The morning in your apartment studio is a quaint one as you pour a bit of soyegg for breakfast and bite into an apple for a balanced, if scant breakfast with Clien running a preliminary diagnostic on the strange D-Zen that answered your post on the board.

It doesn't take long before he okays them as being “not a virus” which is a big deal for an App-type
like himself, they're weak against especially invasive viral attempts. Turning on your visual display, you see that you have not one, but five missed calls since last night. Three out of five of them being the same number with a caller ID, “Ms. Carrie A. Shank,” your buxom social worker if her digital persona is anything to go by.

“Shit...” You mumble to yourself, “She hates it when I don't pick up.” She's been keeping tabs on your financial means since earlier this year. Always testy, hasty, and sort of a bitch. Then again, most adults of the inner city are like that, at least when they're dealing with “Naturals” such as yourself. Being born as a non-designer is a curse that only a parent could give.

The other number is one that you haven't seen before, it's the latest one, no caller ID either, Toll free. Probably a tell-marketer.

And the last is Coach. A swell guy, at least when he doesn't have alcohol on his breath. He's been around for the past couple years helping you and Clien train. It wasn't until that qualifier that you could see the difference between D-Zen that's actually geared for the ARCHLighting. He's been a pal and somewhat of an uncle or something. He took you under his wing after you won that rookie tournie, and he tends to check in on you. Never been to his place though, and you've only ever met at the practice gym.

Oh, there's also a voicemail from Ms Shank and the toll free...
>[] Call back Ms. Carrie.
>[] Call back Coach
>[] Listen to the Voicemail.
>[] Ignore the calls, arrange a conference call with the D-Zen that replied.

>>38661243
>>[] Listen to the Voicemail.

>>38661243
>>[] Call back Ms. Carrie.
>>[] Call back Coach
>>[] Listen to the Voicemail.

>>38661243

You stare at the voicemail icon for a few moments in contemplation, giving in with a reluctant sigh.

“What's wrong?” Clien's voice pokes in through your auditory reception.

“I probably should've taken the call last night, it's Ms. Shank.”

“If she's concerned about your auxiliary activities, I'll vouch for you.”

“We'll see.” You end and start the first voicemail. Sheesh though, calling three times and -then- leaving a message. That's rude or something, isn't it?

It comes on, her voice is calm and reserved, kind of cold actually. “This is Carrie Shank with Terminal City's Social Aid Office. Bit, when you get this, call me back ASAP.” It cuts out.

Brief message, wonder what she wants?

You turn on the other, the voice is young, soft, and nervous, “Hey, um, is this Bit? It's Beatie, your sister. I'm here, in the city I got your letter with your number on it. Um, I'm at the station, but the signs are still kind of hard for me to read. A nice digital showed me how to use the phone- I guess I shouldn't call them that though. So I was wondering if I could sta-” The message cuts out after a long run. She must've ran out of time on it, likely she kept talking too...

There's more than one station in the city, but only one comes in from the area of countryside that your family lives. Hopefully she stayed there, though the message came in sometime last night at 3:41. You grimace at the time, 9:51, “Fragging hel.”
If she's left the station there won't be an easy way to find her besides calling the cops and that could get her sent back to your parents, goddamn Farmers.

>[] Call back Ms Shank, she might be able to help.
>[] Ask Coach if he could pick her up.
>[] Forget it, you can't support her here yet. Talk to Clien about the D-Zen, if she gets sent back that's fine for now.
>[] (other)

>>38661814
Had the wrong trip on. Going with this one.

>>38661814
>[] Call back Ms Shank, she might be able to help.

>>38661814
>[] Call back Ms Shank, she might be able to help.

>>38661814
>>[] Call back Ms Shank, she might be able to help.

>>38661814
>>[] Call back Ms Shank, she might be able to help.

>[] Forget it, you can't support her here yet. Talk to Clien about the D-Zen, if she gets sent back that's fine for now.

>>38661814

Taking a hard swallow, you dial up Ms. Shank. The dial tone rings in your ears, more like your brain, until she picks up. “Bit?”

“Yeah, it's me, I know you've got something to say but could you hear me out for a sec?”

“- No, we need to discuss your activities, I can't believe you're-”

“My sister's in the city, she ran away from my parents, I think she's at the Magrail.”

There's a pause from her, then an exasperated sigh, “Really.”

“Yeah-”

“Did you tell her to come here?”

“No. I told her that she could when I made it as a Lighter.”

“And?”

You pause, lips fumbling into a smile as you realize why she might've come here, “I sent her a letter about my first qualifier... She must've thought-”

“Really, she must've. What a Natural blunder...” her tone is condescending, you don't comment on her insult. “I'll pick her up and make sure she gets back home.”

“I know she can't come here yet.”

“We'll talk about your life choices later Bit. And I've told you before that Clien isn't fit for that nonsense sport.”

You feel your face flush red. It isn't nonsense. It's amazing. And ARCHLight is all you've wanted to do for the last two years. “I'm not using Clien anymore.”

“You've got a different D-Zen registered?”

“Yeah-”

“Put them in the call.”

