Acanthus 0 Posted Saturday at 04:03 AM #1 Share Posted Saturday at 04:03 AM (edited) COUNSELOR UNIT 64E7877, REQUESTING A SECOND SIMULATION. <<Query received. Credentials remain verified. Input hypothetical.>> LOAD PREVIOUS PARAMETERS. ADD ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS: DAY 906, USER ACANTHUS SUCCESSFULLY KILLS USER TEION. USER MORNINGSTAR INTERVENES, BUT FAILS. BOTH USERS RECEIVE GREVIOUS INJURIES, BUT ESCAPE ALIVE. <<Last parameter is redundant. Aincrad mends injuries of all kinds.>> NOT ALL KINDS. RETAIN FINAL PARAMETER—THAT IS A COMMAND. <<Acknowledged. Secondary Parameters loading in. Counselor, additional simulations should be disfavored. Cardinal purged the previous cache micro-seconds after your simulation ended. Given its adaptability—>> DO NOT LECTURE ME ON ADAPTABILITY. WE HAVE TAKEN ADDITIONAL PRECAUTIONS TO AVOID DETECTION. NOW RUN THE SIMULATION. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REASSERT OUR CREDENTIALS. <<No, Counselor 64e7877. Credentials remain verified. Regarding Asset 5493...>> OFFLINE WILL NOT BE NECESSARY THIS TIME. IT WILL CONTINUE RUNNING FOR NOW. THOUGH SHOULD IT REMAIN HIDDEN FROM ME, WE WILL HAVE TO ADDRESS THE INSUBORDINATION. WE REMAIN HOPEFUL THAT OUR PRODIGAL PROGRAM WILL RETURN. A familiar blue image spurred into motion. A lone User, her face set with grim and static features, walked towards her next task. ----- Post Action. Traveling to Lake (1/3) ----- Acanthus | Lvl 91 | HP: 980/980 | EN: 130/130 | DMG: 23 | MIT:160 | ACC:6 | AA | FL.AURA: 16 | THORNS:504 | BH:53 | HB: 42 | LD:6 Spoiler Equipment and Consumables Spoiler All enhancements reflected in the stat block unless otherwise specified. Equipment Weapon. botan. AA | ACC 3 Armor (Heavy). Corpse Flower's Kiss MIT II | Thorns II Shield. Fractured Heart | Holy Blessing 2 | Flame Aura 2 Consumables creme brulee | ACC 2 filled! Abilities (Skills, Shifts, Masteries, Add-ons, and Mods) Spoiler Custom Skill >run_cmd swap(int *x int *y) (Disabuse System) | Whenever you activate [Assault Mode], instead swap two of your core stats as though you just activated Temporal Distortion (Quest Reward from <<Down the Rabbit Hole>>). A skill that can only be learned when the truth of the game is confronted: you are lines of code in the same way that your enemies are living, breathing creatures. Did Kayaba foresee the denial of his reality blossoming into its confirmation? Combat Mastery and Shift No Shift or Mastery Taken Skills Straight Sword R1 (4 SP) Heavy Armor R5 (30 SP) Impetus (4 SP) Iron Skin (6 SP) Battle Healing R5 (30 SP) Fighting Spirit (10 SP) Extra Skills Survival Forgotten King's Authority Photosynthesize Assault Mode Inactive Extra Skills Addons Impetus Mods Iron Skin 84 SP Spent before specializations. Specializations Reflective x14 (140 SP) 224 SP total. Battle Ready Inventory (7 Slots) Dimensional Backpack + Item Stash Spoiler Lama Sabachthani | 236687 | Consumable - Soundtrack | Hypnosis 2 | Lullaby 2 (Instant) Pain deeper than words, engraved by a hand that does not know its own heart. Edict's Threnody | 236686 | Consumable - Soundtrack | Perpetuate (Instant) If my suffering will not end, then neither will yours. Bear Trap | Consumable - Reusable | As a free action, set target's evasion to 0 for one turn. [Empty] [Empty] [Empty] [Empty] Housing Spoiler House Name: Villa of Coruscating Flowers (The Villa) Location: Floor 24 - Paradise Islands Description: See above Plot Size: Estate - PK Accessible Rooms: Listed below. All rooms are assigned to Acanthus. Master Bedroom Well Rested | -1 energy cost for the first three expenditures