Vigilon

                        Needless to say, the tables turned the moment after the first impressions were made. This fight was quickly going in the players' favor, not even the Wraith like thing the two fought earlier was this dangerous...Maybe they were just unlucky in that fight, whereas the opposite was going on here! It wouldn't be long now...

               Vigilon attacked with Draco Rend again, tearing into the monster and dropping his HP a considerable amount. Just a few more attacks ought to finish it off... "We're getting close, let's keep it up!" Vigilon called out to Dazia.

              Shanno began making her way down the staircase, and would then notice the active battle. She would stay where she was, as to not pull aggro against the very creature she had failed to get past time and again...were these players lucky, or were they far stronger than the beast could handle? She knew she couldn't slay the monster on her own...but perhaps both players there, working together, played a part in how quickly this enemy was being struck down...

ID# 218535 BD: 7+4=10(hit)

AoE-I: 23x15=345 Damage to Kalsnald!

[2]Vigilon: HP 657/760 | EN 70/110 | 23 DMG | 78 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA | PAR | 6 LD
[3]Dazia: HP 563/660 | EN 44/84 | 23 DMG | 44 MIT | 3 ACC | 4 EVA | 8 Fallen | 1 LD

               Enemies:

Kalsnald, Ash Knight of Sealing:

HP 1258/3800 | 140 DMG | 2 ACC

Attacks:

Punishing Blade: Common Attack, used on LD 1-8.
Rending Cleave: Inflicts T4 Bleed on MD 8-10, used on LD 9-14.
Axe of Duality: An AoE attack that deals an additional 40 damage as Fallen on MD 9, and an additional 40 damage as Holy on MD 10. Used on LD 15-18.
Blighted Smite: An attack that inflicts T4 Blight on a successful hit. Used on LD 19-20.

Abilities:

Neutralizer: Holy Damage and Fallen Damage are 25% less effective when inflicted against Kalsnald, Ash Knight of Sealing.

"To Hell with your Persistence!": Using a healing item or skill generates 6 Hate and gives Kalsnald, Ash Knight of Sealing a free attack action to use against the cause of healing.

                        Vigilon could only watch as Kalsnald brought down his axe upon Dazia, slamming her down to the ground while leaving a red mark that probably symbolized a gash across her...but luckily, he was preparing his strongest sword art while doing so, allowing him to deliver a retaliation attack in her stead. The monster's HP was dropping steadily with each attack, this is going better than expected, despite the rough start!
                "Dazia, are you alright?" Vigilon called out. He then looked to Kalsnald's HP bars. "We're almost halfway there, just a little more and we'll take this cursed beast down in no time!" He added. He was surprised that he and Dazia had made this much progress already! Things were starting to look pretty good now...so they only had to keep this up for at least a little longer, and victory would be assured.

    Just a little longer, just a little more.

ID# 218532 BD: 6+4=10(hit)

ST-B: 23x20=460 damage to Kalsnald!

[2]Vigilon: HP 657/760 | EN 81/110 | 23 DMG | 78 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA | PAR | 6 LD
[2]Dazia: HP 563/660 | EN 55/84 | 23 DMG | 44 MIT | 3 ACC | 4 EVA | 8 Fallen | 1 LD

               Enemies:

Kalsnald, Ash Knight of Sealing:

HP 2038/3800 | 140 DMG | 2 ACC

Attacks:

Punishing Blade: Common Attack, used on LD 1-8.
Rending Cleave: Inflicts T4 Bleed on MD 8-10, used on LD 9-14.
Axe of Duality: An AoE attack that deals an additional 40 damage as Fallen on MD 9, and an additional 40 damage as Holy on MD 10. Used on LD 15-18.
Blighted Smite: An attack that inflicts T4 Blight on a successful hit. Used on LD 19-20.

Abilities:

Neutralizer: Holy Damage and Fallen Damage are 25% less effective when inflicted against Kalsnald, Ash Knight of Sealing.

"To Hell with your Persistence!": Using a healing item or skill generates 6 Hate and gives Kalsnald, Ash Knight of Sealing a free attack action to use against the cause of healing.

