Zajcica

As the paladin stood up, completely unbothered by the contact that the two had just experienced, a low growl bellowed from her belly and through her teeth. Her fierce expression was way off her usual cheery, laid back attitude.

"Grr... How dare you..." She started in a whisper under her own breath. The grip on the lance of Argalia choking it's haft. "How dare you hurt my friend you bastard!" The paladin rushed past Night, looking to ram the weapon deep into it's long, slithering, soon-to-be corpse. It cared not for her anger, however. It's jaws latched around her upper half, picking her up off the ground. In retaliation, the girl jammed her spear into it's tongue. That's how these things smelled things or something right?

The snake wailed in pain, dropping the paladin into the water below. She quickly swam back to an area where she could stand between it and Night, covered in purple liquid that washed away too quickly to be effective. "I am your enemy, you scaly sack of [censored]!"

Hebishinu | HP: 600/600 | DMG: 140 | EVA: -2 | MIT: 100 | SAFEGUARD: Depleted!

[2] NIGHT | HP: 796/930 | EN: 89/90 (-1) | ACC: 2 | DMG: 22 | MIT: 6 | BURN: 24 | BLIGHT: 24 | PARAV-D: 1 | LD: 9 | ANTIDOTE: 2
[4] Zajcica | HP: 690/720 (-30) | EN: 66/66 | DMG: 5 | EVA: -1 | MIT: 111 | THORNS: 18 | REGEN: 5 | BLEED: 24 | RECOVERY: 2 | ANTIDOTE: 1/3

The silence broken, the paladin's locked onto the serpent peering from the serene lake, only disturbed by it's motion of peaking over the level of water. Her mind was solid now, the only thing she had on her mind was to protect Night. With a flash of light, the girl's weapon formed into her hand along with her shield. Her core lowered to the ground and her legs squared to center her balance further. Her eyes looked focused and determined.

"Don't worry. I'm here." Her words were somewhat off beat. The serious tone that she normally steered away from was surfacing in her expression. As badly as she wanted to take the battle to her enemy to ensure her friends safety, she was told to use the items given to her when they encountered it. The hum of her menu pulled up the item list in her inventory. She wasn't familiar with these song boxes, but she clicked them on and threw them into the battlefield. Their music played through the quiet chirping of the birds.

Before she had time get into position, the long snakes body rose from the water, swinging forward with a might strong enough to send her damaging ally directly into her frame. The two fell to the ground, Yuki's armor not really helping cushion the blow of the fall. "R-Ren!! Are you alright?!"

Zajcica: 720/720 | 66/66 | DMG: 5 | MIT: 111 | EVA: -1 | Rec: 2 | BLD: 24[9-10] | THN: 18 | Anti: 3/3
Night: 798/930 -132 | 90/90 | ACC: 2 (1, +1) | DMG: 20 (16, +3+1*) | EVA: 0 | MIT: 6 (36, -15*) | BURN: 24 | BLEED: 24 | PARAV-D: 1 | Antidote: 2 (0, +2)

Hebishinu: 600/600 | MIT: 100 | DMG: 140 | ACC: +2 | Para(CD: 7-12)/Toxic(CD: 1-6)MD: 9-10

The paladin was still lost in thought. The green leaves a had entranced her as she stared into nothing but space in general. Crow and Life weren't the only ones now that the thoughts went through her head. There was also Mari. Was it just because she hadn't given Yuki a message in some time, or because she herself hadn't messaged Mari and asked if she was doing alright? It's hard to believe that all of them disappearing from her inbox was just coincidental.

The white noise of the forest around her drowned out Night's words. It wasn't that often when she let these sort of things fill her mind to the brim with meaningless questions. It wasn't until the girl found herself running face first into a low hanging branch that she finally snapped out of her deep mental fortitude. She shook her head to null out the pain as fast as it came. "Ita-tata...G-Gomen..." The girl said trying to fake a smile to Night while rubbing the place on her head that made contact with the branch.

