[F01 - SP] <<The Gemini>>

[Bahr 0]

Spoiler

• LEVEL: 3
• HP: 60 / ENERGY: 6
• EVA: 0 / MIT: 0 / ACC: 0 / DMG: 5
• LD BONUS: 2
•  
• SKILLS
• NON-COMBAT
  »
  
  PASSIVE
  »
  
  COMBAT
  »
  
  WEAPON SKILLS
  » TWO-HANDED WEAPONS
       ➥ +3 DMG

INVENTORY

WEAPONS
» [EQUIPPED] "MINOR OCULUS" - TWO-HANDED STRAIGHT SWORD (RARE)
     ➥ +1 DMG
     ➥ BLEED

ARMOR
» [EQUIPPED] VANITY CRIMSON OVERCOAT
» [EQUIPPED] PANTALOOTS 
     ➥ +2 LD BONUS

TOOLS
» 

BATTLE READY ITEMS
» STARTER HEALING POTIONS (3)
     ➥ HEALS 50 HP

Bahr was in the City Center, sitting on a bench and watching the virtual birds flitter around. Today was a good day to rest. The sun was shining, the breeze was flowing, and all in all everything was just as pleasant as can be. That's why the hooded figure that approached Bahr was so perplexing.

"You look pretty strong," the hooded figure said in a voice that seemed eerily familiar, "I'm looking to test my skills. If you beat me, I'll teach you a hidden skill. What do you say?"

Bahr considered the proposal for a second. On the one hand, he really wanted to take today to just rest. On the other hand, here was a guy offering him a hidden skill for free, all he had to do was win. How hard could that be, right? So he silently followed the man to the outskirts of the city, through the threshold of the city gate, and out of the safe zone. In the middle of their trek, he popped one of his Once they were out in the field, the figure stopped and turned to face Bahr, ripping of his cloak to reveal... Bahr. The man standing in front of him looked exactly the same in every way!

"Woah, woah, woah! What the hell is this!?"

Instead of responding, the man simply cast a crooked grin toward Bahr and lunged at him.

Spoiler

Encounter: <<The Gemini>>
HP: 30
DMG: 15
MIT: 5
Critical Hits: 15+3 on natural MD 9, 15+6 on natural MD 10.
<<Disguise>>: +1 ACC to <<The Gemini>>'s first attack.

Spoiler

[×2] Straight

ID: 118714
BD: 2 / MD: 3
HP: 60/60 | ENERGY: 4
EVA: 0 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | DMG: 5

<<The Gemini>>:
HP: 30/30

Both parties miss.

Due to the quick nature of the opponent's attack, Bahr was forced to use the Sword Skill Straight just to deflect the attack. He jumped back to put some distance between the two of them, still trying to wrap his head around what was happening.

Edited July 12, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

Spoiler

[×2] Straight

ID: 118715
BD: 6 / MD: 8
HP: 45/60 | ENERGY: 3
EVA: 0 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | DMG: 5

<<The Gemini>>:
HP: 25/30

Bahr hits <<The Gemini>> for 5 DMG after MIT. <<The Gemini>> strikes Bahr for 15 DMG.

Before Bahr had a chance to fully process everything, the Gemini came rushing at him once again. This time, Bahr didn't have the reaction time to dodge or deflect the attack, his opponent's blade jamming its way through his left shoulder. He found it peculiar how he could hear the crunch of his collarbone snapping and feel the pieces moving around, but wasn't able to feel any of the pain beyond an intense tingling sensation. 

The Gemini had gotten a good hit in. A really good hit. But Bahr wasn't about to let himself get taken out so easily. He returned fire with an abdomen-level slash from his own blade, striking the Gemini cleanly in the ribs. Its MIT, however, managed to eat up half the damage. Still, the Gemini recoiled back and gripped its stomach as though it had actually been hurt. How cute. If it wanted to play human, Bahr was okay with that. He just hoped it would scream like one, too.

Edited July 12, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

Spoiler

[×2] Straight

ID: 118716
BD: 2 / MD: 1
HP: 45/60 | ENERGY: 2
EVA: 0 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | DMG: 5

<<The Gemini>>:
HP: 25/30

Both parties miss.

As the battle raged on, the duo exchanged attacks viciously. The Gemini swung its blade toward Bahr's side, Bahr catching the attack with the flat side of his sword and grinding against the blade in an uppercut motion. The Gemini jumped back to avoid getting smacked by the slab of metal, regarding Bahr with the same sinister grin from before. 

"You think a faker like you can beat me up? You might hit harder, but I'm the original! There can only be one of us!"

