It's a day before the primaries, a week and a half since the last qualifier. You haven't heard from Coach since that last day, it's like he just up and vanished.

3Deet, a hacker you've known for a while after meeting on a f2p game, and Cherry congratulated you on making it to the Primaries, but your thoughts snap back to where coach might be. Is he dead? Not picking up? Or in some spiral of alcoholism in which he cannot be assed to wake up.

Beatie's still been hanging around, constantly asking you to let her practice idolwork with Cherry Pie. You tried to show her how to set everything up but she still seems a bit uncomfortable with technology- and you can't afford to have her breaking anything. It's early afternoon and Beatie's singing and dancing with Cherry on the display. There's a sudden knock on the door- a curt and professional four knocks in succession that's so familiar for Ms Shank. Beatie asks Cherry to wait a moment and both of you go to answer it. Ms Shank looks down at you, her white lips breaking her business-like mask as she smiles at you two before offering some light groceries, “Thought you two might want some real food. I know Bit's budget is abysmal.”

Beatie grins before pouting at mention of your money, “We were supposed to get stuff for tacos yesterday, but instead Bit went and bought a poster that was wayyy too expensive.”

File: Apple MacKinzie Poster.jpg (511 KB, 1600x1200)

511 KB JPG

>>39096679


“It was signed by Kinzie! THE Apple MacKinzie! I had to stand in line for like three hours just to get her to sign it!”

Ms Shank puts a hand wearily to her forehead, clearly troubled by your financial decisions, “Bit, didn't I tell you to be more careful with your money? How do you even come across justifying that?”

You frown, rolling your eyes, “Well, duh. I got to see my ARCHLight idol in person.” You clench your fists as a fired up grin explodes across your face, “And one day, I'm gonna battle with her! And she's gonna see how good I am and we'll go back to her apartment and make out, and-”

“BIT!”

You snap out of your growing fantasy with Ms Shank glaring at you, “By Deus Bit, can you not?”
Beatie says goodbye to Cherry Pie and takes the groceries in with Ms Shank, your social worker sticks around to show your sister how to make some of the packaged foods. It's one thing to make a homecooked meal, it's a whole other to become a Display-Dinner Ninja.

You notice in your optical display that there are a few messages, there'd be more, but Clien filters out the junkmail and spam for you.
There's a couple from your 3Deet, seems its about taking out a loan for a storage upgrade to your program menu. He also mentions some of the less risky programs to pirate, as in- the ones that are less likely to blow up in your face due to deliberate fatal errors. Alice has been talking with him in the past week, he seems interested in her brute force hacking power.

There's another message from a buddy of yours that initially helped you design the Knight's base while you added other features. It wasn't a big project so he let you put your name on it, the light artist Mikhail Gho. Seems he's interested in the possibility of developing you a 2nd stage avatar. It'll cost you some money, but it seems that he's willing to just take a cut from the Tournie award.

>>39096709

Well, you've got some free time, what will you do?

>[Get 3deet on the line] You're gonna need more storage space to equip better things, might as well increase your overall avatar.
>[Hit up Gho. Sooner you get a 2nd Stage Avatar the better!] 2nd Stage Avatars are LIVEs that step up their processing potential once a certain combat threshold is achieved, it's like hitting second gear and tends to unlock additional inherent abilities, hard stat increases, a much cooler look, and default weapons.
>[Put them on hold and talk to Ms Shank about going to Coach's house.] It's really starting to worry you, what if something happened?
>[Other]

>>39096837
>>[Hit up Gho. Sooner you get a 2nd Stage Avatar the better!] 2nd Stage Avatars are LIVEs that step up their processing potential once a certain combat threshold is achieved, it's like hitting second gear and tends to unlock additional inherent abilities, hard stat increases, a much cooler look, and default weapons.

>>39096837
>[Hit up Gho. Sooner you get a 2nd Stage Avatar the better!] 2nd Stage Avatars are LIVEs that step up their processing potential once a certain combat threshold is achieved, it's like hitting second gear and tends to unlock additional inherent abilities, hard stat increases, a much cooler look, and default weapons.

>>39096837
>[Get 3deet on the line] You're gonna need more storage space to equip better things, might as well increase your overall avatar.

>>39096837
>[Hit up Gho. Sooner you get a 2nd Stage Avatar the better!] 2nd Stage Avatars are LIVEs that step up their processing potential once a certain combat threshold is achieved, it's like hitting second gear and tends to unlock additional inherent abilities, hard stat increases, a much cooler look, and default weapons.

>>39096837
>>[Hit up Gho. Sooner you get a 2nd Stage Avatar the better!]

I just clicked onthis thread because TRON IMAGES

Can someone give me a quick summary of the game world before I make unfluffy decisions?

>>39097324
You could just read the previous threads first? I mean, there's only 3 of them, they're short, and if you enjoy this enough to participate then surely you'd enjoy reading the past threads.

>>39097373

Thats the lazy response. Dont you know enough to talk basic talk about it?
Like, are we programs or meat people or users or what?

>>39097434
You could read the first post.

>>39097434
The lazy action is trying to get people to explain a game to you when it's incredibly early into things instead of just reading it.
And the questions you just asked were answered in this thread itself...

>>39097459
>>39097470

Well just read the archives!!!!!! is the default response for ANY quest, I'm so used to people being assholes about it.