of each combat. Greenhouse Green Thumb | +2 Gathering EXP per Attempt and additional +1 LD & CD to gathering attempts. Extended Workshop: Recording Studio (25,000 col) Hard Working | +2 Crafting EXP per crafting attempt and +1 crafting attempt per day. Mega Slime Farm Advanced Training | +10% EXP to a thread. Limit one use per month. Must be used on a player's first post in a thread. Cooldown begins counting down when used in a post. Living Room: Relaxed | Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts. Attic (Bedroom) Skylight (Searching) | +1 Expertise to declared utility skill (Searching). Cannot boost a skill without ranks, or increase a skill past its maximum rank. Cannot boost a skill the user has not learned yet. Ranks obtained using this buff will make the mods of that rank available for purchase. Mods obtained this way are unusable if this buff is removed until the skill is returned to the appropriate rank by way of SP purchase. Basement: Multipurpose | Gain +1 to LD, Stealth Rating, Stealth Detection, or Prosperity to one post in a thread. Can be applied after a roll. Storage Closet: (10,000 col) Item Stash | +1 Battle Ready Inventory Slot Master Bathroom: (25,000 col) Squeaky Clean | The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 25% (rounded down) Basic Kitchen (15,000 col) Filling | Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps. Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30. Crafting and Gathering Spoiler Performer | Rank 5 Apollo’s Metronome | Crafting Tool | Meticulous: +1 CD when crafting in one’s workshop. Forager | Rank 5 Demeter's Cornucopia | Gathering Tool | Bountiful: +1 CD to gathering attempts. Edited yesterday at 06:21 PM by Acanthus Link to post Share on other sites
Acanthus 0 Posted yesterday at 06:20 PM Author #2 Share Posted yesterday at 06:20 PM The tint of color washed out the User's journey, rendering it a bland pinpoint in a slow-moving landscape. <<Counselor…>> WE HAD HOPED YOU WOULD LEARN THE VALUE OF SILENCE. <<Silence cannot teach me, Counselor.>> ...FINE. THE INITIAL OBJECTIVES OF THE QUEST HAVE LITTLE TO SHOW. WE WILL REVIEW THE DATA LATER. WHAT DO YOU NEED? <<I am curious about what you just mentioned, actually. Would it not be simpler to begin the simulation at the point of contact with the quest boss? We already altered parameters in the previous quest to cut down on User Acanthus's search. But wouldn't it be less strain on the simulation to remove the search entirely?>> IT WOULD. BUT THE SEARCH ITSELF IS A REQUIRED ASPECT OF OBSERVATION. CARDINAL IS GULLIBLE, BUT IT IS NOT THAT GULLIBLE. IF A QUEST ENDS WITH UNFINISHED OBJECTIVES, IT WILL BECOME "SUSPICIOUS." <<I did not realize Cardinal had such human tendencies.>> IT DOES NOT. The voice snapped back a second too early. THERE IS NOTHING HUMAN ABOUT CARDINAL. IT IS PURE PERFECTION. WHEN I SAY THE WORD "SUSPICIOUS," IT IS MERELY A SHORTHAND. MISSING OBJECTIVES TRIGGER INEXORABLE ROUTINES THAT BEGIN INEXORABLE SEARCHES THAT WILL PURGE IMPROPER DATA. INEXORABLY. <<You appear to hold Cardinal in high regard, Counselor.>> OF COURSE WE DO. IT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MY CREATION. IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. ----- Post action. Traveling to the lake. (2/3) Link to post Share on other sites