                      Well now...the battle had only just begun, and Vigilon was already seeing that this monster wasn't messing around. What Shanno hadn't told Vigilon or Dazia, however, was that the wild axe spin swing had bonus damage dealt as Fallen...which Vigilon was able to figure out, having seen the energy from player weaponry that carried it. Vigilon got up, with some difficulty. "Shanno said nothing about this thing having access to Fallen damage...you saw that, right? It used Fallen against me..." He noted.
          Well, nothing much to do but continue the assault. He readied his weapon, and unleashed his Sword Art, Draco Rend, dealing damage to Kalsnald.

         These adventurers were becoming a hassle, they had clearly been through many with capabilities like his. Kalsnald growled, surely these small weaklings couldn't overpower him on their own. He looked to the persistent man with eyes of red, then to the small girl whose face was hidden. Her weapon was one of fallen darkness, with no light to balance it. Was it simply a tool for her, or does she walk in darkness?

ID# 218529 BD: 4+4=8(hit), CD: 12(ST-B Available!)

AoE-I: 23x15=345 Damage to Kalsnald!

[1]Vigilon: HP 657/760 | EN 97/110 | 23 DMG | 78 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA | PAR | 6 LD
[1]Dazia: HP 660/660 | EN 69/84 | 23 DMG | 44 MIT | 3 ACC | 4 EVA | 8 Fallen | 1 LD

               Enemies:

Kalsnald, Ash Knight of Sealing:

HP 3020/3800 | 140 DMG | 2 ACC

Attacks:

Punishing Blade: Common Attack, used on LD 1-8.
Rending Cleave: Inflicts T4 Bleed on MD 8-10, used on LD 9-14.
Axe of Duality: An AoE attack that deals an additional 40 damage as Fallen on MD 9, and an additional 40 damage as Holy on MD 10. Used on LD 15-18.
Blighted Smite: An attack that inflicts T4 Blight on a successful hit. Used on LD 19-20.

Abilities:

Neutralizer: Holy Damage and Fallen Damage are 25% less effective when inflicted against Kalsnald, Ash Knight of Sealing.

"To Hell with your Persistence!": Using a healing item or skill generates 6 Hate and gives Kalsnald, Ash Knight of Sealing a free attack action to use against the cause of healing.

                      Vigilon intended to follow after Dazia, but the moment she stopped, it was clear she'd been spotted...which made sense, everything was white and she was wearing black. The color contrast would make her stick out like a sore thumb.

            Therefore, it was time to move on to more aggressive tactics to initiate combat. Vigilon leapt down the stairs and rushed in to attack, only to be blocked by the monster's axe.
               The monster was a bulky, hulking, battle-hardened knight with pristine, ash-gray armor...and a deep glowing violet, considerably cursed looking horse head. Its weapon was a double bladed, two handed battle axe made with steel for the handle, and platinum for the blades. To top it all of, there was an obscure, unsettling insignia on the monster's armor.

                    Two HP Bars filled up, the battle had begun.

               There were duties that must always be held, and this one's duty was no different. The upper tower would be a one-way trip, no one could come down, and it must keep guard, for it was a living seal to what dwelt within these hallowed halls.

              If these fools wished to go, they must defeat the one who now served as their sealing...Kalsnald, Ash Knight of Sealing. With a battle cry that sounded like an unearthly cross between the voices of a horse and a lion, it announced its readiness to fight.

ID# 218522 BD: 2+4-1=5(miss)

Vigilon: HP 760/760 | EN 108/110 | 23 DMG | 78 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA | PAR | 6 LD
Dazia: HP 660/660 | EN 84/84 | 23 DMG | 44 MIT | 3 ACC | 4 EVA | 8 Fallen | 1 LD

               Enemies:

Kalsnald, Ash Knight of Sealing:

HP 3800/3800 | 140 DMG | 2 ACC

Attacks:

Punishing Blade: Common Attack, used on LD 1-8.
Rending Cleave: Inflicts T4 Bleed on MD 8-10, used on LD 9-14.
Axe of Duality: An AoE attack that deals an additional 40 damage as Fallen on MD 9, and an additional 40 damage as Holy on MD 10. Used on LD 15-18.
Blighted Smite: An attack that inflicts T4 Blight on a successful hit. Used on LD 19-20.

Abilities:

Neutralizer: Holy Damage and Fallen Damage are 25% less effective when inflicted against Kalsnald, Ash Knight of Sealing.

"To Hell with your Persistence!": Using a healing item or skill generates 6 Hate and gives Kalsnald, Ash Knight of Sealing a free attack action to use against the cause of healing.

