More comes your way! Second chapter today, possibly with one to three more of something else in the next coming days. Until then though, more of whatever I feel like is on its way!
Chapter 4: Battling Experience
OR
You Are What You Beat
Mettena; A virus consisting of a hardhat, feet, large set of eyes, and a pickaxe. One of the most commonly occurring viruses, their forms coming from the remains of data miner programs and auto-dialers. Able to be fought at any range, the recommended time to attack is while they reel back their pickaxe, exposing the soft underbelly. Data fragments create Groundwave or Set Shield, the latter not as useful as straight Mega Shield.
Cannonbase; A virus that scuttles around on a solid four point base before planting itself and aiming with its aptly cannon-based face, formed from auto aiming programs formerly used by police departments and the army. Upon locking on, fires a bomb on position, mostly from behind other enemies. Best dealt with at long or close range, just after shooting it bomb, allowing for access to much less armored inside. Data fragments create PowerBomb 1, and if fought in larger quantities, Radar Missile 1.
Hot Roader; A virus that consists of a grinning motorcycle balanced on a single burning wheel. Formed from self-driving vehicles that suffered accidents and were then scrapped. It attempts to crash itself into and possibly through whoever it gains sight of, including other viruses. Best dealt with in close to mid range, the former with caution. Aim sword to the side and allow momentum to do the work. Data fragments create Fire Ring 1.
These were the viruses most common around Echo Ridge, and Geo found one could learn a shocking amount of things from a beings remains. If it was flesh and blood, it would be a bit squicky and he'd feel a bit guilty about it, but when all that was left behind was data packets and small crystalized data that Mega was quick to scarf down, a lot of the hesitation went away in favor of experimentation. Finding out just the right angle to evade a Cannonbase's shot, how many feet to avoid a Hot Roaders charge while slicing his sword between its wheel and body, it felt cathartic in a way few things ever had in Geo's young life.
Everything he did was mostly out of self interest or obligation, but studying how these viruses moved, reacted, and fought felt...like something he just enjoyed doing.
"Oi, kid, it's getting late now. Didn't you say about getting home by then?" Mega snapped Geo from his musing, making him look up and see that, yes, the sky was turning the pinkish orange of sunset, and with a small thought, the bottom corner of Geo's visor showed the time was 5:50 already.
Geo was honestly shocked. He had been at this for nearly 6 and a half hours straight? Granted, he knew he had taken a while finding all the hiding places the viruses were rooting around in, but still, he had only earned... 38 thousand Zenny and nearly a hundred Battle Cards!
Geo felt like twitching for completely different reasons than combat jitters. That was more money than most people his age, or even around double it had at one point or another just kicking around. To have made that much in not even a full day...
Geo tilted his head back and forth for a moment. If he kept doing this, he could gather a lot of money really quickly, and help his Mum with a lot of things. Granted, they were still supported by the stipend AMAKEN gave them from his Father's...Accident, and his Mum's streaming and occasional odd jobs, but more income was always appreciated. It could also used to buy more and better Battle Cards, which had just sharply moved up the list from slightly useful frivolities to critically important. A basic Sword card was incredibly deadly, how much more would one of the Elemental series be?
To say nothing of dealing with stronger viruses, which Geo knew were a thing, both from the existence of Denpa incidents and the Stella Police, but also from Mega's own grumblings and observations. While he enjoyed the whole-sale carnage, even he could become bored with fighting the same things over and over again once Geo found the right patterns.
"Yeah, we don't want Mum to worry. Let's go home." Geo nodded, before raising Mega and disappearing in a beam of light, the motion feeling completely natural.
If nothing else, it gave a perfect excuse to Wave Change every so often.
Within moments, Geo was back in the alley had started in this morning, and was once again a mild mannered kid.
Hmm, something about that last thought was weird, but Geo reasoned that is was some partial exhaustion from the constant combat and lack of sleep from last night. Nothing a nice meal and solid night of knock-out sleep couldn't fix.
Dinner was had, a small not quite lie about how he was learning about different kinds of viruses was told to his Mum, and like he anticipated, Geo was out the moment his head hit the pillow, visions of world blurring beneath his feet while the sky above stayed the same.
It was a good dream.
END OF CHAPTER
A little goes a long way, especially while I work into the real meat of this story. Remember, I always love some shared thoughts and review too!
