Pollux

"We skip numbering fourth floors, too. Otherwise, no one would want to be in them. I agree that it's only in the nominal sense though. I think to completely eliminate the problem we should stop building floors above three entirely."

'Luck' wasn't what she would call it. Ghosts stuck around because they had regrets. In the hospitals she had stayed in back in reality, the hallway outside her room was bright 24/7 and there was always a nurse just around the corner when she called. She'd thought that was enough to deter them from appearing, but she would still occasionally find a strange shape in the shadows and feel herself turn cold. Mostly, they lingered, insistent that they should have had more time. 

Yue Hua was determined to like Morningstar, so she would prefer not to think of his fascination as the type that was lacking in respect. Everyone talks about them but you have never seen one yourself. Do they or do they not exist?

"Hehe. Do you think I could be a ghost? They are not always incorporeal, nor malicious..."

The Leech Lich resided on the shores of the Stygian River and it had a little army of hooded ghouls with big swords. As before, Yue Hua and Morningstar assessed their enemies from a distance.

"Do you also see that sheen? Is that a barrier?" Yue Hua squinted at the Lich. She hadn't peeked at the file this time, if it already had the info, too distracted by their chat. "Mm, so -- the smaller mobs' cursors look light to me. I may be able to bring down half of them with a single AoE. Leader, I suggest we wipe them all out first and see what happens to the boss."

She'd leave it to him to figure out how to draw the Lich's attacks. Morningstar was loud when he wanted to be.

Shortly after they had signaled their readiness to each other, Yue Hua charged in and took down her targets.

-> POST ACTION: AOE-I vs Stygian Warriors 1-4.

Down the hill of the Trackers Alliance's HQ, the door to Yue Hua's workshop swung open. The alchemist strolled out, freshly awoken from her late morning nap, all of her vanities in place. She basked in the sun for a few moments, stretching and brushing out her tail feathers, then she started up the hill. 

Mornings were for crafting. The rest of the day... Yue Hua had some vague goals to follow, not written down, but stored somewhere in the back of her mind, where one or two or the entire set of them would inevitably drop off into the realm of forgetfulness. Was she supposed to check all her usual places and see if any duel requests had cropped up? Shop for a foldable lounge chair? Or grind that last bit of EXP that would bring herself to Tier 4? The third sounded good. Yue Hua fixed that in her mind as her backup plan as she approached her second constant: her daily visit to the guild hall, to check if there were any tasks anyone had reserved for her specifically or that she could pick up.

As luck would have it, she didn't need to look too far today.

There was a flustered girl in front of the HQ, gesturing to a tree as she talked to her cat. Yue Hua almost smiled, recalling the day she spent with Firefly and the girl's heartfelt words.

"Firefly!" Yue Hua called out from the base of the hill, sending a nearby bird to flight. Oops. Cats startled easily, too. She shut her mouth and jogged the rest of the way up. Once she reached Firefly, she glanced up at the tree curiously and continued in a measured tone. "'Morning, guildmate. Is there something up there? I'm afraid cats are notorious for also getting stuck on trees rather than retrieving anything from them. If you haven't already checked, there might be a ladder in the storeroom inside."

