[EV-F1] An Unexpected Affair

[Arabelle 0]

2 AM. Four-something hours 'til morning - the time she figured it would all be over. God, what a grind this event was turning out to be. She never thought she would find combat to be so boring, not since the Star Festival event, but well, here she was. Most achievements completed and her new scythe safely stored in her inventory, but Arabelle had decided to head out again. Maybe it was some weird sense of obligation she couldn't get rid of. She hardly cared about these low-levels but seeing them struggle against the most basic of zombies while many more swarmed around them sparked some odd sensation that seemed to resemble guilt inside her. She could easily just wipe all of this stuff.

"I'm heading out again," she informed her teammates right after they reunited at the concessions stand. "Both of you should stay here. Shiro-chan, you look like a wreck. TP back to Delilah if you must. I don't want Claude yelling at me any more for my supposed incompetence." 

Arabelle tilted her head and smirked.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine. I carried you both, didn't I? If anything, worry for yourselves."

Still, it would be a bit lonely, fending off the rest of these zombies by herself.

Spoiler

BUFFS CONSUMED:

• Funnel Cake [+3 DMG, +1 ACC] [-1,000 Col]

Trading to @Gambit

• [x5] Spider Cider -- Heals 90 HP

~~~

LEVEL 23 - 68 SP
460/460 HP | 46/46 EN | 14 DMG | 9 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA

~EQUIPPED

• [T1 - Perfect] Shikama Dōji, Remastered -- Enhancements: Damage, Damage, Damage
• [T1 - Perfect] Imperial Demon Army Uniform -- Enhancements: Mitigation, Evasion, Evasion
• [T1 - Perfect] Insignia of Retribution -- Enhancements: Accuracy, Accuracy, Accuracy

~BATTLE-READY INVENTORY

• [x5] Offbrand Energy Drink
• [x5] Offbrand Energy Drink
• [x5] Offbrand Energy Drink
• [x1] Teleport Crystal

~SKILLS
Rank 5 - Two-Handed Battle Axe (+7 DMG, access to rank 5 sword arts)

E - 

~SWORD ARTS
Two-Handed Battle Axe
Rank 1
» [x2] Whirlwind (2 Energy) - A single sweeping attack so powerful that it sends forth a shock wave to hit again.
» [x2 AoE] Smash (2 Energy + 2 per target hit) - An uppercut aimed at opponents head to send them reeling.
Rank 2
» [x3 AoE] Lumberjack (3 Energy + 2 per target hit) - Three wide sweeping strokes aimed at multiple targets.
» [x3] Ultimate Breaker (3 Energy) - A pair of uppercuts that finish with a vertical slam to the target's head.
Rank 3
» [x5] Torque Wave (5 Energy) - A sweeping strike that tears into the opponent.
» [x6] Crimson Blood (6 Energy) - Three sweeping spinning slices keeping the same momentum.
» [x6 AoE] Trample Act (6 Energy +2 per target hit) - An attack that starts with a shoulder barge, then does two large sweeping attacks.
Rank 4
» [x7] Crescent Avalanche (7 Energy) - An advanced mixture of slices, hilt stabs and thrusts at an opponent.
» [x8 AoE] Ordinal Cleave (8 Energy +2 per target hit) - A flurry of eight vicious slashes that hits and targets multiple enemies.
Rank 5
» [x9] Dynamic Violence (8 Energy) - An attack of three slices, which is finished by a shock wave created by the power of an empty swing.
» [x14 AoE] Explode Catapult (14 Energy +2 per target hit) - Two powerful sweeping strokes in alternating directions that concludes with slamming the ax into the ground.
» [x13] Screw Dimension (12 Energy) - Does one slice with the ax, which then releases in a burst of energy, doing the damage again.

~~BINGO BOOK

Spoiler

AP: 0

In Progress

Critical Failures OR Critical Evasions: 16/25 OR 1/15

 

Edited November 10, 2019 by Arabelle

[Gambit 0]

"AHHHH!!" 

Gambit ran back and forth, with nothing to keep him safe from the zombies. This armor he'd bought was an absolute sack of crap, and if Gambit had half a mind he'd get rid of it first chance he got. Luckily though, Gambit had less than half of a mind. 

So he kept running, just barely ducking and dodging out of the way of hordes' attacks and approaches, his death just a claw swipe or a bite away. He'd gotten hit once, and been shocked to find that literally half of his health disappeared. It was good he had Regen - but if one of these things hit him right, who was to say his entire health bar didn't get wiped out all at once? Gambit hadn't really done much on Aincrad, for Aincrad, but he didn't want to die just yet, either. 

"This SUCKS," he complained loudly. Who thought it was a good idea to make people fight the undead? 

There was a corndog in his mouth. 

