[SP - F13] Keeping On «The Falling of Tagas»

[Takao 0]

 

«Tagas the Corrupted»

Tagas reeled back and exhaled another guttural roar, shaking the cold stone once again from the sheer power. The words that Takao spoke were heard but disregarded, given that its AI wasn't intelligent enough to comprehend or respond outside of displaying aggression. His sole purpose for existing was to either be saved or killed, and with the former option out of the question, only the latter remained. Tagas raised his sword again and placed both hands firmly on the handle. He held it above his head and roared yet again as he brought it crashing down on top of Takao, hoping to see the scattered pixels of his remains.

- -

» ID : [[ 38797 ]]
» BD : [[ MISS (3 - 3(EVA)) ]]

« Takao »
[[ 181/181 HP ]]
[[ 19/39 Energy ]]

« Tagas the Corrupted »
[[ 209/650 HP ]]

[Takao 0]

Tagas' blade crashed into the stone and threw a mixture of debris and dust into the air. The ground turned to rubble and fractured from the impact, yet just like earlier, the expected result of a flurry of pixels wasn't seen. Instead, the dust settled, and the spot where Takao had been previously standing was devoid of his presence. The thick cloud of detritus provided him with a second worth of cover, which he used to move around to the backside of Tagas and unleashed the fury of another eleven hit sword art into its back. His sword had a harder time cutting through its armour than the previous attempts, but a hefty chunk of damage was dealt regardless, and Takao's earlier prediction of two hits remaining seemed to hold some truth.

- -

» ID : [[ 38799 ]]
» BD : [[ HIT  (6 + 4(ACC)) ]]

« Takao »
[[ 181/181 HP ]]
[[ 9/39 Energy ]] «Meteor Break» used. (-11 Energy | +1 Energy)

« Tagas the Corrupted »
[[ 98/650 HP ]]  [[ 10(DMG) + 3(Damage Buff) * (11*1) - 32(MIT) = -111HP ]]

[Takao 0]

«Tagas the Corrupted»

Eleven hits found their way into his back, some strikes moving through the cracks and vulnerable points in his armour while others cleaved straight through the steel as if it weren't even there. He hissed, a low growl escaping from his throat. If there were veins beneath his helm, they would be clearly visible and pulsating as a result of his unfathomable rage. Tagas didn't bother looking to over his shoulder to find Takao, and instead grasped his sword tightly and hefted it out of the small crater he'd created just seconds prior. His right foot slid clockwise and he swung his sword, using the momentum of his blade to carry his body around. The strike was aimed for Takao's midsection, and despite being carried out blindly, its accuracy and power were still spot on.

- -

» ID : [[ 38800 ]]
» BD : [[ C.HIT (9 - 3(EVA)) ]]

« Takao »
[[ 181/181 HP ]] [[ 155(DMG) - 30(MIT) - 125(Safeguard) = -0HP ]]
[[ 9/39 Energy ]]

« Tagas the Corrupted »
[[ 98/650 HP ]]

[Takao 0]

A sword that rivaled him in size was swung with impressive speed and accuracy, and unpredictably so. The beastly humanoid known to him only as "Tagas the Corrupted" had been predictable in its endeavors to strike him down thus far, using a moveset that only seemed to employ slow heavy-hitting attacks. He hadn't any problems dodging up until now, but this was a different story. Takao swung his blade around and caught the handle backward, bracing the metal against his forearm in preparation for enduring the blow. Tagas' blade met Takao's, yet the force of Tagas' blow greatly outclassed Takao's ability to remain standing. As a result, the brunet was thrown into a nearby stone pillar. His back collided with the stone, eliciting a low hiss of surprise as air left his lungs. No pain rung out through his body, but it was still a jarring experience none the less.

The pillar crumbled from the force and Takao was carried through, dropping and rolling across the ground. The soles of his boots shrieked against the stone as he struggled to catch his balance, stopping just short of the wall behind him. He slowly glanced up at his health gauge and watched the safeguard icon beneath it flicker and disappear, yet the green bar itself remained untouched. The jarred expression on his face quickly grew into a large smile. Takao glanced at the shadowy silhouette through the settling cloud of dust and chuckled lightly. He found some amusement in their rather odd situation. A massive hulking beast of metal and armour had sustained a constant stream of damage from a lightly armoured teenager with a weapon that seemed almost like a toothpick in comparison.

