NIGHT

"So it is a meal," NIGHT muttered, snapping her fingers. With some food arriving from the tavern staff, she looked around to see if there was an open spot at the table. A few people had gotten up from their seats -- Alabasster and Nora, for example, but for two different reasons; the former was rushing outside, and the latter had moved over to talk to Cordelia.

She tilted her head in confusion, before taking a seat at one of the vacant spots. Yukiro started to get up after addressing each of the table members. "Enjoy yourselves," he mentioned, "But please quiet down a little. I'll be back shortly."

What exactly had this group gotten itself into..?

Left alone at the table, with only Lonzo and what NIGHT can only assume to be his friends, she started to speak, slightly tense. "So, uh... how're you guys doin'..? Y'all... players starting to pick up the sword too?"

While waiting to see if they would respond, she scribbled her order on a small piece of paper and handed it off to a patrolling tavern NPC.

@Cordelia

THWACK!

".. Ow..."

"Oh--!" NIGHT glanced up at the rustling leaves, before looking up at Yukiro, who was holding his forehead. Holding in a giggle, she asked, "A-are you alright?" He stood up as she asked, though, and continued walking forward. "I guess your height's also a detriment sometimes, huh?"

"S-so," he began, seemingly trying to change the subject. "What are your plans for the rest of the day?"

"My plans...?" NIGHT tilted her head. She actually hadn't thought about the rest of her day yet. With large gatherings, she'd expected to head out to get a meal with them as per usual, but if it's just two people, they could both decide.

"I-If I may ask, of course."

"You can," she replied, "but I really don't have anything set up after this. But I'm guessing we're both hungry, so maybe we could get some food together? If you're up for it."

@Yukiro

"I can't believe it's still raining..."

Ren had picked up the kibble and headed back to her workshop, having needed to dry off and take in the situation fully. Tossing the towel onto the sofa, she looked over the kibble box, now damp and difficult to work with. Ren sighed, and returned the item to her inventory. It was sure to restore itself, the player figured with confidence.

With that out of the way, Ren took a look at her workshop, one last check for anything out of place before she headed back out again. Between the wooden walls, floor and empty seats...

... The place does look a little lonely.

Ren looked back at the open menu, staring at the kibble box and giving her 'new companion' another thought. Something -- no, someone small, huh? Maybe someone to help around the shop with. Someone to talk to. Someone to provide company when she just wanted to be alone.

A wave of a hand and the menu shifted to her equipment, where Ren outfitted herself in her standard gear, before heading back into the rain, ready to find someone new.

A new interface window? Now that was information NIGHT truly loved learning about. She attempted to replicate Yukiro's actions, but after a few tries, remembered she had to adjust for her changed controls.

"Yeah, this is the right thing," her team mate mentioned, upon further examination. "But... are you sure you wanna be holding that thing? Seeing as what it is and all..."

"But it's so small," NIGHT wondered aloud. "What could it--"

<Nepent's Ovule>

-- Oh no.

Her reflexes immediately led her to insert the-- plant... yup-- into her inventory. She quickly shot up, dusting off her gloves, pretending that nothing had happened.

"Anyway, we should head back," Yukiro added, beginning to walk away. "I still need to try some of those pancakes you never gave me," he gave NIGHT a look over his shoulder, grinning, "And after I sacrificed my omelet to you."

-- Oh no, the leftovers.

"Y-yeah! Sure, I'll join you for that," NIGHT responded, following along and trying to cover up her anxiousness. "After all the adventuring, I am pretty hungry!"

While Yukiro wasn't looking, NIGHT quickly summoned up her menu and deleted the remains of the leftovers in her inventory. No one should have to see that.

@Yukiro

"Is that so?"

"Yeah," NIGHT ruffled her hair a bit, recalling the rigorous training and unnecessary abuses of netball training. "It stopped being fun after it got competitive. Plus I had to focus on my studies, and coming home late isn't the best in these scenarios..."

"On a different note," Yukiro added, "There's a large squirming plant over there."

"Oh?" NIGHT turned around, finally noticing the red blossom sticking out like a sore thumb. Twirling the sword back up into a stance, she readied herself. "Maybe it'll give us something good this time."

One moment of stillness, and an immediate flash of light was all NIGHT needed to cut past the vegetable and halve it's health. As she got up, the creature slapped at her armor, causing it to shatter into fragments as she looked back at it. That was fast.