-CONSUMING: [x1] Obnoxious Corndog - 45 MIT 

- Gambit's Stats - 

20 HP | 2 EN | 9 Thorns | 10 Regen | +45 MIT 

Skills: 

First Aid - Rank 1 - Unskilled

Equipment: 

Starting Plate - T1 - Heavy Armor (Starting Package) 
    -> +1 Thorns, +1 Regen 

Edited November 10, 2019 by Gambit

[Arabelle 0]

There was a low-level running around screaming. Arabelle blinked, dumbfounded. He didn't seem to be fighting back - what the hell was he doing out here in the audience area? Oh well, she chalked it up to the usual noob antics. She watched curiously, still holding onto her scythe, as a group of zombies tailed after the poor guy. He was kind of cute, too. What a waste it would be if he died.

Well, there was her target. Almost nonchalantly, she ignited her scythe and took off, running straight for the guy. 

Was that a corndog in his mouth?

"Finish that up and get back!" The purple-haired girl hopped over him and unleashed a flurry of attacks on his pursuers. She landed on the ground gracefully and looked over her shoulder with a small smile. Arabelle nodded her head at the last zombie, remaining at 1 HP. "Mind finishing that one up for me?"

Spoiler

ID: 128486 | BD: 5 + 4 = 9 | LD: 14 | Trample Act: 14 * 6 = 84 - 10 = 74 DMG on Zombie 1
ID: 128487 | BD: 3 + 4 = 7 | LD: 19 | Trample Act: 14 * 6 = 84 - 10 = 74 DMG on Zombie 2
ID: 128488 | BD: 7 | LD: 7 | Trample Act: 14 * 6 = 84 - 10 = 74 DMG on Zombie 3
ID: 128489 | BD: 8 | LD: 10 | Trample Act: 14 * 6 = 84 - 10 = 74 DMG on Zombie 4

[H:1] Arabelle: 460/460 HP | 46/46 EN | 14 DMG | 9 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA
[H:0] Gambit: 20 HP | 2 EN | 45 MIT | 9 Thorns | 10 Regen 

Zombie 1: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT
Zombie 2: 1/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT
Zombie 3: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT
Zombie 4: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT

Special:

• Deals 20 DMG on a 9 or 10
• If the Zombie would be killed by a weapon or defensive ability, and the LD is equal to or higher than 15, the Zombie is instead reduced to 1HP. This ability is ignored if the attack that reduced it 0 was a critical hit or the weapon/armor used has the holy or holy blessing enhancement.

~~BINGO BOOK

Spoiler

AP: 0

In Progress

Critical Failures OR Critical Evasions: 16/25 OR 1/15

 

Edited November 10, 2019 by Arabelle

[Gambit 0]

And from the Heavens descended his savior, a scythe at her side! Except she was like, five-foot-nothing, and Gambit practically towered over her. Practically. Not really. Even still, he wasted no time in shoving the rest of his corndog down his throat as Arabelle leapt into action, bringing her weapon out and across the group of zombies. 

She cut through them like butter, three of them falling to the ground, bifurcated or otherwise lacerated, vanishing in what was the equivalent to a cloud of smoke. Transluscent blue shards hung in the air, gradually fading from view, as soon it was revealed that one of the four monsters was still hanging on by a shred. To Gambit, it looked like its health bar was empty - it must have been so low he couldn't even see the shred that was left. 

Gambit swallowed the corndog, minor panic coursing through his system. 

"Uh, I..." Gambit watched as the Zombie lumbered forward, lashing out with tooth and claw. "Watch out-!"

                                                                                                                                    

Action Taken: Basic Attack [-2 EN]
Zombie 2: ID#128498 BD: 1 (Critical Miss!) MD: 7-2= 5 (Miss!) 

[H:1] Arabelle: 460/460 HP | 46/46 EN | 14 DMG | 9 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA
[H:0] Gambit: 20/20 HP | 0/2 EN | 45 MIT | 9 Thorns | 10 Regen 

Zombie 1: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT
Zombie 2: 1/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT
Zombie 3: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT
Zombie 4: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT

Special:

• Deals 20 DMG on a 9 or 10
• If the Zombie would be killed by a weapon or defensive ability, and the LD is equal to or higher than 15, the Zombie is instead reduced to 1HP. This ability is ignored if the attack that reduced it 0 was a critical hit or the weapon/armor used has the holy or holy blessing enhancement.

Zombies Killed: 3
Consumables Used: 1 
Critical Failures: 1

Edited November 10, 2019 by Gambit

[Arabelle 0]

He didn't move though. Probably finally froze in fear. Arabelle let out her breath in a frustrated puff, her bangs flipping upward at the expelled air. "Just how long have you been running around like this?" She leaped back, keeping the last zombie at a distance, and finished it off with a swift slash of her scythe. "Looks like you've drawn quite the following."