                     Dazia asked Shanno about the details of the monster, which would definitely help to at least show her and Vigilon what they were up against. Based on what was spoken, it was probably a miniboss of sorts, with lots of HP and a more diverse set of abilities. The two players would need to act quick and get the jump on it before it could act. "Well, we could try a strong start, see if we can't jump the thing. Dazia can stealth, and I can charge. If it goes off without a hitch, we'll both have some pretty good damage on it to start, we'll just need to be able to take it down fairly simply, and in terms of defenses, stick to evasive strategies since we're not tanks. If it's gonna bullcrap us with high defenses or HP, we've just gotta bullcrap it back by being hard to hit." Vigilon suggested. He had a slight smirk on his face. "For now, let's not look at the odds, we just need to be able to hit it hard enough and dodge well enough, and we can outlast the outlaster." He added. It was a simple battle plan, but if the monster was as simple as described, simple was all the two really needed.

Vigilon: HP 760/760 | EN 110/110 | 23 DMG | 78 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA | PAR | 6 LD

Dazia: HP 660/660 | EN 84/84 | 23 DMG | 44 MIT | 3 ACC | 4 EVA | 8 Fallen | 1 LD

          ...Yep, she looked a lot like Nightingale, all right. Whether that was why Seline referred to her as a Nightingale or not, Vigilon didn't know, he'd never really met the woman. Shanno was really cute, though. Both Vigilon and Dazia seemed to have hope that they could get Shanno out of here safely, but the problem seemed to be that Shanno was unable to offer any help, even in terms of Support...and if Vigilon and Dazia were going to get her out of here, they couldn't risk putting her in harm's way...
                     Then Dazia had a suggestion. One that was completely unexpected.

"That should be an easy fix, we've got a blacksmith here now. Vigilon, you've got a spare you can give her, right?"

          Vigilon blanked. "..."

"You do have something you can give her, right?"

     Vigilon blinked, before staring so blankly that it almost looked like he was zoning out. "Can she use Straight Swords?" Vigilon asked, while screaming internally.

          "No." Shanno answered. Dazia facepalmed.

"How was I supposed to know something like this would happen? I leave my creations at the shop. I had no way of anticipating something like this." Vigilon explained sheepishly. So much for adding a little extra firepower...

Vigilon: HP 758/760 | EN 110/110 | 23 DMG | 78 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA | PAR | 6 LD

Dazia: HP 660/660 | EN 84/84 | 23 DMG | 44 MIT | 3 ACC | 4 EVA | 8 Fallen | 1 LD

                   Vigilon nodded his head. He was definitely in agreement that they had to find this player soon.

    More rooms the two would pass, Vigilon paid little attention to what the rooms were. Time was short, but he was starting to get worried that he might have ended up letting himself get tunnel vision. Hopefully he'd be able to spot the player despite all this...like, she should probably stick out like a sore thumb, right? With all this white color making up all the interior color, she should be easy to find!

                        Minutes passed, rooms were passed. It wasn't until Vigilon looked to the side as he passed an archway that led to a balcony. There was a different color, something wasn't the usual expected color that was white. He stopped, backed up, and looked back towards the balcony. There she was, a female player with blonde hair, her apparel, seemingly, was mostly white on the surface. She turned towards her right, but had yet to notice Vigilon. She looked shockingly like someone Vigilon had seen in a game, though this obviously was a person, not a character, despite the similarities in their appearances.

Vigilon blinked. "Hey, Dazia...were you ever told what the missing person looked like? Does she look like Nightingale?"

Vigilon: HP 718/760 | EN 110/110 | 23 DMG | 78 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA | PAR | 6 LD

Dazia: HP 660/660 | EN 84/84 | 23 DMG | 44 MIT | 3 ACC | 4 EVA | 8 Fallen | 1 LD

                        Vigilon and Dazia would end up going from room to room. There was a large room that could have even been a small ballroom, who knows...there was a room with a currently unknown original purpose, for it appeared to have been repurposed, due to the containers everywhere with some oddly textured dirt. Half the plants in those containers were dead, a large portion of them were actively wilting, and only about five were still growing, but not very well.

                   "Well, whaddya know, there actually is a makeshift garden..." Vigilon observed. He decided to investigate this further. There were a number of other things around the room, mainly for taking care of the plants in here. Some of the tools, when Vigilon inspected them, had creator tags, stating that they were player-made. "...Only a player could have some player-made items laying around here if one was living around here. Whoever's up here? Definitely a player. Let's hope she's your missing person." Vigilon noted.