“You see-” You begin to explain.

“Are you lying to me- again?”

“No, just, he's browsing the interface for new programs. I've got a match tonight, gotta get ready-”

“Bit!”

“Bye!” You hang up and press your eyes closed, stroking your temples. Two birds, one stone, how convenient. She's going to want to meet this D-Zen later though. She literally wants to know everyone that's been in contact with you. It's hard enough that she's suspicious of Coach, if she knew some of the people you talked to on the interface... Heh.

>>38662511


“Bit.” Clien comes on again, “I've established a conference, they are waiting.”

“They? No name?”

“They still don't much have one, it seems their hard memory's been wiped.”

“Well let's see them then.” Sitting back on the sofa you close your eyes to dive into the interface. Your persona blinking its eyes in time with your rapid eye movement as the Di-Node kicks up your pseudo-REM

Clien invites you to a private room and with an “Accept” your position is instantly translocated to a loungeroom complete with a wraparound Sofa, and a table set up in the middle. It's not all too bright, but just right in fact on your eyes.

Before you sits Clien, his persona kind of wiry, yet well dressed in a business casual. The unknown D-Zen sits on the other side of you, staring down at the table until you look upon its persona, soon looking up to meet your eyes with relatively blank ones.

Making yourself comfortable, reclining onto the seats, you kick your feet up onto the table (much to Clien's dismay) and settle your hands over your stomach.

With a tap on the virtual space, you bring up the D-Zen's property file as recognized according to Clien.

>Name: [@r*H]
> Type: Viral
> Job: N/A
>Bio: … I want to ARCHLight.
>Felony: N/A
“No name, no data, a short bio, and no record.” You smile after looking at Clien's diagnostic readings. What is apparent though: it's a viral type. Not an Anti like you would've wanted. Some of the best Lighters are without a doubt Antis like EverTiger, GunEagle, and YetiSnow... It's disappointing. Their attack and battle stats tend to be overall top-notch while Virals? There are some in the pro-Circuits, but the crowd's almost never cheering for them... Unless they're like Jack Black's Viral fans.

>[] Approach this with an open attitude, what choice do you have anyway?
>[] Scowl, this isn't what you wanted. What good is some nameless simple-minded Viral anyway?
>[] Sigh, and at least hear what he has to say.
>[] (Other)

>>38662530
>>[] Approach this with an open attitude, what choice do you have anyway?


> Jack Black

>>38662530
>[] Approach this with an open attitude, what choice do you have anyway?

>[] Sigh, and at least hear what he has to say.

you spelled league wrong in the title

>>38662530
>[] Sigh, and at least hear what he has to say.

>>38662585
There are going to be many silly names in this.
Jack Black is the one that beat bit in the last thread.

>>38662607
Ouch. I'll archive it right at least.

>>38662530

You're somewhere between optimism and apathy as the smile slightly fades from your face. Virals also tend to be annoying, they let themselves into your home systems and do whatever they very well please if security isn't good enough. It's no surprise that they're seen as the bad guys in matches.
Underhanded, tricky, and.. well, he's at least been polite so far, at least, you think it's a he.

Without any better way to start, “So... Why do you want to be a Lighter?”

The D-zens persona shifts in its seat, a little uncertain. Finally, it shrugs, “I... Don't know. I just feel like... Like I need to?”

Your brow furrows with scrutiny, “Uh, Clien? Is that normal for new D-Zens?”

Your friend shakes his head, “Why, no. We often feel nothing more than curiosity at such things. We decide our interests at a later date. After all, none of us are specifically made for any given task.”

You bite your virtual thumb in thought, “Yeah, I figured I remembered that right...”

The D-Zen looks at you. Cocks its head, and then looks over at Clien. “You two know each other?”

Clien smiles graciously and bows with a hand touching his breast, “Why yes, we have been friends and acquaintances for a while now.”

The D-Zen droops its head, “That's nice. It would be nice if we could be friends too. I really feel like I need to... Uhm, be a Lighter.” Its face emotes to something of a hopeful smile, and you drop your feet from the table.

It's so... Saccharine, it's actually kind of creepy. Not a mean byte in its makeup, but is that all a lie?

>[ Increase suspicion.]
>[ Decrease suspicion.]

And...
>[Ask some questions]: Write in

>>38662929
>[ Decrease suspicion.]
What are your stats/skills?

>>38662929
>>[ Decrease suspicion.]
"Alright, so tell me a little bit about what you can do."

I missed the prologue. How do DZens work? Like Net Navis, sort of?

>>38663043

They're kind of like netnavis. They occur spontaneously in the interface.

When it comes to Lighting, they control auxilliary features and the Avatars overall stats.

Clien does poorly because he can only manage one LIVE system at a time as he isn't proficient with a basic Lighting skill for avatars known as "Multithreading."

Bit lost against Jack because he had to choose between attack or defense defense algorithms.
D-Zens can get better over time, but even after just under 2 years of training Clien is nervous and lacks that proficiency in ARCHLight.

>>38662929


You let go some of your suspicion. It won't do you much good anyway. You've got your second qualifier tonight and it's either lose again with Clien or bet on this guy- girl, whatever it is.