厌倦你浪潮般涨落地爱我 当作莫名靠岸惶惑地来过 再说了从未幻想过你爱我 天马行空都埋没

Spoiler LEVEL 30: HP: 600/600 | EN: 78/78 | DMG: 19+4 | MIT: 54 | ACC: 4 | AA | EVA: 3 SKILLS Spoiler  | skills mod count: 3/5 STRAIGHT SWORD | RANK 5/5 [BASE: Proficiency] +7 DMG [ADDON: Ferocity] +2 DMG [ADDON: Precision] +1 ACC [ADDON: Stamina] Reduce EN of all attacks by 2. [SHIFT: TECH Specialist] For TECH Sword Arts, +4 to multipliers, +3 to EN cost. COMBAT MASTERY: DAMAGE | RANK 3/3 [BASE: Proficiency] +9 DMG CHARGE [BASE: Proficiency] [PA, 2*Tier EN, 3 CD] For 1 Turn: +3 DMG, -1 ACC, remove autohit. QUICK CHANGE [BASE: Proficiency] [SKL FA, 3 CD] Instantly swap equipment from battle-ready. | extra skills [2] FIRST AID | RANK 5/5 [BASE: Proficiency] [PA, 15 EN] Single target heal: 20% of target max HP. [MOD: Purify] [PA, 3 EN, 1 CD] Single target cleanse: Can target the user. [MOD: Energize] [PA, 10 EN] Single target restoration: +8 EN. [MOD: Barrier] [PA, 15 EN, 2 CD] AoE buff: Reduce final damage from all sources by 15% for one turn. [ADDON: Field Medic] [PA, 15 EN, 3 CD] AoE heal: 25% of target(s) max HP. [1] ASSAULT MODE [BASE: Proficiency] [SKL FA, 5 EN, 4 CD] Switch ACC and EVA until the start of the user's next turn. | expenditure Spoiler Total SP: 150 (+40) | Spent: 132 (+40) | Unspent: 18 SKILL: Straight Sword (30) ADDON: Stamina (4) ADDON: Precision (2) ADDON: Ferocity (4) SHIFT: TECH Specialist (10) SKILL: Combat Mastery: Damage (13) EXTRA SKILL: First Aid (30) MOD: Purify (4) MOD: Energize (5) MOD: Barrier (6) ADDON: Field Medic (6) SKILL: Quick Change (8) SKILL: Charge (10) [PT] SPECIALIZATION: Biting 2 (20*2)   EQUIPMENT Spoiler Silver Sword ABSOLUTE ACCURACY, ACCURACY III TIER 3 DEMONIC STRAIGHT SWORD Exorcist's silver for the vanquishment of monsters. The sword is one-handed, deep blue in color with white edges and triangular gold detailing beneath the crossguard. It strikes true and pure regardless of the troubles of the souls that may come to wield it. Mountains and Rivers MITIGATION III TIER 3 PERFECT HEAVY ARMOR A bell-shaped spread of yellow-green and dark-blue mithril plates. Seafoam EVADE III TIER 1 PERFECT TRINKET A small glass bottle filled with sea water, miniature sea shells, and prop organisms. INVENTORY Spoiler | ... (1) Teleport Crystal Use a post action to activate a teleport crystal. Teleports the player to the town or designated teleportation area they specify. SWORD ARTS Spoiler | ST [x12] ST-I (10 EN) | A single-target sword art. [x15] ST-II (13 EN) | A powerful single-target sword art. Only available for use when ST-I was used and successfully struck an enemy the previous turn or if ST-II had been used and had missed the previous turn. [x20] ST-B (18 EN) | A devastating single-target sword art. Can only be used if the sword art used the previous turn is not ST-B and had rolled a natural CD9+. When performing an AoE attack, use only the first roll. | AOE [x11] AOE-I (9 + [2 * targets] EN) | AOE | A sword art that strikes multiple targets at once. [x14] AOE-II (12 + [2 * targets] EN) | AOE | A powerful sword art that strikes multiple targets at once. Only available for use when AOE-I was used and successfully struck an enemy the previous turn or if AOE-II had been used and had missed all intended targets the previous turn. | TECH [x16] TECH-A (14 EN) | STUN | A single-target sword art that stuns an enemy. [x16] TECH-B (13 EN) | DELAY | A single-target sword art that, on a successful strike, applies [Delay] on the enemy. [Delay] is a debuff that reduces the enemy’s ACC by 1 for one turn.

Yue Hua skipped out of the portal, her tail reappearing behind her. She glanced around, unused to and a little unnerved by the silence, and hurried along after Morningstar as he made straight for the edge of town.

Yomi's spirits continued on their lonely course. The two trackers steered clear of them, but Yue Hua couldn't resist squinting at one from a distance. Its head drooped, incognizant of its surroundings. She stuck an arm out and waved; it need only look up at the clearly moving figure, but she didn't get a response -- only a foreign sadness gathering like a rain cloud at the edge of her consciousness.

She shook herself out of it and moved on. She didn't like these dead floors.

"This and Floor 13," Yue Hua agreed. "Actually, I'd always thought whoever designed these floors switched around 10 and 4's numbers." She pointed at Yomi's Japanese-styled buildings. "The number '4' is inauspicious in Japan and some parts of China. It has to do with how its pronunciation sounds similar to how we say 'death'. The same way '13' has something to do with doomsday in the West, right?"

They passed Yomi's gates and Morningstar mentioned ghosts. It was clear he didn't mean Cardinal's constructs. Yue Hua thought for a moment.

"I do. I've seen a few back in reality."

-> TRAVELING: 2/3.