There were three more, shambling after him with hunger in their eyes.

Yeah, no. I get you, but only figuratively. He's looking like a snacc.

She drew in a breath and launching herself forward once again, she reduced two to pixels and left another at a very near death state. Well, this was just as annoying as before. Arabelle remembered why she had been so reluctant to go back in the first place. "Party up with me?" she offered as the message prompt appeared in front of him. "Let's get this mess handled first and maybe I can take you to a safe place."

Spoiler

[note: was rushing and forgot to subtract my energy like a dummy. EN adjusted to the correct value.

ID: 128507 | BD: 10 | Trample Act: (14 + 2) * 6 = 96 - 10 = 86 DMG on Zombie 2
ID: 128508 | BD: 10 | Trample Act: (14 + 2) * 6 = 96 - 10 = 86 DMG on Zombie 5
ID: 128509 | BD: 4 + 4 = 8 | LD: 5 | Trample Act: 14 * 6 = 84 - 10 = 74 DMG on Zombie 6
ID: 128511 | BD: 7 | LD: 17 | Trample Act: 14 * 6 = 84 - 10 = 74 DMG on Zombie 7

6 + (2 * 4) = 14 EN

[H:1] Arabelle: 460/460 HP | 19/46 EN | 14 DMG | 9 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA
[H:0] Gambit: 20/20 HP | 0/2 EN | 45 MIT | 9 Thorns | 10 Regen 

Zombie 2: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT
Zombie 5: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT
Zombie 6: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT
Zombie 7: 1/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT

Special:

Deals 20 DMG on a 9 or 10
If the Zombie would be killed by a weapon or defensive ability, and the LD is equal to or higher than 15, the Zombie is instead reduced to 1HP. This ability is ignored if the attack that reduced it 0 was a critical hit or the weapon/armor used has the holy or holy blessing enhancement.

~~BINGO BOOK

Spoiler

AP: 0

In Progress

Critical Failures OR Critical Evasions: 16/25 OR 1/15

 

Edited November 10, 2019 by Arabelle

[Gambit 0]

"Only like, a couple minutes," Gambit said, rubbing the back of his head. He'd all but practically collapsed behind the smaller girl, as embarrassing as that might be... and now he was having a conversation with her like there wasn't an endless undead horde of zombies scrambling to try and eat their brains. What a weird Thursday, huh? 

Gambit sort of gave a sheepish chuckle, pushing himself to his feet. She seemed like she had it under control, for now. He wasn't all too eager to get into the fray, as it was - embarrassing himself in front of girls wasn't something he liked to do too often, if he could help it. "Heh, ehhh, yeah... just a little bit, I think." 

An awkward pause. 

A slight red tint to his cheeks. "Uh, what... brings you here?"

The food. What else would bring her here, dumbass? She was fighing monsters as they spoke. But even still, Gambit didn't know what to say. Or how to say it, for that matter. It sort of felt wrong to just leave, after she'd saved him.

                                                                                                            

Action Taken: Basic Attack [-1 EN/+1 EN]
Zombie 7: ID#128517 BD: 4 (Miss!) MD: 5-2= 3 (Miss!)

[H:1] Arabelle: 460/460 HP | 19/46 EN | 14 DMG | 9 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA
[H:0] Gambit: 20/20 HP | 0/2 EN | 45 MIT | 9 Thorns | 10 Regen 

Zombie 2: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT
Zombie 5: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT
Zombie 6: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT
Zombie 7: 1/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT

Special:

Deals 20 DMG on a 9 or 10
If the Zombie would be killed by a weapon or defensive ability, and the LD is equal to or higher than 15, the Zombie is instead reduced to 1HP. This ability is ignored if the attack that reduced it 0 was a critical hit or the weapon/armor used has the holy or holy blessing enhancement.

Zombies Killed: 6
Consumables Used: 1 
Critical Failures: 1

Edited November 10, 2019 by Gambit

[Arabelle 0]

"A couple minutes?" she repeated, incredulous. Arabelle looked at the tall boy behind her - oh, his name was Gambit, as the status bars showed - then back at the zombies who were still coming forward. Well, maybe if someone as inexperienced as An were to also run around aimlessly... yep, totally plausible! "Hmhm, I get it. Don't run off. It's not exactly safe out here."

Like she needed to say it, he was practically cowering behind her at this point.

She didn't want to get too far from him, so she planted her feet to the ground and let them come to her. "Oh. I don't know." -- She twirled her large scythe in her gloved hands, slicing through the zombies who were reckless enough to advance.-- "I guess I just felt like being nice today, that's all." 

Three left, at one HP. Arabelle felt a twinge of irritation. This was a new record that she ultimately did not want to earn.

