[SP - F13] Keeping On «The Falling of Tagas»

[Takao 0]

A flash of light brought him from the third floor to the thirteenth. Despite it being midday, he found the floor to be dimly lit upon stepping through the light. His boots scuffled against the stone platform as the glowing radiance disappeared behind him. A thick, ominous earthen tinted haze had settled a foot or so off the ground. Perhaps the most unsettling thing about the floor was how quiet it was. He'd heard of how the floor was rather graveyard like, but seeing it for himself was a sobering experience.

"That Kayaba must really get off on making depressing floors." His voice was low as he moved through the floor's settlement, vaguely recalling it to be named "Angel's Point" or something along those lines. Gravestones littered the floor for as far as he could see, so many that he didn't even bother with counting. It wasn't specifically their presence that made him so uneasy, but something about the environment just didn't sit right with him.

- -

» ID : [[ 38692 ]]
» LD : [[ 17 ]]

«Manju» consumed. (+9 Mitigation for the duration of the thread.)

[Takao 0]

The noise of his boots hitting cobblestone was the only sound he could hear, with the exception of his familiar's usual huffing in his ear. As he ventured further into the settlement, he noticed something that was considerably more unsettling than the brownish haze or the ever stretching fields of gravestones. There were no people. Understandably there were no players, he'd only seen Teayre, Calrex, and Ariel run off after the boss fight, likely to scout before he got the chance to. But other than that, he found no NPCs. All the shops seemed to be closed or abandoned, and the streets were uncomfortably quiet. "Certainly fits the ghost town trope, I guess."

- -

» ID : [[ 38696 ]]
» LD : [[ 11 ]]

«Safeguard Potion» used. (Next damage taken is negated.)

[Takao 0]

Takao's hands dropped into his trouser pockets as he idly strolled the empty streets of Angel's Point. "Y'think that maybe all those graves were for the people that lived here?" His green eyes shifted sidelong to his scaled companion, who seemed uncharacteristically perturbed by the settlement. He stopped by the window of one of many buildings along the street and examined the stained colours. It depicted an angel, clad in heavy armour with a pair of bright white wings behind him. He turned his head and glanced down the road, quickly noticing that all of the buildings had a window depicting said angel.

"Huh... Maybe that's a hint for the boss or something." Takao said in a low tone as he pulled his gaze away from the window and continued moving.

- -

» ID : [[ 38699 ]]
» LD : [[ 20 ]]

«Senbei» consumed. (+20HP for the duration of the thread.) 

Chapel found.

[Takao 0]

Takao's head tilted at the sight before him. The same mist covered the ground, though he could still make out the grass that had died and turned brown. A large chapel laid in front of him, with the doors slightly ajar. Ever the recklessly curious adventurer, Takao pushed on and entered the building. The architecture inside was everything he'd been expecting it to be. Beautiful in its own way, but desolate with an uncomfortable aura to it, just as the rest of the settlement was. Sitting in the middle of the chapel was a staircase that lead down into the bowels of the earth, and strange sounds seemed to emanate from within. He reached up and grasped his sword, prompting his familiar to hop off his shoulders and trail slowly behind him.

He descended the staircase slowly, keeping his left shoulder to the wall as he slowly moved. His attempts to remain entirely silent were futile with his lack of accommodating stealth skills, but he maintained a certain inconspicuousness. Upon reaching the base of the stairs, he was met with the sight of three figures. All of them were wearing heavy armour, not unlike the angel depicted in the stained glass windows that he had noticed earlier. In fact, the third figure looked remarkably similar to said depiction. The dim lower floor was just barely illuminated by torches, casting a warm orange glow to mask the cold blue tones of whatever light managed to find its way down so far. It was difficult to say what was happening, two of the figures were doing something to the angel-like figure, and it definitely seemed to be in pain. The natural curiousity got the better of him, and he pushed forward.

