[PP-F5] <<Blood in the Sand>> Catfish vs Shark

[Tyger 0]

The Hyena in front of her was having a hard time at things.

 

The bleed damage began to take effect, and Tyger watched as the health bar over the canine dropped down one HP. It'd go even farther once Tyger used the sword against it, and the hyena knew it. Given Tyger's speed, as well as her current condition compared to the Desert Hyena, things weren't going to go well for it. Even if the canine wanted to attack first, the mob was going to have to wait. It was hurt, and Tyger wasn't. That's part of what it boiled down to. Sword in hand, Tyger quickly struck down the Hyena without a bit of hesitation. 

 

"Baldur, you doing okay?"

 

She called out, expecting him to be finished with his Hyena. However, there were a few.. complications. So, she prepared to charge over and help him with his Hyena when she was able to attack. 

 

"Be there in a second!"

 

[iD: 9019 BD: 4+3=7 CD: 2 MD: 8 LD: 16] 

 

<<Baldur>> 26/27 HP -

<<Desert Hyena #3>> 15/15 HP

<<Tyger>> 29/29 HP  (Hits for 6 Damage, +1 Bleed)

<<Desert Hyena #4>> 0/15 (Drops 75 Col, +1 Mat)

[Baldur 0]

Baldur was embarrassed. Tyger had already killed her mob, and he hadn't even hurt his. The two of them wrestled on the san, but Baldur couldn't get good leverage to attack the Hyena, so he abandoned it and got his arm in the way of its jaws, preventing it from ravaging his neck.

 

"Umm... doing fine honey!"

 

Thankfully he had a pretty good armorsmith.

 

---

 

[iD: 9022 BD: 2 CD: 3 MD: 7]

 

<<Baldur>> 25/27 HP - misses

<<Desert Hyena #3>> 15/15 HP - hits for 1 DMG

<<Tyger>> 29/29 HP  

[Tyger 0]

Baldur couldn't see her staring right at him while he had troubles with the hyena. However, she couldn't just stand there and do nothing while he kept missing his attacks. So, she braced herself for a charge, barrelling into the Hyena to stand right in front of Baldur. The canine fell back a few feet, and into a sand dune. It's HP fell a few ticks, and Tyger stood infront of Baldur, smiling. 

 

"Did somebody call for a Tyger?"

 

She then turned her body to face the hyena. She wasn't sure what it was thinking, but she hoped it was scared right now. On the flip side, 2v1 wasn't fair, but with Baldur's misses, this was the perfect handicap, most likely. Hyena shouldn't have any problems taking them down, right? 

 

... Mob logic.

 

[iD: 9026 BD: 5+3=8 CD: 9]

 

<<Baldur>> 26/27 HP - misses

<<Desert Hyena #3>> 9/15 HP 

<<Tyger>> 29/29 HP  - Hits for 6 Damage

[Baldur 0]

Baldur suddenly saw the sky again as Tyger sent the mob tumbling away from him. Rather than take the moment to admire a sky with both lights of his life in it, Baldur scrambled to his feet before the Hyena could.

 

"Alright you stupid hound, it's time to die!"

 

He ran forward, slashing at the Hyena, sand flying everywhere as he moved. The Hyena tried to bite him, but Baldur's own steel fang as all it got.

 

[iD: 9032 BD: 5+2=7 CD: 1 LD 9 MD: 2]

 

<<Baldur>> 25/27 HP - hits for 7

<<Desert Hyena #3>> 2/15 HP - misses

<<Tyger>> 29/29 HP  - 

[Tyger 0]

Now that Tyger had joined this side, things were going a bit smoother. Baldur, be it by luck or by readiness to show off or make sure he did good with Tyger here, hit the hound for a good chunk of damage. With the Hyena in the red, it wouldn't be hard to finish it off. Narrowing her eyes, Tyger took her sword and lunged forward, skewering the mob where it stood. 

 

"Bout dang time."

 

She hissed, watching it explode into shards infront of her. As it disappeared, another mat dropped, so she picked it up for the inventory count. 

 

"That's it, right? Please let that be it, right?"

 

Tyger was almost pleading.

 

[iD: 9039 BD: 7 CD: 6 LD: 9]

 

<<Baldur>> 26/27 HP 

<<Desert Hyena #3>> 0/15 HP - Drops 1 mat

<<Tyger>> 29/29 HP 

[Baldur 0]

Baldur took a moment to sigh and relax, his shoulders slouching down now that the stupid hyena has been disposed of. He was really getting tired of not being able to sheath his sword because of all the sand. He even spit some out that he had swallowed while fighting off the hound.

