[SP|F08] <<Monkey King>> What Business?

[ChaseR 0]

<<Monkey King>>

Maybe it was about time to start getting used to all the changes. What piqued Chase's interest more than anything else, was actually the fact that extra skills seemed to be much more now- plentiful and different than before. Instead of being bought with SP after completing quests, they would appear upon meeting certain conditions while carrying out said quests. The one that got his attention before anything else was 'Shatter', it apparently lowered mitigation. That was something he could definitely get behind, regardless of its energy cost. 

"Seems like I have to fight the 'monkey king'... I almost forgot that quest existed.", he grumbled to himself and shrugged, starting to head out. And so, he arrived over at the eighth. He was somewhat surprised, because as same-y as the floor was, the one thing different was a few NPCs that stuck out. The first one was some form of youngster, just like he, who held a cigarette in one hand and huffed in smoke before letting it back out with deep exhales. Already off to a great start, the bluehead wasn't too keen of smokers at any given point in time. "So I'm guessing he must be the quest NPC... Seems eccentric enough."

Spoiler

ChaseR
Level: 31
Paragon Level: 56
HP: 840/840
EN: 102/102

Stats:
Damage: 21
Mitigation: 69
Evasion: 3
Accuracy: 3
Battle Healing: 42
Loot Dice: 6
HLY BLS: 16
HLY: 16
PARA
V.D.: 42

Equipped Gear:
Weapon: <<Fragmented Blade>> (T4/2HSS/Perfect): HOLY II, PARA I
Armor: <<Azure Getup>> (T4/CA/Perfect): VDEF I, HBS I, MIT I
Misc: <<Chained Bracelet>> (T2/Trinket/Demonic): ACC II, EVA II

Skills:
2HSS R5
Cloth Armor R5
Battle Healing R5
Searching R4
Charge
Extended Weight Limit
Fighting Spirit

Active Mods:
Precision
Stamina
Athletics
Nimble
Large Pockets

Inactive Mods:

Active Extra Skills:
Disguise
Forgotten King’s Authority

Inactive Extra Skills:
Meditation
Survival

Battle Ready Inventory:
Gugnir's Shard (T3/Instant/HP REC III): 15
Imugi's Inspiration (Mass HP Recovery): 1
Insta-Life ++ (T2/Perfect/HP REC III): 1
Woodland Armor (T3/Perfect) MIT III (1/3): 1

Housing Buffs:
Rested: -1 energy cost for the first two expenditures of each combat
Clean: The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 20% (rounded down)
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: +10% Exp to a thread. Limit one use per month [1/1]
Multipurpose: Gain +1 to LD, Stealth Rating, Stealth Detection, or Prosperity to one post in a thread. Can be applied after a roll
Decor [Potted Tanabata Bamboo Tree]: This buff affects the player and their choice of up to two party members.

Guild Hall Buffs:

Scents of the Wild:
Tanos Statue: +25 Mitigation for a thread.

Wedding Ring:

 

[ChaseR 0]

The moment Chase began to approach the zoologist, he'd already turned his head and cocked up an eyebrow, crossing his legs as he sat back against a house's railing and waited. "... Y-Yo.", Chase waved at him only to receive a small gesture of the man's head in return, letting out a sigh. "What may I help you with, dear traveler?". Great, the sarcasm was already oozing out of this one- exactly what he loved the least out of Freyd. Already getting off to a good start.

"... There's a monkey. Somewhere in your forest. I want to take care of it.", he awkwardly worded it only to see the zoologist brighten up. Just where he thought he'd be told details for the quest, Remington grinned and clapped his hands. "Excellent, we've been looking for someone to adopt it a while now! Join the line-", he abruptly stopped and huffed some more smoke, getting a hiss out of the boy. "T-Tch, I mean kill it. It's been a pest to you and your village, right.". Although he seemed somewhat 'insulted' by the defensive stance, Remington gave a nod. "... Was just messing with ya. Yeah, the 'Monkey King'. I'm Florenthia's zoologist, Remington. I'm guessing you've already heard about it with the rumors making their rounds, but I can give you some more specifics before you go out to hunt it.". Right after that offer had been made, the accept quest window appeared in front of Chase. A neat change of pace, sure... He accepted it, and then began the info dump.

