Oscar

So if striking while the Terra Firma was charging was not a valid strategy, then he needed to mix it up. He hadn't had much luck hitting the creature as it emerged from its burrow, but he thought he had the distance figured out now. Perhaps he could take a slight risk for a major reward. He readied his weapon as the Terra Firma burrowed and circled him. Eventually, it disappeared from view. Oscar knew what was coming next. Instead of waiting to leap away a the last moment, he took two steps backwards as the sands began to shift. The creature missed him by a mile, but he was in an opportune position to counter attack. A fearsome barrage of slices cut deep into the Terra Firma's hide. The final chop, combined with the onslaught, left it on just a pip of health. If not for its innate Mitigation, Oscar would have used a weaker Sword Art to finish it off. But no, it was time to finish strong.

Next was the charge. Oscar had better luck hitting the thing when it was charging. But he couldn't bank on doing it safely without a stun. He wasn't certain at this point whether or not he would even be able to stun it again. So he had a choice to make. Either he could dodge the charge and try to use San Ge. Or he could stand in the creature's path and attempt a stun. The latter seemed too risky. It wasn't worth putting his advantageous position on the line just to get a little damage in. So he decided to go with the former. As the Terra Firma charged, Oscar spun out of the way. He then quickly charged up San Ge and let it fly, just barely missing the creature with his strike. In the end, it was of little importance. Oscar still had the advantage and he wasn't going to sacrifice it on a stupid call. Slow and steady would win this fight.

Two more San Ge and the Terra Firma would be slain. Oscar was quite pleased with how the fight was going so far. It wasn't easy by any stretch of the imagination, but due to his skill and, honestly, simple pattern recognition, he was able to get the upper hand. Now he intended to keep it. After the Terra Firma concluded its berserker rage, it dove under the ground. As it grew closer to death, it seemed to move faster and faster. It was certainly harder to keep track of. But all Oscar needed to keep up with was the shifting of the sands beneath his feet. The moment he sensed the movement, he dodged out of the way, leaving the Terra Firma hitting nothing but air as it surfaced. Oscar landed lightly and dashed back in, his blade glowing crimson as he attempted to land a San Ge. He missed, of course, but he just had to keep pouring on the pressure.

The Terra Firma burst from beneath the ground. But it could only watch as Oscar - from a safe distance - readied his most powerful Sword Art. His blade glowed a deep red as he reared his arm back to strike. His sword was a blur as he delivered and powerful onslaught onto the creature. He managed to hit it, but his blade bounced off the creature's hide. He went through the full combo, dealing zero damage to the creature. Unfazed, it lashed out with its powerful claws, trying in vain to hit Oscar. But the Azure Crusader was also elusive. He was also fast. He danced in between the blows deftly, repelling those that he couldn't outright dodge with his blade. For what seemed like hours, Oscar weaved in and out of the Terra Firma's attacks before he saw a gap in the onslaught and hopped back to gain some distance. It looked like he was finally making progress in this fight.

If the pattern held up, Terra Firma would be charging right about... now. The beast surged forward, kicking up dust and sand in its wake. Oscar sheathed his blade and bent low. Every muscle in his arm was tensed with anticipation. Just a little closer now. Closer... Now. Quick as a flash, Oscar's blade left its sheath and completely missed his target. But he got close. He got really close, actually. He had found the pattern, he just needed to handle the execution. Thankfully, the Terra Firma's aim was off as well. Oscar definitely couldn't afford to take a hit like he'd taken earlier. The creature burrowed again and Oscar got ready to dodge. Honestly, he wasn't doing too badly in this fight. True, he couldn't land a hit. But neither could the monster. He just had to wait and have some luck on his side, he supposed.

Much to Oscar's chagrin, the creature burrowed again. Round and round it circled Oscar until, finally, the ruts it was carving ceased being created. Oscar then noticed the pattern of the boss. It would go for a head-on attack. If that failed, it would then attempt to attack from below. True enough, the ground beneath his feet began to shift. Oscar leaped backwards just in the nick of time. He could feel the wind off of Terra Firma's claws barely missing him as he pushed himself backwards. He landed lightly on his feet and skidded back a few inches in the sand. The creature roared and glowered at Oscar who rushed in and attempted another Iai. It saw the attack coming, however, and dove back underground. As Oscar's blade sailed past where the beast used to be, it re-emerged some distance away from him, fury burning in its eyes. Oscar must have made it angry.