 

"Normally I'm okay with sand... we have a love hate relationship, but I really hate the desert." Baldur huffed while Icarus jumped around and played with his own shadow, rolling around in the hot sand just as content as could be. Even the cuteness could not deflect his annoyance however.

 

"Can we get out of here now? Stupid Hyenas. Think they're so funny..."

 

They trudged on through the dunes, the sun beating on them from overhead, though Baldur remarked that it never got to be noon in Aincrad. The arc it took through the sky would put them somewhere very north on the hemisphere of a planet in order to create a low enough arc that the sun didn't rise above the next floor and cut their day in twain.

 

That was when they saw something in the distance. At first he couldn't be sure because of the heat haze, but then he saw a stinger and claws.

 

"It's a scorpion!"

 

Baldur was ready to redeem himself, and <<Charged>> the mob.

 

---

 

[iD: 9041 BD: 4+2=6 CD: 1 MD: 1]

 

<<Baldur>> 25/27 HP - Hits for 8 DMG

<<Tyger>> 29/29 HP

<<Giant Scorpion>> 7/15 HP

[Tyger 0]

Icarus was cute alright, but she was ready to get out of the desert. Pronto. The moving dot on the horizon didn't seem like anything until the claws and long, barbed tail came into focus as the mob got closer. Did this mob have a super high aggro range? Baldur was off in a flash, charging forward to meet the creature head on. It didn't seem like a bad idea, either.

 

"Icarus, come on! Up!"

 

Tyger patted her shoulders, and Icarus climbed on, digging his claws under the steel plates on her shoulders as she rocketed forward, slamming her sword into the 'close enough to be as awful as a sand spider' scorpion. Before the waving stinger on the creature's rear could lash out at any one of them, Tyger dug her sword in further, baring her teeth as she stared into the mob's eyes. It's beady eyes blinked before the sound of shattering glass and the bright light blinded her as the creature disappeared into shards. 

 

"Yeah, team work!"

 

She purred, while Icarus held on for dear life, holding himself even closer to Tyger's shoulders.

 

[iD: 9111 BD: 7 CD: 12 MD: 7 LD: 15]

 

<<Baldur>> 25/27 HP 

<<Tyger>> 29/29 HP - Hits for 7 Damage

<<Giant Scorpion>> 0/15 HP (Drops 75 Col, 1 mat)

[Baldur 0]

"You know, it seems like we can get out of the desert faster if we can just keep charging from mob to mob."

 

He smiled at her and spotted something slithering through the sand.

 

"Sand snake!" Baldur called out, <<Charging>> down the slope of the dune they were on towards the snake.

 

His blade glowed blue as he caught the <<Sand Snake>> through the neck and skidded to a halt in the sand behind it's head.

 

---

 

[iD: 9119 BD: 4+2=6] Baldur hits for 8 DMG

 

<<Baldur>> 25/27 HP

<<Tyger>> 29/29 HP

<<Sand Snake>> 7/15 HP

[Tyger 0]

"I know, that'd be awesome! If my scrub boyfriend could hit a hyena..."

 

She did her best to mock the hyena laugh, but was cut off by the sudden appearance of the sand snake. It reared it's head back and attempted to bite out at whoever was closest, but to no avail. The missed attack cost it it's life, as Tyger concentrated and closed her eyes, willing herself forward to charge at the snake. Her blade pierced it's skin and it hissed angrily before disappearing into the glowing shards. 

 

"We cover a lot of ground that way too. How about that moving mob up there? It's called Sand... uh, something."

 

Tyger pointed off in the distance.

 

 

[iD: 9120 BD: 2+3+1 Concentration = 6, LD: 4, MD: 2)

 

<<Baldur>> 25/27 HP

<<Tyger>> 29/29 HP - Hits for 7 Damage (+1 Charge)

<<Sand Snake>> 0/15 HP (Drops 1 mat)

[Baldur 0]

Baldur smiled and charged forward. the mob didn't look very big, and charging let them clear a lot of ground in very little time.