[ChaseR 0]

"I haven't messed with the beast too much. Only seen it once- me and the guard's leader, Sewallus, were out on a field trip to scout for what had been taking down half of the forest's trees on the daily. Before we knew it, we'd found the primate. I didn't get too good a look at it because as soon as we found it, we started to run. That thing is massive- and it acts like an ape. Hence the name. It's way aggressive and won't let go until what it's looking at is dead or truly out of reach. It'd bust down half the city just to get you, if it could, I bet."

"You ran from it? Couldn't fight it at all?", Chase asked only to receive a nod in return. "Sewallus, wasn't he strong enough to put up a good fight?". Remington laughed a bit, lowering his cigarette and straightening his expression for a moment. "Nah, not even close. And he's plenty strong. Just so you get a good picture of it- we ran and ran, but we never got far away enough. It was always right next to us, hot on our tracks, and every tree in the way, got wrecked. Hell, there's more craters than trees in its path, and there's rivers where there were forests. That thing is a natural disaster.". That didn't make too much sense though, if it had been here for long enough to cause this much destruction, there would probably be no eighth floor by now, right? "I see. Anything else I should know?", he concluded his questions and scratched the back of his head, seeing Remington shake his own. "Nothin' else I know. Tell you what. Go kill it, and if you fail, come back with at least some form of weakness for it. If you need something, Sewallus can help. He's the guy right there, the stud in the armor."

[ChaseR 0]

A nod, a shake of their hands and relief for finally getting away from that stupid virtual cancer inducing smoke. The intel he got was enough to make him unable to get angry at the NPC though. Smoker or not, he'd definitely done Chase a service in understanding what had changed with this boss fight being over. People must have still been waking up and getting used to the sudden blackout, but the world around them wasn't the same as before. The NPCs seemed to have gotten more talkative, and quests had a lot more fluff to them. Just what he and Itzal were talking about when hunting down the King, huh?

Now walking up to the man with the heavy, golden armor, Chase made the same gesture Remington had with his head, getting his attention. "I saw you speaking with Remington. You wouldn't happen to be here to help us out with the Monkey King, would you?", he questioned almost too quickly, getting a small grin from Chase. "That's the reason I've actually come here. Remington said you could give me some more information for the boss I can use against it.", he worked as best as he could on his social skills, moving the dialogue forwards and being as much of an extrovert as possible. "I know as much as he does- he might have been able to get some information out of the encounter, even. But I'd like to accompany you in your effort to take the beast down. Running away from it was... wrong. Even if I'm alive now, it feels wrong. I have to make it up to myself, so please. Allow me to escort you.". That was... surprisingly straightforward. Hell, this form of speech was more than most would give credit to NPCs for. "I work better alone. But I'm certain I can kill the boss. More help never hurts."

[ChaseR 0]

And so, a prompt emerged for Sewallus to join the party. Chase accepted it, and quickly saw the name and extra health bar added down right below his own. That's about when he noticed how little his health seemed to be now, groaning and scratching the back of his head before he looked to the side. "Let's get a move on. How did you manage to escape?". The one thing both of these smooth talkers seemed to have in common was how straightforward they were- the one thing they didn't, was that one managed to often be insulting with it, while the other failed in that regard. A victory for Sewallus, overall.

"I'm not sure. There must have been something else- the monster got distracted or something disrupted it. If it were up to us being fast enough, neither would be back here, alive and well as we are.", his reply concluded, carrying his war axe with him. A big and heavy weapon, just like his armor, but he seemed very accustomed with it. "... I see. Think something else might be lurking in the forest?", he asked the paladin to hear a chuckle in response. "I doubt it. If it were something strong enough to get in the king's way, we'd have picked it up by now. At best it must have been hungry and found easier prey.". That was where the blue boy was heading with his assumptions too, but it didn't hurt to ask now or ever. "Sounds like you've been struggling with the monster for a while now. Has it been long since it started showing up?", he asked Sewallus and was disappointed by the lack of a definitive answer. "Not too long. Although it surely feels that way. The shame I've had to put up with after knowing I ran from a fight and put the rest of the town in danger. Exits haven't been the same. Few people leave and return almost immediately, the rest remain inside. Like Remington."

[ChaseR is now partied up with Sewallus!]

[ChaseR 0]

"Since seeing that monster, Remington hasn't left the town once. I'm certain as soon as you help me take care of it, we are going to see him start studying the environment again from within- no longer sheltered by the town's walls, he'll feel safe again to be outside, wandering about and running his researches.". It almost sounded like Sewallus was as sad as he was ashamed, and that was definitely something that Chase could get behind. There wasn't any way he was going to die to the Monkey King in the first place, but now he definitely couldn't fail.