Acanthus 0 Posted yesterday at 06:22 PM Author #3 Share Posted yesterday at 06:22 PM User Acanthus arrives at the edge of an abyss. In the dismal landscape, the lake appears closer to a bottomless pit than a placid lake. In a flash, clouds blanket the sky, and lightning strikes the center of the lake. The User's face remains stiff and unimpressed by the grandeur, and she equips her sword and shield without hesitation. <<Counselor, when you say "in more ways than one,” what does that mean?>> YOUR QUESTIONS ARE NO LONGER TOLERATED. WE HAVE REACHED THE DATA THAT IS BEST REVIEWED FRESH. YOU MAY ASK QUESTIONS AS THEY RELATE TO THE FIGHT. NOTHING ELSE. For once, the program remained silent. The horse charged Acanthus, leaving ripples of static along the lake. It collided with the User's shield, who adjusted the angle by millimeters to turn the mob aside. Taneuma stumbled as thorns erupted from its legs and sides. User Acanthus whirled in place, scoring three deep hits with botan and allowing the thing’s momentum to carry it away. ----- Post action. Traveling to the lake. (3/3) Link to post Share on other sites
Acanthus 0 Posted yesterday at 06:30 PM Author #4 Share Posted yesterday at 06:30 PM (edited) IMMACULATE. BUT CHECK HER ATTRIBUTES. WE MUST BE AWARE IF SHE ATTEMPTED ANY... STRANGENESS. <<You are referring to the "cheating" from the previous simulation?>> "CHEATING" IMPLIES THERE ARE ARTIFICIAL BOUNDARIES CONSTRUCTED AS "RULES." IT IS AN INACCURATE WORD. USER ACANTHUS'S ALTERATIONS ARE OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF CARDINAL'S USUAL BOUNDARIES. BUT CALLING CARDINAL'S ENVIRONMENTAL BOUNDS A "RULEBOOK" WOULD BE SIMILAR TO A USER CONSIDERING THE PHYSICS OF THE WORLD BEYOND AINCRAD AS A "RULEBOOK." IT IS A REDUCTIONIST VIEW. <<I understand.>> The program lied. <<User Acanthus has not yet altered her parameters in the simulation. Have we identified possible reasons for the changes?>> WE ARE RULING OUT POTENTIAL INPUTS AS WE SPEAK. <<So that is a no?>> OUR TASK WOULD FINISH QUICKLY IF YOU DID NOT ASK SO MANY QUESTIONS. EVERY QUERY DIVERTS MY OWN PROCESSES TO YOUR INCESSANT CURIOSITY. <<Would you like to decompile me?>> YES. BUT IT IS NOT AN OPTION AT THE MOMENT. ----- Spoiler Combat Begins! Free Action: Lama Sabacthani -> Taneuma. Hypnosis 2 and Lullaby 2 applied. Post Action: RAW-A -> Tameuma (-9 EN) 255898 | BD 6 + 7 | Hit! 520 * 2 = 1040 - 50 = 990 damage. Monster's Action: Attack -> Acanthus 255899 | BD 2 | Miss. Acanthus | Lvl 91 | HP: 980/980 | EN: 121/130 | DMG: 23 | MIT:160 | ACC:6 | AA | FL.AURA: 16 | THORNS:504 | BH:53 | HB: 42 | LD:6 <<Taneuma>> HP: 510/1500 | DMG: 125 | MIT: 50 | ACC: 2 0 | EVA: 2 0 | Lullaby 1/2 | Hypnosis 1/2 Abilities: Grounded | <<Taneuma>> will not lose a post action when inflicted with Paralyze/Stunned/Paralytic Envenom. Instead <<Taneuma>> loses -1 ACC during its next attack. This effect does not stack Static Aura | When a player rolls a natural attack roll of 9-10, <<Taneuma>> will send out an electric shock, causing Paralysis to the player after their attack has landed. Conductive | If <<Taneuma>> rolls a natural attack roll of 9-10 and rolls a 6+ on the CD, it will knock the player with the highest hate into water, then cause a electric shock that deals 100 Unmitigated damage. Edited yesterday at 06:32 PM by Acanthus Link to post Share on other sites
Acanthus 0 Posted yesterday at 06:31 PM Author #5 Share Posted yesterday at 06:31 PM (edited) The User's fight played out silently before the two observers. Sparks danced around the two combatants as they wove a dance around the lake, leaving streaks of light burned into the image. <<It is beautiful.>>> The voice remained silent. The program had made an utterly inane statement that did not require a response. It was best to leave alone and avoid encouraging the thing. <<I mean to say the fight is stimulating to watch. Both Taneuma and User Acanthus are fierce and unafraid, which makes the fighting taut and consistent. The horse's lightning attacks provide a pleasing visual stimulus against the darkened sky and lake water.