 

"Here I go!" Baldur suddenly dropped down into the charge pose and felt the system kick in, sending him surging forward towards the creature which he could now read as <<Sand Shark>>

 

<<Sand Shark>>

HP 50/50

Damage Per hit: 3

 

 

As the world blurred around Baldur as they got closer, he suddenly saw the creature rise out of the sand. What he had seen was only the fin at the top of its body, which was almost as large as the other creatures they had fought. As he landed, he spun to the side immediately, taking the Shark on the flank and leaving a gash of red wireframe in the sharkhide.

 

 

---

 

[iD: 9124 BD: 6]

 

--Turn Order--

<<Baldur>> 25/27 HP - hits for 8 DMG

<<Tyger>> 29/29 HP

<<Sand Shark>> 42/50 HP

[Tyger 0]

Following Baldur's lead, she waited for him to charge forward. Icarus, latched to her back like a leech, let out a huff of frustration. He wasn't quite used to this quick method of travel. Giving Baldur a few seconds to engage, Tyger then realized the HP bar of what he'd charged. Immediately, Tyger charged forward in the same fashion, raking her sword down the opposite side of the Sand Shark. 

 

"This thing is huge! Look at it's HP!"

 

Tyger gasped, calling out the Baldur midst the chaos they'd just started. Icarus let go of Tyger and ran off to the side, staying away from the tides of combat. He'd jump in if need be, but there was no reason to right now. Tyger and Baldur had fought multiple mobs as strong as this. No reason to shirk off now.

 

[iD: 9126 BD: 3+3=6]

 

--Turn Order--

<<Baldur>> 25/27 HP

<<Tyger>> 29/29 HP - Hits for 7 Damage (+1 Charge)

<<Sand Shark>> 35/50 HP

[Baldur 0]

Baldur cried out as the <<Sand Shark>> suddenly reeled on him, it's several rows of clamping on Baldur's leg. Baldur fell to the ground, but the shark made for an easy target and he brought his katana down onto the head of the shark.

 

"Hiya!" He cried out, the sword glowing with a blue light as it slashed through the nose of the shark. The shark roared in pain and Baldur rolled to the side, leaving him free of its dagger sized teeth.

 

Quickly getting to his feet, Baldur brought the sword up into both hands, ready for it to come again.

 

---

[iD: 9127 BD: 5+3=7 CD: 3 MD: 9]

 

<<Baldur>> 23/27 HP - Hits for 7 DMG

<<Tyger>> 29/29 HP

<<Sand Shark>> 28/50 - Hits Baldur for 3+1=4DMG -2 Mitigation=2  DMG

[Tyger 0]

"Baldur, let me get a clear shot! I should be able to take it's aggro eventually!"

 

Tyger hissed, watching Baldur tussle with the Shark. She had a choice. They could row down the mob quickly, and rely on their mitigation, or she could howl to get it's attention and keep it off Baldur. She knew what Baldur would say. They wanted to finish this quickly. 

 

"I'm just going to attack. Be careful."

 

She called out, jumping to the shark. She drug her blade down the side of it's hide, causing it a chunk of damage. 

 

"Let me know if i need to howl, okay?"

 

[iD: 9129 BD: 6 CD: 9]

 

<<Baldur>> 22/27 HP 

<<Tyger>> 29/29 HP - Hits for 6 Damage

<<Sand Shark>> 22/50 

[Baldur 0]

Baldur stared down the shark. He had one opportunity to get this right. The shark wheeled on him and rushed forward, impossibly quick on the sand as Baldur <<Concentrated>> waiting for just the right moment.

 

"Hey pretty lady." Baldur said, rolling diving to the side of the shark as charged him, his word cutting down the side of the shark as it missed him entirely. The long red jagged scar of mesh closed up after a few seconds, but the <<Sand Shark>> was getting low on HP.

 

"Are you getting hungry for sushi?"

 

He quickly pushed himself up to his feet, ready to have another round with the shark. He had to admit, it felt good to tank for a bit.

 

---

[iD: 9154 BD: 3+1+2=6 CD: 8 MD: 1]

 

<<Baldur>> 23/27 HP - uses <<Concentration>> for +1 accuracy and hits, dealing 7 DMG

<<Tyger>> 329/29 HP

<<Sand Shark>> 15/50 HP - misses

[Tyger 0]

"Only if we can add in some Unagi!"

 

Tyger chimed in, watching Baldur's face light up as he danced around the shark, doing his best to keep it's attention while Tyger attacked. She knew he was enjoying himself, having played tank in the other games they played back in real life, but she almost felt like her job was being taken away. Baldur did more damage than her, so why was he taking the hits? She reminded herself it was just for one fight, and that he was enjoying himself. 