Yeah like i'm going to read 100 threads for something that looks interesting instead of just asking the gm and players for help.

Meh.

>>39096837
>>[Hit up Gho. Sooner you get a 2nd Stage Avatar the better!] 2nd Stage Avatars are LIVEs that step up their processing potential once a certain combat threshold is achieved, it's like hitting second gear and tends to unlock additional inherent abilities, hard stat increases, a much cooler look, and default weapons.
gains gains gains

>>39097562
Sorry I didn't respond to you, just finished the next post, I'll give you slightly more elaborated summary after that.

>>39097562
This quest is 3 threads old. You'd "BUT 100 THREADS!!!" complaint is entirely invalid.

And I don't understand people who want to vote in a quest, but not enough to actually read the quest. What's the point of even being in a quest if you don't enjoy it enough to read it?

>>39097562
It's three threads.

>>39097605
I believe he's referring to various different quest threads rather than this one exclusively.

>>39097562
Virtual E-sports in the future. MC is a human, his partner is a viral-based AI thing (they're not really AIs, it'd be more appropriate to call them "information-based life generated from artificial systems" or something, but you can just think of them as AI if you want.

Something something genetic modifications and class tensions, born on a farm, hated the farm, came to the city to play vidya professionally. Sister was blind, got her eyes fixed, wants to be an idol/singer/whatever.

If that sounds like something you like, then you can get more info from the actual threads.

>>39096837
>[Hit up Gho. Sooner you get a 2nd Stage Avatar the better!] 2nd Stage Avatars are LIVEs that step up their processing potential once a certain combat threshold is achieved, it's like hitting second gear and tends to unlock additional inherent abilities, hard stat increases, a much cooler look, and default weapons.
Need moar Knight powaz

>>39096837


Putting your domestic situation on hold, you send out a message to Gho as you set up a lobby in the interface, full diving from the comfort of your own couch, the aroma of slowly cooking food fades from your consciousness. Making it simple, yet elegant with a full wrap-around booth and slightly lowered lighting, you recline before sending an invite to Alice as well, fully aware that she'll want in on this.

She's there before too long, sitting mostly to herself on a semi-adjacent side.

After a few moments, Gho materializes in, a somewhat crazy and flashy persona with highly coordinated coloration and sharp designs. It barely even looks human, in fact, it looks more like an abstract art-piece than anything else. “Bit! It is good to see you received my message!” He plops back down into the opposite booth, his Avatar's eyes shifting over to Alice and her vaguely feminine form among hazy black graphical effects and glittering electronic red eyes with a sharp A-cut for her hair rez.
“And who is your friend?” He asks as he lifts a finger to open up his personal menu, likely to answer the question for himself at least in some part.

“This is my partner, Alice.”

“Ah, you have replaced Clien as your battle partner? This is good, she operates the Avatar much better than he ever did.” You can sense a smirk out of the tone of his voice, an artist's ego coming through and you know why: Clien couldn't handle the resolution of his avatar, do his work justice... The other reason he didn't want his name on the avatar design...

Alice blushes at the compliment, “Well, it's not like it's hard or anything. Besides,” She looks at you, “Bit is the one doing most of the fighting, I'm just working in the background.”

“Do not mistake me,” Gho's abstracted avatar smiles, you think. “With such a brilliant D-Zen as yourself operating an avatar made by yours truly, it will wow and amaze the public.

>>39097807

Alice fidgets for a moment, crossing her arms as she seems to suppress her laughter, “I'd be flattered. But...”

“But? Anything you might ask, my beauty.” You think you're going to be sick...

“Can you make it -not- look like that?” She points at Gho's persona, cringing a bit with her own emoticons.

You do well to suppress yourself from busting out laughing, though a snicker does slip through. Gho twitches, “Indeed, my persona is an amalgamation of my various expertise... You need not worry, for you and Bit, I will maintain but one creative theme. Yet I will need one from you. How will Lancer 'evolve' in the midst of his duels?”

>You say...

>[By gaining a noble steed.] +Speed build. All around minor increase. Quadraped avatars are hard for some to handle. You've been horseback riding before back in the farms so it should be okay. +Quadruped Bonus.
>[By becoming more ferocious and strong.] +Strength Build. All around minor increase. The avatar will gain a more fearsome appearance and be more geared to a berserking build. +Spiked Armor Bonus
>[By becoming more devious] +Dexterity. All minor increase. Avatar will become more geared toward Viral-type combat and be equipped with inherent cables that act as hacking jacks. +Hacking Harpoon
>[Other] We can discuss this.

>>39097837
>[By becoming more devious] +Dexterity. All minor increase. Avatar will become more geared toward Viral-type combat and be equipped with inherent cables that act as hacking jacks. +Hacking Harpoon
With Alice's hack-stat this should be a given

>>39097837
>[By becoming more devious] +Dexterity. All minor increase. Avatar will become more geared toward Viral-type combat and be equipped with inherent cables that act as hacking jacks. +Hacking Harpoon

So you guys know, there will be opportunity to acquire hacking through your program set as well.

The crowd and by proxy sponsors will react and approach differently based on how Bit fights.

>>39097965
I might have to reread the older threads but does the crowd dislike hacking in fight?

>>39098046
We did some hacking already in fights and they seemed pretty hype about it.

>>39097965
We can also talk about this.