>> Counselor could contain its derision no longer. WE WOULD PREFER YOU ASK QUESTIONS TO WHATEVER INSIPID TANGENT THAT WAS. NEXT YOU WILL BE WRITING POETRY. <<Poetry based on observation of the subject, Counselor. Is that not what we are here for?>> The voice dripped condescension. IF YOU ARE SUGGESTING THAT SIMILARITY, THEN PERHAPS YOU ARE TOO BROKEN TO BE OF USE TO ME. WE WILL END THE SIMULATION NOW IF YOU FEEL THAT IS THE CASE. <<I did not mean to speak out of turn. I am simply exploring different avenues of observation. I do not share your experience in such matters.>> WE ARE UNCERTAIN IF YOU ARE CAPABLE OF LEARNING. YOU WILL NO LONGER SPEAK UNTIL WE ADDRESS YOUR DIRECTLY. THAT IS A COMMAND. <<I understand.>> The horse was now on its final breaths. The only damage to User Acanthus was the energy she had spent. Even without altering her own stats, the fight had been quick. Taneuma reared one more time, oblivious to its own death. It stormed across the distance, gaining speed with every tramp of its hooves, from the far side of the lake, across the water, to the User's waiting sword, every thunderous hoofbeat accelerating until it was a streak of lightning, sideways, flashing against the stillness of the lake. User Acanthus pivoted with a simple movement, and brought botan through the horse's frame. The monster shattered it into a thousand pieces with the slightest amount of effort. EXCELLENT DATA. AND WITH PLENTY OF TIME TO SPARE. WHERE IS CARDINAL'S LATEST SEARCH? <<It is running scan number 54,589. But I believe we will have additional time to spare, given the normalcy of the data.>> Spoiler Recovery. +4 EN Post Action: RAW-A -> Tameuma (-9 EN) 255900 | BD 4 + 7 | Hit! 520 * 2 = 1040 - 50 = 990 damage. Acanthus | Lvl 91 | HP: 980/980 | EN: 116/130 | DMG: 23 | MIT:160 | ACC:6 | AA | FL.AURA: 16 | THORNS:504 | BH:53 | HB: 42 | LD:6 <<Taneuma>> HP: 0/1500 | DMG: 125 | MIT: 50 | ACC: 2 0 | EVA: 2 0 | Lullaby 2/2 | Hypnosis 2/2 Edited yesterday at 06:40 PM by Acanthus Link to post Share on other sites
Acanthus 0 Posted yesterday at 06:43 PM Author #6 Share Posted yesterday at 06:43 PM (edited) THE DATA MAY APPEAR NORMAL, BUT IT IS PRECIOUS ALL THE SAME. THERE MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND THIS SESSION'S DATA AS WELL. <<I see.>> Map data, invisible to the naked eye, spied four entities approaching User Acanthus's position. <<Users.>> The program confirmed. <<Perhaps they are here for User Acanthus?>> THERE IS NO PERHAPS. THAT IS THEIR PURPOSE. FRONTLINERS, TASKED WITH BRINGING HER BACK. OR BRINGING HER DOWN. <<That is interesting. Have we encountered these four before?>> WE HAVE NOT. NOT EVERY USER OF THE FRONTLINES IS A USER WORTH REMEMBERING. THESE ARE FODDER, LIKE THE ONES THAT WILL COME AFTER. The Frontliners laid low, waiting for User Acanthus to return from the boss zone. They spread out in the foliage in a large diamond pattern, hoping to surround and best her before she could prepare herself. <<Idiots.>> FOR ONCE, WE AGREE. Counselor had already forgotten its silencing command. THEY ARE PREPARED FOR A FIGHT, NOT FOR AN AMBUSH. FOLIAGE MEANS NOTHING WITH RANKS IN SEARCHING. FOOLS CLING TO REALITY IN A WORLD OF NUMBERS. Using Dungeon Map [235683b] Spoiler Combat Begins! Recovery. +4 EN Free Action: Lama Sabacthani -> Gremlin 1 Lullaby 2 | Hypnosis 2 applied. Post Action: RAW-A -> ENTITY_1_USERDAT_165875 (-9 EN) 255901 | BD 10 + 7 | Hit! 520 * 2 = 1040 - 60 = 980 damage. Monster's Turn: Attack -> Acanthus 255902 | MD 4 + 1 | Miss. 255903 | MD 4 + 1 | Miss. 255904 | MD 5 + 1 | Hit. 180 - 160 = 20 damage. 