Yuki grew quiet for awhile. Even as the items appeared in her console, accepted them and moved them into their proper place in her inventory. On top of her want to get out of this forest, several other things were weighing her mind down. She couldn't help but wonder what Life was up to at this point. She hadn't seen him since he was level ten. Did her approach to him scare him off to the point of him not wanting to see her again? And Crow, what about him? Since they last talked, he said he wanted to quest on his own for awhile. Was that just a distraction from the fact that he actually was trying to get rid of her?

And now Night. She was reckless with her feelings with her as well, she wasn't going to leave her too was she? That was what worried her the most, that she would lose yet another friend to her stupidity. She seemed completely out of touch with the conversation Night was trying to have with her at this point.

Yuki was confused a bit. She didn't know that Night had a problem with plants or anything similar. It was something of an odd fear, but she couldn't really judge. She was terrified of a snake in sand but not one in water. Since her friend wasn't taking lead, she guessed that she should, walking off out of the safe zone and making their way towards the quest location.

She wondered if saying anything further on the subject was okay, but she didn't really want to make Night's mood worse. The paladin sighed in defeat, her curiosity would get her killed. "I'm not very subtle, or smooth am I? I'm starting to see why I've been rejected three times, but I at least know when to stop. I promise I'll leave it alone from now on." The paladin relaxed her arms back at her sides and looked off to the side. Her voice did seem somewhat deflated. "That being said, you're still one of my best friends here in Aincrad. I wouldn't trade your friendship for anything. There's a lot of things I want to talk about, but maybe not out here... another time."

Yuki noted the change in expression. That Night had when she looked at the item she made her. She honestly wasn't able to tell if it was the items fault, or if it had to do with what happened when they last ate it. It was pretty obvious that she wasn't interested in her that way, though, that wouldn't stop the two from being friends and partners in combat. She would defend Ren to her final breath if that's what it came down to.

"We'll be alright. I trust you to take it down before it can hurt me. It'll be lucky to scratch me." Yuki rested her hands behind her head with her armors up, taking note of Night's quiet and meek demeanor so far. Hopefully there was nothing bothering her. "Is something wrong? You don't really seem as up to the challenge today as you were when we did our last quest... Is it something to do with me? Are you worried I might break down like last time? I won't, I promise."

While she took the time to answer, Yuki opened her menu and used the item that would keep her stable should a paralysis afflict her.

Likely to get dirty this time around, might even get wet in the process. Oh well, literally anything beats floor nine. She walked around the teleporter a bit getting a good feel for the air and the area around her, until Night appeared rather meekly.

"Oi Ren. What's this- Oh hey, I was just wondering if I should get more consumables, looks like you took care of that hunh? I already ate my food to buff my toughness." When the trade menu popped up, Yuki decided now would be a good time to give her the gift she prepared as well. She loaded them into the trade menu and accepted them. "There, that should keep you dishing damage longer and longer. You're already insanely strong, but I figure this will help expedite the process even further. I hope you like it." The girl says with a warm smile to her best friend.

-Ping-

The paladin sees her menu light up with a familiar flash of the envelope icon. Surely it was Night again and she would have to decipher yet another displaced and jumbled message- Oh no it's actually entirely readable this time. She didn't have any problems with snakes in a whole, it was just the one on floor seven. One hour from now.

If it was Floor 16, it was going to be tougher than the last few bosses she had been fighting. Time to get her game face on and show Ren what she was really capable of. She spent a short amount of time in the kitchen making Night a special meal that would be helpful for the quest and something for herself. Normally she would make this enhancement on a different dish, but she could do something special for her best friend.

On her way to teleporter she ate her Dragon Roll, and soon was on Floor 16 where she would await Night's arrival

Yuki raise her own shield to block the attack, until Shield sent the creature flying. She shrank behind it when he spoke.

"O-Oi... I am a tank too. If I didn't attack them all, Shye could have been hit... My taunt is on my new shield and I don't have one without taunt... Oh! I have an idea." The girl quickly opened up her menu and replaced the Shield was using with a neat little horn that she had. It would raise her accuracy by a bunch, so he wont miss, but more successful attacks will generate more hate. She also looked to see if she could remove Fighting Spirit from her skill slots, but it looked like they were locked during combat. This is something she would remember for next time.