Spoiler

ID: 128519 | BD: 2 + 4 = 6 | LD: 16 | Trample Act: 14 * 6 = 84 - 10 = 74 DMG on Zombie 7
ID: 128520 | BD: 4 + 4 = 8 | LD: 19 | Trample Act: 14 * 6 = 84 - 10 = 74 DMG on Zombie 8
ID: 128521 | BD: 7 | LD: 17 | Trample Act: 14 * 6 = 84 - 10 = 74 DMG on Zombie 9
ID: 128522 | BD: 7 | LD: 3 | Trample Act: 14 * 6 = 84 - 10 = 74 DMG on Zombie 10

6 + (2 * 4) = 14 EN

[H:2/1/1] Arabelle: 460/460 HP | 6/46 EN | 14 DMG | 9 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA
[H:0/0/0] Gambit: 20/20 HP | 0/2 EN | 45 MIT | 9 Thorns | 10 Regen 

Zombie 7: 1/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT
Zombie 8: 1/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT
Zombie 9: 1/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT
Zombie 10: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT

Special:

Deals 20 DMG on a 9 or 10
If the Zombie would be killed by a weapon or defensive ability, and the LD is equal to or higher than 15, the Zombie is instead reduced to 1HP. This ability is ignored if the attack that reduced it 0 was a critical hit or the weapon/armor used has the holy or holy blessing enhancement.

~~BINGO BOOK

Spoiler

AP: 0

In Progress

Critical Failures OR Critical Evasions: 16/25 OR 1/15

 

Edited November 10, 2019 by Arabelle

[Gambit 0]

"Yes, ma'am!" Arabelle's words were met with unadulterated enthusiasm. Gambit had no intention to leave after that. Besides, he was practically entranced by the girl swinging the scythe around. So cool-! She tore through zombies like nobody's business, and still... they seemed to hang on by a thread. What was up with that? Gambit furrowed his eyebrows, noticing the group that had survived Arabelle's initial onslaught. Strange, strange. 

Gambit got up and ran over to one of them, swinging his fist with the raw strength of a lizard. It didn't even land, and he swung wide. The zombie stood there for a moment, as if barely registering what had just happened. Gambit had thrown himself off balance, and so he hit the floor, rolled for a moment, and then sprung back up, scrambling away. Yikes. Maybe attacking them was a bad choice. Honestly, he should have known better; fighting wasn't his thing. 

Plus, he'd just done literally the one thing she told him not to do. 

                                                                                                                                            

Action Taken: Basic Attack [-1 EN/+1 EN]
Zombie 7: ID#128524 BD: 4 (Miss!) MD: 2 (Miss!) 
Zombie 8: ID#128639 MD: 2 (Miss!) 
Zombie 9: ID#128640 MD: 10 (Crit+2) 

[H:2/1/1] Arabelle: 449/460 HP | 6/46 EN | 14 DMG | 9 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA
[H:0/0/0] Gambit: 20/20 HP | 0/2 EN | 45 MIT | 9 Thorns | 10 Regen 

Zombie 7: 1/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT
Zombie 8: 1/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT
Zombie 9: 1/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT
Zombie 10: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT

Zombies Killed: 7
Consumables Used: 1 
Critical Failures: 1

Edited November 10, 2019 by Gambit

[Arabelle 0]

There were three of them left, so it would have inevitably come to the point where she would have difficulty dodging their attacks.

It's not like she wasn't the best at moving evasively. Not at all. Baka!

Arabelle twirled her scythe in her hands and cut through the zombie that had hit her in retaliation. This time, it died for real. She hoped none of them would ever reach the level of Zombie 43. Two more remaining and - she tried to peer past the cloud of data shards to see if there were any more, but all she saw was her new teammate...

Rushing at one of the zombies and failing spectacularly.

Aaand now he was too far from her.

If Arabelle's gloves weren't dirty, she would have pressed a palm to her forehead. What a dummy. If she were asked who was the noobiest noob among the people she'd met so far, it was probably him. Taking her scythe, she jogged after him and took her position as he scrambled to a stand.

Spoiler

ID: 128526 | BD: 5 + 4 = 9 | LD: 1 | 14 - 10 = 4 DMG on Zombie 9

[H:2/1] Arabelle: 449/460 HP | 6/46 EN | 14 DMG | 9 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA
[H:0/0] Gambit: 20/20 HP | 0/2 EN | 45 MIT | 9 Thorns | 10 Regen 

Zombie 7: 1/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT
Zombie 8: 1/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT
Zombie 9: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT

Special:

Deals 20 DMG on a 9 or 10
If the Zombie would be killed by a weapon or defensive ability, and the LD is equal to or higher than 15, the Zombie is instead reduced to 1HP. This ability is ignored if the attack that reduced it 0 was a critical hit or the weapon/armor used has the holy or holy blessing enhancement.