All it took was one step for his right shin to find and trip a hidden wire. In doing so, the staircase behind him was immediately closed off by an earthen wall, and the two corrupting figures shot their glowing dagger-like gaze at him. "Uh... So, I know this looks ba-" he started speaking, but was immediately cut off by the sight of the two figures rushing toward him. Armed with one large blade each, the closest Knight struck at him first, aiming a horizontal strike for his neck. He proved just a tad faster, and responded by tensing his legs and leaping forward. He tucked into a roll and tumbled back onto his feet, effectively dodging the first strike. The second Knight's strike came at him like clockwork after he recovered, employing a similar tactic to the first. "They're using sword arts." he thought to himself upon evading the second Knight's strike, and a large smile grew on his face.

"Perfect. That means you guys are predictable!" Takao said as he pulled his arm back and prepared a sword art of his own. The glowing blade erupted into a blinding flurry of slashes, decorating the armour of the first Knight's with glowing orange wounds. It erupted into pixels a mere second after his sword art was completed, and his emerald hued gaze fell upon the remaining.

"Let's make some grass grow."

- -

» ID : [[ 38707 ]]
» BD : [[ HIT (3 + 4(ACC)) ]]
» MD 1-2 : [[ MISS (5 - 3(EVA)) ]]

» LD : [[ 12 ]]

« Takao »
[[ 181/181 HP ]]
[[ 30/39 Energy ]] «Shadow Explosion» used. (-9 Energy)

« Corrupted Mage Knight 1 »
[[ 0/115 HP ]] [[ 10(DMG) + 3(Damage Buff) + 1(Charge) * (9*1) - 7(MIT) = -119HP ]]
« Corrupted Mage Knight 2 »
[[ 115/115 HP ]]

[Takao 0]

The two swordsmen seemed to share in recovery times, as neither moved while the other's post-motion wore off. His smile persisted as his green eyes met the glowing red that shone through the slot of its helmet. The skill that they'd attempted to use on him wasn't familiar, but by the way his adversary prepared itself upon regaining control of its motor functions, he already knew what was coming again. With narrowed eyes he watched the Knight speed toward him, yet the blow it attempted to connect never did so. Instead, Takao's evasiveness carried him around to the backside of the monster, where his blade met the humanoid beast's armour a total of nine times. It cleaved through despite the sturdy looking metal, and diminished its health in a matter of seconds. Takao landed and turned his attention to the only other remaining figure in the room, yet his body didn't move. He was unsure of how to meet the potential threat.

- -

» ID : [[ 38708 ]]
» BD : [[ HIT (2 + 4(ACC)) ]]
» MD 2 : [[ MISS (3 - 3(EVA)) ]]

» LD : [[ 15 ]]

« Takao »
[[ 181/181 HP ]]
[[ 22/39 Energy ]] «Shadow Explosion» used. (-9 Energy)

« Corrupted Mage Knight 1 »
[[ 0/115 HP ]]
« Corrupted Mage Knight 2 »
[[ 0/115 HP ]] [[ 10(DMG) + 3(Damage Buff) + 1(Charge) * (9*1) - 7(MIT) = -119HP ]]

[Takao 0]

The wails of pain had stopped, yet something still seemed off. He couldn't put his finger on it, but the aura of the room hadn't changed, even after the corrupting Knights had been slain. In fact, they no longer felt like the epicenter of the evil he felt. Takao's smile faded as he look to the last remaining figure, a hulking beast of heavy metal and stained white feathers. It was hunched over and shuddering, likely in some kind of simulated pain to try and elicit the white knights of Aincrad into showing compassion. Takao wouldn't define himself as a selfish or insensitive individual, yet something about the way the air felt kept him from moving closer to check on it. Instead, he delved into his inventory and retrieved a drink, which he consumed while staring at the being.

- -

» ID : [[ / ]]
» BD : [[ No Combat Action Taken ]]

« Takao »
[[ 181/181 HP ]]
[[ 29/39 Energy ]] «Energy Drink» consumed. (+7 Energy)

« Tagas the Corrupted »
[[ 350/350 HP ]] 

[Takao 0]

«Tagas the Corrupted»
350 HP
Damage per Attack - 75
Mitigation - 25
Recovers 30HP on CD rolls of 10+

With his corruptors slain, the angel was free from their clutches. Yet something remained inside of him, a residual and barbaric desire. He lifted his head, casting a cold gaze across the room until his eyes met with the sight of his apparent saviour, who stood some odd twenty meters away. Slowly, he rose to his feet and shuddered. Fighting back the desires growing inside of him proved futile, and as a result, his cold gaze burst into piercing red. His right hand twitched, and his armour rattled as he grasped the handle of his blade. In the following motion, not only had he pulled the massive blade free of its scabbard, but he'd also charged forth toward Takao. With the sword held high over his head, he brought it crashing down on top of the brunet.

