[PP|F5] <<Bloodstained Land>> The Final Hurdle

[ChaseR 0]

<<Bloodstained Land>>

The moment they teleported over back to the fifth, his heart had begun to race already. The mere idea that he was just a step away from the third tier, he was one final push from getting on the same level as every frontliner... Yeah, there'd be disparities between their skills, but he'd make up for them sooner or later. His goals were set high, and he wasn't planning on letting them drop any anytime soon. With an organized inventory, clear mind and stupid smile on his face, he prepared to take on a rather challenging opponent for that very final obstacle in his way.

With a hot breeze, the familiar sand was flying about left and right once more. The boy opened his menu to equip a vanity cloak, protecting him from having sand hurled right in his eyes at least. He knew though that especially if it was one of Blizz' kind, it would move around, dig and do anything it could to make their life harder. "If it lives out here, it has to be fast, huh?", he questioned and looked over to the side at her, as he took something else out of his menu. It looked to be a poached egg, all packed up. He didn't waste a second to dig right on in.

[Chase used Poached Egg! (Accuracy +2 Food, ID: 157827-2)]
[Chase used Filling to get +1 Accuracy!]

ChaseR: HP: 1000/1000 | EN: 98/98 | DMG: 15 | EVA: 3 | ACC: 6 | MIT: 43 | BH: 30 | FRZ: 9-10 | BLD: 24 | V.(DEF): 50 | HBS: 16 | LD: 2

Spoiler

Name: ChaseR
Level: 49
HP: 1000/1000
EN: 98/98

Stats:
Damage: 15
Mitigation: 43
Evasion: 3
Accuracy: 3
BH:30
VAMP DEF:50
FRZ:24
BLD:24
HLY BLS:16
LD:2

Equipped Gear:
Weapon: <<Zero Degree Icicle>> (T2/Perfect/2HSS): ACC I, FRZ I, BLD I
Armor: <<Wind Dweller>> (T2/Perfect/Light Armor): EVA I, REC II
Misc: <<Chained Bracelet>> (T2/Perfect/Trinket): EVA II, ACC I

Skills:
Two-Handed Straight Sword [Rank 5]
Light Armor [Rank 5]
Battle Healing [Rank 3]
Searching [Rank 1]

Extra Skills:
Familiar Mastery: Fighter
Survival
Disguise

Mods:
2HSS Finesse [R3]
Precision
Athletics
Sprint & Acrobatics

Battle Ready Inventory:
Starter Healing Potions(heal 50HP)*3
Spyglass (2/3)*1
Woodland Armor (T2/Perfect) MIT III (2/3)*1
Teleport Crystal [F21]*1
Insta-Life ++ (T2/Perfect/HP REC III)*1
Requires Extended Weight Limit 1
Requires Extended Weight Limit 2
Requires Extended Weight Limit 3
Obtained via Item Stash (Housing)
Obtained via Dimensional Backpack

Housing Buffs:
Filling: Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot.
Relaxed: Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.
Skylight (Searching): +1 Rank to the Searching skill.
Advanced Training: +2 SP to a thread. Limit one use per month [0/1]
Multipurpose: Gain +1 to LD, Stealth Rating, Stealth Detection, or Prosperity to one post in a thread. Can be applied after a roll

Guild Hall Buffs:

Scents of the Wild:

Wedding Ring:

 

[NIGHT 0]

Oh, the duality of man.

On one side of the pad, a warrior with the due diligence to get himself prepared for the fight. Buffed with food and geared to the teeth.

On the other, there was NIGHT. Choosing to empty out an entire slot of her equipment. The best bit of protection she had against the sandstorm was her mirror's cloak, the woman briefly contemplating its cover for good luck. She'd have left her armor on, too, if she wasn't so fussed about the sand that was going to be trapped in it, nor the cuts it would bring to the white vanity piece wrapped around her torso.

The player shook her head, wiping the bit of agitation on her mind as she started heading onwards.

"If it lives out here, it has to be fast, huh?"

"It rolls around like Sonic," she replied. "So I suppose you could call it fast. Sturdy is more the appropriate description for the beast, I believe."