厌倦你浪潮般涨落地爱我 当作莫名靠岸惶惑地来过 再说了从未幻想过你爱我 天马行空都埋没

Spoiler LEVEL 30: HP: 600/600 | EN: 78/78 | DMG: 19+4 | MIT: 54 | ACC: 4 | AA | EVA: 3 SKILLS Spoiler  | skills mod count: 3/5 STRAIGHT SWORD | RANK 5/5 [BASE: Proficiency] +7 DMG [ADDON: Ferocity] +2 DMG [ADDON: Precision] +1 ACC [ADDON: Stamina] Reduce EN of all attacks by 2. [SHIFT: TECH Specialist] For TECH Sword Arts, +4 to multipliers, +3 to EN cost. COMBAT MASTERY: DAMAGE | RANK 3/3 [BASE: Proficiency] +9 DMG CHARGE [BASE: Proficiency] [PA, 2*Tier EN, 3 CD] For 1 Turn: +3 DMG, -1 ACC, remove autohit. QUICK CHANGE [BASE: Proficiency] [SKL FA, 3 CD] Instantly swap equipment from battle-ready. | extra skills [2] FIRST AID | RANK 5/5 [BASE: Proficiency] [PA, 15 EN] Single target heal: 20% of target max HP. [MOD: Purify] [PA, 3 EN, 1 CD] Single target cleanse: Can target the user. [MOD: Energize] [PA, 10 EN] Single target restoration: +8 EN. [MOD: Barrier] [PA, 15 EN, 2 CD] AoE buff: Reduce final damage from all sources by 15% for one turn. [ADDON: Field Medic] [PA, 15 EN, 3 CD] AoE heal: 25% of target(s) max HP. [1] ASSAULT MODE [BASE: Proficiency] [SKL FA, 5 EN, 4 CD] Switch ACC and EVA until the start of the user's next turn. | expenditure Spoiler Total SP: 150 (+40) | Spent: 132 (+40) | Unspent: 18 SKILL: Straight Sword (30) ADDON: Stamina (4) ADDON: Precision (2) ADDON: Ferocity (4) SHIFT: TECH Specialist (10) SKILL: Combat Mastery: Damage (13) EXTRA SKILL: First Aid (30) MOD: Purify (4) MOD: Energize (5) MOD: Barrier (6) ADDON: Field Medic (6) SKILL: Quick Change (8) SKILL: Charge (10) [PT] SPECIALIZATION: Biting 2 (20*2)   EQUIPMENT Spoiler Silver Sword ABSOLUTE ACCURACY, ACCURACY III TIER 3 DEMONIC STRAIGHT SWORD Exorcist's silver for the vanquishment of monsters. The sword is one-handed, deep blue in color with white edges and triangular gold detailing beneath the crossguard. It strikes true and pure regardless of the troubles of the souls that may come to wield it. Mountains and Rivers MITIGATION III TIER 3 PERFECT HEAVY ARMOR A bell-shaped spread of yellow-green and dark-blue mithril plates. Seafoam EVADE III TIER 1 PERFECT TRINKET A small glass bottle filled with sea water, miniature sea shells, and prop organisms. INVENTORY Spoiler | ... (1) Teleport Crystal Use a post action to activate a teleport crystal. Teleports the player to the town or designated teleportation area they specify.   Nature's Tablet A stone with a message directing the player to defeat six tough enemies. It is an <<Immortal Object>> and cannot be broken by any other means than clearing the SotW questline. SWORD ARTS Spoiler | ST [x12] ST-I (10 EN) | A single-target sword art. [x15] ST-II (13 EN) | A powerful single-target sword art. Only available for use when ST-I was used and successfully struck an enemy the previous turn or if ST-II had been used and had missed the previous turn. [x20] ST-B (18 EN) | A devastating single-target sword art. Can only be used if the sword art used the previous turn is not ST-B and had rolled a natural CD9+. When performing an AoE attack, use only the first roll. | AOE [x11] AOE-I (9 + [2 * targets] EN) | AOE | A sword art that strikes multiple targets at once. [x14] AOE-II (12 + [2 * targets] EN) | AOE | A powerful sword art that strikes multiple targets at once. Only available for use when AOE-I was used and successfully struck an enemy the previous turn or if AOE-II had been used and had missed all intended targets the previous turn. | TECH [x16] TECH-A (14 EN) | STUN | A single-target sword art that stuns an enemy. [x16] TECH-B (13 EN) | DELAY | A single-target sword art that, on a successful strike, applies [Delay] on the enemy. [Delay] is a debuff that reduces the enemy’s ACC by 1 for one turn.

When the light had melted away and her ears had stopped ringing, Yue Hua took a moment to pick her jaw off the floor. And realize that the bear had -- somehow -- survived all of that and was clinging to the last of its health.

At that point, killing Kumatetsu was a mercy. Yue Hua rushed in and smacked it before Morningstar could have another go. The bear’s collapsed form fragmented and an update from their quest trackers informed the two of the conclusion of their first hunt. 

“One down!” Yue Hua cheered, returning her sword to its sheath. She fixed her ruffled hair and clothes then looked up at Morningstar with a glimmer to her eyes that her cohorts would eventually learn meant she was not-so-subtly fishing for praise. “That was impressive! I ought to start adding more flair to my own moves if I am to ever join the frontlines.” If you live long enough. “Do you think we could take down another before the end of the day?”

-> POST ACTION: ST-I vs Kumatetsu.

Yue Hua's tail vanished. The two crept as close to the edge of the brush as they could, and Yue Hua felt her compassion evaporate, seeing the piled remains of the bear's hunts. There was nothing inherently evil to an animal that could only follow its natural instincts. But it was not pleasurable to witness... or imagine.

Her expression remained undisturbed. She slid her sword partly out of its sheath and gently knocked the back of her other hand against Morningstar's shoulder. "...Ready."

Kumatetsu pulled off from the tree when it noticed the white and red figures approaching. It faced them, still raised to its full height, and eclipsed by Kumatetsu's massive shadow, her heart calm and steady, Yue Hua didn't give it further chance to act. Her sword burst with a yellow light and she slashed clean through its lower leg, dashing clean out of the way as the beast staggered and soon toppled.

"Stunned!" She yelled over her shoulder. It was up to her leader to bring the damage.

-> POST ACTION: TECH-A vs Kumatetsu.