- -

» ID : [[ 38735 ]]
» BD : [[ MISS (8 - 3(EVA)) ]]
» CD : [[ 8 ]]

« Takao »
[[ 181/181 HP ]]
[[ 29/39 Energy ]]

« Tagas the Corrupted »
[[ 350/350 HP ]] 

[Takao 0]

"Awh, come off it!" Takao groaned in disbelief as he saw the "Angel's" eyes begin glowing red, a tell-tale sign of its impending aggressiveness. He finished downing the energy drink and tossed the remains aside, which erupted into the familiar pixels. It shot toward him like a rocket and hefted its massive blade over its head in an attempt to bring it crashing down on top of him. Thankfully he was more than capable of evading such a clearly telegraphed move, and he avoided the blade entirely. Employing the usage of a hand spring purely for the purpose of entertaining himself, Takao's boots hit the cold stone and kicked up dust as he slid to a stop. "Is this how you plan on repaying me for saving your butt? Not cool, dude!"

- -

» ID : [[ / ]]
» BD : [[ No Combat Action Taken ]]

« Takao »
[[ 181/181 HP ]]
[[ 36/39 Energy ]] «Energy Drink» consumed. (+7 Energy)

« Tagas the Corrupted »
[[ 350/350 HP ]] 

[Takao 0]

«Tagas the Corrupted»

His blade crashed into the earth, shattering the stone and sending dust and debris flying from the sheer force. The expected shrieks of a dying player never met his ears, prompting his gaze to wander across the room. He glanced over his shoulder to the opposite side of the room upon hearing the voice of the player he sought to strike down in his corrupted rage, and growled a guttural and rather inhuman sounding growl. He could feel the corruption taking hold, shredding through what slivers of his "humanity" remained, and thus began descending into the madness that his two assailants from earlier were so wholeheartedly set on forcing him to.

- -

» ID : [[ 38748 ]]
» BD : [[ MISS (8 - 3(EVA)) ]]
» CD : [[ 1 ]]

« Takao »
[[ 181/181 HP ]]
[[ 36/39 Energy ]]

« Tagas the Corrupted »
[[ 350/350 HP ]] 

[Takao 0]

"Not the talkative type, huh?" said Takao as his grip on his sword tightened. Something about how the so-called Angel moved, how he shuddered slightly and attacked without remorse in addition to the low and inhuman growling that came from within its armour, it set off every alarm in Takao's head that told him to leave immediately. But still he stood steadfast, unwavering and resolute in his place while his green eyes kept a keen and narrowed gaze on the monster. It was staring back at him with its own glowing red orbs, which shone brightly from behind his helmet. "Guess I can't blame you. I wouldn't be having friendly banter with the guy I was trying to kill after he saved me."

- -

» ID : [[ 38757 ]]
» BD : [[ 1 ]]

« Takao »
[[ 181/181 HP ]]
[[ 35/39 Energy ]] (-1 Energy)

« Tagas the Corrupted »
[[ 350/350 HP ]] 

[Takao 0]

«Tagas the Corrupted»
650 HP
Damage per Attack - 155
Mitigation - 65
Additional 30 damage to all enemies on BD rolls of 10

The growling didn't cease. Instead, it grew stronger and louder, just as the hatred building inside him grew stronger and louder as well. It screamed at him, telling him to fight, to slay his apparent saviour in cold blood. Any semblance or remnants of humanity were gone now, and he would gladly oblige the corrupted voices telling him to strike. Whatever opportunities Takao had been presented with to save him, however seldom they might've been, were long gone. There was no salvation to be had for this Angel. Their battle would only end with death.