"Sorry about that shield. It's just natural taunt generation, I removed it so you should out pace me for the hate generated now. I'll think about the plan more thoroughly next time." She wasn't a tank this time, she was just something of a petty damage dealer. Man it would be helpful if Ren was here too help...

[H:4/4/4/4] Shield: HP: 1850/1850 | EN: 167/176 | DMG: 2 | EVA: -1 | MIT: 181 | BH:92 | HB: 48 | THN: 69 | ENV: 18/4
[H: 1/4/1/3] Yuki: 720/720 | 66/66 | DMG: 5 | MIT 81 | EVA: -1 | THN: 18 | BLD: 24
[H: 2/0/0/0] Shye: 200/200 | 20/20 | DMG: 2 | BLD: 12 | Rec: 1 | EVA: 3

<<Flying Monkey 1>> HP: 39/150  | DMG: 70 (35 min) | MIT 20 -  [BLD: 12/1 turn] 
<<Flying Monkey 2>> HP: 124/150 | DMG: 70 (35 min) | MIT 20 - [BLD: 24/1 turn] 
<<Flying Monkey 3>> HP: 51/150 | DMG: 70 (35 min) | MIT 20
<<Flying Monkey 4>> HP: 149/150 | DMG: 70 (35 min) | MIT 20

Yuki grinned as the monkeys descended from the castle, something she thought that she would never have the pleasure of seeing. She was ready to fight with Shield for once, rather than just get lectured and an orange cursor. The paladin's new lance glowed with a beautiful pink glow, watching as the monkeys got in range she swung at each, only missing two with her aoe. That didn't matter as long as she attacked at them.

One of them dive-bombed directly towards Shye. Yuki quickly jumped between them and stabbed her lance through it's body. With a smile she gave the other girl a thumbs up. "Don't worry, I got your back, and so does Shield! We wont let these stupid things touch ya!" She pulled her lance free of the mob, who had only taken one damage, basically a staple of Yuki's combat skills at this point, and took not of the bleed that appeared near it's health bar. Nice to see the bleed doing double its previous damage.

[H:0/0/0/0] Shield: HP: 1850/1850 | EN: 176/176 | DMG: 2 | EVA: -1 | MIT: 181 | BH:92 | HB: 48 | THN: 69 | ENV: 18/4
[H: 1/4/1/3] Yuki: 720/720 | 58/66 | DMG: 5 | MIT 81 | EVA: -1 | THN: 18 | BLD: 24
[H: 0/0/0/0] Shye: 200/200 | 20/20 | DMG: 2 | BLD: 12 | Rec: 1 | EVA: 3

<<Flying Monkey 1>> HP: 150/150  | DMG: 70 (35 min) | MIT 20
<<Flying Monkey 2>> HP: 149/150 (-1) | DMG: 70 (35 min) | MIT 20 | [BLEEDING: 24 for 2 turns]
<<Flying Monkey 3>> HP: 150/150 | DMG: 70 (35 min) | MIT 20
<<Flying Monkey 4>> HP: 149/150 (-1)| DMG: 70 (35 min) | MIT 20

Shye gave the mountain of a man a big smile. She was originally nervous about joining a guild but she was really coming around to it now. Everyone in it seemed so nice. The healer then turned to the other girl and gave her a warm smile.

"It's a pretty simple quest from what I remember. Shield was able to complete it without my help." She said. The paladin gave her a smirk in return.

"Oi, oi. I've been working on myself Shield. I did my research before heading out. We'll have to fight two parties of enemies, the first ones are just some weak lackeys, the second ones being with the witch herself. She can use a pretty tough AoE attack, which means you'll have to stay out of the combat when we get there." Shye shrank to the paladin's words a bit. She was not wrong on that one.