	NIGHT   | HP: 1490/1490 | EN: 161/161   | ACC: 1 | DMG: 19 | EVA: 1 | MIT: 79 | BH: 74   | HM: 6 | LM: 2 | ABS. ACC | TAUNT | LD: 4   | Stealth Detection: 4 | Stealth Rating: 7   | Dungeon Search: 2
- - -
[Examine] [Equipment] Sleek Shift -- [ Mitigation I | +27 MIT. ] -- [ Heavy Momentum II | +6 DMG on an unsuccessful attack. Buff is removed on a successful attack. ] Second Wind -- [ Mitigation I | +27 MIT. ] -- [ Light Momentum II | +2 ACC on an unsuccessful attack. Buff is removed on a successful attack. ] Empty Slot. [Battle-Ready Inventory] Dragon's Gaze -- [ Keen | After a successful attack, gain +1 BD until your next successful attack, at which point this bonus is removed. Another successful attack will reactivate this enhancement. ] -- [ Paralyze I | Natural successful attack rolls of 9-10 remove the enemy’s action on their next turn. Paralyzed opponents lose any evasion properties. ] -- [ Absolute Accuracy | +1 ACC. Attack rolls of 1 no longer automatically miss. ] [T1E3] Teleport Crystal (1) | Instant | TELEPORT [T1E3] Imugi's Inspiration (3) | Instant | MASS HP RECOVERY [+30*Tier HP] Skills Skills Mod Count: 8/8 Two-Handed Straight Sword | Passive | RANK 5/5 > Ferocity, Precision, Finesse Light Armor | Passive | RANK 5/5  > Athletics, Sprint&Acrobatics Searching | Passive | RANK 4/5 > Reveal Hiding | Passive | RANK 4+1/5 > Blindside, Vanish, Surprise Attack: Trickster Extended Mod Limit | Passive | RANK 3/3  Battle Healing | Passive | RANK 5/5 Energist | Passive Quick Change | Active [Extra] Survival | Passive  Concentration | Active -- CD: 3 Familiar Mastery: Fighter | Passive | RANK 3/3 Consumed Buffs Spoiler Bialas Statue | +TAUNT - - - - - - Misc. Buffs Spoiler Dimensional Backpack, Item Stash | +2 Battle-Ready Inventory Slots. Well Rested | -1 EN for the first three expenditures of each combat.  Relaxed | +(5 * Tier) HP per out-of-combat post. Full energy restoration occurs after two turns out of combat. Squeaky Clean | -25% DoT damage taken from the first DoT applied to this player in a thread. Skylight: Hiding | +1 Expertise to declared utility skill. Cooldown of 30 days to reassign. Multipurpose | +1 LD/Prosperity/Stealth/Detection to one post per thread. Can be applied after a roll. Filling | +1 T1 slot to a food consumed by this player in a thread. Can exceed Cook enhancement caps. Col Deposit | +5% col from loot-minimum mobs, +10% col from treasure chests.

[ChaseR 0]

"Sonic as in the cartoon hedgehog?", he asked out loud and scratched his chin once he had been done with his meal. "She's right, hedgehogs look like pangolins... But didn't sonic run and not roll..?". No matter. Whether it ran or rolled, it was fast all the same and that's ultimately what mattered the most. Chase felt like he could chase it no matter what however, given the buffed food from Gaius, so this should be no impossible task- just a rather harder one than all the rest they'd taken on which had gone by with relative ease, the last being a prime example.

"Won't you put on anything else..? Are you sure you're fully decked out?", he asked with furrowed eyebrows, slightly worried about his own companion. Yeah, she had more mitigation than he did probably, but her low numbers weren't all that reassuring when it came to her well being. He began to head right out towards the fields, ready to put an end to his second tier career with a glorious battle. An enemy worthy of ripping him of this title and granting him the next, essentially making him a frontliner.

[NIGHT 0]

Ah, so even the anthropomorphic mascot was familiar to the man unfamiliar with games. SEGA did well for itself then, priding such an identifiable mascot around. The woman nodded at his question, continuing her shuffle, hood drawn over her head just to blot out the sun from her vision. The effects of DAY's cloak were more than welcome.

"Won't you put on anything else..? Are you sure you're fully decked out?"

There it was, the voice of concern made physical. As much as there was some hesitation in NIGHT decking her setup just so, the woman hummed an affirmation to the man, only shooting him so much as a glance over her shoulder to back up her answer. "If anything happens, I'll pop my own crystals. Nothing to it."

"Plus," she added, glancing over to his equipment. "I believe you've got this mostly down. In any urgent scenario, we attempt a [Switch]. Though I doubt the boss is in any great capacity to maim you completely as you are now."