"So... Your axe. You really get comfortable swinging that thing around?", he asked Sewallus somewhat awkwardly, keeping his broken sword hoisted up at his hip. Pretty ironic, him questioning people's comfortability using items that were less than conventional when his own weapon was broken apart. "It's been with me since long, long ago. Can't get rid of my axe after all the trees I've felled with it. If the town had soldiers better than I, I'd have long now gone back to the simpler times. All I'd have to worry about would be my daily hunts and work. But the Monkey King isn't letting me get a break, is he?". He had a point. Maybe it really was easier to just sit by idly and do nothing but set up a house and wait. He wasn't really waiting though, was he? Nothing was going to happen even if the players cleared the game for the NPCs, things would continue as normal, without the intrusive adventurers.

[ChaseR 0]

"Yeah. You're right. Always someone getting in the way, monster or man.", Chase sighed lowly, although Sewallus did hear him loud and clear. The knight just chose not to comment on it, and with the two wandering out of the forest for a fair while now, they were starting to see signs of the boss' destruction around the forest. Broken trees, the ground shattered and dry at parts, and water going throughout random spots where dense groves used to be.

"Seems like we're getting close. I heard you have an extra skill- Shatter. It sounds useful.", he made his advance while the two continued to explore, hearing a short chuckle and exhale from Sewallus. "Let me guess, you want me to teach you it? I will. As soon as we're done taking care of this issue of mine. And Florenthia's. I'm guessing you don't live here, so it's not really your problem.", the guard pointed out and heard a low laugh. "You're right. I'm far, far away. My house is in a cave.". By now, the paladin must have been thinking Chase some form of troglodyte for living in the caves like a troll. "Thanks though. We'll kill the king and make sure everything is fine for you all.", he tried to reassure the embarrassed guard, resting a hand on the hilt of his blade. He could already feel a heavy thudding in the distance, so he knew they were getting closer to the king much faster than they thought. "Keep your guard up."

[ChaseR 0]

It wasn't even a few seconds after Chase had given the heads up to the warrior that the monster showed up. Big and towering like the last time they met, it stood there with a sharp, red glare in its eyes, directed right towards the bluehead. No point in losing time. He hadn't communicated what to do with Sewallus beforehand, but it was best if he didn't waste much time, charging right in with his attack ready. The Galaxy Destroyer he was all too familiar with, that is.

Maybe charging wasn't the best idea though. He moved too quickly and almost successfully landed his strike, being stopped by the monkey suddenly ripping a tree out of the ground. It put his balance off and resulted in him stumbling, groaning. Sewallus then howled too- a howl?! Was he looking to get killed? "Sewallus, stop that-", he tried to warn him before the Monkey King's head snapped right towards the paladin. "This is the only way for me to no longer feel any guilt, ChaseR! Let me do what I have to.", he told him and got a 'tsk' out of the boy, who suddenly flinched by the tree being thrown at the both of them, sending them tumbling back. "G-Gah, you okay?!", he asked his companion filled with worry, seeing the massive blow to both's health. "What the fuck is happening with this update?! Why does this monster deal so much damage out of nowhere?!". This couldn't be right, in the older system. the Monkey King was nothing but a joke- King of the fools maybe at worst.

Spoiler

ChaseR charges with Galaxy Destroyer! (BD: 2+3-1=4)
ATTACK MISSED

Sewallus uses Florenthian Howl! (BD: -)
+5 hate on Monkey King!

Monkey King attacks Sewallus! (MD: 10)
'If a Tree Falls' activates!
120 + STUN [ChaseR]
120 + STUN [Sewallus]

[1] ChaseR: HP: 720/840 (-120) | EN: 92/102 (-8, -2) | DMG: 21 | MIT: 69 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 3 | HOLY: 16 | PARA: 9-10 | BH: 42 | V.(DEF): 42 | HBS: 16 | LD: 6
[5] Sewallus: HP: 280/400 (-120) | DMG: 75 (BD 9-10: 100) | MIT: 50 | EVA: -1

• Florenthian Howl | Grants Sewallus +5 Hate against the Monkey King. Requires a Post Action. Sewallus will use this ability on his first turn, and every second post thereafter.
• Shatter | Upon a successful attack, reduce target's Mitigation by 15 before damage is calculated. This effect can stack up to three times. Shatter from outside sources will not increase the stack count, but will refresh the duration. Effect lasts three turns.