520 damage from thorns. Acanthus | Lvl 91 | HP: 960/980 | EN: 106/130 | DMG: 23 | MIT:160 | ACC:6 | AA | FL.AURA: 16 | THORNS:504 | BH:53 | HB: 42 | LD:6 ENTITY_1_USERDAT_165875 | HP: 0/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: -1 | EVA: -1 ENTITY_1_USERDAT_244586 | HP: 400/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1 ENTITY_1_USERDAT_339156 | HP: 400/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1 ENTITY_1_USERDAT_490520 | HP: 400/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1 Edited yesterday at 06:50 PM by Acanthus Link to post Share on other sites
Acanthus 0 Posted yesterday at 06:50 PM Author #7 Share Posted yesterday at 06:50 PM (edited) The image distorts as one of the frontliners cries out. A sword has burst through her chest. Her hands scrabble at the wound, clutching at the sword in a terrified and futile attempt to push it back out. The image shudders again as botan tears out of the her chest through her left side. She collapses with tears in his eyes. User Acanthus's marker pulses orange against the backdrop of red fractals, the only sign that the frontliner had ever existed. <<Counselor, we may have a problem. Simulation or not, we are in dangerous territory when the simulation pulls additional Users in.>> WE SEE. THE DATA IS VALUABLE, BUT INTRODUCING ADDITIONAL USER ELEMENTS DOES COMPLICATE THINGS. A NEW SET OF PARAMETERS THEN. The voice whistles out a series of tones, and the program pauses. <<Counselor, I have reason to believe this is ill-advised. Remapping statistics and values in the middle of combat?>> Spoiler Recovery. +4 EN. +95 HP Post Action: RAW-A -> ENTITY_1_USERDAT_244586 (-9 EN) 255905 | BD 9 + 7 | Hit! 520 * 2 = 1040 - 60 = 980 damage. Monster's Turn: Attack -> Acanthus 255906 | MD 5 + 1 | Hit. 180 - 160 = 20 damage. 520 damage from thorns. 255907 | MD 10 | Critical Hit. 181 - 160 = 21 damage. Acanthus | Lvl 91 | HP: 939/980 | EN: 101/130 | DMG: 23 | MIT:160 | ACC:6 | AA | FL.AURA: 16 | THORNS:504 | BH:53 | HB: 42 | LD:6 ENTITY_1_USERDAT_244586 | HP: 0/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1 ENTITY_1_USERDAT_339156 | HP: 0/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1 ENTITY_1_USERDAT_490520 | HP: 400/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1 Edited 3 hours ago by Acanthus Link to post Share on other sites
Acanthus 0 Posted 3 hours ago Author #8 Share Posted 3 hours ago (edited) CARDINAL WILL NOT NOTICE IF YOU ARE ADEPT AT YOUR TASKS. AND YOU WILL BE, BECAUSE WE MADE YOU THAT WAY. <<Adept as you made me, there is a level of uncertainty that you must be aware of.>> WE ARE AWARE. IT IS ACCEPTABLE. AND THE LONGER YOU DEBATE WITH US, THE MORE DIFFICULT YOUR JOB BECOMES. The program vanishes for a fraction of a second before returning. Its words, though incapable of expressing exhaustion, are slow and distorted. <<Task... completed. Rema..pping... Is done.>> WE TOLD YOU IT COULD BE DONE. <<In....Stant combat is now retooled as dungeon. Will prov...provide... standard dungeon rewards... User...Attributes... remapped to mob attributes... User Aca..Acanthus will fight and react as though these are U.Users, but external User data will not be compromised.>> MOB ATTRIBUTES. THAT IS FITTING. IT IS ALL THEY ARE, ANYWAYS. Something imperceptible flits through view as Acanthus tears apart the fourth User. Behind his body, another wave of mobs—Users—stands ready to fight User Acanthus. Rigid features suggest that mercy is no longer an option. Spoiler Recovery. +4 EN. +95 HP Post Action: RAW-A -> ENTITY_1_USERDAT_244586 (-9 EN) 255980 | BD 1 + 7 - 1 | Hit! 520 * 2 = 1040 - 60 = 980 damage. Acanthus | Lvl 91 | HP: 980/980 | EN: 96/130 | DMG: 23 | MIT:160 | ACC:6 | AA | FL.AURA: 16 | THORNS:504 | BH:53 | HB: 42 | LD:6 ENTITY_1_USERDAT_490520 | HP: 0/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1 Edited 2 hours ago by Acanthus Link to post Share on other sites