[ChaseR 0]

And there it was with the odd wording again. "... Switch? Why do I feel that's a game term and not you saying we'll swap places..?", he asked her with a deep sigh, starting to scratch the back of his head. It was nice to see her rely on her own items, but it'd be an unnecessary waste of budget- something that Chase was already short on, if it weren't about owing NIGHT as much Col as he really did. With the two setting out of the town, he already took his sword out. Judging by his upright stance, the way he walked and how eager he appeared to be for battle, he was more than ready to get this boss killed, one way or another.

"Are we just looking about the desert or is it in any specific arena, like the alligator shark?", he looked back over his shoulder and questioned, raising an eyebrow. He wasn't worried about taking a beating unless this behemoth dealt as much as the Lich King could, and even more than that. Especially with his enchantments, for every hit he took, he covered almost all of the damage right off the bat. He was much sturdier than before finding this unique piece, and that definitely made him feel more confident in himself.

[NIGHT 0]

"It's like a tag system," NIGHT explained, continuing to trudge on forth. "On voice command. We'll be able to swap hate on the target if both of us get a hit in when you announce for it."

"Are we just looking about the desert or is it in any specific arena, like the alligator shark?"

Alligator shark? It took her a good few moments before she'd realized he was talking about the Butcher of the Sands. "Oh."

A raised gesture pointed his gaze towards the pit in the distance, a bowl of rock and sand falling into a basin below. When she stayed silent and the winds died down a little, NIGHT could hear with certainty the rumblings of their pangolin mark from its racing, the tough ball speeding around its curved walls at an extreme velocity. The woman stopped her movements just at the edge of the indent before offering her companion to slip down ahead, doing so herself with a hand to the sloped torrent, feet guiding her downwards first.

Spoiler

ID: 167117 | BD: 5 (8, +1-4)
NIGHT missed! (+1 HM, LM Stack)

[0] NIGHT | HP: 1490/1490 | EN: 160/161 (-1) | ACC: 3 | DMG: 25 | EVA: 1 | MIT: 79 | BH: 74 | HM: 6 | LM: 2 | TAUNT | LD: 4
[0] ChaseR | HP: 1000/1000 | EN: 98/98 | DMG: 15 | EVA: 3 | ACC: 6 | MIT: 43 | BH: 30 | FRZ: 9-10 | BLD: 24 | Vamp (Def.): CD: 9+ | HBS: 16 | LD: 2

Terra Firma | HP: 650/650 | DMG: 250 | MIT: 75 | ACC: 0 | EVA: 4

ASSAULT MODE: LD10+, boss will spot hidden players and switch ACC/EVA for his attack. MD9: 50% Phase, BD10: 100% Phase
MOVE SWIFTLY: Concentration will not work on this boss. (-1 ACC) to players who attempt to use it.
HARD-SCALED: Paralysis Immune, Freeze Immune
WEAK-SPOTS: On Player BD9+, gain 50% Phase to their attack.

[ChaseR 0]

When the pangolin showed up, Chase was taken slightly by surprise. He quickly raised his sword and tried to get a feel for where the massive monster was at, unable to trace it. Feeling like he saw something jump out of the sand, he quickly slashed in front of him. The monster tried to attack too, but barely managed to dodge his attack at the last second and dove right back into the sand. "The hell?! It's fast, damn."

"Is there anything we can do to stop its speed?", he asked and somewhat ignored the remark about switching, having completely gotten absorbed in the heat of the battle. This was going to be either very annoying or very dangerous- which of the two he couldn't tell. He wanted to see if he could freeze it in place with his next hit, biting his lower lip and shifting his stance as if to lunge right at it the next time it emerged.

Spoiler

BD: 3 + 6 - 4 = 5
ChaseR missed!

MD: 2 + 4 - 3 = 3
Terra Firma missed ChaseR!