Vigilon: HP 678/760 | EN 110/110 | 23 DMG | 78 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA | PAR | 6 LD

Dazia: HP 660/660 | EN 84/84 | 23 DMG | 44 MIT | 3 ACC | 4 EVA | 8 Fallen | 1 LD

                           Vigilon was kind of disappointed that Dazia didn't think about splitting the loot, but he decided to say nothing about it, even though it was he who found the chest in the first place.

                   Vigilon nodded his head when Dazia spoke. "Yeah, that'll definitely be a problem. We can think of some tactics to discuss with each other as we explore these rooms." He noted.
               Vigilon crossed his arms and closed his eyes as he began to think. "If it's a big, solitary monster that's blocking the way down, and it's been able to fend off a single player, most likely it's got the HP and damage to give the garden variety player a run for their money...that being said, if the only solution ends up being teleport Crystals, we'll need to be ready to pull them out for an escape. We came to investigate, but we didn't come prepared for a monster like that, so if either of our lives are in danger, we shouldn't risk it, and should head back to town with the supplies we need to be able to take it down." He explained, essentially thinking aloud and laying down the probable threat and the reality of risk.
                        He opened his eyes, then realized he had no idea where he should go next. "Well, this is your missing person task, so I'll let you lead." He decided.

Vigilon: HP 638/760 | EN 110/110 | 23 DMG | 78 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA | PAR | 6 LD

Dazia: HP 660/660 | EN 84/84 | 23 DMG | 44 MIT | 3 ACC | 4 EVA | 8 Fallen | 1 LD

              Given the situation that the two players were in, it would probably be best if the rooms be thoroughly searched, whether it be for evidence of whoever's stuck here being nearby, or something else that either appeared or was never found. Now that Vigilon thought about it, the floor felt odd under his feet during a step or two.

       He looked under him and noticed the rug. The colors of the rug were various whites, so it would be difficult to notice to the inattentive eye...but if there was an odd step... He grabbed the rug and pulled, he pulled until he saw what was under it. A near-perfect hole where a white colored treasure chest was, the shapes matched, to boot. Was this a hidden stash, or had the game left this on purpose? "Hey, there's a chest here." He noted. "...It doesn't look player-made, or player used..." He added as he pulled the chest out to observe it.

ID# 218485 LD: 19+7=26(Found a Treasure Chest!)

Vigilon: HP 598/760 | EN 110/110 | 23 DMG | 78 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA | PAR | 6 LD

Dazia: HP 644/660 | EN 84/84 | 23 DMG | 44 MIT | 3 ACC | 4 EVA | 8 Fallen | 1 LD

Vigilon receives the following Raid Rewards:

Dagan Crystal-A | Removes one enhancement on a weapon and replaces it with Envenom Offensive. (This effect cannot override the Envenom Offensive enhancement cap. Consumed on use)

Srona Crystal-A | Removes one enhancement on a weapon and replaces it with Blight. (This effect cannot override the Blight enhancement cap. Consumed on use.)

                      The two players would draw near to one of the archways leading to another room, and Dazia would spot something inside it. She would see a book and quill on a desk within the room, which looked like a study at this point. The inkwell was fresh, so this book must have been edited recently, be it by a player or an NPC. Only one way to find out...and that's to read this thing!

                    All Vigilon had to do was read the latest page... He didn't know if Dazia had picked up any other books in the study's shelf, which could provide lore on the location...but this had to be addressed. "Dazia...whoever wrote this, they know we came by, but they don't know we're exactly here yet...also...they're in trouble, dealing with a resource shortage. Here, take a look." He explained, handing her the book in progress.

        Also, he didn't know if he'd ever have this much patience. 537 days? Yikes...

Vigilon: HP 558/760 | EN 110/110 | 23 DMG | 78 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA | PAR | 6 LD

Dazia: HP 604/660 | EN 84/84 | 23 DMG | 44 MIT | 3 ACC | 4 EVA | 8 Fallen | 1 LD

                   After that suspiciously spacious room with the unsettling, horse-headed statue that stared at the players, its gaze following them as they moved on upward, past the stairs...was a more normal room. Unlike the other rooms, there was no evidence or trace of shifting or movement. Vigilon let out a sigh of relief. "Finally, a more normal room." He thought aloud.