The Gemini laughed, but it didn't sound like a laugh. It was a cacophony of disjointed moans and chuckles, all somehow being produced at the same time by its vocal chords. Bahr shuddered at the sound of it. It was so unsettling to not only see the figure of himself standing before him, but to experience the nightmare fuel that this NPC had bastardized it into. He couldn't stand to look at it any longer. In an effort to put it out of its misery, Bahr prepared for the next attack and leapt forward.

Edited July 12, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

Spoiler

[×2] Straight

ID: 118717
BD: 3 / MD: 6
HP: 30/60 | ENERGY: 1
EVA: 0 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | DMG: 5

<<The Gemini>>:
HP: 25/30

Bahr's attack misses. <<The Gemini>> hits for 15 DMG.

Bahr hadn't really thought things through when he leapt the Gemini. When you're airborne, you don't have any good way to maneuver around. Your opponent, however, is well grounded, and has the upper hand in virtually every way. It was a hard lesson learned, and he learned it by having a massive sword thrust into his pelvic area. He gagged as the bones in his hip were powderized by the attack, falling to the ground helplessly. He tested his leg a few times and found that it still worked, so he planted the tip of his sword into the ground and shakily rose to his feet.

If the Gemini was anything, it was patient. It wasn't afraid to take advantage of Bahr's screw ups, surely, but it had had the common decency to allow the man to get back on his feet again before continuing the duel. Tough as this fight was, Bahr had to applaud the developers for the atmosphere they had created and ultimately fair fighting mechanics. He only hoped that, should the quest not play out in his favor, his HP wouldn't actually hit zero.

Edited July 12, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

Spoiler

[×2] Straight

ID: 118718
BD: 6 / MD: 4
HP: 30/60 | ENERGY: 0
EVA: 0 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | DMG: 5

<<The Gemini>>:
HP: 20/30

Bahr's Straight hits <<The Gemini>> for 5 DMG after MIT. <<The Gemini>>'s attack misses.

Bahr bowed toward the Gemini as a sign of appreciating its graciousness. It returned the gesture, mimicking his movements to bow as well. Incredible. It was the most dynamic mob Bahr had ever come across. Not that that would stop him from utterly crushing it. His sword began to glow and emit that signature whistle that always came before a Sword Skill, and Bahr lunged forward with Straight, the tip of his sword aimed directly at the Gemini's chest.

It was hard to tell if it was due to the speed of the attack, but it actually managed to connect without any protest from the Gemini. It let out a ghastly shriek as the blade sank into its chest, and the noise was enough to make Bahr withdraw his sword and nope the heck back. The Gemini seemed to notice this response and let out another haunting cackle like the one before. The distortion in its voice was ear-splitting.

Edited July 12, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

Spoiler

ID: 118719
BD: x / MD: 10
HP: 9/60 | ENERGY: 1
EVA: 0 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | DMG: 5

<<The Gemini>>:
HP: 20/30

Bahr takes no action to replenish Energy. <<The Gemini>> lands a critical for 21 DMG.

In an effort to stop the shrieking / cackling / moaning that was coming from the other side of the field, Bahr prepped to use his Sword Skill once more. For some reason, though, when he tried to charge up his blade, his arm would just freeze up and stop working. When he looked down at his arm to see what was going on, the Gemini made its move. In a flash it was upon Bahr, and before he could react the Gemini had thrust its blade clean through his abdomen. Even though the pain wasn't there, feeling a thick slab of metal sitting inside of him was extremely uncomfortable. He couldn't breathe at all, and panic started to set in. He slowly turned his head to look the Gemini in the eye, that same crooked smile from before spread across its face.

After a few moments, it pulled out its sword, and Bahr fell to his hands and knees, his sword clattering loudly against the ground as he gagged and coughed. The physical reaction to the trauma his avatar had just experienced was unreal. He was shaking. Why was he shaking? No, shaking wasn't even the right word. It was more like trembling.

True to its form, the Gemini waited until Bahr had collected himself, grabbing his sword off of the ground and weakly standing up tall. His eyes flickered to his health bar and widened when he saw it. At a measly 9 HP, his health bar had fallen into the red. One more hit and he was a goner. 

Edited July 12, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

Spoiler

[x2] Straight

ID: 118721
BD: 4 / MD: 4
HP: 9/60 | ENERGY: 0
EVA: 0 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | DMG: 5

<<The Gemini>>:
HP: 20/30

Both parties miss.

Though it had waited for Bahr to reach his feet, it wasn't willing to wait much longer. It came it at Bahr with a flurry of attacks in rapid succession. Bahr did everything he could to avoid the damage. He maneuvered his sword around to deflect attacks, dodged the ones he couldn't deflect, and took note of faux attacks that were meant to miss but leave Bahr open in he reacted to them. With a level of skill he didn't even know he possessed, and with a bit of luck, he actually managed to stave off any would-be damage for the time being.