On further examination, she picked up a small, shining drop, but couldn't comprehend what the object was. "Hey, Yukiro," NIGHT called out, holding the item up for him to see. "Is this what we needed?"

Quote

ID: 128349 | BD: 10 | CD: 11 | MD: 7
> Recovery was activated. (+2 EN) 
<<Straight>> vs Variant Nepent.
4 + 2 = 6 DMG | 6 * 2 = 12 DMG | 12 - 5 = 7 DMG

Variant Nepent attacks NIGHT!
10 - 17 = 1 DMG
> Thorns was activated for 9 DMG.

Variant Nepent | HP: 0/15 (-7, -9) | DMG: 10 | MIT: 5

Yukiro | HP: 200/200 | EN: 8/20
NIGHT | HP: 106 (-1) /120 | EN: 6/12 (+1, +2, -2) | MIT: 17

Loot:
ID: 128350 | LD: 13
<Nepent's Ovule> obtained!

@Yukiro

"Wait here."

That was the lady's instruction to Ren, as the player finished her drink. When the former had returned, in her hand was a box -- of kibble.

Ren started to feel cold sweat run down her back profusely.

The girl was hesitant to refer to the creatures the woman had befriended as pets. Surely, someone who seemed to be so respectful to animals won't assume them to be like that in this world... right? Save for the idea that... they, by meta, should mechanically act the same...

Pushing the spiraling thought out her mind, she stepped out of the cozy armchair to approach the lady. "Here," she said, offering the box to her. "Take this. Now I'm loaning this to you," she started, waggling her finger, "so don't you use up the whole box."

Use the kibble..?

"If you're absolutely sincere about your words, I want you," and she pointed at Ren, "to find a friend, right this instant."

T-That's kinda scary! Right now?!

A quick blip from the corner of her screen reaffirmed the idea of 'Right Now', and Ren could only stammer out an, "O-Okay...?"

"Now, you should start with something small," the lady continued. "Like a fox, or a dog! Definitely not a big snake, no, no no..."

Almost unconciously, it appeared that the woman was ushering -- no, pushing Ren towards the door of the caravan. "It was lovely talking to you, dearie," she mentioned, before Ren found herself tripping down the wooden steps, crashing onto the stone floor of town in the midst of the downpour. "Come back to me when you've made a new friend, alright? I'd love to see how they look like!"

With a giggle, some squeaks, and a click, the door shut behind her, and Ren was left in the rain to pick herself -- and her kibble -- up.

Friends, huh?

"Well?" The lady asked, leaning forward with a cup raised. "You looked like you were in deep thought. Care to share them?"

Ren nodded slightly, cup of tea in hand. "I think... I've always wanted friends." She closed her eyes, contemplating. "Getting to know people and helping others... they're what drive me forward, as much as I hate to admit it." Her fingers fidgeted where the cup handle met its lip. "If I were given the chance..."

The player took a sip, before looking back at the lady. "I'd love to make a new one."

There was one more prompt from the woman, though. In her eyes, Ren felt she caught another glint of questioning.

'Even if they're not human?'

The girl was lost at the subtle proposition, and even thought it to be a trick of the light. Eventually, however, she managed to steel her gaze. I don't know what you're getting at, but...

'I'll do my best.'

The tense silence was finally broken, with the old lady smiling back at her, as though nothing had happened. "That's what I'd like to hear.

"Damn, those things are really out to get you, huh? At least it's nothing a nice heavy boot can't fix." Koga added, laughing to himself.

"In most other times, probably, but," she tensed, shivering. "If they were in my water? I wouldn't want a shoe added to that nightmare, personally."

"Kinda makes you wish we had bug spray here, doesn't it? Imagine how much easier those Giant Wasps would've been if we could've just hit them with a giant fly swatter or something."

NIGHT gazed down at her gloves, now with weeds and grass blades stuck to it. "To be honest," she commented, "this whole game and its survivalism already makes me wish to go back to the real world..."

"-- But no, I've got no reflexes with a giant fly swatter," the girl mentioned, shuddering again. "I'm convinced half the time that they don't even work anyway! With those awkward criss-cross patterns..." She continued scavenging, now shifting her position around the garden, if only a tiny bit. "Now, I'd've expected them to have deer or pixies in here. Maybe flying gargoyles? Something more... garden-y. And less terrifying."