Name: Fiery Dragon Roll
Your Profession: Cook
Your Rank: 8
ID: 148251
Roll: CD: 11+1; LD 11
Item Type: Meal
Tier: Tier 2
Quality: Perfect
Enhancements: MIT III
Description: A spicy hot roll that could make a person breathe fire like a dragon!!! Well, not really, that's just how it's advertised in Yuki's shop. This roll will make a person's mouth melt from how hot it is, but will make them feel invincible for battles to come!
Post Link: [Here]

Name: Fiery Dragon Roll
Your Profession: Cook
Your Rank: 8
ID: 148253
Roll: CD: 12+1; LD 10
Item Type: Meal
Tier: Tier 2
Quality: Perfect
Enhancements: MIT III
Description: A spicy hot roll that could make a person breathe fire like a dragon!!! Well, not really, that's just how it's advertised in Yuki's shop. This roll will make a person's mouth melt from how hot it is, but will make them feel invincible for battles to come!
Post Link: [Here]

Name: Deep-Fried Ice Cream
Your Profession: Cook
Your Rank: 8
ID: 148256
Roll: 11+1; LD: 6
Item Type: Meal
Tier: 2
Quality: Perfect
Enhancements: Ambition
Description: A large scoop of any flavor ice cream surrounded in a cocoon of pancake batter that has been deep-fried.
Post Link: [Here]

Name: Deep-Fried Ice Cream
Your Profession: Cook
Your Rank: 8
ID: 148258
Roll: 11+1; LD: 9
Item Type: Meal
Tier: 2
Quality: Perfect
Enhancements: Ambition
Description: A large scoop of any flavor ice cream surrounded in a cocoon of pancake batter that has been deep-fried.
Post Link: [Here]

Name: Odamaki-Mushi: Midnight Special
Your Profession: Cook
Your Rank: 8
ID: 148257; -1; -2
Roll: 9+1; LD: 16
Item Type: Meal
Tier: 2
Quality: Rare
Enhancements: Protein II
Description: The tag line for this items description reads only: "For a Friend<3"
Post Link: [Here]

Day 29

(1)Fail: 0
(2)Salvage: 0
(3)Uncommon: 2
(5)Rare: 4
(8)Perfect: 4

EXP: 118 Total: 1,934+118=2,052

Yuki smiled to her friend, eyeing the beautiful little music box that she was holding. It was playing a nice little piano tune, likely the craft of a talented performer here in Aincrad, but Yuki didn't know anyone who was a performer, other than that dark haired girl in her guild. Did she play piano? Maybe it was hers.

"I can't remember the name of the one I put the most time into, but I remember my character being a lizard with wicked horns! I was like a dragon person without the wings and I could breath fire! It was fun, but it was too much of a grind to tolerate for too long honestly. That's most of the reason that I don't like MMOs but I guess my attitude can change when it comes to life or death situations."

Yuki laughed, trying to ensure Night that she wasn't saying that in a bad way. "Oscar's hotdogs are so good-!" Her conversation started to devolve into a topic of cooking, that Night would have to suffer through for the rest of the evening.

The pinkette took a moment. The images of her past were nothing but that: The past. Those who held onto it and let consume them would get themselves killed in a world as harsh as this. She was stronger now and this would not anchor her down. Yuki looked up at Night, who was holding her hand out to her. They had just barely started to get to know each other, but there was no doubt in her mind. Ren was probably her best friend in this digital hell. Yuki would do everything she could to protect Night.

Her hand clasped Night's, pulling herself upward into a stand. After a few seconds of breathing carefully to cool herself down, the paladin gave the knight a smile. "We can go anywhere else in the game and I'll smile. As long as you're here with me, there is no reason for me to be upset. I showed my weakness, but I won't let it happen again. I promise that next time we go into combat, I'll be more fierce than a lion on the hunt. And yes, I like that idea."

Yuki stood still, knowing full well that Night could obliterate this boss with a single strike and no help whatsoever. The scars on her mind weighed her down heavily, though. Nearly dying to this boss had left a mark on her that she would never forget. The serpents exploded into nothing but dust of blue before her friend's blade. With a heavy sigh as her friend returned, Yuki started to approach Ren with her arms out, like she wanted to hug her but stopped midway. She didn't want to make her feel awkward or anything again.