When he saw an opportunity to break the onslaught with an attack of his own, Bahr used the Sword Skill Straight to thrust the tip of his blade directly toward the Gemini's stomach. The Gemini caught this attack with the flat side of its own sword, effectively blocking it but being forced backward by the impact. Bahr was relieved to have a reprieve, but knew it wouldn't last long.

Edited July 12, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

Spoiler

ID: 118722
BD: x / MD: 3
HP: 9/60 | ENERGY: 1
EVA: 0 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | DMG: 5

<<The Gemini>>:
HP: 20/30

Given the situation, it was imperative that Bahr not make a move this turn and instead allow his SP to recharge. Even if he did manage to land a normal attack against the Gemini, its mitigation would eat up all of the damage and he would have wasted a turn. He supposed it was a possibility that he could bank on a crit for damage and Bleed, but that was wishful thinking at best. No, for now he needed to bide his time and wait for the next turn.

The Gemini wasn't as patient, however. It lurched forward with murderous intent, putting all of its power into a single downward slam. Bahr managed to sidestep the attack, kicking back so he could put a little more distance between the two. The two walked around each other in a circular formation about seven feet away from one another, each waiting for the other to make a move.

Edited July 12, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

Spoiler

[x2] Straight

ID: 118723
BD: 2 / MD: 1
HP: 9/60 | ENERGY: 0
EVA: 0 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | DMG: 5

<<The Gemini>>:
HP: 20/30

This time, Bahr was the first to let loose an attack. His sword began to glow and emit it signature Sword Skill whistle, and in a flash the distance between him and the Gemini was closed. Just as it had before, the Gemini used the flat side of its blade to nullify the damage, but was pushed back as a result. It didn't linger on the recoil, however, instantly dashing forward and attempting to land the killing blow on Bahr. Bahr wasn't ready to give up just yet, though, and smacked its blade away as got close. He then shoulder checked the Gemini to force it a bit further away before jumping back himself.

To be completely honest, Bahr was amazed he had lasted this long. This thing had him sorely outclassed in the strength department, that much was obvious. It wasn't getting any clumsier, either. Was it just that Bahr was getting better?

Edited July 12, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

Spoiler

ID: 118724
BD: x / MD: 5
HP: 59/60 | ENERGY: 1
EVA: 0 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | DMG: 5

<<The Gemini>>:
HP: 20/30

Bahr drinks a potion, recovering 50 HP.

It was time for another one of Bahr's stall turns. He counted himself pretty lucky to have not gotten himself killed so far, and had just remembered that he had a few potions ready to go for occasions like this. He retrieved one and down the contents quickly, keeping an eye on his opponent all the while. Immediately he felt waves of euphoria wash over him, and all of the areas on his body that had sustained heavy damage seemed to heal right up instantly.

+50 HP

He tossed the empty bottle once he was done with it, and noticed that something seemed to have changed with the Gemini's weapon. He wasn't quite sure exactly what it was, but it seemed to have a different sheen than it had had before. Was it possible that it had taken the time to give itself a buff while Bahr was healing? Wait... no, that was just his imagination.

Edited July 12, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

Spoiler

[x2] Straight

ID: 118725
BD: 2 / MD: 7
HP: 44/60 | ENERGY: 0
EVA: 0 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | DMG: 5

<<The Gemini>>:
HP: 20/30

Bahr's Straight misses. <<The Gemini>> lands a hit for 15 DMG.

Sword Skill time. Bahr once again readied his weapon as it adopted a glow, bending his knees for a moment before rocketing forward. The Gemini had seen this trick before, and was beginning to grow tired of it. As Bahr closed in, the Gemini dodged the attack in a spinning motion and used the momentum from the spin to slash at the Bahr's back. The cut went diagonally down his back from his left shoulder blade to his right hip. Bahr yelped at the damage and stumbled forward, quickly regaining his composure and turning back around to address his opponent.

It looked like he was going to need to mix up his attack patterns if he wanted to have any chance of piercing through the Gemini's impeccable defense. If it acquired a new buff every time Bahr used a potion, he was going to need to end this before another potion became necessary. But with how hard this thing hit, he didn't know if that was going to be a possibility.