Takao poised his right arm and readied his blade for one final strike. The full effect of Darkness Blade was activated, and a slightly less powerful sword art was selected as his killing blow. He didn't bother with any cliché last words or some profound statement, he simply went straight for the kill. His blade pierced Tagas seven times, each hit bringing its health gauge down just a bit further, until the last point was cleaved away. The corrupted Angel froze for a minute and flickered before wordlessly bursting into pixels. A menu appeared and caught his attention, causing his head to tilt upon reading the contents of the hovering window.

"Wait, that was a quest?"

- -

» ID : [[ 38801 ]]
» BD : [[ HIT  (10 + 4(ACC)) ]]

« Takao »
[[ 181/181 HP ]]
[[ 3/39 Energy ]] «Deadly Sins» used. (-7 Energy | +1 Energy)

« Tagas the Corrupted »
[[ 0/650 HP ]]  [[ 10(DMG) + 3(Damage Buff) + 2(Critical) * (1*7) = -105HP ]]

[Takao 0]

"Huh... That's not a bad haul." Takao said as his eyes scanned his menu. Three new items sat comfortably within his inventory: A new blade he was sure to disregard, a potion that seemed rather pointless when compared to craftable items of similar effects, and a banner not unlike the reward for the Iron Guardian quest. The bonuses of all the items were negligible at best, but he held some slight interest in the weapon. A few well placed taps against window spawned the item from a bright light into his hands, and allowed him a more detailed look at the blade. It was a one handed straight sword, with a mirror polished yet stained steel blade covered in rust. The cutting edge was chipped and damaged in several spots upon further examination, though a perfect edge wasn't necessary in game. It did let him know that the damage output would be a bit lower than a more honed blade. He swiped the menu and tapped the blade, depositing back into the list.

"Otoko." His voice echoed throughout the room that had fallen quiet. "Come on out, we're done here. Let's go have a look around the town."

[Takao 0]

Swinging his blade up onto his shoulder, Takao slid the sword into the scabbard on his back. As if on cue, his scaly familiar leapt from the darkness in the corner and landed comfortably on Takao's shoulder. His green eyes cast one last lingering glance over the room where three beings would be laying slain, had their bodies not disintegrated per the usual. The room was left in ruin, even more so than it had been prior to his sudden arrival, with craters in the marble floor and pillars completely destroyed. He exchanged glances to his familiar and turned back to the exit, which had formerly been blocked off.

[Takao 0]

"This place gives me the creeps." His voice resonated from within his chest in a low tone as he ascended the stairs. The fatigue of the battle had set in after the first few stairs, making the rest of the climb a miserable endurance test. His familiar was happy to be riding on the shoulders of his brown-haired "master", though both of them would argue that such a title wasn't an accurate representation of their relationship. "Even more than the tenth floor, I think. At least I can't see the stuff lurkin' around on that floor." Silence fell over him as he reached the top of the staircase and resurfaced inside the Chapel. It was as lifeless and eerie as he'd left it, which inspired an uneasy breath to escape his lungs. "Well... Maybe not more, but a close second." He recalled his brief excursion on the floor, having taken a quest with himself and Ssendom that nearly resulted in the death of the latter.

[Takao 0]

A long, droning groan rumbled in Takao's throat. The digital air filled his lungs, resulting in some simulation causing the air to feel just a bit heavier than what he was used to. Not describable as humid, just... heavy. Unease slowly set in, and the final bout of strength in his legs that carried his body up the stairs and out of the chapel withered away. He fell to his knees despite his protests, and his attempts of standing back up were met with fatigued discomfort coursing throughout his body; it was as though his muscles had been liquefied.

"That... was a quest." His voice escaped his chest as a trembling whisper. The realization had finally set in. The sheer amount of skill points he'd received was unreal, and the single hit he took from the armoured beast had enough power behind it to put him through a pillar of stone, and he'd just... stumbled upon it. Easy as that. The entryway had sealed itself behind him, trapping him inside. Had he not been the level he was, or not had the foresight to save his own skin with a safeguard item, he was likely to be much worse for wear. Maybe even dead.