Quote

ID: 128335 | LD: 13
+ T1 Material (1)

@Koga

"I mean, that sounds about right." The guard mentioned, shrugging. "Well, if you two need me, I'll be somewhere around here, I guess. I'm sure the others can cover for me if need be." With a wave, the man strolled off.

"The scurry lizard, huh..." NIGHT repeated, ensuring she got it right.

-- Wait.

"Wait, you were planning to cook it up?! You just said it's poisonous!" She looked at Lonzo incredulously. Maybe he was more experienced of a chef than she'd imagined. But still, she'd imagine poison in this game to be a bit more potent. "I seriously hope you weren't planning to eat it. Although, the knowledge did come in handy, thank you, Lonzo."

"Would the materials taken from the blacksmith's still fall under alchemy, though?" NIGHT continued, still musing. "I could maybe see an assassin? Or someone working alone needing the poison. It sure fits the profile we've built for them."

The girl looked up at Lonzo, her mind made up. "I think an ambush down at the river bank is a pretty solid idea. We should at least head down and take a look, if we're not setting up station there."

@Lonzo

"It's tricky at first," Yukiro mentioned. "You'll get it."

With a swing that seemed complex to her, the Nepent was banished. NIGHT sighed, pushing back her hair. "Something like that," he added, turning to check on her. "I can teach you more later, if you want."

"Something tells me I'm not built to do that," she admitted, "Like, reflexes and hand-eye co-ordination? But I don't mind giving it a shot, if you'd humor me."

Keeping an eye out for other nepents, NIGHT continued experimenting, practicing her swings and holding her sword in different (awfully impractical) stances. "So you've done it in Kendo?" she joked, sinking her blade to the ground and resting against it. "I never knew you were so well versed in swordplay -- was it a family thing? Like, tradition, or was it just something that acted as a discipline?"

"Let's see..." NIGHT thought about it, looking into the trees. If there was a variant nearby, she wasn't too alert to have seen it. "The closest thing I've had to training like this was netball... But it's been ages since I've tried. I don't think I remember the rules anymore."

@Yukiro

"Think of the sword arts as the flashiest possible way to do it. They waste a lot of time and movement and are obscenely predictable."

"But you can't disagree that they provide the most damage with one strike, right?" NIGHT pondered, turning around to check on the creatures.

"-- This is just my style. I hold the sword in one hand, like so," Yukiro started, beginning his demonstration. "Then I use two hands to swing. As I reach a point where my back hand is resisting the swing, I just let go with it. Then it's as simple as flipping my wrist and swinging again."

"Kendo, huh?" NIGHT mentioned, trying to visualize executing the action in her head. Giving the swing a few short tries, she rushed up to the Nepent and gave it a whack--

-- if it actually landed, because it didn't. The strike fell slightly short of the plant, and it seemed to writhe angrily at her.

"..."

@Yukiro

Quote

ID: 128312 | BD: 5 (3, +2) 
NIGHT missed!

Nepent | HP: 7 | DMG: 3

NIGHT | HP: 107/120 | EN: 5/12 (+1, -2) | MIT: 17

NIGHT waved to the two, apparently still carrying their packages. She slowed as she got closer, careful not to trip. "Hannah's that way," she pointed, in the direction she came from. "I'd already dropped off my package from earlier, though I guess it wouldn't hurt to tag along again." Spying Yukiro in the distance, she waved at him. The girl recalled when she was late earlier in the day, too.

"Hannah asked me to fetch her a gemstone," NIGHT added, waiting for their friend to catch up to them. "There's apparently a cave nearby, so we can just pick a rock and get back to her. Sounds like a plan, yeah?"

"Nice to see you too, Yukiro," NIGHT chimed in, watching him run up to the group. "Oh, right." She pulled up a party invite for the exhausted player as he caught his breath. "Here." She then tilted her head. "I hope you haven't forgotten to deliver your package too..."

@Yukiro

"The front gate of town again, huh?" NIGHT reviewed the message, before turning to Hannah, having recently arrived to deliver the package. "So, do you need anything else?"

"Oh, yes." Hannah mentioned, adjusting her glasses before unboxing the parcel. "I'm making a set of rings today, so I'll need a gemstone to work off of."