Flipping the window, you notice that despite Clien's Diagnostic, it doesn't have any of the relevant ARCHLight skills listed. In fact, it doesn't have any. You send a whisper to Clien, “What is this? Where's the operation-data?”

He sends a whisper in return, “I had no way to test them. I tried to ask and they admitted to never having done it either. It's troubling, but maybe we should have...”

“What?”

“Faith?”

“I don't even want to hear that. My parents thought faith would make my sister able to see.” You roll your eyes and end the whisper. “What can you do? I understand that you're a virus so are you at least proficient in hacking?”

The D-Zen looks at you and fidgets again, “Um, I read about that on the boards. Do you have anything for me to try it on?”

Looking at Clien, you get a devilish idea, “Hack him, turn off his vision for a moment.”

Clien gets flustered, “Bit, that's cruel, how- AHHH MY EYE- Oh, they're back to normal.”

The D-Zen looks back at you, “That was hacking, right?”

You stare at the D-Zen, jaw agape, “Clien, you had your firewall up, right?”

“Um, yes. I always keep that software on, I know it isn't the best wall but-”

You smile to yourself. It's not illegal in ARCHLight to hack your opponent. It's not good showmanship but just about anything is fair game short of murder. In the field it'll require a bit more effort to get rid of the enemy's wall but...

>[] “That's it, you're hired.”
>[] “And do you know of any other skills?”
>[] “Are you scared of getting shot in the face?”
>[] (other)

>>38663533
>>[] “And do you know of any other skills?”
>>[] “Are you scared of getting shot in the face?”

>>38663533
>[] “And do you know of any other skills?”
>[] “Are you scared of getting shot in the face?”
Just to make sure we know as much as we can before we jump in on him/her

>>38663533
>[] “And do you know of any other skills?”
>[] “Are you scared of getting shot in the face?”

>>38663533
>[] “Are you scared of getting shot in the face?”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnXN150AgcI

>>38663901
That's amazing.

>>38663533

Keeping with your composure, you take a breath and recline gently again, keeping your excitement to yourself. That's a qualification of a Viral in the pro-circuits. Maybe even an over-qualification if its other combat abilities are up to par. More than anything, it needs to be able to multithread. Without Multithreading it won't be possible to divide up attack and defense in equal parts.

“Any other skills? Multithreading, Crossthreading, Parallelthreading, Repair, Diagnostic, Targeting, Tracking?”

The D-Zen emotes a frown and shrugs again, “Umm... I think I can track? I'm not sure about those other things. I'll try to figure them out if I need to though.”

Another deep breath from you, this could be bad if they don't know how to multithread, “Here's a simple test... Can you pat your head and rub your belly at the same time?” You demonstrate and Clien averts his eyes... He can't do that.

The D-Zen's persona blinks and mimics what you're doing, “Uh, this?”

You're so happy you could just about cry. Multithreading is harder than that but it means that they at least have the aptitude.

“Okay, last. Are you afraid of getting shot in the face?”

“That was... unpleasant.” Clien comments.

“Um, I guess not. Does that hurt?”

“Not really. It's just unpleasant.” Clien adds.

“Well, then I guess I'm not afraid of it.”

>[] Okay, you're in.
>[] Further questioning...

>>38663986
>[] Okay, you're in.

>>38663986
>[] Okay, you're in.

>>38663986
>>[] Okay, you're in.

>5'3"
>145 lbs
>tfw the MC is a chubby manlet

>>38664481
He's still growing to be fair, And that weight's actually muscle.

>>38663986

“Alright then. You're in.”

The D-Zen emotes a happy smile, “Great! When do I start?”

“Pretty much right now. I've got a qualifier match today at 17:30 as I said in my OP on the battleboard.”

“Oh, right.” The D-Zen stands and gives a slight bow, “Thank you. I'll be ready by then.”

Opening a window you relay your contact code to the D-Zen. “Just follow that pathway when I send you a text, okay?”

“Alright.”

“See ya there.” Your eyes snap away, out of REM and the room dissolves our of your vision as your eyes adjust back to your apartment.

“I have a good feeling about them.”

“We still need something to call them. A bunch of symbols and one R isn't really a name.” You say as you get up to stretch. A window in the corner of your eye lets you know that the times is about 11 now. If you actually had money to spend on something beside food you might be in the mood to picking up some programs. Or maybe scout your opponent if it weren't an anonymous draw.

You let yourself fall onto the carpet floor of your studio and stare at the ceiling for a bit.

Your mind takes you to your life and where you came from.

Parents were “Farmers” A group that hates technology, genetic engineering, medical tech, and everything else good in the world. They live outside city limits cultivating the land and supplying whom they'd call scum food in exchange for the money necessary to keep their land. Land that'd otherwise be a wasteland. As if the city actually needs it with the synthetic foods they can make now. It's really just for those that have a kick on that whole “organic” thing.

Some surviving archives tell of when there was a lot more green shit outside the city. Less barren land that had to actually be worked to grow anything. The Farmers restore things sure, but to deny this- civilization. That's just fucking stupid.

