[F13] Beyond the Sky's Limit <<The Child of Rohk>> (Beat and Calrex) [Completed]

[Calrex 0]

ID: 82118
Battle Dice: 4 (Accuracy +4 / Evasion -4) = 4
<<Parry>> Activated (2 Energy Used / 1 Recovered / 109 Remaining)

Shi's Roll:
ID: 82119
Battle Dice: 3 (Accuracy +3) = 6

"I guess this thing isn't going down without a last ditch attempt..."

As Shield took over as the tank for the group Calrex gave a calming breath, preparing to attack once again. However, right as he did his eyes caught sight of the bird's wing gusts which were preventing Beat from getting a clear shot due to the wind and sand. "Must be buying time for something..."

Switching quickly to the defensive he triggered <<Parry>> the familiar aura surrounding his forearms as he assumed the protective stance, ready for incoming attacks.

While Shi did attack this time around, it wasn't a built up strike. Instead it flew over towards Shield, quickly performing a sharp dive, talons extended. Luckily enough their secondary tank had also activated a Safeguard, the protective bubble bursting. At the same time it triggered the enhancement Thorns, the extra damage taking some more health away from the giant bird. Glancing at its health, Calrex could see that the Bleed effect that Beat had also inflicted had just worn out.

H: 5 Calrex: 1615/1615 | EN: 109/160
H: 6 Shield: 860/860 | EN: 82/86 (Safeguard Expended)
H: 3 Beat: 660/660 | EN: 32/66 (Safeguard)

Shi: 145/1200 [Bleed 0/2] (24 Bleed / 28 Thorns)

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

ID# 82128 results:

 Battle: 6 - 4 = 2 - Miss

H: 5 Calrex: 1615/1615 | EN: 109/160
H: 6 Shield: 860/860 | EN: 81/86 (Safeguard Expended)
H: 3 Beat: 660/660 | EN: 32/66 (Safeguard)

Shi: 173/1200 [Bleed 0/2] (24 Bleed)

While the boss was deep into its red bar, the battle continued to rage. In its dying moments it seemed to have kicked into high drive, its speed multiplying, as well as its will to attack. Shield stood at the center of the storm that its wings kicked up. As it dove, he cocked his arm back to strike, but at the last moment it performed an aileron roll, his downward strike missing in a flurry of feathers, and the great bird's claws raking through his body. He felt an invisible barrier around him shatter, and he knew that his potion had been spent.

"Well, there goes my buffer," he called over the gale force winds of its wings. "Looks like we're back to tanking the old fashioned way."

He choked up on the handle of is axe and shrank behind his shield, his whole self practically disappearing behind its reflective surface.

Edited April 13, 2017 by Shield

[Beat 0]

Spoiler

ID# 82126: BD: 1 (Sure...)

Miss

Beat watched as the avian beast tore through the safeguard potion's effect on Shield and rushed in to support his friend. 

"Got your back up right here!" Beat said, charging towards the soaring beast as it came back for another pass. Beat succeeded in grabbing the creature's attention, but the result was not what he was hoping for. Instead of following through with another pass, the Rok reared up and began beating it wings furiously towards the party, making any forward movement impossible as hurricane strength winds beat on them. 

"What a monster!" Beat yelled, his voice being immediately drown out by the howl of the winds produced by the Rok as he shielded his face from the rocks and dust that was being blown towards them. He dug his heels in as the bird screeched triumphantly, ceasing its vicious assault, clearly pleased with the result. 

"Okay, that isn't going to work either...clearly we pissed it off!" Beat said, watching his target fly out of range again.

Edited April 13, 2017 by Beat

[Calrex 0]

ID: 82130
Battle Dice: 3 (Accuracy +4 / Evasion -4) = 3
<<Parry>> Activated (2 Energy Used / 1 Recovered / 108 Remaining)

Shi's Roll:
ID: 82131
Battle Dice: 1 (Accuracy +3) = 4
Craft Dice: 12 (Aerial Gust Activated)

Shi certainly was proving to hold on better than the trio seemed to have expected. In fact, it had apparently found enough time to charge a powerful group blow. With a single flap of its wings the already strong winds that were being produced became a near raging whirlwind that whipped up around them. This time Beat was also taken up in the attack, losing the last of their active Safeguards.

Luckily enough Calrex had prepared in advance, reinitiating <<Parry>> right as the fierce winds kicked up. This reduced the initial amount of damage, but more snuck past his armor, and finally was reduced further by his unique ability <<Achilles>>. This combined amount of damage dampening made the attack seem negligible. However, it did seem to deal a significant amount of damage to Shield's total health. The bluenette was initially concerned, but right then he noticed the light of the Regen enhancement activating on him, "Alright, some health restoration should keep us going for a while longer."