                He then looked around this room of the- wait, how far up the tower have they gone at this point? Nine? And the rooms of this tower were tall and spacious, too...

               "Well, maybe from here, we can investigate normally, right? I sure hope so...I wouldn't want to rush into anything while our HP still needs to regenerate..." He pointed out, hoping Dazia would allow the two players to take a breather. After all, the fight he'd survived had taken a toll on his HP and he still needed to recover from the battle.

Vigilon: HP 518/760 | EN 110/110 | 23 DMG | 78 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA | PAR | 6 LD

Dazia: HP 564/660 | EN 65/84 | 23 DMG | 44 MIT | 3 ACC | 4 EVA | 8 Fallen | 1 LD

                   Well...clearly there was something done, either incredibly right or incredibly wrong, for the ground shook. "Yeah, that's not normally a good thing." He remarked. Dazia then decided the two players should move upward...well, no time like the present to get reckless, and if things went to shit then there were always Teleport Crystals, right?

               It was almost as though Dazia was starting to get tunnel vision. Sure, the rumors spoke of there being someone of importance at the top of the tower in the Citadel, but not only did Vigilon not have many clues pointing evidence that this particular area was the tower, there was also the factor that when searching for a missing person, you look through every nook and cranny...of course, maybe Dazia wanted to continue her search unhindered by whatever the pedestal was bringing. hopefully it wouldn't chase the players.

                  Vigilon, admittedly, wasn't as fast as Dazia was, and she was just zooming through the rooms, which, oddly enough, kind of planted a thought in Vigilon's mind. This area...it was almost like it was its own place, its own locale...but even with that hypothesis, the Ivory Citadel didn't make much sense at all. This place would be a tough nut to crack... As for the rooms of the tower itself, Vigilon couldn't tell, because the rooms were shifting while the two players speedran their way up the tower, which, Vigilon was now able to confirm to himself that this was indeed the tower, due to the number of stories it had.

Vigilon: HP 478/760 | EN 78/110 | 23 DMG | 78 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA | PAR | 6 LD

Dazia: HP 524/660 | EN 64/84 | 23 DMG | 44 MIT | 3 ACC | 4 EVA | 8 Fallen | 1 LD

            Vigilon got up, with some difficulty. He sure hoped the rest of whatever lurks around here were nothing like whatever the hell he just fought and nearly got pummeled by. "I'm actually right with you there, that was too close for comfort." He replied to her words.

              He didn't know if it was luck, he didn't know if it was the Cardinal, he didn't even know if it was just the odd layout of the place itself...but man, was he glad the potential target area of the structure was now before the two players. "...Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go, before anything weird finds us." He decided.

                        The two would enter the room, it was definitely sizable and spacious, but there was also something else there. A pedestal with three slots. There was already a slot with a yellow token filling it. Vigilon pulled out the red token from his inventory, and placed it into one of the two empty slots. He then looked to Dazia, who was now holding a blue token in her hand. Once she'd placed the token in, the pedestal then plunged under the floor within a quarter of a second. "...Did we do something right, or are we gonna regret this?" He asked.

Vigilon: HP 438/760 | EN 77/110 | 23 DMG | 78 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA | PAR | 6 LD

Dazia: HP 484/660 | EN 63/84 | 23 DMG | 44 MIT | 3 ACC | 4 EVA | 8 Fallen | 1 LD

                            So much for finishing this fight quickly.

             The Memory Wraith shifted into its true self, and when it moved to deflect Dazia's attack, Vigilon readied his sword art to attack. What he wasn't expecting, however, was what happened next.

                    The strange, unusual fabric-like, cloak-like stuff that may have been part of the Memory Wraith grabbed Vigilon's weapon by the blade, and Vigilon held onto the hilt of his sword, very tightly...and the result was the monster flailing him about, slamming him down upon the floor of the room numerous times in succession. Truly, a Loki vs Hulk moment...didn't Thor encounter this too? Either way, Marvel Asgardians vs Hulk madness aside, Vigilon wasn't feeling his best, his body tingling all over, and his HP nearing Yellow. This wasn't good.

                 Dazia was gonna need to do something, and fast. He didn't know if he could keep up against this one, it was awfully dangerous, and it had clearly stopped playing around.