Monkey King: HP: 650/650 | DMG: 200 | MIT: 75 | ACC: 2

• If a Tree Falls | On MD rolls of 9 or 10, the Monkey King will pick up a large tree and throw it at the party.  This replaces the Monkey King's normal attack, automatically dealing 120 unmitigatable damage and inflicting stun to each target.

Attack Order: ChaseR -> Sewallus -> Monkey King -> ChaseR -> ...

Cooldowns:

• Galaxy Destroyer (5/4)
• Charge (4/3)

 

[ChaseR 0]

There was, sadly, no response from Sewallus. But that wasn't because he was dead- more so because he had been stunned, just as Chase. Where he knew he was in no real danger himself, the bluehead had trouble getting up, feeling his muscles weak and having given up on him. He groaned and grunted, but despite his best efforts he failed to get back on his feet and up to beat the boss down like he normally would be able to.

"S-Sewallus...", he groaned and tried to reach out for him, but that didn't help any even when it ended up working. What was worst, was the Monkey King wouldn't take any time to give them breaks. He raised his arms into the air and with a jump, landed on top of the paladin, slamming them both down to drop his health to below half. He was going to be in real trouble very soon, and Chase knew there was little to nothing he could really do about it. Was he going to fail the NPC that asked him to join after all? If only he didn't Howl at the start, then they would have been able to get through this with both of them perfectly in tact- bar the tree, Chase would have taken the other hits and been alright due to all of his external healing.

Spoiler

ChaseR is stunned! (BD: -)

Sewallus is stunned! (BD: -)

Monkey King attacks Sewallus! (MD: 7)
200 - 50 = 150

[1] ChaseR: HP: 778/840 (+42+16) | EN: 92/102 (-8, -2) | DMG: 21 | MIT: 69 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 3 | HOLY: 16 | PARA: 9-10 | BH: 42 | V.(DEF): 42 | HBS: 16 | LD: 6 | STUNNED | Stun CD [3/3]
[5] Sewallus: HP: 130/400 (-150) | DMG: 75 (BD 9-10: 100) | MIT: 50 | EVA: -1 | STUNNED | Stun CD [3/3]

• Florenthian Howl | Grants Sewallus +5 Hate against the Monkey King. Requires a Post Action. Sewallus will use this ability on his first turn, and every second post thereafter.
• Shatter | Upon a successful attack, reduce target's Mitigation by 15 before damage is calculated. This effect can stack up to three times. Shatter from outside sources will not increase the stack count, but will refresh the duration. Effect lasts three turns.

Monkey King: HP: 650/650 | DMG: 200 | MIT: 75 | ACC: 2

• If a Tree Falls | On MD rolls of 9 or 10, the Monkey King will pick up a large tree and throw it at the party.  This replaces the Monkey King's normal attack, automatically dealing 120 unmitigatable damage and inflicting stun to each target.

Attack Order: ChaseR -> Sewallus -> Monkey King -> ChaseR -> ...

Cooldowns:

• Galaxy Destroyer (4/4)
• Charge (3/3)

 

[ChaseR 0]

Finally, the stun wore off the both of them. The knight got up and looked over at Chase, holding his axe firmly. "It got me good, but I'm still standing. I don't know if I'll make it past another hit, but... I thank you for allowing me to go down this way.", he gave Chase a half-assed thanks and ran right towards the ape, managing to land a strike- or so it seemed, before his axe met with the ground and had a passionate kiss, before being pulled out. The primate almost smushed what would have been the ex-guard lead, but at the last second, the swordsman ran right at the monster and stabbed his sword into its muscular form, lightning coursing through the blade and successfully stunning him.

"I understand you have some stupid pride on the line but stop trying to fucking die all the time!", he shouted alongside his strike, turning his sword for an extra bit of damage before jumping back and making sure that Sewallus was behind him. The monster was going to need to recover, but looking at its health, things were seeming to be horribly bad so far. "At this rate, I can't manage to kill it before it gets another hit on you. Your armor is too heavy and the thing is too fast, if you can't dodge it and keep taking its attention, there's nothing more that I can do to protect you.", he hissed at Sewallus, only to hear him bark back in response. "It's not just about my pride, it's about my obligation to the town! I need to help you fell it from the front, not just stand back and watch you fight your life away from the sidelines, cheering on!". There it was, that stupid sense of 'I must do everything alone'. A trait that the both of them shared, in the end. But it wasn't that apparent to the bluehead.