NIGHT eagerly ogled the materials in the package, a growing envy in her. It took her a moment to respond with a, "Yeah, sure, we'll get it for you," and another more to force a, "So... where is this gemstone at?"

Hannah put a thumb under her chin and a finger to her cheek. "There's a cave near by. I heard there were gems that glow there, but even if they don't, I bet I could use those for my work!"

"... Okay," The player replied, fidgeting to forget her itch to craft. With a step to the side, she forcefully separated herself from the store, making her way to the party's agreed upon designated location.

"We won't fight anymore of those, promise," Koga replied. "Why are you so afraid of bugs anyways?"

Immediately, NIGHT had a flashback through each time a bug had wronged her. She shifted herself to look Koga directly in the eyes, entirely serious. The girl then began by holding up a finger. "One."

"It was late at night, and I was just going to the washroom, right? And as I turned on the lights, guess what flew into my face? A roach!! A flying roach!! I could hear and feel its wings beating at my face from --" and she pinched her fingers. "-- this. close."

"Two! I'm over at our school's graduation in the hall. We're having a good time. Guess what decides to fly in and bother me in my ear? One. Moth. In broad daylight. The nerve of it all!"

"Three!" NIGHT nearly yelled, breathing hard from the continued story telling. "I'm in my room! My own room. I just want a sip of water, right? I take my cup, I put it to my mouth, and the light catches a myraid of ants hanging on for their dear life in the water. This happens," and she blinked rapidly, to clear her tears, and for excessive emphasis, "for one. Whole. Month."

NIGHT turned back around, continue her search, which appeared to be simply tearing out grass at this point. "Bugs owe me for what they've done. You know, if I could even afford to kill them..."

Quote

ID: 128276 | LD: 17
+ T1 Materials (2)

@Koga

"An ambush, huh...?" NIGHT echoed, stepping through the gate to the outskirts of town. "That could work. Although, we'd have to know which enemy pack to target, and that's the one part I'm not too confident in. You're welcome to head back and ask the warden, though I was planning to have a chat with the guards about the two major factions in the area."

Stopping and approaching a man in armor on patrol, he responded with a sneer, "What do you want?"

"We're investigating the cause of an inhibited ecosystem," NIGHT stated. "We're looking for some traces of camping, does anything come to mind?"

"Oh, that." The man rubbed his eyes. "Yeah, but our trail's cold for now." He pointed out towards the east. "We've got a couple traces down by the river bank. And a little this way --" he moved his finger towards the west. "-- a handful more. It's vast in there, and hard to see, so we don't often get reports about things like these."

Huh, that's convenient.

NIGHT turned to Lonzo, tilting her head to the side. "Any of those locations match your monster packs? I'm up for playing the waiting game if they do."

@Lonzo

"Numbers, numbers," NIGHT chanted under her breath as she rose from her position. "I guess that's part and parcel of being in a game." She looked back to Yukiro, amused. "Training all your life, huh?" Arms resting behind her head, she added, "So you're a sportsy disciplined kinda person, I take it?"

She tilted her head back at Yukiro soon though, confused. "So there's nothing in the way of techniques? I've been assuming the way I've been holding a sword this time... is absolute bogus." NIGHT struck a few poses, trying to adjust her wrist and grip with her greatsword. "See, if it weren't for the system, this... right here." She tried swinging her sword with might, but struggled to get a good arc without contorting her hands. "I should've broken my arm a long time ago," the girl concluded.

Two more Nepent came scuttling by, out of the dense forest once more. That's really convenient for demonstration.

"But, if I were to do this --"

-- Ping!

NIGHT cut down the Nepent in a flash, landing in a dramatic pose. Holding up her sword idly, she called back, "I'd be totally fine by the end of it. Does the system not account for accurate physics..?"

@Yukiro

Quote

ID: 128255 | BD: 8 (6, +2) 
<<Straight>> against Nepent.
4 * 2 = 8 DMG

Nepent #1 | HP: -1/7 | DMG: 3
Nepent #2 | HP: 7/7 | DMG: 3

Yukiro | HP: 200/200 | EN: 8/20
NIGHT | HP: 107/120 | EN: 6/12 (+1, -2) | MIT: 17

"I'd better be getting some points for that," Yukiro joked, taking a step back.