厌倦你浪潮般涨落地爱我 当作莫名靠岸惶惑地来过 再说了从未幻想过你爱我 天马行空都埋没

Spoiler LEVEL 29: HP: 580/580 | EN: 76/76 | DMG: 19+4 | MIT: 54 | ACC: 4 | AA | EVA: 3 SKILLS Spoiler  | skills mod count: 3/5 STRAIGHT SWORD | RANK 5/5 [BASE: Proficiency] +7 DMG [ADDON: Ferocity] +2 DMG [ADDON: Precision] +1 ACC [ADDON: Stamina] Reduce EN of all attacks by 2. [SHIFT: TECH Specialist] For TECH Sword Arts, +4 to multipliers, +3 to EN cost. COMBAT MASTERY: DAMAGE | RANK 3/3 [BASE: Proficiency] +9 DMG CHARGE [BASE: Proficiency] [PA, 2*Tier EN, 3 CD] For 1 Turn: +3 DMG, -1 ACC, remove autohit. QUICK CHANGE [BASE: Proficiency] [SKL FA, 3 CD] Instantly swap equipment from battle-ready. | extra skills [2] FIRST AID | RANK 5/5 [BASE: Proficiency] [PA, 15 EN] Single target heal: 20% of target max HP. [MOD: Purify] [PA, 3 EN, 1 CD] Single target cleanse: Can target the user. [MOD: Energize] [PA, 10 EN] Single target restoration: +8 EN. [MOD: Barrier] [PA, 15 EN, 2 CD] AoE buff: Reduce final damage from all sources by 15% for one turn. [ADDON: Field Medic] [PA, 15 EN, 3 CD] AoE heal: 25% of target(s) max HP. [1] ASSAULT MODE [BASE: Proficiency] [SKL FA, 5 EN, 4 CD] Switch ACC and EVA until the start of the user's next turn. | [pt] specializations BITING 2 [BASE: Proficiency] +4 DMG | expenditure Spoiler Total SP: 145 (+40) | Spent: 132 (+40) | Unspent: 13 SKILL: Straight Sword (30) ADDON: Stamina (4) ADDON: Precision (2) ADDON: Ferocity (4) SHIFT: TECH Specialist (10) SKILL: Combat Mastery: Damage (13) EXTRA SKILL: First Aid (30) MOD: Purify (4) MOD: Energize (5) MOD: Barrier (6) ADDON: Field Medic (6) SKILL: Quick Change (8) SKILL: Charge (10) [PT] SPECIALIZATION: Biting 2 (20*2)   EQUIPMENT Spoiler Silver Sword ABSOLUTE ACCURACY, ACCURACY III TIER 3 DEMONIC STRAIGHT SWORD Exorcist's silver for the vanquishment of monsters. The sword is one-handed, deep blue in color with white edges and triangular gold detailing beneath the crossguard. It strikes true and pure regardless of the troubles of the souls that may come to wield it. Mountains and Rivers MITIGATION III TIER 3 PERFECT HEAVY ARMOR A bell-shaped spread of yellow-green and dark-blue mithril plates. Seafoam EVADE III TIER 1 PERFECT TRINKET A small glass bottle filled with sea water, miniature sea shells, and prop organisms. INVENTORY Spoiler | ... (1) Teleport Crystal Use a post action to activate a teleport crystal. Teleports the player to the town or designated teleportation area they specify.   Nature's Tablet A stone with a message directing the player to defeat six tough enemies. It is an <<Immortal Object>> and cannot be broken by any other means than clearing the SotW questline. SWORD ARTS Spoiler | ST [x12] ST-I (10 EN) | A single-target sword art. [x15] ST-II (13 EN) | A powerful single-target sword art. Only available for use when ST-I was used and successfully struck an enemy the previous turn or if ST-II had been used and had missed the previous turn. [x20] ST-B (18 EN) | A devastating single-target sword art. Can only be used if the sword art used the previous turn is not ST-B and had rolled a natural CD9+. When performing an AoE attack, use only the first roll. | AOE [x11] AOE-I (9 + [2 * targets] EN) | AOE | A sword art that strikes multiple targets at once. [x14] AOE-II (12 + [2 * targets] EN) | AOE | A powerful sword art that strikes multiple targets at once. Only available for use when AOE-I was used and successfully struck an enemy the previous turn or if AOE-II had been used and had missed all intended targets the previous turn. | TECH [x16] TECH-A (14 EN) | STUN | A single-target sword art that stuns an enemy. [x16] TECH-B (13 EN) | DELAY | A single-target sword art that, on a successful strike, applies [Delay] on the enemy. [Delay] is a debuff that reduces the enemy’s ACC by 1 for one turn.

At lunch with Morningstar, five more levels dropped into Yue Hua's lap. She gobbled them up indiscriminately. Stomach full and the eldritch speed of her leveling politely unaddressed by her dining partner, Yue Hua thought of messaging her benefactor a string of question marks but remembered they would prefer not to be contacted where Morningstar can easily see their name on her mail window.

Guild leader and tracker were soon back on track, traipsing through the woods of Floor 8 towards their next target.