H: 5 Calrex: 1567/1615 | EN: 109/160 (250 DMG / 2 Parry - 30 MIT / 2 Achilles = 48 DMG)
H: 6 Shield: 721/860 | EN: 82/86 (250 DMG - 111 MIT = 139 DMG)
H: 3 Beat: 660/660 | EN: 32/66 (Safeguard Expended)

Shi: 115/1200 (28 Thorns / 1 Achilles)

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

 

+54 HP - Regen, + 30 HP - BH

Action: Focused Howl

H: 5 Calrex: 1567/1615 | EN: 109/160 (250 DMG / 2 Parry - 30 MIT / 2 Achilles = 48 DMG)
H: 6 Shield: 805/860 | EN: 82/86 (250 DMG - 111 MIT = 139 DMG)
H: 3 Beat: 660/660 | EN: 32/66 (Safeguard Expended)

 

They felt their first blood of the fight. However, the nearness of Calrex's hate total to his own meant that he couldn't rest this turn. The DPS needed to focus on their tasks now and he needed to do his. He ran to the side, strafing the boss to try to draw him out and turn him around so the others could have a clearer shot.

Meanwhile, as he puffed from the effort of running, he took one extra large breath which he spat back out at the avian. sending the colliding air masses to burst out to the sides in either direction.

"What's the matter, tough guy?" he bellowed, the veins in his neck popping slightly as he strained to be heard over the wind. "My armor a little pointy for you?"

Of course he was aware that one could not really taunt the foes in SAO, but it gave him fun ways to stay engaged when the vast majority of his role required no movement.

Edited April 13, 2017 by Shield

[Beat 0]

Spoiler

ID# 82141: BD: another 1. fun....

Beat was still dusting himself off as Shield proceeded to mock their worthy adversary. 

"You know, when the AI is smart like this, I truly appreciate the challenge. It's not just us beating on a wall of hit points that hit back." Beat said, evaluating the new patterns the boss was displaying, making his statements all the more true. It was always possible that the new patterns were simply a form of "enrage" that triggered after losing so many hit points, but it didn't seem likely. 

"Alright big guy...let's see if you try it again!" He said, challenging the boss monster as he positioned himself directly beneath the bird, aiming a sky uppercut at his target's midsection. The childe of Rohk had other plans and dove to intercept him, snatching him up with his talons and chucking him into a broken down gravekeeper's house. Beat crashed through the front door and through a few chairs and tables before he stopped. 

"Oww...alright then...I really want a ranged attack please...oof"

Edited April 13, 2017 by Beat

[Calrex 0]

ID: 82158
Battle Dice: 4 (Accuracy +4 / Evasion +4) = 4
Missed Attack (2 Energy Lost / 1 Recovered / 108 Remaining)

Shi's Roll:
ID: 82159
Battle Dice: 2 (Accuracy +4) = 6

"Tch, this thing really doesn't want to quit, does it?"

At this point Calrex had decided to try and force a counter attack. Leaping from rock face to another he quickly tried to gain ground, but unfortunately it wasn't enough. Leaping from his position to try and attack Shi, the creature gave a quick flap of its wings, the fierce winds forcing the bluenette back. The light forming around his right first looked like it was blown away along with him, sending him against one of the mountain faces.

Getting to his feet the bluenette shook his head, knocking some debris out of his hair, just in time to see the giant avian fly towards Shield, whom was taunting it once again to increase his Hate. The hunting swoop executed by the bird cut into the armored man once again, knocking a large amount of health away, even more than the whirlwind had. However, with their current situation it wasn't enough to force them to change tactics.

Fully getting to his feet Calrex dusted off his shoulders, giving a calm breath, "Come on focus...it just needs one more shot..."

H: 5 Calrex: 1577/1615 | EN: 108/160 (10 Battle Healing)
H: 12 Shield: 566/860 | EN: 82/86 (350 DMG - 111 MIT = 239 DMG)
H: 3 Beat: 660/660 | EN: 32/66

Shi: 87/1200 (28 Thorns)

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

+54 HP - Regen, + 30 HP - BH

Action: Parry
Using crystal (+160 HP)

H: 5 Calrex: 1577/1615 | EN: 108/160 (10 Battle Healing)
H: 12 Shield: 810/860 | EN: 82/86 (350 DMG - 111 MIT = 239 DMG)
H: 3 @Beat: 660/660 | EN: 32/66

Shi: 87/1200 (28 Thorns)

With the so called lord of the sky's focus now squarely on him, he was beginning to see the results of fighting things higher than their means. His recovery was noteworthy, but even as his health recuperated, even more was snatched away. He crouched lower, holding out his axe to defend with should the need arise.

With his other hand, he summoned out one of the crystals he had bought from Zandra and crushed it in his hand. His health took a sharp uptick. While he would likely have been fine, he knew better than to trust chance in this game. He had watched players die who did not take the safer route. Furthermore, the fight was already a risk, which he had known from the beginning.