"Sure, even though you've already saved me a number of times," NIGHT commented, a little too smug for someone in her position, waving her sword with an intention to keep it. In the corner of her eye, however, she spotted another red blossom jittering towards them. "Uh, wait. Hold up."

She got into another stance, letting the system guide her through -- and past -- the variant nepent, landing on the other side of it. Still, only a miniscule amount of damage was taken by the creature. NIGHT pouted, glancing at Yukiro. "Do I just need a better sword? Games are all about numbers, aren't they?" She examined hers over. "You were able to cut down the nepents with one strike, right..?"

NIGHT assumed another pose, leaning back, ready to begin training. "Well, if you've got any ideas on what I can do better at, I think now's the time."

Quote

ID: 128255 | BD: 9 (7, +2) 
<<Straight>> against Variant Nepent.
4 * 2 = 8 DMG | 8 - 5 = 3 DMG

Yukiro | HP: 200/200 | EN: 8/20
NIGHT | HP: 118/120 | EN: 7/12 (+1, -2) 

"Probably a couple dozen more. Rare monsters don't spawn often, so it would make sense."

"Ah, so that's how it is. Maybe I should be saving my energy then..." NIGHT wasn't too sure how rare the variant was, but judging from Yukiro's description, it might be a while before they saw it again. And the variant seemed tough -- it barely got hurt when she tried lunging at it. Her team mate approached her, close, before swinging his sword.

"I'm kidding," he quipped. "I don't actually know. But it could be."

"It would make sense though, from what you concluded with earlier... W-wait." There was a squishy and growling sound from the side. A quick glance to her left and she would see another Nepent standing close. NIGHT jumped away, trying to counter a swinging vine, but missed, just like her enemy did. "Okay okay," she commented, raising her sword in proper posture. "These things are way too sneaky for plants."

@Yukiro

Quote

ID: 128251 | BD: 4 (2, +2) | MD: 1
NIGHT missed the Nepent! (-2 EN)
Nepent missed NIGHT!

Nepent | HP: 7/7 | DMG: 3

Yukiro | HP: 200/200 | EN: 8/20
NIGHT | HP: 118/120 | EN: 8/12 (+1, -2) 

"Hm," Yukiro pondered. "I guess that means we have to fight more of these things until another big one spawns."

They didn't have to wait long, as two new nepents wriggled forth from the forest edge. He pulled out his sword. "Careful, they might touch you."

NIGHT readied herself for combat, too.

"I don't wanna see you like that. Much."

She shot him a distraught, tired look. "What's that supposed to mean...?"

One quick blow and the Nepent shattered into pieces. Meanwhile, NIGHT readied her stance for another sword art, holding her sword to her cheek.

Ping!

Off to the races. With one wide arc, she took down the other Nepent in a shot, dropping its health to nothing. Turning back after she'd landed, she watched it crackle into varying shards. "Geez," she thought aloud, "how many more of these do we have to fight?"

If that was an invitation for two more to wriggle out the darkness, NIGHT wouldn't have noticed.

Quote

ID: 128235 | BD: 9
<<Straight>> on Nepent.
4 + 1 = 5 DMG | 5 * 2 = 10 DMG

Nepent | HP: -3/7 (-10) | DMG: 3

Yukiro | HP: 200/200 | EN: 13/20
NIGHT | HP: 118/120 | EN: 9/12 (+1, -2) 

"Don't worry about it Lonzo! We all miss from time to time, even the higher level players." NIGHT wanted to chime in about using an accuracy-boosting accessory, but was thrown off by what Lonzo said next.

"A legendary blacksmith? -- Wait, Yukiro made that for you?" She hadn't expected her friend to create such unique equipment, and felt envious about it. As a pup charged at her, jumping upwards, NIGHT swung her sword to displace it, putting all her feelings into the one blow. Just the name alone caused her to vent out her emotions in confusion of what to do.

"Nora's very kind," Lonzo added, soon after his smith-shilling. "Thank you, let me try this again to weaken these cretins."

I'll have to be careful not to cut that one down, then...

Another boar pup ran over her feet as she wasn't looking. Ouch. She shook it as though a bug had stung her. "Okay, I'm getting real sick of these babies, but they should be sufficiently weakened by now," NIGHT growled, shuffling away to the town while keeping an eye out for the boar pups. As soon as she took a step into town, she waved over to Nora, "We'll see you when you're done!"