Spoiler

ChaseR uses Tempest! (BD: 8+3=10)
21 * 14 - 75 = 294 - 75 = 219

Sewallus attacks Monkey King! (BD: 5)
ATTACK MISSED

Monkey King is stunned! (MD: -)

[3] ChaseR: HP: 820/840 (+42) | EN: 83/102 (+1, -10) | DMG: 21 | MIT: 69 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 3 | HOLY: 16 | PARA: 9-10 | BH: 42 | V.(DEF): 42 | HBS: 16 | LD: 6 | Stun CD [2/3]
[5] Sewallus: HP: 130/400 | DMG: 75 (BD 9-10: 100) | MIT: 50 | EVA: -1 | Stun CD [2/3]

• Florenthian Howl | Grants Sewallus +5 Hate against the Monkey King. Requires a Post Action. Sewallus will use this ability on his first turn, and every second post thereafter.
• Shatter | Upon a successful attack, reduce target's Mitigation by 15 before damage is calculated. This effect can stack up to three times. Shatter from outside sources will not increase the stack count, but will refresh the duration. Effect lasts three turns.

Monkey King: HP: 431/650 (-219) | DMG: 200 | MIT: 75 | ACC: 2

• If a Tree Falls | On MD rolls of 9 or 10, the Monkey King will pick up a large tree and throw it at the party.  This replaces the Monkey King's normal attack, automatically dealing 120 unmitigatable damage and inflicting stun to each target.

Attack Order: ChaseR -> Sewallus -> Monkey King -> ChaseR -> ...

Cooldowns:

• Galaxy Destroyer (3/4)
• Charge (2/3)
• Tempest (3/2)

 

[ChaseR 0]

Things really were black and white for the both of them. Chase had to protect Sewallus, and Sewallus had to either take the hits or cease to exist. At this rate, he was ready to cease to exist as was. The monkey was about to start moving again, and that's when Chase noticed a cooldown back off to available. "If I knew that the moment I try to learn this system better is the moment some guy's life is on me, I wouldn't have ever accepted it in the first place.", he groaned and charged right at the boss once more, missing his strike despite the multiple attacks he threw at the king.

And as if things couldn't get worse, what did Sewallus do? But of course, he would howl and try to get more of its attention. Now he was beyond any form of saving from the two handed sword user. "I seriously can't save you any, it's going to kill you-". He stopped. The pressure from feeling the ground thud at the forest's ruler suddenly taking a step forward, roaring and beginning to rip out another tree straight from the ground. With ease, it was snapped in two and thrown right towards the both of them, sending them back- but it didn't serve as a stun. "I'm still... standing...", he proclaimed, and that made the boy worried, and relieved too. "Stay to the side for two seconds, damn it! Do your stupid shit sword, just cut this damn thing and let this be over!"

Spoiler

ChaseR charges with Calamitous Disaster! (BD: 1)
ATTACK MISSED

Sewallus uses Florenthian Howl! (BD: -)
+5 hate against Monkey King!

Monkey King attacks Sewallus! (MD: 9)
'If a Tree Falls' activates!
120 + STUN [ChaseR]
120 + STUN [Sewallus]

[4] ChaseR: HP: 720/840 (+42, -120) | EN: 74/102 (+1, -8, -2) | DMG: 21 | MIT: 69 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 3 | HOLY: 16 | PARA: 9-10 | BH: 42 | V.(DEF): 42 | HBS: 16 | LD: 6 | Stun CD [1/3]
[10] Sewallus: HP: 10/400 (-120) | DMG: 75 (BD 9-10: 100) | MIT: 50 | EVA: -1 | Stun CD [1/3]

• Florenthian Howl | Grants Sewallus +5 Hate against the Monkey King. Requires a Post Action. Sewallus will use this ability on his first turn, and every second post thereafter.
• Shatter | Upon a successful attack, reduce target's Mitigation by 15 before damage is calculated. This effect can stack up to three times. Shatter from outside sources will not increase the stack count, but will refresh the duration. Effect lasts three turns.

Monkey King: HP: 431/650 | DMG: 200 | MIT: 75 | ACC: 2 | STUNNED | Stun CD [3/3]

• If a Tree Falls | On MD rolls of 9 or 10, the Monkey King will pick up a large tree and throw it at the party.  This replaces the Monkey King's normal attack, automatically dealing 120 unmitigatable damage and inflicting stun to each target.

Attack Order: ChaseR -> Sewallus -> Monkey King -> ChaseR -> ...