~~BINGO BOOK

Spoiler

AP: 0

In Progress

Critical Failures OR Critical Evasions: 16/25 OR 1/15

 

Edited November 10, 2019 by Arabelle

[Gambit 0]

As he scrambled to his feet and Arabelle swung her scythe through yet another one of the shambling undead, Gambit stumbled backwards, still a little shaken up by that whole exchange. There was only one problem, then. 

Maybe it was because he'd fallen and made himself look like an easy target, but the zombie he'd tried to punch was coming straight at him! Gambit was freaking out. You'd think it'd be all too easy to outrun a creature that could barely walk, but looking at Gambit, you'd be more than surprised to find out that he, for whatever reason, couldn't manage to do even that. 

Big yikes. 

It was getting closer and closer, snapping its hungry jaws near his neck. Out of panic, Gambit grabbed onto its head, trying to push it away from him. 

SNAP! 

And something must have gave, because when Gambit opened his eyes, its head was turned 180 degrees in the opposite direction. 

                                                                                                                                                         

Action Taken: Basic Attack [-1 EN/+1 EN]
Zombie 7: ID#128644 BD: 7 (Hit!) ~ 1 DMG 

Zombie 8: ID#128646 MD: 2 (Miss!)

[H:2/1] Arabelle: 449/460 HP | 6/46 EN | 14 DMG | 9 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA
[H:0/0] Gambit: 20/20 HP | 0/2 EN | 45 MIT | 9 Thorns | 10 Regen 

Zombie 7: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT
Zombie 8: 1/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT
Zombie 9: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT

Special:

Deals 20 DMG on a 9 or 10
If the Zombie would be killed by a weapon or defensive ability, and the LD is equal to or higher than 15, the Zombie is instead reduced to 1HP. This ability is ignored if the attack that reduced it 0 was a critical hit or the weapon/armor used has the holy or holy blessing enhancement.

Zombies Killed: 9
Consumables Used: 1 
Critical Failures: 1

Edited November 11, 2019 by Gambit

[Arabelle 0]

Uh oh. He made it angry. One of the zombies completely ignored her and was heading towards her teammate now. Arabelle whirled around, trying to close the distance so she could put herself between them - or better, finish it off. "I'll handle it! Just keep backing away--!"

--The zombie reached out for him and somehow, somehow, Gambit's 'fight' instincts suddenly kicked in and he snapped its neck with his bare hands.

Holyyy crap.

"Well," Arabelle rolled her eyes and smirked. He was a bit panicky, but maybe, just maybe, he could actually handle himself. Or maybe it was just dumb luck and she was reading too much into it. "I suppose that means I can worry about you less, then!"

One last! Holding up her scythe, she pressed forward and embedded the sharp end of her blade in its chest. The zombie burst into shards with a cry, leaving them... with no enemies for the time being.

Spoiler

ID: 128645 | BD: 8 | LD: 11 | 14 - 10 = 4 DMG on Zombie 8

[H:1] Arabelle: 449/460 HP | 6/46 EN | 14 DMG | 9 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA
[H:0] Gambit: 20/20 HP | 0/2 EN | 45 MIT | 9 Thorns | 10 Regen 

Zombie 8: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT [DEAD]

Special:

Deals 20 DMG on a 9 or 10
If the Zombie would be killed by a weapon or defensive ability, and the LD is equal to or higher than 15, the Zombie is instead reduced to 1HP. This ability is ignored if the attack that reduced it 0 was a critical hit or the weapon/armor used has the holy or holy blessing enhancement.

 

Edited November 11, 2019 by Arabelle

[Gambit 0]

The look on Gambit's face only really meant one thing: he was shocked. Absolutely and utterly shocked. As the zombie that had been standing in front of him just moments before burst into a cloud of digital fragments made tangible, Gambit's shaky hands shot back down, attaching themselves to his side. 

He walked - no, waddled? - a bit backwards, before looping around when Arabelle called out to him. 

"Yeah!" Gambit laughed sheepishly. Then, much quieter, "Yeah... for sure." He coughed loudly into his sleeve before quickly deciding to change the subject. 

"So, uh, anyway. These zombies. Where'd they come from, do you know? I've only been here for a little bit, and at first they looked kinda cool. Then I started getting chased, and, uh, well. That wasn't so cool." 

Gambit talked a lot more than some people, so he quieted down, not wanting to sound too annoying. He was only recently interacting with people, so maybe it was easy to come off as excitable. He'd been shot down for it before.  