"Mm. It's large so -- it should be 'easy to hit', but it is perceptive and has surprised many a player with its ability to 'parry'. Not what I would expect in the early phase of one called strength," Yue Hua chattered aimlessly. She had secured a copy of Morningstar's notes; as much as she liked going into fights blind, her leader already knew what they were to be facing, so she had to be on equal ground if she wanted to make an impression on him. "And it's a bear? 'Tis a shame. I like bears."

-> SEARCHING FOR KUMATETSU: 244626: LD 6; Fail.

Telrenya spun around to greet her, her voice bright and untouched by the bitterness of defeat, and the sun was a degree too warm once again.

Yue Hua was about to slap herself -- nevermind her earlier musings on post-battle highs. She was, in this moment, certain that she was smiling too wide in a manner that wasn't becoming nor socially appropriate, but when she went to reign in her expression, she felt that it was no different from the characteristic politeness she usually wore. Merely a noticeable upward curve to her lips -- nothing to be losing her head about. Why was she fussing? "Yue Hua," she said, surprisingly calm. "I prefer 'Yue Hua,' but I am used to 'Pollux,' if that is what you would both prefer. I have worked with teammates in the past who addressed everyone by their player names. 'Twas easier to make calls for everyone, was the rationale."

As she distributed the crystals, six for herself, who usually assumed the role of watching everyone's health and did it instinctively even while slotted as a damage dealer, and four divided between her party members, Kindling explained their hunt. They were going to have crab for dinner, if edible. EXP and an unnamed bounty of drops, if not. The mystery was part of the fun. Yue Hua's tail swished in excitement, and where Telrenya blushed at Kindling's teasing reference, Yue Hua propped her hand on her hip, her pleasantry giving way to a grin. "And don't forget you're in the ring with us now, dear commentator!"

Whatever the result of her challenge, her posturing left her the last on the dock. She climbed in, careful not to rock the boat too hard, and settled in the middle.

A brief spell of silence fell over them as they sailed away from land and Yue Hua lazily watched Kindling as he propelled them onward. Unofficially, she considered him their hunting party's leader, what else should she call the one who put this all together in the first place?, and the thought occurred to her that she could ask him if he wanted help instead of waiting for a command. But he seemed to have it all handled and he had already found something to occupy the two idle players.

Practical matters first. They've only ever seen her in a duel. "I am a DPS/Healer hybrid. I have the standard core skills for both builds, so if either of you take a hit, I can pick you back up. I am already used to monitoring everyone's status as well, but I wouldn't mind it either if you call out to me for a heal. No buffs from me, though, that is a problem I will have to earn more EXP to solve." With her old progress, Yue Hua wouldn't have needed to clarify that at all. To the question of companions, she could only ever talk about the people she had approached for help in the first place. "You already know Morningstar and Wulfrin from the tournament...?" Kindling did; Yue Hua's voice trailed off to a question as she glanced at Telrenya. "They're my guildmates -- well, leader, in Morningstar's case. We hunt bounties and lore across Aincrad. And when I am not occupied with guild matters, I like to play with alchemy in my workshop. Vanity potions, mostly."

She swept her tail into her lap. She wore her own masterpieces.

"Oh! We wouldn't be starved for recovery, then," Yue Hua said with a chuckle after Telrenya admitted she was also a healer. The other had spoken less than Yue Hua; timid, but they shared an interest in beautiful things, she assumed. Yue Hua and her transformations. Telrenya and her jewelry. "Is that clover one of yours?"

-> GATHERING: 243715: LD 1; Fail.

"Therefore, you need this more than me. Loosen up sometimes, you won't."

(Sending back the above consumables to Arabelle.)

PH.

-> MAIN ACTION: ST-I vs Kiru.

She was tired, cold, and suddenly angry. She stepped into view when her name was called, and at the audience's scattered cheers, she [remembered again] and looked up, glaring, as she tried to search for the culprit of half her current emotional state.

It wasn't even a person, was the salt to the wound.

Yue Hua spotted Wulfrin instead and the bitterness in her expression evaporated. She thought of waving around her reforged silver sword, but soon found that the most she could manage in the moment was draw it out of its sheath. She settled for a small, put-upon smile.

"And--"

Minako's hand raised. The next word would have resounded through the arena even without the aid of a mic.

"Clash!"

Twenty seconds to match start, Yue Hua faced Koga. Their teamwork in the doubles event had been flawless and he had been a pleasant friendly date. Koga deserved more than the silence she had given Kiru. She tried and tested different combinations of words in her mind, but where once her chatter had occurred naturally, anything she thought to say now felt dull and forced.

Stop being a downer. You were looking forward to this match.

This is supposed to be fun.

Ten seconds to match start. Yue Hua nearly spat the words in her rush to say something. "Comrade! Do you--" She halted, embarrassed by her own outburst, cleared her throat, and tried to speak the rest with her usual ease. "Former comrade. For symmetry's sake, shall we get lunch after this? Lunch and... hot drinks...? I feel that we would both appreciate it after fighting in this weather."

