SP - F13 Shards of the Past (Grandmastering Achilles Thread) Completed

[Calrex 0]

With Mothra defeated, and the pursuit of the next floor boss underway, Calrex had some more time to breathe and take in what had occurred. There was a lot events that happened outside of the frontlines on his mind, things that he knew were mostly out of his control, but still brought some concern to him. Ariel and Hikoru, Jomei and Zandra, amongst others including his wife Teayre. He could still recall clearly when she seemed to blatantly lie to his face before their first quest in the dragon hunter anthology. Of course he entrusted her training to his own mentor, Baldur, in the meantime, but such things still didn't sit well with him.

"Maybe I've just got too much on my mind as of late. I've really got to get things in order."

The other thing that had concerned him was when he and Shield went into a dungeon on the fifth floor. It was there that the bluenette had realized that the unique skilled he had, the one that had been passed down to him from Tristan, had been weakened. Before <<Achilles>>' ability seemed to be the epitome of what it's game title was, an invincible warrior. Now with whatever patch that had been overlaid on the game, it lost some of its strength.

As the bluenette appeared on the thirteenth floor he set out into the field zone, "Maybe I've got to do some reflecting in order to make sense of what's going on, at least with me."

[Calrex 0]

The near endless twilight of the thirteenth floor continued to loom over him as Calrex made his way across the floors, letting his mind wander. As he did he continued to pass by numerous groups of the corrupted humans that wandered the floor. With as much sadness and gloom this floor gave, there were memories that remained here, ones that he sometimes wished were in other less dreary locations.

First was the fact that Teayre's shop, the Amethyst Boutique, was here, the couple's "base of operations" for the most part. After his wife had become an orange player she ended up moving the business here from the fourth floor, a definite change in scenery from the former wintry wonderland. Passing by the bluenette could still see the numerous scratches from the creatures attempting to tear the place down, even though it was essentially an unbreakable object.

The second was what he recalled remained of the Azure Brigade. In the aftermath of Zelrius and Ssendom's deaths, Tristan, the nigh-unkillable tank of the guild, had passed the unique skill <<Achilles>> on to him before seemingly disappearing from the community. While it was sad to see the fellow defender go, Calrex felt he could sympathize with the reasoning behind it. As elitist as the former guild was, they did seem to be a close-knit group, comrades in arms and close friends. Having two killed right in front of him couldn't have been something the redhead could bear to continue fighting with in the back of his mind. It must have been why he gave the unique skill to the Ultramarine Knight, who for the most part was the secondary tank during those days.

Looking as he moved past what remained of the former guild hall of the Brigade Calrex gave a small sigh, his hands in his jacket pockets. There wasn't much left now, mostly just paved earth that indicated a location for setting up a building more than anything else.

[Calrex 0]

After receiving <<Achilles>>, Calrex didn't really need to do much with it in the form that the skill was in. He had seem Tristan fight with it in the past, and there were more than enough rumors and discussions around the unique skills that he understood its effects. Back then the ability functioned as both a secondary armor and means of attack. If any attack managed to penetrate through the bearer's armor, the skill would activate, removing even more incoming damage before reflecting some of it back at the attacker. Back then, ranking the skill up merely meant that more damage was reflected, and the amount absorbed was a constant.

Even in its unranked form, the unique skill was a powerful contender. The bluenette considered it to be a more powerful, passive form of the skill <<Parry>> combined with the respective skill mod Vengeful Riposte, a combination that the Ultramarine Knight himself had in his vast repertoire of skills and mods. However, the two skills combined had a nigh impenetrable defense when paired with maximum mitigation, something that the former tank of the Azure Brigade capitalized on. Unlike Calrex's own hybrid attacker build, Tristan opted for all-defense, his main means of damage being retaliation effects like Thorns and the unique enhancement Fire Thorns. The bluenette still remembered dueling the man in the S&Z tournament, long before unique skills were even on the community's radar,, where any attack he attempted to use were dealt back with nearly twice as much damage. Even back then he had a significant level advantage over the redheaded spear user, but the defensive measure Tristan sported more than made up for that.

After receiving the skill, soloing newly discovered quests had become fairly simple to do, allowing him to in some ways diversify his arsenal into other enhancements, rather than relying merely on a few. That was before he even decided to start adding skill points into the unique ability.