With no idea what to do at this point, the paladin took a seat on the ground, huddling her knees into her chest. Her words came out quietly to Night, just loud enough to hear over the wind. "If tank - being everyone's shield - I can protect them right? I... I can keep you, Mari, Shield, and everyone else alive.. I..." Her voice trailed off.

Yuki's composure was difficult to break to begin with, but a near death experience can really take a toll on a person. It's traumatizing to see a little green bar signifying how much longer you have to live and watch it tick down slowly and surely to its end and you're just dead.

"No one said that to me before. I just hold to my ideals." Yuki was having a difficult time looking at her friend, thinking about things she shouldn't. The thought of Night just vaporizing into data terrified her more than dying herself. The girl took a deep breath and shook that image from her mind. "I don't care about 'more likely', Ren. I care about certainty that you will come out of battle alive. If anyone is to die between the two of us it should be me. I am to protect you so I should be taking the damage. I won't let you die. I won't stand and watch you fight alone. I am your shield, a shield is useless if you don't stand behind it." The girl continued outside the city with her friend, ready for when the boss spawns.

"You're going to fight it then? I-I won't leave your side. I won't take that risk. I- ... I cannot falter. Composure... Need to pull myself together..." The paladin gave her cheeks a few taps to wake herself up from the bad memories that she had of this area. With probably the most serious face Night had ever seen her wear, the girl reestablished her stance at her side.

"Ren, in the short time we've known each other, you're easily one of my favorite people in Aincrad. I will not let you walk into this fight without me because I'm scared. I am even more scared of going without you and you never returning." With that, Yuki took the lead. She would not accept Night fighting this beast alone. She would not let a small fear consume her, no matter what she had experienced before. Shield had told her before... "A tank cannot show weakness, I cannot hold uncertainty in my heart."

Yuki hesitated to move. She didn't want to go anywhere near this monster again. After having finished it before, she swore that she would never come back to this area unless it was absolutely necessary. Macradon, Mari's friend, and the Blacksmith who made her original armor, saved her from that giant monster. She couldn't sleep peacefully for a week after that day. Six health points. That was how close she came to dying to that monster. 

"N-Night, do we have to do this quest?" Yuki's voice became more serious as she spoke from now. Her voice was deeper, like she wasn't trying so hard to keep up her feminine voice, as she usually was. "Have you completed it before, I mean? If so, I will help, but if not, I want nothing to do with this quest." The paladin stood in her place, waiting on an answer and almost ignoring the other bits of conversation that Ren was trying to make.

The paladin met with her query before moving further into her home floor. From her understanding, the player that they were tagging along with had already undertaken this quest and lead her through the forest to where the witch's castle was supposed to be. Seeing Shield again would be nice.

"Y-You're Yuki, right? Hard to miss, Shield said that you were a girl in heavy armor with some long pink hair. It's pretyy." Shye said approaching the taller woman.

"Oi! Ore wa Yuki, yoroshikune~ And yeah, that's me. You're supposed to lead me to this witch mansion in the forest where Shield is waiting for us. He's a patient guy, but we shouldn't keep him waiting. Let's go." With that, the two walked through the forest together. Shye stood close behind the paladin to make sure that neither of them got ambushed. Soon after, Yuki found the bright white beacon in the fog that was Shield's shiny ass armor.

"Oi! How's it going Shield?" Aki cawed in recognition to the player who had trained them.

The paladin smiled back at her friend, who was no asking her what her favorite games were. Did she come out and tell Ren the truth? Well, she already knew enough about Yuki, might as well not be afraid to tell her anything at this point.

"I've played a couple MMO's but I always found them kind of difficult to play. There's so much that you have to know to be successful in them...Now here I am, wanting to learn how to play them so I can survive. I enjoy anything that is fantasy based, not so much sci-fi stuff, but usually roleplaying games or adventure-esque games. Stuff where you can be free to explore whatever you want and just have fun. That sounds kinda lam-" The pinkette noticed the familiar town set on floor seven. It was this quest.

After a moment the paladin slowed to a stop, holding her hand against her other arm. "N-Nai..." She whispered came under her breath, a memorable voice of her last trek through this floor. "Dasukette!!!" Yuki shook her head, trying to remove that encounter from her brain.