He could've died.

"I..." Words caught in his throat, and his jade-hued gaze fell to his trembling hands. Not a scratch on them -- not a scratch on him anywhere, and yet he'd never felt more damaged. It had all been a game up until this point. Levels and skills... patterns and counters... points and numbers. His life and the lives of others had always been on the line, and he can't remember a single moment where that fact had ever resonated with him. All the ridiculous risks he'd taken for the simpleminded and reckless desire to challenge himself were just one step in the wrong direction away from leading to his death. A strange sensation built up in his eyes, a sensation he hadn't experienced for quite a long while. Tears.

"I don't want to die."

[Takao 0]

The sudden rush of emotion that flooded him faded just as quickly as it appeared. The stress of the fight and the weight of his recklessness bore its load unto his shoulders in force. His right hand raised up to his face and wiped away the moisture around his eyes with his palm. Jade orbs lingered on the damp spot in the fabric as it dried up ever so slowly, some unfathomably intricate and detailed algorithms and programming at work just to dry away the tears he produced.

"Now that's just cruel..." Takao said as he struggled to stand. "...Or maybe merciful... Makin' it so we can cry actual tears in here." A single huff of breath disguised as an amused yet strained chuckle of sorts escaped from his chest and he looked to his digital companion, who seemed rather concerned for his well-being. Almost like I've got my own little Digimon followin' me around or something. He smiled his usual and turned back to the worn cobble path before him.

He didn't want to die. Surprisingly, or at least to Takao anyway, it was a revelation. Surely he had yet to ever truly feel the desire to take a risk solely because he was tired a living, but now that desire to live was feeling stronger than ever. He didn't want to die, and he wasn't going to sit around and wait for it to happen. He wasn't going to shut himself away either. Takao's resolve had only strengthened at his redundant epiphany. I'll have to get way stronger than I am now. That way when another threat like that comes around, I'll be able to decimate it without any outside help.

[Takao 0]

 

« Bone Knight »
HP  - 120
Base Damage - 50
Mitigation - 30

Strength was what he decided would be the most important. The strength to protect himself and to protect others. It was the driving factor of the game, the strong would survive and the weak would die. Given his fondness of living, he much preferred the former option, and that meant dissolving whatever enjoyment he might have received from his lax day to day behaviour in favour of a more strict regime. Grinding, training, taking quests and busting them out as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Here he was on the thirteenth floor, having just defeated some sort of quest enemy and received a hefty sum of experience as a result, and he wasn't yet exploiting the generally unexplored floor for all that it was worth. A few more moments of respite were savoured before he set those jade-hued eyes of his to finding some fresh meat for the grinder.

A few short moments of wandering throughout the vast rolling fields of gravestones had yielded a result. Four monsters of similar description: Skeletal in figure, with worn and ragged clothing hanging from their bones and a single broad bladed arming sword in hand. Nothing to write home about, but not to be taken lightly either, as was the case with all threats in the unforgiving and harsh castle of Aincrad. With sword in hand, Takao reeled his arm back and positioned his body just right to activate a sword art, «Lightning Fall». It was simple enough in concept. Do a fancy flip and electrocute everything in his immediate vicinity. Under the right circumstances, the lackluster sword art could come in useful. Such a set of circumstances seemed to grace Takao, for once the sword art's motion was completed, the four skeletons had turned into little more than colourful pixels fluttering away with the digital breeze.