[Calrex 0]

Calrex continued to move away from the settlement, the Amethyst Boutique and remains of the Azure Brigade guild hall now mere pixels on the horizon. More and more corrupted humans continued to run past him as the bluenette made his way across the barren field. The area was still tinged with the dark color palette of the floor. But his mind wasn't even taking in the sights at this point. Now the Ultramarine Knight was merely letting his thoughts run through the memories of the past, so that he could hopefully make sense of what he needs to do in the present and future.

--------------------

There still wasn't much reason for him to put ranks into the unique skill due to the passive effect, with the only real reason the bluenette could have for doing so being that he could increase his damage output further. Even as a tank for the frontlines, after using <<Howl>> or <<Focused Howl>> on the floor boss Calrex would switch to offense. There were many times that he felt things could have been turned for the better if the boss was felled faster, and it was because of that he put points into his unique skill and <<Martial Arts>>. He had no desire for unique enhanced equipment, at least not to the level that some other players were. Even before <<Achilles>> he had gotten by with regular weapons and armor, with his level being the main thing that kept him as a contender and contributor in the frontlines. He had even heard some rumors of a secondary title for him, the "Wall of Flesh," representing the massive amount of health he had that served as a secondary form of mitigation. 

--------------------

With another large distance covered, Calrex snapped out of his thoughts for a moment to take in his surrounding, as a way to get his bearings. The area here was very familiar to him now, for another memory that was fairly bittersweet to recall. It was here that he and Ssendom had embarked, taking on a dungeon in the process. In this part of the field zone they had encountered a powerful wandering NPC known as Lady Vayne. Back then the bluenette was still reminded just how large of a gap there was between unique skill users and regular players, as both he and Dom battled the fighter. While they were able to make short work of her, the Ultramarine Knight did recognize that he contributed a mere small part to their victory. The rest was due to the combined abilities of the former Dreadnaught's Two-handed Straight Sword skill and <<Berserker>>, a formerly known ability that was lost with his death, probably now lying in wait to be found once again.

[Calrex 0]

"It's certainly been some time since I was last here. A lot has changed from then hasn't it..."

With a small sigh to himself Calrex looked around. It appeared that the NPC had not respawned, or at least was not in his current vicinity. Stretching his arms behind him the bluenette continued forward, taking a left to proceed in the direction of the entrance to the dungeon the duo had found in the past. After taking a few steps he stood where he thought was the former entrance, but it seemed the stairwell that previously let them descend had disappeared. "No surprise. You can't really re-enter a dungeon after it's been cleared."

--------------------

The grandmaster of Achilles was for the most part a split second decision after clearing the fifth floor dungeon he had discovered with Shield. It was a decision made during the sudden discovery of the debuff that had occurred. When he was struck by four creatures of his level and they dropped him by nearly a quarter of his health, much more than any other creature had done in the past. Granted, it was four attacking at the same time, but two things did not happen that usually should. One was that Achilles didn't dampen nearly as much health as it had done in the past. The second was that no damage was dealt back. It was a sudden change that Calrex wasn't expecting, and if the circumstances had been different might have resulted in losing his life.

After taking the time to review what had happened to the skill, it was then that he had decided to allocate the points he had obtained from the dungeon into grandmastering it. The retaliation damage was not going to return no matter what, but at the least he could maximize the potential amount of post-mitigation damage that could be absorbed.

--------------------

As Calrex was about to turn and start making his way back to the settlement of Angel's Point, suddenly his ears picked up on the sounds of combat. The sounds of dissipating creatures as a result of something striking through them with massive force. Drawing the Grand Blade II the bluenette promptly swung it to the side, the sword vanishing with a flash before being replaced by the Grand Gauntlets II. His weapon ready the Ultramarine Knight started heading in the direction of the battle.

[Calrex 0]

The sounds of combat brought Calrex to a fairly steep hill, one that was high enough to nearly block out the moonlight that was being cast. Using all four limbs the bluenette slowly ascended up the hill, occasionally having to take a moment to prevent himself from losing his grip and sliding back down. As he drew closer and closer to the top the noises being emitted from the other side became more and more clear.

He could make out the grunts and wails of the corrupted humans as they tried to charge at whatever assailant they were fighting. After spending multiple nights out on the thirteenth floor, the Ultramarine Knight had grown accustomed to their sound effects. However, he could also make out the sounds of a weapon slamming into their avatars. It was a heavy and impactful noise that was attributed to something like a two-handed weapon, as the one-handed variants rarely shared such a hard-hitting effect. At the same time the weapon appeared to be striking multiple enemies at once, as the effect of the attacks were in close succession. "Could be an AoE attack. Could it be another player?"