-> INITIATIVE: 243406: LD 4.

厌倦你浪潮般涨落地爱我 当作莫名靠岸惶惑地来过 再说了从未幻想过你爱我 天马行空都埋没

Spoiler LEVEL 28: HP: 575/575 | EN: 89/89 | DMG: 19 | ACC: 5 | AA | KEEN: 2 | EVA: 4 | BH: 5% | LD: 1 ~~ TIER LOCKED: [CoB Sheet]: HP: 205/205 | EN: 43/43 | DMG: 9 | ACC: 4 | AA | KEEN: 2 | EVA: 4 | BH: 6 | LD: 1 | PHOENIX: 1/1 SKILLS Spoiler  | skills mod count: 1/5 STRAIGHT SWORD | RANK 5/5 -> RANK 3/5 [BASE: Proficiency] +5 DMG [ADDON: Ferocity] +2 DMG [ADDON: Precision] +1 ACC [ADDON: Stamina] Reduce EN of all attacks by 2. [SHIFT: TECH Specialist] For TECH Sword Arts, +4 to multipliers, +3 to EN cost. UNHINDERED [BASE: Proficiency] +1 ACC, +1 EVA, +1 LD, +5*Tier HP; MIT is capped at 0 equipment slots. COMBAT MASTERY: DAMAGE | RANK 3/3 [BASE: Proficiency] +9 DMG BATTLE HEALING | RANK 5/5 -> RANK 3/5 [BASE: Proficiency] Passively restore 3% HP at the beginning of a turn. [MOD: Emergency Recovery] [PASSIVE, 10 EN] Once per thread, when HP falls below 25%, recover 10% of maximum HP. ENERGIST [BASE: Proficiency] +5*Tier EN. CHARGE [BASE: Proficiency] [PA, 2*Tier EN, 3 CD] For 1 Turn: +3 DMG, -1 ACC, remove autohit. QUICK CHANGE [BASE: Proficiency] [SKL FA, 3 CD] Instantly swap equipment from battle-ready. | extra skills [1] ASSAULT MODE [BASE: Proficiency] [SKL FA, 5 EN, 4 CD] Switch ACC and EVA until the start of the user's next turn. | expenditure Spoiler Total SP: 140 | Spent: 140 | Unspent: 0 SKILL: Straight Sword (30) ADDON: Stamina (4) ADDON: Precision (2) ADDON: Ferocity (4) SHIFT: TECH Specialist (10) SKILL: Combat Mastery: Damage (13) SKILL: Quick Change (8) SKILL: Charge (10) SKILL: Unhindered (15) SKILL: Battle Healing (30) MOD: Emergency Recovery (6) SKILL: Energist (8)   EQUIPMENT Spoiler Silver Sword ABSOLUTE ACCURACY, ACCURACY III TIER 3 DEMONIC STRAIGHT SWORD Exorcist's silver for the vanquishment of monsters. The sword is one-handed, deep blue in color with white edges and triangular gold detailing beneath the crossguard. It strikes true and pure regardless of the troubles of the souls that may come to wield it. Seafoam EVADE III TIER 1 PERFECT TRINKET A small glass bottle filled with sea water, miniature sea shells, and prop organisms. The Second Star KEEN II TIER 1 RARE TRINKET A minimalistic set of pearl-colored hairpins; four-pointed star tassels optional. INVENTORY Spoiler | ... (1) Teleport Crystal Use a post action to activate a teleport crystal. Teleports the player to the town or designated teleportation area they specify.   Glasses | JEWELRY T1E3, ACC III A glasses frame lacking lenses.   (1) Finale [MAIN] Sets user HP to 0, being used as a normal attack and replacing Weapon Equipment. Dealing 150 Damage to the Enemy if hit above a 6. If Opponent is defeated by Finale, the user wins. Replaces Weapon Slot when used. SWORD ARTS Spoiler | ST [x8] ST-I (8 EN) | A single-target sword art. [x11] ST-II (11 EN) | A powerful single-target sword art. Only available for use when ST-I was used and successfully struck an enemy the previous turn or if ST-II had been used and had missed the previous turn. | AOE [x7] AOE-I (7 + [2 * targets] EN) | AOE | A sword art that strikes multiple targets at once. | TECH [x8] TECH-A (9 EN) | STUN | A single-target sword art that stuns an enemy. BUFFS Spoiler Phoenix Soul The first time you would reach 0 HP, immediately recover 100 HP, 20 EN, and cleanse all negative effects.

[post02.]

Vanished, however.

Spates of idleness were an extreme abnormality in her designation. She looked for her wherever she could. In the archives, in the information shelled out to her when she became her pair, in the eyes of everyone who had so much as breathed in her proximity. She asked, and was asked in return: [Continue to operate as instructed.]

Left with nothing else to do, she lowered her hand to the water's surface. The tips of her fingers brushed with her reflection's and ripples spread outward in a loosely defined circle, distorting the image, rebounding off the edges of the lake once they had traveled too far. She let her hand disappear beneath the water as she reweighed the reasoning of her choice. First the wrist, then half the arm, then she finalized the same decision and abandoned herself to gravity.