Cooldowns:

• Galaxy Destroyer (2/4)
• Charge (1/3)
• Tempest (2/2)
• Calamitous Disaster (4/3)

 

[ChaseR 0]

Funny enough, it were as though the sword answered his pleas. When he needed it the most for once during his stay in Aincrad, it woke up to the sound of his voice and began to glow brightly, its form restored to what seemed like an even bigger blade than before- and it ran right through the monster's body, cutting it sideways in half. The beast stood still with its hands ready to slam down on Sewallus and put an end to him, but it seemed to have been too slow. Or unlucky, depends on how one looked at this situation.

Now the real question. Who was more surprised now? The King, Chase, or the half dead paladin? More than half dead, given how low his health had dropped. Rolling up his sleeves, Chase groaned and sheathed his blade, looking at the man in the heavy armor who returned the glance in awe. "... You... just vanished it with a single strike..?", he asked and fell back on his rear, dropping his axe next to him and laying down on the ground. Although the bluehead wanted to shout at him and throw a fit at his stupidity, at least this whole scenario was over. What was it, that he was an NPC and couldn't think straight, or was he just that stupidly stubborn? "Yes, that's why I asked you to stay to the side for a bit. I have around double your health and a little more, I could take the blows with ease. You put yourself in a lot of danger, Sewallus. You'd get... killed, you know."

Spoiler

 

ChaseR charges with Fight Blade! (BD: 8-1+3=10)
(21 + 5) * 11 - 75 = 26 * 11 - 75 = 286 - 75 = 211

Sewallus attacks Monkey King! (BD: 7)
75 - 60 = 15 + SHATTER

Monkey King attacks Sewallus. (MD: 1)
ATTACK MISSED! (POOLS BOUT TO CLOSE)

[7] ChaseR: HP: 820/840 (+42+42+16) | EN: 65/102 (+1, -10) | DMG: 21 | MIT: 69 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 3 | HOLY: 16 | PARA: 9-10 | BH: 42 | V.(DEF): 42 | HBS: 16 | LD: 6 | Stun CD [0/3]
[11] Sewallus: HP: 10/400 | DMG: 75 (BD 9-10: 100) | MIT: 50 | EVA: -1 | Stun CD [0/3]

• Florenthian Howl | Grants Sewallus +5 Hate against the Monkey King. Requires a Post Action. Sewallus will use this ability on his first turn, and every second post thereafter.
• Shatter | Upon a successful attack, reduce target's Mitigation by 15 before damage is calculated. This effect can stack up to three times. Shatter from outside sources will not increase the stack count, but will refresh the duration. Effect lasts three turns.

Monkey King: HP: 205/650 (-211, -15) | DMG: 200 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 2 | Stun CD [2/3]

• If a Tree Falls | On MD rolls of 9 or 10, the Monkey King will pick up a large tree and throw it at the party.  This replaces the Monkey King's normal attack, automatically dealing 120 unmitigatable damage and inflicting stun to each target.

Attack Order: ChaseR -> Sewallus -> Monkey King -> ChaseR -> ...

Cooldowns:

• Galaxy Destroyer (1/4)
• Charge (3/3)
• Tempest (1/2)
• Calamitous Disaster (3/3)
• Fight Blade (3/2)

 

[ChaseR 0]

There was no doubt about that last point he made. Sewallus was looking to get killed more than anything if his behavior served as any form of an indicator. He wasn't weak, but he was definitely taking risky moves that were unnecessary, too. High risk and low reward don't go hand in hand together. "... I believe I'm already better. I... Apologies. I didn't mean to.", he replied with a hint of shame in his voice even now, but not at the monkey- more so himself. The only way to make it up to Chase now, was to not repeat that with anything else in the future.

"C-Come on, cut the apologies. It's okay. Just... don't do that again.", he tried to settle him down as best as he could, doing his best for what was his worst ability- calming down people and trying to comfort them. "I will not. Now, Remington can enjoy the eighth again. Get back to studying about Florenthia and tell us all we need to know about the beasts and animals around the settlement so we can stay protected.". Way to always look at the bright side, at the very least. He wouldn't be able to do too well with a depressed hulk next to him, either way. Not that there was much to do, although one thing really did come to blueberry's mind as soon as he began to think about it. "Say, could-", he started to ask only to get interrupted. The paladin stood up and coughed, looking at the boy. "Before you say anything... Thanks. For helping me take down the monster- as if you didn't do that alone- and saving my life. I owe you.". And with his grateful thanking, came the window with the rewards for the boy. Just the quest's consumable, he'd already gotten its SP before the change was made to what seemed to be... EXP? What really was even happening anymore?