Reaching upwards the bluenette pulled his way up so that his head could look over the top of the hill. What greeted his eyes was what appeared to be a large barren battlefield, littered with broken blades, spears, shield, and other pieces of equipment. In the center of this scene was the battle, with multitudes of corrupted creatures rushing at a singular target. What surprised Calrex, more than the scene, was the fighter at the center. It was a person with a large, well-built frame that showed beneath the tattered dark brown cloak and form fitting leather garments. The person's face was hidden behind a skull in the shape of the mythical Hydra, and in his one hand was a massive two-handed sword which he appeared to swing with ease.

"There's no way..."

Right as Calrex pulled himself up over the hill he looked down for a moment in disbelief. With a series of wide swiping blows the mysterious figure eliminated the rest of the monsters around him. With all of the threats gone it appears to slump forward for a moment, both of its arms dangling from its shoulders as a visible exhale escaped from beneath the helmet like some kind of beast. A brief moment of silence followed before the figure's head jerked upwards, locked onto the Ultramarine Knight as a pair of glowing red eyes were revealed beneath its helmet. As the bluenette clenched his hands into fists his HUD flashed with a red background as a scrolling banner moved horizontally across.

"WARNING...WARNING..."

Instinctively he pulled out one of the many Safeguards he had at the ready, crushing it in his hand as he prepared for combat.

[Calrex 0]

Calrex's Stats:

Spoiler

HP: 1640
EN: 164
DMG: 15
ACC: 3
EVA: 3
MIT: 30

Equipment:
Grand Gauntlets II: +3 DMG
Amethyst Charm: +2 ACC / +1 EVA
Tide Pendant: +2 EVA / +1 LD

Skills:
One-Handed Straight Sword: Rank 5
Heavy Armor: Rank 5
Search and Detect: Rank 2
Charge: Rank 5
Battle Healing: Rank 1
Block: Rank 5
One-Handed Curved Sword: Rank 1
Howl
Parry

Extra Skills:
Martial Arts: Rank 5
Meditation: Rank 1
Survival
Disguise
Katana: Rank 1

Unique Skill:
Achilles: Rank 5

Skill Mods:
Precision (MA)
Bull Rush (Charge)
Athletics (HA)
Safe Guard (Block)
Quick-Change (OHSS)

Active Buff:
Safeguard

At Ready:
Safeguard x4
Basic Teleportation Crystal x1
Grand Blade II: +3 DMG
Grand Chariot II: +1 MIT / +2 Thorns
Grand Guard II: +2 MIT / +1 Heavy Momentum
Woodland Armor (2/3 charges): +30 per charge
Monkey Agility: +1 EVA for one thread

Initiative Roll:
Calrex:
ID: 84965
Craft Dice: 3
LD: 18

Berserker's Shade:
ID: 84966
Craft Dice: 9
LD: 18

Tie to be Broken by Craft Dice, Berserker's Shade Starts

ID: 84967
Battle Dice: 5 (Accuracy +3+1 / Evasion -3) = 6
Sword Art <<Galaxy Destroyer>> Activated / <<Concentration>> Activated (13 Energy Used / 83 Remaining)

Right out of the gate before Calrex could react suddenly the Berserker's Shade closed the distance, its sword arm already drawn back. A roar deafened the surrounding areas as it echoed throughout the landscape, filled with the bloodthirsty rage that was embodied in the unique skill itself. A single slash came from above as it cut diagonally across the Ultramarine Knight's frame. Luckily enough he had activated a Safeguard before the creature had attacked him, buying enough time to leap past, sliding as he landed in the middle of the battlefield.

The shade loomed over for a moment as it's cloak flowed to the right side before it leapt in a feral manner back down, landing on all fours with its chipped and cracked greatsword on the ground on front of it. A guttural breath escaped as it straightened itself once again, the glowing red eyes beneath its armor still locked onto the bluenette.

Calrex: 1640/1640 | EN: 164/164 (Safeguard Expended)

Berserker's Shade: 960/960 | EN: 83/96

Berserker's Shade Stats:

Spoiler

HP: 960
EN: 96
DMG: 13
ACC: 3
EVA: 0
MIT: 30
Thorns: 28
Fallen DMG: 4

Equipment: 
Fragmented Despair: +2 DMG / +2 Fallen DMG
Fragmented Hydra Skull: +2 MIT / +2 Thorns
Fragmented Benevolent Dragon Charm: +2 ACC / +1 LD

Skills:
Two-Handed Straight Sword: Rank 5
Battle Healing: Rank 5
Light Armor: Rank 3
Search and Detect: Rank 2
Parry