NIGHT ran over to the workshop where Lyle was, and dropped off the tusks. He held it up in examination. "They're all there," the girl bargained. "They sure are. Here, take this package and move along. It's to Hannah, an artisan. You'll find her in a grove somewhere in town."

Southern wing then, NIGHT thought, taking the parcel and sprinting. Ducking past the other players and NPC's, she skid to a halt as she reached Hannah's stall, placing down the package on the counter. "Delivery!" 

Quote

ID: 128226 | BD: 10 (8, +2) | CD: 10
> Recovery was activated. (+2 EN)
Basic attack against Boar Pup #6. (4 DMG)

ID: 128227 | MD: 4
Boar Pup #5 missed Lonzo!

ID: 128228 | MD: 9
Boar Pup #6 attacks NIGHT!
3 + 1 = 4 DMG | 4 - 8 = 1 DMG

Boar Pup #5 | HP: 1/5 | DMG: 3 | Hate: Lonzo (1), NIGHT (0), Nora (0)
Boar Pup #6 | HP: 1/5 (-4) | DMG: 3 | Hate: NIGHT (2), Nora (0), Lonzo (0)

NIGHT | HP: 116/120 (-1) | EN: 11/12 (+1, +2, -1) | DMG: 4 | MIT: 8

@Nora

"Sorry, I can't help but stare at your gorgeous figure. Were you speaking to me?"

"Yeah, you looked lost in thought!" The warden piped in, arms on her hips and shifting her weight to a leg. "Wonder if you already figured out all of it."

"If you ever need someone to hunt down food for this village I'd be happy to help you out darling," Lonzo offered. "I'll try to do better to hang on your every word instead of your every curve mi'lady."

"Well that's real nice o' ya. Reckon everyday huntin' could probably go back up once the threat's taken care of, and you'd be welcome to join us then." NIGHT bristled in agony as the adults spoke, mostly towards Lonzo's flirting, but more so how easily the warden was taking it in stride. How do people do that? Could the system... teach her?

"I'm almost certain it's an elf or a player at this point in time, really," The man deduced, simply. "You said they had a tent. Pretty hard to put one of those up without thumbs am I right?"

He has a point...

"Did you want to chat with the guards or should we try to stealth to the tent and just try to ambush the person?"

"I'm up to go hunt this actor already, seeing how much we know about it already," NIGHT replied, glancing over at the south gate. "But it'd be good to get an idea of where it lived first, so we wouldn't be searching blindly through the forest. Let's head to the guards for directions."

"Well, shoot, whatever you two wanna do," the woman barked in, enthusiastic. "Jus' let me know if you have anymore questions, and try not to get yourselves killed. I'll be here till sundown, that's for sure."

"Will do," NIGHT responded, stepping down from the stairs. "We'll try and bring good news back."

As the door closed behind her, NIGHT beckoned Lonzo to follow, heading towards the south gate. "The warden mentioned that the elves were in packs," she commented, in thought once again. "But if it were a system enemy, it'd have to be an isolated elf... is what I'm thinking after your conclusions, really. Any thoughts on tracking it down through the woods?"

@Lonzo

"You want some of the Col I got from that? Or the rare trinket or weapon? I feel like you deserve it after that."

"No, no I'm... I'm good." NIGHT huffed, hands on her knees and still struggling to recover. "I'll just hang out here... for a bit..."

As she took a short break, she'd forgotten that her level wasn't appropriate for the area anymore. She frowned, thinking. "Actually, I suppose I might just have to hang out for a bit," NIGHT posed, taking a squat upon the floor. "I hadn't even realized I've outgrown this place out of habit. Anyway, if the garden's as plentiful as they say, it shouldn't be long until I find something of worth, right?"

Expecting something to appear from the ground on cue, she riffled through the grass, busying herself. "Plus," she shuddered, under the shadows of the garden wall, "I desperately don't want to fight any of those bugs again..."

@Koga

Let's try this again.

NIGHT swung at another boar pup, careful with her strike. It whined, rolling over to the side, almost making the girl feel sorry for it. Good thing she wasn't a pacifist.