Edited July 12, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

Spoiler

ID: 118726
BD: x / MD: 5
HP: 44/60 | ENERGY: 1
EVA: 0 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | DMG: 5

<<The Gemini>>:
HP: 20/30

Another waiting turn. Bahr always hated these, because it forced him to play on the defensive. Still, he had managed just fine so far, and knew he could continue to do so if he just remained focused. He studied the Gemini's movements, examining its ticks. If it truly had copied everything about Bahr, then it would probably attack right about... now. In a very fluid motion, Bahr smacked the Gemini's blade away from him the moment it decided to strike, feeling like a complete badarse as he did so.

"Hah! Eat that, faker! Not so clever now are y- WOAH!"

Bahr leaned back to avoid another swing that had been aimed toward his neck, breathing a sight of relief as it whiffed.

"You know, it's rude to interrupt someone while they're monologuing."

The Gemini merely shrugged. Bahr knew it was just a program, but its responses were occasionally very lifelike.

Edited July 12, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

Spoiler

[x2] Blast

ID: 118727
BD: 3 / MD: 9
HP: 26/60 | ENERGY: 0
EVA: 0 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | DMG: 5

<<The Gemini>>:
HP: 20/30

Bahr's Blast misses. <<The Gemini>> lands a crit for 18 DMG.

Keeping with the spirit of mixing up his attacking patterns, this time Bahr went in for a Blast Sword Skill, hoping that the second strike might be enough to throw his opponent off kilter.

Bad move.

The Gemini limbo'd under the first strike, then spun around to Bahr's back during the second strike and stabbed him in the back. Bahr gasped and fell forward, the blade sliding out of his back as he did so. It may have been true that Bahr was improving as the fight went on, but it seemed that the Gemini was also adapting. The last two hits had been it outmaneuvering his Sword Skills and getting him in the back as a result. Bahr muttered curses under his breath as he stood up tall once again, turning to address his opponent.

"You know, I gotta be honest. I'm not a fan of all the back action going on here. That's very 'not me.'"

The Gemini only laughed.

Edited July 12, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

Spoiler

ID: 118728
BD: x / MD: 9
HP: 8/60 | ENERGY: 1
EVA: 0 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | DMG: 5

<<The Gemini>>:
HP: 20/30

<<The Gemini>> lands a crit for 18 damage.

Another waiting turn - Bahr's favorite thing in the world. Except it wasn't. He wasn't having fun at all. It was probably the ambiguousness of the situation that was getting to him. If he just let himself lose, would the quest mob actually reduce his HP to zero? He would hate to die because he had foolishly believed an NPC wouldn't just drag him out to the field and literally slaughter him. He could attempt to flee, but something told him that if he couldn't outrun a boar, he couldn't outrun this guy. Nope, he would just have to keep tooling along and pray for the best. 

He was getting tired, though, made evident by the fact that the Gemini approached him at lightning speeds and plunged its sword into his stomach before he had time to react. As the blade was extracted from his abdomen, he keeled over and took a knee for a moment. According to his health bar, he was back in the red already.

Edited July 12, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

Spoiler

ID: 118729
BD: x / MD: 8
HP: 43/60 | ENERGY: 2
EVA: 0 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | DMG: 5

<<The Gemini>>:
HP: 20/30

Bahr drinks a potion, recovering 50 HP. <<The Gemini>> lands a hit for 15 damage.

This was usually the part where Bahr would use a Sword Skill, because he finally had the SP to do so, but this turn he needed to use a potion to recover some HP. He only had two left, and hadn't managed to actually deal any damage to this thing since his last potion. As he retrieved the potion and chugged it, he only prayed that this one would at least allow him to deal SOME damage.

+50 HP

The Gemini wasn't waiting around for him to simply recover all of his HP this time around. It lunged forward with ferocious speed and slashed at Bahr's dominant arm, the blade leaving a deep gash in his outer bicep. It was a good thing he had chosen to use a potion now rather than waiting, otherwise that move right there would have been his end. Trying not to think about how close to death he had just come, Bahr steeled himself for the next exchange of attacks.

Edited July 12, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

Spoiler

[x2] Straight

ID: 118730
BD: 2 / MD: 3
HP: 43/60 | ENERGY: 1
EVA: 0 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | DMG: 5

<<The Gemini>>:
HP: 20/30

Both parties miss.

For the past five minutes, they had been exchanging blows. Blocking, parrying, dodging, whiffing, side stepping, the works. When Bahr saw an opportunity, he charged up his sword and plunged it forward with the Straight Sword Skill. The Gemini was forced to block it with the flat side of its sword, getting pushed back and giving both parties a reprieve from the constant fighting. Bahr couldn't help but feel disappointed. He hadn't managed to land a successful attack in quite some time. He was beginning to wonder if winning was even possible at all. Would be meet his fate at the hands of this clone?