>>38664751

The Designers that are made to be perfect as far as their parents and society is concerned are chipped with Di nodes from birth. You feel the back of your head where yours is located. It's implanted just underneath the skull in a part Clien called the “occipital” Since then you've been able to see windows in your vision, connect to the interface and see a world that a “farmer” could never see.

Your sister was born blind. You had heard that the people of the city could fix that.
You just didn't know how.

Doctor said that if her eyes are the problem, they can give her synthetic ones. If her brain is the problem, they can reconnect it. And if it's a bit of both, then they could just bypass the “faulty” wiring of her brain and have her see through synthetic eyes with a Di-implant.

Turns out she just needed something in her head fixed. The Doc suspected that you were a natural when you brought her to the hospital. You told him that your eyes were just a flaw in her “genetic Design.” Not quite a lie, but not quite what was true.

Still, you can't believe your parents.

>What will you do to pass the time?

>[] Go for a walk streetside, stretch out the legs, maybe even jog.
>[] Dive into the interface again, check out some viral strategies.
>[] Run some replays of Apple Mackinzie's matches, you could watch that all day...
>[] Kick it with your friends on the net.
>[] (other)

>>38664775
>>[] Dive into the interface again, check out some viral strategies.
we can't fuck around, we need to be on top, no fuck ups.

>>38664775
>[] Dive into the interface again, check out some viral strategies.

>>38664775
>[] Dive into the interface again, check out some viral strategies.

>>38664481
whom else would you assume to be a pro gamer?
>>38664751
>>38664775
>[] Dive into the interface again, check out some viral strategies.

>>38664775

After re-hydrating you let yourself lay back on the sofa, getting yourself comfortable again for another full dive. After yesterday you're not leaving it to chance.

After manifesting your persona, you shortcut yourself to the battle boards and enter in to look at Viral strategies used in Lighting. There's a good amount that haven't been regulated as the boards are constantly updating with new nonsense and info. Not enough mods to meet the influx from some virals, trolling antis, and some humans that are just plain assholes.

Amidst your searching, you notice the D-Zen from earlier is there, separated from the sea of “hidden” since they're on your contacts now. It seems that they came to do the same research rather than slack off somewhere in the dark corners of the interface huffing adware.
They seem absorbed, swiftly scrolling through window after window for anything that might be useful, same as you.

Might actually be a more earnest viral than you've ever heard of...

>[]Keep to yourself and your own search.
>[] Approach them, and look together.
>[] (Other)

>>38665348
>[] Approach them, and look together.

>>38665348
>>[] Approach them, and look together.

>>38665348
>>[] Approach them, and look together.

>>38665348
>>[] Approach them, and look together.
Holy crap I didn't miss it, whoooo

>>38665348


You close your most recent tabs and stroll over. Unnoticed, you give them a tap on the shoulder, causing them to jump and spin around with a startled emote, “Ah?! Wha- Oh-ohhh.” They relax, giving a sweatdrop smiley emote.
“H-hey there, are you checking up on me? I'm just getting ready for our first match.”

You smile back through your persona, “You really like using emoticons huh? Well, you don't really have a persona yet, right?”

The D-Zen shakes their head with squinted eyes emotes,”Uh, no... It's weird huh?”

“Yeah, most D-Zens pick some kind of humanoid form...”

“I guess I just haven't decided yet.”

“Or on a real name, you've still got a character string for a name.”

“Oh, well... Uh... Clien mentioned that actually. You can call me whatever you want.

>[Decide Later]\ Actions in the quest and NPCs will eventually name your partner.
>[Decide now]\ Will move this Directly into suggestions and a second tier vote.

>>38665638
>>[Decide Later]\ Actions in the quest and NPCs will eventually name your partner.
Let's see what he becomes known as.

>>38665638
>>[Decide Later]\ Actions in the quest and NPCs will eventually name your partner.

>>38665638
>[Decide Later]\ Actions in the quest and NPCs will eventually name your partner.

>>38665638
>[Decide Later]\ Actions in the quest and NPCs will eventually name your partner.
I just got back home.

>>38665638


“Well, it's not a name, but I'll just call you Partner for now, okay?”

Your partner gives you a smiling emote, “Alright, well, that works.”

Looking up at the board, you step up and open some windows, “Lets look up strategies together, we can decide what'll work best between the two of us, okay?”

They nod, “Alright Partner.”

>Tips gained!: Tips can be used to influence battle strategies in relevant situations! It sure is convenient when you have a tip, right?

>Viral Typ#1: Fight far when they're too strong! If they're dominating you in melee fight from a long range and go for attacks that bypass their guard. If you're a viral that's good at hacking, decrease their framerate and increase latency with spam attacks!
>Viral Typ#2: Fighting unfair is fun and fair! Mock your opponent whether you're dominating them or the other way around. Piss them off and they'll make a mistake. Break leg integrity, clip Cy-wings, and go straight for the core!
>Viral Typ#3: Speed is your friend. Virals are usually piss-poor at defense even if they're threading your wall. Virals talk shit and don't get hit! Modulate speed over defense and only go in for the kill when you're confident that you're making them go catty!