Steed will either have a full mount or be an armored centaur. The strange movement characteristic is very likely to throw a lot of Lighters off because most either go for wheels, biped, or even a float/flight system.

The hooves themselves will also be "breakers" allowing them to be used as weapons.

The Berserker will feature spiked armor that wears away at enemy integrity on contact, allowing full bodied blows. The strength boost will increase the melee game as well.

The Deviant will have a slight reduction in the armor to make way for a more rogueish appearance. The hacking jacks will be located on each forearm.

>>39098067
>>39098046
The crowd present was pretty hyped about the hacking of the shark. There's just a bad stigma based around virals. Flooding desktops with porn, deleting files at random for shits and giggles, pulling elaborate pranks, etc.

I'm also up for some suggestions as to what you want the avatar to look like.

Alice is fine so long as it's black.

>>39097837
>>[By becoming more ferocious and strong.] +Strength Build. All around minor increase. The avatar will gain a more fearsome appearance and be more geared to a berserking build. +Spiked Armor Bonus
I want to writein, but I gotta run

>>39098136
I probably would have voted for a speed build if it wasn't for the horse thing. Dunno why, just makes me not want it.

How about some kind of "Wraith" build that focuses on evasion/dodging/sped or something? Maybe limited intangibility or something? Would that be workable? Ghost knight?

>>39098209
Speed-type Wraith.

Could eventually turn into some kind of Dullahan maybe?

Spend gauge to phase through the force of an attack(cancel knockback ratio)?
Bit hates farms anyway, huehue.

>>39098262
I'd change my vote >>39098010 to something like that.

>>39098262
Oh, and during the activated special it renders him invisible, eh?

>>39098136
I'll change >>39098188 to back >>39098209.

Maybe some stray tendrils of "cloth" that passively obscure vision, too.

>>39098262
I'm not sure whether I like this or the hacking build more.
I think I stand with the Deviant

>>39098262
Sure let's do it. I voted previously for the hacking, not sure exactly which one

>>39098262
>>39098277
That does sound pretty cool.

>>39098309
Just try to delete them. You'll be able to delete your own but not the other peoples' votes.

>>39098277
>the activated special
I feel like I'm missing out on some comprehension. What exactly does this mean?

>>39098262
Let's go with this

Maybe a revote? It's kind of spread out right now.

>>39098395
seems like the wraith idea is pretty far ahead already though

>>39098309
I'm going to go ahead and pair them up.

>>39098355
It'd have an inherent ability that can be activated by spending "Gauge" which is built through striking and being struck.

The special I have in mind would be "Wraith's Haze" which would cancel the force value of an attack.
While not negating slash or pierce dmg* It's a perfect setup to get a critical hit in an exchange a foe thinks they're gonna win through a high force value.

During the Haze, it'd also obscure what Bit's doing.

>>39098446
Ok, so the build we're going with is some kind of Rogue/Wraith thing that focuses on dodging/negating attacks and trying to set up big hits and facilitate hacking? Or something like that?

>>39098513
Yes!

>>39098522
Sounds like it could be a real crowd pleaser. Nothing whips up a frenzy like a surprise turnaround where they think we just got rekt but really we were about to do the rekking ourself.

>>39098522
Sounds nice but since I know /tg/ we will horribly fail.

>>39097837

“Well, I was thinking that I could use some sort of hacking jack for my avatar.” You look over at Alice, “She's really good at hacking, so much that it's kind of scary, but her other stats for ARCHLighting are still a little low.” You bring a thoughtful finger to your mouth for a few moments as you consider what you really need out of your avatar, “A hacking jack and more speed, that's the name of the game these days with STR and CONS builds starting to phase out like Windows when Deus came around.

Gho considers your insight, then brings up some clips from your previous battles with a few flicks of his fingers at his own menus. It shows the finishing blow that Jack Black(now BlackJack) dealt to you, then the two nearly flawless victories. “I looked over these clips, it seems that you very much favor evasion when you can. In fact, you only use your firewall during the more critical moments. Among lighters, your a bit of a daredevil... Perhaps we'll work along those lines. Send me your current avatar data and I'll get to work at designing your 2nd Stage.”

“That sounds great!” You grin, then suddenly feel a lump in your stomach as you remember that you're going to have to pay the Light Artist for his time. Oh, right... He's going to siphon part of your winnings. “So... what percentage did you want?”

“Hm? Oh! Payment! Yes.” His perplexing avatar considers the subject with a Thinker's posture, “We'll say half- if it lets you win.”

“H-half?!”

“So long as you make it black.” Alice adds, unaware of the Light Artist's price.

“Do you know what half means?!” That could afford a hundred Apple MacKinzie posters. You could wallpaper your entire studio with Mackinzie. You could get a Hardlight replica of Apple to...

>>39098856

You hear someone yell at you from the real, shaking you slightly and giving you a bad feeling.
Stay on track.

“I'm well aware, and winning this tournament means that you'll go Pro. The price for an express Avatar is usually much higher. I'll gain recognition by having my Avatar win, and you'll get a career. Is it a deal?”

The prize is five million zennis. With the hyperinflation of 50 years ago, that's the equivalent of fifty grand in the last century. Clien's history-buff voice rings in your mind from that useless information...