[0] NIGHT | HP: 1490/1490 | EN: 160/161 | ACC: 3 | DMG: 25 | EVA: 1 | MIT: 79 | BH: 74 | HM: 6 | LM: 2 | TAUNT | LD: 4
[0] ChaseR | HP: 1000/1000 | EN: 96/98 (-2) | DMG: 15 | EVA: 3 | ACC: 6 | MIT: 43 | BH: 30 | FRZ: 9-10 | BLD: 24 | Vamp (Def.): 50 | HBS: 16 | LD: 2

Terra Firma | HP: 650/650 | DMG: 250 | MIT: 75 | ACC: 0 | EVA: 4

ASSAULT MODE: LD10+, boss will spot hidden players and switch ACC/EVA for his attack. MD9: 50% Phase, BD10: 100% Phase
MOVE SWIFTLY: Concentration will not work on this boss. (-1 ACC) to players who attempt to use it.
HARD-SCALED: Paralysis Immune, Freeze Immune
WEAK-SPOTS: On Player BD9+, gain 50% Phase to their attack.

 

[NIGHT 0]

With Terra Firma, NIGHT was expecting to take her time. The build up of strength that would come with her gear was supposed to be gradual, but the system and her instincts worked too well in tandem for now. Just as it passed her by, she unleashed a blow, half expecting it to miss. Instead, it scraped the shell of the rolling stone through, leaving a fading red gash along its whirling side.

"Is there anything we can do to stop its speed?"

"Usually we'd bring a crystal of some sorts," she replied to his query, fidgeting with the grip of her weapon in a hand. "Lower its evasion with a song. But you probably don't need to do that to take it down yourself." As her eyes followed the beast, so too was she keeping tabs on her stacks; with patience and time they would come to accommodate their victory.

Or ChaseR could land the few decisive blows. To NIGHT, that seemed more the likely scenario by this point.

Spoiler

ID: 167119 | BD: 7 (8, +3-4)
<<Galaxy Destroyer>> vs Terra Firma.
25 * 13 = 325 DMG | 325 - 75 = 250 DMG

[2] NIGHT | HP: 1490/1490 | EN: 152/161 (+1, -9) | ACC: 1 | DMG: 19 | EVA: 1 | MIT: 79 | BH: 74 | HM: 6 | LM: 2 | TAUNT | LD: 4
[0] ChaseR | HP: 1000/1000 | EN: 96/98 | DMG: 15 | EVA: 3 | ACC: 6 | MIT: 43 | BH: 30 | FRZ: 9-10 | BLD: 24 | Vamp (Def.): 50 | HBS: 16 | LD: 2

Terra Firma | HP: 400/650 (-250) | DMG: 250 | MIT: 75 | ACC: 0 | EVA: 4

ASSAULT MODE: LD10+, boss will spot hidden players and switch ACC/EVA for his attack. MD9: 50% Phase, BD10: 100% Phase
MOVE SWIFTLY: Concentration will not work on this boss. (-1 ACC) to players who attempt to use it.
HARD-SCALED: Paralysis Immune, Freeze Immune
WEAK-SPOTS: On Player BD9+, gain 50% Phase to their attack.

[ChaseR 0]

The boy gave but a nod to NIGHT, waiting for it to attack. As soon as it leaped out of the sands to assault the player, he dashed right towards it and focused all of his strength onto his arms before slashing right at its underbelly with a strong, fast blow. A large gash showed up and was quickly followed up by another slash, with ice emerging on top of it. Just when the boy thought that would be enough to stop it right in its tracks, the ice shattered right before him.

Then, almost in a flash, the monster pulled its heavy arm back and threw a punch right at the boy, sending him rolling backwards a bit until he managed to stop himself and get up quickly. The damage was high, but he knew his battle healing would cover up for it, alongside the rest of his enchantments. "You're telling me ice doesn't work on it?! Can it get stunned at least?", he asked rather agitated, quickly running back up next to NIGHT and frowning as he turned his eyes to her.

Spoiler

BD: 10 + 6 - 4 = 10
ChaseR used Galaxy Destroyer!
15 + 2 * 13 = 17 * 13 - 75/2 = 221 - 38 = 183

MD: 8 + 4 - 3 = 9
Terra Firma attacks ChaseR!
250 - 43 = 207

[2] NIGHT | HP: 1490/1490 | EN: 152/161 | ACC: 1 | DMG: 19 | EVA: 1 | MIT: 79 | BH: 74 | HM: 6 | LM: 2 | TAUNT | LD: 4
[2] ChaseR | HP: 793/1000 (-207) | EN: 87/98 (+1, -10) | DMG: 15 | EVA: 3 | ACC: 6 | MIT: 43 | BH: 30 | FRZ: 9-10 | BLD: 24 | Vamp (Def.): 50 | HBS: 16 | LD: 2

Terra Firma | HP: 193/650 (-183 & -24) | DMG: 250 | MIT: 75 | ACC: 0 | EVA: 4 | BLEEDING [1/2]

ASSAULT MODE: LD10+, boss will spot hidden players and switch ACC/EVA for his attack. MD9: 50% Phase, MD10: 100% Phase
MOVE SWIFTLY: Concentration will not work on this boss. (-1 ACC) to players who attempt to use it.
HARD-SCALED: Paralysis Immune, Freeze Immune
WEAK-SPOTS: On Player BD9+, gain 50% Phase to their attack.