[Arabelle 0]

None attacking them at the moment, offering them a temporary respite. She could sight a few zombies dragging themselves towards them in the distance though. Either they had been pursuing Gambit earlier or they were drawn in by the sounds of battle. They weren't quite in the clear yet.

"Oh, I wasn't here when they first appeared either." Arabelle uncapped an energy drink and paused between sips to talk. "I was just taking a peaceful walk around town when they started to burst from the ground. How rude. Only came here because this is where the most of them are coming from, apparently."

She tossed the empty bottle to the ground. Then she popped the cap off another and did the same. And another. And another. She could practically hear the environmental advocates screaming right now, but she kept drinking in front of her probably very confused teammate with an expression that was unnervingly, uncharacteristically

Dead.

It was taking all she had not to grimace at the horrid taste. 

"But I did hear from my friend that the ringmaster was behind it all. He drew players into the tent, appeared when they had settled down, and then summoned the zombies." Arabelle swirled the remaining liquid of the last energy drink around the empty bottle with a feigned nonchalance, and finished it with one gulp. "And here I thought Aincrad wasn't supposed to have magic. Isn't summoning the undead kind of black magic? Whatever. I do find some fun in killing them. Sometimes."

Spoiler

Drinking 11 Energy Drinks (+33 EN). 4 Remaining.

[H:] Arabelle: 459/460 HP | 40/46 EN | 14 DMG | 9 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA
[H:] Gambit: 20/20 HP | 0/2 EN | 45 MIT | 9 Thorns | 10 Regen 

 

Edited November 11, 2019 by Arabelle

[Gambit 0]

It was probably somewhere around the fourth energy drink uncapped, downed, and promptly discarded that Gambit started to seriously question his choice of company. The small, purple-haired girl suddenly looked a lot less cute and a lot more like her name was Kyle with every can she emptied. And even still she continued. 

"Uh, are you sure you should be drinking that ma-" 

Crack. Another energy can would open, and Gambit would find himself quickly retreating into silence. 

"Hm." 

After she hit finished chugging the last of her energy drink, Gambit wouldn't really follow up on the conversation anymore. He averted his eyes, instead looking across and away from her. "Another group of zombies are coming," he murmured softly, lifting his pointer finger and then lowering it. The teenager needed some time to mull things over. He'd seen things he thought he'd ever have to see. Things he never would have wanted to see, if he was given the option. 

These were dark times in Aincrad. 

Edited November 11, 2019 by Gambit

[Arabelle 0]

Arabelle blinked, innocently. She nudged one of the discarded bottles with her boot and they disintegrated into a cloud of blue data fragments in unison. "I'm fiiiine~," she hummed. The sudden surge of energy kind of made her want to hop all over the place and burn down her energy bar as fast as she had forced it to regenerate earlier, but overall she felt... fine. She felt as if she had to exert some effort to keep herself still though. "Energy drinks are just supposed to give you energy, right? Nothing more, nothing less~." 

She wouldn't know, she'd never tried one in real life. Not even once. 

"Besides, I can't replenish anything when we're in combat. Here goes!"

He'd pointed them out to her, but it took a moment to completely focus on the approaching group. Lifting up her large scythe, Arabelle paid less heed to her teammate as she threw herself forward and poured a third of her energy into her weapon. She sliced through the first, spun her scythe and slammed the head on the ground - where two zombies were hit by a shockwave and promptly disintegrated - and narrowly missed the last.

Was it just her or was she feeling a bit giddier than usual?

Spoiler

ID: 128701 | BD: 5 + 4 = 9 | LD: 3 | Trample Act: 14 * 6 = 84 - 10 = 74 DMG on Zombie 11
ID: 128702 | BD: 4 + 4 = 8 | LD: 12 | Trample Act: 14 * 6 = 84 - 10 = 74 DMG on Zombie 12
ID: 128703 | BD: 7 | LD: 5 | Trample Act: 14 * 6 = 84 - 10 = 74 DMG on Zombie 13
ID: 128704 | BD: 1

6 + (2 * 3) = 12 EN

[H:0] Arabelle: 459/460 HP | 29/46 EN | 14 DMG | 9 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA
[H:0] Gambit: 20/20 HP | 2/2 EN | 45 MIT | 9 Thorns | 10 Regen 

Zombie 11: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT
Zombie 12: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT
Zombie 13: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT
Zombie 14: 50/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT

Special:

Deals 20 DMG on a 9 or 10
If the Zombie would be killed by a weapon or defensive ability, and the LD is equal to or higher than 15, the Zombie is instead reduced to 1HP. This ability is ignored if the attack that reduced it 0 was a critical hit or the weapon/armor used has the holy or holy blessing enhancement.