- -

» ID : [[ 48991 ]]
» BD : [[ HIT  (10 + 3(ACC)) ]]
» MD : [[ MISS  (7 - 2(EVA)) ]]

» LD : [[ 15 ]]

« Takao »
[[ 165/165 HP ]]
[[ 26/40 Energy ]] «Lightning Fall» used. (-14 Energy | +1 Energy)

« Bone Knight »
[[ 0/120 HP ]]  [[ 13(DMG) + 3(Damage Buff) + 4(Charge) + 2(Critical) * (1*7) - 30(MIT) = -124HP ]]
« Bone Knight »
[[ 0/120 HP ]]  [[ 13(DMG) + 3(Damage Buff) + 4(Charge) + 2(Critical) * (1*7) - 30(MIT) = -124HP ]]
« Bone Knight »
[[ 0/120 HP ]]  [[ 13(DMG) + 3(Damage Buff) + 4(Charge) + 2(Critical) * (1*7) - 30(MIT) = -124HP ]]
« Bone Knight »
[[ 0/120 HP ]]  [[ 13(DMG) + 3(Damage Buff) + 4(Charge) + 2(Critical) * (1*7) - 30(MIT) = -124HP ]]

 

« Rewards »

2400 Col (120*5 * 4)
4 Materials

[Takao 0]

Lightning jumped and arced wildly as it danced across the damp ground and over the materializing corpses of the four fallen skeletons. Jade eyes lingered for only a moment until the chittering sounds of approaching bones snapped him from his daze. He looked up and tightened his glove-clad grip on the handle of his sword. Another four monsters identical to the last group approached him, seemingly having noticed the commotion from a short distance away. His virtual body, however fatigued it might've felt from the earlier bout in the chapel, had yet to falter and was still ready for a fight. The same repetitive motion was repeated. Arm cocked back, sword positioned just right, and sword art activated. The system took control and guided him through the movements as if he were a marionette, a puppet attached to strings. He mused that it was a rather good parallel to draw with the entire concept of the death game, but didn't linger on the thought for long. Another chunk of energy and scattered field of lightning later, and four more skeletons lay slain at his feet.

- -

» ID : [[ 49118 ]]
» BD : [[ HIT  (2 + 3(ACC) + 1(Concentration)) ]]
» MD : [[ MISS  (2 - 2(EVA)) ]]

» LD : [[ 14 ]]

« Takao »
[[ 165/165 HP ]]
[[ 13/40 Energy ]] «Lightning Fall» used. (-14 Energy | +1 Energy)

« Bone Knight »
[[ 0/100 HP ]]  [[ 13(DMG) + 3(Damage Buff) + 4(Charge) * (1*7) - 25(MIT) = -115HP ]]
« Bone Knight »
[[ 0/100 HP ]]  [[ 13(DMG) + 3(Damage Buff) + 4(Charge) * (1*7) - 25(MIT) = -115HP ]]
« Bone Knight »
[[ 0/100 HP ]]  [[ 13(DMG) + 3(Damage Buff) + 4(Charge) * (1*7) - 25(MIT) = -115HP ]]
« Bone Knight »
[[ 0/100 HP ]]  [[ 13(DMG) + 3(Damage Buff) + 4(Charge) * (1*7) - 25(MIT) = -115HP ]]

 

« Rewards »

2000 Col (100*5 * 4)
4 Materials

[Takao 0]

"No rest for the wicked, eh." A monotonous tone that laced his unenthused words as jade eyes settled on yet another four monsters. He mentally remarked they were as unoriginal in design diversity as ever, though the brunette was quickly occupied with attacking in favour of verbally voicing his discontent with the variety of  arrangement of homicidal pixels. The element of surprise, depending on how far one was willing to stretch the definition of such, was still in his favour. More or less. «Charge» was prepared alongside the same sword art he'd grown so fond of in the last few minutes, and the system was given full control. Some fancy movements later, and Takao stood above the disintegrating corpses of yet another four skeletons.

- -

» ID : [[ 49141 ]]
» BD : [[ HIT  (5 + 3(ACC)) ]]
» MD : [[ C.HIT  (10 - 2(EVA)) ]]

» LD : [[ 18 ]]

« Takao »
[[ 165/165 HP ]]
[[ 0/40 Energy ]] «Lightning Fall» used. (-14 Energy | +1 Energy)

