to be poking at the beast, testing out its true power and defenses. For now, she simply stood back and acted as the party's supporting attacker. Channeling the power of her "Lady Midnight" skill, shadows would begin to dance around her and form into hands around her. These hands would begin to clasp together, creating a fine point that she would fire off like a javelin toward the creature.

"Grim Embrace."

The words would be audible as the hands struck her target, disassembling to tear at Wushen's body. A sigh came to her lips as she was finished. 'this really isn't having the same feeling for me as it did before. Perhaps I really should throw in the towel after this fight. Violet eyes turned to watch the rest of her party complete their work. It would be best if she simply left these people to their devices.

ATTACK
ID: 215279
BD: 3+5=8. Hit.
SA: ST-B (Grim Embrace) x23 -> 22EN Cost
DMG: 30*23=690-15=675 DMG to Wushen

RECOVERY
ID: 215280
CD: 10 -> Recovery and Vamp. Def Activate. 
•8+4(natural)=12EN recovered
•53+53(BH)=106 HP Recovered

Wushen, Elemental Warlord | DMG ACCUMULATED: 2046 | DMG: 200 | MITI: 75(-60)= 15 | ACC: 3 (-1) | EVA: 0 | SHATTER 3 (1/3)

(2) Hidden | HP: 966/966 | EN: 71/102 | DMG: 30 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 5(+1) | BH: 53 | REC: 8 | PHASE | HLY: 16 | V.O.: 106 | V.D.: 53 | LD: 1 |

NIGHT would simply walk past her, ignoring her words. 'Perhaps just a little too straightforward. She is a shy one after all.' Pursing her lips as she passed, Hidden would turn her attention to the door. "Let's see if this gets me back into it." she would mutter to herself. The reason for her arrival at the raid was simply to do something she normally had. To feel that same sense of normality. She had become extremely lax as of late, with little seeming to motivate her. Maybe this endeavor would rekindle her fire. 

The large double doors would open, and her eyes would be met with those of an enormous creature. A dragon of huge scale would look down on the party that had come to join the festivities. Its very being seemed to almost draw in the life around it, stealing mana from the very world itself. It wanted to devour everything at its very essence. Unfortunately for it, the White Lily was also a devourer. It would have to eat her before she could eat it. 

A smile would draw itself on the woman's lips as shadows folded in on themselves to produce a weapon that she would gingerly fetch from the air. The weapon was cold to the touch, drawing in light and life around it as it began to charge. "Now, let's have some fun." she would mutter before darting forward at a blinding speed. Leaping forward, several shadowed hands would grasp out, tearing at the creature's body, draining it. A dagger would tear through energy and flesh alike. Satisfied with her work, she would leap off of the creature before attempting to shift into the shadows. To her dismay, it seemed the creature was preventing her from slipping back into the shadows as she normally would. 

ST-I + Charge Activated: 14+8=22-1(rested)=21 EN Expended

ID: 215025
BD: 5+5-1(Charge)=9. Hit.
CD: 9 -> ST-B Activated!
DMG: ST-I + Charge + Assassin = 30+7=37*15=555-15=540 DMG

[2] NIGHT | HP: 1299/1299 | EN: 129/146 | DMG: 30 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 4 | BH: 71 | BLD: 48 | BLGT: 32(-20) | FRB: 40(-1) | STK: 40 | HB: 57 | VD: 142 | HELL: 80 | LD: 3 | DOTE: 3/3
[2] Alkor | HP: 989/989 | EN: 103/118 (-15) | DMG: 12 | MITI: 193 | ACC: 4 | BH: 54 | TAUNT | HLY: 16 | FLN: 16 | LD: 3
[1] Koga | HP: 1035/1035 | EN: 112/124 (124 -12) | DMG: 28 | MIT: 50 | EVA: 3 | ACC: 7 | BH: 56 | FLN: 16 | BRN: 56 | V.D.: 113 | LD: 3 | [CHARGE CD, 0/3]
[1] Hidden | HP: 966/966 | EN: 81/102 | DMG: 30 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 5 | BH: 53 | REC: 8 | PHASE | HLY: 16 | V.O.: 106 | V.D.: 53 | LD: 1 | [CHARGE CD, 0/3]

Wushen, Elemental Warlord | DMG ACCUMULATED: 1,726 (1186+540) | DMG: 200 | MITI: 75 15 (-20)(-20)(-20) | ACC: 3 (-1) | EVA: 0 | [DELAY] | [SHATTER 2, 0/3]

[ADVANCED TRAINING USED: +10% Thread EXP]

Quiet footsteps were hardly able to be heard echoing across the cavern. Voices were to be heard ahead of her as a group of players amassed in front of the boss room. It seemed she had managed to make it in time. Violet eyes passed onto the participants that had gathered. Freyd was of the people she knew well along with NIGHT, but there were several unfamiliar faces. Mina was also among the known but an individual she knew little of. Her attention became caught on a girl in a teal Haori. 

"Interesting... so that is her, huh?" 