Extra Skills:
Survival
Concentration

Unique Skills:
Berserker: Rank 0

Skill Mods:
Athletics (LA)
Emergency Recovery (BH)
Precision (THSS)
Vengeful Riposte

At Ready:
Healing Fog: Heal 50% once per thread
Bloodrage Crystal: +6 DMG
Super Spicy Taco: +1 ACC
Banner of Command: +1 DMG
Kingly Crab Meat: +6 DMG

 

[Calrex 0]

ID: 84968
Battle Dice: 5 (Accuracy +4) = 9
Sword Art <<All Might>> Activated / <<Charge>> Activated (17 Energy Used / 147 Remaining)

After narrowly avoiding the opening attack Calrex gave a small sigh to quickly recenter himself, looking forward at the spectral abomination of the former man known as the Dreadnaught. The creature continued to snarl and growl, twitching occasionally as if it was straining to keep itself together, "I guess it's just like that time with Opal, when we encountered the remaining fragments of someone who had died in the past. The game must not have purged everything that remained of Dom's avatar. Whatever his build was at the point of death must have remained."

Loosening his stance for a moment the Ultramarine Knight squared himself to the figure, "I'm sorry for what's happened to this point. I guess I'll never really understand what took place. At least I can give you this. We had two duels in the past, the result of both ending up in a victor for each of us. I guess we can treat this as our tie breaker. I swear I'll give it everything I have. I'm not the same person I was back then. Much has changed, and I can only hope it's made me stronger as a fighter and as a person. Now...let's do this..."

Spoiler

Clenching his right hand into a fist the striking hand immediately became encapsulated in the light of <<All Might>> as the bluenette shot forward with <<Charge>>, closing the distance almost instantly. The single punch slammed into the right cheek of the helmet before the momentum sent it reeling back. At the same time Calrex saw his own health take a dive as the result of Thorns damage piercing into him.

The shade struggled to move for a moment before becoming still, a Stun marker appearing next to its health bar.

Calrex: 1612/1640 | EN: 147/164 (28 Thorns DMG)

Berserker's Shade: 690/960 | EN: 83/96 (15+5 DMG * 15 Art - 30 MIT = 270 DMG / Stunned Until Next Turn)

[Calrex 0]

ID: 84973
Battle Dice: 9 (Accuracy +3 / Evasion -3) = 9 (Disregarded Due to Stun)
No Action Taken (1 Energy Recovered / 84 Remaining)

The Berserker's Shade remained pinned in its position, Calrex's Stun effect still active on it for a few more moments. However, during this time the creature's simulated <<Battle Healing>> skill triggered, recovering a decent amount of damage that was recently inflicted by the Ultramarine Knight. A few blasts of mist-like breath escaped from beneath the helmet.

As the Stun effect wore off it pushed to its feet, piercing the Fragmented Despair into the ground to assist with the movement. Upon returning to its attack stance, the shade extracted the tip of its greatsword from the ground, dragging it across the darkened battlefield as if drawing a part of a shape in the dirt.

Eyes locked onto the bluenette once again as it released a guttural growl, full of anger and malevolence towards the player in front of it. The next opportunity it had, it would proceed with its next action.

Calrex: 1612/1640 | EN: 147/164

Berserker's Shade: 765/960 | EN: 84/96 (75 Battle Healing / Stunned Until Next Turn)

[Calrex 0]

ID: 84974
Battle Dice: 8 (Accuracy +4) = 12
Sword Art <<All Might>> Activated (17 Energy Used / 1 Recovered / 131 Remaining)

As the shade slowly began to get back to its feet Calrex gave a calming exhale, letting his stance remain steady. His eyes calmly scanned around him for a moment, confirming that no ambushes by corrupted creatures laid in wait. From what he could discern, this was certainly a duel between the two of them.

"Before I played more cautiously since I needed to conserve the amount of energy I expended during our battles. Now with the changes since then there's no need for that..."

Rushing forward once again the bluenette clenched his right hand once again, reactivating <<All Might>>. The powered fist cracked against his opponent's helmet once again, as if he had driven the punch into its right cheek once again. There was no reinflicted Stun like his opening attack, but visual damage would be seen having been inflicted. The shade's helmet was slightly crumpled in towards the area that Calrex had struck twice. There was no mechanical effect as a result of this, but merely a visual aesthetic.

"Well, he was certainly one for showmanship, heh."