~~BINGO BOOK

Spoiler

AP: 0

In Progress

Critical Failures OR Critical Evasions: 17/25 OR 1/15

 

Edited November 11, 2019 by Arabelle

[Gambit 0]

In what felt like - but what surely wasn't - an instant, the zombies were on them. Up close and personal, Arabelle threw herself to her feet, wielding her scythe with renewed vigor. It must have been all of the Monster Energy Drinks. 

Imbued with the strength of only the most powerful wall punchers, Arabelle swung, literally (except not literally) trampling her opponents, grinding them into fine powder. Or really, just well defined rectangles and stuff. They exploded, like monsters do in SAO. That's just what happened. No more fancy words. Fancy words not good for Gambit. Ooga booga. 

One of them was a straggler, and already Gambit was having flashbacks. It stumbled forward, its hand on its stomach, trying to stop the flow of blood or guts or whatever it was that was threatening to push its way out. Its teeth black and yellow and bared, it snapped and gashed and tried to take a swing at Arabelle that, one way or another, wouldn't reach its target. 

Gambit stayed behind her, like he had been for a while now. 

Safe and sound. 

                                                                                                                                                                       

Action Taken: None 
Zombie 14: ID#128706 MD: 3-2= 1 (Miss!)  

[H:0] Arabelle: 459/460 HP | 29/46 EN | 14 DMG | 9 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA
[H:0] Gambit: 20/20 HP | 2/2 EN | 45 MIT | 9 Thorns | 10 Regen 

Zombie 11: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT
Zombie 12: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT
Zombie 13: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT
Zombie 14: 50/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT

Zombies Killed: 13
Consumables Used: 1 
Critical Failures: 1

Edited November 11, 2019 by Gambit

[Arabelle 0]

One left from the pack and the newbie seemed to be eyeing it. Arabelle stuck an arm out, like she was preventing a kid from crossing a road and shook her head. "Just go after the ones at 1 HP. It's safest that way." -- Because holy crap, this guy was level freaking one and while he had the MIT from the corndog (?), she didn't really want to take chances while she still wasn't aware of his current stats. -- "You know, the ones that basically look half-dead."

The undead at full HP stumbled around, groaning with its mouth half open. It was practically falling apart, so to speak. 

Arabelle promptly gave up on trying to simplify things for the newbie. He'll learn.

"Ah, whatever. Just always look at their HP!" The small purple-haired girl hopped from one foot to another as three more came to fill in their fallen comrades' ranks, and spun, leaving a glowing green trail with her scythe as she assaulted the new group of zombies with another barrage of attacks. 

Spoiler

ID: 128708 | BD: 10 | Trample Act: 14 * 6 = 96 - 10 = 86 DMG on Zombie 14
ID: 128709 | BD: 5 + 4 = 9 | LD: 2 | Trample Act: 14 * 6 = 84 - 10 = 74 DMG on Zombie 15
ID: 128710 | BD: 3 + 4 = 7 | LD: 14 | Trample Act: 14 * 6 = 84 - 10 = 74 DMG on Zombie 16
ID: 128711 | BD: 8 | LD: 17 | Trample Act: 14 * 6 = 84 - 10 = 74 DMG on Zombie 17

6 + (2 * 4) = 14 EN

[H:1] Arabelle: 459/460 HP | 16/46 EN | 14 DMG | 9 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA ~~
[H:0] Gambit: 20/20 HP | 2/2 EN | 45 MIT | 9 Thorns | 10 Regen 

Zombie 14: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT
Zombie 15: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT
Zombie 16: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT
Zombie 17: 1/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT

Special:

Deals 20 DMG on a 9 or 10
If the Zombie would be killed by a weapon or defensive ability, and the LD is equal to or higher than 15, the Zombie is instead reduced to 1HP. This ability is ignored if the attack that reduced it 0 was a critical hit or the weapon/armor used has the holy or holy blessing enhancement.

~~BINGO BOOK

Spoiler

AP: 0

In Progress

Critical Failures OR Critical Evasions: 17/25 OR 1/15

 

Edited November 11, 2019 by Arabelle

[Gambit 0]

Only hit the ones that looked half dead? Easily enough! Wait, no. They all looked more than half dead. Arabelle quickly clarified, but Gambit had already pieced together her meaning. As the scythe girl went to work, Gambit was looking out for the straggler; the one that held onto dear life - or whatever it is they had that was similar to it, as far as zombie mobs went - for no reason. Gambit kind of felt sorry for them, in a way. But he felt sad for most mobs. They were literally created to die, and though he knew that they didn't have any emotion or any sort of thinking like him, it was the humanoid monsters that really made Gambit do a double take. It felt too real, sometimes, maybe? Gambit was and never had been much of a fighter, and he didn't actually want to start now. But fighting was a way of life now, and there would be no avoiding it. 

Gambit brought his hand across the zombie's cheek, slapping the ever-loving hell out of it. It stumbled to the right, falling over and dying. 