>Keyword: Go Catty. When the enemy's FpS is too low by either processing speed/high data load/or a glitching D-Zen they'll start to see you in doubles and triples.
This was coined by Major Bison after losing a match against Apple MacKinzie and Ever Tiger in which he claimed to see them in quintuplets after they ran their speed boost in their third stage Avatar form.

>>38666124

>[Style Tip#1]: Always wear your goggles when going into the match, strike a pose when you start up your avatar. It's kind of a lame move if you say something to go with it. That's the announcer's job. Unless there is no announcer, then you can say something.

>>38666124

After reading through the boards, as much as some of these strategies are viable, you can't help but understand why Virals are destined to be the booed underdogs. It might be worth thinking about which one of these you incorporate.

Qualifiers are the time to get some fans, but when the actual tournament starts that's when style points are really going to matter. The type of people that root for you are going to entirely depend on the way you fight in front of them and how you carry yourself.

And that- will determine your sponsors for going pro.

Your partner seems fairly pumped about the match to come, but are you ready to head over there?

>[] LET'S DO THIS.
>[] Not crossing my fingers but... I might have this.

Optional:
>[] Text your netbuddies so they can see the match.
>[] Text Ms Shank to look in on the match.

>>38666390
>[] LET'S DO THIS.
>[] Text your netbuddies so they can see the match.
>[] Text Ms Shank to look in on the match.

>>38666390
>[] LET'S DO THIS.

>>38666390
>>[] LET'S DO THIS.
>[] Text your netbuddies so they can see the match.
>[] Text Ms Shank to look in on the match.

>>38666390
>[] LET'S DO THIS.
no distractions, we need to focus for this one.

>>38666390
>>[] LET'S DO THIS.

Also did our sister ever turn up or is ms. Shank still looking for her?

>>38666526
Checking a message notice, Shank sent you a notification that she's got your sister.
But Beatie's being stubborn and refuses to tell her how to take her home.

TL;DR Shank's babysitting right now.

>>38666594
Tell her to bring our sister to the match then

>>38666633
This could be done. She could also have Ms Shank tune into the match ad project it on a flatscreen.

>[] Beatie comes to the match.
>[] Beatie watvhes it on a stream.

>>38666892
>[] Beatie comes to the match.

>>38666892
>>[] Beatie watvhes it on a stream.

>>38666892
>>[] Beatie comes to the match.

>>38666892
>[] Beatie comes to the match.

>>38666892
>>[] Beatie comes to the match.
we just have that much more insentive to win now.

>>38666390
Noticing a message from Ms. Shank once you wake up from the interface, you skim over it. She's got Beatie and she's being stubborn about going back, go figures... But you can't waste time dealing with her right now, you've got to get to the match!

Throwing on your coat and grabbing your goggles from off of the couch, you put them on as you run out of your apartment, “Clien, lock up for me please!” As you send Ms Shank a message to just bring Beatie to the match so you can reason with her aftwerward.

You hear the door click. “Done, hurry!”

You're off running down the street to hail public transit, waving it down just in time for the driver to notice you. A voice comes on through a speaker, “Credits please.” and you slid your stick across a scanner, a ding of approval at the withdrawal. “Thank you!”

There's no driver on the bus, just a D-Zen that's actually halfway decent when it comes to real world coordination- you hope.

You run off the bus at the nearest stop to the second qualifier location, slipping in past the crowd in the open square as soon as security identifies you as the expectant Lighter.
Standing out amidst the ARCHL generators, is a woman tall and slender, waiting expectantly for her match.

Coach finds you and waves you down to come to your match side. The announcer gives you a sour look, different from the ass from last night, “Hey kid, what's the name?”

“Bi-” you almost say, before you catch yourself. Right, he means what's he going to say. Well, the other night the announcer said “Bonnie and Clien.” That asshole was obviously sucking Jack Black's D though.

>[] BitKnight
>[] Sir Lancelot
>[] Knight of Demise
>[] SirKnight
>[] (Insert Name)

>[] Knight of Demise

>>38667247
>[] Lancer

>>38667247
>>[] Knight of Demise

>>38667247
>>38667307
Supporting.

>>38667307
>>38667354
Heh
I put Lancelot in as a reference to FS/N

We're even between the two. This isn't permanent though so I'll just go ahead...

>>38667247
>>>38667247
>>>38667307
>Supporting this

>>38667247

“Knight Of Demise.” Is the first and edgiest thing you come up with saying. The announcer smirks at you.

“Sorry kid, Lady D and Demise already got dibs, got something else?”

You roll your eyes, coming up with a fallback, “Lancer.”

“Doesn't sound too lucky, but it'll do, get in your part and get ready for when the field goes live.”

You head to your corner and take in a deep breath as coach talks to you, saying things to psych you up. His words fall on deaf ears though because you're already psyched as can be. A message sent out to your partner and their voice buzzes in your auditory, confirmation that they're with you.