The joking thought quickly came and went from his mind as the bluenette's eyes remained fixed on his opponent, as if his own gaze would pierce through the glowing red eyes into the darkness behind, that very darkness being his target rather than the visage in front. "You're able to move now. Bring it..."

Calrex: 1614/1640 | EN: 131/164 (28 Thorns DMG / 30 Battle Healing)

Berserker's Shade: 570/960 | EN: 84/96 (15 DMG * 15 Art - 30 MIT = 195 DMG / Stun End)

[Calrex 0]

ID: 84975
Battle Dice: 6 (Accuracy +3 / Evasion -3) = 6 (Fallen Damage Triggered)
Sword Art <<Tempest>> Activated (19 Energy Used / 1 Recovered / 65 Remaining)

Right as the Ultramarine Knight provoked the shade it unleashed a rage-filled roar, echoing throughout the field zone once again. Taking a step forward its foot cracked the ground before it rushed forward, sword arm back. Right as it got into range Calrex lowered his stance as if ready to dodge.

However, he wasn't prepared for the movement of the attack, which seemed to seamlessly transition from a overhead slash like before into a vicious pommel strike. The attack connected dead on with his head, causing the bluenette to reel backwards, raising a hand instinctively as if to check if there was physical damage like bleeding or bruising. Of course, being SAO that was not the case, but it did leave him with a Stun effect that forced him into a kneeling position.

Iconic of what personified the Berserker skill back then, red pixels seemed to seep from the greatsword into the shade, combining with the effects of its Battle Healing to restore it's health further than on its own.

Calrex: 1550/1640 | EN: 131/164 (13+4 DMG * 8 Art - 30 MIT * .4 Achilles = 64 DMG / Stunned Until Next Turn)

Berserker's Shade: 658/960 | EN: 65/96 (75 Battle Healing / 13 Berserker)

[Calrex 0]

ID: 84976
Craft Dice: 8 (Mediation Failed)
<<Mediation>> Attempted (1 Energy Recovered / 132 Remaining)

"Tch...maybe I shouldn't have goaded it."

As he remained in place from the shade's pommel strike Calrex gritted his teeth for a moment. Closing his eyes he resorted to an old tactic he had used in the past, but had refrained from as of late to due his level providing excessive amount of energy to tap into. The aura of <<Mediation>> surrounded his form for a moment before waning away, failing to activate. "Figures I would screw it up after not using it for so long. Not like it's going to heal me anyway."

What did assist him in the meantime was his own <<Battle Healing>>, which triggered and restored a small bit of health to his health bar, enough to undo almost half of the recent damage. However, going from his past battles the Ultramarine Knight could already tell what his foe was going to do next: Follow up with a powerful strike that was pretty much guaranteed. That blow would sap even more life away, healing it back up even further.

"Good thing I went with Martial Arts. There's no way my sword could keep up with the damage this thing is putting out."

Calrex: 1580/1640 | EN: 131/164 (30 Battle Healing / Stunned Until Next Turn)

Berserker's Shade: 658/960 | EN: 65/96

[Calrex 0]

ID: 84977
Battle Dice: 6 (Accuracy +3 / Evasion Negated) = 9
Sword Art <<Galaxy Destroyer>> Activated (13 Energy Used / 1 Recovered / 52 Remaining)

While Calrex was still stunned the Berserker's shade seemed to slowly shamble up to him, its glowing red eyes gazing down upon the kneeling player before pointing its greatsword towards the bluenette's nose. A guttural growl escaped from beneath its helmet once again before it built up into a full blown roar. The howl was coupled with it bringing the Fragmented Despair being it's back, over the head, and down in a diagonal slash. The blade glowed vibrant red as <<Galaxy Destroyer>> sliced through the Ultramarine Knight's frame, this time without the safety of a Safeguard to protect him.

The bluenette grunted from the impact before looking as more energy seeped from the sword back into the shade, combining with its passive <<Battle Healing>> and restoring its health even further. Just like in the past, this combination served as a great form of sustainability to the man that was formerly known as the Dreadnaught.

However, at the same time it's gaze returned back to the Ultramarine Knight its fragmented AI did pick up on a difference in Calrex's appearance. His pupils seemed to narrow, as if his mind had changed to that of rest and recovery. His normally dark blue eyes seemed to light multiple shades, now looking closer to that of blue sapphires. Taking a stumbled step backward it seemed to detect a new sense of hostility from the player. Releasing another growl it prepared for the counterattack.