Oscar made a mental note that if the Land Shark disappeared like that again to be ready to dodge. He did not possess the largest of health bars and if he took another hit like that, he would be forced to teleport away. He might have been a stubborn man, but at least he had some sense of self-preservation. That being said, Oscar truly didn't want to have to flee the battle. All that would do was prolong his suffering here on Floor Five. Thankfully, the beast seemed satisfied with the damage it had done and didn't burrow again. A head-on attack was simple enough to sidestep, even if he had to give the creature a wider berth to avoid the gnashing fangs and talons. As it passed, Oscar attempted to use another Iai on it, but he knew he didn't have a prayer in hitting it. He would have to rely on dumb luck. The creature was too elusive, too fast, to be hit conventionally.

It was hard to track something that moved so swiftly beneath the sands. If he couldn't see his opponent, how could he possibly defend himself against it? But it mattered little. Oscar remained calm. He bent down low, tracking the undulations of the earth triggered by the movement of the beast. His hand gripped his blade, ready to strike with powerful force at beast the moment it emerged from beneath the sands. Suddenly, the shifting of the sands ceased. The creature must have dug down deeper. But where would it have gone? He got his answer as the ground began to shift beneath him. Before he could react, the Terra Firma's long claws were slicing through his avatar, sending him flying into the air. The damage was significant. Oscar landed in a heap and rolled over onto his back while he waited for the pain to subside. When it finally did, he clambered to his feet and adopted another fighting stance. No way was he going to take another hit like that again.

Oscar struck out into the desert, searching the sands for his target. Sweat dripped from his face and limbs as he struggled to climb the dunes. It was slow-going with the sand threatening to take from him his foothold with every step. But, he pushed onward. Slowly. Carefully. Until finally, he came to a suspicious clearing. It was flat. Free of sand dunes. The ground was criss-crossed with deep gashes, as if something were clawing its way from beneath the dirt. Oscar slid down the dune and was immediately met by his adversary: Land Shark, the Terra Firma. Four health bars wrapped around it, signifying that this was, in fact, a boss. It had burst from the sands the moment Oscar entered its "arena." He merely placed one hand on his blade as the beast charged him. Its deadly claws glinted in the sunlight as it advanced. When it got close, Oscar drew his blade and struck with the same fluid motion. Both of them missed their attacks. The Land Shark dove under the ground and began to circle Oscar. Oscar sheathed his sword and made ready for the next round.

Oscar would brave the sands of Floor Five one final time. There was a powerful field boss on this floor. Defeating it would mark the end of all known quests on the floor, which would then save Oscar from ever needed to put up with the sands here ever again. He consumed his buffs, each of them serving their own unique purpose. Together, all of them would make Oscar a formidable opponent for any boss. He had heard rumors of the boss's power, the deadly might it wielded. But he was unafraid. Oscar was ready. All of his training would be put to the test in this single fight. And he would not lose. Teleporting from Deepedge to Floor Five, Oscar was immediately greeted by the sweltering heat. Even in town, it was simply oppressive. The air was thick with sand, which dried his mouth out instantly. Thank goodness for the Survival skill. He truly didn't want to add unavoidable damage on top of the heat he was going to be dealing with. He hoped that once he lost himself in the heat of battle, that the heat of the floor would escape his notice.

FOCUSED CHILI DOG CONSUMED [+1 ACC, +2 DMG, -20 MIT]
FOCUSED ELUSIVE DOG CONSUMED [+1 ACC, +2 EVA]
EDGE SHARD CONSUMED [+2 DMG]
HEARTY DOG CONSUMED [+35 MIT]
YUI'S GRACE CONSUMED [+1 SP TO THREAD]
 

Oscar took a deep breath. It took all of his willpower not to start gushing right now. He merely flipped the pendant over and pointed to the inscription on the back. "It says: 'Beautiful and unique like a snowflake, strong like diamond. With love, Oscar.'" He let his words hang in the air for a moment, allowing them to sink in. After a moment, he explained himself. "The Hoya of Minos can be shaped into whatever your heart desires. My heart desired something to show you what I feel." He chuckled, his nervous laughter rippling through the quiet room. "I know it's sudden, but I think I've fallen for you during our adventures together." It was all on the line now. No safety net. Just how he liked it. He could soar or he could crash and burn. Cordelia was steering this plane now. "I couldn't keep going without at least telling you how I feel. But I couldn't quite work up the courage to form the words. So, I went and got you this..." He clasped her hand gently, covering the Hoya with his palm. "Would you give me a chance?"