The paladin looked at the wonderful items that her friend was attempting to share with her. She appreciated the sentiment and still accepted the items knowing full well that Night may never use them. Hell, she herself has only used a healing potion once.

"Thanks, but I feel bad that I didn't bring you anything buffed now that you're giving me some potions for combat. I'm sure I'll be thanking you when one of these potions saves me from a life or death situation. And have as much of the rolls as you want. You know that if you ever need anything Night, I'm just outside of Coral on Floor 22 okay? Promise me that if you find yourself needing something that you can't get a hold of for a quest that you'll come to me. I will get it done right for you, Ren." The girl gave her a warm, endearing smile. "And, yeah, my mom taught me how to cook. Besides video games, it's my favorite hobby."

Quote

Aceepting items from Night:

• [T1EU] Starter Healing Potions (3) -- [ Heals 50 HP. ]
• [T1E1] Uncommon Health Potions (3) -- [ Heals 40 HP. ]

It didn't take too long for Yuki to catch up with her usual grinding partner. Only about 5 minutes later, the pink haired night showed up carrying a bag with her towards Night. When she got up to her friend the girl's voice rang.

"Oi!~ I brought you some things for the invite, just some vanity muchies for us to snack on." Ren could smell the compounding of rice and seaweed mixed with several other ingredients. The food she had brought was dragon rolls, something that she was fond of for the strong taste. "If you're not familiar with them, they're called Dragon Rolls! They're pretty hot so be careful! If you want something less spicy, the other roll is a California roll."

The paladin took a piece of the Spicy Dragon Roll and stuffed in her mouth. After a moment of struggling to not breath pretty much literal fire, the girl let out a sigh of relief. "So, you lead the way. I'll throw myself at whatever blocks your path as usual."

All the teammates got their chances to pick up one of the fallen branches that came from the trees. Yuki, did not have that luxury as the Tree of Winter appeared way too quickly for her to make up her mind on which one of the branches she could take. All the branch piles phased away, leaving what was left of the trees in the players' hands. It was kind of weird to think of the branches like the bones of their enemies, but it was probably a good thing that she hadn't picked up the branches. It seemed like the Tree of Winter had increased it's power with the trophies that they had collected from his brothers and sister. The feeling of the branches imbued the group with power, but the Winter tree itself seemed to take the benefit for himself as well.

Yuki readied her axe and decided to try a new sword art. Her axe switched to a pink hue, filling the air with a low hum. "No more messing around then, hunh? It is worth to try and honor your family, so let us give you a good fight then!" Electricity laced within the axe, it cleaved into the tree sending a few splinters of damage out of its skeleton. It was only then that Yuki realized it's beefy health bar - Whew! This thing was tougher than all three of the other trees combined!

"We all need to attack together! Put all your strength into it guys!" The bunny girl took a step back, returning to her group of players while they worked out a strategy.

> 3 Damage inflicted on the Tree of Winter. Paralyze afflicted!

Name: Hanami Dango Supreme with Green Tea
Your Profession: Cook
Your Rank: 8
ID:  147929
Roll: CD: 12+1: LD: 6
Item Type: Dessert
Tier: 2
Quality: Perfect
Enhancements: Prosperity 3
Description: Hanami Dango sticks served with warm green tea.
Post Link: [Here]

Name: Hanami Dango Supreme with Green Tea
Your Profession: Cook
Your Rank: 8
ID:  147930
Roll: CD: 12+1; LD: 4
Item Type: Dessert
Tier: 2
Quality: Perfect
Enhancements: Prosperity 3
Description: Hanami Dango sticks served with warm green tea.
Post Link: [Here]

Name: Hanami Dango Supreme with Green Tea
Your Profession: Cook
Your Rank: 8
ID: 147933
Roll: CD: 11+1; LD: 2
Item Type: Dessert
Tier: 2
Quality: Perfect
Enhancements: Prosperity 3
Description: Hanami Dango sticks served with warm green tea.
Post Link: [Here]