                                                                                                                                                         

Action Taken: Basic Attack [-1 EN/+1 EN]
Zombie 17: ID#128714 BD: 8 (Hit!) ~ 1 DMG 

[H:1] Arabelle: 459/460 HP | 16/46 EN | 14 DMG | 9 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA ~~
[H:0] Gambit: 20/20 HP | 1/2 EN | 45 MIT | 9 Thorns | 10 Regen 

Zombie 14: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT
Zombie 15: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT
Zombie 16: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT
Zombie 17: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT

Zombies Killed: 17
Consumables Used: 1 
Critical Failures: 1

Edited November 11, 2019 by Gambit

[Arabelle 0]

He really... didn't seem to have a weapon. When she left one behind, he walked right up to it and slapped it on the cheek - and somehow, somehow, that was just enough to reduce the undead's HP to zero. Arabelle was not going to think over the logic of that, other than that this guy had a crazy strong arm. Or that maybe she shouldn't nudge anyone too hard outside the safe zone.

"Lovely," she commented with a smile. This was, maybe, the first time they had wiped their enemies in one round since she left her other team and Arabelle relished in the small feeling of pride. "Let's keep this level of performance up, alright?"

Like, no pressure or anything.

She didn't mind. She definitely didn't mind it now because her latest series of attacks had left one alive and it was at full HP. Arabelle landed, skidding to a stop with her scythe still at the ready. Well, that was an embarrassment. 

Spoiler

ID: 128717 | BD: 10 | Trample Act: 14 * 6 = 96 - 10 = 86 DMG on Zombie 18
ID: 128718 | BD: 4 + 4 = 8 | LD: 14 | Trample Act: 14 * 6 = 84 - 10 = 74 DMG on Zombie 19
ID: 128719 | BD: 8 | LD: 12 | Trample Act: 14 * 6 = 84 - 10 = 74 DMG on Zombie 20
ID: 128720 | BD: 1

6 + (2 * 3) = 12 EN

[H:0] Arabelle: 459/460 HP | 5/46 EN | 14 DMG | 9 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA
[H:0] Gambit: 20/20 HP | 1/2 EN | 45 MIT | 9 Thorns | 10 Regen 

Zombie 18: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT [DEAD]
Zombie 19: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT [DEAD]
Zombie 20: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT [DEAD]
Zombie 21: 50/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT

Special:

Deals 20 DMG on a 9 or 10
If the Zombie would be killed by a weapon or defensive ability, and the LD is equal to or higher than 15, the Zombie is instead reduced to 1HP. This ability is ignored if the attack that reduced it 0 was a critical hit or the weapon/armor used has the holy or holy blessing enhancement.

~~BINGO BOOK

Spoiler

AP: 0

In Progress

Critical Failures OR Critical Evasions: 18/25 OR 1/15

 

Edited November 11, 2019 by Arabelle

[Gambit 0]

Gambit was surprised she wasn't getting antsy after downing what felt like an entire ocean's worth of energy drinks. Yes, he was still on the energy drinks. It was seriously baffling - but, of course, it was times like these that Gambit somehow managed to forget that this wasn't at all like their world. You didn't truly get hungry or thirsty in the game - the feelings were simulated, and, by technicality, that meant you couldn't get full either. You could inhale as much crap as you felt like with no negligible side effects. In fact, from what Gambit heard, that's actually how the Frontliners prepared for their boss fights. No wonder they were all as lazy as pigs. All they did was eat, sleep, fight (occassionally), and then eat some more. 

On the flip side, Arabelle was a whirling dervish. She slaughtered another group of zombies - but this time, the straggler was at full health. That meant problems. Gambit kept his distance as it shambled towards Arabelle for an attack. 

                                                                                                                                                                     

Action Taken: None 
Zombie 21: ID#128795 MD: 3-2= 1 (Miss!) 

[H:0] Arabelle: 459/460 HP | 5/46 EN | 14 DMG | 9 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA
[H:0] Gambit: 20/20 HP | 1/2 EN | 45 MIT | 9 Thorns | 10 Regen 

Zombie 18: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT [DEAD]
Zombie 19: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT [DEAD]
Zombie 20: 0/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT [DEAD]
Zombie 21: 50/50 HP | 15 DMG | 10 MIT

Special:

Deals 20 DMG on a 9 or 10
If the Zombie would be killed by a weapon or defensive ability, and the LD is equal to or higher than 15, the Zombie is instead reduced to 1HP. This ability is ignored if the attack that reduced it 0 was a critical hit or the weapon/armor used has the holy or holy blessing enhancement.

Zombies Killed: 20
Consumables Used: 1 
Critical Failures: 1

Edited November 11, 2019 by Gambit