Splash!

For the first time in _ months, she left her enclosure not knowing when she would come back.

Sent through courier. Message attached.

"Senior...! I wish to turn around my losing streak with a sword enhanced by your own hand. I will fight you with it, too, I suppose. 

I hope that my performance will be enough to justify ceding this small advantage to your soon-to-be opponent."

Kissing you (platonic).

(Received.)

Skill(s) Being Dropped: First Aid R5
Mod(s)/Addon(s)/Shift(s) Being Dropped: Purify, Energize, Barrier, Field Medic
SP Incurred Towards Limit: 30
SP Refunded: 51
Cost: 51,000 Col

*edit: Skill refund reversed by Raidou due to COB circumstances

PH.

-> MAIN ACTION: ST-I vs Kiru.

The text blurred and shifted into Chinese characters. Yue Hua silently read the passage in its entirety first, taking in the full context. She was also tuned into Morningstar's continued attempts with Spanish.

"I think 'salvaguarda' has something to do with guarding," she said helpfully. Then her eyes wandered to him and a soft chuckle escaped her at her leader's befuddled expression. Though she understood that they were all fundamentally human just as she, Yue Hua naturally admired her superiors in her guild. Morningstar's sparkling achievements within and without the game lent even more to his credit. So, seeing him stuck in the same prelude quest with her honed her opinion of him to something more... relatable. "Why do you have Spanish in your system? Did you try to learn it once?"

Morningstar soon shut his notebook with a huff. 

Her turn.

"'如果尋求力量、智慧、和韌性⋯'" Yue Hua began, tracing her finger beneath each character as she read. "'If you seek strength, wisdom, and resilience...'" The minute passed them by like water flowing slowly down a stream. She translated the rest of the passage the same and Morningstar listened. She had an accent that had smoothed down to conform with the English language in       years passing yet slotted more naturally with her original language. "'...They are the guardians of nature.'"

Nothing happened. Most of the text had lit as she translated over them.

Yue Hua frowned.

"Protectors." Wrong answer. "Guards. Defenders. Preservers. Tanks? Oh." Yue Hua swiped open her quest tracker and almost screamed. "Keepers." 

Translation required high proficiency in both languages. She waved her hand at the fully decoded tablet before they could dwell too long on her fumbling. "There. I think we can take it now."

-> GATHERING: 243047: LD 3; Fail.

Kiru moved so fast that she felt vaguely lightheaded trying to trace her. One moment, she was smiling softly from a meters-long distance. The next, she was right in front of her, smirking, her dagger flashing a bright, intense color. Yue Hua's sword arced upwards, attempting to parry the woman's strike, but she moved a second too late. The short blade sank into her ribs, and though Yue Hua felt no pain, the part of her head that had gone twisted from the last fight fired panic and flight instincts through her veins.

She wasn't succumbing to it. She just forgot there was a small window of opportunity to counterattack. Go away...! She thrust her elbow in her opponent's chest, shoving Kiru backwards, who gracefully took the opportunity to place herself out of Yue Hua's immediate range. When she lit her sword and rushed at her, Kiru had more than enough space to evade her strike.

-> MAIN ACTION: ST-I vs Kiru.

[What was she looking at?]

[Horror was a human body.]

Not even a week of sulking in a rented room far from the Trackers Alliance's headquarters had dug her out of the mire of her thoughts. It was Sunday before she knew it and she was laying in bed, staring blankly up at the ceiling, counting down the minutes to her match. Forfeit. Forfeit. Just one duel. You're tired; you're sick all over again; you tried to vomit it out of your system and all it did was knock that old habit back into your head; don't we feel less when we're asleep?

She had the message pre-written and ready to send to Kindling with a swipe of her hand. She had a "personal emergency." Her deepest apologies. She was not willing to share any details because it was none of his business. She imagined the seconds trickling away for every moment she lay in paralysis, forever lost to the unforgiving march of time.

Soon there would be nothing left.

Slowly, agonizingly, she sat up. Her eyes fell on the sword on the bedside table. She was so tired.

We'll sleep when we're dead.

Yue Hua couldn't keep most of the potions down. She rushed into the tournament grounds at the last minute and the staffers sent her surprised looks -- short hair? no horns and tail? She ignored them and grabbed her knives, visibly cringed at the feast she had bought before she forcefully scarfed it down, and swept past the curtains, stepping into the clearing as Kindling called her name. Kindling's playful jabs were usually fun. She'd liked correcting him back just as playfully. Today they just stung. So I am insane and incapable while Kiru is 'interesting'? Yue Hua clamped her teeth on her bottom lip, trying to suppress her annoyance. She knew it wasn't that deep. She was being an idiot.

In a fairer mood, she might have admired Kiru's two-toned hair.

"Speak to your fellow legend now, and prepare your blades."

The most Yue Hua could do was politely bow her head. She drew her sword. Her expression lacked its usual warmth.

-> INITIATIVE: LD 4.