Another great day for crafting. Oscar was beginning to get more consumables than he knew what to do with. Perhaps, once he got a good stock going, he would replenish his shop's stock with the fruits of his labors. But that was a ways away. For now, Oscar would need to remain focused on his cooking and make sure everything was just so. For the first time in a while, he crafted a rare item. It wouldn't be sold. He had a use for it. He smiled at his work and then began to clean up for the day. He sure didn't get a lot of business. Dazia hadn't even come back by to pick up her hot dog yet. It was just sitting there, waiting on her.

Oscar was definitely pumped. Seeing Macradon don his armor got him even more pumped. He'd never been up to a freshly-unlocked floor before, much less went out of his way to hunt something there. He placed his hand on Yukianesa and followed the man towards the Plaza. Leeroy & Jenkins padded along behind him, taking long, powerful strides in an effort to keep up. Oscar realized that he was walking faster than normal. He turned back to Bahr, who was bringing up the rear and started walking backwards. "A dragon hunt! That's crazy. Seems like just last week I was cowering in the safe zone with everyone else. How times change, huh?" Time wasn't the only thing that had changed. He had changed as well. He wasn't hung up on the regrets of the past anymore. He was able to move forward with confidence knowing that all of that had been put to bed. That was the true source of his strength. That and his crazy stubbornness.

The moment Cordelia walked into his shop, Oscar almost lost his nerve. He wished he was in the real world right now. This wasn't anything a shot of liquid courage couldn't fix. But, chances were that if he had been in the real world, the two of them never would have met. Perhaps he wouldn't be fawning like a schoolboy over a woman he'd never met then. But he was in it now. No backing down. He opened his menu and hastily opened the trade window. He placed the <<Hoya of Minos>> up for offer and hit accept. When the trade went through, he waited on bated breath for Cordelia's reaction. Either she loved it or she hated it. Regardless of her reaction, Oscar would be done with this god-forsaken pining today, once and for all. Although, if he were being completely honest, he hoped she liked it. "You'll have to forgive me but the real reason I called you here was to give you that. Sorry for not being upfront about it."

Thread Summary
Oscar
4 SP
990 Col
2 T1 Materials
<<Tiger's Rage>>

Dustin
4 SP
200 Col
<<Tiger's Rage>>

Oscar returned to his home and immediately started on making a meal for himself and his familiar. For Leeroy & Jenkins, three large steaks were placed on a large platter and seasoned with salt and bacon grease. The two of them were happy as larks to receive such a bounty. With his companion fed, Oscar then headed back into the kitchen and made himself some food. Pan-seared steak, seasoned with garlic, black pepper, salt, and finally rubbed with sage. To compliment the dish he used the drippings to grill up some ears of corn, infusing the yellow vegetable with the earthy flavor of the steak. As he sat down to eat, both Leeroy and Jenkins were gnawing at the bones that remained on the plate. They really did eat quick. After the food was consumed, he washed up and then headed to bed. Bloody Howl was placed by his bedside as he climbed atop the soft mattress. Oscar quickly fell off to slumber with a smile on his face.

Oscar stepped onto the Teleportation Platform and warped up to Deepedge on Floor 7. Upon arriving, he saw that there was plenty of daylight. Being in familiar territory and basically knowing the patrol paths of every monster he came across here, he would be able to explore around and take in the sights. His first stop was a massive waterfall that descended down the side of the mountain and into a deep ravine. The roaring waters drowned out his thoughts, allowing him to think more clearly. He was truly at peace here. He stayed there for what felt like hours, until the sun finally dipped low on the horizon. He'd spent enough time out and about. It was time to feed himself and his dog some supper. He turned his back to the falls and slowly began to walk away. He was a bit disappointed to be leaving so soon. It had really put him in a zen headspace. But, responsibility called and he had to answer.