Calrex: 1465/1640 | EN: 131/164 (13+4 DMG * 13 Art - 30 MIT * .4 Achilles = 115 DMG / Stun End)

Berserker's Shade: 756/960 | EN: 52/96 (75 Battle Healing / 23 Berserker)

[Calrex 0]

OOC: 84978 is being disregarded due to being linked to the wrong post above.

IC: 

ID: 84979
Battle Dice: 4 (Accuracy +4) = 8
Sword Art <<All Might>> Activated (17 Energy Used / 1 Recovered / 115 Remaining)

As the creature's powerful swing cut through him Calrex felt the impact force him downwards for a moment, forcing him to look at the ground for a second. The act of pointing the sword at him, as if in response to his taunt, seemed to spark something inside him. The amalgamation of all the things on his mind, now coupled with this, forced him into a deeper focus than before. He felt his breathing steady, lengthen, and deepen as he felt his mind transition into it Fudoshin state, the peace of mind that Baldur had shown him now present. Any emotions that seemed to sway that state of mind were thrown into the fire that burned now in his heart, a fire that burned even stronger than ever with an even fiercer conviction than before. In his mind, he wasn't focused on the target in front of him, but far past into what to do afterwards. It was almost as if the shade and this battle were a mere move in the progression of a chess game, something that may appear important at first glance and may slightly influence an outcome, but in the end insignificant.

His gaze slowly moved up to face the shade's helmet, piercing past the cold gleaming red eyes. Watching as it stumbled back for a moment the Ultramarine Knight clenched his teeth while rising to his feet. His right fist tightly clenched once again as <<All Might>>'s aura surrounded it for the third time, "Sorry, but if you think those arbitrary tricks are going to work, you're dead wrong."

Launching forward his fist slammed into the same cheek once again, crumpling the helmet even further than before, now to the point that it would be impossible for a person to wear it. Seeing his health climb once again slightly in response to the Thorns damage Calrex gave a calming exhale, still feeling the moral weight behind his fist as he let it slowly drop back to his side.

"After this is done, I've got work to do."

Calrex: 1467/1640 | EN: 115/164 (28 Thorns / 30 Battle Healing)

Berserker's Shade: 561/960 | EN: 52/96 (15 DMG * 15 Art - 30 MIT = 195 DMG)

[Calrex 0]

ID: 84980
Battle Dice: 2 (Accuracy +3 / Evasion -3) = 2
Miss Occurred (2 Energy Lost / 1 Recovered / 51 Remaining)

The powerful strike to the right side of its helmet seemed to throw off the shade's balance for a moment as it attempted to center itself. It's growling was temporarily disrupted as it dropped to all fours, as if to steady a shaken mind. Returning back to its feet its eyes locked back once again on Calrex's form, slowly trailing upwards before it seemed to make contact with the bluenette's now bright sapphire eyes. The piercing gaze forced it to look away for a moment, focusing on the center of the Ultramarine Knight's avatar.

Releasing a howl it rushed forward once again, attempting to close the distance and strike with a fierce cleave. However, this time it's cracked greatsword moved past Calrex's form as he stepped his back foot to the side, all the while his eyes remaining fixed on the creature's. The sword slammed into the dirt next to him, the shade now pulling its arm back for another swing.

Calrex: 1467/1640 | EN: 115/164

Berserker's Shade: 636/960 | EN: 51/96 (75 Battle Healing)

[Calrex 0]

ID: 84981
Battle Dice: 4 (Accuracy +4) = 8
Sword Art <<All Might>> Activated (17 Energy Used / 1 Recovered / 99 Remaining)

"Don't think I'm stopping for a second."

Right as the greatsword fell to his side Calrex clenched his right hand into a fist once again, <<All Might>> building in his hand once again. He could feel the weight of resistance as his arm traveled space, like it was holding him back, "No hesitation...if I hesitate even if I survive others may fall as a result..."

The resistance slowly began to weaken, his arm moving faster and faster until it slammed into the right cheek of the shade once again, crumpling the Hydra-shaped helmet even further that now the entire half of it was caved inwards. Still the bluenette kept his eyes fixed on it, slamming his right fist into his left hand, "Just like you're original was when he was still alive, this time I will be ruthless. I remember that he had countermeasures should be he attacked, so you're likely the same."

Slowly lowering his hand to the side he felt his fingers already starting to contract once again into a fist, "I'll destroy each and every one you can devise with this fist."