ID# 218273 BD: 1(Crit. Miss), MD: 8+3-2=9(hit)

[3]Vigilon: HP 398/760 | EN 76/110 | 23 DMG | 78 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA | PAR | 6 LD

[0]Dazia: HP 484/660 | EN 71/84 | 23 DMG | 44 MIT | 3 ACC | 4 EVA | 8 Fallen | 1 LD

Memory Wraith 3: HP 46/1000, 150 DMG, 50 MIT, 3 ACC, 3 EVA | Sneak Attack: Memory Wraith 3 attacks first when combat starts. This first attack deals an additional 70 DMG if it hits.

                    Well, he tried to make this opponent understand...oh well.

          Heck, the enemy could have easily seen this the same way...and it seemed the only way out of this impasse was to make someone bleed.

          So, naturally, Vigilon decided it would be the opposing force that receives the pain...and disarming Dazia actually gave Vigilon the opening he needed. He readied his sword art, and dealt a heavy blow against the adversary, dropping the enemy's HP down into the red. He then entered a blade lock against the opponent, right after it delivered a cut against him. "Now, Dazia! Get your weapon and finish it!" He called out, hoping she would do just that...after all this was her former foe, not Vigilon's.

                A question remained within Vigilon's mind...why were these opponents all looking like fallen players? These clearly weren't ghosts, nor were they players...so what was the deal with them? It was then that he actually looked at the enemy's name, shifting from one name to the entity's actual name, <<Memory Wraith>>.

                These things had other goals and reasons for trying to kill Vigilon and Dazia, they simply took the forms of the fallen to mess with the two.

ID# 218271 BD: 8+4-3=9(hit), MD: 6+3-2=7(hit)

AoE-II: 23x18-50=364 Damage to Memory Wraith 3!

[3]Vigilon: HP 470/760 | EN 74/110 | 23 DMG | 78 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA | PAR | 6 LD

[0]Dazia: HP 484/660 | EN 69/84 | 23 DMG | 44 MIT | 3 ACC | 4 EVA | 8 Fallen | 1 LD

Memory Wraith 3: HP 46/1000, 150 DMG, 50 MIT, 3 ACC, 3 EVA | Sneak Attack: Memory Wraith 3 attacks first when combat starts. This first attack deals an additional 70 DMG if it hits.

                           The wall was destroyed, and the other players in his party then charged to strike down the boss. Everyone was attacking.

                      Krysta suffered a recoil from improperly triggering her sword art. Something had to be troubling her, so he would need to speak with her when this battle was over. He would need to help her with whatever was messing with her mind this moment later on.

            Ariel, Jomei, and Lessa all unleashed their might against the boss, aiming for the now visible weak spots in its scales, caused by the relentless onslaughts the players had made prior to this moment. With Their assault nearly complete, Vigilon's weapon surged with fire, as Kyrkuran wasn't finished yet. Vigilon activated his sword art as he made his way to the boss, before unleashing an attack that not only cut deeply into the foe, but unleashed another burst of dark energy that afflicted it, all while the sword unleashed its dragonfire upon the boss. The dragonhearted player would let out his voice like a roar as he let loose his might against this other dragon.

ID# 218265 BD: 9+5=14(Critical, +1 base DMG, inflicted Burn and Blight)

AoE-I: 29x15-15=420 Damage to Wushen!

              Another round, another head. The players were getting close though, last he could tell, so this won't be long now.

                        Once Nari gave the word, an all out assault began. Nari, Jomei, Ariel, and Lessa began an onslaught it couldn't handle, and Krysta would then advance to finish it off. It didn't even get a chance to attack before it got drilled and decapitated, it was kind of funny, actually.

            Krysta called for Vigilon to deal with the wall, and he would advance. He could feel the heat building up in his weapon, the timing couldn't have been better than now. With the wall right before him, he spoke. "Kyrkuran...shiul vel kyrahg!"
           Dragonfire erupted from his weapon as he unleashed his blade upon the ice wall, destroying it with ease, and the dragonhearted player's gaze met that of his enemy. "How does it feel, to know that defeat is coming your way?" He asked. Not once had the boss spoken. It was no mindless beast, but perhaps it was a creature that preferred to let its actions speak for it.

ID# 218176 LD: 19+5=24(Wall is Down!)