Oscar charged forward and used Gen Getsu one final time. He cleaved through the wolf and caused it to shatter like glass. No more would it be threat to his thighs. He smiled triumphantly and sheathed his blade. He collected his loot of a rare consumable and some rare armor, that he immediately trashed. He'd take the 790 Col and the materials though. Those were fine. He just didn't want any part of any actual loot from the creature. Leeroy and Jenkins began to whine, which was his cue. It was time for dinner and bed. He bade farewell to Dustin and headed back towards the direction of town. He whistled a tune as he went, content that he had slain a boss, gotten some loot, and successfully protected his thighs from danger. Now, it was time for food and a nice quiet evening at home to help him recenter himself. He'd probably see Dustin around but, for now, the pair went their separate ways.

Oscar vowed that he would make the wolf pay dearly and make the wolf pay dearly he did. His blade cut a bloody swath through the wolf, dealing a critical hit and activating bleed on the creature. Yet again, the wolf snapped at his thighs, trying desperately to get a taste of them. Oscar punted it away with one mighty kick, growing ever more enraged at the wolf's lack of tact. Perhaps if the wolf had asked nicely, Oscar would have been amenable to granting him a nibble. But the thing didn't. Oscar wasn't even sure if wolves could talk in this game. It would probably explain their lack of politely asking if they could assault ones thighs with their razor sharp teeth. The wolf recovered and staggered to its feet, Oscar's angry punt having knocked the wind out of it. Or whatever amounted to that as far as an enemy in an MMO went. Oscar would finish it off next turn.

Their path was soon barred by a gaunt-looking Jungle Wolf. Why were there wolves in the jungle? Probably because the assets were reused too much for this game. Either way, it was here and currently thought Oscar's luscious thighs were on the menu. But they were Oscar's thighs and they weren't for eating. Their whole purpose in life was to be luscious. Oscar drew Bloody Howl from its scabbard and rushed in. He performed a powerful half-circle slice while screaming, "You can't have my thighs!" The wolf took the hit and tried to attack Oscar's thighs, despite being told not to. Thankfully, it missed. But Oscar didn't like this wolf's lack of respect. It could have tried to bite him anywhere other than his thighs, but adamantly refused. Oscar would make this creature pay dearly for such a transgression. His eyes narrowed as he held up one hand to hold Dustin back. "This one is personal."

A chance to explore the newly-unlocked Floor 25? Oscar was all about that. Macradon had been his go-to man for all of his Blacksmithing needs, but he'd never actually had the chance to see him in action. Oscar nodded eagerly, too gobsmacked at the offer to formulate words. He was rather low-leveled, but he felt confident he could at least contribute to the goal of having the enemies' health bars reach zero. Soon afterwards, who would approach other than Bahr? Oscar regarded the man with a nod as he and Macradon conversed for a moment. At the inquisition about buffs, Oscar was all over it, speaking excitedly for the first time. "You know I've got you covered man. I call this Oscar's Farming Package. Here you go man." Oscar quickly transferred a Focused Chili Dog, an Ultra Lucky Hot Dog, an Ultra Prosperous Hot Dog, and a Hearty Dog over to the man. Damage, Prosperity, Loot Die, and Mitigation. Everything you need to really sink your teeth into a grind. Oscar then scarfed down his own consumables, punctuating it with an Edge Shard for a bit more damage. He had to keep up somehow.

FOCUSED CHILI DOG CONSUMED
ULTRA LUCKY HOT DOG CONSUMED
ULTRA PROSPEROUS HOT DOG CONSUMED
HEARTY DOG CONSUMED
EDGE SHARD CONSUMED
 

Oscar nodded to the merchant, a touch disappointed that none of his loot turned out to be very good. "I'll go ahead and let you hold onto those. I will, however, take some stuff from your General Stock while I'm here. A Teleportation Crystal and a Dimensional Backpack sound good right now." Oscar certainly appreciated the merchant's efforts and didn't want him to think that he held anything against him for a little bad luck. Plus, given his higher level, Oscar really needed those two things. One would be a lifeline back to civilization. The other would just be more convenient. Oscar transferred the Col to the merchant and picked up his items.

-6090 Col
+ Teleportation Crystal
+ Dimensional Backpack

Today was a good day. He put the materials he had farmed to good use. Five perfect crafts, three of them multiples. Everything else got trashed in lieu of those three. He completed the order he'd been given days ago and even made some more farming consumables for himself and Bahr. He was proud to see that he had come so far. The crafting experience from so many perfect crafts wasn't bad either. He would be rank 10 in no time! Oscar plated everything and then cleaned up. He sent a message to Dazia to come collect her food and then headed home for the night. Her dish would be there in the morning.