Calrex: 1469/1640 | EN: 99/164 (28 Thorns / 30 Battle Healing)

Berserker's Shade: 441/960 | EN: 51/96 (15 DMG * 15 Art - 30 MIT = 195 DMG)

[Calrex 0]

OOC: Ignore roll 85043. Used for wrong topic and wrong description =_=U

IC:

ID: 85121
Battle Dice: 7 (Accuracy +3 / Evasion +3) = 7
Sword Art <<Galaxy Destroyer>> Activated (13 Energy Used / 1 Recovered / 39 Remaining)

While the AI of the shade still detecting the hostility that seemed to emanate from Calrex, this didn't mean that it was going to change tactics because of it. After all, a threat level really only mattered when there was a significant difference in strength, like a frontliner wandering the field zones of the first floor. Here in a duel against a wandering boss-level NPC, such things didn't matter. The previous stumble was likely more to the AI losing balance on the avatar for a moment.

Even with the now half crushed Fragmented Hydra Skull the NPC continued to press its attack, relying on the sustained vampiric drain of the legacy <<Berserker>> skill it was imitating. Raising its sword high the shade slashed downwards at a diagonal angle once again, cleaving across the bluenette's frame with <<Galaxy Destroyer>>.

As it did so the attack seemed to make a clean hit, even against Calrex's boosted Evasion. However, the visual data did gather that the Ultramarine Knight didn't seem phased for a moment from the blow. In fact, it didn't even appear to disrupt his momentum, as the movement he was performing to charge another Sword Art was still continuing.

Calrex: 1354/1640 | EN: 99/164 (13+4 DMG * 13 Art - 30 MIT * .4 Achilles = 115 DMG)

Berserker's Shade: 539/960 | EN: 39/96 (75 Battle Healing / 23 Berserker)

[Calrex 0]

ID: 85122
Battle Dice: 7 (Accuracy +4) = 11
Sword Art <<Full Cowl>> Activated (12 Energy Used / 1 Recovered / 88 Remaining)

"The idea of the Invincible Warrior is a mere myth. No person in this game is outright invincible, just perceivably so. As the bearer of the skill, the most I can do is train my hardest to meet and surpass that perception. As Baldur said, I can't be ready for everything I can think of. I just need to be ready."

With a calming breath Calrex saw the creature's sword fall across him again. He had previously prepared to dodge, but moment after he saw that the arc would catch him no matter what he immediately switched to prepare his next attack. During the entirety of their battle he had been counting in his mind of how long the shade was out of Stun, and it was right about now that it was no longer immune. As the striking edge of the sword exited out by his hip he continued to lower his stance, bending his knees. His right foot became covered in the light blue aura of the <<Full Cowl>> Sword Art before he shot it forward, the point where his angle met his shin striking at the creature's stance, immediately breaking it from the momentum.

The Stun icon reappeared next to the shade's health as it laid stuck to the ground from the immobility. The Ultramarine Knight was already preparing his next move once again, his right fist clenching as he prepared for the next blow, "Whatever fearsome name you decide to delude yourself with: Ultramarine Knight, Berserker, Hero, Dreadnaught, Master of Shadow, or some other meaningless accolade...they're meaningless against an Invincible Warrior. That is what Achilles has granted me. This is not my power, but I will make it my own. That what I've worked towards all this time, an omnipotent attacker and defender."

Kneeling down the bluenette began to draw his arm back, as if he already knew what his next strike would be, and its location, "You wont...no...you can't kill me...and whatever doesn't kill me better start running."

Calrex: 1355/1640 | EN: 88/164 (28 Thorns / 30 Battle Healing)

Berserker's Shade: 434/960 | EN: 39/96 (15 DMG * 9 Art - 30 MIT = 105 DMG / Stunned Until Next Turn)

[Calrex 0]

ID: 85127
Battle Dice: 7 (Accuracy +3 / Item +3) = 7 (Disregarded Due to Stun)
No Action Taken (1 Energy Recovered / 40 Remaining)

Being unable to attack after its previous assault was met with Calrex's stunning Sword Art, the shade merely remained still, biding the time until it would be able to act once again. Its health climbed slightly once again as a result of the inherited battle healing it got from the remnants of the character it was drawing upon to have form. An growl emanated from the hollow void that was beneath the helm, now half crumpled from the repeated blows to the same area as a result of the bluenette's successive fully-powered fists.

As the AI controlling the creature continued to try and analyze the next move Calrex would perform, it found a certain pattern to be emerging, and it was one that served to be somewhat contradictory or confusing. For the past few attacks, the bluenette seemed to no longer merely react to the actions of the monster, but instead be slightly shifting an action already being performed. The last powerful blow it inflicted didn't even seem to faze the player's demeanor, as he continued his assault.