Your sister's here, and if you lose this match it's over. You won't have a way to face Ms Shank about just how qualified you are to make this a career. No career means you'll be sent to foster care until 18, might not see your sister again if it's another city over.

With another deep exalting exhale you look your coach in the eye, “I'm ready.”

The man looks you back in the eye with a crooked smile, “Go destroy that bitch.”

You turn and the announcer's roused the crowd, Ms Shank confirms that she's there right before you cut off all connections with exception to your partner as the generators hum on, washing a solid light over the field, low res rocks and trees coming into existence.

“Today is the second qualifier matchup for the Terminal City ARCHLight Amateur League! Today we have from the round table of Stabelot Sir Lancer of Digistruction and his partner, Malice!”

“-That's an interesting name.” Your partner comments.

“-One you'd keep?” You ask.

“And on the other side, we have the femme fatale-”

“-Not sure. Do they always do this?” Your partner asks in return.

“-Part of their job is pissing us off.” You smirk as you eyeball the building synch ratio as your avatar goes LIVE.

“Lady D and Demise!”

“-Ah, then we shouldn't get upset, right?”

“Right- It's starting.”

>>38667836
The rules pop up in your display as usual.

>1. Do not kill your opponent or their digizen.

>2. When enemy Integrity reaches less than 30%, you win.

>3. When the timer hits 0 The round is over. The one with the highest integrity wins.

"Programs set, Execute, and LIIIIIIVES fight!"


DP 0/120
Integrity: 100%
AvantGarde!\Firewall: Pristine
Boost Meter: 0%

Processor: 80%
Program List:
[Caliburn Halibird Vers 1.13]\Weapon
-Two Handed polearm. Projectile axhead. Cracker spear-points on either end.

[Caliburn Halibird Homing]\Modifier
-Modification exclusive to Caliburn projectiles. Targets enemy through either D-Zen tracking or Operator control to manipulate vector trajectories.

[1fast3uspeed]\Booster
-Accumulates boost through combat and destruction. Improves passive speed by base 1* and boosts speed by 3*** when activated.

[AvantGuard! V1.01]\Firewall
-Firewall that blocks strongly from the front. Activated by either Operator or D-Zen. Stability regen is slow. Swift deployment.

>>38667911
>AvantGarde
>AvantGuard
Which is it?

>38667911
>DP 0/120
Integrity: 100%
AvantGarde!\Firewall: Pristine
Boost Meter: 0%

The field is simple, heavy cover rocks to hide behind if the going gets tough, likely they'll get deleted by a strong enough hit. The tree graphics are larger, with even a few branches to allow for vertical movement. Unfortunately there are no bushes around to make use of sneaking cover.

Curious, you take a look at your avatar form to notice that it's far more stable and well proportioned than when you went in with Clien. Though instead of a shiny metallic effect from your metal textures, you have a sleek black design permeating your features as though to make you look more sinister. Must be an effect from your new partner. Virals can just change graphics like this?

“Run multithread combat features. I want a balance of offense and defense until said otherwise.”

“Alright!”

A check on your operating parameters and attack heightens more than anything else. It's crazy to do a proper diagnostic in the middle of a match but, “You're balancing it out, right?”

“I'm trying... Attack just seems easier for me.”

You load in your Caliburn Halibird, gripping it firmly between your black plated and clawed hands. “We'll deal with it.”

With the smallness of the field, your opponent is quick to give you visual confirmation, her avatar is a snake-like monster with a single gleaming eye and a few writhing snakes for hair. It's swift and she's cleaving through the trees with a thorny whip. She must be planning to lower the processing to load in something bigger...

>[] Keep distance and run a scan while attacking her with the axebird.
>[] Close in with your speed, keep her in close and overwhelm her with a flurry of attacks.
>[] Keep maximum distance to save yourself from the whip, bide time for a scan.
>[] Destroy the environment as well to charge your booster.
>[] (other)

>>38668127
>>[] Close in with your speed, keep her in close and overwhelm her with a flurry of attacks.

The whip is only good if you have range on a target, close in its worthless.

>>38668127
>>38667911
>>DP *15/120
>Integrity: 100%
>AvantGarde!\Firewall: Pristine
>Boost Meter: 0%

>>38668127
>[] Close in with your speed, keep her in close and overwhelm her with a flurry of attacks.

>>38668127
>[] Close in with your speed, keep her in close and overwhelm her with a flurry of attacks.

>>38668127
>>[] Close in with your speed, keep her in close and overwhelm her with a flurry of attacks.
goin with the flow

>>38668127
>DP 15/120
Integrity: 100%
AvantGarde!\Firewall: Damaged(hole)
>Boost Meter: 40%

Speed is the advantage of a viral type, and thus it's your advantage. With a hardlight thud of dense lumiform, you advance swiftly just as Lady D turns the whip to your direction, reacting handily to your sudden burst of movement. Her whip slams into your hastily generated firewall as the light forms in a flash to block the attack. Unrelenting, you sidestep the next swing of the lengthy whip and fling the projectile axe at her, a blackbird's blade whirling in an arc around to take off her head as you approach with the breaker tips on either end of the remains.