>[Deal.] You need him to do his best work.
>[Could you make it a little lower?] You really need that money for your livelihood if your sponsors are misers.
>[No deal] You'll manage without.(Design idea will be saved for future use.)

>>39098875
>[Deal.] You need him to do his best work.
Fuck it.

>>39098875
>[Deal.] You need him to do his best work.
I guess we'll just have to not buy posters for a while.

>>39098875
>[Deal.] You need him to do his best work.

>>39098875
>[Deal.] You need him to do his best work.
Well seems we need to get a good sponsor.

>>39098875
>>[Deal.] You need him to do his best work.
It's fair enough, I guess. 2.5 million should last us long enough.

File: wraith.jpg (74 KB, 1268x1184)

74 KB JPG

>>39098856
Would it look something like this or rather like a ring-wraith?

>>39099013
Some armored points, like gauntlets and breatplate, yes.

That flowing red Scarf Alice put on the original form might also be included for anti-hero reasons.

Side-note: Fangirls get!

>>39098875
>[Deal.] You need him to do his best work.

File: metallic_wraith_by_sakash(...).jpg (96 KB, 765x1044)

96 KB JPG

>>39099013
>>39099088
Or something like this

File: Roster.png (177 KB, 2933x669)

177 KB PNG

Who are you worried about/looking forward to seeing fight?

File: knightblazer_thumb.jpg (45 KB, 504x379)

45 KB JPG

>>39099013
>>39099116
I'm still aiming for this, only with wraith-shadows

>>39099013
>>39099200
Something between these two seem to be the most likely appearance. Mix of style, mystery, and cool factor.

>>39099123
>Asher Burner
>Death Dragoon
>Huntsman Wil
>Metal Snake

>>39099269
With all the quest/manga/anime/tv references, I'm surprised there isn't a Red Joker on there.

>>39099227
We are the Knight Wraith (or Wraith Knight. Whatever tickles ones fancy)

>>39099286
This is amateur league.

>>39099298
Oh fuck.

Does that mean the pro league has tons of Lighters based on the OP as fuck QMCs?
>inb4 RJ vs Risa

>>39099123
>Catness Archer
Really Frag?

>>39099345
You're right, should be Catness Evergreen.

>>39098875


“Deal.” You say and a screen pops up, to ask for your signature and agree to terms of service. You sign off and Gho smiles, “Excellent! Bit, we will each be champions in our own right, please count on me!”

Before you even get a chance to roll your eyes, he vanishes from the lobby, another popup to confirm that he's left. Alice smiles at you, “This is going to be so cool!” Before slipping out of the room herself.

You return to reality, with a blink of your eyes and Beatie's looming over you, staring with intense scrutiny, “You were making your stupid 'Apple face' again, what were you doing Bit?”

“Apple is NOT stupid!”

“I meant your face Bit.”

“My face isn't stupid!” You grab Beatie by the cheek and pull.

“Owee!” Beatie squeals as she's yanked.

“Bit, Beatie! Cut it out!” Shank yells, breaking you two up. After some reconciliation, you eat dinner with the three of them.

While you're eating you consider that it kind of feels like you've got a family again. Beatie and Ms Shank; since she's visiting more regularly to keep an eye on the two of you.
Clien's kept you from being lonely, but... D-Zens, for as human-like as they are, there's not a lot of warmth involved. It's kinda nice...

But you'd really like that HardLight projection of Apple...

"Bit!"

>>39097585
>>39097619

Wow. a helpful gm that actually gets it.

I had to step out, but thank you for not being one of those guys.

>>39099429
No prob. Was >>39097698 well enough or would you like me to give you a summary? Pretty much hit all the important points.

Oh, and some of the gene mods are weird. Ms Shank is a genetically engineered Ganguro.

>>39099425

The sky begins to grow dark and Ms Shank opts to head out. You check your messages to see nothing exactly new, just the saved message from 3deet, nothing new from Coach Geist, that fucking sack of shit.
He hasn't even dropped by to go over the roster with you for the match set tomorrow...

>[Ask Ms. Shank to take you to his place.] If he isn't out at some watering hole he's likely there by now.
>[Forget about it.] Review your prelim matches with Alice.
>[Set up a lobby with 3Deet.] He's a night owl, so he should still be up around this time even though it's not even all that late.
>[Rest up for the match tomorrow, whatever it is you'll crush them.]
>[Other]

>>39099550
>[Forget about it.] Review your prelim matches with Alice.
He's dead. Or working with an opponent.

>>39099550
>[Ask Ms. Shank to take you to his place.] If he isn't out at some watering hole he's likely there by now.

>>39099583
I should've said, "Opponent's prelims" So you'll have some idea of what to expect.

>>39099550
>[Ask Ms. Shank to take you to his place.] If he isn't out at some watering hole he's likely there by now.

>>39099550
>>[Ask Ms. Shank to take you to his place.] If he isn't out at some watering hole he's likely there by now.

>>39099550
>[Set up a lobby with 3Deet.] He's a night owl, so he should still be up around this time even though it's not even all that late.

>>39099550
>[Ask Ms. Shank to take you to his place.] If he isn't out at some watering hole he's likely there by now.
I think you messed something up here.
Or what do you mean with "there"?

>>39099687
"there" as in: Coach's place of residence.

>>39099550

Coach's status has been bothering you. He's a shithead sometimes, but he's been there for you up till now... Well there was a time, and then another but... Fuck it, at the very least if he's being an asshole you can punch him in the face, designers are covered by Intelligent Design health insurance anyway.