"This is a lot harder to do without my gear," Lonzo chimed in, his hands balled up as fists. "I might not be that useful to anyone at this rate. Sorry, I've failed you this time." NIGHT turned her head to him in reply, "Just your thorns armor is fine for a quest like this next time. Your weapon would be doing the most damage it could, I believe."

Boar pups came and went, but one of the tiny buggers struck NIGHT at her ankle, causing the girl to lose her balance and stagger. Careful to use her sword for support, she regained her pose in a quick bit. This, she thought, rubbing the sore spot, is exactly why I keep my armor on for good reason. 

Quote

ID: 128214 | BD: 6 (4, +2) | CD: 6
> Recovery was activated. (+2 EN)
Basic attack against Boar Pup #4. (4 DMG)

ID: 128216 | MD: 1
Boar Pup #4 missed NIGHT!

ID: 128215 | MD: 2
Boar Pup #5 missed Lonzo!

ID: 128217 | MD: 10
Boar Pup #6 attacks NIGHT!
3 + 2 = 5 DMG | 5 - 8 = 1 DMG

Boar Pup #4 | HP: 1/5 (-4) | DMG: 3
Boar Pup #5 | HP: 5/5 | DMG: 3
Boar Pup #5 | HP: 5/5 | DMG: 3

NIGHT | HP: 117/120 (-1) | EN: 10/12 (+1, +2, -1) | DMG: 4 | MIT: 8

Wouldn't it be nice if the wasp could just die already? That's what NIGHT thought, skidding to a halt as she reached the other garden wall, ready to pounce. But when she saw the critter's stripes, speedy wings and absolutely monstrous size, fear absolutely seized her yet again, she quickly changed her mind and bolted the opposite direction, screaming in terror.

As she zoomed past Koga at lightspeed, the wasp had decided to give up chasing it's retreating prey, suffering from the effects of its previous hit. It's wings started catching fire as the whole bug fell to the ground after slowing, exhausted -- as much as bugs could bee -- barely managing to make it near Koga before fading into crystal as with the wind.

Meanwhile, having noticed a lack of buzzing her way, the girl slowed down and paused by a corner to catch her breath. I'll never come back here again. Not to hunt. Not if there's wasps in this section of the garden.

@Koga

Quote

ID: 128176 | BD: 3 (1, +2) 
Missed an attack! (-2 EN)
Giant Wasp Soldier takes damage from Burn! (-12 HP)
Giant Wasp Soldier takes damage from Blight! (-12 HP)

Giant Wasp Soldier | HP: -12/50 (-12, -12) | DMG: 15

[1] NIGHT | HP: 115/120 | EN: 8/12 (+1, -2) | DMG: 4 | MIT: 17 | ACC: 2 | RECOVERY: 2 | THORNS: 1
[2] Koga | HP: 40/40 | EN: 2/4 | DMG: 4 | BURN: 1 | BLIGHT: 1

"NIGHT, that's the variant we gotta get the thing from," Yukiro informed, as she tried to avoid one of the nepent's roots whipping her. "Ow," she dryly commented.

"Hey, I just had a thought," her friend mentioned, taking an idle pose and watching her. "Want me to stand back and let you sharpen your sword skills for a bit? Or should we just make salad and leave?"

"A salad? What--" NIGHT glanced back at Yukiro, processing. "You could've stuck to make like a tree, that would've worked fine too."

"As for training," she continued, readying her stance. "I don't mind --"

-- Ping!

One cut, and she landed in a finishing pose, rising with a flourish. Turning back to the creature, its health was going down slowly, until all at once the dancing nepent vanished. NIGHT sighed, relieved, before turning back to Yukiro. "Though, I'm not sure what I'd need to pick up."

Heading over to its corpse, NIGHT squinted upon the dirt, only to find no trace of it left. "... Ah. It didn't drop anything..."

Quote

> Thorns was activated for 9 DMG on Nepent.

ID: 128059 | BD: 6 (4, +2) | CD: 9
> Recovery was activated. (+ 2 EN)
<<Straight>> on Nepent.
4 * 2 = 8 DMG | 8 - 5 = 3 DMG

Nepent | HP: 0/15 (-9, -3) | MIT: 5 | DMG: 10

Yukiro | HP: 200/200 | EN: 18/20
NIGHT | HP: 118/120 | EN: 10/12 (+1, +2, -2) 

Loot:
ID: 128175 | LD: 5