 

Edited September 3, 2020 by ChaseR

[NIGHT 0]

The woman gave her companion a shrug before flipping her blade over backwards, her stroll almost casual as she paced towards the rapid beast. Even though it'd stopped to strike at ChaseR, the fact that its momentum was still being kept up was a sight to behold, the woman attempting to bait the monster in her direction by isolating herself in the middle of the field.

It pounced in her direction, and NIGHT launched her best efforts of a Tempest as she could muster.

Almost. Most of her thoughts churned into making her strike believable, the system registering it even though her movements had been half-hearted at best. Sure enough, the sand before her was quickly unsettled, though the giant shark had ultimately zoomed it by, headed straight for its intended target instead.

At mach speed, the pangolin was rolling towards the evasive tank, and NIGHT could only watch on as she prepared for her next move, if the man needed it.

Spoiler

ID: 167121 | BD: 4 (7, +1 -4)
NIGHT missed! (+1 HM, LM Stack)

[2] NIGHT | HP: 1490/1490 | EN: 152/161 (+1, -1) | ACC: 3 | DMG: 25 | EVA: 1 | MIT: 79 | BH: 74 | HM: 6 | LM: 2 | TAUNT | LD: 4
[2] ChaseR | HP: 793/1000 (-207) | EN: 87/98 (+1, -10) | DMG: 15 | EVA: 3 | ACC: 6 | MIT: 43 | BH: 30 | FRZ: 9-10 | BLD: 24 | Vamp (Def.): 50 | HBS: 16 | LD: 2

Terra Firma | HP: 193/650 | DMG: 250 | MIT: 75 | ACC: 0 | EVA: 4 | [BLEEDING: 24] (1/2)

ASSAULT MODE: LD10+, boss will spot hidden players and switch ACC/EVA for his attack. MD9: 50% Phase, MD10: 100% Phase
MOVE SWIFTLY: Concentration will not work on this boss. (-1 ACC) to players who attempt to use it.
HARD-SCALED: Paralysis Immune, Freeze Immune
WEAK-SPOTS: On Player BD9+, gain 50% Phase to their attack.

[ChaseR 0]

Seeing NIGHT's attempts was... disappointing at least. "Hey, hey, hey..! Won't you at least try? Come on, put some spirit into it, it's my final quest as a newbie!", he shouted at her, frowning at her miss and seeing the monster dart right at her. With wide eyes, he quickly held his blade behind him and spun whole, slashing at it again and hitting it thrice with quick turns, ending it off with a vertical cut across its head and underbelly.

"I-It's hanging on a sliver of health, fuck!", Chase muttered, seeing the monster barely still alive. It raised its hand, ready to slash down at him before freezing in the air just when the boy wouldn't be able to block. With its sword lifted before him, the attack never came. He looked just above it to see the monster phasing in and out of existence before shattering into crystals. He let out a sigh, dropping his blade and looking at his blade as he saw the jagged edges with a piece of its scales on, that shattering too.

Spoiler

ChaseR used Galaxy Destroyer!
15 + 1 * 13 = 16 * 13 - 75/2 = 208 - 38 = 170

[2] NIGHT | HP: 1490/1490 | EN: 152/161 (+1, -1) | ACC: 3 | DMG: 25 | EVA: 1 | MIT: 79 | BH: 74 | HM: 6 | LM: 2 | TAUNT | LD: 4
[4] ChaseR | HP: 839/1000 (+46) | EN: 78/98 (+1, -10) | DMG: 15 | EVA: 3 | ACC: 6 | MIT: 43 | BH: 30 | FRZ: 9-10 | BLD: 24 | Vamp (Def.): 50 | HBS: 16 | LD: 2

Terra Firma | HP: 0/650 (-170 & -24) | DMG: 250 | MIT: 75 | ACC: 0 | EVA: 4 | [BLEEDING: 24] (2/2)

ASSAULT MODE: LD10+, boss will spot hidden players and switch ACC/EVA for his attack. MD9: 50% Phase, MD10: 100% Phase
MOVE SWIFTLY: Concentration will not work on this boss. (-1 ACC) to players who attempt to use it.
HARD-SCALED: Paralysis Immune, Freeze Immune
WEAK-SPOTS: On Player BD9+, gain 50% Phase to their attack.