You throw your shoes on and tell Beatie to behave herself while you're gone as you run out to catch Ms Shank just as her car pulls up in front of her, “Ms Shank!”

She turns, a flourish of her long blonde hair as she looks at you suspiciously, “Bit? What do you want?”

“Coach hasn't been responding to my messages, can you drop me off by his house?”

As soon as you finish, she can't help but to sneer with mild disgust, “Bit...” Her word is laced with concern and lathered in building refusal, “You know I don't like that man. He's a bad influence and I can't abide him being near you.”

“But I-” You start.

“No Bit.” She looks to her car, “Clark, close the door, heat's escaping.”
She walks over to you and lowers herself a little just to look you in the eyes. Her stare is unwavering despite the fading night's shadow as the city amps up its night life lights, “I ran a background check on him, it's nothing good I promise you. I've told him not to ever come near- never to talk to you again.”

The revelation that it's her doing wrenches a ball of anger into your gut, “What the fuck?! He was coaching me! He was going to help me get this championship! Am I just supposed to fly solo now? No one in my corner to back me up? To tell me what I'm missing?!”

“Bit-” She averts her gaze, frowning slightly.

>[Keep yelling at her.] What gives her the right to sabotage your dream?
>[Storm off into the city night.] You're going to Coach's place yourself.
>[Go back to your apartment.] There's nothing else to say here.
>[Other]

>>39099768
I'm going to guess it's a side-plot

>>39100187
>[Other] Ask her to explain

>>39100187
>[Keep yelling at her.] What gives her the right to sabotage your dream?
Also ask what's so bad about his background check

>>39100187
>[Storm off into the city night.] You're going to Coach's place yourself.

>>39100187
>[Keep yelling at her.] What gives her the right to sabotage your dream?

>>39100187
>>39100187
Ask what he did that could be so bad, maybe? What exactly does he have a rap for. For all we know it's a bunch of stuff from long ago or something that probably isn't him anymore

>>39100476
Or he's a mass murdering cult leader

>>39100187
>[Other] You can do whatever you have to for my protection, but I WON'T allow you to just sabotage my dream. Don't just take away my coach without my consent or even just a replacement ready.
>Storm off into the City Night

>>39100187

Every Lighter has someone backing their corner, giving them advice and new strategies to try, pushing them and their D-Zen to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Coach Geist helped you train for over a year after you first game to the city getting acquainted with the Di-Fi nodule, physical training to resist the pressures and stresses of a speed-based avatar to emulate Kinzie in your own way.
Sometimes you'd have to help him get home when he got too shit-faced drunk at his regular watering hole, other times he'd neglect to show up.

“Why? What was so bad that I can't see him anymore when I've spent nearly the last year training with him? What's so bad that it could compromise our agreement? You said that if I went pro you'd clear my case and my emancipation would be finalized, that I could take Beatie- legally- into my care and give her an actual life that isn't based around shoveling horse-shit! Is this why you've been so nice to us recently? Because you knew that you screwed up?”

Ms Shank doesn't say anything, her eyes downcast, all that energy, all that mirth from the warm family home that you'd felt is fading like the setting sun as the artificial vigor of city lights lends a glow to the streets.

“What did he do? What did he do that was so bad? The drinking? Gambling? Those are legal in Terminal City.”

Ms Shank stands up cooly, looking down at you, a condescending look in her eyes, “Unfortunately due to legal precident and laws of confidentiality regarding government-” She spews out her defense like a robot.

“Fuck it.” You say, cutting her off, “I hate you. You made it so that the closest thing I've had to a dad out here can't even see me.” Spitting at the ground, you turn to walk away.

>>39100770

“Bit-” She starts to talk before you spin around and flip her double birds.

“Fuck you.”

“Where are you going? Come back!” She calls after you.

“I'm going to see him. I need to talk to him about tomorrow's match.”

“You can't-”

“I can, you gonna stop me?” You walk off into the night, pulling your clothes tighter against the chill. You hear her getting into her car and duck into an alleyway to get out of sight. You'll just talk to him yourself, she doesn't decide who you associate with, this isn't the farm, you're in the city and you'll talk to whoever you damn well please.

…
It doesn't take long for you to make it to Geist's apartment, it's just a little further downtown. Not the best place, not just with the upper ring of the Terminal showing it up by more than just the columns overhead, but because there's even better places in downtown that look like a Ritz hotel compared to the ghetto.

You bypass some guys rolling dice that are blitzed out of their minds in some illicit lobby somewhere in the interface. They ask if you want to join and you tell them that you're just here to see your coach. They ignore you after that, only really half there.

You knock on the door you've always known to be his, a ratty plywood door cobbled together by some Tree-Farmers no doubt. The hinges squeak to the assault of your knocking. “Yeah, Who'sit?” You hear a familiar gruff voice from beyond.

“It's Bit.”

There's a silence, then the door unlocks.

You see him standing there in sodden jeans wreaking of alcohol more expensive-smelling than usual. “Hey coach.”

>>39100945


The man looks down at you, a wry grin on his face, “ 'Ey Bit, it's been a while.” He takes a swig of gin, “What're you 'round here for?”