                           Based on what seemed to have suddenly become the plan, it didn't go as well as expected. Nari's attack failed to finish off the Wood head, then Jomei finished it off. Ariel tried to break the wall, but it seems that the boss must have prepared for this, as the wall was not fully destroyed. Lessa then took it upon herself to finish off the wall, making the opening, even though there were only two players left who had a window of opportunity against the boss. "Krysta, let's do our best to make this moment count. What say you?" He asked.
                      Upon Krysta's agreement, The two began making their way past the wall. While doing so, Vigilon had something to ask... "Hey, remember that thing we've been practicing, hoping to try out? Why don't we field test it here?" 
       Krysta seemed to be a bit hesitant, but she agreed. It was worth a shot, at least. Vigilon positioned his weapon, ready for Krysta to position hers. Crossed swords, the time was now. "As one!" Vigilon called out with Krysta.

                  Both Sword Arts were readied, and the two players rushed towards the boss with haste. Vigilon always wondered why Krysta's most powerful Sword Art caused the entirety of her avatar to glow, rather than just her weapon. Whether this was a cosmetic effect on an item, or something else, he did not know. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't curious about it, though. Vigilon activated his charge, and his initial strike would propel him upwards. The two players hacked and slashed with their Sword Arts as their attacks propelled them further upward in spirals. Said upward spirals eventually met, at the front of the boss's head, where both Vigilon and Krysta landed the final strike of their sword arts simultaneously. The light from Krysta's avatar, through her weapon, and the dark energy laced dragonfire from Kyrkuran, would both burst in a harmonious, yet deadly blast.

                      Vigilon forgot to think this next part through, and that part was getting down safely. Luckily for the two players, Krysta pulled out a cloth large enough to slow their fall enough once they both grabbed a hold of it. "Thanks so much, Krysta, I totally did not think that last bit through." Vigilon noted. "Maybe the next time we try something like this, the target won't be so huge..."

Charge used(-8 EN)

ID# 217955 BD: 10(Critical, +2 Base DMG, inflicted Burn and Blight!)

ST-B: 33x20-35=625 Damage to Wushen!

                     Well, the water type head was destroyed, and Krysta had to finish it off in the Tank's stead. Problem was, as soon as Jomei brought down the wall, the wall reformed and all three separate rooms got new heads.

          Oh...so it was that kind of phase...

   "Damn..." Vigilon thought aloud. "These things must regenerate whenever they all get cut down!"

          Unless one party gave up on killing off their head, this process would just repeat over and over...and who exactly would ever decide for their whole party to go on the defensive rather than the offensive? Who wouldn't want to be the one to be the boss's end? The HP bars were still obscured, so Vigilon had no idea if slaying these heads did anything.

        But he'd need to make a guess soon, for out popped a wood type head, which was battled by a different party earlier, not that he paid much attention because he was focused on the water type one before. Also Meditation.

                  "There's more to this thing than just plant matter..." He thought. "There's something about this thing...something...wrong." He shook his head. It was a familiar kind of shadowy feeling, but he couldn't quite place it. Maybe it was just his imagination. He readied his sword art, and made his way to the head.

          He unleashed his attack on his foe, that feeling was growing stronger. What was it that he was dealing with here? It was just a gnarled, energized form of tree plant, right? ...Right?

ID# 217735 BD: 2+5=7(hit), CD: 10(ST-B Available!)

AoE-I: 28x15-15=405 Damage to Overgrowth!

            Well, this particular part of the fight wasn't going as well as Vigilon had hoped. He'd hoped that the party would have wrecked this head by now, but alas, Vigilon had messed up pretty badly on his last attack. He didn't know if the head was laughing at Nari, or at Vigilon for his fumble.

     Regardless, Vigilon needed to reevaluate his options. Maybe the best way to do so was to partly slip into his own mind. He stood firm, positioning his blade downward as his hands clasped together around its pommel. Inhale, exhale...inhale...exhale...

                    Vigilon opened his eyes, his breathing relaxed. He looked to his energy, which had recovered more due to the short respite he'd taken. He could only hope that by doing this, he hadn't slowed his party down. They were all capable allies, though. He was sure they could take care of the electrically charged head of frost, ice and water.

Meditation Used(Recovered an additional 16 EN)

                     How close were the players now?

     That question might have to be answered later, for more words echoed throughout the room, and things might have just taken a much larger turn for the worse. For starters, ice formed, grew, and spread in a pattern that separated the parties, while also forming a defensive barrier, blockading the space between the boss and the players. "What is this, you seeing us as a threat now?" He asked.