- -

» ID : [[ 38759 ]]
» BD : [[ MISS (7 - 3(EVA)) ]]

« Takao »
[[ 181/181 HP ]]
[[ 35/39 Energy ]]

« Tagas the Corrupted »
[[ 650/650 HP ]] 

[Takao 0]

"Alright then." Takao said as he straightened his back. His head rolled across his shoulders, resulting in a satisfying pop from his neck. With tensed legs and an activated charge skill, his smile began to return, slowly but surely. The sudden appearance of a second health bar, although rather daunting, didn't seem to faze him. "If its a fight you want, I'll be more than happy to oblige."

His words were spoke just barely a second before the sword art he prepared took control of his body. The system guided him forward, utilizing the charge skill's augmentation of speed to boost his power. In a blinding flash of strikes, Takao unleashed the full fury of an eleven hit sword art unto the Angel, chopping through parts of its armour and cleaving into its health gauge. He watched the bar drop slowly and clicked his tongue in annoyance upon seeing it stop so short. "You're gonna be a chore to take down, aren'tcha?"

- -

» ID : [[ 38766 ]]
» BD : [[ HIT  (4 + 4(ACC)) ]]

« Takao »
[[ 181/181 HP ]]
[[ 25/39 Energy ]]  «Meteor Break» used. (-11 Energy | +1 Energy)

« Tagas the Corrupted »
[[ 528/650 HP ]]  [[ 10(DMG) + 3(Damage Buff) + 1(Charge) * (11*1) - 32(MIT) = -122HP ]]

[Takao 0]

«Tagas the Corrupted»

Tagas released a blood curdling yell, a mixture of his accumulated anger as a result of his new-found corruption in addition to the simulated pain he felt from Takao's sword art. His armour offered protection, but not nearly as much as he found it usually did. Glowing red eyes set upon his brown haired assailant and he roared again, hefting his large sword up with his right hand before swinging it horizontally at him with all his might. He would see this player dead, he would hear their screams of terror and anguish. He would.

- -

» ID : [[ 38768 ]]
» BD : [[ MISS (7 - 3(EVA)) ]]

« Takao »
[[ 181/181 HP ]]
[[ 25/39 Energy ]]

« Tagas the Corrupted »
[[ 528/650 HP ]]

[Takao 0]

Takao's agility proved once again to be a life saver. He had little problem weaseling his way around Tagas' incoming blade and avoiding damage entirely. The Angel's rage left him wide open for a counter attack, which Takao definitely wouldn't squander. Aiming his glowing blade precisely was a non-issue with his borrowed unique skill's effect activated. Eleven hits cleaved through the thick metal armour as if it were wet paper, and inflicted a hefty blow upon the Angel. He hovered just barely above half health by the time Takao was through with subjecting the NPC to the full force of his sword art. "Bah, where's Zelrius when you need him?"

- -

» ID : [[ 38770 ]]
» BD : [[ C.HIT  (10 + 4(ACC)) ]]

« Takao »
[[ 181/181 HP ]]
[[ 15/39 Energy ]]  «Meteor Break» used. (-11 Energy | +1 Energy)

« Tagas the Corrupted »
[[ 363/650 HP ]]  [[ 10(DMG) + 3(Damage Buff) + 2(Critical) * (11*1) = -165HP ]]

[Takao 0]

«Tagas the Corrupted»

Surely this couldn't be happening. He felt more powerful than ever before, his strength was unmatched by any foe he'd faced even prior to the corruption that coursed through his digital veins. This player, a measly teenager who seemed unimpressive in every way, surely he couldn't be the one to bring him to his knees. Yet there he was, taken aback by the sudden damage that ripped through his armour like it was simple cloth, and unable to move. Not stunned in the literal sense, not paralyzed by the effect of a weapon or status, but rather in disbelief. His head slowly dropped and the red in his eyes dimmed every so slightly for only a second. No. This would not be the place of his undoing.

- -

» ID : [[ 38774 ]]
» BD : [[ MISS (7 - 3(EVA)) ]]

« Takao »
[[ 181/181 HP ]]
[[ 15/39 Energy ]]

« Tagas the Corrupted »
[[ 363/650 HP ]]

[Takao 0]

Was the Angel having second thoughts? Takao watched as it dropped to one knee and lowered its head, perhaps in quiet contemplation of its rage, or perhaps simply because its armour had been torn through with ease and a hefty blow had scarred its health gauge. "If you think I'm gonna show you mercy, you've got another thing comin', guy." said Takao, his voice oddly monotonous despite the seemingly vindictive words that left his mouth. The same sword art was given time to prepare before being unleashed upon his beastly armoured foe, once again tearing through his armour with the ease of a hot knife through butter.