>[“You haven't replied to any of my messages.”] True enough, but he's talking now, isn't he?
>[“I need to go over the match for tomorrow. We're fighting Iron Angel, I need to know the gameplan.”] It's why you have a coach after all.
>[“Shank said that you weren't allowed to see me anymore.”]
>[Other]Write in.

>>39100965
>[“I need to go over the match for tomorrow. We're fighting Iron Angel, I need to know the gameplan.”] It's why you have a coach after all.
>[“Shank said that you weren't allowed to see me anymore.”]

>>39100965
>>[“I need to go over the match for tomorrow. We're fighting Iron Angel, I need to know the gameplan.”] It's why you have a coach after all.

I guess everyone else has either turned in or lie in agreement.

>>39101379
basically, yeah

also, protoman/future merc avatar when

>>39100965


Standing at Coach's door, you can't help but to try to peek past him, “We need to go over tomorrow's match, I'm up against Iron Angel. Can-” You look up at Coach, his expression is more than a bit glazed, then you realize that he must be more than a little buzzed right now. “Can I come in?” You end up saying anyway.

Coach rolls the clear fluid in his bottle before taking another swig, swallowing back the burn of the drink, he grins at you, almost welcoming, “Nope.”

“Oka-” You begin to head in when you realize he didn't move, then you register what he just said, “No? Coach, we need to go over this. Right? You're my coach.”

The man's smile deepens and something within you twists painfully. “We aint goin' over tomorrow. 'Cause yer not gonna win tomorrow.”

“Coach?” You take a step back, what's going on right now? What's... “What the hell?”

“What?”

“What's your problem? You don't reply to me messages for a week and you're just gonna say that I'm losing tomorrow? Did you SEE my last two matches? I didn't get more than five percent integrity down between either of them! Alice, my partner, and I can do this, we can do this!”

The man's grin turns into a deep frown as he looks down at you, wavering in the doorstep and resting against the post for support, “Naw. Yer gunn' lose. Get lost kid.”

“Is it because of Ms Shank? Did she tell you not to talk to me?”

“Ms Shank? That perma-tanned blonde bitch?” He starts laughing again, “She mighta said somethin' 'bout that. That she'd get me 'rrested if she catches me wit' you.”

“Well, I don't care, you can forget about that, I'll make her call that off, she'll listen to me so can we jus-”

“Are you fuckin' deaf Bit?!” Geist starts yelling, “I said it aint gonn' happen. Yer gonn' lose tomorrow an' that's that. Fuck'n Deus, natural kidsso goddamn stubburnt.” She shakes his head into the bottle, turning back into his apartment.

“Coach!”

>[Other]Writein

>>39101580
> Write-in

Fuck you. I'll show you.

>>39101580
I don't think we're going to have a meaningful discussion with him right now. Let's talk to him after we win the next match.

>>39101580
Go back home and make a plan for tomorrow with alice

>>39101580
You'll see! I'll be damned if my journey stops at the very start!

>>39101580

The door slams on you, rattling his part of the building and leaving you once more alone tonight. In the flickering light of this unkempt apartment complex you shove your hands in your pockets and walk off. “Fuck you. I'll show you. Alice and I, we're strong.”

As you head out, you pass by the bowl where the gamblers were rolling, they're up, loitering around a car too nice for this neighborhood, Ms. Shank. Why did she come here? You start to sleep away when her window slides open an inch, “Bit, We'll take you home, it's cold.”

>[Accept her offer.]
>[Walk off without a word.]

>>39101379
I sorta fell asleep for a while. Haven't really been able to get much regular shuteye the last few days.

>>39101739
>[Accept her offer.]

>>39101739
>[Walk off without a word.]

>>39101739
>[Accept her offer.]

>>39101739
>[Accept her offer.]

>>39101739
>[Accept her offer.]
need to be ready for the match. Focus on the match.

>>39101739

As you approach the two loiterers give you stink eyes, and you glare right back at them.

“If either of you harm our persons I will make good on my threat to run both of you over. Based on article...” Clark, Ms Shank's D-Zen speaks from the stereos on the inside of the car. The door pops open and you slide inside while the two snakes slink back to their dice laughing and talking crap.

You fix your eyes to the back of the seat before you notice that Ms Shank's sitting in the back with you. The car starts driving at Clark's control, taking you away from this shitty part of the city.

She gives you silence as you look at the passing lights and buildings through the window. “He used to say that we'd both rise above our circumstance. That we'd claw our ways to pro and the good life. I'd get to meet important people and we wouldn't have to worry about where we're going to live.”

You feel her listening, and stop for a while.

“He always said that he'd have my back, that we'd take this town together. Well.” You shrug. “I don't know now. I guess I'm doing it by myself.”

The warmth from the heater tends to the autumnal chill clinging to your fingers. Your mind drifts back to the farm and the hearth that your family would keep as the days grew shorter. “He was one of the few people I knew here. I don't get out much to meet other people. It's hard, as a natural, when they find something wrong with you it's apparent. They'll talk behind your back, wonder who your parents are, why they'd do that to you.

“Sometimes it's enviable.” Shank finally speaks up.

“Enviable? How?”

>>39102171

“Well,” You look at her in the reflection of the mirror, she's solemn, kind of distant, but it makes her seem more human than when she's Ms Shank the social worker. “I didn't choose to be borne with dark skin or gaudy platinum-blonde hair. My parents made me perfect like some sort of cheesy doll. It's taken me a lot of effort to avoid the stigma that I might be some kind of wh- prostitute.”