厌倦你浪潮般涨落地爱我 当作莫名靠岸惶惑地来过 再说了从未幻想过你爱我 天马行空都埋没

Spoiler LEVEL 27: HP: 540/540 | EN: 72/72 | DMG: 19 | MIT: 54 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 3 ~~ TIER LOCKED: [CoB sheet]: HP: 200/200 | EN: 38/38 | DMG: 9 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 3 | KEEN: 2 *I don't want to edit the sheet anymore. I just took off the 18 MIT and added the 2 Keen. ~~ HP: 400/400 | EN: 38/38 | DMG: 9 | MIT: 8 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 3 | KEEN: 2 | THORNS: 4 SKILLS Spoiler  | skills mod count: 3/5 STRAIGHT SWORD | RANK 5/5 -> RANK 3/5 [BASE: Proficiency] +5 DMG [ADDON: Ferocity] +2 DMG [ADDON: Precision] +1 ACC [ADDON: Stamina] Reduce EN of all attacks by 2. [SHIFT: TECH Specialist] For TECH Sword Arts, +4 to multipliers, +3 to EN cost. COMBAT MASTERY: DAMAGE | RANK 3/3 [BASE: Proficiency] +3 DMG CHARGE [BASE: Proficiency] [PA, 2*Tier EN, 3 CD] For 1 Turn: +3 DMG, -1 ACC, remove autohit. QUICK CHANGE [BASE: Proficiency] [SKL FA, 3 CD] Instantly swap equipment from battle-ready. | extra skills [2] FIRST AID | RANK 5/5 -> RANK 3/5 [BASE: Proficiency] [PA, 9 EN] Single target heal: 12% of target max HP. [MOD: Purify] [PA, 3 EN, 1 CD] Single target cleanse: Can target the user. [MOD: Energize] [PA, 10 EN] Single target restoration: +8 EN. [MOD: Barrier] [PA, 15 EN, 2 CD] AoE buff: Reduce final damage from all sources by 15% for one turn. [ADDON: Field Medic] [PA, 15 EN, 3 CD] AoE heal: 25% of target(s) max HP. [1] ASSAULT MODE [BASE: Proficiency] [SKL FA, 5 EN, 4 CD] Switch ACC and EVA until the start of the user's next turn. | expenditure Spoiler Total SP: 135 | Spent: 132 | Unspent: 3 SKILL: Axe (30) ADDON: Stamina (4) ADDON: Precision (2) ADDON: Ferocity (4) SHIFT: TECH Specialist (10) SKILL: Combat Mastery: Damage (13) EXTRA SKILL: First Aid (30) MOD: Purify (4) MOD: Energize (5) MOD: Barrier (6) ADDON: Field Medic (6) SKILL: Quick Change (8) SKILL: Charge (10)   EQUIPMENT Spoiler Silver Sword ACCURACY III TIER 3 PERFECT STRAIGHT SWORD Exorcist's silver for the vanquishment of monsters. The sword is one-handed, deep blue in color with white edges and triangular gold detailing beneath the crossguard. It strikes true and pure regardless of the troubles of the souls that may come to wield it. The Second Star KEEN II TIER 1 RARE TRINKET A minimalistic set of pearl-colored hairpins; four-pointed star tassels optional. Seafoam EVADE III TIER 1 PERFECT TRINKET A small glass bottle filled with sea water, miniature sea shells, and prop organisms. INVENTORY Spoiler | ... (1) Teleport Crystal Use a post action to activate a teleport crystal. Teleports the player to the town or designated teleportation area they specify.   Mountains and Rivers | HEAVY ARMOR T3E3, MITIGATION III A bell-shaped spread of yellow-green and dark-blue mithril plates.   (3) Noble Vampire's Knife Can only be used on a successful attack. Deal an additional 20 Unmitigatable damage, and heal yourself for 20. SWORD ARTS Spoiler | ST [x8] ST-I (8 EN) | A single-target sword art. [x11] ST-II (11 EN) | A powerful single-target sword art. Only available for use when ST-I was used and successfully struck an enemy the previous turn or if ST-II had been used and had missed the previous turn. | AOE [x7] AOE-I (7 + [2 * targets] EN) | AOE | A sword art that strikes multiple targets at once. | TECH [x8] TECH-A (9 EN) | STUN | A single-target sword art that stuns an enemy. BUFFS Spoiler Trial By Fire You will get 2 Slots of Tier2 Flame Aura for the duration of the fight. Preventing 8 damage from successful attacks, and Non-critical attacks against you inflict 4 unmitigatable burn damage.

Prude!

(received.)

PH.

-> MAIN ACTION: ST-I (Charge) vs Mina.
-> SWIFT ACTION: Using Healing Crystal.

?

-> MAIN ACTION: ST-II vs Lessa.

E.

-> MAIN ACTION: ST-I vs Lessa.

The definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

-> MAIN ACTION: ST-I vs Lessa.

PH.

-> MAIN ACTION: ST-I vs Lessa.

PH.

-> MAIN ACTION: Using Antidote Crystal.
-> SWIFT ACTION: Quick Change.