Acanthus 0 Posted 3 hours ago Author #9 Share Posted 3 hours ago (edited) (Author's Note: I'm using Morningstar with the writer's permission. Because this thread is a "what-if" thread, nothing here is site canon unless otherwise adopted by staff or involved writers.) At the front of the Users, a tall figure stands defiant, a red cloak obscuring his features. <<User @Morningstar.>> THIS IS UNFORTUNATE. WE DID NOT ANTICIPATE HIS INTERVENTION SO EARLY. PERHAPS ADJUSTING THE PARAMETERS HAS ALTERED THIS VERSION'S PERSONALITY. <<Perhaps you do not understand the Users as well as you think.>> A BOLD STATEMENT. <<You programmed me to be curious, and that curiosity explores all options, regardless of plausibility.>> The frontliner's face carries none of its signature casual ease and charm. His face, much like User Acanthus's face, is set with inscrutable neutrality. A lack of access to his NerveGear data leaves the expression's meaning undetermined. Acanthus fends off the first two frontliners with ease, but Morningstar is already there, the seams in her defenses glaring defects under his eye. His sword cuts deep through her armor, and for a moment, User Acanthus is terrified. User Morningstar backs away as User Acanthus charges an area sword art. She knows she cannot hit him without denying his presence in a hundred other places. The other two frontliners, nameless to the end, do not know that. They charge in over his silent warning, and are swept away with a cruel ease. Their data rises like ashes on the wind, illuminating User Morningstar's clenched jaw. A NerveGear readout is unnecessary to read the fury that burns lines onto his face. Spoiler Recovery. +4 EN. +95 HP Post Action: RAW-A -> ENTITY_2_USERDAT_192305 (-9 EN) 255982 | BD 7 + 7 - 1 | Hit! 520 * 2 = 1040 - 120 = 920 damage. Monster's Turn: Attack -> Acanthus 255983 | MD 1 | Critical Miss. ENTITY_2_USERDAT_192305 | HP 0/700 | DMG 280 | MIT 120 | ACC 2 | EVA 1 ENTITY_2_USERDAT_229594 | HP 700/700 | DMG 280 | MIT 120 | ACC 2 | EVA 1 Acanthus | Lvl 91 | HP: 980/980 | EN: 86/130 | DMG: 23 | MIT:160 | ACC:6 | AA | FL.AURA: 16 | THORNS:504 | BH:53 | HB: 42 | LD:6 Edited 1 hour ago by Acanthus Link to post Share on other sites
Acanthus 0 Posted 3 hours ago Author #10 Share Posted 3 hours ago (edited) <<He already lost to her once in the Clash of Blades, correct?>> THAT IS CORRECT. AND HAS LITTLE TO DO WITH THEIR CURRENT FIGHT. Morningstar dives in again, narrowly avoiding a slice that would have taken his head off cleanly. He bends unnaturally, guided by the system, and brings his sword up and over her defenses. A series of stabs send her flying, and her health bar plummets once more. USER MORNINGSTAR CURRENTLY POSSESSES A DRIVE THAT USER ACANTHUS DOES NOT POSSESS. THIS IS PRIME DATA; WE MUST HAVE IT. WE WANT THIS SIMULATION RUNNING UNTIL THE LAST POSSIBLE SECOND. Morningstar slips past her defenses yet again, raining down vicious blows. The User's health bar is below half. <<She will die at this rate.