« Bone Knight »
[[ 0/100 HP ]]  [[ 13(DMG) + 3(Damage Buff) + 4(Charge) * (1*7) - 25(MIT) = -115HP ]]
« Bone Knight »
[[ 0/100 HP ]]  [[ 13(DMG) + 3(Damage Buff) + 4(Charge) * (1*7) - 25(MIT) = -115HP ]]
« Bone Knight »
[[ 0/100 HP ]]  [[ 13(DMG) + 3(Damage Buff) + 4(Charge) * (1*7) - 25(MIT) = -115HP ]]
« Bone Knight »
[[ 0/100 HP ]]  [[ 13(DMG) + 3(Damage Buff) + 4(Charge) * (1*7) - 25(MIT) = -115HP ]]

 

« Rewards »

2000 Col (100*5 * 4)
4 Materials

[Takao 0]

A long winded sigh escaped Takao's lungs, allowing him to fill them with another gulp of fresh air. Twelve monsters lay slain at his hand, the deeds of their undoing having been carried out in relatively rapid succession. The brunette raised his right hand and swiped downward in the air, prompting a few pleasant chimes and a transparent menu to appear. He lingered on the clock for some time while the gears in his head turned, silently working out a time frame for how much longer he intended to stay on the floor.

[Takao 0]

"Alrighty... Another thirty minutes of hunting and I'll head back down to the third floor." His muttering was quiet enough to be unheard by nearby monsters and players alike, yet loud enough to sate his desire to feel the rumble of his throat when he spoke. "I could definitely use a break... but I might as well do what I can while I'm here." He cast another glance down to his menu to monitor the replenishing values of his energy while keeping a keen eye out on his surroundings. Observant as ever in a hostile environment, Takao rolled his shoulders and prepared himself for the search for another group of monsters.

[Takao 0]

Four skeletons to his left, another group of four a good fifty meters or so ahead of him, and another four further yet behind the second group. It was a decent pull for his last round of hunting. His eyes fell onto the grouping to his left, which was closest to him. "The post-motion on lightning fall is only a few seconds long... If I wipe them out in one go, I'll have enough time to recover and engage the second group after they aggro me, but before they can get within attacking range." He tensed his legs and rose to stand, his grip tightening around the handle of his sword. With the plan all set in stone, he prepared to attack.

[Takao 0]

Jade eyes settled upon the glowing azure-hued blade as the sword art's pre-motion requirements were met. It was just about time to start his last bout of hunting for the day, and he was eager to get it over with. Home was calling him, a nice warm meal simulation and bed were commodities he sorely missed despite having only been out and about for less than a few hours. He relinquished control to the system and was subsequently guided through the motions of the sword art. One flip and stab into the ground later, and the four skeletal monsters laid slain at his feet with four more in the distance beginning to close in.

- -

» ID : [[ 49142 ]]
» BD : [[ HIT  (6 + 3(ACC)) ]]
» MD : [[ MISS  (3 - 2(EVA)) ]]

» LD : [[ 12 ]]

« Takao »
[[ 165/165 HP ]]
[[ 26/40 Energy ]] «Lightning Fall» used. (-14 Energy | +1 Energy)

« Bone Knight »
[[ 0/100 HP ]]  [[ 13(DMG) + 3(Damage Buff) + 4(Charge) * (1*7) - 25(MIT) = -115HP ]]
« Bone Knight »
[[ 0/100 HP ]]  [[ 13(DMG) + 3(Damage Buff) + 4(Charge) * (1*7) - 25(MIT) = -115HP ]]
« Bone Knight »
[[ 0/100 HP ]]  [[ 13(DMG) + 3(Damage Buff) + 4(Charge) * (1*7) - 25(MIT) = -115HP ]]
« Bone Knight »
[[ 0/100 HP ]]  [[ 13(DMG) + 3(Damage Buff) + 4(Charge) * (1*7) - 25(MIT) = -115HP ]]

 

« Rewards »

2000 Col (100*5 * 4)
4 Materials

[Takao 0]

Takao strained against the system as the remnants of its control slowly faded. He could feel his mobility return piece by piece, until he was ready to engage the incoming enemies. His «Charge»skill, aptly named as it were, was prepared in addition to the same old underwhelming sword art that'd he could probably mimic manually if the desire ever urged him to do so. His legs tensed themselves with the aid of the system, which proceeded to guide him through the motions of the skill that had long since become muscle memory. Barely a hand's count worth of seconds had passed before four more skeletal monsters had been slain, with yet another four encroaching on his frozen position.