 

"Well, at least he'll be able to feed us for one night."

 

The amount of sushi they ate... Her slash scraped against the hide of the shark, dealing a few points of damage. It was getting lower and lower as time progressed.

 

[iD: 9154 BD: 3+3=6 CD: 2]

 

<<Baldur>> 23/27 HP 

<<Tyger>> 29/29 HP (Deals 6 Damage, 

<<Sand Shark>> 9/50 HP - misses

[Baldur 0]

Baldur was enjoying treating the shark like he was a matador. However, he got a bit too cocky and shark raised one of its fins out of the ground and struck him the leg, sending him tumbling to the ground. Immediately the shark whirled around on him, rising up like it was going to try and swallow him and take him into the sand with it, but Baldur rolled and raise his sword up high, skewering the <<Sand Shark>> onto his blade. He was hoping the blow would finish it off, but it wasn't quite there.

 

"FINISH HIM!." Baldur called out to Tyger and the shark tried to get off of his blade.

 

---

[iD: 9156 BD: 9 CD: 10 MD: 6]

 

<<Baldur>> 23/27 HP - Baldur hits for 8 DMG and regens 1 HP from BH

<<Tyger>> 29/29 HP

<<Sand Shark>> 1/50 HP - Hits Baldur for 3 DMG, Baldur mitigates 2 and only takes 1 DMG

[Tyger 0]

With the shark stuck on Baldur's blade, flopping around as it attempted to dislodge itself. Tyger took that moment to run as fast as she could across the sand to smite the creature where it stood. With a mighty yell, the female brought her blade down on the side of the shark, ripping upwards to slice through it's gills. In the real world, the creature would have been done. In this world, it was too. Before it could slide down any further on the blade, or dislodge itself, it burst into thousands of shards to the sounds of breaking glass. Tyger held out her hand for Baldur, offering to help pick him up off the hot sand. 

 

"Can we go home now?"

 

Her tone wasn't as irritated as it had been in the desert. She'd come to terms with the heat, grit and sand. She was just ready to wash it all away. The great ending battle was one that she could part on good terms with, and maybe enough goods to fill the coffer up a bit more. She bent down to pick up the Shark's loot, and added it to the inventory. 

 

[iD: 9157 BD: 8 CD: 9 MD: 6 LD: 15]

 

<<Baldur>> 23/27 HP 

<<Tyger>> 29/29 HP - Hits for 6 Damage

<<Sand Shark>> 0/50 HP - Drops 250 Col, 1 mat

[Baldur 0]

Baldur sighed in relief as the weight of the shark vanished in the midst of a shower of luminous polygons. His sword and arm flopped to the side as he took a minute to catch his breath.

 

"Yea, but I don't know where we can go for some Unagi. I wonder if there's a water floor. That would be kind of nice, tropical islands, a bunch of beaches. Fish and eels mobs and some rice plantations to save? Mmmmm..."

 

Baldur rolled over to his hands and knees and pushed himself up to his feet, groaning like an old man.

 

"I for one hope we never have to return to this floor. You're gonna have to walk Icarus up here yourself. I'm going back to the fourth floor."

 

He picked up his katana and rested it on his shoulder.

 

"Come on, let's GTFO."

[Tyger 0]

Tyger pulled Baldur into a short hug once he finished situating everything, and then allowed him to put his katana on his shoulder. 

 

"There's always an underwater level. And a cow level."

 

She turned her head towards the mini town where they could portal back to the first floor. 

 

"Nah, i'll walk Icarus elsewhere. I don't ever want to come back to this floor."

 

Her face was happy, but behind her eyes Baldur could probably read just how exhausted she was. As she started walking, Tyger reached out to hold Baldur's hand.

 

"Ya know, you didn't do to shabby tanking. But, let's leave that to me from now on. You're much better at sticking them with the pointy end. I be meatshield, rawr."

[Baldur 0]

Baldur sighed, "There is no cow level." A smirked still snuck through his stoic facade however. "But I guess you are right. There's ALWAYS a water level."

 

They walked a few more steps, "Oh, I almost forgot. Floor 2 is a cow level, huh? I guess the designers never got the memo."

 

When she took his hand he smiled.

 

"Yea, let's never come back to this god forsaken place. Even if it gave us ultimate, cosmic power... the living spaces are just too itty bitty." He gestured with a smile, pointing at the small, armadillo shaped buildings.