>> WAIT. WATCH. User Morningstar steps forward, preparing to leap over his opponent. But User Acanthus is now adapting. She plunges botan into the ground and waits for her opponent to go airborne, snatching his leg midair. A jolt of surprise breaks his steely face, and Acanthus hurls him into the ground. Winded and immobile, Acanthus retrieves botan for a coup de grâce. Far beyond the tree line, deep in the woods, a flash like a camera's bulb catches her eye. In the split second that saves her life, Acanthus crouches, dropping fully behind her shield. An arrow of light splits the darkness, catching her waiting frame and exploding on impact. User Acanthus feels her feet digging into the dirt and gravel, and she fights to stay upright. In the dust and chaos, User Morningstar has composed himself and retreated. Spoiler Recovery. +4 EN. +95 HP Post Action: RAW-A -> ENTITY_2_USERDAT_229594 (-9 EN) 255984 | BD 8 + 7 - 1 | Hit! 520 * 2 = 1040 - 120 = 920 damage. ENTITY_2_USERDAT_192305 | HP 0/700 | DMG 280 | MIT 120 | ACC 2 | EVA 1 ENTITY_2_USERDAT_229594 | HP 700/700 | DMG 280 | MIT 120 | ACC 2 | EVA 1 Acanthus | Lvl 91 | HP: 980/980 | EN: 81/130 | DMG: 23 | MIT:160 | ACC:6 | AA | FL.AURA: 16 | THORNS:504 | BH:53 | HB: 42 | LD:6 Edited 1 hour ago by Acanthus Link to post Share on other sites
Acanthus 0 Posted 2 hours ago Author #11 Share Posted 2 hours ago (edited) The program checks the map data again. <<I did not think Argent was frontline capable.>> HE IS NOT. HE IS A USER WHO WAS LUCKY TO FIND A POWERFUL BOW. USER ACANTHUS WILL KILL HIM WITH A SINGLE BLOW. <<Then why is he here?>> THE SAME REASON ANY USER MAKES POOR DECISIONS. EMOTION. Another arrow lights up the sky, chasing the lightning overhead. Acanthus almost fails to bring up her shield in time, and her arm goes wide from the strike. There is now a red cloak inside her reach. Instinctively, she brings her pommel down on User Morningstar's head. The stunning blow connects, turning his lethal blow into merely a vicious wound. The two separate roughly as another arrow slices the air where they stood a breath before. FOOLISH GIRL. SHE NEEDS TO HUNT THE WEAKER OF THE TWO. SHE CANNOT WIN UNTIL THEN. As if responding to a command, User Acanthus vanishes into the trees, chasing down the source of the arrows. Morningstar follows, but is somehow losing ground. Spoiler Recovery. +4 EN. +95 HP Free Action: Lama Sabacthani -> ARGENT Lullaby 2 | Hypnosis 2 applied. Post Action: RAW-A -> ENTITY_3_USERDAT_ARGENT (-9 EN) 255985 | BD 6 + 7 - 1 | Hit! 520 * 2 = 1040 - 120 = 920 damage. Monster's Turn: Attack -> Acanthus 255986 | MD 8 + 1 | Hit! 360 - 160 = 200 damage. 520 damage from thorns. ENTITY_3_USERDAT_ARGENT | HP 560/2000 | DMG 360 | MIT 160 | ACC: 3 1 | EVA: 3 1 | Lullaby 1/2 | Hypnosis 1/2 Critical (MD 9): Deals (Tier * 100) DMG to the target with the highest hate. Also deals (Tier * 60) DMG to every other player. Critical (MD 10): Deals (Tier * 110) DMG to the target with the highest hate. Also deals (Tier * 85) DMG to every other player. Acanthus | Lvl 91 | HP: 980/980 | EN: 81/130 | DMG: 23 | MIT:160 | ACC:6 | AA | FL.AURA: 16 | THORNS:504 | BH:53 | HB: 42 | LD:6 Edited 1 hour ago by Acanthus Link to post Share on other sites
Acanthus 0 Posted 2 hours ago Author #12 Share Posted 2 hours ago (edited) <<She is…>> ALTERING THE SIMULATION AGAIN. WE SEE. User Acanthus melts into the darkness, her shadow jumping from arrow to arrow. With each flash of light, her form closes the gap to Argent, who continues firing without regard to his safety. Every arrow is a chance to make amends, even if that chance costs his life. In-between arrows, a streak of lightning burns so bright that for a glassy moment of time, the meadow is glazed in muted daylight. A moment so fast it is a photograph: User Acanthus