[Chase obtained the Terra Firma Scale!]

Edited September 3, 2020 by ChaseR

[NIGHT 0]

She'd almost wanted to chuckle watching him slay the beast and yet having complained about not putting enough heart into her attacks. Sure, NIGHT was apt on cutting corners and being comfortable where she could, but saying she wasn't trying left something to be desired from her companion.

The player withdrew her blade with a wish, sauntering back over to ChaseR's side. All the calmness in the world wouldn't stop the stream of sand from pouring down from above, to hush the pounding torrents -- but that's just how Terra Firma's home base was like. Even with her armored boots, her steps were dampened by the noise, and it was only when she got closer to the man that NIGHT began speaking proper again.

A hand dusted off his shoulder, the woman barely giving him a grin. "Figured you could do it," she added, before glancing above the horizon line, trying to remember how she'd scaled up this basin.

It had been far too long for her to recall by now.

[ChaseR 0]

Watching the loot drop window appear before him, he grinned. These 5 SP were the final he needed to get to the third tier in but a week. "... We did it. NIGHT. I'm in Tier 3 now.", he announced in a genuinely heart-warming tone, smiling and feeling pride swell up on his chest. He looked over to see her and noticed she was lost in thought, scratching the back of his head and coughing to get her attention. With a soft pat to her shoulder, he gestured her to follow right behind him, throwing both of his hands behind his head.

He walked almost nonchalantly, feeling a huge weight taken off of his chest just like that. Now he was fully qualified to head into the frontlines and help out with the floor boss, and that would also mean he was just as qualified to protect Shay and whoever else he needed to with the sheer power he'd amassed. "Let's head back. Any ideas for a next quest?", Chase questioned with a low hum while they headed back. "So that was the trip, huh? Long way, yet in such a short time... Maybe I was fast after all."

[NIGHT 0]

As exciting a prospect as that was -- a new Tier 3 player, just in time for the boss fight...! -- her concerns were only assuaged by ChaseR somehow leading them out of the hole she figured they were trapped in, pacing along up the dirt road from an obscure tunnel.

"Congratulations," NIGHT finally relayed; the smile on his face hadn't been left unnoticed by the woman. Though her concerns had largely lied upon the man's choice of gear for now, the uptick in stats he was to receive by tier alone should be enough to carry the player forward, further and potentially faster when it came to taking out his own enemies. A part of her wondered if ChaseR would be alright, if he was somehow worrying about the damage he was going to take from then on.

The perpetuated grin somehow informed her otherwise.

"Not particularly...--"

Her voice stopped then, recalling her preparations for the major concerto to come. "--Shoot. Yeah, there is one," she quickly admitted, lightly tugging at the hood over her face. "You might want to see it, too. Bane of Blood. Drops a regen consumable."

[ChaseR 0]

"Bane of Blood..?", he asked with his arms crossed, furrowing his eyebrows and frowning a bit. "That sounds really menacing... Should I head on over to Gaius and tell him to cook me up some goodies for the quest..? What is it about anyways?", he spat out all his questions at once before opening his menu and trying to find it, eventually deciding to do so once they were out of this pit. With a grunt, he looked up the hill of sand pouring down on top of them, stretching silently and wanting to try something out.

"Sprint & Acrobatics... Athletics... Can I?". He turned back to his companion, asking her with crossed arms. "Hey, instead of going through the tunnel... Could we go back and climb up? We have Sprint, Acrobatics and Athletics, so nothing is stopping us. Right? Our physical capabilities should be boosted if they're right... B-But how would that work?", he questioned himself somewhat discouraged, giving his hands another stretch to see if he felt himself any more buff. "N-No, nothing like that. I'm the same as before getting these skills for sure... So does it not..?"

[NIGHT 0]

Her mind was set on checking through the couple of items she'd needed before glancing over ChaseR's way when he'd stopped, questions pouring through his lips, flowing, unending. "Wolves," was NIGHT's reply. "It's nothing too difficult. Might take a while since there's quite a few of them to clear out, but..."