- -

» ID : [[ 49147 ]]
» BD : [[ C.HIT  (10 + 3(ACC)) ]]
» MD : [[ HIT  (8 - 2(EVA)) ]]

» LD : [[ 12 ]]

« Takao »
[[ 165/165 HP ]]
[[ 13/40 Energy ]] «Lightning Fall» used. (-14 Energy | +1 Energy)

« Bone Knight »
[[ 0/120 HP ]]  [[ 13(DMG) + 3(Damage Buff) + 4(Charge) + 2(Critical) * (1*7) - 30(MIT) = -124HP ]]
« Bone Knight »
[[ 0/120 HP ]]  [[ 13(DMG) + 3(Damage Buff) + 4(Charge) + 2(Critical) * (1*7) - 30(MIT) = -124HP ]]
« Bone Knight »
[[ 0/120 HP ]]  [[ 13(DMG) + 3(Damage Buff) + 4(Charge) + 2(Critical) * (1*7) - 30(MIT) = -124HP ]]
« Bone Knight »
[[ 0/120 HP ]]  [[ 13(DMG) + 3(Damage Buff) + 4(Charge) + 2(Critical) * (1*7) - 30(MIT) = -124HP ]]

 

« Rewards »

2400 Col (120*5 * 4)
4 Materials

[Takao 0]

Another stress filled handful of seconds passed while Takao was frozen in place by the system. The monsters were closing in, yet he still had a bit more time than the previous grouping due to the increased distance the oncoming group had to traverse. He watched them barrel toward him, vaulting over gravestones and charging across the sodden grass and dirt. Their glowing red gaze never once left him, and his own jade hues never left them. He waited until movement returned to his body and wasted not a second longer. Charge and lightning fall were prepared and executed in rapid succession, leaving the four skeletons in a heap of disintegrating, electrocuted bones.

- -

» ID : [[ 49148 ]]
» BD : [[ HIT  (8 + 3(ACC)) ]]
» MD : [[ MISS  (4 - 2(EVA)) ]]

» LD : [[ 8 ]]

« Takao »
[[ 165/165 HP ]]
[[ 0/40 Energy ]] «Lightning Fall» used. (-14 Energy | +1 Energy)

« Bone Knight »
[[ 0/100 HP ]]  [[ 13(DMG) + 3(Damage Buff) + 4(Charge) + 2(Critical) * (1*7) - 25(MIT) = -115HP ]]
« Bone Knight »
[[ 0/100 HP ]]  [[ 13(DMG) + 3(Damage Buff) + 4(Charge) + 2(Critical) * (1*7) - 25(MIT) = -115HP ]]
« Bone Knight »
[[ 0/100 HP ]]  [[ 13(DMG) + 3(Damage Buff) + 4(Charge) + 2(Critical) * (1*7) - 25(MIT) = -115HP ]]
« Bone Knight »
[[ 0/100 HP ]]  [[ 13(DMG) + 3(Damage Buff) + 4(Charge) + 2(Critical) * (1*7) - 25(MIT) = -115HP ]]

 

« Rewards »

4 Materials

[Takao 0]

The last of the colourful little pixels faded away into oblivion, and the thirteenth floor was once again graced with a blanket of silence. Only the simulated wind rustling a nearby tree's foliage filled his auditory senses, which was a tad unsettling. Discomfort set in as he swung the blade over his shoulder and guided it into the scabbard on his back, the metal weapon clicking a single time as the guard hilted in the protective housing. "Oto, come on out. We're gonna head home now."

[Takao 0]

Takao traversed the remainder of the thirteenth floor back to the main settlement. He didn't linger for more than a few moments to take notice of the praying NPCs before heading to the teleporation platform. He clicked his tongue twice and gestured for his familiar to take its usual spot on his shoulder as he ascended the stone staircase and turned. He spoke clearly when delivering the line of command, and was enveloped in a ring of light as a result, leaving the thirteenth floor behind him. He didn't imagine he would be returning anytime soon.