Spoiler

ChaseR uses Galaxy Destroyer! (BD: 8+3=10)
21 * 17 - 60 = 357 - 60 = 297

Sewallus watches the Monkέ die. (BD: -)

Monkey King fuckin' dies. (MD: - λωλε)

[7] ChaseR: HP: 840/840 (+42) | EN: 52/102 (+1, -14) | DMG: 21 | MIT: 69 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 3 | HOLY: 16 | PARA: 9-10 | BH: 42 | V.(DEF): 42 | HBS: 16 | LD: 6
[11] Sewallus: HP: 10/400 | DMG: 75 (BD 9-10: 100) | MIT: 50 | EVA: -1

• Florenthian Howl | Grants Sewallus +5 Hate against the Monkey King. Requires a Post Action. Sewallus will use this ability on his first turn, and every second post thereafter.
• Shatter | Upon a successful attack, reduce target's Mitigation by 15 before damage is calculated. This effect can stack up to three times. Shatter from outside sources will not increase the stack count, but will refresh the duration. Effect lasts three turns.

Monkey King: HP: 0/650 (-297) | DMG: 200 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 2 | Stun CD [1/3]

• If a Tree Falls | On MD rolls of 9 or 10, the Monkey King will pick up a large tree and throw it at the party.  This replaces the Monkey King's normal attack, automatically dealing 120 unmitigatable damage and inflicting stun to each target.

Attack Order: ChaseR -> Sewallus -> Monkey King -> ChaseR -> ...

Cooldowns:

• Galaxy Destroyer (5/4)
• Charge (3/3)
• Calamitous Disaster (2/3)
• Fight Blade (2/2)

 

[ChaseR 0]

With the closing of the window, that meant the quest was over. He hadn't seen any confirmation of a new extra skill like Shatter being learned yet though. That's when Sewallus surprised him by getting up, dusting himself and holding his axe by the very end of its hilt, using it to almost balance himself as he closed his eyes and let out a deep exhale. "I did, before we engaged in battle with the Monkey King, promise to help you learn how to use my skill. Shatter. You didn't get to see it in battle today, but it's an ability that helps me in battle by lowering my opponent's mitigation upon landing a hit successfully."

Now, he straightened up. This was the part where he wanted to keep his ears on the ready, and his body too in order to learn. "Can you show me?", he asked the warrior, and there was no response. Instead, he picked up his axe and turned to one of the trees around them left in tact, letting out a sigh and assuming a battle ready stance. With his eyes closed, he inhaled before exhaling and opening his eyes, focused and with a stable look before he swung his battle-axe right towards it. Parts of the tree came out, as they should have, and a lot of the splinters from the log got chipped off violently, flying away. What gave the skill's usage away was a faint, pink trail that the attack left behind. "The destructive power of my hit was amplified by the Shatter skill. Try it yourself.", he urged Chase, and he accepted. With some neck stretches, he prepared to get down to business and try this out, holding his sword in his own stance- whatever made him feel most comfortable should work. "Anything goes, right?"

[ChaseR 0]

With Sewallus nodding, it was official. Anything goes. Chase took a deep breath, taking a few steps back and taking the same stance he was holding just a few seconds ago. "Stay clear of me for a second.", he warned the paladin and ran towards the tree, slashing as a green light covered the swordsman's blade, but a pink trail was left behind his attack and the same shattering (funny enough) of the tree's bark happened when it connected. And so, the tree fell. Most of the had work had been done by Sewallus' axe of course, but blue'd like to think he did a bit himself.

"Looks like you got the hang of it. Accept this.", he said and a GUI popped up before Chase, with a confirmation window. 'You have now learned the Shatter Extra Skill'. It must have played out more like an offer to the NPC, but he didn't say much and rolled with it. "So now we can both use the skill. Thank you. I don't know how things go... anymore, but. I'll try to use it as best as I can. Let me take you back to town, I want to thank Remington.", he offered and the armorclad warrior only accepted the proposal. "Certainly. I'll tell him myself, but I'm sure he'll have a thing or two to say to you as well.", he smiled for once, no longer burdened by his defeat from the titan they slayed, beginning their walk all the way back to Florenthia. "You really were being risky before though. Next time, I don't know if I'll be lucky enough to get you out of it- or there at all.", Chase grumbled and gave a somewhat tired look at the knight, hearing a sigh in response. "Hmm... You're right. I should tone it down, leader of the guard or not."