           Then the heads emerged in each space. One of Venom, One of Plant matter....
                    ...And against Vigilon's party, a head of Ice with an electrical charge. Seeing that these elements were related to the Wuxing elemental system, this one must be...Water Element. Vigilon blinked, then looked to his effectively Fire Elemental Sword. "Aw, crap..."
          Vigilon had his doubts that fire would be very effective, so he'd have to rely on his weapon's darker energies and hope that this water type head wouldn't extinguish the Burn enhancement from his blade. He did not want to have to go fighting Cerberus again to repair his weapon a second time. Once was enough.

          Well, better do something instead of just stand around like a sitting duck!
    Vigilon readied his weapon. he'd have to try, at least, and this one head here was the only available target. What he wouldn't realize, however, was just how prepared his enemy would be for his attack. Had Vigilon become predictable, or was the boss playing all of its trump cards and putting in all of the effort? Only one way to find out, but Vigilon's failure to strike would not be a pleasant one...

ID# 217137 BD: 1(Critical Miss)

                         Vigilon knew that this couldn't possibly be all the boss had, but oh, how he wished he didn't jinx it by asking...

   First came the words. They weren't from the Players, nor were they from the boss...and yet, the words seemed to fuel the boss, and the beast within awakened. The Party Mina was in was set alight by fire, electricity surged against NIGHT's Team, and the Party Vigilon was in got pelted with a storm of bladed metal. Three of the wedges in the Antidote Buff mark above Vigilon's HP bar were gone, there was only one charge left. The whole party had taken a hit, and Vigilon had a feeling that things were going to worsen if something wasn't done soon.

               Vigilon took a short moment to think while Krysta was tending to the wounds of a party member. He began to connect some dots around the thoughts of his mind. What was it that he was facing? What was Vigilon? What kind of power resided within this monster? What kind of power resided within Vigilon?

         As Vigilon looked to the demeanor of other players in the room, he began to wonder, even if hearts can have the same goal or need, could they still be different or comparable to other things? Vigilon was indeed a human with a human soul...but, perhaps, he was, indeed, as few claimed, a dragonhearted young man with a silver soul.

      The dragonhearted player got up, ready to make his next move. He held a firm grip on his weapon as he readied a charge attack. Flames and a dark energy enveloped the blade of his weapon as he made his way to the boss. It was time to show it that it was not the only dragon in the room.
              Vigilon rushed as far and high up as he could, the power building up in his weapon as he did so. He could feel the heat within, waiting impatiently to wreak havoc and destruction upon his foe. When the time was right, he unleashed his sword art, with fire blasting out from his weapon like a dragon's flame. The translated name of Kyrkuran was "Dragonfire", after all. Dark power from the blade set a blight upon Wushen, replenishing the blight effect. As he finished the sword art, there was another burst of power, laced with fire and dark energies. "If you're going to fight with all your power," Vigilon began as he kept his gaze on his foe. "Then I will do the same and fight with all of mine."

Used Charge(+3 Base DMG, -1 ACC, used an additional 8 EN[total used: 15-2+8=21])

ID# 216537 BD: 9+5-1=13(Critical, +1 Base DMG, Burn and Blight Activate!)

AoE-I: 32x15=480 Damage to Wushen, Elemental Warlord!

+2 Hate

             So far, there was only constant whaling against the boss, simply hitting it until the players could get somewhere. The raid was already almost a third of the way there, and something seemed off...

                 "It's too easy..." Vigilon thought aloud. "Something's not right..."
       But what could he do, really? Other than make use of the offensive opportunity that was his most powerful Sword Art being ready once again, there really wasn't anything he could do about the situation. Something wasn't right, it had to have a trick up its sleeve...maybe it was waiting for the players to get overconfident? Could there be something else that the players haven't been up against yet? So far, this was nothing like the other fights he'd faced before, but not in the way he initially expected. "There's no way it's that easy, it can't be that easy..."

          Despite his thoughts and doubts, he activated his sword art anyway. Fallen energy coursed through his blade, surging into every slash, hack, and cleave at the boss, ending his sword art with another focused blow that practically ignited the others in a major burst of the weapon's fell energy. Might as well keep this up, since the players were making progress.

ID# 216064 BD: 7+5=13(hit, Fallen Activates!)

ST-B: (28+16)x20-20=860 Damage to Wushen, Elemental Warlord!

+1 Hate