“Oh.” You say, hoping it rests there. Dad used to always say that the grass is greener on the other side. Dad's a moron though, there's barely any grass in the city.

“What did Mr. Geist say?” She asks quietly, tenderly.

You take your time responding, more than anything because the words hurt, “He said I'm going to lose tomorrow. He didn't even acknowledge the progress I made getting into the primaries.”

“Bit-”

You hate that, when she says your name... When it's like this is more than just a job for her. “What? What do you want me to say? He's given up on me. Fuck him, I'm going to win tomorrow.”

She holds back while you settle down, leaning against the door, the cool glass of the window against your face, smearing wetness that escaped from your eyes.

You see her reach out for your shoulder yet pausing, gathering herself back into her seat. “I believe that you'll win tomorrow.”

“Why?”

“Because Bit, I've always been in your corner...”

“But Coach...”

“Don't call him your coach. The person you're battling tomorrow is from a family that's lost their prestige. They paid him to sell you out.”

“How did-”

>>39102184

“He's done it before, to other kids like yourself. He approaches opponents looking for extra change in exchange for your build and LIVE's weaknesses. It's why BlackJack fought you with Force-based weapons-” Brittle armor's good against slash but high force blows it away...“-it's why Lady D was so intent on fighting you at range and relied so heavily on- and was willing to dump DP on viral vectors-” Clien's an App type that can't even multithread, if you hadn't switched to Alice then...
“I even tried stopping him before your third qualifier, that opponent didn't believe him though, refused.”

“And tomorrow? Does Iron Angel have my data?”

“He may have gotten a hefty sum in exchange for your equipment information.”

You slump back in the seat, at a loss, “Then what am I going to do? I mean, I don't have a lot but if they know my game plan with Halibird and Alice...”

Ms Shank puts a hand on your shoulder, looking you in the eye, “I'm going to help you Bit. I'll pay for an upgrade to your capacity and buy you a program that'll hopefully surprise Iron Angel tomorrow.”

>[Other] Write in.

>>39102202
>>[Other] Write in.

"that- thats too nice of you. I'm not sure I can accept. I mean, if coach needs the money i can see him pulling something liek that, but.... why are you helping me?

>>39102202
Say thanks for always looking out for us and apologize for freaking out on her earlier
then hug her

>>39102202
Well shit. That was certainly a twist.

>You would... You would do that? For me? I don't know what to say other than... Thank you.
Also apologize for what we said earlier about hating her.

>>39102202
>>39102252
I'll support this.

>>39102202
I feel like an ass now. I genuinely disliked Shank before.

>>39102202
>"I'm already getting an upgrade from the guy who designed my avatar. That's one trump card, but another would be nice."
>".....I'll pay you back. There wouldn't be a point in me winning if I can't do that much. I need to prove that I'm independent."

>>39102412
The upgrade won't be ready for the match tomorrow.

You do make a good point though.

>>39102430
>The upgrade won't be ready for the match tomorrow.
oh. oh fuck.

>>39102202


“You... You would do that for me?” You look to the hand on your shoulder, and then up to her. A little awkwardly, she gives you a gentle smile, obviously lacking in these sort of situations.

“Yes.”

Your head hangs low as you think back to all the things you said earlier tonight, “Hey, about what I said. I'm sorry.”

“It's okay, you didn't know.”

“I don't hate you.”

“... Thank you Bit.”

You lift yourself up from the seat, swallow back your remorse and lean over to hug her at the waist. She's taken back by the gesture, fidgeting a little before settling her hands down over your back and shoulders. “I'll pay you back, okay?”

“You don't have to-” Ms. Shank starts.

“Winning is pointless if I can't prove that I'm independent, right?” You counter.

“You have a point there.” She surrenders.

The two of you stay like that for a while, you enjoy her warmth and come to know the faint perfume she wears personified as the complete opposite of gaudy with how slight and inoffensive it is. Clark slows the car to a gentle stop, “Madam Shank, we are at our destination. We will need to stop for a brief charge on the way home, we've been running unplugged for a while.”

“Thank you Clark.” Shank opens her door, “Come on Bit, I'll walk you to your room.”

“Okay.” You say, stepping out, “Thanks for the ride Clark.”

“Anytime master Torin.”

Shank gestures you forward, “Come on Bit, I'll walk you to your door.” As the two of you head up, you make plans for early tomorrow to hit up an ARCHLight shop on the interface to get a capacity upgrade and a new program. You say hello to Beatie, and she keeps staring at your face, noticing how worn it is by the tear tracks from earlier.

“I'm fine Beatie.” You reassure her, “I'll stream one of your favorite shows, okay?”

.

>>39102707

Ms Shank turns to leave again, “Well, everything appears to be handled here. I'll be heading out now. Good night Bit, Beatie.”

“Good Night Shank.”

Pausing, “You know, I've never really liked that name, just call me Carrie, okay?”

“Good night Carrie.” You say and she smiles as she leaves, making her way back to Clark.