[ChaseR 0]

Little else needed to be said in terms of Sewallus' conduct throughout the encounter. It was almost like the paladin was hellbent on getting crushed by trees flying left and right, if not ripped apart by the enormous primate. "Yeah, you should. I don't think Remington or anybody else in Florenthia would prefer you dead to... you know, saving them.", he commented, being a tank himself and knowing why he was acting this way. Selfishness, pride, it was all part of his job. He was a tank, if anybody else got hurt then part of the burden would be on Sewallus' shoulders.

"I understand.", he said without speaking much more past that. For the rest of the little travel back to the town they both had little business left in, they were quiet, only the rustling of leaves, as well as the clunks and thuds of their armors sounding. The paladin was holding on to his axe by the middle of its shaft, walking silently, while the bluehead kept marching with a hand on his sword's hilt and looking around at the trees, amazed by the size of the floor's forest more than anything else. And before long had even passed, they were back. Back in the village, where everybody was happy and chatting with one another.

[ChaseR 0]

Upon arriving, Remington looked at the pair quietly. His expression didn't change, but it didn't quite take a genius to tell that he was probably glad they were both back- not as much for the boy as much for his friend, the leader of the guard. "Remington, we got the baboon.", the leader of the guard cheered, 'accidentally' loud enough for the rest of the village to hear and start cheering. It was like for a moment, they had done some herculian task that noone else could possibly do.

He didn't say much though. Chase knew that this wasn't a hard fight- the hard part was escorting Sewallus through it. It was an easy one, if not a pushover. He just had gotten unused to the system and this monster was nothing compared to the floor bosses that were up ahead- or even the quest bosses on the floors further up. There wasn't anything to gain out of ruining everybody's cheerful mood though. The triumph was cheered on for a while more, while Sewallus explained about the battle and how heroically they both took the titan down, felling him like a tree with their tough weapons. How story-like, huh.

[ChaseR 0]

Maybe it was that Chase was there and it wasn't as easy as he was making it sound, or he just wasn't that type of person at all. But regardless, he didn't know or want to bother enough to find out which of the two it was. So for now, he waited until the crowd left the two back to their 'jobs'. And so, they met up with Remington near the teleporter once again, explaining the encounter. While talking, the researcher took notes of every little detail, with Chase trying to peek over but not being able to distinguish much.

Around half an hour or so later, everything had been explained and answered. All of the questions about the monster's physique, scars, movement, anatomy, and the list went on and on. So much needless information, but Chase didn't belong here. Sewallus did, Remington did, the people of Aincrad did. That's who they needed the research for, the ones who didn't know about the outside world. Not the strangers who were forcibly dragged into it.

[ChaseR 0]

By the time Chase was starting to head off, Remington called him back and he turned, hearing the researcher out.  "I know Sewallus can be one good ol' tirin' piece of work every now and then. Thanks for taking care of 'im. I won't give you more than this as a thank 'ou, but I trust you'll do good even without my blessings.", he said with a small grin, lighting his cigarette again and exhaling the smoke off to the side.

"Aye. I just did what I had to do as a tank- defended my party. Same thing Sewallus would have done if it were anybody else and he were in my position.", the bluehead calmly responded and put both of his hands in his jacket's pockets, seeing the HUD pop up for all the quest rewards before him as he tapped away at it before snugging his palms back in the warm embrace of his tracksuit. "If anything else dangerous pops up, I'll be here on my own. So no need to call me."

[ChaseR 0]

A small grin lit up on the boy's face as Remington chuckled and gave him a nod, before gesturing him to go. "Of course. Get outta 'ere son, don' let me catch ya 'round here again. Shoo.", he joked and they both shared a laugh for a brief moment before he was really off. He got on the teleporter, just wondering if after this update every single town, village and NPC was like this. This happiness, this livelihood, this scary resemblance to humans.

"Cardinal is really sending everyone's head for a spin. But at the very least, they're alright. This world is going just fine, we're the only ones 'caught in the crossfire'. That's good.", he finished his thoughts and shook his head as if to clear it, before teleporting away back to the 21st where his house was. Maybe it was time to just reflect back on the day and take a break. This wouldn't last forever anyways, would it? Neither would Blizz. Best just sit with him and treasure him a bit more.

Spoiler

Thread Rewards:

• Extra Skill: Shatter unlocked
• Monkey Agility x1 (T2/Uncommon/EVA I)
• 8740 EXP (1000 quest, 7740 word count [172 * 5 * 9])
• 1561 Col (400 Col, 1161 Laurel Wreath)