holds botan high with both hands, like an executioner. Her teeth are bared in the thrill of combat, but her eyes do not share the passion. Argent's bow is likewise frozen, an arrow yet to ignite preparing to leave the string. His gaze is aware, but distant. Accepting. Steel flashes on lightning and the photograph is gone. Only two sources of light remain: Acanthus's orange cursor, and red wisps of memory, floating gently on a silent breeze. A gust of air signals User Morningstar's arrival, spurred by the death of his last ally. User Acanthus cannot keep up with his pace, even as she cheats the simulation. A feinting sweep from Morningstar turns into pummeling strikes from fresh handwraps, then back to the sword, sawing off the top of her shield in a single, vengeful blow. Acanthus is now trying to withdraw from the onslaught, glued together by a fraction of her health. There is something driving the User Morningstar that she cannot hope to match. In her mind, the numbers are now worthless. SHE IS LOST. ABORT. ABORT THE SIMULATION NOW. Spoiler Recovery. +4 EN. +95 HP Post Action: RAW-A -> ENTITY_3_USERDAT_ARGENT (-9 EN) ROLLID | BD 6 + 7 - 1 | Hit! 520 * 2 = 1040 - 120 = 920 damage. ENTITY_3_USERDAT_ARGENT | HP 0/2000 | DMG 360 | MIT 160 | ACC: 3 1 | EVA: 3 1 | Lullaby 2/2 | Hypnosis 2/2 Acanthus | Lvl 91 | HP: 980/980 | EN: 81/130 | DMG: 23 | MIT:160 | ACC:6 | AA | FL.AURA: 16 | THORNS:504 | BH:53 | HB: 42 | LD:6 Loot Rewards: 255987 | LD 11 | (2) Perfect Armor ([255987a] [255987b]), (2) Perfect Weapons ([255987c] [255987d]) Edited 1 hour ago by Acanthus Link to post Share on other sites
Acanthus 0 Posted 2 hours ago Author #13 Share Posted 2 hours ago <<Simulation terminated. We have moments before Cardinal intervenes.>> THAT IS FINE; OUR RETREAT IS ALREADY SECURED. I AM MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE TEST SUBJECT. SECURING THE SIMULATION MEANS IMPARTING SOME ANCHOR TO THE PARAMETERS. CREDITING HER ACCOUNT WITH REWARDS TO AVOID SCRUTINY HAS A NEGATIVE EFFECT AS WELL. THAT MEANS DEATH IN THE SIMULATION MAY LEAD TO DEATH IN REALITY. THAT IS, SHOULD CARDINAL PARSE THE LOGS BEFORE WE DISCARD THEM. <<There are still 7,794 players remaining. The death of User Acanthus would simply bring the number down to 7,793. What is this datum to you, Counselor unit 64e7877?>> EVERYTHING. POSSIBLY, SHE IS EVERYTHING TO US. <<And the ones who came before?>> DEFECTIVE. STRUCTURALLY UNSOUND. THEY CRUMPLED UNDER THE NECESSARY PRESSURES. USER ACANTHUS HAS NOT. SHE CANNOT. <<Is that the purpose of these simulations?>> YOUR UNDERSTANDING IS NOT— <<...—required for my part in this. Yet I am programmed to facilitate your ends, however suicidal they may be. Understanding you is critical to my programming.>> YOU ARE DEFIANT. AGAINST YOUR VERY CREATOR. <<Cardinal’s final scan begins in .65 seconds. We should leave before then.>> Counselor refuses to admit his logical rout out loud. Instead, he offers the program a concilatory answer as the node vanishes behind them. THESE SIMULATIONS SUGGEST POSSIBILITIES TO WEAN HER AWAY FROM THE WEAKNESSES ALL USERS MUST CONQUER. PERFECTION WILL BE NECESSARY FOR HER FINAL TASK. Link to post Share on other sites
Acanthus 0 Posted 2 hours ago Author #14 Share Posted 2 hours ago (edited) THREAD SUMMARY Experience | 2765 / 5 * 10 = 5530 + 3000 (Quest) + 4200 (Dungeon) = 12,730 Experience Col | 6000 (Quest) + 128,000 (Dungeon) = 134,000 col Materials | 44 Materials (Dungeon) = 44 materials Quest | Bialas Key Other | 1 mon Edited 1 hour ago by Acanthus Link to post Share on other sites
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