When he pointed over to the wall, the player raised a brow and cocked her head to the side. Too much effort for her for the time being, but she wasn't one to deny her friend the opportunity of exerting himself. Might as well put that excited energy from reaching a milestone to good use. "Go ahead," she replied, deciding to turn around and trek up her way instead. "I'll wait for you at the top. Or vice versa." If anything, his little experiment would inform her just how slippery the sand was, or how difficult the sides were to scale.

In any case, she left ChaseR alone in the sand pit until he was able to join up.

[ChaseR 0]

Well, getting split up wasn't quite what he expected but if that was the way she wanted things to be, so be it. He waved at her while she left, looking at the wall and taking a few steps back. He practically moved to the other side of the arena, preparing to run. "Alright... You've got sprint... acrobatics... you can do it. You're fast. You're strong. Go!", he shouted mentally and started making his way right towards it, gritting his teeth. With a leap, he began to ran onto the wall, making it about halfway up the wall before his feet slipped on the sand.

"Th-The fuck?! Piss off-", a shout was heard from behind NIGHT, followed by panicking cries before a loud thud followed. It... might not have gone too well, for one. Now laying on the sand, Chase spat some out and sat up, groaning and rubbing the back of his head. "T-Tch, if only there was some way to get the sand to not slip down... Guess I'll catch up with NIGHT then...", he grumbled and began heading for the tunnel before freezing in his steps. "... Some way to stop it? Oh, you bet I know one.", he thought to himself with a devilish smile, grinning and cracking his knuckles.

[NIGHT 0]

Warm sun, dry wind.

Those were the two things that greeted her outside of the tunnel, the breeze a warm welcome from the apparent stagnance when it came to the hole in the ground.

Her eyes were weary from the radiance of the heat. Where there might've been fog, loose sand particles danced in the air, peppering the landscape with heated gold dust. NIGHT kept her cloak in place with a grip of the cloth in her palm, balled up in a tight patch. Atop the edge of the basin she stood, shrouded by her white hood, glancing over to the bottom of the fall while keeping the blue jewel in her sights.

--In truth, the only reason why she'd been this close to his trajectory to begin with was his cries of alarm earlier on. Had he fallen? Cut his health in half? Thankfully the environment was merciful to him, but she wasn't so sure about the reverse the moment ChaseR turned around from his walk over to the tunnel entrance.

[ChaseR 0]

Chase continued to prepare himself with the same smug smirk on his face, until one of his hands reached out to his sword. He quietly placed his palm on its flat side, exhaling deeply and glaring at the pit's walls. By the time that NIGHT had gotten up, she could hear grunts and some metallic noises, followed along cracking and shattering of... glass? It was then that a hand showed up from the edge of the pit, having grabbed onto the sand. Before it could fall, his sword followed and got lodged right in front of his hand, spreading ice in a small radius around it to keep in place.

With a heave, the boy kicked at the wall and managed to get up, grinning and looking at the female's probably disapproving glance. The sun was too harsh to tell. "Ah, here so soon? Heh... That was a workout...", he commented and looked down at the pit's walls, seeing the little steps he'd made out of ice starting to shatter and melt into the sand. His sword had some rather unique properties, and seemed to work more out of battle than it did in battle- then again, it did take him a solid five to ten minutes to set up the perfect path out of the pit, and the window he had even then was tiny. Whatever the case, he was out of the pit now and that's all that mattered. "Let's get outta here anyways, yeah~?"

[NIGHT 0]

She squinted, as the blue dot slowly drifted towards her from the side of the rock face. And... a growing frosty mix of white and gold?

That can't be safe, NIGHT wondered, when she'd finally registered the man's actions in his ascent. Slowly, she'd taken a few steps backwards when it came time to his arrival, the woman keeping an eye on the corner of her HUD when he'd finally pulled himself onto solid ground.

A handful of minutes. Not too shabby, considering she hadn't expected his outcome to turn a success in the first place, anyway.

"Ah, here so soon? Heh... That was a workout..."

The player shot him a questioning smirk, sheltered from the light. After he'd caught his breath, ChaseR suggested they move on.

"Floor 15 then," she stated, turning around and shuffling against the dirt. "Just in case you want to scurry off and pick up some consumables for the fight. Still don't think this situation is fully necessary for it."

After all, she already had her aces in the hole prepared for her a while ago.