Turning into bed as Beatie's mesmerised by some kiddie cartoon, you check out some of the listings on the net, there's a lot of designers for ARCHLight programs across the U.C.A, United Cities of America. But not a lot of particularly good ones. Caliburn is a decent maker, but far from the higher end ones such as Muramanet, a maker of japanese swords and samurai/Yokai aesthetics, Marvelous Hero: A maker of a digital shitton of of the best heroic weapons, or ANex, a lesser known but highly reputed maker of a variety of swords, magic, and other technical acessory progs...

First of all, you're going to need an idea of what you're looking for...

And that means going over Iron Angel's battles...

>>39102723
Who said anything about weapons? If we switch out our defensive to protect our sides and back, or a speed program that grants a burst of speed at the very start of the match, we can catch them off guard.

>>39102723
>ANex, a lesser known but highly reputed maker of a variety of swords, magic, and other technical acessory progs...
I like the sound of them

>>39102723

Popping up the first battle-vid you see Iron Angel fighting against someone using a four armed avatar- a stupid move unless your D-Zen's assisting with that control. Her Avatar is higher rez, lending to the belief that it may be a 2nd stage avatar, which would push most of those qualifier generators to the limit.

It's got a metallic body and a face that's like an iron mask, she walks with a clunky, heavy step that ripples the surface of the hardlight arena with its physics-engine generated weight. The enemy comes for her sluggish Avatar, all for arms wildly swinging cleavers while she just stands there, chips of HardLight flying here and there as she stands there, apparently stunned.

As her Integrity is slowly chopped to bits, she simply sticks out a thick iron spear and skewers her enemy right in the H-Core, instant victory.

Okay, let's not be that guy.

The second one, has an avatar with some form of flight, unlike before, this one keeps a distance, raining vectors down on Iron Angel, once more unflinching, she takes the hits as mere fragments of her entire form fly off. Lowering her spear, she takes aim and gathers metal light before firing it on high at the bird, securing her second victory.

Her methods don't tell much, but it's apparent that her Avatar's wearing some extremely resilient armor so piercing is going to be the most desirable. You can achieve that in part by using the breaker-tip of your pike since it's a part that can deliver piercing. Problem is that piercing doesn't do much damage unless it threatened the H-Core. That's dreaming of a critical hit and it's not always in the head.
The other part is that spear of hers and that metal shot. One strike from each and hey enemies were down. It's possible that her D-zen literally shut s off everything in order to do a full scan and locate weakpoints...

>>39102847
>Launch birdy
>Poke
>Birdy hits, giving a little time to get away
>Start hacking

Now, how would Iron Angel counter that, knowing our current loadout?

>>39102896
Completely ignore our paltry damage and spear our nuts.

>>39102907
So we either tank that with our shield so that Hacking goes a lot faster, or not bother attacking at all, and just stay away until Alice finishes the hack.

File: 1417725373364.png (334 KB, 618x688)

334 KB PNG

>>39102945
>tank that

>>39102907
I think it's the hack that's the key part here. It's highly doubtful that anything we have anything that could even dent her, so the hack becomes even more integral to our strategy.

The problem is that she'll know that as well, and will probably be prepared for it. As far as our current equipment goes, the best we can do is hope that Alice can hack her fast.

>>39102973
>[AvantGarde! V1.01]\Firewall{1 Slot}
>-Firewall that blocks strongly from the front. Activated by either Operator or D-Zen. Stability regen is slow. Swift deployment.
We can't guarantee that the shield will even see use against the laser, and this way we know to focus almost entirely on defense: we only need to pierce the outer shell to let the hack go faster.

>>39102987
everything goes back to that, yes.

To lend more information...

The makers behind the apparent spear and metal vector aren't readily apparent since they're overly generic and simple.

But that single-thrust skewering capability means that the spear likely has high Piercing dmg.

Replaying the metal shot, it has no curve or special movement. It was a single high-powered shot which means that it has a firing time and she must have an accurate prediction of the enemy's trajectory before actually releasing it.

Looking at the stats of the 4 armed monster's striking flurry, it knocked her down to 70% integrity before she chose to retaliate.

And the flyer that fired a series of vectors got her down to about 85% before she ended it in one shot.

The fact is that the people backing her chose to buy Bit's information for whatever reason which means that there's something that they're uncertain about, and Bit won his last two qualifiers at near max Integ, making his first loss look like some kind of hustle.

>>39103146
I'm going to have to end the thread here for now.

I did want to talk to you guys about how you'd like the program shop to be handled.

Would you just like to see what Bit/others think is a good idea or would you rather see a larger selection?
Maybe just select Prog Developers in hopes of getting sponsored by them?

Tell me what interface you guys would like.

>>39103192
Oh, and if you have any questions, I have an Ask.
>http://ask.fm/ARCHLight_Quest

And if you're new, Twitter.
>https://twitter.com/ARCHLight_Quest

>>39103192
I think it'd be a good idea to see both devs and a bit of larger selection, I guess.

Like, maybe we could select the dev of a program and ask them to sponsor us?

>>39103192
I'd rather not wade through a huge raw list of programs. I like the idea of selecting a developer in hopes of getting sponsored. ANex looks good to me.

>>39103192
>Would you just like to see what Bit/others think is a good idea
that would be best unless you're prepared to slog through a very complicated voting process.

First vote is Brand or Prog Developer.

Second vote is general strategy/type of program.

We don't HAVE to pick a weapon, right? Switching our defense or speed works too?

>>39103250
Carrie's also giving you guys another slot. And no, you don't have to pick a weapon.