- -

» ID : [[ 38776 ]]
» BD : [[ C.HIT  (9 + 4(ACC)) ]]

« Takao »
[[ 181/181 HP ]]
[[ 5/39 Energy ]]  «Meteor Break» used. (-11 Energy | +1 Energy)

« Tagas the Corrupted »
[[ 209/650 HP ]]  [[ 10(DMG) + 3(Damage Buff) + 1(Critical) * (11*1) = -154HP ]]

[Takao 0]

«Tagas the Corrupted»

Again. It happened again. His sword, the puny looking slender blade of his assailant, it chopped through several inches of thick steel like nothing. Nothing. Rage was blinding him, his red eyes shone brighter than they had ever before as he rose to his feet and exhaled a terrifying roar so loud and so ferocious that it made the stone walls seem as though they were trembling. Its attention set back on Takao, the only being that had dared to so confidently stand in his way. That was unacceptable, entirely so, and the teenager would surely pay for such a heinous transgression.

- -

» ID : [[ 38777 ]]
» BD : [[ MISS (4 - 3(EVA)) ]]

« Takao »
[[ 181/181 HP ]]
[[ 5/39 Energy ]]

« Tagas the Corrupted »
[[ 209/650 HP ]]

[Takao 0]

Takao's eyes set upon the once green and now orange health gauge of his angelic assailant, then shifted his gaze to the hulking beast of an NPC itself. What a monumental task it was to take on such a creature by his lonesome, and how arrogant it was of him to do so as well. Given how well his evasiveness had done to keep him unharmed, it would've been a nonissue to simply teleport out and avoid the risk of possibly dying, and thus losing a front liner, but something inside him kept him there. Kept him fighting. That deeply seeded pleasure in seeking out thrills, the burning curiousity that wondered what his limits were and how far he could push them, it brought a smile to his face even in the face of what could very easily be his undoing. For now, he was biding his time, and letting his energy replenish with the aid of a few consumables.

- -

» ID : [[ 38784 ]]
» BD : [[ No combat action taken. ]]

« Takao »
[[ 181/181 HP ]]
[[ 12/39 Energy ]]   «Energy Drink» consumed. (+7 Energy)

« Tagas the Corrupted »
[[ 209/650 HP ]]

[Takao 0]

«Tagas the Corrupted»

Tagas slowly rose to his feet, the stone rumbling and cracking under the sheer weight of both he and his armour. Red eyes flashed and settled their gaze upon he who had been so successful in his efforts to defend himself against his heavily armoured foe. He had turned out to be a worthy adversary, something his appearance in general didn't readily exhibit, with the exception of the smile that he wore so easily. If there was one last thing he would do in this world, Tagas would wipe that smile off his face.

- -

» ID : [[ 38791 ]]
» BD : [[ MISS (1 - 3(EVA)) ]]

« Takao »
[[ 181/181 HP ]]
[[ 12/39 Energy ]]

« Tagas the Corrupted »
[[ 209/650 HP ]]

[Takao 0]

"Two hits," Takao said aloud as his eyes narrowed. Whether or not the NPC could hear, understand, or comprehend and respond accordingly to the words he spoke didn't concern him in the slightest. "That's what you've got left in you. Two hits." His smile had evened out now, and turned to a thin line of displeasure. The risk of the fight was great, but the overarching challenge was lacking. Surely if he was hit it would be a different story, after the Safeguard effect was out of the way at least, but he wasn't sure that the supposed Angel would be still standing by then. Even so, Takao downed another energy drink and tossed it aside. "Hope you're ready, 'cause this is where it ends."

- -

» ID : [[ 38796 ]]
» BD : [[ No combat action taken. ]]

« Takao »
[[ 181/181 HP ]]
[[ 19/39 Energy ]]   «Energy Drink» consumed. (+7 Energy)

« Tagas the Corrupted »
[[ 209/650 HP ]]