He shook his head. He had to stop thinking like that every time he fought something. He always had this expectation that he was going to die in any fight he became a part of. That sort of mentality was exactly what was holding him back. He needed to ditch the fear and go forward into the battle with everything he had. If he died, well, he died. But that was preferable to being a coward, wasn't it?

The Gemini gave Bahr a very knowing nod, the same stupid gran plastered across its face just as it had been the whole fight. It was almost as though it had recognized a change in him. Bahr assumed his the stance necessary to use another Straight, preparing to put everything he had into the next attack.

Edited July 12, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

Spoiler

[x2] Straight

ID: 118731
BD: 10 / MD: 3
HP: 43/60 | ENERGY: 0
EVA: 0 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | DMG: 5

<<The Gemini>>:
HP: 11/30

Bahr's Straight lands a critical strike for 9 damage after MIT. Bleed inflicted on <<The Gemini>>. <<The Gemini>> misses.

Letting out a war cry, Bahr launched forward with the aid of his Straight Sword Skill, zooming across the battlefield with unprecedented speed. His blade sank into the shoulder and neck region of the Gemini, and it shrieked as it recoiled back, grasping its neck and thrashing aimlessly about. It was the moment and opportunity Bahr had been waiting for. It seemed that just letting go of his fear and giving it his all was a technique that could really work.

He placed his sword in its sheath on his lower back. The battle was as good as over. Even if the Gemini came after him and got another really good hit in, it was still going to die on its next turn, and there was no way it was taking out Bahr in one hit. It was actually extremely unsettling, watching something that so closely resembled him writhing around on the ground, knowing that there was no saving itself. And the sounds it was making... The entire spectacle was truly horrendous.

Edited July 12, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

Spoiler

ID: 118732
BD: x / MD: 9
HP: 25/60 | ENERGY: 1
EVA: 0 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | DMG: 5

<<The Gemini>>:
HP: 0/30

Sure enough, the Gemini had one last attack left in it. It lunged forward, plunging its sword into Bahr's stomach. Bahr didn't so much as flinch at it. He had suffered enough abuse through this fight to have survived two deaths. He looked into the Gemini's fear-stricken eyes with an apathetic gaze before grabbing the blade of the sword lodged in his abdomen and slowly pushing it out. The Gemini, who was in the process of suffering fatal Bleed damage during this, was helpless to put up a fight. Once the sword had been successfully dislodged, the Gemini fell to the ground and began convulsing before exploding into countless blue fractals.

So much for a relaxing day, Bahr thought to himself. He took a deep breath and sat down on the grass, taking a moment to allow his vitality and energy to restore themselves. That had easily been his hardest fought battle yet - including the legendary Swine Jesus.

Edited July 12, 2019 by Bahr

[Bahr 0]

After awhile, Bahr was feeling a bit better and managed to stand up again. He still felt a little dizzy, but it wasn't anything he couldn't handle. He didn't make it further than two steps before he was prompted with a quest completion screen, and an awarded extra skill.

►Disguise
Active: Free action
Cooldown: 3 Turns
Effect: Gain +1 EVA until the start of your next turn
Description: After having fought and killed your duplicate, you have learnt how to use its trick of becoming another, visually becoming another target.

He marveled at it for a moment. A new skill? And it appeared to be the one the mob had used on him throughout the battle. 

"Wow, okay. A shape-shifting skill. I'm sure I can find some creative ways to make use of that."

Pleased with his winnings, Bahr meandered back into town to resume... well, doing nothing. Nah, that wasn't going to work. He was way too riled up now.

[Bahr 0]

Once he made it back into town, he felt like testing out his newfound skill. He scanned the City Center for awhile, waiting for the perfect targets to present themselves to him. Lo and behold, a cute couple had walked into the square and were acting just disgustingly mushy toward each other. Bahr was actually physically sickened by such an embarrassing display of affection. It wasn't that he had anything against affection, or even love. It was just that the way they were acting was... inappropriate. 

He tailed them for quite some time, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. At some point, they entered a restaurant that was full, with the only available table being the one out on the patio. It was the perfect setup. Quickly, he tossed one of the two chairs aside, and used his new skill to adopt the visual qualities of said chair. Then all he had to do was wait. When the couple sat down, Bahr recognized the flaw in his plan. He currently had some dude's butt uncomfortably close to his face.

"My chair feels kinda funny..." the boy said. That was Bahr's cue. 

Suddenly, he sprang upright, the illusion dispelling. Having not thought this far ahead yet, he simply uttered "OOGITY BOOGITY!" while making his fingers wiggle in strange ways before bolting off. Though the sting hadn't gone as smoothly as he had hoped, the hilarious expressions they wore during his big reveal would forever be burned into his memory.