This battle was still going to rage on for some more rotations, but it made note that there was certainly a significant change in Calrex's attitude and composure.

Calrex: 1355/1640 | EN: 88/164

Berserker's Shade: 509/960 | EN: 40/96 (75 Battle Healing / Stunned Until Next Turn)

[Calrex 0]

ID: 85778
Battle Dice: 6 (Accuracy +4) = 10
Sword Art <<All Might>> Activated (17 Energy Used / 1 Recovered / 72 Remaining)

Right as <<All Might>> built up to maximum power once again, Calrex immediately shot his fist forward, slamming it full-force into the shade's already heavily damaged helmet, seeing a shard of the cosmetic edges for it break off as it crumpled even further in, to the point that no human's head could fit inside without being crushed beneath. His eyes remained filled with vindication and vigilance, as if there was a presence behind the void that he was staring daggers into. "Maybe there was a reason why I encountered this shade. Maybe there's things that I needed resolved about the past, things that I needed to put to rest, more than just a final duel to break the tie."

Glancing to the side for a moment to contemplate for a moment the bluenette looked back forward, maintaining the threatening presence of before. His now bright sapphire shaded eyes continued to pierce through as he spoke, "I keep many things I think quiet, but I guess maybe you'd make a good sounding board. Tch, not like I really care about if anyone happens to overhear at this point. Guess you're going to be my physical and verbal punching bag for a moment. Since you decided to take the form of someone I once respected, you can kind of gather why my demeanor wouldn't match my behavior from before."

Getting to his feet he took a few calm breaths, more as if he were in a casual conversation than a battle. It was as if his mind was already past this, like being in the middle of a death duel and thinking of what to eat for dinner afterwards. Calrex could hear the growl from the creature's helm once again, the sound making him smirk in a mocking manner, "I find it extremely entertaining how many designers think that giving a dark creature a savage-like supposedly might give it something to be feared. It's just like any threat, or boastful claim I've heard for so many years. Geezes, if I bottled up all of the macho-posturing I've encountered in this game, I could put it in a hot air balloon and float up past the hundredth floor. See, absolutely nothing I've heard can be backed up with anything that would make me fearful."

Giving a casual kick to a rock nearby his foot he looked away, then back at the shade again, spitting to the side of it, "I especially like how people go the staple of drawing a weapon, or making some kind of threat of being able to kill someone. The amount of ****s I give about one's damage output, or whatever arbitrary stat is decreased by every level I have starting from 0. Makes me glad that somehow I've kept my interactions with those people to a minimum, because geezes I swear if I spent too much time around them I'd start unironically making jokes about some kind of cult of numbers, or start speaking some kind of useless drivel about having an optimal build or training regimen. You'd think that no one actually wants to experiment or think for themselves anymore in this game, just take the easy route that has absolute no meaning. Now..."

Giving a small sneer at his following statement he continued, "I'm a damned hypocrite to some level, because I'm one of the highest leveled players in the game. But at least I didn't cop out and start madly obsessing over something as unattainable as a unique skill or demonic weapon. Where in the hell did this idiocy come from? You'd think someone was trying to sell a bad late-night product or something. Heh, EVEN BETTER, some of the individuals that have/had them sometimes tout them about like they 'earned' them or something, when pretty much anything of such rarity in this game is up to luck, and last I checked, luck wasn't a skill you could level up in relation to getting a demonic anyway. Makes me sometimes want to go 'How about you actually try and work for something for once in your goddam life, rather than risking everyone else's lives for your petty greed?'"

Slamming his right fist into his left hand his eyes deadlocked on the creature's form again, "You'll be able to move soon, so I appreciate you hearing me vent. However, I will stand by what I've always affirmed myself in the past. With or without Achilles, all of the things I've accomplished to this point was due to effort and skill. There were times I got things done by the skin of my teeth, but those were still under my own sweat and blood. Heck even now I still don't carry a piece of demonic equipment on it. There's more to me than the Invincible Warrior, and should anyone think otherwise I'll rebel against that perception until the end. I'll spit in the face of that statement, and put in everything I have to make them choke on it."

Assuming his fighting stance once again Calrex motioned with his left hand, taunting the shade, "Now get up, this battle isn't over until I put you into the dirt and you stay down."

Calrex: 1357/1640 | EN: 72/164 (28 Thorns / 30 Battle Healing)

Berserker's Shade: 314/960 | EN: 40/96 (15 DMG * 15 Art - 30 MIT = 195 DMG / Stun End)