As she strode into the room, a faint smile reached the lily's lips. Many players stood focused, their stances rigid as they prepared for the upcoming battle. Stepping past @Crozeph, a cold would wash over him. "Lighten up a bit, won't you?" Her voice was playful and teasing but she wouldn't wait for his reaction and instead continue forward. Reaching into her inventory, she would pull free one of her buff's beginning to munch on a candied apple that had recently been made from one of the apples Raidou had brought her. 

She would continue to advance until she was met with @NIGHT. "Hey cutie, sorry I missed your meeting. Where do you want me?" Hidden's voice was playfully curious, revealing she was teasing NIGHT as she had Cro. 

With Raidou not present, she would differ to NIGHT and then Freyd. The two were some of the most prominent players known to the frontlines and probably had the most knowledge of the current floor itself while Hidden spent a good deal of searching to get this far. 

ID: 214925 | LD:11+7=18 Stealth Rating

Hidden | HP: 966/966 | EN: 102/102 | DMG: 30 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 6 | BH: 53 | LD: 1 | HLY: 16 | PHASE | REC: 8 | V.D.: 53 | V.O.: 106 | Stealth: 18

Raidou had begun to show concern about how she had felt that day. "Perhaps sick isn't the correct word. I just... felt I had lost something that had been a part of me. A weight in my chest was lifted, but let a hole in its stead." Describing it wasn't easy when it was a feeling she had not yet felt before. 

Purple eyes drift onto a black feather as Raidou revealed it to her. She couldn't begin to guess the relevance of the object. "Have you attempted appraising the feather yet? Perhaps where it came from is where the ship went." It was by far the best guess she could come up with. Simmone? Worried? She needs to get her priorities straight. I've been here, not doing much. Been wondering if I should go do a quest to attempt to rekindle myself." The question came to be whether she and Simmone shared words. "We don't talk too much, but I feel like she knows a lot. Maybe even too much." 

Simmone's eyes were hard for even her to hide from. The APD had been rather easy but escaping Firm Anima's scouts was rather difficult. Her attention became redirected as a cup of cider was pushed into her hands, the smell itself beginning to entice her. Offering a smile as thanks, she would bring the cup to her lips. The taste was sweet and crisp. Her eyes fell onto Raidou for a moment as she wondered how good the tea he always liked to drink was. He was most definitely a pro at making it now. 

The White Lily would come to gloss over the detail regarding whether or not Raidou had been responsible for APD's silence, instead focusing on other things. When was the last time she had actually just sat down with Rai and enjoyed his company? Had she ever? Or had they always been focused on the bigger things? Was this improvement? Or was she simply not accomplishing the work she needed to?

"I do, he's a real good friend of mine. I owe him a great deal. I warned him, but he was persistent. Trust me Hilda."

Shrugging, the dark lines that had begun to form in her eyes faded as the shadows crept back to the corners where they had come from. "Remind me again, when did I tell you my real name?" Hidden would purse her lips as she heard the crunch from the bite of bread. 

24 minutes ago, Nari-Lanreth said:

Skill(s) Being Dropped: Enhanced Weight Limit, Searching, Quick Change, Battle Healing, Polearm, Dagger, Light Armour, Parry, Damage, Protector Familiar
Mod(s)/Addon(s)/Shift(s) Being Dropped: Detect, Stamina, Precision, Focus, Meticulous, Resolve, Vengeful Riposte, TECH specialist
SP Incurred Towards Limit: ~
SP Refunded: 225
Cost: Free Skill Respec Ticket (Paragon Reward)

Approved

Raidou would begin setting the table for two, bringing silverware and plates to the table. Fetching a heat pad, she would place the spaghetti and noodles atop finished with some slightly burnt garlic bread that had been cooking in the oven. "Well, I guess it looks better than it normally does..." Hidden would mumble to herself. A question would come from Raidou who had moved himself into the living room now. 

"How long have you been back?"

Hidden raised an eyebrow in response and stepped from the kitchen back into the living room. "Here? I guess about a month or two? I've noticed a couple of things off since...." A moment passed for her to think. The similarities between now and her dream were uncanny. If Simmone and Sey were here, it would be an exact replica. "I'd say the moment where we were force teleported from Razwell's ship. I felt extremely sick that day like I was seasick." The sickness had faded rather quickly, but at that exact same moment, it felt as if something were different. As if she wasn't really herself. Unfortunately, the white lily hadn't made any sense of it yet. 

Finding about another of Shiina's interests was intriguing. There was some fun to be had with that. Perhaps a trip to the river before forcibly stuffing her underwater? "Simmone huh?" Hidden would reply. "I'd invite her to dinner more but I'm pretty sure spaghetti would make her ass too fat." It was weird, it felt like Simmone had eaten spaghetti with her before. "I really ought to go out and see more. A lot of people have a hard time remembering little ol' me these days. To think I was the most wanted criminal in Aincrad at one point."

Hidden would close her eyes. Something... no... Someone had been standing outside for a few minutes now. How bothersome. "I don't need glasses either. Have a friend outside? Should've been smarter to stay out of the shadows if they wanted to hide." Shadows would pool at the intruder's feet, locking them in place. It was extremely faint, but a small trail of black ink would color one of the girl's sclerae. Her eyes seemed unenthused as they trained themselves on the door.