Just a little longer. One more good hit should do it...

It was astounding, but then again, this was not the first time a battle had locked up once it was a hit away from ending.

Edited April 13, 2017 by Shield

[Beat 0]

Spoiler

ID# 82178: BD: 1 (again)

MIss moving on

 

@Shield

As he lied in the pile of broken furniture that he broken his fall and, in theory, prevented his him from taking any damage, he stared at his health bar, thinking about why he hadn't taken any damage at all. 

A fall like that would have hurt if I had botched my landing even if I jumped voluntarily...I guess since I don't have the most hate, the boss can't damage me even if he defends himself from me. So Strange...

Beat looked around as the battle raged on outside of the dilapidated home, the cries of the gigantic bird echoing through the flat dead plains of the thirteenth floor. The home had been abandoned for a long time. The ceiling had fallen in a few places and the walls were in need of repair. The moment beat began to get back onto  his feet he heard a foreboding crumbling noise as the support beam he had crashed through failed to stop the house from collapsing on him. 

"HALP!!" Beat screamed, laughing at the stupidity of the situation, unharmed by the event and possessing the strength to free himself. 

Edited April 13, 2017 by Beat

[Calrex 0]

ID: 82184
Battle Dice: 10 (Accuracy +4 / Evasion -4) = 10 (+2 Damage)
Sword Art <<All Might>> Activated (17 Energy Used / 1 Recovered / 91 Remaining)

Shi's Roll:
ID: 82185
Battle Dice: 1 (Accuracy +3) = 4

Focusing his sight on their target Calrex slowed his breathing, letting his mind clear so that he could keep it trained on executing at the right time. Shi was flapping its wings fiercely, slowly moving upwards once again to try and execute a swoop to strike Shield. Clenching his right hand into a fist once more the light of his <<All Might>> Sword Art fully formed, the sphere of blue energy glowing brightly, "Just give me one more shot..."

The world around him seemed to slow slightly as he began to move forward, his body becoming nearly parallel with the ground as he dashed forward. As he did the large bird reached the apex of its ascent, diving downwards towards Shield's position. Calrex's charge and the bird's descent seemed almost in sync as they trained on the same point. However, as Calrex cleared about half of the distance to the avian, he leapt skward, drawing his arm back.

Shi's blow came down at Shield, but the farthest talon merely glanced off of his shield, right as Calrex flew full force, fist forward, into the side of the bird's beak. The punch connected cleanly, a single red number flying off indicating a high critical hit. Right as he connected the bird seemed to freeze in place, its textures becoming overlaid with a bluish hue before bursting into crystals.

Landing on the ground Calrex gave a small sigh, letting his mind calm as he wiped his forehead with the side of his arm, "Well, that's done and over with. Nice work guys...although I should we might want to help Beat over there."

Loot Roll:
ID: 82186
Loot Dice: 1 (Search and Detect +2 / Item +1) = 4 (No Loot Dropped)

H: 5 Calrex: 1587/1615 | EN: 108/160 (10 Battle Healing)
H: 12 Shield: 566/860 | EN: 82/86
H: 3 Beat: 660/660 | EN: 32/66

Shi: 0/1200 (15+2 DMG * 15 Art - 100 MIT = 155 DMG)

[Shield 0]

Shield let out a sigh of relief at the familiar sight of a shattered foe. This was a high stakes fight, almost akin to the Rovian Wars, though much better coordinated. It felt good to take on a high profile boss like this without needing to flee to preserve his own hide. He extended a fist for Calrex to tap before fully registering the sentiment the seasoned front liner expressed.

"Who, Beat?" Shield said, panting slightly. "Nah, he's a big boy. He'll catch up."

He made sure to say the last part loud enough that they younger player could hear, which was much simpler to accomplish now that the winds had died down.

"Let's head back," he said, turning his back on the battlefield. "We may not have been out here for long, but I sure worked up an appetite. I say Beat treats us to some food and then I can treat everyone to some appraisals on these fancy new weapons."

 

Spoiler

Swapping gear:
- Pain Drinker (-54 Regen), -1 Bloody Hell (-2 dmg, -24 bleed), + Finder's Keeper (+1 skill rank: search & detect), +Seeking Aura (+3 LD)

ID# 82196 results: Loot: 1 + 3 item + 1 skill + 1 skill item = 6 - 0 Material (0 total)

 

 

[Quest Rewards]

- All -

4 SP (3 quest SP, 1 thread length)

3633 Col

Shi’s Talon

 

- Shield -

1 Col (Yeah, I'm taking the extra one. Big whoop! Wanna fight about it?)

 

- Beat -

2 T2 materials

Edited April 14, 2017 by Shield