Your partner takes control of the whirling blade just as it slips past her, going for a feint as you approach from the opposite diagonal side. You stab out right as she takes the thrust from your breaker tip with a hand, a small hole of hemoraging lumens erupting from the wound as she uses her armorless form to contort around your perilously spinning axehead, letting it fly to claim you instead as she throws her free hand to the ground, a poisonous green light welling up in palm.

With a hard pull, you force yourself away, catching the halibird blade in its rightful place before sending it off again, hovering just above the ground to trim her snake-like lower half down to a better size.

She lashes out with her whip, the bird cutting clean through a section of it much to her dismay.

You land, grinding against the terrain from your precious jump, expectant of the halibird cleaving her this time. There's a sudden flash, “Did it work!?” You ask aloud.

>>38668567
>DP 15/120
Integrity: 95%
AvantGarde!\Firewall: Damaged(hole)-repairing
Boost Meter: 40%

>“Learn your flags, love.”
A quicktext from your foe appears in the far peripheral as your bird's sent into the ground and multiple snake-like energy vectors erupt out from the flash of light.

With a spin of your double-spear, you knock a vector away, at your side, your partner activates your garde, halting another two, but the last one slips right through a hole in your wall. What? You stare at it, when could it have?

Wait- that whip? Monsanto's Thorn Vhip? “Shit!” It's a classic viral weapon, one that eats away at firewalls even while they're put away. It's easy enough to restore the degradation if it's noticed, but she just got away with it.

The snake vector bites into your left arm and plows into you with force, lumens bleeding from the wound and a spreading green infection slowly but surely working its way into your body. The limb begins to lose proprioception, you can't feel where it is anymore.

“Bit, what do we do?”

>[] Lop off the arm with the Halibird, it's useless now.
>[] Bear with it

>>38668593
>[] Lop off the arm with the Halibird, it's useless now.
Let's lose our legs below the knee too while we're at it

>>38668593
>[] Close in with your speed, keep her in close and overwhelm her with a flurry of attacks.
this isn't going to end we'll for us.

>>38668593
>[] Bear with it
Could we get our Partner to counter hack it? Like give the rights of control of our arm to him and let him fight the virus for dominiation?

>>38668593
>>[] Bear with it
is it too much to hope that our partner could run a detox program or something to that effect while we back off and regroup?
if not i guess lop off the arm or at least try and get a scan on what got you. would hate to lower our fighting potential if the effects are temporary

>>38668678
if so* sorry wrote that a little confusingly

>>38668668
>>38668678
Good plan.

>>38668635
T'is but a flesh wound.

>>38668763
A scratch? Your arm's off!
No, it isn't!
Well, what's that then?
I've had worse.

>>38668593
>DP 15/120
Integrity: 95%
AvantGarde!\Firewall: Pristine
Boost Meter: 45%


“Can you run a counterhack and remove the virus?”

“You want me to hack our avatar?”

“Yeah, if you could, would be great.” You give full rights of the infected arm to your partner, the infection begins to halt and recede. It's still numb and the green discolor is persistent. You notice your attack parameters take a slight hit and your defense parameters drop further as you bring your firewall up to make sure the hole's gone. Very temporary, partial breaks are easy.

The light from your foe clears and you see a very clear gash across her chest from where your halibird made contact, her hand's still leaking too. With your partner busy fighting off the infection you can't get a proper scan but your ARCHL-mania is coming through.

Snake vectors by Serpent-Six69. Viral administration vectors. They can curve.
Some kind of firewall that pushes things back, likely at the expense of stability.
Thorn Vhip. Lengthy wall crusher. Only thing is that it usually doesn't cleave through terrain which means she must have a modifier or something.

“Don't think you've got me just yet boy!” She yells out like some kind of cartoon villain that's clearky been backed into a corner.

“Boy?” You smirk with your avatar's eyes gleaming a sinister red as you call the axebird back to its rightful place, “I believe you are mistaken. I am the Lancer.”

Lady D backs up against a stone, “Oh, so you must be surely be a knight then, cornering a defenseless woman like myself to have his way with her...” She shifts, and undoes the strap of her Avatar's brassiere, letting it hang a little low for her own good.

“Um, what is she doing?” Your partner asks, clearly confused.

“S-stalling for time.” You say, sweating buckets in your own mind.

>[] Snap out of it Bit, your sister's watching!
>[] No, there's only one for you, Kinzie!
>[] Ms Shank isn't going to like this...
>[] (other)

>>38668991
>[] Snap out of it Bit, your sister's watching!

>>38668991
>[] Snap out of it Bit, your sister's watching!

>>38668991
>>[X] Snap out of it Bit, your sister's watching!
can we take a quick visual scan to check the terrain?see if we can use some of it to our advantage.

>>38668991
>[] No, there's only one for you, Kinzie!
>[] Snap out of it Bit, your sister's watching!
>[] Ms Shank isn't going to like this...
In that order. Also, hit her quick. She probably is stalling to pull something off. It will probably be bad.

>>38668991
>[] No, there's only one for you, Kinzie!
our true waifu would never act so impure

>>38668991
Hit her with another ranged attack

File: gentleman akbar.jpg (9 KB, 268x188)

9 KB JPG

>>38668991
>Oh, so you must be surely be a knight then, cornering a defenseless woman like myself to have his way with her...” She shifts, and undoes the strap of her Avatar's brassiere, letting it hang a little low for her own good.
she's obviously trying to set us up.

>>38669070
She cut down most of the trees with her initial attacks. I haven't kept track of the processor score because overall this one isn't as shitty. There are rocks, and she's pushed herself up against an especially large one.

The conditions are pretty neutral, though right now the terrain favors her.

>>38668991
>>[] Snap out of it Bit, your sister's watching!
>[] No, there's only one for you, Kinzie!

>>38669111
ranged is probably our best option while we wait for our arm to be up and running again, keep her busy while not full engaging. i am a little concerned about those viper vectors.

>>38668991
>Integrity: 95%
>AvantGarde!\Firewall: Pristine
>Boost Meter: 45%
Status: Cured!

You freak out internally, for one, your sister's watching. She's literally watching from less than fifty meters away you'd imagine. Then, oh and then of course, there's only one woman for you. Kinzie, the pro-circuit speed-queen of Apple.

You bring up your speartip, “Nay, I am merely putting down a classless whore.”

Her avatar's face shifts into a wide-eyed demonic smile, “And I'm putting down an underclassed whelp.”

A curtain of green snakes erupt from behind the rocks, a flanking attack from either side. Startled, you step back in hasty retreat as the maw comes together. With a flick however, she casts out more vectors in a straight line while the guillotine makes a second curve to wrap around again. Panicked, you start to sidestep around just as you get a confirmation from your partner, “Done!”

And your parameters rocket back to their previous state.

>[] Block all the snakes by going all in on your firewall.
>[] Go for Lady D's head.
>[] Leap through the next circle of the maw and cast out your whirling blade again.
>[] (Other)

>>38669349
>>[] Leap through the next circle of the maw and cast out your whirling blade again.
we need range.

>>38669349
>>[] (Other)
Activate [1fast3uspeed] and make some distance while having our partner start hacking our opponent.

>>38669349
>[] Leap through the next circle of the maw and cast out your whirling blade again.
Activate speed boost

>>38669349

>>38669349
>>38669349
i'm liking both of these combined.
also is avantgarde different from our regular firewall? and could we utilize it to tank most damage while attempting a charge with our pole-axe?

>>38669530
Check those links man. You messed them up

>>38669550
whoops
>>38669421
>>38669504
together lol

>>38669530
AvantGarde is your firewall. Rather, it's styled as a directional shield that has a slower repair rate but nearly instantaneous deployment. It can only appear from the front of the Avatar however.

If your partner went 100% on it, it's possible that they could tank the snakes.

>>38669566
OK, thanks QM, that is a lot of snakes though. i wonder how bogged down her CPU is that's a lot to process all at once.

>>38669349

Before the snakes reach, you activate your booster, 1fast3uspeed. It takes over your avatars physics engine, accelerating all the movements doubling its normal constraints as you leap through the volley of snake vectors, and slip through the ones on the centerline as you bring back your polearm for a vital throw. With maximized attack, you fling it headlong at Lady D as she attempts to lash out with more snakes. Your forward momentum, combined with the full-power swing of your halberd proves to face her firewall without resistance as it's broken like an eggshell meeting an axhead just as she begins to replicate that flash of light from before.

Stabbing your weapon into the ground you declare victoriously, “It's Over.”

>Critical Integrity loss: Lady D
Loser: Lady D.

>Winner: The Lancer

>[Game Over]

>>38669658
Right here, it's gonna be a wrap guys.

So, some feedback would be good. Anything I could do better? You liking the setting/world/ character?

>>38669667
You could have much more detailed fight scenes and some more detail over all. Other than that you are doing well and keep it up. You got a twitter and a schedule for this shit?

>>38669667
Include dice.

>>38669667
thanks for running QM
overall enjoying the story, really enjoying the world. detailing could use some work, dont worry about being wordy, wordy is good.

>>38669683
https://twitter.com/ARCHLight_Quest
>>38669701


I'll try for more detail. That's going to take a bit to fix though, more of a style change/evolution than anything.

>>38669694
I'm not exactly sure where I would start having you guys roll.
There's operator skill, D-Zen system-running, the individual values of the gear, and then the stat balance of the avatars.

I have a good idea of exactly where each one is within my notes and enemies are expected to progressively get harder and representing that accurately with your dice sounds like a pain in the neck.

>>38669701
>>38669683
Bit looking like an alright guy? I'm surprised that one of you mentioned the status on his sister.
I wasn't actually going to bring that up unless you guys did.

>>38669751
yeah, mc is doing good, it is important to make sure they dont become just a tool used to get from point A to point B, its important to remember that MC's gonna be another human and as such tend to have concerns,and will for the most part be full grounded individuals... unless they go full anime.

>>38669872
anime-lite okay?

>Fell asleep sitting in my chair
>Wake up
>Missed the entire thread
Suffering.